The IKKIVI Podcast: Exploring Fashion, Culture and Values

Welcome to the second episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast Season 2’. In this episode, we have with us Karuna Ezara Parikh, a writer and ex-television anchor widely known for her activism, particularly regarding women’s rights, communal harmony in the country, and most passionately, climate change and the environment. In 2015, she co-founded the sustainable company The Burlap People in Calcutta. She is the author of two books, the best-selling novel The Heart Asks Pleasure First and a collection of poems, Where Stories Gather.  In this episode, we speak with her about her journey, the impact she wants to create with her work and her views on how social media holds power in today's time. We also talk about the conscious values she practices and how they reflect in her work and personal style, and more. You can follow her work on her Instagram.

Welcome to the first episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast Season 2’. In this episode, we have with us Snigdha Sur, the creative mind behind the media company and community, The Juggernaut telling smart South Asian stories and news. We deeply admire her passion for media, her dedication to shedding light on South Asian stories with unique perspectives, and the journey that led her to start this platform. On this show, we talk about her story and intention behind building this community, how her work honors South Asian roots, and how the publication fills the gap for historical misinterpretations concerning the portrayal of South Asians in media. We also talk about Snigdha’s thoughts on present-day journalism, her vision for the future, and more. You can follow her work on Instagram or reach her at [email protected] .

Welcome to the twentieth episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Jessica Maguire, a trauma-informed integrative Physiotherapist who is passionate about teaching people the tools and resources that reshape our brain. She believes knowledge is power and the right tools can bring increased self-regulation, a more balanced nervous system and greater resilience to face life’s demands.

On this week’s show, we talk about the impact trauma at all levels can have on our physical bodies if not addressed, and how mindfulness can help us bring about change in the way we choose to live our lives physically, mentally and emotionally. We also discuss the ways in which emotional healing is directly connected to our biology, and the actionable steps that we can take to relax our mind and body more frequently.

In this conversation, she also speaks with us about how our brain and nervous system are innately capable of change, the true meaning of resilience and how we can adopt a holistic approach to our well being and care

You can follow Jessica’s work on Instagram and her Website.

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Lydia Morrow. Lydia is a knitter, designer, artist, stylist, model, and sometimes influencer with a special interest in ethical fashion. She is passionate about creating a more just, equal, and diverse fashion industry that is less harmful to people and the environment through an understanding of the intersectional issues that affect it. She loves inspiring people to make their own clothes, get creative, and get a better understanding of their style.

On this week’s show we talk about the ways in which one can come to understand their own unique taste, why fashion is a playful and celebratory space for her, and how we can marry style with sustainability

In this conversation, she also shares with us the challenges prevalent in plus size modelling, the scale of exclusion in the fashion industry, what prevents the industry from becoming inclusive and accepting of body diversity and what kind of progress have we made in the last decade.

You can follow Lydia’s work on Instagram and her Website.

Welcome to the eighteenth episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Nadia Felsch, an anti-diet Nutritionist (BHSc) and Intuitive Eating Counselor who supports people to have a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies so they can live their fullest and most joyful life.

On this week’s show we talk about the conventional definitions and intentions associated with diets and our bodies, the rise of diet culture in contemporary society, and understanding the dangers and moralisms often attached by others to the food we eat.

In this conversation, she also shares with us details of the innate wisdom our bodies carry, how we can prioritize our experiences with food, and the direct connection between satisfaction, taste and nutrition.

You can follow Nadia’s work on Instagram and her Website.

Welcome to the seventeenth episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Elizabeth Brink, a trauma-informed, body-based coach for neurodivergent people. She partners with her clients as they build life strategies with greater self-acceptance and body awareness. Neurodiversity refers to variation in the human brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood and other mental functions in a non-pathological sense.

On this week’s show we talk about the various groupings that fall under neurodivergence, the impact the ideal ways of operating as determined by society can have on neurodivergent people, how we can come together to problem solve and discuss our different struggles in a safe space and the aspects she focuses on in her coaching classes.

In this conversation, she also shares with us the importance of understanding our nervous system, why we need to let ourselves and others act in more intuitive and instinctive ways, why we experience shame, and how we can start to cultivate systemic change and welcome greater diversity.

You can follow Elizabeth’s work on Instagram and her website

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Adele Tetangco, a fashion entrepreneur based in Canada who has been working in the industry for over 18 years. Her passion for supporting independent and up-and-coming designers as well as stores led her to develop Garmentory — a marketplace turned community for brands and boutiques in the niche market. Most recently, she launched Snack Size, a collective of creatives offering a full scope of services for fashion + lifestyle brands to grow, survive, and thrive.

On this week’s show we talk about why branding is important for brands, what it means to grow a business in today’s world, the impact creativity and communication can have in establishing a brand and the fundamentals to invest in as a startup or entrepreneur.

In this conversation, she also shares with us her early journey and inspirations with fashion, how consumers and brands are becoming more conscious, the scope and scale at which small brands can grow, the challenges that international brands face trying to get there foot in the door as well as the factors that can support their development and success.

You can follow Adele’s work on Instagram

Welcome to the fifteenth episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Ekta Rajani, a stylist, and design and creative consultant with over 20 years of work experience in the field of fashion. She has worked closely with the Indian magazine industry, celebrities, designers, brands and retailers, and was also the Fashion Director at Grazia India, a leading monthly women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine, for seven years.

On this week’s show we talk about the aspects of our lives we can look at to find a healthy work life balance, the higher difficulty we are experiencing in cultivating and maintaining it while experiencing Covid and the value of going deeply into our subjective experiences and recognising our personal needs.

In this conversation, Ekta shares with us the ways in which we can focus on ourselves to make more informed lifestyle choices and decisions, the human tendency we all have of comparing ourselves to others and how self honesty can help us prioritise what is important to us, amidst much more!

You can follow Ekta’s work on Instagram

(This podcast was recorded on July 6, 2020)

Welcome to the fourteenth episode of ‘The Ikkivi Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Deanna Ansara, founder of Vincetta, a sustainable womenswear brand based in New York, focused on inclusivity and creating intentionally minimalist clothing. She uses 90% deadstock material to create beautifully thoughtful pieces and focuses on the ‘less is more’ approach.

On this week’s show we talk about how healing and comforting creating something can be, the lack of humanity within fashion, her relationship with sustainability since she was a child, and designing with intention.

In this conversation, Deanna offers insights on the value of ‘basic’ clothing, creating at a pace that feels natural, realistic and safe, the challenges of growing a sustainable business, and the positive opportunities lended by limitations for our work.

You can follow Deanna’s work on Instagram and her Shop.

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of ‘The IKKIVI Podcast’. In this episode we have with us Kestrel Jenkins, host and producer of Conscious Chatter, a leading podcast that reimagines the narrative around sustainability, questions conscious consumerism, and works to deconstruct how oppressive systems impact the sustainable fashion space.

On this week’s show, Kestrel discusses with us the ways in which podcasts have become an intimate tool for us to connect with and learn from people all over the world, the popularity, uniqueness and impact of the audio format to share stories with each other and whether she thinks podcasts can be a business in themselves.

In this conversation, she also talks about how she is going deeper into understanding the nuances around sustainability and fashion, where she sees us heading as an industry, taking the ownership to invest our time into learning something, how we can gently grow to be more mindful and sustainable, along with the resources she relies on to learn about sustainability in the industry

You can follow Kestrel’s work on Instagram and listen to her podcast about why what we wear matters on Conscious Chatter.