The MyndStories Podcast

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This episode is a conversation that takes us deep into the invisible yet deeply damaging forms of emotional abuse that many experience without realizing it. Smitha talks to Anamika, the founder of Let’s Heal who unpacks how emotional abuse can take many forms, from gaslighting and guilt-tripping to control disguised as care, and why so many people fail to recognize it when they’re living through it.

Drawing from her own lived experience and her professional work as a trauma-informed therapist, Anamika explains how emotional abuse affects the mind and body alike, shaping the nervous system and distorting self-worth. They dig into the cultural and familial conditioning that often normalises such behaviour, keeping people trapped in cycles of guilt, fear, and self-blame.

But this episode is as much about healing as it is about recognition. It's a reminder that healing begins the moment we start believing our own truth.

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

We talk about

Understanding the many faces of emotional abuse
Why recognizing abuse can be so difficult
The long-term impact of emotional abuse
How social and cultural conditioning can normalise unhealthy relationship patterns
Practical steps towards recovery

Anamika's bio

Anamika is a trauma-informed therapist specializing in supporting individuals moving through complex trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, and relationship issues. She is also the founder of 'Let’s Heal', a space dedicated to helping people reconnect with themselves after emotional pain.

With years of experience in guiding individuals through recovery from emotional abuse, she combines her professional expertise with deep empathy and lived understanding. Her approach focuses on creating safety, self-awareness, and compassion as the foundations for healing.

Connect with Anamika

LinkedIn | Instagram

Credits

Smitha Murthy, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling.

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In this episode of The Therapy Room, Smitha sits down with Deepti Chandy, Chief Operating Officer at Anna Chandy & Associates and a trained Transactional Analysis (TA) therapist to explore how our childhood experiences continue to shape our thoughts, behaviors, and relationships in adulthood.

Deepti explains how TA gives us a clear, relatable way to understand internal narratives, sometimes created through messages like “Be strong” or “Don’t be vulnerable” and how to counter the persistent feeling of “I’m not enough”.

Here's a heart-to-heart conversation grounded in practical tools and deeply relatable experiences.

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

We talk about

What transactional analysis is and why it's a powerful framework for personal growth
How the Parent, Adult, and Child ego states influence how we think, feel, and respond
The most common childhood messages people carry, like "be perfect" or "don’t show emotion"
How these messages show up in our adult relationships and workplaces
Practical tools to reframe self-criticism, manage emotional triggers, and start shifting long-held patterns
Tools and helpful strategies Deepti shares, which include recording voice notes when angry to process emotions before reacting, using simple “I” statements to express needs without blame, naming your inner critic, and more

Deepti's bio

Deepti Chandy is the COO and chief therapist at Anna Chandy & Associates, a counseling firm based in Bangalore. Her journey into mental health began through her own experience with Transactional Analysis therapy during a challenging period in her late teens and early adulthood. With an Advanced Counselling certification from a prestigious collaborative program between the Link Centre UK and Anna Chandy, Deepti specializes in supporting young adults and professionals navigating identity, relationships, and personal development.

Beyond her professional roles, she maintains an active interest in fashion and fitness, embodying a holistic approach to well-being that encompasses both personal and professional growth.

Connect with Deepti

Visit Anna Chandy & Associates | Instagram

QOTD

Have you tried transactional analysis therapy? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

What is TA?
How TA works

Credits

Smitha Murthy, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling.

Support the show

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ADHD is often reduced to stereotypes like restlessness and distraction.

But behind the label is a complex inner world. Behind the label there's an individual constantly struggling with emotional overwhelm and coping with misunderstanding.

In this compelling conversation, Smitha Murthy speaks with Dr. Mahima and Dr. Supriya from eMbrace to explore the many layers of ADHD, especially how it manifests in women. Moving beyond the clinical definition, they talk about what it feels like to live with ADHD daily.

Why are so many women diagnosed late? How does childhood masking result in long-term emotional costs? These are just some of the questions they answer, opening a window into the world of ADHD which carries the invisible weight of always trying to “fit in.”

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our hosts Ankit Narasimhan and Smitha Murthy talk to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

We talk about:

Clinically defining ADHD and addressing common misinterpretations
Why women are so often overlooked
Clues in childhood and why are often missed
The hidden struggle of emotional dysregulation
How to get a diagnosis in India
Practical coping tools and strategies
Is medication necessary?

Dr. Mahima and Dr. Supriya's bios

Dr. Mahima Sahi is a clinical psychologist who has clocked over 3,000 therapy hours and has vast experience as a clinician, researcher, and educator. She is also the program director at eMbrace where she leads initiatives focused on building quality care for neurodiverse populations and advancing evidence-based therapeutic practices. She helps individuals facing a wide spectrum of challenges, from emotional regulation and trauma to social anxiety, relationship dynamics, self-work and career transitions.

Dr. Supriya Malik has over 18 years of experience working with a range of developmental and mental health disorders, and setting up early intervention programmes as well as leading diagnostic services. Supriya is passionate about working with children, adolescents and young adults, improving quality of therapeutic services and building capacity. Supriya holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Birmingham. She is also a board member of the Indo-Canadian Autism Network (I-CAN).

Connect with Dr Mahima and Dr Supriya

Visit eMbrace | Connect with Dr Supriya | Connect with Dr Mahima

Our partner

This episode is made possible thanks to support from eMbrace, a platform that provides evidence-based therapeutic services to those impacted by mental health and developmental disorders.

QOTD

How have you managed your ADHD? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Aparna Subramonian, a brand marketer, writer, and self-proclaimed quirky cat lover, didn’t grow up trying to fit in. She grew up thinking she's a boy, fell in love with her best friend in seventh grade, and later discovered she had ADHD. All while battling social mores in a small, conservative city like Coimbatore.

Smitha has a warm, honest, and often humorous exploration conversation in this delightfully candid episode with Aparna, journey through gender, sexuality, neurodivergence, and self-acceptance.

We discuss

Aparna reflects on her eccentric early years
Reflecting on the surreal experience of believing she was a boy and her first queer relationship
The unique way she came out to her family
Her relationship with ADHD, the relief of finally having a label,
The joys and challenges of living with a neurodivergent partner
How her biggest anchor is her community made of friends she can unmask with

Aparna's bio

Aparna Subramonian is a writer, storyteller, and brand strategist from Hyderabad. She’s queer, neurodivergent, and passionate about creating systems that accommodate brains like hers. Also, she loves cats. A lot.

Connect with Aparna

QOTD

How have you managed your neurodivergence? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Credits

Smitha Murthy, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Support the show

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Ever found yourself wondering, "Is therapy really for me?" Or maybe you’ve heard someone dismiss it as "just venting" or "too expensive"? You’re not alone.

Therapy is one of those topics that’s both widely discussed and deeply misunderstood.

In this episode, host Ankit chats with Jai Arora, a practicing counseling psychologist, to break down the stigma and understand what therapy really is. We explore common misconceptions, who therapy is truly for, and why seeking support means you’re brave enough to want better for yourself.

We discuss

The stigma around therapy and breaking stereotypes.
What good therapy entails and why it is much more than just a paid vent session.
How a therapist strikes a balance between validating a client’s experience and holding them accountable.
Understanding evidence-based approaches and how to evaluate therapy outcomes
Jai’s practical guide to finding a therapist you click with.
Jai’s biggest learning about therapy as a therapist.

Jai’s bio

Jai Arora is a Counseling Psychologist with over 300 hours of experience in therapy practice. He is the Co-Founder of Kirana Counseling that offers online and offline therapy sessions. He’s also interested in building AI powered solutions for training and upskilling psychologists.

Connect with Jai

QOTD

How has therapy helped you? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

What are evidence-based approaches

Credits

Ankit Narasimhan, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling.

Support the show

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Devangana Mishra wasn’t supposed to be here. Not on this podcast, not running a foundation for autism awareness.

She was the quiet kid, the one hiding behind her mother at parties, scribbling stories while the world moved around her. But something in her refused to accept the way things were, especially when it came to children on the autism spectrum.

In this inspiring conversation with Smitha, Devangana traces her journey from a childhood of imaginary worlds to the trenches of low-income schools in Mumbai, where she fights for kids who are often written off. She talks about the anxiety of being an introvert in a world that rewards loudness, the depression that nearly derailed her, and the stubborn belief that we can do better.

We discuss

The impact of growing up watching her psychologist mother tutor autistic children in their home
How boarding school and moving to New York forced her to "expand her definition of enough."
Her fight for autism and children with autism from low-income groups
How she battled depression
How spinach smoothies, swimming, and poetry became her weapons

Devangana's bio

Devangana Mishra is a writer and poet whose works have captivated readers globally with two celebrated poetry collections, Desierto Florido (2021) and 26, Kamala Nehru Ridge, Civil Lines Delhi (2023) to her name.

Devangana is also the founder of Brain Bristle, a foundation dedicated to autism awareness and promoting inclusivity in Mumbai’s low-income schools. Through her creative work and brand partnerships she actively raises funds to support these schools in their pursuit of leadership and inclusivity.

Connect with Devangana

Instagram | Devangana Mishra | Brain Bristle

QOTDHow have you managed your introverted nature? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Credits

Smitha Murthy, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Support the show

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How do you rebuild a life when you’ve hit rock bottom and the world feels like it’s left you behind?

In this riveting episode, actor and author Sean Hemeon opens up about his harrowing journey from drug addiction and entanglement with the Russian mafia to 20 years of sobriety and self-discovery.

Sean, who is the author of Good Little Drug Lord, talks elaborately to host Ankit Narasimhan about his journey through addiction, identity struggles, and finding the strength to rebuild his life. But beyond the thrills and trauma, this conversation digs into the heart of what it means to choose yourself—even when the cost feels unbearable. Sean’s honesty, humor, and hard-won wisdom will leave you with one undeniable truth -no matter how far you’ve fallen, it’s never too late to rise.

We discuss

A tragic incident that inspired the “Good Little Drug Lord”
How being from a Mormom Family and being gay impacted Sean’s early years.
How he learnt to navigate the dissonance between who he was and what was expected from his family in order to find his authentic self.
Defining moments that lead him to break free from addiction.
How he learnt healthier ways to cope during sobriety.
Change being a non-linear process and how to handle setbacks.
The advice Sean would give to his younger self.

Sean’s bio

Sean Hemeon is an American actor, writer, and artist and is known for roles in television series such as "True Blood," "Criminal Minds," and "As the World Turns." Notably, he starred in "Husbands," a groundbreaking sitcom that was among the first to feature a newlywed gay couple.

Beyond acting, Sean is an accomplished artist specializing in contemporary abstract expressionism. His work has been showcased in various exhibitions, including Gallery 825 with the Los Angeles Art Association.

Connect with Sean

Instagram | Sean's website

QOTD

Have you battled with addiction? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Credits

Ankit Narasimhan, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling.

Support the show

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Grief is one of the most universal yet deeply personal experiences we go through. It’s heavy, it’s messy, and it’s often something we don’t know how to face.

But what if we could sit with it, honor it, and even find healing through it? That’s exactly what we’re exploring today, as host Anitha Aswath takes us through Raag Miyan Ki Todi, a raga that has the power to hold space for our sorrow and guide us toward peace.

This episode is about how we can use art to process pain, how we can find strength in vulnerability, and how we can emerge from the depths of grief with a renewed sense of hope.

Let’s dive in.

We discuss

Reflection on the nature of grief
The origins of the raag
Anitha's personal experiences with grief
Insights on grief from psychologists and research
Anitha guides listeners through a gentle meditation to find stillness

Anitha's bio

Anitha Aswath is a Leadership Coach Consultant Facilitator and DEI Consultant with 26 years of rich experience. She has trained over 4100 leaders and professionals and has more than 1100 hours of coaching hours to her credit.

Anitha’s other pursuits include blogging, photography, travelling and of course, music. “Perseverance is a virtue: an invaluable lesson music taught me,” she says. She is a voice over artist and trained singer. She is an eternal student of Indian Classical music.

Connect with Anitha

QOTD

What is your experience with grief? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Credits

Anitha Aswath, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Enjoying our podcasts?

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Support the show

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Have you ever wondered how your family dynamics shape your romantic relationships? Have you felt drawn to partners who mirror past experiences, even painful ones? If so, you’re not alone.

In this episode, Ankit chats with Dr Teena Joseph, a seasoned therapist with nearly two decades of experience helping young adults, couples, and families overcome life challenges. They uncover the invisible threads that connect our childhood experiences to our present relationships. They talk about how to recognize dysfunction, and how to break free from it.

If you want to understand your relationship patterns, heal old wounds, and create better connections, this episode is for you.

We discuss

The definition of a dysfunctional family and its dynamics
How dysfunction impacts romantic relationships
Why there is a strong pull towards familiarity even when we know it’s not serving us
How do we learn to change unhealthy coping mechanisms learnt over years?
The role of romantic partners in healing
Knowing when to stay or leave a difficult relationship
The supportive community Teena has built for people from dysfunctional families.

Teena’s bio

Dr. Teena Augustine Joseph has nearly two decades of experience guiding young adults, adolescents, the elderly, couples, and dysfunctional families toward healing and connection.

She is the founder of Being Balanced Consultancy and prior to this she spent 2+ years as the Head of Training and Development at The Vandrevala Foundation.

She has a Master's in Social work – Medical & Psychiatry. Her doctoral research, from IIT Madras, on visual methods, play therapy, and Philosophy for Children (P4C) shapes her innovative practices, including philosophy camps for kids and art-based support groups. Dr Teena was also an Erasmus Mundus fellow at University of Padova, Italy.

As a certified supervisor, she mentors early-career therapists and offers specialized crisis intervention training, supporting individuals and organizations in challenging times.

Connect with Teena

LinkedIn | Being Balanced

QOTD

Have you grown up in a difficult family environment? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Dealing with difficult families
Signs of a dysfunctional family

Credits

Ankit Narasimhan, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling.

Support the show

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In this episode of the Therapy Room, host Smitha Murthy sits down with Dr. Supriya Malik, psychologist and co-founder of Embrace, to explore the world of neurodivergence and what it means for parents raising neurodivergent children. Dr. Malik shares her wealth of experience, offering practical advice on how parents can support their children through child-led play, parent training, and fostering a nurturing environment.

Together, they unravel the complexities of neurodivergence, from recognizing early signs to navigating the emotional and practical challenges that come with a diagnosis.

This episode helps not just parents but also educators or even anyone looking to understand neurodivergence better. This conversation is a gentle reminder that every child’s journey is unique, and with the right support, they can thrive.

About The Therapy RoomThe Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

We talk about

Defining neurodivergence and detecting early signs in children
The empowering role of diagnosis
Parenting a neurodivergent child
Self-care for parents
The future for neurodivergent children and how to build social skills
The importance of advocacy and support

Dr. Supriya's bio
Dr. Supriya Malik has over 14 years of experience working with a range of developmental and mental health disorders, and setting up early intervention programmes as well as leading diagnostic services. Supriya is passionate about working with children, adolescents and young adults, improving quality of therapeutic services and building capacity. Supriya holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Birmingham. She is also a board member of the Indo-Canadian Autism Network (I-CAN).

Connect with Dr. Supriya

Website | LinkedIn

Our partner

This episode is made possible thanks to support from eMbrace, a platform that provides evidence-based therapeutic services to those impacted by mental health and developmental disorders.

QOTD

Are you a parent to a neurodivergent child? Share your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Listen to the previous episode with Dr. Mahima Sahi from eMbrace
Anima Nair on tackling her son's neurodivergence
Read Gayathri Vathsan's ongoing series about neurodivergence from a mother's perspective

Credits

Smitha Murthy, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling

Support the show

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Welcome to Season 4 of the MyndStories Minis, the podcast where we dive deep into the human experience, exploring the emotions that shape us, the stories that define us, and the resilience that carries us forward.

In this episode Smitha talks to the incredible Anitha Aswath, a leadership coach, consultant, and the host of The Mynd Durbar, a segment on the Mynd Stories podcast that beautifully explores the intersection of music and emotions.

Anitha opens up about her journey through grief, love, and self-discovery. She talks about the pain of losing a parent, the power of small gestures that change lives, and how embracing our emotions—even the difficult ones—can lead to profound healing. If you’ve ever felt the weight of loss, struggled with self-acceptance, or wondered how to move forward with grace, this conversation is for you.

We discuss

Reflections on Anitha's childhood and how her father’s strict discipline contrasted with her rebellious nature
How Anitha overcame these challenges through public speaking and support from mentors
Anitha emphasizes how small acts of kindness and words of encouragement can have a lifelong impact
How grief is a constant companion after she lost her mother
Her journey to emotional fluency, a skill she developed through facing adversity
On her identity as a queer person and the challenges of living in a heteronormative world

Anitha's bio

Anitha Aswath is a Leadership Coach Consultant Facilitator and DEI Consultant with 26 years of rich experience. She has trained over 4100 leaders and professionals and has more than 1100 hours of coaching hours to her credit.

Anitha’s other pursuits include blogging, photography, travelling and of course, music. “Perseverance is a virtue: an invaluable lesson music taught me,” she says. She is a voice over artist and trained singer. She is an eternal student of Indian Classical music.

Connect with Anitha:

Resources

Mel Robbins talks to neuroscientist Dr. Jim Doty on the science of manifestation

QOTD

How do you cope with grief? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Support the show

View Details

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In this soul-stirring episode, host Anitha Aswath takes a deep dive into the tranquil world of Raag Bageshri, a melody that captures the essence of twilight and the universal human experience of longing.

Anitha takes listeners on an intimate musical journey with Raag Bageshri, has been revered in ancient texts as the music of solitude, a sacred space where a listener can connect deeply with their inner world.

We explore how music becomes a bridge between our present reality and our deepest yearnings and how the Raag evokes emotions that universally resonate with everyone.

We discuss:

The connection between Raag Bageshri and the emotion of longing.
The raag's historical significance, including its dedication to the forest goddess Baghishwari.
The therapeutic effects of Raag Bageshri, including its use in reducing stress and anxiety.
How our experiences of loss and longing serve as testimonies to the depth of our capacity to love.

Anitha's bio

Anitha Aswath is a Leadership Coach Consultant Facilitator and DEI Consultant with 26 years of rich experience. She has trained over 4100 leaders and professionals and has more than 1100 hours of coaching hours to her credit.

Anitha’s other pursuits include blogging, photography, travelling and of course, music. “Perseverance is a virtue: an invaluable lesson music taught me,” she says. She is a voice over artist and trained singer. She is an eternal student of Indian Classical music.

Connect with Anitha:

QOTD

Are you familiar with Raag Bageshri? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Credits

Anitha Aswath, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Enjoying our podcasts?

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Support the show

View Details

Tell us what you feel. Message us.

In this heartfelt episode of The Therapy Room, host Smitha Murthy dives into the often-misunderstood world of neurodivergence with Dr. Mahima Sahi, clinical psychologist and program director at eMbrace.

Together, Smitha and Dr. Mahima unpack what it truly means to be neurodivergent, the common misconceptions that cloud understanding and the incredible strengths neurodivergent individuals bring to the table.

What's more, this episode speaks to not just those who are neurodivergent or close to someone who is—it’s for anyone ready to see the world through a more compassionate lens.

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

We talk about

Redefining neurodivergence and debunking myths
Everyday challenges and unique strengths
Understanding the difference between everyday stress and the clinical realities of conditions like ADHD
Practical advice for neurotypicals to educate themselves, offer empathy, and celebrate differences
Dr. Mahima’s systemic approach at Embrace to support neurodivergent individuals and their families
Dr. Mahima recounts her childhood challenges and how they shaped her career in mental health

Dr. Mahima's bio

Dr. Mahima Sahi is a clinical psychologist who has clocked over 3,000 therapy hours and has vast experience as a clinician, researcher, and educator. She is also the program director at eMbrace where she leads initiatives focused on building quality care for neurodiverse populations and advancing evidence-based therapeutic practices. She helps individuals facing a wide spectrum of challenges, from emotional regulation and trauma to social anxiety, relationship dynamics, self-work and career transitions.

Connect with Dr. Mahima

Website | LinkedIn

Our partner

This episode is made possible thanks to support from eMbrace, a platform that provides evidence-based therapeutic services to those impacted by mental health and developmental disorders.

QOTD

Talk to us about your neurodivergent struggles. Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

What is neurodiversity?
Misconceptions about neurodiversity
The neurodiversity advantage

Credits

Smitha Murthy, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Support the show

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Tell us what you feel. Message us.

In the span of three weeks, Anitha Aswath had to confront many losses and go through much grief. An aunt. A friend. A friend's furry baby. As she grappled with uncertainty and impermanence, she turned to the healing power of the emotionally transformative world of Raag Bihag.

In this episode, Anitha emerges as a compassionate guide as she makes music into a transformative experience. She invites listeners to embrace the full spectrum of human feeling through the mesmerizing notes of Raag Bihag.

The episode's most powerful moment comes when Anitha articulates a powerful truth: we can be "messy, dysregulated and struggling" while simultaneously nurturing our "warmth, light and infinite capacity for joy."

Join in and begin your own healing journey here.

Highlights of the episode

A deep dive into Raag Bihag, an evening raga renowned for its mood-elevating properties.
Reinforcing the coexistence of multiple emotions, challenging the notion that we must choose between pain and joy.
Reference to a 2015 study highlighting the therapeutic potential of Raag Bihag in managing emotional distress.
How Raag Bihag has influenced international musicians and contemporary musical landscapes.
Fascinating stories about legendary musicians like Ustad Bismillah Khan and the rich tradition of Hindustani classical music.

Anitha's bio

Anitha Aswath is an Executive Coaching Leader and DEI consultant with 26 years of rich experience. She has trained over 4000 leaders and professionals and has more than 700 hours of coaching hours to her credit.

Anitha's other pursuits include blogging, photography, travelling and of course, music. "Perseverance is a virtue: an invaluable lesson music taught me," she says. She is a voice over artist and trained singer. She is an eternal student of Indian Classical music.

Connect with Anitha

QOTD

Does music help you heal? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

The effect of Raag Bihag on sleep

Karedaru Kelade - Sanadi Appanna

Terry Riley: In C

Brooklyn Raga Massive

Credits

Anitha Aswath, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Enjoying our podcasts?

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

Support the show

View Details

Tell us what you feel. Message us.

Have you ever felt guilty for setting boundaries? Felt uncomfortable after prioritizing your own needs?

Imagine spending your entire life wearing a mask, constantly shapeshifting to meet everyone else's expectations.

In this episode of The Therapy Room, host Ankit sits down with Shruti Doss, a therapist and founder of Mynd Space, to unravel the world of people-pleasing, exploring how this behavior often stems from our earliest relationships, childhood experiences, and a fundamental human need for safety and acceptance. Shruti brings not just professional expertise, but deeply personal insights into this universal human experience. Together with Ankit, she peels back the layers of people-pleasing, revealing it not as a personal weakness, but as a survival mechanism deeply rooted in us.

If you've ever found yourself saying "yes" when you desperately want to say "no," constantly prioritizing others' needs at the expense of your own, or feeling exhausted from trying to keep everyone happy, this episode is your much-needed guide to understanding and transforming these patterns.

We discuss

If people-pleasing is really about wanting the best for others or if it’s about you.
Where people-pleasing stems from.
How we can start becoming aware of our people pleasing patterns.
Learning to work with feelings of guilt after setting boundaries.
Building a sense of self when you feel like you don’t have one.
How we can work towards feeling accepted and belong in healthy ways.
How people-pleasing shows up in romantic relationships.
How Shruti has learnt to prioritize her needs and build her sense of self.

Shruti’s bio

Shruti Doss is a therapist, who is currently building the The Mynd Space with the vision of building a holistic approach towards therapy. With a Master’s in Clinical Psycho-Oncology from Christ University, Shruti’s work is shaped by her understanding of the deep connection between the mind, body, and emotions. She is committed to creating a space where people can explore their stories, lived experience and connect to their authentic selves.

Connect with Shruti

Instagram

QOTD

Talk to us about your people-pleasing struggles. Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Credits

Ankit Narasimhan, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Have you felt like an outsider even when you're surrounded by family?

In this candid and engrossing conversation, Raksha Daryanani speaks to Smitha about her unique life journey – growing up in a multicultural society, navigating the impact of her parents' divorce, and healing from devastating relationships. She shares the challenges she faced in navigating a tight-knit but isolated Indian community, where she often felt like an outsider, and how she learnt to set boundaries and develop self-awareness.

Raksha's journey so far is nothing less than inspiring. Listen in for her insights on how to overcome some of life's toughest challenges.

We discuss

Dealing with a multicultural society
Managing toxic and manipulative relationships
How therapy turned out to be a turning point
Demonstrating resilience in coping with her parents' divorce
Finding a stronger sense of belonging and acceptance
Emphasizing the importance of embracing impermanence

Raksha's bio

Raksha Daryanani grew up in South America and studied and lived in England. Currently, she lives in Barcelona, Spain. She works as a content manager, where she writes and edits. She is also a voiceover artist.

Raksha loves to read extensively, especially fiction and enjoys sharing stories. She loves writing poetry and attending open-mic nights to perform them.

Connect with Raksha

LinkedIn | Substack

QOTD

Share your story of resilience with us. Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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There are very few things more fulfilling than a healthy and thriving relationship.

However, the process of finding one can often be challenging.

Two years ago, we spoke to Clinical Psychologist, Prachi Saxena on how to build healthy relationships. Host Ankit Narasimhan has an illuminating conversation with her once more to find out more about how to manage dating and finding love.

We discuss

Authenticity and navigating through the fear of not being accepted.
Doing the self work to attract the right person for us.
Situationships - why they happen and how to handle them.
How do we know when we’ve found the right person for us?
Struggles of dating apps.
How do we know when the right time to break up is?
Navigating through different world views.
The one thing that Prachi’s clients struggle with the most.

Prachi’s bio

Prachi Saxena is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist with nearly 2 decades of experience. She is the founder of the Emotional Wellness Initiatives which is an online psychological and emotional wellbeing services platform.

In her work in the field of mental health she has appeared as an expert on several platforms including magazines like Femina, Better Homes and Gardens and Child, and websites like Twinkle Khanna's Tweakindia.com

Connect with Prachi

LinkedIn | Emotional Wellness Initiatives

QOTD

What are you struggling with in your relationships? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Grown Up Girls Podcast
Our previous conversation with Prachi on building healthy relationships

Credits

Ankit Narasimhan, host and episode planner.
Ravi Kumar, sound designer and editor.

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Imagine a melody so potent it can calm your racing thoughts, soothe your anxieties, and set the tone for a day filled with balance and clarity.

Welcome to the second episode of The Mynd Durbar, where host Anitha Aswath takes you on a spellbinding journey through the mystical world of Raag Ahir Bhairav.

From the legendary santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma to Bollywood's silver screen, Ahir Bhairav has woven its way through Indian culture, leaving a trail of tranquility in its wake.

But this isn't just about appreciating music. It's about discovering a powerful tool for mental health, emotional regulation, and starting your day with intention.

Join us as we unpack the force of Ahir Bhairav, exploring how its unique blend of authority and tenderness can transform your morning routine and, perhaps, your life.

We discuss

The mood and characteristics of this morning raag, known for its blend of strength, serenity, and devotion.
How the movements between notes in Ahir Bhairav have a soothing effect on the nervous system, making it ideal for emotional regulation.
Anitha shares her first encounter with Raag Ahir Bhairav.
The raag's appearance in popular culture.
How Ahir Bhairav navigates various emotions, from mindful meditation to touching upon melancholy.
How the frequencies in classical Indian music can improve concentration and cognitive function

Anitha's bioAnitha Aswath is an Executive Coaching Leader and DEI consultant with 26 years of rich experience. She has trained over 4000 leaders and professionals and has more than 700 hours of coaching hours to her credit.

Anitha's other pursuits include blogging, photography, travelling and of course, music. "Perseverance is a virtue: an invaluable lesson music taught me," she says. She is a voice over artist and trained singer. She is an eternal student of Indian Classical music.

Connect with Anitha

QOTD

What's your favorite song in raag Ahir Bhairav? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

The effect of Ahir Bhairav on stress

Depression and Raag Ahir Bhairav

Enjoying our podcasts?

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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What if the very thing society labels as a "disorder" could be a gateway to discovering your truest self?

Smitha has a deep conversation with Ishaa Vinod Chopra – dancer, author, and mental health advocate - who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16. But rather than letting this label define her, Ishaa transformed her journey into a powerful narrative of resilience, creativity, and self-discovery. Her memoir, "Finding Order in Disorder," is a testament to finding beauty in the chaos and strength in vulnerability.

This conversation is all about embracing the full spectrum of human emotion and finding grace in every moment.

Powerful quotes from the conversation

"Just know that after having a dark day with complete darkness, there will be light again. Sometimes the wait for that brightness and sunshine may be longer, sometimes it may be shorter, but rest assured it will be there."

"The intensity of those emotions are what make who we are. And I don't think I would trade that."

"There is some sort of beauty as well in having that disorder in your life."

We discuss

Why the "disorder" in bipolar disorder might actually be a hidden gift
How Ishaa uses Kathak dance as a powerful tool for emotional expression and healing
The importance of finding your own coping mechanisms (dance, yoga, journaling for Ishaa)
The surprising truth about what really happens during manic and depressive episodes
How family support can make or break a mental health journey
The unexpected lessons learned from embracing rather than fighting your diagnosis
The value of honest conversations about mental health

Ishaa's bio

In her memoir ‘Finding Order in Disorder’ Ishaa Vinod Chopra addresses what it is like to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, how it affects interpersonal relationships, and how societal norms influence our understanding of and responses to mental health issues.

Ishaa identifies as a BIPOC, mental health advocate, artist and educator. She utilizes multidisciplinary arts from two generations of filmmakers to cope with, learn from, and reflect on life and its vagaries. She holds a Performing Arts Degree in Kathak and a Diploma in Early Childhood and is in her last year of an Honors Bachelor at George Brown College, Canada.

She aims to foster empathy, positivity, and self-awareness while sparking mental health discussions and reducing stigmas by creating safe spaces for conversations in committees such as the AODA (Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act), Patient and Family Advisory Committee(s) and as chair of George Brown College Advocates Club. As a Member Artist of the Workman Arts Organization funded by CAMH, she integrates dance therapy into the community for healing and expression by infusing Latin, Indian Classical and Folk styles as a facilitator and performing artist.

You can purchase Ishaa's book here - https://amzn.in/d/hinsrHw

Connect with Ishaa

LinkedIn | YouTube | LinkTree I Instagram

QOTD

How do you manage chaos and darkness? Share your thoughts to - podcast@myndstories.com

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Find India's most diverse mental health podcasts here. Our podcasts are a safe space where we share insights, guidance, personal experiences, and tips to help you navigate your mental health journey.

Perspectives, guidance, advice, and explainers. It's all here. We hope you can nurture your well-being and face life's challenges better with us.

Check our website at www.myndstories.com for mental health conversations, news, features, and events.

Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

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Sometimes we lose ourselves in the quest to achieve our goals.

Everyday stress can turn into chronic fatigue, overwhelm can turn into exhaustion, and bad days can trickle into dysfunctionality. Before we know it, we realize we're burnt out and we simply can't continue the way it's been.

How do we recognize this early so we can prevent this? What steps can we take to alleviate it? What are the causal factors?

We dive into all of this in this episode.

We discuss

Understanding what burnout feels like.
Learning to differentiate between burnout and everyday stress and overwhelm.
How does meaning and purpose correlate with burnout?
Ways we can recognize burnout early and alleviate it.
Debating Sam Altman's (CEO of OpenAI) take on burnout.
Anurakti’s personal experience navigating through burnout.

Anurakti's bio

Dr. Anurakti Mathur has a PhD in Psychology and an MBA in Human Resources Management with over 14 years of experience in Learning & Development. She has proven expertise in Leadership Development, Psychological Assessment, and Behavioural Skills Training and Coaching. She’s recognized for expertise in effective diagnosis, development and delivery of training programs.

Connect with Anurakti

QOTD

Have you experienced burnout? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Dealing with burnout
What is burnout?
Sam Altman's views on burnout

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Have you ever felt a song so deeply that it brought tears to your eyes? Or experienced a piece of music that seemed to understand your pain better than any words could?

In this inaugural episode of the Mynd Durbar, host Anitha Aswath takes us on a soul-stirring journey through Karuna Rasa - the emotion of compassion and sorrow in Indian classical music.

We'll explore how music can be our faithful companion in times of grief, a bridge to empathy, and a balm for our wounded souls. From personal stories of loss to global musical masterpieces, we're diving deep into the transformative power of melancholy in melody.

We discuss

Introduction to Karuna Rasa often evoked through poignant compositions in Hindustani classical music.
Anitha talks about the loss of her father in 2019 and how music became a powerful tool for facing grief and beginning the healing process.
Music as a faithful companion that lifts, holds, and comforts.
How Karuna Rasa in music serves as a powerful avenue for compassion and healing, allowing us to find solace in our shared human experiences

Our hostAnitha Aswath is an Executive Coaching Leader and DEI consultant with 26 years of rich experience. She has trained over 4000 leaders and professionals and has more than 700 hours of coaching hours to her credit.

Anitha's other pursuits include blogging, photography, travelling and of course, music. "Perseverance is a virtue: an invaluable lesson music taught me," she says. She is a voice over artist and trained singer. She is an eternal student of Indian Classical music.

Connect with Anitha

QOTD

How has music shaped your emotions? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

To read

The power of Indian ragas
The concept of Karuna
Raga therapy - use of music in healing
Music therapy with Raag Darbari

Enjoying our podcasts?

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Smitha Murthy converses with Sumit Singla, an independent HR consultant, taking listeners on an emotional journey through life-altering experiences, the transformative power of animal companionship, and the enduring hope that keeps us moving forward.

From near-death experiences to the joys of parenthood, Sumit's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unexpected kindness that can be found in the darkest of times.

We discuss

Dealing with pressure to focus on education
Life-changing experiences including a near-fatal accident
Transitioning from a corporate job to an independent HR consultant
How animals transformed his life
Finding hope and making a difference

Sumit's bio

Sumit Singla is an independent HR consultant with over 18 years of work experience. In addition, he is also a regular speaker at various forums. His specialties include coaching, competency development, process/policy development, performance management, and end-to-end HR transformation.

Sumit has a 4-year-old daughter. He is an animal activist and an aspiring writer.

Connect with Sumit

QOTD

How do you stay hopeful every day? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Liked our episode? Visit www.myndstories.com for more.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Life can throw a lot of curveballs. There are a lot of factors that impact quality of life, but the ability to handle these emotions effectively can sometimes be the deciding factor.

How different can our life be if we’re truly able to understand ourselves, master our emotions and foster healthy relationships with the people that really matter to us? It's an exciting journey to start on.

But it takes work. What does the work entail? How do we break it down strategically? Hrishika Awasthi, a counseling psychologist and Founder of SafeTherapy, takes us through the process.

We discuss

Hrishika’s work on emotional intelligence early on in her career.
Understanding emotional intelligence and its components.
Can EQ be learnt and developed over time?
Strategic approach to learning to unpack and understand your emotions.
Role of mindfulness in emotion regulation.
How EQ plays out in romantic relationships.
How we can make EQ work actionable.

Hrishika’s bio

Hrishika Awasthi is currently the founder of Safetherapy which is a therapist lead platform to empower therapists and clients in their therapeutic journey. She completed her Master’s in Applied Psychology and went on to start ‘Emodite’ which was an effort to introduce emotional intelligence to school students. Apart from this, she has also worked as a corporate trainer at ‘Seekho’ which is a micro-learning-based platform to learn, mentor and hire.

Connect with Hrishika

LinkedIn | SafeTherapy

QOTD

What aspect of EQ do you struggle with? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Understanding EQ

Enjoying our podcasts? Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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What happens when your body doesn't cooperate?

This is Snigdha Roy's story - a raw, honest account of an eight-year battle with infertility that ends in an unexpected miracle.

In this episode, Snigdha opens up to Smitha about the physical and emotional toll of her journey, challenging societal norms, and finding strength in vulnerability. Whether you've struggled with infertility or know someone who has, this conversation will touch your heart and change how you think about the path to parenthood.

Join us as we dive into a candid conversation about the unspoken challenges of infertility, the strength found in vulnerability, and how sometimes, life's biggest surprises come when you least expect them.

We discuss

The infertility journey and the societal pressure involved
Coping mechanisms which include keeping struggles private
The benefits of having a strong support system
The process of adoption
How to be kind to oneself and allowing yourself to feel everything without judgement

Snighdha's bio

Snigdha is an artist and a former designer turned writer and communication specialist. Currently, she heads the content division at Appy Pie.

Connect with Snigdha

QOTD

How do you show kindness to yourself? Write in with your wittiest answers and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this deeply personal and moving episode, we sit down with the witty copywriter Shantesh Row for a raw, unscripted conversation about vulnerability, the beauty in melancholy, life's struggles and everything in between.

From navigating professional setbacks to confronting personal demons, Shantesh opens up about his journey with refreshing honesty and unexpected optimism.

We discuss
* Recent business setbacks, including the loss of a 15-year client relationship * The concept of "living one day at a time" * Shantesh's struggle with self-blame and the process of internal dialogue * Shantesh opens up about his 22-year marriage and discusses fatherhood * The impact of losing his father as a 12-year-old * How music serves as his go-to coping mechanism * the importance of being vulnerable and encourages us to find the "able" in "vulnerable"

Shantesh's bio
Shantesh Row is the Chief Creative Officer at Slant Advertising, an ad agency he co-founded in Dubai. He describes himself on LinkedIn as a: Storyteller. Quizzer. Once upon a time opening batsman and offspinner. Tried to be a Chartered Accountant. Knowledge seeker. Trivia miner. Single Malt connoisseur. Horror film maven. Interpreter of maladies. Wannabe chef. Facebook avoider. Twitter hater. Opinion junkie. Pink Floyd lover. Intense mood-swinger. Novel-in-the-making-for-ages writer. Bathroom crooner. Sit down comedian. Voyeur of life.

We think his description is way better than anything we could come up with.

Born in Mumbai, Shantesh is based in Dubai and has an affinity for LinkedIn influencers, cows, consistency, and copies, in no particular order. The link to his top-rated copywriting workshop is below.

No LinkedIn personal branding experts and influencers were harmed during the making of this show.
Connect with Shantesh

LinkedIn | Topmate

QOTD

How do you find the 'able' in vulnerable? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources
* Ask S anything: A conversation with Shantesh Row and Srividya Sivakumar * Finding the fun in life with Shantesh Row * How vulnerability helps

This is a MyndStories product. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Have you ever had a deep, unguarded conversation with a stranger that left you feeling unexpectedly connected? That's exactly what happens in this unscripted episode of the MyndStories Minis.

Smitha has an intensely candid discussion with writer Shailya Jaggi about life, fears, relationships and finding happiness - without any plan. What starts as casual introductions leads to candid reflections on childhood experiences, insecurities, evolving family bonds and the universal quest for self-acceptance.

We discuss

The vulnerabilities and insecurities of pursuing an unconventional career path
How childhood experiences and unstable family situations force you to grow up quickly
The transformation of mother-daughter relationships from traditional to deep friendship
Redefining friendship - the importance of vulnerability, granting second chances, and quality over quantity of connections
Long-standing struggles with self-doubt and insecurities
Sharing fears like abandonment
Equating true happiness with acceptance

Shailya's bio

Shailya is a writer and a marketing enthusiast who knows how to weave brands, people, and products into stories.

She believes stories have the power to bring good things. And she loves to bring them alive through her writing, scripting, and voice-acting.

Connect with Shailya
LinkedIn

QOTD

How have your childhood experiences shaped you? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Conflicts. They are the inevitable speed bumps on the journey of every relationship.

How we navigate these conflicts can either strengthen the bond or slowly erode it until it frays completely. Do we shut down or lash out? People please until we're a hollowed version of ourselves? Or do we learn to embrace conflict as an opportunity for growth and understanding?

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Therapy Room podcast, where we delve into the complexities of the human mind and relationships.

Host Smitha Murthy sits down with therapist Siddhida Kabara, the CEO and Founder of Dhairya Da for an intimate conversation on navigating conflicts in relationships. From romantic partnerships to familial bonds and friendships, conflicts are an inevitable part of human connection. However, it's how we manage these conflicts that truly determines the health and longevity of our relationships.

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

We talk about

Are conflicts inherently good or bad?
Understanding the difference between a "problem" and a personal attack
Knowing when to take a break
The importance of self-awareness and honesty with oneself
Recognizing that conflicts often stem from lack of patience, adaptability, and acceptance of differences in coping mechanisms
Differentiating between adjustments and compromise
Common conflict coping mechanisms
A 5-step process for resolving conflicts

Siddhida's bio

Siddhida Kabara is the CEO and Founder of DhairyaDa, which provides curated employee and company growth programs. Siddhida is also a qualified therapist who provides supervision and training to new psychologists apart from providing counseling and therapy services to individuals.

Siddhida has a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Savitribai Phule Pune University and Diplomas in community mental health and integrated counseling.

Connect with Siddhida

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Resources

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
Non violent communication by Marshall Rosenberg
Conflict resolution mistakes to avoid

Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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How do you manage difficult emotions?

Kaajal Ahuja has some answers.

In this insightful episode, host Smitha Murthy has an unscripted conversation with Kaajal Ahuja about vulnerability, grief, and the importance of sitting with difficult emotions.

Kaajal gets refreshingly real about the exhaustion of living behind emotional masks. For years, Kajal focused on keeping others happy at the expense of her own needs after being married at just 17 years old. But her painful "loss of self" ultimately forced her to peel back the layers and rediscover her authentic voice.

Listen to Kaajal's journey as she courageously opens up about learning to sit with - not resist - the darkness.

Quote from the conversation

"Safety is not the absence of threat but the presence of connection."

We discuss:

The societal pressure to always appear happy
The lack of space for expressing difficult emotions like grief and sadness
The exhaustion of masking emotions
The importance of not rushing through the darkness, but rather connecting with it
Allowing emotions their "due" instead of resisting
Vulnerability being an invitation for others to also remove their masks and connect authentically in relationships

Kaajal's bio

Kaajal is an advocate for teen mental health. She is building TeenSpace, a venture that encourages teens towards a healthy mindset through curated workshops & masterclasses, therapeutic interventions and community support.

She has previously worked in customer support at HDFC Bank and Dell. She has spent four years volunteering at a government-run educational institution and also ran her own enterprise – ‘Hey Gorgeous’ – alongside, for 8 years.

Connect with Kaajal:
LinkedIn

Resources

The essential guide to working with difficult emotions
How to embrace radical acceptance
Brene Brown on how vulnerability makes our lives better

QOTD

How do you push through your darkness? Write in with your wittiest answers and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Have you ever felt consumed by grief and loss, struggling to cope with the overwhelming void it creates? Whether it's the heartbreaking loss of a loved one, a devastating breakup, or even a job loss that shatters your identity, grief comes in many forms.

Yet, there's an unspoken pressure to "move on" quickly, leaving many to grapple with complex emotions alone. How do we process the numbness, anger, and guilt that often accompany grief? How can we find closure when loss leaves us with unanswered questions and regrets?

In this powerful episode, we dive into the depths of grief and loss with Dr. Shikha Soni, a Clinical Psychologist at DocVita and expert in positive psychology. Through empathetic storytelling and candid insights, Shikha reminds us that healing isn't about letting go, but carrying our loved ones' memories forward.

So, grab a cozy spot and let's enter the therapy room.

About The Therapy RoomThe Therapy Room is a segment where our Smitha Murthy and Ankit Narasimhan talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety.

Quote from the conversation

"It's the labels or the words which people talk about that move on. Just leave it in the past…those memories and the person and the kind of moments which you have shared will always move forward with you."

We talk about

Understanding positive psychology
Different types of loss
Challenges in grieving
Ways to process grief
Managing guilt in grieving
Understanding and practising gratitude
Men and emotions

Shikha's bioShikha Soni is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in positive psychology to help clients deal with loss and grief through their life stories. She integrates several other approaches like psycho-diagnostics and therapies like cognitive behavior therapy, behavior therapy, marital/family therapy, and various other therapies. Shikha has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Psychology. She completed her M.Phil in Clinical Psychology and then obtained a PhD in Psychology from IIT, Hyderabad.

Connect with Shikha

Website | LinkedIn

Our partner

This episode is made possible thanks to support from Docvita, a platform that aims to make mental health more open, supportive, and accessible through their services.

Resources

What is positive psychology?
A practice towards achieving your best positive self
Understanding and practising gratitude
Three good things: A way to tune into positivity in life

Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Socializing can be great - it can help build connections, it helps you learn from different perspectives and it can help take your mind away from a bad day.

It can also be challenging, especially if you go through social anxiety because it can force you to face your imperfections. If you’re unable to be comfortable in your own skin, things can spiral downwards very quickly because people are bound to judge and attaching your self worth externally is never a great idea.

How do we work through this? We understand more in this episode with Pranav Varma.

We discuss

What social anxiety feels like and where it stems from.
Pranav’s journey of dealing with social anxiety.
Navigating through the feeling of not belonging and not being accepted.
Authenticity and strengthening sense of self.
Connecting with people and building more meaningful relationships.
How parenting influences social dynamics down the line.
Social skills that you can hone in on.

Pranav’s bio

Pranav Varma is a counseling psychologist and psychotherapist who has a private practice in Hyderabad. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Christ University, Bangalore. In terms of methodology, he finds himself drawn towards psychodynamic and relational frames of thought with a particular interest in working with groups.

Connect with Pranav

QOTD

How do you manage social anxiety? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Understanding social anxiety
How to live with authenticity and be your truest self
Cultivating meaningful relationships

Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Attachment styles - we all have one, but do we really understand how they impact our relationships?

In this fascinating episode of The Therapy Room, host Smitha sits down with therapist and Unfix Clinic founder Aanandita for an enlightening discussion on the different attachment styles and how they play out in romantic relationships. Whether you're anxious, avoidant, or somewhere in between, this is an eye-opening look at where our patterns come from and how to manage them with more awareness and compassion.

Listen to the full episode and get ready to rethink your thoughts on intimacy, attachment, and more.

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

Quote from the conversation

"I think as human beings, you're flawed, I'm flawed, all of us are flawed, I think we just

need to kind of find the kind of flaw that we can work with."

We talk about

The four main attachment styles
How an anxious attachment style can lead to clinginess and a strong fear of abandonment, while an avoidant style causes someone to be highly independent and avoid intimacy
The challenges of pursuing a relationship when one partner has an anxious style and the other is avoidant
Using effective communication during conflicts
The concept of a "relationship gratitude list"
Why no attachment style is inherently good or bad
Practical advice on managing attachment styles
How to manage conflicts with authenticity and patience

Aanandita's bio

Aanandita Vaghani is the founder of UnFix, a mental health counseling firm. As a counselor and mental health behavioral therapist Aanandita works towards enhancing her clients/ patients emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships. She has accumulated significant experience in addressing a wide spectrum of mental health issues, spanning from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders.

Aanandita has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and has completed her MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness at New York University.

Connect with Aanandita

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Resources

Types of attachment styles
How attachment issues affect relationships
Conflict resolution communication tips
Effects of expressing gratitude
The 5 love languages quiz

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn. Email us- podcast@myndstories.com

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this thought-provoking and emotionally candid conversation episode, Smitha Murthy talks to Renuka, a mental health advocate and suicide prevention activist, unfolding Renuka's life journey. It's one that has traversed darkness and light, tragedy and renewal, pain and profound healing.

Renuka peels back the layers to reveal how creative self-expression through art became a sanctuary during her deepest bouts of depression, anxiety, and the trauma of an abusive relationship. Her story is an inspiration, showing how she mustered the courage to face adversity head-on, silence her harsh inner critic, and ultimately rebuild herself piece-by-piece using the vibrant colors of her paintbrush.

Quote from the conversation

"It's important sometimes to accept that we don't have to go anywhere. That sometimes the past is a constant companion and we don't, we can't just push it away."

We discuss

How art can be a great coping mechanism
Dealing with imposter syndrome
Managing the trauma of an abusive relationship and suicide
Connecting with her inner child
Renuka's inspiring perspectives on her journey of healing and self-discovery

Renuka's bio

Renuka S is Senior Manager, Analytics at Pure Storage. She is based in Bangalore and helped organizations solve challenges using big data.

She is also an enthusiastic toastmaster, a bird photographer, and an artist who shares her stories and pursuits on her blog - https://renuszone.blog

Connect with Renuka
LinkedIn

QOTD

Have you tried art therapy? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer – The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Entrepreneurship is a roller-coaster. It’s a journey that takes tremendous courage to even start because there’s nothing guaranteed.

In a lot of ways, it’s a great metaphor for life. It teaches you life lessons - how to fail, how to handle adversity, and how to get back up.

Ultimately it’s worth it because you get to truly make an impact on people’s lives.We explore the intricacies of this journey with Anmol Arora - CEO and Co-founder of DocVita, a telehealth company that connects people with therapists and psychiatrists.

We discuss:

The story behind DocVita.
Anmol’s take on finding meaning and purpose in life.
How he deals with the fear of external judgement and failure.
Managing possible mismatches of drive and work-ethic among his team.
What the best version of himself means to him.
State of mental health care in India.
Anmol's biggest learning till date.

Anmol’s bio

As the Founder of DocVita, Anmol is passionate about connecting individuals with the right doctors & therapists and supporting startups by helping them prioritize their team’s mindset & mental health.He is an IIT Indore alumnus from the class of 2016.

Before pursuing his startup full-time, he has worked as a Trainee at CERN(European Centre for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, Switzerland. He is an expert in marketing & fast product-led growth.

Connect with Anmol

Instagram | LinkedIn

QOTD

What does becoming your best version mean to you? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

State of mental health in India
How to move past your fears

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Can we outrun loneliness?

In The Rider, poet Naomi Shihab Nye seems to suggest that we can. Loneliness can be escaped. The rider, then, is you, me, and anyone who wants to escape this crushing feeling.

Loneliness, that most ubiquitous of emotions, goes from abstract to concrete in this conversational, free-verse poem. Loneliness gains a persona and if you leave it behind you can be a champion. The poet says that doing so is

"A victory! To leave your loneliness
panting behind you on some street corner
while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas"

Srividya Sivakumar brings this poem to life through her magical and compelling reading, accompanied by a short reflection on the poem.

Listen to it on The Poetic Pause, a podcast that explores the hidden life of poems, the joy they give us, the beauty they offer and the comfort they bestow.

Read the poem here: https://poets.org/poem/rider

Meet Srividya Sivakumar

Srividya Sivakumar is a critically acclaimed poet, TEDx speaker, teacher, and voiceover artist. She believes in using her voice to drive change, spark conversations, and encourage you to slow down.

QOTD

Can you recall a poem that delves into loneliness, like The Rider? Would you like to share it with us?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Have you heard of glimmers? They are the opposite of triggers. Glimmers are small moments of safety, joy, love, and contentment.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the sense of wonder essential to finding glimmers that help in enjoying a fuller life. It makes a case for holding on to a sense of wonder and awe and what it can bring to a person’s well-being.

'What the Dark Sounds Like’ is a charming look at the world from the eyes of a child. His ready acceptance of the presence of magic all around us is a timely lesson for all of us.

Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories through shared experiences that teach us that we are not alone.

We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

Details of the episode

Observing the world around us has multitudes of benefits.
Awe can create better positive feelings and health.
Magic is above, below, and all around us.

Meet the host

Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self-avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker, and voiceover artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle – one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm, and encourages you – to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

What the Dark Sounds Like is written by Aparna Kapur and illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi. Most of Aparna Kapur’s friends are imaginary, and she is happiest when making things up. When not writing or editing children’s books, she can be found poring over a book or pouring herself a large cup of coffee. She has completed a master's degree in wild writing from the University of Essex.

Krishna Bala Shenoi's illustrations, spanning a variety of styles, have accompanied children's literature in books produced by esteemed publishing houses across India.

Resources and attribution

What the Dark Sounds Like is written by Aparna Kapur and illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi. It is published on Storyweaver.org.

To read

Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
Wild: An Elemental Journey by Jay Griffiths
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner

QOTD

What does the dark sound, look, and feel like to you?
Write to Srividya - podcast@myndstories.com. Visit www.myndstories.com. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

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What about joy makes us feel a tad worried about embracing it wholeheartedly?

Nightmares about bad luck and the evil eye hold us back from truly enjoying the good times, revelling in them so they leave a shining mark on our souls.

In his poem, Little Stones at My Window, Mario Benedetti writes a tender letter to joy, to its miraculous properties of creating well-being and delight, to its patient waiting at the window, throwing little stones to get our attention. Except, our attention is elsewhere- pursuing other things.

As the poet says, how about thinking,
“I'm convinced
joy doesn't need to throw any more little stones
I'm coming
I'm coming.”

Srividya Sivakumar brings this poem to life through her magical and compelling reading, accompanied by a short reflection on the poem.

Listen to it on The Poetic Pause, a podcast that explores the hidden life of poems, the joy they give us, the beauty they offer and the comfort they bestow.

Read the poem here: http://tinyurl.com/2p8z4598

Meet Srividya Sivakumar

Srividya Sivakumar is a critically acclaimed poet, TEDx speaker, teacher, and voiceover artist. She believes in using her voice to drive change, spark conversations, and encourage you to slow down.

QOTD

The poet uses ‘little stones at my window’ to describe joy. How would you describe joy?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Kindness moves the world. And so does gratitude.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the lasting effects of good deeds and how kindness and gentleness brings joy to everyone.

'Lulah, the Fish, and the Whale,’ is an unusual exploration of the power of gratitude and the magic of empathy all while having a whale of a time!

Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories, through shared experiences that teach us that we are not alone.

We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

Details of the episode

A small deed can have gigantic results.
Kindness is neither big nor small - it just is.
Everyone is capable of kindness- child, adult, creature.
There is nothing random about random acts of kindness.
Gratitude can bring a lot of happiness and unexpected beauty to life.

Meet the host

Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self-avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker, and voiceover artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle – one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm, and encourages you – to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

"Lulah, the Fish, and the Whale" is written by Jade Maitre, and illustrated by Anna Vilchynska. Jade is the founder of Storyberries.com, which offers free children's stories online, and enjoys more than 20 million reads a year. Jade’s first work of adult fiction was shortlisted for The Australian Vogel Literary Award 2011.

Jade previously worked as a lawyer, an editor for human rights publications at UNESCO, a communications consultant for NGOs, and as the Digital Media Editor for MTV Australia and New Zealand. She has also been published as a travel writer and a journalist.

Resources and attribution

Lulah, the Fish, and the Whale is written by Jade Maitre, illustrated by Anna Vilchynska and is published on Storyberries.

To read

My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrick Backman
Wonder by R J Palacio
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charles Mackesy
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

QOTD

Tell us about the kindest thing someone has ever done for you.

Write to Srividya - podcast@myndstories.com. Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice.

Visit www.myndstories.com. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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ADHD has challenges. But it also has its superpowers.

Join Ankit Narasimhan in this enlightening episode of The Therapy Room as we delve into the complex world of ADHD with Vaishnavi Madarkal, Psychologist, Life Coach and Trauma Therapist.

From dispelling misconceptions to exploring the nuanced manifestations of ADHD, Vaishnavi shares her views on the importance of early diagnosis, and the role of individualized approaches. She also explains the power of occupational therapy, the importance of parental guidance, and the role of societal awareness in fostering empathy for those navigating the challenges and strengths associated with ADHD.

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our hosts Smitha Murthy and Ankit Narasimhan talk to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

Quote from the conversation

"Healing yourself is so underrated because the impact is not just for yourself, it's for everyone around you and for generations to come."

We talk about

The need for sensitivity and understanding ADHD
The causes and manifestations of ADHD
Misdiagnosis and the importance of early diagnosis
Gender differences and challenges
The role of parents, self-work, and occupational therapy in healing
ADHD's superpowers and how to rise above its struggles

Vaishnavi's bio

Vaishnavi Madarkal is a Psychologist, Life Coach and Trauma Therapist who specializes in ADHD, personality disorders, and depression, anxiety and stress management. She has over 4 years of expertise in counseling and has facilitated various mental health workshops.

Vaishnavi seeks to empower individuals on their mental health and personal growth journey by integrating Indic Psychology with contemporary, evidence-based approaches like Scehma Therapy, IFS, CBT & DBT.

Connect with Vaishnavi

Resources

What is ADHD?
Causes and symptoms of ADHD
How parents can help a child with ADHD
How occupational therapy can be helpful
Are there benefits to ADHD?
ADHD misconceptions

Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey. Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by the struggles of everyday life? Do you feel the pressure of being a "good" person?

In Mary Oliver's poem ‘Wild Geese’ she urges us to focus on staying true to ourselves. In her gentle way, the poet says,

"You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.”

Instead, she suggests turning to the beauty of the natural world for inspiration and light.

Srividya Sivakumar brings this beauty to life through her magical and effective reading of Wild Geese, accompanied by a short reflection on the poem.

Listen to it on The Poetic Pause, a podcast that explores the hidden life of poems, the joy they give us, the beauty they offer and the comfort they bestow.

Read the poem here: http://tinyurl.com/4f577da8

Meet Srividya Sivakumar

Srividya Sivakumar is a critically acclaimed poet, TEDx speaker, teacher, and a Voiceover artist. She believes in using her voice as a vehicle to drive change, spark conversations, and encourage you to slow down.

QOTD

What are some of your favorite Mary Oliver poems?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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What are mental health conversations without the diversity of neurodivergence? Smitha Murthy talks to Akshay CM, who was diagnosed with C-PTSD and Autism last year. But Akshay is more than that. He tells us just how he leads life through all the invisible disabilities, finds joy in everyday conversations and interactions, and the power of manifestation.

It's not a conversation about neurodivergence, really. It's about life. About pain. A lot of fun. And a remarkable tree.

Quote from the conversation

"I believe a lot in being gentle. In being kind."

We talk about

Invisible disabilities
Life as a person with autism and being an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person)
A manifesting tree
Masking and its impact in neurodivergent individuals

Akshay's bio

Akshay is a DEI and talent management consultant who works to make workplaces more diverse and inclusive. He has a Master's degree in Sociology and a Master's in Communication and Media Studies.

Akshay is a mental health advocate and frequently talks about being neurodivergent on his LinkedIn profile.

Find Akshay on LinkedIn.

QOTD

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Swati Nair and Srividya Sivakumar dream about buttered popcorn and cold coffee as they talk about books and movies and the indelible connection between the two. Which is better? Books? Or movies? No matter which camp you pledge allegiance to, you’re sure to enjoy this episode.

Some of the movies will come as no surprise. The Godfather. Atonement. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Others might have you looking for the nearest library - The Tea Dragon series and Birds Art Life, for example.

It's all on the Mynd Readers, a podcast that explores mental health through literature, reading, and culture. This podcast is devoted to the magic of stories and how they transform us.

Details of the episode

How books and movies are connected.
What images take shape in a reader’s mind about characters.
What constitutes a comfort read.
Recommendations from listeners.

Resources

To read:

The Tea Dragon book series by Kay O'Neill
Birds Art Life: A Year of Observation by Kyo Maclear
The Middleman by Sankar
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

To read and to watch:

V or Vendetta by Alan Moore, and illustrated by David Lloyd
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Attribution

Dialogue from Atonement courtesy RomComs.
The Godfather theme music courtesy SeasonalMantis.
Dialogue from The Godfather courtesy Paramount Movies.

QOTD

What is your favourite book-to-movie adaptation? Tell us about it at podcast@myndstories.com.

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice.

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Do you think anger is a "bad" emotion? Is there a difference between emotions and feelings?
In this episode of The Therapy Room, we talk to Kanika Choudhary, Lead Clinical Psychologist at DocVita about examining our inner selves with curiosity and compassion.

Kanika shares some powerful guidelines on understanding emotions, and the underlying needs/stories they communicate. She gives us some suggestions on how to allow them space to transform from reactions to responses by being vulnerable and curious.

Listen to the full episode to get in-depth answers to how you can cope with anger, trauma, sadness, and other important emotions which we tend to avoid or not address.

About The Therapy Room

The Therapy Room is a segment where our host Smitha Murthy talks to mental health professionals for insights on life's challenges, which range from managing everyday stressors to chronic anxiety. Tune in as we explore topics around mental health issues, emotional wellbeing, and techniques to help you heal.

Quote from the conversation

"Anger is a vessel that's carrying something for you."

We talk about

How emotions give us information about the world and orient our actions
The difference between feelings and emotions
How anger can be helpful when channeled well
Different ways to process trauma
Practical tips on responding vs reacting, and managing "bad" emotions

Kanika's bio

Kanika Choudhary is a queer-affirmative, licensed clinical psychologist and psychotherapist with over 9 years of experience online and offline. She consults for families, couples, children, and young adults. She helps individuals with mood disorders, anxiety, stress, grief, anger, trauma, and others. Kanika is trained in third wave CBT, trauma management, and emotion-focused therapy.

Connect with Kanika

Website | LinkedIn

Our partner

This episode is made possible thanks to support from Docvita, a platform that aims to make mental health more open, supportive, and accessible through their services.

Resources

What is neurodiversity?
Anxiety and neurodivergence
Emotions vs feelings
How anger can be helpful
Negative emotions are key to wellbeing
Primary and secondary emotions
Emotional curiosity

Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com

Listen to more episodes on www.myndstories.com .
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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This was one of the most vulnerable conversations you can find. One where two people who really don't know each other all that spoke about the raw beauty of pain, the small glimmers of everyday gratitude, and the iridescent rays of hope.

Quote from the conversation

"Just tell people you love them"

We talk about

Why pain and vulnerability are both essential
Adopting practices to improve our mental well-being
Meditation
How to pull yourself out of dark places
What it is to find out that you are asexual

Garima's bio

Garima Behal is a Content Team Lead at Oslash and a columnist at MyndStories. She writes frequently on social media, tracing her life's journey through words that shimmer with poetry.

And fun fact: Garima has been writing since she was 9-years-old and is an ardent Harry Potter fan.

Find Garima on LinkedIn.

QOTD

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Srividya Sivakumar and Swati Nair dig deep into what makes works of literature iconic and unforgettable. Why novels like Rebecca and Wuthering Heights stand the test of time and how mental health is a strong, enduring theme.

Along the way they ask questions about the characterization of women characters in the novels, how mental health is depicted in books, and how atmosphere and language creates an unforgettable experience for the reader.

It's all on The Mynd Readers, a podcast that explores mental health through literature, reading, and culture. This podcast is devoted to the magic of stories and how they transform us.

Details of the episode

How books and stories are related to childhood memories.
Why some stories continue to endure.
The definition of a classic.
The characterization of mental conditions in the classics.

Resources

To read

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Collected Works of William Shakespeare
I Felt a Funeral in my Brain by Emily Dickinson
Hope is the Thing With Feathers by Emily Dickinson
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
1984 by George Orwell
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
Gora by Rabindranath Tagore
The Gift of a Cow (Godaan in Hindi) by Premchand

Other recommended reading

Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
The Railway Children by E Nesbit

QOTD

What classics do you go back to time and again? Tell us about it at podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice.

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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In this episode, Smitha talks with author Shreya Ramachandran about writing, books, and mental health. Well, that's a given. Shreya talks about how she managed anxiety from a young age and the process of writing a fictional book about a girl who lives with depression.

Shreya gives us simple ways to manage anxiety, including meditation, investigating our thoughts, and being curious about the thoughts themselves instead of accepting them as truth.

Quote from the conversation

"How to focus on yourself means, maybe, making difficult decisions for yourself, including asking for health-related help."

We talk about

Writing and journaling
Anxiety and meditation
Working with our thoughts
Choosing the right therapist
Why sleep is the best marker of happiness

Shreya's bio

Shreya Ramachandran is a writer based in Mumbai, and her debut young adult novel, 'The Worlds Within You,' was published by Penguin India in 2022. It was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar Award, 2023.

Find her book online on Amazon.

Authors that Shreya recommends:

Andaleeb Wajid
Urvashi Bahuguna
Gayathri Prabhu
Manjiri Indurkar

A book that Smitha recommends:

The Book of Angst: Understand and Manage Anxiety by Gwendoline Smith
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Find Smitha's book online.

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all: our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of courage in adversity, the sheer dint of self-will and the ability to look at a glass half-full, never half-empty. In his well-loved poem, Invictus, William Ernest Henley touches upon themes such as finding strength in times of loneliness, the importance of always being hopeful, and the acceptance of the realisation that we have the ability to control our own fate and destiny.

Details of the episode

• The importance of hope and holding on it, especially in difficult times.

• How suffering is often dwarfed by the surety that it is the spirit, not the suffering that is unconquerable.

• That triumph over adversity is not just a thought, but something we can all practise.

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Poet bio

Poet, critic and editor, William Ernest Henley has numerous collections of poetry including, A Book of Verses and Hawthorn and Lavender. His poetry contains themes of inner strength, and determination. Henley was the editor of the Scots Observer, and the Magazine of Art.

It is believed that William Ernest Henley is the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's character Long John Silver in Treasure Island.

His poem, Invictus,the one we are visiting today, is the piece he is most identified with.

Resources

To Read:

Wild: From Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed
The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
Bewildered by Laura Waters

To Listen:

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem
‘Girl on Fire’ by Alicia Keys

QOTD

How do you navigate the need for social interactions and the need to have solitude?

Write to Srividya - srividya@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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In this very first episode of our new podcast series, The Therapy Room, we talk to Sanchita Agrawal, a licensed Clinical Psychologist at DocVita for some answers. Very often, every day, we are all dealing with unresolved emotions, past experiences, and behaviors that act as triggers.

Sanchita shares insightful tips and outlines grounding and relaxation exercises to calm ourselves in difficult situations.

We talk about:

How to manage anxiety in everyday life
Understanding triggers and how to cope with them
What to do when you feel overwhelmed and panicky
How to perform a grounding exercise and what tools you can use
A breathing exercise that brings immediate relief when stressed

Sanchita's bio

Sanchita Agrawal is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience in both in-patient and outpatient departments in the government and private sectors. She practices cognitive behavior therapy, motivation enhancement therapy, behavior modification, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and her aim is to help individuals of various ages with emotional and behavioral difficulties such as depression, anxiety, OCD, schizophrenia, autism, ADHD, and others.

Connect with Sanchita

Website | LinkedIn

Our partner

This episode is made possible thanks to support from Docvita, a platform that aims to make mental health more open, supportive, and accessible through their services.

Resources

The difference between counselors and psychologists
Lack of mental health professionals in India
Tap into the 5-4-3-2-1 or Five Senses grounding/coping technique for anxiety
Manage anxiety with these 5 grounding techniques
A guided video demonstrating the five sense technique
Understanding triggers
Using mindfulness to improve your mental health
Finding calm with the 9 breaths purification technique
Core emotions in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
How to do paced breathing for relaxation
Building an emotional vocabulary
Ways to take time out and practise self-care

Write to us - podcast@myndstories.com or visit www.myndstories.com

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all: our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of the sheer power of solitude, the freedom that comes with choosing one’s own company, willingly and exuberantly. In her poem, To Want to Love, Shreya Ramachandran touches upon themes such as the the dichotomy of wanting company and wanting only one’s own company, the weight of love and wanting to love, and the revelation that love, when asked for, can find its way to the asker.

Details of the episode

That love can be a choice one makes, not something to fall into unconsciously.
The sometimes contradictory nature of wanting love and wanting to be alone.
How acceptance of self is the most important love there is.

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Shreya Ramachandran is a writer based in Mumbai, and her debut young adult novel, 'The Worlds Within You,' was published by Penguin India in 2022. It was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar Award, 2023.

Resources

To Read

Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong

To Listen

Maja Francis- Anxious Angel
Me, Myself and I – Beyoncé
Let It Be – The Beatles

QOTD

How do you navigate the need for social interactions and the need to have solitude?

Write to Srividya - srividya@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all; our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of drug addiction in a 15-year-old. It uses a first-person narrative in a story called Dancing with the Shadows by Bobby Menonn - to touch upon a range of themes such as the often innocuous start to addiction, the self-destructive nature of an addict, and the power of acceptance and love.

Details of the episode

How drug addiction starts in the life of a teenager.
The 'vicious-circle' quality of drugs and its hold on a person.
How love and acceptance can begin the process of healing.

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Dancing with the Shadows is written by Bobby Menonn. Bobby says that after a long hiatus with work, where he has done various things, he has arrived at a juncture where the experience has dissolved, the knowledge has evaporated and he is just a soul in search of his purpose.

Fear evaporates when there's no expectation. And so, he does the things that he feared to do 40 years ago. Cook. Garden. Write. Travel. Talk to complete strangers. Strike up friendships.

Bobby thrives in being here, today.

His narrative, Dancing with the Shadows, placed third in the Write Away contest organised by MyndStories.

Resources

To Read

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction - David Sheff
Scar Tissue - Anthony Kiedis & Larry Sloman
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts - Gabor Maté

To Listen:

Above the Clouds of Pompeii - Bear's Den
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
Better Man - Robbie Williams

QOTD

Do you have a story of courage and resilience to share?

Write to Srividya - srividya@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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What does it mean to be a life coach? What does it mean to be a parent? And how do you balance life around all the things you love?

Smitha has an interesting conversation about life, parenthood, life coaching and a lot more with Krusha Sahjwani Malkani an ICF certified life and career coach.

This was a long and truly joyful chat with lots of takeaways and much to learn from.

Quote from the conversation

"Being selfish is not selfish"

We talk about

What does a life coaching session entail
How life coaching is similar yet different from therapy and parenting
How coaching styles can matter
Why choosing self-care is important
How to achieve work-life balance as a mother

Krusha's bio

Krusha is an ICF Certified Career and Life Coach who helps women unlock their highest potential.

She is also a LinkedIn Top Voice, Published Author and the Director of Asia of a global SaaS Company (Sociabble) focused on employee advocacy, engagement and internal communication.

And her newest role that she cherishes most, is that of a mother.

Connect with Krusha

Butterfly Effect Coach | LinkedIn

QOTD

How do you incorporate self-care in your life?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all; our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of conforming to a norm, and the difficulty of being your own person. It uses a story- The Dance of Shadows by Sharath C George - to touch upon a range of themes such as the influence of teachers, the quiet strength of a child, the importance of the creative mind, the debate between science and arts, and what it means to be a person with a different point of view.

Details of the episode

The pressure we place on children.
There is no one way to look at anything.
The damaging effect of resignation in a child’s life.

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Sharath was diagnosed with ADHD at 35. Soon after, he quit his job, and found a new path as a freelance writer, marketing consultant and fledgling entrepreneur. His story, The Dance of the Shadows, placed second in the Write Away contest organised by MyndStories.

Resources

To Read:

A Book of Light: When a Loved One Has a Different Mind- Jerry Pinto
Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward M. Hallowell M.D. and John J. Ratey M.D.
Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different - Ben Brooks

To Listen:

My Way - Frank Sinatra
Dalla Dalla- ITZY
Elizabeth Taylor- Clare Maguire

QOTD

How do we encourage a person to be themself?

Write to Srividya - srividya@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Trigger Warning: Suicide, self-harm

In this story written specially for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, writer Smitha Murthy introduces us to Varsha, a young woman with a life-changing, life-saving mission. The story slowly traces a thread of a conversation, bringing it to an altogether unexpected ending. I Saw Her First explores dejection and disappointment, loss and loneliness. But it also makes an even more powerful case for compassion and empathy, for patient listening and a helping hand- one that is offered and extended, till it is taken.

Details of the episode

The corrosive pain of self-doubt.
How a listening ear makes all the difference.
How suicide is a worldwide phenomenon that needs urgent addressing.

Author bio

Smitha Murthy has spent over two decades working on and with content. She's the co-founder of two ventures: LifeWordsmith Content and MyndStories. Smitha is the co-author of an epistolary memoir and writes for leading newspapers and magazines, including Deccan Herald and Kitaab.

Resources

Books

Reasons to Stay Alive - Matt Haig
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression - Andrew Solomon
Hold Still - Nina LaCour
The Astonishing Colour of After- Emily X.R.Pan
Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher
The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion
A Tale for the Time Being - Ruth Ozeki
All the Bright Places - Jennifer Niven
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times - Pema Chödrön
Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair - Anne Lamott

To understand

http://www.aasra.info/helpline.html
https://myndstories.com/campaigns/suicide-prevention/
https://jedfoundation.org/resource/how-to-help-a-friend-who-is-suicidal/
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/mental-health/suicide-prevention-employers.pdf
https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/data-research/suicide-data

QOTD

How do you deal with hopelessness?

Write to Srividya - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit

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Trigger warning: This episode mentions suicide. Please find a list of helpline numbers here with the Suicide Prevention Helpline Directory (India).

In this new episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Shilpa Kulkarni, the founder of Shiv's Third Eye, a non-profit in the US dedicated to the cause of youth mental health.

Shilpa is an active mental health and LGBTIQ+ advocate. She tragically lost her son, Shiv, when he died by suicide at 14. This conversation is specially curated for World Suicide Prevention Day which falls on 10th September.

We did not want to go into great detail on how or why Shiv died. What we want to celebrate is that for 14 years, Shiv gave a lot of joy. We would like to celebrate life, even in loss.

Especially with loss.

Quote from the conversation

"Don't think that just because your child looks perfect, everything is fine and they don't need anything."

We talk about:

Building resilience
Why mental health should start young
Mental health advocacy
Parenting
Living with regrets

Shilpa's bio

Shilpa Kulkarni is the mother of two beautiful children, Shiv and Saanvi. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Vishwas, and their dog, Benji.

Connect with Shilpa:
LinkedIn

You can connect with the work that she is doing with Shiv's Third Eye here:

https://www.shivsthirdeye.org

Shiv's Third Eye is a non-profit foundation with the mission of "Building resilience and better mental health in adolescents and their surrounding communities through education, awareness, and sponsoring research for the diagnosis and treatment modalities of adolescent mental health."

You can also learn more about Shiv here:

The life and death of a 'perfect human'

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all; our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of using creativity to explore dreams. It uses a story - Saraswati Learns to Swim by Srividya Sivakumar - to touch upon a range of themes such as assertiveness, marching to your own drumbeat, and the undeniable power of the creative mind.

Details of the Episode

The almost constant need to live up to expectations.
The strength of a wish we hold close.
The ability of ingenuity to overcome an impossibility.

Author bio

Srividya Sivakumar is a teacher, poet, and TEDx speaker. You can find her books - The Heart is an Attic, and The Blue Note, online. She’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create.

Resources

To Read

Educated by Tara Westover

The Adivasi Will Not Dance - Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

To Listen

Livin' on a prayer - Bon Jovi

Nightswimming - R.E.M

QOTD

Would you tell us about a Saraswati you may know of?

Write to Srividya -podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all; our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of chasing your dreams, against all odds. It uses a story - The Salesman by Shikhil Vyas - to touch upon a range of themes such as the magic of conversation, the powerful desire for a better life, and the importance of kindness.

Details of the episode

Limited resources are no barrier to determination.
One can find inspiration from the smallest of things.
Language skills go well beyond the 'right' accent.

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Shikhil Vyas is a freelance writer who helps tech companies in the AI and SaaS space with their content marketing efforts. You can find more of his work at his online page, VyasSpeaks. The Salesman, our story today, placed first in the Write Away contest organized by MyndStories.

Resources

To Read

Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
The Checklist Manifesto - Atul Gawande

To Listen

Stand By Me - Ben E. King
You Gotta Be – Des 'ree
Get up Stand Up – Bob Marley
It’s My Life – Bon Jovi

QOTD

What aspect of a language matters the most to you- reading, writing or speaking?

Write to Srividya - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all; our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of unfamiliar settings. It uses a story - A Helping Hand by Payal Dhar and illustrated by Vartika Sharma - to touch upon a range of themes such as disability, acceptance, friendship, and invisible suffering.

Details of the episode

The daily struggles and triumphs of people with disabilities
The cathartic power of the simple act of writing
Acceptance and its accompanying freedom

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Payal Dhar is an author, writing fiction for middle-grade and young-adult readers. In her role as a journalist, she covers science and technology, and how that affects our world and our lives. She is widely published in the Business Standard, Washington Post, Guardian, and Outlook Traveller.

Vartika Sharma is an illustrator based in New Delhi.

Resources

To Read:

The current state of disability and availability of assistive devices in India - https://scroll.in/article/947084/for-thousands-of-indians-searching-for-smarter-cheaper-prosthetic-limbs-ai-may-be-the-answer
Ableism in Harper Lee's classic - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Christopher Boone's character challenges normalcy in Mark Haddon's contemporary classic - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

To Listen:

Rise Up - Andra Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwgr_IMeEgA
Beautiful- Christina Aguilera - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAfyFTzZDMM
Fu**ing Perfect- Pink - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocDlOD1Hw9k

QOTD

How can we make public spaces more inclusive? Write to Srividya - srividya@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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A free-ranging conversation this one, touching on life, parents, childhood, friendship, boundaries, and self-care. It's not often that two people can meet on a podcast, and walk away as friends. But that's what happened.

Quote from the conversation

"I get this comment saying that sometimes it's okay to let go and chill and enjoy and laugh. And why does every conversation have to be a life or death conversation? And I'm asking myself, if it's not a life or death conversation, what kind of a conversation is it?"

We talk about

Coping with our childhood
Solitude and loneliness
Intense friendships
Establishing boundaries

Shalini's bio

Shalini is the Founder and Director- Patented.Network at IP Crafters Advisory. She is also a Consultant at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Shalini frequently talks about IP protection, valuation, and commercialization, loves her books, and quiet time, and lives in Goa.

Connect with Shalini

Find Shalini on LinkedIn.

QOTD

What are your boundaries in life?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Hope is the thing with feathers is one of those poems that's immediately associated with the poet. It ranks up there for me with Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou, and Where The Mind Is Without Fear by Rabindranath Tagore.

Hope is a vibrant, quiet, ebullient presence in this piece.

Details of the episode

Things are often difficult but staying strong is important
How hope helps us embrace tough times
The healing power of hope - backed up by research
Hope and its universality

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson is one of the most prominent 19th century American poets. A lyric poet, her work is steeped in images from nature, music, religion. You'll also find serious themes like exploration of identity, death, love, and immortality.

Her body of work, close to 2000 poems, was published posthumously, to astounding success.

Resources

Read more about the connection between hope and mental health - https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/hope-and-mental-health/
Visit Emily Dickinson's museum - https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/
Like poetry? Here are more hopeful, 'lifesaving' poems - https://anthonywilsonpoetry.com/lifesavingpoemsblog/
A song that instantly uplifts you and shines with hope - https://open.spotify.com/track/15ffrEHBHIbXWJcsGx402o?si=xBQHgo2zRRCY7yd6900Q5A

QOTD

What is your preferred method of making hope a greater part of your life?

Write to Srividya - srividya@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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How can we make kindness the focus of our life?

Is it even worth it?

What's the difference between being kind and being taken for granted? Or people-pleasing? These were some of the questions that Nirmala Peters Mehendale answered. This was a joyful conversation that shows us that mental well-being is also this: being kind and taking care of ourselves and others as best as we can.

Quote from the conversation

"I find joy in giving. In people. You meet such genuine givers in this space"

We talk about

What it means to 'joyfully adapt'
How to adopt kindness in our lives
Being an introvert
Choosing self-care with kindness
5 ways to embrace kindness in your daily life
The kindness framework

Nirmala's bio

Nirmala Peters-Mehendale is the Co-Founder and Director of Mind Movers Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. A lifelong advocate of kindness, she is actively involved in the not-for-profit sector, and places kindness at the core of everything she does.

Connect with Nirmala

Find Nirmala on LinkedIn.

QOTD

How do you incorporate kindness in your life?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories, through shared experiences that teach us that we are not alone.

We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

In this intriguing titled ‘The One That Almost Went Away’, writer Smitha Murthy introduces us to Aarav, who seems to be poised on the crossroads, deep in thought during the rain. The story explains his dilemma and his decision. Along the way, we learn about the power of dreams and one of the ways in which we can make those dreams come true.

Details of the episode

Understanding pressures-familial, societal, emotional
Recognising the pull of passion
Exploring the importance of shaping a dream

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Smitha Murthy has spent over two decades working on and with content. She's the co-founder of two ventures: LifeWordsmith Content and MyndStories. Smitha is the co-author of an epistolary memoir and writes for leading newspapers and magazines, including Deccan Herald and Kitaab.

Resources

Handbook of Art Therapy by Cathy A. Malchiodi
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

QOTD

Tell us about your impossible dream and the shape you think it could take.

Write to Srividya - srividya@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

The Artist's Way: 25th Anniversary Edition

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None of us want to be weak and none of us want to be seen as weak. But that does not mean we suffer in silence, which a lot of men seem to be doing. There is a big difference between vulnerability and weakness and in this episode we dig deeper into this.

Why is depression so misunderstood? What does research tell us about how masculine depression differs from a typical representation of clinical depression? How do men's coping mechanisms differ from women? We explore this through the lens of Arjun Gupta - researcher on men’s mental health and someone who’s battled through severe clinical depression.

We discuss

What fueled Arjun’s purpose to spread awareness on men’s mental health.
Why is depression so misunderstood? Why is it viewed as a weakness?
The difference between vulnerability and weakness.
How masculine depression differs from typical representation of clinical depression.
Coping mechanisms of men vs women.
Emotional Intelligence and how we can learn to take steps towards it.
Arjun’s message to anyone battling through depression and self-harm ideations.

Arjun’s bio

Arjun Gupta is an Ex-MBBS student turned Psychologist and a researcher on men’s mental health. He has been open about his struggles with depression and self-harm ideations and strives to spread awareness about the same. He’s also building a startup called Mind Tuition to psychologically train students preparing for competitive exams.

He has been writing about mental health and psychology since 2017 and has written around 400 unique articles on his old blog titled "Knight of Steel". Currently, he writes a weekly newsletter that is read in 26 countries across the globe!

Connect with Arjun

Instagram | LinkedIn

QOTD

How have you learnt to be vulnerable? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Arjun's 'JOSH' talk
Arjun's weekly newsletter

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories, through shared experiences that teach us that we are not alone.

We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of depression through the eyes of a child. 'Who Stole Bhaiya's Smile' by Sanjana Kapur is a tender, gentle and innocent exploration of this heavy subject. Along the way, the story talks about the trauma of depression, ways to give support and be a listener, and seeking help.

Details of the episode

Depression can happen to anyone and at any time.
The stigma surrounding mental health continues to persist and needs to be addressed strongly.
The power of a determined sibling, friend, mother or other loved ones cannot be overstated.
Help is always available - your fight need not be your fight alone.

Meet the host
Srividya Sivakumar is a reader, a teacher, and a speaker. But what really occupies her mind are those strange things that come hardbound or within soft paperbacks or on a device. Books. Yes, she’s a self avowed bibliophile and a firm believer in the magic that 26 letters and a few punctuation marks can create. A critically acclaimed poet, TEDx Speaker and a Voiceover Artist, Srividya believes in using her voice as a vehicle - one that drives change, sparks conversations, inspires calm and encourages you - to slow down, one story at a time.

Author bio

Today's story is 'Who Stole Bhaiya's Smile.' It is written by Sanjana Kapur. She says that she deals in tall tales, lively anecdotes and big pictures. Sanjana has written a couple of picture books and comics for Amar Chitra Katha. She also co-authored Ruckus on the Road, her first full-length novel.

The story is illustrated by Sunaina Coelho.

Resources and attribution

Who Stole Bhaiya's Smile? (English), written by Sanjana Kapur, illustrated by Sunaina Coelho, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2019) under a CC BY 4.0 license, first released on StoryWeaver.
Soundtrack courtesy Juan Sanchez Music and Lexin Music
Suggested read - The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon, a memoir exploring the cultural, societal, personal, and scientific sides of depression

QOTD

Write in with some of the myths you’ve heard about depression. Let’s bust those misconceptions.

Write to Srividya - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Dear Mynd aims to create and encourage conversations around mental health. We do this through stories and that simple fact that connects us all; our human experiences. We are, after all, our stories. And our stories are us.

This maiden episode of Dear Mynd explores the theme of unfamiliar settings. It uses a children’s story - "The New Girl" by Srividhya Venkat - to touch upon a range of themes such as prejudice, isolation, friendship, support, and acceptance.

Details of the episode

Rejection can be instantaneous. So can acceptance.
The simplicity of a child’s perspective and how an adult can learn from it.
Friendship comes in all shapes and forms- sometimes, a classmate, other times, a teacher.
The ability to trust yourself and who you are is paramount in all situations.

Author bio

"The New Girl" is written by Chicago-based children’s writer, Srividhya Venkat. Her first-ever story was illustrated and hand-printed by her brother when she was 8 years old. She was born and raised in India and has spent many years in the US and Singapore. Srividhya is also a performance storyteller and former early childhood educator.

Resources and attribution

The New Girl (English), written by Srividhya Venkat, illustrated by Sayan Mukherjee , published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2016) under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Soundtrack by Muantea
Srividhya Venkat's website

QOTDHow can we help children embrace diversity? Write to Srividya - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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What is it to choose to live alone? As an Indian woman?

In this episode of the MyndStories Minis, we have the author of 'Table For One: A Solo Living Manual For The Curious Indian Woman,' Sumaa Tekur give us those answers.

Find out why Sumaa wrote this book, the journey she undertook through its writing, and why she considers herself quite rare:

"An Indian woman living alone in India is rare.

An Indian woman living alone in India by choice is rarer.

An Indian woman living alone in India by choice when her parents live in the same city is rarest."

Quote from the conversation

"In India, we actually don't really know how to deal with living alone. We see it as a sad, depressing thing. And I wanted to, through this book, break that myth that it's actually a beautiful experience if you're willing to work on yourself, and you can actually be enriched by this whole experience of living alone."

We talk about

Having choices in life
How living alone comes with challenges and benefits

Sumaa's bio

Sumaa is an experienced editor with a history of working in the editing and writing industry. She holds two master’s degrees in journalism and was awarded the Commonwealth Press Union Fellowship in 2005. Sumaa lives in Bangalore with her books, paints and canvases, lamps, and drums. She's the author of 'Table For One' and 'Inner Light.'

You can find Table for One here on Amazon and in all other leading stores online, as well as in bookshops anywhere in India.

Connect with Sumaa

Find Sumaa on LinkedIn and Instagram.

QOTD

Given a choice, would you prefer to live alone?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

This is a MyndStories production. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this new episode of the MyndStories Minis, we have something different. Something unusual.

For this episode, we decided to ask our listeners and readers to be the hosts. To ask Shantesh Row and Srividya Sivakumar the questions we didn't think of asking before.
Neither knew the questions beforehand, so the answers were spontaneous and the conversation free-flowing. We talk about melancholy, our host Smitha Murthy's favorite topic! We also talk about the impact of trolling on our mental well-being, the pressures of family, and the simple joys of writing.

Quotes from the conversation"I've realized that the best way for me to deal with melancholy is to hold melancholy up to the light and to see it for what it is." - Srividya Sivakumar

"Chaos is overrated. Chaos is just normal life at the end of the day." - Shantesh Row

We talk about

How we can learn to cope with stress from Virender Sehwag
Writing in all its glorious ways
Why it's okay to be lost
Dealing with self-doubt and imposter syndrome
The feeling of not being worthy enough
Finding the good in the bad

Shantesh's bio
Shantesh is the Chief Creative Officer at Slant Advertising, an ad agency he co-founded in Dubai. He describes himself on LinkedIn as a: Storyteller. Quizzer. Once upon a time, opening batsman and offspinner. Tried to be a Chartered Accountant. Knowledge seeker. Trivia miner. Single Malt connoisseur. Horror film maven. Interpreter of maladies. Wannabe chef. Facebook avoider. Twitter hater. Opinion junkie. Pink Floyd lover. Intense mood-swinger. Novel-in-the-making-for-ages writer. Bathroom crooner. Sit down comedian. Voyeur of life.

Born in Mumbai, Shantesh is based in Dubai and has an affinity for LinkedIn influencers, cows, consistency, and copies, in no particular order. The link to his top-rated copywriting workshop is below.

Srividya's bio

Srividya Sivakumar is the critically acclaimed author of two poetry collections - 'The Blue Note' and 'The Heart is an Attic.'

You can find her book 'The Heart is an Attic 'on Amazon. You can also listen to her fantastic TedX Talk: Breaking Barriers One Word at a Time on YouTube.

Connect with ShanteshLinkedIn | Topmate Connect with Srividya
LinkedIn | TedX Talk

QOTD
Tell us why you would want to be featured on the MyndStories Minis! Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Fame can be a double edged sword. People look up to you and you have a voice to make a difference. On the flip side, you are also opening yourself up to people’s judgements and criticisms.

How do you navigate through these things while staying true to yourself and be vulnerable? We explore this with Samyukta Hornad, who opens up about her life and acting journey.

We discuss

How to be aware of and manage people’s perceptions vs. being herself.
An incident back in college that changed her life and sparked her acting career.
Forgiveness and closure.
Finding her own sense of identity in the middle of juggling multiple identities on screen.
How and what made her get involved in animal welfare.
Finding romance.
Her biggest lessons for emotional well-being.

Samyukta’s bio

Samyukta Hornad is an Indian actress who appears primarily in Kannada films. Her debut movie was Lifeu Ishtene directed by Pawan Kumar, which was a big commercial success. She is also known for her roles in Barfi (2011), Un Samayal Arayil (2014), and Oggarane (2014).

Apart from acting, she is an animal lover and founded the Praana Animal Foundation - a 24/7 dedicated ambulance service and helpline to tend to animals that are hurt or need immediate attention.

Connect with Samyukta

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

QOTD

What insight did you gain from this episode? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Praana Animal Foundation
Samyukta's Wikipedia

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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The relationships we have with the people close to us are like our anchors. They infuse our life with richness and it’s important that we nurture them. However, it's also important to remember that we have a relationship with ourselves too that sets the foundation for our interactions with others.

Do we know who we truly are? How do we stay in resonance with that and show up as our authentic selves? What is the cost associated with authenticity? I explore these questions and more in this candid, vulnerable chat with Zain Calcuttawala.

We discuss

Zain’s battle with depression which led to him starting India’s first mental health podcast.
The relationship he had with himself when he was at rock bottom.
How to navigate the pull to be accepted while not losing your authenticity.
What is the cost for authenticity and why is it worth it?
Learning to realize that it’s a journey of You vs You.
Dealing with judgement and the need for external validation.
3 things Zain has learnt from his journey.

Zain’s bio

Zain Calcuttawala is a mental health activist, music producer, sound engineer, and a former artist manager. He is the founder of India’s first Mental Health awareness podcast Marbles Lost & Found to address mental health, depression, and anxiety.

Connect with Zain

LinkedIn | Instagram

QOTD

How has your journey towards finding your authentic self been? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources
Marbles Lost & FoundEnjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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TW: This episode mentions suicide. Please find a list of helpline numbers here with the Suicide Prevention Helpline Directory (India).

In this new episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Geetha Balagopal, Senior Program Manager at ASQExcellence.

In 2022, Geetha wrote a moving LinkedIn post, which went viral. That post was about her daughter, Priya Balagopal, who died by suicide. "I would like Priya to be remembered for how she lived and not how she died," she wrote.

This conversation is not just a remembrance of how Priya lived but also a gentle invitation for all of us to question how we are living. Are we living lives of joy and purpose? These aren't easy questions, but in asking those questions, we know that the answers will come.

Quote from the conversation

"I always see the good in people."

We talk about

Consciously looking for the good in people.
How nature can heal.
The power of grief and the enduring power of joy.
Resilience.
Being kind. Despite everything.

Geetha's bio

Geetha Balagopal is the mother of two lovely daughters. She lives with her husband in North Carolina, US.

Born in India, Geetha is a passionate advocate mental health advocate, following her daughter Priya's own advocacy. She believes in living a life of kindness and is determined to contribute all she can to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

Connect with Geetha
LinkedIn

If you would like to contribute to the Priya Balagopal Fund, please click on the link here.

QOTD

What is your way to find joy in life?

Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Meditation. Breathwork. Mindfulness. These are spoken about so often, to a point where it has become cliched. But it is cliched for a reason that needs to be unpacked. Why is it spoken of so much? Why does it lead to an enhanced emotional well being? What is the science behind this? We dive deep into all of these questions and understand how powerful mindfulness based tools really are.

We discuss

Geetika’s journey
What leading a mindful life entails
The science behind mindfulness
Why it is so hard to practice mindfulness consistently
How mindfulness can help reduce the need for constant stimulation or instant gratification
What is mindfulness based cognitive therapy?
The work Geetika is doing with her foundation

Geetika's bio
Geetika Arora is the first certified Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for life coach in India from the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation, University of Oxford and holds a Masters in Education from the University of Bristol, UK. With over 20 years of wellness experience in the global corporate world, Geetika is a workplace health and well-being leader and is currently working with Accenture. She is a thought leader and an eminent voice in the space of corporate well-being and has facilitated Mindfulness programs for clients in the UK, US and APAC region.

Connect with Geetika
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/geetika-arora-bhojak-9240bb2b/

QOTD
How has mindfulness impacted your life? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Mindfulness Foundation
Neuroplasticity

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this new episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Srividya Sivakumar, a writer, TedX speaker, teacher, and lover of words.

They could have probably spent all of this conversation talking about books and the magic of reading. But hang in there because that's not all they talk about.

Conversations become connections when two strangers connect with the vulnerability of old, wrinkled friendships. That's what happens here. A conversation. Make it yours.

Quote from the conversation

"Don't wait for a particular moment to celebrate life."

We discuss

What it means to fall in love with words
That D word called Depression
How to find forgiveness
On how writing can be cathartic
On keeping a sense of joy, despite everything

Srividya's bio

Srividya Sivakumar is the critically acclaimed author of two poetry collections - 'The Blue Note' and 'The Heart is an Attic.'

You can find her book 'The Heart is an Attic 'on Amazon. You can also listen to her fantastic TedX Talk: Breaking Barriers One Word at a Time on YouTube.

When we asked Srividya for a bio, she sent us this beautiful passage, and we felt that is way better than anything we could come up with.

Bioluminescence

Whimsical. Vantablack. Dark energy. The axiom of equality. Flame-of-Burnt-Brandy. Groaning lantana shelf. Kasuti. Feldgrau. Absolute zero. Drunk-Tank Pink. Ceramic dreams. Kolam. Five thesis drafts. Two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl. Snape. Guitar finger calluses. Love amongst the pepper sacks. Trier. Saltwater in the blood. Bed of roses. The allure of unavailability. Kalamkari. Flying over the cuckoo's nest. Atticus Finch. Ajrakh. Military colors. Bol Hu. Tube down the nose. Interrogation. Scent of warm clean mud. Long distance. A purring cat. Chalkdust cough. Khaki and medals. Stone floors. Untranslated cinema. Coquelicot. Bow lips. Home in a hug. Poet.

Who I am.

For now.

Connect with Srividya
LinkedIn | TedX Talk

QOTD

What's your idea of happiness? Write to us to be part of the conversation to make mental health cool - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

This is a MyndStories product. MyndStories is part of Metta Media Pvt. Ltd.

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Ever been in a phase where you’re feeling lonely but don’t really know how to talk about it? Fear of external judgement or the fear of having your experience trivialized can sometimes be crippling. Vulnerability when it comes to loneliness is hard and we need to talk more about it. If you’re looking for a relatable space and an insightful conversation about how loneliness can be navigated, this episode is for you.

We discuss

Understanding the difference between being alone vs being lonely.
Does loneliness boil down to a relationship one has with one’s self?
What is the core component to nurturing quality relationships?
Leaning into authenticity by addressing the pull to fit in among the crowd.
How loneliness can show up in the form of escapism.
When is it okay to seek attention and when should it be checked in order to derive validation internally?
How do you see signs that someone is feeling lonely and how do you offer support?

Kamna’s bio

Kamna Chhibber is an M. Phil in Clinical Psychology and heads Psychological Services for the Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences at Fortis Healthcare. She is the co-author of the book ‘Alone in the Crowd’ which talks about urban loneliness. She works in the domain of relationships, trauma, abuse, and impact of personality related variables on mental health. She is also involved in developing training programs, working in the area of school mental health, corporate mental health, community outreach programs, in a bid to make mental health a priority for all.

Connect with KamnaLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamna-chhibber-15a18b31/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Kamna-Chhibber/100063634404966/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/kamna_chhibber
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/believe_kc/

QOTD

Have you had a phase when you felt lonely and isolated? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories/

Resources

Kamna's book on urban loneliness
*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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We kickstart Season 2 of The MyndStories Podcast with a bang!

In this fresh episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Shantesh Row, copywriter, and CCO.

Shantesh is not your typical writer. Are there typical writers? But we digress.

Shantesh has spent over 25 years in ad agencies, crafting copy that creates brands. In this conversation, you may not get copywriting tips, a la LinkedIn, but you will get insights on coping with stress, a little bit on finding the joy in everyday, and a lot of fun.

Quote from the conversation

"I am a very positive person. Even in the most negative circumstances, even if I am going through absolute crap, I smile."

We discuss

What it means to be a writer
Dealing with the darkness
Finding life's balance between the past and the present
How to be a child again
What to read on LinkedIn (intellectually and banally)

Shantesh's bioShantesh Row is the Chief Creative Officer at Slant Advertising, an ad agency he co-founded in Dubai. He describes himself on LinkedIn as a: Storyteller. Quizzer. Once upon a time opening batsman and offspinner. Tried to be a Chartered Accountant. Knowledge seeker. Trivia miner. Single Malt connoisseur. Horror film maven. Interpreter of maladies. Wannabe chef. Facebook avoider. Twitter hater. Opinion junkie. Pink Floyd lover. Intense mood-swinger. Novel-in-the-making-for-ages writer. Bathroom crooner. Sit down comedian. Voyeur of life.

We think his description is way better than anything we could come up with.

Born in Mumbai, Shantesh is based in Dubai and has an affinity for LinkedIn influencers, cows, consistency, and copies, in no particular order. The link to his top-rated copywriting workshop is below.

No LinkedIn personal branding experts and influencers were harmed during the making of this show.

Connect with ShanteshLinkedIn | Topmate

QOTD

What's your favorite tip from Shantesh? Write in with your wittiest answers and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Entrepreneurship is a journey. It’s inspirational. Glamorous. But it’s also exhausting. Demanding. It’s bittersweet.

Vaibhav Tewari is the Co-Founder and CEO of Portea Medical, one of Asia’s fastest growing in-home healthcare providers. Here, he talks about his personal entrepreneurship journey, the mental pillars he’s leaned on to get him through challenging times, and how he’s learnt to prioritize mental health while building businesses and reaching for the stars.

We discuss

One distinct quality that has got Vaibhav to where he is today.
What drew him towards entrepreneurship.
Mental pillars he’s leaned on when things were not going according to his vision.
A deep dive into how he derives meaning and purpose behind what he does professionally.
How people can find their passion and joy even if it means letting go of job security.
The shift in how he saw life after the demise of his parents.
3 things he’s learnt about himself through his entrepreneurship journey

Vaibhav's bio

Vaibhav Tewari is an entrepreneur who’s had experience in building multiple businesses of different verticals from the ground up. A strong entrepreneurial approach mixed with strong focus on people is what he prides himself on. He’s actively involved in Coaching and Mentoring Entrepreneurs and senior executives and also serves as a Board of Director, Adviser and Mentor for many fast growing companies across Internet, Retail Consumer and Technology verticals.

Connect with Vaibhav

QOTD

What have you learnt from your entrepreneurship journey? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and on LinkedIn

Resources Links

Portea Medical

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Anukrti Upadhyay, writer and author.

Listen as Smitha and Anukrti talk about the process of writing, the meaning of life, the difference a cup of coffee can make, and how hope can often transform our lives.

This is a deep insight into an award-winning author’s approach to life, her thoughts, and the ways in which writing shapes our world.

Quote from the conversationReach out to others because they are your only hope.

We discuss

What it means to be a writer
How to pitch to publishers (Hint: It’s quite corporate-style)
The journey of a writer, inspirations, and encouragement
The meaning of life, words, books, and writing
Coping with loneliness and striving for connections in a fractured life
How to hold on to hope in our darkest moments

Anukrti's bio
Anukrti Upadhyay is the winner of the 2021 Sushila Devi Prize for Fiction for her novel ‘Kintsugi.’ The author is a former lawyer who also authored other books such as the brilliant ‘Bhaunri’ and ‘Daura’ in English in 2019, the Hindi works Japani Sarai (2019), and Neena Aunty (2021). She also frequently writes for literary magazines such as The Bangalore Review and The Bombay Review.

Anukrti is based in Mumbai and has an affinity for cats, chameleons, coffee, and birds, in no particular order.

Connect with Anukrti
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/anukrti_u/?hl=en
QOTD
What’s your tip for writing? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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**In this episode of The MyndStories Podcast, Ankit Narasimhan talks to Karthik Raghavendran, who is the Co-Founder and CEO of a neurotechnology startup called Neurostellar. The episode talks about Neurostellar’s vision of using brain-computer interfaces to track and improve individual well-being and the role of technology in the field of mental health.

We discuss:**

The problems in the mental health space that Neurostellar is trying to solve.
Karthik’s inspiration behind starting Neurostellar.
Limitations in the existing therapy modalities for which Neurostellar’s technology can help.
How he deals with the hesitancy of people buying into the effectiveness of the technology.
His advice to anyone who wants to embark on their own entrepreneurship journey.
Current scenario of mental health tech startups in India.
Neurostellar’s vision over the next few years.

Karthik's bio:
Karthik Raghavendran is passionate about neurotechnology and brain-computer interfaces. He believes Neurostellar’s technology can craft the future of individual well-being and mental health. He is also the co-founder and chapter lead of NeuroTechX India, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to facilitate the advancement of neurotechnology by providing key resources and learning opportunities.

Connect with Karthik - LinkedIn

How do you think technology can contribute to mental health? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources:

Neurostellar

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and on LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to a close friend, Teena Gomes, Director, APJ HR Services at VMware.

Listen as Smitha and Teena alternate between bantering and serious conversations about everything from gardening to friendships to managing stress. What’s your takeaway?

Hear Teena’s secrets behind how she nurtures long-term, successful relationships in her life.

Quote from the conversationIt’s very important to cultivate friendships, to nurture friendships but you can’t force friendships…they have to be organic after a point in time.

We discuss
1. What makes relationships work

How to build and maintain long-lasting friendships
What gardening means to Teena and how she derives joy from it
What Teena follows to destress and bring more calm into her life

Teena's bio
Teena Gomes works with VMWare as Director, APJ HR Services. She has earlier worked with Dell, LeadFormix, and IBM in various roles. Teena loves gardening, traveling, reading, craftwork, and spending time with her friends and family.

Connect with Teena
LI | YouTube | Instagram

QOTD
What’s your tip for successful relationships? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode of The MyndStories Podcast, Ankit Narasimhan talks to Prachi S Vaish, who has had almost 17 years of experience specializing in couples therapy, relationships, and intimacy. We talk about how we can be more self aware in our relationships and how we can build healthy habits to create long-lasting relationships.

We discuss

How to navigate through the fear of not finding love in your life.
What is mindful dating?
Understanding the concept of core values.
How to handle our own healing journey while being in a relationship.
Three pillars for handling conflict and friction.
How do we walk the thin line between healthy compromises and losing yourself.
Prachi’s greatest learning from all her years of studying relationships.

Prachi's bio

Prachi S Vaish is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist. She is the founder of the Emotional Wellness Initiatives which is an online psychological and emotional wellbeing services platform. In her work in the field of mental health she has appeared as an expert on several platforms including magazines like Femina, Better Homes and Gardens and Child, and websites like Twinkle Khanna's Tweakindia.com

Connect with Prachi

QOTD

What was your takeaway from this episode? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources

Emotional Wellness Initiatives

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and on LinkedIn

Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.*

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In this episode of The MyndStories Podcast, Ankit Narasimhan talks to Aanya Wadhwani, a queer-affirmative therapist and someone who identifies as a queer individual herself, about her experience as a therapist and the challenges that she’s been through in her own journey.

We discuss

Defining the term 'queer'.
Digging deep into where the rigidity in thinking stems from when it comes to the acceptance of the queer community.
How to do the work to fully embrace who you are when you don’t align with the mainstream.
How she has handled challenges that have come in her own journey identifying as a queer individual.
How the process of coming out is not a one-time event or a linear journey.
Understanding what queer-affirmative therapy is.

Aanya's bio

Aanya Wadhwani is a queer-affirmative and a trauma-informed therapist. She has a private practice based in Mumbai where she provides psychotherapy, teaching, training, and career guidance sessions.

Connect with Aanya

Email | LinkedIn

QOTD

Do you identify as a queer individual? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources:

Understanding LGBTQ Affirmative Therapy

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and on LinkedIn

Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.*

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Every now and then, we get emails and stories that touch us. Our founder, Smitha, often receives emails on her personal account. As she admits, she doesn’t always get to reply to all of them. But a chance exchange and a question, “how do I find the beauty in life?” prompted her to think about what really shows up in her life every day.

Here, Smitha talks about small things she follows that give her joy, and allows us to escape for a little while the clouds that can sometimes obscure our sky.

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Find us on

Instagram: @wearemyndstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories

*Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Chaithra MJ, a software developer-turned-writer.

This is a wholesome episode filled with wisdom as Chaithra and Smitha have a freewheeling conversation about many life-changing topics, including managing anxiety, the illusion of control, and how to be more accepting.

"You look around, people are happy and smiling, and I wonder if I ever get to do that. And I also know the answer is I stop myself from doing that."

We discuss
1. What helps Chaithra manage her over-thinking tendencies

Different ways to let go and not chase control
What Chaithra does to accept oneself and manage self-criticism
Chaithra’s tips on finding happiness and practicing kindness, and making room for life in your heart

Chaithra's bio
Chaithra worked in the software industry for almost 5 years before leaving it all to become a freelance writer in the middle of the pandemic in 2020.

Connect with Chaithra
LI

QOTD
What’s the biggest takeaway from this episode for you? Write in and tell us - podcast@myndstories.com

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram and LinkedIn

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode, Smitha shares a grounding technique that her therapist first taught her - a technique she was skeptical about but which she increasingly found works.

Here, Smitha describes her favorite grounding techniques:

5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique
The physiological sigh

And some more.

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Find us on

Instagram: @wearemyndstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories

*Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Oubaitori is a Japanese word or idiom that conveys the art of never comparing yourself. Too often, scrolling on social media can leave us feeling frustrated and that nagging feeling of never being 'enough.'

Enter oubaitori. This one word helped Smitha to stop that spiral and honor herself. The idea is that the four trees that flower in the spring in Japan: apricot, cherry, peach, and plum - are each unique in their own ways.

Similarly, each individual is unique with different perspectives and mindsets and follows different paths in life. The concept encourages you to embrace your individuality and refrain from comparison.

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Find us on

Instagram: @wearemyndstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories

*Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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We are all connected in mysterious ways, and our actions have more far-ranging consequences than you can ever imagine.

In this episode, Smitha shares a deeply personal experience from her own life - how a chance meeting with a German Buddhist in China led to a lifelong belief in hope, faith, and well…light.

There are no fancy tips here. But listen in because we all need words to lift us up and to make us feel less alone.

And there’s a special surprise right at the end! Stay tuned to the end to find out what that may be!

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Find us on

Instagram: @wearemyndstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories

*Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode of The MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Sameer Somal, an entrepreneur and founder of Girl Power Talk, about nurturing young leaders, girl empowerment, pursuing the things that bring you happiness, and how to have a purposeful life.

We discuss:

The different factors that drive true happiness.
How to find the courage to find the things that give you purpose.
Sameer’s journey in discovering how happiness and work are not always related.
Understanding how happiness is the precursor to success and not necessarily the other way around.
How to transform your present by rewriting your failures
Sameer’s 3 key secrets to happiness

Sameer's bio

Sameer Somal, is the CEO of Blue Ocean Global Technology and co-founder of Girl Power Talk. He is also a keynote speaker who is a passionate advocate of transformation - both digital and human. Sameer is a firm supporter of diversity and inclusion. He is strongly committed to education, empowerment, gender equality and nurturing the potential of young minds.

Connect with Sameer

Instagram | LinkedIn

QOTD

What drives happiness for you? Write in and tell us your story - podcast@myndstories.com

Resources links

Girl Power Talk
Sameer’s website

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice. Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Find us on Instagram

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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What's the first thing you do as soon as you wake up in the morning?

Check your messages? Scroll through your emails?

We all do.

In this episode of The MyndStories Moments, Smitha talks about how to best utilize the first two hours of your workday, which are also the most productive.

Regardless of whether you are an early morning person or a night owl the first two hours when you begin working is the most critical part of your day. This is when your mind is at its freshest and you have the rest of your day ahead of you.

Begin your workday with a 90-minute work session. According to the Huberman Lab podcast, where Smitha heard of this method first, our brains are optimally wired to function at peak performance for 90 minutes before we need a break.

Here’s what Smitha suggests you do to optimize those 90 minutes:

Decide on what gives you the most value (like generating leads or revenue) and work towards achieving that.
Don’t check your emails or messages
Turn off notifications
Put on ambient music without lyrics, if you like
At the end of 90 minutes give yourself a 10-15 minute rest with minimal sensory stimulation

Smitha found that following this method helped her gain greater focus, make faster progress, and get closer to her goals.

Check out the Huberman Lab podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXvDEmo6uS4

And

The Pomodoro technique - https://francescocirillo.com/pages/pomodoro-technique

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Find us on

Instagram: @wearemyndstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories

*Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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What do you do when life can seem a tad overwhelming? Smitha discovered a newsletter from Marc & Angel that popped into her inbox at just the right time.

That newsletter offered little things to do when life takes over with its relentless parade.

Those five things are:

Give yourself a break. (There's more than just taking the day off, so listen to the episode for more!)
Breathe and observe your thoughts. Follow your heart.
Set boundaries on your time.
Steady yourself with simple rituals
Don't allow the bad mood to spiral.

If you want to know more about Marc and Angel, check out their website here:

https://www.marcandangel.com/

We promise you they offer some pretty useful stuff. And no, they didn't pay us to say so!

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Follow us on:

Instagram: @wearemyndstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/myndstories

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"How are you?"

"I am busy; how about you?"

That seems to be the standard response to a question these days. Why are we filling our lives with so much busyness? In today's world, busy is a badge of honor, one that we wear frequently.

But being busy can often be an attempt not to face uncomfortable truths. We strive to be busy so that we don't look at the loneliness in our lives. Or to just escape something or the other.

And when we are really busy, we find that we are also pretty stressed. That's what Smitha found too. So, how does one make our lives appear less busy without making drastic changes in our life.

That's just what Smitha shares in this episode.

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Are you on your healing journey? Just like us, you also may be looking for ways to make that journey a bit easier.

In this episode, Smitha shares how her life changed for good…when she focused and prioritized sleep.

Sleep?

Yes. Sleep. The most precious vitamin you can think of, apart from the regular ones.

Find out in this episode how to get good sleep, why it even matters, and two simple breathing techniques to help calm that racing mind at night.

One of the first techniques is the 4-7-8 breathing technique. You can read more about that here:

Healthline

Another way to help you fall asleep faster is the Box Breathing Method. Use this great resource from WebMd:

Box Breathing: Getting Started with Box Breathing, How to Do It, Benefits and Tips

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Follow us on Instagram: @wearemyndstories

Disclaimer: Smitha Murthy is not a therapist or mental health professional. The content here is not a substitute for therapy or mental health support from a qualified professional.

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We all want to be happy. But the thing is, happiness can be elusive. And many of us don’t even know what it is to be truly happy. We have this impression that to be happy means to have no suffering.

But joy and happiness don’t exist in a vacuum. Happiness is knowing that we are all going to face many stressors in life but that we can cope, manage, and find the resilience to deal with those stressors.

In this episode, Smitha Murthy talks about what a frustrating time she has been having (aren’t we all!), but how one small exercise can shift that focus from overwhelming negativity to acknowledging the good as well.

That exercise is 'The Three Good Things', created by Martin Seligman. This is also known as the What-Went-Well exercise.

It’s a very simple journaling exercise to do at the end of the day and helps us to shed our negative bias in viewing the events of the day. It prompts us to stop focusing on the bad and cultivate gratitude and happiness. This is a well-known positive psychology intervention, and studies show that you can expect a shift in your mood levels in a week.

To find out more about the Three Good Things, you can check out these links:

The Happy Project

Small Wins Innovation

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

Follow us on Instagram: @wearemyndstories

Disclaimer: Smitha Murthy is not a therapist or mental health professional. The content here is not a substitute for therapy or mental health support from a qualified professional.

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In the latest episode of The MyndStories Podcast, we talk to Robert Brace, a personal trainer and a celebrity wellness expert, about how fitness is tied to mental transformation and emotional wellbeing.

We discuss:

How Robert bounced back from a career threatening back injury.
How transforming our body can help in transforming ourselves mentally.
Robert’s holistic approach to training which includes the mind and the body.
How to prepare ourselves to embrace discomfort and push ourselves out of our comfort zone.
Digging deeper into the concept of self love.
How Robert wants to make an impact moving forward.

Robert Brace is a personal trainer, celebrity wellness expert, and founder of the Brace Life Studios located in New York, where he works on mind-body transformation. He was selected by Verywell.com as one of the top one hundred voices in wellness and is known for his holistic approaches to training which infuses ‘inner work’ with physical workouts. Check out Brace Life Studios here.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode, Smitha Murthy talks about how she discovered the ancient Tibetan 9 Breaths Purification practice.

Breathwork can be a very powerful tool in dealing with our stressors and anxiety. Having worked her way through every day meditation with Vipassana, Smitha was wondering how to supplement an existing meditation practice with a simple breathing exercise to do anytime.

The answer was: The 9 Breaths

There are many variations of this, including some from the yogic tradition of Pranayama. The one that Smitha talks about here comes from Tibetan Buddhism, though.

The 9 Breaths takes less than a minute and involves some degree of visualization. It might be a bit confusing at first, but stick to it, and it feels like you are using healing light and breath to cleanse the toxins of the past, the anxieties of the future, and the stressors of the present. This is a wonderful way to start or end the day.

You can check out many versions of the Tibetan technique, but Smitha found that this was particularly useful and clear.

This is an excerpt from a book by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and you can bookmark and save this link to try it out: Nine Purification Breaths (eternityofspirit.com)

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha. We are here. You are not alone.

Follow us on Instagram: @wearemyndstories

Disclaimer: Smitha Murthy is not a therapist or mental health professional. The content here is not a substitute for therapy or mental health support from a qualified professional.

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Who are toxic people? And how do you identify them? What do you do with them?

Difficult questions, and not that Smitha knows the answers, but in this episode, she shares how she went from decluttering emails to also decluttering people.

The process wasn't easy. It wasn't comfortable. But it made her happier.

When we know and cherish the people we want in our life, we open ourselves up more. We allow our hearts to heal. We also tell our heart that we deserve that joy that comes from being with compassionate people.

If you like this episode, and would like to receive a special newsletter curated by Smitha, please do sign-up on the MyndStories website: www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com. We are here. You are not alone.

Disclaimer: Smitha Murthy is not a therapist or mental health professional. The content here is not a substitute for therapy or mental health support from a qualified professional.

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In this episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Patrick Pitchappa, the genial Director of Information Security and Risk at the Alshaya Group, and a keen runner. Patrick grew up in a small town in Tamil Nadu, and his journey from there to his current position is nothing short of incredible.

Over these years, Patrick has gained not just experience, but many life lessons, many of which he willingly shares through his life story. We talk about

What you do when you are rejected in your first interview.
What gives meaning to life.
How Patrick brings balance to his life.

We also discuss:

How Patrick navigated life as a small-town boy
How Patrick goofed up his first interview
How mentors can come in different ways and through different people
The one lesson that Patrick believes changed his life

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode, Smitha talks about the process of decluttering to invite new energy, regain control of your life, and make space for the things that actually matter.

She talks about her own journey of managing anxiety and how decluttering helped her overcome it to a large extent.

How and where do you start? Smitha gives you some pointers on taking the first steps towards creating a clean, light-filled space.

If you like this episode, and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

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In this episode, Smitha Murthy talks about how she discovered the ancient Chinese practice of Qigong and how it helped her in her anxiety and emotional wellness.

Smitha shares her experiences in being a pretty robotic individual with some very set practices and how Qigong gently showed her how to go with the flow - both in terms of exercise and life in general.

She didn’t go to a formal class, although you could try formal Qigong classes if you find them online or at a center close to you. Qigong is different from Tai Chi and although there are similarities to yoga, Smitha found Qigong more useful in alleviating her anxiety.

Smitha recommends:

Yoqi Yoga and Qigong: a free resource for mindfulness in motion - (619) Yoqi Yoga and Qigong - YouTube

Highly recommended for a quick mood boost is the Qigong Mood Lifter. This is a quick way to just feel a bit better - https://youtu.be/R1tpHKvjewI2.

Qigong Meditation: A channel created by Thich Man Tue or Brother Insight, who was born in Central Vietnam and is now a Qigong teacher for those at Deer Park Monastery, California.

Smitha recommends the 10 minute Qigong Daily Routine for Anxiety, Stress, and Fear - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KTXgggIdZ4

We hope you try these out!

If you like this episode and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website. www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

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In this episode, Smitha talks about one of the simplest ways to bring in a moment or two of happiness. Science shows that one of the keys to finding happiness in our everyday life is to search, seek, and find awe.

Awe is defined as a “feeling of reverential respect mixed with wonder.” It’s what we feel when we gaze up at the sky or we watch a gymnast perform or when you hold a newborn child in your arms.

So, find out how to incorporate time for awe.

If you like this episode, and want to receive a special newsletter straight from Smitha, do sign-up on the MyndStories website.

www.myndstories.com

You can also email us at podcast@myndstories.com for anything that you would like to ask Smitha.

We are here. You are not alone.

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Welcome to The MyndStories Minis: Moments with Smitha Murthy, a podcast with our co-founder, where she shares moments from her life with you.

Every Monday, listen to Smitha as she talks about her thoughts and views, and experiences in life and what got her through them.

"We all want to feel heard... and when we feel heard, the validation that we get for our emotions opens up such a vast space in our heart."

Smitha invites you to be a part of this journey with her to make our minds a wholesome space to live in, in a unique mix of storytelling and sharing, taking on issues she encounters everyday.

Come along for the ride, and hope you stay.

Join us for new episodes every week.

Write to podcast@myndstories.com to tell us what you would love to hear about more. Please rate, review, and subscribe to our podcasts to never miss an episode.

Visit www.myndstories.com

Instagram @wearemyndstories

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In this episode of The MyndStories Podcast, we talk to Ankita Magdani, a career and mindset coach, about aligning with who we are at our core to find meaning, purpose, and fulfilment behind everything we do, be it our career or pursuing a passion.

We discuss:

Defining what leading a life of purpose means
How to find your passion
How to stay aligned with our core values
How to not be influenced by external timelines and judgements
How to set goals and take things one step at a time
How to embrace the fact that it's never too late to make a career change

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode of the MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Raj Dagwar, the founder of Listener’s Army and TEDx speaker about how he turned around a painful period in his life into a movement that is changing lives.

We discuss:

Raj’s early experience with a toxic relationship
How our external support systems are important
Family support in dealing with depression
Raj launching the campaign #DepressionMukt to bring more awareness around depression
Raj’s Listening Army, which currently works in major Indian cities, and is willing to lend an ear so that people can tell their stories
How through listening to Raj, we can transform the debris of our lives into something that is powerful and life-changing for others

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode, we talk to Amandeep Sandhu, the author of ‘Sepia Leaves’, an account of a family living under the shadow of schizophrenia from a young boy’s point of view. Heavily based on his own life, Amandeep talks about how he navigated through the volatility and dysfunctionality in his family which stemmed from their collective inability to handle his mother’s illness.

We discuss:

What drove Amandeep to write the book?
What is schizophrenia (based on what he saw and experienced)?
How he practices self-care today after having to shoulder the family’s responsibility since boyhood
How he deals with people’s judgment and perceptions
Amandeep’s battle between love and empathy for his family and the resentment he feels due to what he had to go through
The mental pillars he’s leaned on to overcome volatility, violence, and dysfunctionality within his family

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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What is mindfulness? How does it help you in daily life?

In the fourth episode of the MyndStories podcast, Ankit Narasimhan talks to Sameera Kamulkar, a mindfulness coach and practitioner about how mindfulness can be a powerful tool to transform yourself. Adapting mindfulness as a way of life helps cultivate healthy habits and puts us on the path to change and Sameera shows us how.

We discuss:

Sameera’s journey in mindfulness and the mental health space
Defining and understanding what mindfulness is
Why is change and healing so hard?
How can mindfulness help with change and healing
The science behind how and why mindfulness works
Other than meditation, what are some other ways to practice mindfulness?
How mindfulness can make an impact in your life

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In the latest episode of The MyndStories Minis, Smitha Murthy talks to Gauri Vaidya, a banker-turned-copywriter about the deep impact of emotional eating on life. How and why do we turn to food when we are stressed? How can we manage it? Gauri talks about the adversities she faced in life, and how she managed to emerge all the more stronger for it.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Smitha Murthy talks to Disha Shah, a writer and meditator about the lifechanging effects of meditation. Disha started meditating when she was just 19 years old and since then she has relied on it for building confidence, feeling better about herself, gaining better perspectives on life, and so much more.

Enjoying our podcasts? Listen to more episodes on Spotify, Gaana, and other platforms of your choice!

Visit www.myndstories.com for all the guidance you need on your mental health journey.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wearemyndstories/

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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In this episode, we talk to Syam K Ravindran, a clinical psychologist, trauma-informed therapist and Assistant Professor at Manipal Institute of Higher Education. He’s a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, International Association of Trauma Professionals, and is a part of the Trauma Recovery Network of Humanitarian Assistance Programs.

We discuss:

Understanding and defining what trauma really is
How to distinguish trauma from an unpleasant experience
What it means to be trauma-informed
Exploring the mind-body connection in trauma
What are some of the tools that make transformation and healing possible
The current landscape of trauma treatment in India
What is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and how it works in treating trauma
How to approach a situation in which your loved ones have been through a traumatic experience
The current state of mental health treatment in India

*Disclaimer - The content in this podcast is only for educational purposes. It cannot be considered as individual therapy advice or counseling and is not to be taken as medical or mental health advice.

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Smitha Murthy talks to 17-year-old Hansika Tyagi, a freelance writer, about living with Type2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the joys of being a curious learner and writer, about her hopes and dreams, being her own biggest strength, and about her vision of giving a TED Talk some day.

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In our second episode, we talk to Sheba Devaraj, a fitness instructor, nutrition specialist, and state level powerlifting champion from Chennai.

We discuss

How to navigate uncertainty and stick to your goals
How fitness plays a big role in nurturing mental health
Tips on how women can overcome biases and stereotypes to emerge strong
Successfully shifting careers no matter the age
Managing family expectations
Staying consistent while embracing change

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Smitha Murthy talks to freelance content writer Akanksha Mishra about life lessons.

About uncertainties. Acceptance. Family. Being independent, and everything else that comes with being a freelancer, a sister, a daughter, and someone who decided to follow her heart no matter what.

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Nilom Shah, counselor and psychotherapist, talks about how post-pandemic anxiety has been affecting young adults and parents. What's the difference between everyday anxiety and anxiety disorder? How can parents' anxiety influence children? Nilom shares with us insights into anxiety and a few pointers to manage anxiety as a family.

The MyndStories Podcast: Recent Episodes

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