Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala

The true essence of a city is not in the famous monuments it houses, or the delicacies available in the crowded bylanes, nor is it its proximity to the sea, mountains, or beaches. The true essence of a city are the people it houses – their spirit, their often-unheard stories, their unrealised/realised aspirations. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun Duggi talks to Karishma Mehta, the founder of Humans of Bombay. She shares her journey from as a post-grad student in the UK to returning to India to follow her passion for writing, and the need to tell heartfelt stories. Karishma recalls a time when reticent actorAamir Khan was brought to tears during an interview and confesses that she was purely driven by the organic flow of conversation and not the need to probe. Karishma has given a voice to the diverse and often unheard perspectives of Mumbai's residents. Each post on Humans of Bombay provides a window into the lives and experiences of individuals, capturing the emotions, struggles, and triumphs that make up the fabric of the city.  Despite its success, Karishma remains dedicated to maintaining the authenticity and intimacy of each story, showcasing the power of storytelling to bring people together, and shining a light on the complexities of the human experience. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/  https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi   And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The     Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant    to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their  daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that  will   help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform at    their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of    truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and   use in their  work, life and everything in-between. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

As you scroll through your explore page, you are bound to come across a horde of talented content creators. The parameters to go viral have finally distilled down to one thing – creating good content. In an age where fame is accessible through just a click on your hand-held device, how does one stand out among the clutter? According to Agasthya Shah, focusing on the quality of your content instead of the metrics will do the trick. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks to Agasthya Shah, a Gen-Z creator who began his content creation journey in July 2019 and found quick fame during the pandemic when his videos started going viral. As content creators, Varun and Agasthya share their thoughts on dealing with fame, and what they consider as their duty to support other good creators who don’t have the following they deserve. Agasthya confesses to finding his newfound fame “surreal”, and agrees with Varun on the importance of staying grounded and authentic. He also opens up on what helped him cope when his belief in manifesting destiny did not seem to be bearing fruit during a difficult period in his creator journey. Find out more about what the highs and lows of their creator journeys have taught Varun and Agasthya about life. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/  https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi   And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The     Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant    to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their  daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that  will   help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform at    their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of    truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and   use in their  work, life and everything in-between. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

Our brain – it dictates every decision we make, but how much do we really know about how it works? Neurologist Dr. Sid Warrier feels strongly about the need to educate young people about the workings of the brain. According to his research, understanding how our brains work can help us design our lives for greater productivity and more happiness. On this episode of Take aPause, Varun quizzes Sid on topics such as our inability to control our emotions, the effect of social media on our decision-making abilities, how the lack of exercise can deprive our brain, and why we struggle with forming healthy habits. There’s lots to unpack in this episode! Mumbai-based doctor and neurologist, Siddharth Warrier holds an MD Medicine degree and has completed his DM Neurology. He has a YouTube channel on which he explores mental health and human behaviour in an effort to bring neuroscience to the mainstream conversation and destigmatize mental health.  You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/  https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi   And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The     Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant    to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their  daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that  will   help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform at    their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of    truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and   use in their  work, life and everything in-between. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

Ever wondered what it’s really like to deal with celebrities, and that too at their own weddings? Celeb wedding photographer Joseph Radhik has a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on some of the most talked-about events of India’s celeb culture over the last decade. His answer may surprise you!In this episode of Take aPause, Varun and Joseph weigh the importance of human connection in their own lives. For Joseph, most friendships, even the deep and impactful ones, are fleeting. Yet he also plans his life and career with the sole aim of being able to spend as much time as possible with his loved ones. Can it be possible to have such a highly successful career in the spotlight and yet also have control over your own time? Joseph has found a way to build a career that allows him to live the life he wants, by learning to say “No” to the most difficult person to turn down – your own self!One of the most sought-after names in the business, Hyderabad-based wedding photographer Joseph Radhik has photographed some of the most celebrated couples in India. From Priyanka-Nick’s fun wedding and Anushka-Virat’s nuptials at the romantic environs of Tuscany, to shooting Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan’s soulful chemistry and Katrina-Vicky’s royal wedding affair – he’s covered them all!You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow  Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggihttps://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/ https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggihttps://twitter.com/varunduggi  And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.comAbout the show“Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The      Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant     to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their   daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that   will   help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform  at    their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of     truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and    use in their  work, life and everything in-between.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

Get inspired and learn from the success story of young entrepreneur Vedant Lamba. He has built a successful business in the competitive world of sneaker reselling. What started as a hobby turned into a million-dollar empire after much struggle and strategising. Whether you're a young entrepreneur looking to break into the industry or just curious about how someone so young could make it big, don’t miss this episode! Varun and Vedant share their unique journeys as entrepreneurs in different market environments. They discuss the importance of providing value to the customers and how it’s okay for milestones to be different for every entrepreneur.  Vedant Lamba is a dynamic entrepreneur who has found his foothold in the footwear market with his enterprise, The Mainstreet Marketplace, one of the biggest sneaker reselling platforms in India. As sneaker culture continues to deepen its roots, Vedant began his journey in 2017 through his YouTube channel named "Mainstreet TV," where he would talk to his audience about new sneaker launches, their availability, and more. Today, The Mainstreet Marketplace has developed into a significant player in the sneaker reselling market with multiple outlets in the country. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/  https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi   And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The      Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant     to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their   daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that   will   help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform  at    their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of     truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and    use in their  work, life and everything in-between. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

Are you always looking for actionable insights you can apply to your life and track your personal growth? On this episode of Take aPause, mentalist Suhani Shah shares with Varun Duggirala plenty of insights that you can easily start implementing in your life.Looking to find your passion in life? Hear from Suhani Shah on her approach. Wanting to try mindfulness? Suhani has her own learnings to share. She also talks about the three practices that have deeply transformed her life, which she encapsulates as solitude, attitude, and gratitude. Curious to know what they mean? Listen to find out!Primarily known as a mentalist, Suhani Shah is also an illusionist, artist, magician and therapist. Her journey began after watching a magician perform on television, when instead of being simply entertained, she was led by her curiosity and started teaching herself magic from any source she could find. Her first stage show was held in Ahmedabad in 1997. She left formal education at Class 2 and continued to be home-schooled to accommodate her constant touring for her stage shows. As of 2019, she has completed 5000+. She’s given several TED Talks and has her own YouTube channel.You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow  Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggihttps://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/ https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggihttps://twitter.com/varunduggi  And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.comAbout the show“Take aPause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant  to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their  daily lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that will help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform  at their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of  truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and use in their  work, life and everything in-between.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

The art of conversation is an important skill. As social animals, we cannot do without human connections, and conversations play a vital role in helping build these relationships. While it can be very intimidating to initiate and sustain conversations without feeling awkward, there is a foolproof way to make each conversation count. In this video, Varun shares three simple techniques for improving your conversational skills. Whether you're looking to make new friends or just want to be more confident in social situations, these tips will help you learn how to hold meaningful conversations.   You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/  https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi   And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The     Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant    to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their  daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that  will   help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform at    their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of    truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and   use in their  work, life and everything in-between. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

There’s never been a time in human history when we as a species have been as “connected” as we are now. Social media pervades almost every aspect of our lives. And yet, writer Dhruv Sehgal confesses that the need to actively engage with the world is something that he feels less and less everyday. Because there is an abundance of mostly irrelevant information being thrown our way every minute, that we have very little desire or energy left to build connections that really matter. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun Duggi sits down for a heartfelt chat with actor and writer Dhruv Sehgal on the rigours of the writing process, developing discipline, harnessing “boredom” to find inspiration, and building real connections in a world saturated with content.  Writer, actor, and director Dhruv Sehgal is best known for his work on the mini series Little Things – as actor, creator, and head writer. He also won the Golden Gateway Dimensions Mumbai Award at the Mumbai Film Festival for his short film Kunal in 2016. He has written, acted and directed comedy sketches for Filter Copy.  You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/  https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi   And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The    Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant   to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that will   help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform at   their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of   truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and  use in their  work, life and everything in-between. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

People often believe that there is only one way to start your entrepreneurial journey. But the more you talk to other entrepreneurs, you will realise just how unique and different each person’s path is. Each path has its own set of challenges, learnings, and speed of growth. Some faced numerous obstacles, while others saw success early. However, what does remain constant is the belief in their vision and the determination to reach the end. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun chats with Arman Sood, co-founder of Sleepy Owl Coffee about the uphill climb of their respective entrepreneurial journeys. Not a morning person, Arman shares what gets him out of the bed at 5.30 AM without fail!. They also talk about the importance of being adaptable to the changes constantly being thrown your way.Arman Sood is the co-founder of Sleepy Owl Coffee and a trailblazer in India's new coffee revolution. Arman formed Sleepy Owl Coffee with the goal of making artisanal cold brews an easy and preferred option for consumers. He was also featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2020. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow  Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggihttps://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/ https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggihttps://twitter.com/varunduggi  And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.comAbout the show“Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The    Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant   to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their daily   lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that will help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform at their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and  use in their  work, life and everything in-between.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message

When you’re a creator, confidence is considered a given. As a creator there is a level of vulnerability that comes into play every time you put a piece of content out into the world. While some creators enjoy the external appreciation and validation, others derive their joy from the content-making process itself. As content creation becomes a steady business of its own, the need to build a culture, understand short-term and long-term goals, and avoid the constant urge to compare numbers become necessities. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks to Raj Shamani on his journey of discovering his brand, its culture, and developing it into a successful business. He shares his take on building confidence, discovering one’s passion, and decision making.  Raj Shamani is a businessman, social media influencer, entrepreneur, and an audience favourite on Instagram. Raj has delivered around 200+ speeches across 26 countries and is one of India’s most influential motivational speakers.  You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow   Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/  https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi   And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varun Duggirala” ( previously “The   Varun Duggi show”) is a twice a week podcast that’s meant  to enable its listeners to take a pause amidst the chaos of their daily  lives to learn tools, embrace ideas and soak in concepts that will  help them find motivation, build the right mindset and perform at  their best. Varun also occasionally taps into the minds of  truly interesting people to give listeners a learn from and use in their  work, life and everything in-between. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/take-a-pause-varun-duggi/message