Courage Talks

Hetal Sonpal

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Inspired by my father's acts of courage in his biography, ⁠Against All Odds⁠, I am inviting guests on my first-ever podcast to talk about their experience with courage. Hear from them about their stories of courage and moments in their personal and professional life that brought out the best in them. Listen to your heroes talk about their own heroes.

21h ago

Courage Talks S14E3 - Dr Niranjan Seshadri

I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Niranjan Seshadri, MD, JD — a rare blend of interventional cardiologist, healthcare entrepreneur, legal expert, and thought leader at the intersection of medicine, AI, and human empathy. He's trained at the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard Medical School, with a JD from Georgetown and an LL.M. from UC Berkeley specialising in AI and Technology Law. Dr. Seshadri is Co-Founder & CEO of HelixaHealth.ai and Nectara.ai. He is also co-author of the upcoming book “Lead with Empathy” alongside negotiation legend Chris Voss, and author of Himalayan Tsunami. In this deep and thoughtful conversation, we explore: • Why empathy is not a soft skill but a strategic advantage in leadership and healthcare • Building AI platforms that put patients and human connection at the center • The ethical and regulatory challenges of AI in medicine • Lessons from medicine, law, entrepreneurship, and personal resilience • What it truly means to lead with both intellect and heart in an age of rapid technological change This episode is for anyone interested in the future of healthcare, conscious leadership, or the balance between cutting-edge technology and deep humanity. Drop a 💙 if this conversation resonated with you. What does “leading with empathy” mean in your own work or life? Huge thanks to Dr Niranjan for an insightful and inspiring discussion. #CourageTalks #Leadership #Empathy #AIinHealthcare #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #Mindset
Aug 17

Courage Talks S14E2 - Heidi Neck

𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟰 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁. Heidi Neck is one of the most recognised names in entrepreneurship education in the world. She holds the Jeffry Timmons Chair at Babson College, is the Academic Director of the Babson Academy, and has spent decades reshaping how entrepreneurship is taught globally. She founded the Babson Collaborative, a membership organisation for universities seeking to build their entrepreneurship capability. She has led the Price-Babson Symposium for Entrepreneurship Educators since 2008 (which I had the opportunity to attend in May this year), training over 6,000 faculty from 75 countries in the art and craft of teaching entrepreneurship. Her textbook, Entrepreneurship: The Practice and Mindset, now in its third edition, won three separate awards including the Breakthrough Book of the Year. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: A Practice-Based Approach, a two-volume series for educators published by Elgar, and has six books to her name in total, along with 45 plus articles, monographs, and book chapters. The Schulze Foundation named her Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year in 2016, and USASBE gave her the same honour again in 2022. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘳. She was so shy as a child that her mother had to pick her up mid-morning from pre-school. And her dream, even then, was to stand on a stage in front of a crowd. She got there. And then she spent her entire career helping others find the courage to do the same. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱: • What it really means to teach entrepreneurship, • why how you teach matters as much as what you teach, • What shifts in a person when they stop believing they have nothing original to offer, and • What courage has looked like in her own life away from the classroom and the books. It was one of those conversations I did not want to end. 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝟭𝟰𝗘𝟮 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.
Aug 9

Courage Talks S14E1 - Vikram Mohan

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟰, 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗶𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻 Vikram is the Chairman of Pricol Group and Managing Director of Pricol Limited, a second-generation leader who has steered the Group into a diversified enterprise with revenues close to ₹5,000 crores and a team of over 9,000 people. With more than 30 years of entrepreneurial experience, he has founded and scaled over ten companies across automotive technology, precision engineering, defence & railway applications, industrial packaging, logistics, travel, real estate, and hospitality. Since taking the helm at Pricol Limited in 2011, he led a decisive turnaround that repositioned the company as a global player in automotive technology and precision-engineered solutions. What makes his story particularly compelling is the depth of his personal passions. A culinary anthropologist and gourmand who has explored cuisines across more than 30 countries, Vikram channelled that love into building Pricol Gourmet, home to acclaimed brands such as Savya Rasa, Soy Soi, Dou, The New Punjab Club and the luxury retreat brand Dvara. His contribution to India’s culinary landscape earned him the “Restaurateur of the Year” award at the Times Food Awards in 2020. Beyond business, Vikram has been a quiet force in entrepreneurial and leadership networks, founding the EO Coimbatore Chapter, serving as Chairman of YPO Chennai (2023–24), and remaining deeply engaged with Round Table India, CII and ACMA. His commitment also extends to social impact in animal welfare, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and long-term food and water security. In this episode of Courage Talks, we explore the mindset, decisions and quiet courage behind building and transforming businesses across such diverse domains. 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙨 𝙎14𝙀1 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙑𝙞𝙠𝙧𝙖𝙢 𝙈𝙤𝙝𝙖𝙣.
Aug 2

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝟭𝟯𝗘𝟲 Kaamya Karthikeyan

Meet Kaamya Karthikeyan, an 18-year-old mountaineering prodigy, polar explorer, TED speaker, and living proof that age is no barrier to extraordinary courage. At just 17, she became the youngest female in the world to complete the Seven Summits Challenge, standing on the highest peak of every continent, including Everest and Vinson Massif in Antarctica. On 27 December 2025, she skied to the South Pole, becoming the youngest Indian and second-youngest female in the world to do so. 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 “𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁” 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀: • Youngest Indian girl to summit Everest from the Nepal side (16) • Youngest girl in the world to climb Aconcagua (12) • Youngest Asian to summit Denali (14) • Youngest person to ski down from Elbrus (10) • Youngest girl to summit a 6000 m peak (at just 9) All while pursuing a B.Tech in Computer Science at Shiv Nadar University, winning ski-mountaineering medals at the Khelo India Winter Games, and working toward the Explorers Grand Slam (North Pole still to go). Recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Shakti Puraskar and mentioned in the Hon. Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat, Kaamya is on a mission (SAHAS) to show that the outdoors can shape focused, purpose-driven lives, and to inspire every young Indian, especially girls, to dream big. Tag someone who needs this reminder that the biggest peaks start with one brave step. #CourageTalks #MissionSAHAS #SevenSummits #SouthPole #YoungAchievers #Mountaineering #Inspiration
Jul 25

Courage Talks S13E5 - Varun Sawant

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝟭𝟯𝗘𝟱 — 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 Diagnosed with Autism at just two-and-a-half, Varun spent his early years navigating therapies and finding his voice. Today, he is a man of few words, but his actions speak volumes. From pursuing his first dream of becoming a chef and building Varun’s Bake n Flake, to discovering the transformative power of long-distance running in 2016, Varun has consistently redefined what is possible. 𝙄𝙣 2020, 𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙖 𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙣. Since then, he has taken on some of India’s toughest endurance challenges and is now chasing the Abbott World Marathon Majors, already conquering Boston (2025) and London (2026), with Berlin and New York City next. • But medals are only part of his story. • Varun runs for inclusion. • He runs to change perceptions. • He runs to show families raising children with autism that dreams can be bigger than labels. Join us on Courage Talks S13E5 as we sit down for a very special discussion with a baker, musician, dancer, and marathon runner who reminds us that the greatest victories are measured not just by finish lines, but by the lives we inspire along the way. Stay tuned. This is one conversation you don’t want to miss. #CourageTalks #VarunSawant #AutismAwareness #Inclusion #WorldMarathonMajors #RunningForInclusion #Inspiration #Neurodiversity
Jul 19

Courage Talks S13E4 Vishwanath Karthikey

🎙️ 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 | 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝟭𝟯𝗘𝟰 At just 16, Padakanti Vishwanath Karthikey from Hyderabad became the youngest Indian and the second youngest in the world to complete the legendary Seven Summits Challenge: summiting the highest peak on every continent, including Mount Everest on 27 May 2025. From his first glacier trek at age 11 to standing on top of the world while balancing school, this young mountaineer’s story is a masterclass in courage, discipline, curiosity, and what’s possible when you refuse to let age or doubt define your limits. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀: • How a simple trek with his sister sparked a world-record journey • Navigating extreme conditions, family support, and mental toughness at altitude • Balancing elite mountaineering with academics and teenage life • His next chapter, aiming for the National Defence Academy and continuing to push boundaries If you’re a parent, student, or anyone chasing ambitious dreams, this episode will remind you that the biggest peaks often start with small steps and unwavering belief. #CourageTalks #SevenSummits #MountEverest #YoungAchiever #Mountaineering #IndianTalent #Inspiration #Adventure #Resilience #DreamBig
Jul 12

Courage Talks S13E3 Jahnavi Dangeti

🚀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁: 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝟭𝟯𝗘𝟯 – 𝗝𝗮𝗵𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗔 & 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 – 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁! 🌌 What does it take for a young woman from a small town in Andhra Pradesh to train like an astronaut at NASA facilities, become the first Indian to complete AEXA’s International Air & Space Program, and set her sights on being among the first Indians on Mars? Meet Jahnavi Dangeti – Analog Astronaut, Scientist-Astronaut Candidate, advanced scuba diver, TEDx speaker, and unstoppable STEM force. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝗝𝗮𝗵𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: • Becoming the first Indian selected for AEXA’s IASP at NASA’s Space & Rocket Center, serving as Mission Director for an international team that successfully launched a mini-rocket. • Training as the youngest foreign girl in Poland’s AATC Lunar Analog Mission – living in isolation, conducting robotics, aquaponics & human performance experiments. • Geology field training in Iceland’s volcanic highlands, walking the same paths as Apollo astronauts. • Completing the Astronaut Candidate Program with spacesuit training, hyperbaric altitude simulations, and full mission sims. Making a provisional asteroid discovery using PAN-STARRS data, building a lunar sample collector (now launched into space), and tackling NASA challenges in hydroponics, rovers & more. Balancing extreme ocean conservation dives with her mission to inspire the next generation through ISRO outreach, NIT lectures, and mentorship. Jahnavi’s story is proof that courage, curiosity, and relentless preparation can turn childhood dreams into real space-ready skills. 🎙️ Tune in to hear how she’s breaking barriers, making science accessible, and paving the way for India’s future in deep space exploration. #CourageTalks #AnalogAstronaut #WomenInSTEM #SpaceExploration #ISRO #NASA #MarsMission #IndianAchiever #STEMinspiration #TEDxSpeaker #AnalogMission
Jul 4

Courage Talks S13E2 Anshuman Jhingran

🌊 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗦𝟭𝟯𝗘𝟮 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘! Meet Anshuman Jhingran, one of India’s most extraordinary young athletes and an open-water swimming prodigy who is rewriting what’s possible. Born in Delhi and raised in Mumbai, Anshuman went from being a national-level pool swimmer (bronze medalist & Singapore Nationals competitor) to conquering some of the world’s most dangerous channels. A cycling accident during lockdown that left him with a broken hand and multiple surgeries became the unexpected catalyst for his ultra-endurance journey. • At just 18, he became the Youngest Person in the World to swim the brutal North Channel (Ireland to Scotland), earning a Guinness World Record. • He is also the Fastest Asian to swim the Catalina, Cook Strait, and Molokai (Kaiwi) Channel, and has completed 6 out of 7 Oceans Seven swims. 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: • The life-changing cycling accident that pushed him into open water • His record-breaking 207 km of swims in just one month (Indian Record) • The mental battles, jellyfish, freezing waters, and what it takes to swim 15+ hours alone in the ocean • Balancing college (Psychology student) with chasing history • The role of courage, resilience, and family support in chasing impossible dreams If you want to be inspired by raw determination, mental fortitude, and what the human spirit can achieve, this episode is a must-watch. Drop a 🏊‍♂️ in the comments if Anshuman’s story moved you. What’s one “channel” in your life you’re trying to cross right now? Huge respect and congratulations to Anshuman on his incredible journey! #CourageTalks #OpenWaterSwimming #OceansSeven #GuinnessWorldRecord #IndianAthlete #Mindset #Resilience #Swimming

Inspired by my father's acts of courage in his biography, ⁠Against All Odds⁠, I am inviting guests on my first-ever podcast to talk about their experience with courage. Hear from them about their stories of courage and moments in their personal and professional life that brought out the best in them. Listen to your heroes talk about their own heroes.

Creator

Hetal Sonpal
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

85
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Hetal Sonpal
Show Website

Courage Talks