Speaking Volumes with Women in Podcasting: Maalvika Bhat

As we continue to build our Kahani community, we are incorporating new ways to involve fellow creatives, entrepreneurs, and all-around-amazing individuals. This new series we’re starting includes mini Q+A’s with folks we feel represent what Kahani and our team is all about. We aim to cover a variety of topics, industries, and backgrounds - so if you have anyone in mind, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Our first edition features the incredible Maalvika Bhat! You may have seen Maalvika on Tiktok at maaltoks, or listened to her podcast, Show Me How Good it Gets. 

Now, you can find her words on our blog. We sent over a few questions to get to know a little more about Maalvika’s journey. Read on to gobble up Maalvika’s thoughtful comments, a little inspiration, and a whole lot of amazing life advice. Enjoy! 

1. What was the inspiration behind your podcast?

“I craved the ability to explore ideas in a more extensive and thoughtful manner, something that couldn't be achieved in just a few seconds.”

I don't know if I had a stroke of inspiration. After posting on TikTok for about a year, I found myself craving a deeper relationship with my audience with more room for nuance. Over the course of the 12ish months, I couldn't help but notice a gradual shift in my thought patterns and attention span. While TikTok offered a fantastic platform for sharing bite-sized content, I began to feel limited by the brevity of those videos. I craved the ability to explore ideas in a more extensive and thoughtful manner, something that couldn't be achieved in just a few seconds. The fast-paced nature of TikTok, while exciting and dynamic, left me longing for longer-form content. Simultaneously, as my presence on social media expanded, I found myself connecting with an incredible community of artists, musicians, podcasters, authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs. These inspiring individuals had captivating stories and insights to share, and I knew I wanted to bring those conversations to a broader audience.

So it really was a selfish venture. Basically, I love to gab and want to do it with more people. :) 

2. What do you find is missing about the podcast industry?

“It's about finding the right balance and allowing the human connection to remain at the heart of the podcasting experience.”

I believe that the podcast industry, while vibrant and full of excellent content, has, to some extent, become an over-produced space. There is no denying the value of well-produced podcasts with high-quality editing and professional sound design, but sometimes, amidst all the polish, the intimacy that I cherish as a listener can be lost. Personally, what I find missing in many podcasts today is that feeling of simply having a genuine conversation with a friend I grew up with. I believe that there is a space in the podcast industry for both highly produced shows and more intimate, conversational ones. While some topics may benefit from a polished approach, others can truly shine when presented in a more casual and unscripted manner. It's about finding the right balance and allowing the human connection to remain at the heart of the podcasting experience.

3. We face a lot of judgment as South Asian women as being "outspoken", "bold," opinionated, confident, etc. How have you overcome these obstacles and judgments? 

“Confidence has never been seen as an obstacle in my life; instead, it has been a goal that I've diligently pursued.”

I am very, very lucky to come from a family that celebrates bold, opinionated, and strong-willed women. In fact, every woman in my family embodies these qualities. Confidence has never been seen as an obstacle in my life; instead, it has been a goal that I've diligently pursued. 

And this unwavering support extends beyond my family circle. I always say I am a magic-people magnet and have the most loving, supportive, hard-working, dedicated, self-assured friends and mentors. I like to think they rub off on me. 

4. What is your goal with your TikTok platform and your podcast?

“In a world that often insists on neatly defining individuals, I am determined to challenge the "niche-down" epidemic. And I want to do so boldly and visibly.”

Representation can feel like a buzzword these days so I want to tread carefully. 

My ultimate goal is to create a space where young girls (perhaps, young girls who look like me) can see someone on the internet relentlessly pursuing her dreams, getting her Ph.D., working hard, cherishing her friendships, embracing her singlehood, learning from her mistakes, trying, trying and failing, trying again, doing makeup for the fun of it, immersing herself in her curiosity, loving spending time with her parents, feeling really big feelings, being joyous, being frustrated, being ambitious, being restful, and just being. 

Growing up, I vividly remember there were these almost predefined labels for us to fit into like the "funny girl," the "smart girl," or the "pretty girl." While those labels may have evolved or faded with time, they still persist in subtle ways. In a world that often insists on neatly defining individuals, I am determined to challenge the "niche-down" epidemic. And I want to do so boldly and visibly. 

5. If you have advice for anyone trying to create something - a platform, a podcast, or to simply become more confident in themselves, what would it be? 

“Identify your Fear Mountain — the self-doubt that holds you back— and think about your dream life that waits for you on the other side.”

Climb. Fear. Mountain. 

Recently I came up with a journal prompt where I listed some of my favorite things that have happened in my life in the past year. Then, I worked backward and wrote down where each of those things came from. Exactly what I did to get there. 

• Made new friends in Chicago → sent a cringey DM

• Interviewed a Shark Tank Shark on my podcast → sent an email I was sure would be met with rejection 

• Got into my dream Ph.D. program straight out of undergrad → applied to a program that scared me to even *think* about

• Interviewed an author I love on her book tour → started nervously posting about my favorite reads on Tiktok

I realized everything worth doing was on the other side of Fear Mountain. (Visualizing it this way makes it easier to tell myself I just have to get over it.)

So, my advice to anyone endeavoring to create something or seeking to become more confident is this: Identify your Fear Mountain — the self-doubt that holds you back— and think about your dream life that waits for you on the other side. And embrace the discomfort, for it is often a sign that you are heading in the right direction. <3