Shows
Canapi ConversationsS2:E5 AI, Actually: The AI Conversation with BanksBanks aren’t only theorizing about AI nowadays. They're operationalizing it.In this episode, host Kristie Han (Canapi) sits down with Sangeetha Menon (Head Cloud Analytics, AI/ML & Gen AI Platforms, Truist) and Kevin Johnson (Director of Information Technology, AI, Data, & Modernization, Synovus) to discuss how AI is actually being deployed inside financial institutions today. Drawing on real examples, they break down where AI is already delivering workflow improvements, customer impact, and measurable ROI.The conversation also explores why some pilots scale while others stall, the organizational structures that make adoption possible, and what strong AI...
2025-11-1938 min
The Literature LoungeRights, AI & Vulnerability: The Unseen Forces Shaping Publishing with Sangeetha | The Literature LoungeWhat really happens behind the scenes in the world of books? How is artificial intelligence changing publishing, and what does it take to build a meaningful career with words?In this illuminating episode of The Literature Lounge, host Mohua Chinappa sits down with Sangeetha Menon, a publishing professional whose unexpected writing journey led her into the heart of the literary world. Sangeetha reveals the often-overlooked role of a rights manager, shares why embracing technology is crucial for publishing's future, and makes a compelling case for why vulnerability might be a writer's greatest strength....
2025-11-1925 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesLavanya Arora & Mahima Kohli: Redefining Love In FictionThe show opens with Lavanya and Mahima talking about what writing and creativity means to them. They share their earliest memories of writing and how each of them decided to pursue it seriously. We chat about their respective manuscripts – both in the space of contemporaray fiction dealing with romance and coming of age, accompanied by some fantastic book recommendations! We talk about research and the process of writing stories about urban Indian relationships. We also delve into what each of them is exploring with their respective manuscripts and chat about the misconceptions people have about romance in literature. Later, we...
2025-08-161h 46
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAntara Mukherjee & Farah Naaz: Stories Of Women Written By WomenThe show opens with Antara and Farah talking about what writing and creativity means to them. They share their earliest memories of writing and how each of them decided to pursue it seriously. We chat about their respective manuscripts – one in the space of fiction and the other in non-fiction, and the importance of amplifying female narratives, accompanied by some fantastic book recommendations! We talk about research and the process of writing for fiction and non-fiction. We also delve into what each of them is exploring with their respective manuscripts. Later, we chat about the Emerging Writers Residency, their wr...
2025-08-091h 24
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAkash Mohimen & Ramanjaneya Sharaph: The Rules Of Writing Horror & MythologyThe show opens with Akash and Ramanjaneya talking about what writing and creativity means to them. They share their earliest memories of writing and how each of them decided to pursue it seriously. We chat about their respective manuscripts – one in the space of horror and the other in mythology, accompanied by some fascinating book recommendations! We talk about playwriting and it’s influence on each of their writing practices. We also delve into what each of them is exploring with their respective manuscripts. Later, we chat about the Emerging Writers Residency, their writing routines and more book recommendations! The...
2025-08-021h 57
The Closet Writer ChroniclesBalaji Gopalan & Riddhi Dastidar: Exploring Speculative FictionThe show opens with Bala and Riddhi talking about what writing and creativity means to them. They share their earliest memories of writing and how each of them decided to pursue it seriously. We chat about the similarity of themes in their manuscripts and explore the space of speculative fiction, accompanied by some really cool book recommendations! We talk about poetry and it’s influence while writing fiction and what each of them is exploring with their respective manuscripts. Later, we chat about the Emerging Writers Residency, their writing routines and more book recommendations! The episode ends with excerpts fr...
2025-07-261h 32
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAnisha Lalvani & Poornima Rajamani: Politics & Identity In FictionThe show opens with Anisha and Poornima talking about what writing and creativity means to them. They share their earliest memories of writing and how each of them decided to pursue it seriously. We chat about the similarity of themes in their manuscripts and delve into literature in politics and identity, sprinkled with some great book recommendations! We talk about censorship and what each of them is exploring with their respective manuscripts. Later, we chat about the Emerging Writers Residency, their writing routines and more book recommendations! The episode ends with excerpts from Anisha and Poornima’s manuscripts narrated by...
2025-07-191h 51
The Closet Writer ChroniclesTCWC x HWR Emerging Writers Residency 2024Welcome to a very special series in collaboration with The Himalayan Writing Retreat! Listen to 10 new voices in 5 episodes as they talk about the ups and downs of writing a manuscript, finding their passion and the significance of a creative community. First episode drops next weekend! Tune in to the trailer to listen to a few sound bytes from the first episode!The Himalayan Writing Retreat (THWR) is a physical retreat tucked away in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. THWR was co-founded in 2016 by Chetan Mahajan & Dr Vandita Dubey. The retreat offers a variety of events...
2025-07-1204 min
Bibliotherapy with Bijal ShahMy Conversation with Sangeetha Menon on the Healing Power of Creativity and StoriesI hope you’ve been enjoying SEASON 3 of my podcast Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah so far! Episodes published to date discuss literary journaling and reflective practice with literacy coach and bookologist Stephanie Affinito, books that celebrate women writers with a specific focus on women’s empowerment and the rise of romantasy and it’s intersection with bibliotherapy with lots more valuable bibliotherapy content coming up to look forward to! In today’s episode, I wanted to introduce my conversation with writer, editor and podcaster, Sangeetha Menon on the healing power of creativity and stories. This was a session that was reco...
2025-04-071h 44
The Closet Writer ChroniclesO Aishwarya : The Blind Bookworm - Part 2Season 4 finale! The episode opens with Aishwarya talking about what creativity means to her. We continue our conversation on AI and its relationship with disability and accessibility. We delve into Aishwarya’s journey as a visual artist as a blind person and how she’s challenging the status quo on who can be an artist. Later, she talks about her process and routine as a writer. We also talk about poetry and resources for poetry writing month. We exchange more recommendations on books and tv shows. The episode ends with poetry written & narrated by Aishwarya.O...
2025-03-2948 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesO Aishwarya : The Blind Bookworm - Part 1Season 4 Finale! The episode opens with Aishwarya talking about what creativity means to her. Aishwarya shares her earliest memories of being creative and writing and what that’s been like as a blind person. She shares various experiences and perspectives on disability and accessibility and her work regarding the same. She also shares book recommendations. Later Aishwarya talks about how AI and assistive technology has helped her, but also how nuanced it is and what seems to be missing. The episode ends with poetry written & narrated by Aishwarya.O. Aishwarya is currently pursuing Doctoral st...
2025-03-291h 10
The Closet Writer ChroniclesVishala Ramswami: Creative MicrocosmsThe episode opens with Vishala talking about what creativity means to her. She shares her earliest memories of being creative. We talk about reading and books. We delve into Vishala’s various creative pursuits – Comaya a community celebrating creativity, wellness & Indian wilderness, and Theta Tales, a micro-publishing house. Vishala shares how writing started for her and how she’s been engaging with different formats. We also talk about her early carrer days and the school she runs in rural Tamil Nadu. The episode ends with an excerpt from Vishala’s book narrated by her.Vishala...
2025-03-081h 12
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAshwitha Jayakumar: Excavating StoriesThe episode opens with Ashwitha talking about what creativity means to her. Ashwitha shares how she decided to pursue a degree in literature and medieval history. We chat about how she started writing and what the publishing process has been like. She talks about her experience as a teacher and how that’s influenced her writing. We also delve into her interest in history and her inclination towards writing and creating more books in this space. We also exchange recommendations for books, anime, tv shows and video games! She also talks about a publishing house she’s setting up with...
2025-03-011h 20
The Closet Writer ChroniclesUnmana: Creating A BibliomysteryThe episode opens with Unmana talking about what creativity means to them. Unmana shares how they got into writing, their writing routine and how vulnerable they choose to be with their work. We chat about their experience in marketing, their perspective on publicity especially for books today, and their relationship with social media. We also talk about their debut book - from the idea to getting published. Unamana also shares their perspective on gender & sexuality and talks about queer literature. Later, we exchange book recommendations. The episode ends with an excerpt from Unmana’s book narrated by them....
2025-02-221h 22
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAshwin Muthiah: Unbottling Life Through StoriesDisclaimer: This episode contains content on alcohol. Listeners are advised to tune in if they are above the legal drinking age. The episode opens with Ashwin talking about what creativity means to him. Ashwin shares his earliest memory of being creative. He talks about his early career days and the different start-ups he’s run over the years. We chat about how his interest in wine started and how unPINNED Wine was born. We also talk about his manuscript and docu-series In Pursuit of Flavour. He also shares misconceptions people have about wine and wi...
2025-02-151h 37
The Closet Writer ChroniclesBijal Shah: The Healing Power Of StoriesThe episode opens with Bijal talking about what creativity means to her. Bijal shares her earliest memory of being creative. We talk about her early career days in accounting and how she got interested in bibliotherapy. We chat about her reading routine and how she curates book lists. Bijal also shares a bit about her platform Book Therapy and some of the courses she teaches on there. We also talk about some of her favourite books. The episode ends with a piece written & narrated by Bijal.Bijal Shah is a bibliotherapist, counsellor and author...
2025-02-081h 40
The Closet Writer ChroniclesPinkLungi: Part 2 - CulturepreneursThe episode opens with Govindan talking about what creativity means to him. Aishwarya and him talk about how PinkLungi caters to a larger audience while appearing niche and their future expansion plans. We discuss how they divide roles while balancing their personal & professional lives. They share how they resolve conflict and how they deal with burnout. We talk about social media and validation. They also share how they’re intergrating AI into their creative process. Later, Govindan & Aishwarya share their favourite books, shows, podcasts & a lot more! The episode ends with a piece written & narrated by Govindan.
2025-01-251h 15
The Closet Writer ChroniclesPinkLungi: Part 1 - CulturepreneursThe episode opens with Aishwarya talking about what creativity means to her. Govindan and her then share their earliest memories of being creative. We delve into their educational and career choices. They share how they met and how their relationship evolved and the origin story of PinkLungi. We also talk about how they took the decision to transition out of their respective jobs and focus on PinkLungi full time. Aishwarya and Govindan also share how they curate pieces for the platform, AI tools that they use and how they found their brand voice. The episode ends with a personal...
2025-01-251h 09
The Closet Writer ChroniclesPravin Shanmughanandam: Into The WildernessThe episode opens with Pravin talking about what storytelling means to him. Pravin talks about his early days in corporate life and how he found his calling with filmmaking and becoming a naturalist. We delve into how he founded Pollachi Papyrus and Pollachi Itineraries. Pravin shares his perspective on conservation and conservation filmmaking. He talks about responsible tourism and archiving records on the bio-diversity of his hometown. We later chat about some of Pravin’s work – his short films – and how that’s led him to do impactful work with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. The episode ends with an artic...
2024-12-141h 39
The Closet Writer ChroniclesUtkarsh Dalal: AI, Gaming & CreativityThe episode opens with Utkarsh talking about what creativity means to him. He shares his earliest memory of being creative and how he got into writing with his anonymous blog. Utkarsh talks about how he wanted to pursue a career in journalism and writing but then realising that it wasn’t something he wanted to pursue professionally. We chat about his career choices as a software engineer and then working in policy. He later talks about his start-up GameAway.in, a cloud gaming company. We also talk about validation, cancel culture and books. Utkarsh also shares his thoughts on in...
2024-12-071h 21
The Closet Writer ChroniclesKarthik Venkatesh: Inside An Editor's MindThe episode opens with Karthik talking about what creativity means to him. He shares his earliest memory of being creative and how he started out with writing. Karthik talks about his stint in business development and his shift to education, where he taught English and History! We chat about his experience as a teacher and his move to publishing. Karthik sheds light on the editorial process of a book and we chat about different aspects of an editorial job. We then talk about how he chose to pursue writing more seriously and his debut book. Karthik also shares about...
2024-11-301h 26
The Closet Writer ChroniclesBhavika Govil: A Novel DreamThe episode opens with Bhavika talking about what creativity means to her. We talk about how her interest in writing started and her early days as a journalist. Bhavika talks about why she chose to study writing formally and how that’s helped her craft and growth. We delve into her writing process with regard to POV, writing routine and structure. Later, she shares some of her favourite books and TV shows. She also shares a bit about her debut novel, Hot Water. The episode ends with an excerpt from Hot Water narrated by Bhavika.
...
2024-10-261h 29
The Closet Writer ChroniclesArun Kale: Helter SkelterThe episode opens with Arun talking about what creativity means to him. Arun shares his earliest memory of being creative and how he started out on his creative journey. He talks about his experience as a graphic designer and his teaching stint. We then delve into how he started Helter Skelter and Astray and what his curation process is like. Later, we talk about social media and the different formats that exist today for stories. Arun also shares his thoughts on AI. The episode ends with Arun reading the editor’s note from Helter Skelter’s latest volume.
2024-10-191h 46
The Closet Writer ChroniclesTejas Gambhir: A Sufi SoulNote: This episode is in Hinglish. The episode opens with Tejas talking about what creativity means to him. We talk about how his interest in music began and how he went about making it a professional pursuit. Tejas shares his take on having an agent and how he initiated his signature Qawali venture Mehfil-E-Sufi. He also talks about his relationship with social media and what going viral was like. We later chat about his favourite artists and influences. The episode ends with excerpts from two pieces written and narrated by Tejas.
P.S...
2024-10-051h 20
The Closet Writer ChroniclesKrish Raghav: Pop-Culture From An Asian LensThe episode opens with Krish talking about what creativity means to him. We chat about how he started writing and illustrating. Krish talks about his time in Delhi as a journalist, a student in Singapore and his life in Beijing as an artist. We talk about his deep interest in music and how that’s influenced him. Later, he talks about Chaoyang Trap a quirky publication on socio-political and cultural themes in China. We also share book recommendations and discuss Krish’s favourite artists. The episode ends with an excerpt from a piece written and narrated by Krish.
2024-09-281h 31
The Closet Writer ChroniclesRabia Kapoor: A Girl In Love With WordsThe episode opens with Rabia talking about what creativity means to her. We talk about her earliest memories of being creative and how her school and family played a role in building her creative interests. We delve into her process as a writer and talk about voice and being vulnerable. Rabia also shares her thoughts on social media and how studying writing has helped her hone her skills. Later, we exchange book recommendations. The episode ends with a piece written and narrated by Rabia.
Rabia Kapoor is a writer from Mumbai. She is primarily...
2024-09-211h 32
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSeason 4: Own Your StorySeason 4 opener out on 22nd September!
Check our Instagram @theclosetwriterchronicles for a fun campaign on highlighting emerging creators.
#OwnYourStory
Social Media:
Instagram - @theclosetwriterchronicles
Twitter - @TheMoodyMarsh
Email - theclosetwriterchronicles@gmail.com
Music:
Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io
Produced By White Hot
2024-09-1201 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesShrenik Rao: The Madras CourierIt's our season finale and I'm talking to Shrenik Rao! The episode opens with Shrenik talking about what writing and creativity means to him. He shares his early childhood memory of coming up with an evening edition newspaper and how that sparked his interest in journalism. We delve into his journey with entrepreneurship in the media space and his experience as a documentary filmmaker. We talk about how he revived The Madras Courier and his editorial process. Later, we chat about his upcoming book and some of his favourite writers. The episode ends with an article written & narrated by...
2024-03-091h 40
The Closet Writer ChroniclesShalini Mullick: Empathy In Medicine & StorytellingThe episode opens with Shalini talking about what creativity and storytelling means to her. We delve into how she chose medicine as a career with a specialisation in respiratory pathology. Shalini talks about her experience during the corona pandemic and how it started her writing journey. We talk about books, burnout and if you need to be a reader to write. The episode ends with Shalini reading an excerpt from her book.
Shalini is a pulmonary pathologist and writer. During the day, she’s managing her lab or working on complex biopsy reports. As a...
2024-03-021h 23
The Closet Writer ChroniclesEshan Sharma: A Student Of HistoryThe episode opens with Eshan talking about what creativity and storytelling means to him. We chat about how his interest in history started and how he decided to pursue it as a career. He talks about how he got the idea for Karwaan Heritage, how he started it and what the evolution has been like. We also talk about a book he published when he was 17! Later, we delve into his writing journey and discuss one of his articles in relation to Karwaan's work culture. He shares resources for those interested in learning more about history. The episode ends...
2024-02-111h 20
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSalini Vineeth: Passion To ProfessionThe episode opens with Salini talking about what writing means to her. We delve into how she decided to pursue engineering, her work life and her decision to switch to a writing career. We talk about books and writer with a focus on Malayalam literature. Salini talks about her experience with self-publishing and things to keep in mind while working on a book. The episode ends with Salini narrating an excerpt from her book, 'Lost Edges'.
Salini Vineeth is a fiction and freelance writer based in Bangalore. She worked for ten years as an...
2024-02-031h 43
The Closet Writer ChroniclesPragadish Kalaivanan: Desi With A Chance Of InfluencerThe episode opens with Pragadish talking about what storytelling and creativity means to him. He shares how he decided to pursue a career in marketing and the steps he took to find a position that aligns with his values and interests. We chat about books, movies, poems and stories that we enjoy. Later, Pragadish opens up about his experience of coming out as queer and his relationship with identity. We also talk about his TikTok fame and how he navigates social media. The episode ends with poems written and narrated by Pragadish.
Pragadish Kalaivanan...
2024-01-292h 01
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSadaf Hussain: A Love For Food & StorytellingThe episode opens with Sadaf talking about what creativity and storytelling means to him. We talk about how his interest in food was sparked and trace his journey from starting a pop-up cafe, being on MasterChef India, and going on to carve a career in food! Sadaf shares some fun anecdotes along the conversation. We chat about stories, writing, his latest book for children 'The Carrot Soup', and his upcoming projects. Sadaf also talks about how making mistakes can help you grow and misconceptions people have about his job. The episode ends with an excerpt from the book 'Forgotten...
2023-12-242h 04The Closet Writer ChroniclesMid-Season Finale Sneak PeekCyclone Michaung struck Chennai earlier this month which lead to power and wifi connectivity issues. Hence, the episode has been delayed to next weekend. Do tune in to previous episodes and listen to this if you're curious to know who next week's guest is!
Social Media:
Instagram - @theclosetwriterchronicles
Twitter - @TheMoodyMarsh
Email - theclosetwriterchronicles@gmail.com
Music:
Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io
Produced By White Hot
2023-12-1602 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAdithi Muralidhar: Earthly NotesThe episode opens with Adithi's thoughts on creativity & storytelling. She shares how her interest in nature started and how that lead her to study about it. We talk about her children's book and her interest in birding. We also delve into what her role as a teacher and curriculum designer is like. Later, Adithi talks about books and shows that have influenced her and shares resources for environment education. The episode ends with excerpts from pieces written & narrated by Adithi.
Adithi Muralidhar has done a post graduation in Zoology and in Educational Communication. She...
2023-12-091h 11
The Closet Writer ChroniclesNainika Mukherjee: The Story Of A Kathak Artist / Ek Kathakar Ki KathaThe episode opens with Nainika talking about what dance, storytelling & writing means to her. She shares how she got into Kathak, her time at Kathak Kendra and how her relationship with the dance form has evolved. We delve into how she decided to pursue psychology and specialisation in Dance Movement Therapy. We talk about the importance of mentorship, Mental Health and the confusion of therapy v/s feeling therapeutic. We also share a lot of book recommendations! The episode ends with an excerpt of a blog post written & narrated by Nainika.
Nainika Mukherjee has...
2023-12-021h 49
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAnisha Palat: The Gaze Of An Art HistorianThe episode opens with Anisha talking about what writing & creativity means to her. We chat about how she decided to pursue a career in the art world, her influences & inspiration, and how she decided to pursue a PhD. Anisha talks about her research and thesis - 'The Cow, Caste and Contemporary Art in India: Aesthetic Ecologies and Social Hierarchies in the Twenty-First Century'. She shares how her work is collaborative and what she means by that, as well as how she uses the lens of personal & collective histories to interpret art. We also share book recommendations and resources for...
2023-11-251h 27
The Closet Writer ChroniclesReviewing Stories: Books & Films ft. Aditya Mani Jha, Deepanjana Pal & Suchin MehrotraIt’s our bonus episode and we’re talking all things reviews, books & films! What is the difference between a reviewer and critic? How do you stay objective while reviewing a story? All this and a lot more on this informative and fun chat with some of the best in their fields. Tune in!
Aditya Mani Jha is currently a freelance writer but has been Books Editor at The Hindu Business Line in the past, and Commissioning Editor at Penguin Random House India. You can find his articles on books and films in India Today, Mint Lounge, Open...
2023-10-071h 52
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAyush Handa: Phoenix SymphonyTrigger Warning: Addiction
The episode opens with Ayush talking about what creativity means to him. Ayush shares how he started playing piano and how he cultivated his interest in music. He talks about his various pursuits as a creative - composing, singing, songwriting, and playing piano. He gives his perspective on the music industry and shares some interesting facts. We talk about his newfound interest in investment advisory services and how he set up hist music studio during the pandemic. Later, he shares his experience with addiction, what he wished someone had told him...
2023-04-291h 20
The Closet Writer ChroniclesNikhil Menon: Writing & Future TechnologyThe episode opens with Nikhil talking about what writing means to him. He shares how he got into writing and his creative influences. We chat about how he decided to pursue a career as a writer, his first screenplay for a Malayalam movie, dealing with a setback, and how he moved into writing about future technology. He shares his thoughts on AI replacing writers and his perspective on ghostwriting. The episode ends with an article on future technology replacing jobs written and narrated by Nikhil.
Nikhil Menon is a professional Content Developer specialising in...
2023-04-151h 26
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSanaa Mariam: Cinema Is ForeverThe episode opens with Sanaa talking about what storytelling means to her. Sanaa shares her early memories of being creative and how the film bug bit her. She talks about how she always knew she wanted to be a director and her decision to study film. She shares how she joined Madras Talkies, what her journey has been like and how working with Mani Ratnam has shaped her as a creative. Later, we talk about the Ponniyin Selvan movies, book to screen adaptations and remakes. The episode ends with a script written and narrated by Sanaa.
2023-04-081h 09
The Closet Writer ChroniclesKuriakose Vaisian: Finding The Fun & The FunnyThe episode opens with Kuriakose talking about what writing and creativity means to him. We talk about his earliest memory of being creative, how he started writing and decided to pursue a creative career. He talks about being a journalist, content creator and then becoming the editor-in-chief at Tinkle Comics during the pandemic! We chat about his move to the Netherlands and his love for stand-up comedy. He goes on to share his journey with stand-up and what he hopes to achieve. Later, we talk about his different creative influences and his entrepreneurial venture! The episode closes with an...
2023-04-011h 25
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAndrew Prashanth (CG Salamander) : An Origin StoryThe episode opens with Andrew talking about why he loves the comic book format and what creativity means to him. We talk about how he decided to become a writer. Andrew shares his early days of studying engineering and deciding to make the jump to writing. He talks about taking up the job of a tour guide and how that's helped his writing. He talks about why he decided on the pen name CG Salamander and his plans to write under his own name one day. He talks about his creative partnership with Rajiv Eipe and his hopes for...
2023-03-181h 24
The Closet Writer ChroniclesMeghaa Gupta: Green Literature & Children's BooksThe episode opens with Meghaa talking about what writing means to her. She shares how she started writing and her creative influences. We talk about publishing, rights management and book to screen adaptations. Later, we chat about her interest in children's books with a specialised focus on green literature. The episode ends with Meghaa narrating excerpts from her book 'After Midnight'.
Meghaa Gupta is an author and festival curator! In 2018, she made her foray into children's writing with the award-winning picture book, A Home of Our Own, and in 2020, the children's imprint of Penguin...
2023-02-181h 25
The Closet Writer ChroniclesShasvathi Siva: Claiming Your NarrativeThe episode opens with Shasvathi talking about what writing means to her. We talk about her earliest memories of being creative, her first piece of writing and her creative influences. Shasvathi takes us through her choice of taking up a career in marketing & advertising. We also talk about AI and ChatGPT's influence on marketing, today. Shasvathi shares her entrepreneurial journey with Cowvathi and her hopes of resuming it. Later, we talk about her work with advocating for normalisation of divorce and her book on the same theme. The episode ends with an excerpt of an article written & narrated by...
2023-02-111h 28
The Closet Writer ChroniclesPragya Bhagat: Living LimitlesslyThe episode opens with Pragya talking about what writing & creativity mean to her. We chat about how she got into writing professionally and her earliest memories of being creative. She shares her take on belonging & identity. We delve into how she wrote both her memoirs and get an insight to her writing process. Later, she opens up about her relationship with body image and mental health. The episode ends with Pragya reading an excerpt from her memoir, 'Swimming In Our Oceans'.
Pragya Bhagat is an award-winning essayist and spoken word poet. Her work has...
2023-02-041h 11
The Closet Writer ChroniclesNew Episodes Streaming Soon!Happy New Year! It's been a minute but I hope you're refreshed and ready for all new chronicles & guests. Season 2 resumes streaming from this weekend. Want to know who's being interviewed? Listen to this to get a hint. Talk real soon!
Social Media:
Instagram - @theclosetwriterchronicles
Twitter - @TheMoodyMarsh
Email - theclosetwriterchronicles@gmail.com
Music:
Beat Provided By https://freebeats.io
Produced By White Hot
2023-02-0101 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesPrathyush Parasuraman: Making Of A MaverickIt's our mid-season finale and I'm talking to Prathyush Parasuraman! The episode opens with Prathyush talking about what creativity and storytelling means to him. We chat about his career from pursuing a PhD in Economics to a dramatic move to Mumbai to pursue a career in writing. He shares his earliest memories of being creative and his influences. We also talk about books and movies! Later, he talks about his relationship with gender and sexuality. The episode ends with a fun rapid fire and an excerpt from a story written & narrated by Prathyush.
Prathyush...
2022-12-201h 30
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSumanto Chattopadhyay: Living CreativelyThe episode opens with Sumanto's thoughts on storytelling. He shares how he ended up getting three academic degrees and some really fun anecdotes from his days as a university student. Later we talk about his time in advertising and some of the projects he's worked on. He talks about retirement and how he continues to find things he wants to work on. We chat about his passion project, 'The English Nut', his book and his plans of acting on screen! The episode ends with an excerpt from a short story written & narrated by Sumanto.
...
2022-12-031h 11
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSaraswathi Menon (SARAS): Creating Your Own LegacyThis week's chronicle is Saraswathi Menon! We talk about how she chose to enter the media industry and talks about misconceptions people have about this space of work. She also shares how family has been influential towards her creative journey. Saras shares her experience on different projects and her current role as a creative producer and an emerging actress. We exchange our views on social media and talk about creative burnout. Later, Saras talks about her relationship with body image. The episode ends with two pieces written and narrated by Saras.
Saraswathi Menon is...
2022-11-271h 25
The Closet Writer ChroniclesShivangi Patankar: Being Open To The Flow Of LifeThe episode opens with Shivangi talking about what writing & creativity mean to her. Shivangi shares her earliest memories of being creative and how travel and listening to stories from her mother influenced her. She shares her journey from being a student of Zoology to working in retail to content writing! Shivangi talks about her life after having moved to U.S.A. and finding solace in learning Spanish. She also talks about her time at Jericho and her current writing project - a picture book for children! Later, she shares some of her favourite stories and writers. The episode...
2022-11-1955 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesKrishna Trilok: Part 2 - Writing Your Own StoryIn part 2, we continue the conversation on Krishna's career path. He talks about why he decided to go to university in the middle of a thriving career to study and about his unabashed love for fashion! The episode ends with a piece written & narrated by Krishna.
Krishna Trilok is a professional writer. He has authored the Indian fantasy novel Sharikrida and the official biography of two-time Oscar winning composer A.R.Rahman. Krishna has also worked as a financial journalist and copywriter. He recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with...
2022-11-1350 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesKrishna Trilok: Part 1 - Writing Your Own StoryThe episode opens with Krishna talking about what writing & storytelling means to him. He shares how he started writing and his relationship with reading. Krishna shares about his two books Sharikrida and Notes of A Dream and we chat about a TED Talk he had done. We also talk about his career trajectory and going with the flow.
Krishna Trilok is a professional writer. He has authored the Indian fantasy novel Sharikrida and the official biography of two-time Oscar winning composer A.R.Rahman. Krishna has also worked as a financial journalist and copywriter...
2022-11-1353 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesVishal Vasanth: The Culture & Politics Of EducationThe episode opens with Vishal talking about what writing means to him. We talk about how he went from engineering to a career in education, from having a start-up to being a political consultant for the DMK to now setting up Model Schools in Tamil Nadu. He also shares his experience of studying at Harvard and his take on education systems. Vishal talks about a book he's written on how education and culture influence each other along with sharing other projects he's looking to work on - a book on biryani & caste and an essay on moustaches! The episode...
2022-10-221h 06
The Closet Writer ChroniclesYashika Doshi: Seeking HomeThe episode opens with Yashika talking about what writing means to her. She talks about how she started writing and creating her Instagram page. We chat about social media and the different media available for content creation. Yashika talks about how she decided to become an economist and shares some of her favourite writers. We later have a heart to heart on what goes one behind the scenes for us as writers. The episode ends with poetry written and narrated by Yashika.
Yashika Doshi is a writer and economist. She recently finished her Msc...
2022-10-081h 11
The Closet Writer ChroniclesManick Vennimalai (Dr. Maniak): Finding Your GrooveThe episode opens with Manick talking about what music means to him. He talks about his professional journey as an engineer and how he's managed to find a space he wants to explore. We chat about how he started DJing and the origin story of 'Dr. Maniak.' Manick gets into the nitty gritties of being a DJ, what really goes into it and how he's carving a space for himself in this field. He goes on to talk about his future plans. The episode ends with a sample beat created by Manick.
Manick...
2022-10-011h 11
The Closet Writer ChroniclesRohini Kejriwal: Creating Sparks Of JoyThe episode opens with Rohini talking about what creativity means to her. We talk about her journey with The Alipore Post and the community she has built around it. Rohini talks about some of her projects and collaborations - Hoovu Finds, Dear Jasmine, Chitti Exchange and more! She shares how she deals with creative burnout. Later she talks about her experience with being diagnosed and living with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The episode ends with a poem written & narrated by Rohini.
Rohini Kejriwal is an independent writer, poet and artist based out of...
2022-09-241h 20
The Closet Writer ChroniclesCurtain Raiser: Musings Of A Moody Marshmallow (Vol.2)BONUS EPISODE: Tune in to hear me answer some questions about the podcast, my journey as a podcaster and Season 2!
Nominated for Hubhopper Podcast Awards 2022 for 'Best Interview Podcast'!
VOTE NOW: https://community.hubhopper.com/best-interview
Social Media:
Instagram - @theclosetwriterchronicles
Twitter - @TheMoodyMarsh
E-mail - theclosetwriterchronicles@gmail.com
Music:
Beat Provided By htps://freebeats.io
Produced By White Hot
2022-09-0838 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesHemangini Mandaliya: The Hedonist WriterThe episode opens with Hemangini talking about what writing means to her. We chat about her book and podcast, how she deals with creative burnout and her vision as a creator. Hemangini also shares how she came up with the name 'The Hedonist Writer' and the philosophy behind it. We also talk about other challenges she has faced on her journey of being a creator.
Hemangini Mandaliya is a jewellery designer, author, Illustrator & podcaster! She’s a gold medalist from NIFT Kangra, has written a poetry book called ‘We Remember’ and runs a podcast called ‘A Poetry Tribute’...
2022-05-1438 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesShubh Tripathi (Bawal): The New Gully Boy On The BlockNote: This episode is in Hinglish. This week I chat with Shubh Tripathi a.k.a. Bawal! The episode opens with what creativity means to Shubh. We chat about how Bawal was born and his journey into rap. We also talk about the growing rap scene in India. Fun Fact: Spitfire introduced Shubh to the world of rap! Shubh later shares his connection and deep love for nature as he talks about his time working at the Indore Aviary. The episode closes with a poem written and narrated by Shubh.
Shubh Tripathi is a...
2022-05-0739 min
The Rational View podcast with Dr. Al ScottDr. Sangeetha Menon with a Hindu perspective on consciousnessIn this, my 100th episode, I continue to explore consciousness, but I’m stepping out of my comfort zone a little and seeing what I can learn from the religious viewpoint on consciousness. The idea of an eternal soul is central to many religions, and the Hindus especially believe in reincarnation. I want to learn what they think the soul entails, and what are the parallels between religious thought, philosophy, and the findings of neuro-biology.
Dr. Sangeetha Menon is Professor and Head of the Consciousness Studies Programme, and the Dean of the School of Humanities at National Ins...
2022-05-0754 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesDhwani Sabesh: A Family Recipe To CreativityThe episode opens with Dhwani talking about what storytelling means to her. She talks about how family has played a big role in her creative endeavours and how music, dance and theatre have helped shape her. Dhwani also shares some of her favourite books! We talk about her book, Paati's Rasam and the process of writing and publishing it. She shares what is was like to work with her mother (Janaki Sabesh) and her plans of writing more in the future. Dhwani also talks about her experience with vitiligo. The episode ends with a personal food essay written & narrated...
2022-03-271h 12
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSuchin Mehrotra: Becoming The Hero Of Your Own FilmThe episode opens with Suchin talking about what writing & storytelling means to him. He talks about how he decided to leave his banking job to become a film journalist and how he landed at Film Companion. We discuss book to screen adaptations, film remakes and South Indian cinema (specifically Malayalam movies). Suchin also shares some of his life learnings and his views on the future of movies & OTT in India. The episode closes with an article written by Suchin for Firstpost on the 10th anniversary of the movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
Suchin Mehrotra...
2022-03-191h 16
The Closet Writer ChroniclesRoshni Raju Palepu: When Medicine Met Creative ThinkingThis week's chronicle is Roshni Raju Palepu. The episode opens with Roshni talking about what writing means to her. She talks about how she wanted to be a YouTube creator and ended up founding Med-Bites! Roshni talks about her creative influences and how music and dance have helped her with her business. She also shares her experience about becoming a mother during the pandemic and how she's been balancing work and home. The episode closes with a poem on motherhood written & narrated by Roshni.
Roshni Raju, the founder of MED-bites Pvt. Ltd., has a...
2022-03-0440 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSaoirse: Lost In TranslationThis week's chronicle is Saoirse. The episode opens with Saoirse sharing their thoughts on creativity. We talk about their journey with writing and how they decided and managed to make writing & editing their profession. They share their studies on colonisation and the English language and we also talk about how effective translation is in publishing. We talk about social media poetry, writer's block and things writers should keep in mind while building their craft. Saoirse also talks about their journey on identifying as non-binary. The episode ends with two poems written & narrated by Saoirse along with an excerpt from...
2022-02-261h 15
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAkshat Rajan: Part 2 - Stories Connect Everyone & EverythingThis week's chronicle is Akshat Rajan. We have a heart to heart conversation about identity and the importance of understanding yourself. Akshat also shares some really cool resources that he derives inspiration from. Later we chat about social media and Akshat's relationship with it. He then shares about future projects he's working on. The episode ends with Akshat sharing quotes from speeches by speakers he has coached.
Akshat Rajan is a Storytelling Coach & Creative Consultant who has been involved in event curation & community development for about a decade. He has coached CEO’s, creatives & pr...
2022-02-1954 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAkshat Rajan: Part 1 - Coaching People Into StorytellersThis week's chronicle is Akshat Rajan. The episode opens with Akshat talking about what storytelling means to him. We chat about how he became a storytelling coach, his association with TED and what his future as a coach looks like. Akshat also shares his process for coaching speakers. Later we discuss qualities that make a good storyteller.
You can listen to the rest of this conversation on Part 2 which is out now!
Akshat Rajan is a Storytelling Coach & Creative Consultant who has been involved in event curation & community development f...
2022-02-1935 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesLakshya Datta: The Story Behind The Voice Of RomanceThis week's chronicle is Lakshya Datta. The episode opens with Lakshya talking about what storytelling means to him. We chat about how he started writing and what led him to found Launchora. He shares his journey as a podcaster and also talks about things creators should keep in mind while making content. Lakshya shares some of his inspirations, what he loves about love stories and talks about a novel he's been writing and what he plans to do with it. We finish with a fun rapid fire round and the episode ends with an excerpt from an audio show...
2022-02-121h 13
The Closet Writer ChroniclesMichelle D'Costa: From Corporate To Creative & Everything In BetweenThe episode opens with Michelle talking about writing and creativity. She shares how she got into reading and how that inspired her to start writing. We chat about how she decided to take the plunge from a corporate career to a creative one and discuss her journey with identity. Michelle shares some of her favourite books and authors and also talks about points that writers should keep in mind while building their craft. We also talk about rejection and the allure to portray a perfect life on social media. The episode closes with an excerpt from a short story...
2022-02-0559 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSamyuktha Vibhu: Finding The Intersection Of Finance & CreativityThe episode opens with Samyuktha talking about what writing and storytelling mean to her. Samyuktha talks about journaling and how that encouraged her to start writing. We exchange about books, films and different resources regarding creativity. Samyuktha talks about how she got into finance and her time at the YIF program. We chat about financial literacy and various misconceptions around it. Samyuktha shares some resources that anyone starting out can refer to understand financial jargon and concepts better. The episode closes with a story written and narrated by Samyuktha.
Samyuktha is a Financial Planner...
2022-01-2959 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesRahul Roy: Storytelling For ChangeThis week's chronicle is Rahul Roy. The episode opens with Rahul talking about what creativity means to him and the work he does at Humans of Kerala and Yellow Club. We talk about the history of both these organisations and Rahul's vision for them. He shares how filmmaking has helped him select stories and shares his belief that stories can be leveraged to understand society and to make social change. We also talk about the importance of representation in media and why he insists on talking about issues through a cultural lens. We also chat about our cultural identity...
2022-01-2259 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesInterlude Party: Musings Of A Moody MarshmallowIt's our mid-season finale and I'm being interviewed this week! I chat with Megha Vasudevan who also happens to one of our most streamed guest episodes on the podcast. I talk about how The Closet Writer Chronicles came to be and how I approach guests for the show. I also share the conversation that's inspired me the most till now! Later, Megha and I chat about my journey with writing and what it does for me. We talk about the relevance of social media and if fame is really a necessity for a creative career? We also come up...
2021-12-2249 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAshna Lulla: A Marriage Between Architecture & WritingThis week's chronicle is Ashna Lulla. The episode opens with Ashna talking about how she got into reading and how words have influenced her creativity. We chat about her journey from architecture to writing and how she's slowly but surely finding her calling. She talks about how she felt a bit lost and unsure and how she managed to find her way with her upcoming debut book - with love, Madras! We talk about the journey of her book and what she hopes to achieve through it. Ashna also talks about architects and design organisations she loves whilst also...
2021-12-1154 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSaahil Bhargava: Storytelling Through Animation & MusicThis week's chronicle is Saahil Bhargava. The episode opens with Saahil talking about what writing and creativity means to him. We then chat about how Saahil got into writing and his journey in animation. We exchange about anime/ animated content we've both enjoyed watching and talk about common misconceptions people have about anime. Saahil goes on to talk about music and songwriting and talks about how his debut EP Ronin came about. He also shares some future projects he's working on and what he hopes to accomplish in his career. The episode closes with Saahil talking about his song...
2021-12-0452 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesIndira Reddy: An Insight To Reading, Creativity & EducationThis week's chronicle is Indira Reddy. The episode opens with Indira talking about what words and writing means to her. We chat about how she got into reading and started her bookstagram page! Indira talks about her work with setting up a school that focuses on holistic education and changes she hopes to see in existing education systems. We also exchange some books and authors we've loved and chat about book to screen adaptations. The episode closes with a blog piece that's been written and narrated by Indira.
With a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology...
2021-11-2646 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesShiva Chandrika (Rave): So, What Is The Rave About?This week's chronicle is Shiva Chandrika a.k.a. Rave. The episode opens with Rave talking about what writing means to her. We then chat about her journey in writing and how she found her calling in creativity. Rave also shares the mystery behind her name and we exchange about some of our favourite films. She talks about how she got into script writing and what kind of films she wants to make. Rave also talks about a graphic novel she's ghostwritten, that had Shah Rukh Khan as the face of it! We also talk about online plagiarism and...
2021-11-1852 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesRajarajeshwari Mahitha: Stories & Sprinklings Of MagicThis week's chronicle is Mahitha. We chat about her journey from theatre to the screen and how she got to telling stories about Indian Mythology! Fun Fact: She's appeared in Sacred Games and Masaba Masaba on Netflix! Mahitha talks about taking chances and how she's managed find purpose in her life. She talks about how she decides to tell stories from mythology and takes us through excerpts from some of her retellings of mythological stories. We chat about what makes a good storyteller, some of her favourite tellers and her journey on becoming one!
R...
2021-11-0551 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesDia Rekhi: Part 2 - What Drives You Kuku About Bollywood?This week's chronicle is Dia Rekhi. The episode opens with a poem by Dia on the tropes and culture of Bollywood. We chat about our favourite films and how we miss movies from the 90's even if they didn't age very well. We also chat about the ongoing craze for Hindi serials and where television could really improve. Dia and I also chat about how OTT platforms and shows have really changed the landscape for viewers and chat about maybe writing our own shows some day. Dia plans to write a crime thriller book and a web show! Dia...
2021-10-2937 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesDia Rekhi: Part 1 - What Drives You Kuku About Journalism?Trigger Warning: This episode contains disturbing content and has mentions of death, assault, abuse, black magic and crime. This week's chronicle is Dia Rekhi. The episode opens with Dia talking about what writing means to her and her love affair with words. We then chat about how she became a journalist and what her journey's been like thus far. Dia shares anecdotes of covering news during the pandemic and also having to cover the Tamil Nadu elections in early 2021 - where she got to interview Kamal Hassan and Kanimozhi Karunanidhi. She also talks about her experience of having been...
2021-10-2948 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesAshwin Chhabria: A Riff On Reading, Writing & The Things That MatterThis week's chronicle is Ashwin Chhabria. The episode opens with him talking about what writing means to him and how it's helped him with being more disciplined. Ashwin talks about his journey with reading and writing - how he started, challenges he's faced, writer's block v/s burnout and more! We also chat about Ashwin's tryst with podcasting and share our opinions on being vulnerable on the internet. He talks about challenges he faced in his personal life and how the abundance mindset was a game changer for him. Ashwin also drops some amazing book recommendations, which are definitely...
2021-10-231h 03
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSamay Soni: Master Of Dungeons, Dragons & EngineeringThis week's chronicle is Samay Soni. He opens with a snippet of how a game of Dungeons & Dragons begins followed by what the game means to him. We then chat about what D&D really is and what the community around this game is like. Samay and I also exchange about our experiences around anxiety and how he has managed to incorporate Mental Health in his D&D games! We also chat about Samay's journey with engineering and the curious case of the Indian Engineer who seems to do everything else but engineering. Additionally, we talk about poetry as...
2021-10-1646 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesSudeeksha Somani: Let's Talk Mental HealthThis week's chronicle is Sudeeksha Somani. Sudeeksha opens with how writing and creativity can be powerful tools to convey messages for social good. We talk about stories that have moved her and delve into the journey of her creation - Body Talk - a platform that breaks stigmas on mental health and redefines body image through conversations, shared experiences and creativity! Sudeeksha shares an anecdote around Mental Health that irked her and the lack of awareness that lead her to found Body Talk. She also talks about how she managed to get contributors from over 15 countries for the first...
2021-10-0942 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesMegha Vasudevan: Rainbow RavenThis week's chronicle is Megha Vasudevan. She opens with how she relates writing to a raven's desk from the Mad Hatter's riddle in 'Alice in Wonderland'. Megha and Sangeetha (the host) talk about stories that the former loves, their shared nostalgia for Tinkle comics, growth as a writer and Megha's upcoming brand focusing on storytelling and merchandising. They also talk about creative burnout, especially when you do what you love as a profession. Megha goes on to share her journey as identifying as pansexual and coming out during pride month in 2020. The episode ends with poetry written and narrated...
2021-09-2743 min
The Closet Writer ChroniclesTrailerWho is a ‘Closet Writer’? Anyone who scribbles in chits & notebooks, binges spoken word videos and thinks of performing or quietly blogs in a corner of the internet hoping to write a book someday… Every writer starts out as a ‘Closet Writer’. ‘When’ it is that they decide to put their work out and come out of that closet is their choice. There is an abundance of talent around us and we are rather unaware of it. The aim of this series is to feature work and stories of various writers, storytellers and creators – the known, unknown and the ones in between...
2021-09-2500 min