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. From Truth to Imagination: Rewriting the Story | Amy Abe

    APR 3

    From Truth to Imagination: Rewriting the Story | Amy Abe

    What if the story you’ve been telling yourself… was never fixed to begin with? In this episode, Gayathri sits down with educator, playwright, and writer Amy Abe for a layered conversation on voice, imagination, and the quiet power of rewriting our internal narratives. What begins as a discussion on the Feminist Fantasy League anthology process opens into something deeper—how we construct reality through story, often without realizing it. From Amy’s dialogue-first creative process to Gayathri’s shift from lived-experience storytelling into fiction, this episode explores what becomes possible when we question the rules we’ve internalized. ✨ Together, they explore: Why we are always “storying” our reality—whether consciously or notHow voice and character can reveal parts of ourselves we didn’t know existedThe freedom (and discomfort) of moving from truth-telling into imaginative possibilityWhat it means to examine—not just the story—but the rules behind itThis conversation is an invitation to pause and ask: What stories are you telling yourself—and what might change if you chose to rewrite them?  📚 Resources mentioned: Feminist Fantasy League anthologyAmy Abe's LinkedInNEWLY ADDED: book launch event!🎧 Note: Gayathri’s audio may sound slightly choppy in parts due to connection issues. We’ve done our best to clean this up, but you can also follow along with the transcript if helpful.

    44 min
  2. Between Worlds: Navigating Identity and the Stories We Carry | Lina Bahlawan & Yemi Adefulu

    MAR 3

    Between Worlds: Navigating Identity and the Stories We Carry | Lina Bahlawan & Yemi Adefulu

    What happens when two people from vastly different cultures come together not just to share stories, but to write a book about the in-between spaces of identity? In this Hearth 2 Heart episode, host Gayathri Shukla speaks with Lina Bahlawan and Yemi Adefulu, co-authors of Adventures of a Migrant Heart, about the surprising friendship that sparked their book—and the deeper lessons it holds for reimagining inclusion. Together, they explore: Why storytelling with someone (not just about someone) creates a new kind of empathyHow curiosity and compassion can disrupt stereotypes—without losing complexityThe power of unlikely friendships to bridge global perspectives and lived experienceWhy choosing collaboration over competition is a radical act, especially in systems shaped by scarcityThis episode is a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the best way to understand someone else’s story… is to co-write a new one. Resources mentioned: Adventures of a Migrant Heart by Lina Bahlawan & Yemi AdefuluYemi AdefuluCampfire Kinship

    44 min
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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

  7. 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
  8. 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
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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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