Happy & Human

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As a father, husband, cancer survivor and pediatric dentist for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dr. Deep Shah doesn’t shy from adversity and making the most of any and every situation. His work as a dentist is dedicated to make the child’s visit fun and empowering as the “Superhero Dentist”. We have a conversation with Dr. Shah on the overlooked positives of social media, finding powerful growth in obstacles, and the importance of getting out of your lane. 

Dr. Deep Shah isn’t just a dentist; he’s a superhero in disguise, dedicated to making every child’s dental visit a fun, empowering, and memorable experience! As a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Shah feels privileged to care for young smiles and sees every appointment as an opportunity to help kids discover their inner superhero while under his care.

Dr. Shah’s journey began at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where he earned his dental degree before pursuing advanced training at the renowned Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. There, he gained extensive expertise in growth and development, pediatric oral health, special care needs, dental trauma, and behavior management. His unique approach blends cutting-edge dental care with a deep understanding of developmental psychology, ensuring every child’s visit is personalized, comforting, and trauma-free.

But Dr. Shah doesn’t just stop at delivering exceptional care—he brings the fun, too! A passionate dancer since childhood, Dr. Shah has competed across the country and now enjoys choreographing and teaching dance routines. You might even catch him grooving around the clinic, rocking one of his many superhero masks and costumes to put a smile on everyone’s face.

Beyond the clinic, Dr. Shah is blessed to give back to his community and profession in meaningful ways. As the official pediatric dentist for the Philadelphia Eagles, he helps deliver smiles to youth in the community where he grew up. He also teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, where he runs the sedation program for pediatric dental residents, helping train the next generation of specialists.

In the summer of 2025, Dr. Shah will embark on his most exciting adventure yet: opening his own pediatric dental practice. With a superhero-inspired twist, this practice will be a place where kids can feel safe, empowered, and excited about their dental care.

At home, Dr. Shah cherishes time with his beautiful wife, their two awesome boys, and their loving dog, Burfi. Whether he’s traveling with his family, dancing up a storm, or bringing laughter and superhero magic to his patients, Dr. Shah is all about spreading joy and empowering young smiles wherever he goes.

Connect with Dr. Shah: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesuperherodentist/

Sidekick Smiles: https://www.instagram.com/sidekicksmiles/

Links: 

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com, IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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Seema and Dinesh are welcoming Nisha Patel on the podcast to have an honest conversation around sobriety. Nisha got sober at the age of 24 and shares her experience with others as well as helps her clients find healing and purpose. She answers common questions and misconceptions around sobriety, how making these kinds of changes help us become more aligned with our inner self and how to make big, long-lasting decisions. Her goal is to help people feel aligned and integrate back into a community that may not live the same way they want to lead their life. 

Nisha Patel is a dedicated professional committed to guiding individuals toward healing and leading a fulfilling life. As the owner of TheNishe, Nisha’s work is rooted in her deep commitment to empowering others to find healing and purpose. Whether working one-on-one, in group settings, or speaking to large audiences, Nisha brings a wealth of experience, compassion, and expertise to her practice.

Nisha’s holistic approach is tailored to meet each person, offering not just emotional support but also practical tools to create lasting change. With a strong foundation in evidence-based practices, Nisha is a licensed professional counselor and sobriety coach. Nisha offers specialized sobriety coaching services to those at any stage of their recovery journey. She also provides guidance to families and loved ones, helping them better understand and support those in recovery. Her goal is to help individuals and families thrive beyond sobriety.

Connect with Nisha: 

IG: @nishapatelcoaching

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nishajpatel

Links: 

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com, IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai

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Discussing the importance of hobbies and lifelong learning, finding professional success both in and out of your main profession, Seema and Dinesh meet with Dr. Rahual Damania, pediatric critical care physician, educator, and entrepreneur. He’s inspiring us with his perspective on adaptability, finding happiness by releasing expectations and shifting our view on adversity. This conversation will help drive you towards seeking greatness in and outside of your career, pursue lifelong learning, and shift your focus to contribution rather than competition. 

About Dr. Rahul Damania:
Dr. Rahul Damania is a pediatric critical care physician, educator, and entrepreneur with a passion for enhancing medical education and leveraging deliberate practice to boost productivity both professionally and personally. Through his work as the founder of HyGuru, he empowers future physicians to thrive by nurturing critical thinking and the practical application of medical knowledge. In his TEDx talk, What Makes a Clinician Great - Studying Peak Performance in Medicine, he highlights the transformative impact of small, intentional habits on personal and professional growth. Additionally, Rahul co-hosts the podcast PICU Doc on Call, where he breaks down complex clinical cases to facilitate learning through real-world medical challenges.

Connect with Dr. Rahul Damania: 

Instagram: @hyguruprep

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rahul-damania-md 

BlueSky: @hyguruprep.bsky.social

TikTok: @hyguruprepusmle

Links: 

Sonia’s episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2135836/episodes/15447652

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com, IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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Seema and Dinesh are having a conversation on not only optimizing your health, but your parents as well and how to approach conversations with them surrounding their health. He’s answering all your most-pressing health and wellness related questions, like what wellness trends are actually worthwhile? How do we simplify weight loss and nutrition? Does BMI really matter? How do we make sustainable changes instead of temporary ones? What are the habits of fit and healthy individuals? This is the perfect conversation to help you achieve your health goals this year AND give you practical tips on approaching conversations surrounding health with parents. 

About Dr. Umesh Wadhavani: 

Dr. Umesh Wadhavani is a lifestyle doctor who empowers people to improve their health through sustainable changes.

A movie buff with a flair for humor and relatable analogies, he creates engaging sessions and content in regional languages, including Sindhi and Sign language.

With a social media community of 500K+, he’s working on making people self dependent when it comes to living healthy.

Connect with Dr. Umesh: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.umesh.wadhavani/

Website: https://thesimplywellness.com/

Links: 

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com, IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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Breaking down the true purpose of technology, being a woman in tech, and finding courage and peace in the light of incredibly difficult circumstances, we have Sehreen Noor Ali, co-founder of Sleuth and expert in applied technology. She’s sharing her experience working in the state department to becoming a mother, entrepreneur and so much more. This is a necessary conversation around the benefits and pitfalls of technology, our ability to find peace in spite of challenging times, and the true meaning behind being happy and human.

Sehreen Noor Ali is the founder of Te Cura, a "Human in AI" advisory service, and the former co-founder of Sleuth, a children’s health tracker enabling parents to understand and predict their child’s development and wellness. Sleuth was named as a 2024 Fast Company World-Changing Ideas awardee. Built with thoughtful AI and the crowdsourced expertise of 62K caregivers, Sleuth's vision is to transform kids’ healthcare through better information.

She started her career at the U.S. Department of State in the earliest days of digital diplomacy. She was charged with leading the team that built the first set of tools to engage with Iranian audiences for which she was personally recognized by President Obama. Later, she joined several edtech startups as a BD and sales executive, . On the side started EdTechWomxn, which was recognized by SXSWedu as its first-ever Change Maker of the Year Award in 2015.

Sleuth was inspired by her own personal journey as a medical needs mother, and Te Cura (which means 'take care' in Latin) is inspired by the internal change catalyzed by her daughter's devastating diagnosis while she was building her startup. 

Connect with Sehreen: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sehreennoorali/

Links: 
Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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What does it mean to measure your success by joy? Are we addicted to the stress of life? Can we actually experience more joy by prioritizing it each day? These are all questions Seema and Dinesh dive into during their conversation with Loka Pandya, also known as, “Chief Joy Officer”. Loka’s mission is to spread joy and inspire people to live a more joyful life by taking a structured approach to joy. Through his own healing experience, he found the profound impact of joy in his life and cultivating it daily through proper strategies. He’s sharing his findings and practical tips on how you can do the same in your own life. 

About Loka:

At the age of 13, Loka Pandya faced a life-altering personal tragedy. In response, he channeled his energy into work, becoming an entrepreneur at just 17 by co-founding his first specialty retail business. By his early twenties, Loka had built a multi-million-dollar hotel hospitality company, which he later sold. However, despite his outward success, he often found himself overwhelmed, anxious, and burned out.

It was during his lowest point that Loka realized something was missing. This led him on a profound journey to discover not only the meaning of life but the key to genuine fulfillment and lasting joy. Over two decades of research into Western and Eastern healing practices, Loka developed a formula for joy—one that transformed his life and his approach to business.

Today, Loka is sharing his powerful insights with others, helping entrepreneurs find success in both their professional and personal lives. His work focuses on cultivating joy and mental well-being as key components of sustainable success. In addition to his speaking engagements and joy workshops, he focuses on raising investors for lucrative glamping, hotels, technology, and wellness startups, applying the principles of joy and fulfillment to every venture.

When he's not sharing his joy formula, Loka can be found delivering bursts of joy throughout the streets of Dallas—passing out bubbles from his Delorean Time Machine, Batmobile, or Firetruck. His passion for giving back extends globally, as he fundraises for Orphan Sponsorship International in India, Bulgaria, and Sri Lanka, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to the children. Loka loves traveling, spending time with the joy of his life, his wife Millie, and yes, he loves to dance! He is also currently working on his first book.

Connect with Loka: 

Instagram: @lokapandya

Website: lokapandya.com

Links:

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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We are back from our holiday break to bring you our first episode of 2025 with Sanah Kotadia. She’s on the show having a conversation with Seema and Dinesh around how and why perfectionism is overcomplicating your parenting style and likely your relationships. She shares her insights working with mothers who are balancing career and family life and addressing the common yet challenging questions they face through family life and what it means to find balance. Sanah shares practical tips and strategies you can use in your own life to help you address your perfectionist tendencies and understanding where they’re coming from and when they’re showing up. 

About Sanah: 

Sanah is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in San Francisco, but works with clients based in Texas. She specializes in working with mothers who are navigating the intricate balance between career and family life. 

In her practice, she focuses on high-achieving moms who struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the overwhelming mental load that often accompanies motherhood. Together, they delve into the nuances of perfectionism, as she aims to help clients understand and set realistic expectations for themselves while fostering a narrative of self-compassion and empathy.

In their sessions, they also explore the dynamics of marriage, particularly how perfectionist tendencies can affect relationships and communication with partners. She teaches clients how to establish healthy boundaries, improve communication skills, and enhance emotional intimacy. She support my clients in understanding and embracing their evolving identities as mothers, wives and high achieving professionals, helping them to integrate these roles in a way that feels authentic and fulfilling.

Connect with Sanah: 
Instagram-@balancedmindstherapy 

Website: www.balancedmindstherapy.com

Links:

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai   

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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Seema and Dinesh have Dr. Anita Bangale on the podcast today to explore the transformative power of Flow State. Together, they’re talking about limits of labels, the treadmill of achievement, and the cultural paradigms that keep us stuck in a perpetual cycle of "what's next?" Dr. Bangale reflects on her own journey from hyper-specialization to embracing a more expansive, creative approach to life—and how becoming a mother reshaped her perspective.

You'll learn more about how Flow State can help us transcend rigid identities, harness our neurobiology as an ally, and reframe the way we approach success and fulfillment. Plus, they have a candid conversation on why stepping back from the checklist mindset might just be the key to unlocking your limitless potential.

About Dr. Anita Bangale: 

Anita is a board-certified emergency physician based in Houston, Texas, who has practiced medicine for the past 19 years, and who recently started her own practice focused on reversing trends in the mental health epidemic. She is a national mental health leader, having served as a physician leader with Brightside Health, a ketamine infusion specialist, certified mindset coach, international TEDx speaker (TEDxBreckenridge and TEDxRaleigh), and mom of 3 girls. Anita cares deeply about the power of communication and community, and she has learned that with the combination of discipline and motivation, we can achieve absolutely anything. She enjoys creating true partnerships with her patients in the emergency department and with her clients in her private practice, The Woodlands Wellness and Mind Spa. She integrates the power of coaching in her daily work, as she uses the power of empathy and neuroplasticity to help people become their ideal version of themselves. Anita truly loves working with teens, professionals and moms to guide them as they re-discover themselves, find joy and purpose, and maximize self-worth and confidence. 

In 2021, Anita delivered a TEDx talk https://www.ted.com/tedx in Breckenridge, CO, in which she spoke about how her curious toddler helped refocus her energy back to the patient and how “de-armoring” to show up as our unscripted human self helps us reconnect with each other and ourselves. At TEDxRaleigh, Anita spoke on the power of social prescription to fine tune our collective mental health. Anita also enjoys working as a physician leader with Brightside Health, a national telemedicine company focused on the treatment of anxiety and depression. 

Connect with Dr. Bangale: 

Website: https://www.anitabangale.com/ 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/anita_bangale_/ 

@anita_bangale_

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@woodlandsmindspa 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-bangale-md

Links:

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai   

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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Empathy is not about “walking in another person’s shoes” as we commonly say, according to Dr. Ashok Bhattacharya. He’s on the show today sharing his experience in teaching empathy long before it became the buzzword it is now. He shares with us his story behind why understanding others became so important to him, the most important lessons he’s learned along the way, and how we can all strive to be more empathetic in our day to day lives - both toward each other AND ourselves. He also breaks down the difference between self-empathy and self-love. This is a conversation for everyone to better understand empathy in a way you’re not going to hear in popular media and news today. 

Dr. Bhattacharya is a psychiatrist in private practice for over 38 years. He is the founder of THE EMPATHY CLINIC. The clinic uses empathy to diagnose, and treat a variety of mental health disorders in individuals and couples. The clinic’s emphasis is on empathy, balance, integration of the spirit and soul, and the pursuit of optimal wellness. He also specializes in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Bhattacharya has presented at conferences around the world on the topics of Empathy and Burnout in physicians. He is a musician, author, artist, and works out six days a week. 

Connect with Dr. Bhattacharya:

https://www.empathyclinic.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashok-bhattacharya-687a6211/ 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPRzM30XZ8uscgGEx1wnEtQ 

Dr. Bhattacharya’s Charity: https://www.komen.org/ 

Links:

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai   

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast

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What do you do when you reazlie the path you’re on was chosen for you, and not the path you would have chosen for yourself? What do you do when what you really want to do isn’t going to be understood by those around you? These are questions our guest, Swati Nigam shares with us from her unique professional experience that led to her creating the organization American Friends of HelpAge India, being named in Top 50 Women Leaders in Austin 2024, and more. Her story is an inspiring example of what it means to switch paths, embrace the unknown, and not let the judgements of others dictate what we do or don’t do. 

About Swati: 
Currently working as the Executive Director of American Friends of HelpAge India, Swati Nigam leads the organization with nearly a decade of expertise in the international nonprofit sector, specializing in program management, operations, and fundraising. A first-generation immigrant, Swati is deeply committed to addressing overlooked issues and giving voice to causes that often remain in the shadows.

Swati has held key leadership roles at esteemed organizations such as Pratham USA, Ronald McDonald House Charities, CARE USA, and CARE India. Her ability to build partnerships, lead dynamic teams, and drive growth has consistently amplified the impact of India-focused and global initiatives. With a background as a certified dental surgeon, a Master’s degree in Public Health, and certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Swati brings a unique and multidimensional perspective to her work, blending medical expertise with strategic vision.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Swati mentors women who are restarting their careers after a break, offering guidance and inspiration to help them rebuild confidence and find direction. Her passion for empowering others reflects her own journey of resilience and reinvention.

A lover of Broadway shows, live music, and global travel, Swati is equally at home exploring a good book or the vibrant coffee shops of Austin, TX. Whether she’s spearheading transformative programs or mentoring others, Swati Nigam’s mission remains clear: to make a lasting difference in areas that deserve more attention and action.

Connect with Swati: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/swati-nigam-mph-pmp/

Swati’s Charity: 

https://www.af-hi.org/ 

Links:

Dinesh Melwani http://www.dineshmelwani.com IG @dineshmelwani

Seema Desai http://www.drseemadesai.com, IG @dr.seemadesai   

Happy and Human Podcast on IG @happyandhumanpodcast