10. Courageous Solo Travel (for Women)
Courageous Dreamers Win
Solo travel can be one of the most radical ways a woman learns to trust herself, hear herself, and build a life that actually fits. In this episode, Nesha Pai shares how a solo trip to Paris turned into part-time living, and why she believes every woman should try traveling alone at least once. She talks about the years of intentional choices that made this possible, from starting her own business to setting aside $25 at a time for a travel fund. None of it happened overnight. But over time, it added up to something bigger: a life designed with purpose. What happens when you give...
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09. The Proximity Effect
Courageous Dreamers Win
Your growth will never outpace your environment. In this episode, Nesha Pai breaks down why proximity is power, and how the people you spend time with are quietly shaping your mindset, energy, and success. If you’ve ever felt stuck, uninspired, or like your dreams are “too much” for the people around you, it might be time to audit your circle. From redefining her own champion circle to building a business rooted in aligned relationships, Nesha shares personal stories and practical steps for finding the right rooms and protecting your energy. You’ll learn how to shift your...
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08. The Alchemy of Clarity
Courageous Dreamers Win
Clarity isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about finally hearing the truth that’s been waiting inside you. What if the fog you keep running into isn’t a barrier, but an invitation? In this episode, Nesha Pai sits down with Emily Paul, the founder of Aum Holistic Healing Arts, to talk about what it really means to come home to yourself. Through her work rooted in Daoism, alchemy, and intuitive guidance, Emily helps people reconnect with their purpose, not by chasing something outside themselves, but by learning to listen inward. Nesha and Emily discuss how clarity...
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07. Build Your Courage Through Fear
Courageous Dreamers Win
Confidence doesn’t come first. You earn it by doing the things that scare you. Fear has a way of showing up right before something meaningful. So how do you move forward when it feels safer to stay still? In this episode, Nesha Pai talks about the power of courage and why doing the hard, scary things is the only way to build real confidence. Through stories of joining an MMA gym, performing in a dance competition, and traveling solo, she shares how pushing past fear changed her from the inside out. You’ll learn simple ways to take action, even when your nerves tell you not...
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06. SELF-LOVE Isn’t Selfish
Courageous Dreamers Win
Self-love isn’t a luxury or a trend. It’s a daily decision to treat yourself with the same kindness you offer everyone else. In this episode, Nesha Pai breaks down what self-love truly means and why it’s central to living a fulfilling life. She reflects on her own upbringing in East Tennessee, where societal pressures made self-acceptance difficult, and shares how learning to turn inward with grace and honesty changed everything. Nesha challenges the idea that self-love is about bubble baths and affirmations. Instead, she reframes it as an ongoing practice built on how we think,...
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05. Getting LIT with Dr. Jeff Karp
Courageous Dreamers Win
Your mind is your most powerful tool. Nesha Pai welcomes Dr. Jeff Karp, a Harvard Medical School professor and author of “LIT: Life Ignition Tools,” to talk about how small, intentional shifts can spark creativity, resilience, and meaningful change. The key to a more fulfilling life isn’t about doing more, but about thinking differently. Dr. Karp explains how simple daily choices—setting an intention, embracing failure, and staying present—can open doors to unexpected growth. He reflects on his own struggles with learning and self-doubt, revealing how they shaped his...
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04. Make Gratitude A Habit
Courageous Dreamers Win
Gratitude shapes the way we see our challenges, our progress, and the road ahead. But how often do we actually pause and acknowledge how far we’ve come? Nesha Pai explores how gratitude and self-reflection can shift your mindset and help you find meaning in both the highs and the lows. She reminds us that gratitude isn’t reserved for big wins. It’s found in the small, everyday moments that often go unnoticed. What if paying attention to those moments could change the way you experience life? Self-reflection plays a key role in this process, offering a chance to recognize growth, learn...
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03. How My Part Time Paris Living Dream Became A Reality
Courageous Dreamers Win
Most people think long-term travel is out of reach, but what if the biggest obstacle is just figuring out how to make it happen? Nesha Pai always dreamed of living in Paris, but for years, life got in the way—work, family, responsibilities. Sound familiar? In this episode, she shares how she stopped waiting for the perfect time and started creating a plan. She breaks down the practical steps that turned her three-month stay in Paris into reality, from building a remote business to shifting financial priorities and setting a clear budget. Nesha also introduces the dream map, a tool designed...
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02. Put Your Dreams Into Action
Courageous Dreamers Win
Most people dream, but only a few take the bold, consistent actions needed to turn those dreams into reality. Are you ready to be one of them? Nesha Pai is indeed back, and in this episode, she talks about the foundational elements that help transform dreams into success. She breaks it down into four key pillars: courage, clarity, commitment, and champions. Courage drives action, clarity provides the roadmap, commitment ensures steady progress, and champions offer essential support along the way. Pointing out that only 8% of people achieve their dreams, Nesha showcases the power of intentional...
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01. How Do Courageous Dreamers Win?
Courageous Dreamers Win
Dreaming big isn’t easy, but with courage, clarity, commitment, and champions, it’s always possible. In this first episode of Courageous Dreamers Win, Nesha Pai opens up about the resilience required to chase a clear life vision, even when life throws its hardest challenges. Reflecting on her journey through personal loss, illness, and rebranding her podcast, Nesha points out how staying committed to your dreams can turn even the toughest storms into stepping stones. Nesha introduces four essential pillars—clarity, courage, commitment, and champions—that can help you build the life you...
info_outline“Even as a young person, I was in rooms where I never thought I would be. So I said, ‘If I can do this, I bet other students can also do it’,” shares Meredith Dean, founder of The Deans List, a Charlotte-based digital branding and career consulting agency focused on building a strong community of empowered individuals. Meredith started The Dean’s List as a side hustle while working a full-time job with Levine Children’s Hospital and has recently moved to running her business full-time. Now, she empowers entrepreneurs of primarily female and minority owned small businesses to make their dreams come true.
Although it was a difficult decision for Meredith to leave her job with the children’s hospital that she truly loved, she found her calling in helping empower other young, female, and minority entrepreneurs. Many people have great business ideas, but fear or lack of business knowledge keep them from pursuing anything. This is where Meredith steps in to help take that fear out of the equation. She helps people get up and running with everything they need to not only create a digital brand, including a professional website and a strong social media presence, but to also be able to run it themselves afterward.
There are many obstacles to running a business. And they can keep some people from ever venturing into entrepreneurship in the first place. If these obstacles sound familiar to you, consider bringing on someone like Meredith to help you get started without all the stress.
Quotes:
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“I started getting all these different internships, even as a young person, I was in rooms where I never thought I would be. So I said, ‘If I can do this, I bet other students can also do it’.” (7:16-7:26 | Meredith)
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“What is your life? Let's put that online and make sure that you shine in that way.” (12:56-13:00 | Meredith)
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“It’s great that I can get them started, but I want them to feel very competent in holding their own brand and doing things for their own brand going forward.” (13:56-14:04 | Meredith)
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“If you want to grow, the only way you're going to do it is through Instagram reels.” (14:47-14:53 | Meredith)
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“Create more than you consume.” (21:11-21:13 | Meredith)
Connect with Meredith Dean:
https://www.instagram.com/merenator/
https://www.instagram.com/mydeanslist/
Connect with Nesha:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/neshapai/
Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/@neshapai1480/videos
Buy a copy of Nesha's book, Overcoming Ordinary Obstacles: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943070741?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_KEGQ1539QQ5N8Z8XHRNC
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm