The MyndStories Podcast podcast@myndstories.com

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 wordsThat D word called DepressionHow to find forgivenessOn how writing can be catharticOn 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.

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 Kamna

LinkedIn - 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.

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 writerDealing with the darknessFinding life's balance between the past and the presentHow to be a child againWhat to read on LinkedIn (intellectually and banally)
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


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.

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
LinkedIn

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.

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 conversation
Reach out to others because they are your only hope.


We discuss
What it means to be a writerHow to pitch to publishers (Hint: It’s quite corporate-style)The journey of a writer, inspirations, and encouragementThe meaning of life, words, books, and writingCoping with loneliness and striving for connections in a fractured lifeHow 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.

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.