CulturallyOurs

In this bonus episode, Karthika explores the importance of human connections and how a simple smile, a handshake, a hug, a hello, a voice - all matter so much more than just swipes on a screen or hearts on a post. The world can be a scary place but there is immense strength in human connection – strength to face the toughest situations if only you open yourself up to that connection – human to human, heart to heart, soul to soul.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/the-power-of-human-connections/

Karthika interviews Pat Wetzel, a cancer survivor and wellness advocate who shares her life pre-cancer and post-cancer. Pat is an incredible inspiration when it comes to dealing with life's adversities. She shares how she did not let her diagnosis and her life journey from get her down. Instead she focused on her love for travel and used it to help her heal. Now she has taken that concept and created an organization called Cancer Road Trips that helps people dealing with cancer with the gift of travel and adventure.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/pat-wetzel/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/09/17/pat-wetzel-on-road-tripping-through-lifes-adversities/

Karthika interviews Jennifer Palmer, a wildlife biologist, women's empowerment advocate and mindful traveler. Jen is not only a passionate wildlife and nature lover, but also the founder of an initiative called Women for Wildlife, an international movement to support, empower and unite women and girls around the world devoted to wildlife and conservation.

Jen talks about her life and experiences in living and working all over the world on issues related to conservation, wildlife and lifestyles of indigenous groups living in harmony with nature. She says the lessons we learn from these communities around how to live in balance with each other and nature teaches her so much about life in general. Nature definitely grounds her and keeps her motivated and inspired to be an agent for change.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/jennifer-palmer/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/09/10/jennifer-palmer-on-wildlife-conservation-and-outdoor-lifestyle/

Karthika interviews Annapurna Mellor, a travel photographer who has been featured in Nat Geo Traveler, Lonely Planet and others. Anna shares how getting photos is just one part of traveling. For her connecting with the people, place and community is more important in getting to know a local intimately - that means staying in home stays, eating where the locals do and also engaging with people before taking a single shot. 

Anna also shares how being on the road so much is all about balance - like everything else in life - between the things she loves to do and spending time with people she loves. 

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/annapurna-mellor/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/09/03/annapurna-mellor-on-travel-culture-and-lifestyle/

Karthika interviews Dr. Wendy Pearlman, a professor of political science at Northwestern University who researches and teaches about conflict in the Arab world. Her research covers not only the political aspect of conflict but also focuses on the human element. She has written several books on conflict in the Arab world since traveling there in the 1990s as part of her education.

Dr. Wendy's current book project documents interviews with displaced Syrians and focuses on the meaning of home, exile, belonging, and identify in a context of protracted war and indefinite displaced.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/dr-wendy-pearlman/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/08/20/dr-wendy-pearlman-on-empathy-and-understanding-to-resolve-human-conflict/

In this bonus episode we explore the importance of owning one's story, what it means to see and ways to be seen authentically. Personal stories and narratives are important in documenting our life journey. They help us connect with the people around us because at the end of the day we are all the same irrespective of color, race, religion or ethnicity. Commonality brings forth understanding and empathy. And this in turn helps brings together communities and people. 

Come explore travel and lifestyle as Karthika chat with Stefania Boglioli, a nomad, a wander and a long time expat who has lived in many places around the world like Kenya, Scotland and elsewhere. Stefania shares that she really does not feel like she is from one single place. Everywhere she has lived has always felt like home. Stefania shares how she has always felt like a migrant at heart even from a very young age and how leading a nomadic lifestyle was really the best fit for her.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/stefania-boglioli/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/08/06/stefania-boglioli-on-living-a-nomadic-lifestyle/

Karthika interviews Nancy Economou, a wife, a mother and a social visionary whose organization Watts Of Love is on a mission to deliver safe and sustainable solar lights to people who need it the most in some of the most under-served countries and communities  in the world. Nancy shares her personal life journey and how every light tells a story and every story deserves to be told.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/nancy-economou/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/07/30/nancy-economou-on-social-impact-as-a-life-mission/

Karthika interviews Sarah Parikh, a 17 year old high school senior who is also an accomplished dancer. Sarah shares her life and lifestyle as a dancer who started when she was around 3 years old and how dance and creativity will always be a part of her life. For someone so young, Sarah has a very mature mindset in how she deals with success and failure both in her art as well as her life. She talks about the importance of being in a team as well as surrounding yourself with people who care about you - no matter what path you choose.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/sarah-parikh/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/07/23/sarah-parikh-on-dance-as-a-way-of-life/

Karthika interviews Heike Pirngruber, the lady behind PushBikeGirl who is currently on a mission to travel the world on her bicycle. She started in 2013 from her home country of Germany and now almost 6 years, 30+ countries and many thousands of miles later, she is exploring the African continent. An adventure mindset, a deep sense of curiosity and the belief that people all around the world are kind and helpful has given Heike so many wonderful memories and she shares some of those during our chat.

Website: https://www.culturallyours.com

Episode Shownotes: https://www.culturallyours.com/podcast/heike-pirngruber/

Episode Website: https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/07/09/heike-pirngruber-on-exploring-the-world-on-a-pushbike/