Sher Vancouver Podcast

In this special wrap-up episode, we reflect on our four-year podcasting journey together. Anu Pala, podcast mentor and editor, guides us through a heartfelt review of our episodes, memorable moments, and the incredible guests we’ve had the opportunity to meet through this platform. Join us as we share what podcasting truly takes, offer some behind-the-scenes stories, and express our deepest gratit...

To end our podcast journey, we invite a trained Indian Classical Vocalist who has been singing and performing Kirtan since the age of 9 years. His talent was recognized in the Sikh Community in April 2010 where his music and chanting started being celebrated by the community all over the world. He is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher and aspiring to bring awareness around LGBTQI in the South Asia...

We speak with Khushi, also known as Bad Shah, Canada's first Bollywood drag king. Khushi shares her journey as an international student from Mumbai to Victoria, BC, and how she found drag as an outlet to cope with the move. Her drag persona, Bad Shah, has become an icon among the South Asian LGBTQ+ community, making history by bringing representation and breaking barriers. Tune in to learn wh...

We speak with Jason Pillay, a queer Indo-Fijian who has made his mark in the Vancouver Fashion scene. Jason Pillay is his own brand and he shares his hustle journey of attending fashion school to becoming a well-known stylist in Vancouver who got to style Ashanti in her latest movie! He has worked on many sets in Vancouver’s Hollywood and beyond. Jason’s unique approach to style has graced countle...

We speak with Syd and Dee Gill, a mother-daughter duo who are on a mission to empower queer and trans individuals to be proud and live their authentic lives. Syd Gill works at Qmunity - BC’s largest Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Resource center, as the fundraising coordinator. She is also on the board for the Vancouver Dyke March. Dee Gill is a clinical counsellor with over 30 years of experience an...

Harjant Gill is an award-winning filmmaker and associate professor of anthropology at Towson University in Washington DC. Dr. Gill’s research and films explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, religion, citizenship, transnationality and notions of belonging with a particular focus on Indian and diasporic masculinities. His films on Indian masculinity have been screened at film festivals, ac...

We speak with Norma Lize, a trans activist and refugee advocate from Lebanon who has received awards for her advocacy work. We learn about refugee settlement into Canada and what that journey entails especially for LGBTQ+ individuals who are forced to leave their homes due to threats,  violence, and imprisonment. Norma shares her personal story as a refugee and her journey moving into Canada as a...

Rahat Saini is an actor, storyteller, and comedian. Rahat is an actor in Make Me A Match , Hallmark's very first South Asian story! This movie touches on Indian Matchmaking with a twist.  She also starred in the play Unexpecting, a production by Zee Zee Theatre, which celebrates queer love and provides insights into the realities of modern motherhood. Rahat is making herself visible and takin...

Parminder Kaur Swaich is a Punjabi writer, social activist, and poet. She is dedicated and passionate about literature and has written 5 books. She writes and directs plays about important deep rooted issues in our Punjabi culture that no one likes to talk about - rape, drugs, addictions, and female infanticide. She is a powerful, fearless, Punjabi Sikh activist who is ready to stand up for margin...

Baltej Singh Dhillon became the first turbaned Royal Canadian Mounties Officer (RCMP) officer in 1991 after a long national debate about making religious accommodations to the uniform . Being the first Sikh officer with a turban led to a long journey of being proactive and teaching others acceptance of the Sikhi faith. Baltej understands what it feels to be targeted and attacked for being himself...

For our Season 2 closer, we bring you a very special guest who is massively popular with over 550K subscribers on YouTube under the name PRINCESSJOULES. Julie Vu is a transgender activist, model, content creator, and entrepreneur. She started her YouTube journey in 2013 where she became one of the first people to share her personal stories of transitioning and documented her transition from male t...

 We speak with Bianca Maieli who is a DJ/Producer born and raised in Los Angeles. She has both South Indian and Caribbean Colombian roots and uses her multiple identities to create her unique music sounds. She has worked with notable clients such as Nike, Spotify, Adidas & Samsung. Bianca Maieli represents a global dance sound, and has been making waves internationally. She is one of the co-fo...

We speak with Agata Matyszczuk who works for Coast Mountain Bus Company as a transit operator and was the LGBTQ+ rep with her union UNIFOR. She was also elected to the BC Regional LGBTQ+ committee representing all BC locals. With this work, she helped organize the Pride float in Vancouver Pride and marched in many prides across BC through her union. Agata was also part of the first LGBTQ+ group to...

We sit with two trailblazers who are paving the way for queer Asian excellence in Vancouver. Van Dang is a gender-fluid, queer, Asian revolutionist who founded Ricecake in 2018 when they saw a lack of safe spaces for queer Asians. Bella, part DJ, part Event Producer, and part of the non-binary revolution, joined forces with Van as the house DJ. Together, with their combined expertise they bring yo...

We speak with Finn Liu, a high school transgender Chinese student who is on a mission to spread awareness and inclusion for trans-identifying individuals within the Asian community. Currently in the 11th grade, Finn is heavily involved in and out of school and in extra-curriculars defying a typical high school student's schedule. Finn's resiliency and driven attitude is what got him sele...

We speak with Surrey-based queer filmmaker and floral designer, Ritesh Matlani. Born and raised in Dubai, Ritesh shares with us his journey into filmmaking in Canada and his immigration struggles as an international student. Ritesh's films center around immigration, queerness, and BIPOC voices. Join us to learn about Ritesh's path into living an authentic life.

We speak with Sameer Ismail, president of Vancouver Friends For Life Society, a holistic wellness centre that provides many services to help people who face the challenges of HIV/AIDS, and other serious illnesses. Our intention is to educate and inform, because knowledge conquers fear. Join us to learn important factual information about HIV, and let's help end HIV stigma and discrimination w...

We speak with Annie Ohana, a proud public-school educator and Indigenous Department Head at LA Matheson Secondary. She is an Anti Oppression Curriculum Specialist and a devoted community activist. Annie founded and directs Mustang Justice, an Anti Oppression and Justice oriented youth service Leadership group, which is now in its 10th year. If you feel you want to agitate and organize our current...

We speak with Saattvic, an equal rights activist and currently one of the petitioners before the Delhi High Court seeking the legalization of same-sex marriage in India.  We discuss Bollywood, love, coming out, and learn from an economist's point of view the importance of LGBTQIA+ folks to remain in their home country. 

We are back for Season 2 and are starting off with a banger. For our first episode, we sit and chat with two Bollywood Queens from Punjab, India. Jolene Queen Sloan and Ra are making history in Vancouver as they are bringing in representation of drag in the South Asian LGBTQ+ community.  Join us as we learn what it takes to be a Queen beyond the glitz and glamour, what drag means to each of them,...

In our final episode for Season 1, we have the privilege to sit down with two supportive and fearless moms who are strong advocates of their LGBTQ+ child.  Neelam is Angit’s mom who we have had on the podcast, and Rajwant is Jag Nagra’s mom.  We learn about their experience and journey  when finding out their child is queer. These two loving moms share their raw, unfiltered stories with us.  We ha...

In our ninth episode, we sit down with the unapologetic and poetic Guntaj Deep Singh. Born and raised in Punjab, India, Guntaj Deep Singh is a Vancouver based, self-taught queer artist who nourishes his imagination through his passion for fusing art and poetry. He was one of the artists who painted a beautiful Punjab mural in the Punjabi Market on Main Street. Join us as we dive deep with Guntaj a...

In our eighth episode, we speak with Angit & Joshna who are happily married and on a mission to bring hope, and the much-needed and valued representation for QTBIPOC folks. These two have recently shared their queer story on their Instagram page @Sukarsuu. Angit is a queer Punjabi Sikh woman who is working on providing representation for Queer Sikhs and Joshna identifies as a queer Gujarati wo...

In our seventh episode, we speak with Nhylar, the creative director and founder of Queer Art Exchange. Nhylar is a passionate community builder for queer and trans folks and creates safe spaces for folks to share their art, music, poetry, and visuals arts. Currently, Nhylar is involved with building events through Queer Art Exchange, Queer Mango, and Transgender Expression Haven. At these events,...

In our sixth episode, we speak with a soulful musician, Alysha Brilla. Alysha is a queer, femme BIPOC artist, singer, songwriter, producer, and activist. She is on a mission to heal the world with her music and lyrics.  We learn about Alysha Brilla’s musical journey and how leaving a label record, led her to become the first female in Canada to have ever received multiple Juno Award nominations fo...