In conversation with Gretchen Ki Steidle: How self discovery catalyses social change

The 'Inspire your Life' Podcast with Arthi Rabikrisson

In this episode, Arthi is joined by Gretchen Ki Steidle, the founder and President of Global Grassroots, a US based NGO that operates a mindfulness-based social venture incubator and women's leadership program in post-conflict East Africa .
Gretchen gives us insights into her journey of self-discovery, from the young age of 9, knowing that her privilege needed to be used for the better of humankind and specifically women. Through her travels across the world, she transformed herself by turning away from a traditional path in terms of career, to leading a purposeful life as a social change agent, catalysing others to push boundaries and grow beyond their circumstance.
Gretchen helps us understand mindfulness and the intersection between mindfulness, leadership and social change. She also offers simple ways which we can become social change agents too.
About Gretchen:
She is also the founder of Circles for Conscious Change, which is a transformative education-based organization working with social entrepreneurs, non-profits, and corporations on the use of mindfulness as a design tool for social innovation. Gretchen believes that cultivating inner awareness and contributing to the common good are both necessary to advance the greatest level of positive social change.

From being an author, an emmy nominated documentary producer and an MBA graduate, to being a certified breathwork practitioner assisting women and children to heal from the trauma from war, disaster and gender-based violence ravages in countries such as Rwanda, Haiti, the US and Uganda, Gretchen’s experience is so multi-faceted. She is purposeful in her work and her insight into human nature, suffering and potential for excellence is undeniable. It’s no wonder she has been named on various lists for her remarkable work and is sought after globally for talks and workshops about mindfulness and social change.
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Share too, your own insights from your journey based on themes from the episode - what has worked or hasn't for you. We can all learn from each other.
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챕터

1. Advertising: Global Grassroots (00:00:00)

2. Introduction (00:00:53)

3. About Arthi Rabikrisson (00:01:20)

4. Welcome Gretchen! (00:01:57)

5. More about Gretchen (00:03:58)

6. Gretchen's first experience that led to self discovery and purpose (00:06:11)

7. Gretchen's trip to South Africa that catalysed her to become a change agent (00:08:59)

8. More about the work Global Grassroots does (00:13:25)

9. How Gretchen's internal dialogues towards her purpose was reinforced through travel and helped her understand leadership and entrepreneurship (00:16:22)

10. The intersection between mindfulness, leadership and social change (00:22:12)

11. How does one become more mindful? (00:26:37)

12. How Gretchen uses her lessons from mindfulness in all areas of life (00:31:05)

13. How Gretchen is enabling others to give themselves permission to do this inner work too (00:33:37)

14. Regrets that Gretchen has when looking back at her transformative experiences (00:36:01)

15. Advice for listeners to continue or begin their self-discovery journey (00:38:11)

16. Social change - can we all participate and how so? (00:40:01)

17. Gretchen's parting shot (00:41:59)

18. Thank you Gretchen for joining the show! (00:44:15)

19. Thank you listeners! (00:44:39)