If you’ve ever cuddled your dog while cutting meat in the kitchen, this episode is for you.

In this conversation on Sustainable Tea with Shreya,India’s biggest sustainability podcast, social psychologist and author Dr. Melanie Joy helps @shreyaghodawat breaks down the belief system that shapes our perception of animals: carnism, the invisible ideology that conditions us to eat certain animals while loving others.

From her personal journey, started by a health crisis and a childhood dog, to her research into the psychology of empathy, denial, and systemic violence, Dr. Joy reveals how conditioned our food choices are.

She explains why people get defensive during conversations about animal suffering, why natural is used as a moral shield, and how even the most compassionate people support systems of harm.

The episode unpacks:

• The psychology behind why we love dogs but eat pigs
  

• How carnism uses defense mechanisms like objectification and de-individualization
  

• Why graphic content doesn’t always work, and how to be an emotionally sustainable activist
  

• The 3 Ns of justification: “normal, natural, necessary”
  

• What relational literacy means, and how it can heal not just our diets, but our dialogue
  

We also explore the intersection of animal exploitation, environmental destruction, and social injustice, highlighting how the same dynamics of domination drive racism, patriarchy, and speciesism.

This episode is both a wake-up call and a toolkit, for pet parents, animal lovers, and anyone curious about aligning their values with their actions.

In this Episode

0:00 - Introduction to Dr.Melanie Joy and her work

1:14 - Journey into Veganism and Sustainability

6:44 - Understanding Carnism; The Invisible Belief System

11:04 - Psychological Defense Mechanism in Carnism

17:42 The Interconnection of Animal Rights

22:07 Building Relational Literacy for a Better World

28:36 Overcoming infighting in Advocacy Movements

33:06 Navigating Emotional Responses in Advocacy

34:34 Creating Safe Spaces for Communication

36:55 The Power of Personal Storytelling

39:27 Self-Care in Advocacy

41:57 Understanding and Managing Trauma

44:24 Debunking Myths of Justification

46:17 Cultural Perspectives on Animal Consumption

48:19 Bridging the Gap in Food Choices

51:35 The Truth Behind Ethical Labels

53:34 Veganism and Indian Values

57:22 Rapid Fire Insights on Veganism

1:00:23 Building a Kinder World Through Compassion

1:03:20 Steps Towards a Sustainable Future

Make money while creating impact.

Profit and purpose aren’t at odds; they’re the future of business.

In this episode of Sustainable Tea with Shreya, host @shreyaghodawat sits down with three of India’s top impact investors - Aakash Shah (Partner, Peak Sustainability Ventures), Karan Mehta (Venture Principal, Green Frontier Capital), and Vineet Rai (Founder, Aavishkaar Group) - to explore why the next wave of economic growth will come from solving real-world problems.

This episode shares insider information on:

1) What investors are betting on now: water, waste, deep tech, energy storage, ethical food systems.

2) Why solving India’s biggest challenges is also its biggest business opportunity.

3) What makes a company investable in this space without any buzzwords and greenwashing.

4) How to build ventures that scale and sustain

5) The difference between outdated models of growth and the next-gen playbook for returns.

6) Why the smartest capital is flowing towards founders building for resilience, regeneration, and reach.

So if you’re building, fundraising, looking to invest or just trying to understand what the future of business looks like, this conversation is your cheat sheet.

Watch the full episode now!

Shreya's Outfit Credits

Pantsuit - @advait_in via @gateway.pr

Jewellery - @isharya @octonov.studio

Shoes - @eridani.in

In this Episode

00:00 - Trailer

01:23 - Introducing the Panel

05:08 – What is Impact Investment?

10:46 – Difference between Impact Investment and Traditional Investing

32:57 – Lessons from Businesses That Suffered Losses

57:00 – How Can a Small Investor Enter This Space?

01:02:43 – Impactful Rapidfire

01:14:03 – Closing Notes and Business Advice to Budding Investors and Entrepreneurs

#investing #startups #greentech #climatesolutions #cleanenergy #impactinvestment #funding #capital #finance #innovation #entrepreneurship #mutualfunds #sustainablebusiness #greeninvesting #startupfunding #angelinvesting #climatetech #startupindia #economy #investmentstrategy #socialimpact #foodsecurity #smartinvesting #climateaction #sustainability #stws #podcast #purposedriven

If your gut’s not okay, nothing else is.Gut health has become the wellness buzzword of our times. We see it everywhere: probiotic labels, kombucha bottles, and grocery shelves. But when you move beyond the trends and start listening to your body, you realise gut health is about unlearning the noise and returning to what’s always worked: rhythm, rest, real food, and conscious breath.In this episode of Sustainable Tea with Shreya, India’s biggest Sustainability Podcast, Shreya Ghodawat and Dimple Jangda have the kind of gut conversation we avoid. They talk about the everyday things that slowly disconnect us from our bodies, batch-cooked meals that sit too long in the fridge, quick-fix antibiotics that wipe out more than just the bad bacteria, and habits like popping painkillers without pausing to ask why the pain is there in the first place.From Ayurveda to acid reflux, time-restricted eating to plant-based alternatives, this conversation is layered but practical. They touch on everything from IBS and leaky gut to the silent stress caused by processed food, dairy, and microplastics.Not from a place of fear, but from a place of awareness. Because sometimes, healing starts by paying attention to the most overlooked part of your body, your gut.If you’ve been feeling off, bloated, low on energy, stuck in cycles of quick fixes and vague symptoms, this episode might be your starting point. A gentle nudge to come back to your body, listen before you add another product to your shelf.Shreya's Outfit CreditsDress - https://www.instagram.com/bodicebodice?igsh=MXRmN3FvZTViNTlqZQ==Jewellery - https://www.instagram.com/studiometallurgy?igsh=MTQwcmpuanB6ZmI2dw== , https://www.instagram.com/araa.jewels?igsh=MWNvdjRmMmZ1aWJleA== , https://www.instagram.com/octonov.studio?igsh=MWt4OGx5aHViZHVtaw==Heels - https://www.instagram.com/eridani.in?igsh=MWZvZDd2d3dhemd4Zw== In this Episode:00:00 Trailer01:41 Introduction to Gut Health & Wellness02:45 What is Good Gut Health and Common Misconceptions05:55 Why Painkillers Are Not A Good Idea11:27 Why Controlling your Breathing is Important13:37 How to reverse PCOS 23:50 Why You Should Detox Your Body28:12 Effective Colon Cleanse Alternatives 28:43 What Affects Your Gut & Leads to IBS38:20 Why Our Generation Faces Gut Issues45:45 Plantbased Protein vs. Whey Protein for Gut Health48:20 Probiotics, Kombucha & Other Gut Health Remedies52:45 Changes When Switching to a Gut-Friendly Diet53:35 Rapid Fire with Dimple Jangda1:00:02 What Does Sustainability Mean and Closing Thoughts#DimpleJangda #guthealth #healthygut #ayurveda #digestion #digestivehealth #healthylifestyle #babaramdev #gutdetox #plantbaseddiet #vegan #wholefoods #superfoods #detox #breathwork #meditation #pranayama #cleaneating #naturalhealing #health #wellness #yoga #sustainableliving #selfcare #mentalhealth #ibs #pcos #pcod #antibiotics #foodismedicine #antiinflammatorydiet #painkillers #healthyhabits #balanceddiet #fermentedfoods #processedfoods #intermittentfasting

There’s a way you can reverse diabetes instead of learning how to deal with it. In this episode of Sustainable Tea with Shreya, experts break down the science behind diabetes and uncover what mainstream medicine overlooks. If you're trying to control blood sugar, prevent future complications, or understand the signs of diabetes before it’s too late, this conversation is essential viewing.Shreya Ghodaat sits down with four leading voices in plant-based health and medicine: 1. Dr. Rupa Shah, Lifestyle Medicine Consultant with 40+ years of clinical experience 2. Ajoy Prabhu, Research Pathologist and former advisor to the Obama administration 3. Dr. Jenny Prabhu, Paediatrician and Internal Medicine Specialist 4. Kajal Bhatia, Plant-Based Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes EducatorTogether, they unpack:1. Diabetes is linked to dietary fat and overall food choices, while sugar has been unfairly blamed as the primary villain.2. How modern diets are increasing insulin resistance, even in healthy-looking individuals3. The “lock and key” mechanism behind blood sugar spikes and what jams the system4. Why removing dairy and meat is the missing link in reversing diabetes5. The dangers of ultra-processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and high-protein fads6. Why whole fruits, despite being sweet, can help control blood sugar when consumed right7. How early signs of diabetes go unnoticed, and how to catch them in timeYou’ll also hear stories of individuals who reversed type 2 diabetes through consistent, sustainable lifestyle changes, within weeks. From understanding your food to rethinking your family history, this episode delivers a practical action plan rooted in science, not supplements.Whether you’re managing diabetes, at risk, or simply curious, this is your guide to long-term health through food, movement, and mindset.In this episode:00:00 – Trailer01:31 - Meet the Experts on Reversing Diabetes13:23 – What Causes Diabetes?19:16 – Alternatives to Refined Sugar 33:12 – How To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally?50:05 – Why a Plantbased Diet is Good for Diabetes?1:01:28 – Facing Pushback from Patients1:06:00 – Is Protein Essential in a Diabetes Diet?1:13:00 – One Change to Control Blood Sugar 1:19:00 – Will You Get Diabetes If It Runs in the Family?1:24:00 – A 3-Step Action Plan for Reversing Diabetes1:34:00 – Final Thoughts and the 'Reversing Diabetes' Documentary #stws #podcast #diabetes #bloodsugar #plantbased #vegandiet #healthyliving #lifestyle #health #nutrition #wellness #fitness #medicine #wholefoods #sugar #diseasereversal #insulinresistance #healing #lowfatweightloss #fiber #fruits #vegetables #wellbeing #cleaneating #diabetescare #type2diabetes #type1diabetes #guthealth #diabeticfriendly #healthychoices #antiinflammatory #plantpowered #cleanfood #lowglycemic #sustainablehealth #sugarfree #dairyfree #meatfree #localfood #seasonalfood #diabetesprevention #diabetesreversal #healthyhabits #superfoods #bloodsugarcontrol #plantbasedliving #sugarcontrol #balancednutrition

Remember when @BryanJohnson had to walk out of a podcast in India because of the toxic air? He wasn’t overreacting. This is the reality we live in, and in this episode, we dive deep into exactly why we should care about the air we breathe.In this episode of Sustainable Tea with Shreya, @shreyaghodawat sits down with air quality experts Bhavreen Kandhari, Prof. Sagnik Dey, Jai Dhar Gupta, and Abhiir Bhalla to explore air pollution, why it’s not just a Delhi problem, and why it’s a pan-India crisis that stretches to neighbouring countries too. With 900 million people living in the Indo-Gangetic plain, we’re all affected by the invisible toxins in our air, especially fine particulate matter like PM2.5. These pollutants infiltrate our lungs, bloodstream, and organs, causing everything from respiratory issues to heart disease, diabetes, and infertility.The conversation gets real about the Air Quality Index (AQI) and why it’s not enough to show the true dangers. We also look at indoor air pollution, which is as harmful as the outdoor stuff. From burning incense to poorly ventilated kitchens, the air in our homes is far from safe. We talk solutions too, how we can tackle these issues at home and as a society, from cleaner cooking alternatives to demanding better air quality enforcement.If we don’t act now, the health consequences are inevitable. This episode is a roadmap to cleaner air for all of us, and not a wake-up call!In this Episode00:00 – Trailer01:47 - Introduction of our guests07:18 – Is air pollution only a Delhi problem?18:17 – What is indoor air pollution?28:57 – How to improve indoor air quality?53:07 – Is air pollution political?01:14:47 – Why should people care about polluted air?01:50:47 – Myths around air pollution people should know02:10:47 – How to make a difference?Shreya's Outfit CreditsOutfit - https://www.instagram.com/houseoffett?igsh=cmgzOW41bWhsdWZl #airpollution #pollution #AQI #cleanair #airquality #environment #climatechange #bryanjohnson #climateaction #nature #earth #delhipollution #climatecrisis #health #publichealth #healthcrisis #carbonfootprint #urbanpollution #pollutedcities #lunghealth #indiapollution #smog #citysmog #globalissues #fightpollution #toxicair #plants #smoke #smoking #who #stws #sustainability #podcast

What does it mean to live with the land, not just on it?In this episode of @SustainableTeaWithShreya Shreya Ghodawat sits down with Krishna McKenzie, natural farmer, artist, and longtime Aurovilian whose life is rooted in a simple, yet radical idea: nature knows best.From his early days in the UK to building a life around soil and soul in Tamil Nadu, Krishna’s story weaves together spirituality, natural farming, cultural food wisdom, and a deep connection to place.We talk about:1) Leaving behind the noise of modern life to reconnect with food and land2) How eating local is not a trend, but a return to something sacred3) The influence of J. Krishnamurti and Masanobu Fukuoka on his life and work4) Why is natural farming more than a method? it’s a mindset5) The quiet power of indigenous ingredients and food as memory6) How restoring our food systems could be the most powerful climate solution we already haveFrom edible weeds to corporate farms, school lunches to balcony gardens, this episode is an invitation to rethink the way we eat, grow, and live. Whether you’re in a city apartment or surrounded by fields, this one will make you pause, reflect, and maybe plant something.If this conversation moves you, share it, start a dialogue, or simply ask your grandparents what they used to eat. That one question could be your first step back to the soil.Shreya's Outfit Credits:Dress - https://www.instagram.com/notebook.official?igsh=MWVnZHI5NzlqYmpiMw==Belt - https://www.instagram.com/foret.store?igsh=MXdkbjRnenpldjhmcQ==Jewellery - https://www.instagram.com/blingthingstore?igsh=MTY5dDN6MzVrZnUzbQ== , https://www.instagram.com/sorbetandco?igsh=b2hkdm5tMWcxdWh3Flats - https://www.instagram.com/thecaistore?igsh=MWJtdjUwYmRwaW9nMQ== In This Episode00:00 Trailer01:03 Introduction01:44 The Journey from UK to Tamil Nadu05:46 Coming to Auroville and Masanobu Fukuoka12:19 The Philosophy of Food16:45 Unknown Wonders of Nature20:57 Why is there a disconnect between Humans and our Land22:20 Why Is It Important to Eat Local Food?28:30 The Trend of Organic and Regenerative Farming32:05 How Can we explain Sustainability to Everyone34:32 Biggest Life Lessons Learned38:11 How Can People in the City Start to Eat Better43:13 The Mid-Day Meal Scheme Done Better46:52 Consequences of the Industrialisation of Farming50:28 The Celebration of Food52:26 How Can We Make the Food System More Resilient?1:01:08 - Closing Thoughts#sustainability #farming #nature #food #localfood #climatechange #environment #planet #organicfood #regenerative #ecofriendly #agriculture #gardening #biodiversity #indigenous #nutrition #farm #farmtotable #tradition #plantbased #ecosystem #forest #minimalism #organicfarming #health #simplicity #culture #sustainableliving #nourishing #foodchoices #healthyliving #conservation #eatlocal #climateaction #foodsecurity #permaculture #sustainableagriculture #plantbasedlifestyle #zerowaste #soilregeneration #urbanfarming #minimalistliving #greenrevolution #traditionalfarming #circulareconomy #greenenergy #foodismedicine #auroville