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Hi Reader

What if the first set of questions I asked didn't start with

• "What do you do for work?"
• "What is your work title?"
• "Where do you work?"

We spend so much time evaluating a person's worth based on where they work, what they do, and what degree level they graduated with that we forget we're talking to someone who is layered beyond this one identity.

Imagine what would happen if we started with curiosity, built familiarity, and settled into genuine community.

What you can expect in today's issue:

• What a podcast conference taught me about gatekeeping, titles, and community
• A reflection on how we create or prevent connection
• A quiet reminder of the kind of spaces we’re all craving

I’ve attended many professional gatherings, including those in psychology, nonprofits, HR, and academia. I’ve seen the power suits, the posture, and the pecking order.

But two weeks ago, I was at a podcast conference in Dallas…
And I have never experienced an industry more open, welcoming, and generous than this one.

The people weren't just friendly, they were curious; I mean deeply, genuinely curious.

People didn’t ask what title you held or who you worked for.
They asked what you cared about.
What story were you trying to tell?
Why did you start your podcast?

And then—without prompting—they introduced you to someone else they thought you’d love, just because. With no intention or expectations in return. They weren't caught up by how big your podcast was or wasn't.

I had friends who couldn't attend let their friends know I was there for the first time. Someone saw me and said, "You're Payal!! I've been looking for you because I was told to keep an eye out and welcome you for the first time!"

Oh, okay! Wow, thank you!

The welcome was unbelievable and it's because they wanted you to belong.

Here’s the part that struck me most:
My name tag didn’t say “Dr. Payal Beri.” It just said Payal; my podcast had the PhD on it.

And people were excited to talk to me before they knew about my degrees.
The moment they found out I had a PhD, nothing changed.
There was no shift in tone. No sudden eagerness to impress.
Just the same warmth and curiosity as before.

Because in that room, your humanity mattered more than your title.

And it’s exactly what so many of us are missing in the spaces we move through daily.

Even the speakers—execs from Spotify, YouTube, SiriusXM—stayed behind after their panels. They answered every question. They lingered. They shared resources. They offered help.

There was no gatekeeping.
Just a collective hunger to learn, connect, and expand together.

And it made me wonder:

What would our workspaces, communities, and even our relationships look like if we approached people with curiosity instead of control?

Why am I sharing this with you?

Because maybe you’ve felt the difference.
Maybe you’ve been in spaces where people only valued you after seeing your résumé.
Where conversations were transactional. Where “networking” meant proving your worth.

And maybe—like me—you’ve been longing for something softer, warmer, more human.

We all crave rooms where we can show up without armor.
Where we’re not evaluated by titles or filtered by status.
Where we’re met with genuine interest and not invisible competition.

Curiosity creates that.
Fear kills it.

So ask yourself and sit with these questions:

• Where in your life do you lead with your title or credentials to feel seen or validated?
• When was the last time you asked a question not to be impressive—but to understand someone more deeply?
• What would shift if you entered conversations with openness instead of strategy?
• Where are you gatekeeping without realizing it?

What's Happening, BTS

Updates on Reframing Perspectives Podcast:

Last week’s podcast with Qasim Rashid, a leading human rights lawyer and activist. He shared and debunked myths around what activism looks like daily and how much empathy is actually embedded in the daily actions of activism. It can be simple for all of us to care for humanity and not fear involvement. Tune into the episode here. ​

• And friends, if you're enjoying these episodes, the biggest favor I can ask you is to
  • Share them with your friends and family,
  • Subscribe to the podcast, and leave reviews!

As a new podcaster, each of these things helps tremendously in making sure I deliver better episodes!

Our Fall Season Plans

At the podcast conference, I experienced the power of relationships, which only further validated the experiences I've been curating with the Changemaker Dinners and Immersion Experiences.

• Changemaker Dinners + Immersion Experiences. We carefully bring 8 to 10 thinkers, thought leaders, founders, and creatives together to commune over deep conversations that build relationships with those committed to bettering the world. We're hosting them in DC, Chicago, and NYC.
  • Chicago Immersion: The Disparity of Education: How do we democratize education in a broken system? (November 15th)
  • D.C Immersion, your home is your sanctuary. It represents your ancestral heritage and the vulnerability of your relationship with yourself and your community. (December 4th)
  • NYC Dinner: Immerse yourself in an experience that addresses: Is it gentrification or the natural evolution of neighborhoods? (December 10th)

If you're interested in sitting at this table or know someone who would be, please submit your interest here. ​

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How you can work directly with Dr. Beri and the RKE Team when you're ready:

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