Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life

What if the most powerful tool for healing burnout is also the cheapest, most accessible, and most overlooked? What if your brain has a built-in off-switch — the default mode network — that activates when you simply sit near a tree? And what does it look like when one woman takes that lesson all the way from a hospital recovery to a seven-story image of herself on the NASDAQ tower in Times Square?...

What does it look like when the pressure to “have it all” actually takes everything? What happens to a high-achieving environmental scientist when the very thing she’s working to protect — the planet — gets sacrificed alongside her own body? And what does it feel like to wake up in a hospital bed knowing you flatlined twice and that the worst-case scenario you thought only happened to other people...

What does it mean to stay human when AI is doing more and more of our thinking for us? Why do most people pass the clipboard instead of signing up, and what does it cost them? And how do women find their way back to themselves after years of putting everyone else first? Dr. Liz Krider is a Caltech-trained researcher and founder of Catalyst, a skills accelerator for high school and college students...

Is your teenager disengaged, going through the motions, or just glued to a screen? What happens when entry-level jobs disappear and college costs more than a house? And what does a Caltech PhD who coaches teens have to say about raising a purpose-driven kid in the age of AI? Dr. Liz Krider is the founder of Catalyst, a skills accelerator for high school and college students, and the author of the...

Is your phone hijacking your brain? What happens when you use substances before your brain is fully developed? And what does ancient yoga philosophy have to do with modern addiction medicine? In this special role-reversal episode, Dr. Suhani Mendonsa - entrepreneur, social activist, lifestyle influencer, author of '1551: Your Story,' and trustee of the Mendoza Foundation - turns the tables and int...

What really happens on the night of Shiva? What does Shiva actually destroy? And how can you observe Mahashivaratri at home with nothing more than a lamp and your intention? Dr. Mitika Kanabar sits down with Acharya Mrityunjay and Acharya Satyam, both scholars from Kashi, the oldest living city on earth. Together they explore Shiva tattva, the four prahars of all-night worship, why Kashi is said t...

Struggling with screen time? What if the best digital detox isn't another app—but getting your hands dirty?   In this episode, Dr. Mitika Kanabar shares why gardening is her go-to method for unplugging. She explores the science of horticultural therapy, soil bacteria that boost mood, and the Ayurvedic concept of dinacharya (daily routine). Plus: practical tips for starting a garden even without a...

What really happens when you stop drinking alcohol, even for a few weeks? In this solo episode of Mind Sattva, Dr. Mitika Kanabar talks about Dry January and why many people choose to take a break from alcohol. She explains what changes in the body and brain when alcohol is removed, and why even a short break can lead to better sleep, steadier mood, more energy, and overall health improvements. Mi...

What started as five minutes of scrolling is now two hours gone. Sound familiar? In this "In the Flow" episode, Dr. Mitika Kanabar unpacks the science behind screen addiction: why our phones live "rent-free" in our brains and how social media algorithms are designed to capture our attention coins. She explains why the dopamine hit from scrolling feels like happiness but actually leaves us sadder,...

What if your value as a woman had nothing to do with what you cook—or how many recipes you juggle each night? In this “In the Flow” episode, Dr. Mitika Kanabar tackles the “food police” that live in our cultures, communities, and families. She explores why women say no to themselves ten times before even asking to use their gym membership, and how self-worth becomes tangled with cooking, caregivin...

Wondering when to stop versus when you're just quitting? Struggling with understanding what "good enough" means? Teri Reuter has reinvented her career multiple times. As a therapist, coach, and leadership expert, she shares the truth about career transitions, overcoming self-doubt, and why the words you use literally shape your reality. ✨ What you'll learn: The difference between stopping and qui...

What if better health wasn't about restriction, but about growing toward wellness when the timing is right? Dr. Mitika Kanabar shares her lifestyle medicine journey—from skeptic to practitioner to co-author of "How Healers Heal." Inspired by a new plant shoot in her studio, she explores how real change requires the right support, resources, and readiness. From a "Plants for Life" class she almost...

What does it mean to truly understand that nothing lasts forever, and that this truth might actually set us free? Dr. Mitika Kanabar explores grief and impermanence through Eastern philosophy. From Tibetan sand mandalas that monks create and then destroy, to the Kathopanishad's dialogue with Yama, god of death, to Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita: this episode asks how we treasure what we...

What does it mean to grieve, and how does that process shape who we become? In this In The Flow episode of Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life, Dr. Mitika Kanabar reflects on grief through personal experience, cultural understanding, and the meeting of Eastern and Western perspectives. After losing her father, she reflects on what the experience has taught her about love, loss, and the o...

What does it truly mean to be in recovery?   In this first episode of In The Flow, a new series within Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life, Dr. Mitika Kanabar reflects on the many ways recovery can take shape. As an addiction medicine physician, she shares her belief that recovery begins the day you decide to get help and reminds us that the path is unique for each person.   From a groun...

What is the true meaning of Navratri? Why do devotees celebrate nine nights with devotion, dance, and ritual, and how can these ancient practices bring wisdom into our modern lives? In this episode of Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life, Dr. Mitika Kanabar welcomes Acharya Mrityunjay, theologist, astrologer, Hindu priest, and scholar, for a deep conversation on the spirituality of Navrat...

Is perfectionism keeping you stuck? What if striving for “perfect” is holding you back more than helping you move forward? In this episode of Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life, Dr. Mitika Kanabar continues her exploration of perfectionism—how it shows up in daily life, what drives it, and how we can begin to move through it with more self-compassion and awareness. Through real-life sto...

Have you ever felt the need to get everything right before taking the next step? What if letting go of perfect could open the door to more joy, connection, and growth? In this episode of Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life, Dr. Mitika Kanabar explores how perfectionism shapes our choices, relationships, and sense of self-worth, and how we can shift toward a mindset of “good enough” that...

In the first episode of Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life, Dr. Mitika Kanabar introduces the ideas and intentions behind the podcast. She asks: What if we had access to certain insights earlier in life? How might that change how we think, choose, and grow? This episode explores the intersections of Eastern philosophy and Western science, setting the stage for future conversations groun...

Mind Sattva: Practical Wisdom for Modern Life is a podcast rooted in reflection, curiosity, and grounded conversation. In this trailer, Dr. Mitika Kanabar shares the inspiration behind the show and why ancient wisdom still matters in a world overloaded with noise and information.   With a background in medicine, public health, and spiritual study, Mitika offers a thoughtful blend of Eastern philos...