Healthy Mind, Healthy Life

*Listener Discretion: This episode includes discussion of graphic violence and disturbing content. Some listeners may find it upsetting. Please take care while listening and consider skipping this episode if you are sensitive to these topics.In this Healthy Mind, Healthy Life episode, Charu sits down with Bernard “Chalky” White to unpack a resilience-first life story that goes from childhood abuse to policing to a bold midlife pivot into ski instructing and global travel. The core framework is brutally simple and weirdly powerful. Two questions that cut through procrastination, fear and regret: “What if I don’t?” and “What if I do?” Chalky explains how those questions helped him resign from a career he’d grown to hate, rebuild his identity and keep moving forward even after witnessing traumatic events on the job. If you’re stuck in a loop of overthinking, low confidence or “I’m too late” energy, this conversation is a practical mindset reset focused on action, courage and mental health. About the Guest: Bernard “Chalky” White is a former UK police officer turned long-time ski instructor and author. He shares lessons from adversity, career reinvention and his book Keep Chewing the Granite: How Two Questions Can Change Your Life, built around a decision-making method designed to replace regret with forward motion. Key Takeaways: Resilience is not a personality trait. It is a repeatable decision you practice when life feels heavy and your options look limited. The “What if I don’t?” question exposes real costs. Regret, stagnation and staying stuck in a career or identity that drains you. The “What if I do?” question creates momentum. It turns fear into a plan and replaces avoidance with intentional action. Procrastination often hides clarity. Chalky knew what he wanted for years, then one honest night of questions forced a clean decision. Reinvention is allowed at any age. Starting skiing at 26 and building a decades-long path proves “late” is usually just a story. Trauma can shape you without owning you. Chalky acknowledges hard memories while choosing humor, meaning and forward progress. A strong mindset is not “positive vibes.” It is confronting consequences, choosing courage and doing the tough stuff anyway. Simple tools scale. Two questions can support mental health, career change, confidence and decision-making across business and life. When you feel stuck, ask better questions. Then take one small step that matches the answer you actually want to live. How Listeners Can Connect With Chalky: Email: [email protected] Book: Keep Chewing the Granite is available on Amazon in print, Kindle and audiobook formats.   Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it’s become a sanctuary for healing, growth and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty. storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate. this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being• Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth• Holistic Healing & Conscious Living• Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma and build a world where every stor

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik sits down with Jon Bowerman, lifelong entrepreneur and author of You Are Not Lost, You Are Just Starting, to reframe uncertainty, career pivots, and feeling behind. Jon breaks down why “being lost” is not a failure. It’s signal data. They talk about entrepreneurship as a mindset (not a job title), how to show up as the CEO of yourself even inside a 9 to 5, and why small actions build real confidence after burnout or setbacks. If you are navigating a career crossroads, rebuilding purpose, or trying to design a life you do not want to escape from, this conversation is a practical reset. About the Guest Jon Bowerman is a creative strategist, designer, and co-founder with deep experience in marketing and entrepreneurship. He helps people think like entrepreneurs by solving real problems, negotiating with clarity, and building a life aligned with purpose, not pressure. Key Takeaways: Feeling “lost” usually comes from old systems that push one fixed path (school, job, retirement). Real growth needs flexibility and the ability to pivot without shame. You do not need to start a business to think like an entrepreneur. Treat your career like you are the CEO of yourself and your employer as your biggest client. Ask for what you want. Many people quit before they even try a direct conversation about compensation, role design, or growth. The downside is often smaller than your fear says it is. Stop calling every setback a failure. If you extract the lesson and apply it, it becomes training data for your next move. Confidence is rebuilt in reps, not speeches. Start small, iterate fast, and stack wins one step at a time. The best business ideas are not magic inspiration. They come from listening to recurring problems people complain about, then building real-world solutions. Chasing a single “big moment” can backfire. John shares how achieving a major exit still triggered identity loss, which pushed him to focus on the journey and daily alignment. Your inner child still holds useful direction. Reconnect with what energized you early in life and bring that thread into what you build now. For parents, the “career vs family” conflict is real. Designing balance is part of building a life you do not want to retire from. Connect with the Guest: Website: https://jonbowerman.com/  Free resource mentioned: Everyday Entrepreneur Action Guide (available via the website) Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it’s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty, storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate. This channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: Mental Health & Emotional Well-being Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth Holistic Healing & Conscious Living Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters. Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Contact Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™Email: [email protected] | [email protected]: www.healthymindbyavik.comBased in: India &a

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Sayan sits down with Alisha Esmail from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada to unpack a founder truth most people avoid. Burnout is not a badge, it’s a bottleneck. Alisha shares how burning out three times forced her to rebuild her business approach with stronger systems, clearer priorities, and a “harmony over balance” mindset. They break down her Five Tanks Framework (emotional, mental, physical, relational, spiritual) and a practical daily check-in to spot depletion before it snowballs. They also get real about using AI and automation to buy back time without losing the human edge. If you’re building a company, leading a team, or just tired of the hustle narrative, this one is a clean reset. About the Guest: Alisha Esmail is a purpose-led founder behind one of Canada’s recognized coffee brands and a builder working at the intersection of AI, human performance, and sustainability. She teaches founders how to reduce burnout through systems, clarity, and her Five Tanks Framework. Key Takeaways: Burnout repeats when recovery is treated like a break, not a redesign of how you operate. “Harmony” beats “balance”. Some seasons require intensity, but the system has to pay you back with time later. The line between healthy intensity and overextension is context. Most “emergencies” can wait till tomorrow. Use the “three cards” rule. Limit how often you pull people into after-hours work so you don’t burn out the team. Five Tanks Framework is universal: emotional, mental, physical, relational, spiritual. The refill method can vary by personality and season. A fast daily audit works: draw five circles, label the tanks, score each 1 to 10, then act on the lowest tank first. Empty tanks show up as short temper, conflict, anxiety, spiraling thoughts, and feeling out of control. AI should not replace thinking. It should remove repetitive tasks so founders stay in strategy, creativity, and leadership. Practical AI win: rewrite intense messages to reduce conflict and prevent “emotional shrapnel” in relationships. Scarcity is not a reason to self-destruct. It can be a forcing function for creativity and smarter leverage. Clarity kills chaos: define your real end goal, then work backward instead of sprinting toward a vague “success.” Community Guidelines Check (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn): Not violating.Trademark Check: Mentions of Apple, iPhone, ChatGPT, and Claude are nominative references for identification only. No affiliation or endorsement is implied. How Listeners Can Connect With the Guest: Email: [email protected] Instagram: connect via DM LinkedIn: Connect with Alisha Esmail and send a direct message https://roadcoffeeco.com/ Free gift: DM her “Five Tanks Framework” and mention this podcast to get the exercise book. Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it’s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty. storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate. this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being• Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth• Holistic Healing & Conscious Living•

When the news cycle is loud and life is already heavy, your nervous system pays the bill. In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Charu talks with Andrea W LeDew, a former lawyer and mother of four, about turning political stress, grief and caregiver burnout into something usable through poetry, journaling and structured creative expression. Andrea shares how parenting a son with autism and intellectual disabilities, managing estate responsibilities after losing both parents and living through pandemic-era uncertainty pushed her toward writing as a mental health tool. The conversation also goes straight at the uncomfortable stuff. Emotional eating as coping, self-compassion vs self-sabotage, activism vs burnout and how to stay engaged without spiraling into rumination. Andrea’s book Polemics: Political Poetry, Poems and Prose frames writing as survival and invites listeners to process big emotions without pretending the world is not on fire. About the Guest: Andrea W LeDew is a former lawyer turned stay-at-home mother of four and a writer focused on poetry and essays that explore political change, civic identity and emotional resilience. Her book Polemics: Political Poetry, Poems and Prosebrings together years of work shaped by grief, caregiving and public events. Key Takeaways: Political stress is real mental load. Naming it reduces shame and makes it workable for mental health and emotional well-being. Writing can function like therapy when it helps you feel, label and metabolize grief, rage and fear instead of suppressing them. Structure matters. Rhyme, form and constraints can keep expression honest without turning into endless rumination. Caregiver life adds chronic stress. If you are parenting autism or disability needs, coping tools must be realistic, not performative wellness. Comfort eating is common. The key line is habit. When coping becomes automatic daily behavior it shifts from self-compassion to self-sabotage. Activism can be healthier than hiding if it moves you from helplessness into values-based action and community connection. You can hold patriotism and critique at the same time. Reclaiming belonging should not erase marginalized experiences. Free speech and civic participation are not abstract. They are day-to-day practices that protect mental health through agency. “Touch grass” advice is incomplete. A better play is balanced inputs, boundaries on doomscrolling and intentional creative output. Your story is not finished. Creativity gives shape to chaos so it becomes something you can hold. Connect With Andrea W LeDew: Book page: https://books2read.com/polemics  Website: https://frlcnews.com/  Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it’s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty. storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate. this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being• Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth• Holistic Healing & Conscious Living• Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world

In this episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Charu gets real about late-night cravings, emotional eating, and the binge-shame-repeat loop. Guest Nadege “Nan” Saysana breaks down why cravings often aren’t about food at all, they’re about unmet emotional needs like stress, loneliness, frustration, and overwhelm. You’ll hear a practical framework for separating physical hunger from emotional urges, how habit loops get wired, and why “knowing the why” isn’t enough without learning emotional regulation skills. Nan also shares her personal turning point after decades of binge cycles, plus a simple self-check method to reduce cravings intensity without restriction. If you struggle with binge eating at night, sugar cravings, stress eating, or food noise, this conversation is built to help you regain agency, without gimmicks, shame, or a fake 7-day fix. About the Guest: Nadege “Nan” Saysana helps people stop binge eating by addressing the emotional drivers behind cravings. Based in Paris, she teaches practical tools to build new coping habits, reduce food noise, and shift from self-judgment to self-awareness. Key Takeaways: Cravings feel physical, but if you’ve already eaten enough, the urge is often emotional, not hunger. “Comfort food” works like a short-term mood hack, then backfires with guilt, stress, and more urges. Many people were never taught emotional skills, so the brain defaults to external soothing like food, scrolling, or binge-watching. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s replacing the old habit loop with a new one that actually processes feelings. Curiosity beats shame. Treat urges like data. Ask: what emotion is driving this right now? Quick self-regulation practices like a self-hug style touch routine can lower craving intensity without restriction. Restriction can increase binge intensity over time, like a rubber band snap effect. Hormones and medications can amplify hunger. If emotional tools don’t help, it’s smart to consult a qualified clinician. Power shifts when you stop framing sugar as “in control” and start owning your choices and patterns. Progress looks like urges getting quieter, faster recovery after stress, and calmer decision-making around food. How Listeners Can Connect With the Guest: Website: https://www.milobingefix.com/masterclass  Free class (Tuesdays and Saturdays): Why You Binge at Night and How to Stop for Good Instagram  YouTube Facebook Want to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatch DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik™️. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer. Healthy Mind By Avik™️ is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it’s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty—storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate—this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on: • Mental Health & Emotional Well-being• Mindfulness & Spiritual Growth• Holistic Healing & Conscious Living• Trauma Recovery & Self-Empowerment With over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. Contact 💼 Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™📧 Email: [email protected] | [email protected]🌐 Website: www.healthymindbyavik.com📍 Based in: India & USA 🎙️ Open to col