Podcasts about Abhay

Abhay is joined by award winning filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir, as she discusses her journey in making documentary films, the importance of empathy in storytelling, and the challenges faced by marginalized voices in the industry. She reflects on her personal experiences, the influence of her mentors, and the need for representation and trust. Geeta also shares insights on her latest project, 'The Perfect Neighbor,' which explores the complexities of community and violence. She is currently directing a series for Netflix with Spike Lee and Samantha Knowles, which is a retrospective on post-Katrina New Orleans. Gratefully, we also talked about Star Wars and Amar Chitra Katha.(0:00 - 2:50) Introduction(2:50) Part 1 - empowerment and practice(16:47) Part 2 - highlighting the African American experience, making 'The Perfect Neighbor', empathy as a vehicle, activism(33:49) Part 3 - legacy and mentorship, cultivating trust(48:42) ConclusionSHOUT OUT: There are major headwinds that are making it harder and harder to freely share stories and news especially from communities of color,  so please check out URL media and EpicenterNYC, both the brainchildren of my friend and veteran journalist, Mitra Kalita.Correction - A shared quote in the episode is from director Grace Lee (not Spike Lee). My bad!

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the triad of gait apraxia, cognitive impairment, and bladder dysfunction in the radiographic context of ventriculomegaly and normal intracranial pressure. Accurate diagnosis requires consideration of clinical and imaging signs, complemented by tests to exclude common mimics. In this episode, Lyell Jones, MD, FAAN speaks with Abhay R. Moghekar, MBBS, author of the article “Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus” in the Continuum® June 2025 Disorders of CSF Dynamics issue. Dr. Jones is the editor-in-chief of Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology® and is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Moghekar is an associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Additional Resources Read the article: Clinical Features and Diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Subscribe to Continuum®: shop.lww.com/Continuum Earn CME (available only to AAN members): continpub.com/AudioCME Continuum® Aloud (verbatim audio-book style recordings of articles available only to Continuum® subscribers): continpub.com/Aloud More about the American Academy of Neurology: aan.com Social Media facebook.com/continuumcme @ContinuumAAN Host: @LyellJ Full episode transcript available here Dr Jones: This is Dr Lyell Jones, Editor-in-Chief of Continuum. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio. Be sure to visit the links in the episode notes for information about earning CME, subscribing to the journal, and exclusive access to interviews not featured on the podcast. Dr Jones: This is Dr Lyell Jones, Editor-in-Chief of Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. Today I'm interviewing Dr Abhay Moghekar, who recently authored an article on the clinical features and diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus for our first-ever issue of Continuum dedicated to disorders of CSF dynamics. Dr Moghekar is an associate professor of neurology and the research director of the Cerebrospinal Fluid Center at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr Moghekar, welcome, and thank you for joining us today. Why don't you introduce yourself to our listeners? Dr Moghekar: Thank you, Dr Jones. I'm Abhay Moghekar. I'm a neurologist at Hopkins, and I specialize in seeing patients with CSF disorders, of which normal pressure hydrocephalus happens to be the most common. Dr Jones: And let's get right to it. I think most of our listeners who are neurologists in practice have encountered normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH; and it's a challenging disorder for all the reasons that you outline in your really outstanding article. If you were going to think of one single most important message to our listeners about recognizing patients with NPH, what would that be? Dr Moghekar: I think I would say there are two important messages. One is that the triad is not sufficient to make the diagnosis, and the triad is not necessary to make the diagnosis. You know these three elements of the triad: cognitive problems, gait problems, bladder control problems are so common in the elderly that if you pick 10 people out in the community that have this triad, it's unlikely that even one of them has true NPH. On the other hand, you don't need all three elements of the triad to make the diagnosis because the order of symptoms matters. Often patients develop gait dysfunction first, then cognitive dysfunction, and then urinary incontinence. If you wait for all three elements of the triad to be present, it may be too late to offer them any clear benefit. And hence, you know, it's neither sufficient nor necessary to make the diagnosis. Dr Jones: That's a really great point. I think most of our listeners are familiar with the fact that, you know, we're taught these classic triads or pentads or whatever, and they're rarely all present. In a way, it's maybe a useful prompt, but it could be distracting or misleading, even in a way, in terms of recognizing the patient. So what clues do you use, Dr Moghekar, to really think that a patient may have NPH? Dr Moghekar: So, there are two important aspects about gait dysfunction. Say somebody comes in with all three elements of the triad. You want to know two things. Which came first? If gate impairment precedes cognitive impairment, it's still very likely that NPH is in the differential. And of the two, which are more- relatively more affected? So, if somebody has very severe dementia and they have a little bit of gait problems, NPH is not as likely. So, is gait affected earlier than cognitive dysfunction, and is it affected to a more severe degree than cognitive dysfunction? And those two things clue me in to the possibility of NPH. You still obviously need to get imaging to make sure that they have large ventricles. One of the problems with imaging is large ventricles are present in so many different patients. Normal aging causes large ventricles. Obviously, many neurodegenerative disorders because of cerebral atrophy will cause large ventricles. And there's an often-used metric called as the events index, which is the ratio of the bitemporal horns- of the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles compared to the maximum diameter of the skull at that level. And if that ratio is more than 0.3, it's often used as a de facto measure of ventriculomegaly. What we've increasingly realized is that this ratio changes with age. And there's an excellent study that used the ADNI database that looked at how this ratio changes by age and sex. So, in fact, we now know that an 85-year-old woman who has an events index of 0.37 which would be considered ventriculomegaly is actually normal for age and sex. So, we need to start adopting these more modern age- and sex-appropriate age cutoffs of ventriculomegaly so as not to overcall everybody with big ventricles as having possible NPH. Dr Jones: That's very helpful. And I do want to come back to this challenge that we've seen in our field of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. But I think most of us are familiar with the concept of how hydrocephalus could cause neurologic deficits. But what's the latest on the mechanism of NPH? Why do some patients get this and others don't? Dr Moghekar: Very good question. I don't think we know for sure. And it for a long time we thought it was a plumbing issue. Right? And that's why shunts work. People thought it was impaired CSF absorption, but multiple studies have shown that not to be true. It's likely a combination of impaired cerebral blood flow, biomechanical factors like compliance, and even congenital factors that play a role in the pathogenesis of NPH. And yes, while putting in shunts likely drains CSF, putting in a shunt also definitely changes the compliance of the brain and affects blood flow to the subcortical regions of the brain. So, there are likely multiple mechanisms by which shunts benefit, and hence it's very likely that there's no single explanation for the pathogenesis of NPH. Dr Jones: We explored this in a recent Continuum issue on dementia. Many patients who have cognitive impairment have co-pathologies, multiple different causes. I was interested to read in your article about the genetic risk profile for NPH. It's not something I'd ever really considered in a disorder that is predominantly seen in older patients. Tell us a little more about those genetic risks. Dr Moghekar: Yeah, everyone is aware of the role genetics plays in congenital hydrocephalus, but until recently we were not aware that certain genetic factors may also be relevant to adult-onset normal pressure hydrocephalus. We've suspected this for a long time because nearly half of our patients who come to us to see us in clinic with NPH have head circumferences that are more than 90th percentile for height. And you know, that clearly indicates that this started shortly at the time after birth or soon afterwards. So, we've suspected for a long time that genetic factors play a role, but for a long time there were not enough large studies or well-conducted studies. But recently studies out of Japan and the US have shown mutations in genes like CF43 and CWH43 are disproportionately increased in patients with NPH. So, we are discovering increasingly that there are genetic factors that underlie even adult onset in patients. There are many more waiting to be discovered. Dr Jones: Really fascinating. And obviously getting more insight into the risk and mechanisms would be helpful in identifying these patients potentially earlier. And another thing that I learned in your article that I thought was really interesting, and maybe you can tell us more about it, is the association between normal pressure hydrocephalus and the observation of cervical spinal stenosis, many of whom require decompression. What's behind that association, do you think? Dr Moghekar: That's a very interesting study that was actually done at your institution, at Mayo Clinic, that showed this association. You know, as we all get older, you know, the incidence of cervical stenosis due to osteoarthritis goes up, but the incidence of significant, clinically significant cervical stenosis in the NPH population was much higher than what we would have expected. Whether this is merely an association in a vulnerable population or is it actually causal is not known and will need further study. Dr Jones: It's interesting to speculate, does that stenosis affect the flow of CSF and somehow predispose to a- again, maybe a partial degree for some patients? Dr Moghekar: Yeah, which goes back to the possible hydrodynamic theory of normal pressure hydrocephalus; you know, if it's obstructing normal CSF flow, you know, are the hydrodynamics affected in the brain that in turn could lead to the development of hydrocephalus. Dr Jones: One of the things I really enjoyed about your article, Abhay, was the very strong clinical focus, right? We can't just take an isolated biomarker or radiographic feature and rely on that, right? We really do need to have clinical suspicion, clinical judgment. And I think most of our listeners who've been in practice are familiar with the use and the importance of the large-volume lumbar puncture to determine who may have, and by exclusion not have, NPH, and then who might respond to CSF diversion. And I think those of us who have been in this situation are also familiar with the scenario where you think someone may have NPH and you do a large-volume lumbar puncture and they feel better, but you can't objectively see a difference. How do you make that test useful and objective in your practice? What do you do? Dr Moghekar: Yeah, it's a huge challenge in getting this objective assessment done carefully because you have to remember, you know, subconsciously you're telling the patients, I think you have NPH. I'm going to do this spinal tap, and if you walk better afterwards, you're going to get a shunt and you're going to be cured. And you can imagine the huge placebo response that can elicit in our subjects. So, we always like to see, definitely, did the patient subjectively feel better? Because yes, that's an important metric to consider because we want them to feel better. But we also wanted to be grounded in objective truths. And for that, we need to do different tests of speed, balance and endurance. Not everyone has the resources to do this, but I think it's important to test different domains. Just like for cognition, you know, we just don't test memory, right? We test executive function, language, visuospatial function. Similarly, walking is not just walking, right? It's gait speed, it's balance, and it's endurance. So, you need to ideally test at least most of these different domains for gait and you need to have some kind of clear criteria as to how are you going to define improvement. You know, is a 5% improvement, is a 10% improvement in gait, enough? Is 20%? Where is that cutoff? And as a field, we've not done a great job of coming up with standardized criteria for this. And it varies currently, the practice varies quite significantly from center to center at the current time. Dr Jones: So, one of the nice things you had in your article was helpful tips to be objective if you're in a lower-resource setting. For you, this isn't a common scenario that someone encounters in their practice as opposed to a center that maybe does a large volume of these. What are some relatively straightforward objective measures that a neurologist or someone else might use to determine if someone is improving after a large-volume LP? Dr Moghekar: Yeah, excellent question, Dr Jones, and very practically relevant too. So, you need to at least assess two of the domains that are most affected. One is speed and one is balance. You know, these patients fall ultimately, right, if you don't treat them correctly. In terms of speed, there are two very simple tests that anybody can do within a couple of minutes. One is the timed “up-and-go” test. It's a test that's even recommended by the CDC. It correlates very well with faults and disability and it can be done in any clinic. You just need about ten feet of space and a chair and a stopwatch, and it takes about a minute or slightly more to do that test. And there are objective age-associated norms for the timed up-and-go test, so it's easy to know if your patient is normal or not. The same thing goes for the 10-meter walk test. You do need a slightly longer walkway, but it's a fairly easy and well-standardized test. So, you can do one of those two; you don't need to do both of them. And for balance, you can do the 30-second “sit-to-stand”; and it's literally, again, 30 seconds. You need a chair, and you need somebody to watch the patient and see how many times they can sit up and stand up from a seated position. Then again, good normative data for that. If you want to be a little more sophisticated, you can do the 4-stage balance test. So, I think these are tests that don't add too much time to your daily assessment and can be done with even trained medical assistants in any clinic. And you don't need a trained physical therapist to do these assessments. Dr Jones: Very practical. And again, something that is pretty easily deployed, something we do before and then after the LP. I did see you mentioned in your article the dual timed up-and-go test where it's a simultaneous gait and executive function test. And I've got to be honest with you, Dr Moghekar, I was a little worried if I would pass that test, but that may be beyond the scope of our time today. Actually, how do you do that? How do you do the simultaneous cognitive assessment? Dr Moghekar: So, we asked them to count back from 100, subtracting 3. And we do it particularly in patients who are mildly impaired right? So, if they're already walking really good, but then you give them a cognitive stressor, you know, that will slow them down. So, we reserve it for patients who are high-performing. Dr Jones: That's fantastic. I'm probably aging myself a little here. I have noticed in my career, a little bit of a pendulum swing in terms of the recognition or acceptance of the prevalence of normal pressure hydrocephalus. I recall when I was a resident, many, many people that we saw in clinic had normal pressure hydrocephalus. Then it seemed for a while that it really faded into the background and was much less discussed and much less recognized and diagnosed, and less treated. And now that pendulum seems to have swung back the other way. What's behind that from your perspective? Dr Moghekar: It's an interesting backstory to all of this. When the first article about NPH was published in the Newman Journal of Medicine, it was actually a combined article with both neurologists and neurosurgeons on it. They did describe it as a treatable dementia. And what that did is it opened up the floodgates so that everybody with any kind of dementia started getting shunts left, right, and center. And back then, shunts were not programmable. There were no antibiotic impregnated catheters. So, the incidence of subdural hematomas and shunt-related infections was very high. In fact, one of our esteemed neurologists back then, Houston Merritt, wrote a scathing editorial that Victor and Adam should lose their professorships for writing such an article because the outcomes of these patients were so bad. So, for a very long period of time, neurologists stopped seeing these patients and stopped believing in NPH as a separate entity. And it became the domain of neurosurgeons for over two or three decades, until more recently when randomized trials started being done early on out of Europe. And now there's a big NIH study going on in the US, and these studies showed, in fact, that NPH exists as a true, distinct entity. And finally, neurologists have started getting more interested in the science and understanding the pathophysiology and taking care of these patients compared to the past. Dr Jones: That's really helpful context. And I guess that maybe isn't rare when you have a disorder that doesn't have a simple, straightforward biomarker and is complex in terms of the tests you need to do to support the diagnosis, and the treatment itself is somewhat invasive. So, when you talk to your patients, Dr Moghekar, and you've established the diagnosis and have recommended them for CSF diversion, what do you tell them? And the reason I ask is that you mentioned before we started recording, you had a patient who had a shunt placed and responded well, but continued to respond over time. Tell us a little bit more about what our patients can expect if they do have CSF diversion? Dr Moghekar: When we do the spinal tap and they meet our criteria for improvement and they go on to have a shunt, we tell them that we expect gait improvement definitely, but cognitive improvement may not happen in everyone depending on what time, you know, they showed up for their assessment and intervention. But we definitely expect gait improvement. And we tell them that the minimum gait improvement we can expect is the same degree of improvement they had after their large-volume lumbar puncture, but it can be even more. And as the brain remodels, as the hydrodynamics adapt to these shunts… so, we have patients who continue to improve one year, two years, and even three years into the course of the intervention. So, we're, you know, hopeful. At the same time, we want to be realistic. This is the same population that's at risk for developing neurodegenerative disorders related to aging. So not a small fraction of our patients will also have Alzheimer's disease, for example, or go on to develop Lewy body dementia. And it's the role of the neurologist to pick up on these comorbid conditions. And that's why it's important for us to keep following these patients and not leave them just to the neurosurgeon to follow up. Dr Jones: And what a great note to end on, Dr Moghekar. And again, I want to thank you for joining us, and thank you for such a wonderful discussion and such a fantastic article on the clinical diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus. I learned a lot reading the article, and I learned a lot more today just in the conversation with you. So, thank you for being with us. Dr Moghekar: Happy to do that, Dr Jones. It was a pleasure. Dr Jones: Again, we've been speaking with Dr Abhay Moghekar, author of a wonderful article on the clinical features and diagnosis of NPH in Continuum's first-ever issue dedicated to disorders of CSF dynamics. Please check it out. And thank you to our listeners for joining today. Dr Monteith: This is Dr Teshamae Monteith, Associate Editor of Continuum Audio. If you've enjoyed this episode, you'll love the journal, which is full of in-depth and clinically relevant information important for neurology practitioners. Use the link in the episode notes to learn more and subscribe. AAN members, you can get CME for listening to this interview by completing the evaluation at continpub.com/audioCME. Thank you for listening to Continuum Audio.

What if the next big wave in marketing isn't about targeting people at all—but impressing their AI agents instead?Abhay Parasnis, CEO of Typeface and former CTO at Adobe, joins us to explain why the future of brand discovery is less “search bar” and more “autonomous agents doing your shopping.” Abhay makes a bold case that most traditional marketing (think SEO strategies, AB tests, and static brand books) is already becoming obsolete. Instead, the brands that win will be the ones building content systems smart enough to speak directly to intelligent agents that buy and sell on our behalf.But this conversation doesn't stop at marketing disruption. Abhay pulls back the curtain on Typeface's meteoric rise, driven in large part by early, strategic partnerships with companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Google. He argues that AI startups don't need to outcompete the giants… they need to build what the giants can't, and then let those giants bring them customers. It's a refreshing take on B2B growth that flips the usual “go it alone” startup myth on its head.From identifying watermelon metrics to replacing agency workflows with AI copilots, Abhay brings sharp insight, grounded optimism, and just enough heresy to keep it interesting. If you're trying to navigate the chaos of modern marketing, or just wondering what comes after search, this episode is your map. Key Moments:00:00 Abhay Parasnis: CEO of Typeface & Ex-Adobe CTO06:48 Typeface's Vision and Genesis14:03 The Role of AI in Brand Management17:29 The Future of Agencies in an AI-Driven World25:06 Change Management and the Adoption of AI37:46 AI in Campaign Creation and Performance Measurement40:34 The Future of Search and SEO46:53 Identifying High-Quality Content in AI-Driven Marketing48:16 Offline Relationships and Physical Experiences50:47 The Future of Partnerships in Tech59:45 Transformation in the C-Suite01:04:15 Relevant or Not Relevant: Quick Takes01:05:49 The Future of Digital Content Marketing in an AI-Driven World Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org.

Abhay chats with Pramod Varma, the visionary technologist who helped architect India's digital transformation, enabling over a billion people to access digital identity, banking, payments, and verifiable credentials, fundamentally reshaping India's social and economic landscape.  (0:00 - 3:41) Introduction(3:41) Part 1 - Describing what he does, transforming India into the transaction economy(20:34) Part 2 - Verbs not nouns, connecting tech to everyone, lessons in equity, personal learning(42:28) Part 3 - leading for magnitude and scale, art and aesthetics, prioritizing equity(1:00:59) ConclusionPramod is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Architect of FIDE.org leading global efforts such as BECKN Protocol and FINTERNET.He has been the chief architect of most of India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) efforts starting with Aadhaar - India's unique ID system that covers 1.4 Billion people; eSign - an interoperable digital signature protocol; DigiLocker - digital credentialing and wallet system having over 9 billion verifiable credentials and over 400 million users; and UPI - the unified instant payment system that was launched in 2016 currently doing over 18 Billion transactions a month.He also played a key role in designing and architecting India's indirect tax (GST) system, national toll collection system, digital health infrastructure, digital agri infrastructure, and digital education infrastructure.Intro:The world needs more heroes, so let me thank you first for your heroism in an effort to engage here and choose TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING as a part of your day and even a small part of your life.  I appreciate you watching and subscribing on YouTube, listening on all of the podcast platforms, rating and writing reviews, following on those good old social media places, and sharing this with all your friends and family. Now if I really think about heroic feats in this digital age we live in, I can't think of a better person who effectively embodies it than Pramod Varma.  Pramod is a computer scientist and for over the past decade and a half, he has been the driving designer of tech inclusion, equity, and connectivity to India's entire population.  He is the chief architect behind many of India's digital public infrastructure initiatives like Aadhar - the digital identity system covering 1.4 billion people that enabled banking access from almost nothing to above 80% in just a decade, and similarly e-sign, account aggregator for open finance, and of course the UPI or Unified Payments Interface that is now processing over 18 billion transactions in India every month.  Staggering is a word that comes to my mind, but still doesn't do justice to the scale and scope of work that Pramod has designed and is continuing to lead.  He grew up in a small town in Kerala, earned his PhD in computer science and a masters in applied mathematics. Pramod is highly driven by curiosity and equipped with an insatiable thirst for broadly understanding humanity through art and knowledge.  After journeying successfully through the early days of the internet in a variety of entrepreneurial  and tech leadership roles,  Pramod made a deep pivot in 2009 to volunteer on a national digital identity project, and the rest is as they say history.  And for those keeping score at home, Pramod's initial success in harnessing a team to do this at scale and at the cost of about 70 rupees per person, was all open sourced and unbundled, so that you could build iterative and supplemental layers on this important foundation for years to come.  He is currently the co-founder and chief architect of “Networks for Humanity” creating universal technology infrastructure for the AI driven digital economy and for the tokenization and exchange of all forms of assets across geographies and sectors. A few of the visions that he has co-created are the Finternet, an initiative to build infrastructure that empowers individuals and businesses to unify, verify, and transact their assets seamlessly, enabling billions of people to actively participate in the global digital economy, and also the Beckn Protocol, a vision for peer-to-peer, agentic native, open networks that enable exchange across the global value chains.  As you can guess, while most are playing checkers, I feel like Pramod is playing 4-dimensional chess… while keeping a grounded lens on disciplined equity, education, and inclusion.  We caught up to chat about it all, but with so many descriptors of his work and accomplishments, especially for people who are getting to know him, I wanted to first simply hear how Pramod tends to describe himself.Cheers to INDIASPORA for the spark!

Abhay shares a conversation with Kiran Gandhi, also known as the award-winning world stage performer Madame Gandhi, as they discuss her journey of personal growth, the creative process behind her latest album 'Let Me Be Water', and the balance between power and stillness in her life. She reflects on the importance of learning, the challenges of being a multi-faceted artist, and the significance of sincerity in her music. The discussion also touches on identity, ego, and the role of trust in artistic expression.(0:00 - 3:16) introduction(3:16) Part 1 - roles and titles, life-long learning, the birth of 'Let Me Be Water'(14:29) Part 2 - musical curriculum, stillness vs. motion(27:41) Part 3 - creative energy, ego, cultivating trust(38:57) Conclusion

Abhay welcomes Sanjay Sharma, founder and CEO of Marginal Media Works, for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about the power of the margins in shaping culture, creativity, and identity.Sanjay shares his journey from growing up immersed in subcultures like skateboarding, heavy metal, and hip hop, to building a media company dedicated to amplifying voices and stories that exist at the intersections—across race, gender, sexuality, and more. Together, Abhay and Sanjay explore how “the coolest shit happens in the margins,” why authenticity matters in an era of rapid commercialization, and how intersectionality and fluid identity are transforming both the business and art of storytelling.The discussion touches on reimagining classic genres through new perspectives, the evolving landscape of representation in Hollywood, and the challenges and opportunities of navigating today's shifting sociopolitical climate. Sanjay also reflects on the importance of pattern recognition, staying connected to emerging trends, and the ongoing need to redefine what it means to belong—both on screen and off.(0:00 - 3:13) Introduction(3:13) Part 1 - prioritizing margins, politics and the moving margins(20:45) Part 2 - centers of capital and power, intersections of tech and media(34:10) Part 3 - labels and identity, optimismDon't forget to subscribe, review, follow along, and share! 

Send us a textAn ominous help note finds its way to a 1980s post office, connecting a dead letter investigator to a podcaster who is chained to a flimsy pipe and cannot break free. On Episode 669 of Trick or Treat Radio we discuss the 80s throwback Dead Mail from directors Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy! We also talk about the allure of Dead Letter offices, the act of actually mailing a child, and the cutthroat world of synthesizers! So grab all your unmailed letters, get that 80s aesthetic ambience just right, and strap on for the world's most dangerous podcast!Stuff we talk about: Edgar Wright, Spaced, Dawn of the Dead, George A. Romero, Shaun of the Dead, Simon Pegg, whether to sequel or not, RIP George Wendt, Cheers, Horrors Hallowed Grounds, Sean Clark, RIP Ella Maye Smith, Psychomania, Alien 3, David Fincher, Tormented, Poltergeist, World War Z, The Zombie Survival Guide, Paul Winfield, Mars Attacks!, Final Destination series, Yoga, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Saturday the 14th, Westworld, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, what is best in life, Police Academy, bad handwriting in the 19th century, Dead Letter Office, mailing children, circus peanuts, Pony Express, Kevin Costner, Cal Ripken, the Cal Ripken Power Outage conspiracy, vibranium Campbells soup cans, Deliverance, Ned Beatty, Freaks, Todd Browning, Dracula, Abhay, the cutthroat world of synthesizers, Beyond the Black Rainbow, 80s aesthetic, group home for men, cinema veritas, early DV camera, grainy 80s cinema, Ravenshadow vs. The Toilet, Ren and Stimpy, The Black Phone, and analog insanity.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/trickortreatradioJoin our Discord Community: discord.trickortreatradio.comSend Email/Voicemail: mailto:podcast@trickortreatradio.comVisit our website: http://trickortreatradio.comStart your own podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=386Use our Amazon link: http://amzn.to/2CTdZzKFB Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/trickortreatradioTwitter: http://twitter.com/TrickTreatRadioFacebook: http://facebook.com/TrickOrTreatRadioYouTube: http://youtube.com/TrickOrTreatRadioInstagram: http://instagram.com/TrickorTreatRadioSupport the show

Abhay is joined by comedian Amit Tandon for a broad conversation sharing insights into his journey in comedy, discussing the importance of relatability, the art of writing jokes, and the challenges of maintaining relevance in a rapidly changing industry. He reflects on the evolution of his craft, the significance of audience observation, and the balance between content creation and innovation. Amit also talks about the guardrails he sets for himself in comedy, the anatomy of a good performance, and the importance of continuous improvement in his work. Try and catch his show Halwa  which he he showcasing currently on tour across the globe.(0:00- 2:33) Introduction(2:33) Part 1 - keywords, being relatable, being a better listener/observer(12:30) Part 2 - storytelling and timelines, pushing boundaries, anatomy of a good show(30:55) Part 3 - delivering intelligent comedy consistently, life before and after stand-up comedy, satisfaction vs ambition(42:56) ConclusionIntro:So if I were on stage delivering stand up comedy, I'd likely be petrified both as a performer and also in trying to create material that someone other than me would find funny.  But as an audience member, maybe the best characteristic that I seek out in a comic artist would be honesty, manifesting in such a way that it builds connection through laughter and shared experiences. Now recently, I was able to catch up with comedian Amit Tandon, who is currently touring across the world with his latest show called Halwa.  Amit is a veteran performer who is known for his clean, relatable, and honest content - which allows him to constantly evolve and hone his well-crafted art.  He went from life as a successful  engineer and entrepreneur, to being the first to have a Hindi solo stand up show on Netflix appropriately called “Family Tandoncies”. Amit's writing and observational style of humor have drawn audience and critic praise alike, especially with relating personal experiences of marriage, family relationships, and the sometimes awkward and surprising truths that govern our own internal reflections. His style is definitely friendly, intelligent, sharp, and in a way bonding- and not just because of the relatability factor with Amit, but also the compelling and connected joy that you're left to seamlessly realize with the people in your own orbit. So when we caught up, we chatted about the nuances of his comedy and storytelling craft, balancing guardrails and pushing boundaries, AI (of course), and even straddling ambition and satisfaction as an artist.  But of course, as I was searching through some of his work, the recurring popups on YouTube were showing online orders for chaat and food snacks, and real estate in Pleasanton, which is heavily populated with Indian families here in the Bay Area - a clear sign I guess that the algorithmic key words and cookies are working well. So… I asked him to reflect a bit on what he thinks those Amit Tandon key words… might be?

Actor, director, and producer, Karan Soni joins Abhay to talk about his latest film A Nice Indian Boy (directed by Roshan Sethi), share lessons from his journey, and some of  the cultural nuances of being an Indian American in Hollywood. He reflects on the importance of versatility in acting, the duality of creative roles, and the significance of downtime for personal growth. Soni emphasizes the need for authentic representation in media and the power of storytelling to foster empathy and understanding. He also touches on the challenges and rewards of navigating the entertainment industry, ultimately expressing a desire to create work that uplifts and resonates with diverse audiences. Of note: proper name pronunciation was celebrated, and no blood tests were ordered.  (0:00 - 2:50) Introduction(2:50) Part 1 - being an endearing artist, life on both sides of the camera, learning and un-learning(19:50) Part 2 - letting go from each role, craft and practice, downtime and privacy, from Delhi to LA(40:24) Part 3 - empowerment from A Nice Indian Boy, working with Roshan Sethi, labels, audience take aways(52:51) Conclusion

Abhay is joined by pioneering seed-stage venture capitalist Vani Kola, founder and managing director of Kolaari Capital. They talked about rituals and routines, dealing with ambiguity and guardrails, and how accelerate closing the equity gap for women entrepreneurs in tech.(0:00 - 3:04) Introduction(3:04) Rituals, basic skills and values, anchors(19:01) Dealing with ambiguity as an founder or funder, navigating guardrails(36:07) India as a governance leader in tech, accelerating pathways for women, nostalgia, building trust(55:30) ConclusionSo I'm always eager to learn from leaders who more often than not are able to manage contrasts.  Now contrasts come in all different shapes and forms and they are literally all around us in every professional and personal environment and my hypothesis is that successful leaders find a way maybe through their own journey to manage small and large contrasts with progressively increasing clarity, patience, and purpose. So it was really a treat to share a conversation with Vani Kola, the founder and managing director of Kalaari Capital, an early stage venture capital firm in India.  Vani is originally from Hyderabad, and after an engineering degree, came to the US to complete her Masters and went on to a career as a serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley for over two decades.  She then returned to India to pioneer among the first homegrown Indian seed-stage venture firms with Kalaari Capital, using a philosophy that includes recognizing ambitious first-time entrepreneurs and helping them to scale up. Now mind you, she started this at a time in the mid-2000's when opportunities for growth and scale for ecommerce, tech, healthcare and many other sectors in India were at the ripening stage.  Vani has navigated and executed successfully through the endless contrasts of an evolving seed-stage venture ecosystem: new vs old, disruptive revolutions vs steady institutions, profiteering innovation vs collective responsibility, and skepticism vs trust… they're at the core of the face to face conversations that investors and entrepreneurs are having everyday.  Vani has been mentoring, and developing some of India's top founders and unicorn companies, with not just a keen eye on returns, but on the responsibility too to accelerate women as leaders in entrepreneurship, doing it all with a meditative sense of purpose and a growth mindset of sharing (by the way, you really have to check out her great newsletter called Kolaidoscope on LinkedIn). I had met her briefly once when she spoke at a panel discussion on tech and India's future, and it was great to catch up with her again to talk about everything from ambiguity and nostalgia, to the guardrails of tech, policy making, and even what she misses about Silicon Valley.  But we started by chatting about the basics of daily skills and anchors, and especially if she had any self- driving and governing rituals or routines?Thanks again and if you're enjoying these, please don't forget to share this with a friend, take a moment to write a kind review, or drop a line to us at info@abhaydandekar.com.  Again, a big shout out to Indiaspora for being that one of a kind gathering ground for doing good. Remember that conversation is the antidote to apathy and the catalyst for relationship building. 

Isabella Sreyashii Sen, co-CEO of Hazelnut Media, joins Abhay to share her journey of finding home in Singapore and how her background informs her storytelling approach. She discusses the importance of empathy in media, the challenges of independent film production, and the role of the Indian diaspora in shaping global narratives. Isabella highlights the need for patience, gender equity, and the power of community. (0:00 - 2:33) Introduction(2:33) Part 1 - Singapore, foundational background(14:48) Part 2 - ladders and challenges, social causes, gender equity(29:47) Part 3 - levers of power, connections in the diaspora(41:00) ConclusionsThank you to INDIASPORA!

Abhay shares a conversation with Satyajit Hange, co-founding farmer of Two Brothers Organic Farms, located in Bhodani, a rural village in Maharasthra.  They chatted about generational influences on his journey, grappling with the challenges of running an eco-conscious enterprise,  and even the impact of his Vedic philosophy on his mission, vision, and values.(0:00 - 3:10) Introduction(3:10) Part 1 - nostalgia, typical farming day, tensions and purpose(19:29) Part 2 - combating forces, leaving the corporate world for farming, competition (35:37) Part 3 - suprises from visitors, Vedic literature and "swadharma", conversations with previous generations(49:04) ConclusionOK - so in my book and in my mind, earth day really is everyday and lately, with each successive day, it seems like when it comes to the earth and climate, retro is actually quite innovative. So I've been asking myself the following almost “time machine” question. And here it is:  How would our foremothers and forefathers from a few generations ago react if they saw a slice of our current world and enviroment? I know they would be fascinated with so many improvements and major advances, but it seems that we would have a lot to learn from them to maybe urgently integrate into our practices today of how we preserve and conserve, treat the land we inhabit, and live consciously with engagement.  It's certainly a question that was top of mind, as I shared a conversation with Satyajit Hange, one of the co-founding farmers of Two Brothers Organic Farms.  Satyajit is a 4th generation farmer in Bhodani (भोडणी), which is about ½ way between Pune and Solapur in Maharashtra. After going away to boarding school and then starting his post-MBA career in the marketing, banking, and education sectors, Satyajit felt his purpose was meant to be elsewhere, and so he, along with his brother Ajinkya, started Two Brothers Organic Farms to make a difference in sustainable rural agriculture.  Foundationally, they've been committed to 100% organic nutrition, humane indigenous animal welfare and farming practices using intercropping, heirloom seeding, and a superb focus on soil health and even bee pollination.  But one of the more amazing by-products of this has been the galvanizing effect on the community with training and education not only for their own teams, but for thousands of local farmers.  I particularly would also call out a spirit of activism, advocating for food labeling transparency and even the tech to monitor a traceable pathway back to the origin of each product. It's a pretty 2025 way of respecting practices that were likely quite normal back several generations ago, and while Satyajit and Two Brothers Organic Farms have come a long way from sharing delicious papayas at local fruit stands to now distributing food across the globe, when I caught up with him to chat about it all, I first wanted to know how much of his ongoing journey has been driven by that inherent nostalgia for farming life that has run so deep for many generations in his family?Learn more about Satyajit, his brother Ajinkya, and their work at twobrothersfood.com

Comedian, writer, and actor Sindhu Vee joins Abhay for a broad conversation about her new comedy special Alphabet, how her journey has informed her comedy, and the way she measures success.  Mangoes, Amitabh Bachchan, and love letters were all of course included!(0:00 - 2:49) Introduction(2:49) Part 1 - consuming comedy, South Asian roots(15:00) Part 2 - integrating and enduring, love letters, mothering(33:20) Part 3 - brand and mission, "I kick you and you hug me", measuring success(48:08) Conclusion

Abhay is joined by the creator of the Hulu series Deli Boys, Abdullah Saeed, to chat about everything from vulnerability and courage with storytelling, to cultivating trust on this project, to weaving partition into the show, to finding comfort and humor in the absurd.  Simpsons and Tan France references were part of the overall gentle charm of this conversation.(0:00 - 2:54) Introduction(2:54) Part 1 - Underachieving, Courage and vulnerability(15:02) Part 2 - Comedy juxtapositions, South Asian cultural approaches in American storytelling(34:45) Part 3 - Explosive turns, Building trust, Mirrors and windows, longevity(46:52) Conclusion

Author, writer, and journalist Sanjena Sathian rejoins TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING to chat about her new novel Goddess Complex, and the state of South Asian American millennial adulthood with attention to procreation, pregnancy, and parenting. Abhay was thrilled once again to step into the Sanjenaverse!(0:00 - 2:53) Introduction(2:53) Part 1 - the birth of a new book, narrative speed, tormented writing(15:45) Part 2 - taking risks, regret or not, take aways for men, reproduction and the immigrant experience(32:52) Part 3 - Balance and privilege, unlearning, frenemies and changes(44:25) Conclusion

Abhay shares a chat with Nima Sherpa, the youngest human in the world to have climbed all 14 peaks over 8000m. Nima shares his journey through the world of climbing, the lessons learned, and the importance of mentorship. He discusses the unique perspective that youth brings to risk-taking and humility, the significance of Sherpa culture in mountaineering, and the evolving landscape of climbing as a profession. Nima emphasizes the need for environmental responsibility and the balance between tourism and conservation, while also reflecting on his personal growth and the aspirations for future generations of Nepali climbers.(0:00 - 2:40) Introduction(2:40) Part 1 - learning from an unsuccessful climb, taking risks(15:15) Part 2 - growing as a leader, focus while climbing, Nepali mountaineering(30:37) Part 3 - climate impact, favorites and injuries, staying peaceful and strong(43:37) Conclusion

Shattered by catastrophe and losing faith ingoodness, hope is restored when an old friend sends a heartfelt note, reminding him that good things happen to good people.Story written, edited, narrated, and produced by Abhay Maheshwari. Follow Abhay by ⁠⁠clicking this link⁠⁠Female Voice by Akanksha Thapliyal (https://www.instagram.com/kahaanibyyogini/)Dear listener, to support the show - Follow, & sign-up for new alerts & leave a rating.LaaL Chashma – Hindi Stories is a critically acclaimed Hindi short story podcast that has been featured on the most renowned Indian audio streaming services JioSaavn & Gaana's, "Editor's Pick" & curation for World Podcaster's Day 2021" respectively. The show has been identified as having “the best crossover of extraordinary stories and the Hindi language” by Kommune (India's premier performing arts collective for storytellers). It is heard by Hindi listeners across 50+ countries and is the only podcast that was featured & recommended by leading Indian news publication Mid-day as part of the "Hindi Divas 2022" curation.Abhay is an award-winning, nationally featured, & critically acclaimed writer, podcaster, and spoken-word storyteller. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the top 5 Next Big Creators in the Indian Audio space. In 2021, he won the prestigious nationwide podcast hunt conducted by JioSaavn and was also recognized in the Top 10 podcasters by Gaana. In 2023, he was the finalist for Podcaster of the year at the Radio & Music Awards India among renowned Indian personalities (Ankur Warikoo, Cyrus Broacha)He is a TEDx speaker and has been invited for his thought leadership by top Indian universities such as the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade & Indian School of Business.This story under LaaL Chashma - Hindi Stories podcast is an original work of art by Abhay Maheshwari. All rights reserved.

In this thought-provoking episode of Discover Your SecondAct Podcast, we explore the journeys of three visionary entrepreneurs who have redefined industries traditionally dominated by women through their remarkable business ventures. Samir Modi (Founder, ColorBar ), Abhay Batra (Co-founder, Clovia), and Vikas Bagaria (Founder, PeeSafe) share their experiences of breaking stereotypes, understanding women's needs, and building brands that truly resonate with female consumers—setting a precedent for meaningful change and a more inclusive future.Need to start your own podcast? SecondAct Studio is the right place for you. For inquiries, DM us atInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondactbyarchhana/LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3Qz9LmSWebsite: https://thesecondact.in/#DiscoverYourSecondAct #womenempowerment #WomenCentricBrands #BreakingStereotypes #InclusiveBusiness #DiversityInBusiness #EntrepreneurialSuccess #VisionaryLeadership #IndustryDisruptors #colorbar #peesafe #clovia 

Abhay is joined by Sree Sreenivasan journalist and CEO/Co-Founder of Digimentors, for a broad conversation from August of 2024 about his experiences in journalism and media.  He is also the co-founder and current president of the South Asian Journalists Association. Sree is a passionate, talented, and humble soul and tells some amazing stories  - apologies in advance to any avid fans of Leonid Brezhnev.(0:00 - 2:45) Introduction(2:45) Part 1 - global citizenship, first feeling like a journalist(17:58) Part 2 - journalistic objectivity, cultivating relationships(38:20) Part 3 - media and institutions, unlearning(49:53) ConclusionsSree Sreenivasan shares his journey as a journalist and digital consultant, reflecting on his diverse background and the importance of storytelling in media. He discusses the challenges facing journalism today, particularly in representing the rich diversity of society, and the need for media to adapt in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Sree emphasizes the significance of community, the role of digital immigrants, and the necessity of unlearning to stay relevant in the field. The discussion also touches on the impact of social media and the evolving nature of communication in our lives.

Abhay Parasnis is founder and CEO of Typeface, is former CTO/CPO at Adobe, and sits on the board of Dropbox and Schneider Electric. He joined Ben Casnocha, co-founder and partner at Village Global, for a live masterclass for Village Global founders.Takeaways:If you can break into the top tier of the enterprise market, it's hard to dislodge you.Big platforms like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are eager to prove their tech's power. If you position your startup as a prime showcase for their platform, you become a strategic asset.When selling to enterprise, understand the company's macro strategy in the market, but also know what the on-the-ground person needs to close deals.With the rise of agents and agentic automation, even the workflow layer isn't safe. As these systems gain richer context, they'll redefine automation in SaaS. Just like today's platform vs. app debate, tomorrow's battle will be legacy workflows vs. agents.Success in AI isn't just about top-tier products—it's about being a consultative partner to help them with change management.There's a common fear about embracing a custom data training strategy — it's expensive, complex, and feels like the domain of big players. But starting narrow and accumulating distinct data early is key. It drives real AI differentiation and builds critical internal muscle in engineering and product.Value-based pricing means customers are less price-sensitive because it ties directly to their top-line business, unlike commodity pricing, which faces constant cost pressure. Instead of charging per word, image, or seat—models that AI disrupts—pricing should align with outcomes, ensuring long-term sustainability.Thanks for listening — if you like what you hear, please review us on your favorite podcast platform.Check us out on the web at www.villageglobal.vc or get in touch with us on Twitter @villageglobal.Want to get updates from us? Subscribe to get a peek inside the Village. We'll send you reading recommendations, exclusive event invites, and commentary on the latest happenings in Silicon Valley. www.villageglobal.vc/signup

Abhay is joined by Major League Baseball executive Farhan Zaidi to chat about everything from the culture of being a front-facing leader in sports, to his journey in baseball, to his insights on starting pitching, to who he thinks is the smartest player he's ever been around. After spending time with the A's and Giants, Farhan is back again with the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers as a special advisor.(0:00 - 3:01) Introduction(3:01) Part 1 - being a "free agent", learned lessons from previous roles, what it's like to be an executive(13:13) Part 2 - baseball culture, his own multicultural background(26:03) Part 3 - unlearning, pitching in 2025, cultivating teams, legacy(38:04) ConclusionA big shout out to Nick and Brad and all the humans and canines over at Al's Barbershop in Alameda - where everyone leaves a little smarter, a little happier, and with a little less hair.

Abhay is joined by peace activist Nitin Sonawane as he embarks on a cross-country Gandhian walking journey for peace across America, from San Francisco to Washington DC.(0:00 - 2:56) Introduction(2:56) Part 1 - starting out and mapping, typical walk day, growing up (15:11) Part 2 - peace and conflict, getting to actuation, surprises(29:00) Part 3 - grassroots peace activism, combating fatigue, walking shoes, why his walking matters(39:51) ConclusionAs begrudgingly as I can say it, congrats to any Eagles fans out there - there… I said it, OK?I'm a fan of feedback, so if you have thoughts or suggestions, send em over to info@abhaydandekar.com

Abhay is joined by filmmaker Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, whose debut feature  Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic competition.  Sabar Bonda is the first ever Marathi feature film to be presented at the festival.(0:00 - 2:38 ) Introduction(2:38) Part 1 - Sundance, patience as a filmmaker, mourning and grieving as a backdrop(15:02) Part 2 - making films with important themes, one-word descriptors, lessons(26:32) ConclusionLike many, my heart and soul go out to those who are struggling as a result of the Los Angeles wildfires.Please help contribute to the American Red Cross, Mutual Aid LA Network, various Go FundMe efforts, Save the Children, and Baby2Baby. Hoping for a safe, peaceful, and supportive recovery for everyone.

Abhay Parasnis, founder of Typeface, is making a big bet on where artificial intelligence will truly reshape the marketing industry. After experience at Adobe and other large organizations, Parasnis ventured out on his own in 2022 to work on a tool to solve the fundamental problem in marketing today, the “content paradox.” He explains why there's a gap between data and cloud technologies, and the ability to use those to effectively make and distribute content. He walks Greg and Rex through some of the cutting-edge functionality that Typeface offers its partners. For Further Reading:Abhay Parasnis showcases Typeface on CNN “De-coded” w/Host Anna StewartAdobe Alum takes AI-enables marketing beyond the promptTransition from solo acts to a complete symphony with AIAbhay Parasnis Keynote at VivaTech 2024 Listen on your favorite podcast app: https://pod.link/1715735755

Abhay is joined by Kinsu Kumar and Varsha, two leaders from the Satyarthi Global Movement for Compassion, which is dedicated to globalise compassion to restore justice, peace, equity and sustainability in the world.   Kinsu and Varsha are part of the movement's Bal Ashram and Bal Mitra initiatives, which exemplify these efforts at the grass roots level in India, addressing child labor, sex trafficking, and child marriage through rehabilitation efforts in urban and rural areas.(0:00 - 3:40) Introduction(3:40) Part 1 - stories of entry, stories of trust, helping to manage trauma(21:32) Part 2 - using compasion as a vehicle, maintaining and sustaining gains, how to promote needed changePlease visit Satyarthimovement.org and satyarthi.org to learn more about their global work.  If you are listening in the US and may be aware of someone who is a victim of humantrafficking, please call 888-373-7888.

Abhay is joined by Melissa Mahtani, journalist and the executive producer of CBS Confirmed.  Over two decades, she's been a reporter, a blogger, a moderator, and an anchor covering stories about human rights, gender equity, global affairs, and breaking news.  They talked about verified journalism, empowering audiences, and more.(0:00 - 2:45) Introduction(2:45) Part 1 - Cultivating trust, democratization of information(13:45) Part 2 - Anatomy of a news story, A.I.disruption, South Asian background(29:28) Part 3 - Combating disinformation, unlearning, joy and optimism(41:30) ConclusionLike many, my heart and soul go out to those who are struggling as a result of the Los Angeles wildfires.Please help contribute to the American Red Cross, Mutual Aid LA Network, various Go FundMe efforts, Save the Children, and Baby2Baby. Hoping for a safe, peaceful, and supportive recovery for everyone.

Abhay is joined by singer Dhee, as they both shared a conversation about making music and loving the process.Dhee is a Sri Lankan born, Australian raised, Tamil-rooted artist whose music is available everywhere.(0:00 - 2:21) Introduction(2:21) Part 1 - loving the process, completing a song (11:05) Part 2 - singing in various languages, exploration vs. comfort, versatility in her music(27:43) Part 3 - collaborations and learning, "connecting the dots", legacy on listeners(38:00) ConclusionLike many, my heart and soul go out to those who are struggling as a result of the Los Angeles wildfires.Please help contribute to the American Red Cross, Mutual Aid LA Network, various Go FundMe efforts, Save the Children, and Baby2Baby. Hoping for a safe, peaceful, and supportive recovery for everyone.

Abhay chats with nutritional psychiatrist, Dr. Uma Naidoo, author of the books "Calm Your Mind With Food" and "This Is Your Brain On Food".They chatted about a range of things, reviewing the many connections between mood and food. Check out the 6 Pillars of Nutritional Psychiatry and more of her work at umanaidoomd.com. (0:00 - 2:29) Introduction(2:29) Part 1 - mythbusting, moments of celebration, how Uma found her way to nutritional psychiatry(16:23) Part 2 - unlearnings, South Asian themes(31:24) Part 3 - nutrition and anxiety in youth and teens, gut microbiome, rituals and routines to build upon(44:39) ConclusionAlso please note that the content here should not be taken as medical advice, and is for informational purposes only, and because each person is so unique, please consult your own healthcare professional team for any medical questions or concerns.Lastly, Dr. Naidoo has many fans out there of her books ... even Tom Brady!

Abhay chats with performance psychologist and sports scientist, Shayamal Vallabhjee to chat about everything from setting goals and empowering individuals to sustaining performance and cultivating trust in your achievements. Shayamal's expertise is sought after by everyone from elite sports teams, global leaders and executives, and Indian cricket athletes like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli.(0:00 - 3:00) Introduction(3:00) Part 1 - competitiveness, performance mindset, defining goals and excellence(17:23) Part 2 - surprises in working with athletes, Indian heritage, lessons learned, unhealthy wins and healthy losses(43:03) Part 3 - the aging athlete, finding peace and cultivating trust(57:15) Conclusion

Abhay is joined by the founders of the Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour, Barnali Ghosh and Anirvan Chatterjee, to talk about activism, unearthing local South Asian American history, and suprises from their experiences.(0:00 - 3:23) Introduction(3:23) Part 1 - reflecting on the first tour, South Asian American history as a "secret"(14:57) Part 2 - identity as historians and activists, amplifying stories, temperament of an activist, racial intersections and interrogations(36:48) Part 3 - unlearnings as activists, "3D activism", lasting impressions(47:40) ConclusionContact info@berkeleysouthasian.org to get updatesLocal Bay Area photography shout out to George Nixon - the ultimate pro!

Abhay is joined by gender fluid singer, actor, model, performer and activist, Sushant Divigikar AKA Rani KoHEnur.They chatted about everything from art and comfort on stage to parenting and gratitude. Listen to and watch  BAWLA , Sushant's latest work (collaborating with Mikey McCleary and others)(0:00 - 2:44) Introduction(2:44) Part 1 - feeling most comfortable with singing, gratitude from parents, the stage as a safe place(19:01) Part 2 - introversion/extroversion, feeling humble, feeling empowered(39:41) Part 3 - the basics of "unlearning", dreams, lasting impressions on new audiences(52:07) Conclusion Special shout out to KDC Performing Arts in Phoenix - if you somehow ever need dance in your life, please check them out!

So, Śrīla Prabhupāda is called A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Abhay Caraṇāravinda. He takes shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa where there's no fear, Abhay. There's an acronym for fear: fear everything and run. You can turn it the other way: if you take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, face everything and rise. That's the modus operandi of somebody who feels fortified and protected by Kṛṣṇa like Prabhupāda. He faced everything and he rose. If we're able to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa and say, "It's your power, it's not mine. I completely hand over myself to you. I don't want anything for myself; it's all for your service," then we become fearless. The best way to declare that again and again is: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. That's how to become fearless—to put it all in Kṛṣṇa's hands and say that, "You take care of me, you maintain me, I'm just going to be your servant, that's it." Otherwise, there's anxiety and fear everywhere in the material world. There's one other element that I think is very important in chanting with full intention. That is to feel part of Lord Caitanya's mission. When I'm thinking about why I'm not getting some taste—I'm chanting, but how come I'm not feeling ecstasy—then I'll start getting mental, like, "Oh, I can't chant." But if we're thinking about spreading the saṅkīrtana movement when we're chanting, that how everyone can have an opportunity to come in contact with this, there's a sense of a mission in the chanting: "Let me do good for others. Kṛṣṇa, please empower me to be able to help other people." It's a completely different feeling and flow than thinking, "Why aren't I getting some spiritual bliss here?" If we can lean into that mood and have some stake in the saṅkīrtana movement, and as we're chanting, have an underlying prayer that, "Please let this saṅkīrtana movement spread everywhere in the world, please use me as an instrument to spread the holy name to as many people as possible," then we'll be able to have a taste in chanting the holy name, even if..." (excerpt from the talk) To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ (USA only) https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #makejapagreatagain #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #mantrameditation #chantharekrishnaandbehappy

Abhay shares a conversation with United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy.  They chatted about some of the imperatives of doctoring, serving youth and parents, and promoting health through human connection. And of course, mangoes were definitely discussed!(0:00 - 3:06) Introduction(3:06) Part 1 - Prioritizing and keeping the population healthy, kindling connection, parenting(17:59) Part 2 - Gun violence and safety, building community, Indian American background, gifts from his parents(32:58) Part 3 - Combating disinformation, finding joy and optimism in each other(42:31) ConclusionShout out to Alivia Irwin and please help her in her fight to honor her grandfather and end Alzheimer's disease

Abhay catches up with actor, Adi Roy, lead actor for the Broadway hit musical Aladdin.They chatted about actor life, Alanis Morissette songs, South Asians in theater, and much more...(0:00 - 2:20) Introduction(2:20) Part 1 - pre-show routines, transition from touring to Broadway(13:47) Part 2 - Jagged Little Pill experiences, auditions and feeling content, resilience as an actor(24:53) Part 3 - South Asians on Broadway(34:57) Conclusion

Abhay chats with Israa Nasir, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of the book "Toxic Productivity",.They chatted about everything from habits and rituals to her South Asian background to steering toward healthy productivity.(0:00 - 2:57) Introduction(2:57) Part 1 - Slow mornings, rituals and reminders(16:23) Part 2 - Quieting the critic, cultural background accelerating her work, managing emotions(30:15) Part 3  - Epiphanies with productivity, writing the book, masks and parents(48:23) Conclusion

It's election week here in the US, so onTRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING , we're sharing Lotus for POTUS conversations, hearing insights from leading edge voices to help inform us and get out that vote!  A few months ago, I created a meme with a photo of Vice President Harris that went “In Sanskrit, Kamala means Lotus… In America, Kamala means POTUS” and for me and many others, that sentiment sums up the urgent choice we're making at the highest level, being thoughtful about our past, present, and future.  Not just for our community, but for every community of voters of any age in the US, what it all comes down to is showing up and exercising the ultimate demonstration of trust and individual power in a democracy - which is casting your vote in a free and fair election. Indian Americans and South Asian Americans are the fastest growing voter bloc in the US, having the power to be the true margin of victory in many places, and as civic engagement continues to grow and foundationally expand, the work of organizing and mobilizing and activating at local and national levels become more complex and genuinely imperative.  With over 60 endorsed candidates across the country, Indian American IMPACT is doing just that - making a difference with a thoughtful and action oriented approach. And as the last push is upon all of us after such a long and incredibly grueling road, it was great to catch up with Executive Director Chintan Patel. And getting right to it after traveling to many battleground states recently,  as Chintan introduced himself and his work, I also asked him to describe the tone and temperature of what he's seeing and feeling out there in the community…Remember, conversation is truly the antidote to apathy… Go to Iwillvote.com for information about voting resources, to desipresident.com, iaimpact.org, southasiansforharris2024.org, and to kamalaharris.com to get engaged and learn directly about the Harris-Walz campaign. Please get involved, get active, and get informed about all your local issues and candidates up and down the ballot, and most importantly GO VOTE.  Till next time, I'm Abhay Dandekar.

In this episode of The Strategy Gap, hosts Jonathan Morgan and Joe Krause interview Abhay Jain, VP of Strategy and Business Development at A+E Networks. They explore strategy creation, innovation, and execution in various organizations, emphasizing the importance of solving real problems to attract the right talent for startups.Abhay shares insights on commercial real estate, focusing on lifestyle and startup incubation, and highlights the need for customer-centric strategies. The conversation covers planning horizons, fostering innovation while avoiding the "hippo effect," and the cultural differences between startups and large corporations. Abhay also offers advice on career flexibility and adapting to new opportunities. Tune in for practical insights on strategic planning and innovation!Why you'll want to tune in:Discover unique strategies from top experts who share tips for overcoming common business challenges and fostering innovation.Learn from case studies and stories across industries that highlight successful strategic planning and innovation.Find practical tips and tactics you can apply in your organization to drive growth and enhance adaptability in today's changing markets.

In partnership with DOCTORS for HARRIS, Abhay shares conversations with leading doctors from around the country on the imperative healthcare choices Americans are facing in the 2024 election and compelling reasons to vote for Kamala Harris(0:00) Introduction(1:15) Congressman Raul Ruiz (D) CA-25(10:40) Alice Chen (17:30) Anita Somani(24:34) Annie Andrews(31:55) Mark Lopatin(39:09) Micah Ernst(47:08) Lalita Abhyankar(52:35) Owais Durrani(59:20) Nina Agrawal(1:04:30) Alicia Christy(1:11:00) Suhas Gondi(1:17:05) ConclusionPlease visit IWILLVOTE.COM , DOCTORSFORHARRIS.COM , and KAMALAHARRIS.COM 

In this episode, Neil Katyal discusses the current election cycle, focusing on Kamala Harris's centrist approach and her empathetic leadership style. He emphasizes the importance of voting rights and electoral integrity, while also addressing the challenges of misinformation and trust in institutions like the Supreme Court. Neal reflects on his identity as an Indian American and how Kamala Harris' candidacy resonates with that experience, urging listeners to recognize the constitutional implications of the upcoming election.We're almost at election day here in the US, so these next few weeks on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING , we're sharing a series of Lotus for POTUS conversations, hearing insights from leading edge voices to help inform and get out the vote!  A few months ago, I created a meme with a photo of Vice President Harris that went “In Sanskrit, Kamala means Lotus… In America, Kamala means POTUS” and for me and many others, that sentiment sums up the urgent choice we're making at the highest level, being thoughtful about our past, present, and future.  As the question of “what's at stake” is such an important one to keep asking ourselves, we also know that from the beginning there's been a swirl of tangled questions surrounding the “what ifs” in a very close race and also involving a convicted felon who has used the legal system as a vindictive bludgeoning tool against the free and safe  election process.  So particularly to help clarify some of these thoughts on the imperatives that we face, it was simply wonderful to chat with Neal Katyal, the former acting solicitor general of the United States.  Neal is an attorney with expertise in constitutional, criminal, and intellectual property law, and along with his prior experiences in the Justice Department as a National Security Advisor, he has argued 51 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, more than any other minority lawyer in history.  He's had deep experiences in some of the most significant trials in our country's history over the past 25 years, including the George Floyd murder trial, defending the voting rights act of 1965, the Trump travel ban, military trials at Guantanamo, and the election dispute in 2000, just to name a few. Neal is a law professor at Georgetown, and along with being a respected scholar and prolific author, he seems to have won nearly every major legal award out there and thankfully is a frequent news commentator.  He also hosts a great podcast called Courtside, designed help inform the public and help explain a variety of court cases.  So in that spirit, it was great to catch up with him and talk about the upcoming election from his unique and superb perspective on Kamala Harris, and since he has mentioned in the past how he is an ardent believer in “extreme centrism”, I first wanted to know with this in mind what was making him feel optimistic about the Harris-Walz campaign.Remember, conversation is the antidote to apathy. Go to Iwillvote.com for information about resources, to desipresident.com and southasiansforharris2024.org, and to kamalaharris.com to learn directly about the Harris-Walz campaign. Please get involved, get engaged, and get informed about all your local issues and candidates up and down the ballot. Till next time, I'm Abhay Dandekar.

Abhay is joined by Subah and Harshvardhan Saraf, the founders of Satvic Movement and authors of the book "The Satvic Revolution". They chatted about their ongoing journey and lessons along the way.(0:00- 3:41) Introduction(3:41) Part 1 - Satvic lifestyle and ritual adherance, awakening and evidence(23:22) Part 2 - Guardrails against extremism, practical experiences(43:31) Part 3 - Patience and practice, building trust(57:43) Conclusion

With the election upon us here in the US, these next few weeks on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I'm DOING , we're sharing a series of Lotus for POTUS conversations, hearing insights from leading edge voices to help inform and get out the vote!  A few months ago, I created a meme with a photo of Vice President Harris that went “In Sanskrit, Kamala means Lotus… In America, Kamala means POTUS” and for me and many others, that sentiment sums up the imperative choice we're making at the highest level, being thoughtful about our past, present, and future.  With liberty and justice for all - it's the last part of our national pledge and being an empowered voter in an American democracy means finding this implemented through our elected leaders.  So it was great to catch up with Anurima Bhargava, who has been a leader in promoting dignity and justice both at home and abroad,  and advancing civil rights for many stakeholders. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, she's an experienced attorney who has worked to litigate cases on diversity and segregation with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, led civil rights enforcement in schools and educational institutions at the US Department of Justice, and served as Chair and Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which documents and makes recommendations on religious persecution and violence abroad. Anurima's incredible commitment to advancing human dignity through justice shines also as a seasoned storyteller, as she's been a producer and advisor to numerous documentary films and projects.  Along with being the founder and president of Anthem of Us, a strategic advisory and consulting firm for strengthening equity, belonging, and trust in workplaces, schools, and communities, Anurima has long been active as an advisor and organizer for numerous political campaigns, marshaling resources and information for action, especially noted these past few months in co-organizing the impressive and ongoing South Asian Women for Harris movement.  We chatted recently about all the compelling highlights that are drawing voters to Kamala Harris, but I first wanted to know if similar to herself in her own work, whether it is safe to say that Kamala Harris is a “Justice Ninja” ? Remember, conversation is the antidote to apathy. Now this is all in the shownotes, but I'll share here too… Go to Iwillvote.com for information about resources, to southasiansforharris2024.org, and to kamalaharris.com to learn about the Harris-Walz campaign. Please get involved, get engaged, and get informed about all your local issues and candidates up and down the ballot. Till next time, I'm Abhay Dandekar.

Abhay is joined by professor, advisor, and author, Gautam Mukunda.He is the author of Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter and Picking Presidents: How to Make the Most Consequential Decision in the World, and has served as a professor at Harvard, Yale, and Tufts. By cultivating expertise as an advisor on leadership and strategy problems,  with publishing widely on innovation, security issues, and synthetic biology, in being on the board of the UPAKAR FOUNDATION (a national non-profit devoted to providing college scholarships to underprivileged students of South Asian descent), and in being a former Jeopardy champion, Gautam is well on his way to achieving his life's goal: to have the world's most confusing resumé !(0:00 - 2:40) Introduction(2:40) Part 1 - Systems, dispensability, seduced by unfiltered leaders(18:53) Part 2 - "Standing down", Kamala Harris, risk mitigation(41:59) Part 3 - Unlearnings and lessons, leadership style, advise for voters(1:03:18) Conclusion

Abhay shares a conversation with Los Angeles based art gallerist and curator, Rajiv Menon, to talk about his ongoing work, about art and race and the global South Asian, and even some of the barriers and accelerators he's encountered along the way.Rajiv's latest exhibition is titled "Three Steps of Land", as an artistic ode to Onam and Kerala.(0:00 - 2:46) Introduction(2:46) Part 1 - Mobilizing art, making art relevant, trusting relationship with visual arts(19:54) Part 2 - Nostalgia and Whiteness, connecting the dots of his exhibits, misconceptions(32:23) Part 3 - Unlearning, finding harmony with art in a digital world, Los Angeles and beyond, "how can I get involved"(44:59) ConclusionRemember that it's National Suicide Prevention Month in the US - if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 9-8-8 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Abhay shares a conversation with social entrepreneur and recent Harvard University graduate, Shruthi Kumar.They talked about her commencement speech, college activism, being a South Asian student, and now entering life after graduation(0:00 - 3:32) Introduction(3:32) Part 1 - "The Power of Not Knowing", harmonizing empathy with action(17:22) Part 2 - Nebraska and Harvard, complacency, South Asian student life(32:45) Part 3 - Power and Peace, unlearning, optimism going forward(48:24) Conclusion

Abhay Paroha, an engineering leader with more than 15 years' experience in leading product dev teams, joins SE Radio's Kanchan Shringi to talk about cloud migration for oil and gas production operations. They discuss Abhay's experiences in building a cloud foundation layer that includes a canonical data model for storing bi-temporal data. They further delve into his teams' learnings from using Kubernetes for microservices, the transition from Java to Scala, and use of Akka streaming, along with tips for ensuring reliable operations. Brought to you by IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Software magazine.

Abhay is joined by Dr. Ritu Raman, MIT engineering professor and author of the book "Biofabrication", for a conversation about personal and professional lessons learned from her journey, the tethers of science fiction and pop culture, and the possibilities and limits of her work.(0:00 - 2:58) Introduction(2:58) Part 1 - setting the stage and defining the work, popular science fiction(16:39) Part 2 - robotic applications, ethical considerations, priorities, extension of herself(32:01) Part 3 - achieving in the academic world, scientific literacy and mentoring, finding joy(47:34 Conclusion

Entrepreneur, journalist, and podcaster Ginni Saraswati joins Abhay for a conversation that touched upon everything from storytelling to mythbusting to wedding planning! Ginni is the founder and CEO of Ginni Media and hosts "The Ginni Show".(0:00 - 2:40) Introduction(2:40) Part 1 - wedding planning, storytelling  and building relationships(12:24) Part 2 - the weight or lightness of identity, the biggest myths about podcasting(24:19) Part 3 - media mogul, AI and the optimism(30:02) Conclusion

Chef, content creator, and author Sanjana Modha joins Abhay to talk about everything from lunchtime food, to cooking as a parent, to her go-to dessert, to writing her new book "Sanjana's Feasts", which is due out this fall 2024. (0:00 - 3:01) Introduction(3:01) Part 1 - lunchtime, cooking as a parent(11:14) Part 2 - cooking as a way to connect the dots, vegetarian cooking, local specificities(25:28) Part 3 - making a great recipe, hospitality, single dish expression(35:32) Conclusion

It's hopefully obvious to many that the AI revolution has not only begun but it's in full swing. Now since I'm in healthcare and well a wee bit older than those entering the workforce right now, I wanted to get the perspective of someone who has not only grown up with AI as a digital tool and familiar science but also has developed a relationship in researching AI and using it to tackle problems at scale.  So it was wonderful to connect and share a brief chat with machine learning technology researcher and entrepreneur, Dhruv Kulkarni.  Dhruv is both a current college student at Berkeley (GO BEARS!)and a tech startup founder - someone who grew comfortable with machine learning and AI early on in his formative years.  It's that same comfort and ease that fueled a spirit of innovation and utility to use these tools and help solve problems, particularly of interest for me in the healthcare space, where so far Dhruv has tackled the administrative problem of accelerating the prior authorization process in small clinics and now is serving as AI director at Forta Health and helping to tackle chronic conditions and problems like helping parents in caring for autistic children.  If you're keeping score, Dhruv has already along the way, served as an entrepreneurial peer resource and mentor for other students, founded two startup companies that were acquired, developed an emerging expertise at the intersection of fintech and AI, and has already gained investor experience as a venture partner. We chatted and I wanted to learn a bit more about his work and journey, but we started by talking about when Dhruv first discovered that AI and machine learning was something he could harness and actually control…