Chai Break

In this episode of the Chai Break Podcast, I sit down with Meghana Sharma—serial entrepreneur, style therapist, and founder of some of India’s most creative ventures, including Levitate, The Preloved Co., and now, The Bindi Project.From her early days curating Bangalore’s iconic boho boutique Levitate to co-founding a social enterprise thrift store, Meghana has always believed in making sustainability stylish and accessible. Her latest venture, The Bindi Project, is more than just about bindis—it’s an ode to the feminine divine. By upcycling leather scraps, fabric remnants, and jewelry waste into handcrafted bindis, Meghana is reclaiming cultural identity, empowering women artisans, and proving that fashion can be circular, conscious, and deeply personal.We chat about: Meghana’s journey from Levitate to The Preloved Co. to The Bindi Project Why she believes in circular fashion and how thrifting can spark community changeThe roots of sustainability in South Asian culture—and how it went from way of life to taboo Her philosophy of SDA: Sustainable Differential Advantage—and how it applies to every business Style, maximalism, and finding your authentic fashion voiceThe women and role models who shaped her journeyWhether you’re a fashion lover, a sustainability advocate, or someone curious about how culture and creativity intersect, this #chaiversation will leave you inspired.Grab your cup of chai and join us for a deep dive into fashion, feminism, and the future of sustainability—one bindi at a time.chaiversations.org

In this episode of Chai Break, we dive into the world of regenerative fashion with Aishwarya Lahariya, textile scientist and founder of Jiwya, a 100% plant-based clothing brand based in India. Aishwarya shares how her background in chemistry, sustainability research, and passion for ethical design led her to create a fashion label rooted in zero-waste living, artisan empowerment, and soil-to-soil systems. If you're curious about the real impact of your clothes—from water usage to labor ethics—and want to understand what truly sustainable fashion looks like, this episode is for you.The origins of JiwyaAishwarya’s upbringing, chemistry background, and move from the U.S. to India to build her brandWhy most cotton (even “organic”) is greenwashed—and what truly sustainable sourcing looks likeWhat a soil-to-soil ecosystem really is and how Jiwya’s designs biodegrade in just 60 daysThe reality of fast fashion: mass production, clearance culture, and the “Oops we bought too much” problemWhy ethical pricing still feels "expensive" and how to shift the consumer mindsetThe science behind plant-based dyes that use 1/10th the water of conventional methods—and return nutrients to the soilEmpowering artisans and preserving textile crafts across 100+ clusters in IndiaThe challenge of scaling while staying true to values—and what it means to vote with your walletAishwarya’s thoughts on the future of fashion, the Buy Now documentary, and her work with Nadhi, a women in climate collective

Deepti Kharbanda’s Journey to Sustainable LivingIn this engaging episode of the Chai Break Podcast,I Shwetha Ravishanakr reconnects with longtime college friend Deepti Kharbanda, Chief Sales Officer at Bare Necessities, as she shares her inspiring journey toward a zero-waste lifestyle and sustainable living. From her early days in Bangalore to becoming a passionate sustainability advocate, Deepti reveals how everyday habits—like carrying a reusable water bottle and composting—can make a big impact on our environment.About Deepti Kharbanda With a background in Human Resources and Computer Science, and nearly two decades of experience in business development and R&D engineering, Deepti blends analytical thinking with a heartfelt commitment to the planet. Her journey into sustainability began with motherhood and has evolved into a powerful mission for social impact.Key Topics Covered:The "Why" behind Deepti’s commitment to sustainabilityOvercoming common misconceptions about eco-friendly livingPractical steps for adopting a zero-waste lifestyleHow sustainable packaging and clean ingredients are changing consumer habitsInnovative initiatives like workshops with Ikea that drive community awarenessSpill the Tea: Deepti also shares fun insights about her love for chai, her favorite pairing, and the influencers who have shaped her path—revealing a side of her that is as warm and engaging as her professional journey.Discover actionable tips and inspiring stories that prove sustainability starts with simple, everyday choices. Learn more about Bare Necessitieschaiversations.org

Breaking Barriers with Sukanya Punthambekar, Co-Founder of BreakingIn this episode of The Chai Break Podcast, we dive into one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time: plastic pollution. Did you know that humanity has produced over 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic since the 1950s? Only about 9% of that has been recycled, with millions of tons ending up in our oceans each year. On a mission to combat this crisis is today’s guest: Sukanya Punthambekar, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Breaking.Sukanya brings over two decades of experience in life sciences and biotechnology. She has worked alongside pioneers like Dr. George Church at Harvard Medical School on groundbreaking projects in synthetic biology, sequencing, and protein engineering. Her career highlights include teaching neuroscience, leading collaborative research teams, and earning prestigious awards like the Department of Biotechnology Junior Research Fellowship and the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award from the University of Michigan. With her Ph.D. in molecular biology, Sukanya has co-authored impactful publications in top journals like Nature and Science.In This Episode:1. Immigrant Story & Entrepreneurial Journey • Sukanya shares how her journey from India to the U.S. shaped her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation.• Founding Breaking: Discover what inspired Sukanya to launch Breaking and the pivotal moments that pushed her to take the entrepreneurial leap.• Challenges as a Woman of Color: Sukanya discusses navigating unique hurdles in the climate-tech space and how she overcame the barriers of VC funding disparities.2. Making an Impact & Sharing Advice• Creating Impact: Sukanya shares the mission behind Breaking and the transformative change she hopes to achieve in combating plastic pollution.• Advice for Women Entrepreneurs: Learn how women’s leadership styles can bring fresh perspectives and Sukanya’s key tips for budding women entrepreneurs.• Childhood Memories of Sustainability: Hear Sukanya’s reflections on growing up in India, where sustainable practices were second nature, and how those roots continue to influence her views today.3. Spill the Tea • Sukanya’s chai ritual and her favorite snack pairing • The book she’s currently reading • Her life mantra • Fun facts about her musical background and family connection to the film industryConnect with Sukanya & Breaking:Learn more about Sukanya’s company and their groundbreaking work at Breaking.com.Thank you for tuning into today’s chaiversation! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review. Until next time, happy chai sipping! ☕chaiversations.org

Welcome to Season 4 of the Chai Break Podcast.In this episode of the Chai Break Podcast, we dive into the world of climate-conscious gifting with Prateeksha Chandraghatgi, founder of Greenr Gifts. With a tech background at industry giants like Yahoo and Microsoft, Prateeksha shifted her path to build a business rooted in sustainability and meaningful impact. Greenr Gifts enables climate-positive gifting by partnering with reforestation organizations worldwide, allowing individuals and businesses to plant trees in their loved ones’ names.Introduction to the episode/seasonPrateeksha’s Background – From Yahoo and Microsoft to eco-friendly entrepreneurship.Roots in Sustainability – Growing up in a culture of mindful living and its influence on Greenr Gifts.Diary of a Founder – Prateeksha’s reflections on purpose and pace, and what inspired her shift from tech to entrepreneurship.Launching Greenr Gifts – How Greenr Gifts started and what it offers as a climate-positive gifting service.Customer Journey & Emotional Impact – Exploring the meaningful experiences Greenr Gifts creates for its users.Corporate Gifting for Impact – The response to Greenr Gifts’ new corporate offerings and its potential for broader climate action.Insights for Women Entrepreneurs – Challenges of funding, building a small but powerful team, and advice for other female founders.Community Support and Future Goals – How listeners can support Greenr Gifts and what’s next for the company.Rapid Fire Round – Fun insights about Prateeksha’s chai preferences, favorite book, and how she spends her downtime.Join us for an inspiring chaiversation on innovation, purpose, and building a business that nurtures the planet. For more on Greenr Gifts, visit greenr.gifts.Here's the link to the Climate Solutions Prateesksha mentions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwYnpej4pQF7UPnt0nkZEa8sxR9TmWR1B&si=6LKPqc9jNqFk5jguchaiversations.org

4 women, 4 unique experiences - this episode is unlike anything we've done in the past.To begin, Shwetha hadn't even heard of peri-menopause until Rema, who's actively in the throws of it, mentioned it to her. It was then that it occurred to us that this is yet another swept-under-the-rug, rarely talked-about phenomenon and that we need to hear from more women.In this episode, we feature:The lovely founders of the very popular NRI Woman Podcast, Bettina Tauro & Ninorah Fernandes Brookshire, volunteered to join our #chaiversation and share their raw, real experiences.Arti Dussane Rao, a finance professional who's on a much-needed career breakThey, each share their unique journeys with peri-menopause and its effects on their mental health.Our hope with this episode is for you to experience the warmth of sisterhood, unwavering support, and a space where judgment is left at the door. You can join the #chaiversation on Instagram or email us at chaibreakpodcast@gmail.com

Meet, Mrinal Gokhale, an Indian-American writer who began her career as a freelance journalist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the most segregated city in the United States. She reported on Mental Health Awareness Month events for Hispanic and African-American publications as part of her work. She realized that these conversations were lacking in Asian and South Asian representation. To increase education and acceptance of mental health among South Asian generations, while also showing non-South Asians how intersectionality looks in the diaspora, she went on to author 2 books, both anthologies, the first one in 2021, called “Saaya Unveiled” and “Taboo: South Asian Mental Health Stories” published in 2023.Chaiversations.orgYou can purchase her books on Amazon

Dr. Monica Shah is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist based inManhattan. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy(DBT), and rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT).

Our guest today is Kareena Mehta, a mental health professional with a B.A. in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College and further education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she earned an Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling and an M.A. in Psychological Counseling.Kareena brings with her a plethora of cross-cultural experiences, both from her own personal life growing up in Belgium, moving to India and then the USA; as well as professionally, wherein her clients are spread throughout the globe from Africa to India, USA, Cannada and beyond.We talk to her about:Her forray into the mental health spaceThe basic differences between a psychologist, psychotherapist and psychiatristThe differences she experiences being a mental health professional in India vs here in the USAThe most common mental health challenges in India and the USAThe gaps in the mental health space5 things everyone can do to work on their mental well-being on a daily basisCheck out the full episode and Subscribe to our monthly Substack newsletter atchaiversations.org

We, Shwetha & Rema, address the elephant in the room - mental health and well-being by sharing our own personal journey of how/why/what got us to seek professional help. It's raw, it's real and it's just the beginning of a power-packed season of personal stories, chaiversations with expert guests, and continuing the chaiversation online via Instagram and the launch of our Substack Newsletter.Sign up for our newsletter via our website chaiversations.org or at chaibreakpodcast.substack.com for your monthly fix of exclusive behind-the-scenes of the world of podcasting, exclusive guest interviews, the latest episode drops and so much more.

With a background in behavioral psychology, Chandani wears many hats. From co-founding a marketing tech agency to more recently becoming an angel investor and venture capitalist, she is here to talk to us about the world of finance and importance of financial wellness in the South Asian space.In our chaiversation, we talk to her about the journey to entering a largely man's world AKA the world of finance. She gives listeners handy tips on investing, and how to navigate a world that is somewhat overwhelming for newbies.chaiversations.org

Today’s episode is all about how one woman’s mission to share the truth turned into a 40 thousand strong following. From gender inclusivity, fighting the patriarchy, breaking stigma, supporting marginalized voices and curating South Asian content beyond the ordinary, Divya Soneji, Founder of South Asian Nation, has made it her life mantra to use her platform and voice for the greater good.