Pollution levels are touching 1000 and political parties blaming each other in the maxican standoff. I sat down with Nitin to understand why and how our cities became the world’s worst where fresh air became an exclusive experience. He breaks it down with so many interesting and fresh angles that it cleared up my thoughts. Tune in to understand wha…

In this episode, I sit down with Pratyush, who runs a cozy cafe in the mountains of Bir, Himachal Pradesh. The discussion was about coffee but went far beyond that. We share a strange tale of a man in the mountains who believes he’s a rabbit, uncover why someone cried after their first sip of coffee, and explore the many surprising human stories bo…

Today on AMV, our guest is Sarvjeet Tamta—a self-taught qawwali singer who founded Rehmete Nusrat. At 16, he left Almora, Uttarakhand, to follow his passion for music. Coming from a Dalit background, Sarvjeet faced caste discrimination, but he didn’t let it stop him. Now, he’s performing to full houses across the country, making a name as one of th…

In this AMV Podcast episode, we’re joined by Chef Rahul Kanojia, sous chef at Gaggan Anand’s Bangkok restaurant—rated as one of the world’s best. We discuss everything you've probably never heard about food: why India still hasn’t got a Michelin star, the genius of Indian halwais, and why Nagaland’s dishes deserve the spotlight. Rahul breaks down w…

In this episode, we sit down with Prabh Deep, one of India's most groundbreaking rappers, for a raw and unfiltered conversation. An honest and in-depth look at one of India’s most unique voices. Tune in for a conversation that goes beyond music and into the heart of what it means to create art that speaks truth. If you like our work then consider s…

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Professor Shailaja Paik, renowned scholar, MacArthur Genius Grant winner, and author of acclaimed books such as Dalit Women’s Education in Modern India and The Vulgarity of Caste. We explore the untold stories of Dalit women artists whose contributions to Indian culture were marginalized and labeled “v…

In this episode, our guest is Rachita Taneja, known as Sanitary Panels. She's an artist, cartoonist, and activist, famous for her satirical webcomic Sanitary Panels, which she started in 2014. Her comics address politics, society, feminism, and more. Based in Bangalore, she uses her art to challenge societal norms and taboos, and in 2024, she recei…

In this episode, we discuss Indian politics, take a hard look at the newsroom, talk about building solidarities, and unpack queerness alongside the intersection of class and caste privilege. And also the important question: who really owns Sula Wines? A fun discussion with sharp insights and lots of laughs! Anish Gawande is the National Spokesperso…

Recorded a new podcast today with Manjeet Sarkar. Manjeet is a rising comedian known for his razor-sharp wit and unapologetic humour that cuts through the complexities of Indian society. Born in a village near Bastar, he brings an authentic voice to the stage, addressing issues like caste divides, political absurdities, and everyday struggles. He i…

Chandra Bhan Prasad is a renowned Indian intellectual, columnist, and social commentator, known for his work on Dalit rights and empowerment. A leading voice in advocating for market-based reforms to uplift marginalized communities, he often writes on the intersection of caste and economic development. If you like our work then consider supporting:…

Dhruv Sehgal is a writer, actor, and filmmaker based in Mumbai. He is best known for his work in Netflix’s series Little Things. He also wrote and directed an episode for Amazon Prime’s Modern Love series. Modern Love is based on the popular New York Times column of the same name. In this series, Dhruv directed an episode titled I Love Thane, which…

Varun Grover is a filmmaker, writer, lyricist, and stand-up comedian known for his sharp wit, socially relevant themes, and unique storytelling style. He co-wrote the critically acclaimed film Masaan (2015) and gained further recognition for his contribution as a writer to the popular Netflix series Sacred Games (2018). In 2023, he made his directo…

Guest is Sagar who who is a longform writer at the caravan magazine. Sagar is a longform writer at the caravan magazine. He writes on politics, law and society. He was a Chevening South Asia Journalism fellow in 2024 and Asia Journalism fellow in 2023. Mumbai press club awarded him RedInk journalism award twice for his reporting. This podcast is al…

Shaunak Sen’s first feature-length documentary, "Cities of Sleep," a study of homelessness and sleep in Delhi, was released in 2016 and funded by the Films Division of India. The film was screened at the New York Indian Film Festival, Taiwan International Documentary Festival, and Mumbai International Film Festival, winning six awards.His second do…

I had the pleasure of chatting with Joyojeet Pal, an Associate Professor at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. We discuss in detail the current political climate in the US, how it's changed since Trump’s 2015 candidacy, and why he's seen as 'dangerous.' We also talk about his rise, unique campaign strategies, especi…

Today I have reached a new landmark of 100 episodes. As I release the centenary episode of my podcast, I am filled with gratitude and joy, as I would not have made it past even one episode without the love of my listeners. So be ready to listen to AMV's V experience as I appear as a guest on my own podcast in conversation with Ayush khar, one of my…

Sudipto Mondal is a Bangalore-based investigative journalist who reports on caste, communalism and corruption and is Executive Editor at The News Minute. We don’t take ads yet keep our podcast free. Our listeners are our only patrons. Consider supporting: 1. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anuragminusverma 2.RazorPay: ⁠https://pages.razorpay.com/p…

Kiran Rao is the acclaimed filmmaker who directed Dhobi Ghat and Laapataa Ladies. We entirely depend on the support of our listeners. Support us on : 1. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anuragminusverma 2.RazorPay: https://pages.razorpay.com/pl_NM7M52cur24w7k/view We don’t take ads yet keep our podcast free. Our listeners are our only patrons. Cons…

Prof. Ravikant aka Buffalo intellectual’s sharp insights on the election results and the future of this nation. We don’t take ads yet keep our podcast free. Our listeners are our only patrons. Consider supporting: 1. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anuragminusverma 2.BuyMeACoffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/anuragminus 3.UPI: Minusverma@upi 4.Ra…

In this podcast, senior Prof David Wallace from the University of Michigan joins me to discuss the raging pro-Palestinian student protests at universities in the US. We pose the question: Are we living in the worst of times, and is there hope for reform this world? We don’t take ads yet keep our podcast free. Our listeners are our only patrons. Con…

Vimoh is a very popular internet personality who talks about atheism, and rationality and debunks many pseudoscientific claims that are floating on the internet. We don’t take ads yet keep our podcast free. Our listeners are our only patrons. Consider supporting: 1. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anuragminusverma 2.BuyMeACoffee: https://www.buyme…

Listen to our friendly podcast where we talk about the USA—the good, the bad, and the interesting stuff you might not know. Don't miss out—tune in! We don’t take ads yet keep our podcast free. Our listeners are our only patrons. Consider supporting: 1. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anuragminusverma 2.BuyMeACoffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/an…

We dive deep into the intriguing topic of what's considered vulgar versus artistic in music and art. Our guest for this episode is Professor Brahma Prakash, a writer and cultural theorist currently teaching at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has authored insightful works such as "Cultural Labour" and the recently released "Body on the Barricades: L…

➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠⁠⁠ Rahul Sonpimple's bold take on the idea of ‘romanticism’, contemporary culture, post-ideological Dalit Discourse, and Buddhism as a counter force. Rahul is the founder and president of the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA). We entirely depend on the support of our…

➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠⁠⁠⁠ We explore the politics of Veg food and the implications it has on society, particularly in the context of modern-day casteism discussions. The guest for this episode is Shoaib Daniyal, the political editor at Scroll. I kindly request your support in this initiative, as it requires a lot…

➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠⁠⁠ A delightful and thought-provoking conversation with Zeyad Masroor Khan. We discussed his new book, "City on Fire: A Boyhood in Aligarh." Took a trip to the lanes of small town and explored the mysterious world of jinn folk tales, the 90s world of Pran and Raj comics, how cinema influences…

➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠⁠⁠A wonderful conversation with Chirag Thakkar, Associate Publisher at Bloomsbury India, where we discuss the mysterious world of book publishing in India. From the process of getting published to exploring what India is reading, we covered it all. We discussed changing expectations from auth…

➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠⁠⁠ Conversation with Atul Bhosekar on Buddhist philosophy. Atul Bhosekar is a speaker and Buddhist cave researcher. He has been conducting workshops on Buddhist caves for the last 25 years. As a Director of TRIBILS, a research institute, he has received the Limca Book of World Records for tea…

➡️⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠⁠ A conversation with Gaurav Pathania, who played the role of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in the upcoming film directed by Ava DuVernay, "Origin." Here, we discuss his journey from a town in Haryana to Hollywood and delve into fascinating insights into what it took to portray the role of a mega-ico…

➡️⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠⁠ Conversation with Rahul Sonpimple on Caste in the Age of Capitalism and hyperconsumerism. Rahul is the founder and president of the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA). This podcast doesn’t have any corporate funding so the contribution by listeners is very important …

➡️⁠⁠ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠ In this podcast, we discussed what is the meaning of joy and happiness anymore. Vijeta teaches English at St. Joseph's College, Bangalore. She is also a writer and has written for Firstpost, Huffpost India, India Today, The Hindu Business Line, Deccan Herald, amongst other platforms. She write…

➡️ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI) Sucharita Tyagi has been at the forefront of film criticism, notably embracing the YouTube medium for reviews as early as 2015. Back then, she was reviewing films on YouTube for the Film Companion website. This segment evolved into "Not a Movie Review" with Sucharita. A curated selection of episo…

➡️ ⁠Click or tap to Support AMVPodcast (Patreon/UPI)⁠ The guest of this week is popular satirist Dr Medusa. We talk about creative aspects of ADHD, finding a therapist who understands politics, reflecting on Y2K and its cultural changes, discussing the courage to poke fun in dangerous political times, and exploring Gen Z culture. We also look into …

This is a podcast in collaboration with the Bharatiya Junta Podcast. In this podcast, we delve into the concept of the colonial inferiority complex, discuss the debate surrounding vegetarianism, explore the right-wing influencer pandemic, consider how being apolitical is inherently political, and ponder the type of dictator the country desires. We …

Anoop Kumar founded the Nalanda Academy in 2013 in Wardha, Maharashtra. He is pioneering groundbreaking work by providing education to marginalized students from all over the country and has successfully helped hundreds of students from marginalized castes gain admission to top universities in India and abroad. His life, journey, and ideas are noth…

Sujat Prakash Ambedkar is a young activist, politician, and former journalist. He is the great-grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the son of Prakash Ambedkar. Sujat is a youth leader in the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi political party. He studied at the Asian College of Journalism and Fergusson College. In this podcast, we discussed Sujat's life, Maharas…

In this relaxed and insightful episode, Ramkumar Singh delves into his memories of growing up in Rajasthan, exploring its celebrations, traditions, and dogmas. He reflects on his writing journey, offering insights into the life of a Bollywood writer, the loneliness of Mumbai, the concept of creativity in today's politically charged environment, and…

A joyful and fun podcast with Shrujna. I immensely love her artwork. Over the years she has developed a signature style of her own which is not just aesthetically stunning but also stirs the thoughts because of the political messaging. The experience of recording this podcast felt like two friends sitting together and discussing important issues an…

Inspired by recent cases of brutality against students by teachers, Prof. Ravikant Kisana (Buffalo Intellectual) takes us on a journey in this episode. He delves deep into the dark underbelly of education, exploring the high-stakes world of coaching, the intense school environment, education's transformation into a cutthroat competition, the chilli…

An episode about anti-caste laws being passed in the USA. This episode was recorded a few months back. Kshama Sawant, an Indian-American politician and economist, has served on the Seattle City Council since 2014. She is a member of Socialist Alternative, the first and only member of the party to date to be elected to public office. In 2012, Kshama…

In this podcast, we discussed the vibrant independent Indian rap and hip-hop scene. On creating art in the age of commerce and dealing with unethical recording labels. The power of music to challenge societal norms at the same time being playful and super interesting in its approach. And finally the impact of the film "Gully Boy" on the rap and hip…

In today’s episode, I'm excited to present a delightful and informative conversation with Sohaib Daniyal. We'll be delving into our favourite topic: food. We'll explore the diverse history of cuisines, delve into stories and myths related to food, appreciate the aesthetics linked to culinary experiences, address the issue of violence associated wit…

I recorded a podcast with Manoj Mitta, author of the new book: Caste Pride: Battles for Equality in Hindu India. In this podcast episode, we delve into the fascinating history of caste and social reforms in India. From detailing the strange laws during colonial times to the interesting courtroom debates and the lesser-known heroes, the narrative un…

In this podcast, Pranav, who runs the channel named "Science is Dope," explores the trend of increasing pseudosciences and fraudulent spiritual figures promoted by popular podcasts, YouTubers, and influencers in India. In his videos, Pranav often calls out pseudosciences and misinformation by providing scientific rebuttals. We delve into the unique…

I sat down patiently with Pratyush, the owner of a roastery named Pahadee Coffee Roasters in Himachal, to explore all things coffee. On this episode, we not only discussed famous brands and delved into the fascinating history and origin of coffee but also ventured into the captivating subculture surrounding coffee. We explored the unique rituals, t…

The Ban on Affirmative Action in the USA - Unpacking its History, Impact, and Implications. An insightful exploration in our latest episode as we delve into the recent ban on the 'American Reservation system'—more commonly known as affirmative action in the United States. Our esteemed guest, Pallavi Rao, guides us through the intricacies of this de…

In this episode, I meet Ajay, a middle-aged man from Himachal Pradesh whose life was shaped by his family's religious and superstitious upbringing. However, everything changed when he discovered Navayana Buddhism, a modern movement rooted in social justice and equality. As he delved into the teachings of Dr Ambedkar he began questioning the rituals…

In this Episode 67, I speak with Rahul Sonpimple, a PhD scholar in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University. We discuss his changing nature of higher education, insights on Buddhism, his experiences growing up in a slum, the counterproductivity of political correctness, his reading habits and the future of Ambedkarite politics. This podcast doesn…

Mayur Helia is a young Dalit student who worked as a sanitation worker with the BMC in Mumbai for 12 years. After his father's passing, Mayur took taking on his father's job as a garbage loader. However, Mayur's life took an unforeseen turn when he was offered a fully-funded PhD opportunity at Lancaster University in the UK. This chance allowed him…

In our latest episode, Greeshma discusses the surprising defeat of the BJP by the Congress in the Karnataka elections. This episode aims to explore the cultural realities of Karnataka, going beyond the usual analyses of voter demographics and factors favoring one party over the other. Our guest, Greeshma, will shed light on why the BJP and RSS lost…