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Grief can break a person, or it can set a direction. We talk with Zolal Habibi, an Iranian human rights activist who has spent more than 25 years advocating for political prisoners, women, and freedom seekers. Her story begins with a wound that never really closes: her father, a writer and political dissident, was killed when she was a child during the 1988 prison massacre in Iran, when around 30,000 political prisoners were executed in a matter of weeks. She explains how that loss became a lifelong commitment to telling the truth in public, especially when the regime works hard to silence it.

We also dig into what’s happening inside Iran now, and why the world often gets trapped in the wrong choices. Zolal Habibi lays out a clear framework she returns to again and again: the solution is neither war nor appeasement. We talk about the human cost of conflict, the dangers of treating a brutal theocracy as a “normal” negotiating partner, and the long history of foreign intervention in Iran that makes many Iranians determined to take their destiny into their own hands.

Then we focus on women, forced hijab, and the deeper history behind the images that have traveled the world. Zulal describes decades of resistance, the scale of state violence against women, and why women’s empowerment and leadership are not side stories but the engine of change. If you want practical ways to help, she shares where listeners can find more information and how to connect with groups supporting Iranian freedom.

If this conversation moves you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.

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📌 Disclaimer This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. Guest views are personal and do not represent the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify or endorse guest statements. Nothing here is medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional. Engage critically. Third-party content referenced under fair use. Guests are responsible for their own statements. Concerns? Contact us | Full disclaimer.

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Retirement is supposed to be quiet, but sometimes the quiet is exactly where your next identity shows up. Avik sits down with novelist Paula Panariello, who didn’t “always dream of being a writer” and didn’t plan to start a creative career after her working years. Then she listened to what she genuinely loved, took a simple challenge from an editor, and wrote her first novel. That one imperfect start turned into seven books and a new sense of purpose.

We dig into what it really takes to write historical romance that feels authentic without becoming hard to read. Paula shares how she researches the early 1800s, how she keeps modern readers in mind, and why accuracy is only half the job. The other half is emotional truth: building characters you care about, letting them surprise you, and creating tension that feels human. She also talks about The Heartstone, where the heroine’s deaf parents and the era’s stigma around disability shape the stakes of love, family loyalty, and secrecy.

If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to write a book, start a memoir, or finally make something meaningful, this conversation offers practical ways to begin: a morning routine, a chapter-at-a-time approach, templates that prompt family stories, and an underrated cure for writer’s block through research. Listen, share this with someone who’s been putting off their creative life, and leave a review if it helps you take that first small step.

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Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? 👉 DM me on PodMatch

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🌐 Explore the full network | 📨 Newsletter | 👥 LinkedIn Community

This isn't self-help. It's self-honesty.

💼 Sponsor Our Show | 🎬 Check Our Services

📌 Disclaimer This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. Guest views are personal and do not represent the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify or endorse guest statements. Nothing here is medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional. Engage critically. Third-party content referenced under fair use. Guests are responsible for their own statements. Concerns? Contact us | Full disclaimer.

By listening, you accept this disclaimer in full.

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The mountain is the one place your job title cannot protect you. When the cold hits, oxygen drops, and the route turns ugly, you get immediate feedback on who you are and how you lead. That is the lens I bring to this conversation with Dr. Shanea Clancy, a best-selling author, forensic nurse, executive coach, and mountaineer who built the Mountaineering Mindset Academy at the intersection of real climbing and real business pressure.

We talk about why the summit is not always the point, and why turning back can be the most intelligent call a leader makes. Dr. Shanea Clancy connects the rope as a lifeline to team cohesion inside organizations, and we unpack why mindset is not a “nice to have” but a direct driver of performance and ROI. When leaders dismiss mindset as fluff, they miss the real constraint: people showing up at a lower level than they are capable of sustaining.

Then we go deeper on limiting beliefs and internal dialogue: imposter syndrome, fear rooted in past events, and the rarely named fear of success. We explore “base camp thinking” and scaling goals backwards, plus the power of the pause when everything pushes against you. If you are in a dark valley, feeling the loneliness of leadership, this will give you practical language and a steadier way to evaluate what comes next.

If this helped, subscribe, share it with a leader who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Mind Meets Machine. What is the one limiting belief that shows up on your hardest days?

Support the show

Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? 👉 DM me on PodMatch

💬 Want to come on the show? Be a Guest

🌐 Explore the full network | 📨 Newsletter | 👥 LinkedIn Community

This isn't self-help. It's self-honesty.

💼 Sponsor Our Show | 🎬 Check Our Services

📌 Disclaimer This episode is for educational and informational purposes only. Guest views are personal and do not represent the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify or endorse guest statements. Nothing here is medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional. Engage critically. Third-party content referenced under fair use. Guests are responsible for their own statements. Concerns? Contact us | Full disclaimer.

By listening, you accept this disclaimer in full.