ZENPod

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, 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 is a Professional speaker, an Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Resilience consultant and an Author, who challenges and changes the way people THINK, ACT and DREAM.

“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 4, featuring Shri Amarjeet Singh, also known as the “Sporty Sikh”, the only 60 year old blind person in the world to run 101 half marathons.  Amarjeet has till date done over 200 plus runs and that is the official tally.

Sighted till age 13, he started losing vision gradually and attained the condition of Total Blindness at the age of 40.  A Mountaineer, Swimmer and Runner, he started participating in sports & adventure activities at the age of 48.

Amarjeet has successfully completed(four times) a Walkathon of 300Kms long, from Mumbai - Shirdi walk for the blind.

“If you are there in this world, it is due to the grace of God.  Have faith in God, Do good deeds with good thoughts; this is spirituality says  Shri. Amarjeet Sporty Sikh Singh, in his conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.

Amarjeet has successfully completed a Walkathon of 300Kms long, from Mumbai - Shirdi walk for the blind four times

He has been featured prominently in several inspiring international videos and international books.

In addition to Running, Amarjeet is also a mountaineer and Swimmer.  He has successfully done treks in parts of Himalayas, more than half of the Sahyadri ranges, Himachal, Rajasthan and Goa and topping it all off with a successful Kailash Parikrama Yatra.

Some of Amarjeet’s stupendous achievements :-

The only blind person to :-

·  To complete 160-km run/walk from Mumbai-Pune.

·  Paramotor at the altitude of 1,000 feet above sea level (for about 10kms.)

·  Scale 19,830ft. high Dolma Pass in Kailash Parikrama, Tibet (China)

·  Completed 1,100ft. rappelling from Takmak Point in Raigad Fort, Maharashtra

·  Over the Age of 60+, in India to run and walk from Mumbai-Pune (approx 160kms).

Some of Amarjeet’s significant Awards include :-

·  Star Believe Award, By Star Sports

·  International Sikh Acheiver’s Award in Sports, By SatSri Akal Charitable Trust

·  Best Sportsman of the Year, By National Sports Club for the Blind, Mumbai

·  Star Achiever, Best Sportsman, By AnaamPrem

·  Marathi Gaurav Puruskaar, Blind Marathon Runner Award, 2016

·  Mumbai Mayor's Award for Divyaang- GAURAV PURASKAAR

·  Inspirational Runner Award 2019

·  Mumbai Road Runner's Award for Inspirational Challenged Runner of the Year

·  Vaisakhi Khel Ratna Award, By Sikh Community, Ahmednagar

“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.

You can reach Amarjeet on on +91-9821362022.

Social Media teaser for Shri Amarjeet “the Sporty Sikh” - Season 5

Curtain raiser - Season-5, of “ZENPod”, featuring Shri Amarjeet Singh, also known as the “Sporty Sikh”, the only 60 year old blind person in the world to run 101 half marathons.  Amarjeet has till date done over 200 plus runs and that is the official tally.

Sighted till age 13, he started losing vision gradually and attained the condition of Total Blindness at the age of 40.  A Mountaineer, Swimmer and Runner, he started participating in sports & adventure activities at the age of 48.

Amarjeet has successfully completed(four times) a Walkathon of 300Kms long, from Mumbai - Shirdi walk for the blind.

“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 3, featuring a Teacher and Champion of Children, Ms. Sharanjeet Shan,  a globally recognised social entrepreneur, and recipient of the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year awardaned a recipient of the  first Chancellor’s award from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Her work hasreached about 500 K learners and about 30K teachers.

Sharanjeet is Executive Director for the Maths Centre, and has championed Maths, Science and Technology education for children in South Africa for 25 years. She has conceptualized and managed many projects in Maths, Science, Technology, ECD & has Published world class training materials and primary school text books in mathematics, skills development and ECD materials.

Sharanjeet has published several books including an autobiography ‘In My Own Name’ in 1985 which subsequently became a school text in England.

http://www.mcis.org.za

“It does not suit my nature to believe in creation, Nature, divinity, in one kind of God; and yet, as a hard cord mathematics and Quantum Physics person, if I look around me, the beauty of Universe, the complexity of Mother Nature says to me that there is a Higher power!” says Ms. Sharanjeet Shan, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.

After studying for a full four years for Medicine, she was thrown out of family and India as a result of a traditional clash, that turned into banishment. Sharanjeet Shan spent her adult life in England, studying, working and writing. She gained a first degree and a masters in Social Science: how slavery colonialism and patriarchy came about. She taught Maths and Science for twenty years in England at various levels moving into management positions over a period of thirty years including an Office for Standards in Education inspector. In 1995, Sharanjeet was invited to lead Maths Centre in 1995, transforming a small and struggling project into the widely respected institution it is today and to lead developments within the new dispensation of the South African Maths and Science delivery. The Centre works with some 500 disadvantaged schools enabling Teacher and learner development in Maths, Science and Technology.

Constantly seeking anti-poverty solutions, Sharanjeet is committed to serving children and young people into the fourth Industrial revolution, promoting critical and creative thinking through STEM subjects at all levels of schooling. Her Maths Centre conducts advocacy campaigns for parents, business, industry, children with disabilities and promotes language connections.

“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. Sharanjeet Shan,  a globally recognised social entrepreneur, and recipient of the Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year award aned a recipient of the  first Chancellor’s award from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Her work has reached over 500 K learners and 30K teachers.

Sharanjeet is Executive Director for the Maths Centre, and has championed Maths, Science and Technology education for children in South Africa for 25 years. She has conceptualized and managed many projects in Maths, Science, Technology, ECD & has Published world class training materials and primary school text books in mathematics, skills development and ECD materials.

Sharanjeet has published several books including an autobiography ‘In My Own Name’ in 1985 which subsequently became a school text in England.

http://www.mcis.org.za

“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 2 (part 2) of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Triveni Acharya

A Lifelong Humanitarian, a Woman Who Has Been Fighting Sex-Traffickers since 1993.

https://www.rescuefoundation.net

“Spirituality is Search for meaning of Life, something that cannot be explained in words, that is different from the real world, your Spirit. Listening to your inner voice, fighting against injustice, service to Humanity, maintaining your

self-balance is Spirituality:,”, says Triveni Acharya, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.

Triveni co-founded Rescue Foundation in the year 2000 with her Late Husband, Mr. Balkrishna Acharya, sheltering survivors in their own home and assumed its presidency.  The organization is devoted to the "rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation of victims for human trafficking from different parts of India, Nepal & Bangladesh and sold for forced prostitution", and has been conducting "brothel raids" since 1993.  The organization frees roughly 300 girls a year, and also provides counseling& job training.

Triveni has won several awards, some of the significant ones being;

· Stree Shakti Award for Women Entrepreneurs

· Asia Democracy and Human Rights award by the Taiwan Foundation by Taiwanese president

· Civil Courage prize of the Train Foundation, awarded annually to those “who resolutely combat evil”

· Humanitarian Honoree of World of Children award(twice)

· Thomson Reuters’ “Stop Slavery award”

· Dare to Dream award

· The Rajiv Gandhi Manav seva award

· Iconic Woman of the year award by Indian Merchants Chamber

“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 1 of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Triveni Acharya

A Lifelong Humanitarian, a Woman Who Has Been Fighting Sex-Traffickers since 1993.

https://www.rescuefoundation.net

“Spirituality is Search for meaning of Life, something that cannot be explained in words, that is different from the real world, your Spirit. Listening to your inner voice, fighting against injustice, service to Humanity, maintaining your self-balance is Spirituality:,”, says Triveni Acharya, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.

Triveni co-founded Rescue Foundation in the year 2000 with her Late Husband, Mr. Balkrishna Acharya, sheltering survivors in their own home and assumed its presidency.  The organization is devoted to the "rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation of victims for human trafficking from different parts of India, Nepal & Bangladesh and sold for forced prostitution", and has been conducting "brothel raids" since 1993.  The organization frees roughly 300 girls a year, and also provides counseling& job training.

2003 - Inaugurated Rescue Foundations Mumbai home supporting 100 survivors

2005 - After the tragic death of her husband, she took over rescue foundation as President.

2007 - Expanded rehabilitation operations, inaugurated Boisar home, a project on over 50 acres of land complete with multiple facilities such as training centre, recovery care centre, agriculture area etc.

2009 - Expanded rehabilitation operations to Pune, inaugurated Pune home with capacity of 100 survivors

2017 - Expanded rehabilitation operations to Delhi, Inaugurated Delhi home with capacity to house 100 survivors

Triveni has won several awards, some of the significant ones being;

· Stree Shakti Award for Women Entrepreneurs

· Asia Democracy and Human Rights award by the Taiwan Foundation by Taiwanese president

· Civil Courage prize of the Train Foundation, awarded annually to those “who resolutely combat evil”

· Humanitarian Honoree of World of Children award(twice)

· Thomson Reuters’ “Stop Slavery award”

· Dare to Dream award

· The Rajiv Gandhi Manav seva award

· Iconic Woman of the year award by Indian Merchants Chamber

“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, episode 1, of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Triveni Acharya,

A Lifelong Humanitarian, a Woman Who Has Been Fighting Sex-Traffickers since 1993.  

https://www.rescuefoundation.net

“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.

Yet another season of “ZENPod” completed. What a journey it has been, for this season too.

Engaging with enlightened minds, leaders who have gone beyond themselves and empowered the eco system, such a learning!

Season 4 has also been an enriching experience, engaging with the stalwarts and masters of their respective Arts.

Thank you to:-

Ms. Sudha Raghunathan,   Padma Bhushan awardee, Sangita Kalanidhi, ‘Kalaimamani’

Founder, Sudhaarnava Academy for Musical Excellence & “Samudhaaya” Foundation.

Shri Amarjeet Singh Chawla - The Turban Traveler, 61 years young retired Garment Exporter turned Film maker

Full time International Road Traveller known as “The Turban Traveller”.

Smt. Belaa Sanghvi

Indian evangelist and revivalist of Handloom, Handicrafts & Khadi

President – The crafts Council of Maharashtra, MD-Navanidhi design solutions,

Raga Olga D’silvA

Top100 wonder women in Advertising & Marketing-2021

Speaker, Author, LGBT Advocate, Entrepreneur

Shri Bhawani Singh Shekawat

CEO and Trustee – UK/Europe for “The Akshaya Patra Foundation UK”

Co-founder of Adhyayan Asia, Advisory Board at Vedica Scholars Program and HaikuJam(UK), listed speaker on London Speakers Bureau

Ms. Colleen Clines

Social Entrepreneur, Impact Designer,

Winner of NABWO Humanitarian 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.

Season-4, episode 10 of “ZENPod”, featuring Colleen Clines, Co-Founder & CEO - “Anchal”, a non-profit social enterprise.

https://anchalproject.org

Colleen was named was named one of Public Interest Design's Top Global 100 designers. Colleen was also awarded the NABWO Humanitarian award.

Colleen used design thinking to create innovative solutions for tackling social inequalities and reform traditional textile manufacturing practices.

“Spirituality for me is about Love and Belief that there is a bigger world outside of me and I really need to contribute to that and that’s my purpose for being here”, says  Colleen Clines, in her conversation with Venkatesh Mahadevan.

“We felt compelled to take the project beyond the classroom with the conviction that our design training, in collaboration with local leadership, could address seemingly intractable social and environmental systems. The women we met became our sisters, sisters we had to fight for.”  - Colleen Clines, Co-Founder & CEO of Anchal

“We both had linear projections for our careers. Then I saw that we could have more impact than I ever anticipated as a young woman. So I jumped onboard and we decided to make a go of it!” - Maggie Clines, COO & Creative Director

Colleen values how design can become the tool for sustainable solutions to gender inequality, social injustice, and environmental degradation. She combines this passion as a social entrepreneur and impact designer through her work at Anchal. A Louisville native with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Kentucky, Colleen earned her Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). During her time in graduate school, she initiated the founding of Anchal alongside her sister Maggie after a trip to India.

Anchal is based on the philosophy that we can create positive change in the world through collaboration in design. We are a team of designers, storytellers, activists, and dreamers.

With backgrounds in design, sisters Colleen and Maggie Clines lead the organization by placing design and collaboration at the center of Anchal’s practice.

It all started in a design studio. Colleen Clines was taking a graduate seminar at the Rhode Island School of Design that took her on a trip to India in 2009. Through local leadership, Colleen was introduced to the exploitive world of the commercial sex trade and the lack of opportunity for women in the community. It was in this moment she was inspired to design more than beautiful landscapes, she was determined to collaborate with the NGO using design.

Colleen leads the overall strategic and operational planning for Anchal’s programs, partnerships, expansion, and execution of its mission. In 2013, she was named one of Public Interest Design’s Top Global 100 designers. She was awarded Sacred Heart Academy's Heart Award in 2015 and Presentation Academy's Tower award in 2014. Most recently Colleen was named to Louisville Business First’s 2016 Forty under 40 List, and awarded the 2017 NAWBO Humanitarian Award. Colleen has shared Anchal's mission and design thinking model as a keynote speaker at gatherings including the Fair Trade Federation National Conference, NY NOW, the Ali Center's Daughters of Greatness Series, Creative Mornings Louisville and Alt Summit.

“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.