Breaking the Stigma: Neurodiversity and South Asian Mental Health
“I thought therapy was a hardcore luxury for the rich”, says Mrinal Ghokale, Author of Saaya Unveiled: South Asian Mental Health Spotlighted. Mrinal shares how growing up as a bicultural, neurodivergent and "defiant" kid enabled her to become a game-changer in mental health. We explore what it means to be neurodivergent - which can span autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and even bipolar disorder, and what society can do to be more supportive. We unpack how stereotypes around gender, the Model Minority Myth and cultural habits like “sweeping it under the rug” may actually intensify mental health conditions and isolation. Plus: building confidence through belly dancing, Desi wellness traditions like ayurveda and pranayama breathing exercises, and blending East and West when it comes to health and nutrition.
About Mrinal:
Mrinal Ghokale is an author and speaker with a passion for the human brain. She uses her voice to help shift the narrative around health and wellness. She recently published Saaya Unveiled: South Asian Mental Health Spotlighted , which shares 11 true stories of second generation Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi immigrants and how they navigate mental health in the West. Topics covered are stigma, identity, trauma, and access, along with the goal of promoting acceptance and knowledge around mental health between generations.
BIPOC Mental Health in a Hyper-Digital Age: Work-Life Balance, Doomscrolling, and Social Media
As busy BIPOC professionals, parents, and partners who often WFH or do remote work, is it possible to put our phones (and anxiety) to bed? Vanessa is interviewed by our guest host, CEO & Founder Linda Ong of Cultique, a Seacrest global group agency for businesses in media, entertainment, tech, and consumer spaces. We talk about why the Model Minority Myth and cultural stigmas are a "double whammy" for AAPIs, and how to cultivate work-life balance by creating space for productivity, mindfulness, and rest. Plus: how to stop doomscrolling, the mental health toll of being a new mom, “monotasking” vs. multitasking, and how to find “flow state” for maximum creativity and efficiency.
Gregory Cendana on Reclaiming Joy through Dance + Pandemic Self-Care for AAPI and BIPOC Communities
Can leaning into something you were previously ashamed of actually become your superpower? We find out when Vanessa talks to Gregory Cendana, a dancer, political strategist and entrepreneur who has been named one of Washington DC's most influential 40 under 40, about dancing for social justice. Gregory reflects upon his upbringing in a conservative Catholic Filipino family and his own coming-out journey, and why his life mission is to help others bring their full, true selves to any space they are in to engender cultural, social and political change. We discuss why prioritizing mental health creates more sustainable communities, and how the idea of collective self-care for Asian-Americans and BIPOC communities gives us the power to heal and reclaim our stories.