What if the fastest way to move people on climate isn’t another chart, but a story that makes them feel? We sit down with sustainability strategist and climate advocate Shreya Ghodawat to trace how empathy, identity, and everyday choices can shift the future; starting inside each of us.

Shreya’s journey begins with animals as neighbours and monsoon floods as a seasonal reality, then pivots on a single lecture that reframed dairy as marketing rather than nutrition. That insight sent her into deep research and on-the-ground visits that exposed industry practices many of us never see. From there, we dig into the psychology: why statistics can numb us, how relatable visuals and rescue stories cut through, and how local impacts-heat, pollution, drought-turn distant warnings into urgent, personal stakes.

We explore sustainability as an inner shift that naturally reshapes what we buy and wear. Think bamboo over polyester, cruelty-free beauty, organic or reusable period care, and a return to local seasonal food that’s better for our bodies and communities. Shreya breaks down defensiveness around change; how culture, identity, and cognitive dissonance fuel resistance, and offers a gentler path forward rooted in empathy, not shame. The frame flips from sacrifice to abundance: stepping away from leather and ghee doesn’t erase joy; it opens room for pride in pineapple or mushroom leather and plant-forward comfort foods we’ve loved for generations.

Parents and educators will find practical ideas for raising empathy without fear: trade zoos for parks, choose ethical wildlife experiences, and use immersive tools that show animals in their habitats. We also talk about using social media with discernment, curating for learning and connection while resisting trends that prey on insecurity, and building a mental first aid box of loved ones, nature, movement, and yes, the occasional joyful vegan dessert.

If you’ve felt eco-anxious, this conversation offers agency. If you’ve felt judged, it offers grace. Subscribe, share with someone who’s on the fence, and leave a review with the one change you’re ready to make this week. Let’s move from numbers to stories; and from stories to action.

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