Heartistry Talk Show

Setso

Setso is an independent singer and songwriter from Gauteng, South Africa. Her career began as early as the age of 12 when she joined an internationally acclaimed children's choir.

After the choir won the Grand Prix award in Bratislava (2011), Setso decided she wanted to pursue music once she matriculated from high school. She then enrolled into AFDA where she completed her BA Honours in Music Performance. While in university Setso completed a mentorship with Zolani Mahola and performed independent shows with her band around Cape Town, before returning to her hometown Pretoria.

Seetal Kaur

Seetal Kaur is an arts manager, dance artist and social activist. As a Relationship Manager for Arts Council England, she provides advice and insight to individuals and organisations to develop dance as an art form and manages a portfolio of dance organisations in the Midlands region. Seetal has also founded her own social initiative to develop South Asian women and creatives called ForwardCulture CIC and is also a practicing Kathak artist training under Smt. Aditi Sen and Pt. Rajendra Gangani.

Manasi Arya

Manasi Arya is currently a Special Education teacher and also pursuing her Masters in Special Education. Having grown up around art and art supplies her whole life and with her mother also being an artist, Manasi decided to start her account on Instagram a few years ago to share various paintings and her stories. Within a year, she embraced an opportunity to start a small business and began more digital art as well. Manasi uses her art and platform to create a voice for other women, with a focus on South Asian and with the desire and intent to spark positive conversation through art.

Amit Patel

Amit Patel is a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher from the San Francisco Bay Area. As a first generation born Indian American, Amit strives to fuse his cultures by bringing together different disciplines of dance. He is a teacher of an unconventional style of dance called "Indian Contemporary," something Amit fell in love with as he fused his diverse training in both Eastern and Western forms of dance. Amit is equally notable for his rebellious pieces in heels, known as “Bollywood Heels,” which challenge the norms of gender roles and sexual identity in dance.

Sheherazaad & 

Chanpreet Singh 

Sheherazaad is a performer-composer, whose new-age sound echoes her experiences as a child of diaspora. She pulls from traditional South Asian and Western classical, where her contemporary, modern synthesis can be described as alternative-folk & experimental ballad. Her original lyricism re-interprets existing Hindi-Urdu poetic forms, channeling questions of identity, mother tongue, homeland, and displacement.

Chanpreet Singh is an actor, poet and a writer based in California, USA. He has performed in various plays and films both in the US and India and has been regularly recognized for his work. He writes in English and Hindi and has been complimented for his work by diverse readers. Alongside his pursuit of arts, he also works as a Director at a multi-national consultancy firm advising large companies based in Silicon Valley.

Saba Gul

Saba Gul is an MIT-educated engineer turned entrepreneur. She currently leads strategy for technology products, with a focus on ethics. Previously she was the founder of Popinjay, an artisan label with a supply chain spanning Pakistan, Vietnam and China. Saba is an advisor to several startups and investment funds, and speaks frequently on entrepreneurship and gender at forums like the United Nations, the World Bank and TEDx events. Saba has lived and worked across the world – from France to Sri Lanka to Ethiopia, and brings her global experience to her work. Saba was raised in Lahore, Pakistan and holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Computer Science from MIT.

David Herrera

David Herrera is the Artistic Director/Choreographer for  David Herrera Performance Company  in San Francisco. He grew up in Hollywood, Ca. influenced by the film industry and the cultural eclecticism of his neighborhood and Mexican-American Heritage. He holds a B.A. in American Studies and in Theater Arts from UC Santa Cruz. In 2002, he received a Graduate Certificate in modern dance/theater.

David is a current member of the Izzies Award Committee, a 2019-2020 Hope Mohr Dance Community Engagement Resident, and a cohort member of "Dancing Around Race", a community program dedicated to the discussion and implementation of cultural equity in the dance arts in San Francisco. He has served as advisor for the Festival of Latin American Contemporary Choreographers for several years.

Kawika Alfiche

Kumu Hula Kawika Keikiali'ihiwahiwa Alfiche has been teaching hula and Hawaiian cultural arts for over 26 years. Kawika is the Kumu Hula (Master teacher) for Hālau o Keikiali'i, and is the Director for the Kaululehua Hawaiian Cultural Center in South San Francisco. With a mission to preserve and perpetuate all things Hawaiian, Kawika spends his life learning, teaching and sharing his culture through the hula and cultural arts and continues to teach throughout the Globe. Kawika is 1 of 6 to formally `uniki (traditional graduation) with his Kumu Rae Kahikilaulani Fonseca `uniki from George Naope.

Nikita Tewani

Originally from Westchester, New York, Nikita Tewani is a New York based actress. She holds a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. 

Equally passionate about TV, Film & Theater, Nikita has played the character of Aziza in the play adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. She was also seen as Mahwish in The Who And The What, by Ayad Akhtar. Nikita's previous TV Credits include The Affair and Falling Water. She has also been featured in Off-Broadway Theatre, International Theatre, National Commercials, Global Print Ads and Independent Films. Nikita is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. 

Most recently, Nikita was also the lead actress in a film written and directed by Pakistani American filmmaker, Iram Parveen Bilal, “I’ll Meet You There” which premiered at SXSW earlier this year - albeit, a virtual premiere.

Bilal Hasan

By profession, Bilal is a Doctor and is based in Karachi, Pakistan. 

In addition to his career, Bilal is also a writer and photojournalist, of which through his writings and photographs he hopes to open up a window for the outside world to get to know Pakistan and Pakistanis on a more personal humane level as opposed to what is often represented in the media. 

His work has been featured in The Guardian, the Toronto Star, Gulf News, Vice Brasil and Dawn.com. 

Jim Santi Owen

Jim Santi Owen is an American percussionist, educator, performer, composer and producer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Drumming since the age of 8, he has devoted nearly 30 years to the study of the classical percussion traditions of North and South India with tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and South Indian master percussionists, the late T.H. Subash Chandran and K. Sekar. Jim has also studied Jazz and African drumming and dance. Having worked with an impressive and extensive list of internationally renowned artists, Jim is also a featured composer/producer for Facebook's Sound Collection which features nearly 150 of his tracks. One of Jim's greatest gifts is being a dedicated teacher - often introducing children and adults of all ages to the universality of music and rhythm through his vast knowledge of various percussive traditions. Jim's profound and never ending desire to learn from others, as well as share without limits, is a beautiful and exemplary model of collaborative spirit. 

Raisa Mirza 

 Raisa is the founder of Rella Beauty a cosmetic company with a buy-one-give-one model of beauty where for every unit of lipstick purchased, one is given to a woman in need via the company's various non-profit giving partners. Prior to the start of her entrepreneurial journey, Raisa worked in PR & marketing across agency and in-house roles for global brands for over a decade, and eventually found herself working closely with beauty, while also wanting to do something that had some social impact. Led by her heart's calling, she carried out her vision of empowering women around the world to feel more confident through the gift of beauty, with the goal to ensure that Rella Beauty promotes intentional buying through good quality products with a strong, tangible social impact.

Toya Gavin, Esq. 

An attorney, legal consultant and founder of Legally Bold, an online coaching and consulting agency where she liberates lawyers from unfulfilling work so that they can claim the lives and careers they really want. 

Toya holds a Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University Law School and a bachelor of science in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University. She is licensed to practice law in New York and New Jersey. After law school, she worked for a number of years as a city government attorney, a prosecutor, and a solo practitioner before becoming a consultant and coach.

Joshinder Chaggar 

Australian based creative and performing artist - a dancer, choreographer, actor, teacher and writer, Joshinder was born in India, grew up in Africa, then onto Australia, lived in Pakistan for 10 years teaching and performing, and has now found herself back in Melbourne, Australia.In 2019 she completed her Honors degree in creative arts research (dance), from Deakin University, working with the ecstatic Sufi dhamaal dance from Pakistan. She lived and worked in Karachi from 2007 till 2017, teaching ‘Movement for Actors’ at the National Academy of Performing Arts. In 2017 she was invited to the Kunstareal fest in Munich, to direct and perform a movement installation with local artists. Currently she teaches at Studio J in Melbourne, and works extensively with the senior community. Joshinder's journey is a testament to the importance of following one's calling and "finding your personal legend".

Raj Mathai

Ten-time Emmy award winner, Raj Mathai is the weeknight news anchor for NBC Bay Area, anchoring the nightly 5 pm, 6 pm and 11 pm News and is among the Bay Area's most well-known journalists.Raj has interviewed many high profile newsmakers including Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Colin Powell, Tyler Florence, Jed York and many more, and has reported on-location from the Olympics in London, Vancouver, Turin, Athens and Salt Lake City.Before arriving at NBC Bay Area, he worked for NBC stations in Fresno, San Diego, and Arizona.In 1995, Raj became the country's first Indian sportscaster. Prior to his career in television, Raj served as a public relations assistant for the San Diego Chargers for five seasons.Raj is a regular guest instructor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Raj was born in Trivandrum, India.

Raissa Simpson

Raissa Simpson is an African American/Pilipino choreographer and artistic director of the San Francisco-based PUSH Dance Company. Her multidisciplinary dances are at the intersection of complex racial and cultural identities and centers around discourse on the complex experiences of racialized bodies. A graduate of SUNY Purchase with an MFA from UC Davis, Simpson had an extensive performance career with Robert Moses Kin and Joanna Haigood’s Zaccho Dance Theatre. Her choreography has been presented by Joyce SoHo, Aspen Fringe Festival, Dance St. Louis, Ferst Center, Los Angeles Women’s Theater Festival and Black Choreographers Festival. 

For 7 weeks in Oct-Nov, in a reimagined virtual setting, Raissa's company will present its annual production of PUSHfest - a cross-genre dance festival that brings together existing works by choreographers working within different disciplines.

Hollywood Jade
Hollywood Jade is one of Toronto's greatest visionary talents who continues to find new and exciting ways to present his timeless creativity to the masses. This dancer/choreographer turned artistic director, has showcased his multidimensional artistic creations on both the big and small screen, stages locally and internationally and has worked with many organizations, companies, artists and talents. He works continually to cultivate new and exciting collaborations and push the boundaries of his creations. Working with some of the most elite choreographers in North America on various projects through TV performances, tours, music videos and award shows, has led Hollywood to secure positions as artistic director and choreographer for various artists and most recently as resident choreographer for Canada’s Drag Race, an adaptation of RuPauls Drag Race. 

Ria Patel

Ria is an Australian-Indian actress, dancer, and writer. Art has always been there for her and that is what she wants to do for her audience: connect with them, help them feel understood, and ultimately evoke change.

She graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts and also studied at Victorian College of the Arts in Australia. 

Some of her work includes the first ever Gujarati web-series "Varta re Varta", and award-winning short "Two Paper Nightingale and Nice".

Most recently she won Best Actress Award for her short film "Bandaid".

Assemblymember Ash Kalra

Assemblymember Ash Kalra was first elected to the California Legislature in 2016, representing the 27th District. In 2018, he was re-elected to his second term. Assemblymember Kalra is the Chair of the State Assembly Labor & Employment Committee. He previously served as Chair of the Aging & Long-Term Care Committee and continues to serve as a Committee Member, as well as serving on the Judiciary, Education, and Water, Parks & Wildlife Committees. Assemblymember Kalra has established himself as a leader on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to the environment, as well as health care sustainability, housing affordability, growing our transportation infrastructure, and expanding economic opportunity to all Californians. Assemblymember Kalra previously served as a San José City Councilmember for eight years and was a deputy public defender in Santa Clara County for 11 years prior to the City Council. He is the first Indian-American to serve in the California Legislature in state history.

Iram Parveen Bilal

Iram just World Premiered her third feature, I’LL MEET YOU THERE, in the narrative competition at SXSW. She was 1 of 15 directors invited to Cinefondation's L'Atelier at Cannes 2019 for her feature project in development, ONE OF A KIND. She is now focusing on TV directing and creating. Her TV Pilot, DETAINED, about two detained matriarchs in an ICE detention center, just made the top twenty unproduced, female written pilots’ list for WeForShe. Eager to raise while rising, Iram is an active mentor for women in film and tech. She believes genuine curiosity is the only antidote to fear. 

Jarrett & Raja

Headliners from the great casinos of the Las Vegas strip, reality TV stars and critically acclaimed magician & pianist Jarrett & Raja have entertained audiences worldwide with their amazing and unique blend of magic, music and comedy. 

 This talented duo has appeared on NBC's America’s Got Talent where they were semi finalists and magically produced a full orchestra on stage, and also on ABC's Shark Tank, in SyFy’s “Wizard Wars” with Penn & Teller, BBC’s “The Slammer” and CW TV’s “Masters of Illusion”.

Recently they headlined a virtual episode presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC) where the guys feature their talents individually and as a team. 

Michelle Ranavat

Michelle Ranavat is the founder of RANAVAT- a skin and wellness line inspired by the beauty rituals of Indian Royalty.  Michelle’s mission is to make you feel Royal- and indulge your senses in India’s rich history through ingredients like saffron and roses.  Since launching her line in August of 2017, she’s entered into major department stores such as Neiman Marcus + Nordstrom and some of the most prominent Clean Beauty retailers: Credo + Detox Market.  Named as one of the “50 Most influential global Indians” by Vogue Magazine and Bustle’s “Must Follow Asian Americans”, Michelle is on her way to share these lost rituals with the world! 

Rena Marie Guidry

Rena Marie has been an actor and dancer for over 30 years, in both Los Angeles and the Bay Area. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, salsa, liturgical, and samba. She has done commercials, films, has performed in self-produced dance theater productions, performed in several theatre companies, and has also been a guest performer for Latin dance ensembles. Rena Marie has led high-energy, packed classes with Rhythm & Motion since 2011. She is also a trained Drama Therapist, with a MA in counseling psychology. Rena Marie believes the arts are inherently therapeutic and can be used to bring about healing and wellness.

Meena Merchant

Meena is the CEO of Werxo - a full-service media production company. Meena guides the company as it traverses the landscape of corporate, non-profit sector, and more artistic storytelling. Prior to this, she has owned a graphic design company and a stationery company. She worked for many years as a graphic designer, product designer and as a marketing extraordinaire. She has also spent a lot of time creating, teaching and promoting the creation of art throughout her community. 

Seeking connection through the cultivation of relationships, Meena's heart’s calling is to give airtime and use film & video as a medium to tell the stories of women and people of color, among other minorities.

Anjali Rao & Monique Wright-Gory

Yoga practitioners, Anjali and Monique have come together to host “Mindfully Just: Integrating Social Justice, Yoga, and Collective Transformation”

The intensive series explores our practice of yoga in relationship to the world we inhabit as we witness how ignorance, oppression, prejudice, racial, and social injustice cause suffering. We each have a role to play, to dive deep within, to unlearn much of what we have been taught, to know ourselves, to acknowledge, and to respond with skill and compassion. This intensive is dedicated to cultivating commitment for change, courage, emotional resilience, and stamina.

Hear more about this intensive, the people involved, and why these conversations and practices are critical now, and into our future.

Samica Jhangiani

Born in San Francisco, California, Samica started singing to herself as a child. After listening to her Grandmother sing at the temple every week, she started to appreciate Indian classical music along with her American influences, and at the age of 13,  began writing her own songs. 

Samica released her first single “Alright” at the end of 2019 which was released exclusively on critically acclaimed music publisher, The Fader. After “Alright”, she released a self-produced and written song called “Design” which was swiftly added to one of the biggest Apple Music Playlists, Acoustic Chill. “Wreck” is her third and latest single, which has been added to many New Music Friday playlists around the world. She is planning on releasing her first debut EP this 2020.

Alexandra Mysoor 

Alexandra Mysoor is the Founder and Chairwoman of The Alexandra Mysoor Group (AMG). A self made entrepreneur and operating executive, Alexandra started her first company, a Digital Marketing Agency, at the age of 24 and subsequently co-founded Generation Orange, a social commerce company that accelerated socially & environmentally conscious living. 

The Alexandra Mysoor Group (AMG) is a luxury consumer goods and media holding company, and cracked the code first with Par Avion Tea and used its expertise to build a multi-brand consumer goods company that's designed to elevate the joy of daily life. AMG is starting to extend the successful direct with consumer model it helped pioneer by combining retail-theater, craftsmanship, optimistic quirky design and luxury. Each brand has a distinct identity and story while laddering up to the overarching mission of elevating the joy of daily life. AMG currently encompasses Par Avion Tea, Alexandra Mysoor Home and Moo Cow Market. 

Taina Asili

Taína Asili is a New York based Puerto Rican singer, filmmaker and activist carrying on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing past and present struggles into one soulful and defiant voice. Her music combines powerful vocals carrying themes of social justice with an energetic fusion of Afro-Latin, reggae and rock. For over 20 years she has brought the music of love and resistance to venues across the globe – From the Women’s March on Washington to Carnegie Hall to the main stage of San Francisco.

This recent post made by Taina says it all as she reflects on a photo of herself at age 18 -

"Me at 18 when music and activism really started to take hold in my life through punk rock. I’m so proud of her. She survived racist and homophobic abuse, fearlessly spoke her mind, stood up for what she believed in, and took care of those she loved. She still does."

Sheetal Sheth

Sheetal Sheth is an acclaimed actress, author and producer. Having starred in over 20 feature films and many TV shows, Sheetal has earned a loyal, international following and is known for her provocative performances in a wide range of memorable roles. She won 3 Best Actress nods for 'The World Unseen' and 1 for her role in 'Wings of Hope'. In 2012, fans voted her 'Favorite Movie Actress' in AfterEllen's Visibility Awards. Most recently, her short film 'Grin,' which she also produced, has been picking up awards on the festival circuit including Best Actress. 

Sheetal is known as an outspoken advocate and has delivered talks and keynotes at festivals and charity galas. She served in President Clinton's AmeriCorps and is currently on the advisory board of Equality Now and an ambassador for CA First Partner, Jennifer Newsom's, The Representation Project. 

Her first children's book, Always Anjali was published in 2018 to wide acclaim, winning the 2019 Purple Dragonfly Storybook Grand Prize.

Podcast Crossover: 

Only In America with Ali Noorani

 A previous guest on Heartistry, Ali Noorani hears the story of his own mother (and Farah's too), Pakistani American immigrant Najma Noorani, all while learning to cut a mango. A special tribute to their mother, but also a reminder that each immigrant has a special story to be honored.

Farah follows up in a convo with both her mother and father, Amjad Noorani, about systemic racism as they reflect on their experiences in the U.S. as people of color and in acknowledgment of the privilege they have had as South Asians in this country in comparison to Black communities. An important and inspiring dialogue for all generations.

Fun fact about the photo - Ali took his mother to one of the last Christmas parties hosted by President Obama and First Lady, Michelle Obama, while still at the Whitehouse in December of 2016. Now if that's not the cherry on top for this immigrant story...

Lara Kaur

Lara Kaur believes photography captures the rawness of individuals in a holistic way and focuses her work on centering the voices and narratives that are often silenced. She believes that photography offers a universal form of connection and resistance, and embodies the power to break down barriers, both individual and across systems.

Through Lara's ongoing work with young folks of color, she's centered photography and creative expression to support youth in exploring identity, resiliency, self-advocacy, and self-compassion.

As a womxn of color raised in a family separated across continents, photographs have been a form of emotional connection, and Lara's work is meant to create similar sense of connection amongst individuals across communities.

Malik Al Nasir

Malik Al Nasir is a poet, film maker and social activist born in Liverpool in the UK, to a Guyanese father and a Welsh mother. After a troubled childhood in the care system in the 70’s Malik emerged semi-literate. Under the mentorship of rebel legends, poets Gil Scott-Heron and Jalal Nuriddin of the Last Poets,  politicised and educated himself. Malika became an author, artist, producer and publisher whose touching, revelatory work, collected in the poetry volume “Ordinary Guys” chronicles his own awakening, with a direct yet universal sensibility. He went on to release his debut album “Rhythms of Diaspora Volumes 1 & 2, introducing the meaning of an inspirational life, with stirring music to inform and delight.

Maya Nadeem

Maya Nadeem is a trauma informed creative facilitator, involved in community healing and support work for over a decade. Believing that transformational work can be both deep and gentle, she brings a sense of playfulness to the workshops she facilitates and has created the Heart of Flow Method combining creative expression and somatic movement to help others feel safer in their bodies while building a solid sense of self worth and emotional resiliency. Her learning has come from academia, self research, intensive training, the depth of her own path and the professional and personal experience she has holding space for others. As an artist, dancer and writer/poet she weaves together landscapes of emotion.

Richa Moorjani

Richa Shukla Moorjani is a South Asian-American actress and dancer based in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in the Bay Area in a family of artists, engineers and academics. Richa has been trained in Kathak and other various styles of dance for 25+ years and has been acting in TV/Film for the last 8 years.

Richa’s most recent project created by Mindy Kaling, "Never Have I Ever" released on Netflix this past April, aligning with Richa’s personal mission as an artist to tell stories that highlight the South Asian diaspora, while being a part of projects that are inclusive and progressive. 

Brinda Guha  

Brinda Guha is a New York based dance artist, incorporating various styles of Indian classical dance of which she has trained in Kathak dance for over 20 years, and has trained in Manipuri and Flamenco, and after continued training in all of these  and more styles, Brinda has developed her own movement vocabulary called Contemporary Indian dance.  Brinda is also deeply committed to arts as activism, with the belief that artists have a responsibility to start a dialogue to create positive changes. This is reflected in Brinda's own projects such as Wise Fruit a curated event to highlight NYC-based artists who can yield action with the event honoring and benefiting Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NYC. 

Masuma Mansuri

In 2014, Masuma launched Pink Banoo an opportunity to create and market contemporary South Asian women's clothing with a mission to give back to girls' education in need.

After years of experience in brand marketing, customer relations, and e-commerce, Masuma took her love for fashion, and combined that with her passion for girl power, launching her entrepreneurial journey. 

Masuma strives to find the balance between mom-entrepreneur life, and now with the concept of styling from the inside out through her newest venture B. WellStyled. 

Masuma is most proud of not only the courage to believe in her dreams, but also the ability to embrace change and to pave a path towards what her heart desires.

Ali Noorani

Ali Noorani is the Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum, a non-partisan advocacy organization working to promote the value of immigrants and immigration, and the host of Only In America a podcast bringing you to the people behind our nation’s immigration debate.  

Ali and the Forum, along with a broad coalition of faith, civil rights, business and immigration organizations have launched the #AllofUS campaign to reach Americans nationwide to make the case that across countless sectors, immigrants — regardless of status — are doing essential work on the front lines fighting COVID-19 and keeping the nation safe and healthy.

Sarina Jain

Coined as the "Indian Jane Fonda," Sarina Jain is the creator of the original Masala Bhangra® dance series. She successfully moves, touches and inspires many people around the world with her knowledge and passion for Bhangra and Bollywood. Recognized as a global game changer, Sarina is the first to bring Indian dance to the US fitness industry. In 2020, Sarina celebrates 20 years of the inception of Masala Bhangra®! A certified fitness instructor for over 25 years, she teaches classes ranging from step aerobics, total body conditioning, and many more. She has dedicated her life to helping others find their healthy way to a more positive way of living.

Wayne Hazzard

Wayne is the co-founder of Dancers Group a service organization focused on promoting the visibility and viability of dance - serving artists, the dance community and audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area. Working tirelessly to advocate for dance, Wayne is a first hand witness to the ever evolving arts landscape in the Bay Area since the early 1980's. Through the onset of the AIDS epidemic, to the increasing cost of living in the Bay Area and the exponential adverse effect of this on artists in the region, Wayne comes from a place of compassion and empathy, and someone who holds steadfast to his commitment to support dance and dancers.  

Anisha Muni

Anisha Muni is a native New Yorker and a forever student of Kathak dance. She has had the distinct opportunity to train in Kathak under many greats over the past 20 years - both in India and in New York. 

In 2019, Anisha founded the New York Kathak Festival, a nonprofit organization that presents and promotes dancers, scholars, and practitioners of Kathak, through a festival bringing together Kathak artists from across the United States and beyond.  

Kaamna Bhojwani Dhawan

Kaamna is a public speaker, writer, dancer, entrepreneur, singer, mother. Restless soul, fearless advocate for the truth and she is an undaunted lover of the arts. An entrepreneur, she recently founded her second sole venture - KaamnaLive, an online video series aiming to dismantle stereotypes and norms to force discussion. With a firm commitment to non-judgment, inquiry and humor, KaamnaLive is a #BSFREE weekly dose of enlightenment and entertainment for open-minded audiences determined to live their best lives.

Barkha Patel
Barkha Patel is a kathak dancer, choreographer, teacher and artistic director of Barkha Dance Company. 

Barkha shares her journey in the world of South Asian classical dance - how she made the decision to make dance her career, the challenges and joys of finding her own artistic voice, navigating the relationship between Guru and disciple, and so much more. Not only is Barkha a phenomenal dancer, her words and thoughts will inspire you just as much as seeing her move! 

Barrister Khadija Siddiqi
A young, passionate human rights lawyer and activist, Khadija's long struggle for justice has served as an inspiration for others. 

She survived a brutal attack on her life in May 2016, followed by a three year battle for justice where at one point the convicted attacker was acquitted, sparking a social media outrage and a fierce campaign against him. 

Her victory was deemed as a success for the women of Pakistan who look up to her as a role model. 

Deepti Warrier
Trained in both North and South Indian classical music, Deepti also enjoys singing ghazals, thumris and light music genres. She learnt Carnatic music as a child and after moving to the US trained in Hindustani Classical music with Dr. Sisirkana Dhar Choudhury. 

Deepti is also passionate about working for gender equality and female empowerment in the community and is involved with various organizations and initiatives.

Noorani Dance: 

Esha Gupta, Athena Nair, 

Sreoshi Sarkar & Mira Wadehra

These young women spent much of their childhood being trained in kathak dance, amidst the pressure of academics and social peer pressures.

In a group conversation with Farah, we discuss their journeys with the dance, as well as their perspectives on the women’s movement of today, what a true sisterhood looks like, and so much more. 

Kai Davis
At the age of 5, Kai was enrolled in creative movement classes. With discipline and training, 12 years later, Kai was contracted with the Boston Ballet, beginning her 17-year career as 

a professional ballerina.  

Kai currently teaches in the SF Bay Area for various acclaimed companies and institutions.

Kai talks about being a black woman in an industry that is dominated by very particular physical attributes of body shape and size, and how more often than not, she found herself as the only person of color on and off the dance floor in her various ballet environments. 

Tanzila Khan
Founder of Girlythings.pk - an ecommerce business using a mobile application to deliver feminine products and urgent menstrual kits to women anywhere in public throughout various cities in Pakistan, Tanzila is overcoming barriers of all types.

Tanzila has written and published two books - “A Story in Mexico” and “The Perfect Situation”, the first o which she wrote when she was just 16 years old. Profits from the sale of her have funded community projects in the fields of disability, women empowerment, education and environment.