Tell us what you feel. Message us. Aparna Subramonian, a brand marketer, writer, and self-proclaimed quirky cat lover, didn’t grow up trying to fit in. She grew up thinking she's a boy, fell in love with her best friend in seventh grade, and later discovered she had ADHD. All while battling social mores in a small, conservative city like Coimbatore. Smitha has a warm, honest, and often humorous exploration conversation in this delightfully candid episode with Aparna, journey through ge...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. Devangana Mishra wasn’t supposed to be here. Not on this podcast, not running a foundation for autism awareness. She was the quiet kid, the one hiding behind her mother at parties, scribbling stories while the world moved around her. But something in her refused to accept the way things were, especially when it came to children on the autism spectrum. In this inspiring conversation with Smitha, Devangana traces her journey from a childhood of imaginar...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. Welcome to Season 4 of the MyndStories Minis, the podcast where we dive deep into the human experience, exploring the emotions that shape us, the stories that define us, and the resilience that carries us forward. In this episode Smitha talks to the incredible Anitha Aswath, a leadership coach, consultant, and the host of The Mynd Durbar, a segment on the Mynd Stories podcast that beautifully explores the intersection of music and emotions. Anit...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. Have you felt like an outsider even when you're surrounded by family? In this candid and engrossing conversation, Raksha Daryanani speaks to Smitha about her unique life journey – growing up in a multicultural society, navigating the impact of her parents' divorce, and healing from devastating relationships. She shares the challenges she faced in navigating a tight-knit but isolated Indian community, where she often felt like an outsider, and how she learnt...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. What if the very thing society labels as a "disorder" could be a gateway to discovering your truest self? Smitha has a deep conversation with Ishaa Vinod Chopra – dancer, author, and mental health advocate - who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16. But rather than letting this label define her, Ishaa transformed her journey into a powerful narrative of resilience, creativity, and self-discovery. Her memoir, "Finding Order in Disorder," is a test...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. Smitha Murthy converses with Sumit Singla, an independent HR consultant, taking listeners on an emotional journey through life-altering experiences, the transformative power of animal companionship, and the enduring hope that keeps us moving forward. From near-death experiences to the joys of parenthood, Sumit's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unexpected kindness that can be found in the darkest of times. We discus...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. What happens when your body doesn't cooperate? This is Snigdha Roy's story - a raw, honest account of an eight-year battle with infertility that ends in an unexpected miracle. In this episode, Snigdha opens up to Smitha about the physical and emotional toll of her journey, challenging societal norms, and finding strength in vulnerability. Whether you've struggled with infertility or know someone who has, this conversation will touch your heart and chang...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. In this deeply personal and moving episode, we sit down with the witty copywriter Shantesh Row for a raw, unscripted conversation about vulnerability, the beauty in melancholy, life's struggles and everything in between. From navigating professional setbacks to confronting personal demons, Shantesh opens up about his journey with refreshing honesty and unexpected optimism. We discuss Recent business setbacks, including the loss of a 15-y...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. Have you ever had a deep, unguarded conversation with a stranger that left you feeling unexpectedly connected? That's exactly what happens in this unscripted episode of the MyndStories Minis. Smitha has an intensely candid discussion with writer Shailya Jaggi about life, fears, relationships and finding happiness - without any plan. What starts as casual introductions leads to candid reflections on childhood experiences, insecurities, evolving family bonds...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. How do you manage difficult emotions? Kaajal Ahuja has some answers. In this insightful episode, host Smitha Murthy has an unscripted conversation with Kaajal Ahuja about vulnerability, grief, and the importance of sitting with difficult emotions. Kaajal gets refreshingly real about the exhaustion of living behind emotional masks. For years, Kajal focused on keeping others happy at the expense of her own needs after being married at just 1...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. In this thought-provoking and emotionally candid conversation episode, Smitha Murthy talks to Renuka, a mental health advocate and suicide prevention activist, unfolding Renuka's life journey. It's one that has traversed darkness and light, tragedy and renewal, pain and profound healing. Renuka peels back the layers to reveal how creative self-expression through art became a sanctuary during her deepest bouts of depression, anxiety, and the trauma of an a...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. Have you heard of glimmers? They are the opposite of triggers. Glimmers are small moments of safety, joy, love, and contentment. This episode of Dear Mynd explores the sense of wonder essential to finding glimmers that help in enjoying a fuller life. It makes a case for holding on to a sense of wonder and awe and what it can bring to a person’s well-being. 'What the Dark Sounds Like’ is a charming look at the world from the eyes of a child. His ...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. What are mental health conversations without the diversity of neurodivergence? Smitha Murthy talks to Akshay CM, who was diagnosed with C-PTSD and Autism last year. But Akshay is more than that. He tells us just how he leads life through all the invisible disabilities, finds joy in everyday conversations and interactions, and the power of manifestation. It's not a conversation about neurodivergence, really. It's about life. About pain. A lot of fun....
Tell us what you feel. Message us. This was one of the most vulnerable conversations you can find. One where two people who really don't know each other all that spoke about the raw beauty of pain, the small glimmers of everyday gratitude, and the iridescent rays of hope. Quote from the conversation "Just tell people you love them" We talk about Why pain and vulnerability are both essentialAdopting practices to improve our mental well-beingMeditationHow to pull yourself out of da...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. In this episode, Smitha talks with author Shreya Ramachandran about writing, books, and mental health. Well, that's a given. Shreya talks about how she managed anxiety from a young age and the process of writing a fictional book about a girl who lives with depression. Shreya gives us simple ways to manage anxiety, including meditation, investigating our thoughts, and being curious about the thoughts themselves instead of accepting them as truth. ...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. What does it mean to be a life coach? What does it mean to be a parent? And how do you balance life around all the things you love? Smitha has an interesting conversation about life, parenthood, life coaching and a lot more with Krusha Sahjwani Malkani an ICF certified life and career coach. This was a long and truly joyful chat with lots of takeaways and much to learn from. Quote from the conversation "Being selfish is not selfish" We ...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. What is it to choose to live alone? As an Indian woman? In this episode of the MyndStories Minis, we have the author of 'Table For One: A Solo Living Manual For The Curious Indian Woman,' Sumaa Tekur give us those answers. Find out why Sumaa wrote this book, the journey she undertook through its writing, and why she considers herself quite rare: "An Indian woman living alone in India is rare. An Indian woman living alone in India by choice is rarer....
Tell us what you feel. Message us. In this new episode of the MyndStories Minis, we have something different. Something unusual. For this episode, we decided to ask our listeners and readers to be the hosts. To ask Shantesh Row and Srividya Sivakumar the questions we didn't think of asking before. Neither knew the questions beforehand, so the answers were spontaneous and the conversation free-flowing. We talk about melancholy, our host Smitha Murthy's favorite topic! We also talk...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. Fame can be a double edged sword. People look up to you and you have a voice to make a difference. On the flip side, you are also opening yourself up to people’s judgements and criticisms. How do you navigate through these things while staying true to yourself and be vulnerable? We explore this with Samyukta Hornad, who opens up about her life and acting journey. We discuss How to be aware of and manage people’s perceptions vs. being herself.An incid...
Tell us what you feel. Message us. The relationships we have with the people close to us are like our anchors. They infuse our life with richness and it’s important that we nurture them. However, it's also important to remember that we have a relationship with ourselves too that sets the foundation for our interactions with others. Do we know who we truly are? How do we stay in resonance with that and show up as our authentic selves? What is the cost associated with authenticity? I exp...