In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Rasmita Kerung, the founder of Sarir Poshak, a sustainable sari brand celebrating traditional handloom craftsmanship. Rasmita shares her journey of moving from Nepal to the UK as a teenager, navigating a new culture, and eventually launching a business that reconnects her with her roots. We explore the rich history of the sari, the importance of sustainable fashion, and how she balances multiple careers alongside the pressures of modern womanhood.

What You’ll Discover

- Preserving Tradition Through Sustainable Fashion: Why Rasmita chose to focus on handmade, organic cotton saris, and how handloom craftsmanship supports artisans while fighting back against fast fashion.

- Reclaiming the Sari for a New Generation: Breaking the stigma that saris are only for married women or special occasions, and simple ways younger women can embrace this elegant, versatile garment.

- Juggling Multiple Passions: How Rasmita balances life as a dental nurse, a home salon owner, and a sustainable fashion entrepreneur, all while navigating the cultural expectations placed on South Asian women.

Whether you are looking to reconnect with your own heritage, curious about the art of the handloom, or trying to balance multiple passions in your 30s, Rasmita’s story is a beautiful reminder that our roots can be the ultimate foundation for our future.

Connect with Rasmita Kerung

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Moniza Hossain, a children's author whose recent book, Ritu and the Sun, explores the deep-seated issue of colourism through a child's lens. We dive into the historical roots of skin-tone prejudice, how it manifests globally from Bollywood to social media algorithms, and why unlearning these biases is essential for the next generation.

What You’ll Discover

- The Roots of Colourism: How deeply ingrained prejudices from colonialism and classism continue to quietly influence beauty standards, self-worth, and opportunity within our own communities.

- The Impact on the Next Generation: Why children internalise harmful beliefs about their skin tone from a shockingly young age, and how adults can gently unlearn and dismantle these inherited biases.

- Empowerment Through Literature: The vital importance of diverse representation in children's books, and how stories can equip young people with the tools to celebrate their natural beauty.

Colourism is not just an external battle; it is often passed down by those who love us most, out of a misplaced desire to protect us from a prejudiced world. By bringing these conversations into the light and providing our children with stories that reflect their true worth, we can begin to break the cycle for good.

Books Mentioned:

- Ritu and the Sun by Moniza Hossain

- Bad Things Happened Here by Moniza Hossain

- Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

- Farah's Nose by Humera Malik

- Made for More by Chloe Ito Ward

- Watercress by Andrea Wang

- Discworld by Terry Pratchett

- Persuasion by Jane Austen

- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Connect with Moniza Hussain:

Website | Instagram

Buy Moniza Hussain's Books

Amazon | Good Reads

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Nisha Jandu, an integrative therapist and founder of Inner Space Therapy, alongside my Aunt Rekha (you will hear me say Rekha Masi - which means maternal aunt in my language!), for a deeply honest, cross-generational conversation. We explore the heavy expectations placed on South Asian women, the invisible strings of duty and people-pleasing, and why culturally nuanced therapy is essential for true healing.

What You’ll Discover

- Breaking the "Good Girl" Narrative: How the pressure to be compliant, quiet, and constantly accommodating shapes our identities, and why unlearning this conditioning is vital for mental health.

- Navigating Guilt and Boundaries: Why saying "no" feels so unsafe to our nervous systems, and how to tolerate the discomfort of setting boundaries without abandoning your own needs.

- The Power of Culturally Nuanced Therapy: Why generic mental health approaches often fall short for South Asian women, and the freedom that comes from working with a therapist who truly understands your cultural background.

Whether you are an eldest daughter carrying the weight of your family's expectations, or someone simply trying to figure out what you actually want out of life, this episode is a reminder that it is never too late to dream bigger and reclaim your voice.

Connect with Nisha Jandu:

Instagram | Inner Space Therapy

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with personal stylist and author Neelam Mistry to explore how personal style goes far beyond fashion - it is about identity, confidence, and giving yourself permission to be seen. We dive deep into the duality of dressing as a woman of the diaspora, the unlearning of harmful body narratives, and how to blend Eastern and Western wardrobes to fully express your personality.

What You’ll Discover

- The Three Pillars of Personal Style: Why understanding your body, the psychology of colour, and your unique self-expression are the true foundations of a great wardrobe.

- Navigating the Diaspora Gaze: How to unlearn Eurocentric beauty standards and reclaim your confidence by blending your Eastern and Western cultural identities.

- Curating with Intention: Practical advice on moving away from fast fashion, organising your wardrobe seasonally, and using platforms like Pinterest to build a style that makes you feel truly visible.

Whether you are trying to figure out how to repurpose your wedding outfits or simply want to break away from an all-black wardrobe, this conversation will inspire you to step into your full power and dress for yourself.

Connect with Neelam Mistry:

Instagram | Website | Adorn Narrative

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with the incredible Jaz Rabadia MBE, a trailblazing engineer and one of the UK’s most influential voices in sustainability. Jaz shares her inspiring journey from navigating her ‘Brindian’ heritage and overcoming A-level setbacks to accidentally discovering her passion for energy management.

What You’ll Discover:

- Engineering Your Own Path: How Jaz turned a university dissertation at Sainsbury’s into a highly successful corporate career and eventually earned an MBE for her advocacy.

- Navigating Infertility in Silence: The emotional toll of undergoing IVF while climbing the corporate ladder, and why sharing your most vulnerable moments can build powerful communities.

- The Power of an Intentional Inhale: Why stepping back from the corporate grind at 40 became a necessary pivot to reclaim energy, redefine success, and make space for what truly matters.

Whether you are trying to break into a male-dominated industry, quietly navigating a personal struggle, or simply trying to figure out how to blend a high-powered career with family life, Jaz's big sister energy and hard-won wisdom will leave you feeling inspired to shine anyway.

Connect with Jaz Rabadia MBE:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Blog

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with the incredible Dr. Anjelli Wignakumar, a British doctor who successfully matched into general surgery at NYU. We dive deep into her journey from completing her foundation training in London to navigating the intense USMLE exams, securing a research fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, and ultimately conquering the US Match process.

What You’ll Discover:

- Mastering the USMLE Exams: Practical advice on the best resources, how to effectively use Anki, and why consistency beats cramming every time.

- Navigating the Match Process: A behind-the-scenes look at the interview trail, including why you should always check your junk mail and what programme directors are really looking for.

- Building a Life Abroad: The realities of moving across the pond, from dealing with initial anxiety and finding your "US family" to navigating the cultural differences in American dating.

If you have ever considered taking a massive leap in your career or if you just need a reminder that your hard work will eventually bear fruit - this conversation is for you.

Connect with Anjelli Wignakumar:

LinkedIn | Instagram

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Charan Dhesi, the first Sikh female professional boxer in the UK, and honestly, her story stayed with me long after we finished recording. From starting out as a shy kid in Hull to becoming a national champion and now stepping into the professional boxing world, Charan shares what it really takes to pursue a dream in a space where you don’t often see people who look like you. 

What You’ll Discover

- From Shy Kid to Champion: How Charan went from standing quietly at the edge of a boxing gym to becoming number one in England by her fifth fight. 

- The Reality of Elite Discipline: Four training sessions a day, strict routines, and the sacrifices required to compete at the highest level. 

- Faith as Fuel: How her Sikh faith grounds her, drives her resilience, and keeps her focused through setbacks and pressure. 

What really stood out to me in this conversation is the contrast between who Charan was and who she’s become. There’s something incredibly powerful about hearing someone describe themselves as the “quiet girl” at school, someone who kept to herself, and then seeing the strength, clarity, and confidence she carries today. But what’s even more inspiring is that underneath all of that is still humility, discipline, and a deep sense of purpose.

This isn’t just a story about boxing. It’s about identity, sacrifice, and believing in yourself even when the path isn’t obvious. If you’ve ever doubted whether you have what it takes to pursue something big, this episode will challenge that.

Connect with Charan Dhesi

Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, we go beyond the headlines and accolades to talk about what success actually looks like behind the scenes. From receiving an OBE to juggling life, work, and caring for loved ones, this is an honest, emotional, and deeply human conversation that I know will resonate with so many of you.

What You’ll Discover

- The Reality Behind Recognition: Jasmine shares what receiving an OBE really felt like, including the complex emotions around identity, representation, and what that honour truly means.

- The Hidden Load of Caregiving: From red carpets to hospital corridors, we explore the unseen reality of balancing high-profile careers with caring for ageing parents.

- Stop Apologising, Start Owning Space: A powerful reminder that women need to stop shrinking themselves and start speaking up with confidence in every room they enter.

What stayed with me most from this conversation is just how universal these experiences are, even when they look completely different on the surface. Jasmine’s honesty about the pressures, the patience required, and the emotional weight of caregiving really hit home. It’s a reminder that no matter how successful someone appears, there’s always more going on beneath the surface and a lot of strength that doesn’t get seen.

If you’re navigating your own version of this, whether it’s career pressure, family responsibilities, or just figuring out how to take up space without apology, I hope this episode makes you feel a little less alone and a lot more empowered.

Connect with Jasmine Dotiwala

Website, Linkedin, Instagram and X.

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this first part of our conversation on The Brown Girl Blueprint, Jasmine joins me to reflect on her journey from growing up in West London navigating identity and belonging, to building a remarkable career across MTV, the BBC, Channel 4 and Netflix. We talk about how she carved out space in an industry that didn’t always reflect people like her and the experiences that shaped the voice she brings to media today.

What You'll Discover

- Identity and Roots: Jasmine shares how growing up British with Parsi Zoroastrian heritage shaped her perspective on culture, belonging and storytelling.

- Building a Media Career: The early steps that led her from West London into the world of broadcasting and interviewing global music icons.

- Representation That Matters: Why Jasmine believes visibility and opening doors for others is essential for the next generation coming into media.

What I loved about this conversation is Jasmine’s honesty about the journey behind the headlines. The big interviews and industry recognition are impressive, but what really stands out is her determination to stay authentic and lift others along the way.

This is just the first part of our conversation, and it sets the stage for even more insights in part two.

Connect with Jasmine Dotiwala

Website, Linkedin, Instagram and X.

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

With an impressive career in automotive engineering, including roles at Bentley Motors and McLaren Automotive, Krishna has led high-performance projects from concept through to launch — all while carving her path as an Asian woman in a male-dominated industry.

We dive into what it really takes to find your voice, build confidence, and create financial and professional freedom in spaces that weren’t designed for you. They talk about navigating workplace culture, challenging stereotypes, and the importance of mentoring the next generation of women in STEM.

We talk about building financial freedom, finding confidence in male dominated spaces, and using your voice boldly when you’ve earned a seat at the table.

This episode is such an inspiring deep dive into about what it takes to thrive in a male-dominated industry, the power of representation, and how Krishna’s carving her own blueprint for success — and helping others do the same.

Connect with Krishna:

LinkedIn | Instagram

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I wanted to understand how she actually did it: moving from India to the UK, retraining from scratch, building a complex surgical career and raising two children with very little family nearby. What came through most was her calm belief that hard work, respect and the right partner can carry you through seasons that are anything but easy.

What We Explore

- Destiny & Graft: How Priya went from almost choosing engineering to falling in love with anatomy, “accidentally” landing in ENT, and then rebuilding her surgical career from the ground up after moving to the UK.

- Motherhood & Partnership: The reality of having two surgeons in one household, navigating sick babies, postpartum depression, au pairs, and why she believes real partnership is rarely 50-50 and always rooted in respect.

- ENT Myths & Joys: Her take on ear infections, nasal strips and “selective hearing,” the goriest foreign bodies she’s seen, Bollywood in theatre, and why she still gets a stress spike on her heart-rate monitor when she operates.

Spending this time with Priya reminded me that a “big” life is usually built quietly, through years of small, consistent choices and a refusal to shy away from hard work. I hope her story gives you permission to define success on your own terms, ask for the support you need, and keep hold of your dreams even when the path bends. Thanks for listening and being here with us.

Connect with Priya

Connect with Priya on LinkedIn.

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode of The Brown Girl Blueprint, I sit down with Ela, founder of Cook Eat Joy, about her Gujarati roots blended with East African influences, the joy of reconnecting with heritage through food, and how she built a business teaching home-style Indian cooking after 20 years as a teacher.

What We Explore

- Heritage & Identity: Born in London with Gujarati grandparents and East African parents - how Swahili words and flavours shaped her world. 

- Career Pivot: Why she left teaching in 2019 to start Cook Eat Joy, focusing on whole-food, plant-based Gujarati home cooking. 

- Building the Business: From home classes and supper clubs to navigating COVID takeaways - plus advice for anyone dreaming of a bold change.

Ela’s story is a reminder that food connects us to our roots and each other – if you love cooking, culture, or career reinvention, this one’s pure inspiration.

Learn more about Cook Eat Joy:

Website | Facebook

Connect with Ela:

LinkedIn | Instagram

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

In this episode, I sit down with Eleena, a powerhouse barrister and King's Counsel who's shattered ceilings in the legal world. We talk about everything from navigating cultural identity as an Asian woman in law, to the breakthroughs that got her where she is today, and the honest realities of balancing a high-stakes career with family life.

It's a chat full of wisdom, laughs, and that unfiltered inspiration I love bringing to you.

What We Explore

- Cultural Identity in the Courtroom: Eleena shares how being an Asian woman shaped her path – the challenges, the triumphs, and why representation matters so much.

- Career Breakthroughs & Barriers: From early struggles to becoming KC, the key moments that propelled her forward (and the ones that tested her resolve).

- Work-Life Wisdom: Honest advice on mentorship, boundaries, and why there's a season for everything in building a life you love.

Eleena's story is a reminder that bold, brilliant Asian women are out there making waves and you can too. If you're chasing your own breakthroughs, this one's for you.

Connect with Eleena:

LinkedIn

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The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.

As women, especially minority women, there’s this constant pressure to achieve, to exceed, to prove our worth. So I’ve been searching for who I am beyond the job title - from my roots to my soul.

I’m Dr. Tulsi Patel, a British-born Gujarati Indian junior doctor in London. I know how rare it is to see Asian women represented in certain spaces. That’s why I created The Brown Girl Blueprint - a podcast celebrating inspiring Asian women who are breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible.

Through honest conversations, we’ll explore identity, ambition and cultural pride. Because there’s no single way to be an Asian woman. Every story matters.

The Brown Girl Blueprint is produced by Urban Podcasts.