Middle Fingers Up

Be A Tiger is an episode about what it really means to grow up as a South Asian girl who’s told to be strong… while also being told to stay quiet, stay small, and don’t make anyone uncomfortable. In this conversation with award-winning author Kelly Kaur, we step into the world of Letters to Singapore through Simran — this young brown girl who is trying to hold herself together as an immigrant student from Singapore to Calgary in the 80's. As if the adjustment as a new comer isn't enough, Simran is also juggling carrying family expectations, culture, patriarchy, and a kind of freedom she wasn’t prepared for. We talk about that early line her father gives her — “Be a tiger” — and how that message changes as we grow up. What it means to be a tiger as a girl, what it means as a woman, and what it means when you finally start choosing yourself. And we go into the things we all know but rarely say out loud: • What it meant in the ’80s to “stand out in front of white people” — and the survival skills coded into that • What happens when you suddenly have freedom after being raised with none • How our older women — who were once the bullied ones — can become the gatekeepers • How patriarchy follows us from our parents’ homes straight into our marriages • And what today’s immigrant students are actually facing — the racism, the headlines, the sound bites that blame them for everything while erasing the systems exploiting them This episode is for every woman who grew up in-between… shapeshifting, for the ones who learned to roar quietly… and the ones who are setting the example to roar out loud. This episode is also for the brave man who wants to address his misogyny and set an example for the next generation. (We know you are out there ) Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Before we get into this episode, I want to name something real: there’s a moment in life when grief meets growth. Our guest Shri lived that moment. And today, she’s helping us understand it. Grief has a way of interrupting your life— but life never stops interrupting your grief. My guest today, Shri, knows this intimately. Within 18 months, she lost her father and sister… all while she was pregnant with her daughter. Imagine grief and life entering the room at the same time. That collision changed her. It made her choose something most of us avoid: To stop functioning. And start truly living. Before you listen, I want to ask you one thing: “When was the last time you told yourself the truth about how much you’ve been carrying?” Sit with that. Because this episode is going to meet you right there. We talk about the things people don’t say out loud:            *Is it okay that I’m still crying?            * Why do I feel guilty for slowing down?            *Why does grief feel like I’m failing at life?                                                                           * How do I grieve when I’m a mother, a partner, a daughter — all at once? Shri and I unpack the myths we inherited — “be strong,” “move on,” “don’t feel too much” — and how they keep us stuck and disconnected from ourselves. We dive into South Asian conditioning, the guilt that comes with choice and privilege, and the embodied ways grief stays alive in us long after the world thinks we’re “fine.” Some of Shri’s words you’ll hear: “Grief is a life force.” “You already have everything it takes to heal.” “There is no timeline to grief.” This episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to be human. You’re allowed to feel. You’re allowed to slow down. And you’re allowed to heal without performing strength for anyone. If you’ve been running from your grief… let this conversation be the moment you turn toward it — gently, honestly, and maybe for the first time, supported. Instagram: transforming.through.grief Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

In this gup shup, I want to talk about something we don’t talk about enough — rebuilding our relationship with ourselves during perimenopause. Not the charts. Not the protein grams. Not the supplements or the workouts. Those matter — trust me, I’m on top of them. But I’m realizing I’m ready to focus on something deeper: How do I stay in relationship with myself while everything in me is shifting? Mood swings? Check. Brain fog? Check. Zero patience? Check. Crying in the laundry room? Check. Feeling like your body isn’t yours? Check. This is perimenopause. This is hormones rewriting the rules without asking for permission. Progesterone (pro-JESS-ter-own — the hormone that’s supposed to chill us out) drops. Hard. When it drops? Anxiety spikes. Sleep tanking. Irritability shooting up. Body stores fat differently. Joints ache. Libido shifts. Stress response goes haywire. Emotions sit right under your skin — raw, reactive, ready. And we’re still expected to “function normally.” This phase calls us back to the relationship we have with ourselves — right now, in this body, in this season. Not the old version of us. Not the one patriarchy shaped. This version. This hormonal tornado. This woman who’s trying, learning, changing, holding so much. And if you’re going through this “second puberty” with a male partner — here’s a quick heads-up for him: Listen. Step up. Be the safe place. Learn what’s happening inside her. That’s my gup shup. That’s where I’m at. And if you’re here too — you’re not alone. Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

In this episode of Middle Fingers Up, I sit down with Christian Ortiz — Afro-Indigenous social scientist, technologist, and creator of Justice AIGPT — and this conversation hit me on so many levels. Christian grew up as a latchkey kid in 80s/90s Los Angeles and later confronted internalized racism, machismo, and white supremacy in the American South. With  a fierce single mother, and a lifetime of asking “why?” shaped a mission bigger than tech: challenging the systems that shape us before they erase us. This isn’t just a conversation about AI — it’s about identity, conviction, and the systems that shape our daily lives in ways we barely notice. We talk about how much AI is already embedded in our day-to-day, from the feeds we scroll to the faucets we wash our hands under — and how often we think these systems are broken, when really they were never built to recognize people like us. Christian breaks down how bias is coded into these tools, why decolonizing technology is not a luxury but a form of survival, and what it means for BIPOC communities. What I loved most? He doesn’t lecture. He doesn’t sugarcoat. He tells his story — and in doing so, holds up a mirror. You’ll walk away questioning the systems you’ve trusted, the stories you’ve inherited, and the parts of yourself you’ve outgrown. And you’ll hear the conviction behind his words:  “If I can change, there’s no way in hell you can’t.” This episode is for anyone ready to question, reflect, and see how our voices need to be at the table shaping the future — not erased by it. JusticeAIGPT - www.justiceaigpt.ca Instagram: zacatecho Linktree - OfficialChristianOrtiz Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Ever feel guilty for not feeling festive? The holidays are sold as sparkle and joy — and honestly, it starts in August the moment the gingerbread hits store shelves. The holiday decor floods every aisle... But for many of us, what follows isn’t joy. It’s guilt — spiraling that we’re falling behind and it’s only mid-summer — overstimulation, pressure to spend, perform, and somehow stay grateful while losing our minds. Maybe it’s the Secret Santa gift that assumes your culture (“Indian chai” for the brown girl — like, we like winter pine candles too ). Maybe it’s the small talk that pokes at your job, your relationship, or the kids you don’t have. Maybe it’s hiding your pronouns, your sexuality, or the truth about who you love — just to keep the peace. Maybe it’s the drinks at every gathering — not because you want them, but because refusing feels too complicated when family, tension, and history are on the table. Or maybe it’s that post-holiday crash, when the quiet hits harder than the chaos. This week, founder of Lotus Pathways, Psychotherapist, Shagun Sharma returns to unpack the guilt and obligation so many of us carry - How overstimulation and social fatigue drain our nervous systems - The blurry line between celebration and numbing out - How to prepare for the post-holiday blues — without shame You don’t owe anyone your sparkle or your performance. Just be present with where you’re at. Tune in. Breathe. Be. Instagram: lotuspathways Linktr.ee: lotuspathways Website: lotuspathwayspsychotherapy.com Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

This one made me laugh, pause, and think. I get to sit down and really get to know Calgary comedian and Planet Jerf host Jeff D'Silva—the stories behind his humor, how he sees the world, and the experiences that shaped him. We talk about biracial parenting, Calgary mall culture, and what it was like growing up Pakistani-Canadian in the 80s. I first came across Jeff after hearing his viral South Centre Mall song—the one calling out how white Calgarians “go there to get away from us POC.” It’s funny, sharp, and uncomfortable in the best way. And I knew I had to talk to him. We get into the identity tightrope of being between worlds, what it’s like getting racism from both brown and white folks, and how raising empathetic kids might just be the biggest act of resistance and love. Listen for: The South Centre Mall song that started it all Real talk on biracial parenting and identity How comedy can challenge and connect us This one’s for anyone who’s ever questioned where they fit—and learned to find belonging on their own terms. Instagram: jeffdsilva Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

 Have you ever asked yourself why so many of us first-gens ended up dating or marrying white people? I have!  I see now that our immigrant parents’ survival strategies — keeping your head down, working hard, staying small — shaped ours. And for our generation, that survival often meant assimilation, performing the “white version” of ourselves — at work, in friendships, even in love. In this intimate gup shup, I want you to know: you are not alone. Naming what’s happening, sharing our experiences together, and unpacking these survival strategies is necessary. I share what it’s like to wake up and realize we were digested, not seen — and how doing this deep work can actually strengthen relationships with white partners who met us as the “white version” of ourselves. If we are raising biracial kids, this work becomes even more important. The more we understand ourselves, the more we can show them authenticity, self-respect, and the courage to claim their identity fully. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. But it’s necessary. Thriving doesn’t come from performing. It comes from standing fully in your truth, holding space for your partner, and building a foundation for the next generation to grow strong and confident in who they are.  Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Hey everyone, quick question — when was the last time you really talked about periods? Not whispered, not joked about… I mean honest, open, real talk. If that made you pause, this one’s for you — and for the men in our lives too: dads, brothers, partners, sons… anyone who wants to understand better. Dr. Anne  invited me to sit down with her as part of her month-long speaker series celebrating her book "The Period Literacy Handbook"  turning one — now available as an audiobook — and since then, she’s launched her podcast, Phase to Phase: The Hormone Health Show. We dug into some of the things we were never taught, the things we sometimes hide, and the ways we can start changing the conversation at home. Some of it might surprise you. So whether you bleed or love someone who does, this conversation is for you. It’s not a flaw — it’s flow Follow Dr. Anne and Listen to her health show : Linktree Instagram  Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

You ever meet someone who reminds you that healing doesn’t always happen in therapy — sometimes it happens in the kitchen? In this episode of Middle Fingers Up, Kiran Randhawa sits down with Bengali home cook, mother, and storyteller Shuraya Bhatti, whose journey from grief to growth will make you rethink what it means to take care of yourself. After losing her father, Shuraya turned to food — not just to cook, but to connect. What started as a way to honor her roots became a space where strangers walk into her home and leave as community. Together, we talk about the power of slowing down, how ADHD shaped her work and motherhood, and why immigrant women need to stop apologizing for resting. You’ll walk away thinking about: How grief can actually spark creativity and connection The freedom that comes when you let yourself be imperfect Why taking a long shower isn’t selfish — it’s survival How storytelling, community, and self-compassion help us heal what we never got to name This conversation isn’t about cooking — it’s about coming home to yourself. Raw. Honest. Exactly what you didn’t know you needed today. Connect with Shuraya: Find her at shurayaskitchen.ca, on Instagram and Facebook (@shurayaskitchen), and at her monthly cooking classes in Calgary. Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Join Kiran Randhawa as she sits down with Mano Mishra, a community leader, yoga teacher, and advocate for women’s health and immigrant voices. Mano shares her journey from Uttar Pradesh, India, to building a new life in Calgary—facing isolation, career setbacks, and the challenges of starting over. Through her story, Mano reveals how volunteering, yoga, and a commitment to kindness helped her overcome depression and create supportive spaces for women navigating menopause, mental health, and life transitions. In this conversation, Mano discusses breaking cultural taboos, the importance of self-compassion, and why acceptance and gentle movement are essential for well-being at any age. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, practical advice, or a reminder of the power of community, this episode is for you. Key themes: immigrant resilience, women’s health, menopause, yoga, mental health, breaking stigma, self-compassion, community support. Instagram: yog_yogstudio Support the show If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text In this episode of Middle Fingers Up, host Kiran Randhawa sits down with community consultant, speaker, and Catalyst podcast host Nike Aurea for a deep dive into what it truly means to build and belong in community—beyond convenience and into real responsibility. As a first-generation daughter of West African immigrants, Nike shares how her upbringing in Atlanta shaped her unapologetic approach to advocacy and self-advocacy. "I always knew where I was from. I always knew about the food, the culture, language and with that also the history," she reflects, crediting her parents for instilling a strong sense of self through intentional storytelling and exposure to global histories, like films on South African apartheid. The conversation explores the intersections of education, care, and strategy, challenging listeners to rethink belonging. Nike disrupts common narratives around "mammification"—the expectation placed on Black women to carry endless emotional labor. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on unlearning stereotypes, setting boundaries with grace, and why "clarity is care" in fostering thriving spaces. If you've ever questioned your role in community or felt the weight of unspoken expectations, this episode will leave you empowered to show up authentically. Instagram: nikeaurea If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text Join host Kiran Randhawa on Middle Fingers Up for a heartfelt conversation with Shagun Sharma, registered psychotherapist and founder of Lotus Pathways. In this episode, Shagun shares her journey from a curious six-year-old in downtown Toronto's Cabbagetown neighborhood—where she first witnessed the realities of homelessness and mental health struggles—to becoming a trailblazer in culturally sensitive therapy.  "I wanted to be a therapist since I was six years old,"  Shagun reflects, inspired by her older sister's guidance and her own immigrant roots as a South Asian woman. Together, they dive into dismantling mental health stigmas in immigrant and South Asian communities, exploring barriers like self-judgment, high costs, and generational pressures that prioritize "protection, protection, protection" over open emotional discussions.  Shagun emphasizes creating "spaces that are culturally safe and validating where people can genuinely begin to untangle" intergenerational burdens, while addressing how social media and collective cultural norms often leave individuals feeling isolated. Whether you're navigating your own mental health path or seeking to understand systemic challenges, this episode offers validating insights on building rapport, normalizing therapy, and fostering community support. Tune in for an honest look at why "get over it" narratives persist and how we can collectively tackle them. Instagram: lotuspathways Linktr.ee: lotuspathways Website: lotuspathwayspsychotherapy.com If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text In this episode of Middle Fingers Up, host Kiran Randhawa sits down with Kam Bassier—fitness and life coach, father, husband, and self-proclaimed student of life—to unpack the emotional and physical toll of burnout and the radical power of rest. Kam’s story begins in Guyana, shaped by intergenerational trauma, hustle culture, and the immigrant grind. But what makes this conversation unforgettable is Kam’s vulnerability and wisdom as he reflects on his journey from survival mode to intentional living. “We’ve been plopped on Earth with no manual,” Kam says. “So I’m just trying to figure out the best way to go about this thing.”Together, Kiran and Kam explore how our childhood scripts—especially those rooted in immigrant households—shape our adult lives. From the glorification of hustle to the shame around rest, Kam challenges listeners to rethink what it means to be productive. “No one is going to tell you to slow down,” Kam warns. “You have to choose it. You have to disrupt the pattern.”This episode is a masterclass in nervous system regulation, inner child work, and redefining self-worth. Kam shares tangible tools for getting unstuck, including the power of sleep, body scans, and intentional boundaries. “Healing isn’t nice—it’s necessary,” Kam reminds us. “And rest isn’t laziness. It’s survival.” Whether you’re a burnt-out parent, a high-achieving professional, or someone simply trying to feel better in your body, this conversation will leave you full—like a nourishing meal that doesn’t need dessert. What You’ll Learn: Why rest is harder than hustle—and how to change that How immigrant narratives shape our relationship with work The link between nervous system regulation and emotional resilience Practical ways to disrupt your daily patterns and reclaim your energy Why healing requires conscious engagement, not just reflection Guest Info: Follow Kam Bassier on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @kambassier. Kam helps burnt-out adults build sustainable routines that support their physical, emotional, and relational health. If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text "At Least It’s Not Worse…” — Why We Rush Gratitude and Skip Our Feelings We’ve all done it. Someone shares they’re struggling, and we say:“Well, at least it’s not…” But what are we actually doing when we say that? In this  Gup Shup, I’m unpacking how this reflex comes from both our brains and our cultures — and how it might be doing more harm than good. -Why we rush to be grateful - How the brain tries to protect us - What we miss when we skip feelings -And why we’re giving middle fingers up to guilt-based gratitude If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text   If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text Healing as South Asians often means navigating a mental health system shaped by whiteness — one that often fails to see us. After parting ways with a white friend who is also a therapist, I began questioning: is it that we resist help, or that the help we’re offered was never built for us? And here’s the harder truth: many working within this system — including people of colour — don’t fully recognize how deeply whiteness shapes the frameworks we call “care.” Too often, this system offers a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t reflect our histories, cultures, or lived experiences. But unless those working in mental health commit to doing the deeper work — genuinely examining their own whiteness and how little is truly understood about clients of colour — these patterns will continue. Too many claim awareness but fall short of real accountability. The result? Many South Asians who need and deserve support are left unseen, underserved, or made to feel that healing is out of reach. Often this harm isn’t intentional, but unless we do the deeper work, we risk reproducing it while trying to help. It’s a slippery slope. This Gup Shup is for anyone ready to rethink what true support looks like when we center our own voices and ways of healing.  If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text It’s just you and me in this It’s Good To Gup Shup segment — a space for reflection, reclamation, and real talk. This episode was sparked by Sinners, a film that made me feel seen in someone else’s story. And that whisper of huge validation? It stayed in my bones. From Late Bloomer and Mo to Monkey Man, we’re talking about the daily contradictions of being brown in a white world. We’re finally putting language to those gut feelings. When stories no longer ask for permission — when creativity meets what’s happening in the world — you see heroes being born. This isn’t about representation for approval. It’s about zero f*cks and zero fear. It’s about owning the parts of us we were told to shrink. It’s about coming back to the things we mocked before we knew better. Because we are greater together. And I’ll ask you what I had to ask myself: When was the last time a story made you feel seen? Let me know if you’d like a version for social media or your podcast upload platform too! Sinners (2025) -  Directed by Ryan Coogler Bend it Like Beckham (2002) - Directed by Gurinder Chadha (available to stream) Late Bloomer (2024) - Created by Jasmeet Raina  Monkey Man(2024) - Directed by Dev Patel Mo (2022) - Created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text I sit down with Dr. Ami, a holistic hormone pharmacist who’s not just a clinician — she’s lived the journey. From missed periods and persistent acne to the emotional weight of feeling dismissed, she knows firsthand what many South Asian women silently endure. Together, we unpack the deep and often overlooked intersections of hormones, healing, and honesty — and explore what PCOS is really costing South Asian women. The truth? It's not just about skipped cycles or fertility struggles. It's about mental health, identity, and generations of shame wrapped up in silence. While birth control is often handed out as a band-aid, it’s really just been masking symptoms that deserved deeper care. And for many of us, our stories didn’t need more medication — they needed to be heard. This episode is also a gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) invitation to our male partners: you aren’t just background characters in our hormone health stories. Whether it’s showing up in doctor’s visits, learning about our cycles, or unlearning assumptions — your role matters. Dr. Ami now supports South Asian women all over the world in reclaiming their hormone health, fertility, and sense of self — with personalized, holistic care that listens and understands. From the beauty of periods to the myth that motherhood is our only calling, Dr. Ami reminds us that we can’t out-medicate a lifestyle, and that healing starts with presence. With compassion and clarity, she helps us rethink what it means to rest, reconnect with our bodies, and reclaim our hormone health without shame. “I wish more women didn’t hate their periods,” she says. And after this episode — you just might feel the same. Instagram: holistic.hormones.pharmacist Linktree If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text In this deeply moving episode, we sit with Reshma — a mother of three, widow, and mindfulness coach — as she opens up about the unimaginable loss of her husband to suicide. Together, we explore what it means to stay present in the deepest pain, to mother through heartbreak, and to speak honestly about mental health in a world that often whispers when it should be listening. Reshma doesn’t offer tidy answers — instead, she offers her heart. She shares what it was like to feel unsurprised by her husband’s choice to leave this world, how important it was that “everyone waited” for her, and the truth she’s come to hold: “My kids just need my heart.” We talk about the cultural silence that often surrounds grief — especially in South Asian families — where “if the problem can’t be fixed with food, then we just don’t talk about it.” We reflect on the heavy question so many suicide loss survivors carry: “You have all the things. Why would you not want to be here?” And how, sometimes, the most radical thing we can do is “slow down, pay attention, and shut up.” As a mindfulness coach, Reshma also shares how ancestral practices of presence and stillness became her compass — not to escape pain, but to move with it. In a world where mindfulness has been reduced to buzzwords and apps, she brings it home to its roots — and reminds us it was never a trend, but a way of being. This episode honors Children’s Mental Health Month by asking what kids really need during loss, and why healing doesn’t follow a schedule — “grief has no timeline. It has no finish point.” Reshma reminds us it’s not about big leaps, but small steps. And that the most loving thing we can do — for ourselves and each other — is to check in. Period. Instagram: reshmakearney Website: reshmakearney.com If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.

Send us a text In this soulful and tender conversation, I sit down with Salima Saxton — relational dynamics coach, writer, performer, and co-host of the Women Are Mad podcast. Together, we unpack the quiet truths women carry — the roles we’ve played, the selves we’ve tucked away, and the longing to feel fully seen. Salima reflects on how often she was "very, very busy making it all right for everybody else," and how "a lot of life is not neatly packaged up." She invites us to consider a powerful question: "What if you were asked to write your own eulogy — what would it say?" This episode isn’t about fixing yourself — it’s about finding your way back. It’s about learning to leave the porch light on for your own return. Because as Salima says, "turning up as ourselves is really the superpower for all of us." It’s a conversation to sit with — a gentle invitation to reconnect with the parts of you that have been waiting to be welcomed home. Website: salimasaxton.com Instagram: salimajsaxton If you like what you hear please click on "subscribe" or "follow" - It's free and you will get notified when the newest episodes are posted! Check us out on Instagram, X, and YouTube @mfupodcast. Give feedback, middle finger recommendations as well as random thoughts to info@mfupodcast.com. Thank you for listening! In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.