On Episode 85 of the #LearningStories podcast we chat with Deepak Gopalakrishnan. He is a marketing consultant, strategy guy, entrepreneur, podcaster and writer. He runs a strategy studio called Rough Paper. He also co-founded 6% Club a creator coaching program for working professionals. He was the host of 3 podcasts and writes 2 newsletters. He writes the, 'Things of Internet' newsletter where he explores topics are the intersection of technology, culture and humanity. He also loves music. In this episode we spoke about his early years in Bahrain, transitioning from engineering to communications and the purpose of content projects. We also spoke about how you can discover parts of yourself through music.

Timestamps

(00:05) - Podcast Introduction

(00:20) - Guest Background

(01:45) - What was it like to grow up in Bahrain in the middle east?

(02:20) - "I spent a lot of time on my own in those early years"

(03:00) - "My love for music started in Bahrain because we did not have cable"

(03:50) - What were the first songs you loved listening to as a student?

(04:10) - What was your relationship to sports as a student?

(04:30) - The Story of Cable TV, Sachin Tendulkar and the Electronic Repair Shop

(06:30) - "Life had a slow pace in the Gulf"

(07:00) - What were your memories of reading comic books as a student?

(08:30) - How did you navigate the transition from Bahrain to Cochin?

(12:30) - What was your first content project?

(13:00) - "I used to love cartooning and drawing"

(16:30) - The purpose and importance of content projects

(19:30) - What is the acid test for content projects?

(21:00) - Why do people remember stories?

(23:00) - Why did you study engineering and communications in university?

(23:10) - "I got into engineering because of chemistry and a secure future job"

(23:45) - "Sometime during engineering I learned about advertising"

(25:00) - What was your experience as an engineering student?

(27:00) - What was your experience at MICA as a graduate student?

(27:40) - Why is happiness what you make of it?

(30:00) - How has your relationship to music changed over time?

(31:40) - "Music is helping me figure out everything else in life"

(32:10) - What was the impact of learning Carnatic Music for 8 years?

(33:00) - "My love for melody came from that early experience"

(34:00) - How did popular music enter your life?

(34:30) - "I started listening to English songs in college"

(34:45) - "When you play an instrument, you start listening to music differently"

(36:10) - Why was it magical to make music as a college student?

(36:30) - What was the role of live concerts and better audiophile gear?

(37:00) - How to think about the music you love?

(39:20) - "I felt this compulsion to keep up with a lot of music"

(42:00) - How letting go helped you rediscover a love for music?

(47:00) - How music changed your internal algorithm for life?

(56:00) - Watching 'Blackstrat Blues' play live

(58:50) - Why listen to music that moves you?

(1:01:10) - Music and Identity in your 20's, 30's and 40's

(1:04:00) - "I am deeply fascinated by how technology impacts culture"

(1:07:30) - What you love about, 'Opeth'?

(1:13:20) - What you love about, 'The Beatles'?

(1:16:00) - What is Rough Paper (brand consulting)?

(1:18:00) - What is The 6% Club (coaching for creators)?

(1:24:00) - Closing Notes

Links

Chuck's Website - https://www.chuckofalltrades.in/about-me

Rough Paper Website - https://www.roughpaper.in/

The 6% Club Website - https://www.thesixpercent.club/

Chuck on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chuckofalltrades

Chuck on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckofalltrades/

'Things of Internet' Newsletter Archives - https://thingsofinternet.substack.com/archive

'Simblified' Podcast - https://www.chuckofalltrades.in/simblified

'Getting Meta' Podcast - https://www.chuckofalltrades.in/getting-meta-podcast

'The Origin of Things' Podcast - https://www.chuckofalltrades.in/the-origin-of-things