The Ally Show

The Ally Show

Welcome to "The Ally Show," your go-to podcast for inspiring stories of strength and mental health. Hosted by Ali, a former tech professional who has overcome significant mental health challenges during his personal and professional life, this podcast features compelling conversations with ordinary people with real stories. Our episodes dive deep into mental health topics like overcoming grief, therapy, wellness & self-care techniques, and personal growth. Join our community where listeners aren't just passive participants but active members of a supportive network. We connect those who have faced mental health struggles with others who understand and support them, particularly within the tech and professional sectors. This podcast is a safe space for collective healing and connection. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and other platforms to join a movement combating stigma and promoting empathy and understanding. Let's shift perspectives, discover hope, and support each other. Welcome to "The Ally Show," where stories and discoveries of ordinary people inspire transformation and healing.

Episodes

February 14, 2025 76 mins

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Episode Summary

In this conversation, Genevieve Conaty (She/Her) shares her journey from a first-generation immigrant background to becoming a VP of design. She discusses her early life, education, and the challenges she faced in her career, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Genevieve opens up about her health struggles, including chronic pai...

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Episode SummaryIn this conversation, Phil Carter shares his journey from a Midwestern upbringing to becoming a successful product leader in the tech industry. He discusses the importance of family values, the challenges of work-life balance, and the impact of paternity leave on his relationship with his children. Phil reflects on his career shifts,...

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Episode Summary

In this conversation, Grandmaster Elshan Maradi Abadi shares his journey from being a young chess enthusiast in Iran to becoming a Grandmaster and immigrating to the United States. He discusses the challenges he faced, including the pain of losing, anxiety, and the pressure of high expectations. Elshan emphasizes the importance of me...

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Episode Summary:

In this conversation, Ali chats with Indi Young about the power of listening and empathy in building products and brands. They discuss the practice of deep listening and the steps to improve rapt attention. They also explore the impact of toxic work cultures on mental health and the need for broader protections in the workplace. ...

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Episode Summary:

In this conversation, a somatic performance mentor, Emily Harrell, first guides Ali, host of @TheAllyShowbyAli through a grounding and EFT tapping practice to help him reconnect with himself and manage his anxiety. Emily shares her personal journey of growing up with anxiety and the challenges she faced in supporting her family...

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Jesse Marseille, host of  @Storytelling_at_Scale  , shares his journey from feeling unfulfilled in the tech industry to finding purpose through storytelling. He discusses the power of stories and how they shape our lives. Jesse emphasizes the importance of following curiosity and finding mentors who align wit...

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Dr. Arezoo Momeni shares her journey growing up in Iran and her decision to move to the US for a PhD in chemical engineering. She discusses her challenges as a woman in Iran and the societal expectations that conflicted with her desire for freedom. Arezoo also opens up about her experiences in her PhD progr...

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, we chat with Aref Gharakhani  @ArefInTheMiddle  about his journey from co-founding multiple successful startups in the Middle East to navigating immigration challenges in North America. In this chat, Aref opens up about the dramatic changes he’s faced and how his entrepreneurial spirit intersects with his...

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, host Ali Eslamifar sits down with Tudor Matei, an engineering coach dedicated to helping engineers reach their full potential. Tudor is a former engineer director turned coach. His last experience included years of managing and leading the engineering team at Course Hero. In this episode, Tudor shares h...

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Episode Summary:

Episode Summary:In this episode of The Ally Show, our host welcomes back Emily Shickli for a deep dive into the timely topic of layoffs and how to navigate them with a unique perspective. Emily introduces the concept of a "play mindset" and shares practical techniques to cope with the challenging situation o...

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This Week's PresentationWhat's in this recording? During our final free beta testing session for project WePause Weekly, I (Ali) led a discussion on tapping into our inner artist. Eleven years ago, I embarked on a journey as a designer and artist, a pivotal period in my life. Credit goes to my mentor, Wil Heywood, for introducing me to transformative techniques like Morning Pages, Artist Dates, and meditation, which deepened my con...
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Episode Summary:

In the second part of our discussion with Ashley Nguyen, we dive into astrology and explore how it can serve as a tool for self-awareness and empathy. In this segment, Ashley uses Ali's birth information to illustrate a sample birth chart, demonstrating how it can be interpreted to tell a story and build greater compassion and ...

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Spotify PlaylistLast Friday, during our ninth WePause Weekly session, Stephanie Pereira Lima hosted an inspiring gathering for our community. I (Ali, your host) almost missed the session due to a hectic flight from the West Coast to the East Coast, but thanks to my amazing friends who picked me up from the airport and set everything up, I made it on time. I'm incredibly grateful for their help.Stephanie started by sharing her stres...
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Sign up to WePause Weekly: https://wepause.space/signupPresentation used by Emily on this callThis week, we had an amazing WePause Weekly session with Emily Schickli, also seen on episode 2 of The Ally Show! This time we practiced something totally new for most of us: We dove deep into a shamanic journey, guided by her soothing voice and the rhythmic drumbeats. Despite some initial uncertainty, I eventually embraced the experience,...
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Sign up to WePause Weekly: https://wepause.space/signupGuess what? Today's WePause session with Alec Sorensen was excellent! We talked about something we all struggle with saying no. Alec, who's been through the trenches of engineering and executive coaching, totally gets the pain.He shared this cool four-step method that's magic for mastering the art of saying no. It's simple but super effective. First, you start with positive fee...
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Be part of the movement—support the show on Patreon! ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/aliesi⁠


Episode Summary:

In this episode, Ashley Nguyen (https://www.instagram.com/awake.in.wellness) (also seen on WePause #4) shares her deeply personal journey of self-discovery, tracing back to pivotal childhood memories that influenced her path from engineering to guiding meditation and podcasting. She delves into the impact of bullying and familial d...

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April 6, 2024 30 mins
Presentation Spreadsheet: Love or FearSign up to WePause: https://wepause.space/signupWelcome to our 6th WePause Weekly, where I, Ali Eslamifar, hosted this session. In this session, I had the honor of hosting and building an experience around my favorite topic in mental health: Love. Over the past year, discovering key answers to my questions about love has been life-changing for my mental health. During my experience at Burning M...
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March 29, 2024 28 mins
Sign up to WePause Weekly: https://wepause.space/signupPresentation used on this callWe had a meaningful time in this week's WePause with the wonderful Arezoo! She took the "Let it Flow!" topic to a level I could not imagine. She first dives into the steps we must take for the emotional release technique, including Choosing an activity (e.g., drawing), preparing, setting intention, meditation, letting emotions flow, and journaling....
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March 22, 2024 28 mins
Sign up to WePause Weekly: https://wepause.space/signupPresentation used on this callThis is a new section to The Ally Show, where we are adding the recordings for our new project, WePause Weekly. At this week's WePause session, Ashley from Awake In Wellness started discussing "Wellness for the Nine to Five." She emphasized the crucial need for setting boundaries between work and personal life, urging participants to prioritize the...
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Sign up to WePause Weekly: https://wepause.space/signupWePause Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wepause.spacePresentation Used on This Call.This is a new section to The Ally Show, where we are adding the recordings for our new project, WePause Weekly. In this WePause session, Ali Eslamifar introduced Amanda Grover as the guest instructor for a self-compassion workshop. Amanda shared her journey of using self-compassion to overc...
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