#BEYOUROWN MEETS URSULA SQUIRE

Basmati’s mission is to use the power of technology to help every human being live a healthier life by a combination of sharing ancient and modern wisdom, connecting readers with practitioners, and curating eco-friendly products.

Basmati was founded by a team of explorers who see value in linking everyone inspired to improve their health and environment. We believe that there are many ways to live and our intention is to help those who want to develop the path that works for them.

Basmati means ‘full of aroma’ in Sanskrit. Basmati has been a symbol of community and quality since its first cultivation in the foothills of the Himalayas around 2,000 BCE. Just like the special cultivation dedicated to basmati rice, we carefully curate our community here at Basmati.com.

Hey Ursula, can you introduce yourself to us?

I’m so excited to be here! My name is Ursula Squire and I am the Editor-in-Chief of Basmati.com, an online community for a conscious living.

Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?

Absolutely! I grew up in a small Colorado town. My father is a local beekeeper there. From a young age, the interconnectedness of all facets of Mother Earth was instilled in me. I grew up learning the importance of healthy living, environmental protection and sustainability, and loving-kindness. My childhood included many outdoor activities – hiking, camping, rafting, fishing, etc. – and this provided me with a firsthand account of the importance of using humans’ abilities (cognitive thinking, technology, opposable thumbs) to act as caretakers of this sacred planet.

My parents both always supported my curious mind and love for plants and animals, and I’m so grateful to have grown up in such a supportive environment. In college, I studied philosophy, which really added to my understanding of the world and the oneness of all walks of life.

In grad school, I studied environmental policy, where I published a book in which I essentially created an environmental ethical risk assessment, with my case study as the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on honeybee populations (and the legislative, economic, sociopolitical impacts of this). This journey led to the next perfect fit, which was becoming a part of the Basmati.com team to build a community for a conscious living.

What was the concept behind launching Basmati?

Basmati was founded by a team of explorers who see value in linking everyone inspired to improve their health and environment. We believe that there are many ways to live and our intention is to help those who want to develop the path that works for them.

How are you using the power of technology to help every human being live a healthier life?

Basmati’s mission is to use the power of technology to help every human being live a healthier life by a combination of sharing ancient and modern wisdom, connecting readers with practitioners, and curating eco-friendly products.

What do you believe are the common misconceptions about general health and our environment and how are you using your platform and voice to educate people more?

Everyone is different and a misconception is that there is one way to live. But the reality is that we’re all different, and the community we are building at Basmati.com encourages people to live a life that’s authentic to them. In this way, we use our platform to support the diversity in healthy, conscious living.

Work-life balance

It’s always, always worth it to do work that fulfils you. For me, being driven by a project I’m passionate about is the most important thing for me, not only professionally, but also personally and intellectually. This has propelled me to be my best self when I am doing something fulfilling (like being a part of the team at Basmati.com) and in the past has knocked other areas of my life off kilter when I’m not doing something that fulfils me.

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