Abhay chats with Mayur Chaudhuri, NFL assistant linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers, about the emotional journey of coaching, the importance of mental health for all, and the impact of his cultural identity on coaching. They discuss the significance of routines, the role of data and analytics in coaching, and how success is measured beyond just wins and losses. Mayur shares personal insights and experiences that highlight the importance of building relationships with players and the challenges faced in the high-pressure environment of professional football.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:01 The Emotional Journey of a Football Season
05:34 Mental Health and Self-Care in Coaching
08:28 Communication Styles, the Appeal of Defense and Special Teams
13:55 Sponsor Break - Travelopod
14:29 Signature Moments in Coaching Career
16:53 Cultural Identity and Coaching Dynamics
21:49 Leadership and Coaching Philosophy
24:32 Navigating Ambition and Expectations
34:46 Sponsor Break - Timberdog
35:16 Grounding in Identity and Inner Voice
34:43 Influential Coaches and Personal Heroes
40:27 Quirks of Coaching and Referee Relationships
43:23 The Role of Data and Analytics in Coaching
46:34 Measuring Success and Conclusions

A huge shout out to one of the first Ram fans I ever knew in Deepa Macpherson who along with her husband Bob helps make and deliver free custom homemade birthday cakes to at-risk and underserved youth.
This is through cake4kids and you can go to cake4kids.org to learn more and get involved!

TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING is brought to you by TRAVELOPOD, with personalized travel support to help you explore the wonders of the world. Start your next journey at vacation.travelopod.com

This episode is also sponsored by RuffRest® , the only dog bed you'll ever need. Go to www.timberdog.com to learn more

Abhay shares a chat with pioneering polar explorer Preet Chandi. Born and raised in Derby in England, Preet is a British Army officer, a physiotherapist, and a record‑breaking adventure athlete who became the first woman of color to complete a solo expedition to the South Pole. She has since gone on to break multiple Guinness World Records for solo, unsupported Antarctic ski expeditions, using her journeys to challenge perceived norms about who belongs in extreme adventure environments and to inspire others to push their own boundaries. Preet shares her journey of adventure, the importance of discipline over motivation, and how her cultural heritage and community support fuel her expeditions. She discusses the challenges of preparation, facing fears, and the vulnerability that comes with pushing boundaries. Preet emphasizes the significance of learning from failures and the need for self-acceptance in achieving success. Preet encourages all of us to take our first steps in finding and realizing our own adventures, no matter how daunting they may seem.

(0:00 - 2:34) Introduction
(2:34) Part 1 - Everyday rituals and adventures, Training and resilience
(13:02) Sponsor break: Travelopod
(13:37) Part 2 - Dealing with miscues and fear, Ambition and humility, Identity and Fundraising
(29:45) Sponsor break: Timberdog
(30:16) Part 3 - Fragility on a Polar Expedition, The meaning of Adventure and Exploring
(38:35) Conclusion

Please help support Preet on her next journey to become the first woman to travel solo to the North Pole: https://www.gofundme.com/f/next-expedition

TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING is brought to you by TRAVELOPOD, with personalized travel support to help you explore the wonders of the world. Start your next journey at vacation.travelopod.com

This episode is also sponsored by RuffRest® , the only dog bed you'll ever need. Go to www.timberdog.com to learn more

Abhay shares a conversation with Asmita Satyarthi, the CEO of the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion. They explore the pressing global issues of conflict, inequality, and indifference, emphasizing the transformative power of compassion as a solution. Asmita shares her insights on how compassion can redefine problem-solving, urging listeners to connect deeply with the suffering of others and take mindful action. She reflects on her upbringing in a household dedicated to social justice, inspired by her father, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and discusses the importance of grassroots movements in driving systemic change. They also chatted about practical and actionable steps for everyone to embrace compassion as a vital tool for personal and societal change.
Please also check out the new book Karuna: The Power of Compassion, by Kailash Satyarthi

(0:00 - 2:45) Introduction
(2:45) Part 1 - Journey of Compassion, Mindful Problem Solving, Compassion Quotient
(14:55) Break and Sponsor message
(16:09) Part 2 - Justice and Corporate Responsibility and Equity, Leading with Compassion, Personal Tips
(29:25) Break and Sponsor message
(30:34) Part 3 - Sympathy vs. Empathy vs. Compassion, Activism for Everyone
(41:00) Conclusions

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the US and if you or someone you know is being victimized,
please call 888-373-7888
visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en or https://www.iom.int/counter-trafficking

TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING is brought to you by TRAVELOPOD, with personalized travel support to help you explore the wonders of the world. Start your next journey at vacation.travelopod.com

This episode is also sponsored by RuffRest® , the only dog bed you'll ever need. Go to www.timberdog.com to learn more

Abhay shares a conversation with WNBA coach Sonia Raman, as she shares her journey in coaching, the importance of passion, the evolution of watching basketball, and the significance of player development and relationships. She shares insights on transitioning from college coaching at MIT to being as assistant coach in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies and now to serving as head coach for the Seattle Storm.

Sonia emphasizes the importance of building a positive team culture and the joy of mentoring the next generation of players. She is the first Indian American woman to coach in the NBA and the first woman of Indian descent to be a head coach in the WNBA. A Tufts University alum and Boston College Law School graduate, she transitioned to coaching, becoming MIT's winningest women's basketball coach with 152 victories and two NEWMAC Coach of the Year honors (2016, 2017).

00:00 Intro & Fandom Roots
06:42 Joy, Growth & Handling Losses
12:15 Sponsor Break
13:28 NBA Grizzlies to WNBA Journey
22:06 Data, Instinct & Game Decisions
27:18 Break
28:17 Indian-American Identity
30:57 Seattle Storm Culture & Vision
37:29 Conclusion

TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING is brought to you by TRAVELOPOD, with personalized travel support to help you explore the wonders of the world. Start your next journey at travelopod.com

This episode is sponsored by RuffRest® , the only dog bed you'll ever need. Go to www.timberdog.com to learn more

Abhay shares a deep, and engaging conversation with Nitin Bajaj, co-founder of the American South Asian Network, and host of the INDUStry show, the longest-running talk show dedicated to the journeys of South Asian entrepreneurs and executives. They explore themes of immigrant entrepreneurship, personal growth, community building, and the importance of daily rituals. Nitin shares his journey from feeling like he lost his 'superpower' as an immigrant to finding new strengths in building relationships and community. Nitin and Abhay also highlighted the vision behind ASAN and the optimism for the future of the South Asian community in the United States. Stand up paddleboarding was optional (at least this time).

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
03:05 The Importance of Daily Rituals
05:55 Immigrant Entrepreneurship: Past and Present
08:48 Personal Growth and Letting Go of Superpowers
11:53 Connecting the Dots: From Pilot Dreams to Entrepreneurial Success
17:59 The Impact of Conversations on Personal Development
20:55 Building Community and Access through ASAN
25:09 The Vision Behind the American South Asian Network
28:12 Balancing Community and Measurable Outcomes
32:05 Optimism for the Future of the South Asian Community
33:59 Who is Nitin Bajaj?

For more information about Nitin please visit https://nitinsbajaj.com/about/
For more information about ASAN please visit https://americansouthasiannetwork.com/

Abhay shares and engaging and deep conversation with Rajiv G. Menon, author and screenwriter. They explore the intricacies of screenwriting, the challenges of engaging modern audiences, and the importance of telling historical stories, particularly through Menon's latest film, 120 Bahadur, starring Farhan Akhtar as Mjr. Shaitan Singh. They delve into the collaborative nature of filmmaking, the evolution of cinema in the streaming era, and Rajiv's personal reflections on writing and observation. 120 Bahadur revisits the legendary 1962 Battle of Rezang La.

(0:00 - 2:08) Introduction
(2:08) Part 1 - Screenwriting and watching, the 120 Bahadur story
(12:47) Part 2 - Historical storytelling and narratives
(27:19) Part 3 - Collaboration, streaming content, reflections
(35:53) Conclusion

Periodically on Trust Me, I Know What I'm Doing, we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a very special topic or a unique endeavor. Now, we live in an era where lessons and memory of the past seems to get crystallized and presented with increasing speed and accuracy. But perhaps now more than ever, it's equally important to actually pause and reflect and synthesize and process our experiences as rich human lessons to share and express to the world.
Vinita Gupta is a pioneering entrepreneur and technology leader who made history as the first woman of Indian origin to take a company public in the US. With over 40 years in Silicon Valley, she's a celebrated leader in engineering and innovation, and a staunch advocate for women in tech. To add to that, Vinita is an internationally recognized bridge champion, an artist, and a writer. And she recently wrote about her multifaceted journey in her memoir, The Woman Indeed: Road to IPO, Bridge Tables, and Beyond, which is available everywhere.

Big shout out to INDIASPORA for sparking this one, to anyone who is sick of the six seven trend, to the American South Asian Network at americansouthasiannetwork.com

It’s Thanksgiving week in the US, so please, find someone in need and consciously practice a random act of kindness!

Abhay chats with actor and artist Sriya Reddy as they explore various themes including the fearlessness required in acting, the importance of discipline, and the celebration of women's achievements in sports and film. Sriya shares her insights on maintaining authenticity in her roles, the significance of personal growth, and the impact of kindness in everyday interactions. They discuss her role as Geetha in the film They Call Him OG and the evolving landscape of the film industry, particularly regarding women's representation and the challenges they face. The conversation emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and the misconceptions surrounding the film industry, while also celebrating diversity and the power of storytelling. Sriya is a powerhouse performer whose journey from acclaimed VJ to standout actress has redefined what it means to bring depth and complexity to every role. Audiences know her for unforgettable films like Salaar and her fierce, nuanced portrayals in They Call Him OG.

(0:00 - 2:16) Introduction
(2:16) Part 1 - Sports and its impact, discipline and balance
(16:42) Part 2 - anchors and buoys, adapting to change, women in film
(33:12) Part 3 - film industry, activism, legacy
(46:45) Conclusion

For anyone interested in the Hanuman Chalisa, here is a great outline of the lyrics and meaning:
https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/culture/reads/hanuman-chalisa-lyrics-meaning