Roots and Resilience

This week, we’re joined by Sejal Kargal - an Indian-American multidisciplinary artist, creative producer, fusion singer-songwriter, DJ, and founder of UNDEFINED and rosewater, one of the first diaspora-led music festivals of its kind in the U.S. Based in New York City, Sejal navigates the worlds of tech, arts, culture, and entrepreneurship, creating spaces that feel like home for people who have l...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr Annika Patel, a specialist Orthodontist and expert in lingual orthodontics, whose approach to life is every bit as distinctive as her career.  A proud South Londoner with an unapologetically authentic outlook, Annika shares what it means to build a successful career on her own terms whilst staying true to herself. We explore how she balances the demands of a hi...

In this episode, we sit down with Elysha @elyshajm, a dentist whose passion for fitness has evolved into a fascination with calisthenics. Drawn in by its endless possibilities, Elysha shares why she finds the discipline both entertaining and incredibly challenging - there's always a new skill to learn and no real ceiling to what the human body can achieve. Elysha opens up about the impact trai...

What happens when you remove every distraction, every conversation, every form of escape and are left alone with your own mind for 10 straight days? On a mission to master her mind and develop a deeper self-awareness, Dr Nehal Doshi @drnehaldoshi signed up for Vipassana, a 10-day silent meditation retreat with absolutely no expectations of what she would find. What followed was the most difficult...

****Trigger warning**** This episode has a mention of suicidal ideation. If this topic is tender for you right now, please take care of yourself - whether that means listening later, skipping this episode, or stepping away at any point. A powerful conversation with Dr Sarovi Davda who found herself at rock bottom after divorce — and slowly rebuilt her life with more honesty, self-awareness and com...

Dr Shivali Fulchand @skadeca has a passion for shaping the future of healthcare. Although she trained and qualified in medicine, her creative instincts and love of writing were always close at hand. During her student years, she channeled that energy into founding a medical journal for students that continues to thrive today, a testament to her early vision and drive. Whilst working in hospitals, ...

In this episode, we sit down with Salma, whose journey is anything but linear. From exploring different career paths to ultimately discovering her true calling in teaching, Salma’s story is one of courage, curiosity, and self-discovery. After completing her teacher training at a school in Wales, she made a life-changing decision to relocate to Sudan - reconnecting with her roots and uncovering lay...

Penny Ford @pennyrford is the Co-Founder of Brilliant Beyond Belief, a global consultancy dedicated to helping leadership teams and organisations unlock the next level of performance by transforming the people within them. Earlier in her career, Penny founded and ran a successful independent school, an experience that shaped her deep belief in vision, culture and the power of people to achieve far...

If anyone just goes for it, it’s Dr Leanne Branton @drleannebranton - a multi-surgery practice owner, implant dentist, mentor, and founder of the Diamond Smiles Foundation. In this episode, Leanne shares the reality of her journey - from a bumpy start in dental school to firmly establishing herself in the profession.  She opens up about  Going against traditional values she grew up with Working al...

Dipali @dipaliburns is the definition of formidable — a specialist periodontist and a qualified barrister, with excellence woven into every chapter of her life. As a young woman, she was captivated by the world of law, dreaming of one day standing in court as a barrister. Life, however, led her down a different path, where she became a specialist periodontist.  Later in her career, Dipali made the...

Sharon works full-time in marketing and hadn’t planned on starting a business — until a simple conversation around the dinner table sparked an idea. Her brother Hari, who has cerebral palsy, had completed his degree but was finding it extremely difficult to secure employment. Rather than waiting for an opportunity, Sharon decided to take matters into her own hands and create a business to employ H...

**** TRIGGER WARNING **** This conversation includes discussion of infertility, pregnancy loss, and adoption. If those topics feel tender for you right now, please take care of yourself—whether that means listening later, skipping this episode, or stepping away at any point. Alina is a marketing agency founder, entrepreneur and more recently a mother (IG: @alinaislam). With Pakistani roots, Alina...

In this episode, we are joined by the phenomenal Fiona, who shares stories about her upbringing, Cypriot roots, and the lessons learnt through years of horse riding and her deep passion for mentoring. We explore her remarkable journey in dentistry and how it’s shaped her perspective. Together, we also unpack imposter syndrome and what we can do to challenge it, drawing on Fiona’s extensive experie...

Dr Sarika Shah (@drsarikashah) is a dedicated dentist, practice owner, mum, and certified performance coach whose journey is as inspiring as it is authentic. In this heartfelt and unapologetically raw conversation, she opens up about her childhood experiences growing up in Kenya and then attending boarding school in the UK, far from her family. She acknowledges the challenges and pivotal moments t...

We speak to Poonam Shah, an Inclusive Eye Health Advisor working with an international non-government organisation. With a background in hospital optometry, she moved from a clinical patient-facing role to a public health position she discovered unexpectedly while backpacking. Her story highlights how careers can pivot and evolve in inspiring ways when we follow our interests and curiosity. ******...

Dr. Sonya Reddy @drsonyareddy is an American-qualified dentist, global speaker, and founder of FLO Academy — an organization dedicated to advancing dentistry through airway science, functional health and leadership. Her grit and determination shine through as she shares her unconventional journey into dentistry, including her experience working in corporate USA, which equipped her with invaluable...

Listen in on our chinwag as we chat about the last year. We reflect on the conversations we had with our wonderful guests and on our own journeys too. ************************************************ Subscribe and Comment: Loved this episode? Hit Follow and make sure you subscribe to Roots and Resilience on your favourite podcast platform and leave us your comments. Your feedback helps us create m...

Dr Aditi Bhalla (@draditibhalla) is a specialist prosthodontist turned integrative psychotherapist, hyponotherapist, mindfulness and mental Heath teacher, life counsellor and coach. She talks candidly about this incredible transition and the turning points in her life which compelled her to embark upon a journey of self discovery and healing. She has since founded 'Compassion Focused Dentistry' an...

Question: So what do you do? You answer - "I'm just a GDP". We've heard this phrase so much and we are on a mission to showcase the breadth and scope of being a general dental practitioner. This conversation with the amazing Dr Kully Nijjar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kully-nijjar/) is an honest reflection on a 30+ year career in Dentistry. From associate to practice owner, mother, trainer, exami...

Dr Hoda Wassif is an Associate Professor and Portfolio Lead for Postgraduate Health Education at the School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Education at the University of Bedfordshire. Dr Hoda Wassif holds a PhD and 2 masters degrees. With over 20 years in academia, strong background in research, a published author and active mentor, Dr. Wassif also serves on editorial boards and ethics committe...

Tune in to this episode with Dr Tina Ferguson who takes us through her journey of working as an associate, buying that very dental practice with her husband, selling it and going back to being an associate in the same practice. We talk about Tina and her husband navigating running a business together and making the unconventional decision to homeschool their daughter... which turned out to be the...

At 29, Amy (@alulaz93) left behind the comfort of her career as a beauty therapist to pursue an entirely new path—dentistry. This conversation explores her raw and real journey of starting over, embracing change, and pushing through the challenges with sheer tenacity. Amy proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and travel a new path. If you’ve ever dreamed of more, this podcast will r...

What happens when a successful orthodontist and her family hit pause on busy lives and practices—and set off on a six-month sabbatical across South America, Central America, and Asia? In this inspiring episode, Dr. Shivani Patel shares the behind-the-scenes of planning a life-changing family adventure: from navigating the logistics of stepping away from work and school, to the unforgettable moment...

In this heartfelt conversation, we sit down with Dr Yewande (@dr.yewandedental) to explore her Nigerian roots and challenging journey into dental school. Listen to her share her setbacks which she gracefully reframes as humbling experiences. We talk about content creation alongside working as a dentist and the courage it takes to be visible online. The underlying theme of this conversation is the...

Welcome to this episode, where we dive into what drives us,the power of purpose, and why excuses have no place in a life well-lived. Our guest Dr Hayder @cyclist.dentist talks to us all about taking control—of your health, your goals, and your time. We’ll explore what it means to be the driver in your own life, making intentional choices instead of coasting on autopilot. Listen for lots of tips on...