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 household of high expectations
• The unspoken cost of politeness

• The 7 cultural habits holding many Asians back in their careers

• What it takes to redefine success on your own terms

• and some real-life shocking stories of how far some Asian Americans have gone to uphold the expectations of their family and community

If you've ever felt caught between 2 worlds, struggled to speak up or felt like you don't quite belong in the workplace or society you're living in - this convo is going to speak directly to you.

Follow us on socials (@ananddattanipodcast). Find the links here: https://campsite.bio/tjo

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 generation might be less prepared to handle difficulties

• How media and stereotypes impact our perception of different cultures

• The generational shift in how success will be achieved in the future

• How we can stop creativity from being further suppressed

If you’re struggling to find your creative voice or wondering how to prepare for the future of art, culture, and success, this conversation is for you.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E8X3e9n6wkk

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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 the painful reality that your success forces others to confront their abandoned dreams. This isn't just about chasing dreams—it's about having the courage to become who you truly are while others remain who they settled for being.

If you’ve ever felt the people around you don’t fully understand you, this is the episode for you.

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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.

In this episode, we break down:

🔹 The hidden struggles of children from immigrant backgrounds

🔹 The problem with chasing validation from family, friends, and society

🔹 What happens when you step away from a conventional career - and the identity crisis phase

🔹 The emotional weight of being a people pleaser and how to finally let go

🔹 Why your friends & family may never fully understand your path

🔹 How the loss of his father made Amardeep rethink everything about his priorities

🔹 The biggest lesson from meeting 1,000+ entrepreneurs

This episode is for anyone struggling to separate who they are from who they’re expected to be.

FOLLOW AMARDEEP: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/amardeepsparmar

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If you listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, it'd be great if you could leave a review - the bigger the show gets, the bigger the guests get!

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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—understanding what struggles you’re willing to endure—as a guide to uncovering whether your passion can become your life’s purpose. If you’ve ever questioned whether your dreams are worth pursuing, this conversation is for you.

Tune in for insights and inspiration to help you take the next step in your journey.

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If you listen on Apple Podcasts, it'd be great if you could leave a review - the bigger the show gets, the bigger the guests get! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/roots-to-routes/id1548231634

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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 for growth.
• The sacrifices our parents and grandparents made to give us freedom and choice.
• Why so many kids from immigrant backgrounds struggle with identity and direction - and what we can do about it.
• The pivotal moment that changed Francis’ life and led him to discover his passion for photography.
• Why society stifles creativity and how breaking the rules leads to innovation.
• Navigating the "lonely chapter" of pursuing your passion and how to decide if it’s worth turning it into a career.
• Why we need people to break the rules to fuel creativity and innovation

Whether you're looking for inspiration, guidance on finding your purpose, or a fresh perspective on how your roots shape your future, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

👉 EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO LIFETIMES: https://lifetimesapp.com/join

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/uiRm69YiY1A

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🙏LEAVE A REVIEW

If you listen on Apple Podcasts, it'd be great if you could leave a review - the bigger the show gets, the bigger the guests get! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/roots-to-routes/id1548231634

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 navigating major transitions, looking to redefine success, or wanting to hear a powerful story of resilience, optimism, and the influence of our cultural roots.

🔔 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations with guests who’ve shaped their own paths against the odds.

Find out how much your grandkids are likely to know about your life. Take our 30 second quiz: https://knowyourroots.life

Chapters:

• Why holding grudges gets us nowhere
• Being the only female on a swim team of 20 boys
• How to know when it's the right time to accept a failure
• Why the point in history you were born has a huge impact on your opportunities.
• An unexpected culture shock about arriving in the UK
• Featuring alongside Roger Moore in James Bond
• Why our sense of belonging has a drastic impact on our mental health
• What role does storytelling have in understanding our culture and self?

🎧LISTEN FOR FREE on Apple and Spotify: https://campsite.bio/tjo

📱FOLLOW ON SOCIALS (& GET IN TOUCH)

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/anandsworld

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LINKEDIN: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/anand-dattani

🙏LEAVE A REVIEW

If you listen on Apple Podcasts, it'd be great if you could leave a review - the bigger the show gets, the bigger the guests get! https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/roots-to-routes/id1548231634

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 culture influences our self-perception. We dive into how understanding this “Liking Gap” can change the way we see ourselves and others, and how you can start breaking free from these limiting beliefs.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt or wondered why you feel less confident than you should, this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in now for an insightful conversation and practical tips to shift your self-perception and start seeing yourself the way others do!

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FrYnWho_Y4

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