Hearth 2 Heart with Gayathri Shukla

Campfire Kinship
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The Hearth 2 Heart podcast represents our mission at Campfire Kinship: to unlock the power of empathy, one story at a time. This Season dives into the theme of Belonging! Join host Gayathri Shukla and other thought leaders as they explore - through heartfelt stories - what it means to belong, the common barriers in this journey, and how to overcome them. We hope you find reflections of your own experiences while learning somethign new from diverse perspectives. Listen on your preferred podcast platform, and please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it! www.campfirekinship.com

  1. Dreaming Boldly: From Surviving to Thriving | Najah Al-Atassi

    FEB 3

    Dreaming Boldly: From Surviving to Thriving | Najah Al-Atassi

    What does it take to thrive as an immigrant woman—not just survive? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla speaks with Najah Al-Atassi, founder of Al-Atassi Leadership Consulting and its Peaks Program, about the emotional resilience, bold dreaming, and grit it takes to build a life—and leadership—on your own terms in Canada. Through heartfelt storytelling and sharp insights, Najah shares: Why informed optimism gives way to informed realism—and how to stay motivatedHow rejection, assimilation pressure, and “Canadian experience” myths can erode confidenceThe power of perspective, networks, and beginner’s mindset in transforming your journeyWhat allies can actually do to support immigrant women—without assuming superiorityAnd why courageously being yourself is the first step to belonging💡 Whether you’re new to Canada, navigating career transitions, or leading workplace inclusion, this episode is your reminder to dream boldly—and support others to do the same. 📚 Resources mentioned: Najah’s websiteNajah on LinkedInLanded: Transformative Stories of Canadian Immigrant Women

    35 min
  2. New Year Special: What Brings Us Home | Stanley Opara

    JAN 2

    New Year Special: What Brings Us Home | Stanley Opara

    What does it mean to feel at home—across lands, timelines, and technologies? This New Year special features an openhearted dialogue, where host Gayathri Shukla and guest Stanley Opara weave together their personal stories of migration, identity, and imagination. From oil-rich Nigeria to the majestic Rockies, this episode journeys through the past, present, and future, exploring: What it means to belong to a place, to people, and to oneselfHow stories shape our sense of homeThe impact of climate change on belongingThe risks and possibilities AI poses for human connectionWhy humility, resilience, and hope are more urgent than ever This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and come home to yourself, wherever you are. Resources mentioned:  The Immigrant Story Podcast Stanley on LinkedIn Landed, Transformative Stories of Immigrant Women Campfire Kinship

    1h 2m
  3. Unlearning Silence: Reclaiming Empathy as a Leadership Strength | Dr. Vidya Narasimhan

    12/02/2025

    Unlearning Silence: Reclaiming Empathy as a Leadership Strength | Dr. Vidya Narasimhan

    What does it mean to lead with empathy in a world that seems increasingly polarized and divided? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla sits down with Dr. Vidya Narasimhan - senior scientist at Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals and Chair of the Board at Lotus STEMM (2021-2025) to explore: Why empathy is a strategic strength, not weaknessThe tension of holding power and vulnerability  - building on insights from the Breaking Barriers project at Lotus STEMWhy “you shouldn’t have to be brave to belong”Tune in for this rich and reflective conversation on people-first leadership.   Resources mentioned in the episode: Lotus STEMM Breaking Barriers  Campfire Kinship  Vidya’s LinkedIn

    40 min
  4. Reimagining Belonging for Women of Colour in the Workplace | Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi

    11/03/2025

    Reimagining Belonging for Women of Colour in the Workplace | Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi

    What does it mean to belong when your lived experiences are not always reflected in the very systems meant to support your growth? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla sits down with Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi, founder of Accelerate Her Future, for an intimate and powerful conversation about the career development experiences of Indigenous, Black, and racialized women in the workplace. Drawing from key findings of a national research project funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre, they unpack career development needs and gaps, as well as promising practices and opportunities shared by women across sectors—pointing to what’s already working and what must shift. This episode invites us to reimagine career development for greater belonging. Resources mentioned in episode: Accelerate Her Future Research Report and 2025 Summit Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi's website and TEDx talk Dr. Bharini Bhattacharya's research on Invisibility of Work Campfire Kinship

    42 min

  5. 10/01/2025

    Belonging in Academia: Is PhD right for you? | Gayathri Shukla

    In this solo episode, Gayathri sharers her raw, unfiltered thoughts on a major career milestone: pursuing a PhD. Re-entering academia after two decades in industry and entrepreneurship, Gayathri pulls back the curtains on the hard questions, doubts, and insights that shaped her choice to enter University of Calgary's inaugural Transdisciplinary Research program.  From a literal hammock moment of inspiration to mentors' future-oriented perspectives, she explores what it means to belong in academia. If you’ve ever wondered whether if a PhD is right for you - or if you’re simply curious about the behind-the-scenes journey - this episode is for you. Resources mentioned in episode: Kindle Your Spark Career Story Crafting On the transition to entrepreneurship - Podcast Episode On LotusSTEMM project with. Dr. Chaudhary - Podcast Episode On Vipassana - Podcast Episode Newsletter LinkedIn Instagram

    25 min
  6. Moving Beyond the Inner Critic | Kalyani Pardeshi

    09/02/2025

    Moving Beyond the Inner Critic | Kalyani Pardeshi

    What if the harshest critic you ever faced…was inside your own mind? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla is joined by TEDx speaker and award-winning author Kalyani Pardeshi, who shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming burnout and self-bullying. Drawing on her bestselling book Beyond the Inner Critic, Kalyani unpacks the conscious and unconscious voices that shape our motivation, self-worth, and ability to belong.  This conversation is an invitation to gently examine the stories we tell ourselves, and to remember that growth begins not in perfection, but in permission to feel, to pause, and to belong to ourselves. Resources mentioned in episode: Kalyani's website and Instagram Campfire Kinship

    45 min
  7. Redefining Motherhood and STEM: A Healing Journey | Kinia Romanowska

    08/01/2025

    Redefining Motherhood and STEM: A Healing Journey | Kinia Romanowska

    What happens when we redefine success by balancing the masculine and feminine energies in our lives? In this episode, Gayathri sits down with Kinia Romanowska, founder of Pros&Babes, to explore how these energies - logic and intuition, structure and creativity - manifest not as gendered traits but as complementary forces that drive personal and professional growth. Kinia shares insights from her journey as an entrepreneur and working parenthood strategist, offering actionable tips on energetic hygiene, healing, and embracing seasonality. Together, they discuss how mothers in STEM and other demanding fields can align their ambitions with well-being, rediscover their feminine power, and create spaces for authentic belonging. Resources mentioned in episode: www.engineerlikeamom.com www.campfirekinship.com

    43 min
  8. Building Brave Spaces to Innovate and Belong | Andrea Silverstone and Carrie McManus

    07/02/2025

    Building Brave Spaces to Innovate and Belong | Andrea Silverstone and Carrie McManus

    Content Note: This episode includes mention of sexual abuse. Please listen with care.  "Belonging is what makes vulnerability survivable." In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla sits down with Andrea Silverstone and Carrie McManus from Sagesse to explore the deep connection between belonging and innovation, drawing lessons from their latest book, Innovation at the Back of the Bus. Through personal stories, they explore how feelings of worthiness - or the the lack of it - impact our ability to create, collaborate, and innovate for systemic change. Drawing from their new book Innovation at the Back of the Bus, they discuss how vulnerability is key to both belonging and innovation, wherein fun and failure coexist on the path to change. Resources: Innovation at the Back of the Bus bookwww.sagesse.orgwww.campfirekinship.com

    45 min
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The Hearth 2 Heart podcast represents our mission at Campfire Kinship: to unlock the power of empathy, one story at a time. This Season dives into the theme of Belonging! Join host Gayathri Shukla and other thought leaders as they explore - through heartfelt stories - what it means to belong, the common barriers in this journey, and how to overcome them. We hope you find reflections of your own experiences while learning somethign new from diverse perspectives. Listen on your preferred podcast platform, and please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it! www.campfirekinship.com

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