“ZENPod”, Season 5, episode 10 featuring Ms. Savitha Rao Founder of “India Positive Citizen” & “Tulsi Shakti” initiative, An Activist and Fashion Entrepreneur, a Sustainability Champion, Fashion Designer, an Artist & an Explorer of Environment space.

Savitha Rao is focused on sustainability and social work. She is the Founder of the India Positive Citizen initiative. The vision is to inspire every Indian to contribute towards nation building with one action, once a week, every week. Building a great nation one India Positive action at a time.

“Spirituality is an Awareness that there is something greater than oneself. Something more to being human than just a sensory experince. A lifetime is sometimes not enough to experience it.”, says Savitha Rao in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan

https://www.indiapositivecitizen.com

https://tulsishakti.com

An Activist entrepreneur Once she immersed herself in the environment space, Savitha felt alarmed by the inaction she saw around her. To that end, she conceptualised and ran a campaign titled, ‘India Kuch Kar.’ (India Do Something). The goal was to inspire the public to become active citizens, and the theme was public cleanliness. It was appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom she got to meet thanks to the resounding success of the campaign.

She is the author of :

- India Positive Citizen

- 500+ Ways to be an India Positive Citizen

- Putting India First : India Positive Citizen Perspectives

Currently she is writing a book ‘Made in India Movement’. The research for the book will result in regulatory changes that will power Indian Industry across sectors.

Through her non-profit foundation: Positive Citizen Foundation she leads on-ground initiatives to enable a kinder, joyous and more sustainable world.

She is the Founder of Tulsi Shakti : a first of it's kind initiative to inspire and empower people to enhance their well being in a safe, accessible, affordable and planet friendly way.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

From A Fashion Entrepreneur to a Sustainability Champion

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Savitha Rao,

Founder of “India Positive Citizen” & “Tulsi Shakti” initiative,

An Activist and Fashion Entrepreneur, a Sustainability Champion, Fashion Designer, an Artist & explorer of Environment space.

https://www.indiapositivecitizen.com

https://tulsishakti.com

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

“ZENPod”, Season 5, episode 9 featuring Ms. Lakshmi Mohanbabu

First Singaporean Artist to send her art to the Moon,  an Architect, Fashion Designer, an Artist & a NFT Creator.

Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery.

She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator / Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts.

https://www.lakshmimohanbabu.com/

Lakshmi is a Singaporean Artist of Indian origin, an Architect and Fashion designer by training, who spent her formative years in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan. Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery. Her art has been featured as a mosaic animation on the largest HD screen in the world at Singapore's Suntec Convention Centre, displayed in prominent galleries, and is collected worldwide. The 5 Interactions designs now in space are being launched in the metaverse as a series of NFT art available at https://www.liqnft.com/gallery/collection/MOON

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator/Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts. An artist of many mediums, her art spans all facets of design, is multisensory and multidisciplinary, an intersection of Art and Technology.

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Lakshmi Mohanbabu,  an Architect, Fashion Designer, an Artist & a NFT Creator.

First Singaporean Artist to send her art to the Moon

Two of her sculptures are on the International Space Station, orbiting Earth and will reach the Moon by 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery, the first extra-terrestrial art gallery.

She started her career as an Architect, illustrated books on disability for the Voluntary Health Association of India and the WHO, became a Fashion designer, Educator / Mentor at NIFT, Delhi and Lasalle College of the Arts.

https://www.lakshmimohanbabu.com/

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

A Techie who also makes Music!

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Shri HK Venkatram – “HKV”,  a Violin Vidwan, a “Ganakala Shree”, “Gaanavaradhi”, “Satyashree” and recipient of “Parur Sundaram Iyer Award for Senior Violinist“. HKV is also an ‘Asthana Vidwan’ of Sri Kanchi Kamokoti Peetam, Kanchipuram.

A Techie, Social Evangelist, HKV has also published a book, ‘TyagarajaVachanamrita‘ with text, transliteration, and translation of popular Tyagaraja’s compositions.

https://www.hkvenkatram.com/

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with the purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

Nepali entrepreneur turns TRASH into CASH

Season 5, episode 7 of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Aayushi KC, A Social Entrepreneur and Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi , ♻️ A socially inclusive waste management platform dedicated to transform Nepal’s waste dumping sector to Waste Management sector.

Aayushi is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in Asia, & Asia 21 Young Leader in 2019.  Khaalisisi has been recognized by Google as Google Business story in 2017.

“Spirituality is about being grateful and not taking things for granted. I try to replicate that in everything that I do. Working Hard and not taking things for granted” says Aayushi in her conversation with Venki Mahadevan.

https://www.khaalisisi.com/

Aayushi KC is the Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi Management Pvt. Ltd., a waste management platform that currently connects waste workers, in an industry with more than 13,000 waste workers, to waste sellers.  Aayushi’s goal is not just to create a company, but a waste management industry in Nepal.

Khalisisi is a social enterprise disrupting the recycling industry in Nepal through connecting waste entrepreneurs with the public on an innovative digital platform.

Khaalisisi works to digitally empower the informal waste workers/stakeholders to increase the diversion of recyclable materials away from landfills. Aayushi works to raise public awareness of recycling in Nepal and ultimately hopes to create a waste management industry in the country. The 200 plus waste entrepreneurs involved with khaalisisi have been able to earn 35% more income and also found a respectful space for themselves in this industry.

Aayushi KC is looking to change the world by working towards a zero-waste goal in Nepal. The former USAID worker-turned-social entrepreneur founded Khaalisisi Management Pvt. Ltd. (Khaalisisi.com), which currently connects more than 13,000 recyclable waste-buyers to waste-sellers, helping to substantially increase the diversion of recyclable materials away from landfills. She is also active in trying to change public opinion when it comes to the importance of recycling and the waste-collectors who facilitate it.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

Nepali entrepreneur turns trash into cash

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Aayushi KC, A Social Entrepreneur and Founder, CEO of Khaalisisi , ♻️ A socially inclusive waste management platform dedicated to transform Nepal’s waste dumping sector to Waste Management sector.

Aayushi is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree in Asia,  & Asia 21 Young Leader in 2019.   Khaalisisi has been recognized by Google as Google Business story in 2017.

https://www.khaalisisi.com/

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

Season-5, episode 6 of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Ranjani ~ Gayatri,

Ranjani & Gayatri, the sister duo are world-renowned versatile musicians whose musical contributions include studio recordings, television performances, radio programs, concerts, festivals and lecture demonstrations.

Ranjani & Gayatri gave their debut performance at the prestigious Indian Music Group, Mumbai at the age of 13 and 10 respectively.

You can reach out to Ranjani-Gayatri on https://www.ranjanigayatri.com

“In Carnatic music, Spirituality is the backdrop of all compositions, lyric wise.  Every profound/elevating experience that we have had, has been where we have been singing, so music for us has been the bridge where we have experienced Transcendental or profound moments”, say Ranjani-Gayatri in their conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.

Ranjani and Gayatri owe their rich musical heritage to their Gurus, Sri T.S. Krishnaswami who taught them violin and Sri.P.S.  Narayanaswamy, who guides them now. They had their initial vocal training from their mother Smt Meenakshi Balasubramanian and their father Balasubramanian, played a pivotal role in shaping their musical values.

Even as toddlers, showed an uncanny capacity to grasp the subtle nuances of Carnatic music - Gayatri could identify over a hundred ragas when she was barely two and a half and Ranjani could delineate complex rhythm patterns at age five.

The sister duo have given many thematic concerts and have an extensive repertoire consisting of gems of the Trinity, old and contemporary Tamil compositions and other languages including Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Marathi. They have performed in prestigious venues/festivals like The Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, Southbank Centre in London, Ravenna music festival in Italy, Cross Culture Festival in Warsaw, Poland, Bengal Music Festival in Dhaka, Esplanade Theatre in Singapore and the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai to name a few.

Ranjani-Gayatri have won numerous awards and titles in recognition of their contribution. To mention a few –

·  Kalaimami from the Government of Tamilnadu,

·  Gana Padmam from Brahma Gana Sabha.

·  Rama Gana Kala Acharya

·  Lifetime Achievement Award from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,

·  Sanskriti Award from Sanskriti Pratishtan, New Delhi,

·  Titles of "Vani Kala Sudhakara" from Sri Tyaga Brahma Gana Sabha,

·  "Sangeetha Kala Siromani" from Chennai Cultural Academy,

·  "Isai Jyothi" and the DK Pattammal Award from Aanmajothi, the cultural wing of Saraswati Vidyalaya

·  "Sangeeta Vedantha Dhureena" from Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira Bengaluru in 2018

·  "Nada Kalanidhi" from Shanmukhananda Sangeeta Sabha, Delhi in 2019.

·  "Isai Peroli" from the Kartik Fine Arts Chennai,

·  National Eminence Award from Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Mumbai

·  Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Award

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Ms. Ranjani - Gayatri,

Ranjani & Gayatri, the sister duo are world-renowned versatile musicians whose musical contributions include studio recordings, television performances, radio programs, concerts, festivals and lecture demonstrations.

Ranjani & Gayatri gave their debut performance at the prestigious Indian Music Group, Mumbai at the age of 13 and 10 respectively.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.

"ZENPod”, Season-5, episode 5, featuring Ms. Julie Lewis, Julie Miles Lewis is a British motivational speaker, author, personal leadership specialist and founder of Mountain High. An Author of the C-Suite Best Seller book “Moving Mountains – Discover the Mountain in You”

Julie has been bestowed with MEA and the MENA UAE Business Awards. She is a professional member of the National Speakers Association and a Million Dollar Round Table Selected Conference Speaker. She is the Brand Ambassador for Land Rover Middle East.

You can reach out to Julie on https://julie-lewis.com

“Spirituality is a critical dimension of our life. For me, it’s relationship with yourself; with others; with Nature. It’s about our core values; about our purpose; our passion. It is a sense of feeling that there is a higher force in you!”  says Ms. Julie Lewis, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.

Julie is a Professional speaker, an Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Resilience consultant and an Author, who challenges and changes the way people THINK, ACT and DREAM.

She offers customized corporate mastermind retreats, and adventures in Resilience through Signature Expeditions, PolarExpeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica.

She has three decades of experience in leading multi-national teams in challenging and unpredictable environments giving her a leading edge when it comes to ADAPTIVE RESILIENCE.

Over the last 17 years, she has led multi-national teams of women and men on 61 Expeditions to over 20 countries including Nepal,Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, Africa, South America, Iran, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, India, Borneo, Malaysia, Svalbard, Russia, Norway, Oman, South Africa, Vietnam and Antarctica.

Julie holds a degree in Sports Science from the UK and is a Member of the International Positive Psychology Association.  She holds prestigious certifications in Psychology, Resilience and Wellbeing from reputed universities such as Penn, Univ of NC, Yale etc. She has also completed Level 1 and 2 of the ZEN Leadership Training. In addition, she is also a certified Advanced Stress Management Instructor.

“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.