The Mental Balance

S02 Ep.7 Angel Investing, Entrepreneurship, and Empowerment: Bhargavi Varma’s Vision for South Asian Women

How is Bhargavi Varma empowering South Asian women to lead startups, build generational wealth, and shatter barriers in angel investing? As the Canada-based founder of Brown Girl Angels, Bhargavi is creating a movement that’s transforming the narrative for Desi women in the U.S. and Canada. Welcome to Season 02, Episode 7 of The Mental Balance Podcast! 🎉 We’re kicking off with Bhargavi, a powerhouse leader transforming how Desi women in the U.S. and Canada approach financial independence and entrepreneurship. As a solo mom and advocate for South Asian women, Bhargavi is breaking the glass ceiling and creating generational impact through startups and investing. In this episode, you’ll uncover: * How angel investing is opening doors for South Asian women to build generational wealth and thrive in startups. * Bhargavi’s transition from corporate life to leading a revolutionary investment community. * Her stories of resilience as a solo mother balancing cultural expectations, leadership, and ambition. * Actionable strategies for overcoming workplace microaggressions, gender biases, and toxic environments. This empowering conversation also dives into Bhargavi’s mission with Brown Girl Angels to rewrite narratives and create spaces where Desi women can lead with confidence, invest boldly, and inspire change. This episode is perfect for: * Aspiring angel investors looking to enter the world of startups. * South Asian women entrepreneurs in Canada, the U.S., and beyond, redefining success on their own terms. * Anyone passionate about women empowerment, financial freedom, and breaking cultural taboos. Join us for a heartfelt and inspiring discussion packed with actionable insights, real-life strategies, and personal stories that redefine what’s possible for South Asian women in angel investing and entrepreneurship. 🌟 To get the latest updates on our podcast, follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancewithvidhi/

S02 Ep 6. Mental Health, Motherhood & Kamala Harris’ Life Lessons: Hitha Palepu Tells All

Hi folks, welcome to The Mental Balance podcast. In today’s episode, we sit down with Author, CEO, and Entrepreneur- Hitha Palepu on board to spill the tea!  In this episode, we explore Hitha’s mental health journey, touching on the importance of therapy, how she dealt with postpartum depression, and Bipolar II, and discuss the stigma around mental health in South Asian communities. We also dive into her latest book, We're Speaking [https://www.werespeakingbook.com/], where Hitha shares how Kamala Harris has shaped her personal and professional journey, offering young women  and mothers practical tools to break through their limitations. Cozy up, grab your chai and let's culturally kick some taboos to the curb while we take care of our mental health.  Get ready for a conversation packed with inspiration, candid reflections on motherhood, reinvention, and balancing passions with life's demands.  For more updates on my journey follow me on Instagram @mentalbalancepodwithvidhi  [https://www.instagram.com/mentalbalancepodwithvidhi?igsh=MTlndjI2NXBrcjliOA==]

S02 Ep 5. MasterChef's Hetal Vasavada on Baking Her Way To Success, Indian-American Upbringing, Career Shifts, and Toxic Workplaces

Hi folks, welcome to The Mental Balance podcast. In today’s episode, we have Hetal Vasavada on board to spill the tea!  Hetal is a talented baker, recipe consultant, and former contestant on MasterChef Season 6.  On our show, Hetal shares her inspiring journey of leaving a stable career in healthcare to pursue her passion for baking, and the leap of faith that landed her on MasterChef. We dive into her Indian-American upbringing, how it shaped her unique culinary style, and the challenges of starting over in a new field. We also discuss the microaggressions and toxic cultures she encountered in the workplace, and how she's navigated these hurdles with resilience. Hetal also talks about her Latest Cookbook "Desi Bakes" and what's it all about! Cozy up, grab your chai and let's culturally kick some taboos to the curb while we take care of our mental health.  Get ready for a conversation about courage, reinvention, and balancing passions with life's demands.  For more updates on my journey follow me on Instagram @mentalbalancepodwithvidhi [https://www.instagram.com/mentalbalancepodwithvidhi?igsh=MTlndjI2NXBrcjliOA==]

S02 Ep 4. Proudly South Indian, Boldly Muslim: Hiba Irshad on Life, Identity & Strength

Hi folks, welcome to The Mental Balance podcast. In today’s episode, we have Hiba Irshad on board to spill the tea!  Hiba is the founder of the SASC (South Asian Strength Club) [https://www.instagram.com/southasianstrengthclub/], Media & Entertainment Executive and Former JioSaavn executive. On our show, Hiba opens up about her experiences growing up as a South Indian Muslim and how her identity shaped her journey. We dive deep into her career at JioSaavn, how she bridged the gap between East and West with music, discussing how she mastered courage and dealt with imposter syndrome, and managed mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Hiba also introduces us to her startup, the "South Asian Strength Club," focused on fostering wellness in the South Asian community.  Cozy up, grab your chai and let's culturally kick some taboos to the curb while we take care of our mental health.  Tune in for an insightful conversation on identity, resilience, and mental well-being. For more updates on my journey follow me on Instagram @mentalbalancepodwithvidhi  [https://www.instagram.com/mentalbalancepodwithvidhi?igsh=MTlndjI2NXBrcjliOA==]

S02 Ep3. Canadian VC, ex-Shopify Exec, Arati Sharma on tech, motherhood, ADHD and being a founder

Hi! Welcome to The Mental Balance podcast. In today’s episode, we have onboard Arati Sharma to spill the tea!  Arati was a part of Shopify's rocketship growth, and rose to be the Director Product Marketing (her husband was ) . She now spends her time building Goodfuture - their home portfolio and building her new skincare brand, Ghlee! This episode is a close one to my heart, since we discuss breaking into and being in tech as a female immigrant, discussing plights of "how we as females" need to be neat and organized, other South Asian taboos. Cozy up, grab your chai and let's culturally kick some taboos to the curb while we take care of our mental health. So tune in and do subscribe to this podcast! Share it with a friend or someone you think could benefit from hearing this. We appreciate you! Follow along - https://www.instagram.com/mentalbalancewithvidhi/