1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,199 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Katie Kuric and this is Next Question. 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: While the podcast takes a hiatus to prepare for our 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: next big season, I wanted to share something special, a 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: preview episode of a new upcoming podcast hosted by none 5 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: other than the nation's doctor, Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murphy. 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: I first have the opportunity to speak to Dr Murphy 7 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: in April of as he was launching his book Together, 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. 9 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: Who knew it would resonate so much as the world 10 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: locked down and social distancing measures were implemented. I talked 11 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: with him about loneliness as a public health issue, including 12 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: his own story about the mental and emotional impact isolation 13 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: can have. Today, Dr Murphy is giving our Next Question 14 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: listeners a preview of his new podcast called House Calls 15 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: with Dr of Ache Murphy. So enjoy. Thank you so much, Katie. 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: I'm so excited to be here with all of you 17 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,759 Speaker 1: taking over Next Question. My name is Vivek Morty. I'm 18 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: a doctor and serve as a current Surgeon General of 19 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: the United States. Katie and her team have been kind 20 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: enough to allow me to share the conversation I had 21 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: with Padma Lakshmi on how we are looking at building 22 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: more connection in two Padma and I met in two 23 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: thousand seventeen when I first served as US Surgeon General 24 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: during the Obama administration, I had the privilege of accompanying 25 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: her to film an episode of her hit Bravo cooking 26 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: show Top Chef. She since added producer and host of 27 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: Taste the Nation to her resume, and she has authored 28 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: multiple cookbooks, a memoir, and a children's book, which is, 29 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: by the way, something I dream of doing myself. Padma, 30 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: I'll trying to get my wife on board with the 31 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: idea of co authoring a children's books, so we'll see. 32 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: So I'm so glad Padma, that we're having this conversation today. 33 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me, Thank you for having me. 34 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: I'm so glad you are our surgeon general again. Well, 35 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: that's very kind of you. I certainly feel honored to 36 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: serve at a time like this, especially with the pandemic 37 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 1: that we're going through. And speaking of the pandemic, I 38 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 1: just wanted to ask you how you were doing. It's 39 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: been almost two years that we have been in this pandemic. 40 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: How have you been throughout this last almost twenty four months. Well, 41 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: the headline, the biggest headline, is that I'm very grateful. 42 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: You know, I did have a couple of distant aunts 43 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 1: who got ill and passed away, who weren't old enough 44 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: in my opinion, to pass away. But for the most part, 45 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: other than that, most of the people around me were healthy. 46 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: I made healthy my own immediate family. We are all good. 47 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: Nobody got sick, we were vaccinated in a timely fashion. 48 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: I was just boostered a few weeks ago. UM. My 49 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:55,959 Speaker 1: daughter is now of age and she's also been double backs. 50 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: So in large strokes, no complaints, just a lot of gratitude. 51 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: But even if you didn't suffer job loss or the 52 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 1: loss of the loved one, I think we've all gone 53 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: through something quite profound UM, something together with the rest 54 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: of the planet and specifically of course our country UM 55 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: that has manifested in different ways for different people, and 56 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: for me, I think it's UM. I caused just a 57 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: lot of emotional fatigue and mental fatigue. I think I'm 58 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: doing better now than I was a year ago. But 59 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: I do think that I don't have the stamina or patients, 60 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: the mental stamina or patients to deal with all of 61 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: the extracurricular activities that I'm blessed enough to be invited 62 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: to or asked to participate in by virtue of uh, 63 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: just my work or you know, being in the public 64 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: guy for so long. And I don't mind that, actually, 65 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: but I do think that, you know, while a lot 66 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: of us were still UM in a sort of stasis 67 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: for lack of a better word, for many many months, 68 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: it was certainly not RESTful. It was filled with anxiety. 69 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: And I think collectively we still have to deal with 70 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: that mental duress and that anxiety and all of the 71 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: attendant and additional things that many of us have faced, 72 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: like you know, a career change, office at home, loss 73 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: of a loved one, homeschooling. How do we get our 74 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: kids back on track? Um, you know, it's been two 75 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: years and so that is a very long time in 76 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,960 Speaker 1: the development of a child. And so not only how 77 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: do we get them back to their quote uncort normal cells, 78 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: but how do we make up for lost time or 79 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: how do we address some of the issues that have 80 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: come up because of COVID for them? Because I do 81 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: think um our children have suffered in a way that 82 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: is very different from from us, you know, as adults 83 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 1: you can sort of parse out. Okay, this is one 84 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: year of my life, two years of my life. But 85 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: when you're nine or ten years old, my daughter is 86 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: almost twelve, you know, eighteen months is a heck of 87 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: a long time in the first fife and and and 88 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: it becomes hard to put it in perspective. It's made 89 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: me in tall and COVID has made me intolerant of 90 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: a lot of things, like I don't hit chat, a 91 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:36,799 Speaker 1: cocktail partist, not good at those that you are, Um, 92 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: just getting dressed up and and and being more social. 93 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: I mean, I I do consider myself a very social person, 94 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: but my circle has gotten smaller. Um the you know, 95 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: all of those, all of the things that I do 96 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: have gotten very focused. I think that's good. I think 97 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: there's some good that can come of that. Okay, that's 98 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: such an interesting point you mentioned. But about I mean, 99 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,239 Speaker 1: it's ways. It sounds like you're talking about a reevaluation 100 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: of your social life and your social engagement that's taken place, 101 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: some of it perhaps unconscious, some of it intentional, but 102 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: all precipitated in a sense by this pandemic. A number 103 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: of people, either consciously or even just you know, unintentionally 104 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: are finding themselves going through a reckoning with their relationships, 105 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 1: with their connection with one another, whether it's with family 106 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: or with friends. And it's a really interesting time, you know, 107 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: I'm I'm thinking about the book Tomatoes for Nila, that 108 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:36,040 Speaker 1: you wrote, children's book about connecting with family through food 109 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: and cooking, and so much of your work, whether it's 110 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,559 Speaker 1: the book or whether it's you know, Taste the Nation, 111 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: have been about finding ways for people to connect through food. 112 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: And I'm curious as you reflect on those experiences, particularly 113 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: Taste the Nation and just the beautiful stories that you've 114 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: been weaving together of different food traditions and how they 115 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: bring us together. What have you learned about how we 116 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,400 Speaker 1: connect and if we want to rebuild connection sort of 117 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: in our life going forward. Connections are truly matter, high 118 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: quality connections in our life. Like what lessons do you 119 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: think COVID has to teach us? It's interesting, you know, 120 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: You're right. I just got through saying that I have 121 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: whittled down my relationships and and you know, focused on 122 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: the ones that really matter. And you know, I am 123 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: very lucky and that the first season of Tasting Nation 124 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: was very well received both by critics and just by 125 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: the TV viewing public, and because the show really relies 126 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: on intimacy and connection. That's the basis. You know, there's 127 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: no vals and whistles to it. They're not you know, 128 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: sweeping cinematic shots. We don't, you know, it's it's really 129 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: relies on that. You know. We couldn't film season two 130 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: as soon as I'd like it, to know, as soon 131 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: as I'd like it to have done it. And but 132 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: I was anxious to get back to work because I 133 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: didn't want the trail to go cold, and so we're 134 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: only able to do four episode safely due to COVID 135 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: and I as much as I was reluctant to rekindle 136 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: relationships that I didn't think we're essential, I was so 137 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: intent on getting back to work. Um. So I think 138 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: that we do want connections, we just want meaningful connections. 139 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: I think that is the difference. I think we're realizing 140 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: that our time, our tension, our efforts are very precious, right, 141 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: That's what we've all learned, and so we want to 142 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: spend them wisely on things and people who really matter 143 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: to us. And you know, other than my child, there's 144 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: nothing that matters to me more than Taste the Nation. 145 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 1: It took me a long time to get it off 146 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: the ground. And I will tell you the reason I 147 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: think that Taste the Nation has resonated not only with 148 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:54,600 Speaker 1: our viewers but with me so personally, is because I 149 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: have been able through that show to make really deep connections. 150 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: I stay in touch with most of the participants of 151 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: our show. I check in with them just to see 152 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: how they are doing. I usually go and in bed 153 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 1: myself in a community for about a week, um, and 154 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: you know, meet different people from that community, and I 155 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: will say that I think we're longing to understand each 156 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: other better and to really have deeper, meaningful connections. And 157 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: I do think that our country in the last five 158 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: years has become so outrageously polarized in a way and 159 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:36,839 Speaker 1: that none of us thought possible in such a short 160 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: span of time. And so I think, for for me, 161 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: it's important to understand your fellow American or your fellow 162 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: human being, even internationally. And it's important too to make 163 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: sure that when you when you are making these connections, 164 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: that you're really being affected by that person, that you're 165 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:02,440 Speaker 1: being changed in some way. UM. And I think people 166 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: want that, you know. I think that's why the show 167 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: had residents with viewers. But I also think, if we're 168 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: going to go out into the big world and you know, 169 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: leave our kids at home with a babysitter, or you know, 170 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: make an effort and take a risk, you know, by 171 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: getting on a subway or even going to a gathering, 172 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: we wanted to be a substantive conversation. We wanted to 173 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 1: be something that is just deeper than getting together and 174 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: making that small talk. Gosh, there's so much you said 175 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: there which was very powerful that I'm particularly picking up 176 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: on this threat around polarization that you mentioned, Padma, and 177 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 1: I think that you're not alone in feeling the weight 178 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: of that polarization right now. I've had so many conversations 179 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: with people across the country in the last not just 180 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: in the last year, but even when I was search 181 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: in general during the Obama administration, where people felt that 182 00:10:57,080 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: there was just so much polarization in our country, and 183 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: and that makes everything difficult, right, It makes it hard 184 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: for us to come together and take on big challenges, 185 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: whether that's climate change, whether it's racial inequality, whether it's 186 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 1: something like a pandemic um But the question is, how 187 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: how do we build those bonds of connection, and it's 188 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: it strikes me either a word do you use or 189 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: a phrase which is knowing each other? Right to connect 190 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: with one another? We need to come to know each 191 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 1: other and how do we create those experiences? Because I 192 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: think that would make it far less polarized the environment 193 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: that we're living in and give us the kind of 194 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: unity that we need to take on big challenges and 195 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: to add joy to our day to day life. What 196 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: I think would be great is for every citizen to 197 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: be required to do a month or six months work 198 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: um stint in community service. I really think that, Like 199 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of countries have mandatory military service, 200 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: um I think we should do that. I think everybody, 201 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 1: regardless of whether you are you know, somebody at the 202 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: top of our economic echelonce or somebody who's just at 203 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 1: the bottom or starting out or in between, should have 204 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: to do some kind of municipal volunteer work for a 205 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 1: period of time. I think that it gives you, um 206 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: more of an understanding of what it's like. You know, 207 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 1: I have a lot of my friends who are obviously chefs. 208 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: They they say everybody should work in the restaurant, in business. Everybody, 209 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,599 Speaker 1: you know, Danny Meyer says, I think everybody should be uh, 210 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: you know, have a job as a waite staff member 211 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: for just because it does teach you humility, and um, 212 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: I think humility is really important. I think, you know, 213 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: anybody who's interesting in going to med school should have 214 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: to volunteer in your office for X amount of time 215 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: just to shadow people that are working in your department 216 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: to learn what that means, you know. I think even 217 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: if you want to be an actor, I think you 218 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 1: should have to sweep the stage floor for a month 219 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: and see what that feels like, so that you know, 220 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: if you do get the privilege of being an actor 221 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: on a stage or in a movie, that you have 222 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: respect for your crew members who are cleaning up after you. Um. 223 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:13,319 Speaker 1: I think part of that also is because in America 224 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: we are such a me focused culture. You know, the 225 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 1: individual rights of a person who are very much respected, etcetera, etcetera. 226 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: So that has worked for us for a long time 227 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: in a capitalistic society, but we've often lost sight of 228 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: the we of it all in our society. And what 229 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: we've seen with COVID is that regardless of how much 230 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: you want to insulate yourself, we are still connected. Is 231 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 1: that enough that my child is vaccinated, all of her 232 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: classmates need to be vaccinated, and all of her peers 233 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: um in Brazil or China or you know, Sub Saharan 234 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: Africa and need to also be vaccinated because she's sharing 235 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 1: the world with that, and so we you know, that's 236 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: one thing COVID has taught us is that everybody needs 237 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 1: to be vaccinated. Everybody needs an equal opportunity to have 238 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:15,719 Speaker 1: a health filled life and access to medicine and nutrition 239 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: and and um, all of these things and and and 240 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: you know, we cannot live in silos. And I think 241 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: doing that kind of thing, having to be in service 242 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: and having to experience feeling no better or no worse 243 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: than anybody else. You know, we all had to we 244 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: all had to stand in line at the d m V, right, 245 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: we all had to go through. Drivers said, I think 246 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: there's there's something too we all have to just like 247 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: we all eventually have to go to jury duty. I 248 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: think we should all have to do some kind of 249 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: community service. It can be you know, even cleaning up 250 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: the park, it can be whatever. I think that would 251 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:01,440 Speaker 1: bring us closer to our connected us in some way. 252 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: You're listening to next question with Katie Couric and we're 253 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: sharing a preview episode of House Calls with Dr Murphy. 254 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: We'll be back right after this. Welcome back once again. 255 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: Here's Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murphy speaking with food writer, 256 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: producer and activists Padma lash Me. I was wondering, given 257 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: all of your experience in the food industry, can you 258 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit of just about what you're 259 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: seeing in restaurants, Like what are you seeing on the 260 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: front lines in terms of the mental health and the 261 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: well economic well being of workers. We're going through a 262 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: revolutionary change, not only in our economic system and society, 263 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: but specifically in the restaurant business. Labor is very hard 264 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: to find, and I understand, you know, you get treated 265 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: so badly as a waiter or waitress. It's it's really 266 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: crazy how demanding people are and how they just somehow, 267 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: very mild mannered, nice people somehow just lose their humanity 268 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: when their steak isn't done exactly right, or you know, 269 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: they're they're waiting a little too long for their next drink. 270 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: And what's happening is that a lot of weight staff 271 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: don't want to come back to work, and so there 272 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: are many establishments that are short on help, and I 273 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 1: know that. Um, you know, I have a friend of 274 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: mine who owns a little bit of restaurant here in 275 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: the East Village and just heard her husband who run 276 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: it with you know, a few members of their staff, 277 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 1: and you know, she sent out a message on her 278 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: Instagram account saying, Hi, we're gonna be closed tomorrow, and 279 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: there's I wish I could tell you we're having a 280 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: special event. We just all need some rest, so we're 281 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: gonna say day off. I need to have my staff rest. 282 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: They deserve it. So please don't come tomorrow, but please 283 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: do remember us the day after and the day after 284 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: that and so forth. It's really hard to find help. 285 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 1: By the way, I've never had a restaurant, so I'm 286 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: giving you all the information that was given to meet 287 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: by others. Just want to say that on the record, 288 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: But people just don't understand how low the margins are 289 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:26,800 Speaker 1: in the restaurant business, and also because of pandemic all 290 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: in the perishable foods that you buy in preparation to 291 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: be ready to make any of the items on the 292 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: menu that you see go back. You know, it's not 293 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: like there's there, you know, if it's a good restaurant. 294 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: It's not like it's canned. You know, you can preaze 295 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,919 Speaker 1: meet but some of it and then you have labor costs, right, 296 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: you have fixed costs, and then um, the margins are 297 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: really really low and the rents are really really hot. 298 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: So um, you know, I know that in the last 299 00:17:56,000 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 1: twenty years, chefs themselves have become you know, celebrities or know, 300 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: it's kind of rock star mythology. But the truth is that, 301 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 1: you know, it's very few restaurants that actually do well 302 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: and and make their chefs rich. You know, if they're 303 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 1: if they're doing well, it's because they've got you know, 304 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: a lot of private events that they're doing, or they're 305 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 1: writing books, or they're appearing on shows like mine and 306 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: things like that. It's not glamorous, you know, it's it's 307 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 1: really hard work. And let's face it, working in the 308 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: restaurant business is manual labor. Now, it's very creative, it 309 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: has to do with science and business and all this stuff, 310 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: but at the end of the day, you're on your 311 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: feet for eighteen hours a day and your hours are 312 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: terrible there where everyone else is congregating during lunch and dinner. 313 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,679 Speaker 1: So it's it becomes really hard to have a personal life. 314 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: It becomes difficult to have a family, especially if you 315 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: if you're the one carrying the baby, which is why 316 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: it's such a male dominated industry. It's probably you know, 317 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: second only to the military, Harry in that aspect in 318 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 1: our culture. Um, it's it's really hard. I think also Americans, 319 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: just like they expect, you know, to have all the 320 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: freedoms they want and think about me, me, me, not us, 321 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: they also expect really large portions for really low prices, 322 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: and we are not paying what we should be for 323 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: milk and cheese because or vegetables because somebody had to 324 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: go out at four dollars an hour and without health 325 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,840 Speaker 1: insurance and pick that fruit and box it up and 326 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: harry that heavy fruit crate on their shoulders, you know, 327 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:40,639 Speaker 1: with a band. I mean the stuff weighs like fifty pounds, 328 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: and you know, it was very, very hard. I think 329 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: the separation between owners and laborers has just gotten too great, 330 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: and I think something's got to give, and that's what's 331 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: happening now because it just becomes not worth working. Gosh, 332 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: mean those are that's heartbreaking to hear. And I think 333 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: you're you're right, there's an economic cost, there's a human cost, 334 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: and and it's I think it's very clear that for 335 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: frontline workers in particular, that the toll of this pandemic 336 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: on their mental health has been really quite striking. I 337 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: know you've spoken about mental health before at the beginning 338 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: of this year, about some of your own challenges. I've 339 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,360 Speaker 1: certainly done that as well. Um, But I think we're 340 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: both keenly aware of the fact that in our country 341 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: and cultures around the world, there's so tremendous amount of 342 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: stigma around mental health, and it's not easy for people 343 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 1: to speak up to ask for help without feeling like 344 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,920 Speaker 1: somehow they're broken or they're at fault. I'm curious about 345 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: how you see this changing this stigma around mental health. 346 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: Like I think we both want a world in which 347 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: our kids can talk about these issues more freely, where 348 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: they can get help if they need it. Um, But 349 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: I'm curious what you think will help change that stigma. 350 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: I think that the pandemic has brought a lot of 351 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: issues to the for that we're always there regarding mental health, 352 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 1: that it's just intensified and brought it up to the 353 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: service in such an acute way. And and that's because 354 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: we've been again under such to rest. But that's you know, 355 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 1: everything has a benefit if you look at it the 356 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: right way. Somebody, once very smart said that to me, 357 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: and I've never forgotten it, especially at times when I've 358 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: been deeply challenged. And I was very challenged last year. 359 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: I just felt really spent, and I talked about it. 360 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 1: I felt I felt badly for my own issues, but 361 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 1: I felt even worse that my daughter went through a 362 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,840 Speaker 1: lot because she's an only child, and you know, like 363 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 1: millions of children across this country, she felt isolated from 364 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: her peers. You know, she didn't have siblings, and we 365 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: really sheltered in place, uh, in a very remote area, 366 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: you know, out in Long Island, and that was very 367 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: hard for her. And so I think just talking about 368 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,239 Speaker 1: it and making it okay and um not seeing it 369 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: as a sign of weakness, you know. I think that's 370 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: the thing. If you admit to having mental health issues, 371 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: you're afraid that you're going to get some help penalized 372 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: for it, either by your peers or by your colleagues, 373 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 1: your family, or your you know, especially by your employer. 374 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 1: We have to talk about it with children, you know. 375 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: I think we have to talk about it in health class. 376 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: I think that's when you talk about it. You start 377 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: young and you just stigmatize it and you say it's 378 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: okay to ask for help. Asking for help is actually 379 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: um and a strong action, you know, it's a sign 380 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: of strength. I think it requires just shift in focus 381 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: and how we look at it, and also in supporting 382 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: each other. Um. I think that we need to at 383 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: a very microlocal level reach out to our our circles. 384 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: Are friends, are neighbor is, having those open channels. I 385 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: mean when I heard somebody tell me that they started 386 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: every meeting and it was a corporation. It was not 387 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: you know, it wasn't a friend circle or anything where 388 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,400 Speaker 1: they said how are you feeling? You know, and and 389 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,719 Speaker 1: these were like, uh, you know, all hands meetings, like 390 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:22,479 Speaker 1: you know, every Friday or every Monday, and that they 391 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,679 Speaker 1: always started I'm feeling like this, how are you feeling? 392 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,159 Speaker 1: And it was just an open forum for about the 393 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:32,880 Speaker 1: first fifteen twenty minutes for everybody to talk about just 394 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: how they were feeling. I'm feeling pressured because my daughter 395 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 1: is getting married and I don't know how I'm going 396 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: to do all this. I'm feeling pressured because my son 397 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: is going to college, and I really want him to 398 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: get into a good college, but I also want him 399 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: to be in a college where he's happy. You know, 400 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 1: studies have shown that the more vulnerable you are, UM, 401 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: the more empathy that you elicit in others, and hopefully, 402 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: by eliciting empathy in others, UM, they all be not 403 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: only empathic, but be encouraged to talk about their own issues, 404 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,640 Speaker 1: and you can return the favor as well. I think 405 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:10,360 Speaker 1: I think that's really important. You know. Another side effect 406 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: of being polarized in our country is of not listening 407 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 1: to each other. And I think we really really need 408 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:22,399 Speaker 1: to listen to each other, and that's not happening UM 409 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: often enough. Yeah, I know you're you're right and that 410 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 1: I want to just pick up on that what you 411 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:30,159 Speaker 1: just said at the end there about listening, because listening 412 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 1: is not only powerful, as you are saying, for helping 413 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: us understand and connect with each other, but for people 414 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: who are struggling in a moment, maybe they're feeling fatigue, 415 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: maybe they're feeling like they don't belong, maybe they're feeling 416 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: anxious or worried. Uh, just being able to have somebody 417 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,719 Speaker 1: who is willing to listen can be incredibly healing. And 418 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: this is I think a part which uh sometimes people 419 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: underestimate because we think someone's having metal health struggles they 420 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 1: need to see somebody who's a licensed self professional. But 421 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 1: it turns out that simply it is our ability to 422 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: show up and listen to someone, to be fully present 423 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:07,480 Speaker 1: for them, um, to listen without judgment, um, but to 424 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 1: create a safe space for them. That in and of 425 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,359 Speaker 1: itself is incredibly healing. And when people are able to 426 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: just express um what they are feeling, that's half of 427 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 1: the challenge. You don't have to fix your friends problem, 428 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 1: you know, all the time, your family member's problem, if 429 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: they're they come to with their struggles, but knowing making 430 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: it clear to them that they're You're somebody they can 431 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,640 Speaker 1: talk to and talk to when they're when they're struggling 432 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: and when they're having you know, wonderful time, but at 433 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:35,719 Speaker 1: all times that itself is is so healing. We'll be 434 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: right back the subject about connection. I find just so 435 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:52,119 Speaker 1: important because I think it's how we're wired. But I 436 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: think you know, as human beings that we were. You know, 437 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 1: we may not all be introverts or extroverts, but we're 438 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 1: all meant to have some degree of human connection in 439 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: our life, but a lot of that connection starts uh 440 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: and is grounded in our connection to ourselves, you know, 441 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: which I think of as how comfortable are we in 442 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: our own skin? Like do we feel good about who 443 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: we are? And this is something it doesn't come easy 444 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: to a lot of people. I can say that I've 445 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: certainly someone who certainly struggled a lot during my life 446 00:26:18,520 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: to be comfortable in my own skin, to feel good 447 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 1: about who I am. And that was especially true when 448 00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:25,639 Speaker 1: I was a kid. I know that for you that 449 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: there was a time in high school where you consider 450 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 1: changing your name and when you experience yeah, I change 451 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,720 Speaker 1: it for for all of high school and mortified. But 452 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: now but I did. Yeah, it's okay, no, And look, 453 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:40,439 Speaker 1: I know that you were you know, you were bullied. 454 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: I went through a fair amount of years there where 455 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,640 Speaker 1: I was bullied, also when I was in middle school 456 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:46,400 Speaker 1: and elementary school. And those things to leave a mark 457 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: on you, Gosh, they really do. And I'm still thinking 458 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,640 Speaker 1: about that today. And I'll tell you remember, in particular, 459 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: one of the worst things that that happened to me 460 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,880 Speaker 1: as a kid was when the movie Indiana Jones came 461 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: out because that movie you too, Oh my god, it's 462 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: portrayal of India was just it was really quite terrible. 463 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 1: And I had all of these kids in school for 464 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 1: like years afterward thought that my family ate monkey brains 465 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:13,439 Speaker 1: and that we ate insects and all these things. And 466 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: I was like, that's it's fine if someone does that, 467 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:17,600 Speaker 1: but that's not not what we do. And you know, 468 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 1: it's sort of a constant source of like ridicule and critique. Um. 469 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: But with all that just said, like, you know, there 470 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: are a lot of people who are struggling, kids and 471 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:28,480 Speaker 1: adults to get comfortable in their own skin. And I'm curious, 472 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: like in your life, both in childhood when you were 473 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: being bullied and then afterward as you sought to find 474 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 1: your identity, what helped you persevere and what helped you 475 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: find an identity that you were comfortable with. I mean, 476 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: and I'm cognizant the fact that you named your daughter Krishna, right, 477 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 1: so you gave her a traditional name as well, which 478 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: meant that you felt comfortable embracing that part of your identity. 479 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: But I'm curious what helped you during those times of struggle. 480 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 1: Interesting that you bring up Chrishna's name because she's actually 481 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: named after my grandfather, Christian Worthy. And um, you know, 482 00:28:03,280 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: I knew that whatever gender my child was, whenever I 483 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,840 Speaker 1: had my child, I wanted to name that child after 484 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 1: him because he was a huge influence in my life. 485 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: Both my grandmother and my grandfather, my paternal grandparents were 486 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,119 Speaker 1: like second parents to me. And he gave me a 487 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:22,439 Speaker 1: love of books, and she gave me a love of cooking. 488 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 1: So it's no accident that I do what I do. Um. 489 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 1: You know, he very clearly, very early when my mother 490 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: divorced my father, it was in the early seventies. We 491 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:39,239 Speaker 1: have been very arduous and almost impossible to have a 492 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: normal life in South India as a divorced parent. So 493 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 1: you know, we took the decision as a family to 494 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:49,720 Speaker 1: move to America, and my grandfather took me aside. And 495 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: I remember I was four. He made me memorize all 496 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 1: of the states of the country of the United States, 497 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: in autot of order. I don't think I could do 498 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: it today. Um, And he was he wasn't you know, 499 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: a lover of all things American, you know, from um, 500 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: Broadway musicals to baseball to you know, Hollywood movies. To 501 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: Yankee commercials, you know all of that stuff. And Um 502 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:19,040 Speaker 1: he told me, he said, you will be treated like 503 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 1: an outsider. They're always regardless of how much you assimilate 504 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: m you know, make sure you're okay with that. It's 505 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: not their fault. They don't know any better. And then 506 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:37,880 Speaker 1: over time you will also be treated as an outsider 507 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: when you come home to us. And I came home 508 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 1: all the time. I mean I was home three months 509 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: out of every year from kindergarten to high school. I 510 00:29:45,760 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: went back to Um Chennai and he said, but what 511 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 1: you have to do is be choosy enough and understand 512 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: that what's difficult now will be better later because it'll 513 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: give you two points of view, and you can be 514 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: choosy and navigate that and keep what's best and useful 515 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 1: about our Indian culture and maintain that even in America, 516 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 1: and take some of the wonderful things about American culture, 517 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: like standing up for yourself and knowing how to talk 518 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: well and articulately and all these things, and using that 519 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 1: when you come home, then you'll be okay. And I 520 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 1: do think it was very hard to chattel both cultures 521 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: when I was growing up. Um and I did. I 522 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: felt like an outsider in both America and India, you know, 523 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: never Indian enough in India, never American enough in America. 524 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 1: But I think that now as I've grown into myself, 525 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 1: and you know, I'm fifty one years old, I don't 526 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: think I grew into myself until ten years ago. By 527 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 1: the way, UM, I can see how what was difficult 528 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: then and challenging then actually makes me, hopefully a more 529 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: unminded person, or at least gives me double the resources 530 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 1: from which to answer questions. You know. So I live 531 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:09,479 Speaker 1: in New York. But as you know, because you've been 532 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 1: to my home, we you know, we remove our shoes 533 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: before we come into the home. Um. You know, there's 534 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: very very many things in the way that i'm my 535 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: parents that are very very Eastern or Asian, and then 536 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,360 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways that I'm very lax, you know, 537 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: because I'm not traditionally Asian anymore. I'm in America. I 538 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: grew up here, you know, And I think having both 539 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 1: cultures to call from is an asset when you realize it. 540 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: It doesn't always seem like one, especially when you're a kid, 541 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,080 Speaker 1: you know. And and my grandfather, for example, he was 542 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,840 Speaker 1: offered a position as an ambassador by the Indian government, 543 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 1: but he didn't want to take it because he said 544 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 1: he didn't want to have to entertain as an ambassador 545 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 1: and cook me in his house, you know, is it 546 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: lack to a vegetarian and and so that decision didn't 547 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 1: feel right for him. But he had the understanding of, 548 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 1: you know, certain roles require you to bend um to 549 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: certain aspects of fulfilling those roles well, and I think 550 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 1: it's important to know that. I think, you know, we 551 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: all have to really just slow down and when we're 552 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 1: doing things, make sure we're doing them deeply and thoughtfully 553 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: and for a purpose, you know, so that it's worth it. Absolutely, 554 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 1: it is so much in what you said that speaks 555 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 1: to me. Not just as you know, someone who like 556 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 1: you shares an Indian background and heritage and grappled with 557 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,640 Speaker 1: a lot of those identity issues, but I think for 558 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:49,880 Speaker 1: most people as they're going through life, whether they're struggling 559 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:53,040 Speaker 1: with trying to melt to cultures or trying to find 560 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 1: their own way in a world that's dominated by people 561 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: who may not be like them or share their points 562 00:32:57,120 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: of view. Um, there's a process that which we have 563 00:33:00,600 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: to grow into our own skin, if you will. And 564 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: I often tell a students that one of the most 565 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: important subjects that we study as ourselves getting to know 566 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 1: ourselves and understand who we are, what we care about, 567 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:15,840 Speaker 1: understand like why we react the way we do to 568 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: certain things. Uh. That helps us navigate the world. But 569 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 1: I still feel like I'm finding my own journey you 570 00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 1: know there as well. You know, sometimes I feel like, 571 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 1: you know, come from my own skin, and then something 572 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: will happen, you know, universe sometimes humbles you, you know, 573 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: and makes you realize how you still got more growing 574 00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:34,120 Speaker 1: to do, and that certainly has happened with me. Um. 575 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 1: But I'm just you know, as we bring our conversation 576 00:33:36,680 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: of clothes, I'm I'm thinking about your our shared role 577 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 1: as parents also, and you know, I know how dearly 578 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:46,800 Speaker 1: you love Krishna and how she's the most important person 579 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: in the world to you, And I feel, you know, 580 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 1: the same way about my my two children, they Just 581 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 1: and Johnathy, who are five and almost four. Um, And 582 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: I think a lot about what I want for them 583 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: in the world, you know, and uh, and I wanted 584 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:03,640 Speaker 1: everything I can to create that world for them, recognizing 585 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:05,959 Speaker 1: that everything is not in my control. But as you 586 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 1: think about the world that you want for krishna Um, 587 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: what does that world look like? And what gives you 588 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:16,760 Speaker 1: hope that we can create that world. I do still 589 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,400 Speaker 1: have a lot of hope that we can work toward 590 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:25,239 Speaker 1: a better society because the thing that separates us from 591 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:28,719 Speaker 1: all other living features is our ability to reason and 592 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:32,520 Speaker 1: have a conscience and and have empathy. You know, I 593 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:38,280 Speaker 1: think I want a world in which, uh, everybody has 594 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: access to equal opportunity. When you see the discrepancies in 595 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: education and how segregated. For example, you know New York City, 596 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: which is such a diverse place, It's been the most 597 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 1: diverse places on the planet, but when you look at 598 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:56,280 Speaker 1: our education system and you look at the different schools 599 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,680 Speaker 1: and you're there's so much segregation. I think it's the 600 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:02,920 Speaker 1: most segregated major city in the country. And that just 601 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 1: shouldn't be because it's obvious that the child that's going 602 00:35:07,239 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 1: to one school is not getting anywhere near the education 603 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:14,719 Speaker 1: that another child is going to another school. And I 604 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:18,440 Speaker 1: think that we have to level the playing field, and 605 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: we have to see it not as charity. We have 606 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:24,840 Speaker 1: to see it as an investment in our own future 607 00:35:24,920 --> 00:35:27,760 Speaker 1: and our children's future because again, we share the roads 608 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:30,799 Speaker 1: and the hospitals, and the world and the skies and 609 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,920 Speaker 1: the streams and the water and you know, the air 610 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,719 Speaker 1: we breathe with each other, and so we have to 611 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: share that responsibility as well with each other. UM. I 612 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,160 Speaker 1: think we have to wrap our heads, and I hope 613 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: we do. We're such a consumer focused society. UM, you 614 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 1: know that that some we don't need so many things. 615 00:35:52,440 --> 00:35:56,840 Speaker 1: What we need are better conditions for everybody. Um. You know, 616 00:35:56,880 --> 00:36:01,760 Speaker 1: there's a lot of unhappiness. UM that has been exacerbated 617 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:05,640 Speaker 1: because of COVID, because people are seeing how unequal the 618 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:09,560 Speaker 1: world is. And you know, it's very unequal just based 619 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 1: on your gender. It's you know, very unequal, based on 620 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,880 Speaker 1: the color of your skin, is very unequal, based on 621 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:18,840 Speaker 1: how much your parents make or whether you have a 622 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 1: college degree. And um, all jobs are important. Everyone has 623 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: a role to play. You know, when we were little, 624 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:29,280 Speaker 1: we all watched Sesame Street and you had the fireman 625 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:33,560 Speaker 1: and the doctor, and the chef, and the school teacher 626 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: and the scientist, um, and they were all kind of 627 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:40,279 Speaker 1: who are the people in your neighborhood? You know, we 628 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:42,799 Speaker 1: didn't say, well, these are the important people and these 629 00:36:42,840 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 1: are the ones who should you know, have access to 630 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:48,520 Speaker 1: getting our kids into private school and all that. Um, 631 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 1: I think that's really important. I think when I talked 632 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,400 Speaker 1: to Christia about what our hopes and dreams are, I 633 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 1: try to leave gender out of it. You know, she 634 00:36:58,320 --> 00:37:01,080 Speaker 1: will have a much easier time for a whole host 635 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: of reasons than I did, not only economically because of 636 00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 1: the resources she has access to, but also because she 637 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,880 Speaker 1: presents as a Caucasian child, you know, and and that 638 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:13,960 Speaker 1: would just make her life easier. But I try to 639 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:18,240 Speaker 1: always instill in her what you know, my grandfather instilled 640 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:20,880 Speaker 1: in me, which is when you go to sleep today 641 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 1: and for you, you're a child, so all you have 642 00:37:23,239 --> 00:37:25,760 Speaker 1: to do is learn. You don't have to actually do anything. 643 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:28,799 Speaker 1: That's your main job to learn. You know, have you 644 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:32,799 Speaker 1: learned something today that you didn't know this morning? Or 645 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:36,480 Speaker 1: if you're an adult, have you done something today, um, 646 00:37:36,520 --> 00:37:40,080 Speaker 1: to make your presence on earth, this course of this, 647 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:43,239 Speaker 1: just this one day more worthwhile. You know, it can 648 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:46,520 Speaker 1: be anything can be you know, seeing somebody draw something 649 00:37:46,520 --> 00:37:48,840 Speaker 1: and picking it up and running and say hey you 650 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 1: dropped your hat, or helping someone across the street. That 651 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:56,400 Speaker 1: you can just make a commitment to do one random 652 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:59,719 Speaker 1: act of kindness or helping a colleague or whatever that 653 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 1: however that looks to you, you know, we have lost 654 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:11,080 Speaker 1: the respect for everyone's effort. Somehow we aren't considering everyone's effort. 655 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:13,760 Speaker 1: And even you know, even just the children's book Tomatoes 656 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:18,640 Speaker 1: for Nila is about stopping and respecting where tomato comes from. 657 00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:22,160 Speaker 1: Who picks that tomato, and what are the conditions of 658 00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:24,319 Speaker 1: their life and their work, and why we have to 659 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:27,759 Speaker 1: remember where that tomato came from, you know, where it 660 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:30,440 Speaker 1: first grew. How do we cook it, how do we 661 00:38:30,520 --> 00:38:32,200 Speaker 1: bring it home, how do we make sure we're only 662 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:36,400 Speaker 1: buying it in season, how we take care of everything 663 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:39,040 Speaker 1: we do, and how we cook that tomato to put 664 00:38:39,040 --> 00:38:41,399 Speaker 1: it something in our body because we respect our body 665 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 1: and respect our own efforts. It has to do with 666 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:48,800 Speaker 1: slowing down and being really mindful and thoughtful about everything 667 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:52,120 Speaker 1: we do and everything we say. Things we were probably 668 00:38:52,160 --> 00:38:55,000 Speaker 1: all taught when we were five or six, but have 669 00:38:55,160 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 1: lost sight of because the world has begun to spin somehowever, 670 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:04,680 Speaker 1: fat God, that's so beautifully said Padma, And what a 671 00:39:04,719 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 1: beautiful vision for the world for Christna, for all of 672 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:11,759 Speaker 1: our children to aspire to. I share your sense of 673 00:39:11,840 --> 00:39:15,200 Speaker 1: hope that we can build that world because I I 674 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,319 Speaker 1: think it requires not transforming into someone that we're not. 675 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:21,440 Speaker 1: I think it's fundamentally who we are. This is about 676 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:24,160 Speaker 1: remembering what our true instincts are, and I think our 677 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,880 Speaker 1: true instincts are to be loving and kind toward one another. 678 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:32,200 Speaker 1: I think over the years, circumstances make us fearful and 679 00:39:32,360 --> 00:39:35,400 Speaker 1: angry toward one another. It makes us feel that, you know, 680 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:39,000 Speaker 1: life is about scarcity, and that what we get or 681 00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:41,160 Speaker 1: what somebody else gets, is something that's been taken away 682 00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:43,920 Speaker 1: from us. Um. But I think that that does a 683 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:47,120 Speaker 1: disservice to our history and to our true nature, which 684 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,000 Speaker 1: is I think, to be more kind and more connected 685 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: with one another and this vision every so much of 686 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:56,120 Speaker 1: what we've talked about today has been about connection, and 687 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:59,080 Speaker 1: I think that the pandemic is I think, as you said, 688 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:01,719 Speaker 1: I think so eloquently in the beginning, the pandemic has 689 00:40:01,840 --> 00:40:05,400 Speaker 1: reminded us of why that connection is so important, because 690 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:07,600 Speaker 1: we can get through our day is much less a 691 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:12,919 Speaker 1: pandemic without the help of somebody else. Um. Finally, when 692 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:15,200 Speaker 1: I think about my kids too, I want for them, 693 00:40:15,239 --> 00:40:17,160 Speaker 1: what what you want for Krishna. I want a world 694 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:20,680 Speaker 1: that is fueled by love and kindness, not by fear 695 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:23,480 Speaker 1: and anger. I want for them to grow up in 696 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:26,319 Speaker 1: a community where people accept them for who they are, 697 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:30,120 Speaker 1: and where people ask questions before they judge them or 698 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 1: blame them. And I want my kids to be the 699 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,440 Speaker 1: same toward other people, to give them the benefit of 700 00:40:34,440 --> 00:40:37,120 Speaker 1: the doubt, and to contribute to that sort of world 701 00:40:37,160 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 1: grounded and compassion and care um. So I think we 702 00:40:40,239 --> 00:40:41,719 Speaker 1: can get there. I mean, I think it starts with 703 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:45,000 Speaker 1: getting to know one another, with taking time to pause 704 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:49,080 Speaker 1: in our incredibly fast paced lives and ask ourselves that 705 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:52,000 Speaker 1: bigger question the pandemic is forced, which is what matters 706 00:40:52,040 --> 00:40:56,279 Speaker 1: truly to our happiness? What's really meaningful in our relationships? 707 00:40:56,280 --> 00:40:59,480 Speaker 1: What do we really want out of life? So I'm 708 00:40:59,520 --> 00:41:02,680 Speaker 1: so grateful that we had this conversation, Padma. Whenever we 709 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:05,080 Speaker 1: have a chance to talk to one another, you always 710 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 1: teach me things but also make me think about the 711 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: world in in deeper ways. And so I so appreciate 712 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:14,400 Speaker 1: you and everything you're doing in the world right now. Oh, 713 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:16,759 Speaker 1: thank you so much. You know, even with anger, I 714 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:19,400 Speaker 1: think we're all there's a lot of anger in the world. 715 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:23,160 Speaker 1: But I think one thing to remember when you encounter 716 00:41:23,239 --> 00:41:26,279 Speaker 1: anger is that anger is just pain with nowhere to go. 717 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:32,120 Speaker 1: And sometimes just acknowledging that we're all hurting, um, and 718 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:35,080 Speaker 1: that this person is angry because they've been hurt in 719 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:38,120 Speaker 1: some way, you know, whether that's been intentional or not. 720 00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:42,720 Speaker 1: That is, that is the the effect of what something 721 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:45,279 Speaker 1: that's happened to them, that's done to them. And so 722 00:41:45,480 --> 00:41:49,360 Speaker 1: just remembering that and and just saying, I'm not going 723 00:41:49,400 --> 00:41:52,560 Speaker 1: to add to that, you know, even if they're adding 724 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: to my own plight of anger, I'm not going to 725 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:57,640 Speaker 1: do that. I'm going to be the one to write 726 00:41:57,719 --> 00:42:01,600 Speaker 1: that cycle if possible. Um. And often it does just 727 00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 1: take some thoughtfulness, it really does. It's Um, we look 728 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:09,799 Speaker 1: at the beautiful world. Human kind is already created. You know, 729 00:42:10,480 --> 00:42:15,880 Speaker 1: we are capable of so much good. We're also capable of, uh, 730 00:42:16,040 --> 00:42:18,600 Speaker 1: you know, tearing each other apart. But let's use our 731 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:22,160 Speaker 1: forces in power for good. We deserve it and me 732 00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:27,000 Speaker 1: be good. Absolutely well, beautifully said, and what an inspiring note. 733 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:30,799 Speaker 1: D end On Padma, thank you so much for this conversation. 734 00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:33,840 Speaker 1: I'm sending my love to you and to Krishna Thank 735 00:42:33,880 --> 00:42:36,360 Speaker 1: you to your family. Also, it's so nice to speak 736 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: with you again, Vivic. I wish you much success and 737 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:41,439 Speaker 1: they used to come in your new or renew job 738 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:45,640 Speaker 1: as surgeon General. All right, take care everyone, Thanks again 739 00:42:45,719 --> 00:42:51,960 Speaker 1: so much. Next Question with Katie Kirk is a production 740 00:42:52,000 --> 00:42:55,320 Speaker 1: of My Heart Media and Katie Kirk Media. The executive 741 00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:59,960 Speaker 1: producers Army, Katie Kuric, and Courtney Littz. The supervising producer 742 00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:04,960 Speaker 1: is Lauren Hansen. Associate producers Derek Clements and Adriana Fasio. 743 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:08,719 Speaker 1: The show is edited and mixed by Derrek Clements. For 744 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:11,640 Speaker 1: more information about today's episode, or to sign up for 745 00:43:11,719 --> 00:43:14,640 Speaker 1: my morning newsletter wake Up Call, go to Katie correct 746 00:43:14,719 --> 00:43:17,360 Speaker 1: dot com. You can also find me at Katie Correct 747 00:43:17,400 --> 00:43:21,000 Speaker 1: on Instagram and all my social media channels. For more 748 00:43:21,040 --> 00:43:24,640 Speaker 1: podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit the i Heart Radio app, 749 00:43:24,800 --> 00:43:28,400 Speaker 1: Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows,