The Impressive Empress Podcast

Ep.39: Storytelling as a Cultural Mission — with Sapna of Stories N Chants | How one mother used purpose, simplicity and ancient wisdom to build a movement

What does it take to keep an entire civilisation's wisdom alive — one story, one chant, one child at a time?
In this episode of The Impressive Empress Podcast, I sit down with Sapna — the heart and voice behind Stories N Chants, a growing community of 125K subscribers on YouTube, 224K followers on Instagram who come together around Bharat's most ancient and timeless wisdom.
Meet Sapna Amit, the heart behind Stories N Chants — a space where Bharat's ancient scriptures meet everyday life, told simply, with meaning. Where the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Upanishads and the Puranas are shared in a way that makes them come alive and becoming useful.
Sapna is a mother. A teacher of Indian Knowledge Systems. A one-woman cultural movement. And someone who made a quiet, courageous choice — to preserve what the world was forgetting, one story at a time.
And here's what I find remarkable — she didn't arrive here with a media degree, a production team, or a ready-made audience. She arrived with knowledge, conviction, and the willingness to learn everything else along the way.
In this deeply personal conversation, we explore:
The moment a mother's bedtime story became a cultural mission
The skills she had to build — storytelling, content creation, curriculum design, and the art of simplifying the Bhagavad Gita or the Ramayana or any scripture for a child
The quiet storms behind the calm, beautiful content you see on screen
What it really means to lead with purpose in a world obsessed with trends
And the legacy she is quietly, powerfully shaping — one ancient story at a time
This conversation is not just about content creation. It's about courage, calling, and choosing to lead with purpose. Whether you are a mother, a teacher, a creator or simply someone seeking something deeper — this episode is for you.
 
Connect with Sapna: ▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@storiesnchants 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesnchants/ 📘 Facebook: www.facebook.com/storiesnchants
Connect with The Impressive Empress Podcast: ▶️ YouTube : The Impressive Empress Podcast on YouTube 📸 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/theimpressiveempresspodcast/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpressiveEmpress/
 

Ep.38 : Terrace to Space with Brave Trust, Values and Vulnerability | Wing Cmdr (Read.) Jaya Tare

In this episode of The Impressive Empress Podcast, we sit down with Jaya Tare, a trailblazing aviator whose career spans military aviation, corporate leadership, and space exploration.
A retired Wing Commander from the Indian Air Force with over 3,500 hours of flying experience, Jaya has broken barriers throughout her career — from serving as the first woman Flight Liaison Officer to the Prime Minister of India to becoming a qualified Aircraft Accident Investigator and later leading corporate aviation operations at Amazon. Today, as the founder of Newrizon Space, she is helping shape the future of India’s space ecosystem while mentoring the next generation of explorers.
In this conversation, Jaya shares powerful stories from her time in the cockpit, the lessons learned from aviation incident investigations, and her experience as an analog astronaut simulating space missions on Earth. We also explore how emerging technologies like AI are transforming aviation safety, and what it means to lead with courage, integrity, and trust in high-stakes environments.
Beyond the professional milestones, Jaya reflects on the human side of leadership — navigating uncertainty, mentoring young innovators through initiatives like Project ShaktiSat, and balancing ambition with life beyond the uniform.
This episode is a reminder that the journey to extraordinary places often begins with the courage to step into the unknown.
 

Ep. 37 : Shraddha Subramaninan on Intuition, Feminine Energy and Growth

In this episode of the Impressive Empress podcast, Shraddha Subramanian shares her transformative journey from a corporate professional to an intuition expert and leadership coach. She discusses the importance of intuition in decision-making, the role of vulnerability and feminine energy in leadership, and how to align one's energy for personal and professional growth. Shraddha introduces her unique 'Jackpot Method' for business success, emphasising the need for internal alignment and the power of intuition in manifesting goals. The conversation also touches on the future of leadership, collaboration over competition, and the significance of embracing one's vulnerabilities.
Guest links
LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/shraddha-subramaniam
Website - https://shraddhasubramaniam.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachshraddhas/
Some Key Takeaways
Intuition serves as an internal navigation system for decision-making.
Everyone has the potential to tap into their intuitive abilities.
Feminine energy plays a crucial role in leadership and personal growth.
The 'Jackpot Method' focuses on internal alignment for business success.
Collaboration is more beneficial than competition in leadership.
Personal growth is a natural process that requires self-awareness.
Energy alignment is key to attracting opportunities and success.
 
 

Ep. 36: Bhavana Issar on Empathy, Resilience & Social Innovation

In this episode of the Impressive Empress podcast, host Malathi engages in a heartfelt conversation with Bhavana Issar, a multifaceted leader, social entrepreneur, and motorcyclist holding a Limca record. We journey with Bhavana, as she shares how a deeply personal experience inspired a platform supporting families in long-term home care. From boardrooms to motorbike roads, from shaping future-ready organizations to embracing storytelling and humour, Bhavana reveals the lessons of resilience, courage, and creating change. Tune in to hear her stories, insights, and vision for a world where care and innovation go hand in hand. The episode explores themes of resilience, compassion, innovation and the importance of living a meaningful life.
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Ep. 35: Dr. Kalika Uttarkar on Adaptability, Strategic Thinking & Leadership

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Kalika Uttarkar shares her journey from a childhood steeped in philosophy and spirituality to becoming a leader in the field of Hindu parenting, counselling and education. She emphasizes the importance of integrating ancient wisdom into modern life, particularly in parenting and personal development. The discussion covers various themes including the role of women in leadership, the significance of self-love, and the transformative power of philosophy in everyday life. Dr. Kalika also highlights the need for adaptability and continuous learning, especially during midlife transitions, and encourages listeners to embrace their unique strengths as women.
Dr. Kalika’s story is a masterclass in Adaptability, Strategic Thinking, and Women’s Leadership.
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Ep. 34 : Dr. Sweta Adatia on Purpose, Pause and Love

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Sweta Adatia shares her journey from a curious teenager to a successful neurologist and healer. She discusses the importance of self-love, the quest for knowledge, and the integration of science and spirituality in her work. Dr. Adatia emphasizes the significance of meditation, neuroplasticity, and the need for inner wealth in achieving mental wellness. She also addresses the challenges of burnout, the impact of AI on human connection, and the importance of embracing both feminine and masculine energies.
Stay till the end, where Dr. Adatia shares her future aspirations and initiatives aimed at the betterment of humanity. 
 
We love to hear from you:
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review and/or a rating. It would be very helpful for us and others who come here.
How do you like the show? We would love to hear from you on this
Would you like us to talk about anything specific, please feel free to let us know.
You can connect with us via empress@bhogya.online
 
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Ep. 33 : Monika Halan on Diligence, Public Speaking & Spirituality

In this episode of The Impressive Empress Podcast, we sit down with Monika Halan — trusted financial expert, bestselling author, financial educator and policy advisor — to explore her deeply personal journey from being a finance newbie to becoming a national voice in personal finance.
Monika shares how she built her career through diligence, sharpened her public speaking skills, cultivated confidence, and embraced spirituality to stay grounded. We talk about her early years, her rise in a male-dominated field, and what sustainable success really looks like for a woman in leadership.
💡 A heart-to-heart on financial literacy, feminine power, and the art of living with purpose.
🎧 Tune in if you’re ready to be inspired by a woman who has not just mastered money—but herself.
Whether you’re a young professional finding your voice or someone seeking meaning in your career, Monika’s story will remind you that it’s never too late to own your journey — with clarity, confidence, and grace.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Monika Halan's Journey03:38 From Economics to Personal Finance Journalism05:56 Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry09:35 Finding Her Voice in Public Speaking11:47 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Authenticity15:56 The Importance of Discipline and Work Ethics21:15 Balancing Work, Life, and Fitness26:54 The Importance of Physical Well-being27:49 Embracing Feminine Power in Finance31:40 Turning Setbacks into Opportunities35:44 Spiritual Anchors and Personal Growth40:04 Future Aspirations and Legacy Building51:23 Rapid Fire Questions53:16 Conclusion
 
 
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Ep 32 : Preethi Srinivasan on Resilience, Transformation & Purpose

This episode is a journey of spreading love, light and laughter in the world by our guest Preethi Srinivasan.
Preethi Srinivasan is a force of resilience, transformation, and purpose. Once a national-level swimmer and the youngest player on the Tamil Nadu Women's Cricket Team, her life took an unexpected turn when a freak accident left her paralyzed below the neck at 18. Refusing to be defined by her limitations, she emerged as a powerful advocate for disability rights, inclusivity, and empowerment. Armed with a B.Sc. in Medical Sociology and an M.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Madras, she is currently pursuing a PhD at IIT Madras. As the founder of Soulfree, she is changing lives, breaking barriers, and redefining possibilities for people with disabilities. A TEDx speaker and published author, she has been honored with the Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise by the Government of Tamil Nadu, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Lions International and many many more..…. Having lost everything, Preethi has journeyed a full circle to become—The Cripple Who Is Whole.
In this conversation, we’ll explore what it takes Preethi to spread love, light and laughter..and do stay till the end to hear her special Women’s Day message.
 
You can read more about Preethi Srinivasan herehttps://bhogya.online/preethi-srinivasan/
 
We love to hear from you:
If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review and/or a rating. It would be very helpful for us and others who come here.
How do you like the show? We would love to hear from you on this
Would you like us to talk about anything specific, please feel free to let us know.
 
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