Learn Speak Teach Episode #161 with The Mercy Queen Shabana Serang on the Real Business Connections Podcast.

Mercy is not weakness. It is not naivety. And it does not mean losing yourself to save everyone else.

In this powerful conversation, Ben Albert sits down with Shabana Serang, also known as The Mercy Queen, to talk about mercy, self-worth, faith, forgiveness, mental health, human connection, and the deeper work of healing yourself while still serving others.

Shabana shares why mercy belongs to all of us, but also why mercy has to start with the self. She opens up about bullying, depression, self-love, spirituality, food, family, and the mission behind Mercy Mindset, Miracles 4 Mercy, Mercy Mediterranean, Luna’s Halal Taqueria, and her upcoming book, Love Me First, Love Me Last.

Ben and Shabana also explore how food can become a vehicle for service, how small daily acts of kindness can create real human connection, and why being seen, heard, respected, and valued can change someone’s life.

This episode is about mercy without self-abandonment, compassion without losing your dignity, and growth that starts with remembering your own value.

Content note: This conversation includes discussion of depression and suicide.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer + Intro

[01:21] What Mercy Really Means

[05:13] Mercy Beyond Kindness

[07:43] Mercy Is Not Naivety

[12:05] Learning Self-Mercy

[13:40] Seeing Human Value

[15:41] When “Not My Problem” Shows Up

[18:34] Food as a Mission

[24:05] The Mercy Mission

[25:59] Service Without a Price Tag

[29:12] Money as an Amplifier

[34:20] Giving When It Costs You

[39:38] Love Me First, Love Me Last

[43:41] When Someone Is Losing Hope

[48:10] Helping Without Judgment

[50:00] Dance, Faith, and Healing

[52:43] Closing Reflections

Key Takeaways:

• Mercy is not weakness. Real mercy includes self-awareness, self-compassion, and enough dignity to not abandon yourself. ~Shabana Serang

• Mercy belongs to everyone, but one of the hardest forms of mercy is learning how to offer it to yourself. ~Shabana Serang

• Small acts of kindness can make people feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. ~Shabana Serang

• Food can become more than a meal. It can become a way to break bread, build connection, and serve a bigger mission. ~Shabana Serang

• “The more you give, the more you will always receive because it is the inevitable reward for goodness.” ~Shabana Serang

• “You say you're just a meager soul, but within you lies the keys to the universe.” ~Shabana Serang

Keep In Touch with Shabana Serang:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMercyQueen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabanamarkar/

Mercy Mindset: https://mercymindset.com/about/

Miracles 4 Mercy: https://miracles4mercy.com/

Mercy Mediterranean: https://mercymediterranean.com/

Luna’s Halal Taqueria: https://www.lunashalaltaqueria.com/

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