Be Anomalous

Sai Menon

Be Anomalous is a podcast that amplifies bold, unfiltered stories from trailblazers, creatives, and changemakers who break the mold. Through raw, honest conversations, we explore what it means to defy norms, embrace individuality, and forge your own path. From cultural identity to reinvention, each episode delivers inspiration, real insight, and practical advice for those daring to succeed on their own terms—unapologetically.

  1. How Alix Peabody Built Bev After 200 Rejections | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    1D AGO

    How Alix Peabody Built Bev After 200 Rejections | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    In this episode of Be Anomalous, Sai Menon sits down with entrepreneur and Bev founder Alix Peabody for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build something from nothing.From growing up between countries and cultures, to pitching 200+ investors, building in a male-dominated industry, and eventually exiting Bev, Alix opens up about the emotional and mental realities of entrepreneurship that rarely get talked about publicly.This isn’t just a conversation about startups.It’s about ambition, resilience, intuition, loneliness, reinvention — and learning who you are outside the company you built.In this episode, we talk about:* Building Bev from scratch* Navigating fundraising as a female founder* Why rejection became fuel* Founder burnout and life after exit* The emotional weight of leadership* Hiring, intuition, and building the right team* Entrepreneurship vs identity* Mental health, sleep, and rebuilding after success* Why there’s never a “perfect time” to startAlix also shares the mindset shifts that helped her survive the chaos of startup life — and the advice she’d give anyone bold enough to build something unconventional.“If you’re a founder, creative, or someone trying to carve your own path… this episode is for you.”Be bold. Be real. Be anomalous.Subscribe to the Be Anomalous https://www.beanomalous.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beanomalouspodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-anomalous/New conversations with founders, creators, and unconventional thinkers.New episodes every Monday and Thursday —Follow Sai:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsaimenon/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsaimenon/

    54 min
  2. Why Rama Afullo Walked Away From SpaceX to Build Something Bigger | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    4D AGO

    Why Rama Afullo Walked Away From SpaceX to Build Something Bigger | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    What does it take to walk away from companies like Google, Tesla, and SpaceX to build your own vision? In this episode of Be Anomalous, Sai Menon sits down with Rama Afullo, founder and CEO of Satlyt, to talk about identity, ambition, startup culture, and building the future of orbital computing. Born in Kenya and raised across multiple countries, Rama shares how growing up between cultures shaped his thinking about resilience, confidence, and innovation. From being one of Tesla’s earliest employees in Africa to working at Google and later joining Starlink at SpaceX, his journey has been anything but conventional. But this conversation goes deeper than résumés and startups. We talk about: Walking away from prestige to build your own pathThe hidden realities of venture capitalWhat working inside Google and SpaceX actually taught himWhy confidence and identity matter in entrepreneurshipThe future of AI and orbital infrastructureBuilding with conviction before the world understands your visionThis is a conversation for founders, creatives, engineers, and anyone trying to build a life outside the lines.

    57 min
  3. Julie Castro Abrams on Power, Privilege & Funding Women's Future | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    MAY 4

    Julie Castro Abrams on Power, Privilege & Funding Women's Future | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    What does it really mean to build a life around impact? In this episode, Sai sits down with Julie Castro Abrams, venture capitalist, founder, foster parent, and one of the most quietly radical voices in women's leadership. Julie opens up about marrying an undocumented immigrant at 22, fostering children, running a venture firm that exclusively backs women founders, and why she's never worked for a man in her life. They go deep on white privilege, co-founder mistakes, what fundraising really looks like for women, and why letting your light shine permits others to do the same-

    1h 2m
  4. Engineering Her Own Lane: Mitali Saxena on Reinventing Fashion, Tech & Herself

    APR 30

    Engineering Her Own Lane: Mitali Saxena on Reinventing Fashion, Tech & Herself

    Mitali Saxena went from being an engineer in a male-dominated industry to launching two fashion-tech companies rooted in something the industry rarely talks about: real women and real bodies. No filters. No fluff. Just smart tech, thoughtful design, and a deep “why” centered on empowerment. In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to leave the safe path, build from scratch, and stay soft while doing hard things. Mitali shares the unfiltered truth about fundraising as a woman in tech, what she got wrong about her first customers, and why operations (not aesthetics) almost broke her. We discuss burnout, mindfulness, and what it means to lead with empathy, especially when the world rewards hustle over healing. This isn’t just a founder story. It’s a reminder that your difference is your power, and you don’t need anyone’s permission to start where you are.

    34 min
  5. Katherine on Building Francis Henri, Motherhood & Turning a Pandemic Idea into a Retail Brand | Be Amomalous by Sai Menon

    APR 13

    Katherine on Building Francis Henri, Motherhood & Turning a Pandemic Idea into a Retail Brand | Be Amomalous by Sai Menon

    In this episode of Be Anomalous, we sit down with Katherine, founder of Francis Henry—a curated children’s clothing retailer bringing international baby and toddler brands to the U.S. market through both brick-and-mortar stores and online retail. Katherine shares her unconventional journey from aspiring wedding planner to PR professional at Neiman Marcus, and ultimately to becoming a multi-store founder and entrepreneur. We dive deep into how she navigated career pivots, built a business during the pandemic, and balanced entrepreneurship with raising three young children.

    45 min
  6. How Shahezad Left IT to Build Cousins Burger (Lessons on Scaling & Risk) | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    APR 6

    How Shahezad Left IT to Build Cousins Burger (Lessons on Scaling & Risk) | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    In this episode of Be Anomalous, I sit down with Shahezad — founder of Cousins Burger — who spent over two decades in IT before walking away from a stable, predictable career to build something completely different. What started as a last-minute decision to show up at a food festival turned into a fast-growing restaurant brand doing millions in revenue. But this conversation isn’t just about business. It’s about unlearning the beliefs you grew up with. Choosing uncertainty over comfort. And building something that feels true to you — even when you’re not sure it will work. We talk about fear, risk, identity, scaling a brand, and how success evolves over time. Shahezad shares the real side of entrepreneurship — the parts that aren’t always visible, but matter the most. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re ready to start… This episode might change how you think about it. Be bold. Be real. Be anomalous.

    53 min
  7. How Melissa Built a Beauty Brand for the People the Industry Overlooked | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    MAR 30

    How Melissa Built a Beauty Brand for the People the Industry Overlooked | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    In this episode of Be Anomalous, I sit down with Melissa — founder of a K-beauty brand designed specifically for melanin-rich skin — to talk about identity, representation, and what it really takes to build something that challenges an entire industry. This conversation goes deep into: Why K-beauty hasn’t historically worked for darker skin tones. The science behind melanin-rich skin and why most products miss the markWhat it takes to build a brand in a saturated industry. The reality of fundraising as a female founder.Moving to Korea and working directly with labs and the government Balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood. Subscribe to the Be Anomalous Follow: Instagram LinkedIn New conversations with founders, creators, and unconventional thinkers.

    1h 5m
  8. How Priya Built Punar with Purpose and Took It to the Oscars | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    MAR 23

    How Priya Built Punar with Purpose and Took It to the Oscars | Be Anomalous by Sai Menon

    In this episode of Be Anomalous, Priya Ravindra shares how a simple question turned into a mission-driven company. Priya didn’t start in sustainability. She was an engineer, working in tech, navigating spaces where she was often the only woman in the room. But during the pandemic, something didn’t sit right. As consumption increased, she found herself asking: Where does all this go? That question led her down a path into textile waste, ethical production, and eventually into building Punar — a sustainable brand focused on recycled materials and conscious consumption. But this conversation goes far beyond business We talk about: • Building a company without a traditional background • Why curiosity is one of the most underrated founder traits • Learning an entirely new industry from scratch • The reality of entrepreneurship — failures, delays, and self-doubt • Why speaking about your work is essential (especially for women) • How self-belief is built when things aren’t working. This is a conversation about trusting yourself before you have proof. Subscribe to the Be Anomalous https://www.beanomalous.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/beanomalouspodcast/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-anomalous/New conversations with founders, creators, and unconventional thinkers.— Subscribe to the YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@iamsaimenonNew episodes every Monday and Thursday. — Follow Sai:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsaimenon/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsaimenon/Thoughtful insights on entrepreneurship, identity, and building a life outside the lines.—About Be Anomalous: Be Anomalous is a podcast for trailblazers, creators, and founders who chose the unconventional path. Hosted by Sai Menon, the show explores the real stories behind people building meaningful work outside the lines. Be bold. Be real. Be Anomalous.

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Be Anomalous is a podcast that amplifies bold, unfiltered stories from trailblazers, creatives, and changemakers who break the mold. Through raw, honest conversations, we explore what it means to defy norms, embrace individuality, and forge your own path. From cultural identity to reinvention, each episode delivers inspiration, real insight, and practical advice for those daring to succeed on their own terms—unapologetically.

Information

  • Creator
    Sai Menon
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sai Menon
  • Show Website
    Be Anomalous