My First Step Ever

Ever feel like you're chasing goals without really knowing why?

In this episode, I speak with Paul Hawkins, innovation expert, speaker, educator, and the Chief Combobulator at Crazy Might Work, whose work spans NASA, the UAE Government, the Australian Federal Police, and beyond.

But before the accolades, Paul had to make his leap into the unknown—and it all started by reconnecting with his why.

💡 What we explore:

• Why your why matters more than your job title

• What does it mean to think long-term when today feels uncertain

• How to stay laser-focused while navigating doubt

• The power of not taking criticism from people you wouldn’t seek advice from

• Skills vs. status: what drives growth

• Paul’s take on writer’s block, innovation, and showing up boldly

  
  

  ✨ This is your sign to stop chasing outcomes—and start anchoring yourself in purpose.

🎧 Tune in now and let Paul’s story guide you back to your first step.

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About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

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Success on the outside doesn’t always mean peace on the inside.

In this deep and moving conversation, I speak with Dave Chauhan — leadership coach, organisational strategist, and author of Captain, Set Sail — about what it truly means to lead with purpose, especially when the world outside and inside feels uncertain.

💭 We explore:

• How to accept your past and rebuild your emotional foundation

• Why learning to detach from achievements is key to peace

• The real story behind writer’s block and creative resistance

• How leaders (and all of us) can navigate uncertainty with grace

• The importance of slowing down to rediscover meaning

This episode isn’t just about leading others — it’s about leading yourself through the chaos with clarity, courage, and compassion.

🎧 Tune in now and rediscover your inner compass.

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

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What does it take to rise beyond fear and transform into a leader who empowers thousands?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Raina Khatri Tandon — Founder & CEO of Right2Rise®, global human rights advocate, and multi-award-winning changemaker — to explore her powerful journey from a quiet, uncertain girl in India to one of the country’s strongest voices for women, children, and human rights.

🎙 What we talk about:

• Choosing learning as a pathway to freedom

• From IT researcher to internationally recognised human rights expert

• Advocating for POSH, POCSO, cyber safety, and DE&I

• The turning points, mindset shifts, and deep purpose that guided her

• What does it mean to take your first step ever

With over 23 years of experience, two PhDs, and accolades like the UN REX Karmveer and Nari Shakti Awards, Dr. Raina proves that real power lies in showing up, speaking out, and leading with purpose.

✨ If you’ve ever felt stuck, small, or unsure—this story is your sign to rise.

🎧 Tune in now and start your own transformation.

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

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What if the path you didn't plan turned out to be the one that changed your life?

In this inspiring episode, I talk with Inderpal Singh, a certified life, career, and leadership coach whose unconventional path took him from India to Australia, with stops in the Middle East, Turkey, and South Africa along the way.

Inderpal shares how a shy IT graduate, pushed by economic uncertainty, said yes to customer service—and ended up finding his voice, purpose, and profession as a global coach.

🎙 Highlights from this episode:

• Taking your first job for survival—and finding growth in it

• Why trusting the journey (even through detours) is powerful

• Holding on during a 7-year migration process

• Learning to take calculated risks for a better life

• Transitioning from doing work to becoming someone with purpose

• Empowering others to grow, lead, and live with authenticity

Whether you're at a crossroads or waiting for permission to take your first step, this episode is your reminder that your story is enough.

🎧 Hit play and take that one step closer to who you’re meant to be

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

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175 Episodes Later… Here’s Why I Started This Podcast 🎉

In this short and heartfelt video, I’m pausing to reflect on the real reason behind My First Step Ever.

💡 I created this podcast to give voice to the power of starting — because taking that first step is often the hardest, but also the most life-changing.
I started with zero experience, just a strong desire to inspire people who have a dream but lack the confidence or clarity to act on it.

💬 In this video, I share:

• Who I am and why I started My First Step Ever

• What this podcast means to me

• The values that drive every episode

• A huge THANK YOU for being on this journey with me 💛

From chasing bold dreams to hearing powerful stories from around the world — this podcast has become so much more than a show. It’s a movement. And we’ve only just begun.

👉 If you’ve ever needed a sign to take your first step — this is it.
🎧 Watch. Listen. Share.

What if your biggest setback became the spark for your greatest success?
In Episode 175, I sit down with Jacopo Iasiello, a Naples-born entrepreneur, international real estate expert, and founder of the Healthy, Rich & Happy movement. From a promising soccer career cut short to building a multi-million-dollar real estate empire, Jacopo shares his powerful story of transformation, resilience, and purpose-driven success.

We talk about:

💥 How Jacopo turned injury and anger into fuel for business success
🏡 Real estate strategies that helped him close 350+ transactions by age 30
🧠 The role of environment and elite relationships in shaping a growth mindset
🌱 His MPBE Method (Meditate, Morning, Pray, Biohacking, Exercise) for balanced living
🚪 Why walking away from one dream opened the door to another
📚 Sneak peek into his upcoming book Healthy, Rich, and Happy – releasing December 15, 2024

This is more than just a money talk—it's about creating holistic wealth that aligns your health, purpose, and happiness.

✨ Free Resource: Jacopo’s Book – Healthy, Rich, and Happy

🎧 Tune in if you're seeking inspiration to shift your mindset, level up your personal growth, and start building the life you truly deserve.

About Your Host –

Ishani NigamHi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, content creator, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

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What if healing isn’t about fixing what's broken—but about releasing what never belonged to you in the first place?

In this raw and heartfelt conversation, I speak with Richard Tierney, Trauma Recovery Healer and founder of Trauma Recovery Anonymous, about his personal path from decades of trauma and emotional pain to living fully in the present moment.

🧘‍♂️ We explore:

• Why addressing the cause, not just the effect, is key to real healing

• Richard’s 30-year journey of living with trauma—and the moment of release

• Practical tools and mindset shifts that helped him break free

• The power of giving your all to the present—family, work, and self

• Why healing is ongoing, and how managing your mind and emotions is the real transformation

💬 “I’m not fully healed. But I’m fully living.” – Richard

🎧 Press play to hear a story of reclaiming life, purpose, and inner peace—and perhaps begin your own.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPM68FFQ
About Your Host –

Ishani NigamHi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, content creator, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

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Have you ever reached a point in life where everything looked “successful”—but it still didn’t feel right? In this episode, I chat with Julie Demsey, a Rapid Results Mindset Coach, Hypnotherapist, and former startup leader who knows that story all too well.

🎙️ We explore:

• The exact moment Julie knew she needed to change direction

• How to question your life path with courage and clarity

• Why mindset work is the foundation of any transformation

• The biggest reason people stay stuck—and how to overcome it

Julie’s journey from Silicon Valley to soul-aligned service is nothing short of inspiring. If you’re looking for permission to pause, reflect, and start something new—this episode is it.

💡 Just start. Because that’s the hardest—and the most important—step.

🎧 Tap play now for a story that might just spark your own breakthrough.

About Your Host –

Ishani NigamHi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, content creator, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

Have you ever ignored your inner voice—only to regret it later? What if tuning into your intuition could heal your life and unlock your true potential?

In this episode, I talk with Diane Haworth, a Heart-Centered Success Coach and founder of Be Love Principles, about why most people struggle to trust themselves and how our thoughts shape our reality.

✅ We cover:

• Why people ignore their inner wisdom and how it impacts their life

• The science behind thoughts and how they influence mental & physical health

• How to reconnect with yourself and listen to your intuition with confidence

• Simple steps to cultivate more love, peace, and joy in daily life

🎁 BONUS! Grab Diane’s Be Love Bundle for FREE: Click Here

This conversation is for anyone feeling stuck, disconnected, or looking for real transformation.

🎧 Press play now and start trusting the voice within you!

🎤 About Your Host – Ishani NigamHi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, content creator, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

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🌟 Are Your Fears & Anxiety Holding You Back? Here’s How to Use Them to Your Advantage

We all experience anxiety, stress, and fear—but are they stopping us, or are they signals pointing us in the right direction? Hillary Spiritos, founder of Bat Outta Hell, joins us to reframe the way we see our inner struggles and help us build a consistent routine despite life’s chaos.

🎙 In this episode, we explore:
✅ The truth about fear and how to use it as a guide, not a barrier
✅ Why social media and societal pressures make self-trust so difficult—and how to break free
✅ The power of small, consistent actions in achieving long-term goals
✅ How to embrace uncertainty and move forward with clarity and confidence

Hillary shares deep insi potential.

🎧 Hit play now and start transforming your relationship with stress!

MORE FOR YOU FROM HILLARY

Website: https://batouttahell.net/

TikTok/Instagram: @bat.outta_hell

🎤 About Your Host – Ishani NigamHi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, content creator, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠ 🎬💃

Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode! 🚀✨

Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com