Hearth 2 Heart on Belonging

Is it possible to lead with empathy while still holding your team accountable for achieving shared goals? In this episode of Heart to Heart, host Gayathri dives deep with Erin, leader, coach, and author, to tackle the common fear that empathy weakens accountability. 

Erin shares her journey from engineering to becoming a champion for empathetic leadership, revealing how understanding emotions—both personal and within teams—can foster a sense of belonging, especially with those from underrepresented backgrounds. Through real-life stories and practical insights, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how leaders can build trust, leverage diverse perspectives, and turn emotional intelligence into a powerful force for team success. 

Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership in today’s world.

www.erinthorp.ca
Podcast – Tactical Empathy
Book – Inside Out Empathy
Erin’s LinkedIn
www.campfirekinship.com
Gayathri’s LinkedIn
www.instagram.com/campfire_kinship

Feeling you belong can be tricky when you are the "only" in a team. In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Monica Hernandez, an engineer with over 20 years of experience and founder of Infinity Growth, shares her journey of navigating gender bias. Host Gayathri and Monica discuss the importance of self-care, effective communication, and setting boundaries, offering valuable insights for all leaders on creating inclusive workplaces.

Tune in to be inspired by Monica's story of self-belief and perseverance, as she shares, "I feel a sense of belonging when I am connected, when time passes without notice, and I truly connect with the person I am with."

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Materials Business podcast
infinitygrowth.ca
linkedin.com/in/monica-hernandez
campfirekinship.com

"Last month, I attended my first 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat. Many asked how it went, and I am opening my heart to share candidly in this episode.

"As an entrepreneur and EDIB (equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging) practitioner, I embarked on this journey hoping to deepen my practice of concepts like embracing discomfort, unlearning, and journey over destination. From the struggle of sitting in silence to the embracing of self-awareness and equanimity, this experience is reshaping how I view life and work."

In this solo episode, join Gayathri Shukla as she reflects on her deeply transformative journey and lessons learned.

Links mentioned in episode:
www.dhamma.org
www.campfirekinship.com/resources/blogs/vipassana
www.instagram.com/campfire_kinship
www.linkedin.com/company/campfire-kinship

In this solo episode, Gayathri shares her reflections from Indigenous History Month. She explores what it means to be in good relations having experienced the privilege of sharing meals and stories with Indigenous Elders in a dinner and dialogue series called Aisinna'kiiks. 
She unpacks the experience of "bringing your whole self to work", and how setting aside personal agendas in favour of trust can infuse belonging in our daily interactions. In a surprising twist, Gayathri also announces her preparation for a personal journey of self-discovery - Vipassana - connecting ancient wisdom with modern practices of meditation. Tune in to follow along on her transformative journey!


Aisinna'kiiks is a Blackfoot word that means those who write, draw or make their mark. We are grateful for the invitation from Calgary Arts Development and to be hosted by Calgary Board of Education's high-schools. 

Links mentioned in episode -
Instagram: @campfire_kinship
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/campfire-kinship
www.campfirekinship.com

Content Warning: This episode includes discussions on trauma and gender-based violence which may be triggering for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

"We don't just bring our intergenerational cycles of trauma but also intergenerational cycles of wisdom." – Dr. Meghna Bhat  

In this episode, Dr. Meghna Bhat, a renowned gender and social justice consultant and storyteller, explores the delicate balance of trauma-informed storytelling within the gender-based violence prevention field. Gayathri and Meghna delve into the practical aspects of creating safe, inclusive spaces for storytelling. Listeners will gain insights into the power of storytelling to foster connection, community, and healing, all while navigating the ethical considerations essential to maintaining the dignity and agency of survivors.  

Resources mentioned in episode:
www.gulabistories.com
www.meghnabhat.com
linkedin.com/in/meghnabhat
instagram.com/gulabi_stories
www.campfirekinship.com

Land Acknowledgements are a crucial part of reconciliation, recognizing historical and ongoing relationships with Indigenous peoples. However, these acknowledgements can easily become scripted and lose their impact. 

In this episode, Gayathri and her guest, aloT of Poetry, a Nigerian-South African Poet now based in Mohkinstis, explore how poetry can cultivate genuine understanding and respect. Crafting a poem might seem daunting, but it can help us navigate the complex emotions and histories that come with reflecting on the place we may now call home. 

Tune into this episode to discover aloT of Poetry's insights on infusing personal and emotional depth into your Land Acknowledgments, transforming them from scripted formalities into powerful, heartfelt recognitions. Plus, don't miss her reading her own poem and Land Acknowledgement for Treaty 7.

Links mentioned in episode:
www.alotofpoetry.com
www.campfirekinship.com
www.instagram.com/alot.of.poetry/

Step 2:

Vulnerability in sharing our stories allows us to show up as our true selves and helps to deepen belonging with others. Yet, embracing vulnerability raises important questions about the balance between authenticity and psychological safety. How can vulnerability act as a bridge to more meaningful bonds without leaving us feeling exposed? Let's dive deep with Dr. Roselle Gonsalves as she draws from her impactful work in inclusion and reconciliation, and insights from her latest book, The Ordinary Turned Precious!

Links mentioned in the episode:
www.rmgonsalves.com
Campfire Kinship
www.cjsw.com/program/hearth2heart
The Ordinary Turned Precious

In this new launch, host Gayathri Shukla unveils her plans for Season 2's theme, Belonging! She recaps her journey thus far, expressing gratitude for listeners' feedback and providing a glimpse of what you can expect in upcoming episodes.

IG: campfire_kinship
Campfire Kinship

In this final episode of Season 1, host Gayathri and Elena share their learnings from working together on the Landed project. Tune in to hear their fun recap of favourite moments plus a sneak preview of future aspirations!

Elena Esina is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary where she manages an initiative called Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence. Elena holds a master’s in social work and a bachelor’s in financial management. For the last 10 years, Elena has been managing multiple large-scale research projects. She leads Immigrant Women Work-Integrated Learning Hub that provides work experience placements for internationally trained women from all over the world in the academic setting. Elena also is a co-founder of Shift to Learn, an online learning platform that aims to stop violence before it starts. She is a recipient of the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee medal in recognition of her leadership in supporting immigrant communities.

Links mentioned in episode:
Shift to Learn
Instagram: @campfire_kinship
Elena's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-esina-21745315/
www.campfirekinship.com

"I feel a sense of belonging when I am surrounded by people who care about me, and people who are sincere to me."

In this episode, we'll be exploring the story of Landed co-author Melike Tasdelen, an immigrant woman who defied cultural norms to pursue her education and economic opportunities. Coming from a part of the world where society values women based on their roles as wives and mothers, Melike's journey of self-discovery and determination to succeed is inspiring. She moved from Turkey to Canada by herself after graduating from accounting in 2013. She also has a degree from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and works as an accountant.

Join us as we delve into her story of struggle and triumph, and learn how she navigated societal expectations as well as the additional obstacles of starting from scratch as an international student. campfirekinship.com
IG: @campfire_kinship