Padma Lakshmi has our dream job. She’s the host and executive producer of “Top Chef” and the upcoming series “Taste The Nation.” And her career has taken her all over the world to try the best food. But it’s also thrown her a few curveballs. Padma sat down with us this week to tell us how she became a serious player in the culinary world, and why her activism fuels her work.

In this episode, Padma shares how she overcame imposter syndrome (13:30), why she’s a committed mentor (15:56), and how she brings her sense of activism into the culinary world (18:13).

Stay tuned at the end for a spotlight on Dogdrop, a flexible dog daycare center. Want to be featured? Submit yourself or a friend here.

Note: This episode contains mentions of sexual assault that may be triggering for some listeners.

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Padma Lakshmi: “We're not taught to advocate for ourselves at the expense of maybe ruffling some feathers.”