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.
#21: Ali Eslamifar— Find Your Voice: Why Wouldn't You Do That?
Support the show on Patreon! https://patreon.com/aliesi (https://patreon.com/aliesi)
Episode #21 | Special Edition – This time, we flipped the script. Our great friend and guest of episode 20, Genevieve Conaty (https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve/), takes the host seat to interview Ali Eslamifar (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alieslamifar/) about his journey with The Ally Show, what he’s learned, and what’s next.
In this episode, Ali shares:
The origins of The Ally Show—how a conversation with a friend turned into a podcast.
What it really means to find your voice and how podcasting helped him reconnect with himself.
Why he chose mental health as the focus, despite it being the harder path.
The challenges of running a podcast and how he balances structure with creative freedom.
Moments from past episodes that changed his perspective on love, vulnerability, and deep listening.
The unexpected reach of the show, from reconnecting with old friends to finding new listeners across the world.
Why he’s leaving the U.S. and what’s driving his move to Portugal.
His vision for the future of The Ally Show and his work in mental health.
Mentioned in this episode:
Episode #3 with Yvonne Leow (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rweBLsrjfd1VCu4vVVCOf?si=mxluR5zyRDGtjV-qjbvuew)– A deep conversation on purpose, love, and self-discovery.
Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno (https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Back-Pain-Mind-Body-Connection/dp/0446557684) – A book that reshaped Ali’s understanding of mind-body connection.
10min Pause (https://linktr.ee/10minpause)– Ali’s Farsi meditation podcast.
I Heard My Voice (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1mEODWQMAfknTUFtCBxezC?si=ssp5_68qSMSQPmY6yd2eTQ) – The Playlist mentioned in the show by Genevieve Conaty.
Listen & Watch:
Podcast Platforms: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/theallyshow (https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/theallyshow)
YouTube: https://youtu.be/PnxtPZguXUU (https://youtu.be/PnxtPZguXUU)
Join the Conversation:
Support Ali’s Mental Health Projects: patreon.com/aliesi (patreon.com/aliesi)
Follow on LinkedIn for Updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ally-show (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ally-show)
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theally.show/ (https://www.instagram.com/theally.show/)
Intro Music by Samuel F Johanns: https://pixabay.com/users/samuelfjohanns-1207793/ (https://pixabay.com/users/samuelfjohanns-1207793/)
Key Takeaways and Quotes:
"When you hear your own voice, everything changes." – Ali
"Why wouldn't you do that?" – The question that started The Ally Show.
"Mental health isn’t an easy conversation, but it’s the right one."
Now, what resonated with you in this episode? Let us know in the comments or reach out on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Chapters:
00:00 Celebrating Milestones and New Beginnings
02:32 The Birth of a Podcast: Finding My Voice
05:03 Navigating the Technical Aspects of Podcasting
07:37 Choosing Mental Health as a Central Theme
10:12 The Challenge of Discussing Mental Health
13:03 The Influence of Mentorship on My Journey
15:39 Structuring the Podcast: Balancing Creativity and Goals
18:28 Memorable Moments and Impactful Conversations
20:46 The Power of Connection and Love
23:18 Surprising Discoveries in Podcasting
26:02 Embracing Change: Moving Forward
28:20 Reflections and Gratitude
14 Feb 2025
#20: Genevieve Conaty 🍒 — Plants Know How to Grow, So Do You: A Creative Path to Healing
Summary
In this conversation, Genevieve Conaty (https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve/) (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 pain and PTSD, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of wellness. She emphasizes the importance of community support and shares her transformative experience with intensive outpatient programs for mental health recovery. In this conversation, Genevieve shares her journey of self-discovery and healing through the practices of Chi and Qigong. She discusses the significance of Chi as a vital energy and how it has transformed her mental and physical well-being. Genevieve emphasizes the importance of visualization techniques in Qigong and how they can enhance creativity and personal growth.
Our AI Partner for this Episode: ElevenLabs
Accountability Campaign: March Madness
Want to join Genevieve's March Madness campaign and start this spring differently? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/xvU1GNHnySceCawZ8 (https://forms.gle/xvU1GNHnySceCawZ8)
Chapters
00:00 Intro to the episode by Ali and his AI Twin
03:33 Introduction and Background
05:43 Heritage and Family History
07:52 Early Life and Education
09:23 Career Path and Design Journey
11:53 Challenges and Health Struggles
12:34 The Impact of COVID-19
17:46 Trauma and Its Effects
27:33 Path to Recovery and Healing
37:00 Community Support and Programs
39:45 Understanding Chi and Its Significance
38:54 The Journey to Qigong Practice
47:44The Impact of Qigong on Creativity and Wellness
49:15 Visualization Techniques in Qigong
56:20 Embracing Creativity and Personal Growth
01:07:15 March Madness: A Challenge for Growth
🍒 Genevieve’s bio
Genevieve fell in love with the Stanford campus from a distance based on a photograph of the architecture in “the Quad.” After studying mathematical & computational science there, she realized she was most interested in pursuing computational science that involved working with human beings, so she pivoted to a master's degree in what was then called Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University. She cut her teeth in UX research at Motorola Labs in the UK, worked for a wonderful London design agency where she met her now-wife, ran her own design agency for five years including a move from London to San Francisco, and helped build the design, product, and UX research team and culture at Indiegogo. She hired Ali at Course Hero where together they designed products to help college students graduate. Her newest mission is to help clients of her coaching practice with their job & career challenges so that they can find fulfillment. She has a bias towards entrepreneurship and fun.
Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve/)
Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cherry-red-coaching/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cherry-red-coaching/)
Substack: http://cherryredcoaching.substack.com (http://cherryredcoaching.substack.com)
TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/genevieve_conaty_how_to_empower_innovation (https://www.ted.com/talks/genevieve_conaty_how_to_empower_innovation)
Spotify Artist Profile: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OdBAFKql7Zm0GMCc9lU69?si=xMXquwHGTmiTEyKydWxzcw (https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OdBAFKql7Zm0GMCc9lU69?si=xMXquwHGTmiTEyKydWxzcw)
La Cheim Behavioral Health Center (PHP/IOP): https://www.lacheim.org/behavioral-health-programs (https://www.lacheim.org/behavioral-health-programs)
Luminous Ground Online Tai Chi and Qigong Classes
Register: https://luminousground.com/2006-2/registration/ (https://luminousground.com/2006-2/registration/)
Follow along with daily practice on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@luminousgroundschooloftaij1500 (https://www.youtube.com/@luminousgroundschooloftaij1500) (new posts daily)
Courtney Moore - Acupuncture & Healing: https://courtneymoorewellness.com/ (https://courtneymoorewellness.com/)
2 Jan 2025
#19: Phil Carter — The Hedonic Treadmill: Find Your Answers Within For a Balanced Life
Summary
In this conversation, Phil Carter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/philgcarter/) 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, the lessons learned from each chapter, and the decision to start his own consulting business for greater flexibility and autonomy.
In this conversation, Phil Carter discusses the challenges of modern work culture, particularly in the tech industry, where constant connectivity and high expectations can lead to burnout. He emphasizes the importance of finding balance in life through routines, personal anchors, and prioritizing family and community. Phil also highlights the significance of self-awareness in navigating the pressures of societal expectations and the rat race, advocating for a focus on internal fulfillment rather than external validation. He concludes by sharing his wife's nonprofit, Daring Girls, which empowers young women in East Africa. Support Daring Girls: https://daringgirls.org/
About Phil
After starting his career at Bain and getting his MBA from Stanford GSB, Phil Carter has spent the last decade as a VC and product leader helping companies like Faire, Quizlet, and Ibotta build world-class products and accelerate their growth. Phil is now a growth advisor and angel investor (https://www.philgcarter.com/) who helps Seed - Series C consumer subscription businesses define their growth strategies, build their growth models, hire their growth teams, scale their growth processes, optimize their growth channels, and achieve their full potential. Phil also teaches a Maven course (https://maven.com/philcarter/consumer-subscription-growth) on Consumer Subscription Growth and has a Substack (https://philgcarter.substack.com/) newsletter where he shares additional thoughts.
Connect to Phil:Website: https://www.philgcarter.com/
Maven Course: https://maven.com/philcarter/consumer-subscription-growth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philgcarter/
Substack: https://philgcarter.substack.com/
X: https://x.com/philgcarter
Chapters
00:00 Intro to the EpisodeChapters
03:20 Introduction to Phil Carter
06:12 Growing Up in the Midwest
08:30 Family Values and Childhood Memories
09:59 Navigating Work-Life Balance
12:21 Career Shifts and Professional Growth
16:54 The Impact of Paternity Leave
22:44 Starting a New Chapter: Entrepreneurship
24:48 The Pressure of Constant Connectivity
27:11 The Dynamics of Tech Culture
30:22 Navigating the Rat Race
32:49 Finding Balance in Life
35:41 Anchors of Stability
39:03 Production vs. Production Capacity
42:50 Empowering Young Women through Daring Girls
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
21,102
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
19 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
57
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
85
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