"From the outside looking in, it seems like I've got it all, the super cool mom, the perfect boyfriend, and the supportive friends that are always there, even when you don't want them to be...So how did I get here?" These are words of Aisha, based on a character in an upcoming web series called Get up Aisha that navigates through the life of a 20-year-old woman who struggles with her mental health in her perfect world. In this episode, we had the opportunity to talk to Marushka Almeida and Nisha Khan who are two of the three writers of this amazing show. These talented women share how the concept of Get Up Aisha came about, the importance and the stigma of mental health in the South Asian community as well as their own journey of conquering mental health.As South Asian Women ourselves we are so proud of seeing them and other South Asians follow their dreams and making it happen (YAAS QUEENS ??) and we hope others are inspired and motivated to follow theirs as well ? If you haven't already, please make sure to watch the trailer for Get up Aisha available on YouTube! Watch and Spread the word ?? Twitter:https://mobile.twitter.com/RabiyaMansoorhttps://mobile.twitter.com/AlmeidaMarushka/status/1303385744447287299 Insta:https://instagram.com/getupaisha?igshid=9kvzggluof73 YouTube:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tRIa8_cpZjg

SoulSoching

Episode 15: In Conversation With The Creators of Get Up Aisha

"Turn your demons into art, your shadow into your friend, your fears into fuel, your mistakes into teachers, and your weakness into reasons to keep fighting. Don’t waste your pain. Recycle your heart." - Andrea Balt On this episode, our awe-inspiring guest speaker, Mytrae Meliana, takes us on her perilous journey, from being "Broken to Beautiful". Her journey conveys an important message about the afflictions certain cultural norms and soch (thinking) can serve as a threat to personal happiness, love, and peace. Mytrae Meliana (pronounced "My-thray-yee") is a women’s empowerment and spiritual teacher, holistic psychotherapist, trauma expert, speaker, and author. She leads workshops and programs for women which empower them to heal from trauma, free themselves from the shackles of patriarchy, and claim their truth, power, heart, and soul purpose. Mytrae is a WOC (woman of color) immigrant from India. She shares her personal story of healing, empowerment, and awakening in her memoir "Brown Skin Girl: An Indian-American Woman’s Magical Journey from Broken to Beautiful." Mytrae's social media links: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter Link to her book: Brown Skin Girl: An Indian-American Woman’s Magical Journey from Broken to Beautiful

Episode 14: From Broken to Beautiful: A Story About Combating Damaging Cultural Norms and Soch (Thinking)

“If you plan to climb high and reach for the stars in your life, isn't it important that you have balance established within yourself first? Without proper balance, you risk falling and ending up far, far away from that mountain top or galaxy…”                                             -Mentor Dida  In this episode, we are joined by an oh-so-remarkable human being, Mentor Dida, who has made it his life mission to use the teachings of his trials and tribulations to inspire and empower others! He will be sharing his journey and what he has learned when it comes to focusing on our holistic wellbeing and how we can strive for positive change within ourselves. He has already inspired thousands of individuals as a founder of numerous change organizations, in addition to being a former Social Entrepreneur at Ashoka, the world’s leading social entrepreneur organization. He is working currently at the United Nations Development Project as a Movement Building Architect Consultant. In his free time, he serves as a coach for aspiring changemakers throughout the world. Check out his initiative “The 60 Day Leadership & Wellbeing Challenge” (link below)! Mentor Didas’ IG: @wayoutisin  Click here: The 60 Day Leadership & Wellbeing Challenge Site

Episode 13: Becoming Whole With Holistic Well-Being With a Focus on Leadership

In this episode, we are joined by Najwan Kaakani, an ASU graduate with degrees in business and sustainability. Najwan shares her personal experiences as an Iraqi refugee and talks us through the toll it took on her mental health, and how it continues to this day. Najwan is currently lending her efforts to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) and their very first virtual Gaza 5K Run/Walk campaign. The initiative is focused on raising funds for their Community Mental Health Program (CMHP) and makes access to mental health care a reality for all Palestine refugee children in the Gaza Strip. If you are interested in donating, please refer to the information below. Every dollar counts--so please support in whatever way you're able to give mental health access to children in the Gaza strip with mental health needs as well as provide relief fund for Palestine refugees in Lebanon. Fundraising site: https://getinvolved.unrwausa.org/fundraiser/2861129 Donations can also be made via Venmo: @Najwan-kaakani Najwan's IG handle: @najwaannn 

Episode 12: Mental Health Awareness for Gaza

For this very insightful episode, we are joined by Dr. Mateen Khokhar, an Internal Medicine physician at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. He talks us through the complexities of end of life discussions with patients and loved ones, how to have those difficult conversations, and what we can do during these strange and unprecedented times to navigate a reality many have never faced before. 

Episode 11: Death and Dying in the Time of COVID-19

Disclaimer: This episode contains conversations surrounding suicide, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal ideation. Please be mindful of listening to the episode if you are feeling suicidal, thinking about hurting yourself, or are concerned that someone you know may listen to this episode and feel triggered. If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be in danger of hurting himself or herself, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or the Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), both of which are staffed by certified crisis response professionals, or call 911. In this episode, we are joined by Prakash, a brilliant South Asian man working on crushing the stigma surrounding mental health with his initiative, TalkFreely.  TalkFreely tries to deliver affordable and culturally aware help so that the South Asian community can start having better relationships with their family, their partners, and themselves. As an added bonus, TalkFreely also helps new users of mental health care by providing them with bi-weekly peer support, creating a community of like-minded individuals around the world. 

Episode 10: Learning How To TalkFreely

Four brilliant students from Michigan State University joined us for this episode to discuss their mental health initiative--Spartan Shifa. Their community-building group empowers Muslim students by promoting self-knowledge, help-seeking, and the will to combat social issues. Along with the above, their group holds workshops on topics such as healthy relationships, spiritual wellness, and the lasting effects of historical trauma.   Instagram: @spartanshifa

Episode 9: In Conversation With Michigan State University's Spartan Shifa

These are difficult and strange times, and more now than ever, we require all the tools we can get to nurture our mental health. Join us as we talk about tips and tools to make it through the quarantine, our personal routines, and how we can continue to keep our spirits and mood lifted. And remember, we're all in this together! 

Episode 8: We're All In This Together

Relationships can be complicated, whether they're family, romantic, or friendly. How do we navigate through them while maintaining our self-worth? How can we grow and evolve through these different relationships? Arizona-based family and marriage therapist, Dr. Nura Mowzoon, joins us as we break down relationship dynamics, conflicts, and solutions.

Episode 7: Relationships--Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them

Why is it so important to be comfortable with being uncomfortable? This is a question we answer in today's podcast and trust us when we say, this is one you don't want to miss!  There is an art and beauty to seeking discomfort, and you may be surprised to learn, it proves to have many benefits including increased self-confidence and the ability to expand your comfort zone long-term. Join us as we talk to our guests Scott Lorsch and Chase Loeb about the idea of seeking discomfort, following the guidelines of the Yes Theory, and how it improves your quality of life if done in a safe and logical way. Don't be afraid to grow and learn from your experiences--that's what today's podcast is all about! 

Episode 6: The Art of Seeking Discomfort

We're back Soul Sochers! It's been a long hiatus but we're ready to go with our latest episode discussing eating disorders and mental health. In this episode, we are joined by guest, Fariha Hossain, a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine and an aspiring psychiatrist as she discusses and breaks down the following eating disorders: bulimia, anorexia, and binge-eating (how to identify them, their risk factors, potential forms of treatment).  Fariha currently serves as the secretary at Muslims Thrive--an emerging collective with a clear mission: to destigmatize mental health challenges by creating forums of education, advocacy, and acceptance while being a leading voice for health and wellness in the Muslim community. Join our conversation and be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook--@soulsoching.

Episode 5: EveryBODY--Talking about mental health and eating disorders

Happy Valentine's Day to our Soul Soching fam! Swiping for love? Settled down? Or just spoiling yourself with some self-love? Well, you're in luck! Our fourth episode, "Mental Health Is In the Air" discusses all of that plus navigating through all kinds of relationships, handling external pressures, and much, much more.  Music Credit: Singer: Nat King Cole; Composer: Bert Kaempfert; Lyrics: Milt Gabler

Episode 4: Mental Health Is In The Air

The conversation with guests MJ and Hasan continues as we delve into the male perspective of mental health. 

Episode 3: MANtel Health: The Male Perspective (Part 2)

Join us as we speak with guests Hasan and MJ about the male perspective on mental health.

Episode 3: MANtel Health: The Male Perspective (Part 1)

Join us as we analyze and crush the shackles of "body image perfection" in today's society and culture. You are beautiful just the way you are! 

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