Going Against the Grain
Have you ever asked yourself, What if I just went ahead and did what I wanted??
As the eldest daughter of a South Asian home, doing what I wanted meant first,
considering what everyone else wanted! And every decision went through the ever
present filter of "What would people think!?" I know every culture has their
version of that...but I swear Desis live by it!!
Growing up, I stuck to the script of what was expected of me...I was respectful,
reliable, and polite.
But truthfully, that was just because
I didn't have the guts to go against the grain...which eventually led to a bit of
resentment of having to live to please everyone else!
But when I recognized that God had given me the tools to live in a way that felt
fulfilled and truthful, I decided that I couldn't care what anyone else thought!
Case in point...I stayed in a marriage way, way longer than I should have only
because that was what was expected of me! But I wasn't about to live the next 20
years the way I had lived the last 20!
So, I ended that marriage and focused on me!
I grew my "very non-Pakistani" cleaning and organizing business and launched
another business that focused on fennel seed mixes that are a staple in South Asian
homes! Hey, not all of us are going to be doctors and IT experts!!
I started actually BELIEVING the positive things people have said to me over the
years and ignored the voices that were more concerned about what others thought!
And it was liberating and empowering and freeing!
I created this podcast for-
All of those men and women who have heard “What will people think?” their
whole life and have decided that they really don't care!
On this podcast
We'll meet some really cool, interesting men and women who've stepped out of
the cultural or familial expectations that were put upon them and are living
authentically!
We will talk about
what society expected them to be and what they, themselves decided they would
be!
It's not always easy to step outside the box, but it makes for a great story when
you do!
I AM your host:
Farnaz Dar and this is the "Going Against the Grain” podcast.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 33
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2024
12 - Liz Vazquez - Okay, But When Are You Going Back To School?
Liz is the co-founder of North Penn Parents Special Education Alliance and can be reached via email to inquire about this business: [email protected]
And she is the owner of LV Confections and C…
11 - Octavia Phillips - Finding HER Pin-Hole of Light
Octavia Phillips grew up surrounded by family and community that valued discipline, drive, and determination. If she said she was going to do something, they were there to hold her to it. However, wh…
10 - Rina Makhdoom - The Secret to Having it All!
Rina Makhdoom was given a few career options early in life: doctor, lawyer, engineer, or failure! Well, she checked one of those boxes, but then went on to carve her own career path with a passion an…
9 - Helen Ober - The PITBULL for GOOD THINGS!
When others were looking forward to retirement, Helen Ober found herself in a position to step up and help her family. She could have taken a safe route, but instead, followed her heart and did the u…
8 - Michelle Gollapalli - Being Polite, Firm, and POWERFUL
Michelle Gollapalli is a mother of two and an award-winning executive of many! Don't let her polite, mild-mannered demeanor fool you! This professional speaker and corporate leader is out to empower …
7 - Danielle Bridge - Walk in Scared, Leave STRONG!
Danielle Bridge is not one to make excuses and not one to put up with yours either! She's the owner of Bridge the Gap Workouts, a wife and mother, and all-around powerhouse of energy and determinatio…
6 - Niki Brennan - Beauty in Appearance, Attitude, and Action!
Niki Brennan's business is B3: Beauty By Brennan, but she makes it her business to raise a "full human being" who is aware of, involved in, and cares about equality, justice, and human rights (even w…
5 - Margaret Almon - Our Own Mosaic Laureate!
Margaret Almon is a mosaic artist outside of Philadelphia, PA that brings words to life! The owner of Nutmeg Designs was always an artist, but her medium has changed from the written word to the glas…
4 - Liz Vazquez - You're Doing Great, But...!
Liz is the co-founder of North Penn Parents Special Education Alliance and can be reached via email to inquire about this business: [email protected]
And she is the owner of LV Confections and C…
3 - Octavia Phillips - You Said It, Now Go Do It!
Octavia Phillips grew up surrounded by family and community that valued discipline, drive, and determination. If she said she was going to do something, they were there to hold her to it. However, wh…
2 - Rina Makhdoom - Finding Her Own Definition of Freedom!
Rina Makhdoom was given a few career options early in life: doctor, lawyer, engineer, or failure! Well, she checked one of those boxes, but then went on to carve her own career path with a passion an…
1 - Helen Ober - She'd Rather INSPIRE Than RETIRE!
When others were looking forward to retirement, Helen Ober found herself in a position to step up and help her family. She could have taken a safe route, but instead, followed her heart and did the u…
Going Against the Grain - Trailer
Raise your hand if you grew up hearing “ Oh no, you can’t do that…What will
people say!? Or “Loukh kya kahngay!?”” If you know, you know!
At my age, I thought that this was a thing of the past, but app…