Heartistry

We loved this conversation with Sabah Bano Malik who shared her unique story of moving from west to east, and making Pakistan not just home away from home, but truly home base. Once in Pakistan, @sabahbanomalik has endeavored into a role in multimedia journalism, hosting her own radio show, modeling as Pakistan’s first plus size model, becoming an author, and she is a dynamic and overall person on...

We all know representation matters, and our conversation with this week’s guest is a perfect example of exactly that. Dr. Anne Huang is the Executive Director of World Arts West, a 45 year old arts organization that supports cultural artists sustaining the world’s diverse dance traditions. As the first person of color and a cultural artist to lead the organization, annehuang29 has led @worldartswe...

Fashion has the potential to make a statement - sometimes literally!  This week’s guest is Salman Parekh - founder of Manto @wearmanto - a Pakistani born fashion label with a touch of the traditional, delivered on contemporary terms. Manto is bold and eye-catching, with an unapologetically rebellious streak. We loved having the chance to hear from Salman @maansals - a storyteller, psychology-marke...

@auratmarch is a grassroots movement in Pakistan advocating for gender equality and rights of gender-based minorities, challenging patriarchal norms and promoting inclusivity, diversity, and intersectionality. Through peaceful protests, advocacy campaigns, and community engagement, they aim to raise awareness about gender-based violence, discrimination, and other issues faced by women and marginal...

Bina Shah is a force, to say the least. Author of six novels, including “Before She Sleeps” (a selection in @lillyslibrary ) and “The Monsoon War”and two collections of short stories. Self proclaimed “writer with a global soul”, Bina’s work is recognized and sought out globally - as a commentator on women’s rights and female empowerment in Pakistan and across Muslim countries, and as a regular wri...

What if we could all be colonized by art (in a good way)?! This is but one of the many aspirations of Saad Sheikh, the co-founder of The Colony in Lahore, Pakistan. This conversation between @thesaadsheikh and @farahyasmeenshaikh took place during Farah’s recent tour, and there are so many moments throughout this episode that will leave you feeling inspired, rejuvenated and hopeful.

Doing away with the male gaze, but how?! Through the female gaze of course! Season 5 kicks off with a powerhouse heARTivist! Meet Marium Kamal - Pakistan based artist, feminist and entrepreneur. Though a graduate of a renowned arts institution in Karachi, Pakistan, it was the unlearning that Marium did, and her ability to channel her anger and frustration of the male gaze, that led her to her true...

Barkha and Shachi are NYC based dance artists themselves, and we loved hearing from them about their why, what, how, AND their ability to revise their approach as they continue on this path with Angaan. 

We continue to be impressed by the depth and thoughtfulness of The Citizens Foundation @tcfpak to not just offer access to high quality education to children, but also fosters a sense of community involvement in the various areas of which the schools exist. @tcfusa @tcssfbayarea

Vidya Murlidhar @vidyamurlidhar is a Conscious Parenting Coach, Author and Creative Writing teacher. This conversation feels even more poignant in current times, as many navigate various aspects of parenting and teaching.

“I feel that my work is now a combination of maintaining my tradition and lineage, while at times going beyond it into the world of contemporary, and in the process leaving my stamp on the evolution of Sarod and its music.” - Alam Khan This conversation with @alamsarode on the @heartistrytalkshow hosted by @farahyasmeenshaikh resonates on so many levels - for artists, creatives, those following in...

A fascinating conversation sharing the personal and professional journey of humanitarian and human rights advocate, My Lo Cook @ed_shadhika . My has worked with institutions like The Center for Victims of Torture, Human Rights Watch, and Polaris to address the world’s most pressing and complex issues, and is now the Executive Director of Shadhika a non profit organization whose work is to address...

From motherhood, the power (and challenge) of saying no, happily choosing more than one path, AND creating artistic projects and presentations that foster youth taking pride in their culture - hear it all in our conversation with Rasika Kumar 

Every artist’s journey is uniquely theirs, and we loved hearing about Melissa Sondhi’s, and why, as she says, “she works so hard.” Melissa is starring as Juliet in the current production of Opera San José’s @operasanjose Romeo and Juliet (running until Sept 24) as one of the title characters, and she is also one of the first-ever Wadhwani Artist-in-Residence for a South Bay opera company. 

Purvi Shah identified a way to leverage her training and a career in design, along with a hard-won experience in dealing with pediatric cancer, and turned it into a compassion project. As Executive Director of Kids & Art Foundation @kidsandartorg Purvi helps families confront the disease by teaming children touched by cancer with artists. Purvi founded Kids & Art in 2008 after her son Amae...

Drasti is a dynamic dancer, with a foundation of training and experience in Bharatanatyam, and a performing artist known for her energy, dramatic expressions, and versatility of Eastern and Western dance forms. Hear about Drasti’s journey with dance, dispelling the myth of “starting late” and the deeply personal and relatable topic of her upcoming full-length work “Paheli: The Riddle of Motherhood...

Based in Karachi, Sajeer Shaikh @sajeershaikh is a journalist, poet, content creator and consultant with 8 years of experience in digital and print media in Pakistan. Her writing is both witty and reflective, often using a bit of levity to call out the realities of minorities and provoke an awareness that might otherwise be ignored. When Sajeer is not writing, she’s busy making and consuming memes...

Sometimes the road you plan to take, leads you to the road you’re meant to take. This week’s guest is a perfect example of exactly that! Priyasha Shah @priyashashah is the founder and CEO of Sakhya @shopsakhya a peer-to-peer South Asian fashion resale marketplace and community which aims to finally create a hub for sustainable and accessible South Asian fashion. Priyasha began Sakhya after witness...

Hajra Khan @hajrakhan.14 is not only a PHENOMENAL Athlete and the former captain of the Pakistan National Football Team, as well as a three-time Guinness World Record holder, she is also an advocate for gender equality in sports, a mental health for athletes, AND a mental health ambassador for British Asian Trust. This conversation is inspiring as we hear about Hajra’s drive and discipline, while...

When someone follows their calling, is it fair to call it both kismat and being the recipient of the right kind of support and encouragement? We think so! Hear Humayun Memon @humayunmemon share about his journey as an artist in Pakistan, and both how it was his early exposure to art that inspired him, as well as the wonderful combination of family support, AND the encouragement of teachers who kne...

ome might call this week’s guest a “quadruple threat” as Radha Mehta is a Film Director, Producer, Composer & Painter. Though we don’t disagree, we prefer to say that Radha is oozing with heARTistic inspiration!

Mehar Khursheed @curlistani Pakistan based social justice advocate, has been getting her into all sorts of [GOOD] trouble for a very long time - which we love! Wondering how? Listen on Heartistry 🎙 With Mehar’s strong convictions on social, political, legal, and environmental issues truly being her passion, she reflects in this excerpt from her conversation with Farah about how, as she puts it, us...

You’ve likely heard of the fabulous Jikaria sisters, and next week is your chance to really get to know 1/3 of the trio - Omika Jikaria! Omika Jikaria @omikajikaria is a business strategy consultant, meditation teacher, yoga and reiki energy healing practitioner, and dancer. In addition to putting out positive and inspirational content through dance with the @jikariasister Omika is passionate abou...

This week’s guest, Haider Ali Shah, is a true heARTivist. Hear Haider’s insights as they reflect on their unique upbringing in a Pashtoon village in Pakistan. Now a semi classical performing artist, a writer and a director, Haider’s stories are socially motivated with a deep belief in the power of expression, and tries to use their own voice to help those who may not have the freedom to do so for...

This week’s guest, Afshaan Haroon Jafri, aims to empower people to reconnect with their healthiest, happiest selves through their own mind-gut connection. Afshaan is a mother, an Institute of Integrative Nutrition-certified holistic health coach, and a L1 reiki practitioner, with a deep understanding of a holistic approach to health and its impact on the mind and body. Based in Karachi, Pakistan,...