Untether Your Life

One of the mantras of this podcast is to "Own Your Health;" while conventional modalities such as surgery are very helpful for addressing trauma, optimizing one's health requires a rigorous exploration of alternative approaches. This week's guest, Kyle Peche, demonstrates the benefits of "ripping up templates" in charting one's health journey, when the tried-and-true comes up short.

After resolving his own 7 year health battle with chronic fatigue, brain fog, panic attacks, and other mysterious symptoms, Kyle developed a passion for healing others and alleviating their suffering as well. A certified Mineral-Nutritional Balancing Practitioner and founder of Jyoti Mineral Balancing, he now uses what he’s learned about detoxification, mineral nutrition, hair analysis, and functional medicine to help others not only recover from mysterious ailments, but also regain an ability to “thrive” in their lives.

We touch on numerous topics in this podcast, including:

This week's guest, Chris McDonald, is a breath of fresh air in a world beset by false dichotomies between "traditional" and "holistic" approaches to mental health.

Chris is a holistic therapist, yogi, meditation teacher, author, and host of The Holistic Counseling Podcast. She owns a group online practice called Path to Hope Counseling. Chris is a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, is certified in brainspotting and offers gentle yoga to clients in session, and offers private yoga sessions. She specializes in treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma and grief in young adults.

As the author of Self-Care for the Counselor, she has helped many therapists prioritize their own mental health and wellness. She is a Meditation Teacher on the Aura app and Insight Timer.

On this week's episode, host Nikhil Torsekar and Chris cover myriad areas, including:

• The state of mental health among mental health practitioners, especially after COVID. How self-service mindfulness techniques like three part breathing can help combat burnout and compassion fatigue.
• How holistic modalities like yoga, breathwork, and guided meditation can be beneficial in getting to the root of the issue vs. superficially addressing symptoms
• Brainspotting, a modality developed by Dr. David Grand as an offshoot of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). How therapists can leverage the basic, yet powerful adage that "where you look affects how you feel" to help their clients effectively process trauma - sometimes moreso than with traditional talk therapy
• Subtle yoga, which can help ground us, strengthen our connection with the present, find the "window of tolerance" and strike a balance between our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
• The importance of finding community - whether through Facebook groups, virtual / in person happy hours, hosting a podcast, or yoga circles - in navigating the sometimes overwhelming "rabbit hole" of holistic modalities
• The wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh (known as the "father of mindfulness"), Kristine Weber (the founder of subtle yoga) and other figures who have influenced Chris in her holistic counseling journey

As a podcaster, I love connecting with like-minded hosts such as Benoit Kim, given our shared interests in mental health, mindfulness / mediation, the cultural implications of the Asian-American “model minority” myth, and much more. My wife Shelly Sood and I appeared on his show - Discover More - in early 2023, shortly after the devastating loss of her father / my father-in-law. We found great comfort in this far-ranging discussion, touching on the following topics:

One of the most rewarding aspects of hosting Untether Your Life is having conversations with folks who have attained great success by overcoming adversity, fighting the status quo / ripping up templates, and staying true to themselves. This week's guest, LeRon Barton, typifies these values.

LeRon L. Barton is a a 3x TEDx speaker, writer, and information technology professional originally from Kansas City, Missouri. LeRon is the author of two books, Straight Dope: A 360 degree look into American Drug Culture and All We Really Need Is Love: Stories of Dating, Relationships, Heartbreak, and Marriage.

In addition to his books, LeRon is an essayist whose topics cover racism, mass incarceration, politics, gender, and dating. These works have appeared in Black Enterprise, Salon, Harvard Business Review, Newsweek, and many other outlets.

LeRon is an international speaker who has given three TEDx speeches and has appeared at Oxford University, University of San Francisco, Square, and Defy Ventures.

In this week’s episode, LeRon and host Nikhil touch on many topics, including the following:

• LeRon’s youth in Kansas City, his days in California, and his multi-faceted career as a writer, speaker, information technology professional, and much more
• The silver lining in the storm clouds of COVID, in providing black workers with remote work opportunities that could benefit their mental health
• Code switching, and the compulsion for minorities to surrender parts of their identity in the workforce. How LeRon encourages these employees to stay true to themselves, and still achieve advancement in corporate America.
• The meaning of the Nelson Mandela quote "I never lose. I either win or I learn." How this mindset of perseverance and determination inspire LeRon - someone with a decades-long stutter, anxiety, and fear of public speaking - to become a 3-time TEDx speaker all the while prolifically writing thought-provoking articles in the most influential journals of our time

Freeman Fung is an international speaker, best-selling author and certified life coach, who has advocated new global citizenship at TEDx, Mindvalley and world tourism forums.

He left his native Hong Kong at 19 to begin a journey to travel and experience life in over 35 countries.

Freeman's book Travel to Transform teaches readers how to use traveling as a holistic personal growth tool and the fast-track to self-mastery.

In this episode, host Nikhil Torsekar and Freeman explore the following:

• The art and science behind Freeman's book Travel to Transform - which shatters the false dichotomy between travel memoirs and self-help books
• Takeaways from travels to more than 35 countries, including Romania, India, Finland, Singapore, and Australia
• Freeman's success in shedding the "templates" of his native ultra-competitive upbringing in Hong Kong, to find his true, authentic identity
• The cultural significance of the phrase, "have you eaten rice yet?"
• How traveling is the ultimate fast track to personal growth
• Nikhil and Freeman's shared experiences with the personal growth platform Mindvalley
• The true meaning of writer T. Harv Eker's quote that "money will only make you more of what you already are"
• Healing modalities Freeman embraced to manage Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), including the wisdom tradition of Shaolin Kung Fu as taught by TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioner Micke Hoong
• Freeman's experience in India (Nikhil's native country), where - in addition to a rich tapestry of cultures - he witnessed the jarring disparity between the opulence of the business tycoons' skyscrapers and the abject poverty of the slums of Mumbai (where Nikhil's family is from)
• What we as "global citizens" can do to raise our collective consciousness to solve the problems caused by huge disparities in wealth that are pervasive throughout the planet

Laura Carney is the author of My Father's List: How Living My Dad's Dreams Set Me Free. It's the story of how the author found the courage to go after her own dreams after tackling an ambitious 50+ item "bucket list" compiled by her late father Mick Carney, who had been killed by a distracted driver more than a decade prior.

Host Nikhil Torsekar deeply enjoyed speaking with Laura, as he had lost his own father-in-law earlier this year after a grueling decades-long struggle with Parkinson’s disease and many other illnesses. Like this week's guest, he finds comfort in listening to the messages and guidance his father-in-law continues to send messages from beyond.

Nikhil and Laura touch on many topics in this episode, including:

• The origin and contents of the "bucket list" compiled by Mick, which includes skydiving, surfing the Pacific Ocean, and talking with a US President.
• The power of belief and surrender in coping with loss.
• The significance of simple inanimate objects such as the horseshoe, and how can they take on an entirely new meaning when inverted or placed upright. Note: all you Mad Men fans out there, stay tuned for some Easter eggs.
• How we can achieve a richer fuller life through documenting and capturing stories, thereby illustrating Jessamyn West's maxim that "people who keep journals have life twice."

South Asians often encounter limitations in corporate America in adhering to the model minority myth, a collectivist mindset and many other "unqiue" nuances of the culture. This week’s guest, Neelu Kaur helps clients tackle these challenges head on.

Neelu is an expert in leadership, wellness, and diversity, who has worked with Google, RBC, and many other top firms over her 15-year career in coaching and leadership development. A certified NLP coach and master practitioner with degrees from NYU and Columbia University, she's also a certified Yoga Instructor, Ayurveda Specialist, and trained Ericksonian Hypnotherapist, focused on bringing mindfulness and stress management practices to individuals, teams, and organizations.

Neelu's program, Be Your Own Cheerleader, teaches mental well-being in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and she is also the author of a self-advocacy guide of the same name for Asian and South Asian women.

In this episode, host Nikhil Torsekar and Neelu cover:

- A deeper dive into Neelu's recently published "Be Your Own Cheerleader" book and innovative platform, which melds Ayurveda, yoga, and neurolinguistic programming

- What South Asians can do to find the sweet spot between their native collectivist mindset and Western rugged individualism - or the "I-we speedometer" - and thrive in corporate America

- How paying heed to concepts like "fit for purpose," "reverse classroom," and "time confetti" can help workers manage burnout in a increasingly virtual world that continually blurs the line between home and office

- Neelu's journey to Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), and how this practice helped her confront toxic, uninspiring internal dialogue

- How comedy and improv can help workers become more agile, take themselves less seriously, and reap the benefits of neuroplasticity

- The principles of leadership embodiment, and how the "cocktail" of oxytocin and testosterone can help achieve an effective reset in stressful conditions

Niraj Naik has a highly effective prescription to optimize the health of your mind, body, and spirit. He is a certified UK pharmacist, turned holistic wellness, brain training and breath work expert who launched SOMA Breath. Through SOMA, Niraj has trained thousands of coaches in the powerful, scientifically-backed benefits of breathwork, music, dance, and community.

Niraj developed a course called Breathwork for Life that is among the most popular on Mindvalley, a personal transformation platform with more than 12 million members. His journey is a fascinating one that demonstrates the power of "owning your health" and "untethering your life" - the key tenets of The Shelly Story podcast.

In this episode, podcast host Nikhil Torsekar and Niraj touch on the following topics:

• Niraj's time as a highly successful DJ, hosting some of the UK's largest raves, followed by returning to a his "fall back career" as a community pharmacist
• How a Tony Robbins event opened his eyes to the power of nutrition, breathing, and other nascent forms of biohacking to optimize health
• Niraj's application of these holistic health management principles as a pharmacist to rave reviews, which then ended and sent him into a deep depression combined with nearly fatal ulcerative colitis
• Niraj's "dark night of the soul," which led to a discovery of Ayurveda, meditation, music, "brain training," colostrum, and other alternatives to invasive surgery and dangerous medication
• Niraj's reinvention as "the renegade pharmacist," creation of content on YouTube, development of a music therapy business, and collaboration with Marisa Peer and Wim Hof
• How SOMA Breath has won over skeptics in the Indian medical community through the stamp of approval from Cambridge University
• The "inner pharmacy" paradigm of SOMA Breath, as a more personalized, fun alternative to the one-size-fits-all "pill for every ill" pharmaceutical model
• How community be beneficial in the healing process, but also lead to rigid, dogmatic indoctrination
• Reflections on Mindvalley, where Niraj and Nikhil had met, and how a trip to the company's "AFest" led to a very fruitful partnership
• Nikhil's reflections on teaching SOMA Breath box breathing to a classroom of 3rd graders, and the myriad benefits of teaching the next generation breathwork and meditation
• The science behind breathwork, leveraging studies by Dr. Prakash Chintamani Malshe, and the benefits on generation of stem cells for healing

Julian Guderley is a legacy coach for founders, with a mission to help clients unlock their full potential to become more effective leaders who create positive impact with heart.

Originally hailing from Germany, Julian "untethered his life" from a successful corporate career at blue chip firms like Nike and BMW. He pursued the road less travelled, launch a studio space in Canada and journey into the startup world in Silicon Valley and Vancouver Island.

He also launched the Green Planet Blue Planet Podcast, a global top 3% podcast, while traveling the world. Since 2017, Julian has consulted and coached dozens of Founders, CEO's & Start-ups to fully pivot toward the legacy projects and lives they'd been dreaming of, but were slightly out of reach.

Join host Nikhil Torsekar as he and Julian discuss:

• Julian's journey as a polyglot (5 languages and counting), and how mastery of several foreign languages can augment one's impact as a leader, entrepreneur, and global citizen
• The Green Planet, Blue Planet podcast - which does a deep dive into the principles of regeneration, to help listeners better appreciate the symbiotic and synergistic relationship we as humans have with animals, plants, and innumerable other members of the global ecosystem
• An overview of breathwork, which encompasses pranayama, holotropic, Kriya Yoga, Wim Hof, SOMA Breath, and QiGong modalities
• Julian's retreats, hosted in exotic locales like Tulum, Mexico, which help C-level execs and founders fully grasp the concepts of synthesis and community ("communication + unity") to refine their compass and home in on their true north
• The "will-being-function" compass framework that Julian developed, and has incorporated into his coaching practice to "navigate the inner world so that our inner work leads to outer world success and effectiveness"

Vasavi Kumar is often described as the "Queen of Saying It Out Loud." A first-generation Indian immigrant raised on Long Island, NY, Vasavi has relentlessly searched to find her own voice, access the freedom of her creative spirit, and help others along the way...out loud.

When diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 19, she made it her life’s purpose to understand how her mind works, starting with making room to hear herself think. Her mission is to share everything—the good, bad, and ugly—in order to teach a more mindful, practical, and simple way of running every aspect of your life.

Through her Say It Out Loud platform, Vasavi has taught thousands of entrepreneurs, creatives, and artists from all walks of life how to move through any situation — by saying it out loud.

In this episode, host Nikhil Torsekar speaks with Vasavi on many topics, including:

• The mission of the Say It Out Loud platform, which includes a podcast (now in its 6th year) and a book published earlier this year by New World Library
• Vasavi's journey with bipolar disorder, and recommendations for other South Asians looking for strategies to manage this condition
• The struggle of South Asians and the complex relationship with our culture; long ridiculed and marginalized, it is now being embraced by the mainstream for Ayurveda, yoga, and other practices seen as trendy and worthy of appropriation or co-opting
• The empowering value of self-talk - something that we've long been dissuaded from engaging in
• The concept of "power leakages" - how they prevent us from living our best life, and what we can do to regain control

Gratitude is a topic that gets a great deal of attention in the personal growth space. However, an area that is less discussed is compassion - a subject that this week's guest (Dr. Nilesh Satguru) is very knowledgeable and passionate about.

Of the many issues impacting the South Asian diaspora, one topic we haven't discussed on this show is relations with other minority groups. So I was very excited to connect on this week's episode with Tanya Mitra, one of the most prominent voices on the topic of Blindian (Black and South Asian) relationships. She is a perfect illustration of a life untethered, as she's broken free of numerous templates in the South Asian diaspora - in her choices of career, romantic partner, and strategies for managing her mental health.

Tanya is an Indian-Canadian-American former luxury fashion executive turned Conscious Change Life Coach who works with Women of Color + Women of Immigrant Descent to break the cycles of limitation by unpacking toxic cultural and societal conditioning.

Tanya is also the creator of The Remixed Relationship (formerly known as Blindian Bliss), a group coaching program and community that supports South Asian women in a relationship with a Black partner who are struggling to navigate familial and cultural disapproval by learning to courageously and confidently live in their truth.

We touched on many topics, including:

• How relations between black and South Asian communities – specifically romantic and marital relationships - have evolved since the 1990's, when Tanya began her first relationship with a black boyfriend in high school.
• Tanya's incredibly challenging journey with mental health, which began at age 16 with several suicide attempts, hospitalization, and multiple rounds of trial and error with medication. By getting curious, reading extensively, and probing beyond the "script" read to her by doctors, she was able to own her health and achieve happiness, balance, and stability in her life.
• The mission of Blindian Bliss, a group coaching program that helps South Asian women in relationships with black men achieve "self-awareness, love, heart-centered guidance, and enjoy the best and most important ride of their lives," along with success stories of women who have gone through the program.

Are you looking to improve your mental health and overall sense of wellbeing? Focusing on deep breathing and gentle poses through the practice of yoga may help!

On this podcast, we love to go beyond medication and cognitive behavioral therapy and other traditional modalities in exploring approaches to managing mental wellness.

In this encore episode of Untether Your Life, we discuss yoga as a mental health management tool. To help educate us and our audience, we have invited one of the practice’s preeminent voices, Dylan Bernstein. Nikhil and Dylan met in middle school at Maumee Valley Country Day School in Toledo, Ohio in 1989. This is where Dylan was introduced to yoga and meditation at age 14, from their favorite teacher Jenny Barthold. Since then, he has called upon these practices to engage the body, still the mind, and seek more subtle expressions of self.

He has gone on to teach classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher training in Hong Kong, Istanbul, Bali, and other locations worldwide.

While all physical exercise plays a role in improving your mental health, yoga is particularly helpful as it incorporates breathwork and meditation to help quiet the mind.

Tuning in today, you’ll learn more about Ashtanga yoga, the self-directed practice of Mysore, and some of the ​​benefits of yoga and meditation for not only your physical health but your mental and emotional wellbeing too!

Ultimately, Dylan believes that yoga is for everyone, not just Instagram models in designer yoga pants or devout yogis who can twist themselves into seemingly impossible poses. It’s all about owning your health and doing what works for you, and we hope that this episode will inspire you to do just that.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The value of having a good teacher
• Insight into Dylan’s yoga journey, which began when he was in high school
• The surprising role Indian comic books played in inspiring his first trip to India
• How Dylan learned to follow his bliss – as per Joseph Campbell
• Why he believes that education is key to your personal foundation
• How the pandemic influenced his practice and brought philosophy to the fore
• Sacrifice, gratitude, practice, and detachment: what yoga means to Dylan
• Breath and pose in the practice of Ashtanga
• Why yoga is often misunderstood as a physical, acquisitive practice
• An understanding of the self-directed approach of Mysore
• Dylan’s thoughts on the commercialization of yoga
• Going beyond the cookie-cutter solutions of medication and cognitive therapy
• Benefits of yoga and meditation for your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing
• How to start your yoga journey, starting with finding a good teacher!

This week's episode features my thoughts on The Life Shift Podcast as well as a trailer for the show, which launched a year ago.

One of the things I've loved most about my journey in podcasting is connecting with amazing fellow podcasters such as the show's host, Matt Gilhooly. The Life Shift Podcast features candid conversations with people about the pivotal moments that changed their lives forever.

We all have our stories, but through these conversations, we discover communities. We learn that there are commonalities through the ups and downs that we all face. But most importantly, we learn that we are not alone. The Life Shift podcast highlights life-altering moments and humanizes the struggles and triumphs through them all.

Please follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and listen to new episodes every Tuesday morning.

If you enjoy The Life Shift Podcast, please take a moment to rate the show 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In honor of the one-year anniversary of The Life Shift, here's a quick bit from Matt discussing the show, along with a "highlight reel" featuring some incredible guests.

This trailer features moments from episodes, including:

• Pamela Topjian
• Matt LeBris
• Cristina Marcello
• Matt Drinkhahn
• Wiley Davis
• Rebecca Lerch
• Claudia Noriega-Bernstein
• Brian Acord

The central theme of Untether Your Life is going beyond traditional modalities for managing your mental and physical wellness. What does that actually mean though? It’s a very broad statement, but intuition, inner child work, and energy healing are some of the essential elements of this holistic approach. 

Robert Pardi is the founder of Possibility in Action™, "a powerful personal growth philosophy that can help unlock a world of limitless possibilities and potential."

Robert embodies the tenets of Untether Your Life: after his young wife passed away of metastatic breast cancer, Robert re-imagined his life and left his comfort zone to achieve new dreams. He now shares the many life lessons he’s learned through his work and fashioned his life as an example of Possibility in Action™.

Prior to his dramatic life change, the New York City native had spent several years in the Middle East, as Senior Portfolio Manager in Abu Dhabi, and Co-Founder of the Dubai-based Private Equity firm Evolvence Capital. He now spends the majority of his time in Abruzzo, Italy.

Outside of traditional coaching, Robert hosts personal growth retreats and workshops in Italy, creates micro video mindset modules and hosts the Possibility in Action podcast. In this week's episode host Nikhil Torsekar and Robert touch on many topics, including:

• The origin of Possibility in Action, and how this platform can liberate us from the "land of regret."
• Robert's circuitous journey from an abusive upbringing in The Bronx, to a promising career in private equity and idyllic married life in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (cut far too short when his wife Desiree passed from cancer at 41), to his current vocation in Abruzzo, Italy
• How taking care of Desiree informed his decision to become a life coach and write three best-selling books
• What the imperfections in the pieces of ancient mosaics and Michelangelo's David can teach us about self actualization
• How daydreaming - an activity that we're dissuaded from as children - can serve as a powerful catalyst to help us realize a major life shift.
• Philosophies and authors who have resonated with Robert, including Richard Bach, Rumi, and stoicism - along with the Eastern notion of impermanence

The term “polymath” gets thrown around quite a bit these days, with many people positioning themselves as experts in X, Y, or Z. However, a lot of times it's, as they say, "all hat, no cattle." And then there's Erwin B. Valencia who despite wearing many hats - both literally and figuratively, truly embodies the term. 

Erwin – (aka “E,” or the “Godfather of Gratitude”) is a professional polymath: Wellness Expert/High-Performance Sports Clinician/ Life Coach / Community Nurturer / Non-Profit Founder / Mentor / Dance Ninja. 

He is the Team Physical Therapist & Wellness Lead for the New York Knicks, the first Filipino to be hired on medical staff of any major US sports team (both the NBA and MLB), founder of Grasshopper Project and Gratitude Gang, and has emerged as a Web3 thought leader on a mission to inspire 1 million Filipinos in the next 5 years. He was recently named one of the 75 Most Influential Filipino Americans, alongside celebrities such as comedian Jo Koy and singer Olivia Rodrigo

Join Untether Your Life host Nikhil Torsekar as he sits down with Erwin to discuss numerous topics, including:

Jenny Thrasher is on a mission to "shift the mental health narrative from a fear-based, crisis mentality to one of wellness and empowerment." Through her companies All That We Are and Growing Out of Darkness, as well as her writings, she was able to untether herself from the traditionally dire and hopeless approach to navigating the gut-wrenching journey of loss. This is a topic the tireless mental health advocate is all too familiar with, as her father died by suicide, her own daughter nearly took her life, and she herself struggled with suicidal ideation following pregnancy.

In this episode of Untether Your Life, host Nikhil Torsekar and Jenny touch on many topics, including:

• The vital importance of practicing safe messaging and exercising caution with our choices of words when discussing difficult concepts such as suicide 
• How the tragic loss or near loss of a loved one can teach us to shift from simply staying alive to truly living a life we love
• The actual stigma around suicide (most likely different from what you'd think)
• The background and mission of All That We Are and Growing Out of Darkness
• The story behind her published book Growing Through Grief, as well as her upcoming work
• The merits of acupuncture, reiki, reflexology, emotional freedom technique (EFT) and other holistic healing modalities

Untether Your Life has taken a deep dive into mental health in the South Asian diaspora, inspired by the lived experiences of host Nikhil Torsekar and his wife Shelly Sood. One facet of this that merits further exploration is how it impacts South Asian males, a topic near and dear to Ankur Varma’s heart.

Along with serving as Program Director at Northeast Family Services of Illinois, Ankur launched a valuable Instagram-based resource called Brown Man Therapy which is “on a mission to engage more men and normalize conversations about mental health and South Asian cultures outside of work.”

Nikhil touched on many topics with Ankur, including:

• Ankur’s upbringing in the homogenous suburbs of Cincinnati, where he was brought up in the “Indian at home and American at school” ethos
• The transition of psychiatry from a consultative model to a more transactional, efficiency-based one over the years
• The manifestation of concepts in South Asian diaspora mental health, including the model minority myth (where South Asians are encouraged to “stay in their lane”) and patriarchy as reflected by tropes such as comic Russell Peters’ angry Indian father (“Somebody gonna get hurt”)
• The pros (understanding) and cons (the “echo chamber”) of seeking therapists with a similar cultural background
• How the reticence of South Asian males in discussing mental health informed Ankur’s launch of the Brown Man Therapy Instagram feed
• Ankur’s views on breathwork, Ayurveda, meditation, and other South Asian practices discussed frequently on Untether Your Life
• The implication of "untethering your life" for his journey into therapy, social media, as well as for clients seeking help for depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health issues

This podcast is all about breaking free of traditional templates and barriers placed upon us by society. Today’s guest exemplifies this in spades. Shermin Kruse is a first generation immigrant from Iran, Northwestern University law school professor, Global Transactions Expert, former law firm partner, TEDx Producer, author, and mother of 4. 

Nikhil Torsekar had a wonderful discussion with Shermin about a broad range of topics, including:

• Shermin’s interest in Star Trek (dating back to college), and how the Vulcan philosophies of Dr. Spock partly informed her love of stoicism
• Tactical empathy - a framework that Shermin has developed, that can help us become more skilled negotiators and leaders

Shermin’s multi-faceted involvement with TEDx:

• Founder, producer, and CEO of TEDx Wrigleyville, home to more than 60 talks on neurodegenerative diseases, gender binary distinction, and other topics that “Rethink the Hypothesis”
• A speaker who has delivered two talks – one on cognitive empathy, and another on “how to change the world”

• The ways in which failure can make us stronger – specifically drawing on Shermin’s unrealized ambition of becoming the first Iranian-American federal judge in the US
• What we can learn from concentration camp survivor and world renowned thought leader Victor Frankl about controlling our lives
• Shermin’s involvement in the arts, including hosting art exhibitions, and her critically acclaimed novel Butterfly Stitching, based on the stories of the women of her family before and after the Iranian revolution

Benoit Kim could be seen as the poster boy for the mission of Untether Your Life, as he has broken free of the traditional templates of success for Asian Americans. Further, he’s gone above and beyond in owning his health, exploring the benefits of psychedelic therapies for managing mental illness both in a personal and professional capacity.

Benoit is a former policymaker turned therapist, US army veteran, and host of the Discover More Podcast - a show for introspective thinkers with growth mindsets seeking authentic life stories.

On this week’s episode of Untether Your Life, Benoit and Nikhil touch on numerous topics, including:

• Benoit’s journey in launching Discover More – a top 2% globally ranked podcast - 3 years ago, and some of the incredible guests he’s spoken with
• How podcasters and content creators can leverage social media for benefit, and overcome its destructive elements, which some scholars have equated to a casino.
• Insights from thought leaders such as Naval Ravikant, James Clear, and Dr. David Rudd
• Benoit and Nikhil’s struggles and successes in navigating the journey of the Asian diaspora, characterized by a sometimes toxic combo of pressures and prosperity
• How schools of meditation like The Silva Method can help to tune down the static in the "radios" of our brains.
• The ramifications of psychedelic therapies such psilocybin, which was shown to eradicate complex PTSD and treatment-resistant depression for more than 80% of participants in a study published in the prestigious research publication Nature

Today marks the 50th episode of Untether Your Life. We're commemorating this important milestone by rebroadcasting one of our favorite discussions, with Jason Goldberg. Enjoy! And...enjoy some more!

Do personal growth books and podcasts make you roll your eyes? Are you tired of hearing the same story of “infinite inspiration” rehashed again and again? Then the guest on this episode of Untether Your Life may be the perfect alternative solution to the dry and heavy content that you’re used to.

On today’s episode we speak with an award-winning entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, bacon-atarian (that's a vegetarian who still eats bacon), funky sock lover, a former rapper (who opened for the Wu-Tang Clan - YES, really!), and previously a 332lb man (who has since lost over 130lbs despite his affinity for bacon).

Mike and Teresa Florence have been married for 24 years and have 3 sons and 1 daughter.  Mike spent over 25 years in the global financial services and management consulting industry. Teresa earned a degree in early childhood development and spent 15 years working with children before leaving the workforce to focus on their family.  Mike and Teresa always had a passion for mental health and through their own experiences have begun a journey to create a community focused on providing support to caregivers of individuals struggling with mental health.

Mike and Teresa faced great challenges when their teenage son began struggling with addiction and depression. These were exacerbated by the complex and unwieldy process of navigating addiction treatment centers. They found the power of conversation and connection to be extremely therapeutic in navigating this harrowing journey.

Seeing that there were few resources that catered to this need for community and connection for caregivers, they developed an app called Motth, whose tagline is "Find your Light."

Happy New Year! With the start of a new year, kids are likely back to the grind - whether it's at high school, college, or other insitutions of higher learning. 

So this week's discussion is timely: host Nikhil Torsekar speaks with Jonaed Iqbal, the Founder of NoDegree.com and host of The NoDegree Podcast where he interviews people without college degrees and has them share their stories so others can follow in their path. 

Jonaed is also a YouMap® certified career coach who has helped hundreds of candidates land jobs and promotions at Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, Spotify, and other top firms. 

Nikhil and Jonaed touch on numerous topics in this interview, including:

JD Murgolo, aka JD the Jedi, is an author, ACE Certified Health Coach and Personal Trainer, speaker on anxiety and depression, and founder of the mental health community platform Fragile Moments. Host Nikhil Torsekar connected with him to dicuss several topics, including:

• How JD's background as a middle school Montessori teacher informed his love of helping adults "navigate their emotions"
• The dubious promise of health and wellness coaches "guaranteeing" elimination of anxiety, or loss of specific amounts of weight
• The role of social media in shaping community around mental health, including Fragile Moments
• Distinctions between active and passive meditation
• The origins and meaning of "Dark Days, Bright Nights," a platform that JD launched, which evolved into the Fragile Moments blog, podcast, and community
• How a humble bag of Funyuns can serve as a litmus test for attending to physical and mental health

Today's episode features a guest appearance by Nikhil Torsekar on an Instagram Live hosted by Shani, a coach  based near Lisbon, Portugal who practices breathwork and cold water exposure therapy. After these tools pulled him out of a major depression, he made it his mission to share them with others and help them discover their own power.

They touch on numerous topics geared to help you untether your life and break free of "templates," including:

• The mechanics of methodologies such as SOMA breathwork, and how they can help manage mental health
• The stigma against mental health in South Asian diaspora, and the irony that many effective stress management tools (i.e., yoga, Ayurveda, breathwork) originated in South Asia
• The concept of addiction as applied to "bad" (drugs, alcohol), and "good" things (productivity, professional success)
• The impact of careers like management consulting on mental health
• Nikhil's long and winding road with bipolar disorder, from denial, to diagnosis, to treatment, and management
• The double-edged sword of technology / social media for community building, but also "FOMO" and the insatiable need for validation
• Shani's initiatives, including a mobile app and community around breathwork, mindfulness and meditation
• The philosophy behind the new name of the podcast (Untether Your Life)

Today marks a new chapter for this podcast: we launched this initiative a year ago alongside our blog, the book we'd co-authored, as well as an upcoming movie. The core themes are owning your own health - i.e., looking beyond surgery, medication, and cognitive therapy to manage your mental and physical wellness.

More broadly, our mission is to help you as the listener "untether your life:" break free of "templates" - professional, cultural, and health-related - that you may have accepted as being written in stone. We do this by speaking with experts in meditation, folks who have struggled with mental illness, clinicians with insights on the South Asian experience and other incredible guests.

Niraj Naik has a highly effective prescription to optimize the health of your mind, body, and soul. He is a certified UK pharmacist, turned holistic wellness, brain training and breath work expert who launched SOMA Breath. Through SOMA, Niraj has trained thousands of coaches in the powerful, scientifically-backed benefits of breathwork, music, dance, and community.

Niraj developed a course called Breathwork for Life that is among the most popular on Mindvalley, a personal transformation platform with more than 12 million members. His journey is a fascinating one that demonstrates the power of "owning your health" and "untethering your life" - the key tenets of The Shelly Story podcast.

In this episode, podcast host Nikhil Torsekar and Niraj touch on the following topics:

• Niraj's time as a highly successful DJ, hosting some of the UK's largest raves, followed by returning to a his "fall back career" as a community pharmacist
• How a Tony Robbins event opened his eyes to the power of nutrition, breathing, and other nascent forms of biohacking to optimize health
• Niraj's application of these holistic health management principles as a pharmacist to rave reviews, which then ended and sent him into a deep depression combined with nearly fatal ulcerative colitis
• Niraj's "dark night of the soul," which led to a discovery of Ayurveda, meditation, music, "brain training," colostrum, and other alternatives to invasive surgery and dangerous medication
• Niraj's reinvention as "the renegade pharmacist," creation of content on YouTube, development of a music therapy business, and collaboration with Marisa Peer and Wim Hof
• How SOMA Breath has won over skeptics in the Indian medical community through the stamp of approval from Cambridge University
• The "inner pharmacy" paradigm of SOMA Breath, as a more personalized, fun alternative to the one-size-fits-all "pill for every ill" pharmaceutical model
• How community be beneficial in the healing process, but also lead to rigid, dogmatic indoctrination
• Reflections on Mindvalley, where Niraj and Nikhil had met, and how a trip to the company's "AFest" led to a very fruitful partnership
• Nikhil's reflections on teaching SOMA Breath box breathing to a classroom of 3rd graders, and the myriad benefits of teaching the next generation breathwork and meditation
• The science behind breathwork, leveraging studies by Dr. Prakash Chintamani Malshe, and the benefits on generation of stem cells for healing

Bipolar disorder is at its core a global issue: although the systems for managing the disease vary from country to country, it impacts more than 45 million people worldwide. With this, it is always enlightening to speak with individuals around the globe who have found strategies for effectively managing the disorder.

Oliver Seligman, today's guest, is a prime example: mental wellness coach, advocate, meditation teacher, and author of Befriending Bipolar and The Broker Who Broke Free. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Oliver was diagnosed with bipolar type one at seventeen. Having spent time in mental hospitals in Norway, Australia and the U.K, he finally gave up the fight, learned to accept his illness, and turned his life and his relationship with bipolar around.

Join host Nikhil Torsekar and Oliver Seligman as they explore numerous subjects, including:

One of the most rewarding aspects of The Shelly Story journey has been collaborating with organizations such as the South Asian American Policy and Research Institute (SAAPRI). SAAPRI is a non-profit nonpartisan organization established in 2001 with the mission to serve South Asian Americans in the Chicago area by using research to formulate equitable and socially responsible policy.

Nikhil appeared as a panelist on the SAAPRI Health Equity Project “Movember” panel held on IG Live. The topic of the discussion was men's health (in observance of the famous “Movember” movement), as well as mental health in the South Asian diaspora. We've taken excerpts of this discussion and presented them here for your review. To learn more about SAAPRI, please visit saapri.org.

Some of the topics covered include:

• How gratitude can devolve into gaslighting when South Asian immigrant parents unintentionally invalidate their children’s concerns
• A brief overview of SAAPRI organization, and the panelists Karan Gowda and Emmanuel Ravichandar
• Nikhil background of The Shelly Story, and its mission of helping people own their own health, and untether their lives from “templates” of what success looks like, specifically through the lens of the South Asian diaspora
• Nikhil’s experience with bipolar disorder, and the analogy to the movie Limitless with Bradley Cooper
• How the concept of bipolar disorder has evolved since 20 years ago
• Social media - its benefits (driving community and engagement) and disadvantages (portraying unattainable false images of others) vis-à-vis mental health for South Asians
• The limitations of mental health resources at universities, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic
• Why South Asians are typically unwilling to seek help until mental illness reaches crisis proportions
• One reason bipolar disorder is so difficult to diagnose: people may misinterpret mania as their loved one “coming out of a funk,” and welcome it
• How gender, race, and other demographic factors may impact choice of a therapist

The crux of The Shelly Story platform lies in "owning your own health," through healing practices beyond surgery, medication, cognitive therapy, and other traditional modalities. Additionally, it is all about untethering ourselves from conventional career paths and "templates" handed down over generations - especially as South Asian immigrants.

As such, we were very excited to speak with Rahul Kay, Founder and CEO of Sukhi, a company that seeks to reduce corporate burnout and promote wellness through both in-person activities and an innovative digital app. The platform focuses on numerous areas, ranging from meditation and mindfulness to improving performance in the workplace. Sukhi includes Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Amazon, Microsoft, and numerous other leading organizations in its impressive roster of more than 50 clients.

Join Rahul and host Nikhil Torsekar as they touch on

• The definition of the term Sukhi (Sanskrit for "happiness")
• Rahul's time at a 10-day retreat at Global Vipassana Pagoda in India
• Differences between Sukhi and Calm, Headspace, and other mental health apps on the market
• Concepts that informed the launch of Sukhi, including positive psychology and Vipassana meditation
• How Sukhi is similar to a "Peloton for emotional wellness"
• How the pressures of business school and management consulting informed Sukhi
• The resistance of many South Asians to therapy
• "Model minority" - why it's a true myth
• Rahul and Nikhil's motivation to better leverage meditation - "in their DNA" - to manage mental health
• How Sukhi is being implemented at corporations
• Future plans for Sukhi

Paris Prynkiewicz was diagnosed with depression at age 16, while her suspicion of having bipolar disorder was ignored by doctors because her productive life didn’t “fit the mold”. A few years later, she was hospitalized and court-ordered into treatment, leading to a life-changing journey of healing.

Podcaster and author of the incredible memoir, Crooked Illness: Lessons From Inside & Outside Hospital Walls, Paris Prynkiewicz is joining host Nikhil to discuss her mental health and how the shame she felt surrounding her bipolar diagnosis affected her road to recovery. You’ll also hear both of their experiences with inpatient psychiatric treatment.

On her podcast Live Well Bipolar, Paris shines light on many issues and possible solutions for those living with bipolar. Today, she’s sharing what has helped her conquer her mental health, including evaluating relationships, finding community, and challenging her inner critic.

Tune in to hear an inspiring story of change and learn how to find gratitude in the little things!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Paris’ background and advocacy
• How she came up with the term “Crooked Illness” for her podcast and memoir
• Paris shares her diagnosis journey
• Nikhil and Paris reflect on their experiences with inpatient treatment
• Changing relationships and finding community
• What has helped Paris manage her mental health?
• Paris' work with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and more mental health organizations
• Starting her podcast (Live Well Bipolar)and its goals
• What’s next in Paris’ personal and professional life
• Advice to anyone struggling with mental health issues

With the publication of her book Saaya Unveiled, Mrinal Gokhale is trying to help break the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in her community. She joins host Nikhil on The Shelly Story this week to discuss the harmful model minority myth, and how it can lead to intense pressures and lack of focus on mental health issues.

Host Nikhil of The Shelly Story, and today’s guest, Mrinal Gokhale, reflect on shared similar experiences of being from an immigrant family. Mrinal and Nikhil have dealt with the repercussions of mental illness, which are compounded by shame and stigma in South Asian culture. However, Mrinal and Nikhil both ultimately found redemption through diagnosis, finding the right treatment plan, and sharing their stories through podcasts, books, and other creative outlets.

Mrinal and Nikhil touch on the irony that South Asians often have closed-minded views on mental health, considering that wellness modalities like yoga and mindfulness originated in India. In this episode, you’ll also learn how self-awareness can help you get through life and career challenges.

Tune in for a personal look into mental health from the South Asian perspective, and the importance of sharing your story!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Mrinal shares her mental health background
• Pressures of the model minority myth
• Mrinal’s education and career
• Mental health is taboo in the South Asian culture
• What neurodivergence and neurodiversity taught Mrinal about herself
• How the pandemic affected her life and work
• The positive outcomes of getting a diagnosis
• Do you need a South Asian therapist to feel understood?
• Falsehoods surrounding marriage and divorce in South Asian cultures
• Eastern philosophies and South Asian modalities of wellness
• Finding community through her book, Saaya Unveiled

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

This quote attributed to Albert Einstein describes our collective misunderstanding of the relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind. For those who have experienced trauma, the learned act to rationalize our experiences can mean missing sometimes life-changing information from our subconscious. By tapping into her own intuition, today’s guest was able to escape an abusive relationship and start to heal.

Joining Shelly on today’s episode is Kiersten Parsons Hathcock, founder of Mod Mom Furniture, TEDx Speaker, and author of the book Little Voices: How Kids in Spirit Helped a Reluctant Medium Escape and Heal From Abuse. Kiersten is also an intuitive medium, and uses her gift at the National Institute for Law & Justice (NILJ), which she helped create with CEO Mark Pucci.

Kiersten is sharing her emotional story of healing her inner child, including repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse and finding—and then learning to listen to—her intuition. She also discusses wounded detachment, trauma bonding, and what she’s learned from children in spirit.

As you’ll hear Kiersten say in this episode, knowledge is power, so tune in to learn about intuition, healing your inner child, and more!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Kiersten on her book, Little Voices
• Her cathartic experience writing a letter to her abuser
• Acknowledging and healing her inner child
• Breaking the cycle of generational trauma
• The story behind National Institute for Law & Justice (NILJ)
• What pushed Kiersten to leave her relationship with a narcissistic abuser
• Kiersten explains wounded attachment and trauma bonding
• How to tap into your intuition
• Using binaural beats to get into an alpha state of mind
• Kiersten speaks to future generations
• The creation of Mod Mom Furniture
• Kiersten’s final thoughts and resources for abuse survivors

Do personal growth books and podcasts make you roll your eyes? Are you tired of hearing the same story of “infinite inspiration” rehashed again and again? Then the guest on this episode of The Shelly Story may be the perfect alternative solution to the dry and heavy content that you’re used to.

On today’s episode we speak with an award-winning entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, bacon-atarian (that's a vegetarian who still eats bacon), funky sock lover, a former rapper (who opened for the Wu-Tang Clan - YES, really!), and previously a 332lb man (who has since lost over 130lbs despite his affinity for bacon).

Being “gifted” doesn’t only refer to intelligence; people can be highly skilled in other areas, such as emotionality, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Neurodiversity captures the broad range of unique strengths of individuals who don’t neatly fit the typical molds that society creates. But who is serving this population of gifted adults?

Dr. Tracy Winter, aka the “Nerd Coach,” is on the show to discuss her experience coaching gifted adults and why their quirky brains are so important. She believes that neurodivergent people can change the world; they just need to live in a world where they’re able to flourish and function at their highest level.

Take a peek at Tracy’s LinkedIn profile or website for Nerd Coach and you’ll see this exemplified in one photo that shows a row of ducks, with one odd duck having a stormtrooper helmet for a head. Not everyone is “normal;” some of us are ducks, some are stormtroopers strong in their armor, and some are something entirely different — like a squirrel.

Tracy has been hired by both businesses and gifted adults in various stages of life, many of them also having ADHD, autism, and other disorders. Just like the unique brains of her clients, Tracy’s coaching process is completely individual to each person.

Whether you need help thriving in your career as an artist, scientist or stay at home parent, this episode can give you some insight and a place to look for help!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The concept of giftedness
• Tracy’s career and educational background
• The philosophy behind Tracy’s coaching business, “Nerd Coach”
• How Tracy’s Stormtrooper photo reflects the philosophy of her business
• What drew Tracy to her profession as a coach for gifted adults
• Discussion on the definition of “gifted”
• Asynchronous Development
• Tracy shares her experiences being a gifted child
• The importance of being around others like you
• Tracy’s typical client profile
• Examples of famous celebrities that fit her client profile
• Myers–Briggs Type Indicator and the gifted population
• Being gifted and finding success in your career
• How the COVID pandemic affected Tracy’s clients
• Tracy’s LinkedIn Series, “If I’m so smart, why can’t I…?”

South Asian immigrants face a number of mental health challenges associated with the pressures of straddling two different worlds. The stress that comes with acculturation, trauma, and discrimination has been linked with depression, anxiety, and more, and getting help isn’t always as easy as it seems.

Most traditional psychotherapy has been modeled on Western families, which is why today’s guest takes a more collaborative and multicultural approach. Today, we sit down with Dr. Ammara Khalid, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in individual, couples, and family therapy with children, adolescents, and adults of diverse backgrounds.

In 2012, Dr. Khalid, together with Dr. Amanda Rios, co-founded the Center of Relational Empowerment (CORE), which helps individuals, couples, and families strengthen their core selves and, in doing so, empowers them to strengthen their relationships with others.

Mental health in the South Asian diaspora is a key component of The Shelly Story, so we’re grateful to have the opportunity to speak to a mental health professional like Dr. Khalid, who is deeply knowledgeable and compassionate about this topic.

Ultimately, an understanding of different cultural perspectives and experiences is vital to how we shape mental health services for different populations of people. Tune in today to learn more!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• How Dr. Khalid’s background informed her interest in psychology
• Insight into CORE’s multicultural philosophy
• The collaborative approach of internal family systems (IFS) therapy
• Stress related to acculturation that many South Asians experience
• Why the model minority myth is so harmful
• Overcoming stigma around mental health issues in South Asian communities
• A look at CORE’s community outreach efforts
• Incorporating Eastern elements into Western psychology
• Couples therapy, love, and divorce in South Asian cultures
• Generational differences in perceptions of mental health
• Making mental health more accessible through social media
• Shifting away from strict binaries and toward understanding

Are you looking to improve your mental health and overall sense of wellbeing? Focusing on deep breathing and gentle poses through the practice of yoga may help!

On this podcast, we speak to people from a variety of backgrounds about diverse issues, most notably mental health, but we also love to dive into topics that might be considered outside the mainstream when it comes to managing mental wellness.

Today we will be discussing yoga as a mental health management tool. To help educate us and our audience, we have invited one of the practice’s preeminent voices, Dylan Bernstein. Nikhil and Dylan have quite a history, going back to their middle school days at Maumee Valley Country Day School in Toledo, Ohio in 1989. This is where Dylan was introduced to yoga and meditation when he was just 14 years old, from their favorite teacher Jenny Barthold. Since then, he has called upon these practices to engage the body, still the mind, and seek more subtle expressions of self.

He has gone on to teach classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher training in Hong Kong, Istanbul, Bali, and other locations worldwide.

While all physical exercise plays a role in improving your mental health, yoga is particularly helpful as it incorporates breathwork and meditation to help quiet the mind.

Tuning in today, you’ll learn more about Ashtanga yoga, the self-directed practice of Mysore, and some of the ​​benefits of yoga and meditation for not only your physical health but your mental and emotional wellbeing too!

Ultimately, Dylan believes that yoga is for everyone, not just Instagram models in designer yoga pants or devout yogis who can twist themselves into seemingly impossible poses. It’s all about owning your health and doing what works for you, and we hope that this episode will inspire you to do just that.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• The value of having a good teacher
• Insight into Dylan’s yoga journey, which began when he was in high school
• The surprising role Indian comic books played in inspiring his first trip to India
• How Dylan learned to follow his bliss – as per Joseph Campbell
• Why he believes that education is key to your personal foundation
• How the pandemic influenced his practice and brought philosophy to the fore
• Sacrifice, gratitude, practice, and detachment: what yoga means to Dylan
• Breath and pose in the practice of Ashtanga
• Why yoga is often misunderstood as a physical, acquisitive practice
• An understanding of the self-directed approach of Mysore
• Dylan’s thoughts on the commercialization of yoga
• Going beyond the cookie-cutter solutions of medication and cognitive therapy
• Benefits of yoga and meditation for your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing
• How to start your yoga journey, starting with finding a good teacher!

The need for mental health advocacy is at an all time high right now. Having gone through two years of a devastating pandemic, with mental health services unable to keep up with the demand, we need to speak out on behalf of those who are suffering before it is too late.

Our guests on today’s episode are two people that know how precarious mental health can be, as they watched their brother and son fall victim to mental illness, and experienced how help was not so readily available.

Joining us today are Dana Marks and Paulette Mitchell, a mother and daughter who have dedicated their lives to mental health advocacy in light of the passing of their son and brother, Joshua Marks.

Joshua was a second runner up on the popular television show ‘MasterChef’, who suffered from bipolar disorder. Dana and Paulette furiously attempted to seek adequate assistance for Joshua’s mental illness, however were disappointed with the results time and time again.

After Joshua’s passing, Dana and Paulette launched The Larger Than Life Foundation to advocate for change in how people receive mental health help, destigmatize mental illness, and champion initiatives in culinary arts and philanthropy - two causes near and dear to Joshua’s heart.

Tune in to hear a story about two strong and empowered women dedicated to change the way we think about mental health.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Some of the most successful people of our age have experienced issues with mental health. From the outside it seems as if things couldn’t be better, but the inner world can be insidious in its ability to show the world one thing but experience the inner turmoil in another way.

This rings true for our guest on today’s episode. Chris Brogan, co-author of Trust Agents, chief of staff at AppFire, executive level strategist, CEO advisor working with companies at the $100 million revenue and up range, sought after keynote speaker, and The New York Times bestselling author of nine books and counting, and, did we miss anything? The point is, this man has accomplished more in this lifetime than most dream to accomplish in 10, and he did it while dealing with depression.

Chris’ grew up in a loving, supportive home - much like The Brady Bunch, as he says. However, he still experienced severe clinical depression. After trying many different treatments, he found what worked for him and was able to manage his depression in unique ways, while still hitting major professional and personal milestones.

Chris has faced demons head on, and has come out on the other side with a ton of wisdom to share with our listeners.

Tune in to hear a story of triumph and perseverance, and someone who did not give up in the face of mental health challenges.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Background of Chris’ story
• What does AppFire do?
• Chris’s experience with social media then and now
• How has social media impacted Chris’ mental health
• Curating social media to impact your life positively
• The idea of collectively pushing social media to a more positive direction
• Chris’ journey with depression and how he manages it
• Advice for those dealing with mental illnesses
• Chris’s experience with ketamine therapy
• Cultivating connections with a good network
• The importance of advocating for your mental health
• What schools of thought has helped Chris manage his mental health
• What it means to heal the inner child

Owning your own health is one of the key precepts of The Shelly Story and GIOSTAR Chicago. As our lived experience showed us, it's important to look beyond "tried and true" methods for managing your body, mind and soul health. Eastern medicine offers many insights that may prove elusive with solely relying on surgery or medication.

With this in mind, Nikhil speaks with William J. Kaplanidis, Acupuncturist, Therapist, Teacher, Author and Founder of Acudragon Wellness. For over 30 years, William has helped people find the insight and courage to transform their lives and move towards true freedom and happiness. He developed the Acudragon® Wellness System to provide clients with skills and various modalities to achieve their goals and find their own path in life.

William has helped thousands through his individual treatment sessions as well as through his many classes. Individual sessions combine eastern modalities like acupuncture, acupressure, tui na, herbs, moxibustion, cupping with western mind-body therapies like the Sandlin Technique, hypnotherapy, counseling and aromatherapy. William teaches workshops and lectures on these modalities, as well as T’ai Chi and Qi Gong.

William lives and practices in New York City.

For more information:

"ENTJ." "ISFP." You've likely heard these abbreviations, but what do they mean exactly?

“Trauma” means many things to many people. Mytrae Meliana is innately familiar with its myriad implications, having endured an indescribably abusive marriage, being subject to exile and house arrest in India by her own parents, and fighting against cultural and societal patriarchy to find her own voice. She captured her harrowing, and ultimately redemptive story in a memoir entitled Brown Skin Girl: An Indian American Woman’s Magical Journey from Broken to Beautiful. 

Nikhil and Shelly spoke with Mytrae about her incredible story, which provides hope to many South Asian women who feel they are suffering in silence. She exudes light, wisdom, and quiet power in recounting her tale of triumph and healing, which now finds her as a holistic psychotherapist, trauma specialist, women’s empowerment and Divine Feminine teacher, channel, award-winning author, musician, sound healer, and speaker in Portland, Oregon.

For more information:

Rick Clemons is a globally recognized professional speaker, a published author (Frankly My Dear I'm Gay - A Late Bloomers Guide To Coming Out), successful podcaster (Life (UN)CLoseted and 40 Plus: Gay Men, Gay Talk), and highly regarded public speaking coach. Like more than 15 million other Americas, he also contends with the challenges of depression on a daily basis. 

In this episode, Rick speaks with Nikhil about his struggles with mental health, and what it means to live an unapologetic, uncloseted life on your terms. It was a long journey for him - coming out of the closet at 36, and stepping into entrepreneurship at 43 - but ultimately a very rewarding one.

For more information:

Alexa James is the CEO of NAMI Chicago, the Chicagoland chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness -  the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Since assuming the role in 2020, she's played an integral role in influencing mental health policies and initiatives in the nation's 3rd largest city.

We were fortunate to speak with Alexa on a broad variety of topics, including:

• What led her on the path to a career in healthcare in NAMI Chicago
• The challenges of combatting mental health in Chicago (i.e., financial, organizational, cultural) versus Los Angeles and other metropolitan areas
• Steps NAMI Chicago is taking to build a culture of wellness
• The double-edged sword of social media in managing mental health

For more information:

Mental health is not a one-size-fits-all concept. It's important to find the a therapist that understands your individual situation, and can help you manage your treatment plan accordingly.