Akash & Niki Mehta

Sheena Melwani

This episode features Sheena Melwani, a singer, songwriter and social media sensation with over 6.5 million followers on TikTok and 1.4 million on Instagram. Sheena and her “real Indian dad” are the pair behind the “Interrupted” series, in which she sings covers of popular songs and he interjects with witty commentary. Their content found the sweet spot between incredible vocals and comedy and the duo went viral during the pandemic last year.

But today we rewind and unpack an over 15 year long career journey that got her to this point today. We talk how she started her career in Tokyo of all places, what led her to pursue another full-time job as a stay at home mom to raise her two children, how authentic content creation is, and where she draws happiness from. Sheena has changed what it means to be a successful musician and I hope this episode sheds light on the fact that nothing, absolutely nothing, happens overnight. 

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review and a 5-star rating. You can find our community on Instagram @behindeverydream and Sheena at @sheenamelwani.

Suchita Guntakatta

This episode of Behind Every Dream features Suchita Guntakatta, deputy director for the Global Development Polio team at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a title in itself that’s the dream! 

Suchita started at the foundation in April 2009 and brings over 15 years of corporate and management consulting experience to the table. From thinking she wanted to study art in college to working as a management consultant about to make partner to taking a gap year 15 years into her career to figure out what her passion truly was to now managing approximately 400-500 million dollars annually for the foundation, Suchita’s story is proof that you don’t have to have it all figured out by 25. 

Especially for our listeners who are in the corporate field and often doubt whether they are making an impact, or if it’s realistically possible to find fulfillment in your career, we hope this episode proves that there is power in pivoting, listening to your gut and paving your own path.

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review and a 5-star rating. You can find our community on Instagram @behindeverydream and Suchita on Twitter at @SuchitaG2013.

Steven Roy Thomas

This episode of Behind Every Dream features Steven Roy Thomas, a content creator and digital media strategist who is best known for the vlogs he creates for A-list Bollywood celebrities, like Nora Fatehi and Varun Dhawan.

Steven’s friends with the stars, can joke around with them and in the process he makes you feel like you could be friends with them too. And that right there, seemingly looks like the dream. He's friends with famous people, built a career out of documenting said famous people, living a dual life between the US and India...

But as you’ll hear in this conversation, his behind every dream story is driven by the unsurmountable pain he experienced in 2020. The loss of both of his parents. And after listening to this episode, I hope you’ll pick up the phone and call someone special in your life to tell them how much they mean to you.

Lauren Gottlieb

Lauren Gottlieb is an American dancer and actress who has done everything from competing on So You Think You Can Dance to playing the lead role in the Bollywood dance film ABCD to dancing in popular music videos and has 2.6 million Instagram followers. This conversation will open your eyes to a Lauren that is defined by so much more than these end milestones.

She candidly shares how a major rejection led to the biggest opportunity of her life, her experiences navigating a new country and industry and why she ultimately had to press the brakes and move back to the US. Stay tuned to the very end for a HILARIOUS rapid fire round!! This is the real story of an extremely grateful, optimistic, “I’m gonna conquer the world” kind of human who has already left her mark in countless ways and is here to stay.

If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review and a 5-star rating. You can find our community on Instagram @behindeverydream and Lauren at @laurengottlieb.

Nadya Okamoto

This episode features Nadya Okamoto, a fiercely passionate 23 year old activist, entrepreneur, author, and student at Harvard. 

Nadya is the co-founder of August, a lifestyle brand working to reimagine periods. She’s also the founder of PERIOD, the largest American NGO fighting to end period poverty and stigma that she founded at the age of 16. In 2017, Nadya ran for public office in Cambridge, MA at age 19 — and at the time, becoming the youngest Asian American to run. In 2018, Nadya published her debut book and has been recognized on the lists of Forbes 30 Under 30, Bloomberg 50 "Ones to Watch" and People Magazine's Women Changing the World.

But what you’ll learn from this conversation is that at her core, she is just like everyone else -- figuring it out one day at a time. She candidly talks about imposter syndrome, the privilege the Harvard tagline has, her social anxiety and tradeoffs she’s had to grapple with to get to where she is today.