Everyday Empires with Rohit Maini

Nayab Midha - viral poet, globally-touring spoken word artist, Vogue Bride, and the mind behind Rajkumari - joins us to break down how she built a global creative career through clarity, culture, and conscious reinvention.Nayab began performing poetry on small stages, built an audience without industry backing, and in just a few short years turned raw storytelling into a touring business and a social media empire. Along the way, she reimagined Indian wedding traditions, crafted viral work that shifted conversations, and built a marriage grounded in calm, equality and intention.Today, her work spans:📝 Live poetry + global tours📚 Bestselling storytelling & writing🎭 Rajkumari: a cultural phenomenon💍 A Vogue-featured wedding rooted in equality and zero-waste valuesYet behind the virality is a creator who thinks strategically about brand, business, and longevity - and who believes the most powerful form of rebellion is quiet, honest and non-combative change.📌 We covered:•⁠ ⁠How Rajkumari was built - and why it hit a nerve•⁠ ⁠Turning poetry into a scalable business•⁠ ⁠Reinventing tradition while embracing heritage•⁠ ⁠Navigating visibility, boundaries & creative pressure•⁠ ⁠Self-love, partnership & choosing calm over chaosWhether you're a creative, founder, or cultural storyteller, Nayab’s journey is a masterclass in building with intention - and leading with softness, not noise.🎙️ Everyday Empires shares real stories from real builders - no fluff, no filters.👉 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more unfiltered conversations.💬 Comment below: What part of Nayab’s story stayed with you?

In this episode of Everyday Empires, we sit down with Sohini Banerjee — economist turned chef, and the creative force behind Smoke & Lime, one of London’s most unique Bengali supper clubs.Born in Kolkata and raised in the UK, Sohini has worked with trailblazers like Asma Khan and Rohit Ghai before creating her own path. Since 2018, she and her husband have welcomed guests into their home — serving a seasonal and zero-waste menu that blends heritage, sustainability, and creativity.But Smoke & Lime is more than food. It’s about preserving culture, celebrating connections, and being your authentic self.In this conversation, Sohini opens up about:- Being bullied as a child for her clothes and food — and why she never stopped embracing her heritage- Why she doesn’t want to open a restaurant, and instead calls herself “the Bengali Omakase Chef”- Building an entrepreneurial path that celebrates culture while staying true to her values- Why supper clubs are the future of dining in LondonIf you’re curious about food entrepreneurship, cultural identity, sustainable dining, or London’s evolving supper club scene, this episode is for you.🎙️ Everyday Empires brings you the real stories of entrepreneurs, creators, and change-makers — no fluff, no filters. 👉 Don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring founder journeys.#SohiniBanerjee #SmokeAndLime #SupperClub #BengaliFood #ZeroWasteCooking #LondonDining #FemaleEntrepreneur #EverydayEmpiresPodcast #AsmaKhan #FoodEntrepreneurship #IndianFoodUK #CulturalHeritage #OmakaseExperience

In this episode of Everyday Empires, we sit down with Moiz Ahmed — better known as the “Lad from Dubai” — a rising real estate advisor and content creator helping people understand Dubai’s booming property market.More than just buying or selling homes, he focuses on trust, transparency, and long-term value for his clients. Through his Instagram page @ladfromdxb, Moiz breaks down everything from luxury property investments to the realities of Dubai living — making him one of the most relatable new voices in the industry.In this conversation, we cover:👨‍👩‍👧 Growing up as the youngest of four in a South Asian family🏡 The truth about Dubai real estate vs. the UK housing market🌍 Why more British investors and families are moving to the UAE💡 The pressures of success, entrepreneurship, and carving your own pathWhether you’re thinking about investing in Dubai property, or just curious about the mindset it takes to stand out in a competitive industry, Moiz’s story is full of insight, energy, and no-BS advice.🎙️ Everyday Empires shares real stories from everyday entrepreneurs, advisors, and creators — no fluff, no filters.👉 Don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more unfiltered founder and creator stories.#LadFromDubai #DubaiRealEstate #InvestInDubai #DubaiPropertyMarket #UKvsUAE #EverydayEmpiresPodcast #MoizAhmed #DubaiLiving #RealEstateAdvisor

In this episode of Everyday Empires, we sit down with Natalie Kelly — powerhouse entrepreneur, aesthetics expert, skincare founder, and soon-to-be mum of two — to uncover how she built five thriving businesses from the ground up… and why she now believes the UK is no longer the place for ambitious entrepreneurs.Natalie began her career in TV & film makeup, hustled her way into a corporate PA job (yes, she faked her way into the interview!), and launched NMK Aesthetics on the side. Just one month before discovering she was pregnant, she quit her job to go all in — with no safety net. It had to work… and it did.Today, she runs:💉 NMK Aesthetics – cosmetic treatments & dermal artistry https://www.instagram.com/natalie_nmk_aesthetics🧴 Natalie Marie Skincare – luxury vegan skincare brand https://www.instagram.com/nataliemarieskincare💊 Bloom Supplements – premium wellness supplements https://www.instagram.com/bloomsupplementsuk🎓 NMK Academy – accredited training for aspiring aesthetics professionals https://www.facebook.com/NMKAcademy/🏘️ OZJ Property Group - Real estate investments in high-performing UK propertiesDespite her success, Natalie opens up about why sky-high UK taxes, poor public services, and “inheritance tax scams” are pushing her to relocate to Dubai — where safety, opportunity, and financial freedom align with her goals as a parent and entrepreneur.📌 We also covered: •⁠ ⁠Losing friends as success grows •⁠ ⁠The lonely but empowering side of entrepreneurship •⁠ ⁠Why UK culture often discourages ambition •⁠ ⁠Is Dubai becoming the new hotspot for business owners?Whether you're a beauty pro, side hustler, or aspiring founder, this episode delivers real talk and practical motivation.🎙️ Everyday Empires shares raw, relatable stories from everyday founders, creatives & change-makers — no fluff, no filters.👉 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more unfiltered stories of ambition & resilience.💬 Drop a comment: What part of Natalie’s story resonated most with you?

What does it really take to develop an entrepreneurial mindset?In this special collaboration between Everyday Empires and Kingston University, Rohit hosts a live panel discussion in front of Kingston University business students, diving into how real UK entrepreneurs turned their ideas into thriving businesses — and the mindset shifts that helped them get there.Hosted by Salewa Komolafe, President of the HRM Society, this panel brings together four diverse and inspiring founders:Becky Beasley – Founder of Two Teaspoons Building a food catering business from the ground up with heart and hustle. Website: https://www.two-teaspoons.com/Angus Cunningham – Founder of Scotscape Transforming urban environments through sustainable greening solutions Website: https://www.scotscape.co.uk/Kayleigh Mardell – Company Director at Jayserv Navigating the male-dominated world of mechanical and electrical engineering. Website: https://jayserv.co.uk/Atabak Iranizad – Founder of Global Study AI Kingston University graduate and edtech entrepreneur helping students worldwide. Website: https://globalstudy-ai.com/🎓 Whether you’re a student entrepreneur, a future founder, or just looking to build a stronger entrepreneurial mindset, this episode is full of practical business tips, real startup journeys, and honest conversations about success, failure, and everything in between.📌 Key Topics Covered: How to think like an entrepreneur Mistakes and Lessons learned from UK founders Building a business from scratch Everyday entrepreneurship in the UK🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring interviews with everyday people building extraordinary businesses.#EntrepreneurMindset #EverydayEmpires #KingstonUniversity #StartupStories #StudentEntrepreneurs #Founders #YoungEntrepreneurs #LivePanel #UKEntrepreneurs