S1, Ep2 – In conversation with Harpz Kaur
17 March 2022
Many of you will instantly recognise Harpz for being the voice of BBC Asian Network on her weekday breakfast show and of course on our weekend screens on CBBC Saturday Mash Up. Here we take you behind the scenes on her real daily life and the extreme realities of a demanding lifestyle approach to her career and how she makes it all work. Harpz reveals how she built herself from the ground up and stayed true to her ambitions, giving us full access to the challenges and failures she has faced to become one of the most recognisable and best loved figures in media.
Conversation Show Notes – The Recap
As a celebrated radio and TV presenter, Harpz began her conversation with Dr Reena by taking a trip down memory lane, asking her to reflect on the moment she decided to pursue this career path. Harpz described it as a long story, recalling that around the age of fifteen or sixteen, while still at school, she faced the big decisions that come with taking life seriously. She recognised that her strengths lay in practical subjects and decided to focus on those.
At the time, Harpz tried to find subjects she genuinely enjoyed—things that would make her excited to get up every morning. However, when she started college, she still had to follow her father’s wishes and study business studies, although she negotiated to take art on the side, which she loved.
When it came to choosing a university course, Harpz sifted through a list of options looking for the best fit. She chose media studies simply because it mentioned radio and TV, and that decision changed everything. For the first time in her life, she felt she had found the perfect fit, which ultimately kickstarted her career as a TV and radio presenter. Harpz says achieving her degree is one of her proudest moments, especially as she came close to giving up on several occasions.
After graduating, Harpz faced six years out of work and took on many unpaid roles to gain experience. She hit rock bottom but persevered through sheer hard work and determination, often working on projects that weren’t her ideal focus but that helped her build valuable experience and contacts. Throughout, she never gave up on her dream.
Harpz emphasised the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people—close friends and mentors who provide constant support and inspiration.
Dr Reena and Harpz agreed that despite working in very different industries, they both need to look and feel their best and adopt a lifestyle approach to their careers. Harpz admitted that her extreme lifestyle—with early starts and long days—is starting to catch up with her. Now that she appears more frequently on television, she knows how important it is to look and feel her best.
When asked for advice for those hoping to break into media and broadcasting, Harpz stressed that everyone’s journey is unique. No one path is the same, but hard work and dedication are essential. Much of that effort goes unseen, but it’s always worth it.
Harpz also revealed some of her daily rituals: she drinks green tea as soon as she wakes up (essential for her voice) and always listens to music throughout the day—it keeps her alert and fuels her energy.
Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas
Create a life that makes you excited to wake up each morning. Do something you truly love.
Life skills are just as important as academic achievements.
If you hit rock bottom, keep going—you will come through the other side. Never give up on your dreams.
Passion, drive, and commitment are essential. If you have one true love for what you want to achieve, it will happen—but only if you give it 100%. It takes time to build something impressive.
Regularly remind yourself why you started; it helps put everything into perspective.
Surround yourself with the right people—those who support you, celebrate your successes, and challenge you to do better.
Balance is crucial, though sometimes hard to achieve. Prioritise your health—it’s not selfish to take care of yourself.
Not everything that glitters is gold. Remember, social media rarely shows the full picture.
Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.
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