Essential Self-Care

Sheetal Ajmani MD
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Self-Improvement

Welcome to the Essential Self-Care podcast where we talk about all things self-care for those of us who are, let’s face it, too busy for self-care. It’s time to bring that same compassion that you offer to everyone else in your life, to yourself as well. In this podcast you’ll hear real life stories of how self-care transformed people’s lives as they were going through life’s storms. You’ll learn practical, actionable tools to begin the self-care journey yourself as well, because like I always say, small changes make a large impact. Listen while driving or “on the run” to feel confident, energized, resilient, and radiant once again. *The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific situation.*

  1. Sep 8

    Ep 108: Find Your Cheerleaders w/ Mohana Rajakumar

    How do you navigate a pandemic lockdown as a massive extrovert and creative? Novelist and screenwriter Mohana Rajakumar joins us to share how the COVID lockdown while living abroad set her on a self-care exploration. Mohana describes how, after 20 years of being a novelist and having written 10 books, she lost the fun and mystery of novel-writing. She was in search of a new creative outlet and the isolation of living abroad during the pandemic was fertile ground for her to explore different pathways—yoga, nature, and ultimately screenwriting. Getting curious about what was triggering her emotional reaction of panic, combined with solitude, opened the door to truly listening to her inner voice—she began to ask herself questions like, “What have I always wanted to do, but not had time?”—which subsequently led her to writing and producing three short films. We round out our conversation with insights on how to reconcile the many different, often seemingly conflicting, aspects of ourselves as women. Mohana’s final piece of advice—find your cheerleaders—those people who truly see you.   Connect with Mohana at: www.mohadoha.com   P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact   Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

  2. Aug 25

    Ep 107: How to Practice Self-Care through Pain and Uncertainty w/ Ana Quinn

    How do you practice self-care when faced with three years of undiagnosed, excruciating leg pain? On this episode, Ana Quinn—leadership development and executive coach—shares how she approached the most challenging season of her life with tenacity, resilience, and faith. After living with years of undiagnosed leg pain, she was found to have a rare circulatory disorder that required surgery in both of her legs. Ana shares the anchors of self-care that helped her during that time: exercise, prayer, and faith. She describes how staying open to even seemingly unrelated suggestions led her to the doctor who was able to give her a diagnosis and treatment plan. But, her self-care journey didn’t stop there. Ana goes on to share what self-care has looked like as she built a thriving business with her husband and as she now begins to consider her transition to retirement. Key aspects of her current practices include gratitude and journaling. We talk about simple ways that you can begin to incorporate these practices into your life also. For anyone navigating a season of pain and uncertainty, this episode is for you. Be sure to listen to the end to hear the three main insights that Ana attributes to a workshop that I facilitated recently!   Connect with Ana: www.quinncc.com   P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact   Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

  3. Jul 28

    Ep 106: Creative Placemaking and Individual Authenticity w/ Kate Pittman

    Have you ever visited a place and felt an intangible sense of belonging? In this episode, I welcome Kate Pittman, Executive Director of the ViBe Creative District in Virginia Beach, to shed light on community spaces that foster individual authenticity—the expression of that which gives us joy. We talk about how creative placemaking can positively impact the health, safety, and overall well-being of individuals and communities—including the entrepreneurs who are running their businesses in the district, the artists who have created public murals, and of course the community of visitors. Kate reminds us that anyone can pick up a paintbrush, pen, or pencil and create—it’s not about perfection; rather, it’s about engaging with the creative process. We also get deeply personal as Kate shares one of the most challenging times in her life—when she gave birth to premature twins—and how her work with the ViBe District was an important part of her self-care at that time. It gave her joy and reminded her of who she was as an individual, outside of all the challenges she was experiencing in her personal life. Listen to the end for the two words that shaped Kate’s career over the past 10 years—this could quite possibly inspire your trajectory as well!   Learn more about the ViBe Creative District: https://vibecreativedistrict.org/   P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact   Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

  4. Jul 14

    Ep 105: A Fish Out of Water: Navigating an Unexpected Career Transition w/ Stephanie Vatalaro

    How do you move forward from an unexpected jolt to your 20-year non-profit career? Stephanie Vatalaro found herself grappling with this question when her non-profit lost funding in 2025. Faced with the reality that the executive role she had planned on maintaining until retirement was no longer an option, Stephanie shares what those early, gut-wrenching days looked like for her. From her initial focus on crisis management to intentionally taking time for herself, and ultimately creating WaveMaker Strategies, a consulting business that supports the boating and fishing industry. Her commitment to taking action—through daily walks, travel, and connecting with others—was pivotal to her healing and the momentum that carried her forward. This episode is for anyone who has faced a major unexpected life transition that shook their sense of identity and purpose. Listen now to gain insights on practical strategies to find your footing when life makes you feel like a fish out of water.   Connect with Stephanie: www.wavemakerstrategies.com   P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact   Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

  5. Jun 16

    Ep 104: Leadership, Confidence, and Self-Care w/ Rebecca Kleinhample

    In this episode, I’m joined by Rebecca Kleinhample—Executive Director of the Virginia Living Museum. She describes the pivotal moment that led her to discover meaning and purpose in her career after years of transitions as a military spouse. Through the 20 years of working her way from part-time membership services to now serving as the Executive Director, Rebecca shares key aspects of her self-care that have helped her: Prioritize her family Integrate her career with other important aspects of her life Discover joy and meaning in her professional life Cultivate confidence in leadership Empower her team to care for their well-being as well This conversation is for anyone who is juggling the many demands of life and leadership, questioning what’s important to them in their current season of life, and seeking ways to empower themselves and their teams. Visit the Virginia Living Museum: https://thevlm.org/ P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

  6. Jun 2

    Ep 103: Assertive, Aggressive, or Angry—Which One Is It? w/ Toni Collis

    Have you ever been labelled aggressive or angry when you’re simply asserting yourself as the only woman in the room? In this episode, I talk with Toni Collis, executive coach and host of the Leading Women in Tech podcast, about the unique challenges and frustrations most commonly experienced by women in leadership. We talk about: The importance of diversity in leadership spaces How sociocultural factors and biases impact women in the workplace, including often being labelled as too emotional or aggressive when attempting to assert ourselves Transforming anger about these differences into useful pathways to continue showing up as your best self This episode is for everyone—whether you identify as a woman or not—you will come away with practical tools to notice, pause, and reframe emotional responses so that you can effectively move forward in challenging situations. Connect with Toni: tonicollis.com/resources/  Tune into Sheetal's episode on the Leading Women in Tech Podcast: https://tonicollis.com/leading-women-tech/305-high-performance-leadership-burnout-self-care-sheetal-ajmani  P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

  7. May 12

    Ep 102: Generative AI and Mental Health: Helpful or Harmful?

    Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicidal ideation. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24/7. While widespread adoption of generative AI is being pushed across industries, what do we know about its impact on our mental health? What started as a personal experiment of “No AI April” led me to a deeper exploration of the research, case studies, and articles about its mental health impact. In this episode, I share what we know about generative AI’s association with: Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability Breaks from reality, delusions, and psychosis The isolation paradox These mental health outcomes have been reported in as little as days to weeks of personal or work-related use of genAI platforms. This episode is an invitation to explore your own experience and potential implications of adopting generative AI tools personally and in the workplace, along with strategies to safeguard your mental well-being. P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact One more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it. Articles referenced in this episode: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2026/01-02/trends-digital-ai-relationships-emotional-connection https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/how-ai-chatbots-try-to-keep-you-from-walking-away https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2844128 https://www.mentalhealthjournal.org/articles/minds-in-crisis-how-the-ai-revolution-is-impacting-mental-health.html https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40373033/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40577783/ https://www.worldhappiness.report/ed/2026/executive-summary-happiness-and-social-media/

  8. Apr 28

    Ep 101: The Comeback Episode

    After a 7-month hiatus, Essential Self-Care is back with new episodes, fresh insights, and meaningful conversations to support you on your journey of cultivating a kinder, more compassionate relationship with yourself—so you can show up as your best, most radiant self in all walks of your life. In this solocast episode, you’ll get a peek at what I’ve been up to the past 7 months—including a preview of my new book and the six steps that may help you rediscover inner calm amidst the noise of the world around you. P.S. I want to hear from you! Share your comments and questions with me here: https://www.radiantlivinginstitute.com/contact Oh, and one more thing—if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a positive review—it really does go a long way to making sure this show reaches more people who need it!

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About

Welcome to the Essential Self-Care podcast where we talk about all things self-care for those of us who are, let’s face it, too busy for self-care. It’s time to bring that same compassion that you offer to everyone else in your life, to yourself as well. In this podcast you’ll hear real life stories of how self-care transformed people’s lives as they were going through life’s storms. You’ll learn practical, actionable tools to begin the self-care journey yourself as well, because like I always say, small changes make a large impact. Listen while driving or “on the run” to feel confident, energized, resilient, and radiant once again. *The information in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific situation.*

Information

  • Creator
    Sheetal Ajmani MD
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Radiant Living Institute
  • Show Website
    Essential Self-Care