N.R.I. Woman

Season two begins with the inspiring and surprising story of Caroline Monteiro. She was lost on the streets of Mumbai when she was just seven years old. From living on the streets to finding a home with an adoptive family to building her own family, Caroline has come a long way.

We all need something to hold onto, something that gives us the confidence that we can go on with life, even when things don’t go the way we want them to. For Caroline it’s her faith in God, She believes it may not be going the way she planned it but it’s going exactly the way God intended it, and she’s happy with it.

She’s our NRI Woman and this is her story!

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For our season finale, we’re talking about a subject that is mainly Indian- Joint families, an arrangement where many generations bound by a common relationship live together in the same household. It’s common to see this kind of living arrangement in Indian families residing outside India as well. Some of us may have grown in one, and others married into one. Either way, it’s likely we know of someone who is part of a joint family.

Joining us in our conversation today is Aashna Mulgaonkar who was born and grew up in one of the largest joint families in India. At its peak, 150 members lived together in the same house – the Mhamai Kamat family in Goa.

The Mhamai Kamat family has a rich history dating back to the 17th century.

Aashna shares the story of her family, its history, how it grew to so many members and what it was like growing up with so many people around where one was never alone.

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Email: [email protected]

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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Our guest, Padmini Gupta, is an Oxford graduate, World Economic Forum Fellow and a social entrepreneur tackling a USD 5 billion industry in the Middle East.

She combines her passion for solving social issues with building an enterprise that is sustainable and profitable.

RISE, her fintech company, is her first foray as a social entrepreneur, and she hopes to change the lives of the 750,000 maids and nannies currently working in the UAE so they can upskill and plan for a better future for themselves.

Padmini shares her story of why she thinks the world needs more social entrepreneurs and how to raise the next generation more aware of the social circumstances around them.

“It was many years ago I met Elie Wiesel, the illustrious writer, and Nobel Laureate. I told him how he inspired me and how I wished to live his values. But today’s a day that made me realize I already am.

He once wrote “No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them.”

Today was a day of many highs, of moms and dads sharing stories about how they had encouraged and helped their nannies move to their dream careers, and Nannies that were encouraged by my message and wished they had the courage to share it with their employers (some of whom called me in an angry fit and said my message had offended them.)

I work to empower the women who empower other women and men, to break down these barriers that we hold so dear. I work to keep racism, sexism, poverty away. I work for nannies, for maids, for drivers, for cooks, and I work for mothers who want to see their helpers grow. I work to break down these collective views of the angry women and to amplify the voices of the invisible, and those who support them. I work because I value humanity more than political correctness”. – Padmini Gupta

Connect with the guests:

Website: https://www.gorise.co

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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Feng Shui means wind and water and is a traditional Chinese concept linking the destiny of a man to his environment. Samita Khanna is a master consultant of Feng Shui with over twenty years of practice.

The fundamental principle is that energy known in China as “Chi” flows through one’s environment and all objects possess chi that can be used to bring luck, wealth and opportunity into one’s home or business environment. It’s believed the reverse is also true.

As an example, we’ve all had years where things move in the direction we want it to, everything is smooth and effortless, and then there are years where everything is a struggle. One needs to look back and see when did this start, was it when they moved to a new home or was it when space was redecorated. So many things could have contributed to one inadvertently fostering negative chi.

Samita has seen first hand how Feng Shui has transformed her life and she shares tips to help you get started to foster the right chi in your lives.

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If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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From a psychotherapist to a makeup consultant after a 20-year gap, our guest today Sanyukta Kumar is an exemplar of new beginnings.

She moved to a new country with her kids when the youngest one was just three months old and her older daughter was four. Sanky, as she is lovingly known, decided like so many of us do, with a move and new additions to the family, to take a break from her job.

When she was ready to go back to her career, she found that it was not an option. The laws of the country demanded that her practice is current. The break meant she could not continue as a psychotherapist, a job she is passionate about and loves.

That didn’t stop her though, and she embarked on an entirely new career as a makeup consultant and launched a consultancy “Blend by Sanky” where she teaches women makeup application techniques.

She believes makeup is more than just about beautifying oneself. She thinks makeup done well helps one feel positive and face the world with quiet confidence.

Listen in as she shares her story and why she thinks we should stop holding ourselves back. Our age does not hold us back from beginning a new career; it’s our belief that it does!

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If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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Ikigai is a Japanese word that roughly translates to the reason for being. Why are we here? What is our purpose? Are these some of the questions you ask yourself?

Some of us would have spent our whole lives without finding or knowing it. Our guest today Harsha Makhija believes she has found her Ikigai. How? Listen in to find out.

Harsha is a pilates instructor, mum to three and a vagabond at heart. She believes everything she does must have a purpose and she lives her life with that in mind.

Discovering one’s Ikigai requires self-reflection and the simplest way to find it according to author Dan Buettner is by making three lists: your values, things you like to do, and things that you are good at. The cross-section of the three lists is your Ikigai.

One’s Ikigai also takes into consideration what one can be paid for and it’s at the cross-section of these four that one can find their Ikigai!

Ultimately discovering our Ikigai means we can live a life of joy, fulfilment and balance in our daily lives as our passion, family, jobs are not isolated parts of our lives but interconnected and it’s at the intersection point, we can find lasting happiness and contentment.

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Email: [email protected]

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Edited & mixed by Ryan Gonsalves at RG Creatives: [email protected]

Sharon Bender has moved countries three times in two years with two children under the age of four. She is now settled and considers South Africa home. She is a single parent, loves even numbers, dreams of becoming a teacher someday and suffers from anxiety and clinical depression.

On this episode of the podcast, Sharon candidly shares her journey through anxiety and depression. The beginning, how she came to terms with it and how she copes, every day. She also shares why it’s crucial for her to share her story.

She wants women who are in a situation like her to find comfort and know that she has been through it and felt the way they have silently.

If you are hurting and need help, please reach out to your family and friends. Should you need someone else to reach out to, we’ve listed below helpline numbers from across the world.

Sharon wishes that we can one day have a conversation about mental health issues as we do about bubbles, without stigma!

Connect with the guests:

Email: [email protected]

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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Child loss is like a loss no other. It’s grief of a lifetime, and there is no getting over or moving on from it. Our guest today Padmini Stump lost her son Steven in tragic circumstances 11 years ago. The days, months following his death left Padmini devastated, numb and depressed.

On a night when she had lost the will to live she stepped out of her house in the middle of the night seeking answers from God on how to carry on. She couldn’t bear the thought of living life like this, and she believes God answered her prayers. Someone walked into her life that day, literally and changed the course of her life.

Listen in as this mum shares her story of love, loss and unconditional love.

Connect with the guests:

Padmini Stump: +91 9921881894

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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In this episode, we talk to a pilot. What’s so great about talking to a pilot you may say? Well, this one is only 21. She chose her career, to be in aviation, at the tender age of 6 and stuck with it. Listen to her speak so confidently as to why she chose to become a pilot, how she made it happen and where she plans to take off with it. Literally!

She shares her inspirational story and advice that we can all use in our lives.

Connect with the guests:

Ira Bhongade: [email protected]

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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Starting a family for a woman is one of those life-altering decisions. It impacts all aspects of one’s life especially one’s career. The question should one continue to work or stay home to raise the children is one that has no straight answer.

She may choose to be a stay at home mom, a working mom, a mom who once took a break from her career or perhaps one who juggles both!

Listen in as we share four different perspectives on why we Mums do what we do and why we make these specific decisions and choices. This episode is undoubtedly going to impact you or resonate with you if your name has changed to “Mum”.

Sandra Skairjeh and her family

Venita Alphonso and her family

Connect with the guests:

If you like what you hear, please tell your friends about us and do subscribe to our Podcast. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We promise not to bore you!

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