What if selfless service — Seva — was the most powerful spiritual practice you've been overlooking?In this deeply moving conversation, celebrity stylist and humanitarian Ambika shares how years of chasing recognition in Hollywood left her searching for something deeper — until she found it in the most unexpected place: Skid Row, every single Sunday.Ambika opens up about:- How Seva (selfless service) transformed her relationship with ego, rejection, and comparison- Growing up in a home where Hindu devotion and Buddhist chanting coexisted — and how both still anchor her today- Why she believes karma isn't just a concept — it's the operating system behind every door that opened (and closed) for her- How wearing her bindi unapologetically became a spiritual and cultural act of resistance- The moment at the Oscars that became a full-circle spiritual reckoning with her father — the man who believed in the "land of dreams"- Why she personally cooked 42,000 meals for unhoused people — and how that act of service became her weekly reset from the noise of ego- How spirituality gave her the courage to trust rejection as redirection — and why she says "if you love what you're doing, rejection won't make you quit"This episode is for you if you're a South Asian woman, a first-generation immigrant, or anyone walking a spiritual path in a world obsessed with fame, followers, and material success. Ambika's story is a masterclass in what it truly means to live from the inside out.🙏 CHAPTERS00:00 – Welcome & Introduction01:11 – Attending the Oscars with Her Father01:46 – Her Father's Sacrifice & The Land of Dreams03:23 – The Ancestry of Dreaming Big05:07 – Why Hollywood, Not Bollywood06:00 – Coming to America at 1709:41 – "Dear Me" — The Letter She Wrote to Herself11:02 – Experiencing Racism for the First Time12:03 – The Journey from Invisible to Seen13:10 – Perspective Shift: The Truck PA at the Oscars15:41 – The Spiritual Reset of Going to Skid Row Every Sunday24:57 – Core Memories: Cyndi Lauper, Cher & the Prince Tribute28:12 – Why Gratitude, Not Achievement, Keeps Her Grounded35:32 – How Save a Sphere Was Born37:45 – The Dignity She Wanted to Give to the Unhoused41:30 – Indian Food as a Love Language & Spiritual Act43:30 – Staying Connected to Your Culture in the West46:21 – Seva as a Spiritual Practice: Making Service Cool Again59:21 – Wearing Her Bindi Unapologetically — Always01:07:07 – Hinduism, Buddhism & the Spirituality She Lives01:20:37 – How Spirituality Propelled Her When Nothing Else Could01:38:03 – Rejection Is Redirection: A Spiritual Reframe01:40:00 – Final Question: How Has Spirituality Shaped Your Journey?🔔 Don’t forget to:Like 👍 | Share 📤 | Subscribe 🔔 for more conversations on spirituality, health & conscious living✨ New episodes of Desi Wisdom drop every Tuesday.Watch Next : https://youtu.be/5LvPRB-BdxwDesi Wisdom SocialsInstagram → @desiwisdomwithkavita YouTube → ⁨ @desiwisdomwithkavita #Seva #SouthAsianSpirituality #Dharma #Karma #IndianSpirituality #SpiritualJourney #HinduSpirituality #SpiritualGrowth #SevaSphere #SouthAsianWomen #IndianDiaspora #FindYourPurpose #GratitudePractice

What if the way you’re living… is quietly creating more stress, conflict, and suffering—without you even realizing it?In this deeply powerful episode, we sit down to explore the 3 foundational principles of Jain philosophy—Ahimsa (non-violence), Anekant (multiple perspectives), and Aparigraha (non-attachment)—and how they can completely transform the way you think, live, and relate to others.This podcast is a practical guide to living with clarity, peace, and purpose.🎙 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✨ Why Ahimsa is not passive, but a powerful, active way of living✨ How your thoughts, words, and actions impact your karma and inner peace✨ The real meaning of self-purification and spiritual growth✨ Why most conflicts happen and how Anekant (multiple perspectives) can resolve them✨ How to stop saying “I’m right” and start understanding others✨ The hidden stress of overconsumption—and how Aparigraha simplifies your life✨ Why less is more when it comes to happiness and inner peace✨ How to live a spiritual life without renouncing the world🌸 Key Insight from the Episode:“Ahimsa is not just ‘not harming’…It is a conscious integration of compassion in your thoughts, words, and actions.”🧠 This Episode Will Change How You:- Handle relationships and conflicts- View success, possessions, and identity- Make daily decisions (food, lifestyle, behavior)- Connect with yourself and others⏱ Chapters:00:00 – Introduction01:20 – The 3 A’s of Jain Philosophy03:30 – What Ahimsa really means09:00 – Applying compassion in daily life21:00 – Awareness & mindful living30:00 – Introspection & self-reflection39:00 – Mastery over senses44:00 – Service & gratitude01:02:00 – Anekant (multiple perspectives)01:14:00 – Aparigraha (non-attachment)01:20:00 – Final life-changing message🌍 Who This Is For:Anyone feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuckPeople on a self-growth or spiritual journeyThose struggling with relationships, overthinking, or inner conflictAnyone curious about ancient wisdom applied to modern life💬 Comment “AWARE” if this episode resonated with you…and tell us your biggest takeaway 👇🔔 Don’t forget to:Like 👍 | Share 📤 | Subscribe 🔔 for more conversations on spirituality, health & conscious living

In this powerful conversation, we explore the real reason people fail at veganism and why Jain ahimsa (non-violence) creates a level of conviction that actually lasts.Most people try veganism for health or trends…But why do they keep going back?In this episode, we uncover:- The hidden truth about dairy production most people ignore- Why health-based veganism often fails- The role of ahimsa (non-violence) in creating real change- How conditioning and disconnection keep us stuck- The psychological shift that makes veganism sustainableThis is not just about diet…It’s about awareness, compassion, and the way you see life itself.✨ New episodes of Desi Wisdom drop every Tuesday.Watch Next : https://youtu.be/5LvPRB-BdxwDesi Wisdom SocialsInstagram → @desiwisdomwithkavita YouTube → ⁨ @desiwisdomwithkavita Subscribe if you care about wisdom that actually changes how you live.✨ New episodes of Desi Wisdom drop every Tuesday.

What if the root cause of most diseases isn’t just genetics… but how we eat, think, and live every day?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dimple Jangda — a lifestyle medicine advocate from Harvard Medical School, Ayurvedic expert, and national bestselling author who has introduced the science of Ayurveda to over 1.85 million followers worldwide.

Dimple’s journey into healing wasn’t academic — it was deeply personal.

Born with epilepsy, she went through multiple surgeries as a teenager and even faced a cancer scare at just 16 years old. Those experiences eventually led her to question modern health systems and explore the deeper connection between food, gut health, emotions, and spiritual wellbeing.

Today she works with celebrities like Juhi Chawla, Dev Patel, Masaba Gupta, and thousands of patients worldwide to help people understand how the body can heal when we align with natural principles.

Why do so many families struggle with communication, expectations, and emotional connection?In this episode of Desi Wisdom, we sit down with Rahul Kapoor, a globally respected family mindset coach who has spent over two decades helping families understand emotions, relationships, and the deeper psychology behind conflict.Rahul shares powerful insights from his experience working with families around the world and explains why many of the problems we see in relationships are not about love being absent, but about awareness, assumptions, and emotional patterns we carry from childhood.We explore topics like parenting, family dynamics, marriage, spirituality, and how self-awareness can transform the way we connect with the people closest to us.

Have you ever been told, “You need to lower your expectations”? This kind of advice is often given after you’ve expressed feeling hurt in a relationship. It could be that you were hurt by your partner, a parent, a sibling, or a friend, and this advice is intended to ease your suffering. However, I believe that suffering is a part of the human experience. In fact, it’s also part of feeling the most happiness and joy.

In this episode, I share why lowering your expectations is a myth, how it can actually contribute to more suffering in certain situations, and how it’s often used to suppress emotions rather than help someone express themselves. I break this all down and more in this episode.

Listen now.

Have you said out loud to your partner or to yourself, “I deserve to be respected,” or “I feel disrespected,” whether it’s something you’ve currently said or something you’ve said to an Ex?Do I want you to feel respected? 100%. BUT, there’s way more to this sentiment than what you think. The hard truth is when you think you deserve to be respected, it’s mostly coming from the ego. Not all of it, but a lot of it. And when a thought or feeling is getting activated by the ego, it’s code for: there’s something much deeper going on. In this episode, I share with you one question that will get you to the deeper truth of why you’ve felt so disrespected in the past or within your current relationship. This one question is actually at the heart of why you’ve maybe been stuck in a pattern of feeling so disrespected in relationships. When you can answer this question with total honesty and understanding, something will change this pattern inside of you for good. I don’t mean that you won’t ever feel disrespected, but when that thought comes through, you’ll know WHY and what you need to ask for instead. 

Take a listen. I think you’ll really enjoy this one! 

In this episode, I intuitively share the steps I’ve personally used in my relationship with my husband, Hemal, as well as the techniques I’ve applied to help many couples navigate fights and conflict. I explain how to grow through conflict and how it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with the relationship or that it needs to be destructive.

Conflict, especially in long-term relationships, is normal and healthy. It becomes healthy when used as an opportunity to deeply understand each other, express emotions you haven’t been able to put into words, and take accountability for what’s yours while helping your partner recognize what’s theirs.

You’ll LOVE how I show that even anger can play a vital role in evolving and growing closer together.

Take a listen now!

I share a story about a client who’s stuck in a cycle of resentment with their spouse. Resentments build because there’s a translation being made about the partner or the person you’re dating that makes you feel like you’re not allowed to be yourself, or like you’re giving too much, or that you’re being used or taken advantage of in some way.

That translation, however, could be true or not true. You don't know unless you understand what’s really happening within yourself first—whether you're feeling the resentment or receiving it. Once you share that, you can get curious about what’s happening on the other side.

I break this all down in this episode, and it’s oh-so-good. When you allow yourself to release the resentment you or your partner are carrying, AHHHH the feeling is soooo freeing. That’s when the love can flow again. Receiving that flow is what we all deeply desire.

Take a listen now.

One of the biggest reasons for conflict in a marriage is money. So, in this episode, I’m sharing with you a personal story about how my husband and I struggled with topics about money. I share a breakthrough conversation that we recently had that helped me own my worth, and had him understand he was leading with his ego when it came to money.

Take a listen.