EP #29: Indira Samarasekera – Former University President & Current Board Member (Of Several Large Market Cap Companies), Co-Authors Book To Help Create More Female Leaders

Indira Samarasekera is the former president of the University of Alberta and a current board member of several large market cap companies in Canada. Indira joins Ara on this week’s episode to discuss co-authoring a book called Nerve , growing up in Jaffna, the future of education, what resources she uses to continuously learn, and the benefits she has experienced as a result of rediscovering her Christian faith – in addition to so much more!

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

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Timestamps

00:53 – Ara introduces this week’s guest, Indira Samarasekera
05:21 – Indira’s experience as a woman in engineering
08:23 – The older Sri Lankan generation’s expertise with staying in touch with old friends
09:49 – If it weren’t for the war, could Sri Lanka have become the Silicon Valley of the East?
13:30 – How Indira secured her role on the Board of Directors for multiple companies
19:26 – How much of a time commitment is involved with such a role, and what responsibilities are involved
22:15 – How Indira determined what University would be the best fit for her to work with
25:02 – The most difficult challenge Indira had to endure and how she overcame it
29:03 – What does the future of education look like?
36:48 – Collaborating with Martha Piper to write Nerve, and the intent behind publishing this book
41:42 – The legacy Indira wants to be known for by her friends and family
46:56 – Indira’s view on money; perception, investing strategy, and more
50:07 – Indira is insecure about not feeling good enough
51:07 – What does Indira read?
52:56 – How Indira’s faith has improved her quality of life
55:23 – Who is Indira inspired by – in the Tamil community, and in the global community
58:32 – Advice Indira would give to other aspiring Tamil creators
1:00:04 – Creator Confessions
1:03:56 – The Wrap Up

Intro Music

Produced And Mixed By:
– The Tamil Creator
– Yanchan

Written By:
– Aravinthan Ehamparam
– Yanchan Rajmohan   

EP #28: Ari Sooriya – Creative Extraordinaire: From TamilCulture.com to Teacher (And Everything In Between)

Ari Sooriya is a man of many talents; he is a technologist at the University of Guelph Humber, and in the Tamil community he’s more famously known for being the host of TamilCulture.com’s “TC on the Street” show. He joins Ara on the latest episode of The Tamil Creator podcast to discuss relationships, his views on the 9-5 lifestyle, the question Ara is notorious for asking when he meets someone for the first time, how the book ‘Freakonomics’ shaped the way Ari thinks today, being ashamed of eating Tamil food back in the day, and much more.

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Ari –https://www.instagram.com/heythereari/

Timestamps:

00:53 – Ara introduces this week’s guest, Ari – the modern renaissance Tamil man
03:35 – Ara and Ari discuss friendships and what makes a successful relationship
08:15 – Ari opens up about his upbringing, and family life; his mom having Parkinson’s disease, his Dad’s outgoing personality, and more
13:00 – How Ari has navigated the COVID pandemic
14:22 – Ari speaks on his profession as a technologist specialist, as well his freelance endeavours, thoughts on the 9-5 lifestyle
18:16 – The ultimate job that Ari is looking to secure in the next 3-5 years
20:56 – Who pays on the first date?
22:06 – Some of the most important lessons Ari has learned; avoiding complacency, being consistent, and more
26:42 – Receiving support from your loved ones when it comes to pursuing your passions
31:53 – Most impactful books/podcast Ari has come across; Freakonomics
34:46 – What beliefs/behaviours/habits have help improve Ari’s life for the better; planning for success
36:12 – How does Ari want to be remembered by friends and family?
37:47 – Ari introduced Ara’s wife to Bubble Tea
38:45 – The impact of the Toronto Tamil community on Ari
42:30 – Ari’s inspirations from the Tamil community
45:44 – Advice Ari has for other aspiring Tamil creators
47:56 – Would You Rather
57:02 – The Wrap Up

Intro Music

Produced And Mixed By:
– The Tamil Creator
– Yanchan

Written By:
– Aravinthan Ehamparam
– Yanchan Rajmohan  

EP #27: Bindi Bosses (Shyamla Eswaran & Ragavi Ragavan) – Australian-Based Dance Group Creating Social Movement And Discussions Through Performance & Storytelling

Shyamla Eswaran & Ragavi Ragavan from Bindi Bosses joins Ara on the latest episode of the Tamil Creator. Bindi Bosses is a progressive South Asian performing arts company that seamlessly blends Traditional Indian Classical and Folk dances with influences from South Asian Cinema and Street dances from around the world. We discuss a variety of topics including how they answer the question “Where are you from?”, their views on social media, using their platform to spark discussions around significant issues, the importance of embracing your heritage, and much more!

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Bindi Bosses – https://www.instagram.com/bindibosses/

Timestamps:
00:53 – Ara introduces this week’s guest, Bindi Bosses
06:13 – Tamil diaspora communities
09:24 – How Bindi Bosses responds to the age old question, “Where are you from?”
13:44 – Where did the name Bindi Bosses come from?
20:54 – Being frowned upon if you pursue a career in the creative arts
27:13 – Getting the chance to speak at TEDxSydney
29:59 – Using their platform to open up meaningful dialogue
33:46 – Having differing stances on social media; procrastination, social skills, and more
42:39 – Where Bindi Bosses sees themselves in the next 3-5 years
46:58 – Bindi Bosses’ biggest insecurities
52:56 – Hobbies outside of work
57:43 – Most impactful books/podcasts they enjoy
1:02:19 – Personal legacy they want to leave behind
1:09:29 – Advice they would give to fellow aspiring Tamil creators
1:13:57 – Embracing your cultural heritage
1:18:21 – Creator Confessions
1:40:42 – The Wrap up
1:43:40 – Blooper

Intro Music

Produced And Mixed By:

  • The Tamil Creator
  • Yanchan

Written By:

  • Aravinthan Ehamparam
  • Yanchan Rajmohan

EP #26: Rick Selvarajah – UK-Based Professional MMA Fighter Turned Entrepreneur

Rick Selvarajah is a professional UK-based MMA fighter turned entrepreneur. He joins Ara to discuss how he went from wanting to lose weight to falling in love with MMA and now owning an academy (Revival MMA and Fitness). They also discuss the worst injury Rick every sustained, how fatherhood changed him, the most money he’s ever made from a fight, the notion that time is the most important commodity, and much more!

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Rick – https://www.instagram.com/selvarajahmma/

Timestamps:

00:53 – Ara introduces this week’s guest, Rick Selvarajah
02:22 – How Rick entered the world of MMA, how someone being a professional fighter
06:36 – Rick’s first professional fight
07:48 – The worst injury he ever sustained
10:00 – How Rick balances training, work (his academy Revival MMA and Fitness), and other obligations (i.e., family)
11:22 – When will Rick retire?
13:42 – Rick talks about his son, why the last time he fought was over 3 years ago
16:44 – How Rick makes money as a professional fighter
18:06 – The most Rick has ever made for a fight
21:08 – What motivates Rick to work in this profession
24:25 – When/why Rick started Revival MMA and Fitness, how its progressing
26:47 – How he finds students to train at his academy
28:36 – Insecure about setting a bad example for his son
30:11 – Hobbies outside of work and training; family interaction, thrill seeking, etc.
32:06 – Rick’s relationship with money, his investing strategy, why time is the most valuable commodity
39:06 – The last book Rick read (Analects of Confucius), his favourite podcast (JRE), why he admires Jordan Peterson
41:40 – Using YouTube for learning; building a cabinet during quarantine
43:44 – Where Rick sees himself in 3-5 years
44:30 – The impact that the UK Tamil community has had on Rick
46:14 – Rick’s admiration for his grandfather, and the coaches and people he trains with at his gym
48:47 – Advice Rick would give to other fellow Tamil creators
51:21 – Would You Rather
53:35 – The Wrap Up

Intro Music

Produced And Mixed By:

  • The Tamil Creator
  • Yanchan

Written By:

  • Aravinthan Ehamparam
  • Yanchan Rajmohan

EP #25: Jenushika Jeyakumaran – Legal Innovator & Recent Grad Who Co-Founded Tech Company Aleri To Make Trial Preparation Easier For Lawyers

Jenushika Jeyakumaran is a recent grad and the co-founder of tech start-up Aleri, which makes trial preparation easier for lawyers. They initially bootstrapped the company and then got additional funding with a $30K grant from the Accelerator Centre (part of the Jumpstart program), with having a goal of raising more money to accelerate their traction.

She joins Ara to discuss various topics including how she started her own company without getting experience in a start-up, why she refuses to sacrifice her sleep and well-being, her admiration for Gary Vee, and why you need to learn how to tune other people out if their opinions don’t align with your vision.

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Jenushika – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-j/

Timestamps

00:53 – Ara introduces this week’s guest, Jenushika Jeyakumaran
01:36 – Jenushika speaks on her journey in founding Aleri and pursuing it as a full-time endeavour
05:33 – How side hustles and GaryVee opened Jenushika’s eyes
07:27 – Money being a unit of time, tuning out people’s opinions if they don’t understand your vision
09:59 – Aleri’s value proposition, how Jenushika went about securing clients; cold calling, confidence, and more
18:31 – Jenushika’s strategy for retaining customers
20:37 – Aleri’s competitors?
21:46 – How the Aleri team was formed
23:10 – Will Aleri continue bootstrapping or begin fundraising moving forward
25:56 – Jenushika’s expectations for Aleri for the next 3-5 years
26:26 – What motivates Jenushika?
28:53 – Why Jenushika felt like she was failing during the pandemic and how she pulled herself out of that slump
31:24 – How Jenushika avoids burnout; her dog, going for a walk, socializing, and self-care
33:18 – Ara and Jenushika dive deep on the topic of sleep
35:28 – Jenushika’s hobbies; food-stops in Toronto, outdoor activities, continuous learning, and family time
36:55 – Ara and Jenushika discuss the importance of spending time with family, especially post-quarantine
39:33 – Jenushika opens up about her insecurities
40:33 – What kind of people do Jenushika and Ara surround themselves with?
43:11 – Is Jenushika an introvert or extrovert?
47:40 – The impact that the Tamil community has had on Jenushika
49:40 – Being inspired by Mindy Kaling, GaryVee, and Darren Hardy
51:58 – Piece of advice Jenushika has for her fellow Tamil creators
55:07 – Creator Confessions
1:06:35 – The Wrap Up

Intro Music

Produced And Mixed By:

  • The Tamil Creator
  • Yanchan

Written By:

  • Aravinthan Ehamparam
  • Yanchan Rajmohan

EP #24: Nelson Sivalingam – UK-Based Serial Entrepreneur (Tech & Food), Podcast Host & Award-Winning Filmmaker

Nelson Sivalingam is an award-winning serial entrepreneur who has created successes from high growth technology businesses to Sri Lankan street food restaurant groups. He’s currently the CEO & Co-Founder of HowNow, one of the fast-growing technology companies transforming the way organizations approach learning across the world with clients including tech unicorns like GymShark and Checkout.com.

He joins Ara to shed light on how his filmmaking and entrepreneurial careers intertwine with one another, why he doesn’t engage in small talk, how his friends calling him “Born Awkward” led him to actually buying that web domain, why you shouldn’t be afraid to seize the opportunity and so much more.

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Nelson – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsonsivalingam/

Timestamps:

00:53 – Ara introduces this week’s guest, Nelson Sivalingam
01:47 – Nelson admits to using Ara’s siblings to get to Ara, speaks on his upbringing in Barking
03:58 – Why and How Nelson started One Minute London; trying to fund his filmmaking career
07:59 – How Nelson’s award-winning film “The Rajini Effect” came to be; reaching international audiences
13:54 – Japan’s love for South-Asian cinema, Rajinikanth’s cultural impact
17:04 – Nelson’s kothu business in South London, Ara’s experience making kothu in his Dad’s store as a kid
27:23 – Founding HowNow (formerly known as Wonderush) to encourage continuous learning
33:12 – Bootstrapping vs. fundraising money for your business
39:49 – The misconceptions of – and the art/science behind – sales; learning about sales through poker
44:46 – Angel investing and Nelson’s plan to eventually return to filmmaking
47:49 – Nelson’s hobbies outside of work; friends, conversation, food, films, reading, writing
48:27 – Nelson’s being insecure about whether or not he’s learning fast enough
49:27 – Why Nelson doesn’t like small talk, wanting to be known for adding value
53:50 – Books that impacted Nelson; Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously, Steve Jobs’ biography
1:01:52 – Tamil community in the UK
1:06:49 – Advice Nelson would give to fellow aspiring Tamil Creators
1:10:13 – Creator Confessions
1:13:55 – The Wrap Up

Intro Music

Produced And Mixed By:

  • The Tamil Creator
  • Yanchan

Written By:

  • Aravinthan Ehamparam
  • Yanchan Rajmohan

EP #23: Maya Bastian – Investigative Video Journalist To Award-Winning Film Director (Including 2021 Cannes Festival Entrant)

Maya Bastian is a Tamil-Canadian filmmaker, writer and artist. From 2008, she spent several years travelling the world as an investigative video journalist, documenting areas of conflict and post-conflict, which has culminated in an ongoing exploration of trauma as it relates to community and culture. As a director, she has won awards and exhibited her short films internationally, which run the gamut from narrative to documentary, to experimental animation, including recently having her film “TIGRESS” accepted into the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. She joins Ara to discuss getting shingles from working a job that she hated, dealing with the consistent fear of losing her job and all her money, pursuing her passion for almost 20 years before being able to make a full-time living from it, and much more.

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Maya – https://twitter.com/mayabasti

Timestamps:

00:54 – Introducing Maya Bastian; volunteering in Sri Lanka
02:34 – Starting out as an actor 20 years ago
03:25 – The judgement actors face; transitioning from acting to filmmaking
05:20 – Maya’s upbringing, her rebellious nature growing up
09:52 – Brown parents’ need for external validation before giving props to their kids
11:31 – Has the Tamil community progressed in how they view creative careers?
14:39 – Why Maya has taken it upon herself to create diaspora-related films
21:03 – Passing on trauma through generations
22:56 – Maya’s time as an investigative journalist; Cambodia, Palestine
27:41 – How Maya managed/manages her finances as an artist
33:05 – How Maya secures film projects to work on
38:44 – The power of intention, learning to deal with and accept rejection
41:48 – What is Maya insecure about?
42:47 – Maya’s plans for the next 3-5 years
43:50 – Maya’s hobbies; singing, playing the ukulele, hiking, dancing, board games with her daughter
45:14 – The legacy Maya wants to leave behind
45:50 – Advice Maya would give her 16-year-old self and her daughter
46:50 – The impact of the Tamil community on Maya
48:16 – People Maya admires, stealing a Maya Angelou book in high school
50:11 – Advice Maya has for other Tamil creators
53:25 – Creator Confessions
57:59 – The Wrap Up

EP #22: Sathish Muneeswaran – Personal Trainer Changing The Conversation In The Tamil Community Around Strength Training, Fitness & Healthy Eating

Sathish Muneeswaran is a personal trainer at Fit Squad in Toronto. He joins Ara to discuss how hardship breeds success, the importance of sleep, why he prefers J. Cole over Drake (despite being from Canada himself), and they also spend some time reminiscing on their glory days playing in the TTBA (Toronto Tamil Basketball Association).

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Sathish – https://www.instagram.com/sathish_fitsquad/

Timestamps:

00:54 – Introducing Sathish Muneeswaran
04:11 – How Sathish got into the fitness industry
12:20 – The impact of COVID on Sathish personally and professionally
15:32 – Common mistakes people make when beginning to train
20:42 – How Sathish’s parents felt about his career choice
23:05 – Where Sathish sees himself in the next 3-5 years
25:10 – Can a tougher upbringing lead to greater success?
27:45 – Has Sathish experienced lifestyle creep?
29:22 – The Renegades podcast with Barack Obama and Range by Dave Epstein
31:53 – How increased sleep changed Sathish’s life
34:03 – How Sathish wants to be remembered by his friends and family
35:10 – The impact of the Toronto Tamil community on Sathish’s life
38:46 – Admiration for Kamala Harris, J. Cole, and his co-workers
40:21 – Advice for fellow Tamil creators
41:33 – Creator Confessions
45:24 – The Wrap Up

EP #21: Shayna Mehta – Aspiring Doctor & Award-Winning Div 1 Basketball Player Challenges The Notion That Brown Girls Can’t Ball

Shayna Mehta (one half of @brownsplashsisters) is a recent graduate of Brown University (Class of 2019) where she majored in Biology and played four years of NCAA Div 1 Basketball while winning Ivy League Rookie Of the Year. She joins Ara to discuss her decision to choose medical school over a professional basketball career, balancing athletics + academics, using basketball as a vehicle for change in India through @crossoverbasketball, her love for @stephencurry30 / @warriors, and much more!

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Shayna – https://www.instagram.com/shaynamehta_/

Timestamps

00:54 – Introducing Shayna Mehta
02:03 – Shayna’s upbringing; Tamil roots, love for basketball and the Warriors
06:32 – Balancing athletics and academics, winning Ivy League Rookie of the Year
09:58 – Choosing between the WNBA and med school
12:46 – Using basketball as a vehicle of change through “Crossover India”
16:33 – Where Shayna sees herself in the next 3-5 years
17:57 – Shayna’s dream job
19:22 – What motivates Shayna?
21:42 – Love for travel; favourite places she’s been and where she wants to go
23:30 – Shayna’s insecurities
24:29 – Shayna’s reaction to being admitted to medical school
25:00 – The personal legacy Shayna wants to leave behind
25:52 – Advice Shayna would give her 16-year-old self
27:41 – The White Tiger
29:22 – A habit that changed Shayna’s life
30:27 – Admiration for Mindy Kaling and Stephen Curry
34:07 – Advice Shayna has for other Tamil creators
34:38 – Creator Confessions
39:10 – The Wrap Up

EP #20: Anand Venkateswaran (aka Twobadour) – Crypto Believer/Tinhorn Who Helped Purchase $69M NFT & Co-Manages Metapurse, World’s Largest NFT Fund

Anand Venkateswaran, better known as Twobadour, is one half of the duo who purchased the world’s most expensive NFT at $69 million – Beeple’s “Everydays—The First 5000 Days”. He joins Ara on the latest episode to discuss the world of cryptocurrency, teaming up with Nas Daily to create a content fellowship around crypotocurrency, why the Metaverse will become more important in the future (& why people are buying virtual land) and the importance of maintaining an abundant mindset.

**TAKE THE QUIZ – “What Type of Creator Are You?”**

***For a chance to win a $100 gift card and get future podcast updates, interviews and other news, please sign up for the newsletter – CLICK HERE!***

Follow Twobadour – https://twitter.com/twobadour

Timestamps

00:54 – Introducing Twobadour
02:18 – Twobadour’s upbringing, journalism career, cryptocurrency and NFTs
05:52 – Serendipity and success
09:47 – Spending $69,000,000 on an NFT, how Metapurse was born
14:26 – Teaming up with Nas Daily to create a cryptocurrency fellowship
16:40 – Why is Twobadour so bullish on NFTs?
21:19 – What is the Metaverse, why are people buying virtual land
25:23 – The governance of the Metaverse
30:15 – What is a DAO & how can young people create a future for themselves
33:07 – What Twobadour would do if he could go back to the age of 16 with the knowledge he has now
34:28 – Dealing with mainstream fame
36:18 – How Twobadour structures his day, where he sees himself in 3-5 years
38:16 – Having an abundant mindset
40:38 – Big projects coming up
41:55 – Does Twobadour have investments outside of cryptocurrency and NFTs?
43:03 – Hobbies outside of work?
43:51 – What’s Twobadour insecure about?
44:43 – The personal legacy Twobadour wants to leave behind
45:41 – Books that have been life changing for Twobadour
47:07 – New belief/behaviour/habit that has changed his life
47:39 – Twobadour’s advice to fellow Tamil creators
48:04 – Twobadour’s inspirations
48:45 – Creator Confessions
51:06 – The Wrap Up