Welcome back to Power of Passion, a podcast from the Ferdinando & Luigi Innocenti Foundation, produced with Be the change. Media Network.

In this episode, host Lily Mott is joined by writer and podcaster Zarin Khan to explore how creative writing became a powerful outlet for self-expression, identity, and personal growth.

Zarin shares how her love of storytelling began in childhood, from trips to the library with her dad to discovering authors who inspired her to start writing her own stories. She reflects on the challenges of pursuing creativity as a South Asian woman, where expectations around career paths can make it difficult to openly embrace passions that don’t always fit traditional definitions of success.

Together, Lily and Zarin discuss what it means to truly connect with a passion, from writing as a form of self-care and reflection to finding the courage to share your work with others. Zarin also shares a powerful original poem and opens up about balancing her creative life with a career in engineering, showcasing how different passions can coexist, even when they compete for your time and energy.

This episode is a reminder that passion isn’t always about outcomes; it’s about what fuels you, grounds you, and helps you show up as your most authentic self.

To get connected with Zarin:

• Listen to her podcast here: https://thisstaysbetweenus.podbean.com/
• Connect with her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/this_st4ys_between_us/
• Connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zarin-khan-chemical-engineering-research/

For more information about:

• Ferdinando & Luigi Innocenti Foundation: https://fli.foundation/
• Be the change. Media Network: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/

Follow the Ferdinando & Luigi Innocenti Foundation on Linkedin.

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to this podcast and join us as we explore the passions that shape young people’s lives.

Welcome to Power of Passion, a podcast from the Ferdinando & Luigi Innocenti Foundation, produced with Be the change. Media Network.

In this first episode, host Lily Mott is joined by Deaflympian swimmer Henry Hughes to explore how a childhood love of the water grew into a lifelong passion, as well as a platform for advocacy, resilience, and self-belief.

Henry shares his journey from learning to swim as a deaf child in Australia to competing at the Deaflympics and eventually representing Great Britain. He reflects on the early challenges of not being able to hear instructors in the pool, the inspiration he found watching the London 2012 Games, and the series of moments that shaped his decision to pursue swimming at an elite level.

Together, Lily and Henry talk about what it really means to follow a passion: going through the highs and lows, building a relationship with something you love, and continuing even when it’s hard. From screaming (or singing) underwater for stress relief to learning that “I swim for myself and only for myself,” this episode highlights the power of swimming in Henry’s life.

For more information about:

• Ferdinando & Luigi Innocenti Foundation: https://fli.foundation/
• Be the change. Media Network: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/

Follow the Ferdinando & Luigi Innocenti Foundation on Linkedin.

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to this podcast and join us as we explore the passions that shape young people’s lives.