Indian American Stories Podcast

What Does Success Actually Mean — Meet Dr. Murali Naidu

About Dr. Murali Naidu: Dr. Murali Naidu [https://www.linkedin.com/in/muralinaidu/] is CEO of San Ramon Regional Medical Center and a former physician. He’s led hospitals through some of the hardest moments in healthcare, especially during COVID, and he’s also deeply involved in education as a trustee at Head-Royce School. What really stood out to me about Dr. Naidu is how he thinks about leadership—not just as running systems, but as taking care of people, whether that’s patients, students, or entire communities. We talked about healthcare, AI, risk-taking, being Indian American, and how to define success without boxing yourself in. This was one of those conversations that makes you think bigger about what you can actually do with your life. What was most fun about this conversation: Honestly, the most fun part was how grounded he was. He’s literally running a hospital, but he talks like someone who genuinely just cares about people doing well. Hearing about how hospitals had to set up tents in parking lots overnight during COVID was wild, but what stuck with me was how much respect he had for nurses, janitors, and everyone who showed up every day when the rest of the world stayed home. Also, his answers never felt rehearsed. It felt like he was actually thinking in real time, which made the conversation feel very real. What I was inspired by: I was really inspired by how he talked about success. He kept coming back to this idea that if you do something well and actually care about it, the money usually follows. But if you chase money first, that doesn’t always work out. That felt especially relevant as someone in high school where everything feels like it’s about college, jobs, and outcomes. I also liked how open he was about switching paths. What many of us Americans can relate with: A lot of what he said applies way beyond Indian American families. The pressure to define success as money or prestige. Feeling like you’re supposed to pick one path early and never change it. Being judged based on how you look, your name, or your background. Even the idea of feeling like you don’t fully belong anywhere, not here, not there, that’s something a lot of people feel, whether they’re second generation Americans or not. His point about being okay with making the wrong choice and pivoting later felt very American in the best way. What I will think more about: He said something that stuck with me: instead of squeezing yourself into a job that already exists, try to imagine what you actually want your day-to-day life to look like and then go find or create that role. That idea feels kind of scary but also freeing. It made me rethink how rigid we are when we talk about careers, especially in high school. Also, his hope that AI could bring doctors back to the bedside instead of turning healthcare into even more paperwork made me think about how technology should serve people, instead of replacing them. How this conversation connects to others on the podcast: What I liked about this episode is how naturally it connected to almost every other conversation I’ve had on this podcast. Like Gagan Biyani [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-gagan-biyani-ceo-of-maven-co?r=5onwyp], Dr. Naidu shared the idea of not letting one job title or career path define your whole life. Both of them talked about success as something you shape over time, not something you lock in at 18. The idea of designing your own role instead of squeezing yourself into one felt very aligned with Gagan’s story. His emphasis on care and humanity in work reminded me a lot of Dr. Nirav Pandya [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-nirav-pandya-professor-of?r=5onwyp]. Even though one works in hospital leadership and the other in sports medicine, both talked about medicine as something deeply human, not just technical. They both pushed back against the idea that being good at your job means being cold or robotic. Dr. Naidu’s thoughts on leadership and redefining success also echoed themes from Dr. Neha Gupta [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-neha-gupta-deputy-director-1c1?r=5onwyp] and Dr. Rajni Mandal [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-rajni-mandal-on-civic-action?r=5onwyp], especially around resisting narrow expectations placed on Indian Americans. All three talked about ambition without burnout, and how success doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your values or your sense of self. When he talked about community and responsibility, I kept thinking about Divya Venn [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/social-media-is-just-a-simulation?r=5onwyp], Sy Choudhury [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/social-media-up-close-with-sy-choudhury?r=5onwyp], and Maulik Bhansali [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/your-real-edge-is-being-yourself?r=5onwyp]. They’ve all spoken about giving back, whether through public service, entrepreneurship, or community building. Dr. Naidu’s work in both healthcare and education fits right into that same mindset of using your position to help others grow. His reflections on identity and being caught between worlds connected strongly with Prashanthi Raman [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/stories-can-shape-policy-with-prashanthi?r=5onwyp], Janani Ramachandran [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/leading-without-fear-meet-oakland?r=5onwyp], and Visraant Iyer [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/beyond-the-model-minority-myth-meet?r=5onwyp]. The feeling of not fully belonging in one box, culturally or professionally, came up in all of those conversations. What stood out here was how calmly and honestly Dr. Naidu talked about it, not as a crisis, but as something you learn to live with and even use as strength. And finally, his focus on care, prevention, and long-term thinking felt very aligned with Dr. Rupa Badlani [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/care-culture-and-community-meet-dr?r=5onwyp]. Both of them talked about systems, healthcare, and responsibility in a way that felt grounded and people-first, not flashy or preachy. Across all these episodes, the shared theme keeps coming back to this: you don’t have to be one thing. You can be Indian and American. Analytical and empathetic. Ambitious and grounded. This conversation with Dr. Naidu tied together a lot of the ideas this podcast has been circling around from the beginning. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Care, Culture, and Community – Meet Dr. Rupa Badlani

About Dr. Rupa Badlani: Dr. Rupa Badlani is a Bay Area native and a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland. She grew up in the Berkeley Hills, went to Head-Royce for middle school, studied at UC Berkeley, went to UC Irvine for medical school, and did her dermatology residency at UCSF where she also served as chief resident. Now she lives in Orinda with her husband and their three kids. At work, she focuses on medical dermatology, everything from acne and eczema to melanoma and other skin cancers. Outside of work, most of her time goes into parenting, community, and staying connected to the people around her. What was most fun about this conversation: The most fun part was how normal and grounded she was about everything. She talked about being a doctor without making it sound dramatic or flashy. The way she described remembering details about her patients lives, asking about their kids, and getting life advice from people twice her age made the whole doctor patient relationship feel very human. I also liked hearing about her college experience at Berkeley and how overwhelming but freeing it was. The part about having no one wake you up for an 8 am class felt extremely real. What I was inspired by: I was really inspired by how much pride she takes in consistency. She is not chasing prestige anymore. She cares about showing up every day, doing good work, and building long term relationships with patients and with her kids. Her story about wanting to match into UCSF and her dad asking her “why not you” really stuck with me. It was not about arrogance. It was about not disqualifying yourself before you even try. That mindset feels powerful and also very practical. What many of us Americans can relate with: A lot of this conversation felt universal, even beyond the Indian American experience. Feeling more comfortable once you get to college and find people who look like you. Learning time management the hard way. Balancing work, family, and trying not to drop the ball on everything at once. Also the idea that your parents pushed you hard because they wanted stability for you, even if it felt rigid at the time. That tension between structure and freedom is something a lot of people grow up with. What I will think more about: I keep thinking about how culture changes with each generation. Dr. Badlani talked about how Indian culture naturally gets diluted over time and how now it takes intentional effort to pass it on to her kids. Things like Diwali presentations at school or cultural dances do not just happen automatically anymore. It made me think about what parts of culture are worth protecting and how much effort it actually takes to keep them alive without forcing them. How this conversation connects to others on the podcast: This episode connected to a lot of past conversations in interesting ways. Like Dr. Nirav Pandya [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-nirav-pandya-professor-of?r=5onwyp], Dr. Badlani talked about growing up in mostly white spaces and later finding comfort and confidence in more diverse environments. Similar to Gagan Biyani [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-gagan-biyani-ceo-of-maven-co?r=5onwyp], she spoke about learning independence in college and figuring things out without much hand holding. Her emphasis on work ethic and education echoed what Dr. Neha Gupta [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-neha-gupta-deputy-director-1c1?r=5onwyp] talked about with immigrant parents setting high expectations without always explaining the emotional side of it. Even her parenting approach felt aligned with other guests who talked about blending Indian structure with American flexibility instead of choosing one over the other. Overall, this conversation felt like another piece of the same bigger story. Different careers, different personalities, but the same questions about identity, ambition, family, and what a good life actually looks like. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Beyond the Model Minority Myth — Meet Visraant Iyer

About Visraant Iyer: Visraant Iyer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/visraant-iyer/] is the Director of Strategic Partnerships & Urban Innovation for the City of Oakland, where he helps make local government work better through design thinking and civic tech. Before that, he worked in startups, presidential campaigns, and national voter engagement efforts. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and now lives in Oakland, where he still finds time to play basketball, watch movies, and think deeply about how cities can actually serve people better. What was most fun about this conversation: Honestly, it was how wide-ranging it got. One minute we were talking about city planning, and the next we were talking about identity, assimilation, and growing up brown in the suburbs. I liked how he described biking around as a kid, exploring different neighborhoods, and realizing early on that everyone sees the world a little differently—and that’s okay. It felt like hearing how curiosity can shape a whole life. What I was inspired by: Visraant’s whole idea of problem definition really stuck with me. He said people often jump to “fixing” without fully understanding the real issue, and that curiosity—asking “why?” over and over—is the most underrated leadership skill. It made me think that being smart isn’t about having all the answers, but about asking better questions. What many of us Americans can relate with: That feeling of being seen as both “a success story” and “an outsider.” He talked about how Indian Americans went from being praised as the “model minority” to being treated as a threat once there were more of us. It’s like success became suspicious instead of inspiring. He explained how that shift isn’t just about race but about power and belonging, and how people’s comfort with your success can change depending on how visible you are. A lot of us have probably felt that switch happen in subtle ways, even at school or work. What I will think more about: He said something I keep replaying: “If you’re kind only when it’s convenient, you’re not being kind.” That line kind of sums up his whole outlook. He doesn’t want to spend life fighting hate online—he wants to build, to serve, and to live with integrity even when things feel tense or unfair. And when he talked about how the “model minority” label turns from praise to resentment once a community becomes too visible, it made me think about how fragile acceptance can be and how much strength it takes to just stay grounded in who you are. How this connects to other guests: Like Gagan Biyani [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-gagan-biyani-ceo-of-maven-co?r=5onwyp], he wrestles with what it means to belong to two cultures without having to pick one. Like Dr. Nirav Pandya [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-nirav-pandya-professor-of?r=5onwyp], he sees pride in identity as something that grows with self-acceptance. With Dr. Neha Gupta [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-neha-gupta-deputy-director-1c1?r=5onwyp], he shares the idea that culture is full of invisible norms you only notice when you don’t fit them. And like Maulik Bhansali [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/your-real-edge-is-being-yourself?r=5onwyp] and Prashanthi Raman [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/stories-can-shape-policy-with-prashanthi?r=5onwyp], he talks about the courage of being authentic in rooms where you might not totally “fit.” And like Janani Ramachandran [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/leading-without-fear-meet-oakland?r=5onwyp], he reminds us that caring about community, whether through public service, politics, or just everyday kindness, is one of the most powerful ways to belong. Together, all these stories are really about the same thing: how Indian Americans are learning to define belonging for themselves instead of waiting for permission. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Your Real Edge is Being Yourself — Meet Maulik Bhansali

About Maulik Bhansali: Maulik Bhansali [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maulik-bhansali-8b4b0/] is a senior portfolio manager and co-head at Allspring Global Investments. He grew up in New Jersey, started out as an actuary, then got a master’s in quantitative finance at UC Berkeley. For the last couple decades he’s been in the Bay Area managing bond portfolios. Outside of work, he’s raising a kid in a mixed-culture family, figuring out how to keep Gujarati traditions alive. What was most fun about this conversation: The rapid-fire part was great. When I asked what he couldn’t live without that was “stereotypically Indian,” he didn’t hesitate: food. Then he lit up talking about Vik’s Chaat [https://vikschaat.com/] in Berkeley. Also, his soundtrack picks cracked me up. A whole Bollywood movie soundtrack on one side and then “Dancing Queen” by ABBA on the other. That mix totally captures his balance of identities. What I was inspired by: I liked how he talked about investing being more than math. He said numbers matter but judgment and empathy matter just as much. That felt bigger than finance. It applies to life too. The other part that stuck was how he eventually stopped hiding parts of himself. Growing up Indian American in the eighties, then also being gay in a community where that wasn’t easy, he could have kept shrinking. Instead, he figured out how to bring it all together and be proud. That gave him a kind of steady confidence that was really powerful. What many of us Americans can relate with: Embarrassment when friends came over and smelled different food. Wishing you were like everyone else in middle school. Only realizing later how lucky you were to grow up bilingual or to eat the food your parents cooked. Having family expectations around careers but still finding a path you actually love. And as a parent, wanting your kid to accept people even if they do not fully understand them. All of that is super relatable, whether you’re Indian American or not. What I will think more about: His reminder that acceptance is enough. You don’t always have to understand someone completely. You can still choose respect. That feels like the simplest way to cut through so much conflict. I’ll also think more about identity being an advantage. If you grow up between cultures, you naturally notice patterns, empathize faster, and think from more than one angle. That is not just a nice character trait. It actually makes you better at solving problems. How this connects to other conversations: * With Gagan Biyani [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-gagan-biyani-ceo-of-maven-co?r=5onwyp], the big theme was editing yourself in different spaces and how freeing it is when you stop doing that. Maulik lived that too on multiple fronts. * With Dr. Nirav Pandya [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-nirav-pandya-professor-of?r=5onwyp], we heard about hiding his Indian side as a kid and then becoming proud of it. Maulik’s story about being embarrassed by Indian candy with friends is almost the same arc, just in a different setting. * With Dr. Neha Gupta [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-neha-gupta-deputy-director-1c1?r=5onwyp], it was about how cultural norms are invisible until you are the one who doesn’t fit them. Maulik connected that to work and parenting, showing how those tiny signals shape judgment and empathy. * With Dr. Rajni Mandal [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-rajni-mandal-on-civic-action?r=5onwyp], food was a big symbol of home and comfort. Maulik also came back to food as the tradition that survived and the part he cherishes most now. * With Divya Venn [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/social-media-is-just-a-simulation?r=5onwyp], the theme was identity online and how social media shapes what you hide or show. Maulik’s story was the offline version from the eighties, but the same pressure to conform was there. * With Sy Choudhury [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/social-media-up-close-with-sy-choudhury?r=5onwyp], it was about building technology that reflects multiple perspectives. Maulik showed how even in something as rigid as finance, perspective is what makes the difference. * With Prashanthi Raman [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/stories-can-shape-policy-with-prashanthi?r=5onwyp], we focused on representation and what it means to show up authentically in public life. Maulik’s version of that happens quietly in boardrooms. Both remind us that visibility isn’t just about being seen, it’s about being real. If I had to sum it up, Maulik showed that when you stop cutting out parts of yourself and instead use all of them, you make better choices in work and life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Leading Without Fear — Meet Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran

About Janani Ramachandran: Janani Ramachandran [https://jananiforoakland.com/] is an Oakland City Council member. Councilmember Ramachandran is the youngest person ever elected to the Council and the first South Asian and first LGBTQ woman of color to serve. Before politics, she studied law, founded a nonprofit called Operation Education when she was just sixteen, and worked in community advocacy. Today, she’s focused on making government more transparent and accountable while helping Oakland thrive as a city known for its creativity and culture. What was most fun about this conversation: Hearing Councilmember Ramachandran describe her first campaign was both funny and inspiring. She talked about people literally calling her “crazy” for running against a well-known candidate with almost no connections or money. But she didn’t back down. She said every “no” she heard actually pushed her to try harder. That attitude felt electric. I also loved her story about starting a library program in India as a teenager because it showed how even at sixteen, she was already trying to make change from the ground up. What I was inspired by: Councilmember Ramachandran’s fearlessness really stood out. She didn’t wait for permission to lead, and she didn’t let the fact that no one like her had ever been elected stop her. I also loved her reminder to stay grounded. She said that if you’re doing work that matters, you can’t spend your whole day reading what people say about you online. You have to log off, go outside, and live your life. That made me realize how leadership isn’t about being perfect or universally liked; it’s about staying connected to what you care about. What many of us Americans can relate with: Even though Janani’s story is political, a lot of it was just about growing up and figuring out who you are. Moving to India during middle school gave her this whole new perspective on America, and she started seeing how complicated and beautiful both countries were. That felt familiar to me, because a lot of us who grew up between cultures know what it’s like to question where you belong. Her vision for Oakland also felt relatable: she wants people to see it not just as a place with challenges but as a community full of art, food, and energy that deserves to be celebrated. What I will think more about: Councilmember Ramachandran’s focus on transparency really made me think. She said that even if people disagree with her votes, she wants them to at least understand why she made them. That level of honesty feels rare, not only in government but also in everyday life. It made me wonder how different things would be if everyone tried to communicate that clearly, whether in school, at work, or in friendships. I also liked how she connects politics with creativity. She founded Oakland Diwali, a festival that brings hundreds of people together to celebrate South Asian culture and local talent. It reminded me that leadership can also mean building spaces where people feel seen and proud of who they are. How this connects to other guests: Councilmember Ramachandran’s story connects beautifully with what so many other guests have shared. Like Gagan Biyani [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-gagan-biyani-ceo-of-maven-co?r=5onwyp], she’s deeply rooted in Oakland and believes in improving her city through community action. Both of them talked about bridging two worlds and using their Indian and American identities as strengths, not conflicts.Like Dr. Nirav Pandya [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-nirav-pandya-professor-of?r=5onwyp], she emphasized embracing who you are instead of trying to hide it just to fit in.Her commitment to public service reminded me of Dr. Neha Gupta [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-neha-gupta-deputy-director-1c1?r=5onwyp], who talked about finding meaning through work that helps others.When she spoke about resilience and being okay with standing out, it echoed what Divya Venn [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/social-media-is-just-a-simulation?r=5onwyp] said about authenticity and pushing forward even when others don’t understand you.Her emphasis on civic engagement felt connected to Prashanthi Raman’s [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/stories-can-shape-policy-with-prashanthi?r=5onwyp] idea of “Seva,” or service, and how storytelling and leadership can shape policy.And her celebration of culture and community reminded me of Dr. Rajni Mandal [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com/p/meet-dr-rajni-mandal-on-civic-action?r=5onwyp], who spoke about identity as something you carry proudly into every room you walk into. Together, these conversations show that being Indian American isn’t about balancing two separate sides. It’s about blending them into something uniquely your own and to lead, create, and inspire without fear. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit indianamericanstories.substack.com [https://indianamericanstories.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]