Podcast
The Raz Patel Show
Hosted by Raz Patel · EN
What happens when your worst moment becomes your greatest teacher?
Raz Patel knows. Paralyzed at 16. Stroke at 42.
Instead of being defined by these moments, she built a life and a framework that proves trauma isn't a liability. It's your competitive edge.
The Raz Patel Show is where leaders and builders (30-55) come to hear from people who survived something real and transformed it into something powerful.
In each conversation with high performance guests, you'll discover: What high performance actually looks like after you've been broken - Why the people who've survived the most build the best - The precise methodology to transform pain into your unfair advantage
This show is for: ✓ Leaders rebuilding after setback ✓ Builders who've overcome real adversity ✓ Anyone ready to stop pretending survival isn't part of success ✓ People building with intention, not just momentum
New episodes every Thursday.
Subscribe and share this with someone who's turning their pain into power.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Who Gets To Shape America's Future: Manjit Singh on Leadership, Identity & Belonging
5d ago00:46:36Tap to summarizeManjit Singh, a Sikh American civil-rights leader and first‑generation immigrant, breaks down how fear, hate crimes, and silence are stripping power from South Asian and immigrant communities in America’s 250th year. From 57,000 anti-South Asian slurs in a single month to Japanese internment, family separation at the border, and crackdowns by ICE/CBP, he connects history, law, and lived experience. He shares how founding the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund and three decades of advocacy taught him that “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” why the Voting Rights Act is being chipped away, how erasing slavery and civil‑rights history harms the next generation, and why the only answer is to get involved, tell your own story, and refuse to live in fear. Perfect for anyone who cares about racism, immigration, South Asians, Sikh identity, youth civic engagement, and the future of American democracy. Chapters- 00:00 - Intro: 250 years of America & FIFA backdrop 01:35 - Manjit’s immigrant story & founding a Sikh American civil-rights org (SALDEF) 02:44 - Mission: protecting constitutional rights for Sikhs, immigrants & all Americans 04:07 - Xenophobia, visible identity & why Sikhs become easy targets after crises 05:12 - Lack of awareness about Sikhism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism in the US 06:18 - 57,000 anti-South Asian slurs in August 2025 & the new spike in hate 07:39 - Crackdowns by ICE/CBP and how policy rhetoric fuels attacks 08:19 - Japanese American internment: the repeating pattern of fear in US history 08:56 - What America was supposed to be: freedom of religion, speech & no state church 09:58 - Civil-rights movement, Voting Rights Act & how protections are being rolled back 12:15 - Teaching real American history vs erasing slavery and lynching from textbooks 14:51 - Colorism, disability and the many layers of discrimination today 18:41 - The South Asian “bubble,” Black Lives Matter & a painful wake‑up call 20:15 - Family separation at the border and choosing humanity over partisan labels 23:33 - Talking to young people: algorithm literacy, lateral reading & finding real facts 26:06 - Why truth is hard, and what it means to actually live your values 28:02 - FIFA, language policing & why Spanish‑speaking athletes being forced into English matters 30:34 - Insecurity, fear of becoming a minority & what equality should really mean 31:29 - Hope in the next generation and kids who see diversity as normal 34:56 - Accents, multilingualism and why speaking many languages is a superpower 36:21 - Manjeet’s vision for the next 250 years: delivering on the Constitution for everyone 38:25 - Climate crisis, AI and why humanity must think as one race, not rival tribes 38:40 - South Asian unity beyond religion, language and region to build real power 39:08 - Why representation in local, state and federal office changes everything 40:31 - Positive change vs negative change and why progress is slow but worth it 41:35 - “Don’t live in fear”: Sikh philosophy on fear and justice in daily life 42:32 - How to get involved: SALDEF leadership programs, law‑enforcement training & Sikh storytelling 44:11 - The quiet joy of giving and why service becomes addictive in the best way 45:37 - Why America is still worth fighting for as a land of immigrants & opportunity 46:36 - Final message to young people, South Asians and all immigrants in America 🎙 Connect with Raz Raz: @razpatelofficial | https://razpatel.com Newsletter: https://razpatel.substack.com #ManjeetSingh #SikhAmerican #SouthAsianVoices #ImmigrantStories #CivicEngagement #StopHate #AntiRacism #AAPI #AmericanDream #Democracy #YouthLeadership #DiversityAndInclusion #HumanRights #RacialJustice #Podcast
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Kapil Sharma | U.S.-India Relations, Indian-American Leadership & The Future of the Diaspora
2w ago00:49:02Tap to summarizeWhat role should Indian-Americans really play in shaping the future of U.S.-India relations? In this episode of The Raz Patel Show, Kapil Sharma - a veteran of U.S.-India relations, government affairs, and diaspora advocacy breaks down why storytelling, economic security, local politics, and community leadership matter more than most people realize. This is a conversation about far more than policy. It is about immigrant identity, assimilation, the rise of the India Caucus, how media narratives shaped perceptions of India, why the Indian-American diaspora must become its own storyteller, and what happens when young people lose faith in jobs, leadership, and the future. Kapil also opens up about what politics gets wrong about economic insecurity, why parents need to rethink success, how well-being and depression have become major public-policy issues, and why the next generation may determine whether the U.S.-India relationship stays strong. In this conversation: Kapil Sharma’s immigrant upbringing and student activism The origins of the India Caucus and why it mattered Why Indian-Americans must control their own narrative Jobs anxiety, trade careers, and redefining success Why local politics matters more than most people think Mental health, caregiving, and well-being as public policy The future of the Indian-American diaspora and U.S.-India relations If this conversation resonates, share it with someone thinking deeply about identity, leadership, and the future of the diaspora. Chapters - 00:00 - Intro 02:15 - Kapil’s immigrant roots and identity 05:59 - The India Caucus and community representation 08:39 - Why Indian-Americans must tell their own story 10:34 - India’s rise and the storytelling gap 15:21 - Jobs, trade careers, and redefining success 19:28 - From anger to community-building 21:01 - The next generation and opportunity in America 25:23 - Job anxiety, layoffs, and what kids are absorbing 30:15 - Mental health, failure, and well-being 33:27 - Roundglass, whole-being, and policy 36:19 - Depression as a public policy issue 37:08 - Caregiving, dementia, and emotional strain 44:26 - Economic security and politics 47:17 - Why local politics matters more than you think 49:02 - The future of U.S.-India relations 🎙 Connect with Raz Raz: @razpatelofficial Newsletter: https://razpatel.substack.com #KapilSharma #IndianAmericans #USIndiaRelations #IndianDiaspora #PublicPolicy #JobsCrisis #MentalHealth #LocalPolitics #Leadership #RazPatelShow
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Meenakshi Seshadri: Why I Left Bollywood for Texas & My Return
2w ago01:00:40Tap to summarizeImagine walking away from global stardom at the peak of your career to raise a family in suburban Texas. Bollywood icon Meenakshi Seshadri joins us to share her incredible journey of reinvention, from being the heartbeat of Indian cinema to finding her true self in the quiet moments of motherhood and spirituality. This is a story about the courage to begin again and the power of choosing your own path on your own terms. In this deep and moving conversation, Meenakshi discusses the power of the pivot and why she decided to step back from the limelight for three decades. She opens up about the challenges of moving to Dallas, learning to navigate a new culture, and the importance of being undefinable beyond the labels of actress or ice maiden. We dive into her mastery of four classical dance forms, her memories of working with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, and the untold stories behind her powerful performance in the cult classic Damini. Now, as she embarks on her second innings in the entertainment industry, she offers profound wisdom for any woman looking to start a new chapter regardless of age. From her thoughts on beauty and aging to her spiritual practices, Meenakshi shows us that life is not about holding onto one chapter, but about having the strength to write the next one. Whether you are a fan of her classic films or looking for inspiration to reinvent yourself, this interview provides a rare look at the woman behind the headlines. Chapters 0:00 Intro and Welcome 3:15 From Bollywood to Texas: The Power of the Pivot 6:45 Being Undefinable: Moving Beyond Labels 10:30 The Evolution of Dance: From Performer to Mentor 14:15 Life in Anonymity: Learning and Unlearning 18:00 Adjusting to Life in Dallas and Finding Community 22:30 Mastering Four Classical Dance Forms 26:45 Motherhood and Privacy: Raising Kids Abroad 31:00 The Decision to Return to India 35:30 Changes in the Entertainment Industry and OTT 39:15 Memories of Bollywood Legends: Amitabh, Anil, and Sunny 43:00 The Iconic Role of Damini and Behind the Scenes Stories 48:30 Defining Success and Finding Spiritual Equilibrium 52:15 Advice for Women Reinventing Themselves 55:45 Redefining Beauty and Aging Gracefully 58:30 Raz Patel Fire Round and Closing Remarks 1:00:41 Video End If you found inspiration in Meenakshi Seshadri's story of courage and growth, please like this video and subscribe for more deep dives into the lives of extraordinary people. Share your favorite Meenakshi movie moment in the comments below! #bollywood #meenakshiseshadri #damini #reinvention #motherhood
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Big Bang Theory Actor Kunal Nayyar on Why Fame Wasn't Enough & What He Built Next: S3: Ep 30
Jun 300:40:36Tap to summarizeWhat happens when global fame still isn't enough? In this episode of The Raz Patel Show, Big Bang Theory actor Kunal Nayyar explains why fame wasn't enough and what he built next – opening up about life after Raj Koothrappali, family, anxiety, identity, and the deeply personal experience that pushed him to create IQ 1to1 and Roll Call for families around the world. Kunal and Raz go far beyond a typical celebrity interview. They talk about staying present in a chaotic world, caring for parents across continents, navigating dementia and distance, the fragility of life, what documents and memories really mean, and why "success wasn't enough" if it didn't leave the world slightly better than he found it. In this conversation, Kunal shares: Life after The Big Bang Theory and how fame did and didn't change him Why a crisis moment on a plane sparked the idea for IQ 1to1 How families actually live with passports, medical records, wills, and memories scattered everywhere What dementia, caregiving and distance taught him about time, trust, and daily check-ins The balance between growth metrics, security, and human sensitivity when you're storing family legacies online How it feels to be seen as a "Big Bang Theory actor" while trying to earn credibility as a founder What people really regret at the end of life – and what Kunal wants to be remembered for ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 1:18 – Who Kunal is beyond Raj 2:05 – Why build again after global success on The Big Bang Theory 4:10 – What IQ 1to1 actually does for families (passports, medical files, wills, memories) 7:05 – The plane story that sparked the idea for IQ 1to1 10:20 – From actor to entrepreneur – effort, grace, and trusting the team 13:30 – Wearing multiple hats: acting, producing, building a company, staying human 17:10 – Pandemic, parents in Delhi & the problem with scattered family photos 20:30 – Dementia, Roll Call, and daily "I'm okay" check-ins for loved ones 24:00 – Trust, privacy & why even fire-proof safes aren't enough anymore 27:40 – Growth metrics vs humanity when you're dealing with family legacies 31:10 – Being taken seriously beyond fame – credibility as a founder 34:20 – What people really miss at the end: love, time, conversations not had 37:00 – How Kunal wants to be remembered & what actually matters to him now 39:00 – Final message on purpose, giving more than you take & leaving the world better ▶️ WATCH THE FULL VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxX1XD-pUzg SUPPORT KUNAL'S VISION Invest in IQ 1to1 on Wefunder (for investors): https://wefunder.com/iq121.inc Learn more about IQ121 & Roll Call: http://iq121.com/ 🎙 CONNECT WITH RAZ Instagram: @razpatelofficial Website: https://razpatel.com Newsletter: https://razpatel.substack.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Wso9tnuwVuS09HKr3n86Z 🎧 Never miss an episode. Subscribe to The Raz Patel Show for more long-form conversations with people turning fame, trauma, culture, and conviction into movements and products that actually change how families live, remember, and take care of each other. #KunalNayyar #TheBigBangTheory #RajKoothrappali #RazPatel #TheRazPatelShow #Podcast #Purpose #Family #India #Mindfulness #SelfDiscovery #Anxiety #Entrepreneur #Dementia #Legacy
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From Kabul to Bollywood to Hollywood: The Story | Sameer Ali Khan | Raz Patel S3 EP29
May 1400:46:00Tap to summarizeMost success stories skip the uncomfortable details. This one doesn't. Next week on The Raz Patel Show: Janelle Harris. They tried to silence her voice. She didn't just reclaim it. She turned it into power. Now she's helping others do the same through Exist Magazine. This is what happens when you refuse to stay silent. Subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 This is The Raz Patel Show. Frozen to Fearless. This is bold. This is real. This is Frozen to Fearless. #FrozenToFearless #SameerAliKhan #FromKabulToHollywood #Resilience #TheRazPatelShow
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South Asians Give Abroad. Who's Feeding Your Neighbor? | Anna Sudha Community Kitchens | The Raz Patel Show | S3 EP28
May 700:35:01Tap to summarizeSouth Asians send billions back home every year. But who is feeding the family next door? A tech founder. A Hyatt banquet chef. A dedicated mother. They left their careers to answer that question. What started as one woman's grief became a grassroots movement: Anna Sudha Community Kitchens, now serving 6,500 meals every month across Northern Virginia. Zero government funding. Zero paid staff. Sixty high school volunteers showing up every single week. But here's what actually matters: How do you turn personal pain into systemic change? In this Desi Unfiltered episode, founders Nupur Panjabi, Rohit Chavan, and Aarti Rajmohan reveal: - The framework for building movements that last beyond your own story - Why the hidden hunger crisis in American suburbs gets ignored - How to scale compassion from 6 volunteers to 60 - What seva actually looks like when it starts at home, not across the ocean This is not charity. This is transformation. Nupur turned her mother's memory into a solution that feeds thousands. That's what happens when you refuse to accept the problem. Nupur Panjabi. Founder. Rohit Chavan. Operations Leader. Aarti Rajmohan. Volunteer Coordinator. Anna Sudha Community Kitchens. Born in war-torn Kabul. Worked with Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. Now building across three continents. Sameer Ali Khan's story isn't about the films. It's about the framework he used to survive when the world tried to define who he was allowed to be. War. Imagination. Discipline. Language mastery. Five languages. Three industries. One refusal to stay in a box. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode. #FrozenToFearless #TheRazPatelShow Get involved: https://anna-sudha.org/ #FrozenToFearless #AnnaSudha #Seva #EndHunger #NupurPanjabi #DesiUnfiltered #GrassrootsMovement #TheRazPatelShow #CommunityLeadership #HungerAwareness
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They Told Her to Pick One Career. She Ignored Them | Cori Linder | The Raz Patel Show | S3 EP27
Apr 3000:42:44Tap to summarizeEveryone told her to pick a lane. Cori Linder ignored them. 25 years as a marketing executive. Wrote a book. Competed as a swim coach. All at the same time. She refused to choose—and proved she didn't have to. But here's what actually matters: How do you turn being "complicated" into your competitive edge? In this episode, Cori shares the Identity Pivot—the exact reframe that transforms how you answer "but what do you DO?" when your life doesn't fit a single box: - Why the parts of you that don't fit the job description are actually your superpower - The framework for building multiple empires simultaneously - How to flip pressure ("pick one lane") into permission to build everything - What happens when you stop apologizing for being multi-dimensional This is not about doing it all. This is about refusing to shrink yourself to fit someone else's definition of success. Cori Linder. Executive. Author. Coach. Builder of her own road. Next week on The Raz Patel Show - Desi Unfiltered: Anna Sudha Community Kitchens. A tech founder. A Hyatt banquet chef. A dedicated mother. They left their careers to feed 6,500 families a month. What started as one woman's grief became a grassroots movement solving suburban hunger with zero government funding. This is what happens when pain becomes purpose at scale. Subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 This is The Raz Patel Show. Frozen to Fearless. #FrozenToFearless #CoriLinder #IdentityPivot #CareerReinvention #MultiHyphenate #WomenWhoLead #TheRazPatelShow #WomenOver40 #IdentityShift
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The GLP-1 Truth No One Is Telling You | Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD | The Raz Patel Show | S3 EP26
Apr 2300:40:35Tap to summarizeMillions are taking GLP-1 medications. Almost nobody knows what happens next. Ana Reisdorf is a Registered Dietitian who's worked with hundreds of GLP-1 patients. She's giving you everything your doctor skipped: the silent muscle loss, the identity crisis when your body changes faster than your mind, why most people regain everything after stopping. But here's what actually matters: What does sustainable transformation look like? In this episode, Ana unpacks: - The physical and psychological frameworks for sustainable change - Why quick fixes become long-term failures - How to rebuild your identity when your body transforms - What "sustainable" actually requires BEFORE you need it This is not a debate about whether GLP-1s work. This is about what happens when they do—and how to build something that lasts. Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD. Founder, GLP-1 Hub. Expert in sustainable health transformation. 🔔 **Subscribe and hit the bell** so you don't miss next week's episode where Cori Linder reveals why she ignored everyone telling her to "pick one career" and what building multiple empires actually requires. This is bold. This is real. This is Frozen to Fearless—true transformation that sticks. ⚠️ Educational only. Not medical advice. #FrozenToFearless #GLP1Truth #AnaReisdorf #SustainableHealth #IdentityTransformation #WomensHealth #HealthFramework #TheRazPatelShow
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A Business Trip. Then 1,777 Days in Prison | Jose Pereira | The Raz Patel Show | S3 EP25
Apr 1600:51:32Tap to summarizeHe flew to Venezuela for a business meeting. He didn't come home for 1,777 days. Jose Pereira was a senior executive at CITGO Petroleum until November 2017, when a routine trip to Caracas turned into nearly five years of wrongful imprisonment on fabricated charges. One of the most condemned cases of hostage diplomacy in recent history. But here's what matters: How do you survive that? And what do you build after? In this episode, Jose unpacks: - The psychological and physical frameworks for surviving extreme adversity - How to maintain your humanity when stripped of everything - Why becoming an advocate became his healing - The leadership that emerges from having nothing left to lose Since his release in 2022, he's become a leading voice pushing for policy change—transforming his trauma into protection for others. This is not just survival. This is what comes AFTER captivity—when pain becomes purpose at scale. Jose Pereira. Executive. Wrongfully detained. Advocate. Leader. Next week on The Raz Patel Show: Ana Reisdorf. Millions are taking GLP-1 medications. Almost nobody knows what happens next. The silent muscle loss. The identity crisis when your body changes faster than your mind. Why most people regain everything after stopping. This is what your doctor skipped. Subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 This is The Raz Patel Show. Frozen to Fearless. #FrozenToFearless #JosePereira #HostageDiplomacy #Resilience #Advocacy #TheRazPatelShow #SurvivalStory #Leadership
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The Secret Behind Every 5-Star Hotel | Torsten Richter | The Raz Patel Show | S3 EP24
Apr 900:42:03Tap to summarizeWorld-class hospitality looks perfect from the outside. Nobody talks about what it costs the people running it. Most leaders choose: Excellence OR wellbeing. Not both. Torsten Richter, General Manager of the legendary Anantara Siam Bangkok, proved there's another way. In this episode, Torsten unpacks: - The leadership philosophy that builds legendary without burning people out - Why emotional intelligence is your competitive advantage - The people strategy that separates good hotels from icons - How to sustain world-class performance (in yourself AND your team) This isn't about thread counts and chandeliers. This is about what separates leaders who build empires from leaders who build them at the cost of their people's health. If you lead a team, run a business, or want to understand what sustainable excellence actually looks like—this changes everything. Torsten Richter. General Manager, Anantara Siam Bangkok. Decades of global leadership. "Next week on The Raz Patel Show: Jose Pereira. He flew to Venezuela for a business meeting. He didn't come home for 1,777 days. Wrongfully imprisoned. Survived. Now fighting to make sure it never happens to anyone else. This is what resilience looks like when everything is taken from you. Subscribe and hit the bell 🔔 This is The Raz Patel Show. Frozen to Fearless." #FrozenToFearless #TorstenRichter #LeadershipExcellence #HospitalityLeadership #TeamCulture #EmotionalIntelligence #SustainablePerformance #TheRazPatelShow #LeadershipPodcast #HighPerformance
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