Reframing Perspectives with Payal Beri, PhD

Payal Beri, PhD

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. 1D AGO

    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

  2. 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 fragmentatio 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. APR 8

    Finding Joy in times of Chaos with Dr. Pamela Larde

    Unlock the transformative power of joy—especially when life feels like dancing on ashes.  In this inspiring episode, Dr. Pamela Larde reveals how anyone, regardless of circumstances, can cultivate joy from deep within, creating a resilient foundation that sustains through trauma, stress, and societal challenges.  Discover how joy isn’t just a fleeting happiness but a deliberate act of self-embodiment and resistance, particularly for marginalized communities that often have joy stripped away. You’ll hear powerful stories of resilience—like a Jamaican bobsled team defying odds or navigating divorce with dance and celebration—illustrating why joy is a radical act of reclamation. Dr. Larde shares her groundbreaking research on the arcs of self-determination, post-traumatic growth, and pure joy, providing concrete ways to practice and embody joy daily—no matter your background or current struggles.  She breaks down how to build mental stamina through small, intentional steps like surrounding yourself with positive influences, engaging in creative projects, practicing patience, and moving your body—whether through dance, art, or simple movement.  This episode is a must-listen for purpose-driven changemakers, entrepreneurs, and anyone feeling overwhelmed by life’s chaos. It highlights how embracing joy can be an act of resistance, creating a ripple effect that infects families and communities with contagious energy. If you’ve ever felt guilt or reluctance in pursuing your own happiness amid adversity, Dr. Larde’s insights will challenge you to reframe what’s possible—showing that joy is your right, your power, and your most effective tool for lasting impact. Perfect for those seeking practical ways to nurture resilience and cultivate joy as a daily practice, this conversation offers a new perspective on healing, self-care, and embodied well-being. Whether you’re emerging from hardship or simply craving more authentic happiness, this episode will inspire you to dance—on ashes, in chaos, and into a flourishing future. Resources & Links Joy Retreat by Dr. Pamela LardeDr. Larde’s Book: The Practice of Joy Connect with Dr. Pamela Larde LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/empoweredwriter/Website : https://www.drpamelalarde.com/ 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

    47 min

  6. APR 1

    How AI Is Changing Our Brain Development with Dr. Aldrich Chan

    In this insightful conversation, Dr.Aldrich Chan discusses the impact of AI on cognitive development, emphasizing the importance of stress and challenge in learning. He explores how reliance on AI can hinder critical thinking and brain development, and offers strategies to balance technology use with skill development. Dr. Aldrich Chan is a Neuropsychologist and Psychotherapist, author of the award-winning book Reassembling Models of Reality, and, more recently, 7 Principles of Nature: How We Strayed & How We Return. He is the founder of the Center for Neuropsychology and Consciousness (CNC), a practice in Miami, Florida, that provides neuropsychological and psychological services. In addition to his practice, he is an Adjunct Professor for the PsyD and Master's program at Pepperdine University. Key  Topics AI's impact on cognitive developmentThe importance of stress and challenge in learningStrategies for balancing AI use with skill development Chapters 00:00 Reconnecting and Reflecting on the Past 03:55 The Journey of a Third Culture Kid 09:07 Cultural Evolution and Human Connection 10:35 The Impact of the Agricultural Revolution 15:05 Technology's Influence on Human Development 19:43 The Course Correction of Human Connection 23:42 Challenges Faced by Change Makers 26:22 The Benefits of Alloparenting 27:12 Mind-Body Connection and Mental Health 28:40 Reversing Modern Lifestyle Trends 30:14 The Return to Community Living 32:44 The Importance of Social Connection 34:34 Understanding Separation, Alienation, and Discord 36:02 Principles of Nature and Their Application 45:24 The Need for Eastern Philosophies in Modern Society 47:53 Introduction and Call to Action 48:21 The Importance of Community Engagement Resources Books written by Dr. Chan Dr. Chan’s Website  Dr. Chan’s LinkedIn  Dr. Chan’s Instagram  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

  7. MAR 26

    How to Stop Measuring Your Worth by Output with Jenn Whitmer

    We’re losing 120,000 people every year to stress and anxiety related to work.  Not “I don’t like my job” stress — chronic, nervous-system meltdown stress. In this episode of Reframing Perspectives, we sit down with Jen Whitmer — keynote speaker, teacher, and author — to talk about joy as a serious, measurable strategy for work and life… not a fluffy “nice to have.” Jen shares how getting fired from her dream job on a white couch moment became the catalyst for her work: helping leaders understand themselves, understand others, and create workplaces that don’t slowly destroy people. We dig into corporate trauma, the myth that “adults should just know better,” why direct communicators (especially women) are punished at work, and how culture, gender, generation, and capitalism all shape the way we show up at work. Most importantly, Jen breaks down her Joy Ratio: Why the opposite of joy isn’t work — it’s toilThe 3 components of joy at work (favor, belonging, impact)Why keeping meaningless toil under 10% can literally save livesIf you’ve ever thought, “How did we get here? This is not how I want to live,” this conversation is for you. 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

    56 min

  8. MAR 22

    Burnout is not proof of how much you care

    What if your exhaustion isn't proof that you care enough — but proof that something has gotten tangled in the way you see your role in the world? In this Solo Reframe, Dr. Payal Beri digs into one of the most quietly destructive patterns in mission-driven spaces: the martyr trap. It's that place where burnout gets confused with devotion, where urgency becomes familiar, and where slowing down starts to feel like betrayal. Drawing on her background in organizational psychology and her own lived experience as a founder and changemaker, Payal unpacks the concept of identity fusion — what happens when our identity becomes so intertwined with our mission that separating ourselves from it feels impossible. And she explores why the most committed people in any room are often also the most exhausted ones. In this episode, you'll explore: Why changemakers unconsciously treat exhaustion as a measure of dedicationHow identity fusion creates the conditions for burnout and cynicismThe relationship between our tolerance for chaos and our inability to restWhat the normalization of mental health over 20 years teaches us about the pace of real changeHow to stop centering yourself in every win and loss — and why that actually makes you a better contributor to the missionThe reframe: your job was never to carry the mission alone. It was to contribute to an ecosystem. And the most powerful thing you can do for the work you care about is protect the human doing it. If you've ever felt guilty for resting, this episode is for you. Reframing Perspectives is the podcast for changemakers who believe relationships are the real infrastructure of impact. Hosted by Dr. Payal Beri, organizational psychologist and founder of RK Empathy. 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

    22 min
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5
out of 5
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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