Permission To Shine

What happens when a dream, a culture, and a cup of coffee collide?

In this episode, Andrew sits down with Shivani Darsinos, founder of Cafe Babu: Nashville’s coffee-meets-cocktail sanctuary that celebrates heritage, connection, and community.

Named after her grandfather, Cafe Babu beautifully blends Shivani’s Indian roots and her husband’s Greek heritage, creating a space that feels both soulful and universal.

Shivani shares how her upbringing shaped her drive; from a dad who taught her that strength knows no gender (“Who’s helping me lift this air conditioner?”) to the deep pride she feels in building a space that’s for everyone, regardless of where they come from or what they believe.

She opens up about:

• Turning her cultural story into a business that channels people’s energy
• The whirlwind of wearing “one too many hats” as a founder
• The magic of a single cafe that’s a “one-hit wonder” … full of personality, warmth, and love
• And yes… how Joe Jonas ended up performing at Cafe Babu (!)

Through it all, Shivani reminds us that every cup of coffee holds a story; one made with intention, respect, and an incredible amount of love.

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating something that brings people together, this episode will fill your cup.

☕️ Follow Cafe Babu: https://www.instagram.com/cafe.babu/?hl=en

🎧 Listen now on Permission to Shine with Andrew Namanny

In this episode of Permission to Shine, I sit down with Nick Luebke: creator, thinker, and host of the new podcast Constantly Curious.

Nick opens up about the five books that most profoundly shaped his life:

• The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller

• A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

• Your Platform Is Not Your Purpose by Blaine Fuhs

• The Bible

• The Inner Work by Ash and Mat

We explore how these works shifted his mindset, deepened his relationships, and inspired his creative journey.

Nick also shares the mission behind Constantly Curious, where he’s already sat down with brilliant voices like Young Pueblo and Sahil Bloom. And—he drops some hints about writing a book of his own.

This is a conversation about curiosity, purpose, and the power of the written word to change how we live.

Follow Nick: https://www.instagram.com/nicholasjohn__/?hl=en

Follow Permission to Shine: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/?hl=en

Follow Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/

Dr. John Holcomb is one of the most legendary trauma surgeons alive.

He shares untold details from Black Hawk Down, where he operated for over 30 hours straight during the infamous battle in Somalia in 1993.

He opens up about the chaos, grit, and brutal realities of combat medicine — and how that moment shifted his mission for life.

Now, he's focused on saving lives before patients even reach the hospital. From pioneering blood delivery systems to taking five trips to the frontlines of Ukraine, Dr. Holcomb’s work is reshaping modern trauma care.

This is more than a war story — it’s a raw look at courage, purpose, humility and what it means to serve on the edge of life and death.

🔊 What You'll Learn:

• Behind-the-scenes of the Black Hawk Down mission

• How Holcomb handled nonstop surgery for 30+ hours

• The innovation driving pre-hospital blood care

• Why he keeps returning to Ukraine to help in war zones

• The mindset that sustains people in the world’s most high-stakes environments

  
  

  You can learn more about his work here: https://prehospitaltransfusion.org/

  
  

  Follow Permission to Shine Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoshine_/?hl=en

  
  

  Follow Andrew Namanny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-namanny/