Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life

Dr. Mitika Kanabar
  • 3.9 (7)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Mind Sattva is a podcast about finding clarity and grounding in a noisy world. Hosted by Dr. Mitika Kanabar, a physician trained at Stanford with a background in addiction medicine, lifestyle medicine, and public health, the show blends ancient wisdom, modern understanding, and evidence-based perspectives to reflect on how we live, grow, lead, and connect. Each episode offers conversations or solo reflections shaped by professional insight, lived experience, and sometimes teachings rooted in Eastern philosophy. Whether exploring grief, perfectionism, identity, or resilience, Mind Sattva creates space to pause, ask deeper questions, and return to what steadies you. You can listen on your favorite podcast app or watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@MindSattva Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not provide medical, legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your specific needs. Views expressed are personal and do not represent any institution. No guarantees or endorsements are implied. Listening constitutes your agreement to release the host, guests, and affiliates from liability.

  1. APR 16

    Don’t Pass the Clipboard: What a Caltech PhD Learned About Service, Human Connection, and Staying Whole in the Age of AI | Dr. Liz Krider

    What does it mean to stay human when AI is doing more and more of our thinking for us? Why do most people pass the clipboard instead of signing up, and what does it cost them? And how do women find their way back to themselves after years of putting everyone else first? Dr. Liz Krider is a Caltech-trained researcher and founder of Catalyst, a skills accelerator for high school and college students in Southern California, and the author of the forthcoming book Purpose and Paychecks: How to Get the Most from Your College Years. In this conversation with Dr. Mitika Kanabar, she moves beyond career advice into the deeper questions of what keeps us grounded: the value of relationships built across all walks of life, the science behind why serving others heals us, and why she believes AI poses a quiet threat to the human instincts we can’t afford to lose.   ✨ What you’ll learn: Why Dr. Liz started talking to strangers at 14, and why she says building relationships with Nobel Prize winners and people with no societal visibility equally has been the single most enriching decision of her life What the clipboard reveals about comfort zones: why people opt out of service, and how to design conditions where more people say yes The neuroscience of human connection: what dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin release when we serve others, and why understanding this helps us show more compassion to people who struggle to engage Why Dr. Liz believes we risk losing something irreplaceable when ChatGPT does our thinking for us, and why the struggle on the other side of a creative process is exactly what reminds us we’re human The two things that keep Dr. Liz grounded: serving others to get outside yourself, and personal development as a lifelong iterative process, like upgrading software one version at a time How Dr. Liz’s Christian faith informs the way she sees every person she works with, and why she says faith, whatever the tradition, is one of the most inspiring forces she encounters Two practical strategies for women pivoting careers or returning to work: building a mentorship community around one thing in common, and using a five-to-nine side project to develop credibility in a new field before you need it Why women sacrifice their dreams and what Anna Fels’ book Necessary Dreams argues about ambition, plus Charlie Munger’s inverted reasoning applied to the question of self-investment Clayton Christensen’s question from Harvard Business School that will change how you see your extra half hour: are you choosing the immediate payoff, or investing in the relationships that define you 25 years from now?   Resources Mentioned: Jonathan Haidt — NYU Stern School of Business (The Anxious Generation) FIRST Tech Challenge — https://www.firstinspires.org First Lego League — firstinspires.org/robotics/fll   Connect with Dr. Liz Krider: LinkedIn: Elizabeth Krider Website: www.passionprojects.net Website: https://studentcatalyst.com   🔗 Listen on Podbean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Follow @MindSattva and @KanabarMD on Instagram

    26 min

  2. APR 6

    Not Building Robots, Building People: Preparing Young People for Purpose and a Career in the Age of AI — Dr. Liz Krider

    Is your teenager disengaged, going through the motions, or just glued to a screen? What happens when entry-level jobs disappear and college costs more than a house? And what does a Caltech PhD who coaches teens have to say about raising a purpose-driven kid in the age of AI? Dr. Liz Krider is the founder of Catalyst, a skills accelerator for high school and college students, and the author of the upcoming book Purpose and Paychecks: How to Get the Most from Your College Years. Her students have attended top-20 universities and gone on to careers with real purpose, and her mission is to equip 5,000 young people to solve meaningful problems in their worlds. In this conversation with Dr. Mitika Kanabar, Dr. Liz breaks down why today’s teens are struggling, what the AI era actually means for college graduates, and what parents and students can do right now to build purpose, skills, and confidence before the job market demands it.   ✨ What you’ll learn: Why Jonathan Haidt’s research on the phone-based childhood explains the disengagement epidemic in classrooms today How parents can support teen development without being ignored — and why outside mentors change everything Why passion projects matter more than grades when it comes to college readiness and life readiness The honest case for and against college in the AI era — what the data says and what it misses What “underemployment” really means and why most new graduates don’t see it coming How to use LinkedIn and informational interviews to build a real career network before you graduate Gen Z’s $500K salary expectation — and the path that actually leads there How robotics competitions like FIRST Tech Challenge build camaraderie, confidence, and career-ready humans Why the best college-prep tool might not be a tutor — it’s a meaningful project   Resources Mentioned: Jonathan Haidt — NYU Stern School of Business (The Anxious Generation) FIRST Tech Challenge — https://www.firstinspires.org First Lego League — firstinspires.org/robotics/fll   Connect with Dr. Liz Krider: LinkedIn: Elizabeth Krider Website: www.passionprojects.net Website: https://studentcatalyst.com   🔗 Listen on Podbean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Follow @MindSattva and @KanabarMD on Instagram

    33 min

  3. MAR 6

    Title: Phone Addiction & Brain Development: A Doctor on Recovery & Family — Dr. Mitika Kanabar Interviewed by Dr. Suhani Mendonsa

    Is your phone hijacking your brain? What happens when you use substances before your brain is fully developed? And what does ancient yoga philosophy have to do with modern addiction medicine? In this special role-reversal episode, Dr. Suhani Mendonsa - entrepreneur, social activist, lifestyle influencer, author of '1551: Your Story,' and trustee of the Mendoza Foundation - turns the tables and interviews Mind Sattva host Dr. Mitika Kanabar, a keynote speaker on attachment to AI chatbots and addiction to our phones. From addiction medicine and brain development to screen addiction, healthy habit formation, and the yoga philosophy behind Mind Sattva, Mitika opens up about the science and spirituality that drive her work. ✨ What you'll learn: Why substance use before age 25 can permanently lower your IQ and disrupt brain development The difference between substance addictions and behavioral (process) addictions like phone and gaming Abstinence vs. harm reduction - and why relapse doesn't erase progress How phone and screen addiction is eroding real human connection - from Devil Wears Prada workplace pressure to identity and withdrawal The origin story of Mind Sattva - the three gunas, sattva, and bridging East and West Building lasting habits using the Prochaska trans-theoretical model and the power of your 'why' Yoga philosophy beyond the poses - the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and why only 3 sutras are about asanas Rebuilding after life falls apart - grief, resilience, and understanding your self-worth Advice for families dealing with a loved one's addiction - boundaries, enabling, and finding support Resources Mentioned: Atomic Habits by James Clear Anna Lembke - Stanford Addiction Medicine Mendonsa Foundation Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) & Al-Anon The Prochaska Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) - View Model Connect with Dr. Suhani Mendonsa: YouTube: com/c/drsuhanimendonsa Instagram: @suhanimendonsa Website: com Mendonsa Foundation Website: https://mendonsafoundation.org 🔗 Listen on Podbean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Follow @MindSattva and @KanabarMD on Instagram

    56 min

  4. FEB 14

    Mahashivaratri: The Night of Shiva | With Scholars From Kashi

    What really happens on the night of Shiva? What does Shiva actually destroy? And how can you observe Mahashivaratri at home with nothing more than a lamp and your intention? Dr. Mitika Kanabar sits down with Acharya Mrityunjay and Acharya Satyam, both scholars from Kashi, the oldest living city on earth. Together they explore Shiva tattva, the four prahars of all-night worship, why Kashi is said to rest on Shiva's trident, and the promise between Shiva and Annapurna that no one in Kashi will go hungry. They address the cannabis question directly and close with a chant you can follow along with, no Sanskrit needed. ✨ What you'll learn: What Mahashivaratri means and why it is observed through the night Shiva tattva: the essence of Shiva beyond "the destroyer" The four prahars of worship and how to observe them The sacred geography of Kashi and why death there is celebrated Ashutosh: the God content with a leaf, water, and your sincere intention How to do a simple Shivaratri puja at home The cannabis question: sattvic practice vs. tamasic shortcuts Shiva and Krishna's relationship and the story of Gopishwar Resources Mentioned: "Har Har Shambhu" by Backstage Siblings | Instagram (the bhajan clubbing trend discussed in the episode) "The Hidden Hindu" by Akshat Gupta | Book Summary (the mythological fiction series set in Kashi) Connect with Dr. Mitika Kanabar: mitikakanabar.com | Instagram Listen & Follow: Podbean | @MindSattva on Instagram

    38 min

  5. JAN 27

    Gardening as Digital Detox

    Struggling with screen time? What if the best digital detox isn't another app—but getting your hands dirty?   In this episode, Dr. Mitika Kanabar shares why gardening is her go-to method for unplugging. She explores the science of horticultural therapy, soil bacteria that boost mood, and the Ayurvedic concept of dinacharya (daily routine). Plus: practical tips for starting a garden even without a backyard.   ✨ What you'll learn: Why gardening works when willpower fails Research on soil bacteria and mental health The scrolling paradox and emotional overload Ayurvedic daily routine (dinacharya) How to start small and detach from outcomes Replacement behaviors vs. restriction   Connect with Dr. Mitika Kanabar: mitikakanabar.com 🔗 Listen on Podbean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Follow @KanabarMD on Instagram

    16 min

  6. JAN 13

    What Happens When You Take a Break from Alcohol

    What really happens when you stop drinking alcohol, even for a few weeks? In this solo episode of Mind Sattva, Dr. Mitika Kanabar talks about Dry January and why many people choose to take a break from alcohol. She explains what changes in the body and brain when alcohol is removed, and why even a short break can lead to better sleep, steadier mood, more energy, and overall health improvements. Mitika walks through how alcohol affects blood sugar, blood pressure, brain chemistry, and sleep. She also explores why drinking is so closely tied to celebration and social life, and how those beliefs have been shaped over time. The episode includes practical guidance for handling social situations without drinking, managing cravings when they come up, and noticing habits that may be driving alcohol use. Mitika also talks about who may want to be more mindful or cautious with alcohol, how the liver and gut respond during a break, and changes people may notice in their body when they take a break from alcohol. ✨ In this episode: What Dry January is and why people try it How alcohol affects blood sugar, blood pressure, mood, and sleep Short term benefits like better sleep, steadier mood, and more energy Long term health effects including liver health and cancer risk Who may need to be more mindful or cautious with alcohol Finding your personal reason for making a change Handling social pressure and cravings Why alcohol is linked to celebration and social life How sleep, habits, and gut health are connected Referenced in this episode: Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker https://www.quitlikeawoman.com 🔗 Listen on Podbean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 mitikakanabar.com Follow @MindSattva and @KanabarMD on Instagram

    15 min

  7. JAN 6

    Screen Addiction: Why You Can't Put Your Phone Down & How to Break Free

    What started as five minutes of scrolling is now two hours gone. Sound familiar? In this "In the Flow" episode, Dr. Mitika Kanabar unpacks the science behind screen addiction: why our phones live "rent-free" in our brains and how social media algorithms are designed to capture our attention coins. She explains why the dopamine hit from scrolling feels like happiness but actually leaves us sadder, chasing that next reel like a mirage in the desert. Mitika offers practical tools from both Western and Eastern perspectives: screen-free morning blocks, the yogic principle of shaucha (cleanliness in thought), and household boundaries that work. She addresses how excessive screen time erodes our closest relationships, why children's developing brains are especially vulnerable, and the uncomfortable truth that in social media, just like the casino, the house always wins. ✨ In this episode: The dopamine mechanics of screen addiction and "attention coins" Why you pick up your phone without wanting to: conditioning and the "rent-free" brain Boundaries: screen-free mornings, work blocks, and shaucha (cleanliness of thought) The 4 C's of addiction and when screen use becomes unhealthy Screens and relationships: partners, parents, and protecting children Digital footprint safety in the age of AI "The house always wins": what social media is really costing us Referenced: The Anxious Generation by Dr. Jonathan Haidt Closing reflection: If we want to change the narrative, we have to speak the truth where people are. Your attention, your focus, your intentions for the day, and your actual human connections: that's what the house is winning. And children learn more from our behavior than from what we have to say. 🔗 Listen on Podbean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 🌐 mitikakanabar.com Follow @MindSattva and @KanabarMD on Instagram

    23 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    More Than What You Cook: Food Guilt, Gender Roles & Women’s Worth

    What if your value as a woman had nothing to do with what you cook—or how many recipes you juggle each night? In this “In the Flow” episode, Dr. Mitika Kanabar tackles the “food police” that live in our cultures, communities, and families. She explores why women say no to themselves ten times before even asking to use their gym membership, and how self-worth becomes tangled with cooking, caregiving, and keeping everyone fed. From the “Excel sheet of everybody’s tiffins” to mopping the kitchen floor at midnight, Mitika examines how cultural conditioning shapes what we believe we owe our families—and why perimenopause often becomes the turning point when women stop covering the cracks with new paintings. Inspired by @justbeingmelani’s viral perimenopause content, Mitika closes with a Mind Sattva spin on Melanie’s “We Do Not Care Club”—a comedic take on releasing guilt around hot flashes, leftovers, and impossible expectations. ✨ In this episode: The “food police” in your culture and the transactional nature of women’s worth Permission-seeking: why women ask to use their own gym memberships Gender roles and the mental load of feeding a family Cognitive dissonance: rajasic comfort foods vs. sattvic eating goals Perimenopause and the end of “overdoing for everybody” Breaking free from the myth of the “ideal” wife, mother, and daughter A Mindsattva edition inspired by @justbeingmelani’s “We Do Not Care Club” Featured: @justbeingmelani (Mama Melanie) Closing reflection: Sometimes important feedback needs to be given in comedic ways. Your worth isn’t measured by the dopamine hit your food provides. And if there are cracks in the wall? Maybe it’s time to stop hanging paintings over them. 🔗 Listen on Podbean | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Follow @MindSattva and @KanabarMD on Instagram

    12 min
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3.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Mind Sattva is a podcast about finding clarity and grounding in a noisy world. Hosted by Dr. Mitika Kanabar, a physician trained at Stanford with a background in addiction medicine, lifestyle medicine, and public health, the show blends ancient wisdom, modern understanding, and evidence-based perspectives to reflect on how we live, grow, lead, and connect. Each episode offers conversations or solo reflections shaped by professional insight, lived experience, and sometimes teachings rooted in Eastern philosophy. Whether exploring grief, perfectionism, identity, or resilience, Mind Sattva creates space to pause, ask deeper questions, and return to what steadies you. You can listen on your favorite podcast app or watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@MindSattva Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not provide medical, legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your specific needs. Views expressed are personal and do not represent any institution. No guarantees or endorsements are implied. Listening constitutes your agreement to release the host, guests, and affiliates from liability.

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