TURN it up!
Welcome to The Universal Radio Network's podcast page, here you can access our interviews, discussions & podcasts. Visit our website at www.theuniversalradio.com or follow us on social media for updates!Instagram: @theuniversalradioTwitter: @theuniversalrad
Episodes
345 episodes
#342 Wellbeing Wednesday: Back To School Self-Care with Gurjeet
This Wellbeing Wednesday, Gurjeet focuses on back-to-school self-care that protects your sleep, your mental health, and your budget while you adjust to new routines. We talk honestly about international student stress, domestic pressure, and wh...
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#341 Truth And Reconciliation and Immigrant Communities
Ravia takes September 30 seriously by walking through what Truth and Reconciliation Day is, and why it matters beyond symbolism. We connect the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work to our responsibilities as treaty people, specifically fo...
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#340 From L'il Champs To Indie Pop Icon: Prateeksha
Ravia talks with Prateeksha about growing up in Indian classical music, getting thrown into reality TV at 10, and learning how to stay authentic through every stage of her career. Here's what we get into:• Early training through f...
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#339 Wellbeing Wednesday: Why Making Mistakes Make Brains Better with Sogand
Sogand explore why mistakes can be one of the fastest paths to learning, and how the brain treats errors as a signal to update and adapt. We share practical self-talk tools to replace shame with a growth mindset, so you can stay ambitious witho...
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#338 Bhangra That Builds Community
Ravia sits down with Manjinder from Royal Academy of Punjab to trace how Bhangra moves from seventh grade spark to teaching, touring stages, and building community in Edmonton. We talk discipline, “chardi kala,” and how dance can preserve Punja...
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#337 Wedding Series: So Much Gold That It Needs A Map
Ravia tours the regional South Asian bridal jewellery and then zoom out to the emotions of doli and how receptions have become bigger productions over the last decade. • Summer-to-fall wedding season realities in Canada and h...
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#336 Wellbeing Wednesday: Why Dementia Hits South Asian Families Differently with Gurjeet
Gurjeet sits down with a Sadaf Murad, Registers Nurse, PhD Candidate Studying Dementia in Ethnic Communities, and a Nurse Researcher. She talks to her about why dementia looks different in South Asian communities in Canada, and why families oft...
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#334 From Kindergarten To Campus With Routines That Work
Ravia talks through the real September reset with Dr. Sonya Sachar, from elementary school to university, focusing on routines, organization, and the emotional side of big transitions. We also name the pressure points that fuel burnout early an...
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#335 What Alberta’s Back To School Investments Mean For Classrooms
Sapreet talks with Alberta’s Minister of Education, Minister Nicolades, about what families should actually see in schools this fall as new funding turns into staff, supports, and spaces. We press for details on classroom complexity teams, scho...
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#333 Wellbeing Wednesday: Fake It Till You Make It With Real Science with Sogand
Sogand breaks down confidence as something you build with evidence, not a mood you wait for, and we test whether “fake it till you make it” works when you pair it with psychology and neuroscience. We share concrete ways to stop avoidance loops,...
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#332 How South Asian Women Find Power In Canadian Politics
We sit down in Edmonton with the Honourable Ruby Sahota to talk about South Asian representation in Canadian politics and what it takes to lead when you are often the only one in the room. We connect identity, community support, and public safe...
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#331 Let's talk The Edmonton Nanaksar Gurdwara Stabbing
We lay out what’s confirmed about the stabbing during morning prayers at an Edmonton gurdwara, then sit with what it feels like to process fear while an investigation is still unfolding. We connect the immediate facts to the wider climate of re...
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#330 Wedding Series: The Choora Ceremony & The History of Bangles
Ravia follows the history bangle from ancient times to the intensely personal rituals of South Asian weddings, where jewellery becomes a public signal of love, duty, luck, and grief. We also dig into how bangles show up in politics and poetry, ...
#329 Raksha Bandan Unpacked
Ravia untangles Raksha Bandan from its neat origin stories and follow how a simple thread becomes myth, empire policy, protest symbol, pop culture script, and big business. We also sit with the tension between love and patriarchy, from “protect...
#328 Wedding Series: A Tour Of The Turmeric Ritual Across South Asian Weddings
Ravia traces the pre-wedding turmeric paste ceremony across South Asia and the diaspora, from Ayurvedic roots to the many names and regional rules that shape how turmeric gets used before a wedding. Here is what she dives into:• What Hal...
#327 How Sakshi Chopra Builds Indian Pop With A Global Sound
Ravia sits down with Sakshi Chopra to unpack the 2000s pop nostalgia behind her sound and the real work it takes to build a pop career across Mumbai and Los Angeles. We talk writers’ rooms, identity, live performance highs, and why momentum bea...
#326 Music, Memory and The Punjab Partition
This show was on-air on Thursday, August 13, 2026, one day before Independence days of Pakistan and India which are marked by the splitting of five rivers, that birthed two countries, Pakistan on August 14, 1947 and India on August 15, 1947.&nb...
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#325 Mental Health in the Workplace
Gurjeet talks through why mental health can vary so much across occupations, and what the research says about frequent mental distress in different industries. We also share practical ways to choose work more wisely by looking at job demands, s...
#324 South Asian Women In Canadian Media With Ziyah Karmali
Sapreet sits down with Ziyah Karmali to talk about what it takes to become visible in Canadian media when you don’t see yourself reflected on screen. We unpack ambition, the pressure of being forward-facing, and why Edmonton’s community energy ...
#323 The South Asian Inspiration Awards Edmonton 2026
We talk with Sifarish about why South Asian professionals in Edmonton and Calgary still feel disconnected after COVID and how community networking can change that. We also break down the South Asian Inspiration Awards, from categories and dates...
#322 Inkquisitive Explains Why He Paints From The Heart
We sit down with Amandeep Singh, aka Inkquisitive, to talk about how identity and Sikhi shape his storytelling and why Edmonton still feels like a special stop on his journey from London to Canada. He breaks down how dreams, journal...
#323 Colonial Circus Review
Ravia shares her review of Colonial Circus by Two.2.Mango at the Edmonton Fringe Festival and why the show’s audience interaction makes every performance feel completely different. I also push back on a negative local review and explain why thi...
#321 How First Born Builds Premium Canadian Hoodies From Scratch
We sit down with Amanda from First Born Apparel to unpack how a simple idea turned into premium Canadian streetwear built through years of sampling and hands-on manufacturing work. We also talk honestly about building a brand as a South Asian C...
#320 Pressure is a Privilege?
Sogand sits down with Sunny Brar to talk about legacy, service, and why making people feel seen can be more valuable than any title. We dig into resilience, mental health tools, and the small daily choices that help us lead by example when life...
#319 TURNing it Up with Sameer: Edmonton's Unofficial Tourism Ambassador
Sapreet sits down with Sameer (@sameer.pictures), the photographer whose work makes Edmonton shine. He shares how a self-taught hobby turned into real tourism impact, plus practical tips for exploring the city and starting your own creati...
