Vinod Bal: Moving Forward with Empathy

The Hello Frequency, A Lifestyle Podcast

The Hello Frequency podcast acknowledges the Tainui people, the tangata whenua of the Waikato region, where it was recorded. Respects to elders, past, present, and emerging.

Welcome to The Hello Frequency, I am your host, Caya.

This is Episode 5: Vinod Bal: Moving Forward with Empathy

Dear Listeners,

I apologise if my voice sounds nasal. I have been feeling under the weather lately. It is with great honour that I present to you a conversation with Vinod Bal. Our paths crossed in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, in the breathtaking land of Aotearoa New Zealand. As a newcomer to this country, I found solace in Vinod’s friendship. His family embraced me wholeheartedly. He was my first person of colour and queer friend, and our friendship has been evolving since then.

Our friendship defies generational gaps and other differences. We connect over shared queer politics, a passion for community-driven advocacy, and our love for hiking, long walks, and exploring delightful restaurants. Indian cuisine consistently tops our list – mirroring its dominance in the subcontinent. Ha ha ha.

In our conversation today, Vinod sheds light on an important statistic. Despite this vibrant community, we continue to face challenges. Access to culturally sensitive services and equitable opportunities remain a work in progress.

Together, within a year of our friendship, Vinod and I co-founded the Charitable Trust, Adhikaar Aotearoa. If you are curious about our work, there is a link to our website and social media handles in the description. Adhikaar Aotearoa continues to grow with more trustees, community members, allies, and meaningful work since its inception.

I am thrilled to have yet another queer soul with whom I can engage in inspiring conversations about anything and everything. Our exchanges ripple through many lives, shaping them in ways we may not even realise. Here is an example: recording of our conversation.

Thank you for tuning into “The Hello Frequency”. May our words and actions driven by pluriversal empathetic consciousness continue to resonate, create positive changes and move forward with empathy.

Remember, in a world where discord echoes loudly, let empathy be our pluriversal language! Until next time, this is Caya, tuning out from the Hello Frequency :)

Resources:

https://www.adhikaaraotearoa.co.nz/

Copyright and Citation

© Divakalala, C. (2024). Vinod Bal: Moving Forward with Empathy. The Hello Frequency, A Lifestyle Podcast.