CultureYouth

In this episode, I speak to Pooja Prabhakar who is the CEO and Managing Partner at BCP Associates. A second generation entrepreneur, Pooja has worked in 2 different geographies- US & India. With her engineering background and knowledge of technology which she expertly integrated in the field of labour and employment laws, her firm has successfully rolled out enterprise programs in Legal Audit & Advisory across several large companies in India. I speak to her about her growing up in Bangalore, her days in the United States, the work culture between the two countries and why she chose to come back to India after having tasted success in corporate America.

In this episode, I speak to Sumukhi Suresh, an actor, stand-up comedian, writer and director. She speaks to me about her journey into the world of comedy and acting, being a creator of content, her amazon prime show Pushpavalli and being successful in a male dominated industry.

In this episode, I speak to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, a celebrated filmmaker who has directed films such as Rang De Basanti, Bhag Milkha Bhag, Mirzya and Toofan. He speaks to me about this recently released autobiography titled "The Stranger In the Mirror" available in bookstores and online, and shares stories about his love for sport, growing up in Delhi and his foray into the world of advertising and the movies.

In this episode, I speak to Shivali Khardanda Kaidan who is a researcher and assistant professor of English literature at the University of Delhi. Her areas of research include South Asian studies, particularly partition studies. She has published papers in the field of partition literature and has addressed international conferences and national seminars. She speaks to me about the effects of the partition on the people, the political situation at the time, the lost language and ways of life and how the partition still haunts people today.

In this episode, I speak to Rohan Shrestha who is one of the most sought after photographers working today. Armed with his camera and imagination, he has captured almost all of the A list celebrities in Bollywood but his passion for photography and the arts go way beyond the dazzling lights of the movies. He speaks to me about the world of being a commercial photographer and what it takes to be the best in the industry.

In this episode, I speak to Madhavi Shankar who is the co-founder and CEO of SpaceBasic, a one-stop communication and networking app that facilitates seamless information sharing within members of Universities, Hostel Management and Global Partners seeking student engagement. Madhavi has also contributed highly towards global women employment and equal opportunities. She has been recognised as the 'Top 60 Women Transforming India' by The Government of India as well as the United Nations. She speaks to me about her journey from India to Australia and back to India... being a women entrepreneur and if about innovation and disruption in India...

In this episode, I speak to Brigadier Sushil Bhasin who has served 34 years in the army and is now a transformational coach, educator and author. He's passionate about making a difference from his one-on-one coaching, seminars and particularly his teachings on time investment and the value of time as a vital resource. He's also a Tedx keynote speaker and serves as a member of the board of the National Convention of Professionals Speakers Association of India.

In this podcast episode, I speak to Sunil Gulati who is the former President of the United States Soccer Federation and who was elected to a four-year term on the FIFA Council. He is also a senior lecturer in the economics department of Columbia University. He speaks to me about his journey in the world of sports and soccer... how he has seen the sport evolve in the United States, if he uses the learnings on the field in his classroom and what it takes to have a career in the business of sports...

In this episode, I speak to Anjali Enjeti who is a former attorney, organiser, award winning journalist, author and teacher. Her writings about politics and social justice have appeared in the Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Harper's Bazaar and elsewhere. She speaks to me about identity, racism and about her books - narrative nonfiction called Southbound and her novel, A Parted Earth.

In this episode, I speak to Navya Naveli Nanda who is an entrepreneur and women's rights activist and is the co-founder of Aara Health and founder of Project Naveli. She speaks to me about her social work, her love for books, gender equality, and what it takes for women entrepreneurs to be successful in a competitive environment.

In this episode I speak to ace cinematographer, Ravi K Chandran. He made his mark in the South Indian film industry at an early age and then moved to the Hindi film industry where he has teamed up with many celebrated filmmakers - from Mani Ratnam to Priyadarshan to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar. He got over 50 films under his belt including Dil Chata Hai, Black, Ghanjni and many others. He speaks to me about the world of moviemaking from the point of view of a cinematographer and about his career and what it takes to be one of the best in the country.

In this episode, I speak to Jehan Daruvala who is a race car driver currently competing in the formula 2 championship. He started karting at the age of 10 and was the first Indian to win formula 2 races. He speaks to me about his journey, what it takes to be a race car driver and his need for speed.

In this episode, I speak to James Boston, the founder of the Association of Former British Colonies and the Co-founder of Talking Wellbeing. Through the Association of Former British Colonies, James hopes to encourage education, instigate international dialogues on this subject. I speak to him about a number of topics including how colonialism still impacts society and in particular how India was affected by the British rule.

In this episode, I speak to Trent. After serving the US navy and running his own computer business, he followed his passion for acting and filmmaking and eventually landed in Los Angeles, California where he earned his degree in film production from the University of Southern California. He produced, directed and acted in a number of short films and now lives in New York City where besides his passion for film, he works as a product manager at the tech firm. I speak to Trent about a number of topics including his time in the navy, his foray into acting and filmmaking and also about being a big gaming fan, especially a live action game called true dungeon.

In this episode, I speak to Avinash Rajapet who is the chief operating officer at Fitbee.ee and believes that fitness is a way of life. He, along with his wife, Prathima Koppolu created Fitbee to instil the need for fitness and nutrition at an early age. I speak to him about how Fitbee is helping young cope with PCOS and obesity, how technology has helped people lead fitter and healthier lifestyles, the impact of the lockdown on the fitness industry and fitness of young women and trends to look out for in 2021.

In this episode, ace filmmaker Zoya Akhtar who has directed films like Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do and Gully Boy talks to me about the themes in her works, her writing process, her time as an assistant director and at film school and much more.

In this episode, we speak to writer/director Mason Richards who was born in Guyana, South America and emigrated to Brooklyn, New York with his family at age 7. He now splits his time between New York City and Los Angeles and has directed the award winning short film Sea Wall which is currently available on Amazon Prime. He speaks to us about his artistic journey and about diversity, identity, going digital, about his feature film and much more.

In this bonus track, Sujay Reddy explains the science and physiology of Breathwork and also helps you kick start your meditation journey.

In this episode, we speak to a former athlete turned holistic coach Sujay Reddy, who has launched Mind The Breath - an altruistic endeavour to elevate the performance and longevity of 'change agents.' We speak to him about this initiative and learn some tips of how we can mindful of our health, fitness and wellness.

In this episode, we speak to Prakash Gaba, SEBI registered research analyst and certified financial technician and trading mentor. He's appeared on leading business channels, writes for financial newspapers and magazines and has over 20 years of experience in the stock market. He's also received the “Viewers Choice Best Technical Analyst Award at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." We speak to him about this journey to becoming a successful trader, his passions and learnings, and unpack questions about the stock market and how one can start their investment journey.

In this episode, we speak to writer/director Meghna Gulzar, best known for her films Talvar, Raazi and Chhapaak. She speaks to us about her upbringing, her journey into the movies, her work in the world of documentaries and music videos and her unconventional feature film choices.

In this episode, we speak to Abhishek Chaubey, the writer/director of Sonchiriya, Udta Punjab, Ishqiya & Dedh Ishqiya. He's also written many other films during his association with Vishal Bhardwaj and has turned producer with his first production, Death In The Gunj and most recently, Raat Akeli Hai. We speak to him about directing and writing and his world of movies, beyond the glamour.

At noon on January 11, 2020 the South African oceanographic research vessel SA Agulhas set off from Port Louise in Mauritius, on a two-month Indian Scientific Expedition to the Southern Ocean. In this episode, we speak to Anoop Mahajan who led the expedition. We speak to him about his work, about global warming, if the covid19 pandemic has changed our outlook towards climate change and what each one of us can do to make our planet a habitable place in the future.

In this podcast episode, Antara Lahiri, editor of Shakuntala Devi, Yeh Ballet, Bard of Blood, Four More Shots Please and more speaks about the art and craft of film editing and about her career, how to evaluate a good edit and what it takes to be an established editor today.

In this episode, we learn about luxury watches, its value, its history and its craftsmanship and understand why it goes well beyond the telling of time. Sarosh Mody, the director of Luxury Watch Works takes us through the legacy of timepieces and the importance of appreciating luxury watches that fascinate and intrigue many of us today.

In this episode, we speak to the co-founder of Pixxel, Awais Ahmed. Pixxel is a space-tech startup founded by BITS Pilani graduates Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal who along with their team are building a constellation of nano-satellites to provide global, real-time and affordable satellite imagery. We speak to Awais about the company, his dreams and the future of space exploration.

In this episode, we speak to Sunanda Mehta, a journalist, author and childhood friend of Sunanda Pushkar. In 2019, Sunanda Mehta wrote a book called "The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar" who died on January 17, 2014 under mysterious circumstances. The case is sub judice. Through this episode, we learn about how Mehta wrote the book and gain insights into her career as a journalist and author.

In this mini-episode, we explore the world of film producing by speaking to Marijke deSouza. She takes us through her journey from music television to producing her own independent film and the trials and tribulations a producer goes through while producing a film. She also speaks about being a women producer and what it takes to survive in the business.

In this mini-episode, we speak to Joshna Chinappa who is the very first Indian girl to win the British Squash Championship, taking Indian squash to the pinnacle of fame and success. The youngest woman National Champion of India, Joshna has been playing the game of squash since the age of 7 and it runs in her blood, as her family has been playing the game for the last four generations. We speak to her about her love for squash, her ups and downs during her career and what it takes to be a successful woman athlete today.

In this mini-episode, I learn about the importance of background music in the movies and how it enhances the movie watching experience. I speak to Akash Sagar Chopra who is a filmmaker, actor and music composer who at the age of 11 began his journey into the world of music. He composed his first feature film music at the age of 16 and soon after went on to study theatre eventually acting in a feature film. He is currently working on a feature length documentary about a silent movie that created hope and harmony among millions of people. I speak to him about some of his compositions and hear music from legendary composers from both Hollywood and India.

In this mini-episode, I speak to Mythili Zatakia who is a professional Bharata Natyam and Ballet dancer. She has trained and studied in the United Kingdom and the United States and is currently pursuing her masters degree in performing arts specialising in Bharata Natyam. I find out about the immersive experience of art and dance and what it takes to be an Indian classical dancer today. [ Opening Music - Alarippu WithThirupugazh - Dance Celestial ]

Sooni Taraporevala is a screenwriter, filmmaker and photographer who is best known as the screenwriter of Mississippi Masala, The Namesake and oscar-nominated Salaam Bombay. She's also directed two feature films, Little Zizou and most recently Yeh Ballet that is streaming on Netflix. I speak to her about her films, her beginnings at Harvard University, her association with Mira Nair and her love for photography and dedication to screenwriter and directing.

In episode 3, we explore the world of fashion and how the fashion industry operates. To do this, we speak to three prominent figures in the industry. Mac Hadar, Abhishek Paatni & Tanya Ghavri. Mac from H.Lorenzo has retail stores in California, and brings in diversity to the high-end retail industry showcasing established and emerging designers from around the world. Abhishek Paatni has become the trailblazer of streetwear with his brand, Nought One. He's an engineer turned fashion designer and his brand has garnered the tag of being the change-maker in the Indian street scene. Tanya Ghavri, an established celebrity stylist, has styled some of the biggest names in Bollywood and is an influencer in her own right with her personal style always on point.  We speak to them about a number of relevant topics within the fashion space and ultimately find out what fashion really means to them.

In this mini-episode, Vicky Ratnani, one of India's top chefs speaks about his journey into the kitchen and what one needs to be a good chef today. He answers questions about food being an art or science, whether social media has positive and negative consequences towards the food he makes and why understanding the business is as important as cooking with passion.

In this mini-episode, Arjun Shah (AJ DJ) speaks about his beginnings and how his passion superseded the norm and drove him to become a successful DJ. He's shared the stage with the likes of Coldplay and Maroon 5 and speaks about the techniques DJs use to get the crowd going and tells us a little bit about the music scene in India.

In this mini-episode, Sanal Edamaruku, the president of the Indian Rationalist Association speaks about godman, spirituality, religion, superstitions and miracles. He answers questions about having faith, if astrology can predict our future and how one can become a spiritual guru. He also narrates his own shocking story of why he left India and hasn't returned in almost a decade.

In this mini-episode, Hrishikesh Shah, an Astro Numerologist, talks about the power of occult sciences (numerology, astrology etc) and if people can use them to better their lives. He speaks about why astrologists couldn't predict Covid-19 and ultimately reveals the strengths and weaknesses of this unique science.

In this mini-episode, Shakun Batra, a film director and screenwriter (ek main aur ekk tu, kapoor and sons) talks about how movies have influenced him through the years, if cinema can shape our thoughts and behaviours, and gives us insights on how future filmmakers can imbibe the world of cinema in their lives.

In this mini-episode, Yuvraj Nathani, a pianist and composer dives into the history of classical music by focusing on three composers - Bach, Mozart and Chopin and their styles of music thereby reflecting upon the musical period and culture of that time. Yuvraj speaks about the three periods of classical music and answers questions like - does one need to read music to be a better composer and where does one begin if they're interested in the world of classical music?

In this bonus track which is linked to episode 2, Natasha Pal, founder of 59th Parallel speaks about about digital marketing during the Covid19 period and how mindful a brand must be when promoting their product.

In this bonus track, which is linked to episode 2, Saloni Chopra, an actor & Rahul Bhattacharya, a lawyer, give us insights on whether it is better to master one social media platform or be on all them. They also tell us why they're not on Tiktok.

In this bonus track which is linked to episode 2, Abhinav Mathur, a social media influencer tells us what one should do if they're starting out and want to become a social media influencer.

In episode 2, Anmol explores the rise of social media influencing by speaking to Natasha Pal, founder of 59th Parallel, a boutique digital marketing agency and image consulting company, Abhinav Mathur, a social media influencer and Saloni Chopra, an actor & Rahul Bhattacharya, a lawyer who manage an instagram account called Saerah Stamps. The episode dives into the world of social media influencing, its origins and how influencers connect with people and help brands reach their customers in a more authentic and personal manner. Through the course of the episode, we come to realise how social media influencing shapes the choices we make through content that has been created by the youth and watched by millions across the country.

In this mini-episode, Bhakti Mehta, a self taught chef and the founder of The Little Food Co. gives us key insights into the business of catering, why we love eating meals together, the evolution of food home delivery services and the future of restaurants.

In this mini-episode, Ramit Tandon, a professional squash player, India #2, and Asian Games medalist, speaks about what it takes to be a professional athlete, balancing sports and academics and what the future of sports could look like.

In this mini-episode, Sanjna Pramod, an international disputes lawyer speaks about how the COVID-19 has resulted in a paradigm shift and given rise to several legal consequences. She talks about the 'force majeure clause' and if can be invoked in cases like a pandemic. In addition, she answers common questions like - can people stop performing their obligations under a contract? Can someone stop paying rent if they have lost their job due to COVID-19? Do theatre owners have a cause of action against producers?

In this mini-episode, Ashi Dua, a film producer speaks about staying productive during the lockdown, the difference between releasing a film on a digital platform vs the cinemas, the rise of short films and if social distancing will work on a film set.

In this mini-episode, Nayana Bijli - Senior Project Manager at PVR speaks about how the Covid19 pandemic has affected the theater business and why the movie going experience will always remain special

In this bonus track which is linked to Episode 1: What Does It Mean To Be Fit - Karan Hebbar, a health coach speaks about the importance of following a certified fitness professional to meet your fitness needs.

In this bonus track which is linked to Episode 1: What Does It Mean To Be Fit - Dr. Anjali Hooda, a physician & MD talks about the importance of sleep and following a routine to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

In this bonus track which is linked to Episode 1: What Does It Mean To Be Fit - Jasdeep Mago, a neuropsychologist, counselling therapist and co-founder of Invisible Illness India speaks about why she co-founded Invisible Illness India and what are some of the psychological issues the young population of the country are facing today