Against The Odds

In Episode #58 of Against The Odds, Sarah Edwards(Copper+Cloves) and I talk about why the education system is broken and how we can go about fixing the education system for good!  

We also talk about why it's super important to experiment with things in life to discover where your interests lie and also why people need to focus more on good nutrition and eating the right way.

Leave a rating and review if you like what you're hearing!

In Episode #57 of Against The Odds, Sarah Edwards(Copper+Cloves) and I talk about escaping the rat race(the correct way), and the benefits and downsides of working at a corporate job.

Most of us are caught in the rat race, whether we know it or not, and I'm hoping that this conversation gets you thinking and acting on how you can escape it. We also talk about the importance of building a community and how to build a community from scratch.

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In Episode #56 of Against The Odds, we have Behram Siganporia(Singer & Songwriter - BestKeptSecret) explaining why it's important to set the right lifestyle goals.  

We also talk about the struggles and pay off when it comes to leading a life as a creative & a musician, being clear about why you are working and what your goals are with your lifestyle and, most importantly, your relationship with money.

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In Episode #55 of Against The Odds, we have Varun Murali(Band Member - Swarathma and also the founder & producer at The Red Music Box) talking to us about how you embracing uncertainty can get you to earn serious money while pursuing your passion.

We also talk about the journey of learning an art form and how you can excel at it, the Love/Hate relationship most of us have with Digital & Social Media and how to become best friends with uncertainty.

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In Episode #54 of Against The Odds, we have Subodh Sankar(Founder of Atta Galatta - Indian bookstore in Koramangala, Bangalore) giving us some perfect and insightful advice for creators(even if you are not one).

This episode is a must if you have considered quitting your job to pursue your calling as a creator be it a content creator, entrepreneur, artist, etc.

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This is Part 2 of my conversation with Suman Kumar, who is the writer of the superhit Amazon Original 'The Family Man' starring Manoj Bajpayee & Priyamani. He is also known for his blogs and his funny bits in stand-up comedy.

In this episode, we talk about why mastering an art form is not an easy feat, why you need to write more and why you need to show up every single day to work on your art form or craft, be it writing, content creation, film, music, etc.

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This week, we have Part 2 of my conversation with Vivek Ram on the show. In this one, we talk about how most things are not in your control. So yes, stop trying to control control.  

Vivek is the founder and Senapati at Vaanarsena Studios and Vaanarsena School, based in Bangalore. In this episode, we talk about why it's important to let go of control before you lose it, the pursuit of happiness and passion and we also talk about Death, probably one of the most taboo subjects out there.

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In #51 of Against The Odds, Sal Yusuf and I talk about success, how happiness brings you success and not the other way around and we talk a whole lot about manifestation and the law of attraction.

Sal Yusuf is an actor, voice over artist, stand up comic. He's well known for starring in movies like Tiger Zinda Hai, French Biriyani, Take Off, Iyobinthe Pusthakam.  This is Part 2 of my conversation with Sal. 

It's Episode #50 of Against The Odds and I'm here to talk to you about how I started making serious money from my podcast. I also share some exciting news and updates from my life that I'm super stoked about.  

This episode is perfect if you're planning to start something, be it a venture, freelancing career, YouTube channel or even a podcast. Basically, a how you can build something from the ground up 101. Enjoy!

Suman Kumar is the writer of the superhit Amazon Original 'The Family Man' starring Manoj Bajpayee & Priyamani. He is also known for his blogs and his funny bits in stand-up comedy.

In this episode, we talk about storytelling and its challenges, the constant evolution of content and why you need to show up every single day to work on your craft.

Leave a rating and review if you like what you're hearing!

This week, we have Vivek Ram on the show and we talk about how one should be building and creating a community the individual way. Well, what is this right & correct individual way? That's why you need to check out the full episode!  

Vivek is the founder and Senapati at Vaanarsena Studios and Vaanarsena School, based in Bangalore. In this episode, we talk about individualism vs collectivism, individualism in a community and where do most mental issues and trauma arise from when it comes to self-doubt and purpose.  

Leave a rating and review if you like what you're hearing!

This week we have Macwin Ian D'souza a.k.a. Mac Macha on the show where we go through different ways on how to get yourself to focus, improve your concentration and get to doing the important things in life.  

Macwin(Mac Macha) is a content creator, most known for his super funny and relatable bits on Instagram Reels. We talk about his journey in the content and production space while also going into how meditation and spiritualism has helped him gain clarity. Come join us talk about the important things while also laughing our butts off with silly jokes.

In #46 of Against The Odds, Sal Yusuf and I talk about how your Intuition is a superpower and why you need to trust your gut! We also talk about the power of manifestation and the law of attraction. Check it out and let me know your thoughts!

Sal Yusuf is an actor, voice over artist, stand up comic. He's well known for starring in movies like Tiger Zinda Hai, French Biriyani, Take Off, Iyobinthe Pusthakam.

In Ep #45 of Against The Odds, Urvashi HV and I talk about how to sort out your finances and say no to lifestyle creep. This Part 2 of my conversation with Urvashi is a super fun one and a laugh riot with some really heavy-hitting topics too.

Urvashi HV(formerly Goverdhan) is an Actor, Model & Mental Health Advocate who moved back from the US to India to pursue a career in acting.

As part of Episode #44 of Against The Odds, I sit down and talk to the supremely talented Singer & Flautist - Varijashree Venugopal about 'Why you should keep learning!'

In this episode, we explore so many important ideas from why you should never stop learning, how to constantly learn new things to the importance of writing things down and exploring and thinking outside the box. Listen to this flute extraordinaire talk about the above and so much more.

This is Episode #43 featuring Disha Madan where she talks to me about a big question most people ponder today: "How to unlock your creative side?"

Disha Madan is an Actor & Content Creator who is a well-known face in the Social Media & Kannada TV realms. In this one, we talk about how to find your creative outlet, stand out with your creativity, unleash your potential early on in life and how taking breaks from Social Media is a must!

In Ep #42 of Against The Odds, Urvashi HV and I talk about how everything is made up and the points don't matter. This Part 1 of my conversation with Urvashi is a super fun one and a laugh riot with some really heavy-hitting topics too.

Urvashi HV(formerly Goverdhan) is an Actor, Model & Mental Health Advocate who moved back from the US to India to pursue a career in acting.  

In Ep #41 of Against The Odds, Jishnu Dasgupta from the band, Swarathma, is here with us telling us all to start living the portfolio life.

Jishnu Dasgupta is the bassist and the band manager of Swarathma, one of the biggest bands in India right now with one of their latest songs being the OST(Original Sound Track) for the hit web series - The Family Man.

In Ep #40 of Against The Odds, we have Sonali Swami telling us why you should develop grit, persevere and how you can get anything you want in life if you put your mind to it! Sonali is a fitness athlete and bodybuilder who started her career in her late 30s to then eventually represent the country and she was soon an Asians Bronze Medalist.

I came away with so many important takeaways in this episode from how good things take time and how to find your passion to how it's never too late to do anything with your life. You guys are in for a treat in this episode, alright!

Finally, Against The Odds is back! In Ep #39, I update you on what we have been up to and how simple things can bring you success.

After having received at least a couple of hundred messages on why we haven’t published in so long, we are back! And man, don't I have some exciting news to share with you!

Anish Ponnanna talks to me about the importance of putting in the years and learning on the job! He is our next guest on Against The Odds i.e. Episode #38. He is a sound engineer known for working with big famous Indian bands like Swarathma, Indian Ocean, Clinton Cerejo and more. He is also a YouTuber who creates some incredible sounding pieces with vocal talented musicians on his YouTube channel: The Engineer's Pick.  

In this episode we talk about how you might think you know everything but, in reality, you know nothing, the importance of slowly building and gaining expertise and experience, and how being humble can go a long way!

Martin D'souza talks to me about how to become a jack of many trades and a master of all too as part of Episode #37 of Against The Odds. He is a well-known DJ(Disc Jockey), KJ(Karaoke Jockey), Model & Actor in Bangalore.  

In this one we talk about the importance of hard work and hope, how to correctly learn things in college during your college days, how to have fun in college too and how trying your hand at your interests could open up more doors than you expect.

Listen to Narpath Raman(Mentalist & Illusionist from Bangalore/Chennai) [Next Door Mind Reader - NDMR] and I talk about how you can ensure positive outcomes in life, as part of Episode #36 of our video podcast series - Against The Odds.  

We talk about the importance of hustle and hard work, how to make it in life and how one cannot be fearless but can only face their fears i.e. fearlessness does not exist.

Listen to Narpath Raman(Mentalist & Illusionist from Bangalore/Chennai) [Next Door Mind Reader - NDMR] talk about how empathy can change you and how empathy is super important in today's day and age, as part of Episode #35 of Against The Odds.  

We talk about finding what you're born to do, the importance of positive mindshift and its benefits and how life can teach you a lot if you keep yourself open to it.

Episode #34 of ATO(Against The Odds) features Sahit Anand(Filmmaker & co-founder at Do. Creative Labs in Bangalore, known for Jordindian's content & the upcoming feature film, One Cut Two Cut) who talks about the importance of structuring your day and life the right way.   

We talk about how "office" culture should actually be, the importance of not curbing creativity and how to ensure you get the big things completed and achieve your goals in life!

Episode #33 of ATO(Against The Odds) features Sahit Anand(Filmmaker & co-founder at Do Creative Labs in Bangalore, known for Jordindian's content & the upcoming feature film, One Cut Two Cut) where he talks about how one should find the soul in your work.   

We talk about knowing when to not stop and quit along with also creating a figurative museum for all your work to ensure that you're creating quality content that lives up to the mark.

'How to not restrict yourself' is what my guest, Punya Arora, a stand-up comic and a writer known for works like Masaba Masaba, and I talk about in Episode 32 of Against The Odds.  

In this episode, we talk about how to not restrict yourself and do all that you can in this one life, the importance of staying calm and not giving yourself a tough time, and how your life is like Dum Biryani!

In Episode #31 of Against The Odds, Vidhi Khandelwal(Founder of The Ink Bucket) talks to me about the challenges of a personal brand. This is Part 2 of the conversation with Vidhi; do check out Part 1 before you dive into this one!  

In this episode we talk about how one needs to be patient for results to show themselves, how can one find the balance between a personal brand and a company, the importance of discipline in today's day and age and how to handle Social Media in the 21st century.

In Episode #30 of Against The Odds, Vidhi Khandelwal(Founder of The Ink Bucket) talks to me about the importance of finding the reason why to ensure your brand's and your success.  

We talk about what are the ideal ways to kickstart your day and manage your time, the importance of undivided attention, and how to handle being a perfectionist or perfectionism.

Sahar Mansoor, the founder of Bare Necessities, & I sit down and have a chat around the importance of planning the sustainable way and why it's imperative we lead a Zero Waste Lifestyle, as part of Episode #29 of Against The Odds.   

We talk a whole lot about the importance of planning and scheduling, how to build something from nothing, why sustainability is the need of the hour, the power of sustainable development, how one can get a green job and build a career in sustainability, how dyslexia is not really a disability and how to overcome or handle dyslexia too!  

Bare Necessities is an eco-friendly company that sells zero waste products for various use cases.

Rida Tharana is an Anchor, Emcee & a true Social Media Influencer. As part of Episode #28 of Against The Odds, we talk about how to not please everyone and how it should not affect us either as long as we know we are doing the right thing!  

We have important talks around color and discrimination, how to put yourself out there, how to accept yourself for who you are and so much more! This one is an even more relatable episode and we talk about a few lighter topics while also diving deep into some critical topics too!  

For people who don't know Rida, she is an Emcee & an Anchor and her content, especially her catchphrase - "Sayonara" and her IG Reels, has been really doing the rounds on Instagram, so you can now call her an Instagram or Social Media Influencer too. Go check out some of her content. Links are mentioned below!

Rida Tharana is an Anchor, Emcee & a true Social Media Influencer. As part of Episode #25 of Against The Odds, we talk about how one can never give up and should never give up either.   

We talk about how one can learn from their experience at a corporate job, how to handle societal pressure and how you need to have thick skin if you are putting yourself out there! There is so much to learn from this conversation and Rida's personality really drives the message home!  

For people who don't know Rida, she is an Emcee & an Anchor and her content, especially her catchphrase - "Sayonara" and her IG Reels, has been really doing the rounds on Instagram, so you can now call her an Instagram or Social Media Influencer too. Go check out some of her content. Links are mentioned below!

Sonu Venugopal, a Kannada stand-up comedian & radio jockey(RJ), talks about how one should strive to escape a mediocre life and how simply being mediocre is not good enough, as part of Episode #26 of Against The Odds.  

This episode is a super fun one where we have some serious conversations with a whole lot of laughs. Some of these being - how one should always strive to thrive, how there is no reason for you to not try and how no one really cares or is bothered by what you do. Strap in cause you're in for a bumpy laugh riot!   

Check out some of Sonu's stand-up bits on Tharle Box's YouTube channel.

Anil Abraham is a doctor, stand-up comedian & actor, and more! As part of Episode #25 of Against The Odds, he talks about you have only one life to make it large! He walks us through what it takes to pursue a full-time career in medicine and still keep things light with comedy and theatre.   

We talk about how you should always be fulfilled by anything important you do in life, how it is so important to break away from the norm if it isn't ideal and how communication and interaction are key when it comes to any career. A super fun episode with a whole lot of laughs. Sure to get you thinking and laughing at the same time; now that's the ideal two birds, one stone situation!  

Anil is one of the best dermatologists(Abrahams Skin and Hair Clinic) in Bangalore and has also worked with some of the biggest names in stand-up, theatre, and the film industry.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Arnav Kumar, the founder of Switch Wellness in Bangalore, we talk about why mind and body need to go together and how can one truly find happiness and fulfillment by building and forming the important connection between mind and body.  

We talk about where unknown fears arise from and how we interpret certain things the way we do without truly knowing all the reasons why, as part of Episode #24 of Against The Odds. This one once again talks about the important things in life and is sure to get you thinking and, even, acting rationally!  

Learn to accept yourself first and love yourself first are two important things that a lot of philosophers talk about and is something that even our guest, Arnav Kumar, the founder of Switch Wellness in Bangalore, implies you should do to be a happy and satisfied being. 

In Episode #23 of Against The Odds, we sit down and talk about the important things in life from Wellbeing to Mental Health to uncovering why we behave in a certain way. This episode is a very different one but is definitely going to help you find some answers that you may have been on the lookout for earlier.

Navneeth Krishna, who is the 12th man for RCB(Royal Challengers Bangalore) and a Sports and Cricket Host & Commentator, talks about how one can design your life the right way. Episode #22 of Against The Odds features this talented man whose stints also include being a commentator at the Everest Premier League and the BTS coverage for the Indian Cricket Team during their season.  

He quit his job at Google to pursue his passion and career in Sports Commentary & Hosting. If you're planning on quitting your job to find your passion then you should not miss this episode. Check it out and drop a like if you're able to relate to this.

Sharan Kuttappa is a professional magician who talks about how one can make it in the field of magic and how there is magic in the pursuit, be it with passion, career or life, in general. In Episode #21 of Against The Odds, watch Sharan walk us through what his journey has been like to pursue something as rare and precious as magic.  

We talk about a bunch of important topics in this episode from how important it is to constantly learn and ask questions to keep up to the importance of consistency and how that leads to success when it comes to content. We also talk about how it's not a bad thing to copy others or people you look up to and how one needs to always triple check their visions or goals before they go all in!  

If you're keen on pursuing something that is a niche in itself or if you're a content creator who is looking at being consistent or if you're curious about what a young magician's life looks like in today's day and age then I highly recommend watching this episode.

In Episode #20 of Against The Odds, Anupama Shivacharya talks about how one can convert their passions to full-time jobs, the importance of passive income, and how a second and third income is necessary, rather. She is India's first certified calisthenics coach, a food blogger, writer, and a Trek lead too!   

We talk about how she had a very traditional upbringing, decided to try out various things during and after college, leading her to where she is today. We also talk about physical wellbeing and how mental wellbeing is equally important if not more and how one should know how to balance things out in life to ensure that one can lead a truly fulfilling life. And of course, how one can have multiple sources of income from their passions!  

If you are someone who is looking at creating multiple sources of income out of your passions or is unsure of how to go about moving away from your conventional or regular corporate job then I highly advise you to watch or listen to the whole episode. You can thank me later! 😋   

Anjali Sankaran, singer and performer, tells us how everyone is on their own journey and how everybody should learn to respect their journey and path, as part of Episode #19 of Against The Odds. She quit her high paying and comfortable corporate job to pursue a career in music.  

We talk about her journey, issues with a corporate job or life, how good things take time, how it's not a 1-year plan but a 5-year plan, when it comes to doing anything important or ambitious, how one should learn to introspect, look inward and fight the battles within before looking outside and comparing yourself to others.  

If you're someone who wants to pursue a career or a side-gig in music, or if the corporate life has gotten to you or want to see what it's like to pursue a career as a singer then I highly recommend watching this episode.   

Tanvie Hans, a football player and also the co-founder of SistersinSweat, talks to us about how one should believe and invest in the right energy. She has played for Tottenham Spurs and Fulham in the UK and is now currently the captain of the State Karnataka football team.   

We talk about how she started playing football at a very young age, took the leap of faith to travel to the UK to try out for some of the clubs there, how she is constantly trying her best to fuel her passion and grow as a footballer and to always keep playing the sport.  

We also talk about how she co-founded 'Sisters in Sweat', which is a  community for women around fitness and wellness and how it has organically grown in the last three years. If you're a woman, or if you've ever been someone who is into sports, or if you're looking at pursuing something that is women-centric, then don't miss this episode. There is tons to learn from this episode.   

Drop your questions to akashdamodaran74@gmail.com or DM it on Instagram: https://bit.ly/AkashDamodaran-Instagram

We upgraded and so can you! Considering 2020 is almost done with, it's time to upgrade yourself and level up for 2021 and that is exactly what I will be helping you out with in Episode #17 of Against The Odds.   

This one involves me talking about how our work got noticed, a few updates around the show, our collaboration with our community partner - 'The Hub Bengaluru', few principles that we have followed that got us here and are sure to help you, and we also some of the questions that were sent in from our viewers and listeners.  

If you have been someone who doesn't know where to start with any creative endeavor or is unsure of how to go about making an idea into reality then this episode is going to be hugely beneficial for you! So click on the play button or add it to your watch later and view it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!   

Drop your questions to akashdamodaran74@gmail.com or DM it on Instagram: https://bit.ly/AkashDamodaran-Instagram

Manek D'silva, an illustrator & Designer in Bangalore, talks about how doing less leads to satisfaction in Episode #16 of Against The Odds. Most people today are all about trying to do so much with their lives and chasing something that even they're not sure of. 

This episode is a laugh riot! We go through so many things while also keeping it very light and fun; so expect a good serving of laughter with the insights and takeaways on this one. We talk about his education and career in illustrations, arts, and design, how he gauges and finds satisfaction in life, the right way one should form habits to ensure that they're always moving forward in life. We also talk about his podcast, No New Notifications, with Kanan Gill.  

There is so much that one can gain from this episode while also laughing along to the silliness and whimsical parts of the conversation, so click on the play button or download it and listen to it later at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!

Arun Jagannathan is an entrepreneur and the founder of CrackVerbal and English for India. "Don't look for Disruptive ideas" has been his motto right from the get-go where he decided to act and work on his passion rather than wait for a disruptive idea to strike; he talks about all this and more as part of Episode #15 of Against The Odds. 

There is a whole lot we go into in the episode - how he worked his regular corporate job while also working on his startup for 5 years, his passion for teaching, how he quit his corporate job to pursue his startup full-time, the importance of and the issues with getting an MBA and the issues with the education system, in general.  

There is oodles of value to be gained from the episode so click on the play button or add it to your listen later and listen to it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!

Darshan M, a successful entrepreneur & writer, talks about the right way to destroy yourself for success as part of Episode #14 of Against The Odds. He has a very impressive portfolio of having been the CEO of Deccan Chargers(IPL team), COO of the Deccan Chronicle Group, co-founder of Deivee by Milind Soman(yoga brand), to name a few.

There is a whole lot we go into in the episode - how he decided to drop out of college, start his career off in timeshare, eventually move into the Media space and his stint with the Deccan Chargers and how they won the trophy the year he took over. We also go into many important topics like how one should always reinvent yourself, be extremely adaptable, not worry about the end goal but focus on the task at hand and do it the best way you possibly can. This episode is super informative and is sure to get you to act!

Click on the play button or add it to your listen later and listen to it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!

Karan Machado a.k.a RJ Kay, a Radio Jockey at 94.3 Radio One, stresses on why we should connect and network the right way in this day and age of Social Media as part of Episode #13 of Against The Odds!  

There is a whole lot we go into in the episode - his journey in film school, being a Radio intern and Producer to becoming a Radio Jockey at 94.3 Radio One, his career in comedy as an improviser. And one of the main topics of discussion is the fact that Social Media is more of a bane than a boon, the importance of connecting and building the right personal relationships, and how important it is to make a memorable impact on people. We also talk about how dedication and perseverance goes a long way and that there are no substitutes for these traits!

Click on the play button or add it to your listen later and listen to it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!

Finding skills that are innate to you and to double down on your unique talents is what Aditya Bharadwaj, who is a screenwriter and content creator, talks about in Episode 12 of Against The Odds. He is currently a screenwriter at Saad Khan Films and was earlier part of All India Bakchod(AIB) First Draft.

We talk about his journey with AIB First Draft, creativity, screenwriting, local talent in Bangalore, focusing on creating a space for yourself in the local community, and not having inhibitions, apart from so many other things.

Click on the play button or add it to your listen later and listen to it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!

"How to Cut through Social Noise?" is a question that is asked by most content creators and marketers out there today. In Episode 11 of my Podcast Series, Against The Odds, I sit down with Saanand Warrier, an entrepreneur in marketing and the founder of Wirality, and talk about social media marketing 101, the simple ways to grow as a content creator, the right ways to curb and control your social media consumption and how to truly find self-awareness. Loads to learn from this episode.   

We also go into how personal brands and company brands differ from each other and how the former has a bigger advantage. And also the fact that the quality of content is always important or key!  

Click on the play button or add it to your listen later and listen to it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!   

"If You Don't, Someone Else Will" is a fundamental truth in the Entrepreneurial realm. In Episode 10 of Against The Odds, Maude Abraham, the founder of Get Gorgeous Beauty Bar, walks us through her journey so far and how she decided to quit her corporate job to do something a little more meaningful with her life.

We talk about how she intentionally decided to get the right education, get her hands dirty, literally, as a nail technician, and how she scaled her business to become one of the most well-known nail and beauty bars in Bangalore.  

Click on the play button or add it to your watch later and view it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy! 

In Episode 9 of Against The Odds, Nahla Maty(Noonsway), an Egyptian YouTuber in India, emphasizes on why you should always experience things first hand and not listen or believe assumptions and stereotypes. We also go into why you should form your own opinions and how even you can bring about positivity amidst the negativity being spread out there, even if it means doing it alongside a full-time job.  

We also go into Nahla's journey of how she chose to travel at a young age and how her passion to learn got her through different jobs finally winding up in India. Stay tuned for some important and thought-provoking commonalities and differences between India and Egypt when it comes to values, education, and career and how we can go about ensuring that we find the right path.  

If you're an aspiring YouTuber or Digital Marketer or simply looking to spread positivity or just a positive person, in general, then this definitely is the episode for you. So what are you waiting for? Click on the play button or add it to your watch later and view it at your leisure so as to take your life to the next level. Enjoy!

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