This conversation you’re about to hear today is with an old friend of mine who I met through volunteering with kids from tricky back grounds, taking them on camps over the school holidays.

This is actually inadvertently how I met my husband man James too but that’s a story for another day. Sandeep Varma is someone I’ve always admired for his intelligence, tenacity, positivity and kindness. He is someone who knows a lot about advocacy, especially in helping young people and children in his work as a lawyer. Deep also knows about shifting the way we think, about mindsets, changing the way we think about masculinity and the value of aligning your work with your values. Sandeep is a Dad to two little humans who is also the founder and CEO of SAARI Collective a media start up and community for South Asian Australians. He is passionate about amplifying South Asian voices, building community, anti-racism and delivering social change. He has worked across so many sectors with roles such as a speechwriter, lawyer, leader and advocate for children’s rights. Deep is also the board chair at 100 Story Building, a social enterprise for young creative writers and in all his spare time is also the four time Australian Chilli cooking champion for his famous chilli con carne. Settle in for a lovely wide ranging conversation I dare you to not be inspired by Sandeep Varma.

Links discussed in today’s episode:

Man Enough with Justin Baldoni

Dr Kristen Neff

The Artist’s Way Morning Pages with Julia Cameron

For more from Sandeep you can head to Saaricollective.com.au

And you can find me at @clairetonti on instagram or at www.clairetonti.com or subscribe to my newsletter here

As always thank you to RAW Collings for editing this week’s episode.