Episode 1 – “Noise Behind the Voice”

In this very first episode of A Face in the Crowd, RJ Neha Bhatia shares her deeply personal journey — how she came to New Zealand at just 16 with her family, facing a new world, unfamiliar people, and a culture that was both exciting and overwhelming.
She reflects on the emotional and practical challenges of adjusting to life in Aotearoa, and how—over time—those silent struggles helped shape her identity and voice on the radio.
Co-host RJ Sarkar Raj also opens up about his own struggles — arriving in New Zealand in his late 20s, navigating loneliness, visa stress, and cultural adjustment. He shares how the journey from that silent, uncertain Raj Srivastava to today’s confident "Sarkar Raj" was only made possible because of one person…👉 that version of himself who stood there, didn’t give up, and kept moving.
Together, they unpack the theme of this podcast:➡️ That behind every confident voice, there's a history of uncertainty.➡️ That people arrive here solo or with family, but they all go through the same journey — of struggle, settlement, and self-discovery.➡️ And that in this blend of cultures and challenges, some rise to become a face in the crowd.
🎧 This episode sets the tone for stories ahead — migrants, business owners, artists, students, and everyday fighters who turned their inner noise into real voices that shaped communities in New Zealand.
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