Integritus Prime

I had the good fortune this past week to meet and be interviewed by two of Fiji’s most badass ladies in radio. Shammi Lochan Lal is a deep, thoughtful, and powerful leader in the broadcasting business. She manages all the Hindi programming at the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. I met with her and could immediately feel her depth. Our conversation was broad and rich, ranging from mindfulness and healing to religion and leadership. When I returned the next day for my interview on Aaina, Shammi Ji’s program (aaina means mirror), I was relaxed and excited at the same time.

Shammi Ji, as I like to call her (ji is a term denoting respect), embodies so many of the qualities of mindful leadership that I teach and coach. She is careful to not take in negative situations, and instead takes time to parse out what is hers and what isn’t, which leads to her poised and calm leadership style. She also understands the critical importance of setting clear expectations and providing encouragement to keep her team’s morale and productivity high.

While she was interviewing me about my work in mindfulness and Reiki, I was struck by her curiosity about these subjects, her smooth ability as a radio personality, and her ability to intuitively help me as I struggled with speaking Hindi, which I learned till the age of 14, but haven’t used formally in years! I left the interview tingling with the power of our connection and her careful guidance, which allowed me to express myself with passion and positivity. The interview aired live on October 2 Fiji Time, then aired on TV two days later. You can watch this interview on FBC’s YouTube channel.

As I left Shammi Ji’s studio, Noor Jahan, a living legend on the Fiji radio scene, immediately took me to her studio. I had no idea what to expect, having met her only for a few minutes the day before. She sat me down in her chair and proceeded to tinker with her equipment. Nervous, I asked her if I needed to be briefed. She smiled at me delightedly and said I would be fine. She was right. Her infectious charm and whimsical wisdom took me to a whole new place as I began to answer her questions about my life journey from Fiji to California. Later, I found out her program is called Salaame Zindagi (saluting life).

As I spoke, Noor Ji showed her expertise as an interviewer by asking insightful follow up questions. Soon we were bantering with great passion and mirth. I was able to forget that I was again speaking Hindi, and my excitement took over. We conversed with great synergy about my life, my work, and most importantly, the connections between climate change, diet, and social justice. This interview airs on FBC on October 9, at 9pm Fiji Time.

As we finished the interview and debriefed, I learned that Noor Ji is 70, and has been working in radio for over 30 years. She is a master at her craft. We connected so easily and were soon giggling like schoolgirls. I just wanted to take her home with me so we could talk more.I definitely want to be that lively when I grow up!

I was also struck by how well Noor Ji saw me for who I am. She pointed out that I have not lost my softness and warmth even thought there’s a lot of doom and gloom in the world. I thanked her for seeing the true me. Lately, I am receiving a lot of feedback that is about being appreciated for what I do, and that is a true gift. One of the people it’s coming from is my sister from another mother, Shaira, who connected me with these amazing ladies! Thank you dear!

What a magnificently awe-inspiring day I had! I came home, brain buzzing with energy, grateful for the experiences I had. My thanks go to these incredible women for their leadership and power. We need you, especially now, and always! Keep shining!

Being interviewed about mindfulness and Reiki on Fiji Broadcasting corporation’s Aaina program by Shammi Lochan Lal.