🎧 Beyond Goals, Beyond Grind: Practicing Playful Purposeful Presence with Vivek Sundaram

In this insightful episode of the Change Preneurs Podcast, hosts Sathish Kumar and Inayat Sehgal sit down with Vivek Sundaram for a deep and expansive conversation that moves beyond goals, beyond grind, into the heart of presence, purpose, and play.

Together, they explore how modern life’s pursuit of success and achievement often traps us in cycles of fear, ego, and societal conditioning—and how awareness, compassion, and inner work can help us rediscover our natural state of freedom and joy.

From global conflicts to personal growth, from parenting to leadership, this dialogue invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.

🕰️ Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Change Preneurs Podcast
01:28 – Global Conflicts and Human Disruption
05:36 – The Cycle of Extremes in Society
12:25 – Inner Work as a Contribution to Society
18:41 – Understanding Ego and Its Role
22:50 – The Dual Nature of Ego in Entrepreneurship
32:26 – Ego and Power Dynamics
35:11 – Fear and Love: A Dual Perspective
39:53 – The Role of Conditioning in Fear
44:48 – Understanding Fear: Knowledge vs. Emotion
51:20 – Transcending Fear Through Understanding
57:18 – Exploring Weirdness in Ideas
01:00:16 – Cultural Conditioning and Acceptance
01:03:09 – The Evolution of Social Norms
01:06:23 – Compassion vs. Self-Care
01:09:23 – Authenticity and Acceptance
01:11:54 – Personal Growth Through Consistency
01:14:55 – Overcoming Mental Health Challenges
01:23:48 – Finding Purpose After Adversity

💡 Key Takeaways

• True balance arises from awareness, not achievement.
• Ego is not the enemy—it’s a teacher that reveals our attachments.
• Fear often begins in conditioning but dissolves in understanding.
• Inner work is not selfish; it’s how we heal the world.
• Compassion includes self-care—both are acts of love.
• Playfulness and purpose can coexist when we move beyond the grind.
• Consistency builds freedom; awareness brings authenticity.

🔑 Keywords

coaching, ego, fear, awareness, personal growth, spirituality, purpose, mindfulness, authenticity, self-awareness, transformation, inner work, emotional intelligence, mental health, self-care, balance, cultural conditioning, parenting, compassion, love

Connect with Vivek
https://www.linkedin.com/in/makehistory/