Why does a society that depends so much on nannies, caregivers, and home-care workers offer them so little in return? What does this reflect about modern culture and the values it espouses? How can we elevate caregiving into a much-valued pursuit in society?

And what drives certain individuals to become changemakers and dedicate their whole lives to serving others?

Find out from Ai-jen Poo, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Ai-jen Poo is a next-generation labor leader, an award-winning organizer, and a leading voice in the women’s movement. She is the President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a non-profit organization that works to win respect, recognition, and labor rights and protections for the nearly 2.5 million nannies, house cleaners, and homecare workers across America; Executive Director of Caring Across Generations, a national organization of family caregivers, care workers, disabled people, and aging adults working to transform the way we care in this country, and a trustee of the Ford Foundation. Recently, she served as a commissioner on President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Ai-jen has been recognized among Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders and Time’s 100 Most Influential People, and received a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as a “Genius Grant.” A nationally recognized expert on the care economy, Ai-jen has authored the celebrated book The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America.

In this episode, Ai-jen reveals:

- Why some people devote their lives to serving others, and what they gain in return

- What changes when we organize not from rage, but from love

- Elevating caregiving to a central pillar in our society’s values

How do we bridge divides when truth is so fiercely contested? In our search for moral clarity, what inner practices can help us hold multiple perspectives in a graceful manner, without collapsing into cynicism or false certainty? And what can we learn—about power, empathy, fairness, and truth—from someone who has stood at the intersection of journalism, faith, and one of the world’s most intractable conflicts?

Find out from Gregory N. Khalil, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Gregory Khalil is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Journalism in the Columbia Journalism School at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is the co-founder and President of Telos, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit that equips American leaders and their communities to better engage seemingly intractable conflict. Much of Telos’ work has centered on the role of faith leaders and culture shapers in America’s relationship to Israel/Palestine and the broader Middle East. Prior to founding Telos, Greg was a legal and communications adviser to Palestinian leaders on peace negotiations with Israel. Greg is also a founding member and chair of the board of directors of Narrative 4, a global non-profit that seeks to use story and media to cultivate empathy across divides. He has lectured internationally and his writing has appeared in leading media including The New York Times and The Review of Faith & International Affairs.

In this episode, Gregory reveals:

- Powerful inner practices that can help us navigate contradictions without falling into cynicism or false certainty

- What separates exemplary changemakers from the rest—and what step quietly precedes meaningful action

What might it take for humanity to rise from merely surviving to truly flourishing? Why is today’s model of higher education falling short in preparing us for the moral complexities of modern life? And at a time when knowledge is abundant but wisdom feels scarce, how do we cultivate a life of meaning—one that integrates intellect with moral imagination, ambition with purpose, and outer success with inner stillness?

Find out from Krista Tippett, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Krista Tippett is a former journalist and a diplomat, a sought-after public speaker, a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and a New York Times bestselling author. She has published three books, Speaking of Faith, Einstein’s God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit, and Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living. Krista is the creator and host of the acclaimed public radio program and podcast, On Being, that has featured many luminaries including Desmond Tutu, Thich Nhat Hanh and Mary Oliver, facilitating a new kind of conversation about religion, spirituality, ethics, and large questions of meaning in every aspect of life. In 2014, President Obama awarded Krista the National Humanities Medal at the White House for “thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence.”

In this episode, Krista reveals:

- How to navigate moments when our deepest values are out of sync with those around us—and still lead with integrity and grace

- What it will take for our species to evolve from merely surviving to truly flourishing—and why higher education must be reimagined to meet this moment

- Why deep listening—not just to others, but to life itself—is the foundation of wisdom and leadership

- How we can move beyond old paradigms of power, identity, and truth to embrace a more expansive, interconnected way of being

How can we successfully bring our vision to life to fill the gaps we see in the world? What challenges may arise along this journey, and how can we navigate them with wisdom and grace? In our quest to change the world, how do we engage in meaningful dialogue with those holding opposing viewpoints and arrive at a deeper, collective understanding? And how might grace, gratitude, and generosity become the three central pillars to guide us in all we do?

Find out from Rabbi Shai Held, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Rabbi Shai Held is a philosopher, theologian, and a Bible scholar, and currently serves as President and Dean at the Hadar Institute, a center of Jewish life, learning, and practice that builds vibrant egalitarian communities in North America and Israel, which he co-founded in 2006. Rabbi Held has received the prestigious Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, and has been named multiple times by Newsweek as one of the fifty most influential rabbis in America and by the Jewish Daily Forward as one of the fifty most prominent Jews in the world. He has authored a number of books including Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence, The Heart of Torah, and his most recent, Judaism is About Love. He is also the host of Hadar Institute's newest podcast, Answers WithHeld.

In this episode, Rabbi Held reveals:

- His own journey of bringing his vision for Hadar Institute to life, the challenges that ensued and how he overcame them successfully

- A profound understanding of grace, gratitude and generosity, and how to cultivate these qualities in all that we do

What do we do when we find ourselves caught between the demands of making a living and the quiet yearning to pursue our passion? How can we listen more deeply to the subtle stirrings of our soul while honoring the responsibilities and realities of the world we live in? How can we create harmony between our inner and outer worlds so each of these two worlds energizes and uplifts the other?

Find out from Gurcharan Das, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Gurcharan Das is a celebrated author, thinker and former CEO of Procter & Gamble India and Managing Director, Procter & Gamble Worldwide (Strategic Planning). After four decades of working at the helm of the business world, he retired early to become a full-time writer. Some of his bestselling books include India Unbound, The Difficulty of Being Good, and Another Sort of Freedom. His writings have been featured in leading media including The Economist, Financial Times, WSJ and The Guardian. Gurcharan graduated in philosophy with honors from Harvard University, where he was inducted in 2013 into Phi Beta Kappa for ‘high attainments in liberal scholarship.’ He also attended Harvard Business School where he is featured in four case studies.

In this episode, Gurcharan reveals:

- How to honor and pursue your soul’s true calling in the messy milieu of life

- A practical approach to harmonize your inner aspirations with your outer ambitions

Does high-performance require us to sacrifice our well-being? How can we make our first principles tangible and express them effortlessly in everything we do? Is there an integrative method to truth-seeking that’s applicable to all pursuits, and is there a place where truth resides and reveals itself on its own? And what steps can leaders, managers and coaches take to lead their people toward transformation?

Find out from Michael Gervais, a leading expert on the relationship between the mind and human performance, as he busts many 20th century myths about self-mastery through the art of craft-mastery, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Michael Gervais is one of the world’s top high performance psychologists and leading experts on the relationship between the mind and human performance. He is the founder of Finding Mastery, a high performance psychology consulting agency that works with leaders, teams, and organizations so they can thrive at the intersection of high performance and wellbeing, including Fortune 100 CEOs, Olympic athletes and gold medalists, Super Bowl winning NFL franchises and the best in the world of business, sport, arts and science. Michael's work has been featured in leading media including HBR, FOX, CNN, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Outside Magazine. He's also an acclaimed keynote speaker, co-creator of the Performance Science Institute at USC Marshall School of Business, author of the national bestselling book, The First Rule of Mastery, and host of the Finding Mastery podcast.

In this episode, Michael reveals:

- The invisible world of our minds, thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and how they all can be attuned and pointed towards our chosen path of excellence

- How leaders, managers and coaches can learn to tap into collective wisdom and lead their people toward transformation

- The greatest constrictor of human potential and why high-performance doesn’t demand the sacrifice of our well-being

- An integrative approach to truth-seeking and where truth resides and reveals itself on its own

Can entrepreneurship lead to world peace? What possibilities for growth are hidden in our difficult moments, and how can we leverage them to advance our impact in the world? How can you cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset and build something of value for others? And what new leadership framework can we adopt to successfully implement and scale complex social change programs across the world?

Find out from Asheesh Advani, as he shares a new approach to timeless lessons for aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Asheesh Advani is the CEO of JA Worldwide, one of the largest social impact networks in the world, serving over 12 million young people in 100+ countries, delivering hands-on experiential learning programs in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. During his leadership tenure, JA has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for three consecutive years. Asheesh is also an accomplished entrepreneur, having led two venture-backed businesses from start-up to acquisition, which have been chronicled in case studies at Harvard Business School. He is an in-demand speaker and regular contributor at major conferences, having served as a panelist or moderator at the World Economic Forum, the United Nations, the Young Presidents Organization, and Fortune 500 corporate gatherings. Asheesh has previously served as a columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine, has written two books about business finance, and his latest book is Modern Achievement, was published in August 2024.

In this episode, Asheesh reveals:

- The invisible connection between entrepreneurship and world peace

- How to build an entrepreneurial mindset and build something of value for others

- A new leadership framework to successfully implement and scale complex social change programs across the world

Why is inner work fundamental to racial justice and changemaking? What role do our thoughts, feelings and intentions play in shaping the way we live and lead change? How can we learn to embody mindfulness and exercise compassion, from the very core of our being, in our everyday words and actions? And how can we inspire and reorganize our communities that allow unity and harmony to bloom?

Find out from Rhonda Magee, as she illuminates the very heart of social justice work through the lens of mindfulness, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Rhonda Magee is a Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco, an internationally-recognized mindfulness teacher, an acclaimed author and keynote speaker. Having studied mindfulness, its underlying origins in Buddhism, and its potential benefits and applications for over 20 years, Rhonda's work has been focused on integrating mindfulness into higher education, law, activism and social change work, personal and collective healing, and leadership. She is the author of The Inner Work of Racial Justice, and has written extensively on how mindfulness supports engagement in the world in the face of multiple interlocking challenges, including climate distress, migration, war and political polarization. Along the way, she’s become a sought-after keynote speaker, inspiring others to explore the integration of socially-engaged mindfulness in research and its applications inside schools, workplaces, communities and beyond.

In this episode, Rhonda reveals:

- Why inner work is fundamental to racial justice and changemaking

- The role our thoughts, feelings and intentions play in shaping the way we live and lead change

- Six ways to embody and express mindfulness in our everyday words and actions

What is the true purpose of religion? How can we find peace within our own faith when some of what has been institutionalized appears to be incongruent with 21st century values? How do we engage with and reform rigid cultural boundaries that prevent us from living a life of our choosing? And what habits can we cultivate that help bring congruence to our own beliefs, emotions, intellect, and faith?

Find out from former Wall Street Journal reporter, Asra Nomani, as she recounts her struggle-filled yet inspiring journey of finding hope in the midst of tragedy, in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Asra Nomani is an acclaimed journalist, researcher, author, speaker, civil rights leader and an award-winning educator in journalism. She has taught journalism at Georgetown University, reported for the Wall Street Journal, and currently serves as Senior Contributor for The Federalist, and as Senior Fellow in the Practice of Journalism for the Independent Women's Network. An expert in investigative reporting, writing, editing and storytelling, Asra has written several books including Standing Alone: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam, Tantrika: Traveling the Road of Divine Love, and Woke Army, the Red-Green Alliance that is Destroying America's Freedom. She is the co-founder of the Muslim Reform Movement, a global coalition of Muslim reformers, dedicated to peace, human rights and secular governance. Her work has been featured on both national and international media outlets including The Washington Post, New York Times, TIME, PBS, CNN, BBC and Fox.

In this episode, Asra reveals:

1. The true purpose of religion
2. A habit that can help bring congruence in our own beliefs, emotions, intellect, and faith
3. How to address and reform rigid cultural boundaries that prevent us from living a life of our own choosing

How can we nurture hope in the face of deep loss and convert our pain into meaningful purpose? What wisdom can we gain about our own lives, purpose and happiness when we perform an audit of our own values? How can leaders light a fire in the hearts of people across the enterprise, and create a virtuous cycle of excellence, both at the individual and collective level?

Find out from Niren Chaudhary, Chairman of Panera Brands, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

Niren Chaudhary is the Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands, one of the world’s largest fast casual restaurant companies with nearly 4,000 locations in 10 countries. In his previous roles, Niren has served as CEO of Panera Brands and Panera Bread, COO and President of Krispy Kreme, and spent 23 years at Yum! Brands serving in global leadership positions including Global President of KFC and President of Yum! India. Niren is guided by his deep passion for serving others and building future leaders. He spends his personal time sharing his personal and professional journey with students and professionals, often wielding a guitar to sing about his life or even a new Panera menu item; serves on the Tufts Medical Centre Board and as an advocate for DKMS, a leading non-profit with the world’s largest stem cell donor registry. Niren also holds a black belt in Shotokan karate and is an avid golfer, tennis player and musician with his own rock band.

In this episode, Niren reveals:

- The wisdom we can gain about our own lives, purpose and happiness when we perform an audit of our own values

- How to create a virtuous cycle of excellence at the individual and collective level

- Three values that can inspire us to live fully and meaningfully, even through our most difficult times