Reframing Perspectives with Payal Beri, PhD

Payal Beri, PhD
  • 5.0 (45)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Join Payal on a journey into the hearts and minds of those who dare to reframe perspectives. Through stories of personal evolution and pivotal decisions, Payal explores how using empathy and curiosity transforms the way we build closeness with each other and within our communities. Featuring guests like social impact founders, purpose-driven entrepreneurs, and everyday people, these conversations celebrate our uniqueness and our commonality as humans. Discover how a single perspective shift can amplify, impact, and reshape your world.

  1. You Don't Need Dollars to Have Dignity: Miguel Centeno on Community, Accessibility, and Impact

    5d ago

    You Don't Need Dollars to Have Dignity: Miguel Centeno on Community, Accessibility, and Impact

    What if the most powerful reframe you could offer someone wasn't how to give help — but how to receive it without losing yourself in the process? This week on Reframing Perspectives, I sit down with Miguel Centeno, the Vice President of Community Engagement at Healthfirst, a son of Bronx public housing, and a man whose entire life has been shaped by guardian angels who chose to invest in him. Miguel walks us through the lesson his parents taught him before he understood what it meant — you don't need dollars to have dignity — and the second half of that lesson he's spent his career trying to teach back to the rest of us: there is also dignity in accepting help. We talk about the woman named Susan Luger who prepared him and his sister for entrance exams that opened doors his parents didn't know existed. The walk down a steep hill to the public bus while his classmates climbed onto private ones. The high school guidance counselor who told him to "be more realistic" about Columbia — and the family who told him if they accepted you, it's because they believe you can do the work. And the families he later sat across from in a Bronx homeless shelter, where the question "where would you prefer to live?" became an act of dignity itself. This conversation is for every changemaker who has ever felt the weight of doing the work, and every leader who has ever forgotten that the people on the other side of the work are human first. What we explore: Why Miguel's parents' lesson — you don't need dollars to have dignity — became the foundation of his life and careerThe reframe most of us miss: that there is dignity in receiving help, not just giving itSusan Luger, the guardian angel who prepared Miguel and his sister for entrance exams that changed everythingThe two-worlds dance: walking down the hill from Fieldston to the public bus while classmates were chauffeured homeThe high school guidance counselor who told him to be "more realistic" about Columbia — and the family voice that pushed him throughThe Higher Education Opportunity Program: equity in action and the power of having someone tell you you are not aloneA morning at a family homeless shelter when one question — "where would you prefer to live?" — shifted everythingWhy we do well by doing good — and what AI can never replaceThe leadership principle Miguel lives by: you are not just an employee to me. You are a human being.A question to sit with this week: Where in your life are you letting pride get in the way of the help that could carry you closer to your purpose? Connect with Miguel and Healthfirst: Healthfirst: healthfirst.orgLearn more about community engagement at Healthfirst: healthfirst.org/communityListen, subscribe, rate, share: If this conversation moved you, the most meaningful thing you can do is share it with one person who needs to hear it. Subscribing and leaving a review helps more changemakers find this space — and that is how this work compounds. For more on the a deep dive from this episode, subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@drpayalberi Connect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    49 min

  2. May 27

    Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Dan Zauderer on Building a Movement

    What if the most powerful systems we could build were the ones designed entirely around relationships, not rules? This week on Reframing Perspectives, I'm sitting down with Dan Zauderer — founder and CEO of Grassroots Grocery, a nonprofit redistributing tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce across New York City each week through a deceptively simple model: neighbors helping neighbors. Dan walks us through the moment a single refrigerator landed on a South Bronx sidewalk, the unexpected resistance he encountered as an outsider, and the structural insight that changed everything for him — the shift from rules-based systems to relationship-driven ones. This conversation is for every changemaker who has ever felt the pull to build something meaningful and run headlong into the bureaucracy of "good work." Dan shows us what it looks like when dignity, joy, and trust are designed into the system from the very beginning — and why community isn't downstream of impact. It is the impact. What we explore: Why Dan calls his current work "selling good karma" — and the surprising through-line from cold sales to social impactThe moment he met Chino, "the mayor of the block," and what it taught him about earning trust as an outsiderThe pivotal shift from rules-based to relationship-driven systems — and why most well-intentioned organizations get this backwardsHow Grassroots Grocery empowers community leaders ("grassroots grocers") to design distribution on their own termsWhy service has to be essential, not additive — and what changes when volunteers become a community, not a workforceThe stories of Nate, Jack, and Rob — multi-generational relationships forged through showing up, again and againDan's work is a real-life case study in the Relationship Economy: the experiences worth building begin with how you make someone feel — and the systems we design around food, dignity, and community are no exception. A question to sit with this week: Where in your work are you leading with rules when you could be leading with relationships? Connect with Dan and Grassroots Grocery: Website: grassrootsgrocery.orgVolunteer at a Produce Party (Saturdays in the Bronx): grassrootsgrocery.org/join-us-saturdayHost a Great Sandwich Race with your team: grassrootsgrocery.org/deliver-double Connect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    48 min

  3. May 20

    From Struggle to Social Impact: Kelly Cobb’s Journey from Entrepreneurship to VP of Impact

    In this episode, Kelly Cobb shares her deeply personal story of overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship and how it shaped her approach to purpose-driven business at Bombas. Her journey illustrates how organizations can lead with compassion, purpose, and profitability — proving social good can be essential to success. Main Topics: Kelly Cobb’s personal experience with eviction warning, depression, and debtChallenging myths about homelessness and povertyHow Bombas integrates social impact into its core businessBuilding trust and ongoing relationships with community partnersCorporate responsibility and authentic leadership in social goodThe importance of mindset shifts in creating sustainable changeThe impact of small moments on resilience and self-worthStrategies for organizations to embed social responsibility into their cultureThe significance of reframing challenges as opportunities for growthTimestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Kelly Cobb and her impactful story 02:27 - The moment Kelly received her eviction notice and what led up to it 04:11 - The creative process of starting her flower business as an act of liberation 06:18 - The launch of her flower venture: vision, learning, and challenges 08:01 - The importance — and pitfalls — of valuing time and self-care in entrepreneurship 10:03 - Health crises, depression, and the toll of working in excess 12:15 - The emotional weight of facing eviction and economic hardship 15:00 - Reaching out for help: family support and debt relief journeys 17:32 - Challenging societal misconceptions about homelessness 20:00 - The societal impact of stigma, shame, and systemic gaps 23:09 - Financial literacy gaps and how they influence resilience 28:22 - Kelly’s transition from entrepreneur to impact leader at Bombas 30:23 - The power of dignity and community in addressing homelessness 36:22 - Living aligned with mission and integrating social good at Bombas 37:01 - Leadership and organizational commitment to social responsibility 40:03 - The importance of strong corporate impact and community trust 44:01 - Reframing societal issues: myths, realities, and meaningful action 45:26 - The role of continuous relationships and curiosity in social impact strategies 47:55 - Evolving community engagement: beyond transactional interactions 48:42 - Encouraging organizational reflection on social missions and responsibilities 49:04 - Kelly’s closing thoughts on community, support, and collective action Connect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    50 min

  4. May 20

    The Simple Good of Inspired Leadership and Positive Self Belief with Priya Shah

    Join Dr. Payal Beri and guest Priya Shah as they explore how small acts of kindness, resilience, and representation can transform lives, communities, and even entire countries. Discover the deep connection between personal stories and collective healing and how embracing the simple good can create impactful change globally. Main Topics Covered: The importance of perception and self-identity, especially in the face of adversityHow childhood stories shape resilience and personal growthThe role of representation in media and its subconscious influence on societal viewsThe origins and evolution of The Simple Good project—connecting global stories through imagery and artArts and social-emotional learning as tools for healing and self-awarenessThe transformative power of slowing down and noticing everyday moments of kindnessPriya’s journey from business and accounting into social impact and storytellingInitiating community-driven projects in post-genocide Rwanda and East AfricaPractical strategies for change makers to nurture self-care and sustain their impactTimestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Reframing Perspectives & the concept of impact through human stories 02:08 - Childhood stories, limitations, and the importance of reframing narratives 04:11 - Overcoming negative societal messages and cultivating inner strength 07:43 - Inspired moments at Mother Teresa orphanage and near-death experience in Spain 09:46 - The critical role of visual arts in emotional expression for children 13:00 - The influence of media stereotypes and the need for representation 15:11 - How near-death clarity fuels purpose-driven work 20:11 - The birth and growth of The Simple Good project as a worldwide movement 23:47 - Transformative impact of arts programs on youth and communities 26:01 - Developing emotional intelligence and social awareness through art 27:08 - Parental observations and the ripple effect of children’s emotional growth 29:21 - Young leaders’ paths toward social justice and community impact 31:18 - Reframing societal narratives around grandeur and the power of small acts 34:43 - The significance of slowing down to notice life’s simple moments 37:13 - Bridging connections across cultures through collaborative art projects in Rwanda and Uganda 40:26 - How everyday kindness influences global interconnectedness 42:24 - The role of small gestures in creating a bigger impact 43:41 - Priya’s personal favorite "simple good" — the sun’s warmth and life’s natural rhythms Connect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    45 min

  5. May 6

    Business Solutions that Drive Impact with Ehsan Zaffar

    Unlock the secret to transforming communities from the inside out with a groundbreaking approach that empowers every individual to be a changemaker. In this episode, Dr. Payal Beri sits down with Ehsan — a visionary leader who has navigated the corridors of Homeland Security, the corridors of power, and now the world of community-driven innovation — to reveal how entrepreneurship and accessible resources are reshaping societal impact. Discover how Ehsan's life—from arriving as a refugee to shaping policies in DC—embodies a profound lesson: real change happens when we shift from talking about problems to building solutions. You'll learn about the inspiration behind the Difference Engine, a lab that brings together young innovators, mid-career professionals, and seasoned leaders to co-create solutions that matter.  We break down specific projects like a whistle that alerts communities to ICE presence and an app that makes public transit more affordable and sustainable — projects that are not just ideas, but actionable, scalable products making an immediate impact. You’ll hear about the power of intergenerational collaboration, the importance of transparent metrics like the Women's Power and Influence Index, and how focusing on fairness and profitability can drive corporate change without defensiveness.  Ehsan shares how her organization has built a pipeline where students become entrepreneurs, leaders, and active participants in community health, safety, and equality, all fueled by optimism and the belief that everyone has a role to play. This episode is perfect for aspiring change-makers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners eager to make a real difference. If you’re tired of endless conversations about problems and want to learn how to channel your energy into tangible solutions that accelerate societal progress, you can't afford to miss this conversation. Join us to explore how democratized access to entrepreneurship tools, a mindset of kindness and competence, and collectively passing the baton of leadership can jump-start systemic change. If you’re ready to be inspired, empowered, and equipped to lead with purpose, hit play now — because the next generation of impactful change starts here. Connect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    37 min

  6. Apr 29

    Reframing Grief with Ashley Jones

    Reframing Grief with Ashley Jones Discover how love, presence, and innovative tools can transform our relationship with grief. Ashley Jones shares her deeply personal journey of loss, healing, and creating impact through her nonprofit, emphasizing that love persists beyond physical absence. In this episode: Ashley Jones recounts losing her daughter Skylar at 21 months and the societal reactions to griefThe misapplication of the five stages of grief and the importance of authentic emotional processingHow photographs serve as safe spaces for healing and continuing bondsExploring the spiritual and energetic aspects of love that transcend physical separationThe need for societal culture change around grief and loss, including the role of community supportThe impact of COVID-19 in revealing unresolved collective grief and the importance of slowing downPractical tools for healing, including boundaries, self-compassion, and creating emotional marginThe importance of love as a transformative and healing force in personal and societal contextsAshley’s insights on legacy, purpose, and turning grief into impactful actionTimestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the podcast and episode overview 01:15 - Ashley shares her experience of losing Skylar and societal responses to grief 02:27 - Challenges of societal support and the importance of presence and love 03:45 - Processing anticipatory grief and the misapplication of grief stages 05:00 - How photographs helped Ashley feel connected and supported her healing journey 06:13 - The spiritual dimension of love and ongoing bonds beyond physical death 07:23 - The evolution of Ashley’s grief and the role of her nonprofit in fostering support 08:57 - The societal tendency to avoid grief and how to give space for feelings 10:12 - Cultural conditioning around grief and transitioning love across different forms of loss 11:33 - The neuropsychological limitations in processing death and grief 12:46 - Reframing grief as a continual process of love’s transition 13:28 - Upcoming book: "When You Can’t See the Light," and practical grief support tips 15:00 - How love persists and changes shape after loss 16:13 - Redirecting love and making it boundless rather than lost 17:18 - Skylar’s influence on Ashley’s purpose-driven impact work 20:16 - The significance of legacy and passing on love and impact to the community 21:45 - Navigating grief and resilience from personal loss and societal conditioning 23:19 - The need to revise societal narratives around grief and love's transformation 25:00 - Healing as integration—embracing discomfort and unresolved wounds 27:04 - The importance of compassion, empathy, and wholeness in healing 28:14 - Impact of COVID on collective grief and societal disconnection 30:12 - How chronic news trauma and societal noise amplify collective grief 33:28 - Recognizing profit-driven narratives that profit from societal unwellness 35:38 - Supporting aging generations with unresolved grief and trauma 37:37 - Healing as a collective responsibility—preventing societal fragmentation 39:12 - The ripple effect of individual healing on community impact 40:21 - Creating space for oneself to hold pain and prevent it from spilling over 42:09 - The importance of self-processed empathy before extending to others 43:23 - Lessons learned from helping families process grief and the importance of love over fear 46:21 - Legacy as love—how unconditional love leaves a lasting imprint 47:12 - Closing gratitude and the transformative power of love as a guiding principle Resources & Links: Ashley JonesConnect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    49 min

  7. Apr 22

    Designing Businesses for Margins with Nagela Dales

    Join us as Dr. Payal Beri, a design strategist and founder of Open House, shares her powerful journey from Brooklyn to becoming a pioneer in inclusive design and social innovation. This episode explores how decolonizing design, embracing marginalized communities, and redefining success can create truly impactful and sustainable change. In this episode: Dr. Beri's background as a first-generation Caribbean American and growing up in BrooklynThe influence of community, family, and diaspora on her approach to design and impactHow navigating gifted programs as a Black Haitian girl shaped her understanding of races and biasesUnpacking the experiences of internalized racism, respectability politics, and belongingThe transformative power of design as an agent of agency, dignity, and systemic changeHow design can serve marginalized communities, from Indigenous DNA projects to accessibilityThe importance of de-centering capitalism and rethinking economic models for social goodPractical steps for individuals and organizations to incorporate inclusive design and community-centered strategiesThe role of storytelling, language, and intentionality in building equitable systems Timestamps: 00:00 - Behind every impact, there is a human story 02:01 - How Brooklyn and Caribbean roots influence perspective 04:23 - Growing up as a gifted Black girl in Brooklyn schools 06:16 - Navigating identity and internalized racism in education 08:17 - Unpacking the pressure to perform and seek approval 10:00 - Immigrant experiences shaping perceptions of safety and community 12:13 - Haiti's history and its influence on dignity and resilience 13:33 - Pairing ADHD with design as a gift for systemic gaps 14:37 - Design as a tool for justice and accessibility 15:07 - Discovering laboratory design and educational equity 17:12 - Challenges of practicing racial equity in mainstream design spaces 18:04 - The dangers of racial bias being seen as a "belief" rather than a systemic issue 19:04 - Empathy as a strategic resource, not just an emotional response 20:30 - Building business models based on dignity, equity, and indigenous economic principles 23:23 - The power of designing from margins to benefit everyone 26:27 - Reimagining capitalism through cooperative and indigenous models 28:37 - How to shift from profit prioritization to profit-making with purpose 30:06 - Case study: Indigenous DNA project balancing sovereignty and innovation 33:54 - Addressing systemic invisibility in data, history, and health Resources  Website: https://www.ouropenhouse.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndales/ Connect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    52 min

  8. Apr 15

    Why Leaders Sabotage Their Own Impact with Kyle King

    Join us in this inspiring conversation with Kyle S. King as he shares his journey from college projects to leading impactful community initiatives. Discover how a foundation of compassion, strategic growth, and authentic leadership can create sustainable change in communities worldwide. Kyle S. King is a culture strategist, author, speaker, and former school leader who helps organizations build ecosystems where people and performance thrive together. He is the author of Contagious Culture: Creating an Ecosystem of Academic Excellence, a practical framework for turning values into daily behaviors, systems, and results. Kyle is the Founder of The Culture Lab, where he has partnered with schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations across the country to strengthen leadership, improve retention, increase engagement, and drive sustainable growth. His work directly supports organizations in raising over $40 million in philanthropic and institutional funding, while building cultures that leaders and teams actually want to stay in. A former school leader, founding entrepreneur, and board member, Kyle brings lived experience to the stage- balancing strategy with empathy, and results with realism. Known for blending storytelling, humor, and straight talk, he equips leaders with tools they can use immediately, not theories that live in binders. In this episode: Kyle’s start with Project Shine in college and his mission to empower youth locally and internationallyThe importance of building infrastructure for lasting social impactHow leadership growth requires patience, humility, and intentionalityStrategies for non-profit leaders to align values, impact, and organizational healthThe power of small acts of kindness, clear purpose, and community connectionReframing Impact: from speed and scale to depth and sustainabilityPractical ways individuals leverage their skills, resources, and networks for community changeKyle’s perspective on confronting toxicity and gatekeeping in the social impact spaceTimestamps: (00:00) - Opening and episode overview: Impact, Leadership, Community(02:29) - Kyle’s story of founding Project Shine and early motivations(12:40) - Building scalable models that prioritize deep impact(16:20) - Shifting strategies to serve community needs better(22:22) - The importance of patience and impact measurement in leadership(26:40) - Clarity, courage, and character as pillars of effective leadership(30:36) - Balancing impact, growth, and organizational integrity(38:59) - Overcoming scarcity mindset and gatekeeping in social impact(42:07) - The role of purpose, community, and action in preventing burnout(49:37) - Reflecting on Kyle’s journey and meaningful moments of impactResources & Links: Kyle S. King : https://theculturelab.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamkylesking/Book: https://www.amazon.com/Contagious-Culture-Creating-Ecosystem-Excellence-ebook/dp/B0DV1QXPSVConnect with Dr. Payal Beri & Reframing Perspectives: Instagram – Dr. Payal: https://www.instagram.com/dr.payalberi Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@payalberi?sub_confirmation=1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalberiSpeaking & Media: https://www.drpayalberi.com

    52 min
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5
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45 Ratings

About

Join Payal on a journey into the hearts and minds of those who dare to reframe perspectives. Through stories of personal evolution and pivotal decisions, Payal explores how using empathy and curiosity transforms the way we build closeness with each other and within our communities. Featuring guests like social impact founders, purpose-driven entrepreneurs, and everyday people, these conversations celebrate our uniqueness and our commonality as humans. Discover how a single perspective shift can amplify, impact, and reshape your world.

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