Shows
Code to CultureFootpaths are where Bengaluru’s problems end up. Why ZERO focus on them?? | CTC Podcast | EP 15Bengaluru’s mobility captures the contradictions of a city bursting with ambition yet stuck in endless traffic, and in this Code to Culture episode, Malini Goyal sits down with Srinivas Alavilli (Program Senior Fellow – Sustainable Cities and Transport, WRI India), Deepesh Agarwal (Co-founder & CEO, MoveInSync) and Arun Pai (a corporate executive turned storyteller and founder of BangaloreWALKS) to decode why. As they trace the city’s journey from cycles and double-decker buses to metros, cabs, and corporate shuttles, a deeper story emerges — one about unequal access, long commutes, walkability struggles, the mental stress of travel, and the climate b...
2025-12-092h 04
Code to CultureBengaluru is at a breaking point. Can GBA save it? | CTC Podcast | EP 14Bengaluru, India’s fastest-growing metropolis and global tech hub, is transforming rapidly. But what does it take to manage a 15-million-strong city spread across 720 sq. km? In this in-depth episode of the UnboxingBLR Podcast, hosts Malini Goyal and Prashanth Prakash sit down with Maheshwar Rao, former BBMP Commissioner and BMRCL (Bangalore Metro) MD, now leading the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) initiative.From Bengaluru Metro’s expansion milestones and public transport integration to urban governance reforms, flood resilience, and climate action, Maheshwar Rao breaks down how the city is preparing for the future. He also addresses the coordination chal...
2025-11-1258 min
Code to CultureHave you experienced Bengaluru's officegoers rain? What’s the story behind it? | CTC Podcast | EP 13Bengaluru’s unique weather history and geography have long defined its identity as the Garden City of India. But in recent decades, Bangalore's climate change has become a pressing reality, with flooding, disappearing lakes, rapid urbanisation, and shifting rainfall patterns transforming the city’s landscape.On this episode of Code to Culture, we bring together Prakash Belawadi, acclaimed film and theatre personality, actor, activist, and journalist; Harini Nagendra, leading ecologist and research scholar; and Chiranjiv Singh, former IAS officer and India’s ambassador to UNESCO in Paris who explore the story of Bengaluru's sustainability, tracing its evolution from a...
2025-10-061h 52
Code to CultureCan a Sustainable Life Make You Healthier and Happier? | CTC Podcast | Ep 12 | Part 3From “oddball” to new normal—host Malini Goyal speaks with Sahar Mansoor (Founder, Bare Necessities) and Reva Jhingan Malik (Co-founder, Primalise) about choosing a sustainable lifestyle in a world of constant upgrades. They unpack Bengaluru’s shift toward conscious living: finding community, learning from indigenous practices, cutting plastic waste, and embracing minimalism without losing comfort or joy. Sahar shares zero-waste hacks (from menstrual cups to waterless refills) and the economics behind them; Reva explores dignity, human scale, and moving beyond anthropocentric city design toward parks, public/green spaces, and community mixing. Together they touch degrowth vs. scale, greenwashing, EV & lithium...
2025-09-1622 min
Code to CultureStories of Change | ft. Sahar Mansoor & Reva Jhingan Malik | CTC | EP 12 | Part 2From 10-minute delivery culture to the real cost of convenience, Malini Goyal hosts Sahar Mansoor (Founder, Bare Necessities) and Reva Jhingan Malik (Co-founder, Primalise) to unpack India’s new consumption cycle—quick commerce, packaging waste, upgrades, e-waste, and the psychology of instant gratification. Sahar traces the origins of Bare Necessities—from DIY zero-waste recipes to waterless refills, plastic-free packaging, and her book on living zero-waste—plus the tough calls on scale, e-commerce, and avoiding greenwashing. Reva explores the “illusion of unlimited resources,” the ethics of EV batteries and rare earths, and why dignity, human scale, and nature’s pace must guide gro...
2025-09-1030 min
Code to CultureRethinking Waste, Shaping Futures | Ft. Sahar Mansoor & Reva Jhingan Malik | CTC | EP 12 | Part 1From stories to action—Malini Goyal sits down with Sahar Mansoor (Founder, Bare Necessities) and Reva Jhingan Malik (Co-founder, Primalise) to unpack how everyday choices can build a sustainable Bengaluru. This conversation spans the big shifts in consumption from the 80s/’90s to today—plastic and FMCG culture, “10-minute” convenience—and how both guests re-aligned life with nature: off-grid living in a mud house, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, solar cooking, closing loops with circular economy practices, and saying no to unnecessary appliances.Sahar shares her move from environmental law/economics to hands-on zero-waste living—segregation, composting, DIY personal care...
2025-09-1038 min
Code to CultureFantastic Vintage Cars and Where to Find Them | Ft. Dr. Ravi Prakash | FCTC Podcast | Episode 11Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR. Tune in to our 11th episode for an entertaining joyride with Dr. Ravi Prakash, a Bengaluru-based cardiac surgeon turned vintage car collector. In this episode, we dive deep into his passion (or obsession!) for history, especially if it’s on wheels! In this episode, our host Malini Goyal gets the scoop on how Dr. Ravi Prakash transitioned from operating rooms to restoring rare classic and vintage cars, the stories behind his most prized vehicles, how India's vintage car scene has evolved, and what it rea...
2025-08-0439 min
Code to CultureOn Indo-Japan Synergies, Loss, and Resilience | Ft Geetanjali Kirloskar | FCTC Podcast | Episode 10Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR. Tune in to our 10th episode for a deeply personal and insightful conversation with Geetanjali Kirloskar—entrepreneur, artist, and social impact leader. In this episode, our host Malini Goyal explores themes like loss, grief, resilience, and reinvention with Geetanjali, who opens up about life after the passing of her husband Vikram Kirloskar, one of India’s most respected industrialists. From love and loss to resilience and reinvention, she shares heartfelt stories of navigating grief, building a legacy, and finding strength in purpose.Geetanjali reflects on her j...
2025-07-041h 08
Code to CultureWhen Will India Put a Man on the Moon? Ft Dr. S. Somanath | FCTC Podcast | Episode 9Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR. Our 9th episode is in conversation with Dr. S. Somanath, former Chairman of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) – the man behind the successful Chandrayan 3 mission. In this episode, our hosts Malini Goyal and Prashanth Prakash explore the story of India's space programme, starting from why ISRO was set up in Bengaluru, and some of the key milestones that shaped its success. Dr. Somanath takes us through his journey at ISRO – his humble beginnings, early days at India’s premier space body, projects he’s most proud of...
2025-06-111h 26
Code to CultureNaru Noodle Bar, The Courtyard, and Their Story | FCTC Podcast | Ep 8Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.This is our 8th episode featuring Kavan Kuttappa and Akhila Srinivas — pioneers, in their own right, of the most buzzy spaces in Bengaluru. In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers of Bengaluru’s food scene — how has it evolved from being the ‘pub capital of India’ to being a space where micro-dining and supper clubs with strangers are commonplace? More importantly, how has the city allowed this transition to take place?Why is the food scene in BLR so experimental? What are the culin...
2025-05-0551 min
Code to CultureUnited Way Worldwide’s CEO on Philanthropy, Leadership and Finding Purpose ft. Angela F. Williams | FCTC Podcast | EP 7Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.This is From Code to Culture’s 7th episode featuring Angela F. Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious not-for-profits. In this episode, Angela shares how United Way is transforming communities worldwide, detailing interventions in Hyderabad and Bengaluru that have spanned across education, health, and addressing infrastructural challenges in cities. What’re the latest trends in global philanthropy? Is the focus shifting from individual to corporate giving? What patterns are noticed between how women an...
2025-04-0753 min
Code to CultureHow does this VC straddle startups, politics and development? ft. Prashanth Prakash | FCTC | EP 6 | Part 2Welcome to our 6th (!!!) podcast episode on From Code to Culture 🤯Whew, it’s been a ride 🚗 Before we take a little break for holiday season, join us in welcoming our final guest on FCTC for 2024 - Prashanth Prakash!In this episode, Prashanth details India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and how the startup world has changed since the time he started his entrepreneurial journey in Erasmic; a Bengaluru based, seed-stage VC fund. Nurturing the city’s startup landscape is no easy job - you face setbacks you’d never see coming, and some entrepreneurs give you a REAL tough time. Ho...
2024-12-1756 min
Code to CultureIs AI REALLY going to force Indians out of jobs?! ft. Prashanth Prakash | FCTC | EP 6 | Part 1Welcome to our 6th (!!!) podcast episode on From Code to Culture 🤯 Whew, it’s been a ride 🚗 Before we take a little break for holiday season, join us in welcoming our final guest on FCTC for 2024 - Prashanth Prakash!In this episode, Prashanth details India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and how the startup world has changed since the time he started his entrepreneurial journey in Erasmic; a Bengaluru based, seed-stage VC fund. Nurturing the city’s startup landscape is no easy job - you face setbacks you’d never see coming, and some entrepreneurs give you a REAL tough time. Ho...
2024-12-101h 23
Code to Culture"The airport is nothing but a representation of the city" ft. Hari Marar | FCTC | EP 5 | Part 2We are so excited to welcome our next guest on FCTC; BIAL’s Hari Marar! In this episode, Hari is tackling all of our burning questions, and we had plenty to keep the conversation going: What sets Bengaluru International Airport apart from Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai? Are strategic partnerships with Uber, KSTDC, BLADE, and BMTC the secret to BIAL’s success? What lessons did the founding team take away from the critical media coverage of the airport in 2008?Hari is a proud parent in FCTC’s latest episode, looking back on Bengaluru’s aviation journey...
2024-12-0255 min
Code to Culture"We compete not only for business, but also for reputation..." ft. Hari Marar | FCTC | EP 5 | Part 1We are so excited to welcome our next guest on FCTC; BIAL’s Hari Marar! In this episode, Hari is tackling all of our burning questions, and we had plenty to keep the conversation going: What sets Bengaluru International Airport apart from Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai? Are strategic partnerships with Uber, KSTDC, BLADE, and BMTC the secret to BIAL’s success? What lessons did the founding team take away from the critical media coverage of the airport in 2008?Hari is a proud parent in FCTC’s latest episode, looking back on Bengaluru’s aviation journey...
2024-11-2656 min
Code to CultureAre algorithms TRICKING you?! ft. Nithin Kamath & Kailash Nadh | FCTC | EP4 | Part 2Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.This is From Code to Culture’s second episode featuring Nithin Kamath & Kailash Nadh; CEO & co-founder, and CTO at Zerodha, respectively. Nithin Kamath deep dives into Zerodha’s journey - from being a virtually unknown broking firm in 2010 to commanding global attention as one of India’s most trusted trading platforms with a net valuation of $3.6 billion. Watch Nithin’s journey developing a simple pricing model for beginner traders, investing in 100+ startups through Rainmatter Foundation, empowering traders and democratising investing through their company ethos.
2024-11-191h 02
Code to CultureDon't make THESE money mistakes ft. Nithin Kamath & Kailash Nadh | FCTC | EP4 | Part 1Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.This is From Code to Culture’s second episode featuring Nithin Kamath & Kailash Nadh; CEO & co-founder, and CTO at Zerodha, respectively. Nithin Kamath deep dives into Zerodha’s journey - from being a virtually unknown broking firm in 2010 to commanding global attention as one of India’s most trusted trading platforms with a net valuation of $3.6 billion. Watch Nithin’s journey developing a simple pricing model for beginner traders, investing in 100+ startups through Rainmatter Foundation, empowering traders and democratising investing through their company ethos.
2024-11-1256 min
Code to Culture"They're protecting the market, not culture" ft. Prakash Belawadi & V Ravichandar | FCTC Ep.3 | Pt.2FCTC’s next two guests are a powerhouse in more ways than one - please welcome to the FCTC couch, Prakash Belawadi & V Ravichandar!In this episode, Prakash and Ravi get candid about Bengaluru’s glaring lack of public infrastructure despite Karnataka’s lofty Art & Culture budget allocation. While Prakash speaks on the ban on dubbing in the Kannada film industry, regional politics and language imposition in the state, Ravichandar reflects on the improvements that can help the city’s public facing infrastructure. Prakash looks back upon his time as an actor auditioning for roles in near h...
2024-11-0552 min
Code to CultureWhat Language Does Bengaluru Speak? ft. Prakash Belawadi and V Ravichandar | FCTC Ep.3 | Pt.1FCTC’s next two guests are a powerhouse in more ways than one - please welcome to the FCTC couch, Prakash Belawadi & V Ravichandar!In this episode, Prakash and Ravi get candid about Bengaluru’s glaring lack of public infrastructure despite Karnataka’s lofty Art & Culture budget allocation. While Prakash speaks on the ban on dubbing in the Kannada film industry, regional politics and language imposition in the state, Ravichandar reflects on the improvements that can help the city’s public facing infrastructure. Prakash looks back upon his time as an actor auditioning for roles in near h...
2024-10-2948 min
Code to CultureWhy did Bengaluru's Church Street have to be redone? Ft. Naresh Narasimhan | FCTC | EP2An architect, urbanist, and entrepreneur by profession, our next guest attempted to do what very few people dare - plan and execute a vision for Bengaluru’s redevelopment. Drumroll please. Welcome our latest guest on the FCTC couch - Naresh Narasimhan!In this episode, Naresh Narasimhan deep dives into how Church Street’s TenderS.U.R.E project paved the way for new ways through which the city’s development could be imagined, while also commenting on the improvement in citizen participation in policy over recent years. Watch Naresh outline the interconnected nature of Benga...
2024-10-2238 min
Code to CultureHow India Can Become a Global Leader ft. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw FCTC Ep. 1 | Pt. 2Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.This is From Code to Culture’s first episode featuring Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw; the visionary founder of Biocon, and a true blue Bengaluru citizen. Discover how she built India’s largest pharma enterprise with a billion-dollar market cap post-license raj, and how India's biotech and IT sectors grew in tandem with her efforts, including the establishment of Syngene International.Kiran shares her journey of formulating recombinant human insulin, revolutionising diabetes treatment in India and beyond. She delves into Bengaluru’s unique spirit, highlighting initiatives like TenderSURE and th...
2024-10-1533 min
Code to CultureFrom Garage Startup to India’s Pharma Giant ft. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | FCTC Ep.1 | Pt.1Welcome to From Code to Culture, a podcast by UnboxingBLR.This is From Code to Culture’s first episode featuring Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw; the visionary founder of Biocon, and a true blue Bengaluru citizen. Discover how she built India’s largest pharma enterprise with a billion-dollar market cap post-license raj, and how India's biotech and IT sectors grew in tandem with her efforts, including the establishment of Syngene International.Kiran shares her journey of formulating recombinant human insulin, revolutionising diabetes treatment in India and beyond. She delves into Bengaluru’s unique spirit, highlighting initiatives like TenderSURE and th...
2024-10-0830 min
OAPN with Adarsh SakareOAPN with Adarsh Sakare || Episode 104 || Vani MurthyVani Murthy a.k.a. @wormrani on the OAPN Podcast 🎙️ Wisdom is never complicated, it's simple, it's straight forward, it's content and moreover wisdom is inclusive. The thoughts Vani ma'am shared with us on this episode felt exactly like that. Nothing complicated, but has the ability to make your life and lives of people close to you a little better than before ♥️ Vani ma'am was kind enough to allow Team OAPN to set this up at her place and with the help of Harsha Tej and Deepika Appaiah, we had quite a blast on this one 💪 We spoke about Vani ma'ams schoo...
2024-06-091h 23
The OoruLabs PodcastWhat makes a City? Learnings from Bengaluru | S2E8On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast,
We talk about cities and their character using Bengaluru as an example from the latest book of author Malini Goyal & Prasanth Prakash. Malini Goyal has been a deep-dive business journalist for over twenty-five years. A seasoned writer, she has worked with India’s leading publications, including Economic Times, India Today, Forbes and Times of India. She has tracked and reported on India’s tech and startup landscape for over a decade now. Based in Delhi since 1989, she moved to Bengaluru in 2021 specifically to work on this book. Currently, she is the co-f...
2024-02-2438 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhat is Brand Bengaluru? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 42Ravichander describes himself as the patron saint of lost causes, and yet he has been instrumental in driving India’s first self assessment scheme for property taxes, India’s first quality road contracting and specification model TenderSURE and recommendations for restructuring Bengaluru city governance. In his current avatar of Brand Bengaluru championing the image of Bengaluru in the eyes of everyone else in the country.
In this episode we talk at length about what this means. He also Unboxes Bengaluru's newest Habba, Unboxing Bengaluru Habba coming up between 1st & 11th of December.
2023-11-2557 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAre we designing the cities wrong? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 27Naresh Narasimhan talks to us about the learnings from trying to design public spaces in the city. How different is it from building buildings? We challenge our ideas of urban design projects. It pays for us to know this before the next big idea is thrown in the ring.
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
St...
2023-08-1258 min