My guest Kanchan Bhaskar is the author of the memoir Leaving: How I Set Myself Free From An Abusive Marriage. In her book and in this episode, Kanchan gives us an intimate glimpse into a painful, extremely difficult time in her life and how she found her way out.

Kanchan was born and raised in New Delhi, India. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Delhi University and a postgraduate certificate in personnel management and industrial relations. She moved to the U.S. in 2000 and currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. She now serves as an advocate, helping others who've experienced domestic violence by offering mentoring, counseling, and coaching services. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Indian tradition of arranged marriages
• What Kanchan learned about love and companionship from her parents
• The dramatic start to her parent’s life together
• How the arrangement for her marriage worked
• The first indication that there might be a problem
• What her marriage was like behind closed doors
• What her life became
• Why she felt she couldn’t leave
• The obstacles women in India face when filing for divorce
• How a chance encounter became a turning point for her
• The spiritual and emotional impact of being in an abusive relationship
• How she began to heal
• Wendy's podcast episode with Acharya Shunya "Roar Like a Goddess": https://lucidcafe.transistor.fm/s5/5
• The impact the abuse had on her daughter
• How she’s using her transformation to help others

Kanchan’s website: https://kanchanbhaskar.com/

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