You spent hours perfecting your resume. AI helped you rewrite it. You hit apply... and then nothing.Where did your application go?In this episode of Small Talk: Work Play Build, Subha Chandrasekharan and Hasita Krishna unpack how AI is quietly transforming hiring. From ATS filters and AI interviews to "resume scores" that may follow candidates across applications, they explore why job hunting feels harder than ever, even for highly qualified professionals.More importantly, they discuss what still works: building genuine networks, finding human advocates, standing out beyond your resume, and adapting to a hiring landscape where algorithms are becoming the first recruiter you'll meet.If you're job hunting, hiring, or simply curious about how AI is changing work, this episode is for you.00:00 Highlights01:18 Why AI has changed job hunting forever08:47 Why applications disappear without a response13:03 How ATS and AI filters really work18:17 AI interviews and the human cost of hiring23:10 What job seekers should do differently today26:20 Finding opportunities beyond the resume pipeline29:20 Why networking beats algorithms35:39 Making your resume sound human again38:50 Read, Watch, Listen👍 Like this episode if it changed how you think about job hunting.💬 Have you experienced AI screening, ATS rejections, or the "resume black hole"? Share your story in the comments.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on careers, work, leadership and building a meaningful professional life.#JobSearch #ArtificialIntelligence #Careers #Leadership #Hiring #ResumeTips #FutureOfWork #SmallTalkPodcast---------------------If this one landed, here's the one thing we'll ever ask: rate Small Talk on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Five seconds. It's the only signal that decides who else gets to hear us. Stay close🎧 Listen everywhere · https://www.pod.link/1531495902📺 YouTube · https://www.youtube.com/@smalltalkpod_wpb📷 Instagram · https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkpod_wpb🌐 https://www.smalltalkpod.com📩 Write to us: smalltalkpod.wpb@gmail.com📅 New episodes every fortnightSmall Talk: Work, Play, Build is a fortnightly podcast about careers, leadership, and the things we make outside our day jobs. Hosted by Subha Chandrasekaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhachandrasekaran/) (executive coach, founder of RainKraft) and Hasita Krishna (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasita/) (brand strategist, co-founder of Motley Crew). Seven seasons in, still about what it means to live a life that feels true — at work and outside it.© 2026 RainKraft Creative Solutions (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

More people are showing up to work, doing exactly what's expected, and nothing more.It's being called quiet contribution. But is this really an employee problem, or is it a symptom of something much bigger?

In this episode, Subha and Hasita unpack why engagement is falling across workplaces, what layoffs, AI, and constant uncertainty are doing to trust, and why both managers and employees feel stuck. They explore the hidden cost of doing "just enough," the role of leadership in rebuilding engagement, and why curiosity, conversations, and human judgment matter more than ever.If you've ever wondered whether giving your best at work is still worth it, this conversation is for you.Chapters00:00 What is "Quiet Contribution"?01:52 The workplace engagement crisis by the numbers06:01 From Quiet Quitting to Quiet Contribution09:00 Why managers are burning out too13:19 AI, productivity & the illusion of efficiency18:13 Curiosity, learning & what engagement really means24:03 Why trust in the workplace is breaking down31:28 Leadership, creativity & raising the bar in the AI era39:52 How employees can avoid career stagnation42:15 Rebuilding engagement for the future47:25 Read • Watch • Listen recommendationsAvailable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts.Have you experienced quiet contribution at work, either in yourself or your team? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. #careerpodcast #quietcontribution #FutureOfWork---------------------If this one landed, here's the one thing we'll ever ask: rate Small Talk on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Five seconds. It's the only signal that decides who else gets to hear us. Stay close🎧 Listen everywhere · https://www.pod.link/1531495902📺 YouTube · https://www.youtube.com/@smalltalkpod_wpb📷 Instagram · https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkpod_wpb🌐 https://www.smalltalkpod.com📩 Write to us: smalltalkpod.wpb@gmail.com📅 New episodes every fortnightSmall Talk: Work, Play, Build is a fortnightly podcast about careers, leadership, and the things we make outside our day jobs. Hosted by Subha Chandrasekaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhachandrasekaran/) (executive coach, founder of RainKraft) and Hasita Krishna (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasita/) (brand strategist, co-founder of Motley Crew). Seven seasons in, still about what it means to live a life that feels true — at work and outside it.© 2026 RainKraft Creative Solutions (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.

Most Indian girls stop playing sport in their teens. Most never come back. Subha and Hasita speak with Dr. Vijay Krishnamurthy (sports researcher, executive coach) and Swetha Subbiah (co-founder Sisters in Sweat) on the safety, infrastructure, cultural pressure, and quiet guilt that keep women out of sport long after school ends and what it actually takes to play again. This conversation examines why participation in sport drops so dramatically for women and what it will take to change that.From safety and infrastructure to cultural expectations and community, Vijay and Swetha unpack the invisible barriers that keep women out of sport long after school ends. They explore why access isn't just about stadiums and funding, but about well-lit spaces, supportive environments, role models, and the freedom to prioritize movement without guilt.The conversation also dives into careers in sport, the rise of women-led fitness communities, grassroots sports policy, and why India's biggest challenge isn't producing elite athletes—it's getting more people to play in the first place.For anyone who's ever quit a sport they loved or watched someone they care about quit one.---------------------This episode is part of our mini-series: The Careers Behind Indian SportsExploring the people, pathways, and professions shaping the future of sport in India, beyond what you see on the field.
Dr. Vijay Krishnamurthy — https://vijaykrishnamurthy.comSwetha Subbiah, Sisters in Sweat — https://sistersinsweat.com------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 Why Indian Women Quit Sport01:07 What 'Permission to Play' Actually Means03:13 Meet the Guests05:00 Swetha's Journey from Hockey to Sisters in Sweat12:48 The "Sports Don't Pay" Mindset18:07 How Sisters in Sweat Started23:39 Access, Privilege & Why Women Stop Playing27:13 Safety, Infrastructure & Hidden Barriers37:29 Building a Community for Women in Sport46:03 What India Can Learn from Global Sports Models50:45 The Business of Building Sisters in Sweat57:43 Why Communities Matter More Than Competition01:00:40 Permission to Play01:06:36 Women's Health, Fitness & Starting Late01:10:13 What Sport Teaches Us About Life01:13:19 Read Watch ListenWhen did you stop playing? Or when did you start again? Tell us in the comments. The patterns are striking. #careerpodcast #WomenInSport #PermissionToPlay #CareerPodcast #SistersInSweat #IndianWomenInSport #SportsCareers #FutureOfWork---------------------If this one landed, here's the one thing we'll ever ask: rate Small Talk on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Five seconds. It's the only signal that decides who else gets to hear us. Stay close🎧 Listen everywhere · https://www.pod.link/1531495902📺 YouTube · https://www.youtube.com/@smalltalkpod_wpb📷 Instagram · https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkpod_wpb🌐 https://www.smalltalkpod.com📩 Write to us: smalltalkpod.wpb@gmail.com📅 New episodes every fortnightSmall Talk: Work, Play, Build is a fortnightly podcast about careers, leadership, and the things we make outside our day jobs. Hosted by Subha Chandrasekaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhachandrasekaran/) (executive coach, founder of RainKraft) and Hasita Krishna (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasita/) (brand strategist, co-founder of Motley Crew). Seven seasons in, still about what it means to live a life that feels true — at work and outside it.© 2026 RainKraft Creative Solutions (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.