Welcome to my Podcast.

From Bangladesh to Australia: How Sadia Broke Stereotypes & Built Bollywood Dreams 🌍🎬 In this raw and powerful podcast, international actor, model, and purpose-driven powerhouse Sadia opens up about facing criticism, battling online hate, surviving the pressures of beauty standards — and still choosing to rise. 🎙️ In this intimate conversation, we cover: 🔹 Growing up in Bangladesh & chasing dreams despite societal judgment 🔹 Navigating the highs and heartbreaks of the acting & modeling world 🔹 The power of supportive parents, and what it takes to be your own role model 🔹 Surviving vicious online trolling — and the comment that almost broke her 🔹 Building a personal brand while staying true to your values 🔹 How dance became her therapy and source of strength 🔹 What Sadia wants every young girl in South Asia to hear today 💬 “Your dreams are your dreams. If you're passionate about something, nothing can stop you.” If you've ever felt like you're not enough, or that the world is trying to shrink you — this is your episode. Sadia shares her heart, her pain, and her power to help YOU believe in your own. #bollywood #model #actress Chapters 📕 00:00 – 04:23: Who Is Sadia? 04:24 – 11:10: Growing Up in Bangladesh & Big Dreams 11:11 – 18:19: Becoming an Actor – Auditions & Purpose 18:20 – 25:59: Modeling, Body Image & Stereotypes 26:00 – 33:47: Facing Online Hate & Social Media Pressure 33:48 – 40:41: Mental Health, Self-Worth & Therapy 40:42 – 47:10: Dance as Expression & Survival 47:11 – 53:33: The Dark Side of Social Media 53:34 – 59:12: Representation, Race & Industry Barriers 59:13 – 01:06:24: Identity, Culture & Belonging 01:06:25 – 01:13:58: Building a Personal Brand with Purpose 01:13:59 – 01:20:44: Love, Family & Being Understood 01:20:45 – 01:28:17: The Pressure to Be Perfect 01:28:18 – 01:35:00: Career Advice & Creative Freedom 01:35:01 – 01:42:20: How to Be Brave in a Loud World 01:42:21 – 01:46:00: Final Words to the Next Generation

In this inspiring episode, I speak with Kathryn Carling Area General Manager of Doma Hotels. She has built a remarkable career leading luxury hotels while raising a family and mentoring the next generation of hospitality professionals. Kathryn opens up about female leadership, sustainability in hotels, and the systems that help her balance motherhood, management, and mental health. From mentoring young staff to driving change through sustainability, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons for anyone in leadership, hospitality, or corporate life. 💡 Topics covered include: Leading with emotional intelligence and empathy Balancing family and a high-pressure career Building culture across multiple hotel teams Sustainability and social responsibility in hospitality Coaching, self-investment, and mental health 🎧 Watch if you’re a leader, hotelier, or working parent seeking practical insights on career growth, people management, and purposeful leadership. 📕 Chapters: 00:00 – 01:25 | Introduction – Kathryn’s Leadership Journey 01:26 – 03:25 | From Front Office to Regional GM 03:26 – 05:03 | Lessons from Working Abroad 05:04 – 06:35 | Unlikely Inspiration: Sebastian Vettel’s Example 06:36 – 08:10 | Career Pause for Motherhood 08:11 – 10:04 | Returning to Work & Finding Your Village 10:05 – 12:15 | The Glass Balls of Work–Life Balance 12:16 – 14:00 | Calm Leadership Under Pressure 14:01 – 17:00 | Lessons from Delivering the G20 Event 17:01 – 19:00 | Why Young People Should Chase Big Challenges 19:01 – 22:00 | The Story of Little National Hotel 22:01 – 25:00 | Building Teams Without Experience 25:01 – 27:00 | Selling the Hotel Experience – The Bed Story 27:01 – 29:30 | Sustainability as a Business Imperative 29:31 – 33:00 | Leading Multiple Hotels & Staying Connected 33:01 – 35:30 | Building Culture That Lasts 35:31 – 38:20 | Emotional Intelligence in Leadership 38:21 – 40:00 | Mentorship & Investing in People 40:01 – 42:00 | Lessons from 20 Years in Hospitality 42:01 – 44:30 | Showing Up for Your Team 44:31 – 47:00 | Partnership, Marriage & Career Balance 47:01 – 50:00 | The Power of Coaching & Self-Investment 50:01 – 53:00 | Handling Imperfection & Self-Reflection 53:01 – 56:00 | Parenting with Purpose & Honest Conversations 56:01 – 59:30 | Systems, Routines & Family Support 59:31 – 1:03:00 | Mental Health, Burnout & Resetting 1:03:01 – 1:05:00 | Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Leadership 1:05:01 – 1:10:00 | Final Reflections: Grace, Growth & Gratitude #hotels #womeninleadership #sustainability

Discover the inspiring journey of Shivani, a purpose-driven entrepreneur and founder of Nai Miris Hot Sauces, who transformed rejection, motherhood, and postnatal struggles into a thriving global food brand. In this in-depth interview, Shivani shares how she built her business from her kitchen to international markets, the role of resilience, branding, and culture, and her mission to empower women through meaningful work. Perfect for entrepreneurs, foodies, and anyone seeking motivation to pursue their dreams. 📕 Chapters 0:00 – 2:15 Introduction & Shivani’s Vision 2:16 – 5:45 Career Break, Motherhood & Rejection 5:46 – 10:05 The Birth of Miris Hot Sauce 10:06 – 13:55 What Makes Miris Unique 13:56 – 18:40 Courage, Faith & Overcoming Setbacks 18:41 – 23:55 Mothers Returning to Work & Corporate Support 23:56 – 30:35 Postnatal Depression & Mental Health Struggles 30:36 – 34:55 Motherhood Lessons for Business Leadership 34:56 – 40:31 Food as a Bridge Between Communities 40:32 – 46:59 Scaling Up: From Kitchen to Certified Factory 47:00 – 52:52 Staying Authentic & Saying No to Supermarkets 52:53 – 59:06 Branding, Marketing & Storytelling with Purpose 59:07 – 1:04:59 Taking Sri Lankan Flavours Global 1:05:00 – 1:10:55 Finding the Right Partners & Investors 1:10:56 – 1:16:25 The Women Behind Miris & Building a Culture 1:16:26 – 1:19:00 Final Reflections & Shivani’s Message of Hope #founder #srilankan #enterpreneur

🌏 Why Art and Birds Might Be Our Best Hope for Nature Join us for an inspiring 1hr 45min deep dive with Camila De Gregorio, co-founder of Eggpicnic, the award-winning design studio devoted to wildlife conservation through art. From a basket of eggs in Milan to large-scale animations at Vivid Sydney, Camila shares the story behind her iconic bird illustrations, the fight to protect Australia’s endangered species, and how everyday people — not just scientists — can play a role in saving nature. We explore: 🦜 The power of art and storytelling in environmental activism 🪲 Why the Christmas beetle has disappeared from backyards 🌳 How citizen science can save local species 🎨 What goes into making scientifically accurate, emotionally moving art 📱 Why stillness might be the most powerful conservation strategy Whether you're a parent, teacher, artist, bird lover, or climate advocate — this conversation will change the way you see nature and your role in protecting it. #wildlifeconservation #AustralianBirds #endangeredspecies 🐦 Full YouTube Chapter Markers 0:00 – 2:05 – Why Nature Has the Right to Exist 2:06 – 5:52 – Camila’s Childhood Love for Animals & Art 5:53 – 8:04 – How a Basket of Eggs Inspired ‘Eggpicnic’ 8:05 – 10:55 – The Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo That Changed Everything 10:56 – 13:06 – The Wake-Up Call: Australia’s Conservation Crisis 13:07 – 15:10 – Why She Started Drawing Birds in a Tiny Apartment 15:11 – 17:02 – From Bird Drawings to Bird Clubs: Finding Community 17:03 – 18:22 – Why Kids Should Never Lose Their Wonder for Wildlife 18:23 – 20:09 – The Only Reason Adults Should Care About Nature 20:10 – 22:17 – What It Means to Be Present in Nature 22:18 – 24:18 – Conservation Isn’t Remote — It’s in Your Backyard 24:19 – 26:26 – We Say "It" to Animals — Here’s Why That Must Change 26:27 – 28:20 – Heartfelt Emails & Why Art Creates Connection 28:21 – 30:00 – Scientific Accuracy in Wildlife Art Matters 30:01 – 31:11 – How to Say No to Brands That Compromise Your Values 31:12 – 33:38 – The Endangered Bird That Forgot Its Own Song 33:39 – 36:00 – Elephants, Moss, & How We Frame "Inconvenient" Nature 36:01 – 38:00 – Letting Kids Be the ‘Weird Bug Watchers’ We All Need 38:01 – 40:00 – Inside Her Artistic Process: Colors, Shapes, and Science 40:01 – 42:17 – When an Ecologist Asked: Why Did You Draw That Species? 42:18 – 44:15 – Bridging Science and Art to Save the Alpine Ecosystem 44:16 – 46:15 – Which Species Are on the Brink? (And How to Help) 46:16 – 48:07 – Where Did the Christmas Beetles Go? Start Here 48:08 – 50:05 – Citizen Science: You Can Help Save Wildlife at Home 50:06 – 52:00 – Even Loved Parrots Are Facing Extinction 52:01 – 54:00 – Why More Canberrans Need to Know Their Iconic Bird is Endangered 54:01 – 55:56 – How Custom Flock Art Builds Emotional Conservation 55:57 – 58:01 – Is Personalized Art Too Expensive? You’ll Be Surprised 58:02 – 1:00:30 – Augmented Reality, Animation, and Nature-Inspired Tech Art 1:00:31 – 1:03:05 – How Vivid Sydney Became a Temple of Nature 1:03:06 – 1:05:12 – Why Stillness, Not Noise, Is the New Activism 1:05:13 – 1:07:00 – Reframing Conservation Through Hope, Not Guilt 1:07:01 – 1:09:20 – The Magic of Drawing a New Species 1:09:21 – 1:12:03 – How Migration and Movement Influence Her Art 1:12:04 – 1:14:20 – What the Andes Taught Her About Belonging 1:14:21 – 1:17:10 – Cultural Memory, Identity & Losing Home 1:17:11 – 1:19:48 – Why Australia Doesn’t Yet Understand Its Biodiversity Crisis 1:19:49 – 1:22:33 – Naming the Unseen: Birds, Languages, and Power 1:22:34 – 1:24:56 – The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Saving Wildlife 1:24:57 – 1:26:50 – Eggpicnic’s Philosophy: Draw, Educate, Protect 1:26:51 – 1:29:25 – Why Nature Needs Us to Slow Down 1:29:26 – 1:31:33 – From Climate Despair to Creative Action 1:31:34 – 1:34:30 – How to Teach Kids Empathy for the Planet 1:34:31 – 1:37:45 – The Problem with ‘Doomscrolling’ Environmental News 1:37:46 – 1:40:00 – Creating Art That Feels Like a Love Letter to Nature 1:40:01 – 1:42:55 – How Eggpicnic Is Building a Movement, Not a Brand 1:42:56 – 1:45:01 – The Final Message: What Would Nature Ask of Us?

🎤 What does it take to be a stand-up comedian in Sri Lanka? In this powerful 90min conversation, Taniya Lewwanduwage opens up about her journey from a small town schoolgirl struggling with English to becoming one of Sri Lanka’s boldest comedy voices. She shares the reality of women in comedy, facing social media hate, surviving backlash after viral TikToks, and why courage and family support kept her going. From university life and Toastmasters to going viral online, Taniya shows how stand-up can challenge taboo topics in a society that doesn’t always welcome it. 👉 Highlights include: Women in Sri Lankan comedy facing jail and hate Growing up Buddhist and finding creativity in school Role models like Trevor Noah and Vir Das Surviving trolls, bias, and online bullying Mental health and stigma in Sri Lanka Balancing a corporate career with stand-up comedy Why clean, intellectual comedy matters The future of Sri Lankan stand-up This is more than comedy – it’s about courage, resilience, and using laughter to spark change. 🌟 If you care about Sri Lanka, creativity, free expression, and inspiring women, this is a story you must hear. 0:05 – 1:00: Women in comedy facing jail and hate 1:00 – 2:25: Growing up Buddhist and school struggles with English 2:25 – 4:43: Finding creativity through school competitions 4:43 – 7:42: University life and new perspectives in Sri Lanka 7:42 – 11:05: Building confidence and friends at university 11:05 – 13:06: First job, Toastmasters and public speaking 13:06 – 15:51: COVID lockdown – writing comedy from home 15:51 – 18:25: Going viral on TikTok and social media backlash 18:25 – 20:04: Facing stereotypes and attacks online 20:04 – 22:29: Being proud of the journey and inspiring others 22:29 – 24:15: Comedy role models – Trevor Noah, Vir Das and more 24:15 – 27:02: Using stand-up to talk about taboo topics 27:02 – 31:25: Courage, safety and surviving online hate 31:25 – 35:18: Support from family during tough times 35:18 – 39:01: Social media laws, trolls and young people 39:01 – 43:01: Mental health challenges in Sri Lanka 43:01 – 48:05: Social media trolls and bias in society 48:05 – 52:28: Clean comedy and respecting religion 52:28 – 56:07: First open mics and joining comedy clubs 56:07 – 1:01:17: Balancing a corporate job and comedy 1:01:17 – 1:04:43: Risks of stand-up comedy in Sri Lanka 1:04:43 – 1:09:01: Joy of comedy and making people laugh 1:09:01 – 1:13:06: Media interviews and respect for comedians 1:13:06 – 1:18:20: The hard work behind stand-up comedy 1:18:20 – 1:24:30: Staying authentic and true to your message 1:24:30 – 1:31:00: Comedy as self-healing and resilience 1:31:00 – 1:38:00: Future of stand-up in Sri Lanka and hope #srilanka #standupcomedy #socialmediabacklash

In this raw and powerful episode, I sit down with journalist, radio presenter, content creator and awesome human - Sammy Rose — whose story goes far beyond the Instagram highlight reel. From growing up in Goulburn to landing her dream media job, Sammy shares the unfiltered truth behind building a personal brand, navigating heartbreak, and finding purpose in a hyper-connected world. But behind her success is a deeper journey — one marked by health scares, therapy, and transformation. 00:00 - 02:42 Intro 02:42 - 05:12 How Sammy Started 'Taylor Talk' and Found Her Creative Voice 05:12 - 10:15 Building Confidence as a Fashion Blogger from a Small Town 10:15 - 12:45 Finding Your Authentic Voice in Journalism & Social Media 12:45 - 15:20 Being Real Online: Body Image, Humour & Owning Your Chins 15:20 - 17:50 Online Criticism, Confidence & Lessons from Radio Mentors 17:50 - 20:21 Unsolicited DMs, Thick Skin & When to Laugh It Off 20:21 - 22:54 Getting a Job by Knocking Doors (Literally) 22:54 - 25:25 How Sammy’s Parents Shaped Her Confidence & Ambition 25:25 - 28:02 Racing Mustangs & Running Cafés: Meet Mum & Dad 28:02 - 30:33 Carol’s Wall of Kindness: A Masterclass in Community 30:33 - 33:09 Reconnecting With Your Inner Child Through Clothes & Music 33:09 - 35:39 What Real Love Looks Like (And What It Doesn’t) 35:45 - 38:10 Heartbreak Lessons: Why Calm Love Is Worth Waiting For 38:10 - 40:44 Tinder, Hinge & The Emotional Rollercoaster of Modern Dating 40:44 - 43:20 Filter Fails & Finding Confidence on Your Own Terms 43:20 - 45:51 Managing Public Persona vs Private Pain 45:51 - 48:27 Scheduling Sloth Time: Realistic Burnout Recovery 48:27 - 50:59 Building Your Own Coping Tools With Professional Help 50:59 - 53:34 The Health Scare That Changed Everything 53:34 - 56:08 What the Pill Warning Labels Don’t Say Loud Enough 56:08 - 58:41 Women’s Health Advocacy Starts With Stories Like This 58:41 - 01:01:05 Fatigue, Frustration & Why You Must Trust Your Gut 01:01:05 - 01:04:00 What the ACT Health System Got Right (and Where It Must Improve) 01:04:00 - 01:09:30 Puberty, Acne & the Emotional Toll of Skin Challenges 01:09:30 - 01:12:00 The Power of People: Laughter, Friendship & Finding Your Tribe 01:12:00 - 01:14:30 Toxic Workplaces vs Supportive Colleagues in Media 01:14:30 - 01:17:00 Making Mistakes in Public & Learning to Let Go of Perfection 01:17:00 - 01:19:45 Growth, Grief & Why Vulnerability Makes You a Better Mentor 01:19:45 - 01:22:30 Quiet Success: Redefining Achievement in Your 30s 01:22:30 - 01:25:00 Budget Fashion: Creating Elegance Without Breaking the Bank 01:25:00 - 01:27:30 Finding the Right Therapist (And Knowing When It’s Not Working) 01:27:30 - 01:30:00 Balancing a Public Profile with Private Healing 01:30:00 - 01:33:00 How Women in Their 30s Rebuild Confidence After Setbacks 01:33:00 - 01:36:00 Navigating Career, Relationships & Health Without Losing Yourself 01:36:00 - 01:39:00 Women’s Stories Are Powerful: Why Sharing Saves Lives 01:39:00 - 01:42:00 Embracing Imperfection: From Instagram Aesthetics to Real Life 01:42:00 - 01:45:00 Why Kindness, Coffee & Community Still Matter 01:45:00 - 01:48:00 The Strength in Slowing Down: Choosing Peace Over Hustle 01:48:00 - 01:51:06 Outro 🎧 What we cover in this episode: 📰 How Sammy hustled her way into journalism and media 💔 The challenges of modern dating, heartbreak & starting over 🧠 Therapy, self-discovery, and healing in your 20s 💊 The terrifying moment she was hospitalised with lung clots caused by the contraceptive pill 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The power of family, growing up in a small town & the Roses Café legacy 💡 How she built an authentic online presence in a filtered world If you’re navigating the chaos of adulthood, chasing a creative career, or simply want to feel less alone — this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. 🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations with creators, entrepreneurs, and rule-breakers redefining success on their own terms. #MentalHealthAwareness #WomenInMedia #ContraceptivePillTruths #ModernDatingStruggles