Experience Sikhi Podcast

Gagan Kaur is a vegan jack of all trades from Brampton, ON. She graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering and as well as a minor in Business from McMaster University. In 2021 she started her journey of exploring the wild world of supply chain at HelloFresh - Canada's biggest food kit delivery service. Gagan currently works as a Supply Chain coordinator, primarily focusing on the sourcing and purchasing activities related to produce ingredients for the kits. Outside of work, Gagan spends a lot of time with her family and friends and doing seva with Experience Sikhi. You'll also find her honing in on her many different hobbies like hydroponic gardening, DIYing, cooking and hiking in the spare time. In this episode you will get to hear about the challenges Gagan faced during her undergraduate studies, finding the right career path for you, and the unique challenges associated with the work her company does.

Gagan Kaur is a vegan jack of all trades from Brampton, ON. She graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering and as well as a minor in Business from McMaster University. In 2021 she started her journey of exploring the wild world of supply chain at HelloFresh - Canada's biggest food kit delivery service. Gagan currently works as a Supply Chain coordinator, primarily focusing on the sourcing and purchasing activities related to produce ingredients for the kits. Outside of work, Gagan spends a lot of time with her family and friends and doing seva with Experience Sikhi. You'll also find her honing in on her many different hobbies like hydroponic gardening, DIYing, cooking and hiking in the spare time. In this episode you will get to hear about the challenges Gagan faced during her undergraduate studies, finding the right career path for you, and the unique challenges associated with the work her company does.

Gurleen Singh is the Managing Director at Hilton Security Group Incorporated. Additionally he is also the VP of Six Tech Monitoring Solutions and Six Technologies Intelligence Group. He has been in the security industry for approximately ten years and in the business management side of operations for about six years. The moving parts of working in a family business and influencing strategic decisions are what keeps Gurleen excited about the job and he pursues a variety of hobbies and interests in his free time including watching sports with friends and family because of which he recently visited Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. In this episode you will hear about Gurleen’s contributions to the family business and some of the challenges associated with the job.

Jasleen Kaur is a graduate student at Ontario's Institute of Studies in Education and a recent graduate from University of Toronto's Kinesiology program. One of her unique experiences was being part of a spirit crew during Orientation Week during her second year where she got the chance to play a tournament with special Olympic athletes. She was able to connect with them and learn to appreciate the little things in life. Through this experience she learned that if you're happy and genuinely mean well, that is all that matters.

In this episode we discuss how she battled competing interests when it came to picking a career, and the qualities that prepare her for life as a teacher.

Tripat Kaur was born and raised in Abbotsford, BC. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at the University of the Fraser Valley, finishing with the highest GPA. She was also a varsity soccer player and served as the Student Union President in her 2nd year where she engaged in advocacy that went all the way up to provincial and federal governments. Currently, Tripat is a 2nd year law student at Osgoode Hall Law School. In her spare time, you will find her playing soccer, spikeball, hiking, and being a fierce competitor during family board game nights.

In this episode we discuss her move to Toronto for law school, her involvement in various community organizations, and managing life as a law student.

Pavneet Singh currently works at a tech startup based in the US as a product manager. He graduated from the University of Waterloo where he studied Systems Design Engineering. Outside of work and school, he enjoys playing basketball and is a Boston Celtics fan. Pavneet Singh is also a student of Nihung Santhia and is their liaison in the GTA. In this episode we discuss the importance of Santhia in a Sikh’s life and about his experiences working virtually for a US company. 

Kirpa Kaur is a graduate of Carleton University where she received her undergraduate degree and her masters. Following the completion of her Masters in Political Management, Kirpa joined the Public Health Agency of Canada supporting the COVID-19 pandemic response in a number of capacities including policy and emergency staffing. 

In her spare time, Kirpa is passionate about community building and gender equality. Since 2015, she has been engaged in the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO). In 2021, she was appointed to the executive as Director of Administration for the WSO. She has also been engaged in a number of community initiatives in Ottawa and the GTA. 

In September 2022, Kirpa joined Vermont Law School to begin her Juris Doctorate. In this episode you will hear more about Kirpa’s experiences working in various government roles, her move to the US for school, and how her community involvement informs her career choices.

Munlene Kaur is currently a High School with the Richmond School District, teaching social studies, career life education, languages and art.  She completed her Bachelor of Arts in History and Bachelor of Education at Simon Fraser University. An interesting fact about her is as part of her teaching practicum, she lived with monks in a Dharamsala in India. In this episode we discuss her change in career, social media content creation, and the role Sikhi plays in her role as a teacher.

Kulwinder Singh was born and raised in Toronto, ON. He completed his Bachelors of Engineering at McMaster University. He has worked in the software industry for about 8 years now since graduation. In his free time, he loves to program further, play soccer, loves to read, and can talk your ear off if you begin talking about investing/software or tech. Don’t ever mention real estate around him, you will regret it. In this episode we discuss his involvement with Experience Sikhi, the differences between computer science and software development, and the benefits of working with one company for a prolonged period of time. 

Prabhjot Kaur is a Registered Massage Therapist, Massage Therapy professor and currently in school studying Early Childhood Education. She is also a mother to a little toddler and has spent the last year and a half focused on motherhood and getting back into her career. She has made some recent changes to her career path because of her desire to focus more on motherhood. She will touch on her journey to become an RMT, how she got into teaching and why she decided to make the change into Early Childhood Education. In this episode we discuss the differences between practicing full-time as a massage therapist and teaching massage therapy, career changes, and her experiences being a new parent. 

Jasvinder Kaur is a chiropractic student at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College who also does Seva with Experience Sikhi and Gursevak Sevadar. She has a diverse background including a biomedical science degree, doula, personal trainer, sonography and now chiropractic certifications. In her spare time she teaches Santhiya, Gurmukhi classes, Gurmat camps, and Gym and Jaap. In this episode we will hear more about the various opportunities in the medical field, finding the right one for you, and her non-linear academic journey to chiropractic studies. 

This episode features the GS Brar Law Professional Corporation team! Gurjiwan Singh, the founder and lawyer, is a graduate from York University’s Human Rights and Equity Studies program and Queen’s University’s Faculty of Law. Jasroop Singh is a lawyer at the firm, before which he graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Criminal Justice program and received his JD from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law. Karanjit Singh is a paralegal at the firm and completed his undergraduate studies through York University’s Political Science and Human Rights program before pursuing his paralegal studies at Durham College.

Together, they operate GS Brar Law, a firm that was started just before the COVID-19 pandemic and served the Peel region. The firm focuses on estate planning, real estate, and civil litigation, and in this episode we will hear about their unique journeys to law and about the ups and downs of running your very own business.

This episode features the GS Brar Law Professional Corporation team! Gurjiwan Singh, the founder and lawyer, is a graduate from York University’s Human Rights and Equity Studies program and Queen’s University’s Faculty of Law. Jasroop Singh is a lawyer at the firm, before which he graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s Criminal Justice program and received his JD from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law. Karanjit Singh is a paralegal at the firm and completed his undergraduate studies through York University’s Political Science and Human Rights program before pursuing his paralegal studies at Durham College.

Together, they operate GS Brar Law, a firm that was started just before the COVID-19 pandemic and served the Peel region. The firm focuses on estate planning, real estate, and civil litigation, and in this episode we will hear about their unique journeys to law and about the ups and downs of running your very own business.

Simreet Kaur is a Graphic Designer from Brampton, Ontario. She pursued her Bachelor of Design (BDes), specializing in Graphic Design at OCAD University. Simreet Kaur now works as an in-house Graphic & Motion Designer and is also freelancer under the name “esskaurdesign.” Realizing the power of design and branding in today’s day and age, she began exploring ways to create a positive impact in the world through her design projects - whether they be professional projects, passion projects or seva projects. Outside of work, Simreet Kaur is a foodie, enjoys hiking, and listening to keertan. In this episode we discuss the intricacies of design, her undergraduate thesis project, and how she uses her career to also give back to the Panth. 

Simreet Kaur is a Graphic Designer from Brampton, Ontario. She pursued her Bachelor of Design (BDes), specializing in Graphic Design at OCAD University. Simreet Kaur now works as an in-house Graphic & Motion Designer and is also freelancer under the name “esskaurdesign.” Realizing the power of design and branding in today’s day and age, she began exploring ways to create a positive impact in the world through her design projects - whether they be professional projects, passion projects or seva projects. Outside of work, Simreet Kaur is a foodie, enjoys hiking, and listening to keertan. In this episode we discuss the intricacies of design, her undergraduate thesis project, and how she uses her career to also give back to the Panth. 

Bavenjit Kaur is a resident in Family Medicine at the UBC Surrey- South Fraser program. She completed her undergraduate studies at UBC in kinesiology, as well as medical school at UBC. When she’s not studying or working, she loves to spend time with her family and friends and outdoors. She’s always down to go on a hike or long walk outside! She also loves to travel and has been to 5/7 continents! In this episode, we hear more about her childhood at the Guru Nanak Academy and her journey toward becoming a doctor and choosing to do her residency in family medicine. 

Parmvir Singh was born and raised in Vancouver, BC. He was able to complete his Bachelors in Behavioural Neuroscience, Masters in Counselling. As of 2020, he practices as a Registered Clinical Counsellor with his own private practice, Atlas Counselling. In his spare time you'll find him playing - anything from basketball, to board games, to FIFA on PlayStation (in which his pro clubs team boasted a rank of top 2% in North America). In this episode we talk about his career change from accounting to counselling, the importance of getting help, and his experiences with the many Gursikhs he has had the opportunity to spend time with.

Gursharan Kaur is on her way to becoming a naturopathic doctor. She completed her undergraduate degree at York University in Kinesiology & Health Sciences, and then did her doctorate at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She is currently involved in research about cultural diet patterns and how they can treat chronic heart disease and metabolic syndrome. In this episode we will hear about her discovery of naturopathy, the differences between an ND and MD, and the role Sikhi played along this career path and in her personal development.

Paneet Singh is a playwright and filmmaker whose work is largely inspired and informed by Sikh, Punjabi, and South Asian culture and history, and who is most well known for his stageplays "The Undocumented Trial of William C. Hopkinson" and "A Vancouver Guldasta" as well as his documentary films "Press Breaker" and "The Ecstatic."

In this episode we will discuss his love for storytelling and how he considers engaging with story to be a large part of his professional and personal life, as well as his spiritual journey – and really the only way in which all of these aspects of his life can intersect. We also take a look into his interactions with the Late Bhai Charanjit Singh Ji, his Gatka Ustaad and mentor.

Paneet Singh is a playwright and filmmaker whose work is largely inspired and informed by Sikh, Punjabi, and South Asian culture and history, and who is most well known for his stageplays "The Undocumented Trial of William C. Hopkinson" and "A Vancouver Guldasta" as well as his documentary films "Press Breaker" and "The Ecstatic."

In this episode we will discuss his love for storytelling and how he considers engaging with story to be a large part of his professional and personal life, as well as his spiritual journey – and really the only way in which all of these aspects of his life can intersect. We also take a look into his interactions with the Late Bhai Charanjit Singh Ji, his Gatka Ustaad and mentor.

Welcome back to the Experience Sikhi Podcast. We are so excited to be back. In Episode 0, our host Dalraj Singh will reflect on the overwhelming positive feedback on Season 2, introduce you to some of the themes of this season, and walk you through some differences between Season 2 and Season 3. Enjoy!

Because Jaskanwal Singh’s story is such a deep one, we’ve added a bonus episode just for you. We will be going into a deep dive of Jaskanwal Singh’s book and other topics that we weren’t able to address in this episode such as feminism, toxic masculinity and self-worth vs. ego. 

Balwinder Kaur studied at the renowned Indian Institute of Technology most commonly known as IIT, and is currently working on a startup within the IoT space. She has previously worked at T-Mobile and AppDynamics which was acquired by Cisco. Balwinder was a pioneer in Android technology when it was being brought to the consumer market. In her spare time she volunteers as a Board member for Khalis Foundation who is responsible for apps such Sikhitothemax. She is also an organizer at Code.org.

Avneet Kaur Dhanoa is a Staff Lawyer at Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). At LAO, Avneet has founded the Superior Court of Justice Counsel program, managed the Mental Health Appeals and Test Case programs, and practiced as Criminal Counsel. Avneet has also worked as an Eligibility Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New Delhi, India, and as a legal intern at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa. Avneet enjoys travelling and has participated in research delegations to Rwanda and Venezuela. She completed her LLB at the University of Ottawa and undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. Avneet also volunteers her time as a mentor at Experience Sikhi's annual Sikhia Career Development Retreat.

Dr. Amardeep Singh is a medical physician who specializes in internal medicine at North York General Hospital and a part-time lecturer at the University of Toronto. Many of you may also recognize him from the ‘Dr. Deepy Show’ on Sikh Channel, where Dr. Singh uses his platform to bring awareness to many health issues that are prevalent in the Sikh community. Lastly, Dr. Amardeep Singh is a respected tabla player whose love for Sikhi and Kirtan is recognized across the continent. Born in Africa, raised in California, and now practicing in Toronto, Dr. Amardeep Singh has had quite the journey into the medical profession. We hope you all will draw inspiration from his unique journey and learn from the many struggles Dr. Singh has overcome to get to where he is today.

Ishnan Kaur is a retired Editorial Designer. She immigrated to Sudbury Ontario in 1963 with her family during a time when the Sikh community was quite small. After high school, she moved back to India to connect to her roots and ended up staying for 10 years. During this time, she completed a Bachelors and Masters degree in Science but subsequently began working in journalism. She started her work as an editor for Ajit English in the years leading up to 1984. In this podcast, we’ll highlight the work she did during this important time for the Sikh panth. We’ll also touch on the impact her father, Professor Uday Singh and her mother, Bibi Surjit Kaur, had in the Sikh community. Ishnan Kaur has had an extraordinary journey and we can’t wait for you to hear it

Harinder Kaur Khalsa is a Deputy Sheriff who previously worked for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. In 2009, she was told she cannot wear her dastaar while in her Sheriff's uniform. For years, Deputy Sheriff Khalsa took a non-uniformed desk assignment that kept her segregated from the public. In this podcast, we talk to her about the struggles she faced as both a dastaar-wearing Sikh and as a woman. She has inspired many young people to fight for what they believe in despite outside noises. We can’t wait for you to hear her story.

Gurlin Kaur is an elementary school teacher currently teaching in the Peel District School Board as a Long-term Occasional Teacher. Anyone who knows Gurlin Kaur knows she is a natural-born teacher. She has worked in a range of environments where she learned valuable lessons that she’ll be sharing with us today. She talks about the importance of the arts and how social media and technology impact a child’s education. She’ll also touch on important topics that teachers face, such as the recent strike in Ontario and the struggles teachers have when looking for work in Ontario. This is a great resource if you’re looking to become educated on one of the most important careers in our society.  

Dr. Raminder Kaur is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist (ob/gyn) who is currently completing her final year of a Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship. She is also pursuing a masters degree in clinical and translational research. She has taken quite a long journey to get to where she is at in her career. In today’s podcast, we’ll talk to her about that journey, the challenges she faced and how Sikhi played a role in her path. This is definitely a podcast that you’ll want to listen to, especially if you are interested in the medical field.

Bhai Onkar Singh Ji is the President of Aura Kitchens and Cabinetry. He started off his career as an engineer and eventually got into cabinet making. He went through many hardships to eventually own a successful business. He also has a pilot’s license and flies regularly across North America. In today’s podcast, we talk to him about the hurdles he faced in becoming a business owner as well as the experiences he has being an Amritdhari pilot. Bhai Onkar Singh Ji is an inspiring Gursikh who has also been blessed to do Amrit Sanchaar Seva across North America as well as be a father to two children. He is a veteran in his field and we can’t wait share his wisdom with the rest of you!

Eakamjit Singh is a 24-year-old social media influencer from Brampton, Ontario. He attended St. Augustine Catholic Secondary School and started his online presence during his last semester of University in 2018 with the hope to make people laugh. Since then, Brampton Grand has grown immensely and become a household name. Today, we’ll talk to him about his business ventures, how Sikhi influences his work and where he plans on taking Brampton Grand in the future.

In 2016, Gurnish Singh graduated from Ryerson university with a degree in nursing. Since then, he has worked in the Emergency Department and is now in the Intensive Care Unit. In this podcast, we'll talk to him about what it's like to work in a female-dominated field and how his Sikhi saroop affects his everyday work. He'll also address the challenges that come with working in both departments and how he uses his Sikhi to overcome those challenges. It's going to be a good one and we hope you enjoy it!

Jaskanwal Singh recently published his debut book titled Feminism Saved My Life (And It May Just Save The World) and has also been featured in a BBC video about his journey into Sikhi. He has a law degree from the University of Ottawa and also publishes poetry on his Instagram page @jaskanwal.singh. During this podcast, he’ll share his experiences as a law student, a poet and an author. Because Jaskanwal Singh’s story is such a deep one, we’ve added a bonus episode just for you. This first episode will focus on our theme of Sikh professionalism but please also be sure to check out the bonus episode where we will be going into a deep dive of Jaskanwal Singh’s book and other topics that we weren’t able to address in this episode.

Welcome back to the Experience Sikhi Podcast. We are so excited to be back. In Episode 0, we'll reflect on the overwhelming positive feedback we got on Season 1, we'll introduce our new hosts and talk about the theme for this season, Sikh Professionalism. Enjoy!

 This is Part 2 with Gurkeerat Singh.  

Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Send your questions, comments and feedback to podcast@experiencesikhi.com. Follow ExperienceSikhi on social media and use hashtag #experiencesikhipodcast.

www.experiencesikhi.com

Music for the podcast is by The Lost Strings.

 Born and raised in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Gurkeerat Singh is a student of the Damdami Taksal and has dedicated his life to learning and sharing the teachings of Sikhi. In his 26 years, he has had the privilege of having great Gursikhs such as Bhagat Jaswant Singh Ji (Bhagat Ji) and Giani Bhagwan Singh Ji Bhindranvale as his teachers. In this podcast, we’ll discuss his struggle with dyslexia, trouble focusing in school, and the suicidal thoughts and other low points which shaped the person he is today. Don’t forget to follow him @kothaguru on Instagram! 

*** If you or anyone you know is in a crisis or may be having thoughts of suicide, please contact Crisis Services Canada or call 1-833-456-4566.  If you are in the US, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call at 1-800-273-8255.

Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Send your questions, comments and feedback to podcast@experiencesikhi.com. Follow ExperienceSikhi on social media and use hashtag #experiencesikhipodcast. 

www.experiencesikhi.com

Music for the podcast is by The Lost Strings.

 Prabhjot Singh (@__prabhjotsingh) is from San Jose, California, and works as a special education teacher for students with severe behavioural and mental disorders. Currently, he is pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at San Jose State University.  Prabhjot Singh’s approach to destigmatizing mental health issues is empathy and in this podcast, he talks to us about how we can become more empathetic as human beings and as Sikhs. Other key topics include gratitude, introspection, and the role of parents in a child’s mental stability. 

 *** If you or anyone you know is in a crisis or may be having thoughts of suicide, please contact Crisis Services Canada or call 1-833-456-4566.  If you are in the US, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call at 1-800-273-8255.

Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Send your questions, comments and feedback to podcast@experiencesikhi.com. Follow ExperienceSikhi on social media and use hashtag #experiencesikhipodcast. 

www.experiencesikhi.com

Music for the podcast is by The Lost Strings.

Kiranjot Kaur (also known as @thatsikhmama) is a mother of three little ones and a lifestyle blogger that focuses on all things motherhood, parenting, and mental health. Her goal is to create a platform where she can be honest and authentic about the struggles of motherhood and parenting. Through her blog, she also strives to shine light on her struggle with postpartum anxiety and depression – something that she still copes with today. In this episode, we’ll discuss her mental health, her relationship with Guru Sahib, the self-love and self-care that she practices, and her future projects!  

 *** If you or anyone you know is in a crisis or may be having thoughts of suicide, please contact Crisis Services Canada or call 1-833-456-4566.  If you are in the US, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call at 1-800-273-8255.

Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Send your questions, comments and feedback to podcast@experiencesikhi.com. Follow ExperienceSikhi on social media and use hashtag #experiencesikhipodcast. 

www.experiencesikhi.com

Music for the podcast is by The Lost Strings.

 Kulpreet Singh is the founder of the South Asian Mental Health Alliance (@southasianmentalhealth) – a community network that aims to engage, educate, and mobilize South Asian communities around issues related to mental health. His decision to create the network was motivated by his personal struggle with adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For nine years, he has also been a moderator for the Mental Health Reddit forum which serves as a support network where individuals can talk openly and anonymously about mental health. The forum has now passed 84,000 members. In addition, Kulpreet Singh is a grade school teacher and focuses on increasing mindfulness and goal setting in young children through various camps. His dedication to mental health has led him to volunteer his time for workshops, conferences, panels, and discussions across British Columbia.

*** If you or anyone you know is in a crisis or may be having thoughts of suicide, please contact Crisis Services Canada or call 1-833-456-4566.  If you are in the US, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call at 1-800-273-8255. 

Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Send your questions, comments and feedback to podcast@experiencesikhi.com. Follow ExperienceSikhi on social media and use hashtag #experiencesikhipodcast. 

www.experiencesikhi.com

Music for the podcast is by The Lost Strings. 

Simrat Kaur is a psychologist and a new mom to a baby boy. After completing her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Ontario, she completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Irvine. Simrat Kaur has a particular interest in social psychology which is the study of the behaviour of individuals in their social and cultural setting. Join us as we discuss her experiences as a psychologist and focus on the importance of understanding mental health and how culture affects one’s view. In particular, we’ll talk about the stigma attached to mental health and therapy in the South Asian and Punjabi Sikh communities.  

*** If you or anyone you know is in a crisis or may be having thoughts of suicide, please contact Crisis Services Canada or call 1-833-456-4566.  If you are in the US, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call at 1-800-273-8255.

Relevant links

Family Matters Report by Time to Change - South Asian Culture

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/imce_uploads/Family%20Matters.pdf

A Sinking Heart by Sukhjinder Kaur Ruprai – Punjabi Culture

http://roar.uel.ac.uk/5412/1/u1331813%20thesis.pdf

Types of Therapy

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/types-of-therapy

Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Send your questions, comments and feedback to podcast@experiencesikhi.com. Follow ExperienceSikhi on social media and use hashtag #experiencesikhipodcast. 

www.experiencesikhi.com

Music for the podcast is by The Lost Strings.

Welcome to the Experience Sikhi Podcast. This is Episode 0 where we'll tell you why we created this podcast, what our goals for it are, and what you should expect from listening to it. Enjoy!

Please subscribe, rate and review the podcast. Send your questions, comments and feedback to podcast@experiencesikhi.com. Follow ExperienceSikhi on social media and use hashtag #experiencesikhipodcast.

www.experiencesikhi.com

Music for the podcast is by The Lost Strings.