Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

Through Airbnb, Utsav ended up booking a place in a dangerous neighbourhood of northern Paris. But what we were not prepared for was our Airbnb host, who was unlike anyone we had met before. In a Covid world, it seems that we have already lived the last of our good times? Or maybe not? This week, Utsav brings to you an unlikely story of finding hope in the most dire times. If you are feeling low, we highly encourage you to listen to this. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The iconic American stand up comic George Carlin once made a strong case of worshipping the sun, as it is indeed omnipresent! But it was only during a trip to Rome did I realise how the sun and sunlight have indelibly influenced architecture. This week, Utsav talks about how both Europe and Asia have used sunlight in fascinatingly different ways, both giving rise to beauty that leavs us in awe. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 40 years, the Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, sat fully constructed barring a dome. The Florentines had become so embarrassed by their failure to complete the dome announced a contest for the ideal dome design, with a handsome prize of 200 gold florins—and a shot at eternal fame. Leading architects of the age flocked to Florence and presented their ideas. This week, Utsav takes you to Florence and uncovers the story of the man who did the impossible, and why we all have it in ourselves to do it. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Paris, lies the Père Lachaise Cemetery, where you find the remains of a woman and two men. The Cemetery of the East, is the final resting ground of people from all walks of life in France. And yet, these three stand out. Away from crowds at the Eiffel, away from all the glitz and glamour of Paris, is the story of these three, who left an indelible impact on the world. But for the longest time, a dark secret haunted them. This week, Utsav brings to you that secret, which unfortunately is the fate of many today. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kanta Prasad is 64, but his childhood memories are vivid. If he ever discovered that an animal is going to be slaughtered nearby, he would run holding a wide-mouthed container to collect the blood, the intestines and the offal, all parts that the upper castes discarded. The rakti, coagulated blood, was and still is a Dalit delicacy. This, week Utsav talks about a cuisine most of us have never even tasted. And if you were a Dalit, would you still celebrate your cuisine if it was trauma on your plate, day after day after day? Special thanks to Rajyashri Goody (http://www.rajyashrigoody.com/) for her kind permission to use her recipe booklets for the episode. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Near the end of the 18th and final of her pregnancies, Hiranmayi Ghatak, became a widow. Her body had withstood a whirlwind of miscarriages and stillbirths, which resulted in a total of eight living children by the time she was 37. For the rest of her life, much like countless women before her, she was forced to live very frugally and eat minimally. This week, Utsav brings to the fore a cuisine which is celebrated as a culinary achievement but was borne out of sheer exploitation - India's Widow Cuisines. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there is one beverage which our country unabashedly loves, its Chai. We cannot imagine an India without Chai, and yet what you may not know is that Chai is less than 2 centuries old in India. This week, Utsav narrates the fascinating story of how chai became a part of our DNA and reflects on the absurdity of food origin debates. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1922, fed up of his family squabbles, K Krishna Rao, left his home in Udupi, Southern Karnataka and moved to Chennai to work as an attendant at a restaurant. He eventually moved up and gave rise to a whole subculture of Indian food - Udupi restaurants. This week, Utsav talks about a success story of internal migration, but one that is laced with a discriminatory remanent of the past. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been a fan of Bengali food like I've been, you may be surprised to know that there exists a whole other kind of Bengali food you may not have even heard of. It's a friendly food rivalry known to all Bengalis but it is a story of how our climatic conditions, geography and economic conditions shape our food. Join Utsav, as he walks you through this dichotomy of Bengali food, and gives us a simple tip on where to find the best food in any place you travel to. You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42 (https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42) 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can the cult classic Gangs of Wasseypur teach us about Indian food, and the religious and caste underpinnings of it? In this episode, Utsav revisits a scene in the film, and talks about how we need to introspect and evaluate if we are unknowingly practicing discrimination, not only abroad, but more importantly at home. You can follow Utsav on his Instagram handle: @whywetravel42 https://instagram.com/whywetravel42?igshid=1h7y2srg5qqbx 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.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.