Live Awakened- Life Coaching for Women Physicians of Color

In this episode of Brown and Happy, we sit down with Madhu, a South Asian mother, finance professional, and community advocate, for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about domestic violence in South Asian communities. Madhu lives in Somerset, NJ with her beautiful 9-year-old daughter and her adorable 5-year-old, four-legged son, Tofu. She is the Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Client Manager at Wealth Planning Advisory Group in Bedminster, NJ. Madhu also serves as the Board Treasurer for Manavi, a pioneering organization dedicated to ending violence against South Asian women. Madhu shares her insight and experiences, along with her work as Board Treasurer for Manavi—a New Jersey–based nonprofit that has been supporting South Asian survivors of gender-based violence since 1985. Together, we explore the cultural stigma that keeps survivors silent, the role of organizations like Manavi, and how community-based healing and justice are possible. This conversation is for anyone who wants to understand the intersection of culture, silence, survival, and strength.

Why are there more divorces now than ever before? Why is the birth rate declining? Why do women initiate 80% of divorces? Paige Connel joins me today to discuss gender inequity at home and in the workplace. She is a working mother of four who shares relatable content on TikTok and Instagram, highlighting the everyday experiences of women balancing motherhood, careers, and relationships. Known for her candid insights on the mental load of motherhood and the challenges of creating equity at home and work, Paige's content resonates with millions. She also advocates for affordable childcare, paid leave, and reproductive rights, sparking important conversations about what families need to thrive. Her impactful voice and relatable storytelling have led to features in Scary Mommy, The Today Show, Good Morning America, and more. IG: @sheisapageturner

What if you could step into leadership roles with courage first, knowing that confidence follows action - not the other way around? In today's episode of Brown and Happy, I'm joined by Elyse Conroy, a Fortune 500 Beauty Industry executive turned Confidence Coach and Career Advocate, dedicated to helping high-achieving women build career confidence, elevate their leadership, and achieve executive success. She works with powerhouse women to shatter self-imposed glass ceilings, silence perfectionism, and develop the bulletproof self-trust needed to take bold action—so they can unapologetically own every room, command respect, and lead with unshakable confidence. Through her coaching, electrifying keynotes, The Confidence Lounge podcast, and transformational retreats, Elyse is on a mission to help women stop doubting themselves and step fully into the executive influence, presence, and success they were born for.In this episode we dive deep into the uncomfortable truth about how change actually happens. Remember: discomfort won't kill you. In fact, it's the gateway to your next level of growth. Pour yourself your favorite drink, find a quiet moment, and listen to this conversation. I think you'll find pieces of your own story reflected in what we discuss. Connect with Elyse: Website: www.soulmakeup.com Podcast: The Confidence Lounge - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-confidence-lounge-where-ambitious-women-come-to/id1662270665 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elyseconroy/

Part 5- You DO have the TIME so stop telling yourself otherwise Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day but we choose to spend them differently. Believing that you have no control over your time is what's keeping you stuck. Learn to gift yourself a fraction of your own time daily. The only thing that has to change is the story you tell yourself to keep you in this cycle. Link to Workshop and Coaching Work With Me privately in the Brown Empowerment Mindset Coaching Program www.payalghayal.com

Part 4- Stop Feeling Guilty because you are NOT Selfish Emotional Blackmail has been engrained into our culture to control us, mostly the women. Why buy into a system that keeps you feeling small and full of self doubt. When you choose to consider you as a part of the equation, it's not because you lack gratitude. It's the total opposite but it takes practice and more importantly, believing in you. Link to Workshop and Coaching Work With Me privately in the Brown Empowerment Mindset Coaching Program www.payalghayal.com

Part 3- Comparing and Then Despairing is Keeping You in the Grey Zone It doesn't matter what SHE"S doing. No one cares and it was never important despite what you've been told. Deciding if you're enough after comparing to other's sounds so icky. Don't do it! Never helpful and doesn't truly make you feel better about you. Don't let the Aunties decide if you are winning in life. You get to tune them out and honestly tune your 1.0 version out when you find yourself doing this too! Join My List and get access to all the workshops and coaching Work With Me privately in the Brown Empowerment Mindset www.payalghayal.com

Part 2- Fear of Change is Keeping You in the Grey Zone The unknown is scary so you choose to stay put. You tell yourself at least I know how to manage the known chaos so I'l stay quiet. This is the lie you tell yourself because you're not willing to feel uncomfortable. Guess what??!! You're already miserable now so you have nothing to lose. Learn why run from uncertainty and what your body is actually trying to tell you. Join my list and get access to all the workshops and coaching Work with me privately in the Brown Empowerment Mindset Program www.payalghayal.com

Part 1- Get Out of the Grey Zone by Stop asking for permission Permission is the main reason we all stay put and frozen. This is not surprising at all because we have been trained all our lives to ask. It does't go away once you're a successful educated boss. I bet you will argue that you would never call yourself a success, well that's conditioning too. Check out this weeks episode where we start to uncover how to get unstuck. Join my email list. Want to go deeper and work with me privately. Book a time to talk today. www.payalghayal.com

LA Fires brought tragedy in Jan 2025 but thesis not unique to those affected. Stuff happens all of our lives but how do we respond? The Angelinos haven't lost hope and that's why the community is even stronger now than it was before the Wildfires started. Where in your life do you have no control what comes at you- marriage, parenting, family or work? Have you equipped yourself with resources and community to still move forward towards the results you truly want in your life? Listen and find out how good can still be found in pain and sadness. For resources on how to help, check out my IG- @payalghayalmd www.payalghayal.com

Did the election leave you feeling numb, angry, frustrated or scared? If the answer to this question is yes then this episode is for you. If you answered no then skip this episode, it's not for you. We will process, heal and grow together but first we need to accept some hard truths. Let's dive in!

Imagine this: a mother of three, holding onto hope that her marriage could be saved, until everything came crashing down with her husband's latest affair. Hendra van Niekerk was in disbelief when reality hit her hard. She had just two weeks to gather her things and leave, making way for his new girlfriend. As if that weren't enough, things took a darker turn when she uncovered a chilling truth—he had been stalking all his mistresses for years. But that was only the beginning of her nightmare. After leaving, temporarily separated from her kids, Hendra faced a heart-wrenching realization: her husband had been mentally abusing them. For years, she had been their shield, unknowingly taking the blows to protect them. Now, without her protection, they were vulnerable. What followed was a grueling three-year battle—a fierce fight to escape his control and reclaim not just her life, but her children's safety. It's a deeply emotional journey fueled by a mother's fierce determination. Join us for Hendra's incredible path to freedom in this episode. #Greyzonenomore #Freetolive #AbuseFree

Safety is the love language of our nervous system.......Stephanie Crochet shared this brilliance in this episode. She is a Nervous System Regulating Coach and Yoga Teacher. With over 10 years of experience as a yoga teacher and retreat leader, Stephanie is dedicated to pioneering holistic and preventative tools that empower women to live vibrant and thriving lives! Healing the nervous system is about slowing down, taking a pause and doing less. It's not possible to heal on the go! Stephanie uses different strategies rooted in yoga that help relax and restore your body on a cellular level while also supporting the new neural pathways that are created in your brain! https://stephaniecrochet.com/ Instagram @stephcrochetyoga

Dr. Najifa Choudhury is an ambulatory care pharmacist and founder of a CBD company, Dr. Peace Lily. Through her formal education and training, she specialized in geriatric care with a focus on holistic healing. As a pharmacist, she values and trusts prescription medications but noticed most patients are fast to take a pill to fix their problems rather than figure out the root cause and try non-pharmacological options first. As a health care professional, she believes everyone should have a holistic approach to healing and not just medicating. Three years ago, when she was suffering from stress & anxiety, she looked for natural ways to help calm her racing thoughts and during that journey of healing, she discovered the plant medicine that is CBD and all its health benefits! CBD has helped Dr. Choudhury take back control of her life and changed the initial negative stigma she had about CBD. After using CBD herself and researching the cannabis industry extensively, she found two major issues: firstly, the immense knowledge gap amongst healthcare professionals when it came to CBD, and secondly, how unregulated the industry is. She decided to solve both of these issues and overcome this general incompetency around CBD, and as a result, launched her own company in 2019, Dr. Peace Lily - and has been impacting lives ever since. She has been able to grow her company by 400% in the last year and launch her products into retail in Metro Detroit. In the summer of 2021, She decided to focus on Dr. Peace Lily full-time and quit her ambulatory care pharmacist job. The transition felt seamless when she realized she was making such a positive impact on the Detroit community with her business. Her main goal is to empower more patients through education and to bridge the gap between prescription medications and CBD. With how much the brand has grown so far and the influence it has been making in the lives of the community and others, she has considered raising capital to scale her business as the goal is to be a leading CBD company founded by a healthcare professional. So far her work has been featured in numerous media outlets such as Cosmopolitan Magazine, WXYZ Channel 7, SEEN, HOUR Detroit, Top Doc, Authority, and others. Her love of wanting to educate and empower patients as a CBD health consultant to be their best advocate has been extremely evident, and she is often asked to speak at conferences and give keynote speeches about pharmacology, CBD, and cannabis-related topics. www.payalghayal.com

Pakistani designer and TV personality Fariha Nasir joins me to share how she created her own identity against all odds. Fariha Nasir is a self-taught designer and DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting spaces that tell stories. Armed with a Fine Art degree in painting and a can-do creative spirit, Fariha launched her blog Pennies for a Fortune in 2019 to document her DIY journey of transforming her Houston, TX, builder grade house into her custom dream home. Since then, it has grown into a robust and loyal community that appreciates good design and the struggles of DIY. Fariha is also the host of TV show Problem Spaces on Magnolia Network. www.payalghayal.com How to follow Fariha... Instagram Blog TikTok

Going from a start up to artist is not an easy step for anyone, let alone a woman of color. Natasha Patel is a self-taught abstract artist based out of Costa Mesa, CA. She worked nearly a decade in toxic male dominated corporate start-ups before making the leap to become an artist and creative entrepreneur full time towards the end of 2021. She uses fluid acrylics, inks, sand, and epoxy resin to create statement abstract paintings that are bold in color and vibrant in composition. Natasha is heavily influenced by the organic patterns and structures found in nature and the universe, and is currently working on an abstract collection inspired by ancient Indian architecture and textiles. Are you a generational disruptor? We dive deeper into what that means and how that shows up in an immigrant family. www.payalghayal.com website: https://napagogoart.com/ instagram: @napa.gogo.art

Payal Desai, also known as Payalforstyle on Instagram and tiktok. Her viral “Dusty Son” series on social media seeks to dispel traditional gender roles beginning right in her home - teaching her sons. The series has MILLIONS of likes and has grabbed the attention of media outlets and talk shows including the @tamronhall show on ABC @fox29philly @parents BusinessInsider (@insiderbusiness ), and more. In many ways Payal's role as an educator (16 years in the classroom) informs much of her content creation influence and strategy. In todays's episode we dive deeper into her journey from Educator to Content Creator. Being in the public eye and sharing about her own story of sobriety, gender disappointment, and advocacy. She had to make some difficult decisions and I am in awe of her commitment to her own values and ethics. www.payalghayal.com

Do you notice the subconscious competitive vibe in the brown community? You've noticed it among the older generation when you were a kid and even asked to participate. Remember the aunties and uncles would gloat about how smart and talented their kids were compared to others? This is the message we all received from our families, culture and our communities so of course we carry it on into our adult lives. But how do we stop passing down the trauma and hatred among our own people. I'd love to hear your feedback. Check out a free video series I put together for you- How to Stop Caring What the Aunties Think

It's going to get real this summer. I am going to talk about all the deep struggles that I have personally experienced and in the process of overcoming, maybe even overcome a few. I will also, take time to highlight other journeys that may resonate from my clients or interviews of powerful Brown Women. www.payalghayal.com

Why are there so many successful brown ladies in their 40's right now??? I've had more of you reach out to me because you think there's something wrong with you or the life choices you have made in the past. Well, let me clear this up for you. It's not you, it's the system. This does not mean you're screwed. Instead, it's the complete opposite, now you can make it work for you. Let me show you how. Here's the exclusive video series about- How to stop caring what the aunties think? https://www.payalghayal.com/aunties Ready to take advantage of the End 2024 with a Bang offer, book your call here. https://calendly.com/payalmd/consultation

Joy is available to you at all times, even in the midst of suffering. Today Dr. Sethi joins me to discuss Joy, Justice and its connection to the brown community today. Tanmeet Sethi, MD is an Integrative and Psychedelic Medicine Physician, activist, author, and TEDx speaker who has dedicated her career to care for the most marginalized patients in Seattle's refugee, uninsured and homeless populations as well as global communities traumatized by manmade and natural disasters as senior faculty for The Center for Mind Body Medicine. Her first book, Joy Is My Justice: Reclaim Yours Now, published in May 2023, is a radical call to claim Joy as our birthright, the deepest liberation we can know and a path to power through oppression. She is also a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington and a primary clinical investigator there on the sacred plant medicine, psilocybin. In her clinical practice, she weaves modern and ancient medicine to catalyze the most profound healing. More info on her practice and her book are at her website: https://www.tanmeetsethimd.com Her Joy Is My Justice community is on Substack: https://tanmeetsethimd.substack.com Instagram: @tanmeetsethimd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanmeetsethimd LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanmeet-sethi-md-8550a2114/

Most of us are first-or second-generation immigrants. We have mastered thinking inside the box over the years. But what would life look like if we were curious and willing to experience a little discomfort? Where in your professional life could you think outside the norm? Apply for a promotion, or new project, switch gears, or even take a sabbatical. Now, where have you had to color inside the lines in your personal life? Is it in your marriage, parenting, or dating? Check out this week's episode. We continue to honor AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. I have a gift for you! Enjoy a video series I made for you- How to Stop Caring What the Aunties Think. https://www.payalghayal.com/aunties

Taking responsibility of your life is the most powerful step you can implement today. No matter what you're struggling with, there is something that you do have control of and that's where you focus your energy. Feeling stuck, defeated and like a victim in your career, marriage, body and relationships is common but believing that there's nothing you can do is what feels powerless. In this episode we talk about taking the first step, even though it doesn't feel like a big accomplishment in the moment. It's the little things that will help you gain power and take control. Check out a fun video series I put together just for you. https://www.payalghayal.com/aunties

The fear of the unknown leads us to feel paralyzed to make any new changes in both our personal and professional life. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.... The known poison is easier than the unknown.... However you want to say it, the fear exists. In today's episode we discuss how this way of thinking especially affects the AAPI community. Check out the amazing 3 series video resource I made for you- How to Stop Caring What the Aunties Think ttps://www.payalghayal.com/aunties

Worker Bee Mentality is a very common theme in the Asian American Pacific Islander Community. In honor of AAPI heritage month, we dive deeper into the immigrant journey. The scarcity promoted the worker bee mindset but this is exactly what keeps you from getting the promotion, equal pay or have a healthy nurturing relationship. Check out a gift I have put together for you. Learn how to Stop Caring what the Aunties Think https://www.payalghayal.com/aunties

In Honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we will dive deeper into the significance of who and what we are truly celebrating. In this episode we talk about what makes the AAPI community unique collectively and individually. A common thread of immigration and preservation of our culture and traditions in a new land binds us together. For many decades and even centuries we have slowly grown to reject our own culture. However, I found that now we can reassess our reasons and re-evaluate our intentions. In todays' episode we discuss the difference between the family heirlooms we want to keep and pass down to the next generation and the clutter we no longer wish to keep. Resources: How to Stop Caring What the Aunties Think Freebie https://www.payalghayal.com/aunties IG @payalghayalmd Private FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyourown1advocate/?ref=share_group_link&mibextid=S66gvF www.payalghayal.com

How do you respond when your child does ok but you know they have so much more potential? What does the little voice in your head say? Whose voice is it? Mostly likely it's your parent. As an immigrant you were conditioned to always do your best and that hard work always pays off. What if that was what kept you not enjoying your accomplishments. How can we stop continuing the vicious cycle? Let me tell you... www.payalghayal.com

Time is running out... Time will pass you by before you know and it and they will be all grown up... I don't have enough time... Do these sound familiar?? Time is the only constant and you have zero control over it but somehow you try to control it. In this episode we discuss the various spectrum of parenting and it's relationship to time- either it's moving too fast or slow. I share how to stop parenting from scarcity, anxiety and worry. I'd love to hear your feedback. What resonated? What didn't? www.payalghayal.com

Parenting is tough, even when everything is going ok. Knowing that there's things that you can and cannot control is the secret. The reason most of us struggle is that we set ourself up to fail by expecting change from our children. Yes, we do have a responsibility to parent but it's ok to not be surprised when people show you who they are. In today's episode I share about my son's struggle in his school and how I had to step up and advocate for him. All of us had lots of anxiety in the process but it's ok to change your external circumstances to help you and your child. I have been a practicing Pediatrician since 2009 and then added my integrative medicine and coaching to the mix. Over the next few episodes we will cover various common parenting struggles. www.payalghayal.com

How did you meet your partner? Love Marriage, Arranged Marriage or Something Else. Many of us have a subconscious checklist that we have created from our parents, culture and society which we use to meet the right guy. So yes, you chose your partner but was it really left to chance?? If you're struggling in your marriage, divorced, or thinking of separating.... listen to this week's episode. www.payalghayal.com

Are you having FUN? Why or why not? Take a minute to reminder the last time you laughed freely. Telling yourself that you don't have time or energy is common. We all tell ourselves these stories to keep ourselves on the checklist. It's a vicious cycle that is never ending. In this episode we will talk about practical ways to incorporate fun again without guilt. If you want to feel free and laugh again unapologetically, book a consult for my private coaching program. Don't wait any longer, let help you. I got you! https://calendly.com/payalmd/consultation

Do you find yourself jumping from one relationship to another? Are you constantly looking for the next best thing at work? Do you tend to shop around a lot for a coach or therapist? It's not a problem to know your options but are you getting the results that you wan tin your life, probably not. In this episode we talk about struggling with committing when you start feeling scared, anxious, or uncomfortable. The grass is not greener somewhere else, it's green where you water. But why are you keeping yourself from watering or if you start, why do you quit? Stop sabotaging yourself and then blame everyone else, including you instead actually dealing with the source of the problem..... telling yourself there's something better out there in the universe and you just haven't found it yet.

How long are you going to that horrible thing that happened to you? -Broken marriage -Major Career Change -Health Crisis Yes it happened to you but you don't have to keep it alive now. Letting go of the past allows for new door open today if you have spent time healing and growing. Have you been lurking and listening to me but not sure how to move forward? It's simple, just book a call for a consult for The Brown Empowerment Mindset. www.payalghayal.com

Today Tanya Mitra and I candidly discuss dating, marriage and relationships as women who want to live unapologetically as brown women. Tanya is a certified life coach and the founder of The REMIXED Relationship, providing culturally-sensitive coaching for couples in intercultural relationships. As an Indian-Canadian-American divorced + re-partnered mom of 2/step-mom of 4, with 27+ years of lived experience in interracial and blended families, she understands the significant impact of cultural conditioning and external pressure that impact intercultural relationships beyond the typical ‘relationship problems'. IG: @the.remixed.relationship

Doing it all on your own is possible but definitely hinders possibilities you never know existed. Today Dr. Sipra joins me to talk about your experience with coaching with me and why she decided to work with me. In addition to being a Psychiatrist and mom of four, she is CEO and Cofounder of Hellolunajoy. www.payalghayal.com

It's ok to change your mind. Just because you decided on something a long time doesn't mean you're stuck with that decision. The reason most folks are unhappy with their current relationships and careers, they don't reassess past choices. What does it mean if I want something different now? Did I mess up? Did I waste time? Take some time to think about a decision you made in the past that no longer feels right. In this episode we learn to do this with self love and compassion. www.payalghayal.com

Stop Spinning and Overthinking Your Choices. There is no RIGHT Answer There is no RIGHT Choice Over researching is all you know but it doesn't play a role when you actually want to get stuff done. Learn how to get out of your way www.payalghayal.com

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions - Making decisions is exhausting. As women we make them all day long at work and home. So when it comes to making a decision for yourself, of course it gets put on the back burner. What if decisions could be easy?? No Drama, no fuss, no overwhelm. Sign up for emails to get access to Decisions without Drama Workshop https://mindset-thed.mykajabi.com/mylist

Don't wait for your life to happen to you, YOU happen to it! In this episode I share about the adventure I created with my kids solo over winter break. The three of us went on a ten day adventure to Cape Canaveral and a Royal Caribbean Cruise. It was truly magical and a growth experience for all three of us. I also share how one of my sweet clients crated her own adventure after working with me for a year. Anything is possible with the right tools and accountability. www.payalghayal.com

Women of Color in a traditionally male dominated field is lonely uphill battle. Dr. Talithia Williams joins me today to share her story of a Black Woman in Mathematics. Statistician Talithia Williams is an innovative, award-winning college professor, a host of the PBS NOVA documentary Zero to Infinity, co-host of the PBS NOVA series NOVA Wonders and a speaker whose popular TED Talk, “Own Your Body's Data”, extols the value of statistics in quantifying personal health information. She demystifies the mathematical process in amusing and insightful ways to excite students, parents, educators and the larger community about STEM education and its possibilities. In 2015, she won the Mathematical Association of America's Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member, which honors faculty members whose teaching is effective and extraordinary, and extends its influence beyond the classroom. It is this excellence that attracted the attention of online educational company The Great Courses, which selected Williams to produce “Learning Statistics: Concepts and Applications in R,” a series of lectures in which she provides tools to evaluate statistical data and determine if it's used appropriately. She is the author of “Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics”, a full-color book highlighting the influence of women in the mathematical sciences in the last two millennia and has narrated several science documentary films including; Hindenburg: The New Evidence, Our Beautiful Planet, Secrets in our DNA, and the joint BBC and NOVA 5-part series Universe: Revealed. Williams is a proud graduate of Spelman College (B.A., mathematics), Howard University (M.S., mathematics) and Rice University (M.A., Ph.D., statistics). Her research involves developing statistical models that emphasize the spatial and temporal structure of data and applying them to problems in the environment. She's worked at NASA, National Security Agency and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and has partnered with the World Health Organization on research regarding cataract surgical rates in African countries. Faith and family round out a busy life that she shares with her husband and three amazing boys. Through her research and work in the community at large, she is helping change the collective mindset regarding STEM in general and math in particular, rebranding the field of mathematics as anything but dry, technical or male-dominated but, instead, a logical, productive career path that is crucial to the future of the country.

Tired of defining your family with societal rules?? You get to create your own rules. Dr. Flora joins me today to dive deeper into mindset work around infertility. She is a mindset transformation coach, board certified internist, speaker, and an IVF warrior. Her own mindset journey stemmed from her experiences as a first generation South Asian, a woman in medicine, post partum depression, motherhood, and, most importantly, her battle with secondary infertility. There was a point in time where she was stuck in a negative cycle of thinking and didn't recognize herself. Mindset shifting changed her life. Instagram @drflorasinha

Tired of defining your family with societal rules?? You get to create your own rules. Dr. Flora joins me today to dive deeper into mindset work around infertility. She is a mindset transformation coach, board certified internist, speaker, and an IVF warrior. Her own mindset journey stemmed from her experiences as a first generation South Asian, a woman in medicine, post partum depression, motherhood, and, most importantly, her battle with secondary infertility. There was a point in time where she was stuck in a negative cycle of thinking and didn't recognize herself. Mindset shifting changed her life. instagram @drflorasinha

Procreation is an unspoken rule in many communities. The lack of children creates lots of shame, especially for women. Interestingly, there is higher incidence of specific fertility challenges that occur specifically in the South Asian Community. I go deeper into this conversation with fertility expert and coach Dr. Erica Bove. Erica Bove, MD, is a double board certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist, as well as a certified life coach through The Life Coach School. She is a practicing fertility specialist at the University of Vermont. She is also the founder of Love and Science: Thriving through Infertility, as well as the head coach for Dr. Kavetha Sun's Heal Your Relationships Program. In the fertility world, she has a keen interest in marrying an evidence-based approach with intuitive knowing n the context of a trusting physician patient relationship. As a life coach and thought leader, she is passionate about bringing this same integration to the coaching relationship. She is an expert in the field of sex and intimacy, as well as embodiment and mindful self compassion. She believes that the best outcomes are obtained when the whole person is seen and understood. Her mission is to heal and support the healers and to create a legacy she is proud of. Website: loveandsciencefertility.com

Selfish is Good. Selfish is the Goal. Selfish means taking care of self. When we are all caring for ourselves the world is a kinder place. I see selfish as self love, self compassion, and self forgiveness. Join me today to stop overthinking caring for you and giving you what YOU need. www.payalghayal.com

Surviving in Silence is worse than suffering in silence. Ektha Aggarwal, LCSW and CEO Founder of Shakti Therapy & Healing Services in Los Angeles. We met a South Asian Mental Health Gala she hosted and decided to show up solo. It was the best decision ever! In today's episode we dive into the specific barrier for Brown Women obtaining mental healthy support. the barriers from culture, family and most importantly themselves. Ektha Aggarwal is the top 3 South Asian therapists in Los Angeles and Founder of the group practice Shakti Therapy and Healing Services. Shakti Therapy offers a holistic and psychotherapeutic approach to help clients realize that we are an integral part of the vast and complex web of life - that the health of the whole is intimately connected with the health of the individual. Ektha believes we are not separate from nature, from ourselves or even each other - that in a very real way, every one of our decisions and actions affects all of these realms. Combining both ancient Eastern and the most up to date scientific modalities, Ektha's work stems from a basis of connection - mind to body, human to nature, individual to community, physical to spiritual, past to present to future. In her practice Ektha also offers a variety of treatments from crystal healing, psychedelic assisted therapy and other holistic interventions. Her goal is to help her clients acknowledge, learn from, and release the suffering that might be within them. Her approach focuses on addressing the root cause, rather than simply working through easing the symptoms of suffering. Ektha has published her work with ScienceDirect, Good Indian Girl blog, Brown Women's Health, and Women's Web. She also speaks at seminars and participates in corporate panels across the nation. To learn more about Shakti Therapy and Healing services, please visit www.shaktitherapyhealing.com or email Ektha at info@shaktitherapyhealing.com. WEBSITE: https://www.shaktitherapyhealing.com/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/shaktitherapy/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/shaktitherapyhealing/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ShaktiHeal

Brown Ambitious and Free- In todays episode I'm joined by the host of the Brown AF podcast, Niha Wunnava. She helps Directors, VP's & Execs get promoted and improve their bottom line in 90n days.Niha has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and coaches clients in healthcare tech and bio about how to be BULLETPROOF - and think and get results like a respected, highly rewarded CEO Boss. She is the host of the Brown AF - Brown, ambitious and free podcast where she talks about taboo topics - and the importance of OVERLOOKED SUCCESS FACTORS like rejection and failure. Her leadership development program CEO Reinvention serve and accelerates ambitious, female leaders to succeed and THRIVE beyond what they ever thought possible. Her clients break through limitations, glass ceilings, and cultural barrier as they become bulletproof. In todays episode we discuss barriers WOC face growing up and how it affects the women we become. We also share the beliefs that can start creating shifts today. www.payalghayal.com www.nihacoaching.com

Growing up in am enmeshed family tends to replicate in the next generation with codependency in relationships. But it doesn't have to be this way. In this episode we discuss the different tools you can use to start living the authentic you even if you grew up without healthy emotional and physical boundaries. www.payalghayal.com

Lack of emotional and physical boundaries in family is a common occurrence in most families. It is accepted culturally as a norm but this doesn't have to stay this way. In this weeks episode I describe what an enmeshed family looks like, specifically a brown family. I bet most of us can relate to the common examples we tend to overlook. www.payalghayal.com

Relationships come in three categories- 1. Relationship with the world, acquaintances, friends 2. Relationship with husband, partner, kids, family 3. Relationship with self In this episode we ask lots of questions and allow time to stop and actually think about our own relationships. Message me or email your answers so I can support your specific struggles in the coming episodes. www.payalghayal.com

Ignoring red flags has been normalized for many of us. It may be how your family, community or culture dealt with uncomfortable situations. When we don't learn what red flags are then of course they are invisible to us, especially when we start dating and creating new relationships in our adult life. I have a special guest join me today to talk about her experience with her own abusive relationship that she didn't see coming and how she found the courage to find her own voice through it all. Navjot Dhaliwal is a life coach that specializes in women break through their subconscious limitations so they can create their ideal reality. She is passionate about seeing visions come to life- from love/relationships to career and projects, she loves seeing women stop arguing for their limitations and instead, build the other side where their true light can shine. Follow her @metaphysical_goddess

Do you get frustrated that various lifestyle and wellness platforms that originated in the east are led by non-brown folks?? I was part of a discussion with a group of south asian mental health advocates and I could totally see why they were frustrated. I used to think the same way. But I had to take ownership of why we avoid taking lead in these spaces. Others will pick up on our culture and lead if we don't. Don't get mad, pick it up yourself. Book your consultation for The Brown Empowerment Mindset today. https://calendly.com/payalmd/consultation

Part 2- Dr. Priyanka Venugopal joins me again to talk about the role food plays in our wellness but this week our focus is a little different. We share the importance of food in our childhood and how we start building stories early on. Next, we tackle how we take the parts we love and leave the rest behind in our parenting journey. Best part, we get to pave our own path. Priyanka Venugopal is an Ob/Gy physician-turned-coach for high achieving professional moms who want to lose weight without a calculator and create more sustainable ease at work and home. Over 10 years she has talked with thousands of high achieving professional women and gotten to the root of the high achiever's biggest obstacles in hitting goals at work and on the scale. Resources: Podcast: https://www.theunstoppablemombrain.com/podcast Work with her: https://www.theunstoppablemombrain.com/group Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunstoppablemombrain/