Kasa Connect

Krishana Agarwal

🎙️ We talk Brands, Business & Bold ideas! ☕️ Real stories, real conversations 🪴Empowering founders, fuelling wellness 🎧Episodes recorded at Kasa Café London

  1. VOR 4 TAGEN

    What TV Producers Wish You Knew Before Applying | Malak Aldean Kasa Connect Ep:34

    In this episode of Kasa Connect, guest host Noor sits down with Malak Aldean, a comedy producer and freelance journalist whose work spans BAFTA-winning shows, BBC, Channel 4, and her Substack Conversations on Comedy. Malak shares her unconventional journey into television, from children’s TV and Blue Peter to scripted comedy, as well as the real barriers creatives face when trying to break into the industry. She speaks candidly about gatekeeping, unpaid labour, industry snobbery, and the realities of freelance life, especially for those without traditional access or connections. The conversation also explores: Why most TV jobs are never advertised Scripted vs non-scripted TV (and why moving between them is so hard) Comedy as a tool for cultural storytelling Representation, tokenism, and who really gets to decide what gets made Malak’s ambition to champion Arabic-language comedy and emerging talent (00:00) Industry gatekeeping & interview stories (00:00) Podcast introduction (00:02) Family background & influences (00:04) Choosing TV & film (00:06) Barriers to entry (00:07) First roles & internships (00:08) Landing Blue Peter (00:10) Development & scriptwriting (00:11) Freelance work & contracts (00:12) Script reading & scripted TV (00:13) COVID disruption (00:14) Breaking into comedy (00:15) Scripted vs non-scripted divide (00:17) Networking & comedy focus (00:18) How TV jobs are found (00:19) Tiger Aspect & producing (00:19) Why comedy (00:22) Quick-fire questions (00:26) Egyptian representation (00:27) Arabic-language comedy ambitions (00:29) Career goals (00:31) Advice for producers (00:34) Advice for writers (00:37) How projects get made (00:39) Diversity & bias (00:40) Industry stories (00:43) Support resources (00:45) Authenticity & patience (00:47) Tokenism & schemes (00:50) Where to find Malak

    51 Min.
  2. 5. FEB.

    Why Success Isn’t Fair (And How to Use That) | Hasan Kubba (The Unfair Advantage) Kasa Connect Ep:33

    We sit down with Hasan Kubba — bestselling co-author of The Unfair Advantage — to unpack what really drives success in business, creativity, and life. Hasan shares the behind-the-scenes story of landing a major book deal, going viral during the pandemic, and building a global audience with his co-author Ash. He breaks down the powerful MILES framework (Money, Intelligence, Location/Luck, Education, Status) and explains how to identify your own unique advantages — even the ones you might be overlooking. We explore: The role of luck vs hard work How to turn disadvantages into leverage The truth about traditional vs self-publishing Why storytelling is a superpower How to build long-term success without burning out A must-listen for founders, creators, writers, and anyone trying to understand what really moves the needle. (00:00) Securing a Book Deal & Early Virality (00:01) Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing (00:03) Pandemic, Ali Abdaal & Explosive Growth (00:06) Meeting Co-Author Ash (00:09) The MILES Framework Explained (00:11) Turning Disadvantages into Advantages (00:14) Philosophy, Fate & Hard Work (00:17) How to Find Your Own Unfair Advantage (00:19) Passion vs Market Demand (00:21) Rapid Fire: Habits, Books & Lessons (00:23) Health as a Hidden Advantage (00:25) Writing With a Co-Author (00:26) Ghostwriting & Legacy Projects (00:28) Using Power Ethically (00:30) Unfair Advantages in the Age of AI (00:32) Creating Your Own Luck (00:35) Consistency Over Time (00:36) Publishing Economics (00:40) Storytelling in Non-Fiction (00:42) Who Actually Reads Books (00:44) Best Advice Not Taken (00:46) Final Reflections

    47 Min.
  3. 11.12.2025

    Breaking Barriers for Underrepresented Creatives – Amos Eretusi | Ep.30 Kasa Connect

    In this episode of Kasa Connect, we sit down with Amos Eretusi, founder of The Kusp, a UK-based social enterprise dedicated to improving access for underrepresented talent across the creative industries — including film, TV, fashion, media, and beyond. Amos shares his powerful journey from studying civil engineering to becoming a driving force for change in the creative sector. He opens up about the barriers minority creatives face, the importance of authentic networks, and his personal experiences navigating corporate spaces where representation was lacking. We explore his mission to build real opportunities — not just token gestures — through The Kusp’s community, events, and his newly launched platform The Kusp Hub, designed to transform creative hiring through education, fair recruitment, and accessible training. This episode dives deep into themes of purpose, resilience, identity, and the value of impact over material success. Whether you’re a creative, an industry professional, or someone passionate about empowerment and representation, this conversation will inspire you to think differently about the future of the creative world. (00:00) Authentic networking & helping others (00:35) Introducing Amos Eretusi (00:57) Nigerian roots & upbringing (02:07) The Kusp’s mission (02:54) From engineering to creative empowerment (03:53) Industry barriers & challenges (04:45) The Kusp’s unique approach (05:42) Introversion in creative spaces (05:55) Meaning of “The Kusp” (06:47) Feeling like a “box-ticker” (08:07) Entrepreneurship doubts & resilience (09:23) Building strong relationships (10:32) Sky Arts success story (13:20) Why representation is slow (15:42) Diversity behind the camera (17:08) Performative diversity post-George Floyd (18:24) Racism & backsliding (19:38) Being labelled performative (21:39) What makes a great connector (22:26) Advice for underrepresented talent (24:17) Fighting the urge to quit (24:53) Rapid fire (26:11) Mission over materialism (27:25) Money, values & contentment (29:00) Introducing The Kusp Hub (31:59) Accessible training & social impact (33:34) Favourite drinks (33:54) How to support The Kusp (35:22) Hobbies & interests (36:02) Advice he regrets not taking (37:01) Closing thoughts

    37 Min.
  4. 04.12.2025

    Zane Thadani: The Pressure to Go Viral - Anxiety, Fame & Mental Health | Ep.29 Kasa Connect

    In this episode of Kasa Connect, we sit with Zane Thadani — actor, comedian, and creator known for his viral Instagram and TikTok sketches that have taken the UK South Asian community by storm. Zane opens up about the real journey behind virality: the emotional rush of going viral, the mental crash of creative slumps, and the pressure of constantly needing to “hit” again. He shares the story of dancing to “Chaiyya Chaiyya” on the London tube, how that moment helped him overcome social anxiety, and why embarrassment became his greatest tool for confidence. We dive deep into mental health, consistency, originality, hate comments, family reactions, networking, confidence, acting, filmmaking, and why creators often lose themselves while chasing virality. Zane also reflects on cultural identity, British-Indian representation, and his ambitions beyond short-form content. If you’re a creator — or just fascinated by the psychology behind fame — this conversation is honest, funny, and packed with practical insights from someone who has lived the highs and lows of modern content creation. (00:00) First viral moment & early nerves (00:31) Intro to Zane Thadani (01:23) Recognition in the South Asian community (01:44) How his viral journey started (02:44) The emotional high of virality (03:52) How creators make money (04:35) Creative slumps & mental health (05:29) Why Zane creates (06:10) Tube dance changed everything (07:42) Embarrassment → confidence (08:30) Tips for going viral today (10:08) Gen Z attention spans (10:32) Originality vs adaptation (11:20) Hate comments & family responses (12:18) Ambition & identity (12:55) Networking & privilege (14:47) Insecurity & reinvention (17:25) Advice for new creators (18:30) Consistency vs quality (19:21) Rapid fire (21:17) Misconceptions about content creation (21:57) Emotional rollercoaster of engagement (22:24) Perks of fame (22:57) Filmmaking journey (23:47) Film school vs doing (24:23) Favourite films (26:17) Theatre experiences (28:34) Acting inspirations (29:27) Acting vs content (30:19) Family feedback (31:13) Advice to younger self (32:05) Authenticity vs persona (32:35) Cultural identity (33:09) Expanding beyond niche (34:16) Dream brand collabs (35:14) Networking superpower (36:39) Connecting with Zane (37:20) Final advice: consistency

    37 Min.
  5. 27.11.2025

    The Playbook for Women Who Want More: Jessica Lindfield’s Career Lessons | Kasa Connect Ep.28

    In this episode of Kasa Connect, we sit down with Jessica Lindfield—entrepreneur, author of Play the Game, and founder of the women’s community Embrace Her. Jess shares her journey from working in insurance in Australia to moving across the world and restarting her career in the UK. Today, she leads commercial enablement at the Financial Times, builds ambitious teams, and supports women through her book and her community platform. We talk about confidence, rejection, leadership, burnout, career reinvention, and building your own opportunities rather than waiting for them. Jess breaks down the practical lessons behind Play the Game, discusses the DEAR Method, and opens up about the realities of finding your voice in male-dominated spaces. Whether you’re navigating career transitions, building confidence, or redefining your professional identity, this episode is packed with actionable insights and honest reflections. (00:00) Jess’s early career & being reserved (00:33) Intro to Jess & her journey (01:42) Inspiration behind Play the Game (02:01) Moving from Australia to the UK (02:55) Building Embrace Her (03:57) Why a book, not just social media (04:54) How the book is structured (05:24) Rejection, resilience & persistence (07:14) Landing her first management role (10:04) The DEAR Method (11:07) Career strategy & the chess metaphor (12:03) Her path to the Financial Times (14:34) What FT’s culture is really like (16:16) Community feedback & women’s challenges (17:54) Building confidence through action (20:50) Reinventing yourself abroad (22:45) Leadership & revenue growth (24:33) What makes a good leader (29:10) Burnout & healthy boundaries (32:03) Jess’s morning routine (33:01) Supporting high-performing teams (34:18) Coffee order + connecting with Jess (36:35) Consistency over perfection – final advice

    37 Min.

Info

🎙️ We talk Brands, Business & Bold ideas! ☕️ Real stories, real conversations 🪴Empowering founders, fuelling wellness 🎧Episodes recorded at Kasa Café London