This episode was released on the heels of perhaps the most dramatic election of our time—one that will have a serious impact on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and leadership initiatives in corporations throughout the United States. So I felt very fortunate to speak to one of the most compelling and dynamic authorities in this space—Dr. Priya Nalkur.

Priya Nalkur, Ed.D. is the President of The RoundTable Institute, where she leads a global group of coaches and facilitators to help companies build more inclusive leaders and workplaces. She is a professional speaker, coach and facilitator and has taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Heller School for Social Policy and has several courses on Udemy for Business. She is the author of the book Stumbling Towards Inclusion: Finding Grace in Imperfect Leadership.

We touched on so many topics in this discussion, including:

• Priya's innovative framework of JEDI for Leaders and JEDI for Coaches; how the notions of justice and belonging are often overlooked in many well-intentioned DEI intiatives in corporate America.
• How Stumbling Towards Inclusion evolved from a "manual" to accompany the JEDI training to also include her journey—from a child of South Asian immigrants who struggled to fit in, to her time at leading universities in the US (Harvard, Yale), to her current role as an authority on DEI and executive leadership coach.
• The genesis of The Roundtable Institute as a leadership development platform to focus on women and marginialized people, launched in the wake of the tumultuous 2016 election.
• Joseph Campbell's quote about "going into the abyss to recover the treasures of life and stumbling"—and how the notion of stumbling (as well as biking up steep hills in Southern California) plays into leadership.
• The relationship between the activity of dance—in all its forms—and the dynamics of effective leadership.
• Concepts discussed in Stumbling Towards Inclusion, including "lowering the waterline," allyship, and the notion of headwinds and tailwinds in leadership.
• Priya's experience as the child of Indian immigrants in Ontario, Canada, and how that shaped her lifelong mission for inclusion.
• Struggles that we as South Asian parents face in juggling the tasks of assimilating, succeeding in corporate America, while passing our cultural heritage (culinary, dance, musical) to our children.

To connect with Priya and learn more about JEDI, The Roundtable Institute, and her many other initiatives, visit priyanalkur.com or theroundtableinstitute.com. You can also connect with her on LinkedIn or Instagram.

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Since moving to Southern California last year, I've been blessed to cross paths with many souls on a similar journey of spirituality and wellness. I had one of these folks on the podcast a year ago, Kyle Peche, and am now delighted to welcome his wife Sundarri Rodriguez as a guest.

Sundarri is an award-winning actress, musician, and philanthropist. You may have seen her appear in shows on Hulu, indie films, or even local theater. Sundarri is passionate about healing others with sound. She is a performing artist, and plays shows around the Southern California area, with music on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms. In 2023 she founded a non-profit organization called Soma Wellness.

Soma is a Christ-Consciousness based non-profit formed to build community and to serve those in recovery with holistic modalities, such as sound-healing, breathwork, and yoga. Please note that Soma Wellness is entirely separate from SOMA Breath, a breathwork modality which we've discussed on the show previously.

NOTE: Soma Wellness is entirely separate from SOMA Breath, a breathwork modality which we've discussed on the show previously.

Sundarri and I discussed many topics, including:

• How a tiger in a South Carolina zoo served as her namesake, and serendipitously led to discovery of sacred geometry, Kriya Yoga, sound healing, and other holistic modalities.

• The false dichotomy that often exists between Eastern and Western forms of spirituality such as Christianity and Hinduism. How many mistakenly see the former as overly rigid or confining, and the latter as too ethereal or abstract. How sages such as Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Vivekananda help to bridge this gap; how their mission being carried forward today at organizations such as Self Realization Fellowship - where I originally met her and her husband (and former podcast guest) Kyle.

• Sundarri's Southern Baptist upbringing in South Carolina, which exposed her to speaking in tongues, and other spontaneous spiritual practices that she feels have largely faded away in the modern iteration of Christianity.

• The "origin story" of Soma Wellness, which sprung in some part from the tragic loss of her stepfather to addiction at age 45. How the platform combines sound healing, breathwork, yoga, and music to help those in recovery from addiction.

• How Sundarri is able to maintain her strong sense of spirituality, even while working in the music and film industries - traditionally seen by some as being more commercial and lacking in spiritual foundation

• House of Soma - a camping and music Festival held in Southern California, featuring more than 30 acts and the holistic modalities offered by Soma Wellness.

To find out more about Soma Wellness and connect with Sundarri / learn about her journey, please visit healwithsoma.com, or connect with her on Instagram at @ayoitssundarri or @healwithsoma.

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To comemorate the 90(ish)th episode of Untether Your Life, I'm rebroadcasting my appearance on the Happy and Human podcast.

I always walk away from my exchanges with the hosts - my friends Dinesh Melwani and Dr. Seema Desai - with some new insight, an expansion of my network, and at the very least, a good chuckle. This conversation was no exception. It's full of light-hearted banter, mixed with discussion of weightier topics such as breathwork, epigenetics, and the triumphs and tribulations of life in the South Asian diaspora.

In this far ranging conversation, we touch on the following:

• The implication of Bruce Lipton's conceptualization of our body as a community of 50 trillion cells. How this mindset can improve our decision making skills and sense of agency and empowerment.
• The power of Thich Nhat Hanh's mindful breathing techniques (i.e., "In / out, deep / slow") in enabling us to better navigate turbulent times, and help humanity "one breath at a time."
• What it truly means, as members of the South Asian diaspora, to have "made it" vis-à-vis the American dream. The impact on this pivotal success juncture of the Buddhist notion of impermanence, and the concept of asymptotes (pro tip: you may need to dust off your high school math textbook for this episode).
• The true meaning of the practice of "clean living," and how positive self-talk and gratitude factors into this
• How breathwork and humming can stimulate the vagus nerve, and activate our parasympathetic nervous system and the "rest and digest" response, widen our lens and help us move from scarcity to abundance mindset
• The perils of the "if / then fallacy" that many children of immigrants face in prioritizing success over true happiness, fulfillment, and physical and mental health
• Reflections on cold plunges and other practices covered in the Netflix Limitless series with Chris Hemsworth

Interested in checking out other episodes of the Happy and Human podcast? Visit the Instagram page or check them out on Buzzsprout. I highly recommend following these dynamic changemakers on Instagram as well (@dineshmelwani / @dr.seemadesai).

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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This episode gives credence to the saying that "there are no coincidences in life."

It's being released on the eve of World Mental Health Day, October 10th. Every year on this date, I marvel at the mental health journey I've been blessed to embark on thanks to this podcast.

Further, this episode was recorded on September 20th. Eight years ago on this date, I'd hit rock bottom in a psychiatric hospital in Chicago - divorce, unemployment, complete detachment from my kids, and the nadir of my mental and physical health.

I'm thankfully in a better place now. This is in part because I "did the work," but also because of my incredible wife Shelly. She pushed for me to get an accurate clinical diagnosis, pursue an effective treatment regimen, and many other factors that helped me get to where I am today.

I'm living proof of the pivotal importance of caregivers in the journey of adults with bipolar disorder and other forms of serious mental illness (SMI). On this World Mental Health day, I dedicate this episode to my wife and the millions of caregivers out there. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and as beneficiaries we're eternally grateful for your perseverance and determination. Hopefully this episode gives you some comfort in the storm.

This week's guest, Mitul Desai, has emerged as a champion and voice for these unsung heroes and, given my own lived experience, I was thrilled to cross paths with him through organizations such as Indiaspora and South Asian Americans for Change (SAAFC).

Mitul has been helping care for his brother, who lives with schizophrenia, for the past two decades. Mitul began his career working in healthcare law and finance, and he's held leadership roles in product development and data services. He also served in the Obama Administration. Mitul serves on the Board of NAMI-NYC and has written about his family’s experience in Forbes and USA Today. Mitul created The Care Hack with Dr. Eli Shalenberg to ensure that no other family has to suffer in isolation the way his did.

To connect with Mitul, visit thecarehack.com, or follow @thecarehack on Instagram.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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As busy, hard-working professionals with families, demanding jobs, and multiple other obligations, we often go into auto-pilot. We mindlessly follow scripts and templates that were passed onto us about what success looks like. We rarely stop to ask "why?" and fail to see that saying yes to too much may in the end lead us on to the people-pleasing road to ruin.

This week's guest, Amy Green Smith, has successfully navigated this dance, and has helped many clients get out of this trap.

Amy is a certified and credentialed life coach and hypnotherapist, masterful speaker, and personal empowerment expert. Amy uses her roles as coach, writer, podcaster, and speaker to move individuals to a place of radical personal empowerment and self-worth.

With acute focus on helping people “find their voice”, she is highly sought after for her uncommon style of irreverence, wisdom, and humor and has been a featured expert in Inspired Coach Magazine and on Fox 5 San Diego.

We touched on many fascinating topics during our discussion including:

• The artificial distinction between intuition and inner critic, which are actually in many ways just opposite sides of the same coin
• The common tendency to focus on the fight / flight response associated with the sympathetic nervous system, and ignore the 3rd “F” – fawn. How people-pleasing plays into all of this.
• Amy’s powerful conception of “self-sentiment,” which is a bit more nuanced than the traditional notion of self-talk. How emotional “entry points” help us unpack moments of high anxiety, and prevent us from getting taken down by black and white thinking.
• Amy’s spiritual journey, which started with a dogmatic, devout Christian upbringing, and evolved into her exploring Buddhism, Universal Unitarianism, and numerous other schools of thought
• Amy’s transition from a successful (but unfulfilling) career in corporate training for a large cosmetics manufacturer to life coaching, which was far more aligned with her soul purpose
• The role of consent in following the voices of our inner critic as adults (vs. when we were children)
• The power of hypnotherapy in unlocking alpha, theta, and delta brainwave states.
• How injecting mindfulness even in small doses can ultimately push humanity forward.
• The importance of distinguishing between "am I in danger?” or “is this something new?" when entering ambiguous situations.
• What it truly means "outsource our self worth" - i.e., please others for the sake of feeling better about ourselves.
• How progressive language, and a more incremental approach, can help us break down those “big hairy audacious goals,” and prevent us from getting mired in self-sabotage and defeat.
• The analogy of smoke alarm to help us take a more measured, nuanced view of our self-defense systems.
• The valuable insights of Bruce Lipton, Jose Silva, Richard Davidson on mindfulness, hypnosis, and meditation
• Amy’s signature 9-month transformational group immersion program for women entitled “Worthy,” which includes two 5-day retreats, a supportive community, as well as numerous online and offline resources

Do you want to feel more worthy? Get a better handle on your inner critic (or...intuition)? Reach out to Amy Green Smith today on Instagram or LinkedIn, check out her podcast, or visit her at amygreensmith.com.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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Always love connecting with folks who share my passion for everything from breathwork to podcasting to cold plunges to the iconic So Cal rock group Sublime. So it was a sincere treat to host this week's guest Sam Kabert.

Sam is a Serial Entrepreneur turned Certified Breathwork Practitioner and TEDx speaker. He is the Author of the #1 Bestselling book, SOUL/Life Balance, and host of the Soul Seekr Podcast. In the past 5 years, he has courageously embraced a transformative path of self-discovery, centering his focus on prioritizing mental health. Sam is on a mission to offer tools to overcome overwhelm and encourage the rise of compassionate leadership to eradicate the glorification of “hustle culture.”

You won’t want to miss this episode, as we tease apart all the things, including:

• The importance of delineating between different forms of breathwork, from exercises for maintenance and relaxation to more expansive journeys that help release trauma, and bring about mystical, almost psychedelic experiences.
• How Eastern principles like samadhi (e.g., “release”) tie into these practices.
• How Sam - who had landed on Silicon Valley's 40 under 40 list, with a thriving 7-figure business, a 4 hour work week, and a seemingly picture perfect romantic relationship – suffered a crippling bout of depression, having “seemingly cracked the code”
• The effectiveness of cold exposure, psychedelic therapy, and other techniques in pulling Sam out of this seemingly intractable dark night of the soul, and enabling him to "Overcome the Overwhelm" (also the title of his most recent book)
• The meaning of the notion of "72 ounces to freedom." What this play on the classic Sublime album can teach us about feeling into our emotions, overcoming toxic positivity, and engaging in what Carl Jung called shadow work to achieve "soul life balance."
• The myriad implications of the Viktor Frankl quote - "between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
• The opportunity that the Covid-19 pandemic, and the accompanying lockdowns, give for people to pause, reflect, and go deeper within spirituality
• How for some, including Sam, ayahuasca, psilocybin, and other forms of psychedelic therapy can provide a more rapid form of trauma relief than conventional mental health treatment modalities
• Insights from Overcome the Overwhelm, SOUL/Life Balance, and other books that Sam has written.

If anything from our discussion resonated with you, and you’d like to speak further with Sam please visit him at samkabert.com, check out the Soul Seekr podcast, or connect with him on LinkedIn or Instagram.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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In line with the mantra of this show - to "own your health" - this week we speak with gastroenterologist Dr. Supriya Rao, whose Gutsy Girl MD platform has evolved into the go-to resource for all things gut health, nutrition, and lifestyle-related.

Supriya is quadruple board certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, obesity medicine, and lifestyle medicine. She received her undergrad degree from MIT, followed by graduation from Duke University School of Medicine.

In addition to her role as managing partner at Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants in 2014, she serves as Director for Medical Weight Loss at Lowell General Hospital. Supriya is passionate about empowering people to improve their health through sustainable lifestyle changes, and enjoys traveling, running, yoga and spending time with family and friends.

We touched on numerous topics, including:

• The pivotal importance of a healthy gut microbiome, and the benefits of practices such as "eating the rainbow."

• The implications of common phrases like "gut feeling," or "going with our gut" - i.e., an underlying connection between gastrointestinal function and cognition
• The scientific basis for this linkage with the gut brain axis, and the staggering fact that more than 90% of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut
• Dr. Rao's Gutsy Girl MD platform, which leverages Blue Zones principles, newer disciplines such as lifestyle medicine, as well as nutrition, relationships, and other harbingers of whole health to provide patients with a comprehensive approach to owning their health via Instagram and other channels.
• Supriya's somewhat circuitous path to her current specialty of medicine, a bit of a departure from her start in computer science at MIT.
• The differences between the multi-faceted discipline of gastroenterology, and other more compartmentalized specialties, and why it appealed to Supriya.
• The double-edged sword of the South Asian diet, which includes both good (i.e., turmeric, cardamom and other Ayurvedic ingredients) and not so good (i.e., simple carbohydrates)
• The challenges doctors face in adhering to the age-old "physician, heal thyself" mantra
• A look at "the good, the bad, and the ugly" behind biohacking

Want to learn more about all things gut health from Gutsy Girl MD? Connect with Supriya on Instagram at @gutsygirlmd, or visit her at gustygirlmd.com or myigic.com.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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My time at one of the prestigious “Big 4” consulting firms sharpened my analytical skills and built my professional network immensely. It also contributed to me bottoming out physically and mentally. This rock bottom forced me to embrace meditation and go within, while working to shed my dependency on external validation and traditional symbols of "making it."

I'm always fascinated, therefore, to cross paths with Big 4 alums who have also gone on a journey of spirituality and self-realization – such as this week's guest, Camilia Berrada.

Camilia Berrada is a vehicle for change, who spent 8 years professionally mentoring and coaching top-level execs, using Deloitte London as her primary vehicle.

She’s also devoted over 13 years of her life consciously exploring and expanding human consciousness at individual, collective, and systemic levels.

From “shamans to boardrooms,” Camilia is continuously tuning herself to become the instrument she needs to be for the people she meets and elevates. When leaders are open to change, she is their vehicle.

We touched on so many topics in our conversation, including:

• The difficulty that many high achievers face when looking to integrate learnings from retreats in Costa Rica, Bali, and other “epicenters of enlightenment” that comprise the rapidly growing global wellness tourism market
• The fundamentals of generative trance - known as the “third wave of hypnosis” - that builds on the work of Milton Erickson. How this modality (highly favored by Camilia) can help us achieve a partnership between our conscious and unconscious minds, and fully tap into our intuition.
• The potential for surfing to help corporate leaders maximize their performance in crafting vision, setting direction, achieving razor-sharp focus, and getting organizational buy-in.
• The drawbacks of embracing the "hustle culture" seen in startups and top management consulting firms - specifically chasing dopamine and external validation.
• How staying "in our head" too much prevents us from achieving true somatic healing in the body - which as Nietzsche said is a far more abundant source of wisdom than any philosophy
• Camilia’s coaching and mentoring program, which encompasses VIP programs, corporate offers, masterminds, memberships, online courses, to “support leaders in finding deep inner freedom and amplifying their impact in the world.”
• What the concept of "home" truly means to spiritually enlightened globe-trotters such as Camilia
• A nuanced, mutli-layered view of the role of ayahuasca, psilocybin, and other forms of plant medicine in achieving states of higher consciousness.
• Camilia’s roots of growing up in Morocco, and how her perspectives on her cultural background have evolved (as has her home country) over time.

To learn more about Camilia, and potentially collaborate with her, please visit her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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There's a concept in Eastern wisdom tradition called sangha, which centers on the power of community. When I launched Untether Your Life two years ago, I had no idea what an incredible sangha awaited me with the podcasting ecosystem.

Connecting with fellow storytellers and content creators has led to impactful collaborations. It's exposed me to life-changing frameworks, and it's given me many a good chuckle. One of these podcasters is this week's guest, Dr. Seema Desai.

Seema is a transformational success coach and speaker, who helps high-achieving leaders go from stressed and overwhelmed to productive and fulfilled.

She's the author of the book Connected: Discovering Your Inner Guides and co-host of the Happy and Human podcast. Seema recently served as Co-President of the Austin chapter of the influential non-profit Pratham USA, which aims to create learning equity for underserved children in India and globally. In a former life, she was also a dentist.

We touched on so many incredible topics in this discussion, including:

• A revisiting of the famous Steve Jobs quote that "you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards;" understanding what to do in the present, when all those dots seem like a giant, jumbled mess.
• Finding “Calm in the Chaos” (which, interestingly enough, is the title of Seema’s course)
• Seema’s book Connected, which introduces the concept of guides and guards to help us tap into our intuition and higher selves, while better understanding the survival mechanism underlying the frantic, fight-flight state we often find ourselves in.
• How Seema applied the "guides and guards" framework to parenting with her own children.
• The background and mission of Happy and Human, which Seema and co-host Dinesh Melwani launched to amplify voices of the South Asian diaspora, and share the powerful life lessons they've picked up as parents, coaches, attorneys / dentists, yoga experts, surfers, and incorrigible goofballs.
• Seema’s decision to transition from a career as a dentist to a transformation success coach and speaker.
• The pitfalls of “checkbox syndrome” / “if then fallacy,” and how this myopic external focus yields an imperfect path to happiness.
• The evolution of South Asians’ image in the United States, from one-dimensional spelling bee champion “robots,” to thought leaders with a “seat at the table.”
• The power of simple, everyday practices like gratitude, curiosity, and focusing on our breath

To learn more about Seema, please visit her at drseemadesai.com, check out the Happy and Human podcast, or connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn.

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Since launching this podcast two years ago, I continually marvel at the power of synchronicity, and the amazing wise souls that it's put in my path. Their books, online videos, and friendship have deepened my understanding of the wisdom traditions I've become so passionate about. This week's guest - Mas Vidal Maheshananda - is a prime example.

Mas Vidal is considered a global ambassador for Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedanta, and the wisdom of the Indian culture. Through his many programs, lectures and private counseling, Mas has become one of the most influential voices for evolutionary living based on the principles of these wisdom traditions.

He is the founder and director of the Dancing Shiva School and he developed MoreLifeMarket.com, an online Ayurvedic Superfoods company. As an Ayurvedic practitioner, he maintains an active international counseling practice that also integrates medical astrology.

He is also the author of two books on Yoga and Ayurveda – Sun, Moon & Earth, and The Evolution Revolution.

I thoroughly enjoyed my discussion with Mas, in which we touched on:

• A rethinking of the traditional model of evolution, centered on Darwinian cut-throat competition and survival of the fittest: the consideration of a more enlightened view on progress of the human species, that champions harmony, cooperation, and "soft power." This is the core theme of Mas' latest book The Evolution Revolution
• The misguided emphasis in the West on achieving the optimal mix of calories, proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients in our meals, which we continually freeze and reheat.
• A need to prioritize what's really essential (prana, or life force) in our food, drink, relationships, activities, information we consume, relationships and everything else we expose our mind, body, and soul to.
• The roots of Dancing Shiva, the platform through which Mas has made Yoga, Ayurveda, and numerous other Eastern wisdom traditions accessible to seasoned and novice practitioners alike.
• How "soft power" can extend beyond behavior to our consumption habits, i.e., that we can live a healthier, more yogic life by avoiding "hard" foods.
• The etymology of the name "Mas Vidal Maheshananda," a unique East Meets West combination.
• The benefits of living in communities - such as Santa Fe, New Mexico; Encinitas, California; and Pune, India - on one's mental, physical, and spiritual well-being
• The meaning of Mas' statement that "the world is my guru," and more specifically, how that ties back to his following of the "one true guru, Paramahansa Yogananda.
• How the Eastern wisdom traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda complement one another.

Intrigued? Learn more about Dancing Shiva, and tap into Mas Vidal Maheshanda's wealth of spiritual knowledge by visiting the Dancing Shiva Website. You can also connect with him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Many of us lead very fragmented lives. If we're lucky, we set aside a couple hours a week to what really lights us up in between our busy "9-to-5"s and hectic social and family obligations.

I find it very inspiring, therefore, to connect with people like this week's guest Sharanya Rao, who succeed in "bringing their whole selves" to their day to day and follow their passion.

Sharanya is an expert on making transitions, having lived in 4 countries, and changed careers from being a commercial litigation lawyer to government and then to becoming a professional coach. Now, as the head of Global Coaching Works and the Artistic Director of Leela - An Indian Community Theatre, she focuses on empowering individuals and developing their potential through Co-Active Coaching, mindfulness and creativity. She is a champion of diversity and inclusion, and a true believer in the power of community.

In this episode, we touch on numerous topics including:

• The concept of a Third Culture Kid (TCK), and the implications of straddling the cultural norms of three countries (India, Singapore, and the United States) on adaptability and authenticity. Further, how this unique background helped Sharanya navigate a career shift from law into leadership coaching.
• An overview of Leela, and its showcase project Anklets in the Boardroom, a project story-telling inspired in part by the Theater of the Oppressed and leaders such as Deepa Purushothaman; how these initiatives helped Sharanya follow her passion and give voice to South Asian women struggling with workplace discrimination.
• Exciting announcements for the Leela team, including funding from the City of Austin and a partnership with Austin PBS.
• The concept of svadharma and how can it help us achieve the show's mission of breaking free of templates
• How somewhat "dodgy" questions in the foreign service application process contributed to Sharanya's disenchantment with this profession
• How the field of coaching, and connections formed through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) provided Sharanya with a community where people would "bring their whole self to work."
• Sharanya's journey into spirituality starting with her introduction to Swami Chinmayananda at the age of 14
• The lifelong learnings at Chinmaya Mission in oneness / Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam / "The World Is One Family"

You can connect with Sharanya via numerous channels, notably her LinkedIn profile.

• To learn about Global Coaching Works, visit the Website, connect with them on Instagram, or check out their Facebook page.
• You can find out more about Leela and Anklets in the Boardroom at their Website, as well as on Instagram and Facebook

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This episode is a first in Untether Your Life history, in bringing on a husband and wife duo. On the heels of my interview with Amish Shah in 2023, I'm proud to release my discussion with his wife, the incredibly insightful Dr. Puja Shah.

Puja is a visionary poet who shares her voice through written and spoken word, guided meditations, and teaching. Born in Queens, New York to immigrant parents, she defied teachers who questioned her English skills by winning countless poetry and short story awards in her youth.

With over 10 years of nonprofit experience and a long public health career, she has pivoted careers to follow her passion for writing and created a campaign aligned with girls rights awareness causes for her triple award winning novel, For My Sister.

Puja holds a D.M.D. doctorate degree and has completed multiple training courses in yoga, meditation and ancient wisdom. She teaches corporate mindfulness guided meditations and is currently president of The Shah Education and Exploration Foundation, 501c3. For My Sister is her first novel.

Puja and I touched on so many amazing topics in our far-ranging interview, including:

• The meaning of the Paulo Coelho quote "we will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen"
• How the Buddhist practice of Vipassana or "seeing things as they really are" can help us question default stress management behaviors like alcohol or social media
• The impact of Puja's award-winning book For My Sister in shining a light on the dark practices of human trafficking in India and other parts of the world.
• The lessons of Puja's book on intuition, the duality that exists in all of us, and the benefits of following our dharma
• How serving underprivileged girls' communities in India and Uganda pushed Puja to reconnect with her life-long passion for storytelling
• Puja's journey from a lucrative but unfulfilling career in private practice dentistry and in government, to teaching children in India and Uganda, to teaching yoga, launching a 501(c)(3) non-profit and finally as a award-winning author
• The impact of COVID-19 in allowing Puja to "press pause" on life, reassess, and also attend multiple writers' events virtually
• The importance of community (or "sangha") in Puja's journey, notably The Chai Mommas group that she co-founded
• How Alka Joshi, who wrote her book, The Henna Artist, at age 60, provided inspiration to Puja and her fellow "chai mommas"
• How a "safe" career with high salary, benefits, and stability serves as "golden handcuffs" can prevent us from realizing our true dharma, or calling.
• Puja's impactful experience with plant medicine, which helped her connect with her true essence

Find out more about Puja's incredible journey and work by visiting her Websites, puja-shah.com and formysisterbook.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram at psnamaste, or check out her guided meditations on Spotify or other streaming platforms under psnamaste.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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I've been blessed to cross paths with some of the most dynamic, impactful souls across the planet through my involvement in Mindvalley, SOMA Breath, and other global communities. One of these is Piotr Ciepiel, who I met during a breathwork retreat in Ibiza, Spain. His evolution - which includes healing from cancer - is a powerful demonstration of the transformation that is possible when we untether our lives.

Piotr, MiFit Mindful Fitness founder, takes his transformative body / mind / energy programs worldwide. A dynamic public speaker, retreat leader, and breath master, he guides people to embrace emotions, vulnerability, and authenticity. A health and wellbeing advocate, Piotr shares his cancer and chemotherapy journey, compelling us to prioritize physical and mental health now.

This invigorating, inspiring discussion, touches on numerous topics, including:

• How Piotr's cancer diagnosis at 28 forced him to re-examine the "templates" he'd had been following in terms of lifestyle, health, and career decisions.
• What Piotr did to interrupt and completely transform his life by embracing mindfulness, breathwork positive self-talk and unlocking his true "superhuman" powers
• How retreats and in person events can 10x the benefits of informational resources for breathwork, physical fitness, public speaking, and many other personal transformation disciplines widely available online; how they can deliver the true benefits of sangha, or community
• How breathwork offers a powerful one-two punch of research-based science and soul-shaping spirituality, and can "bring you to places that you've never been before"
• The philosophy behind Piotr's MiFit ("mindful fitness") platform and programs like "Unpack Yourself," which bring together activation, strength training and awareness to everyday activities like taking a walk, to more transformational peak experiences like retreats in San Miguel de Allende, Ibiza, and Marrakech.

To connect with Piotr and learn more about MiFit and Unpack Yourself, visit him on Instagram or LinkedIn, or check out his Website

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This week marks the 80th episode of Untether Your Life. It's "kind of a big deal" in the podcasting space, where 90% of shows don't make it past episode 3.

For this important milestone, I chose to rebroadcast my appearance on The Life Shift, hosted by my friend Matt Gilhooly - largely to help commemorate the two year anniversary of his incredible podcast. Congrats Matt on this "pivotal" moment!

Matt is an incredible host, who I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with about:

• The meaning of the "Untether Your Life" mantra; how a seemingly stable life of ticking off all the items on a checklist can mask huge discontent that requires a radical breakthrough.
• When reflecting on the triumphs and breakthroughs in later chapters of our "life book," the importance of honoring the difficult, messy, and often painful lessons from "Chapter One"
• The genesis and mission of The Life Shift Podcast; how Matt tapped into the tragic, premature loss of his mother when he was 8, to create a powerful platform for guests to share the pivotal moments of their lives.
• The difficulty of correctly diagnosing bipolar disorder, given that patients with this condition only come to seek treatment when they're in a depressive state - thereby exacerbating the problem.
• The vital importance of humility and awareness in seeking resolution for mental health challenges - beyond the "hacks" / "just add water" models circulating on YouTube, Instagram, and other channels.
• The irrelevance of titles, salaries, or other traditional hallmarks of "making it" when defining how aligned we are with our true dharma - or "right way of living"
• The role of serendipity in the journey of a podcaster in storytelling, and diving deep into topics that make their heart sing.
• The implication of bipolar disorder on oscillations between types on extroverted and introverted personality types.

To learn more about Matt and his podcast, please visit The Life Shift Podcast Website, or look for The Life Shift on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also connect with Matt on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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One of the goals of this show is to empower you the listener to break free of templates for managing physical and mental wellness. I'm inspired by organizations that facilitate this journey for patients through clinical and technological innovation.

One shining example is Modern Age, a New York City-based startup "on a mission to add millions of years of healthy life expectancy to the world."

We were therefore honored to have their Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anant Vinjamoori, as a guest on this week's episode of Untether Your Life.

Prior to Modern Age, Dr. Vinjamoori was a product leader at Virta Health, and attended Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, and Stanford University for his internal medicine residency, medical degree and MBA, and undergrad degree in biology respectively.

In this episode, we touch on numerous topics, including:

• The role of biohacking in putting more power into the hands of the consumer, and how doctors can use its principles to develop a more collaborative relationship with patients. Side note: Dave Asprey, if you're listening, would love to have you on the show.
• How Modern Age is making neurotherapy or brainwave therapy - once limited to professional athletes, celebrities, and wealthy executives - available to the masses seeking to optimize performance and manage their mental health.
• What folks can do to improve their odds of living to a 100, especially if they don't have the luxury of living in Sardinia, Okinamwa, or other "Blue Zones" as covered in the Netflix documentary by Dan Buetner.
• How attitudes toward health and wellness have evolved over the past 5 years - from merely "staying out of the penalty box," to really optimizing longevity and the quality of life.
• The limitations of the current medical system in finding ways to manage how genes might impact our health - beyond the cookie cutter approaches of exercise and a healthy diet.
• How more science-driven, consumer-focused wellness assessments can help patients optimize the 12 hallmarks of aging - which include mitochondrial dysfunction and nutrient sensing.
• The counterproductive approach of many anti-aging clinics that bombard patients with a data dump of information lacking context.
• How the efficacy of modern cutting edge longevity practices be enhanced by the incorporation of ashwagandha, turmeric (or "haldi") and other staples of Ayurveda - the Indian wisdom tradition dating back over 5,000 years.

To connect with Anant and find out more about his work at Modern Age, check him out on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit modern-age.com

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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One of the most rewarding parts of hosting this podcast is connecting with brilliant, compassionate polymaths, whose knowledge and experience extend across numerous realms. Dr. Tanmeet Sethi, MD is a prime example. She is an Integrative and Psychedelic Medicine Physician, activist, TEDx speaker, and author of the incredibly powerful book Joy Is My Justice. She’s also been featured on Oprah Daily.

Tanmeet has dedicated her career to caring for marginalized patients all over the globe from Seattle to Puerto Rico to Ukraine, as a senior faculty member at The Center for Mind Body Medicine. She is also a Clinical Associate Professor and a primary clinical investigator there on psilocybin at the University of Washington.

In this episode, Tanmeet and host Nikhil Torsekar touch on numerous topics, including:

• The role of movement in releasing myokines / what scientists call hope molecules - whether it's a quiet walk in nature or vigorous dancing to bhangra music.
• How the vagus nerve regulates our parasympathetic nervous system and helps us feel safe, and how pranayama (or breathwork) facilitates this.
• The fundamental distinction between happiness (a binary cognitive evaluation) and joy, and how the latter actually comes from the same deep well as pain.
• An overview of Dr. Sethi’s impactful book Joy Is My Justice, which captures her beautiful journey to thrive and embrace with gusto all that life has to offer after her three year old son Zubin received the challenging diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
• Growing up in the South Asian diaspora – the good (solid foundation in community, cultural traditions such as pranayama and Ayurveda), the bad (pressure to live up to impossible standards, tendency to suppress challenging emotions), and the ugly (Nikhil’s bhangra moves)

To order a copy of Tanmeet’s incredible book please visit her Website, or connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also check out her Substack titled “Beautiful and Brutal.”

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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Two years since our first guest interview episode of Untether Your Life with clinical psychologist Dr. Jyothsna Bhat, many strides have been made in mental health in the South Asian diaspora. This is due to the work of groups like South Asian Americans for Change (SAAFC), co-founded by Rupal Joshi, Keerthi Channarasappa, and this week’s guest - Sumit Shukla.

In addition to this role, Sumit is an accomplished pharmaceutical expert with nearly 15 years of industry experience, a dedicated husband and father, and a passionate mental health advocate.

Driven by personal experiences with depression and anxiety and overcoming alcohol addiction, Sumit established SAAFC with a mission to dismantle mental health stigma and promote holistic well-being in the South Asian American community through arts, education, and community-building events.

Breaking the Silence, Sumit’s YouTube documentary series featuring renowned comedian Nimesh Patel and previous Untether Your Life guest Ankur Varma, serves as a platform for raising awareness and sparking conversations on mental health, particularly among South Asian men.

Join host Nikhil Torsekar and Sumit Shukla this week as we discuss:

• The upcoming annual SAAFC event - The Healing Through Art - on March 2, 2024 at Tendenza in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tickets available at the SAAFC Website.
• What Sumit and his cousin Nimesh Patel – an Emmy award-nominated comedian and writer for Chris Rock, Hasan Minhaj, and Saturday Night Live - uncovered when they teamed up with Ankur Varma to create Breaking the Silence.
• The application of the operating systems analogy when we look at updating values, traditions, and behaviors passed down from our parents. How the outdated template of gender norms has prevented many South Asian males from focusing on mental health.
• Second-generation South Asian immigrants’ destructive habit of “toxic gratitude” and feelings of inferiority when comparing their struggles to those of their immigrant parents.
• How Sumit had turned to alcohol throughout his undergrad years at Ohio State University and many years afterward; how this ineffective form of self-medication prompted a wake-up-call, and intervention from his wife Rupal, cousin Nimesh Patel, and other family members.
• The origin of SAAFC, which sprung from a discussion between Sumit, Rupal, and Keerthi, and coincided with many of the board members relocating to Philadelphia to launch the organization. How Sumit’s desire to – as a father of a young son – “break the cycle” of mental health issues.
• How the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization achieves this mission through online workshops, social events, and the upcoming The Healing through Art Gala on March 2nd, 2024.

Visit the SAAFC Website to learn more about the organization, or get tickets for the The Healing Through Arts gala. You can also connect with the team on Instagram at @saaforchange, or with Sumit directly at @sumit112

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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This podcast takes aim squarely at the templates that many of us in the South Asian diaspora grew up with – around the ideal career path, marriage, and managing our mental health.

It’s therefore gratifying to connect with others in the community who question the norms and fight against the status quo that has caused us great turmoil over the years. One of these iconoclasts is Tracy Vadakumchery, aka "The Bad Indian Therapist."

Tracy is a licensed therapist in New York, California, and Florida. She helps South Asian Americans who struggle with toxic guilt, shame, and cultural stress and trauma. Tracy continues to challenge her own toxic guilt and shame as it relates to cultural norms about mental health. She is currently taking on new clients in the above states.

In this episode, she and host Nikhil Torsekar examine many issues, including:

• The rationale behind Tracy branding herself as "The Bad Indian Therapist," and her goal of providing a platform and safe space for Indian Americans who think they are "not Indian enough," or feel guilt for not conforming to the norms of our collectivist culture.
• The active use of Instagram, TikTok, and other channels by South Asian mental health therapists for drumming up awareness and brand building.
• How the idyllic portrayal on social media may conflict with the challenging reality of being a South Asian therapist in private practice in 2024.
• The concept of toxic gratitude, and how being thankful may give way to inadequacy, shame, and invalidation of powerful feelings.
• The rationale for South Asian clients in selecting a therapist with the same, or different cultural backgrounds, through services such as southasiantherapists.org.
• How "self-gaslighting" can manifest in issues with mental and physical health for members of the South Asian diaspora.
• Tracy’s multifaceted journey to becoming "The Bad Indian Therapist," which included group practice, private practice, as well a stint at Rikers Island

To connect with Tracy, please visit thebadindiantherapist.com, or connect with her on Instagram at @thebadindiantherapist.

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Mental Health is a mixed bag in 2024. I'm thrilled about the community that has blossomed since I launched this podcast two years ago - especially within the Asian diaspora. However, I'm disheartened by the assembly line approach that has evolved as a by-product of the skyrocketing demand for psychiatrists, therapists, and other providers.

In this environment, Dr. Elizabeth Nguyen - a highly credentialed California-based psychiatrist - is a breath of fresh air.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dr. Nguyen had parents who were refugees from Vietnam who arrived in Honolulu in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. She received her BA from Stanford University in Human Biology, her MD from Northwestern University, and her Psychiatry Residency and Child Psychiatry Fellowship training at University of California, Davis.

She started her career in community mental health, with specific interests in cross-cultural psychiatry, the intersection of spirituality and mental health, and the healing power of water and the natural world.

Dr. Nguyen lives in Davis, California, where she is in private psychiatry practice. She is also the author of the book Aloha Vietnam, "a rich journey across the Pacific Ocean to find one’s true home and identity amidst loss, grief, and mental illness."

In this episode, we touch on numerous topics, including:

• The role of our relationship with water - both externally and within our body in optimizing mental wellness
• How resources such as Dr. Nguyen's Water Keepers community and books such as Wallace Nichols Blue Mind can help nurture our appreciation for this dynamic
• An overview of multidimensional psychiatry, as conceptualized by Dr. Nguyen: how looking at a patient's cultural background, their spiritual leanings, and other elements of their journey can provide a more effective alternative to the limited, check-the-box approach seen in the mental health field today
• Dr. Nguyen's book Aloha Vietnam, which interweaves her own lived experience with fictional narrative of a Vietnamese American refugee family that finds their way to Honolulu to provide rich insight into the Asian immigrant experience with bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses.
• The importance of language in conceptualizing mental illness in other cultures - i.e., the lack of the word "bipolar" in the Vietnamese language
• Personal inclinations (i.e., a love of storytelling) that led to Dr. Nguyen choosing psychiatry as a specialty
• How the Western model of psychiatry falls short of serving its patients by only looking at the individual, as opposed to within the context of the patient's relationship with the culture and family.
• The importance of collaboration that involves investment of time from the patient as well as the provider in ensuring favorable mental health treatment outcomes

To learn more about Dr. Elizabeth Nguyen, water healing, multidimensional psychiatry, and her book, please visit multidimensionalpsychiatry.com, or connect with her on Instagram at multidimensionalpsychiatry or waterkeeperscommunity.

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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And that's a wrap!

2023 was such a transformational year, thanks in large part to the more than 20 epic souls I spoke with on the Untether Your Life podcast.

In recognition of their contributions to the raising of our collective consciousness, I've published a highlight reel recapping the most impactful moments of our conversations.

I've provided their information below, in case you'd like to learn more about their platforms and / or connect with them.

• Jonaed Iqbal (02:18) - Founder, NoDegree.com | Website
• Jason Goldberg (03:22) - Celebrity Mental Performance Coach, Author, Keynote Speaker | Website
• Benoit Kim (04:29) - Psychotherapist, Psychedelic Therapist, Podcaster | Website
• Shermin Kruse (05:41) - TEDx Producer / Speaker, Law Professor, Author | Website
• Ankur Varma (07:20) - Clinical Therapist, Founder, Brown Man Therapy | Instagram
• Jenny Thrasher (08:58) - Keynote Speaker, Author, Mental Health Advocate | Website
• Erwin B Valencia (10:37) - Performance Coach, Wellness Expert, the "Godfather of Gratitude" | Instagram
• Robert Pardi (12:17) - Speaker, Author, Coach - Possibility in Action | Website
• Tanya Mitra (13:54) - Relationship Coach, Founder, The Remixed Relationship | Instagram
• Neal Bakshi (15:25) - Spiritual Guide, Energy Healer, Breathwork Author | ⁠Website⁠
• Dr. Nilesh Satguru (17:00) - Self Mastery Coach, Doctor, Entrepreneur | Website
• Vasavi Kumar (18:39) - Keynote Speaker, Coach, Author, Podcaster | Website
• Niraj Naik (20:17)- Founder, SOMA Breath | Website
• Neelu Kaur (21:53) - Executive Coach, Author, Speaker | Website
• Laura Carney (23:32) - Writer, Author, Artist, Activist | Website
• Freeman Fung (25:11) - Coach, Author, TEDx Speaker | Website
• LeRon Barton (26:42) - 3x TEDx Speaker, Author, Writer | Website
• Nikhil Torsekar & Shelly Sood (28:17) - Authors, Entrepreneurs, Breathwork Experts, Podcasters | Website
• Chris McDonald (29:54) - Therapist, Yoga Teacher, Podcaster | Website
• Kyle Peche (31:27) - Founder, Jyoti Mineral Balancing | Website
• Amish Shah (32:58) - Entrepreneur, Film Maker, The Natural Law | Website
• Final Wrap Up (34:28)

Connect with Nikhil to learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Untether Your Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and other projects:

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