Amina Change Your Life

My special guest is Shirin Eskandani. Shirin Eskandani is a life coach, public speaker, and writer who specializes in mindfulness and mindset work. Shirin's expertise has been recognized by media outlets such as; The Today Show, the New York Times, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. Prior to her coaching career, she was an award-winning opera singer, performing at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. Her own journey of self-discovery and healing has inspired her to help others find their inner wisdom and create positive change in their lives.

We discuss: 00:02:01 - From Opera Singer to Coach 00:06:18 - The AHA Moment 00:15:51 - Decolonizing Coaching 00:21:15 - "Power-With" Dynamic in Coaching 00:26:16 - Redefining Success and Challenging Capitalistic Practices 00:30:49 - Overcoming Comparison and Embracing Individual Paths

Connect with Shirin Eskandani Instagram: @wholeheartedcoaching Facebook: @wholeheartedcoaching Podcast: pod.link/wholeheartedcoaching

Connect with Amina AlTai Website: aminaaltai.com Instagram: @aminaaltai TikTok: @theaminaaltai Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Get ready to be inspired by my special guest this episode, Aparna Shewakramani, a dynamic powerhouse who brings a refreshing honesty to society's narrative about successful women. Known for her time on Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking,' Aparna has harnessed her unexpected fame to become a voice for women longing to be truly seen and heard. Her groundbreaking book, 'She's Unlikable,' challenges society's perception of 'likable' women. A former attorney and now an influential author, Aparna shows us what it means to create your own life's story.

We discuss: 00:01:29 - Aparna's Journey and Advocacy 00:03:31 - The Unexpected Impact of Being on Indian Matchmaking 00:11:43 - The Breakdown After Success 00:12:05 - The Cost and Correlation Between Being High Achieving and Health Issues 00:24:29 - The Freedom in Not Being Cared About 00:26:03 - Aparna's Upcoming Projects 00:29:41 - Colorism and Privilege

Connect with Aparna Shewakramani

Instagram: @aparnashewakramani

TikTok: @aparnashewakramani

The Book: belikeaparna.com/#the-book

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

My guest for this episode is Gina Moffa, a New York-based licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who, for almost two decades, has provided care and counseling for individuals dealing with trauma and grief. Gina's diverse professional experiences, including her impactful work with Holocaust survivors and her tenure as clinical director at Mount Sinai Hospital's Outpatient program, contribute to her unparalleled expertise. She has also recently authored the book, Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go, broadening our understanding of grief and offering a pathway to navigate the complex maze of loss.

We talked about:

00:06:00 - The Importance of Grief Literacy

00:09:33 - Recognizing and Supporting Grief

00:13:32 - Setting Boundaries with Platitudes 00:16:18 - Emotion Phobia and Fear of Loss 00:26:16 - The Full Body Experience of Grief

00:27:19 - Creating a Safe Workplace

00:29:10 - Managing Well-being Outside of Work

00:35:03 - The Limitations of the Five Stages of Grief

Resource mentioned:

Martín Prechtel: Grief and Praise (1 of 3)

Connect with Gina Mofa

Website: ginamoffa.com

Instagram: @ginamoffalcsw

Facebook: @ginamoffalcsw

The Book: ginamoffa.com/the-book

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

My guests today are Shannon Jones and Yadira Harrison, co-founders of the 8-figure experiential marketing agency Verb. They come with years of expertise in creative and experiential marketing for high-profile brands like IMG, Cirque du Soleil, Netflix and Airbnb. They are the definition of #ConsciousLeadership and shared so many gems on how to leave corporate and grow your business with intention.

We talked about: 00:04:36 - The Need to Leave Corporate 00:08:48 - Practical Tips for Starting a Business 00:13:15 - Balancing Feedback and Accountability 00:15:09 - Finding the Sweet Spot 00:17:26 - Authenticity and Individuality 00:22:18 - Inclusive Culture 00:24:05 - Creating a Culture of Belonging 00:24:35 - Keys to Success 00:26:48 - Intention and Thoughtfulness 00:29:49 - Legacy and Future Plans 00:34:33 - Navigating Interpersonal Challenges 00:35:54 - Building a Strong Relationship 00:38:21 - Creating Barbie's Malibu Dreamhouse

Connect with Shannon Jones

Instagram: @shansimp

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simpsonjones

Connect with Yadira Harrison

Instagram: @becauseyadi

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yadiraharrison

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Many of the modern management and leadership techniques we all use on a daily basis actually trace their roots back to slavery. In a world where profit often takes precedence over people, Brea Baker and Laura Gale shine a light on how to disrupt the status quo.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Transformative Leaps and Stepping Away from Expectations 00:03:33 - Shifting Wealth and Power in Leadership 00:08:55 - Values and Individual Reflection 00:14:29 - Redefining Leadership and Work Culture 00:13:47 - Rethinking Ambition and Success 00:15:37 - The Cost of Doing Things Differently 00:17:42 - Challenging Work Norms 00:19:37 - Family Expectations and Generational Differences 00:20:45 - Space for Imagination and Transformation 00:26:47 - The Power of Podcasts for Learning 00:29:49 - Reimagining Leadership and Work 00:33:00 - Healing the Diseased Relationship with Work 00:36:47 - Centering Black and Indigenous Voices 00:41:05 - Importance of Teamwork 00:41:05 - Continuing Growth

Resources

LauraBrewer.com

Laura Brewer's Podcast

Connect with Brea Baker

Website: www.BreaBaker.com

Instagram: @freckledwhileblack

Connect with Laura Gale

Website: www.nightingale-consulting.com

LinkedIn: linkedin/in/laura-gale

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Many of the modern management and leadership techniques we all use on a daily basis actually trace their roots back to slavery. In a world where profit often takes precedence over people, Brea Baker and Laura Gale shine a light on how to disrupt the status quo.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Understand the crucial need to bring human values front and center in leadership approaches.

• Trace the echoes of plantation slavery practices in modern management techniques.

• Analyze the nature of racism and capitalism and its implication on leadership.

• Confront the disturbing normalization of damaging leadership behaviors.

• Acknowledge how we unknowingly support unethical leadership practices and find ways to rectify it.

We talked about: 00:03:38 - The Roots of Modern Leadership in Slavery 00:07:34 - Capitalism, Racism, and Profit 00:09:21 - The Continuation of Extractive Practices 00:12:47 - Female Leaders and Perpetuation of Harm 00:14:16 - The Harm of Exploitative Business Practices 00:15:56 - Profitability and Power Imbalances 00:18:14 - Normalization of Harmful Practices 00:23:53 - Unlearning and Creating Change 00:26:39 - Strength in Numbers and Disruptive Action 00:27:57 - Redefining Leadership as a Practice 00:29:48 - Cultivating a Disruptive Practice of Leadership 00:31:16 - Shining Light into the Cracks

Connect with Brea Baker

Website: www.breabaker.com

Instagram: @freckledwhileblack

Connect with Laura Gale

Website: www.nightingale-consulting.com

LinkedIn: linkedin/in/laura-gale

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

In this episode of Amina Change Your Life, we speak with one of my new friends and colleagues, Sarah Tacy Tangredi. Sarah is a mind body expert who offers nervous system support and somatic exploration. If you loved my nervous system episode with Amy Bonaduce-Gardner, you're going to love this one, too. One of my favorite aspects of this interview is the very bite-sized and actionable approach Sarah offers. From taking a literal pause, to using wonder as a tool, there are many ways to reset our nervous systems that don't require elaborate self-care practices. Sarah shares the best and quickest ways for us to repattern our behavior that you don't want to miss. Whether you are an executive, entrepreneur, or high-performance athlete, there are some magical tips in here for you.

We talked about: 00:02:00 - Sarah's Journey into Mind Bodywork 00:09:10 - Immediate Feedback for Neuroplasticity 00:11:40 - Integrating Somatic Approaches in Coaching 00:13:14 - The Role Playing and Somatic Work 00:13:58 - The Power of Do-Overs 00:18:04 - Building Resources for Stability 00:22:20 - Understanding the Window of Tolerance 00:27:11 - The Power of Pacing 00:29:59 - Authenticity and Resonance 00:31:16 - Balancing Self-Care and Productivity 00:33:30 - The Body as a GPS 00:36:29 - Where to Find More

Connect with Sarah Tacy Tangredi

Website: SarahTacy.com

Instagram: @SarahTacyT

Podcast: Threshold Moments Podcast

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Suffice it to say, most of us underrepresented people have been told to tone it down or play small in order to avoid rocking the boat or making others uncomfortable. But deep down, you feel a burning desire to break free and embrace your own main character energy. It's time to step into the spotlight and show up as the true protagonist of your own life.

In this episode we talked about: 00:02:17 - The Desire to Be Ourselves 00:03:33 - Overcoming Fear of Judgment 00:05:10 - Supporting Character Energy 00:07:49 - Main Character Energy 00:11:23 - Examples of Main Character Energy 00:12:59 - The Importance of Visibility 00:13:36 - Overcoming Discomfort with Visibility Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Have you heard these myths about navigating difficult personalities at work? Myth 1: Just ignore them and they'll go away. Myth 2: It's their problem, not mine. Myth 3: Confrontation will only make things worse. In this episode, we'll debunk these myths and reveal the truth about effectively navigating challenging relationships at work. Stay tuned for the strategies that can help you thrive in these situations.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:03:21 - Start with Your Side of the Street 00:04:22 - Identify the Issue 00:05:17 - Get Clear on Your Goals 00:06:23 - Understand Communication Styles 00:08:55 - Create Psychological Safety 00:12:20 - The SBIS Model 00:13:08 - Role Misalignment 00:13:30 - Changing Your Approach 00:13:56 - Taking Responsibility

Resources

The DiSC Assessment

Crucial Conversations

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai

Community is everything. In this episode, I talk about how community has lifted me up over the years and made sense of my experience. Plus, I give you tips on how to find or build your "cheering squad" so you have your very own community you can turn to at any time.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:03:17 - The Transformative Power of Connection 00:06:22 - Friendship at Work 00:08:37 - The Importance of Community for Underrepresented People 00:10:51 - Building Your Cheering Squad 00:12:27 - Finding Your Squad 00:13:10 - The Accelerator Program 00:14:19 - Who the Accelerator is For 00:17:24 - The Importance of Community

Quote

"Our communities and our sacred friendships are some of the most important connections we'll ever have because they can make us feel seen, heard and understood." - Amina AlTai

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai