On Episode 86 of the #LearningStories podcast we chat with Sukriti YJ. She is an author, screenwriter and webcomic producer based in Mumbai. Her indie production company is called Unibrow Stories. Sukriti's three novels include the, 'Gold Digger' (an action adventure set in Bihar), 'Beta Builder' (a sci-fi novella set in Mumbai) and 'The Lehenga Games' (a treasure hunt through India's fashion history). Her webcomic, 'Love on a Visa', a campus rom-com between an Indian girl and a Korean boy is ongoing on Webtoon and Tapas, earning 20,000 views. You can find her on Instagram @suki_unibrow.

Show Chapters

(00:05) - Podcast Introduction

(00:20) - Guest Background

(01:50) - Stories from your childhood

(02:00) - "I grew up in a family full of teachers"

(02:25) - "A lot of people loved reading at home"

(03:20) - What were the first books you loved reading?

(07:10) - What subjects did you love learning at school?

(08:05) - "I did not want to become a writer until I tried out other fields"

(09:50) - What were the first writing assignments you remember enjoying as a student?

(11:30) - What was your experience studying Literature in the IB Curriculum?

(13:50) - How did your high school teachers shape your thinking about reading and writing?

(16:00) - The Power of Stories

(17:50) - What was your experience as a student at London School of Economics?

(20:50) - Advice for anyone going abroad

(22:00) - Learning from other cultures and contexts

(25:40) - The co-curricular life of a university student

(27:50) - Why did you decide to pursue an MFA in Creative Non Fiction in New York?

(28:40) - "I took a year off after my first degree"

(28:50) - What is Creative Non-Fiction?

(30:30) - On peers in a writing program

(31:30) - What did you like about living in New York?

(33:30) - What kinds of writing assignments do you complete in an MFA program?

(33:40) - "There were lectures, seminars and workshops

(34:00) - What were your favourite courses in the MFA program?

(36:00) - What was special about learning how to write in a writing workshop?

(40:00) - Why 'Lehenga Games' took me seven years to complete?

(42:00) - How 'Gold Digger' took me three months to write

(45:00) - How did you navigate the early years of your career after your university years?

(45:10) - "The long term dream was to be a famous and popular writer"

(45:30) - "My ghostwriting job after university paid really well"

(46:00) - "I spent 2 years working and researching my novel when I moved to Denver, Colorado"

(48:10) - What are the S.P.I.C.E. trades?

(51:10) - How to introduce yourself as a creative professional?

(53:10) - How to talk about finances as a creative professional?

(55:55) - Why did you start, 'Unibrow Stories' (a creative studio for modern Indian novels, webcomics, and screenplays)?

(57:00) - Navigating legal rights and distribution as a creative professional

(59:00) - "Indian stories that are not very high brow or low brow"

(1:00:00) - Why all our stories have screenplay adaptations

(1:00:30) - "I would love to produce these for Youtube or Instagram"

(1:03:30) - The Economic Realities of Writing and Publishing in India

(1:05:00) - "Scrolling is now our Dickens"

(1:10:00) - What did you learn about Indian textiles while researching for, 'The Lehenga Games'?

(1:17:00) - Book Recommendations

(1:20:00) - Closing Notes

Show Links

1. Unibrow Stories Website - https://www.unibrowstories.com/

2. Unibrow Publications - https://www.unibrowstories.com/novels

3. Sukriti on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/suki_unibrow/

4. Sukriti on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukriti-yj-1820201b/

5. 'The Lehenga Games' Book - https://amzn.in/d/dvXjqqX

6. 'Gold Digger: Treasure of Son Bhandar' Book - https://amzn.in/d/aXq8EOi

7. 'Beta Builder: Mumbai in the Metaverse' Book - https://amzn.in/d/88mhBEh

8. 'Love on a Visa' Webcomic - https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/love-on-a-visa/list?title_no=1001717

9. SPICE Trades Newsletter - https://spicetrades.substack.com/

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

On Episode 84 of #LearningStories we chat with Ranjana Aanjjan Srivastava on Theatre and Design. She has 14 years of live theatre experience and 7 years of work experience in the design industry. As a graphic designer and visual consultant she has worked with brands like Asian Paints, Catrol, Lakme Fashion Week, Papa Johns, Pedigree and Whiskas. She also grew up immersed in the world of theatre as a young child and has acted in over 200 live performances of plays like Shatranj Ke Mohre, Drishtidaan, Bilquis Begum Ka Baada and Ek Aur Dronacharya. She has also shown her versatility as an actor through music videos and print work. In this episode we spoke about her childhood influences, life as a theatre actor and her experiences working on brand campaigns as a designer.

Timestamps

(00:10) - Podcast Introduction

(01:10) - Guest Background

(03:00) - Who was Ranjana as a student?

(03:50) - What subjects did you find interesting in school?

(05:15) - Why did you like History as a subject?

(08:00) - What was it like growing up in a family that worked in the arts?

(09:50) - "I always wanted to explore the things I could be good at"

(10:00) - How I thought about choosing my career?

(11:00) - "I did my first audition for a street play at St. Xaviers"

(11:35) - "I used to attend a lot of theatre rehearsals growing up"

(12:00) - What was different about acting as a career?

(13:00) - "As an actor I use my inferences from life experiences and observations"

(13:10) - How to find your space and voice as an actor?

(15:10) - What is the purpose of theatre as an art form?

(15:40) - What is the story of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA)?

(17:15) - "'Natak' is audio and visual combined"

(18:05) - "Empathy is one of the most important things for an art form"

(18:35) - What is the responsibility of an artist?

(19:30) - How has theatre changed in the modern times

(21:30) - "The audience will connect with your heart and soul"

(22:30) - The skills of theatre actors

(23:15) - What have you learned from other theatre actors and theatre directors?

(25:30) - What did I learn from Aanjjan Srivastava?

(27:00) - What did I learn from observing M.S. Sathyu's set designs?

(28:35) - What did I learn from observing Naseeruddin Shah's plays?

(32:00) - What was your experience as a student at St. Xaviers and KC College?

(32:20) - What degree and specialization did you complete in college?

(32:40) - "St. Xaviers gave me my knack for acting"

(32:50) - "KC gave me my early experiences in design"

(33:20) - "You study 36 different subjects over 3 years in the BMM program"

(34:00) - How did you learn about design in college?

(35:00) - "I would take up design projects from agencies and peers"

(35:20) - How did you apply your design skills in the world of theatre?

(42:30) - What professional experiences did you acquire after university?

(43:30) - What was your experience working on a food festival campaign?

(46:20) - "Alignment and Harmony is important for any campaign"

(48:45) - What are the different kinds of design professionals?

(55:20) - How to study and acquire skills in the field of design?

(58:20) - What are your favourite brands and products as a designer?

(1:01:10) - "Good designers focus on functionality and aesthetics"

(1:01:40) - What are some roles you have worked on as an actor in plays?

(1:03:00) - How do you prepare for a play as an actor?

(1:08:50) - What are the three main jobs of an actor?

(1:13:00) - Challenges of the acting profession

(1:17:45) - Recommendations and Closing Notes

Links

Ranjana on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ranjana.aanjjan/

Ranjana on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjana-aanjjan-srivastava-332797b8/

IPTA Mumbai Plays - http://iptamumbai.com/PlaysRecommendation 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/382702.On_Acting

Recommendation 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237328.The_Art_of_Acting

Recommendation 3 - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21818816/

On Episode 83 of #LearningStories we chat with Amrita Singh. Amrita is a neuroscientist; she earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 2023 and currently works at as a clinical research scientist. She has always been interested in writing. She runs a blog called 'Learning To Be Happy' where she writes about various topics of interest including, but not limited to, popular science and mental health. She is also working on writing fiction. Since April 2023, she has volunteered for CEGIS, an organization that aims to improve the governance of Indian states. She loves playing board games, singing, and dabbling in all kinds of art. In this episode we spoke about her childhood influences, life as a scientist and her love for reading and writing.

Timestamps

(00:10) - Podcast Introduction

(01:10) - Guest Background

(02:40) - How has your perspective on Science changed as a neuroscientist?

(03:25) - "I wanted to be a scientist from a very young age"

(03:30) - "My parents are both scientists"

(03:32) - "I grew up on a university campus in Mumbai"

(04:15) - What were your earliest memories of neuroscience in a lab?

(05:30) - "In college I got much more interested in the biology of the brain"

(05:50) - What are some challenges of working in academia?

(08:30) - "There is a lot of pressure to publish papers for any individual scientist"

(10:45) - How to make science fun, accessible and engaging for children?

(15:30) - How can parents help their children develop an excitement for Science?

(16:00) - "A lot of kids in schools develop a very negative association of Science"

(16:05) - "Science is difficult because they don't understand the fundamentals"

(17:00) - "Kids are naturally curious"

(19:00) - How can libraries or museums inspire children

(19:40) - "I remember going to Nehru Planetarium as a child to see the dome with stars"

(20:30) - What were the first books you loved reading as a student?

(21:30) - "I read voraciously as a kid"

(23:00) - Why were you obsessed with the Harry Potter Series?

(24:00) - What were two books you loved reading as a young adult?

(25:00) - What was your relationship to libraries as a student?

(25:40) - "In college and during my PhD reading took a hit

(26:00) - How audiobooks got you out of a reading slump?

(27:00) - Why is reading as an adult much more difficult

(28:30) - What did you like about, 'Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss?

(29:00) - What keeps you motivated to read as an adult

(30:00) - How do you discover and find new books to read?

(33:00) - How did you discover 'Persepolis' by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud?

(34:10) - "I have read several books by authors from different nationalities"

(35:10) - "I get recommendations from my book club here in New York"

(39:10) - When did you first start writing? What did you write about?

(41:00) - "A bunch of us kids decided to write a storybook

(42:00) - "I liked writing short stories and essays"

(44:00) - How did you end up enrolling in an online writing course?

(45:00) - "In 2023 the way to write is to create a Substack

(46:00) - What were the stories behind your first essays on Substack?

(49:50) - "I love writing and now it is the best part of my week"

(52:00) - Why did you write an essay on music lyrics?

(58:00) - What is the connection between art and neuroscience?

(1:02:50) - What is the evolutionary purpose of art?

(1:07:00) - Podcast and Music Recommendations

(1:09:00) - Tell us about your work with public policy and governance

(1:13:00) - Closing Notes

Links

Amrita on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrita-singh-5546568b/

Amrita on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amoose_art

'Learning to be Happy' Substack - https://learningtobehappy.substack.com/

Description

This is an audio and video show where we interview a diverse set of learners from the 21st century. Each guest profiled here has a unique story to share about how they acquired a set of valuable skills and knowledge in a creative and innovative manner.

On Episode 82 of #LearningStories we chat with Diya Sengupta. Diya is the founder and co-curator of Juhu Reads, a silent reading community in Mumbai. She is also a Sustainability Strategy leader in a global strategy and consulting firm. She was born in Durgapur in West Bengal. She grew up across mining towns in Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh owing to her father's transfer prone job with Coal India Limited. Her reading and writing comes from fond memories of growing up in India's hinterlands. She is an avid reader and passionate book reviewer. In this episode we spoke about her childhood, her love for books and how she nurtured and built a silent reading community in the fast paced city of Mumbai.

Timestamps

(00:10) - Podcast Introduction

(01:10) - Guest Background

(02:00) - About Juhu Reads

(03:30) - Stories from your Childhood

(03:38) - "I am always happy to talk about books and childhood"

(03:58) - "I grew up in small mining towns"

(04:00) - What did your parents do?

(04:35) - What did your grand parents do?

(04:45) - "I was born in Durgapur, West Bengal"

(04:50) - "I spent the first seven years of my life in Asansol, West Bengal"

(05:30) - What were your first memories of books as a child?

(05:55) - "My parents were both avid readers of Bangla and English Literature"

(07:40) - "I remember climbing mango and guava trees with my books"

(08:45) - What did your mother and father love reading?

(10:30) - "My parents had a large home library"

(12:40) - What were your memories of growing up in small mining towns as a teenager?

(16:57) - "I would have to buy books from larger cities"

(17:40) - "I moved to Calcutta for further education at the age of 17"

(19:00) - What did you decide to study in high school and university?

(19:32) - "If I chose Arts I would be looked down on as Science was prioritized"

(22:22) - "I completed my Bachelor in Commerce from University of Calcutta"

(23:00) - "I moved to Mumbai for a finance job in the mid 2000s

(23:30) - How did you transition into a career in the field of sustainability?

(24:30) - "In between I took a year off to complete an executive MBA"

(26:30) - What were your memories of living & working in Mumbai in the 2000s and 2010s?

(29:45) - What is your idea of home?

(32:30) - "I am a country and provincial girl at heart"

(34:00) - What is the day to day life of a consultant?

(37:00) - How reading fiction can help you professionally

(39:00) - What is a silent reading community? What are its origins?

(41:00) - What is the story of Juhu Reads and its readers?

(43:30) - What were some challenges you faced in the first few months of Juhu Reads?

(47:20) - What were some joyful stories of readers you meet at Juhu Reads?

(52:40) - What are some book recommendations?

(53:00) - "Since 2022, I developed an interest in contemporary Indian writers"

(53:50) - Why read, 'The Firebird' by Saikat Majumdar?

(54:10) - Why read, 'A Speck of Coal Dust' by Rohit Manchanda?

(54:55) - Why read, 'The Last Song of Dusk' by Siddhant Dhanvant Sanghavi?

(55:35) - Why read, 'Blue Women' by Anukriti Upadhyay

(56:00) - How I write book reviews? Why they matter

(59:20) - How has reading added value to your life?

(01:02:00) - Closing Notes

Links

1. Diya on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/diya-sengupta-410b5213/

2. Juhu Reads Instagram Page - https://www.instagram.com/juhureads/

3. Author Page on Scroll.in: https://scroll.in/author/23853

4. Article on Juhu Reads 100th session - https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/world-book-day-2025-its-100-how-mumbais-silent-reading-communities-continue-to-engage-readers-23525485

Description

This is an audio and video show where we interview a diverse set of learners from the 21st century. Each guest profiled here has a unique story to share about how they acquired a set of valuable skills and knowledge in a creative and innovative manner.

On Episode 81 of #LearningStories we chat with Devayani Khare. She is a communications consultant and geomorphologist. Through her career in communications, she has worked in fields as diverse as fundamental biology, translational research, biodiversity and conservation, and even as a travel writer. At present, she is an environmental advocacy communicator for an organisation called Break Free From Plastic. For the past 4 years, she has also been running a newsletter called Geosophy, that explores geoscience topics. She has always believed that landscapres contain clues to the past and present. You can find her on Linkedin and Substack.

Timestamps

(00:10) - Introduction and Background

(02:00) - Stories from your Childhood

(02:10) - "As a child, I guess I was just as wild and curious"

(02:20) - "My school campus was very far away from the city"

(03:10) - "The school was very experimental and hands on"

(03:40) - What are your earliest memories of learning geography in school?

(05:30) - What was your experience in high school?

(06:20) - "I did not study geography in 11th and 12th"

(06:40) - What subjects did you want to study in university?

(07:20) - When did you choose to specialize in geography?

(08:40) - What is involved in the study of geography at university?

(08:50) - "At the undergraduate level it is focused on human geography"

(09:20) - "At the master's level I studied geomorphology"

(10:30) - How do you define geography?

(11:20) - "Geography is a snapshot of everything related to landscapes"

(13:30) - How is geographical information used in a government and industry context?

(18:00) - What are some examples of geo heritage sites around the world?

(20:50) - What bodies regulate geological and geo heritage sites around India?

(23:00) - How to transition from academic to on the job learning?

(23:30) - "It was difficult to find jobs after my degree in Geography"

(25:00) - Working for the Western Ghats Biodiversity Portal in Pondicherry

(25:30) - "Communications was the common theme across all my jobs"

(28:00) - Job of a communications consultant on a day to day basis

(33:00) - What is the story behind the 'Geosophy' newsletter?

(39:00) - How do you research and write your essays and articles?

(40:10) - Writing about geo heritage sites in India

(42:50) - "Sometimes it takes me 10-20 hours of research for one piece"

(43:00) - "With geography there are no definite answers"

(45:00) - On the Lonar crater in Maharashtra

(45:30) - On the Gandikotta fort in Andhra Pradesh (see article linked below)

(48:30) - On the Geosophy Bookshelf and Book Recommendations

(51:40) - How to teach children Geography in our schools?

(56:30) - What have you learned and observed from your travels as a geomorphologist?

(1:01:00) - Closing Notes

Links

Devayani's Website - https://www.devayanikh.com/

Devayani on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/devayani-khare

Geosophy Newsletter Archives - https://substack.com/@geosophy/posts

On Episode 80 of #LearningStories, I interviewed Suchin Mehrotra. Suchin is a critic and film journalist who covers streaming for The Hollywood Reporter India. He's also the host of The Streaming Show podcast on his own YouTube channel, and has written for publications like Film Companion, News9 and The Hindustan Times among others. An unabashed mainstream cinema junkie, he sincerely believes that movies and storytelling can change the world. You can find him on Instagram, Spotify and Youtube.

Timestamps

(00:10) - Introduction and Background

(02:10) - Stories from your Childhood

(02:15) - “I moved between Mumbai, Bengaluru and London”

(02:50) - “My dad was a lawyer and mom was a housewife”

(03:20) - Where did you complete your schooling?

(03:40) - What did you study at university?

(03:45) - Why did you study economics at university?

(04:20) - “I worked in banking for 2 years in London”

(06:30) - What are some key childhood and teenage memories with films?

(08:00) - When did you realize you loved movies a bit more than just another hobby?

(09:03) - What happened when you watched ‘Haider’ in 2014?

(09:20) - “I just wanted to write about this movie”

(09:50) - “I used to watch, ‘The Front Row’ with Anupama Chopra.”

(10:40) - “I then started a blog on films”

(11:50) - What are some observations on film journalism in India?

(12:00) - “I believe Film Journalism is an art form”

(12:30) - “Film Culture in India is insane”

(12:50) - On Film Journalism in the west

(13:40) - “There are few publications that take films seriously in India”

(14:50) - “Scroll, The Hindu, Mint, Frontline have good writing on films”

(15:20) - What have you learned from other film journalists in your trade?

(16:20) - Difference between trade journalists, film journalists and film critics?

(18:10) - “Anupama Chopra and Baradwaj Ranjan are the north stars for most critics”

(18:30) - On Rahul Desai’s film criticism

(18:50) - On Uday Bhatia’s film criticism

(19:07) - On Gayle Sequeira’s film criticism

(19:20) - On Pratyush Parasuraman’s film criticism

(19:40) - On Vishal Menon’s film criticism

(20:20) - On Sidhant Atlakha’s film criticism

(20:40) - On David Ehrlich’s film criticism

(21:45) - How did you transition from banking in London to journalism in Mumbai?

(22:40) - “There are few courses on film criticism”

(23:40) - “Film Critics need to love films, love writing and love writing about films”

(25:00) - What happens to the film critic in the world of social media?

(26:00) - What was your experience being a freelance film journalist?

(26:50) - “For a year, I just watched films every Friday and wrote about each film”

(29:00) - How do film reviews change in the video and print form?

(32:00) - How can publications support film critics?

(34:00) - The pressure of earning a living as a film journalism

(34:20) - On the star rating system of reviewing films

(35:00) - How film reviews affect films in India?

(39:30) - How film critics can throw light on the work of other technicians in the film industry?

(41:40) - What was your experience as a programme coordinator at the MAMI film festival?

(43:35) - On the role of film festivals for independent and world cinema

(48:10) - On the era of streaming and the rise of OTT shows in India

(49:10) - “The finest story telling in India is on the streaming space”

(59:10) - Film and Show Recommendations

Links

Suchin’s Reviews on The Hollywood Reporter India - https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/author/suchin-mehrotra

Suchin’s Reviews on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/suchin545

Suchin’s Reviews on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@suchinmehrotra

Streaming Show Playlist - https://bit.ly/thestreamingshow

Description

This is an audio and video show where we interview a diverse set of learners from the 21st century. Each guest profiled here has a unique story to share about how they acquired a set of valuable skills and knowledge in a creative and innovative manner.