The Voices Shaping a New Narrative
In a world where storytelling is currency, a new generation of British South Asian women are seizing the mic, not to shout over the noise but to create meaningful conversation. These are the voices reframing culture, identity and womanhood through the lens of truth, vulnerability and empowerment. From legacy-driven entrepreneurship to soulful self-discovery, from unfiltered personal reflections to taboo-breaking dialogue, these six podcasters are amplifying what it means to be seen and heard in today’s world.
They remind us that influence is not always about volume; sometimes it is about authenticity, connection and courage.
Luxurist celebrates these women, Veena Nayyar, Preeti, Smita Joshi, Resham Ahdan, Angelee Sidhar and Sangeeta Pillai, each using her platform to inform, inspire and ignite change. Their conversations transcend communities and continents, weaving together South Asian heritage with modern global perspectives. As their words travel across digital airwaves, they echo the essence of Diwali – cutting through darkness with light, replacing silence with expression, and reminding us that every story shared is its own small act of illumination.
Veena Nayyar @makeup_by_veena
Podcast: Founder In The Chair
A powerful blend of storytelling and strategy, Founder In The Chair invites entrepreneurs to share the real journeys behind their businesses – the setbacks, the turning points, and the “why” that fuels them. Veena’s warm, insightful interviews go beyond success metrics to reveal legacy, resilience, and the human heart of entrepreneurship.
Veena: The Storyteller Turning Founders into Legacies
For Veena, the microphone was never about fame or followers. It was about purpose. While creating content around business and entrepreneurship, she noticed something missing, the people behind the brands. “So many admire successful companies,” she says, “but rarely know the story behind them, the people, the struggles, the ‘why’.” That moment sparked Founder Stories, a podcast built on curiosity, connection and legacy.
Each episode reveals the heart of entrepreneurship, peeling back layers of success to reveal humanity beneath. “People buy people,” she reflects. “When we know someone’s journey, their story becomes their legacy.” What began as a niche for founders has evolved into a movement of resilience and renewal. Listeners who don’t own businesses write in, saying her episodes gave them hope or reminded them it’s never too late to start again.
Veena’s voice carries both warmth and conviction. Her guests’ stories of failure, rebuilding and courage echo her belief that “resilience is the real currency of entrepreneurship.” But her own story of persistence deserves equal spotlight. “In the early days, I did it all, production, editing, scheduling, and still had to show up with purpose,” she says. “It taught me to believe even when tired.” Her legacy is simple but profound, to help founders see that what they build isn’t just about profit, but people. “Your story is your legacy,” she tells her guests. “The courage you show becomes hope for someone else.” Through her podcast, Veena isn’t just amplifying voices; she’s ensuring they echo long after the mic is off.
For Veena, Diwali is a homecoming of the heart – a moment to pause, reflect, and rekindle gratitude, hope, and light amidst the warmth of family and the glow of new beginnings.
Preeti @preetipersonal
Podcast: It’s Preeti Personal
It’s Preeti Personal is an unfiltered space for British South Asian women navigating modern life. From dating and mental health to identity and career, Preeti brings honesty, humour and relatability to every conversation, creating a podcast that feels like chatting with your smartest, most supportive friend.
Preeti: The Voice of a New Generation of South Asian Women
Preeti’s podcast was born from a gap and a feeling. “I couldn’t find a podcast I could 100 percent relate to,” she recalls. “One that spoke to my British South Asian identity.” During the quiet of lockdown, she decided to create what she couldn’t find, a show that captured the candid conversations women have with friends, from relationships and career moves to mental health and identity, all from a distinctly South Asian lens.
Her show quickly found an audience among British Asian women in their twenties and thirties, navigating life’s in-between spaces. But the resonance didn’t stop there. “I get messages from girls who aren’t South Asian but say the episodes make them feel less alone,” she says. “You never know who’s listening and who might find comfort in your story.”
For Preeti, podcasting is both therapy and purpose. “Growing up, I didn’t see South Asians represented fairly in mainstream media. We were never the main characters,” she says. “That’s what I want to change.” Each episode is infused with authenticity, whether she’s reflecting on lessons from her “25 Things I Learned at 25” series or sharing reminders that “everyone is on their own timeline.”
Behind the calm confidence is a fierce commitment. Podcasting, she admits, “can be a lonely journey and a real labour of love.” Yet every message from a listener reaffirms her “why.” Representation, for her, is not about tokenism but truth, about showing South Asian women as complex, real and beautifully human. Preeti’s voice is that of a generation refusing to be on the sidelines, claiming space, story by story.
For Preeti, Diwali and Bandi Chorr Divas are about family, gratitude, and community – a time to come together in prayer and reflection, where each candle lit becomes a symbol of hope and the promise that light always returns.
Smita Joshi @smitajoshi108
Podcast: The Self Discovery Channel
Through The Self Discovery Channel, Smita Joshi bridges ancient wisdom and modern consciousness. Her conversations with spiritual leaders, healers and thinkers explore how to live with authenticity, peace and power. Each episode is a journey inward, guiding listeners toward the realisation that self-awareness is the ultimate success.
Smita: From Silence to Self-Discovery
Smita’s journey into podcasting didn’t begin with a dream, it began with a silence. Decades ago, as a young executive pitching to a bank’s board, she froze mid-sentence. “My mind went blank,” she recalls. “The silence felt like an eternity.” That moment, both painful and profound, became her catalyst. She vowed to master communication, not just as a skill, but as a path to freedom.
What followed was a decades-long journey inward, through self-doubt, healing and the rediscovery of her voice. Today, Smita is the founder of The Self Discovery Channel, a YouTube and podcast platform exploring spirituality, healing and consciousness. Her work bridges corporate intelligence with ancient wisdom, offering practical insight into peace, purpose and awakening. “For generations, South Asian women were told to make themselves small,” she says. “Now we’re reclaiming our Shakti, our life force.” Her episodes feature conversations with luminaries like Sadhguru, Ana Forrest and José Calarco, yet her own reflections shine brightest.
“Every experience in your life is guiding you home to the Self that was never broken,” she often says, a philosophy that has resonated with listeners from London to Manila. For Smita, fear is not an enemy but an entry point. “When you stalk your fear instead of being stalked by it, everything changes.”
She has crossed 250,000 subscribers, a testament to the hunger for depth in a distracted age. “People are searching for peace,” she says. “Awakening shouldn’t feel unreachable.” Through her voice, Smita offers both illumination and invitation, proof that even the silence we fear can become the start of our most powerful story.
For Smita, Diwali is a time to align with Lakshmi’s energy, through stillness, generosity, and gratitude. It’s a reminder that true abundance lies in peace, contentment, and sharing the quiet light of the Self with others.
Resham Ahdan @wellbeing_by_resham
Podcast: Wellbeing by Resham
A global platform for healing, Wellbeing by Resham brings together thought leaders and everyday voices to discuss mental health, mindfulness and emotional growth. Compassionate, grounded and deeply human, Resham’s conversations help listeners feel seen, supported and inspired to prioritise their wellbeing.
Resham: Redefining Wellness, One Conversation at a Time
For Resham, podcasting began with encouragement. “My mentor told me I had a real talent for hosting conversations,” she says. “He pushed me to start my own podcast and it changed everything.” That podcast, Now I Know, has since reached audiences in over forty countries, offering a space for honest, healing conversations around wellbeing, identity and growth.
Resham’s voice is calm, compassionate and quietly powerful. “We’ve always had a voice,” she says, “but podcasts mean we no longer need permission to use it.” Through heartfelt dialogues with experts, entrepreneurs and everyday heroes, she explores everything from mental health to mindfulness, often breaking taboos within South Asian communities. Her mission is simple, to connect, to heal, to make people feel seen. Her most emotional moment came during an episode on narcissistic relationships with psychologist Misha Patel. “I cried, I healed, and it was therapeutic,” she shares. Her daughter, watching from the studio, witnessed her mother model vulnerability and strength, a moment that blurred the line between personal and universal healing.
“It was generational,” she says. “It showed her what it means to use your voice.” Yet for all its emotional power, podcasting is not without challenge. “The hardest part is the promotional and financial side,” she admits. “But when someone messages to say an episode helped them seek help or change their life, that’s everything.” In a world obsessed with perfection, Resham’s gift is honesty. She doesn’t just talk about wellness; she lives it, proving that sometimes the most transformative conversations begin when we dare to speak softly, but truthfully.
For Resham, Diwali and Bandi Chorr Divas are a celebration of freedom, faith, and family – a time to honour Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s courage and to remember that light and truth will always triumph over darkness.
Angelee Sidar @angeleesidar
Podcast: Feel It In Your Soul
Feel It In Your Soul is where intuition meets inspiration. Hosted by Angelee Sidhar, this soulful podcast features visionaries, creatives and changemakers who have learned to live from purpose rather than pressure. Each episode is a reminder to slow down, tune in and build a life that feels as good as it looks.
Angelee: Where Purpose Meets the Soul
There came a point when Angelee realised she was the hardest-working employee in her own business, successful but spiritually spent. “Everything I did was about the ROI,” she says. “I wanted something that came from the soul.” That desire birthed Feel It In My Soul, a podcast exploring inner alignment, creativity and the extraordinary stories that emerge when we listen to intuition over noise. “Everyone asked, what’s the point? Can you even make money from it?” she recalls with a smile. “I said, I don’t know, I just feel it in my soul.” That instinct led her to two years of profound conversations with visionaries, artists and changemakers, voices who’ve learned to live in harmony with purpose.
Her talk with actress and model Lisa Rani Ray remains unforgettable. “She taught me to slow down and listen,” Angelee says. “There’s always a bigger story unfolding.” Another pivotal moment came with DJ Bliss, who told her to go all in. “He said, you need to believe in yourself, and I did.” Today, her podcast is global, recently signed by One Digital Entertainment, one of Asia’s leading creator agencies.
“It’s proof that borders no longer define us,” she says. “We connect through values, not geography.” Behind the mic, Angelee is radiant, a storyteller who’s lived her transformation. From rebuilding her life as a single parent to embodying self-love and peace, she speaks for every woman redefining success on her own terms. “We’re all spiritual beings having a human experience,” she says. “So why not make it extraordinary?”
For Angelee, Diwali is a reminder of the light within each of us – a moment to honour that shared brightness and, especially in challenging times, to shine positivity and kindness into the world.
Sangeeta Pillai @soulsutras
Podcast: Masala Podcast
Award-winning and internationally acclaimed, Masala Podcast gives voice to the unspoken experiences of South Asian women. Tackling taboo topics with compassion and courage, Sangeeta Pillai’s groundbreaking series challenges cultural silence and celebrates the stories that too often go unheard.
Sangeeta: The Voice Breaking South Asian Taboos
When Sangeeta Pillai launched Masala Podcast, she had never even listened to one. “I literally had to Google what a podcast was,” she laughs. Yet within a few years, she went from novice to billboard star, her face illuminating Leicester Square, Times Square and cities across the UK. What began as frustration over the lack of South Asian representation in British media has become a global movement. “After running workshops for South Asian women, they told me there was no real representation for them,” she explains. “So I created the podcast I wished I’d had growing up.” Masala Podcast quickly gained international recognition for tackling taboos, from sex and menstruation to menopause and mental health, with empathy and courage.
Sangeeta’s strength lies in authenticity. “Podcasts let us literally be in the ears of our audience,” she says. “They build trust and emotional connection like nothing else.” The impact is tangible. She recalls a listener in India who said the podcast gave her courage to leave an abusive marriage. “That’s why I do this,” Sangeeta says softly. “For women like her.”
Yet even amid acclaim, she remains an advocate for representation in the industry. “I judge podcasting awards every year, and I see fewer podcasters of colour. It’s frustrating; it’s becoming more male, pale and stale,” she says. Her mission now is to mentor others and keep the mic open for new voices. Sangeeta doesn’t just speak for South Asian women, she speaks to them. Her message is clear, our stories matter, our voices belong and the world is finally listening.
For Sangeeta, Diwali is a ritual of self-love – a moment to cleanse, adorn, and glow, filling the home with fragrance, colour, and prayer as she welcomes Lakshmi into both her space and her spirit.
In every conversation shared by these remarkable women, there is a thread of courage, curiosity and conviction. Together, they remind us that storytelling is more than words; it is how we connect, heal and evolve. Through podcasts that challenge perceptions and celebrate individuality, these Diwali Divas are not only voicing their truths but shaping a collective one.
Their journeys echo the spirit of modern South Asian womanhood: confident yet compassionate, rooted yet restless for change. As their stories continue to reach new listeners, one thing is certain. The next generation will not wait to be given a voice, they will create their own, and the world will be listening.
Creative Direction And Styling – Anisha Vasani (@anishavasanicreates)
Videography – Sai Sahni (@sai_sahni)
Outfits By – Nikaza Asian Couture (@nikazaasiancouture)
Jewellery By – Rubina Kapoor (@rubinakapoor)
Location – Chit Chaat Barnet (@chit__chaat)
