04 October,2023 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Nandini Varma
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Podcasts are perhaps the easiest way to cheekily eavesdrop on conversations about books that are creating a whole lot of buzz among readers. But podcasts are also spaces that introduce us to quiet corners of the cultural world that we may have missed walking into. We found four exciting podcasts for our book readers to update their reading lists this October:
New Delhi-based Yoda Press is a fine example of an independent publisher that searches for important voices often missing from major mainstream publishing outlets. Through the Yodakin Podcast, their audio venture, founder and publisher Arpita Das speaks to authors whose works have been published by the press to unearth their journey into the making of their books.
Episode recommendation: In Conversation with Professor Chinnaiah Jangam » This is their latest episode and one that we would highly recommend. Professor Jangam, the English translator of Gabbilam: A Dalit Epic, originally written by Gurram Jashuva in Telugu, expresses his admiration for the subversive poetic genius of the pre-independence writer Jashuva.
Log on to: The Yodakin Podcast on Spotify
Curated by Namrata Gokhale, Poetry Darbaar is a rare podcast that invites Indian poets writing across several languages for readings and discussions of their work. Hosted by Lakshya Datta, it is perfect to listen to early evenings or at night, when you unwind from a tiring day at work. You may also check out Bait Ul Ghazal's Urdu and Hindi Poetry Podcast after listening to this, if you'd like to revisit poems left behind by some of the Urdu and Hindi greats.
Episode recommendation: Viky Arya's Aangan Mein Baithi Maa » Hindi poet, sculptor, and lyricist Viky Arya shares her poems and remembers the time when she wrote her first poem in school. She also speaks about the influence that her mother has had on her writing.
Log on to: Poetry Darbaar on Spotify
Journalist Divya Shekhar talks to writers across the broad spectrum of business and finance about the economy and society. Each episode is released fortnightly. It is packed with real-life lessons and values to carry along on one's journey to financial growth and independence.
Episode recommendation: Modern-day Feminism equals to Financial Freedom » Financial journalist Shaili Chopra, author of Sisterhood Economy, talks about the power of financial freedom for women and the need for them to inspire others in the sisterhood to achieve that. She urges women not to look for role models only in leading companies, but around them as well, in those who are creating new benchmarks in their everyday lives, no matter how small or big.
Log on to: From the Bookshelves of Forbes India on Spotify
Listen to The Mahabharata in English and Hindi in a brand-new retelling by Uday Kiran and Arisudan Y. The podcast is produced by Mentza, a 20-minute audio conversation app for personal growth. Each episode carries forward the series of events that took place in the epic. This is one of those podcasts which must be listened to in the order of its narration, so that one doesn't miss the characters and the details that lead to the events that follow. For this reason, it is difficult to pick one episode alone as a recommendation, but if we had to, we would direct you towards the Revenge of Amba. It contains a short recap of what happened to Amba and continues her story from there.
Log on to: Mahabharatha on Spotify
The Books Need People: Finally, we want to leave you with a bonus. The Books Need People is an upcoming podcast that you must check out. Author Karuna Ezara Parikh has converted conversations about books that she reads with her book club into podcast episodes. Earlier this month, she posted her first episode where she speaks to Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan about using humour as a technique, among other things, in her eighth novel, Soft Animal. She later takes questions from club members as well.
Log on to: Books Need People on Spotify
