How can rituals help you stay present? This is a question that drives the work of Nikita Mehta, a multi-hyphenate creative professional who has bridged the gap between time-honored rituals and modern life to drive more thoughtful ways of living today. Most notably, this approach has come to life through Fable & Mane—a beauty brand co-founded by Nikita that goes to the root of ritual by "bringing beauty secrets and wisdom from India for healthy hair that is wildly you."

While Fable & Mane's mission centers on one's hair, Nikita is driven by matters of the heart as much of the brand's DNA stems from the root of her own familial experiences and childhood memories that have informed her thoughtful outlook on living, working, and creating in our digital landscape. With emphasis on the Fable in Fable & Mane, Nikita is a firm believer in the power of storytelling to spark imagination and bring us closer to the root of what matters most in life. In this conversation, she shared what she's learned about the role fables can play in helping us make sense of the world, the importance of bringing more inclusive narratives to the beauty industry, and how slowing down has helped her personally, professionally, and creatively. This episode also opens with a story contributed by Avni Barman.