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  • Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - Mental Health, Kindness and Cultural Connection: Dr. Sunita Agarwal

    Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - Mental Health, Kindness and Cultural Connection: Dr. Sunita Agarwal
    2026/10/14
    Mental Health, Kindness, and Cultural Connection: Dr. Sunita Agarwal | Heart to Heart with Hyacinth“Live full heartedly in both cultures.” — Dr. Sunita AgarwalWhat does it mean to care for the whole person? How can we celebrate our heritage while building connections across cultures?In this episode of Heart to Heart with Hyacinth, Dr. Hyacinth Paul welcomes Dr. Sunita Agarwal, a Dayton-area psychiatrist whose story brings together mental health advocacy, community service, creativity, and pride in her Indian heritage.Practicing psychiatry since 1998, Dr. Agarwal has cared for children, adolescents, adults, and older people across hospital, outpatient, crisis, and addiction settings. She sees her role as both a physician and an advocate, particularly for children and families. Her approach looks beyond symptoms to consider emotional wellbeing, relationships, and the challenges people face in everyday life.The dedication behind a medical careerA medical school gold medalist, Dr. Agarwal entered medical school at 19. She recalls demanding hospital schedules, including stretches of approximately 36 hours that combined daytime responsibilities with overnight duty.Her reflections reveal the hard work and sacrifices behind becoming a doctor—and the importance of the people who made that journey possible. She credits her mother and husband with providing invaluable support.Her training included MGM Medical College in Indore, India, an internal medicine internship at Miami Valley Hospital, a psychiatry residency at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, and a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship in Cincinnati.Her career has included inpatient work at Kettering Health, private practice, community mental health services, and helping establish a partial hospitalization program at Kettering Behavioral Medical Center.Caring for people beyond their symptomsFor Dr. Agarwal, psychiatric care involves understanding a person’s life alongside their diagnosis. She describes a holistic approach that considers mental health, emotional stability, family relationships, and daily wellbeing.Her work has brought her alongside people experiencing depression, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia, stress, and family challenges. Throughout that work, advocacy remains central to how she understands her responsibilities.This conversation introduces the person behind the profession: her commitment to patients, the experiences that shaped her, and her belief in the importance of supportive relationships.Kindness as a bridge between communitiesDr. Agarwal’s concern for others extends beyond clinical practice.A 2022 Dayton Daily News profile highlighted her leadership as president of the Hindu Temple of Dayton’s board and her efforts to connect the temple with the wider community. These included programs honoring teachers and first responders, food assistance, and an Adopt-a-Nurse initiative offering encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic.Her community work reflects a simple idea: sharing culture can also mean sharing care, gratitude, and practical support.In our conversation, she speaks about how a supportive community helps people feel at home. Belonging grows through relationships—and through people willing to welcome and help one another.Music, writing, and creative expressionCreativity has also been part of Dr. Agarwal’s life. Although private dance lessons were beyond her parents’ means, music was more accessible. She participated in choir recitals and explored writing through competitive essays and poetry.These experiences add another dimension to her story, connecting the physician and community advocate with a love of expression and cultural participation.With the memorable phrase “Saree is six yards of fashion,” she celebrates an everyday expression of Indian heritage.Living wholeheartedly across cultures“I believe in being global, international,” Dr. Agarwal says. “The whole world is one.”Her outlook embraces cultural pride alongside openness to others. She encourages people to share their heritage confidently and to participate fully in the cultures that shape their lives.“It is enriching to share your culture and heritage.”Her invitation to “live full heartedly in both cultures” offers a warm perspective on belonging. She also shares her enthusiasm for learning languages and remaining curious about the world.Her Story Lives On Through ArtDr. Sunita Agarwal donated a pink sari with polka dots that carries a joyful memory of her niece’s wedding. Wearing it, she performed an old wedding ritual: using the sari to measure the groom’s height, a custom recalling a time when the bride and other women might not have seen him before the ceremony.Her gift brings that personal memory and cultural tradition into my Udaan mixed media art project. A passionate sari lover, she also donated another sari and encouraged others to contribute, supporting both Udaan and the Great Banyan Tree of...
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    52 分
  • Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - Scientist, Artist, Author, Creator, Dr. Hyacinth Paul - Introduction of Podcast

    Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - Scientist, Artist, Author, Creator, Dr. Hyacinth Paul - Introduction of Podcast
    2026/10/08

    Welcome to Heart to Heart with Hyacinth, a podcast celebrating ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the communities around us.

    Hosted by scientist, author, and artist Dr. Hyacinth Paul, this podcast invites you into heartfelt conversations with people from all walks of life. We’ll explore their upbringing, struggles, turning points, triumphs, and the moments of courage, kindness, and resilience that have shaped who they are.

    Along the way, we’ll talk about life, culture, community, creativity, art, mental health and well-being—and the many ways people find hope, purpose, strength, and joy.

    In a world where we hear so much about what is wrong, Heart to Heart with Hyacinth chooses to shine a light on what is good: the humanity, generosity, perseverance, and quiet acts of courage happening around us every day.

    Everyone has a story. Let’s listen.

    #HeartToHeartWithHyacinth #EverydayHeroes #InspiringStories #ArtAndMentalHealth #HumanConnection

    Heart to Heart with Hyacinth
    Hosted by Dr. Hyacinth Paul — scientist, author, artist & educator.

    Ordinary people. Extraordinary stories.

    Come for the story. Leave with something to carry into your own life.

    If this conversation moved, inspired, or surprised you, follow Heart to Heart with Hyacinth and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it.

    🎙️ Podcast: https://hearttoheartwithhyacinth.buzzsprout.com
    🌐 Art: https://hyacinthpaulart.com
    📸 Instagram: @DrHyacinthPaul
    ✉️ hyacinth@hyacinthpaulart.com

    Everyone has a story. Let’s listen—heart to heart.

    Recorded at the Miami Valley Communications Council, Dayton, OH
    https://www.mvcc.net/

    Music by Placard, @day_kneel
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    11 分
  • Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - " Art is Life and Life is Art" - Dr. Saraswathi Kalvakota

    Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - " Art is Life and Life is Art" - Dr. Saraswathi Kalvakota
    2026/10/08
    Medicine, Art, and Community: Dr. Saraswathi Kalvakota | Heart to Heart with Hyacinth“Art is Life, Life is art.” — Dr. Saraswathi KalvakotaHow do we find belonging in a new country? How can creativity, community, and positive habits enrich our lives?In this episode of Heart to Heart with Hyacinth, Dr. Hyacinth Paul welcomes Dr. Saraswathi Kalvakota, an internal medicine physician in Miamisburg, Ohio, for a heartfelt conversation about the Indian immigrant experience, women in medicine, community service, lifelong learning, and her belief in the power of the arts.From India to American medicineDr. Kalvakota studied at Osmania Medical College in India and continued her medical training at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York, Indiana University Medical Center, and Kettering Medical Center in Ohio. Her career has included patient care through Kettering Health Medical Group and teaching connections with Wright State University and Kettering Medical Center.Behind those professional milestones is a personal story of adapting to a different country and building a life far from home.“It took us ten years to get over the culture shock,” she recalls.She describes working hard and choosing to settle in a midsized city where her family could build meaningful connections. Her experience reminds us that establishing a career and feeling at home can follow different timelines.“We are community people”Community has been central to Dr. Kalvakota’s life. She established Maitri and organized community programs, creating opportunities for people to come together.“We are community people,” she says—a simple statement that captures her commitment to participation and belonging.Her story invites us to consider who helped us feel welcome when we were new, and how we might extend that welcome to others.As the daughter of former Indian Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Dr. Kalvakota carries a distinctive family legacy alongside her own identity as a physician, educator, and community member. She has also supported blood donation awareness through the Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao Memorial Charitable Trust.Her public health education work includes Health & Healing With Dr. Saraswathi Kalvakota on Mana TV International, bringing health conversations to audiences beyond the clinic.Creativity and lifelong learning“I can be thrown into any place and I am busy.”Dr. Kalvakota’s lively observation captures her enthusiasm for staying engaged. She studies classical music and continues to make room for curiosity and learning.For her, creativity belongs within everyday life. “Art is Life, Life is art,” she says, reflecting on her belief that creating lifts the mind and helps it keep going.Her words offer an invitation to revisit our own interests. What have we wanted to learn? What activity brings us joy? When did we last create something simply for the pleasure of making it?“I strongly advocate for the arts,” she says. Her advocacy connects her love of creative expression with her hopes for peace and connection within a community.Children’s emotional wellbeing“Even children can have low times,” Dr. Kalvakota reminds us.She speaks with concern about children’s emotional lives and shares her perspective on the value of creative expression:“We have to raise mentally healthy children and art brings a lot of help to the children.”Her reflections invite parents, grandparents, educators, and community members to consider how they make space for children to express themselves. Are we listening to their feelings alongside celebrating their achievements? Do they have opportunities to explore music, art, and their own creative interests?Positive habits and daily effort“The wellbeing doesn’t come free, you have to work positively everyday.”Dr. Kalvakota emphasizes the effort she believes is involved in living well. Her interests in medicine, music, learning, and community provide context for that outlook.“You become addicted to good habits,” she observes, expressing her enthusiasm for constructive routines and continued engagement.And with the memorable phrase “Feeling good is an epidemic,” she offers a hopeful way to think about the encouragement and positive energy we can share with others.Her Story Lives On Through ArtDr. Saraswathi Kalvakota donated a sari for my Udaan mixed media art, knowing it could become something creative and meaningful rather than remain tucked away in a drawer. Her contribution also supports the Great Banyan Tree of Dayton installation, celebrating how Indian immigrant women nurture their families and the wider community. These women’s stories also inspire my forthcoming children’s book, Udaan Means Flight.Explore the artwork and learn about the book through my art website linked below.In this episode, we explore:A career in medicine and medical education.Culture shock and building a life in the United States.Creating community through Maitri.Family ...
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    43 分
  • Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - Aging Gracefully at 89, Dr. Prem Singla

    Heart to Heart with Hyacinth - Aging Gracefully at 89, Dr. Prem Singla
    2026/10/08
    Aging Gracefully at 89: Life Lessons from Dr. Prem Singla | Heart to Heart with HyacinthWhat does aging gracefully look like at 89? Retired family physician Dr. Prem Singla shares life lessons on resilience, living independently, moving forward through personal loss, and finding joy in everyday life.In the first episode of Heart to Heart with Hyacinth, Dr. Hyacinth Paul welcomes this grandmother of nine and longtime Dayton, Ohio, resident for a heartfelt conversation about family, the Indian immigrant experience, creativity, and approaching life with an open heart.At 89, Dr. Singla stays connected to her community, embraces new technology, and shares her love through homemade pickles and delicious treats. Her story brings together a life in medicine, profound personal loss, and the everyday choices that help us keep moving forward.Building a life far from homeIn 1966, Dr. Singla and her husband arrived in Chicago from India with very little money and no established support network. They faced an unfamiliar country, extreme winter weather, and life without the Indian grocery stores, temples, and community connections they had known at home.Using creativity and resourcefulness, she found ways to preserve Indian traditions while building a comfortable life for her family. She also helped pave the way for other Indian families who followed, creating connections and a sense of belonging far from home.Alongside these responsibilities, Dr. Singla worked full time as a family physician, caring for patients while raising her children.Moving forward through lossTwenty years after arriving in the United States, Dr. Singla lost her husband, a surgeon and her greatest source of support. Three years later, she lost her oldest daughter.Through these profound losses, she continued caring for her family and building a future. Her three surviving children are now doctors, and she is the proud grandmother of nine grandchildren.Her advice is direct: “Don’t think about yesterday, go forward.”In our conversation, we explore the perspective she brings to life after personal setbacks, the importance of staying connected, and what it means to continue finding purpose as we age.Creativity in everyday life“Everything is a form of art,” Dr. Singla says.For her, creativity extends into cooking, knitting, caring for others, and finding solutions to everyday challenges. Her gifts of homemade pickles and other treats offer a personal expression of generosity.In retirement, she enjoys traveling, being with friends and family, and keeping up with modern technology and gadgets. Her curiosity continues alongside her commitment to the Dayton community.Her Story Lives On Through ArtDr. Singla donated a cherished sari and dupattas for my Udaan mixed media art and Great Banyan Tree of Dayton installation, trusting that I would transform them into something beautiful. These women’s stories also inspire my forthcoming children’s book, Udaan Means Flight.Explore the artwork and learn about the book through my art website linked below.In this episode, we explore:Aging gracefully and living independently at 88.Beginning again in a new country while preserving cultural traditions.Balancing a medical career with family life.Moving forward after grief and personal setbacks.Finding creativity in cooking, knitting, and everyday acts of care.Staying curious and connected across generations.Learning from mistakes and letting go of perfectionism.Looking for something good in every person.Wisdom to carry with youDr. Singla’s reflections are simple, thoughtful, and grounded in experience:“Live in the moment.”“Don’t be a perfectionist.”“Don’t be arrogant about your ups.”And, perhaps most fittingly for this first heart-to-heart conversation:“You have to keep your heart, eyes and ears open to listen to them and you will find something good in everybody.”As Hyacinth shares, “I believe everyday people do a lot of extraordinary things as well.”Dr. Singla’s story captures that spirit. Through her work, family, friendships, and everyday generosity, she reminds us how much one person can contribute to the lives around them.Watch or listen to this first episode of Heart to Heart with Hyacinth for a warm conversation about resilience, family, creativity, and finding joy throughout life.Join the conversation: Which of Dr. Singla’s life lessons resonated most with you? Share your thoughts in the comments.Subscribe to Heart to Heart with Hyacinth for more conversations with ordinary people living extraordinary lives, and share this episode with someone who could use a little encouragement.Listen to the podcast:https://hearttoheartwithhyacinth.buzzsprout.comExplore Hyacinth’s art and projects:https://www.hyacinthpaulart.com#HeartToHeartWithHyacinth #AgingGracefully #LifeLessons #Dayton #resilience #immigrantstoriesHeart to Heart with HyacinthHosted by Dr. Hyacinth Paul — scientist, author, artist & educator.Ordinary people....
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    37 分