Psychological researcher Alice Sibelli, PhD joins Annie Wenmiao Yu to share how her own long medical journey with digestive symptoms reshaped her work in digital health. She unpacks the biopsychosocial model and brain-gut connection, how disorders of the gut-brain interaction are diagnosed, and how evidence-based digital therapies like gut-directed CBT and hypnotherapy can speed access to care. Alice also reflects on helping bring the first FDA-cleared digital therapeutic for IBS to market at Mahana, moving from academia to startups, and launching her own consultancy.

Eva Kerschbaumer arrived in New York from Hungary on a one-way ticket in 1996 with just $50, no English, and no family. In this candid Low to Grow episode, she shares how she learned English from reruns of Gilligan's Island, opened her first day spa in a renovated walk-in cooler, and built ES Spa into a 7,000 square foot Pittsburgh sanctuary serving celebrities and executives. Eva talks immigrant resilience, people-pleasing, building a brand from nothing, and why mental health belongs in every conversation about beautiful skin.

Barrister Creanna Dodson joins Annie Wenmiao Yu to trace her extraordinary journey from being homeless at 22 with a newborn to becoming a probation officer, qualified social worker, founder of Soaring Heights Care, and a practicing barrister in criminal and family law. She shares hard-won lessons on resilience, deferred gratification, building a support system, and protecting mental health while raising four children and running a business. The conversation covers career reinvention, poverty and inequality, and adapting to AI in the legal sector.

In this episode of Low to Grow, I sit down with Kushal M. Choksi, a survivor of the 9/11 attacks whose life has spanned Wall Street, entrepreneurship, and a deeply influential spiritual path. Once a quantitative analyst at Goldman Sachs who later led portfolios at Ethelium and BlackRock, Kushal shares how that single, devastating morning in Manhattan shattered his sense of control and completely reframed his understanding of success, purpose, and what it means to truly live.

Today, Kushal co-runs Elements Truffles with his wife, blending creativity, patience, and purpose into a business rooted in wellness and ethical practice. He also works as an intuitive life scanner and sits on the U.S. board of the International Association for Human Values. We explore the Institute of Absolute Intelligence, a new initiative inviting scientific inquiry into consciousness, and dig into intuition, scanning, and the fascinating idea that time isn't linear at all.

This episode is an invitation to anyone who feels curious about the unseen, anyone who suspects life is more than a straight line, anyone yearning to reconnect with the quiet place inside themselves.

What you’ll walk away with:

1. A grounded look at how a life-altering event can reshape ambition and identity

2. Practical, compassionate advice for young professionals feeling out of alignment

3. Insight into meditation, breath work, and tuning into your inner voice

4. A thoughtful exploration of intuition, consciousness, and the science behind it

5. An inside look at the joy and patience of entrepreneurship beyond hustle culture

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Please Note:

Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Low to Grow podcast, Annie Wenmiao Yu interviews Sam Smith, the first female CEO of a City stockbroking firm and co-founder of Super Scalers. Sam shares her journey of building FinnCap into a leading investment bank for growth companies in the UK, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and empathetic leadership in driving both profit and growth. She reflects on her experiences, including the challenges of leading a company through an IPO whilemanaging personal responsibilities, such as motherhood. Annie and Sam discusses the significance of maintaining a positive mindset, learning from losses, and the necessity of support systems for entrepreneurs, particularly women and underrepresented founders.

Chapters

00:00 The First Female Stockbroker in The City of London Samantha Smith

01:56 Who should listen this episode with Samantha Smith

02:20 Samantha's Entrepreneurial Journey in Finance

04:21 Reframing failures

12:17 Gender Representation in Finance

15:22 Creating an Inclusive Culture

18:15 An IPO Before Motorbiking to Her Daughter's Nativity Play

22:32 Giving herself to work and family

25:19 How Sam Smith Teaches Her Daughter About Clarity of Thought

27:40 Leadership Style After Motherhood

29:01 Launching Superscalers

32:27 Samantha Smith reflects on self-awareness in building the Superscalers

36:04 Final Thoughts on Mental Health

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Connect with our podcast guests via their profile page on ⁠⁠www.lowtogrow.com⁠⁠!

Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠⁠.

Dr. Mitch Abrams shares his transformative journey from a successful radiologist to a holistic health advocate after undergoing open heart surgery. He discusses with Annie the profound impact of his experiences on his understanding of health, wellness, and the importance of heart coherence. Dr. Abrams introduces the Global Heart Sync project, which aims to gamify the practice of heart coherence, fostering individual and collective well-being. Dr Abrams and Annie debate on the need for a new paradigm in healthcare that integrates both scientific and spiritual perspectives, encouraging listeners to connect with their hearts and embrace their inner potential.

What you will gain from listening to this episode:

• Awakening to consciousness can stem from profound experiences.
• Coherence is essential for emotional and physical health.
• The heart's intelligence plays a crucial role in healing.
• Collective coherence can impact global well-being.
• The Global Heart Sync project aims to gamify heart coherence.
• Practicing coherence can lead to significant personal transformation.
• Integrating Eastern and Western medicine is vital for future healthcare.

Follow Low to Grow

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⁠YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠⁠

⁠⁠Substack LIFT with Low to Grow⁠ ⁠Newsletter⁠⁠

Connect with our podcast guests via their profile page on ⁠⁠www.lowtogrow.com⁠⁠!

Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠⁠.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Dr. Mitch Abrams

06:15 Awakening After Open Heart Surgery

10:39 The Disconnect in Western Healthcare

15:17 Understanding Heart Coherence

20:29 Measuring Coherence and Collective Impact

25:47 Global Heart Sync Project

28:02 The Science of Connection and Empathy

29:26 Activating the Heart: Personal Journeys

32:42 The Global Heart Sync Methodology

37:32 Shifting Perspectives in Healthcare

42:38 Bridging Eastern and Western Medicine

47:54 The Path to Coherence and Better Mental Health

In this episode of Low to Grow, Eileen Wada Willett takes us on a heartfelt journey from the world of fashion design to the deeply meaningful work of cultural community building. She reflects on the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the abrupt challenges brought on by Brexit and COVID-19, and the personal growth that emerged after closing her clothing brand. Through it all, her story is woven with resilience, identity, and a commitment to creating spaces where people feel seen and connected.

Eileen also shares how the East Asian Girl Gang came to life—a community rooted in celebrating cultural identity, supporting mental health, and amplifying the voices of the East Asian diaspora. With warmth and clarity, she talks about the “mosaic” of heritage, the power of shared stories, and why connection is one of the most healing forces we have. This episode is rich with lessons for creatives, founders, and anyone navigating the complexities of identity and belonging.

What you’ll walk away with:

1. A grounded look at resilience through the unpredictable challenges of entrepreneurship

2. Insights into cultural identity and the experiences of the East Asian diaspora

3. Practical ideas for building community around shared heritage and values

4. Reflection on how loss, transition, and reinvention shape personal growth

5. A reminder that connection and community are vital pillars for mental well-being

Follow Low to Grow

• ⁠Instagram: @lowtogrowpodcast⁠ ⁠
• YouTube: @lowtogrow⁠
• ⁠Substack LIFT with Low to Grow Newsletter⁠
• Connect with our podcast guests via their profile page on ⁠www.lowtogrow.com⁠!

Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit ⁠https://www.mind.org.uk⁠.

How can an MBA lead to a political career? What is the future of AI in India? What should more youths in India do?

In this episode of Low to Grow, investment banking professional and political strategist Dhritiman Mitra shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Bihar to becoming a rising business and political voice in India’s next era of innovation. He opens up about navigating family expectations, shifting from the tech world to the political arena, and how each chapter of his life shaped his perspective on leadership, risk-taking, and nation-building.

Dhritiman also digs into the transformative role of AI in India’s economic future—from new startup opportunities to the skills young professionals need to stay ahead. He offers a grounded look at entrepreneurship, the cultural and historical weight of politics in Bengal, and why embracing discomfort may be the most valuable career decision a young Indian can make today. This conversation is energizing, candid, and full of clarity for anyone standing at a crossroads.

What you’ll walk away with:

1. A practical roadmap for navigating big career transitions with purpose

2. Insight into how AI is reshaping opportunities across Indian industries

3. A fresh perspective on risk-taking as a catalyst for growth

4. Cultural context on political engagement and leadership in India

5. Encouragement to take bold steps—even when the path isn’t obvious

   
   

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   Newsletter⁠

   Connect with our podcast guests via their profile page on ⁠www.lowtogrow.com⁠!

   
   

   Please Note: Low to Grow is for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. For free mental health resources, visit https://www.mind.org.uk⁠.