The Story Bar

Today, we have a very inspiring story for you that might help you reflect on some questions that trouble us, keep us awake at night, and shake our soul  Who gets to decide - who is “ordinary” and who is “special”?  Do we really understand the harsh realities of the remote villages in India? Why is money so important for receiving a quality education? Why do people bring up a child in this world when they can't take care of them?  What does it mean to truly connect with another soul and be present for that person?  "The subject of education is very close to my heart. There is a production mentality, lacking basic human elements. What really finds a place on the report card is devoid of emotions. If you are not happy, how can you perform or learn? What's happening in school takes up most of your time. We need to take care of a person overall - in the class, field, corridor during breaks, the real person outside the school. It's important to get to know the students and then work with them for education to happen in the real sense - to bring the best a person can bring to the table - not just academically - a human being is so much more than that!"  Mukesh George is a development professional with over 10 years of experience, a fearless and gifted human being sharing his power with the world. We hope you take some thoughts home from this conversation today. AND most importantly, we are very thankful for your love and support for The Story Bar. 

Civil services - one of the most prestigious career paths in India. Lakhs of people appear every year in the UPSC examinations to build their dreams. But only a few make it to the top. Well, this episode is not about how good or tough the Indian Civil Services is but what is beyond the exam and the service - the will to make a real impact, the dream to bring out real change. And for making a difference in society, is joining the civil services the only way? These are some questions we explore in our conversation with Kumar Vivek, an IRS officer, presently serving as Deputy Commissioner at the Ministry of Finance. We also look at some of the most common perceptions and stereotypes attached to the job. From his initial inspiration to challenges on the job, his roots and family, Kumar Vivek talks about it all. What's even more extraordinary is his belief that to make a difference in this wide world, you do not need to get into civil services. Everyone here is leading the way in their own little unique ways and that's magical. This humble, kind, and determined officer has given us so many thoughts to reflect upon and we are truly grateful. Before we begin, we thank you all for the overwhelming support to our Rooting For You Campaign. And If you really like our content, please do drop us reviews and ratings on Apple Podcasts or you can follow the podcast on Podbean, Spotify, and Google. Do check out our website for more: www.thestorybar.online     

In this episode of The Cast of Oil and Gas edition, we have Keith Stelter, West Texas Business Development Manager at ARC Energy.  With almost two decades of operational experience in the oil and gas industry that includes vast international exposure as well, Keith is an industry leader. Not just that, but he is also a LinkedIn Influencer and Storyteller. When we connected with Keith some time back, he was looking for a new opportunity and it was his brilliance in storytelling that really fascinated us. From talking about his oilfield journey to his fitness routine, from sharing interesting pictures to joining great shows as a guest to inform and inspire others, Keith has included the LinkedIn community in his everyday conversations and this has truly made an impact.  You can connect with Keith here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-stelter-575b9312/  We are so honored that we got the opportunity to listen to Keith talking about his roots, his lovely family, his oilfield journey, his love for wireline, and his extraordinary experiences in this challenging yet exciting landscape.  Keith touches upon some really important issues in the industry such as diversity, work culture, work-life balance, the impact of COVID 19, the role of networking, layoffs, and so much more. One episode can't really do justice to his rich experience and expertise in this sector.  We are grateful to our followers and your support makes a huge difference. If you are listening to the episode now, please do leave us ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts. You can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and everywhere where podcasts are!  Visit our website to learn more: https://www.thestorybar.online/   

Welcome to another brand new episode of The Story Bar Podcast.  I recently connected with Jessica Kumar,  she is the host of the Invisible India Podcast. What's her story and what the podcast is all about is something we discuss in this conversation.  We also talk about her own personal journey of making a major international move with its' personal, cultural, and professional implications. I request you all to check out the website www.invisibleindiapodcast.com to learn more about it. Before we begin, we all know what India is going through right now. The least we could do as storytellers is to inspire hope, light through people who are making a difference, specially during these times.  We've started with a campaign called “Rooting For You” where We are inviting messages of love, hope, and prayers for India. If you  want to send in your prayers, do drop us your message at thestorybar.foryou@gmail.com. We are featuring all these messages on our social media channels. You can find the links to our social media in the show notes as well.  You can support us by following the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or visit our website: thestorybar.online., It truly  makes a huge difference to us.  Hope you learn and get inspired from Jessica Ma'am's story as much as I did.  Follow Invisible India on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia/  Visit our website to learn more: https://www.thestorybar.online/ and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 

We are very happy to launch our first episode of The Cast of Oil and Gas edition.  Assaad Mohanna is the Director of Business Strategy at National Oilwell Varco. He is also the host of the NOV Insight Out Show.  Born in Beirut in an environment of extreme civil & political unrest, Assaad has waged his way forward, and built a life that inspires others.  In this conversation, he opens up about his roots, his family, and his extraordinary journey in the oil and gas industry. This episode will help you reflect that we are so much more than our jobs, our professional recognitions. It's only when we trace the roots, we understand the people and events that help us become who we are.

Without a doubt, the COVID crisis is a global shared challenge but every geography has its own peculiarities. Every country had a problem that got worse with the pandemic. In India, it is the migrant crisis. Migrant workers comprise a significant section of India's workforce today. But how much do we really know about them?  Just yesterday, we got to know that hundreds of migrant workers are fleeing Indian cities and heading home. New restrictions in some states to contain the second wave of pandemic has stoked fears that they will be left jobless again.  How has the lockdown in 2020 been for these workers? Are we looking at a painful and heartbreaking repetition of the migrant crisis last year in India?  We have with us today Siddhartha Prakash. He is a Development Economist and the Founder of Daily Wage Worker Platform, an NGO supporting India's 450 million migrant workers with access to food security, healthcare, and livelihoods. Siddhartha has over 20 years of experience in health systems, pharmaceutical policy, intellectual property, pricing, reimbursement, innovative business models, and access to medicines. He has worked with international organizations such as the WTO, WHO, and the World Bank.  Further, Siddhartha has extensively worked in Asia and Africa on public-private partnerships and facilitated dialogue on policy options for universal health coverage.  We will try to understand the myriad layers surrounding the migrant crisis in this conversation today.  Do visit dailywageworker.com to learn more about the platform and the difference it is making in the lives of migrant workers. Your support is valuable, don't forget to leave ratings and comments for The Story Bar Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and Google. 

Welcome to another brand new episode of The Story Bar Podcast.  "Nobody tells the same story the same way for the second time."  In an extremely raw, candid, detailed conversation, Garima tries to understand the journey of the legendary writer Lawrence Grobel. This is not an interview, so much more than that, an extraordinary learning experience.  Why would anyone trust you? To share the most intricate details of their lives on record. Just think about the spotlight on celebrities and yet can you imagine the vulnerability? That's where Mr. Grobel truly makes a mark, bringing out the good, the bad, and the ugly, in his interviews.  “Larry Grobel is the Mozart of Interviewers”, said Joyce Carol Oates and in this conversation, we will get to know why.  We have so much to learn from him. One episode can never be enough.  While you enjoy listening to him, we also request you to visit his website to understand his brilliant work, its: lawrencegrobel.com  You can also order books written by him on Amazon, the latest one being SCHEMERS, DREAMERS, CHEATERS, BELIEVERS. 

Gagandeep Singh, Global Operational Excellence Lead at Wood, opens up about his roots, family, professional journey, and his vision of making a difference in the world with "Mission 100,000".  In this episode of "Storied With Garima", we bring to you his power, inspiration, and thought leadership. To all the students aspiring a career in Operational Excellence, this one is a must-listen. From what this career path means to how well you can chart out the way forward, there's so much you can learn from Gagandeep. These are the changemakers, the ordinary people doing extraordinary stuff. Stay tuned and meanwhile, do subscribe to the podcast on Apple and Spotify.

“Sometimes we miss really good ideas thinking there's no home for them.” - Mohit Rajhans  In this episode, we didn't want to miss out on any such ideas that have the power to touch lives. An author, producer, reporter, entrepreneur, and so much more, Mohit Rajhans sheds some light upon his roots and over two decades of rich experiences in media, content, and storytelling.  Meet the man behind some of the most iconic interviews - from Tilda Swinton to Shahrukh Khan, from Akshay Kumar to Amitabh Bachchan, he has covered it all. "It was never about the celebrity for me, but the story”, says Mohit. And that's exactly what makes his journey so unique and extraordinary. We explore the why, the inspiration, the hustle, the connection, and everything that makes him who he is today, and what he dreams to build with his expertise.  Check out his books here that shine a new light on content and personal branding:  Rethinking Your Content: Strategies to Synergies - https://amzn.to/363trtQ  How to Find Growth Beyond Your Personal Brand - https://amzn.to/3c1g7dm   Tell us what you think about this brand new episode in the "Storied With Garima" series. Don't forget to leave us reviews and ratings. We have miles to go and we need your support!  Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, & Facebook. Here's the website: https://www.thestorybar.online/

In a relaxed and candid conversation with Garima, Supriya opens up about her out of the box journey into good health and spiritual well being. A lot is at stake when you are venturing into something new, something exciting. Yes, there will be cheerleaders but nay-sayers too. You've got to keep your head high, maintain your calm, and live your dream. That's exactly what Supriya did. There's a lot to learn from this young, vivacious, and kind soul. You can follow Supriya on Instagram @fitwithsupriya and be a part of her extraordinary journey. Reach out to her if you need support with your health, fitness, and well-being. She is just a message away!  Visit our website to learn more: thestorybar.online 

In this episode of "Storied With Garima", we sit down with the Founders of Dumpling Dudez, a Houston based enterprise, to learn about their unique approach to creating a one-of-a-kind dumpling making experience. Michael Dorsey and Chih Lin began with a leap of faith into a world they knew little about. They share with Garima the inspiration behind Dumpling Dudez and what led them to leave their comfortable corporate careers to build this business.  We talk about their struggles, the support from the community, their love for each other, and this extraordinary entrepreneurial journey. Do listen and share your thoughts with us. This episode is a bit long but we hope you will enjoy taking a deep dive into the story of Dumpling Dudez.   

This week we dive into the extraordinary journey of Aditya Mehta, Business Head at India Terry Towels. Aditya is a young and aspiring business leader in the Indian textile space. We talk about his unique “why” for not choosing a conventional corporate job over spinning a fresh dream into reality - that arrives with a wide range of challenges. We learn about his journey so far, the platform he believes has helped him stand out, and the “inspirare” that keeps him going. We also understand how the current crisis has impacted his business and what are the opportunities on the table, as he helps us look at the silver lining. In our series of conversations “Storied With Garima”, we look forward to hearing stories that make a difference, make an impact. Take a listen to understand Aditya's journey and his outlook towards business, salesmanship, public speaking, and storytelling. Learn more about India Terry Towels here: https://indiaterrytowels.com/ Connect with Aditya Mehta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aditya-mehta-2a605b77/?originalSubdomain=in Wish to share your story at The Story Bar? Reach out to us.  Visit The Story Bar website to learn more about us: https://www.thestorybar.online/ Reach out to us for brand storytelling: https://www.thestorybar.online/brand-storytelling Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestory.bar/ And, follow our page on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestorybar/?viewAsMember=true The Story Bar Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/698p0W9GVRWSIjLDdQahqJ The Story Bar Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-bar/id1520368270

Gobi Dasu is the Founder & CEO of Learning Dollars (LD Talent).  This story puts a spotlight on a startup - that is solving a very important challenge of our times, and is very successful in this space today. What is this challenge and what is the story of Learning Dollars? What would the future of work look like and why is it so important to build an efficient remote workspace? How do you maintain quality checks? And most importantly, why nothing should limit talent and skills? How is LD Talent really closing the STEM skill gap?  In our series of conversations “Storied With Garima”, we look forward to hearing stories that make a difference, make an impact. Take a listen to understand how LD Talent is building the future of work. Here's a story that inspires. Take a listen and there's so much to learn from Team LD Talent as they build a strong community of developers online. Here's the link to the website: https://www.learningdollars.com/.  Wish to share your story at The Story Bar? Reach out to us.  Visit The Story Bar website to learn more about us: https://www.thestorybar.online/ Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestory.bar/ And, follow our page on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestorybar/?viewAsMember=true The Story Bar Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/698p0W9GVRWSIjLDdQahqJ The Story Bar Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-story-bar/id1520368270

In an extremely candid conversation with Garima, Nithish opens up about his entrepreneurial journey with the Unbounded Podcast. From networking to building strong relationships in the aerospace domain, and then ultimately finding people who could see the value in Unbounded, is a story worth listening to and learning from.   His story is an inspiration for everyone who thinks that age, money, experience, job security, is a limitation to do things you are really passionate about, things you really care about. Kudos to you, Nithish, and your team.   Do follow his podcast UNBOUNDED on Apple, Spotify, Anchor, and Google Podcasts, to understand the amazing work he is doing.   Wish to share your story at The Story Bar? Reach out to us.   Visit The Story Bar website to learn more about us: https://www.thestorybar.online/   Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestory.bar/   And, follow our page on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thes...   The Story Bar Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/698p0W9...   The Story Bar Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Enveloped into the Indian cultural ethos, Bhoomi is a strong, independent, intelligent, and inspiring young lady. She takes challenges head-on with a slice of humor. Believes in her dreams and urges everyone around her to believe in theirs. You got to meet her, you simply cannot afford to miss out on her charisma. A very enriching discussion covering myriad aspects of life that have their roots in our family, childhood, and education. There's so much to be grateful for, there's so much to take home. This story touches upon so many elements - from our roots to the journey. 

"This is Prateek Boga. An Aerospace Engineering student, space enthusiast, artist, poet and published author on Amazon. As a person who has always been intrigued by the question how our universe works, arts and my other hobbies have always played an important role. Different forms of art have always enticed me to explore them. Follow 'The Story Bar' to know how my hobbies are connected to my studies and why I chose to hold on to them. You might find a new perspective for your talents and it might help you in unexpected ways!" In the very first episode of "Storied With Garima, we talked about space, art, poetry, hobbies, and perspective. We talked about roots and the journey. We shared some common stories and found ourselves amazed by the uncommon. Subscribe to The Story Bar Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast... Visit the website here: https://www.thestorybar.online/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestory.bar/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thes... Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiedwithg...

You are at the Story Bar and this is your host, Garima. I have been doing a lot of activities lately to spread the word about this platform and what really does it mean. Today, I would like to share with you why did I create The Story Bar in the first place. Well, growing up in a middle class family where education was given a lot of importance, I had my own ways of thinking and learning. Not that I didn't read books or wasn't good academically but I always wondered how does it matter. Story Bar Is not for me to express my thoughts and opinions. But for ones who have always hesitated in expressing themselves. I have always been a vocal person. I like something, I say it. I don't like it, I speak my mind. I love someone, I cross oceans for that person. I believe in something, I stand my ground, till the end of time. But growing up, I have observed people around me. In my family, in school, then university, and now at work. I have noticed what happens when people do not share, do not express, and continue to live with whatever is thrown at them. I see what happens there and it breaks my heart. There is fear of being judged, being isolated, and so many other insecurities. Social media is not really helping here. There's still an urge to be a part of a community so that you don't experience any sort of FOMO. No matter what hashtags you follow or whom do you follow, in your heart you believe what you believe. With The Story Bar, I dream of building a space where you can talk about anything and everything in your life that has affected you, influenced you and shaped you into who you are. All your struggles and the dark sides with the happy ones. The extraordinary in the ordinary - I want to talk about and write about things people don't say, the fear that makes them step back, the pain that has been suppressed for way too long, and the failures that they hide from the world. This is stuff worth informing and worth inspiring. This is why I want you to join me at The Story Bar. Tell me about the dark and the light, about who you really are. In the series of conversations- Storied with Garima, I look forward to hearing your story, learning about your journey, and all the milestones you have covered by simply being who you are. By simply being yourself. Who we are if not the stories that shape our lives? Truth, lies, love, hope — and everything beyond and between, they all make a good story. We search for light in stories to illumine the dark within. Let's make some room for light, let's hear a good story. Bringing extraordinary stories of ordinary people online at The Story Bar. With love and light, Garima.

Me talks to me - in times like this. Poetry written and recited by Siddharth.

As old as time and time itself is a story we tell ourselves.

Love is love. And is there any feeling better than loving and be loved? Love is all our reasons. In sunshine and in rain. Under the stars and in moonlight. All that there is, is love.

How do you deal with the bombardment of opinions and judgments? When everyone else is busy deciding for you, how do you stand ground? What does it take you to follow your heart?

We believe in so much only to believe in nothing. We are impressed by so much only to be untouched by reason. Blindly, we fall in line. Haven't we all visited the factory once in our lifetime?

We are shaped by the art we absorb, the books we read, the ideologies we breathe. There is confusion and there is chaos. We search for the original idea and we hustle for peace. Forgetting to reflect. Amid the chaos and away from the noise, rests my bookshelf. The ideas that shape me but I do not become the writers I have read. I am not the rebel in the revolutions I have studied. I am curious. I question. I answer. I leave some questions without an answer. Sometimes, I just want to read. I just want to listen. Someday, next to my bookshelf, we will sit down, and read together. Not to respond but to understand. To let the art be, for art's sake.

With “Conversations at The Story Bar”, I look forward to a whole lot of sharing and understanding. What makes or breaks us. What inspires us and what keeps us going. The bygones and the times ahead. Love, hope, despair, courage, and the fears. All the stories that make us who we are. This is your space. You own your story. There's so much to learn in the light of your story.