Ambika Aruna Ganesh is a Life Coach, Facilitator and a Spiritual explorer. A resourceful and compassionate coach with 10 years+ experience and multidisciplinary skill set has worked with 500+ clients from across the world using mindfulness. Mindfulness is a way of operating peacefully in today’s VUCA world. She uses the framework of psychology, mindfulness and reference of ancient Indian modalities to bring the desired results and inculcate a sense of 'sukoon'- a sense of love, peace and purpose.To practice mindfulness dedicatedly, she lives in Tamil-Nadu with her Guru. Here she is seen with Podcast host Ishaa Vinod Chopra whose approach extrapolates her lived experiences in mental health and applies it to education, mental health advocacy and multidisciplinary arts. She aims to foster empathy, positivity, and self-awareness while sparking mental health discussions and reducing stigmas by creating safe spaces for stigmatized conversations. In her Memoir ‘Finding Order in Disorder’ ; in lucid, simple prose, she addresses what it is like to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, how it affects interpersonal relationships, and how societal norms influence our understanding of and responses to mental health issues. As a Research Associate of a York Master’s Thesis documentary project titled ‘Unfinished,’ she explores her journey in mental health vis-à-vis multidisciplinary arts. She is currently the Founder & Executive Director of a nonprofit NGO titled: Finding Order in Disorder Foundation.

The podcast features Dr. Adam W.J. Davies, Professor at the University of Guelph, RECE.

They have a PhD in Curriculum Studies & Teacher Development & Sexual Diversity Studies & Women & Gender Studies - Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto

They are interviewed by Ishaa Vinod Chopra, a final-year student at George Brown College's School of Early Childhood, RECE, Performing Artist (Kathak), Mental Health Advocate & Author of a memoir titled 'Finding Order in Disorder'.

The discussion focuses on advocacy, mental health, and the challenges early childhood educators face as it aligns with this year's World Mental Health Day theme of 'Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health.'

Dr. Davies and Ishaa talk about a statement issued by the AECEO (Association for Early Childhood Educators Ontario), co-authored by Dr. Davies, Brooke Richardson, Michelle Jones, and, supported by the Board of Directors and staff of AECEO. , titled “At the Intersection of Safety, Ethics, Mental Health, and Well Being: Disrupting the Status Quo Regulatory Approach in Ontario.” The statement addresses sanism, the discrimination against individuals with mental health diagnoses.

It critiques the College of Early Childhood Educators' regulatory practices, particularly their annual renewal form, which asks educators to disclose any disabilities (mental or physical) that could impact their ability to practice safely.

According to the issued statement, this regulatory approach may harm marginalized educators due to the vague and unclear disclosure requirement.

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There is further discussion on Dr. Adam W.J Davies's research topics, which include LGBTQ+ children and youth in the early years and K-12 schooling; inclusion for children with disabilities & sexuality education, employing the use of critical theory, including queer theory, mad studies, and critical disability studies.

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A George Brown College, Early Childhood Degree: Solutions Project, ft. Dr. Adam W.J Davies

Interviewed by Research Intern/Student: Ishaa Vinod Chopra

Location Courtesy: University of Guelph

Camera, Editing: Ilse Moreno