Best Abhay Dandekar Podcasts (2025)

1
SPOTLIGHT... on Dr. Amit Anand, pranayama, and 'Breathonance' 31:57

3d ago31:57

31:57

Periodically on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’m DOING , we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a special topic or a unique endeavor. Now while we truly should strive for mental wellness all the time, May is mental health awareness month, and there’s no more obvious place to focus our energy th…

1
Sanjay Sharma... on margins and mainstream in media and storytelling 52:12

5d ago52:12

52:12

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 a…

1
Amit Tandon... on honest comedy and storytelling 44:13

16d ago44:13

44:13

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 ba…

1
Karan Soni... on "A Nice Indian Boy", lessons in Hollywood, and his life on both sides of the camera 54:37

26d ago54:37

54:37

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 do…

1
Vani Kola... on daily anchors, guardrails, and venture capitalism in India 57:23

1M ago57:23

57:23

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…

1
Isabella Sreyashii Sen... on Singapore and storytelling for social impact 43:15

1M ago43:15

43:15

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 highligh…

1
Satyajit Hange... on TWO BROTHERS ORGANIC FARMS and living with purpose 50:59

1M ago50:59

50:59

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, an…

1
SPOTLIGHT... on VANARAI and Sagar Dharia 33:20

1M ago33:20

33:20

Periodically on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’m DOING , we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a special topic or a unique endeavor. So it’s springtime in a lot of our global areas, where traditionally, things everywhere are starting to bloom. And with melting snow and healthy rains it also me…

1
Sindhu Vee... on "Alphabet" and her brand of comedy 50:01

2M ago50:01

50:01

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) …

1
Abdullah Saeed... on Deli Boys, explosive turns, and simplicity 48:34

2M ago48:34

48:34

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…

1
Sanjena Sathian... on Goddess Complex and examining the adulthood of millennial South Asian women 46:09

3M ago46:09

46:09

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 -…

1
Nima Rinji Sherpa... on mountaineering and living above 8000m 45:28

3M ago45:28

45:28

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 mountain…

1
SPOTLIGHT... on Ricky Vasandani and lab grown diamonds 29:02

3M ago29:02

29:02

Periodically on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’m DOING , we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a special topic or a unique endeavor. So ok, a while back , I had to think about making a will and living trust, and not to be morose or sad, but it was a good exercise that forced me to think about …

1
Sree Sreenivasan... on journalism, media, and being a global citizen 52:38

3M ago52:38

52:38

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 - apo…

1
Farhan Zaidi... on being a Major League Baseball executive 39:34

3M ago39:34

39:34

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 th…

1
Nitin Sonawane... on Walking With Peace across the USA 42:06

4M ago42:06

42:06

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 …

1
Rohan Parashuram Kanawade... on "Sabar Bonda" (Cactus Pears) and organic filmmaking 29:13

4M ago29:13

29:13

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 - Sun…

1
Kinsu Kumar and Varsha... on compassion and combating child labor and trafficking 41:35

4M ago41:35

41:35

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 lev…

1
SPOTLIGHT on Aki Kumar... "Bollywood Blues" musician 24:35

4M ago24:35

24:35

Periodically on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’m DOING , we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a special topic or a unique endeavor. In this spotlight episode, Aki Kumar shares his journey as a blues musician, discussing the universality of blues themes, the importance of being a lifelong stud…

1
Melissa Mahtani... on trustworthy journalism and combating misinformation 43:19

4M ago43:19

43:19

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) Introdu…

1
Dhee... on making music and "feeling at home" 39:56

5M ago39:56

39:56

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, explorati…

1
Dr Uma Naidoo... on nutritional psychiatry and how to "Calm Your Mind With Food" 47:08

5M ago47:08

47:08

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 …

1
Shayamal Vallabhjee... on sports psychology and optimizing performance 59:28

5M ago59:28

59:28

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 a…

1
Barnali Ghosh and Anirvan Chatterjee... on the Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour 49:30

6M ago49:30

49:30

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…

1
Sushant Divgikar AKA Rani KoHEnur... on art and authenticity 53:49

6M ago53:49

53:49

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 …

1
Dr. Vivek Murthy... on human connection, community, and optimism 44:32

6M ago44:32

44:32

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 heal…

1
Adi Roy... on Broadway and actor life 36:33

6M ago36:33

36:33

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 feel…

1
Israa Nasir... on "Toxic Productivity" 50:30

7M ago50:30

50:30

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, cultu…

1
Chintan Patel...Lotus for POTUS and Indian American IMPACT 26:04

7M ago26:04

26:04

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” …

1
SPOTLIGHT... Chhavi Bhargava on "A Kids Book About DIWALI" 27:47

7M ago27:47

27:47

Periodically on TRUST ME I KNOW WHAT I’m DOING , we share a SPOTLIGHT conversation and feature brief chats with an individual from the community about a special topic or a unique endeavor. And I guess there is no more celebrated or more special a topic than Diwali. It's a centering feeling of home for so many, and as a growing global spotlight shin…

1
DOCTORS for HARRIS... Lotus for POTUS and a healthy America 1:17:53

7M ago1:17:53

1:17:53

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) Ann…

1
Neal Katyal... Lotus for POTUS (and a little bit of SCOTUS) 24:02

7M ago24:02

24:02

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 ide…

1
Subah and Harshvardhan Saraf... on Satvic Movement and Satvic Revolution 1:00:09

8M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

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, p…

1
Anurima Bhargava... Lotus for POTUS with dignity and justice for all! 27:52

8M ago27:52

27:52

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…

1
Neha Dewan and Sonjui Kumar... Lotus for POTUS and SOUTH ASIANS for HARRIS 23:50

8M ago23:50

23:50

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…

1
Neera Tanden... Lotus for POTUS and Election 2024 19:56

8M ago19:56

19:56

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…

1
Gautam Mukunda... on "Picking Presidents" and leadership 1:05:42

8M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

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…

1
SPOTLIGHT... on Mangesh Ghogre and constructing crossword puzzles 23:38

9M ago23:38

23:38

So I thought that today we would focus on the world of puzzles. As kids, young and old, we are fascinated and curious about putting together random pieces of cardboard to make a picture, or take numbers or scenes or words and fit them together to make something whole, craving that satisfaction to find the answer and all the frustrations and exhilar…

1
Rajiv Menon... on curating South Asian art 46:52

9M ago46:52

46:52

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:…

1
Shruthi Kumar... on student activism and "The Power of Not Knowing" 49:59

9M ago49:59

49:59

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) Pa…

1
Dr. Ritu Raman... on "Biofabrication" 49:03

9M ago49:03

49:03

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 defi…

1
Ginni Saraswati... on media, podcasting, and more 32:10

9M ago32:10

32:10

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)…

1
Sanjana Modha... on writing "Sanjana's Feasts" and cooking to be free 37:30

10M ago37:30

37:30

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 th…

1
SPOTLIGHT... on Dhruv Kulkarni and using A.I. with empathy and human connection 19:33

10M ago19:33

19:33

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 i…

1
Samhita Mukhopadhyay... on "The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning" 48:36

10M ago48:36

48:36

Samhita Mukhopadhyay, author of "The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning" joins Abhay for a conversation about a range topics from “trickle down feminism” to being the daughter of two Bengali immigrants, to mentoring and leadership. Samhita served as the executive editor of the popular blog Feministing and then for Teen Vogue and in reflecting…

1
Vivek Agnihotri... on his life as a filmmaker 57:48

11M ago57:48

57:48

Abhay is joined by writer, director, and producer Vivek Agnihotri to share a broad ranging conversation about his life as a filmmaker. His films include The Kashmir Files, The Vaccine War, and the upcoming The Delhi Files. Believe it or not, the kidneys, Keyser Söze, and cricket all were involved! (0:00 - 2:45) Introduction (2:45) Part 1 - Rallying…

1
Saurabh Netravalkar... on USA cricket and his journey 47:20

11M ago47:20

47:20

Abhay is joined by cricket athlete Saurabh Netravalkar, whose clutch bowler performance led Team USA to a dramatic victory over Pakistan and into the Super 8 competing against Team India in the recent Men's T20 World Cup. They chatted about everything from his cricket journey to integrating sport with life as a software engineer to growing cricket …

1
Congressman Ami Bera... on governing, campaigning, and American patriotism 38:49

11M ago38:49

38:49

Abhay is joined by Dr. Ami Bera, United States Congressman (D) CA-6, as they share a broad conversation about his experiences and journey as the longest serving Indian American in Congress. (0:00 - 3:10) Introduction (3:10) Part 1 - Doctoring and crossover skills in politics, relationship building and prioritizing (13:36) Part 2 - Governing and cam…

1
Vikas Khanna...on BUNGALOW and feeling at "home" 39:02

11M ago39:02

39:02

Abhay is joined by Vikas Khanna, the celebrated judge of Master Chef India, Michelin award-winning chef, author, and filmmaker. Vikas' new restaurant BUNGALOW, opened this past spring in New York City. They shared a chat about his journey and bringing people "home" through his food experience. (0:00 - 2:36) Introduction (2:36) Part 1 - first profes…

1
Kani Kusruti... on "All That We Imagine As Light" and her passion for the process 47:04

12M ago47:04

47:04

Abhay is joined by award-winning actor Kani Kusruti for a conversation about her ongoing work and recent role in the film, "All That We Imagine As Light", which recently won the Grand Prix award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. (0:00 - 3:06) Introduction (3:06) Part 1 - relationship with the film, awards, working with director Payal Kapadia (15:17…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Abhay Dandekar Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen