Anita Verma-Lallian is the CEO and founder of Arizona Land Consulting, a Phoenix-based land investment consulting company that specializes in commercial real estate. But like a true boss, Anita couldn’t stop there. She is also the founder of Arizona’s first South Asian and first female-owned film production and entertainment company, Camelback Productions. Their mission? Focusing on South Asian and minority community storytelling by uplifting the voices of those who belong to these groups. What we talked about:  Anita’s perspective on Arizona’s real estate market  (3:07)Anita discusses her latest 12 million dollar deal and bringing industries to Arizona  (5:48)The importance of Anita’s family in building her business (8:44)Anita’s inspiration for Camelback Productions (13:47)Anita’s ultimate dream story to produce (18:41)Anita’s experience growing up Indian (22:00)Rapid fire questions (27:51)Anita’s bare bones for happiness (30:41)Connect with Anita: InstagramWebsite  - Arizona Land ConsultingLet’s Connect:InstagramThis podcast is produced by Ginni Media

It's a special LIVE episode coming to you from CT. The lovely and brilliant Sheetal Sheth hosted our team for her Always Anjali event, where she talked to kids from the tri-state area about her book and answered all their insightful, and honest, questions.Her co-host, Hasan Minhaj is an actor, comedian, writer, and political commentator who uses his prowess in the art of storytelling to uplift and advocate for the stories of the unique. However, before Hasan is anything else, he is a father and a family man.So it makes sense he would see the value and necessity of Sheetal Sheth’s children's book Always Anjali because guess what, he too has had his Always Anjali moments.  He also told me he can make some mean eggs.Frustrated by the uncommonness of her name, the story follows a young Indian girl's journey to embracing the beauty of being different, teaching her how to be creative and courageous when life doesn't accommodate your unique individuality. I interviewed them both to discuss all things Anjali, parenthood, and what’s next for Sheetal Sheth.   What we talked about:   Why Sheetal picked the name ‘Anjali’ (5:00) How Hasan got involved in the Always Anjali event (10:50) Hasan's own Anjali moment and using your “Starbucks Name”  (12:45) Day to day Dad duties with Hasan (13:45) What Sheetal’s been up to since our last interview (19:30)Sheetal talks about other upcoming projects (22:45)Connect with Sheetal:  www.sheetalsheth.comSheetal Sheth (@beneaththesheetz) • Instagram photos and videoswww.equalitynow.orgwww.therepresentationproject.orgConnect with Hasan:  Hasan Minhaj (@hasanminhaj) • Instagram photos and videosHasan MinhajLet's Connect:  Instagram

New trailer, new headshots, same uncle jokes.To all the new listeners, welcome to the Tuckered Out with Ami Thakkar—where we interview trailblazers, experts, and prominent voices from the South Asian diaspora to discuss the messiness of growing up Brown, find inspiration, admiration, and most importantly, tons of laughter.To all those who have stuck with me this long, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It has been a fun ride, and we're only getting started.A special ‘thank you’ to my previous guests highlighted on this trailer: Kal Penn, Rabia Chaudry, and Rishi Malhotra. Now let’s chat with some trailblazers. Produced and Edited by Ginni Media

Aparna Shewakramani had a career in law before going on a little show called Indian Matchmaking. Overnight, she became an ambassador for women and a voice contributing to the ongoing conversations concerning sexism.She is the best-selling author of the non-fiction memoir called, “She’s Unlikeable: And Other Lies That Bring Women Down,” which discusses her experience on the show, the tired and negative tropes surrounding women, and how they must be dismantled systematically.Aparna is currently building her brand and is also a “recovering attorney” who is trying to find her place in the world and is on a constant mission to evolve and grow in ways she never dreamed of.What we talked about:Aparna’s thoughts on season three of Indian Matchmaking (3:09)Aparna discusses how crazy life has been since leaving law (13:17)What Aparna hears most from other women (20:47)Aparna’s relationship with aging (22:57)How Aparna felt growing up brown in Texas (29:57)Rapid fire questions (32:37)Aparna’s bare bones for happiness (36:03)Connect with Aparna: WebsiteInstagramBookLet’s Connect:InstagramThis podcast is produced by Ginni Media

Rishi Rajani is the CEO of Hillman Grad Productions, a full service media and production company with a mission to empower underrepresented artists and amplify the stories of diverse historically marginalized communities across all industries. In the 5 years since starting at Hillman Grad,  Rishi has not only learned the ropes of what it takes to be a successful producer, he also has had a crash course on how to run an exceptional media company.When he met Lena Waithe, the award-winning creator who is behind the curation of the company, they not only mutually admired each other’s energy, they agreed on the biggest mission of all- to change the idea of what diversity in Hollywood really looks like.What we talked about:How Rishi got hired at Hillman Grad (3:03)The different meanings of the word ‘producer’ (7:45)The film that had the biggest impact on Rishi (15:49)The issues in the South Asian community (24:23)The legacy Rishi hopes to leave at Hillman Grad (32:06)Rishi’s relationship to growing up South Asian Indian (37:45)Rapid fire questions (43:04)Who his ultimate collab would be (46:41)Connect with Rishi: LinkedInInstagramLet’s Connect:InstagramThis podcast is produced by  Ginni Media

Satnam Singh is an Indian professional wrestler and former basketball player who is currently signed to the American professional wrestling promotion, All Elite Wrestling. He became the first Indian player to be drafted into the NBA when the Dallas Mavericks selected him with the 52nd overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft. He’s also the first athlete I’ve ever interviewed on the podcast. What we talked about:Why he transitioned from basketball to wrestling (7:42)Who he would love to get in the ring with (9:42)The differences in training for basketball versus wrestling (10:13)Some of his favorite wrestling moves (11:59)Growing up in Punjab and playing basketball with his dad’s best friend (16:43)How receiving a scholarship to come play high school basketball in the US changed his life (18:07)What he learned playing in the NBA (21:07)Connect with Satnam: InstagramTwitterLet’s Connect:InstagramThis podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

I have been following my next guest for quite awhile now through social media and mutual friends.  He has been doing some amazing work and also.... throwing some amazing parties- I definitely was trying to get invited to one.Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Maneesh Goyal is a self-acclaimed "insatiable people-person,"  and was determined to open the next great restaurant in NYC, which had to be Indian given his roots. That idea mixed with his desire to fulfill his fathers legacy, one that started in the 80s with the first Indian restaurant—India House—in Texas, led him on a journey of self-discovery of who he truly is and love for where he comes from.Maneesh is the Founder & Partner at SONA & SONA Home and has partnered with global icon Priyanka Chopra- some of you may have heard of her- to bring Indian hospitality and food to the next level.We talk about growing up in Texas as South Asians, the challenges he faces in the restaurant scene that people may not know about, and how he wants to be remembered by those he loves.He tells me how him and Priyanka ended up working together, his favorite memory at SONA so far, and the true glamour of global India today.Here is to hoping for a future SONA Dallas to open up! Produced and Edited by Ginni Media. Made Offbeat.

New trailer. Same uncle jokes. Auntie approved.Welcome to the brand new and sparkly trailer for the pod!To all my new listeners, WELCOME to the Tuckered Out family, where we interview, trailblazers, experts, and prominent voices from the South Asian diaspora to find inspiration, admiration, and most importantly....tons of laughter.To all of you who continue to listen and support, a huge THANK YOU and a promise to keep telling the South Asian story the only way I know how to-by keeping it real.A shoutout to my previous guests highlighted on this trailer- Kal Penn, Rabia Chaudry, and Rishi Malhotra. Thank you for being so generous and vulnerable during your interviews.  You are true definitions of trailblazers.  Produced and Edited by Ginni Media. Made Offbeat. 

Aizzah Fatima is an actress and writer from New York City by way of Mississippi. Aizzah has appeared on numerous television shows and films and is the lead actor/writer and producer of Americanish, which follows two sisters and their cousin as they navigate love, careers and familial pressures, a lot of which was personal to Aizzah.  The film has already won 26 awards and will be released by Sony later this yearWe talk about Dirty Paki Lingerie, her critically acclaimed comedy one woman play, how muslim girls are DTF- dismantling Islamophobia one dick joke at a time, and how we both have tried a variety of careers to figure out our calling.  We discuss the differences between South Asians in the UK versus the US and how it's so key to follow your gut when it comes to content creation.She talks about growing up brown and Muslim in Mississippi, we discuss if the American accent is sexy, and why cutting an onion in the palm of you hand makes more sense than using a cutting board. Obviously.https://www.aizzahfatima.com/

It's a special LIVE episode coming at you from the very FIRST ever South Asian House at SXSW 2023!It was a fantastic weekend in Austin celebrating South Asian thought leaders in the business, tech, film, TV, theater, music, and fashion industries including seven countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The South Asian House took place at fourth + co in the heart of Austin and SXSW.From brunch fireside chats with Rishi Rajani (Hillman Grad) and Snigdha Sur (The Juggernaut) to a South Asian Live Music Showcase to one of my favorites, the Desi Drag Brunch presented by One Minute Saree (sponsor), it was a weekend of celebration, conversation and support for the South Asian community.I may have lost the One Minute Saree competition, but I'm going to keep practicing and make a comeback!A huge congrats to the team that made it all happen, Jitin Hingorani, Monica Samtani, Kirtana Banskota, and Rohi Mirza Pandya and a big thank you to my guests on this episode, Monica Samtani (Broadcast Journalist), Milan Chakraborty (Producer and Actor), Radha Patel (The Auntie Network-sponsor), Pooja Kumar (Actress), Rita Meher (Tasveer-sponsor).I can't wait to see what big things the South Asian House team does next because guess what, we ain't going anywhere! 

So, you may notice we’re using some different music than our usual jam, that's because it's the first single (Anokha) from our next guest and his new platform, Indo Warehouse.Kunal Merchant is a multi-hyphenate creative marketer with deep experience building and launching products, growing brands, and ensuring that his passion for music never drifts far from his focus. He is a partner and artist at Indo Warehouse, a multi-faceted label/platform that is dedicated to authentically integrating South Asian culture with electronic music.He is also the founder Mix4Change, the first global DJ-driven community working to promote change, and is a veteran  DJ and event producer, working with emerging and established brands in both nightlife and experiential capacities all over the world with a large footprint in the city he calls home now, New York.We talk about how growing up Indian in Texas means always having that supportive brown family,  what our shared experience working together in India was really like, his biggest takeaways working at Meta for 8 years, and why he holds Mix4Change so close to his heart.I ask him about his third South Asian inspired brand, Indo Warehouse, how the label/platform/event space combines all of his passions, how the brand aims to expand its footprint even more globally in 2023, they're insanely popular (and always sold out) events, and of course his first single, Anokha, which we had the honor to play for this episode.Check out the site for more info about Indo Warehouse, how you can support, and tickets to the upcoming Festival of Love!https://indowarehouse.co/ 

Nishat Kurwa is the SVP and Executive Producer of Vox Media Podcast Network, leading podcasting across Vox Media's house of editorial brands and its network of outside partners, overseeing programming strategy, new show development, and the Vox Media Studios' podcast production team.They have over 150 active shows — from daily news and policy, to tech and business, to culture and sports. Let me put it this way, Nishat knows her stuff and is truly an OG in the audio world.We talk about her journey at Vox Media, her time at Youth Radio and the positive impact the experience has had on her career, and what it's like to be on the editorial as well as business side of things. She tells me why she continues to be bullish when it comes to the podcast industry, potential disruptive trends that we should understand, and what factors she evaluates when developing new shows for the network.We also discuss the number one concern she hears from her mentees, what it was like working at places where no one looked like her, what success looks like for her now, and how she wants to be remembered by those closest to her.

Aravind Ravichandran is the founder of TerraWatch Space, an independent advisory and communications firm focused on Earth observation. He considers himself a Earth observation evangelist, satellite data strategist, a space consultant, and a generalist - jack of many trades  and a master of none.His mission is to make earth observation mainstream by improving the awareness and adoption of satellite data and have more people interested in space.He is also the author of the TerraWatch Space newsletter provides analysis, insights & deep-dives on Earth Observation, Satellite Data and its Applications: https://newsletter.terrawatchspace.com/  as well as the host of the TerraWatch Space podcast focused on demystifying Earth Observation, Satellite Data and their Applications: https://podcast.terrawatchspace.com/We talk about the importance of satellite data, the latest on the space race, his thoughts on the Chinese balloon that was hovering over the US, the new space program coming out of India, and the new course he is planning on creating.

Samip Mallick is the co-founder and executive director of SAADA, which he has guided from its inception in 2008 to its place today as a national leader in community-based storytelling. SAADA, stands for South Asian American Digital Archive.  SAADA uses the power of stories to create belonging to the 5.4 million South Asian Americans by documenting, preserving, and sharing stories from the South Asian American community, so that the struggles of past and current generations for equality, inclusion, and representation are not the same struggles we leave to our children.We talk about how a lot of childhood is shaped by the feeling that you don't belong, the incredible impact the 5.4 South Asian Americans truly have, the beautiful stories SAADA has collected from our community about their first days in the US, and how their walking tour of Philadelphia and Harlem shows that South Asians have been part of American history from the very beginning.We both agreed that the power of storytelling can help one truly feel embraced for who they are, discuss how SAADA's book, Our Stories, is out now and in  2500 school, libraries, and homes, and the importance of having access to information in order to really understand the whole picture.https://www.saada.org/

I’ve completely lost my voice after this episode. That should help me with the whole podcasting thing…what a weekend! Sundance Institute Film Festival has been on my bucket list since I was small enough to bathe in buckets. So, a very long time.We were super excited to participate in the first-ever South Asian Lodge hosted by filmmaker and director Shruti Ganguly, author, writer, and producer Tanya Selvaratnam and the non-profit organization 1497, whose mission is to support and uplift talent of South Asian descent to challenge their historical exclusion from and underrepresentation in the American film and TV industry.You can learn more about their mission here- https://www.1497.org/A special shoutout to The Product of Culture team and Kis Cubed Events for helping make the impossible, possible.  The entire weekend ran smoothly from beginning to end.The two days of programming included a 20th anniversary celebration of Bend It Like Beckham, as the movie’s 2003 premiere at Sundance marked a watershed event for South Asian representation in film.  Congratulations to the entire team for putting this historic event together.  It was a weekend full of love, celebration, beautiful art, and communityAnd thank you to all my guests on this episode, I had a little too much fun with all of you.Shruti GangulyNirjary DesaiAdeel AhmedSimi ChaudryNik DodaniNisha GanatraAlex SchmiderA VERY special THANK YOU to Greg Friedman from Park Audio Sundance 2023 for taking care of my technical issues.  You saved the pod. 

Bharat is the award-winning author of Privilege: A Trilogy, an #ownvoices thriller about an Indian-American set in modern-day NYC. He calls himself a professional storyteller and amateur cook.After 10 years of working in politics, Bharat tried to explain how the country went from Barack Obama to Donald Trump by writing Confessions of a Campaign Manager. Then he began writing polemical fiction, such as Oasis - a desert-fantasy novel that examined what makes a family and how refugees should be treated. Bharat is always looking to make a political statement with his writing because he knows politics seeps into every aspect of society and believes we can’t understand each other without a firm, constant understanding of how politics affects us in all ways.

In honor of our upcoming LIVE episode from Sundance, I wanted to repost our first live episode from Diwali On The Hudson back in 2021! Stayed tuned for new episodes starting next week!Editor's Note- This is a live podcast so please excuse all the extra background noise. It is our first live podcast!! We had the honor to attend Diwali On The Hudson this year, NYC's premiere Diwali event hosted by The Desai Foundation. And let me tell you, we had some good times. Diwali On The Hudson celebrates love, light and of course the very important work of The Desai Foundation. This year, appearances by the talented Falu and The Resistance Revival Chorus graced the stage and we had some fantastic jams courtesy of DJ Suhel! The Desai Foundation’s main focus for over 20 years has been empowering women and girls through community programs to elevate health and livelihood in India & U.S. During the 2021 COVID crisis, they shifted their focus to address the needs of the communities we serve, while also leveraging the programs that were already in place. The foundation is currently operating in 1000 villages, and has reached a population of over 3.4 million people. Their work cultivates dignity so that everyone can dream beyond their circumstances. To donate or learn more, please go to thedesaifoundation.org A BIG THANK YOU to all my guests for being brave enough to step up to the mic. You made this episode. Megha Desai Sindya Valloppillil Monica Jindal Mehta Heena Jain Falu Ami Sheth Suraj Patel Trisha Sakhuja-Walia Megha Rao and Pooja Desai Shah-Holi Chic Meera Shah Akash Jain  

Indian-born artist Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee settled her roots in the beautifully diverse city of Houston, TX in 2012.She is strongly influenced by marine life, drawing abundant inspiration from her experiences with scuba diving expeditions and with the ocean itself. In her work, Folmsbee creates ethereal, intricate shapes, which she calls characters, that are meant to invite the public into something very private. Her painting intend to take the viewer into the work’s moment of origin.This year, Folmsbee has become actively more involved in the marine community by working with conservation organizations such as the Galveston Bay Foundation and Correa Lab, with the hope of creating awareness about the struggles face by the marine world.We talk about her recently commissioned 240-ft project at Houston's IAH, why her father made her host an art show at 16,  what she discovered attending art school in Chicago, and what the definition of failure really means to her.She talks about being bullied growing up because of her dyslexia, how she discovered her passion for art, how it is so important to protect your energy as a creative, and why our hometown of Houston is officially cool.

Hello 2023!!  I could not think of a better guest to kick off this new year than Naomi Shah.Naomi is the Founder and CEO of Meet Cute, a modern entertainment company that produces original, scripted rom-coms that are delivered in podcast format.Meet Cute has the largest global creative network of writers, actors, and directors and has produced more than 450 rom-com stories with over 3.5 million listeners. The company is focused on diverse storytelling and characters as well as expanding the definition of what "well-being" means for audiences.She talks to me about the "secret sauce" she believes has made the company such a success, why she finds the audio medium so exciting, her experience being on "two sides of the table" at her former investment firm, and what keeps her up at night.We talk about some new projects in the pipeline for 2023, how we both feel like "Jess" from Bend It Like Beckham, which rom-com she would star in, and her dream collaboration for 2023 (Hi, Mindy:)).

It's our special Holiday Bonus Episode! We’re so excited to bring you this bonus episode that will hopefully uplift your spirits like it did ours.Today, I interview Anisha Abraham, a pediatrician and author of Raising Global Teens- A Practical Handbook For Parenting In The 21st Century,  and Jo Chim, an actress turned producer, director.  They are team behind the short live action film One Small Visit which is currently in the running for the Oscar short list!  It is a sweet film about my Anisha’s parents visit to Neil Armstrong’s parents house in the 1960’s, right after the moon landing, and the impact it had on both families. One Small Visit embodies this fight and to keep believing in coming together because fundamentally, we have a lot more in common than we have differences.It’s a story of hope, shared humanity, and how small acts of openness and kindness can make a difference.  Lord knows we need all of those thing now more than ever.www.onesmallvisit.com