The Fourth Seat Podcast

We talk about the effect that the coronavirus outbreak is having on our daily lives. And some gyan as usual for our listeners.  Rahul has prepared a list of questions for the trio to lift our spirits during this 'work from home' season.  Music by Bob Marley and the legendary singer turned scientist Sonu Nigam. 

We are celebrating the one year anniversary of our podcast and its also a full house after a long time. We reminisce about our interaction and experience with technology while growing up in the 90s . Assembled desktops and compaq presarios. TV video games (Sega, Mitashi, Nintendo and their rip offs). Mario, Contra and Alladin. Floppy drives and that CD that accompanied the Chip magazine.  We also talk about places where we shopped for tech. Do you remember Planet M and if you are from Mumbai, Rhythm House? What happened to those cassette shops near every Mumbai local train stations ? Listen in to take a trip down the memory lane of technology and entertainment. 

We are once again joined by Farzan and Choppy of the North Stand Gang fame. In this episode we reminisce our fond memories of watching India play test cricket in New Zealand. We discuss what makes NZ a fabulous country to play test cricket in. We talk about some of our favorite test cricket moments in NZ.  Is NZ the birthplace of Rahul Dravid the ODI batsman ? In the second segment we talk about the upcoming test series. We rant a little bit about 'two-test' series and what our expectations are from these two matches. 

In this segment of the Fourth Umpire, we discuss the white ball leg of India's tour of NZ with Farzan and Choppy of the North Stand Gang. Starting with a cautiously optimistic note about the 5-0 win in T20s, the gang quickly slips into competitive pessimism about the Indian T20 setup. From an unclear lineup to the question of team balance, they discuss it all. In the latter half, we dwell on the ODI defeat, whether it should concern us in a non-ODI WC year and if our ODI approach needs a rethink. All things related to the Indian white ball tour to NZ on this podcast with the North Stand Gang!

Rahul and Mayukh continue their discussion about things that happened last decade. Listen to the entire episode for a chance to receive some gifts from the team. They talk about emergence and spread of epidemics,  pay parity in the world of sports and #metoo. The duo also reveal personal dilemmas that they are experiencing in these tumultuous times.   

In this episode, Rahul and Mayukh discuss three important and extremely significant things that happened this decade among a list of many significant events.  The three topics were selected based on the fact that these events set a trend that will most probably continue into this decade and perhaps more decades to come. On the positive side, we start with the advent of streaming platforms and democratization of media and wrap up the episode with the positive trends seen in Bollywood (which, to a certain extent is a by product of democratization of media and streaming platforms). On a more concerned note, we also talk about the human migration and refugee crisis that now is a more global phenomenon and not just restricted to certain geographical locations. More topics to follow in Part II. 

In this edition of the Fourth Umpire, we have two special guests -- Ajinkya and Sagar-- from Indian crickets best-known fan group, the North Stand Gang. In a freewheeling chat, we discuss tales of an almost rescheduled wedding to watch a hero retire. Also, a lot of chat about Mumbai cricket, the experience of watching live sport in a stadium and a lot more. If you are passionate towards the sport, this pod is for you!

In the first pod of the year, we talk about what kept us occupied for most part of the last decade -- our research. We make an attempt to break down the process of a PhD, why it takes so long, why should one bother funding academics at all, and what does one gain out of all this. In the process, we shower special love on our engineering degree and what it taught (or mis-taught us). Before all that, we talk about the song that defines the turn of the decade. Also, bahut saara gyaan! 

All this and more, in this first episode of 2020.

In this episode of the Fourth Seat pod, we are back with a Xmas special were we discuss our memories of December, and ramble on about the Xmas season during school. Also, if you are a fan of obscure school sports like the 3-legged race, this episode is for you. If you like Ravalgaon candies, this pod is for you. We then do what we like doing best, rant about desi food in the US. In the final segment, we talk about the gifting scene during holiday seasons, and our favorite halwa, the Karachi Halwa.

The miserable weather has the hosts ranting (more than usual), and they don`t even spare the listeners and other podcasts! Addressing some listener questions, they touch upon climate change, urban planning and what the future holds in store for our cities. Further, they speak fondly of the EPL sides they are closet supporters of, and the hopelessness of being a Gunners supporter post-2006. In the final segment, we go back to our favourite Godman, Dr. Nittu, and his latest startup, the nation of Kailasa. All this, and some love for our fellow podcasters,

In this episode of the Fourth Seat podcast, we build on a theme that we previously discussed on our 'Goli No.1' episode, the prevalence of myths and superstitions in Indian society. What makes Godmen, Babas and evangelists click? Why is 'proven by science' the go-to marketing tool for these Godmen and practitioners of pseudoscience (Nityananda, Zakir Naik, Sebastian Martin and co) ? How does one differentiate actual science from pseudoscience? Who is Computer Baba? Also, our award for the incredible contribution to the field of pseudo-science! All this and more on this episode of the Fourth Seat podcast. 

Also, if you believe that the theory of evolution suggests that some monkeys turn into human beings after their 10th birthday, this podcast is definitely for you!

Disclaimer: The title is a humorous take on an old Hindi News Show. We are not literally labeling our cricketers 'Mujrim'.

We are back, this time to discuss what has been one of the most disappointing days in our cricket watching lives (and we have lived through WC 96, Sharjah, Barbados 97 and many other heartbreaks in the 90s).  To finish at the top of a 10-team league stage and then falling short at the SF hurdle against good pace bowling in good seaming conditions. Sounds like a commendable performance. However, given the resources at our disposal and the overall quality of cricketers on the bench, can we brush aside this defeat as a minor blip? We rant about the selection inconsistency, concentration of power with the Shastri-Kohli duo and the lack of any strong personalities in the Selection Committee/BCCI! We go on to discuss what we think should be the road ahead, given that we are a change or two away from a perfect ODI side! 

Also, our brief preview of the ENG v NZ WC final! Listen to this cathartic rant by the Fourth Seat Team, one that has made us feel lighter after a depressing couple of days at Manchester.

The league stage of the WC has drawn to a close and we are now down to 4. Its thus a good time to step back and take a look at what worked, what didn't in this tournament. In this episode, the usual hosts are joined by a very special guest from across the border or should we say across the sea (from Karachi), Ahmer Naqvi. Ahmer is one of the best known names among the contemporary cricket writers from Pakistan and has authored several columns, opinion pieces and cricket blogs, notably on platforms like Cricinfo, The Cricket Monthly (Cricinfo's monthly magazine),  Dawn, and most recently even authored a column in Mumbai Mirror. Known for his wit and humor and a quirky take on the very unpredictable landscape of Pakistan Cricket, Ahmer's twitter handle @karachikhatmal is a well known name in Cricket twitter. In this episode, we take a look at the state of Pakistan cricket, the art of cricket writing, a fan's perspective of the ODI game and its evolution from the 90s to now. In the final segment, we talk of how cricket broadcasting has changed (mostly for the worse) over the years and our pet grouse with Rambo Raja, Sanjay Manjrekar and the current Australian commentators. The episode ends with a brief prediction for the semi-finals! 

You can follow Ahmer Naqvi on Twitter -- @karachikhatmal

Some of his Ahmer's cricket pieces -- 

1.) http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1011995/the-jugaaroo

2.) http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1028501/a-touch-of-pakistani-mayhem

3.) http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/author.html?author=527

4.) https://t.co/HCB7znupRn

5.) http://www.arabnews.pk/node/1520981/pakistan

6.) https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/is-indo-pak-cricket-really-a-rivalry/articleshow/69807887.cms

The fourth umpire team meets again, this time its a full house. The trio discuss the latest developments at the CWC-2019 and what has turned out to be a memorable couple of weeks at the WC ever since SL beat England. We discuss our disappointments (namely the WI), apprecation (for the Afghans) and our fears (the Aussie juggernaut and the Indian middle order). En route, the fourth umpire team reveals what could Shastri's role potentially be in that dressing room. All this and more, on this fun take on the latest happenings at the Cricket World Cup.  Note: This episode was recorded just after the AUS-NZ/AFG-Pak games and before the India-England encounter at Birmingham. Please help us improve our podcast by filling this super short survey --- http://bit.ly/2X1PZUv

The podcast returns after a brief 2-week hiatus. In this episode we discuss the season of results, both of the academic and the political kind!   We begin with a pointless ramble about some celebrities from Thane and Dombivli, and (failed) celebrities who made it big elsewhere. Also, we move on to our pet topic, our love-hate relationship with Sachin Tendulkar. Then we discuss how an artificial sense of importance is woven around the board exam results and discuss how pointless it all seems in hindsight. We continue to do further Tendy bashing before ending with our predictions on the verdict of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. 

This episode of the Fourth Seat podcast is a throwback to the summer vacations of yore. In the pre-instagram era, what did travel mean to us? What were the `rituals' associated with train travel back in the day. We go on to discuss the farce that were engineering college industrial visits (to Goa!). In the final segment, we give some gyaan about our favorite travel destinations in India and overseas. Listen in to a fun episode of the Fourth Seat podcast.

In the second of our two part take on the evolution of Indian TV shows, we look at how music competitions evolved from innocent shows to the modern day phenomenon of reality TV. From the days of Close-Up Antakshri to Indian Idol,  we indulge in a free-wheeling conversation about Indian TV.  Why do audiences lap up shows like Big Boss? Is the TV even relevant to the modern day generation of content consumers? What forced us to go from being television watchers to now becoming mainly internet content consumers.  All this and more on this fun-filled episode of the Fourth Seat Podcast.

In the first of our special themed episodes (the Fourth Umpire), the Fourth Seat jumps onto the IPL bandwagon. We discuss the first week of the 2019 season of the IPL that holds special importance for a variety of reasons. Have we learnt anything new about the No.4 slot in this first week? What is our take on the Mankading law? Why did Dharmasena get a warm reception in Sri Lanka recently? All this and more on this special segment of the Fourth Seat.

After a short break and a self-important mid-season meeting, the hosts of the Fourth Seat podcast are back with yet another episode of ranting, reminiscing and analyzing.  This is the IPL season and the Fourth Seat podcast is`nt one to miss out on content. However, the focus of the first half of this episode is not on the actual cricket but the Mumbai Indians Netflix documentary. The hosts discuss how Akash Ambani is a visionary team owner and Tendulkar is an inspirational leader. With the help of Vinod Kambli, they quickly transition into what is the flavor of this season, nostalgia. They kick off with some  discussion of the early days of cable television and some good quality content on Indian TV in the 90s. What resulted in the rapid decline in the quality of Indian TV shows in the early 2000s? Why did an audience that watched shows like Wagle ki Duniya, Malgudi Days and Byomkesh Bakshi lap up shows like CID and Naagin? We then wrap up with some good memories of high-quality cartoons on Cartoon Network of the 90s. All this and more on this episode of the Fourth Seat Podcast.

(This is the first of a 2-part series on Indian Television. Stay tuned for the next episode that will be out next week).

Send in your bouquets and brickbats at thefourthseatpodcast@gmail.com or tweet to us on our twitter handle- @SeatFourth.

If you have listened to our previous episodes and read the title of this episode, you'd know that this isn't going to be about gourmet cuisine! Mumbai’s street food, like the city itself, is chaotic, sometimes undefined in terms of cuisine but yet memorable all the same. Our hosts talk about the quirks of cheap street food and restaurant food in suburban Mumbai. Also, they wonder why in a city of millions, there is little diversity in restaurant names. Every suburb has a Shivsagar restaurant and a Kanifnath juice center! They move on to discuss about the disappointments that were the food being served at birthday parties! Also, some nostalgia about cheap chocolates, candies and pepsi-cola (not the cola you drink)! Join in for a fun rant about all things to do with food in Mumbai, then and now!

Outro Music Credits: https://youtu.be/fH53iLzhXa4

This, the year of the World Cup starts with a genuine chance of India being the World Champions in July. However, the same  cannot be said about the mood of an Indian fan in the lead up to the World Cups of 1996 and 1999. We try to make sense of how Indian cricket managed an eclectic mix of ordinary cricketers and sublime talent. We then discuss the  (any?)merits of the IPL and what has made India into this powerhouse today. We wrap up the podcast with our favorite commentary moments and learn about Mayukh`s aduation for Arun Lal`s birdwatching.

In our heads, we are highly skilled athletes destined for sporting greatness. However, the ground reality growing up was slightly different. The arenas had more dust and dirt than grass and turf. The contours of the land dictated the laws of the sport, and good equipment was as elusive as the excalibur. In this episode, we discuss how much sport we could fit into our lives in the constrained city spaces, and what denied us the sporting greatness we were destined for. We then go on to reflect upon the current state of sport in India. If you like sport, tune into this episode!