Fresh Leaf Forever

In this episode, commemorating Plastic Free July, we encounter the inspiring journey of Hannah Testa, a young environmental activist, book author, Tedx speaker,  who didn't just read about plastic pollution, but made a monumental change.
Witness the transformative power of one determined voice as we traverse her path from a passionate youngster to a renowned international speaker, author of "Taking on the plastics crisis", and founder of Hannah for Change.
An ardent environmentalist, Hannah's resolve enabled her to establish February 15th as Plastic Pollution Awareness Day in Georgia - a day dedicated to our planet.
Our discussion also uncovers her unflinching determination in the face of challenges from the plastic industry and the profound impact of a documentary "Plastic Paradise" that ignited her fight against the plastic crisis.

Noteworthy points from this chat:
-Hannah enlightens us on minimizing polyester usage in our clothing
- The urgent need to reduce plastic packaging and why
- Amount of plastics we are internalizing in our body due to our lifestyle habits
- Health implications of microwaving and freezing in plastic containers
- Plastic pollution and seafood impact
- The measures we can take to safeguard our oceans
- Plastic impact and climate change

Join us for this captivating conversation and get ready to be inspired to make a change for our planet's future. The time for us to act is now!
A succinct account, repurposed from a Season 1 episode with Hannah on this show, discussing her role as a youth activist and how youth can make a change for the betterment of our planet.

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Understanding the challenges and complexities posed by climate evolution can be daunting.
In this episode on the podcast,  our guest Ashoke Mohanraj is a sustainability advocate and book author who is a Top25U25 Environmentalist from Canada.
He's an individual who isn't afraid to navigate the gray areas of complex issues surrounding sustainability, and helps guide us beyond the typical views on climate change.

Our conversation takes a deep dive into Ashoke's personal motivation, rooted in his #SriLankan heritage, and that part of the world facing the wrath of climate deterioration. We take a full circle on the importance of inclusivity in climate conversations, revealing how to strike a balance between enjoying life and still advocating for the planet. It's not merely about eco-friendliness,  but bringing diverse perspectives to the table to truly understand sustainability- thereby breaking barriers.

Here are some chapter highlights  :
- Sustainability and Climate Change Exploration
- Importance of Inclusivity in Climate Talks
- Navigating the Path to Environmental Activism
- Why environmental advocacy is for young men as well( Ashoke's book "Pollinator Man")
-Paths to Success in Sustainable Living

As we go further along, Ashoke shares his path from being one of the few people of color in environmental activism to his experiences representing at the UN - a journey that is as inspiring as it is enlightening. He also provides valuable advice for those looking to get into environmental activism. Ashoke's best selling book Pollinator Man, portrays a masculine super hero at the center of environmental conservation - a resource that every child can learn from and do their part to make our daily lives better.

The importance of keeping an open mind and the willingness to pivot when necessary is emphasized well by our guest. Ashoke's passion for creating a sustainable future is contagious, via his books and visual media/TV projects he's currently involved in and it's our sincere hope that every listener, every citizen in this planet can draw inspiration to do more in preserving our planet ! Stay tuned for his next book and future projects. A not to miss conversation, and a role model to emulate, for betterment of our mission to lead a sustainable future.

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Do you know how crucial sleep is for your teenager's health, mental well-being, and overall success?
Discover the vital role of sleep in adolescents as I sit down with seasoned journalist, book author, and public speaker Lisa Lewis, who shares her personal journey and passion for advocating for teen mental health and the importance of sleep.

My guest was instrumental in CA's legislation on regulating school start times and is the author of the New York Times reviewed book "The Sleep-Deprived Teen".

Lisa and I discuss the biological shift in circadian rhythms during puberty and explore the challenges posed by early school start times for our teens to get the recommended 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.

We dive deep into the impact of sleep deprivation on various aspects of our teens' lives, including
1. mental health,
2.learning, and
3.technology management.

We traverse through the lack of sleep and its link to increased anger, emotional regulation difficulties, and even suicidal tendencies.
Lisa provides valuable expertise and insight on this crucial topic, making this episode essential listening for parents, educators, and everyone concerned about teen well-being.

Puberty, hormonal changes, sleep and menstrual cycle are all focus areas in this enlightening discussion.

As takeaways,  we discuss strategies for success and creating a healthy balance between technology and our lives, as well as the importance of prioritizing sleep for our teenagers and society as a whole.

Don't miss this engaging and informative episode, where we examine the critical role of sleep in the development and well-being of our teenagers, as well as the steps we can take to ensure they get the rest they need for a thriving future.

Every listener can appreciate the takeaways for not just teens, but for adults and our very young and growing minds alike! Remember, my goal is to offer solutions to real world issues and essentially sleep, mental health are great pillars to a sustainable living! 
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: THIS PODCAST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, NOR IS IT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL ADVICE. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN, THERAPIST FOR INDIVIDUAL CASE BY CASE NEEDS. NEITHER THE HOST NOR THE GUEST ARE MEDICAL EXPERTS.

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This podcast comes to you from Listen Ponder Change LLC, founded by  Vai Kumar.Every  support the show contribution is much appreciated !!
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In this conversation, Science Technology Engineering Math(STEM) enthusiast, book author and Math SP founder Stephanie Espy talks to host Vai about how STEM is omnipresent in our lives and is not limited to just being forms of study. Vai delves deep into gender inequality in STEM and how our guest Stephanie is doing her part to address this and empower the next generation to take to more avenues in science, technology, engineering and math to problem solve the most pressing issues in this world, including sustainability.
 
 A fascinating chat with our guest, an MIT alumni, on factors that need attention to be able to let young minds find their true calling and get passionate about building their future. 
 We focus on :

• STEM being sort of omnipresent in our lives
• How children can think beyond the realms of a curriculum and a classroom in using STEM to address real world issues
• Gender inequality when it comes to STEM and addressing this
• Igniting curiosity and passion for the world we live in, & the key to tapping student potential
• Building confidence in students, role of research and publications
• SP Method - Strategy and Problem solving
• How students can become better test takers, Stephanie's SP Method
• STEM Gems- her book and story of 44 women in science and technology
• It's impact on younger generation
• Disparity in percentage of women in stem in colleges - in engineering and computer science & why not to shy away
• Role of STEM in saving our planet and our future; the potential to volunteer or innovate

and much more ....

Tune in today, and get valuable insights on how best to contribute in a field where there's plethora of possibilities. There's no boundaries when it comes to tapping into our inner potential and Stephanie is a great example herself of how every woman, every person of color can succeed and carve a niche. Learn why STEM could be for everyone, so you can innovate and transform some real world issues !!
 https://mathsp.com
 https://stemgemsbook.com

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This podcast comes to you from Listen Ponder Change LLC, founded by  Vai Kumar.Every  support the show contribution is much appreciated !!
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The state of mental well being amongst children, teens, young adults has become a topic of paramount significance in recent years; not that mental health wasn't an issue in the past- it's just that there's more of acceptance to bringing it out in the open more recently.
My guest Vanessa Elias is a certified parent coach, a mental health activist, and a writer focused on helping parents realize the power they have to foster healthy family relationships. She and I sat down to unpack some of the aspects impacting the youth of today and how a sustainable future is dependent on mental well-being in our society.

Some highlights from this powerful conversation:
- Why mental health is a real world issue
- Ramifications from the pandemic
- Need for us to show up for our children and ways to accomplish this best
- Reasons for body image issues, eating disorders, avenues to seek help
- Importance of seeking professional help
- Helicopter parenting versus free range parenting
- Need to let go of kids and not monitor
- How culture impacts parenting and how to "raise adults"
- Screen use, impact and setting boundaries
- Sustainable future and mental well-being
- Tangible takeaways, action items

A conversation that emphasizes on how kids need scaffolding and not a 360 monitoring ; redefining what it means to be a good parent, and establishing meaningful connection versus superficial connection- with such riveting insights, I could find joy and more hope for the future. I hope every listener does and can spread this further!

Vanessa Elias's social media handle is @thrivewithaguide and her website is https://www.thrivewithaguide.com

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This podcast comes to you from Listen Ponder Change LLC, founded by  Vai Kumar.Every  support the show contribution is much appreciated !!
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In this opening episode of Season 3, eighteen year old Climate activist Sarah Syed emphasizes how small actions can lead to giant differences in preserving our planet and future.

Sarah talks about her journey and how she started taking an interest in the preservation of the climate. As a fourth grade project presenter in school, she learned that it wasn't just about global warming but so many other things like our food systems, fossil fuels and energy sustainability. Poverty is also a factor to contend with, she realized, and  how our actions have a long term effect on the planet.

Her journey began when she realized that humans weren't living in harmony with nature, leading to an equilibrium loss. She had to make small changes in her own life, such as using a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one.

Our guest sees climate change as a gigantic puzzle piece. Need for renewable energy, tackling gender inequality and poverty, all contribute to climate change - as education could foster innovation to help solve and mitigate the issue. Sarah emphasizes the importance of taking action now in order to create a better future.

She believes that technology is not the only solution to addressing climate change and that in order to have a sustainable future, a balance of technology, community, businesses, government and individuals is necessary. Her passion for science and technology drove her to work on a project to create a biosorbant, or a sponge made from biomass, which can remove 98% of oil and heavy metals from water.

We also talk about -
- Why climate change is perceived just as global warming
- Need to cut deforestation
- Her involvement with "You are the change"
- How youth of today can participate and make a difference
- The different avenues that one can resort to and help resolve this crisis
-  How to get involved in climate movements
-  Mix of creating awareness and leadership, starting one's own climate journey.
-  Sarah using her passion area to drive change - technology: bio sorbants, IoT in   agriculture, AI based transparent rotating solar cell, 3D printable biodegradable coffee pod
-  Multi pronged approach : advocacy, innovation and incorporating personal life changes
- Need to address our food eco system


Like my guest rightly put it, "It's more about how our actions of today and tomorrow can lead to more hope."

Tune in and derive actionable insights to build a more sustainable future!

Link to Sarah's LI page and website:linkedin.com/in/sarah-syed-715a50201
https://sarahsyed34.wixsite.com/portfolio

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This podcast comes to you from Listen Ponder Change LLC, founded by  Vai Kumar.Every  support the show contribution is much appreciated !!
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After thirty episodes of engaging content, Season 2 comes to a close. 
Vai shares her thoughts on previous seasons and about upcoming season(s).
Look for Season 3 to drop very soon !!!

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Videos  on  YouTube channel.
Follow host Vai on socials -  Instagram , YouTube, LinkedIn  for  thought leadership content.
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This podcast comes to you from Listen Ponder Change LLC, founded by  Vai Kumar.Every  support the show contribution is much appreciated !!
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Are you "hungry to learn,  innovate "?  Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) or STEAM(with Art included) has so much potential for anyone  to uncover and prove themselves in.
Engineering ain't just for nerdy folks; instead, one can discover what facets of STEM might truly be of interest to you - as a student, young innovator, girls ready to get thinking hats on and those women, men looking to take that next leap or pivot in your career.
In this discussion with Melanie Flores, a two time Tedx speaker, engineer, STEM enthusiast and a technology solutions leader, we go through her journey, and lot of possibilities for anyone to succeed in STEM. The fact that no idea is small and innovations can unfold when we unlock our real potential is well highlighted by my guest.
Here are some focus areas from this conversation:
* Melanie's non linear career path - from a student at MIT to a digital solutions leader currently
* Pivoting with a purpose, bringing ideas to life
* Guiding principle in career and focusing on opportunity to learn, grow
* Melanie's involvement in starting a Corning optical fiber factory from the ground up
* Her transition from a engineering manager to a Montessori job
* Working with kids and having them succeed in design thinking skills
* Engineering design workshop for kindergartners and successfully implementing it
* Melanie's Tedx talk on the above and how she nurtured young thinkers
* Process design, process map and the need to put ideas down on paper
* Need for girls to have role models in STEM and feeling comfortable about getting their hands dirty - her 2nd Tedx talk
* Developing spatial thinking skills
* Importance of Story telling and the power of communication
* Melanie's role as an e-commerce business co-founder
* Helping businesses scale
* Digital Media, her role as a technology solutions leader in the SaaS marketplace
* Power of digital story telling
* Technology focus areas for youth of today to become future innovators
and much more.....
A great reminder that technology is for everyone and not just a chosen few! Here's to fostering more innovators and STEM leaders- remember, technology is NOT just for men. This is a compelling episode to HELP GIRLS and WOMEN succeed with hands-on activities and feeling good about getting your hands dirty and being successful - right from at home projects with screw drivers to setting up BIG FACTORIES- just like our guest Melanie did!!
FOLLOW, RATE, PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW for this podcast and, SUBSCRIBE for FREE so you are ready for more insightful content in Season 3. 
A not to miss, insightful conversation!

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This podcast comes to you from Listen Ponder Change LLC, founded by  Vai Kumar.Every  support the show contribution is much appreciated !!
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In this fascinating interview with Jini Patel Thompson, founder of Listen to Your Gut and author of multiple publications, host Vai uncovers lot of impactful information about Inflammatory Bowel Disease(Crohn's , Colitis).
A very personal topic to both guest and host, this episode takes listeners through a multi pronged approach to finding a balance and restoring the body's equilibrium. Listening to one's own body, intuition, tapping into our body's defenses and healing capabilities are some great reminders from this chat.

Here are some Chapter highlights and notes from this conversation:
Ch 1: Jini's journey, her non conventional approach - coming from a family of doctors, pharmacists, our guest shares her take on how she approached her healing journey.
Ch 2: Specific Carbohydrate Diet - what it offers and what Jini felt was a barrier with it personally.
Ch 3: Listen To Your Gut protocol, disease manifestation - how IBD shows up differently in people
Ch 4: Initial steps to address
Ch 5: Personality types, internal response - how our body triggers imbalances based on how we react to situations
Ch 6: Diet, allergy testing
Ch 7: Cellular regeneration - how healing happens in our body
Ch 8: Herxheimer reaction - rapid release of toxins
Ch 9: Methodical approach to healing
Ch 10: Wifi, environmental toxins
Ch 11: Adrenal systems, need for hormonal balance
Ch 12: Fecal transplant, surgical aspects in general
Ch 13: Children and IBD
Ch 14: Natural therapies
Ch 15: Microbiome testing, stool testing, food allergy testing
Ch 16:Absorb plus protein supplementation
Ch 17: Jini's books, protocols

Follow the podcast, rate the podcast and leave a review from your podcast app of choice. This helps many more folks realize the power of information produced and the insights offered in every episode. Thank you.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: THIS PODCAST EPISODE, THE CONTENTS HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN AND GASTROENTEROLOGIST FOR YOUR CASE BY CASE NEEDS. THIS IS MEANT TO ONLY HIGHLIGHT THE GUEST'S APPROACH TO HER PERSONAL HEALING JOURNEY. THIS IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL ADVICE NOR IS IT MEDICAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS TO ANY APPROACH MAY VARY. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN.

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Rohini Bajekal is a nutritionist and lifestyle medicine practitioner based out of London U.K,  and co-author of a wonderful book- "Living PCOS Free".
Having experienced PCOS first hand in her personal health journey, she sat down with me on the podcast to unpack several intriguing and stigmatized topics surrounding multiple chronic conditions.
This episode serves as a primer for anyone with the inclination to "listen, ponder and change" aka, tweak their diet and lifestyle habits for healthier, vibrant living.
As Rohini phrases it beautifully, "it's all about what more one can include, rather than  what to take away" - a win-win, and an uplifting shift in one's well-being journey.
Of the several things I learned from this chat, here are some highlights so you know what to  expect -
* Rohini's story with her health & how she stabilized it
* Cooking nutrient dense foods easily
* Getting enough protein from plant based foods
* Swaps for commonly enjoyed food items
* Legume consumption to prevent chronic ailments
* Role of fiber, warding off insulin resistance
* Chronic ailments, hormonal conditions
* Getting creative with food, meal prep ideas
* Teen issues, acne, PCOS, eating choices
* 8 step plan to live PCOS Free
* Eating meaningful, role of movement/exercise
* Rohini's 21 day meal & lifestyle plan from her book with  Dr.Nitu Bajekal
*  Vitamins, minerals- an in-depth look
* Sample 3 day meal ideas
Recipe : https://www.hammersmithbooks.co.uk/2022/04/25/author-qa-rohini-bajekal-co-author-of-living-pcos-free/
Follow the podcast on Spotify, Google, Apple , Amazon or any podcast source/or my website.

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not intended to be medical advice nor is it a substitute for medical advice. Please consult  your doctor for individual case by case needs.

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This podcast comes to you from Listen Ponder Change LLC, founded by  Vai Kumar.Every  support the show contribution is much appreciated !!
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