54. April Simpkins - Chief HR Officer + Mental Health Advocate
Release Date: 08/09/2023
14. Give it A Year
Courageous Dreamers Win
Some years don’t ask for your permission. They just come for you. This episode is Nesha’s most personal yet. After the sudden death of her younger sister and a breast cancer diagnosis just weeks later, she found herself in a year she never would’ve chosen. Grief stacked on top of shock. Radiation appointments scheduled around tears. And somewhere in the middle of it all, a literal FedEx truck. But this isn’t about tragedy. This is about truth. Nesha shares the eight lessons that carried her through the hardest season of her life, from learning that grief and joy can live...
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13. Trust the Fast Yes
Courageous Dreamers Win
Overnight success is a myth, but when alignment shows up, it moves fast. This episode is a reminder that dreams rarely unfold the way we expect them to. Nesha shares how her recent decision to buy a beach condo, a long-held dream quietly sitting on her vision board, came together in a matter of days. On the surface, it looked spontaneous. In reality, it was years in the making. She talks about the role of timing, the slow build behind what looks like fast progress, and the importance of listening to your gut even when the evidence isn’t there yet. What if the thing you've been...
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12. The Courage to Say No
Courageous Dreamers Win
Saying no is one of the most courageous things you can do when you’re done settling for a life that doesn't fit. This episode is a real and honest look at what it takes to stop overcommitting and start making choices that actually feel right. Nesha Pai opens up about her own turning point, when she realized that saying yes to everything was costing her the very life she wanted to build. What happens when your calendar looks full but your soul feels empty? How do you tell the difference between something that’s safe and something that’s aligned? Through personal...
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11. Courage Doesn’t Settle
Courageous Dreamers Win
Most people don’t realize they’ve settled until one day they look around and wonder how they ended up with a life that doesn’t quite fit. Nesha shares what surfaced during her final week in Paris - a mix of reflection, healing, and a moment of clarity that hit her during a mastermind retreat. When asked how she’s shown courage in her life, she didn’t have a tidy answer. But then her coach pointed out something she hadn’t fully seen: she doesn’t settle. And that realization cracked something open. Nesha starts unpacking what settling actually looks like, not just staying in...
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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...
info_outlineApril Simpkins, Chief Human Resources Officer for Quest Co, is on a mission to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote mental wellness in the workplace. Following the passing of her beloved daughter, Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA 2019, who battled depression for years, April has since dedicated her life to advocating for mental health.
With unwavering conviction, she calls for the normalization of conversations about mental health in the workplace, urging employers to create a safe haven for employees to openly express their struggles without fear of judgment or stigma. From interviews to onboarding, April advocates for open discussions about mental wellness and the importance of utilizing resources like the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
With each word she shares, April's mission gains momentum. She dreams of a world where kindness and empathy reign, where seeking help for mental health challenges is met with understanding and support. By bravely championing mental wellness, April ignites a spark of hope that together, we can shatter barriers and embrace a brighter, more compassionate future.
Let us join her in this crusade, breaking the silence and forging a path where mental well-being is valued, and empathy becomes a universal language. As April's voice resonates, we are reminded that compassion can heal unseen wounds, and together, we can build a world where seeking help is seen as an act of courage and strength.
Quotes:
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"We should be able to talk about our mental health like we talk about other challenges we are facing and not be judged, ridiculed, shamed, or blamed." (04:18 | April Simpkins)
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"When someone is battling with bipolar disorder and they say, 'Listen, if I'm having a bad moment, this is what I need from my employer,' you taking space to give them that room as an employer will build loyalty and an environment where people feel safe saying, 'I'm not okay today.'" (08:57 | April Simpkins)
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"When someone says, 'How are you doing?' Let it be a trigger for you to go back to your own chart and say, 'I'm a six, that for me means I'm not doing great, but I'm not in a bad place, and I know what to do.'" (19:38 | April Simpkins)
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"I want people to feel comfortable seeking help and support for mental health challenges and mental illness." (24:11 | April Simpkins)
Connect with April Simpkins:
https://www.aprilsimpkins.com/mental-health-advocate
https://www.instagram.com/aprils_hr/
https://www.thedeanslist.me/award
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