Reclaiming Bossy

Maahika Singh

If you're bossy and in pursuit of building a bold and brilliant life, career, and collection of side quests, you're in the right place. I'm Maahika, and Reclaiming Bossy is for ambitious women in their 20s navigating career, money, and identity, the messy middle nobody really posts about. Real conversations with founders, creators and leaders, plus honest solo episodes, health, wealth and happiness. Originally Empower Sounds, we are now streamed in 65+ countries with 3 international seasons, come join our global community. New episodes every Wednesday 3

  1. 2 days ago

    You Don’t Suck at Learning Languages, You’re Just Making These 5 Mistakes ...

    The method I used to learn Spanish from zero to fluent is the most popular video on this channel, so I thought it was time to make a part two.If the first video was everything I did right, this one is everything I did wrong. After reaching C1 Spanish, I assumed learning another language would be easy. Instead, I made almost every mistake possible. I chased streaks instead of fluency, downloaded every app, jumped between resources, lost consistency and slowly forgot the exact principles that helped me learn Spanish in the first place.The truth is, you don’t suck at learning languages. You’re probably just making a few simple mistakes. In this episode, I break down the biggest language learning mistakes I made after Spanish and everything I wish I’d done instead. Whether you’re learning your first language or your fifth, I hope this saves you months, if not years, of frustration and helps you build a language learning system that actually works. If you haven’t watched Part One yet, I’d recommend starting there. It’s where I share the exact method I used to teach myself Spanish from zero to fluent, and it’s still the foundation of everything I talk about in this episode. Watch Part One: https://youtu.be/UVh0B_wfjFY?si=IJzzRYIfqcx0YDt- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro: Welcome to Reclaiming Bossy and why language streaks don’t equal fluency 03:18 Pick a why: Finding a compelling vision to stay consistent with language learning 05:19 Set realistic goals: Why aiming for fluency from day one sets you up for failure 07:08 Create a learning plan: Understanding your learning style before picking resources 09:00 Find one good resource: Recommendations for auditory learners and using free tools 10:14 Stack your habits: Tying language practice to existing daily routines 11:21 Find accountability: The importance of a language buddy or habit trackers 12:31 Build your world: Weaving your target language into hobbies, music, and daily life 14:24 Balance input and output: Why you must practice speaking and not just listening 17:37 Learn strategically: Focusing on high-frequency words instead of random vocabulary 19:26 Structure your grammar: Starting simply with present, past, and future tenses 21:46 Outro: Reflecting on the necessity of fun and building a world in your target language WORK WITH ME Creative/Founder Office Hours Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan.If you’re learning a language and want help creating a personalised language learning plan, understanding your learning style, staying accountable or building a study system that fits around your life, you can book an Office Hours session and we’ll map it out together. Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. :⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/mentorin...⁠⁠⁠ Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/branding...⁠⁠⁠ Book a discovery call : ⁠⁠⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/discover...⁠⁠⁠ Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com Join the next personal branding sprint : ⁠⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. : ⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@bossybehindthes...⁠⁠⁠ Bossy and Brown magazine  ⁠⁠⁠https://www.bossyandbrown.com⁠⁠⁠ If you found this episode helpful, send it to the friend you want to learn a language with. Having someone to keep you accountable makes the whole process so much more fun.

  2. 19 Aug

    3 Years of Podcasting Knowledge in 22 Minutes, 7 Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner

    Three years ago, I uploaded the first episode of Reclaiming Bossy from my bedroom with no network, no production experience and absolutely no idea what I was doing. Now, the podcast has reached listeners in 65+ countries, taken me to record seasons in Amsterdam and Madrid, introduced me to incredible founders, creators and experts, and, after three years of showing up consistently, has finally been monetised. This episode is everything I wish someone had told me when I started. If you’re thinking about starting a podcast, creating content online, building a personal brand or growing your business through storytelling, these are the seven lessons I learned through trial and error, hundreds of hours behind the microphone and making plenty of mistakes along the way.  The good news? You don’t have to learn them the hard way, I am ungatekeeping everything I know. If you’d like support bringing your own story to life, that’s exactly what we do at Empower Sounds Media. We work with founders, creators and brands on storytelling, personal branding, podcast strategy and production, content creation and digital marketing, helping you build a brand people remember without having to figure it all out alone. WORK WITH ME Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. :⁠⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/mentorin...⁠⁠ Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/branding...⁠⁠ Book a discovery call : ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/discover...⁠⁠ Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com Join the next personal branding sprint : ⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...⁠⁠ Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. : ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@bossybehindthes...⁠⁠ Bossy and Brown magazine  ⁠⁠https://www.bossyandbrown.com⁠⁠ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro: Celebrating three years of the podcast and un-gatekeeping content creation secrets 02:10 Know your audience: Designing your ideal viewer and understanding who you're talking to 06:14 Provide a transformation: Making sure every video solves a problem or gives clear value 07:54 Packaging matters: Why you can't treat titles and thumbnails as an afterthought 10:52 Keep gear simple: Starting small and why you don't need expensive equipment right away 14:14 Chase 1% improvements: Obsessing over small upgrades instead of waiting for perfection 17:34 Never stop learning: Building a "learn list" and putting in the reps to grow 19:25 Devotion over discipline: Having faith in your vision and centering your process around joy 21:32 Outro: Reflecting on the journey and what's coming next for the podcast I hope you find this useful and will take this as your sign to start. Whether you’re creating your first video, launching a podcast, growing a business or simply trying to share your ideas with more confidence, I hope this episode reminds you that consistency beats perfection, storytelling matters and the best time to start is before you feel ready.

  3. 14 Aug

    This Is Your Sign to Start That Thing...

    This is your sign to start the idea you’ve been letting live in your notes app or imagination for far too long.  Whether it’s a business, podcast, newsletter, YouTube channel, creative project or something else, this episode is to trust your ideas and stop overthinking. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of creating and launching the very first edition of Bossy & Brown in just one month, and sharing the mindset shifts that helped me stop overthinking and start building. When I was born 23 years ago in Mumbai, my mum was told she was “crazy” for celebrating the birth of a baby girl. Hearing that story, I knew from a young age that I wanted to create work that made celebrating women feel obvious and normal. Three years ago, I started Reclaiming Bossy from my bedroom as a university student with no network, no capital and no expertise. Just a microphone and a belief that more women deserved to have their stories heard. Since then, the podcast has grown into a community spanning 65+ countries, with seasons recorded in Amsterdam, Madrid and beyond. Bossy & Brown was born from that same mission. For South Asian Heritage Month, I put out a call for South Asian founders, creators, artists and writers. Within 48 hours, more than 300 comments and messages poured in from people across the UK, India and the global diaspora. There were simply too many incredible women to fit onto the podcast so I created the magazine as the next step. The first edition is centred around one idea: you can’t love the flower and hate the root.Inside, you’ll find conversations on entrepreneurship, AI, Ayurveda, astrology, identity, fashion, food, skincare and relationships, alongside personal essays on rebuilding your life, overcoming trauma, breaking cycles and becoming the boldest version of yourself. I hope this episode gives you the confidence to stop waiting for permission and finally launch the idea that’s been waiting for you. Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Announcing the launch of the Bossy & Brown magazine 00:48 Representation: Creating the media and stories I wanted to see growing up 02:37 Giving momentum: Why actioning your ideas is the ultimate form of self-love 03:23 The ideas garden: How to organise, collect and nurture your creative inspiration 05:11 Making space: Creating the table when you don’t feel represented 06:05 Authentic visibility: Why the right people can’t find you if you’re being someone else 07:45 Community service: Showcasing the wisdom of South Asian experts and creators 09:39 Micro grants: Giving back to South Asian founders, creators and builders 10:58 Confidence through action: Why building evidence matters more than applause 11:13 Three-year anniversary: How starting a podcast in my bedroom changed my life 12:24 Rich aunt lore: Building a life full of stories, experiences and community Bossy and Brown magazine  ⁠https://www.bossyandbrown.com⁠ BUILD YOUR BOLDEST + BOSSIEST LIFE/ CAREER Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. : ⁠https://substack.com/@bossybehindthes...⁠ WORK WITH ME Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. :⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/mentorin...⁠ Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/branding...⁠ Book a discovery call : ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/discover...⁠ Join the next personal branding sprint : ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...⁠ Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

  4. 6 Aug

    If You Had a Big Sister, She Would Tell You This ...

    This week is a big moment on the podcast. Reclaiming Bossy is turning three years old, and I’m turning 23. To celebrate both birthdays, I wanted to sit down and share the 22 biggest lessons I learned at 22. I don’t have a big sister, so in many ways I’ve had to learn a lot of these lessons the hard way.  Through building a business, going to therapy, travelling, making mistakes, creating nearly 100 podcast episodes, and having hundreds of conversations with incredible guests, these are the ideas that have shaped who I am becoming. If you’ve listened to even one episode over the past three years, thank you.  Whether you’ve been here since episode one or you only found Reclaiming Bossy last week, thank you for letting me be a small part of your journey. Here’s to the next chapter. Share this with someone who needs big sister advice today :) TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro: 22 things I learned at 22 and celebrating three years 01:27 Authenticity: Finding yourself and repelling the wrong people 04:13 Relationships: Trusting the right people to stay and letting the wrong ones go 08:20 Failure as data: Learning from your flop moments 09:35 Making space: Why everything in life requires time and capacity 13:06 Don't quit, rest: Understanding the seven types of rest 14:17 Healing is a journey: Going back to therapy and dropping the shame 17:29 The arrival fallacy: Giving yourself permission to exist between achievements 19:53 The fear of success: How to regulate yourself when big wins happen 22:04 Hard work vs. alignment: Why struggle isn't the most important ingredient 24:44 Visibility is currency: Creating inbound luck and opportunities 26:47 Jealousy as data: Breaking the scarcity mindset and the "it girl" narrative 28:18 The timeline curse: Falling in love with the dream, not the deadline 31:00 Self-validation: Giving yourself permission and breaking the validation loop 32:18 Confidence is built on action: Why evidence matters more than applause 33:30 The 70 percent rule: Beating perfectionism and acting before you overthink 35:17 You only need one yes: Depersonalizing rejection and building resilience 39:41 Embarrassment is a choice: Being unapologetically yourself and backing your vision 40:48 You can always start again: Reshuffling the deck to create a better life THINGS MENTIONED Bossy and Brown magazine preorder https://www.bossyandbrown.com Learn more about Bossy and Brown https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/indian-bossy-brown-girl-summer-b3015509.html My Substack article about endings https://maahikasingh.substack.com/p/happy-endings-are-overrated-heres?r=60u9vn&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer Fail Smarter https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/dougal-shaw/fail-smarter/9781805228240/ My Substack article about therapy https://theopenletters.substack.com/p/i-failed-my-healing-journey?r=60u9vn&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer Amsterdam season of Reclaiming Bossy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcgUd5P1H3A&list=PLwjRDHUFHp3gyg9Fp1HBSTfMn-lG2DGi6 BUILD YOUR BOLDEST + BOSSIEST LIFE/ CAREER Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. : https://substack.com/@bossybehindthes... WORK WITH ME Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. :https://calendly.com/maahika/mentorin... Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : https://calendly.com/maahika/branding... Book a discovery call : https://calendly.com/maahika/discover... Join the next personal branding sprint : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA... Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

  5. 29 Jul

    You Have More Free Will Than You Think: Here’s How to Use It

    Today’s episode is a reminder  that you are the main character of your own life. In this episode of Reclaiming Bossy, I’m breaking down how to “free will max”: building the money, time, boundaries, self-trust, community and energy that give you more freedom to design a life you love, We get into identifying your core values and your “why”, defining success on your own terms, setting boundaries around what you will and won’t tolerate, building financial literacy, thinking differently about your 168 hours each week, delegating, protecting yourself from burnout and breaking the cycle of constantly looking to other people for validation. If you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, directionless and want to design a more happy life, this episode is for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro: How to maximise your free will and personal agency 00:50 The funding gap and the reality of being the first in your lineage 03:28 Step 1: Identifying your core values and finding your “why” 06:07 Step 2: Setting boundaries and deciding what you won’t tolerate 08:33 Step 3: Designing your own version of success 11:07 Money is a tool: Building financial agency and financial literacy 13:52 You have 168 hours: How to spend your time and pay yourself first 18:00 Delegating tasks and understanding what your time is worth 19:30 The energy audit: Protecting your energy and preventing burnout 22:04 Stop waiting for permission: Breaking the validation loop 24:40 Why you need a community of builders around you 26:17 Reclaiming “Bossy” and launching Bossy and Brown magazine What’s one way you’re maximising your free will right now? Comment below, I want to hear yours. Please also send this episode to someone you want to free will max with. THINGS MENTIONEDThe Bossy and Brown Magazine (info/pre-order): https://www.bossyandbrown.com 168 hours book: https://lauravanderkam.com/books/168-hours/ The Finance Season: https://youtu.be/u583FCbmLEY?si=dnDNySkTZxkbx0_I BUILD YOUR BOLDEST + BOSSIEST LIFE/ CAREER Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. https://substack.com/@bossybehindthescenes WORK WITH ME Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. https://calendly.com/maahika/mentoring?back=1 Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : https://calendly.com/maahika/branding-strategy-session?back=1&month=2026-07 Book a discovery call : https://calendly.com/maahika/discovery-call?back=1 Join the next personal branding sprint : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNPFNgdt02CyvYsb6n9i8kmvEJRxQDmTwOVusTxII_tMoJ7Q/viewform?usp=header Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

  6. 22 Jul

    The Story Behind the UK's First Desi Cocktail Brand with Danika Hossain

    Danika Hossain co-founded Bhangra Blends, the UK's first South Asain inspired ready-to-drink cocktail brand, taking it from home-tested recipes to retail shelves and a £167k raise, all straight out of university. We talk about the origin story behind Bhangra Blends, building a product from kitchen experiments to commercial manufacturing, and raising funding as young South Asian female founders. Danika breaks down startup jargon most people are too embarrassed to ask about (SEIS, cap tables, FMCG), why every founder needs an advisory board, and how she's kept her friendship with her co-founder intact through the chaos of building a business. We also get into brand building, rebranding without fear of being "annoying," and choosing organic growth over chasing every opportunity. If you've ever wanted to start a business but have no idea where to begin,  this episode is for you. Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Meet Danika, co-founder of Bhangra Blends 00:19 Introducing the UK's first Indian-inspired cocktail brand 00:51 The origin story of Bhangra Blends 01:55 The product development journey from home testing to retail 03:24 Raising £167k and the commercial manufacturing process 05:00 Breaking funding barriers as a young South Asian female founder 06:45 Startup jargon busted: SEIS, Cap Tables, and FMCG 10:45 Why you need an advisory board and how to build one 14:05 How to maintain a friendship with your co-founder 16:34 Balancing startup life and personal relationships in your 20s 18:13 Business expectations vs. reality and advice to younger self 21:07 Creating a vibrant brand aesthetic and community 24:00 Rebranding and getting over the fear of being "annoying" 26:04 Focusing on organic sales and relationship building 29:08 Building resilience through the highs and lows of business Connect with Danika/ Bhangra Blends  https://bhangrablends.com https://www.instagram.com/bhangrablends/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/company/bhangra-blends/ Send this episode to someone who you want to try Bhangra Blends with the next time you order Indian takeout :) BUILD YOUR BOLDEST + BOSSIEST LIFE/ CAREER Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. https://substack.com/@bossybehindthescenes WORK WITH ME Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. https://calendly.com/maahika/mentoring?back=1 Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : https://calendly.com/maahika/branding-strategy-session?back=1&month=2026-07 Book a discovery call : https://calendly.com/maahika/discovery-call?back=1 Join the next personal branding sprint : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNPFNgdt02CyvYsb6n9i8kmvEJRxQDmTwOVusTxII_tMoJ7Q/viewform?usp=header Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

  7. 15 Jul

    Being a "Good Girl" Is a Scam , Here's Why (With Sangeeta Pillai)

    Sangeeta grew up in the slums of Mumbai, fought her way out of an arranged marriage, and became the founder of Soul Sutras and the multi-award-winning Masala Podcast, the UK's biggest South Asian feminist platform.  In this episode we go deep on the mother wound, generational trauma, and the specific kind of shame South Asian women are raised to carry. We talk about reclaiming the word "bossy," growing up under patriarchy in Mumbai, immigrant shame, healing her relationship with her mother, leaving India for London, and re-rooting in Kerala to find belonging. We also get into redefining South Asian culture on your own terms, the stigma around loneliness, building genuine community, the "man hater" label thrown at feminists, real male allyship, breaking scarcity mindset, and reconnecting with your body and pleasure. If you've ever felt like tired of being “good” this one is for you TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 – Introduction: Meet Sangeeta  Pillai 00:00:46 – Reclaiming The Word Bossy & Speaking Up 00:02:31 – Growing Up In Mumbai & Overcoming Patriarchy 00:04:53 – The Societal Function Of Shame 00:07:05 – Unpacking Cultural Shame As Immigrants 00:09:36 – Healing The Mother Wound & Generational Trauma 00:13:58 – Leaving The Motherland & Moving To London 00:16:50 – Re-Rooting And Finding Belonging In Kerala 00:20:22 – Redefining South Asian Culture On Your Own Terms 00:24:35 – The Hidden Stigma And Shame Around Loneliness 00:28:13 – Evolving Identity And Outgrowing Old Spaces 00:29:29 – How To Build A Genuine And Intentional Community 00:33:37 – Navigating The "Man Hater" Label As A Feminist 00:37:18 – How Men Can Show Up As True Allies To Women 00:39:15 – Breaking The Scarcity Mindset Among Women 00:41:48 – Learning To Relax, Let Go, And Receive Abundance 00:44:35 – Reconnecting With Your Body & Calming Your Nervous System 00:47:25 – Expanding Your Lexicon Of Pleasure As A Woman 00:50:24 – Conclusion: Where To Find Sangeeta  Follow and Connect with Sangeeta: Sangeeta’s Website https://soulsutras.co.uk/about-sangeeta-pillai/ Follow Sangeeta on instagram https://www.instagram.com/soulsutras/?hl=en Connect with Sangeeta on Linkedin  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangeeta-pillai-soul-sutras-398a821a?originalSubdomain=uk Masala Podcast : https://open.spotify.com/show/7eCWGNxaofWADklejsML95 BUILD YOUR BOLDEST + BOSSIEST LIFE/ CAREER Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. ⁠https://substack.com/@bossybehindthescenes⁠ WORK WITH ME Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/mentoring?back=1⁠ Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/branding-strategy-session?back=1&month=2026-07⁠ Book a discovery call : ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/discovery-call?back=1⁠ Join the next personal branding sprint : ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNPFNgdt02CyvYsb6n9i8kmvEJRxQDmTwOVusTxII_tMoJ7Q/viewform?usp=header⁠ Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

  8. 8 Jul

    London Supper Club Chef Reveals The Most Underrated Cuisine You Need To Try

    What does it mean to reclaim your culture through food? Sohini Banerjee is a chef, food writer, and the founder of Smoke and Lime, a Bengali supper club bringing London's Desi community together one dinner at a time. This episode is part of our South Asian Heritage Month season and it is one of my favourites we have made. We talk about Bengali culture, the gentrification of South Asian food, the assimilation struggle of growing up British South Asian, and how Sohini built a freelance food business from scratch by simply refusing to shrink herself or her cooking. If you have ever been told your food smells, your culture is too much, or that STEM is the only acceptable path, this one is for you. Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Welcome to Reclaiming Bossy 01:04 Meet Sohini: Chef and Smoke & Lime founder 02:01 Exploring the Bengali community and its nuances 04:18 Unique aspects of Bengali culture and arts 05:21 The story behind Smoke & Lime Supper Clubs 07:03 The gentrification of South Asian food and zero waste 10:38 Misconceptions and the Matcha vs. Chai debate 11:56 Overcoming the assimilation struggle 14:06 Growing up British South Asian 18:10 Rediscovering Desi identity away from home 20:07 Reclaiming brown womanhood through food 23:31 How to get started hosting supper clubs 25:44 Navigating privacy when hosting strangers at home 29:44 How to price your supper club and know your worth 32:24 The brown female tax and defending your rates 35:06 Content creation advice: don't take it too seriously 36:56 Letting go of opinions and being authentic 38:54 Rapid fire: Bengali artists you need to know 40:05 Why Desi cooking is all about the vibes 41:22 Stop villainizing carbs 42:17 Advice to my younger self: ditching STEM stereotypes 42:46 What it means to reclaim being "bossy" 43:50 Where to find Shohini and her supper clubs 45:27 Final thoughts and outro Guest Links Sohini's Website: https://sohinibanerjee.com/  Smoke and Lime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smokeandlime/  Sohini's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohini-banerjee-smoke-and-lime-0b5a2215a Sohini's About Page: https://sohinibanerjee.com/about/  Sohini's Substack: https://sohinibanerjee.substack.com/ If you enjoyed this episode and learning about Bengali culture, send it to someone who you think would love it. And if you ever get the chance to eat Sohini's food, do not think twice. BUILD YOUR BOLDEST + BOSSIEST LIFE/ CAREER Bossy Behind the Scenes: Essays, reflections, resources and all the behind-the-scenes of building a bold, bossy life. ⁠https://substack.com/@bossybehindthescenes⁠ WORK WITH ME Creator/Founder Office Hours: Bring me your ideas, questions or whatever you’re stuck on, and we’ll turn it into a plan. ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/mentoring?back=1⁠ Founders + brands: Work with me on storytelling, personal branding, content and strategy through Empower Sounds Media. Book a Strategy Session : ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/branding-strategy-session?back=1&month=2026-07⁠ Book a discovery call : ⁠https://calendly.com/maahika/discovery-call?back=1⁠ Join the next personal branding sprint : ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNPFNgdt02CyvYsb6n9i8kmvEJRxQDmTwOVusTxII_tMoJ7Q/viewform?usp=header⁠ Follow The Podcast/ Connect With Me Podcast Instagram: @reclaimingbossy Podcast TikTok: @reclaimingbossy My Instagram: @maahika.s My TikTok: @maahika.s Collaborations + enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

If you're bossy and in pursuit of building a bold and brilliant life, career, and collection of side quests, you're in the right place. I'm Maahika, and Reclaiming Bossy is for ambitious women in their 20s navigating career, money, and identity, the messy middle nobody really posts about. Real conversations with founders, creators and leaders, plus honest solo episodes, health, wealth and happiness. Originally Empower Sounds, we are now streamed in 65+ countries with 3 international seasons, come join our global community. New episodes every Wednesday 3