Best Faded Reality Podcasts (2025)

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AI & the future of media with The Atlantic CEO, Nicholas Thompson 52:14

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1h ago52:14

52:14

Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, led one of the first major content licensing deals with OpenAI in 2024. In this conversation, he joins Azeem to unpack how AI is transforming media – and what that means for every business navigating the shifting economics of attention, trust, and discovery. We cover: (01:49) Journalism’s four horsemen (5:33) The…

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1646: What Loneliness Is Trying to Teach Us (If We Dare to Listen) 54:03

22h ago54:03

54:03

When everything you cling to — your children, your partner, your dreams — slips through your fingers, what are you left with? Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, the wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and their own stories to explore why loneliness and loss may hold the key to our deepest connection. From Beatles…

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1645: Finding Your Center: Why Life Feels Off‑Key & How to Tune It 55:25

2d ago55:25

55:25

The cosmos whispers a message: when life revolves around a center, harmony follows. When it doesn’t, we feel the dissonance. But are we listening? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how the universe models harmony for us — through stars, through music, through the very structure of nature — showing that life works best when it revolve…

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1644: Inner Peace: Why the World Needs You to Go Within 54:33

3d ago54:33

54:33

Why do we resist turning inward — and what does it cost us? In this spirited episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha confront the uncomfortable truth: that we each have a choice to make — either we discover our true self, or we don’t. And if we don’t, we risk living an empty life and perpetuating cycles of conflict and injustice. Dr…

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#29: Infomercials—What OxiClean & Shamwow Can Teach Us About Messaging That Sells 29:03

3d ago29:03

29:03

Infomercials may seem cheesy, but they often get one thing right: the sales pitch is clear, dramatic, and fast. Most business owners present their products like they’re chatting over coffee, not realizing they’re competing with autoplay videos and an infinite scroll of distractions. The result? Content with no energy, clarity, or urgency. Subtle do…

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Season 08 Episode 35: Screwball Scramble 30:02

6d ago30:02

30:02

In 1953, two U.S. Air Force personnel vanished without a trace while intercepting a mysterious radar target over Lake Superior. Decades later, the skies remain silent, and the truth behind First Lieutenant Felix Moncla Jnr and Second Lieutenant Robert Wilson's final flight is as cloudy as ever. Written by Emma Dibdin and produced by Richard MacLean…

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1643: The Universal Temple: Cutting Ego & Seeing Krishna Everywhere 57:33

6d ago57:33

57:33

Kahlil Gibran meets the Bhakti Yoga tradition in this sharp and spirited episode of Wisdom of the Sages. Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how real spiritual practice is carried from the temple into every corner of your life — where daily routines, relationships, and even messy moments become sacred offerings. From Saratoga’s healing springs to Krish…

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1642: Squirrels Without Borders: Chasing Values, Not Happiness 54:23

7d ago54:23

54:23

In this wildly entertaining episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha return from their whirlwind retreat and European adventure to tackle what really brings happiness and success—and why chasing them is a losing game. With a healthy dose of humor and wisdom (and a few “squirrel-level-three” tangents), they explore Victor Frankl’s pro…

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#28: John Mark McMillan—How to Make Promotion a Part of the Creative Process 43:12

10d ago43:12

43:12

The biggest challenge creative people face isn’t making something meaningful, it’s figuring out how to share it without feeling like a sellout. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or thought leader, there comes a point when the art alone isn’t enough. You realize that if your work is going to make an impact, you have to learn how to promote it.…

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Season 08 Episode 34: Ship of Death 30:12

13d ago30:12

30:12

Early on the morning of July 28th, 1987, a rescue helicopter was dispatched to the passenger ferry MS Viking Sally, out on the Baltic Sea. When the medic stepped onto deck, he realized immediately that this emergency was very much out of the ordinary... Written by Diane Hope and produced by Richard MacLean Smith Find us at youtube.com/@unexplainedp…

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1641: Slip Slidin’ Away: Why Wisdom Fades Without Courage 54:01

14d ago54:01

54:01

Paul Simon’s bittersweet lyrics set the stage for this raw and funny exploration of why even life-changing insights often slip through our fingers. Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the slippery nature of spiritual determination — and how each of us can make the simple but bold choice to live a meaningful life before the clock runs out. This episode b…

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2025 AI reality check: Are we in a bubble? 24:04

15d ago24:04

24:04

At the start of the year, I made seven predictions about how 2025 would unfold. Six months in, it's time to mark my own work. From AI capability breakthroughs to autonomous vehicles, climate extremes to workforce transformation, I examine what I got right, what I missed, and why the 2027-2028 period will be when vertical AI hits the real economy in…

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1640: We’re All in Samsara: The Truth Hiding in Plain Sight 1:02:41

16d ago1:02:41

1:02:41

The most obvious and pervasive realities are often the hardest to see. Like fish who don’t realize they’re swimming in water, we move through samsara — the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth — unaware of the forces shaping us. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the illusion that my experience is the most real, vivid, and important, and…

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#27: Bombas—The Shark Tank Pitch That Got Everything Right (And What Businesses Can Learn From It) 21:20

17d ago21:20

21:20

When you’re pitching a product, every word matters. That’s why some Shark Tank entrepreneurs walk away with millions while others walk out empty-handed. The Bombas sock pitch not only got a deal, it sparked a billion-dollar brand. But what made it work? From “cardboard feel” to “seven substantial improvements,” the Bombas team used sticky soundbite…

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1639: When Karma Meets Dharma: Contradictions of Destiny & Duty | Q&A Vol. 283 1:05:08

19d ago1:05:08

1:05:08

When Karma Meets Dharma: Contradictions of Destiny and Duty Do the choices you made in your past life shape the family, friends, and circumstances you’re born into? And how do bhakti-yogis navigate a path of dharma that sometimes seems to contradict itself — demanding sacrifice, mercy, or even revenge — all in the name of love? In this live Q&A fro…

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Season 08 Episode 33: After the Sun Comes Rain (Pt.2 of2) 30:34

21d ago30:34

30:34

Second and final part of Season 08 Episode 33: After the Sun Comes Rain Left alone, the only surviving member of Lyudmila's hiking team, Valentina begins the long arduous trek to safety - while the spectre of death haunts her every move.... But what an earth could possibly have wreaked such havoc? Written by Emma Dibdin, Neil McRobert and Richard M…

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1638: Time, Death & Krishna: Why Even Fear Can Free You 58:54

21d ago58:54

58:54

When the Grim Reaper shows up wearing a peacock feather and playing a flute, you know it’s time to rethink your priorities. This episode of Wisdom of the Sages dives into the 10th Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, where Time itself — in the form of Krishna — comes calling, leaving tyrants like Kamsa in panic. Live from Italy, Raghunath explores how f…

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What 72hrs in China taught me about the future (AI, EVs, more) 22:19

22d ago22:19

22:19

In this episode, I reflect on a whirlwind three-day visit to China - my first in over 20 years. And what I saw was remarkable. The infrastructure puts most of the West to shame. The AI isn't just hype - it's working at serious scale. And the electric vehicles? They're about to steamroll the global auto industry. Here's what really struck me during …

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#26: Dan Go—The Fitness Coach Who Built a Mega Brand by Niching Down 30:30

24d ago30:30

30:30

When you’re building a personal brand, the biggest mistake you can make is being too broad. The world doesn’t need another generalist. It needs someone who owns a clear, specific problem and solves it consistently. That’s the magic of niching down. A focused message not only grabs attention, it builds trust and traction faster than trying to be eve…

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1637: What to Say When You Talk to God | Q & A Vol. 282 54:23

26d ago54:23

54:23

At some point, devotion stops being a duty—and starts becoming a dialogue. In this solo Q & A episode, Kaustubha explores how spiritual life matures when it stops being mechanical and starts becoming deeply personal. With humor, clarity, and depth, he answers questions on emotional attachment, the gradations of divine love, and how to relate to God…

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Season 08 Episode 33: After the Sun Comes Rain (Pt.1 of 2) 30:34

27d ago30:34

30:34

In 1993, a group of rafters paddling through the Siberian wilderness of the Khamar Daban mountains came across a teenage girl, caked in mud and blood. Seemingly too traumatised to even speak, when she finally found her voice she uttered only five words. "They're dead. They're all dead..." Written by Emma Dibdin, Neil McRobert and Richard MacLean Sm…

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1636: Time is Gonna Kill You, but Eternity is Just a Mantra Away 59:22

27d ago59:22

59:22

Time doesn’t just pass—it devours. In this raw and thought-provoking episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack a powerful moment from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, where the tyrant Kaṁsa wakes in dread, realizing that Time itself—the force that ends all things—has come for him. With lyrical insights from Pink Floyd, unexpected depth from the Insane Clown Po…

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1635: Krishna’s First Words Reveal the Missing Ingredient in Spiritual Practice 57:00

28d ago57:00

57:00

In one of the most powerful moments of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Krishna speaks for the first time—and what He says sheds light on the real aim of yoga, austerity, and spiritual discipline. Raghunath and Kaustubha, joined by Radhanath Swami in the studio, unpack this pivotal teaching: that it’s not the practice alone that transforms us, but the devoti…

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1634: Austerity + Purpose = Growth: A Yogi’s Formula for Rebooting the Mind 59:32

29d ago59:32

59:32

Could the computer of your mind be full of corrupted files? In this fiery and hilarious episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how ancient yogic wisdom offers a practical system for mental clarity and inner growth. Drawing from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and everyday insight, they explain how tapasya (austerity), prāṇāyāma (breath control), and the gu…

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1633: Love Hurts & That’s the Point: Bhakti, Vulnerability & Risk on the Spiritual Path 59:55

30d ago59:55

59:55

If you want to keep your heart safe, you must give it to no one—but it’ll cost you life’s deepest fulfillment. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how Bhakti Vedanta reveals vulnerability not as weakness, but as the key to spiritual growth and the soul’s highest potential. They reflect on a striking quote from C.S. Lewis and discuss ho…

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1632: Let It Be, It Ain’t Me: Hendrix, Vedanta & The Fog of War 55:39

1M ago55:39

55:39

When the world shakes, can you stay anchored? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack how deep spiritual clarity allows one to remain peaceful—even when chaos reigns. Inspired by a lyric from Jimi Hendrix, they explore lessons from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the film The Fog of War to reveal how fear collapses when we root our peace in truth…

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#25: Annie F. Downs—The Strategy Behind Her Breakthrough Personal Brand 40:46

1M ago40:46

40:46

What makes someone trust you enough to follow you, buy from you, or even just listen? In the noisy world of personal branding, it’s easy to assume you need a slick image or a viral strategy to break through. But that’s not what people are looking for. They want someone who feels real and honest. But how much is too much to share? And how do you sta…

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1631: Western Souls, Eastern Roads: The Spiritual Migration to India 1:00:50

1M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

Westerners are booking flights to India—not for sightseeing, but to chant Sanskrit mantras in rice fields, live in ashrams, and rise before dawn for kirtan. What’s really going on here? In this eye-opening episode, Raghunath speaks with anthropology PhD student Keli Lalita to explore a growing phenomenon: Westerners adopting spiritual practices roo…

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Season 08 Episode 32: What the Water Took From Us 30:52

1M ago30:52

30:52

In the shadows of Greater Manchester’s canals and waterways, some believe something ancient and malevolent might be lurking. This week on Unexplained, we plunge into eerie folklore, mysterious drownings, and chilling whispers of a phantom predator said to haunt the waters - claiming victims no one can explain. Written by James Connor Patterson and …

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1630: Scientists Failed to Find Consciousness—The Yogis Never Lost It 57:19

1M ago57:19

57:19

A neuroscientist lost a 25-year bet to a philosopher—and it may be one of the most revealing failures in modern science. In 1998, Christof Koch bet David Chalmers that within 25 years, neuroscience would identify the precise brain mechanisms responsible for consciousness. Research teams around the world launched ambitious experiments to track and m…

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1629: Breaking the Universal Code: What the Yogis Found Within 55:05

1M ago55:05

55:05

Just like a codebreaker working through symbols can gradually uncover a single unifying truth—a key that makes sense of everything—the spiritual journey can unfold in a similar way. Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how a path of trust, focused attention, and turning inward can reveal a deeper coherence beneath life’s confusion. What at first feels c…

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1628: The Mind Is the Altar: Mental Worship, Bhakti Yoga & Inner Transformation 59:44

1M ago59:44

59:44

What matters most in yoga isn’t the ritual—it’s the transformation of the mind and heart. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the practice of manasa pūjā (mental worship) through the story of Vasudeva mentally offering charity while imprisoned. They unpack why internal devotion is not only valid—but often more powerful than external pe…

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The problem with Altman’s “gentle singularity,” Apple’s AI missteps, and Google’s fading ad model | Live with Azeem Azhar 29:59

1M ago29:59

29:59

Broadcasting live from Paris, I tackle three massive technology stories that are reshaping our digital future. From Apple's stunning interface redesign to the collapse of traditional search advertising, and Sam Altman's vision of an AI singularity that's already begun - this episode captures the tectonic shifts happening in tech right now. I cover:…

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1627: George Harrison Knew It: We're All Looking for Krishna 56:31

1M ago56:31

56:31

Pop culture meets divine consciousness in this episode exploring the birth of Krishna—and what it means to be lit up with bhakti. Raghunath and Kaustubha reflect on George Harrison’s powerful spiritual insight: “Everyone is looking for Krishna… some don’t know it, but they are.” With humor, depth, and wisdom, they unpack why Krishna appears not jus…

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1626: Love Isn’t a Feeling—It’s a Full-Time Job 1:01:24

1M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

Raghunath is joined by longtime friend and spiritual brother Henry Schoellkopf for a lively and deeply honest conversation about devotion as action—not just emotion. Drawing from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and decades of lived spiritual experience, they explore what it really means to love—not just God, but people. This episode is part comedy, part conf…

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#24: Pass/Fail—Breaking Down the Best and Worst in Branding 27:37

1M ago27:37

27:37

Messaging can make or break a brand. Whether you're launching a campaign, building a personal brand, or responding in real time, what you say and how you say it matters. One wrong sound bite can sink your credibility, while one clear, compelling message can unlock massive opportunity. The stakes are high, and yet most people treat messaging like an…

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Season 08 Episode 31: Morning Has Broken 30:16

1M ago30:16

30:16

Three women vanished without a trace from a quiet suburban home in the early hours of a summer morning in 1992. What began as a hopeful graduation weekend in Springfield, Missouri, spiraled into one of the most chilling and perplexing missing persons cases in American history. Written by Emma Dibdin and produced by Richard MacLean Smith. Find us at…