Jaipur Bytes
Jaipur Literature Festival
Jaipur Bytes, the official podcast of the Jaipur Literature Festival, is your gateway to enriching and entertaining conversations featuring the finest thinkers, writers, speakers, and doers! Hosted by music programmer & broadcaster Sarthak Kaushik and writer & itihasology's founder, Eric Chopra, the podcast guarantees an eclectic mix of cross-genre discussions traversing diverse themes and ideas. With a constellation of the world's most eminent trailblazers, here's your chance to listen to authors, diplomats, historians, filmmakers, artists, and the unsung heroes of the arts.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 19, 2025 • 11min
Arundhati Nath on ‘The Phantom’s Howl’ | Jaipur Bytes 2025
Ghost stories are a significant part of Bengali culture. In this podcast, Arundhati Nath recalls how she grew up listening to her grandmother narrate ghost stories. She discusses how the stories in the collection ‘The Phantom’s Howl’ feature supernatural creatures with not only elements of horror but also humour.
Nov 6, 2025 • 14min
Susan Jung on Food and Beyond | Jaipur Bytes Podcast 2025
Even after testing ninety fried chicken recipes in three months for her cookbook ‘Kung Pao and Beyond’, food writer and chef Susan Jung still loves fried chicken. In this engaging podcast, Jung shares her culinary journey from starting out as an English literature graduate to becoming a pastry chef, writing a cookbook and now a food writer at Vogue Hong Kong.
Nov 6, 2025 • 18min
Sandeep Khanna on His Debut Novel | Jaipur Bytes Podcast 2025
India cannot be separated from its ten thousand years of history, even when focusing on the last fifty years. Sandeep Khanna’s debut novel follows characters as they navigate the economic, political, and socio-cultural changes India has undergone from the 1970s and 80s to the present. In this gripping podcast, Khanna shares the stories, poetry, and themes that inspired his writing, discusses what he aimed to convey, and reflects on what he learned through the process.
Nov 1, 2025 • 19min
Katy Hessel on Women in the History of Art | Jaipur Bytes 2025
Which kinds of art are worth viewing, and who creates them?Katy Hessel unpacks these questions by examining limitations historically placed on art made by women and types of works currently exhibited in the UK. The art historian argues how recognising these artists and writers’ achievements not only enriches our understanding of art history but also shapes a more inclusive future for the art world.
Oct 31, 2025 • 9min
Anand George on his Culinary Journey | Jaipur Bytes Podcast 2025
From discussing culinary school and what inspired his passion for cooking, to exploring how the history of colonialism in Kerala has shaped its cuisine, and delving into the science and art of selecting ingredients and preparing dishes, Chef Anand George covers multiple facets of the culinary experience.
Oct 28, 2025 • 28min
Rajdeep Sardesai on the Politics and Media of India Today | Jaipur Bytes Podcast 2025
There is a lot to be said about the current state of politics and media in India today. This is exactly what journalist and author Rajdeep Sardesai expands on while talking about his newest book ‘2024: The Election that Surprised India’. Sardesei points out the hypocrisy of the Indian media and discusses Prime Minister Modi’s mass appeal as well as the need for a strong opposition.
Oct 25, 2025 • 20min
Jassa Ahluwalia on Navigating Between Two Identities | Jaipur Bytes 2025
“I am rejecting the idea that I’m half Punjabi and half British. I am both those things fully.”In this captivating podcast, Jassa Ahluwalia discusses his book “Both Not Half,” exploring identity and his writing process. He shares stories of growing up in a multicultural home, how his family blended languages and cultures, and his experiences visiting India.
Oct 24, 2025 • 31min
From Cinema to Literature: Manav Kaul and Imtiaz Ali on Good Storytelling | Jaipur Bytes 2025
Storytelling takes on many forms from poems, plays, novels, short stories, to films, music, and short films. In this captivating podcast, Manav Kaul and Imtiaz Ali discuss elements that make narratives compelling, sharing how evocative literature and media influence their approach to writing, directing, and acting. Discover how stories inspire us and transform the way in which we see the world.
Oct 14, 2025 • 13min
Navigating Social Media Fame and Blending Music with Hrishi | Jaipur Bytes Podcast 2025
Growing up in America, singer Hrishi was surrounded by music that was different from the songs he heard at home. In this episode, Hrishi discusses how he navigated these two distinct musical worlds and discovered ways to blend Carnatic music with the English pop and rock that shaped his upbringing. He also reflects on achieving social media fame on Instagram and Tiktok.
Oct 13, 2025 • 22min
Prajakta Koli on Creativity, Fame, and her Debut Novel | Jaipur Bytes Podcast 2025
Radio, YouTube, Instagram, and Bollywood are just a few of the diverse fields Prajakta Koli has explored. Now, she is venturing into the world of literature with her debut novel, ‘Too Good to be True’. In this engaging podcast, social media star Koli shares insights into her creative writing process, how she navigates fame, and her approach to overcoming failure.
