The Quo: Recent Episodes
Payal Patel
The Quo is a media platform that focuses on stories at the intersection of gender, race, and social/economic issues. The platform’s signature podcast series spotlights individuals from various industries, disciplines and walks of life who are challenging the status quo. Through interesting and thought-provoking conversations, The Quo aims to elevate the voices and stories of endeavoring change agents, in hopes of empowering communities and inspiring meaningful change within our society through education, advocacy and the power of storytelling.
Anna Valencia is the current City Clerk of Chicago, running for Illinois Secretary of State. In this episode, she discusses the challenges that women and women of color often face while campaigning for public office, how she's been navigating some of those challenges, and what her potential election as the first woman and Latina to this office will mean for women and girls everywhere. She also offers her advice for the next generation of women leaders, while reminding us about the importance of voting in every election—including the upcoming primary and midterms.
Dr. Sudesh Kannan PhD, also known as Dr. K, is a meditation instructor and expert, who has been training individuals in the art and practice of mindfulness since 2007. As part of his training, Dr. K leverages meditation and mindfulness tools and methods—which have been proven to boost happiness and support mental health and wellness—to help his students cultivate joy, peace and energy. He has also authored more than 25 publications and is the co-author of the book, “How to Beat the Heart Disease Epidemic among South Asians." In this episode—the second in a two-part series—Dr. K discusses depression and how it can be managed. He also guides us through a helpful breathing exercise.
We would love to hear your feedback on this episode. Please visit bit.ly/HealAnxietyDepression to complete a short survey. Additional resources can be found at www.meditation-magic.com and www.meditation-magic.com/blog/quick-fixes-for-depression-anxiety.
Leah Hairston is a social worker, traveling doula and founder of Sweet Bee Services, which provides personalized fertility, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and lactation support. Passionate about reproductive justice, especially for Black women, she set out to facilitate spaces for healing, equal access and justice. In this episode, Leah shares the benefits of working with a doula, offers insights into the systematic disparities impacting Black maternal mortality, and discusses the potential implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Dr. Sudesh Kannan PhD, also known as Dr. K, is a meditation instructor and expert, who has been training individuals in the art and practice of mindfulness since 2007. As part of his training, Dr. K leverages meditation and mindfulness tools and methods—which have been proven to boost happiness and support mental health and wellness—to help his students cultivate joy, peace and energy. He has also authored more than 25 publications and is the co-author of the book, “How to Beat the Heart Disease Epidemic among South Asians.” In this episode—the first in a two-part series—Dr. K discusses anxiety, how it impacts the brain, and the mindful techniques we can apply to cope with anxiety triggers.
We would love to hear your feedback on this episode. Please visit bit.ly/HealAnxietyDepression to complete a short survey. Additional resources can be found at www.meditation-magic.com.
Jennifer Walsh is an entrepreneur, leader and visionary in the beauty, wellness and retail industry. As the founder and creator of Beauty Bar, she revolutionized the shopping experience for beauty and wellness customers. Jennifer’s work now intersects with nature after spending a great deal of time exploring how nature affects our wellbeing. In this episode, she discusses the many healing benefits of connecting to the natural world and what she's learned from top neuroscientists about the link between nature and our brains.
Joe Caballero is a U.S. Marine, actor, producer and CEO of Jungle Boot Pictures, a film production company. Prior to entering the world of film production, he served in Washington D.C. on White House duty as a Presidential Honor Guard, taking on notable assignments at the White House, Pentagon and other high-profile government entities. Shortly after he was honorably discharged, he was introduced to the world of acting in TV and films, including roles in Home Alone 3, Hoodlums, The Dark Knight and more. Now, he’s in the business of creating films himself under the umbrella of his production company, while taking on a special project in Chicago that is working to promote diversity in media and entertainment. In this episode, Joe discusses the ways in which he is leveraging his own experiences and working to increase representation in the arts.
Julissa Natzely Arce Raya is an author and immigrant rights activist. Her national best-selling book, My (Underground) American Dream, details her harrowing experience as a previously undocumented immigrant in the U.S. In this episode, she sheds more light on that experience and provides insights into her new book, which serves as a manifesto against assimilation in America and a celebration of the unique cultures of immigrants.
Emmy Victor is an award-winning journalist, who works for the AccuWeather Channel as a National Weather Reporter. Her work takes her all over the country to cover severe weather and climate change stories. In this episode, she offers her unique perspective on the climate crisis, while providing an insightful connection between this urgent issue and the critical need for gender equality in order to slow down the harmful impacts of climate change.
Bailey is the founder and owner of CandleTit, a candle-making business that celebrates breast diversity across the gender spectrum with candles made from real bodies. In this episode, she offers insights into the bold and unique mission of her business and the inspirational stories of body positivity that have come out of her work. She also discusses her ongoing pursuit of a pilot's license and her hopes to inspire more women in aviation.
Kay Nixon is a retired educator of 20 years. Prior to teaching, she worked for an international development organization. Her collective work and passions led her to Room to Read, where she currently serves as the co-leader of the Chicago Chapter and helps raise critical funds to support girls' education and youth literacy programs around the globe. In this episode, she discusses her work with the organization and shares insightful tips for successful fundraising.
Hannah Bonecutter is an actress, model, spoken word poet and filmmaker, who has appeared in major network television series and independent features. In this episode, she discusses how she harnesses the power of the arts to convey messages of social justice, educate communities and challenge audiences to confront their own biases. Hannah also shares how she’s overcome imposter syndrome throughout her career and owned her right to shine in whatever space she occupies.
Faith Suggs is a former Division I basketball player from Duke University, current host of The Huddle podcast and founder of Brand by Faith. In this episode, she discusses her journey as an athlete, navigating the male-dominated world of sports and overcoming self-doubt in business and in personal settings, especially as a woman of color. She also offers tips to help brands stand out in today's crowded market.
Angela Rose is an activist and a fierce advocate for the empowerment of sexual violence survivors. After a experiencing a life-threatening attack as a teenager, Angela started PAVE (Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment) to help other survivors. In this episode, she shares her personal journey of navigating trauma, discusses the nuances of consent, and offers advice for supporting victims and survivors we may know. She also helps identify healthy vs. unhealthy relationships in hopes of helping people find the awareness and courage to break free from toxic environments.
Saundretta James is the owner of Africana Cultura Fashion, a boutique clothing business that celebrates African fashion and culture. She also serves on the Chicago Board of Directors for UN Women, chairing the Public Affairs Committee. In this episode, Saundretta shares why she felt compelled to take action in the movement for gender equality and opens up about her personal stories of overcoming loss, grief and adversity.
Maria Castro is the Founder and CEO of #LovePurse, an initiative designed to provide homeless women and domestic violence survivors with essential items packaged in a handbag with love and a note of inspiration. In this episode, Maria discusses her creative passion project and its powerful mission, her highly praised work in the Hispanic community and how she strives to create a seat at every table for herself and other BIPOC women. She also shares her self-care practices amidst maintaining a busy schedule.
Antonia Coffelt is the host, creative director & founder of On a Personal Note... As part of her work, she advises organizations & leaders on ways to best engage their customers/clients & drive impactful results. In this episode, Antonia shares her experiences in launching a business, making important connections, establishing a personal board of directors & engaging in meaningful Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) work—which sometimes means getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Tune in as Antonia provides tangible steps to achieving a more equitable world in business & society.
Bushra Amiwala is an activist, speaker and youth icon. She is currently the youngest Muslim elected official in the United States. In this episode, Bushra discusses overcoming intersectional challenges on her path to public office, navigating political discussions in a hypersensitive and polarizing climate, being unapologetic about who she is, and working together to serve as better allies to the Muslim and refugee community.
In this introductory episode, Payal discusses what it means to challenge the status quo and why it's critical for organizations, individuals and communities to advocate for change and avoid stagnancy. She also shares her "aha" moment that stemmed from the cover of two magazines that went viral and how that led to the realization that the media we consume has the power to shape perceptions of ourselves and others. Tune in as Payal shares her vision for The Quo and its forthcoming community of challengers, disruptors and changemakers.