National policy expert, Rohini Kosoglu, joins Abhay to talk about everything from building trust with leaders to policy intersections and governance with AI to the imperatives of this upcoming election cycle.  Rohini recently served in the Biden-Harris administration as Deputy Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President. (0:00 - 3:19) Introduction(3:19) Part 1 - parenting and relationship development, additive experiences with leaders(14:29) Part 2 - intersections of A.I. and policy, innovation vs regulation, governing with compromise(32:44) Part 3 - South Asian American patriotism, election imperatives(45:37) Conclusion

SPOTLIGHT episodes of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING feature brief chats about a unique topic or cause.Varsha Mathur, J.D., PCC, a certified dating and relationship coach with over seven years of experience, guides clients worldwide to effortlessly find and sustain lasting love with their ideal partners.  Through her personalized coaching approach, Varsha empowers both singles and couplesto cultivate confidence, ignite attraction, and build partnerships that withstand the test oftime. A former practicing lawyer and mediator, Varsha draws on her personal journey, including divorce and remarriage, to help others make decisions untainted by negative influences, propelling them toward their dreams. Varsha’s work is deeply rooted in her belief that people should not be burdened by various cultural and societalstigmas or taboos that disempower them from living their most authentic and fulfilling life.

Choreographer and dance artist Rohit Gijare joins Abhay to talk about everything from teaching to getting inspired to constantly being a student of dance.  (0:00 - 2:53) Introduction(2:53) Part 1 - routine, inspiration, improv(14:08) Part 2 - how to define "good", being an effective teacher, dance and cultural importance(32:45) Part 3 - breaking stereotypes and barriers, being a student of dance(46:58) Conclusion

Abhay is joined by Raj Lulla, author of the novel "The Caring House", to talk about writing about grief, mental health and empathy, and "metabolizing" grief. Their mutual love of the West Wing definitely also came up. (0:00 - 2:53) Introduction(2:53) Part 1 - ignition and inspiration to write the book, children grieving(13:75) Part 2 - inconsistencies, "metabolizing" grief, personal journeys(28:31) Part 3 - hope, immigrant mental health experiences(39:59) ConclusionIf you or someone you know is need of support for a mental health, suicide, or emotional distress crisis in the US, please call/text 988 For worldwide resources, please visit https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm

Abhay is joined by Priyanka Kamath, the founder and CEO of 100 Girls in Blockch(AI)n.They chatted about build skill equity in tech for emerging economies and provide solutions for grassroots projects, with girls and women leading at the forefront. Of note, on May 4, 2024, Priyanka is showcasing the 100 GIGA demo day, the result of a 3 month bootcamp of girls building software solutions with  AI innovations in healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education.(0:00 - 3:16) Introduction(3:16) Part 1 - blockchain and generative AI, building skill equity(15:24) Part 2 - building cohorts of girls and women, Priyanka's "why", trust ladders(29:43) Part 3 - creating capital and investing, finding peace, advise and lessons(41:40) Conclusion

Abhay is joined by the Indian pop music group W.i.S.H. ...Ri, Zo, Sim, and Suchi (Riya Duggal, Zoe Siddarth, Simran Duggal, and Suchita Shirke) share their experiences as they aim to be India's next big pop music group and the first all female group to catch fire in nearly 2 decades.  They talked about dynamics as a group and as individuals, longevity, and learning outside of their comfort zones(0:00 - 2:44) Introduction(2:44) Part 1 - Empowerment and what Gen-Z wants from them(12:39) Part 2 - reverse mentoring lessons, girl bosses, and their "Indianness"(27:39) Part 3 - longevity, group improvement, and comfort zones(41:18) part 4 - early learning and how it matters(47:44) Conclusion

Abhay chats with award-winning documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja about everything from the impact of her Academy Award and Peabody Award nominated film To Kill a Tiger, to processing past experiences and trauma, to holistic filmmaking without judgment.(0:00 - 3:09) Introduction(3:09) Part 1 - after the Oscars, instincts, building trust with Ranjit's family(15:13) Part 2 - seeking out the gray, leading a team, mapping boundaries(29:42) Part 3 - making films as a diasporic Indian, structural change, audience impact

SPOTLIGHT episodes of TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING feature brief chats about a unique topic or cause.Neha Assar has been adorning brides across the nation with bespoke ornate mehndi and body art since 1994 and is now opening doors to many opportunities that are leading to creative collaborations and ground breaking projects. The concepts used are original and the designs are expertly applied freehand, through inspired improvisation and alacrity. Neha Assar has become a celebrated and much sought after figure in the industry. Her artwork has been recognized via various media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, NBC, Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Buzzfeed and many more. Neha Assar’s artwork has also been exhibited at LA Fashion Week, The Oscar Awards, The Emmy Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and The Grammy Awards. Her list of celebrity clients is ever-growing, already consisting of such names as SZA, Kylie Jenner, Drake, G-Eazy, Lebron James & Family, Shaquille O'Neal, to name a few.

Abhay chats with bureaucrat, educator, and ex-Member of the Legislative Assembly(MLA) in Japan, Yogendra Puranik.Known also as "Yogi-San", the native of Maharashtra was the first Indian born elected official in Japan and now serves as the first-ever foreign-origin principal of a public (government) school, and the first-ever Indian-origin Civil/Gazetted officer in Japan.(0:00 - 2:44) Introduction(2:44) Part 1 - adjusting to Japanese life after 25 years, evolving responsibilities, running for elected office(16:05) Part 2 - comparing campaigning in Japan to the US and India, cultural barriers and friction(30:53) Part 3 - navigating Japan as an immigrant, raising his son in Japan, cultivating trust(44:01) Conclusion

Abhay is joined by comedian Nimesh Patel to chat about his latest tour, the journey of his comedy life and everything in between.(0:00 - 2:42) Introduction(2:42) Part 1 - watching comedy, latest tour, structure to his shows(12:53) Part 2 - pre-show routines, when Indians are in the audience, mirrors and windows(26:29) Part 3 - anatomy of a good joke, being irreverent, success and lasting impressions(35:46) Conclusion