PlayGround

"It was like a Sunday, and I woke up - my mom doesn't often bring me the newspaper because I was a kid, and I didn't really wanna read the newspaper - but one day she did, and I flipped through it. And I remember they said they had a city council meeting the next week and I was like 14. And I just wondered, 'What does a city council do?' So I said, 'Mom, when you get off work, can you drive me to a city council meeting?' And luckily my mom and I are on the same page about a lot of things. So she was like, 'Yeah, sure. I'm gonna drive my 14 year old to a city council meeting. Of course that's gonna happen.' And I attended. And then I go in. Being so straightforward with you, I remember thinking my town is about 50-50 Black and White, and we don't unfortunately have a lot of other racial and ethnic diversity. But when I walked in that room, it was me 14 year old, little Black girl, and everyone else over there was minimum 65 year old White guy. And I just remember being very confused about that. Because if our town is 50-50, why aren't 50-50 represented in city government?" Meet Eboni Freeman, a fellow Emory alum who is passionate about advocacy work in corporate and nonprofit spaces. She is also the founder of Wonder Stars of the Universe (https://www.wonderstarsuniverse.com/about), a brand with the intention to spread a message about equity and inclusion through podcasting, blogs, and creative writing. Eboni excels at disability inclusion and accessibility work. We have a conversation on what it means to actually create change in the world, and the patience that requires. If you are curious about diversity inclusion or accessibility work, feel free to reach out to Eboni and listen to the conversation!

"I think serendipity is a big word for me too. And I also think that it's somehow comforting to me and something that I talk to my children about all the time. I think it's wonderful if you know what you want to do, if you have a passion from the get go, but, the reality is not that for a lot of us. And certainly that was the case for me. You have so many opportunities to find your way and to change your mind and, you know, to reinvent yourself and to eventually fall into something that really drives you, that you find interesting and compelling that you want to dedicate your time to. And so I think sometimes there's so much pressure when we're young and when we're, you know, I mean out of high school and getting into college to figure out exactly what to study, what you want to be. And the reality is, you know, hopefully life is long and you get multiple chances to figure out what your purpose is." Meet Ghila Sanders, a friend I connected with through Amelia, a previous podcast guest. Ghila and I share a wonderful conversation about the boundary between work and passion, and how we can work towards minimizing that boundary through creativity. We also discuss what her travels back home to Italy have taught her and the insights about life she has gained from being a mother. I know it has been a while since an episode has been released, but I am happy to return with this specific conversation and more to come soon!

"Sometimes, you know, you smile and have eye contact with someone else who's dancing salsa on this random Central Park corner. And you'll be like, 'Oh! like, you know, that human connection!' And so, I love that. I think the world is a book itself, so I'm able to read those pieces and kind of like imagining their story. I was walking on the street and there's like so many faces coming, you know, there's all these crowds. And to start imagining the life story of the other person? We don't typically make eye contact here in New York City. I don't intentionally make eye contact with strangers on the street. But I kind of like, just look at them. I mean, not intentionally, but thinking about, 'Okay, well, what is this person living through right now?' And I think it brought a lot of empathy. It's always like based on nothing, but it brought a lot of empathy inside of me because I'm just thinking about the stories behind those strangers, which I find comforting, strange enough, after a year of basically isolating."

Meet Brad Melnychuk, a conscious life and business coach with ten years of experience in the health/fitness industry from Canada. We talk all things personal development, entrepreneurship, and the journey of life. This episode is for those who want to hear a story about entrepreneurship and taking the chance on a passion. Brad is a genuine individual who cares about helping others better themselves, and that quality of his shines in our conversation.

Meet Dr. Frank Gaertner, the associate director of academic advisement at Emory who oversees the international student academic advising program. More importantly though, Dr. Gaertner serves as a mentor and role model to many at Emory, as students and faculty alike appreciate the enthusiasm and passion that he brings to the Emory community. In our conversation we discuss Dr. Gaertner's childhood and what brought him to higher education. He tells stories of growing up in a small town in Ohio, traveling to South Korea, and taking more risks. Having Dr. Gaertner on the podcast was an immense pleasure, and I truly enjoyed diving deeper in his childhood and understanding what brings him joy in the day to the day right now. If you want to learn more about the adventures of a human being who grew up in a small town in Ohio, how he embraces the different cultures and perspectives of the bigger world, and how he impacts Emory students on the daily, this is the episode for you! A takeaway: He encourages our listeners to focus on the identities that bring them joy other than being an academic super-star. In other words, life is more than school.

Meet Giovanni Delgadillo, a friend of mine from middle school who I have not spoken to in years. A few weeks back, I was scrolling through Twitter and came across his tweets about Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney, and I knew I wanted him on the show. Giovanni is a film aficionado, finding inspiration from all parts of film creation, from the soundtrack to the plot. He is also a creative writer at heart, studying journalism at UNT, and fueling his creative spirit through his podcast and YouTube channel. Giovanni has always been fascinated by films from a young age and has recently taken action on this childhood passion of his as a potential career. Other than being able to catch up and reconnect with an old friend, this episode has taught me, and will teach you, that maybe what you have been looking for all along is right in front of you, and you just have to look from the perspective of your inner child.

"We are humans first and professionals second." Meet Amelia Schaffner, an innovative thinker who leads entrepreneurship efforts at Emory through the Goizueta Business School. She is an Italian native, born in Switzerland and brought up by the Mediterranean. Amelia is a deep and authentic individual who loves reflecting and finding meaning in the minute mundaneness of life. Her interests intersect at the crossroads of Greek mythology, ancient civilizations, Eastern traditions, photography, adventure, and entrepreneurship. She believes that our professions do not define us and yearns to understand the philosophical significance of being human. Our conversation helped me pause and appreciate the micro in our lives more, and how we can start paying attention to this absolute phenomenon we call life. If you want to reconnect with that curious child within you who exclaims a genuine "awe" at the tiny bugs or the blades of grass in the backyard, this is the episode for you!

Meet Neema Naz, a comedian and actor from Toronto with over 78K followers on Instagram and 145K followers on TikTok. Neema has one crazy and hilarious story to tell of how he became comedian, which involves dropping out of college and telling his immigrant parents. He has built his own online brand for the past 7 years and gives many gems and insights about what he has learned on his journey. Neema also impersonates me and GaryVee on the podcast, highlighting his own creative and comedic talent. In addition to the laughs, we discuss the value of chasing one's dreams, regardless of how unreal they may seem, and, of course, reiterating the advice GaryVee gives all of us of "PATIENCE, KINDNESS, AND EMPATHY." If you are looking for a laugh this week and inspiration to be yourself regardless of what others may think of you, this is the episode for you!

Meet Radhika Vazirani, an entrepreneurial artist based in LA. Over quarantine, Radhika rediscovered her inner child and reconnected with her passion for creating art. With this passion, she started her own Instagram account (@jivamorelife) to encourage other artists to #justcreate and reconnect with their passion for art themselves. However, this idea of her's was not always easy to execute. She retells stories of facing failure and self-doubt, and how she overcame those two. Additionally, she talks about transitioning from working for a healthcare sales company into creating art for her Instagram community, and the difficulty of such a transition. From our conversation, I can tell Radhika is passionate about engaging with the art community and creating and inspiring her own community to #justcreate whatever speaks to them now and spoke to them as a child. If you are looking for such an inspiration to take action and create yourself, this episode is the one for you!

Meet Peacock Sabonger, an award-class architect living on the island of Roatán in the Caribbean off the cost of Honduras. Peacock centers our conversation on his journey to become an architect, against the dreams of his family and those around him. He did not have the grades nor the skills (yet), but his desire alone proved to be powerful. Peacock grew up in Honduras, swimming in pools filled with coffee and amongst those who believed in witchcraft and magic. This childhood experience later taught him the values of spiritual awareness, nature-inspired creativity, and stoicism. Peacock is now on the journey of creating his own architectural firm with his good friend. Besides all this, through our conversation, I have realized Peacock is a vulnerable and authentic individual who wants to give more to this world than he takes. He has a very kind soul who shares his deepest struggles and personal stories as a lesson to be learned towards victory. His mindset and perspective on life is calm and positive, which I know will rub off on those who listen to this week's episode!

On today's episode of PlayGround, we have our very first international guest! Meet Ozzin Jun, who is a digital media consultant originally from South Korea but currently living in Switzerland. She was a shy girl as a child who struggled to speak up in class and in life. However, through multiple breakthroughs that involve a complete mindset transformation, a desire to change the world, and an understanding that we are all human and seek love and empathy, Ozzin is now constantly "jumping in the deep end" and seeking discomfort in her business and personal life. She is also the founder of the Instagram account @youruniversalway and provides science-based personal development advice that has helped her through mental health wounds. She shares a very vulnerable story in our conversation involving loss that highlights the importance of the inner child in humanity. If you are curious about the Law of Attraction, entrepreneurship, or simply evolving yourself through breakthroughs, this is the episode for you!

We kick off Black History Month with this surreal conversation recorded on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Meet Drew Forde (@thatviolakid), a professional viola player known for his entrepreneurial spirit and his online brand, who has played with Ariana Grande at the Grammys, Alicia Keys, and Camila Cabello, among others. Drew relays his experience as an African-American man in the United States of America, and we start the podcast conversation discussing systemic racism and its prevalence in today's world. We then slowly transition into Drew's passion for music and playing the viola. Most of the conversation is two nerds talking about creativity, science, music, and being human. There are many gems and advice in this conversation, and I promise you do not want to miss it! If you want to learn more about Drew and his music/brand, follow him at @thatviolakid or listen to his own podcast at @fakingnotespodcast.

Why? This question is central to Mr. Doug Shipman, an Emory alum, the founding CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and former CEO of BrightHouse and the Woodruff Arts Center in downtown Atlanta. Mr. Shipman grew up in a small conservative town in Arkansas, curious about the world he had only read about. In this conversation, Mr. Shipman and I discuss his childhood memories, his undergraduate years at Emory University, and how he became passionate about social justice and politics. He shares many stories about the social justice campaigns happening at Emory in his time, leading the project for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, his thoughts on the Civil Rights Movement(s) and #blacklivesmatter on social media, and how he learned to always ask questions. Our conversation takes us from social justice to philosophy to religion and back to social justice, showing how complicated, yet interconnected, the topics we cover in this conversation are. I hope you enjoy this 60 minute episode about our desire to always ask questions and how to respect the answers we receive!

Did you ever watch Nickelodeon as child? Perhaps SpongeBob SqaurePants, Dora the Explorer, or Avatar the Last Airbender? Or did you ever wonder about the secret formula of their slime? (It's still a secret, but this episode gives a little hint...) Meet Brian Tolleson, an Emmy-nominated and Grammy-nominated executive producer in the entertainment business who worked at Columbia Pictures on films such as GLADIATOR and founded multiple companies in the industry. Brian was a pre-medical student at Emory University who dropped pre-med after taking Organic Chemistry. We discuss his childhood growing up in an entrepreneurial family, his crazy experiences of being a 20-year old in Hollywood during the 90's, and his creative marketing campaigns on fan-favorite Nickelodeon shows. Brian and I share similar values, including authenticity, and we dive into the entrepreneurial mindset and the lessons he has learned on his journey. If you are curious about entrepreneurship and/or creativity, this 60-minute episode will inspire you!

TW: Suicide comes up in this episode. In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Karlie Cummins, founder of @w1ldcoaching on Instagram. She is a childhood friend of prior guest Lydia and has found herself in a unique situation with the COVID pandemic, as many of us have. Karlie recounts her travel stories around the world with Children's Global Alliance and the changes in perspectives she has gained from these travels. We then transition the conversation to her personal story and struggle in making her dream to change the world a reality. Karlie is an authentic individual who leads with purpose and inspiration for others. She has made an admirable commitment to treat herself with kindness and grace, as life throws curveballs at her, and I have learned a lot from this conversation, as I am sure you will too!

Arjun is fascinated by virtues - his own virtues and those of his gurus. In fact, he has created his own "litmus-virtue experiment" to understand the number of virtues followed by historical figures. I first met Arjun in an annual play called Jhalak hosted by Emory's Pakistani Student Association. In this episode, we reconnect, and Arjun explains his childhood interest for pure creation, whether it be creating legos with his brother or creating a giant pillow fort in his house. The conversation slowly turns towards religion, as Arjun explains the purpose behind a book he is currently working on. We share our views on religion and spirituality and bring the conversation back to his childhood, and how Hinduism has played a major role in his upbringing. This 90 minute episode shares comedic moments from Arjun's childhood as well as some major life questions he has been pondering that may leave you pondering as well.

"When was the last time you skipped?" Mahogani Navarette, a single mother living near Atlanta, GA, shares her love for art and the lessons she has learned throughout her life. She is an amazing storyteller who tells experiences of discovering her talent for art in school, learning a new perspective from her daughter, and being on Tea with GaryVee earlier this summer. A daughter of immigrants, Mahogani has a lot of passions that she wants to pursue, and she is determined to accomplish them all. Take some time this Thanksgiving week to listen to a beautiful soul talk about gratitude, positive thinking, and not giving up when the going gets tough! You can find more information regarding Mahogani's art pieces here: https://mahogani-studios.square.site/

Estefany is an immigrant from Venezuela who came to the United States of America for more opportunity. She is currently a yoga instructor in New York City living her American dream. She recounts growing up in a small room with her single mother and her sisters in Venezuela, and the lack of resources available to her even though she graduated from university there. After moving to the United States, she had to learn English, work two jobs, and go to school all at once. Estefany is a living example of if you work hard enough and continue to dream big, you can live out your wildest dreams. Thank you Estefany for this inspiration! We spoke in Spanish towards the beginning of the episode but switch to English afterwards. If you are looking for an episode that will change your perspective on life and inspire you to dream big, Estefany's immigrant story is the one for you!

"Action is everything." These are three words that Jason lives by. Jason is a fitness trainer and a sports card collector from California who is very active on Instagram. His energy and passion for what he does shows through our conversation as we discuss his childhood, growing up with martial arts, dancing to Michael Jackson VHS tapes, and why he maintains that same fun and curiosity he had as a child now as a 29 year old. If you want to listen in on a "pick-me-up" kind of conversation this week, this is the conversation for you!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Anastasia, a stranger I met through Instagram! We talk about her passion for organic cooking, and how she finds creativity in it. Anastasia is an Atlanta native who now lives in Boston for her job with an airline company. She has been around the world and has some great insights on what it means to be human and shares her perspectives on life. If you want to chill this week and learn more about a stranger's life and their perspectives from traveling all around the world, hit play on this episode!

How can we truly let go of our limiting thoughts? How can we pick ourselves back up after we fall mentally? In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Preethi who has a holistic wellness Instagram account called @beettheprocrastination. We talk about mental health and actionable steps to change our perspectives of life. Preethi is familiar with the Law of Attraction, as I am, and we discuss this phenomenon, and how it has impacted our lives. Preethi and I go to the same university and are in the same class, but we have not met in person at all. I am grateful for both of our social media presences to make this conversation happen, and it only shows that a future friend is potentially only a DM away! What are actionable steps you take for your mental health?

I first met Laine through an Instagram comment on Drock's post. Drock is a videographer for Gary Vee, a social media entrepreneur. Laine is the first stranger that I met through Instagram who is now a guest on PlayGround. Little did I know how profound the conversation would be. Laine has Tourette's Syndrome and is now a fitness instructor who recently moved to New York City. He started his own fitness company the second day of quarantine back in March, and we discuss this journey and what led up to that. From various life experiences, Laine inspires me in our conversation, and I hope will inspire you as well. Spend some time with Laine and I this week as we discuss how hitting the lowest of lows in life and picking ourselves back up is universal, yet unique to an individual's circumstances.

I have a conversation with former stranger, now friend Marshall who engages me (and soon you!) with thought-provoking answers about compassion, spirituality, and meditation. We immerse ourselves in an hour-long conversation that takes us from the busy streets of New York City to the serene Himalayan mountains in northern India. While you drive, cook food, or just relax this week, join me and Marshall and listen in on our discussion on the mysteries of life and its purpose.

"You don't want a job, and you don't want a career. What you want is a calling." Welcome to Season Two of the podcast! On this episode, I have a conversation with Mr. Joey Reiman, a successful entrepreneur who founded the first purpose-driven consultancy, BrightHouse. Joey and I have a conversation about purpose, the magical moments in life, and our shared interest in the Law of Attraction. We discuss that as a child, we were enthralled with the magic of the world. We asked “why” and “why” and “why." But, as we grow older, we tend to stop asking “why” and accept the world as it is. The world stops being magical, and we become preoccupied with what society expects of us. Mr. Reiman and I discuss how not asking "why" can lead to failure, and how this simple question can change one's life. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and you begin to ask yourself what your purpose in life may be. Thank you for listening!

Where does true happiness come from? Amulya, a senior at Emory University, and I have a conversation that revolves around this question. We talk about the false belief that material objects bring happiness, and how it is affecting today's society. We also touch upon the "highlight reel" of social media and the pitfalls of comparing ourselves to others. Amulya shares her childhood stories of visiting India, playing basketball, and playing the violin, and how all these activities help her approach life in a fresh perspective. One question that we dive into is what makes you happy at college? This is our last episode for Season One, but fear not, we will be back with Season Two soon! Give this episode and the other Season One episodes a listen while you wait for Season Two.

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Divya Prasad, a friend from high school who is studying at UCLA. We get deep in this conversation discussing about life in outer-space, parallel universes, and the Mandela Effect, to name a few topics. Divya has always wanted to become an astronaut, and she describes this dream of hers pretty well in connection to imagination and storytelling. This conversation may have been a little too deep for a Sunday afternoon, but it will get you thinking about our existence and what it means to be alive, so you don't want to miss it!

Curious about the PlayGround brand, why the motif is an airplane, and why the colors are yellow and orange? Listen to this episode with Rohit Bolla, a junior at the University of Southern California who is passionate about design and aesthetics. We talk about how his interest for design started in his childhood, and how it has evolved throughout his life. We also discuss the stigma around being a brown kid interested in the liberal arts and the creative side of life, and how we can start the conversation to fight this stigma. Rohit personally designed the PlayGround brand, logo, and promo graphics, and we are grateful for his passionate work. If you need any design help whatsoever, first listen to this episode to understand Rohit's creative process and then feel free to reach out to him on Instagram @by.rohitb!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Amanda, a recent Emory graduate. We talk about her childhood in Central America and the dichotomy she experienced between attending an international school and volunteering at the local community center. Amanda then discusses how she describes fulfillment, privilege, and happiness in the capitalistic society we live in today and her experiences as a Tibetan Buddhist. We dive into multiple deep topics in this episode regarding social justice, spirituality, and self-awareness that will leave you pondering on the purpose of life at the end.

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with my freshman year roommate and one of my first friends at Emory - Sankee Mummareddy! We talk about his childlike curiosity for dance, and how that has evolved into the creation of the Bollywood Fusion team Agnition. Sankee explains his story of finding confidence through dance and alopecia, a medical condition resulting in hair loss. He takes us through the good and the bad and shows us that there really is no internal growth without struggle. We also end the episode discussing South Asian culture and films. If you are experiencing any self-doubt in any area of life, take this as a sign to listen to this episode for some gems that will help you fight that battle!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Kavya - my 13 year old cousin! I ask her a series of questions to understand her creative thinking process. Her answers and advice are very applicable to college students today who may have forgotten what it means to think like a child, which I am also guilty of. Kavya brings a different perspective to this podcast and also has some deep insights about religion, human behavior, and creativity towards the end of the episode that you do not want to miss!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Carlos Aparicio, a creator who I have known for six years from high school to Emory University. Carlos dropped pre-med and rejected his offer to attend Goizueta Business School to commit to his childhood passion of becoming a creative filmmaker in a true "rediscover your inner child" fashion. Carlos discusses the difficulties of making such a decision, and how it has affected his mental health. We discuss his spiritual journey in relation to happiness, philosophy, and life itself. The conversation becomes deeper the longer we talk and can be inspirational for many. Oh, we are also joined by his dog for the first part of the episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Fizza, a rising senior at Emory University who is a first-generation student. Fizza and I have a conversation that revolves around access to education. Fizza retells stories of growing up with two older sisters (who went to Emory) and two younger brothers, how her perspective towards education and its importance came to be, and how she sees the world through stories. Fizza is a fun person to talk to who drops many gems about education and life in this episode that you do not want to miss!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Anirudh Pidugu, a first-year dental student at Columbia University. Ani and I discuss his interests in music and sports, and how he finds an escape in them. He retells stories of DJing, growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and finding lifelong friends at Emory. He also shares how Kobe Bryant (R.I.P) has become an inspiration for him. If you want to learn more about how music and sports can be a grounding experience, what the creative process is for a DJ, or an inspirational story of Kobe Bryant, you do not want to miss this episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with two individuals – Farah Al Chammas and Julien Reiman. Farah and Julien are both passionate about how food heals and unites, so they are creating a show that showcases strangers uniting over food made by America's top hidden chefs. We discuss their childhood interests and how their idea for the food show came to be. If you are interested in food (who isn't?), and how food can cultivate connections and conversations amongst individuals from very different backgrounds, check out this podcast episode and their account @talkwithyourmouthfull on Instagram and Facebook!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Fahad Alduayji, an international student from Saudi Arabia. We discuss his experiences as an international student at Emory, his life in Saudi Arabia, and his childlike curiosity for science. Although this conversation was recorded back in May, in regard to the current statement released by ICE on July 6th, we hope that hearing Fahad's story and perspective of coming to the United States can bring light to the injustices in ICE's statement, and how it can negatively affect millions of international students like Fahad. We also hope that through hearing Fahad's story, we may better understand the international student experience in universities across the nation.

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Hawa Larissa Jagana, a first-generation student at Emory University studying Biology. We begin the conversation with a discussion on Larissa's home and her childhood curiosity that has led her to the STEM field. We then steer the conversation more towards her expressive creative side of singing and dancing. Towards the end of the conversation, Larissa explains her experience as an Afro-Latina at Emory that touches upon the current climate. If you are curious about life growing up with four brothers, developing a passion for science, or understanding the delicacies of the heart and the mind, you do not want to miss this episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Abhi Manda, a rising sophomore at Emory University. Abhi and I start off discussing his childhood adventures in the forest and the lessons he learned there. Slowly, the conversation revolves around social justice and racial inequalities in the healthcare field, and how policy can help. Throughout the episode, I also share a part of my story that parallels Abhi's. If you are curious about racial injustices in medicine, finding freedom in nature, or understanding the courage we may have lost as we grow up you do not want to miss this episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Smrithi Ramachandran, who recently graduated from Emory University studying Human Health and Dance. We discuss Smrithi's creative side and how she has used creativity for dance, arts and crafts, and medicine. She tells stories about volunteering at Gigi's Playhouse, how she gets her creative inspiration for her RA bulletin boards, and what she misses most about being a child. Smrithi is a kind and compassionate individual who brightens any room she walks into, and she has done the same with this podcast. You do not want to miss this episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Reezan Jiwa (aka RJ). RJ is a good friend from high school who is currently studying at UCLA and is an aspiring musician. We talk about where his interest for music comes from and his creative process for writing raps and freestyling. He also graces the episode with a surprise freestyle about PlayGround. If you are curious to know what creative processes are at work for a musician, and RJ's journey so far as a musician, check out this episode! You can find RJ's music on all streaming platforms @Reezan, and his music Instagram is @reezanraps.

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Annie Li, a history and sociology major at Emory. She talks about her interests in art and history, and we discover new connections between the two. Annie is a very thoughtful and creative individual. This episode will help you pause and take in life one moment at a time, the same way a painting causes a viewer to pause and take it in full.

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Dr. Peter Wakefield, an interdisciplinary studies professor at Emory University. Dr. Wakefield reminisces about his years in St. Paul, Minnesota, talking about growing up with four sisters, his relationship with his parents, and his interests in Nordic sports and cycling. We then steer the conversation more towards his academic interests of ancient philosophy, particularly Aristotle and Plato, and his role of being a father to his two kids. This episode sheds a new light on Dr. Wakefield as a son, a brother, a husband, and a father, rather than the professor we most know and love him for, so you do not want to miss this episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Rose Deighton, who I met through the IDEAS Fellowship at Emory University. Rose is a graduate student at Emory studying Sufism and Gender. In this episode, we discuss Rose's childhood in a small town in Canada, her figure skating years, and her interests in the intersections of feminism, religion, and spirituality. We connect figure skating to her academic aspirations of becoming a teacher and discuss the meaning of life. After listening to this episode, you may have some existential thoughts and start re-thinking your life's purpose, so you do not want to miss this episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Trey Brown, a good high school friend of mine. After we reconnect, Trey reflects on the ongoing struggle for racial equality happening across the country. In addition, he graces the podcast with his classic inspirational talks, a source of positivity much needed in these trying times. This episode endeavors to give Trey an open platform to amplify his meaningful voice on important matters, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the current protests. To learn more about the movement and the ways in which you can support the cause and educate yourself, please click on this link.

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Aviral Somani, a good friend of mine from high school. He is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University studying computer science and business. We discuss the present and future of the pandemic, artificial intelligence, and humanity's relationship with technology at large. The episode is philosophical and confusing at times, just like life (and my friendship with Aviral), and will encourage you to think about how our lives might look like post-pandemic. We also discuss Aviral's childhood passion for tinkering and creating and how that has developed throughout the years and will develop into the future.

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview one of my high school friends - Ileana Valdez! Ileana is a rising senior at Yale University studying computer science. We talk about her interests in business and computer science, and how she has combined the two over the years. Ileana is passionate about making a difference in the world and helping others feel connected. Towards the end of the episode, we talk about her startup, OkZoomer, an online dating service born out of the current pandemic and quarantine. Ileana explains her vision for the startup, and how it connects with her childhood passions!

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview Vyas, a rising senior at Emory University. Vyas is studying English and quantitative sciences with a concentration in neuroscience. Since his childhood, Vyas has been fascinated by death and what happens to us after we die. We discuss moral actions, and if they have any say into an afterlife. Our topics of discussion range from philosophy to religion to literature. Vyas is studying to become a doctor one day and has some philosophical thoughts you do not want to miss in this episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Abhi, who recently graduated from Emory University. Abhi describes his passion for medicine as well as geography/history. We have a deep conversation about his interests in geography/history, especially in regard to India. He also explains why he is passionate about learning different languages and cultures. At the end of the episode, Abhi lets us know how he is using his time during quarantine to be productive. Follow @activequarantime on Instagram to learn more about the website he has built!

In this week's episode of PlayGround, Josh and I have a thought-provoking conversation on the duality of life and death and how this has shaped Josh's perspective on his own life, Christianity and its influences in his childhood, and his philosophy on love. Josh is a rising sophomore at Emory University, studying to become a nurse, which aligns with his philosophical beliefs. The conversation becomes more deep the more you listen to it, so you definitely do not want to miss this week's episode!

In this episode of PlayGround, I interview one of my best friends at Emory - Lydia! She tells stories of sleeping with bears, getting stuck in an elevator, and other childhood shenanigans in Vail, Colorado. She also explains how she has many homes across the world, and why she calls Emory one of these homes. Lydia is a fun person to talk to, and she has some crazy stories to share, so you do not want to miss this episode! She is a rising senior who wants to become a foreign service aid officer one day.

In this episode, I ask Vikram questions about his childhood interests and his different homes. Vikram explains how growing up in Atlanta and Chennai has affected his point of views, how he fell in love with sports, and his colliding cultural passions. Listen to the episode to hear more about Vikram's childhood, his relationships with his parents, and why he believes what he believes. Vikram is a current sophomore at Emory University studying to become a doctor one day. 

On the first episode of PlayGround, I interview Anjali Shah. We discuss her childhood in Tampa, Florida, growing up with two older sisters, and how music has shaped her perspectives. She shares multiple stories revolving around music and how it has become an anchor throughout her life. Anjali is a music and neuroscience double major at Emory University who wants to start music oriented mental health clinics around the world.