Cultural curiosity can change the way we see the world, and in this episode, Dr. Payal Beri is joined by Kristen Kim to discuss how early cultural education can help build a more connected, empathetic society. Kristen, the founder of Culture Kids Productions, a multi-award-winning nonprofit and family podcast helping children embrace global perspectives through storytelling, shares how her own Korean American upbringing and experience in television production led to creating a platform...

When you think of therapy, do you picture someone lying on a couch, retelling their past while a therapist takes notes? It’s time to reframe that vision. In this powerful episode, Dr. Payal Beri sits down with Melissa Dumas—licensed marriage and family therapist, holistic wellness expert, bestselling author, and co-host of The Hats Podcast—to explore the multi-dimensional world of healing beyond traditional talk therapy. With over 20 years of experience, Melissa brings insight into altern...

What if the key to deeper empathy, connection, and identity lies in the stories of those who came before us? In this moving and insightful episode, we sit down with Anika Chara, CEO and Co-founder of Root and Seed, to explore how personal loss led to a powerful mission: preserving family heritage for future generations. Anika opens up about her own journey after the unexpected passing of her mother and how that experience sparked the creation of Root and Seed—a platform dedicated to capturing...

What does it really mean to live inside a woman’s body, from your first period to post-menopause? And what happens when we stop treating these milestones like isolated events and start honoring them as part of one powerful, continuous journey? In this deeply insightful episode, Dr. Payal Beri sits down with renowned OB/GYN and bestselling author Dr. Suzanne Gilberg to explore the full spectrum of womanhood — from menstruation to menopause and everything in between. With over 26 years of clini...

What does it really mean to be the “perfect Indian girl”? And what happens when you decide you no longer want to carry the weight of that label? In this powerful episode, host Payal Beri sits down with Tracy, better known as The Bad Indian Therapist, for a deeply personal and paradigm-shifting conversation that challenges the cultural expectations placed on South Asian women. From generational shame and toxic guilt to navigating cultural identity, therapy taboos, and boundaries, this is a mus...

What if the very emotions you’ve been taught to suppress were the key to your growth? In this powerful episode of Reframing Perspectives, host Dr. Payal Beri sits down with Bryant Alexander Jr., a transformational performance coach and founder of Reframe Creative Consulting. Bryant shares his deeply personal journey from growing up in silence, believing he had nothing to offer, to becoming a voice of leadership, emotional resilience, and collective empowerment. Through the transformative lens...

What if prison wasn’t the end of someone's story, but the beginning of a powerful transformation? In this soul-stirring episode, Dr. Payal Beri sits down with Andrew Murphy, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Inmate Education Association (WIEA), to discuss how higher education, empathy, and human dignity are reshaping the lives of incarcerated individuals many of whom were once seen as beyond redemption. Through personal stories, lived experiences, and hard truths, Andrew shares how WIEA’s g...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Payal Beri sits down with Bhavik Shah, a mental health advocate, speaker, and former financial services executive, to explore the real cost of burnout and what it takes to create a workplace culture rooted in psychological safety. What You’ll Learn: The physical and emotional toll of repeated burnout and how to recognize the warning signsHow Bhavik navigated toxic workplace culture as a queer South Asian man in financeWhy benefits and wellness apps are not the so...

In this episode, Payal sits down with Qasim Rashid to explore the intersection of empathy, activism, and justice. As a respected human rights attorney and advocate for civil rights, Qasim shares how his early experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to fighting injustice. The conversation dives into the realities facing immigrant communities, the dangers of performative activism, and how to build sustainable, community-based movements that last. Listeners will walk away with practical insight...

Are you tired of people assuming single = incomplete? Being single doesn’t mean you’re missing something. It means you’re living life on your terms — and thriving. In this powerful solo episode of Reframing Perspectives, Dr. Payal Beri challenges the outdated belief that a woman’s worth is tied to her relationship status. Through personal stories, cultural observations, and big-picture societal critique, she invites you to see singlehood as a valid, fulfilling, and powerful life choice. What ...

Have you ever pulled back from a friend’s life change because it triggered something in you? In this episode, Payal shares a deeply personal story about navigating a friendship when her close friend, Topsie, embraced Christianity — and how it challenged her own beliefs, biases, and emotional reflexes. Through moments of hesitation, empathy, and surprising parallels, Payal uncovers the real question: How do you stay connected when your lives evolve in different directions? In thi...

What does it mean to belong when your history has been shaped by displacement, migration, and silence? In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Payal Beri speaks with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Ammara Khalid about identity, migration, and the lasting psychological effects of the Partition of South Asia. Both third culture kids with mirrored family histories, they explore how generational trauma shapes our beliefs, mental health, and sense of belonging today. In this episode...

Are assumptions quietly sabotaging your relationships? We all do it — we assume what others think, feel, or care about, before they ever get a chance to speak. In this solo episode, Dr. Payal Beri dives into how unspoken beliefs and mental shortcuts keep us disconnected, even when we crave closeness. Whether it's in friendships, the workplace, or family dynamics, assumptions are everywhere, and they might be doing more harm than you realize. In this episode: 00:00 Introduc...

Joy is your birthright. It is that belief that underlies Tash Durkin's work as a bestselling author and founder of Fiercely Joyful. In this episode, Tash joins Dr. Payal Beri to explore the transformative power of joy, not only as an escape, but as a strategy for alignment, authenticity, and resistance. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction to Joy as a Birthright 01:14 Meet Tash Durkins: Advocate for Authentic Joy 03:16 The Journey from Grief to Joy 06:10 Choosing Joy Amidst Pain 0...

What if compassion wasn’t just a feeling, but a powerful action? In this heart-opening episode, Payal sits down with Sara Schairer and Burrell Poe, the visionary leaders behind Compassion It, a movement and nonprofit focused on making compassion a daily habit. In this episode: 00:00 The Power of Compassion 01:21 Introducing Sara and Burrell 03:45 Sara's Journey to Compassion 05:58 Burrell's Serendipitous Path 09:28 The Strength in Compassion 15:42 Compassion in a Divided World 27:33 Un...

In this powerful debut solo episode, Dr. Payal Beri explores a growing crisis that’s often ignored: the quiet unraveling of empathy in our modern world. From casual disengagement to emotional burnout, she unpacks how societal apathy and hyper-individualism are not just dividing us — they’re dismantling the very fabric of human connection. Through deeply personal stories and thought-provoking insights, Dr. Beri challenges us to reflect on how avoidance, fear, and overload have made empa...

Carlos Vasquez spent 17 years in prison, 3 of them in solitary confinement. In this episode, he joins Dr. Payal Beri for an empowering conversation on accountability, redemption, and purpose. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:20 One decision that changed everything 06:30 Life in solitary confinement and breaking point 14:45 Rebuilding identity through books and faith 23:00 Mentorship, trauma, and the path to redemption 31:00 Why kids need connection, ...

Think disability doesn’t affect you? Think again. The reality is that disability touches us all, and any one of us can become disabled at any time. In this powerful episode, disability rights advocate, activist, and Down to the Struts podcast host Qudisya Naqui joins Dr. Payal Beri to radically reframe how we understand disability. In this episode: 00:13 Universal Design Benefits Everyone 02:02 Guest Introduction: Advocate for Disability and Design 03:10 Personal Journey: Embraci...

Why do so many of us feel stuck when it comes to money—especially in mission-driven work? In this episode, nonprofit leadership coach Rhea Wong breaks down the hidden narratives we carry about wealth, value, and hustle culture, especially as women, people of color, and children of immigrants. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Meet Rhea Wong: Nonprofit Fundraiser Extraordinaire 02:46 Personal Money Scarcity and Overcoming It 03:08 Intersectionality and Money: A Woman of Color's ...

Sometimes, walking away from perceived success is the best option for finding true fulfillment. In this powerful conversation, Goli Kalkhoran, host of Lessons from a Quitter, shares how quitting her legal career became the first step in reclaiming her identity, values, and joy. In this episode: 00:54 Introducing Goli 01:42 Goli's Journey to Helping Others 02:26 The Lawyer's Life: Expectations vs. Reality 04:33 Facing Uncertainty and Fear 07:58 Generational Perspectives and Techno...