“We are not machines, we feel them (negative emotions), we reflect on them, we just can’t ignore them… so it’s okay to experience and embrace those emotions but at the end of the day or the next day, find your joy and happiness, because for your balance and mental health that is very important,” - Gurdeep Pandher 

Gurdeep Pandher is a Yukon-based Bhangra artist and educator who creates performances that bring people together from all backgrounds while also promoting inclusivity. Gurdeep is best known for bringing joy, hope and positivity during the pandemic through his online dance classes, videos and uplifting messages. Gurdeep was also named “This Week’s Greatest Canadian” by Global News Radio! And is also one of 5 panellists for the 2023 CBC Canada Reads show. The Universal Radio Network’s very own Sapreet Buttar had the chance to sit down and talk to Gurdeep about his routine in the Yukon, conversations around mental health, maintaining a positive mindset, mental health conversations in South Asian households, Bhangra folk dance, and much more in this episode. 

At the beginning of their discussion, Gurdeep describes what his morning routine is like living in the Yukon (0:30), his message of “feel free to be sad, but don’t stay sad forever”(4:26), what it took for him to find his path to find joy and happiness (6:52), how we can better put into practice steering our mindset to be more positive (10:40), whether there are enough conversations surrounding mental health currently (14:16), how to break the barriers in South Asian households to talk about mental health more openly (15:45), and how special Bhangra is to him (23:34). Next Gurdeep gives some additional context on Bhangra and recognition he has gotten for it in Canada (26:10), who his dream Bhangra collaboration would be with (31:42), and finally, what joy and resiliency means to him (33:40). 

IG: @theuniversalradio