Sheetal Sheth is an Indian American actress, author and activist based in New York City. You may remember her breakout role as “Maya” co-starring with Albert Brooks in “Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World”  (2005). Since then, Sheetal’s star keeps rising, appearing in dozens of TV shows and films. In 2013, she got married and soon became a mother to two girls. Then, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. As Sheetal struggled to recover, she was determined to raise her children with a deep sense of pride and love for India. Why? Also, what inspired her to write children’s books for Indian Americans while she was pregnant in New York City?

Click here for more about Sheetal Sheth.

Music used:

What Is Love (Piano) by Zight
Sad Ambient Piano by Lite Saturation
Free Hopping Piano by Lobo Loco
Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1 - II. Adagio by Daniel Veesey

Brand New World by Kai Engel

One in a Billion Theme Song by Brad McCarthy

Photo Credit: David Goddard

Neil Mody is a media entrepreneur, tech enthusiast and philosopher at heart.

In this open-hearted conversation, Neil shares snippets of his phone conversations with his father that would forever be seared into his mind. What did his father say? Why did Neil tell his mother not to wear a “sari” to his eighth grade graduation?  Why did he feel embarrassed by his “Indianness” growing up in New Jersey,  and how does he feel now?

Find Your Roots is a history and culture project centering on Asian American voices, perspectives, and experiences. It is a one-on-one, in-depth podcast interview show with Asian “Roots-Finders” seeking to remember the diverse and profound influences of their parents and grandparents. This educational podcast project is designed to promote and preserve the legacy of the countless contributions—as well as forgotten struggles and sacrifices—of our ancestors who paved the way for us today.

We want to include you in this conversation. Share your thoughts. Pitch us a story. To send us your comments or stories, email us at info@oneinabillionvoices.org

or go to our Facebook page or website under “Pitch a Story.”

One in a Billion connects Asians and Americans through storytelling, one person at a time.

Season 7: Find Your Roots series is produced by One in a Billion Productions, a non-profit educational media company (501c3), with generous funding from PLUS Charitable Trust.

Martial Arts, Kung Fu Master (師傅) , Yoga Instructor, Political Activist
Mai Du was just eight years old when she aspired to learn Kung Fu. Then she became a refugee after the Vietnam war fleeing with her family through Thailand and the Philippines before arriving in America.

Today, Mai du is a martial arts instructor, kung fu master and political activist.  What formed her fighting spirit? How did her parents’ survival skills mold her mindset? 

Check out our conversation!

Music used:
Vienna Beat by Blue Dot Sessions
Adventure by The Ghost in Your Piano
Trophy Endorphins by Andy G Cohen
Mountain Monk C by Lobo Loco
Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2 No. 1 - II. Adagio by Daniel Veesey 
Stormy Blues by Arne Bang Huseby
A Yankees Southern Blues by HoliznaCC0 
Only Our Footsteps in the Sand by Mid-Air Machine 
One in a Billion Theme Song by Brad McCarthy

Photo Credit: 
Dat Nguyen