Hearth 2 Heart with Gayathri Shukla

What does it mean to carry a homeland in your body - through land, food, memory, grief, joy, and story? In this episode, Gayathri Shukla sits down with Dr. Izzeddin Hawamda, a Palestinian educator, storyteller, peace and conflict scholar, and founder of Sadaa – صدى, a storytelling initiative rooted in personal narrative, community dialogue, and human connection. Together, they explore what it mean...

What does it mean to lead through story—especially when your path into engineering has been shaped by family expectations, immigrant identity, gender, caregiving, language, and the pressure to keep proving yourself? Recorded live at the CCWESTT Conference in Calgary, this special Hearth 2 Heart episode features a panel conversation with Claudia Gomez-Villeneuve, Sara Mighan, and host Gayathri Shuk...

How do you tell your story—when the world keeps asking you what you are, instead of who you are? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla sits down with author, yoga therapist, and Ayurvedic practitioner Serena Arora to explore a deeply personal journey of identity, lineage, and coming home to oneself. Drawing from her book Unbound, Serena shares what it means to grow up navigating mixed...

What if the story you’ve been telling yourself… was never fixed to begin with? In this episode, Gayathri sits down with educator, playwright, and writer Amy Abe for a layered conversation on voice, imagination, and the quiet power of rewriting our internal narratives. What begins as a discussion on the Feminist Fantasy League anthology process opens into something deeper—how we construct reality t...

What happens when two people from vastly different cultures come together not just to share stories, but to write a book about the in-between spaces of identity? In this Hearth 2 Heart episode, host Gayathri Shukla speaks with Lina Bahlawan and Yemi Adefulu, co-authors of Adventures of a Migrant Heart, about the surprising friendship that sparked their book—and the deeper lessons it holds for reim...

What does it take to thrive as an immigrant woman—not just survive? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla speaks with Najah Al-Atassi, founder of Al-Atassi Leadership Consulting and its Peaks Program, about the emotional resilience, bold dreaming, and grit it takes to build a life—and leadership—on your own terms in Canada. Through heartfelt storytelling and sharp insights, Najah shar...

What does it mean to feel at home—across lands, timelines, and technologies? This New Year special features an openhearted dialogue, where host Gayathri Shukla and guest Stanley Opara weave together their personal stories of migration, identity, and imagination. From oil-rich Nigeria to the majestic Rockies, this episode journeys through the past, present, and future, exploring: What it means to b...

What does it mean to lead with empathy in a world that seems increasingly polarized and divided? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart , Gayathri Shukla sits down with Dr. Vidya Narasimhan - senior scientist at Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals and Chair of the Board at Lotus STEMM (2021-2025) to explore: Why empathy is a strategic strength, not weakness The tension of holding power and vulnerability  - buildi...

What does it mean to belong when your lived experiences are not always reflected in the very systems meant to support your growth? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla sits down with Dr. Golnaz Golnaraghi, founder of Accelerate Her Future, for an intimate and powerful conversation about the career development experiences of Indigenous, Black, and racialized women in the workplace. Dr...

In this solo episode, Gayathri sharers her raw, unfiltered thoughts on a major career milestone: pursuing a PhD. Re-entering academia after two decades in industry and entrepreneurship, Gayathri pulls back the curtains on the hard questions, doubts, and insights that shaped her choice to enter University of Calgary's inaugural Transdisciplinary Research program.  From a literal hammock moment of i...

What if the harshest critic you ever faced…was inside your own mind? In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla is joined by TEDx speaker and award-winning author Kalyani Pardeshi, who shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming burnout and self-bullying. Drawing on her bestselling book Beyond the Inner Critic, Kalyani unpacks the conscious and unconscious voices that shape our motiva...

What happens when we redefine success by balancing the masculine and feminine energies in our lives? In this episode, Gayathri sits down with Kinia Romanowska, founder of Pros&Babes, to explore how these energies - logic and intuition, structure and creativity - manifest not as gendered traits but as complementary forces that drive personal and professional growth. Kinia shares insights from h...

Content Note: This episode includes mention of sexual abuse. Please listen with care.  "Belonging is what makes vulnerability survivable." In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart , Gayathri Shukla sits down with Andrea Silverstone and Carrie McManus from Sagesse to explore the deep connection between belonging and innovation, drawing lessons from their latest book, Innovation at the Back of the Bus. Thr...

What does decolonization have to do with belonging? More than you might think. In this powerful conversation, Gayathri Shukla sits down with Elaine Alec, author, speaker, and Indigenous leader, to explore her new book, Coming of Age, and lessons such as:  - The real meaning of decolonization—beyond the fear and misconceptions - How colonial systems were built on control, exclusion, and shame - Why...

What does it mean to belong when you’re constantly navigating the weight of cultural expectations, professional ambition, and personal identity?  In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Gayathri Shukla is joined by Dr. Roopali Chaudhary, founder of Lotus STEMM, for a deeply personal conversation about the intersectional struggles South Asian women face in STEMM.  From unspoken family pressures to the i...

What if curiosity could be your greatest tool for fostering collaboration and belonging? In this episode, Gayathri sits down with Dr. Tarah Lynch, a scientist and diversity advocate, to explore how embracing your “inner scientist” can transform the way you approach diversity, teamwork, and emotional resilience. Dr. Lynch shares her journey of navigating dual cultural identities and burnout, highli...

Conversations about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in today's climate feel more polarized than ever. But what’s really behind the backlash? And how do we continue pushing forward when the work feels under attack? In this thought-provoking episode, Gayathri sits down with Erin Davis, an award-winning gender equity expert and inclusive leadership strategist, to explore how DEI efforts have e...

How can authenticity and the power of community can shape your success? Originally recorded in 2021, Gayathri chats with Evelyne Nyairo, founder of Ellie Bianca Beauty, about her entrepreneurial journey, commitment to empowering women, and the importance of building community through storytelling. From embracing your unique gifts to breaking stereotypes, this conversation is packed with insights f...

How do we find the courage to face what is unfamiliar? Change is a fact of life—but it’s also a powerful opportunity for growth. In this episode, Gayathri reconnects with Stephania Romaniuk, a Ukrainian-Canadian mezzo-soprano, educator, and her collaborator on the Lioness project, to explore how leaning into the unknown builds courage, creativity, and deeper connections. Stephania shares her journ...

Have you ever felt isolated or as the “only” in the room? Do you long for a sense of connection and acceptance in professional spaces where you are underrepresented? In this episode, Gayathri sits down with Kathy Nelson, an accomplished engineer and leader, to explore what it means to build community in STEM spaces. Kathy reflects on her personal journey, sharing the challenges she’s faced and the...

One of the biggest fears about allyship is the worry of saying or doing the wrong thing. Many people want to show up and support others but hesitate, unsure how to act without causing harm or misunderstanding.  In this episode, Gayathri speaks with Jocelyn Peltier-Huntley, a mechanical engineer, Vanier Scholar and EDI specialist, who breaks down three practical, research-backed strategies to overc...

Is it possible to lead with empathy while still holding your team accountable for achieving shared goals? In this episode of Heart to Heart, host Gayathri dives deep with Erin, leader, coach, and author, to tackle the common fear that empathy weakens accountability.  Erin shares her journey from engineering to becoming a champion for empathetic leadership, revealing how understanding emotions—both...

Feeling you belong can be tricky when you are the "only" in a team. In this episode of Hearth 2 Heart, Monica Hernandez, an engineer with over 20 years of experience and founder of Infinity Growth, shares her journey of navigating gender bias. Host Gayathri and Monica discuss the importance of self-care, effective communication, and setting boundaries, offering valuable insights for all leaders on...

"Last month, I attended my first 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat. Many asked how it went, and I am opening my heart to share candidly in this episode. "As an entrepreneur and EDIB (equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging) practitioner, I embarked on this journey hoping to deepen my practice of concepts like embracing discomfort, unlearning, and journey over destination. From the str...

In this solo episode, Gayathri shares her reflections from Indigenous History Month. She explores what it means to be in good relations having experienced the privilege of sharing meals and stories with Indigenous Elders in a dinner and dialogue series called Aisinna'kiiks.  She unpacks the experience of "bringing your whole self to work", and how setting aside personal agendas in favour of trust...