PlayGround

How can we truly let go of our limiting thoughts? How can we pick ourselves back up after we fall mentally? In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Preethi who has a holistic wellness Instagram account called @beettheprocrastination. We talk about mental health and actionable steps to change our perspectives of life. Preethi is familiar with the Law of Attraction, as I am, and we discuss this phenomenon, and how it has impacted our lives. Preethi and I go to the same university and are in the same class, but we have not met in person at all. I am grateful for both of our social media presences to make this conversation happen, and it only shows that a future friend is potentially only a DM away! What are actionable steps you take for your mental health? 

I first met Laine through an Instagram comment on Drock's post. Drock is a videographer for Gary Vee, a social media entrepreneur. Laine is the first stranger that I met through Instagram who is now a guest on PlayGround. Little did I know how profound the conversation would be. Laine has Tourette's Syndrome and is now a fitness instructor who recently moved to New York City. He started his own fitness company the second day of quarantine back in March, and we discuss this journey and what led up to that. From various life experiences, Laine inspires me in our conversation,  and I hope will inspire you as well. Spend some time with Laine and I this week as we discuss how hitting the lowest of lows in life and picking ourselves back up is universal, yet unique to an individual's circumstances. 

I have a conversation with former stranger, now friend Marshall who engages me (and soon you!) with thought-provoking answers about compassion, spirituality, and meditation. We immerse ourselves in an hour-long conversation that takes us from the busy streets of New York City to the serene Himalayan mountains in northern India. While you drive, cook food, or just relax this week, join me and Marshall and listen in on our discussion on the mysteries of life and its purpose. 

"You don't want a job, and you don't want a career. What you want is a calling."  

Welcome to Season Two of the podcast! On this episode, I have a conversation with Mr. Joey Reiman, a successful entrepreneur who founded the first purpose-driven consultancy, BrightHouse. Joey and I have a conversation about purpose, the magical moments in life, and our shared interest in the Law of Attraction. We discuss that as a child, we were enthralled with the magic of the world. We asked “why” and “why” and “why." But, as we grow older, we tend to stop asking “why” and accept the world as it is. The world stops being magical, and we become preoccupied with what society expects of us. Mr. Reiman and I discuss how not asking "why" can lead to failure, and how this simple question can change one's life. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and you begin to ask yourself what your purpose in life may be. Thank you for listening!

Where does true happiness come from? Amulya, a senior at Emory University, and I have a conversation that revolves around this question. We talk about the false belief that material objects bring happiness, and how it is affecting today's society. We also touch upon the "highlight reel" of social media and the pitfalls of comparing ourselves to others. Amulya shares her childhood stories of visiting India, playing basketball, and playing the violin, and how all these activities help her approach life in a fresh perspective. One question that we dive into is what makes you happy at college? This is our last episode for Season One, but fear not, we will be back with Season Two soon! Give this episode and the other Season One episodes a listen while you wait for Season Two. 

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Divya Prasad, a friend from high school who is studying at UCLA. We get deep in this conversation discussing about life in outer-space, parallel universes, and the Mandela Effect, to name a few topics. Divya has always wanted to become an astronaut, and she describes this dream of hers pretty well in connection to imagination and storytelling. This conversation may have been a little too deep for a Sunday afternoon, but it will get you thinking about our existence and what it means to be alive, so you don't want to miss it!

Curious about the PlayGround brand, why the motif is an airplane, and why the colors are yellow and orange? Listen to this episode with Rohit Bolla, a junior at the University of Southern California who is passionate about design and aesthetics. We talk about how his interest for design started in his childhood, and how it has evolved throughout his life. We also discuss the stigma around being a brown kid interested in the liberal arts and the creative side of life, and how we can start the conversation to fight this stigma. Rohit personally designed the PlayGround brand, logo, and promo graphics, and we are grateful for his passionate work. If you need any design help whatsoever, first listen to this episode to understand Rohit's creative process and then feel free to reach out to him on Instagram @by.rohitb! 

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Amanda, a recent Emory graduate. We talk about her childhood in Central America and the dichotomy she experienced between attending an international school and volunteering at the local community center. Amanda then discusses how she describes fulfillment, privilege, and happiness in the capitalistic society we live in today and her experiences as a Tibetan Buddhist. We dive into multiple deep topics in this episode regarding social justice, spirituality, and self-awareness that will leave you pondering on the purpose of life at the end. 

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with my freshman year roommate and one of my first friends at Emory - Sankee Mummareddy! We talk about his childlike curiosity for dance, and how that has evolved into the creation of the Bollywood Fusion team Agnition. Sankee explains his story of finding confidence through dance and alopecia, a medical condition resulting in hair loss. He takes us through the good and the bad and shows us that there really is no internal growth without struggle. We also end the episode discussing South Asian culture and films. If you are experiencing any self-doubt in any area of life, take this as a sign to listen to this episode for some gems that will help you fight that battle!

In this episode of PlayGround, I have a conversation with Kavya - my 13 year old cousin! I ask her a series of questions to understand her creative thinking process. Her answers and advice are very applicable to college students today who may have forgotten what it means to think like a child, which I am also guilty of. Kavya brings a different perspective to this podcast and also has some deep insights about religion, human behavior, and creativity towards the end of the episode that you do not want to miss!