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What happens when your cultural identity spans the breadth of an entire subcontinent? Smita Tharoor takes us on a journey from Mumbai to Kolkata, Rajasthan to Kerala—and into the heart of what it means to live, work, and connect across cultures.

An expert on cultural behaviour and organisational change, Smita reframes unconscious bias as “making judgments without realising that you do.” She explains how these instinctive perceptions—while natural—can lead to both positive and negative outcomes, and why awareness is key to fairer decision-making.

As the host of Stories Seldom Told—heard in 108 countries—Smita shares voices the world might otherwise miss, from a woman minister in Kabul to a triple-amputee photographer who calls himself “the one-armed chef.” Her message? Approach the world with openness, curiosity, and a clean slate, and you’ll discover more meaningful ways to make a difference.

From travel tips for first-time visitors to India to reflections on resilience, inclusion, and the power of listening without judgment, this is a conversation to inspire anyone ready to expand their worldview.

Smita Tharoor was born and raised in India and now lives in London. She’s the host of the Stories Seldom Told podcast, a Motivational Keynote Speaker, TEDx Speaker, Coach, and a thought leader in Conscious Inclusion & Unconscious Bias.

🎧 Listen to the Stories Seldom Told podcast: Spotify

Highlights

• Born in Mumbai, raised in Kolkata, educated in Rajasthan, with roots in Kerala
• Grew up in an inclusive, non-judgmental home in 1970s India
• Advises global organisations on cultural behaviour and organisational change
• Hosts Stories Seldom Told podcast, reaching listeners in 108 countries
• Explains unconscious bias as the human brain’s natural protective instinct
• Advocates big-picture thinking before narrowing your focus to create change
• Travel insight: India offers everything from beaches and mountains to heritage cities and wildlife reserves—choose based on your interests
• Believes resilience grows when challenges are faced positively

Connect with Smita

• Instagram: instagram.com/sm

Support the show

🎧 Subscribe & Follow the podcast: @WorldChangersPC

🥑 Brought to you by The AVOCADO Foundation – building financial confidence and unlocking potential through entrepreneurship, education, and equity.

• 🌐Web: theavocadofoundation.org
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• 📩Contact: info@theavocadofoundation.org

🙋🏾‍♀️ Connect with your host, AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: @AmickyCarol on all platforms

🎙️ Podcast produced by Humanise Live – helping charities and social causes bring their stories to life through audio.Learn more at www.humanise.live or hello@humanise.live

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In this inspiring episode, AmickyCarol visits Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to meet three dynamic leaders transforming their communities through financial inclusion, digital skills training, and diversity initiatives.

Marie-Josée Abbet shares how fintech is empowering market women to grow their businesses. Lou Vanié explains why she returned from abroad to champion diversity and inclusion. Geth Maiga reveals how Digifam has trained over 7,000 women entrepreneurs in seven cities.

From unlocking $2 trillion in untapped economic potential to celebrating Abidjan’s warm “Akwaaba” welcome, discover why Côte d'Ivoire is a rising West African powerhouse—and why now is the time to get involved.

Guests & Contact Info

Geth Maiga – Senior Programs Manager & Business Consultant

• Facebook: facebook.com/gmaiga1
• Instagram: instagram.com/gethakhenra
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/geth-semani-akhenra-maiga-9211b4110

Lou Vanié – Founder, LSV Coaching – Organizational Change Consultant

• Website: lsvcoaching.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louvanie
• Facebook: facebook.com/LouSinforaleVanie

Marie-Josée Abbet – Senior Business Developer & Business Consultant, African Development Bank Group

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marie-josee-abbet-msc-9a8358138
• Facebook: facebook.com/mariejosee.abbet
• Instagram: instagram.com/mariejoseea_

Support the show

🎧 Subscribe & Follow the podcast: @WorldChangersPC

🥑 Brought to you by The AVOCADO Foundation – building financial confidence and unlocking potential through entrepreneurship, education, and equity.

• 🌐Web: theavocadofoundation.org
• 🔗LinkedIn: The AVOCADO Foundation
• 📘Facebook: The AVOCADO Foundation
• 📸Instagram: @TheAVOCADOFoundation
• 🐦Twitter/X: @TheAVOCADOFdn
• 🎵TikTok: @theavocadofdn
• 📩Contact: info@theavocadofoundation.org

🙋🏾‍♀️ Connect with your host, AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: @AmickyCarol on all platforms

🎙️ Podcast produced by Humanise Live – helping charities and social causes bring their stories to life through audio.Learn more at www.humanise.live or hello@humanise.live

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In this wide-ranging conversation, Filipino-born community-development leader Marbuen Diaz joins AmickyCarol from Sydney to unpack what “flourishing” really means for newcomers, refugees and First Nations peoples. From building leadership pipelines in Burmese refugee churches to challenging Australia’s dominant systems to become culturally intelligent, Diaz shows how a life shaped by racism can bloom into a ministry of radical welcome and justice.

Key take-aways

• Born in Mindanao and transplanted to Sydney at 10, Diaz now oversees Community Development & Intercultural Ministries for the Baptist Association NSW/ACT.
• Guides migrant families through jobs, housing and language hurdles while training mainstream institutions in cultural intelligence.
• Mentors emerging leaders inside Myanmar-origin refugee congregations so local voices—not external experts—shape community futures.
• Advocates that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples never ceded their land, urging settlers to self-educate rather than burden First Nations educators.
• Recounts personal encounters with racism—and the kindness that convinced him humanity can choose compassion.
• Explains the weight of inter-generational trauma carried by refugee families and why healing cannot be rushed.
• Sydney travel tips: Opera House & Harbour Bridge, Blue Mountains, native “bush tucker”… plus the reality of brown snakes and red-back spiders!
• Top border-crossing hack: “If it’s alive — or was recently alive — don’t pack it.”
• Calls on listeners to pick one concrete justice step—from learning First Nations history to supporting refugee-led projects—and start today.

Support the show

🎧 Subscribe & Follow the podcast: @WorldChangersPC

🥑 Brought to you by The AVOCADO Foundation – building financial confidence and unlocking potential through entrepreneurship, education, and equity.

• 🌐Web: theavocadofoundation.org
• 🔗LinkedIn: The AVOCADO Foundation
• 📘Facebook: The AVOCADO Foundation
• 📸Instagram: @TheAVOCADOFoundation
• 🐦Twitter/X: @TheAVOCADOFdn
• 🎵TikTok: @theavocadofdn
• 📩Contact: info@theavocadofoundation.org

🙋🏾‍♀️ Connect with your host, AmickyCarol Akiwumi MBE: @AmickyCarol on all platforms

🎙️ Podcast produced by Humanise Live – helping charities and social causes bring their stories to life through audio.Learn more at www.humanise.live or hello@humanise.live