The Filter Koffee Podcast

India is currently the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world and is home to 21 unicorns valued at $73.2 billion collectively. In this episode, Karthik speaks with Bala Srinivasa - a witness to and a stakeholder in this story for more than a couple of decades. Bala and Karthik talk about the legendary vibe of the valley in the late 90s and how it has changed today. They also talk about the Indian start-up ecosystem of today, how the government has supported it, and also about making products for middle India. Bala also speaks about things that founders often undervalue and the personal cost of entrepreneurship.Yuval Noah Harari's article that Bala speaks about: https://www.ft.com/content/19d90308-6858-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75The feature film 13th, by Netflix: 13TH | FULL FEATURE | NetflixReach out to Bala on Twitter: (https://twitter.com/bsrinivasa?s=21)Tweet to Karthik Nagarajan (@The_Karthik): The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Karthik speaks with Vivek Ram, a celebrated animation artist who has worked in films like Madagascar, Superman returns, fast and the furious, and the Incredible hulk. He has also been a part of the academy award-winning team that did the VFX for The Golden Compass. In the studio that Vivek has set up called 'Vaanar Sena', his title is not CEO but Senapati. In the episode, Karthik and Vivek speak about the mission of Vaanar Sena which is to bring to life stories from ancient India and its scriptures, with animation as its vehicle. They speak about the differences between Hollywood and Indian animation industries and also about how we as a country have not explored the depths of our own mythologies, having restricted ourselves inexplicably to just a few protagonists and narratives. They also talk about how at the confluence of art, technology, and popular culture, Vaanar Sena is finding the opportunity to revolutionize Indian storytelling, visually.You can reach out to Vaanar Sena studios on https://www.vaanarsenastudios.com/Follow Vivek on Instagram & Twitter:(https://instagram.com/markeviv)(https://twitter.com/markeviv?s=21)Tweet to Karthik Nagarajan (@The_Karthik): https://twitter.com/The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Karthik speaks with Lux Narayan about his book - Name Place Animal Thing. Lux is a serial entrepreneur, a Ted Speaker, stand-up comedian, and pursuer of multiple other passions that range from flying to molecular gastronomy. NPAT is an inspiring fable about hope, positivity, and living your best life. It is a practical guide to answering the ultimate question: “So, what do you do?”.Karthik and Lux speak about the latter's personal journey leading up to this first book and the various inspirations that made to its pages. They also talk about the unique narrative style of the book - non-fiction told as a fable, how Lux is able to manage time between his many passions, his quests of understanding the first principles of things, and how he lives a life without wearing masks (metaphorical that is!).Lux's Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/lux_narayan_what_i_learned_from_2_000_obituaries?language=enLux's interview with Guy Raz on the Ted Radio Hour: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/645360945You can also buy his Book - Name Place Animal Thing here:(https://luxnarayan.com/npat/about/) or (https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08VHH4NPY?geniuslink=true)Tweet to Karthik Nagarajan (@The_Karthik): https://twitter.com/The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Krish Ashok returns to the Filter Koffee Podcast, only this time as an author. His book - Masala Lab has taken social media by storm and is off to great reviews. The book explains the science behind Indian cooking and it is a playbook on practical science as much as it is on food. Karthik discusses how the book came into being and the various inspirations that led him to it. They also speak about passions and how Ashok conquers time, in his pursuit of multiple passions like music, humor, food and also his day job in reimagining the workplace. This episode has a unique format where there is an AMA section as well. Various celebrities and people on Twitter have asked Ashok questions about cooking, time management and pursuing passions - both art and science.Follow Krish Ashok on:Blog: https://krishashok.meTwitter: https://twitter.com/krishashokMusic: https://soundcloud.com/krishashokYou can also buy his Book - Masala Lab: The Science of Indian Cooking here:(https://www.amazon.in/Masala-Lab-Science-Indian-Cooking/dp/0143451375/)Tweet to Karthik Nagarajan (@The_Karthik): The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, Karthik speaks with Tomy Mathew Vadakkancheril - Founder & Promoter of Fair Trade Alliance Kerala. Besides being a champion for fair trade, Tomy is also an entrepreneur who heads a successful FMCG company called Elements that walks the talk on fair trade practices. Tomy describes the ongoing farmer's protest of 2020-21 as not just a reaction to the farm laws enacted by the Indian government in September 2020 but the result of an agrarian crisis that has been brewing for decades. Tomy also talks about how the core of the farmers' demands - The MSP (minimum support price) issue presents a quintessentially fair trade moment for India and how she is at a critical juncture where she has the opportunity to set a historical example for the rest of the World, by mainstreaming fair trade practices.Tweet to Karthik Nagarajan (@The_Karthik): The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Karthik speaks with Arzan Khambatta - the celebrated sculptor from Mumbai who specializes in creating art out of scrap metal. Arzan's work can be seen in many landmarks across mumbai, the most popular ones being the Rhino in the CEAT building at Nariman Point and the Dolphins of Worli Naka. Karthik speaks to Arzan about how he took to metal and welding as a young boy and his fascination for scrap metal. They talk about his process and the journey that a commissioned work takes from being an idea into a lasting landmark. They also discuss the changing landscape of Mumbai and how it compares to some of the greatest cities in the world.Follow Arzan on Instagram: https://instagram.com/arzankhambattaTweet to Karthik Nagarajan (@The_Karthik): https://twitter.com/The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Karthik discusses both the emotion and the science behind Nostalgia, with one of its biggest practitioners - Hari Krishnan. Hari is an artist, meme-maker, life coach and also an adman. Hari is a unique commentator of popular culture, in the way he uses real life memories of a certain era in his creations. In this episode, Karthik and Hari analyze why nostalgia is such a 'seductive liar'. They talk about concepts like the reminiscence bump - the science behind why certain memories are fonder and also the business around it in art, advertising and product design.Follow Hari on Twitter & Instagram: @flashbakgordon and @flashback_gordon(https://twitter.com/flashbakgordon?s=21)(https://instagram.com/flashback_gordon?igshid=wqt5anrtxxrs)Tweet to Karthik Nagarajan @The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Varun Duggirala, a vibrant storyteller and podcaster, alongside Vineet Kanabar, known for his engaging narratives. They reflect on the tumultuous year of 2020, sharing personal experiences during the pandemic and award the quirky 'OTI Awards' for memorable moments in advertising. The conversation dives into their favorite entertainment, highlighting Indian cinema and impactful shows. They discuss podcasting's changing landscape, emphasizing authenticity and the evolving role of creators. It's a thoughtful and lively round-up filled with insights for the future.

On this week's episode, Karthik speaks with Viggnesh - the founder of the Madras Coffee Movement. They discuss the history of coffee globally and also in India. They speak about the trading history that chronicles the setting up of Coffee Houses across India, the spreading of coffee farming and also the consumer history of how taste and brewing techniques evolved over time. They discuss the different waves of coffee evolution globally and the events that shaped the story from an Indian context. Viggnesh and Karthik also talk about the science of coffee making, the different brewing equipments and taste and aroma notes. Viggnesh also discusses his work with cafes, roasters and farmers and how he is helping the ecosystem grow and produce better coffee and also compensate small farmers in a fairer manner. Watch out for the rapid fire myth busting around coffee trends and fads.Follow Viggnesh on Instagram: https://instagram.com/viggnesh90Follow Madras Coffee Movement: https://instagram.com/roastbrewandyouTweet to Karthik Nagarajan @The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India has always had one of the highest absolute shortage of blood units in the World. There are many reasons for it - most of them are cultural in nature. The pandemic has only made things even worse. One of the few organizations to make a really big positive impact in this space has been Blood Donors India. Their seamless integration with Twitter has resulted in a simple but effective solution that is saving more than 8 lives everyday in India. This week, Karthik speaks with Balu Nayar - founder of Blood Donors India, who has been the driving force of this impact. They speak about the challenge that India and other countries face and the journey of how Blood Donors India came about. They also talk about the impact that Balu has had on Indian sports, most notably Cricket. Balu and the team that he was leading at IMG were the architects of what we know today as the IPL. Karthik and Balu speak about that journey with the BCCI and also about how the multiple occasions when the IPL almost came close to not happening.Follow Blood Donors India: https://twitter.com/BloodDonorsInFollow Balu Nayar on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NayarBaluTweet to Karthik Nagarajan @The_Karthik and follow his WordPress handle here (filterkoffee.com).You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.