What if you could hold a crowd without a single cheap trick? We sit with Javed Akhtar Sahab to map the winding road from assistant director ambitions to a life built on sentences that sing. The story isn’t mythic; it’s practical; debate notes turned into letters, small rewrites on film sets, ghostwritten gags, and the gradual recognition that words were the real vocation.

We dig into the ethics of clarity: how the same values speak different dialects depending on who’s listening. Javed Sahab explains something crucial - mass appeal doesn’t require vulgarity- and shows how attention is earned with structure, stakes, and rhythm. Deadlines become a surprising muse, revealing how urgency can kindle discipline when inspiration fails. Then the lens tightens on craft: the illusion of ease in songwriting and poetry, the patient drills no one sees, and the way a single word carries an entire neighborhood of memories into the listener’s mind.

There’s sharp honesty here too. A self-described hardcore feminist, Javed Sahab shares why writing women-centered stories has been a struggle, tracing it to a childhood surrounded by strong, empowered women and a late awareness of domestic violence. That candor opens a larger look at mental first aid; how to name sharp traumas, how to notice slow-burn pain that stains the days, and when professional help is the wiser tool. We close by uniting passion and precision: poetry as the music of language, music as mathematics, and the creative paradox that demands both surrender and surgery. If you care about lyric writing, screenwriting, public speaking, or simply choosing better words, this conversation hands you a durable toolkit: read widely, memorize masters, respect the audience, and let the right kind of fear focus your work.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who writes, and leave a review with your favorite line; you’ll help others find the conversation and keep the craft alive.

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A painted pair of sneakers started it, but the real story is how a classic Indian jutti learned to move with modern life. We sit down with Laksheeta, founder of Fizzy Goblet, to explore how comfort became a promise, why craft stayed at the center, and how risk, play, and rigour can coexist inside one growing brand. From early pop-ups to Shopify-first launches, she unpacks the experiments that worked, the ones that didn’t, and the mindset that kept her building.

We go deep into design choices, reengineering bite-prone juttis with better materials and padding, then evolving them into jutti sneakers and loafers that slip into office days and wedding nights. Laksheeta explains how she draws the line between tradition and disruption, marrying heritage techniques like mukesh and zardozi with denim, tie-dye, and unexpected silhouettes. Her dance background shows up in resilience and leadership: the discipline to show up daily, the courage to decide without waiting for universal consensus, and the steady practice of protecting creative headspace through quiet mornings and team-powered ideation.

There’s a bigger impact, too. Long partnerships with artisans have helped small workshops grow into stable businesses, strengthening a once-fragile ecosystem. The result is sustainability that feels human: livelihoods expanded, heritage skills valued, and products designed to last. We also talk about the new Indian consumer, curious, values-led, and fluent in personal storytelling, and how pricing can blend aspiration with access so beauty isn’t exclusive. Along the way, you’ll hear a candid take on trusting your aesthetic voice, avoiding decision paralysis, and building a mental first aid box for the hard days.

If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves design and craft, and leave a quick review; your words help more curious listeners find us.

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What if the forest is speaking and we’ve simply been listening at the wrong frequency? We sit down with engineer-turned-conservationist Seema Lokhandwala, whose team built an AI system that detects infrasonic elephant rumbles to prevent deadly human–elephant encounters. The story winds from a childhood spark to field-tested tech, revealing how empathy, culture, and careful design can turn code into a life-saving early warning.

Seema pulls back the curtain on how elephants communicate: low-frequency rumbles beneath human hearing, rich with meaning when paired with body language and context. We talk about the hard parts, data scarcity, false positives in a world where trucks, planes, and wind live in the same frequency band, and the relentless need to earn community trust. She explains herd dynamics, “let’s go” rumbles, and why individual vocal signatures matter for understanding identity and intent. Along the way, we explore the ethics of anthropomorphism, acknowledging the compassion we see without forcing human motives onto wild minds.

The conversation tackles the realities on the ground: 600 humans and 100 elephants lost annually in India, families reshaping evenings around the risk of crop raids, and communities that still hold deep reverence for elephants as sacred. Seema argues that technology should be a support system, not a replacement for culture or local wisdom. We examine adaptation on all sides, elephants learning deterrents, humans changing tactics, and models retrained to stay one step ahead. Climate stress enters the frame through physiology and seasonality, with a candid look at why multi-decade datasets are essential and so rare.

Seema’s utopian vision is disarmingly simple: people sleep peacefully because an alert arrived early and a gentle deterrent quietly redirected a herd. No heroics, just fewer tragedies. She shares how she channels anxiety into persistence and why passion is built by doing the work, not waiting for a calling to appear. If you care about conservation technology, animal behavior, AI ethics, or how communities and wildlife can share a changing landscape, this is a grounded, hopeful listen.

If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves animals and tech, and leave a review so more curious minds can find it. Your thoughts shape future episodes; what should we listen to next?

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A single moment split his life in two: before the heart attack and after the surgery. What followed wasn’t a retreat into caution but a deliberate climb from base zero, two minutes at a time, toward a finish line he couldn’t yet see. We sit down with Dhananjay Yellurkar to unpack how a non-athlete became a seven-continent marathoner by swapping fear for disciplined patience and trading shortcuts for rituals that actually work.

We explore the early days of cardiac rehab, where trust in the body had to be earned slowly and safely. Dhananjay shares how he used heart-rate caps, weekly check-ins, and incremental mileage to rebuild confidence without recklessness. The first unsupported run at dawn, no nurses, no machines, brought fragility into focus, but community and a supportive partner kept the plan intact. Within six months, he crossed a half marathon finish line. Less than a year later, he trained methodically for the New York City Marathon with a 20-week plan, pre-dawn long runs through Mumbai heat and monsoon, and a commitment to show up at work as if the miles didn’t exist.

The conversation moves beyond running. We connect endurance training to life: focus over frenzy, consistency over novelty, depth over dabbling. Dhananjay’s simple system- sleep by ten, wake at five, mostly home-cooked food, hydration, portion control, light strength work, and four weekly runs-became a durable identity. He explains how mindset and preparation carried him through extremes like Antarctica and the Big Five Marathon, where flexibility and pacing trumped ego. We also open his 'emotional first aid box,' a small toolkit of music and pet memories that restores calm when motivation thins, and we frame recovery as trauma-informed rather than trauma-driven.

If you’re rebuilding after a setback, or just trying to create a steadier life, this story offers a blueprint: start from your real baseline, go slowly, respect the data, and let consistency do the heavy lifting. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs hope, and leave a review telling us the one habit you’ll commit to this week.

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What happens when we slow down enough to truly listen to ourselves? In our chaotic, fast-paced world, the simple act of putting pen to paper has become a revolutionary form of self-care.

Gunjan Adya, founder of Tula Journey and recipient of the Vogue Wellness Award, joins me to explore how journaling can become a gateway to deeper self-understanding. Her journey began unexpectedly when she trained as an art therapist and discovered the transformative power of creative expression. As an empty nester searching for meaning, Gunjan created beautiful journals that merge functionality with artistic design - because as she notes, "I personally do judge a book by its cover."

We delve into Tula's immersive workshops, including the meditative practice of mindful tea drinking, where participants observe brewing leaves and changing colors as a form of presence training. The conversation flows into how our relationship with our cultural roots is evolving, as many Indians rediscover the wisdom and traditions that were once dismissed in favour of Western approaches.

Perhaps the most powerful segment is our discussion about vulnerability. Gunjan shares how workshop participants physically shake when asked to write down their fears, while I explain the psychology behind this resistance - writing something makes it concrete and real. We explore how men are reconnecting with their creative expression after decades of emotional suppression, and the beautiful changes happening as more fathers engage in childcare and rediscover play.

Join us for this gentle reminder that in a world obsessed with speed, slowing down might be the most revolutionary act of self-care.

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What if the secret to bridging cultural divides, securing meaningful employment, and developing empathy isn't found in what we learn - but in how we communicate?

Charles Byrne, Director General of the English Speaking Union, brings a fascinating perspective to this conversation, drawing from his uniquely diverse career spanning philosophy, retail management, and non-profit leadership. His journey to becoming a champion for oracy - the ability to express oneself fluently - began with poetry and travel loving parents and an inspiring teacher who recognized potential beyond his science-focused curriculum.

We explore the recent Oracy Commission's proposal that speaking and listening should join reading, writing, and arithmetic as essential educational pillars. Rather than adding to overloaded schedules, Charles shares practical ways these skills can be woven into existing subjects, addressing the growing disconnect between education and workplace needs. As noted, employers increasingly value ‘agility over ability,’ yet many graduates possess impressive grades but struggle to communicate effectively.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when Charles shares a deeply moving encounter with a World War II veteran who helped liberate a concentration camp. Through careful listening, Charles discovered the man's lingering trauma and guilt, demonstrating how communication can bridge not just cultural gaps but temporal ones, connecting past suffering with present understanding. The story takes a gentle twist when the veteran hears another side of the story through Charles.

English itself emerges as a fascinating case study in communication evolution. Once a colonial imposition, it has transformed into what Charles describes as ‘a shared tool that people use’ while maintaining their local languages and cultural identities. The International Public Speaking Competition exemplifies this balance, bringing together young people who form cross-cultural friendships while preserving their unique backgrounds.

Whether you're a parent concerned about your child's future prospects, an educator seeking fresh approaches, or simply someone fascinated by human connection, this conversation offers valuable insights into how speaking and listening shape not just our careers, but our very humanity.

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Boman Irani's warmth and wisdom shine throughout this captivating conversation that explores the intersection of acting craft, psychological insight, and authentic storytelling.

The renowned actor—beloved for iconic roles in films like Munna Bhai MBBS and 3 Idiots—shares the unconventional journey that led him to Bollywood in his 40s after fourteen years in theater.

"Actors are lying," Boman reveals with disarming candor, before explaining his paradoxical approach to performance: finding deep truth within pretense. This philosophy permeates his craft as he describes the ability to be "truthful in the lie" while maintaining the psychological discipline to "unlie" himself after intense scenes. Rather than focusing on expressions, Boman emphasizes feeling—allowing audiences to experience what the character experiences rather than merely observing a performance.

His reflections on what makes characters unforgettable offer profound insights for storytellers and psychology enthusiasts alike. "Characters who are dark but show potential for change" create the strongest connections with audiences, he explains, because they offer hope: "If this guy could change, maybe I can change too." This perspective illuminates why his portrayals of complex characters like Dr. Asthana resonate so powerfully across generations.

The conversation takes a heartwarming turn when Boman shares the contents of his "emotional first aid box"—family unity for oxygen, humor for medicine, and forward planning for healing. This proactive approach to happiness extends to his professional relationships, where he actively creates inclusive environments on set.

When asked about character development, he offers a principle that bridges storytelling and life philosophy: "The protagonist is the architect of his own misery or happiness."

Join us for this enriching dialogue that reveals why Boman Irani remains one of Indian cinema's most thoughtful and beloved artists.

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Dr. Sanat Phatak, a clinical immunologist and rheumatologist, joins us for a fascinating deep dive into the complex relationship between our mental state and immune function. We explore the nuanced ways stress impacts immunity—revealing that while chronic stress can suppress certain immune functions, it can paradoxically promote inflammation elsewhere. Dr. Sanat explains that it's a two-way street: inflammation itself can suppress mood and cognitive ability, creating a feedback loop that connects our psychological and physical health.

The conversation illuminates the remarkable concept of "immune memory"—how individual cells remember past encounters with pathogens and respond more efficiently when those threats return. Dr. Sanat suggests this cellular memory system may be even more impressive than neurological memory, evolving earlier and functioning without a centralized organ. This mechanism underpins vaccination and explains why exposing ourselves to a wider variety of antigens strengthens our immune response.

We tackle common misconceptions about "boosting immunity," with Dr. Sanat challenging the notion that immune health works like muscle building. Instead, he emphasizes that balance is key—not too little, not too much—and that consistent sleep, regular exercise, and proper nutrition trump trendy supplements.

Throughout our conversation, we see how the lines between mental and physical health blur, highlighting the importance of validating patients' experiences and addressing health through an integrated lens. Whether you're curious about how social media affects your immune system or wondering if those "immunity boosters" actually work, this episode offers evidence-based insights that will transform how you think about your body's defense system.

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