Changing Suits

In this podcast episode titled "Generations of Gratitude," hosts Bal and Taj engage in a candid conversation about our everyday neglect of acknowledging those around us, including parents, the community, and the investments of time and energy from others.  Through personal anecdotes and unfiltered dialogue, they explore the often under-appreciated dynamics within the South Asian context....

In this captivating episode of Changing Suits podcast, hosts Bal and Taj sit down with the hilarious and insightful comedian, Shazia Mirza.  They delve into Shazia's extraordinary journey into the world of comedy, exploring how she broke stereotypes and found her unique comedic voice.  Together, they discuss the cultural norms within the South Asian community and the generational differences...

In this episode of Changing Suits, join hosts Bal and Taj as they engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Bal Sandhu, an NHS Diabetes Specialist Service Manager and a dedicated humanitarian with Khalsa Aid.  Together, they shed light on the often-overlooked struggles of educated and accomplished South Asian women. Bal Sandhu shares her experiences and insights into how the South Asian comm...

In this special anniversary episode of Changing Suits, your hosts Bal and Taj take a heartfelt journey down memory lane as they mark a significant milestone - 2 years of thought-provoking conversations and impactful storytelling. Join them as they reminisce about the highs and lows of their podcasting journey, sharing personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes moments that have shaped Changing Suits...

Join us for a lively podcast episode with hosts Bal and Taj, where they unravel the fascinating journey of parenting across generations. Bal and Taj share their amusing experiences and genuine insights into the shifts they've encountered while raising kids in today's world, contrasting with their own upbringing. From time-tested traditions to navigating the uncharted waters of technology...

Join hosts Bal and Taj as they engage in an eye-opening dialogue with Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, a brilliant mind in cultural studies. Unpack the intricate layers of how colonialism's far-reaching effects continue to shape our world today. Explore how power dynamics, identity, and cultural heritage have been influenced by historical events, leaving a lasting impact on our society. Get ready for a dee...

Step back in time with us as we uncover the forgotten voices of South Asian history in this week's episode. Join hosts Bal and Taj as they engage in a captivating conversation with Rahman Shahida, a historical fiction author. Rahman Shahida takes us on a mesmerising journey of discovery, shining a light on the overlooked tales of Lascars and Ayahs during British colonialism. Through her power...

In this powerful episode of Changing Suits, hosts Bal and Taj sit down with Nav Sohanpal, founder of @nav_corporate_wellbeing, to discuss her journey through anxiety, stress, and panic attacks. Nav candidly shares how she conquered these challenges and now helps others do the same. Unveiling the impact of culture on anxiety, this conversation is a profound exploration of mental health and resilien...

In this week's hilarious episode "Sister, Sister," join Bal and Taj as they fearlessly delve into the raw realities of working together. With unfiltered honesty, they navigate the challenges that come with sibling collaboration, from moments of weariness to the delicate balance of intertwining personal and professional lives.  TUNE IN for a perfect blend of humour and professionalis...

Join hosts Bal and Taj as they engage in a powerful conversation with Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, a survivor of endometriosis, shedding light on the challenges faced within the South Asian community.  Dr. Kaur fearlessly shares her personal journey of enduring excruciating pain, navigating cultural barriers, and the arduous path towards diagnosis and treatment.  This impactful episode explores the intersec...

Does the South Asian culture hold women back from climbing the corporate ladder or starting our own businesses? If so, what can we do to challenge these cultural norms? In this weeks episode Bal and Taj talk to Rupinder Kaur, the founder of AWMB, about the cultural issues for women stopping us reaching new heights in our careers. We also explore the problems that Rupinder has faced when growing he...

With almost 700,000 births in the UK every year, does it matter how a woman feels about having a child - after all millions of women have done it and got on with it before!? In this weeks episode Bal and Taj talk to Navrup Kaur, founder of the SikhMum platform, about the importance of positive mental health during and after pregnancy.  They also explore the pressure put on women during such a pivo...

There are two types of people: those who will support you 100% of the time, and those who will doubt you every step of the way.  In this weeks episode Bal and Taj discuss their experience of how people are creating challenges to the work that Changing Suits is doing. They also talk about the emotional impact the negativity is creating on them personally.  Listen to this weeks episode, which will i...

They come to our country and take our jobs, don't they? Or is that just what we are told?  In this weeks Changing Suits Podcast Bal and Taj are joined by Claire and Nan, from the Harbour Project, who explain the truth behind 'the broken immigration system'. They explore why people feel the need to take the dangerous journey to the UK and what life is really like when they get here....

In this weeks episode Bal and Taj talk to Ash Ahmad, from Changing Mindsets, about  being South Asian in the work place. The episode explores whether EDI is truly being practiced within organisations and whether there is extra pressure on individuals being from the South Asian community, in the workplace.  Bal and Taj also share their own personal experiences of cultural difficulties at work, and...

The South Asian community is more likely to develop dementia compared to other communities. In this weeks episode Bal and Taj talk to specialists Dee (NHS and Dementia UK), Linda (Alzehimer's Society) and Susan (Swindon Borough Council), about the signs, diagnosis and treatment of dementia.  They also discuss their personal and professional experiences of how the South Asian community deal wi...

In this weeks episode Bal and Taj are joined by Gurmat Singh, a specialist in mental health, who explains the signs of autism and ADHD. Special educational needs are a taboo within the community, and this has created a lack of awareness of what autism and ADHD are, and  why there is very low engagement with support services. We explore the signs, diagnosis and treatments of autism and ADHD. We wil...

In this weeks episode Bal and Taj talk to Safrina Sidhu-Saran, from Smile4Kids Language School, about the importance of learning our mother-tongue, and teaching the next generation too.  They explore why knowing the language is so important for connecting generations and for the individuals own development. Listen to the podcast for some tips and tricks of making learning languages fun and practic...

This week Bal and Taj are joined by Susanna Jones and Monica Chumber, from Swindon Carers Centre. This fantastic organisation supports carers, and provides them with various ways to look after their own mental health and wellbeing. The episode explores why the carers role is so important in society, but also the pressure that comes with such an important duty of looking after a loved one. We also...

This week Bal and Taj were joined by fantastic singer Sonia Panesar, a British South Asian woman, a rare commodity in the music industry. In this fun episode we hear about her journey into the industry, an insight into how she produces her music and exciting news about her new single 'Haal Ve Rabba'.  We also are lucky enough to hear Sonia sing, more than once! In true Bal and Taj style...

Bal and Taj talk to a producer of the Little English film, Dom Unsworth, a rom-com which looks at the deep cultural barriers within the South Asian community and society in general.  In this episode they delve deep into the film industry and why it is so difficult to get South Asian films onto the big screen and produce actors from the South Asian community. Little English is out NOW - so go watch...

This is part 2 where we look at fertility problems, but from the male perspective. In this weeks episode Bal and Taj talk to Vik, the co-founder of Himmat Collective. They discuss what it was like for Vik in his journey of miscarriages, difficulty in conceiving and getting diagnosed with low sperm count. The episode also explores why men do not talk about having a difficult fertility journey and h...

In this weeks episode Bal and Taj speak to Sarina, from Himmat Collective, about her difficult journey of fertility. Sarina discusses the emotional pressure of miscarriage and problems in conceiving. Listen to this weeks episode to explore why being from the South Asian community adds further pressures when trying to conceive.  Sarina gives great advice on how she has coped during this journey, an...

Diabetes is one of the leading health problems in the South Asian community, but why is it getting more prevalent in the community? In this weeks episode Bal and Taj talk to clinical pharmacist Kavita Sharma, about her organisations work to educate the South Asian community about what diabetes actually is.  Listen to this weeks episode to learn the causes, impacts and what we can do to help oursel...

This is Part 2 of Rav's story - what happened after the marriage?? Bal and Taj hear Rav's shock at how she was treated straight after her wedding day and how her marriage then became about the battle between herself and her mother-in-law.  Listen this week to hear whether there were any winners in this battle, which occurs so commonly within South Asian households between a daughter-in-l...