Roots to Routes with Anand Dattani

"I refuse to not talk about my grief. I refuse to not talk about my child's medical issues. I refuse not to talk about my ADHD because, again, that's another thing we just don't do in our community." - Amit Singh Kalley ----- Amit Kalley is a former deputy headteacher, the founder of For Working Parents, and an expert in digital safeguarding and parental education. Growing up in immigrant househol...

What does it really mean to be strong? Not physically, but in the moments when your mind is breaking while your smile stays fixed. “An honest, raw conversation about mental health, grit, belonging, and what toughness really means.” Haydn Elliott built one of F45's most successful studios globally. What nobody saw was the breakdown that came first. Anand sits down with the Haydn, one of the most au...

In this deeply personal and revealing conversation, Anand speaks with Arjun Sofat, Co‑Founder & CEO of Free Soul, about the deeper influences that shaped his entrepeneurship journey to building a global women's wellness brand. We explore the lessons inherited from his parents and grandparents, leaving the safety of investment banking after years of 100‑hour weeks, how early influences forged h...

What if the hardest parts of your childhood could become the reason you succeed? In this episode, Josh White, co-founder of Cano Water, sits down with me for his most open conversation yet - sharing the untold stories of growing up with ADHD, addiction, and inherited trauma, and how those roots shaped the early part of his identity and rebellion. This episode dives into what most people never hear...

Trina Smith, CEO of Electric Pineapple media, grew up between two cultures, never “looking” the part, and without anyone who looked like her to follow. Her journey through identity and music reveals what it means to find belonging on your own terms. But through music, she carved a space that challenges bias, reclaims heritage, and asks whether culture is being diluted for clicks. In this episode,...

Growing up in a South Asian household meant reused yoghurt tubs, saving every bag, and never wasted food - but none of it was called sustainability. In the next instalment of the South Asian Heritage Month special, we explore how immigrant households accidentally became pioneers in climate-conscious living, and what we can learn from them today. From finding an unexpected love for sustainability a...

Have you ever felt like you never quite fit in with your faith, family or community? Can you still be accepted by your culture even if they say you can't? Asifa Lahore is Britain Asian, and the UK's first out Muslim drag queen, but behind the headlines is a story of identity, rejection, courage, and deep cultural pride. 🎥 Prefer to watch? Catch the full video episode on YouTube from 4pm UK time o...

Every culture has the good, the bad (and the ugly?). With Patricia - a writer, poet, and thoughtful observer of human behaviour -  we unpack everything from the things we love and hate of Asian family life, the culture shocks of British society, and how tech. has transformed modern day culture.   Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/7dI87QHbieU   Expect to hear: Why Malaysia is a cultural melt...

I’m honoured to share the incredible journey of Ramnik Karia. Born in East Africa, Ramnik’s life has taken him across borders, cultures, and challenges - from hitchhiking his way to the UK to taking risks that would be extraordinary even today. We explore powerful lessons about resilience, hospitality, courage, and the benefits for going after what you truly want to do. Along the way, you’ll hear...

Ever felt like you're living two lives? One shaped by the culture you were born into, and the other by the world you're trying to thrive in? I sit down with John Wang, speaker, entrepreneur and the creator of Big Asian Energy, to explore the silent tension of bicultural identity, especially for Asian and Asian-American communities. We discuss: - The heavy burden of growing up in a traditional hous...

Why do so many of of us never reach our creative potential? In this episode, I sit down with Ketna Patel, a British-Kenyan-Indian mixed media pop artist, to talk about the cultural, societal, and generational barriers to self-expression—and how to break free from them. We explore: • The downside of coming from a culture with a strong community when it comes to self-expression • Why the younger gen...

Your breakthrough might be someone else's breakdown. In this clip, Amardeep, founder of The BAE HQ, and I discuss why the people closest to you often provide the least support for your ambitions. The truth? Your commitment exposes their compromise. We explore the psychological minefield of outgrowing your circle, why family resistance is actually confirmation you're evolving, and how to navigate t...

Are fear, regret, and other's expectations keeping you stuck? How much of your life is shaped by what others want you to do, rather than what you'd love to do? In this episode, I get Amardeep Parmar, co-founder of one of the fastest growing community of entrepreneurs, to dive into the struggle of breaking free from external expectations, especially in communities where success is narrowly defined....

Finding your passion can feel like a lonely journey, especially when you’re trying to figure out if it’s worth turning into your purpose. In this highlight, we explore why pursuing your passion often isolates you from others, how to navigate that “lonely chapter,” and the key questions to ask yourself to determine if it’s truly worth the hustle. We discuss the role of your pain threshold—understan...

What does it really mean when people say 'find what your passionate about'? How do you find it if you don't even know what that looks like? In this episode, we sit down with Francis, an inspiring creative whose journey from Angola to the UK is filled with powerful lessons on resilience, risk, and redefining success. Together, we explore: How to reframe challenges and disadvantages as opportunities...

We sit down with the remarkable Anika Pavel, an English-Czechoslovakian actress, model, and author known for her role in The Spy Who Loved Me alongside Roger Moore. Anika takes us through her extraordinary life journey - from her childhood behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia to becoming an international model and actress in London’s mod scene. Who should listen? This episode is for anyone na...

We often see ourselves more negatively than others do. This phenomenon, known as the "Liking Gap," shows how we consistently underestimate how much others like us. We’re harder on ourselves, and that can impact everything from our confidence to our relationships. In this episode, I sit down with Summy Yeung, cultural intelligence expert, to explore why we tend to undervalue ourselves and how cultu...

I sat with Life & Career Transition Coach, Summie Yeung, to explore the evolving challenges faced by immigrants and the critical role of cultural intelligence in today's world. 🔍 Why Listen? Whether you’re an immigrant, a leader in a multicultural workplace, or simply curious about how culture shapes confidence and success, this episode offers actionable insights. Summie Yeung’s unique perspe...

In this thought-provoking episode, the founders of Thrivall dive deep into some of today’s most critical conversations around workplace engagement, mental health, burnout, and wellbeing. We also explore the influence of society’s perception of ADHD is evolving and why it’s crucial to shift the narrative. 🔍 Why Listen? If you’re looking to understand how companies and individuals should really be...

Nuakai Aru is a dual-heritage Jamaican-British award-winning film director and author focused on human history and wellbeing, with three decades in martial arts and a lifelong quest for self-knowledge. Through his classes, films, art, and writings, he imparts his accumulated knowledge and wisdom. "Amidst a global landscape of turbulence and perpetual evolution, Nuakai strives to be a beacon of ins...

Kathy Borys Siddiqui, is an undeniable expert in understanding of culture and cultural differences. As the founder of Active Action, she’s focused on helping people and companies to understand the international landscape they now find themselves in so that they can build better relationships, attract better talent and provide the tools to bridge the gap between people from different backgrounds No...

I had the fortune of sitting with cross-cultural intelligence coach, Liu Liu, to discuss his personal life experiences, family history, and career journey that took him from working in the post room to now working with people in over 30 countries and becoming an executive board member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). We discuss his tips for success with his cross-cultural marriage,...

I had the fortune of sitting with cross-cultural intelligence coach, Liu Liu, to discuss his personal life experiences, family history, and career journey that took him from working in the post room to now working with people in over 30 countries and becoming an executive board member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). We discuss his tips for success with his cross-cultural marriage,...

"We’re not just making a manual washing machine, we’re trying to reduce the burden of hand washing clothes for women a girls around the world." Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2Z7Qlx-mmCk WHO IS NAVJOT SAWHNEY: - The humanitarian engineer who co-founded The Washing Machine Project, a social enterprise dedicated to designing and distributing a manual hand-cranked washing machine...

"I think it's never too late to cut that generational trauma, to whatever extent we have it, we need to learn to heal and cut that for the next generation" - Sonia Kaurah Who is Sonia? Australia born with Malaysian-Indian roots. Founder of Tala Thrive - a mental health platform that matches you to therapists and coaches who understand your culture, language and/or religion Ex-VC (Antler) and start...