DT_T (Do The _ Thing)

DT_T-Season1-Episode 12 - Sreejani Malakar - Founder & Director, AYLI Peers Foundation

DT_T-Season1 - Episode 12 Spotlights on Sreejani Malakar (Founder & Director, AYLI Peers Foundation-As You Like It Peers Foundation ) In this episode of Do The _ Thing, Sheela sits down with Sreejani, community organizer and founder of AYLI (As You Like It) — a collective focused on mental health, emotional well-being, and community-centered care in India. Sreejani shares her journey growing up in a middle-class family in Siliguri, navigating experiences of bullying, invisibility, and systemic inequities that shaped her early understanding of the world. These lived experiences stayed with her and gradually led her into the social justice space. Through her work in feminist organizing and campaigns like Health Over Stigma, Sreejani began to reimagine leadership — not as authority or charisma, but as the willingness to take responsibility and create space for collective action. In this conversation, she reflects on: • How lived experiences shape the work we choose to pursue • Rethinking leadership as shared responsibility and ownership • The importance of creating community-centered spaces for mental health • The journey of building AYLI — a collective rooted in listening, care, and connection • What it means to move from “helping” to enabling others to claim their own leadership Sreejani’s story is a powerful reminder that meaningful work often begins with what we have lived through — and takes shape when we choose to respond. If you are someone navigating your own path, this conversation offers both reflection and encouragement to take your next step. To learn more about AYLI and their work, you can connect through their social platforms and community initiatives. 🤍 AYLI Peers Insta : https://www.instagram.com/asyou_likeitpeers?igsh=MWx5MmZiZ2t2ZWVj&utm_source=qr 👋 Join AYLI? - Reach out at +91 8583826356 or ayli.peergroup@gmail.com  — Do The _ Thing is a conversation series with nonprofit leaders and purpose-driven individuals exploring how people come to do the work they do and how those journeys might inspire others to take their own next step. Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, Sheela [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565405/fan_mail/new] Sometimes the purpose we’re called to do begins long before we know how to name it.

DT_T-Season1-Episode 11 - Roopali Rajvanshy - Founder & CEO of Rcoz.us

DT_T (Do The — Thing) Season 1 - Episode 11 Spotlights Roopali Rajvanshy — Founder & CEO of Rocz.us Roopal’s journey is a powerful testament to the fact that it is never too late to find your voice. After a successful career in some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names like Cisco and IBM, Roopali realized she needed to do something more with her life than just "being a corporate person".  Her "Next Chapter" was born out of a deeply personal 50-year journey to find the vocabulary for her own mental health in a culture where such topics are often hidden behind a veil of silence.   In 2020, she founded Rcoz (Our Cause) to provide the South Asian community with the tools, stories, and experts she wished she had growing up. By shifting the focus from "Log Kya Kahenge" (What will people say?) to proactive, preventive care, Roopali is helping individuals and families move from crisis to courage.   In this episode of DT_T (Do The — Thing), Roopali reflects on: • The Burden of Silence: Despite growning up in a supportive environment, she didn't have access to the tools or or the vocabulary for mental health discussions.   • The 50-Year Search for Vocabulary: Why it often takes decades for individuals in the South Asian community to seek help, and the liberation that comes once you finally do.   • The Power of Community Dialogue: How moving from one-on-one therapy to collective conversations can magnify impact and help 100 people in a single hour.   • Preventive Action vs. Crisis Mode: The importance of youth programming and workshops for suicide prevention and substance abuse—addressing issues before they become tragedies.   • A "Next Chapter" Built on Truth: How nudges from her husband and the support of trusted friends gave her the freedom to build an organization true to her own soul.   Today, through Rcoz, Roopali is creating a "cog in the wheel" for psychologists and psychiatrists to reach the community, proving that no matter how successful you are, everyone has a story worth sharing. Her work reminds us that while we cannot change our past, we can absolutely give ourselves permission to talk about it.   Learn more about Our Cause, Rcoz: 🔗 https://www.rcoz.us/  #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #SocialImpact #ChangeMakers #DT_T #DT_TPodcast Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, Sheela [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565405/fan_mail/new] Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, Sheela [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565405/fan_mail/new] Sometimes the purpose we’re called to do begins long before we know how to name it.

DT_T-Season1-Episode 10 - Dr. Tiffany Green - Founder, Uprooted Academy

DT_T (Do The — Thing) Season 1 - Episode 10 Spotlights Dr. Tiffany Green - Founder , Uprooted Academy. Dr. Tiffany Green’s journey is one of relentless curiosity, empathy, and a lifelong commitment to ensuring everyone has the "guidebook" to success. From her early days as an inquisitive child in New Haven to her decade-long career as a therapist, Tiffany has always been a "translator" for those navigating the world's roadblocks.   After years of seeing the "whole picture" in others through clinical practice, Tiffany moved into her next chapter: founding Uprooted Academy. This organization is a direct response to her own childhood experience of waiting for an "invitation" to college that never arrived, a lesson in the vital importance of social capital.   In this episode of DT_T (Do The _ Thing), Dr. Tiffany Green reflects on: • The Power of Curiosity: How leaning into a "nerdy," inquisitive spirit can lead to a career of impact.   • A Lineage of Giving: The profound influence of her 99-year-old grandmother and the "bloodline" of service that drives her work today.   • The Social Capital Playbook: Why access to information and relationships is the "cheat code" that communities need to thrive.   • Uprooting to Grow: A powerful metaphor for how proper care and nutrients allow us to transition into larger spaces and unleash our true potential.   Today, through Uprooted Academy, Tiffany focuses on "unleashing" the potential that is already inside every student, rather than trying to fix what isn't broken. Her work ensures that once a student is "uprooted" from their home to go to college, they don't just survive—they flourish with agency and dignity.   Learn more about Uprooted Academy: 🔗 uprootedacademy.org   Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, Sheela [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565405/fan_mail/new] Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, Sheela [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565405/fan_mail/new] Sometimes the purpose we’re called to do begins long before we know how to name it.

DT_T-Season1-Episode 9 - Pr Todd Benson - Faith In Action East Bay

DT_T (Do The _ Thing) Season 1 - Episode 9 Spotlights Pastor Todd — A Story of Discernment from Tech to Seminary to Faith In Action East Bay Pastor Todd’s journey is one of discernment, patience, and answering a call that unfolded over time. After careers in academia, higher education, and biotech, Pastor Todd sensed a deeper call. Through spiritual discernment and patient reflection, he transitioned into pastoral ministry and now leads Faith in Action East Bay, a grassroots faith-based organizing network. In this episode of DT_T (Do The _ Thing), Pastor Todd reflects on: *  Discerning a second-career calling  *  Discovering compassion and curiosity as gifts  *  The power of spiritual direction and community conversation  *  And how ordinary people often have more power than they realize  Today, Pastor Todd serves as Executive Director of Faith in Action East Bay, part of a national network of grassroots, faith-based community organizing groups. Through intentional one-to-one conversations, relationship-building, and collective action, Faith in Action helps communities recognize their own leadership capacity and work together to create meaningful change — from violence prevention to housing, education, and immigration advocacy. His story reminds us that sometimes the “_ Thing” we are called to do emerges slowly through patience, trusted conversations, and the courage to listen deeply. Learn more about Faith in Action East Bay:  🔗 Search “Faith in Action East Bay” Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, Sheela [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565405/fan_mail/new] Sometimes the purpose we’re called to do begins long before we know how to name it.

DT_T-Season1-Episode 8 - Edward(Ted) Miguel - Founder and a Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Effective Global Action(CEGA)

DT_T (Do The _ Thing) Season 1 - Epsiode 8 Spotlights on Edward “Ted” Miguel — Founder and Faculty Co-Director of the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA) and Distinguished Professor of Economics, Oxfam Professor in Environmental and Resource Economics Ted’s work focuses on understanding one of the most fundamental questions of our time: why do some parts of the world continue to face poverty, limited access to healthcare and education, and systemic inequality—and what truly helps improve lives in a meaningful way. Drawing from his own upbringing as the child of immigrants, Ted shares how early experiences of witnessing global inequality shaped his path. What began as a personal awareness evolved into a lifelong commitment to combining empathy with rigorous problem-solving. At CEGA, Ted and his team work at the intersection of research and action—generating evidence on global development challenges and partnering with governments, nonprofits, and organizations to translate that knowledge into policies that improve lives around the world. In this reflective conversation, Ted speaks about: *  the role of empathy in shaping a life’s work  *  the importance of evidence in creating real impact  *  how research can move beyond theory into action  *  the sustaining power of community in long-term impact work  *  and why staying rooted in one’s values matters more than following a single “right” path  He also offers a thoughtful perspective for those discerning their own path—encouraging listeners not to let immediate barriers limit their vision, but to stay connected to their values and the kind of life they hope to build. This conversation is a reminder that impact is not only created through action—but also through understanding, intention, and the pursuit of truth. Learn more about CEGA: https://emiguel.econ.berkeley.edu/ Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, Sheela [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2565405/fan_mail/new] Sometimes the purpose we’re called to do begins long before we know how to name it.