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Bare Thoughts by Bare Necessities

Bare Thoughts by Bare Necessities

By Bare Necessities

Wow, have you really sat down and thought about literally all that’s happening, all at one time, today in our world? From advocating for mental health, to equality in all fronts, to climate action, zero waste and environmentalism, to slow living and mindfulness.
Sit down with us as we bring together for conversations and topics to foster communities and put it all into perspective as we become part of the solution. You’re not struggling alone, so let’s be real, bare and unfiltered with our thoughts!
Hosted by Sahar Mansoor, founder and CEO, and Mehul Manjeshwar, CMO.
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Currently playing episode

Dhwaj Bagrecha, 'CHoOS' WISELY & NeoX

Bare Thoughts by Bare Necessities Jul 24, 2020

00:00
29:19
From shop floor to CEO: Women leading at Bare Necessities

From shop floor to CEO: Women leading at Bare Necessities

The future of sustainable businesses goes beyond environmental responsibility. It’s about building a better world for everyone.

A way to see this in action is by creating diverse opportunities for skilled individuals, especially women and thereby fuelling a green economy. In this episode of Bare Thoughts, we have  the women that build Bare Necessities. Tune in for some memorable stories, oodles of laughter, all while we shine light into the future of sustainable businesses.

Headphones recommended :) 

Mar 05, 202417:57
Conscious Consumerism: Is it the answer to reverse climate change?

Conscious Consumerism: Is it the answer to reverse climate change?

Climate crisis is overwhelming. Period. 

But what’s the answer? In this episode we delve into looking for solutions to tackle the largest global garbage crisis. We challenge the traditional “buy more” model and instead foster mindful purchasing decisions.

Navigating the tricky balance between business needs and consumer frugality to discovering conscious consumerism and taking actionable steps on an individual level, we’re here to create positive change

Feb 23, 202422:35
Why should you rethink eco-friendly gifting in 2024?

Why should you rethink eco-friendly gifting in 2024?

If there’s one easy sustainability resolution you should make for 2024, it is to rethink your gifting options.

From weddings to corporations to birthdays, we take you through everything. Tune in to hear some fun stories, memorable wedding experiences and a special feature from a dear friend.

Here’s our new year gift to y’all!

Jan 21, 202415:35
2023 Roundup: Launches to Lessons with the Bare Necessities Team

2023 Roundup: Launches to Lessons with the Bare Necessities Team

As the year comes to a close, join our entire team as we come together to discuss our latest launches, the evolving landscape of gender neutrality and our takeaways from 2023.

Tune in for this super fun and candid conversation. Earphones/headphones recommended :)

ft. Veena, Mehul, Sahar, Sanjana and Tanya

Dec 29, 202328:58
Exploring the sustainable business leadership with IKEA

Exploring the sustainable business leadership with IKEA

Over the past year, Bare Necessities has been partnering with IKEA to deliver sustainability-themed workshops for their team and their #IKEAFamily members.


IKEA is looking forward to inspire customers to take a step towards healthier & more sustainable living at home by adopting relevant home furnishing solutions, and workshops are one way this awareness is being spread. This led us this wonderful discussion with Peter Serafin (Sustainability Business Partner) and Nikita Vaz (Country Sustainability Manager) on the third episode of Bare Thoughts podcast.


Listen in as we seamlessly assembly together the IKEA's approach to sustainability (just like their flat pack products).

Dec 10, 202333:37
Can your holidays be 100% eco-friendly?

Can your holidays be 100% eco-friendly?

With the holiday season around the corner, join us on a journey where we speak about the effects of over tourism and questioning if sustainable tourism is a possibility. Join us on this journey as we take you through practical ps on sustainable travel from ecostays to zero waste essentials. 


Nov 17, 202312:39
How difficult is community-building in today's world?

How difficult is community-building in today's world?

And Bare Thoughts is officially back! And for our first episode back, we start off recapping the positive stories we shared, but also the importance community has played in our growth story


Community building has been quite the buzz lately, but do you find it challenging? We'd love to hear your thoughts!


Check us out on our website - https://barenecessities.in/

Nov 06, 202307:36
A fresh Start - How to crush those 2022 goals now!

A fresh Start - How to crush those 2022 goals now!

There are only 4 weeks left until the new year! 

Here are my 6 tips to jumpstart your new year. My goal is for you to live your best mindful sustainable life!

Dec 05, 202109:28
Bare Thoughts on Circular Economy

Bare Thoughts on Circular Economy

Let's face it, we know climate change is here. We also know that there's way too much information out there. But it's time we act above and beyond this, because to act, we need to first become fully aware of what is really happening

From the concept of zero waste, to sustainable practices, to renewable energy, to us becoming more innovative whether we are entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, designers and more, to sustainable financing models, it all contributes to a new future, a more sustainable and just future - a circular future - Circular Economy; rather than the Linear Economy which is simply just taking resources, making things out of it and not knowing what happens to anything when we discard (hint: all sorts of pollution)

If you're wondering what Circular Economy is even about and why everyone is talking about it, then this is an online course for you which ropes in:

- 15+ Experts from diverse experiences (yes, that's like 15+ masterclasses!)

- 70+ videos and real-life examples from the past, present and future (only one way to move forward - to learn and innovate!)

We got to this stage by learning from amazing people around us and innovating; and this is what this course brings to you! All we got to do is starting learning and join in wherever you are!

Rather than just managing the waste we produce, it's about time we design waste out of the system, don't you agree?

https://www.barenecessitieslearning.in/p/circular-economy-in-30

Nov 10, 202116:54
Poonam Bir Kasturi, Daily Dump

Poonam Bir Kasturi, Daily Dump

Poonam Bir Kasturi is the founder of Daily Dump. The organization focuses on creating easy and engaging solutions for conscious city living. It does this by making people aware of handling organic waste  through composting in fresh and simple ways. She  was trained as an industrial designer and is passionate about using design for changing systems. Her experience with teaching and working in both industrial and craft sectors inform her work at the helm of Daily Dump. Poonam is also a Founder Faculty of the Srishti School of Art Design and Technology in Bangalore, India.

In this episode, Poonam and Sahar engage in a live conversation where they answer queries on circular design thinking, the power of soil, helming business in sustainability or the other way round, and of course, composting! 

Nov 02, 202038:16
Divya Narayanan, Campaigns Director, Jhaatka.org

Divya Narayanan, Campaigns Director, Jhaatka.org

Divya has a background in public health and human rights. She has worked in the grassroots environmental and health space for over 9 years. At Jhatkaa.org she is the Campaigns Director and manages digital campaigns on air pollution & climate change, gender & sexuality and other social justice issues. She is based out of Bangalore, Karnataka. 

In this short podcast, Divya talks about how she transitioned to her present career despite having studied Microbiology in her Bachelors. She also talks about her hobbies and what inspired her to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Don't miss this brief  but super fun conversation with Divya!

Oct 21, 202010:33
Arushi Aggarwal, The Initiative

Arushi Aggarwal, The Initiative

Arushi is a designer for social good; making handmade products and their makers relevant to the modern consumer. Combining traditional handcrafting processes with design, and a focus on consumer experience, she is creating positive social impact and consumer value through her venture The Initiative. Through hand quilting garment production waste, they create high quality, functional, ethically made products that generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for low-income craftspeople.
She is also a part of the Global Shapers Community where she is an Impact Officer and leads the Shaping Sustainability CHD project - bringing the local community together to meet experts, learn about new methods and techniques around sustainability, and share experiences. The project conducts online events for a global audience to engage in conversations around what sustainability means and how to fit it into their lives.
Prior to her social impact journey, Arushi worked as a Design Researcher and Strategist in Denmark. She continues to consult on projects ranging from design interventions in the craft sector to design strategy for social impact.

Sep 26, 202027:33
Swati Sambyal, Waste Management Specialist

Swati Sambyal, Waste Management Specialist

Swati has over 10 years of experience working on policy and practices for effective and affordable waste management in India, South Asia and Global South. Helping to build regulatory and technical capacities of cities in waste management; and highlighting the importance of decentralized waste management with focus on circular economy and resource efficiency through in-depth research and advocacy.

Previously, Swati headed the Waste Management Programme at New Delhi based environment policy and advocacy organisation, Centre for Science and Environment. Swati currently works with UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and Pacific on sustainable waste management related assignments in India and Global South.

Sep 17, 202035:26
How we responded to COVID-19

How we responded to COVID-19

We were recently contacted by Saksham from Lights Out Studio to have an authentic and bare conversation on what we did as a small social enterprise to stay afloat during such unprecedented times, from how we pivoted and adapted to how we communicated. 

We also discussed a variety of other topics like social impact, what it entails, how does sustainability become mainstream in India and systemic challenges we face today when transitioning our world to a more environment-friendly and just world.

Listen on for a bare conversation on our struggles, challenges, and some small wins. We wanted to share this because it might be helpful for anyone at any capacity to learn from what our journey has been through all this!


Sep 02, 202023:54
Dhwaj Bagrecha, 'CHoOS' WISELY & NeoX
Jul 24, 202029:19
CB Ramkumar, The Sustainability Partnership

CB Ramkumar, The Sustainability Partnership

CB Ramkumar is an author, speaker, trainer, consultant, an entrepreneur, and an expert in applied sustainability. He is an expert in helping corporates convert to total sustainability while factoring in global norms like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations.

Ram is a Board Member & Regional Director for South Asia with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and introduced the GSTC into India in 2010. Ram is also a Climate Leader, with the Climate Reality Project, having trained directly under the Former Vice President & Nobel Laurette Al Gore.

Ram had been an advertising and marketing professional for two decades. His long career in the advertising & marketing took him to global companies like Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy & Mather, Publicis and Standard Chartered Bank.

In 2006 Ram came back to India and founded Our Native Village, an eco-resort just outside Bangalore, in South India. He returned after a 17 year stint outside India to follow his dream and passion. Ram had been researching aspects of sustainability for more than a decade before starting Our Native Village. Ram’s dream of developing a fully sustainable living model was put to test with Our Native Village. Our Native Village has since been recognised with global and national awards, and was featured in many of the world press including Asia Geographic magazine, MSN, India Today, Outlook traveller and BBC. 

Ram is the author of the book ‘Green Dreams’. This is a book on sustainability, and traces his journey of a decade building a sustainable living model in Our Native Village. On the back of the book, Ram has started a NGO called Green Dreams for the Planet Foundation (GDP). GDP is a think tank for Climate Change & Sustainability, which conducts advocacy, training, projects and consultancy.

Ram is now the Founder of The Sustainability Partnership, a Sustainability management consulting company, which helps companies transition towards total sustainability.

Jul 15, 202018:01
Gergana Damyanova, Blonde Gone Rogue

Gergana Damyanova, Blonde Gone Rogue

Join us as we sit down with Gergana Damyanova, Co-Founder and CEO of blonde gone rogue - a London-based sustainable fashion start-up aiming at redefining experience and transparency in the industry. The brand uses sustainable, organic and up-cycled materials as well as innovative design methods to bring low-impact, unique clothing to the mass consumer.

blonde gone rogue started in 2017 with the belief that there is more to fashion that meets the eye. They created an ethical and transparent supply chain to prove that it is possible to treat employees fairly and pay living wages. They found the most sustainable and people-entered way to create our clothes from upcycled materials. They also launched a solution, The Blonde Chain, which gives consumers complete transparency into their production process

Listen on as we talk about circularity, sustainable fashion, what we can do as businesses and consumers, and question of the hour, how do we tackle greenwashing!

Jul 10, 202025:03
Aaditi Joshi, Artist

Aaditi Joshi, Artist

Aaditi Joshi (born in 1980) occasionally stops on the Mumbai roadside to absorb the surreal landscape before her eyes-enormous hills of discarded plastic form a rugged urban topography. Joshi says that when looking at these materials and understanding the social fallout they cause, she is disturbed but also moved to incorporate them into her artistic practice.

India has a history of disposable culture. For generations, roadside vendors and food stalls served tea in kulhars, simple, unglazed, and fired terra-cotta vessels.

After consuming their contents, customers would toss the vessels onto the ground or into a nearby field, where they would disintegrate. In today's Indian megacities, a booming consumer culture also casts off objects. However, affordable, mass-produced plastic cups have replaced kulhars. These and countless other disposable items, including the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag, are discarded in alarming quantities. Research proves that globally the volume of waste is increasing even faster than the rate of urbanization. The long­term damage caused by dumping plastic has been widely reported, but nonrecycled plastic can have an immediate negative impact as well of contemporary Mumbai, writer Suketu Mehta observes, "The air outside is a rain of plastic bags, which has replaced the parrots I grew up with."

Accumulating a significant quantity of these thin, multicolored plastic bags has become a way for Joshi to initiate dialogue about these issues and to look at these materials in new ways.

To create these bold works, Joshi uses heat to manipulate and fuse together the bags. She applies the heat-from a candle, a bag sealer, or a heat gun-three or four times to create texture, and, like alchemy, these ubiquitous objects of a convenience-obsessed urban culture become lacelike. By embedding LED lights inside the plastic, she accentuates its surprising delicacy. In addition to changing the appearance of the plastic, the heat hardens it, making it stable enough to create many small clusters that can easily be affixed to large, wooden armatures. Once an exhibition is over, Joshi dismantles the piece and reuses the clusters in subsequent works.

Excerpt from the publication ‘Megacities Asia’ 2016
Published by MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, USA
Authors: Al Miner and Laura Weinstein

Jul 07, 202019:27
Amishi Parasrampuria, Upcycler’s Lab

Amishi Parasrampuria, Upcycler’s Lab

Amishi founded Upcycler’s Lab, Started in 2018, Upcycler’s Lab , a for profit social enterprise, uses behavioural economics and play based learning to change mindsets around the environment. We do this through our award winning products that include board games and puzzles on concepts such as waste segregation and ocean conservation. Since most human behaviour is formed by age 9, we primarily create products for ages 2-9. Additionally we believe that children can be powerful agents of change and can influence the adults in their lives. Studies already suggest that over 70% learning happens outside the classroom and that play based learning helps retain information for longer. We want to combine these facts into robust products that can align with environmental goals.

Upcycler’s Lab was selected as one of 10 startups supported by the DST (Govt. of India), DFID (Govt. of UK), Shell Foundation and Zone Startups as a part of their accelerator program – Powered. Upcycler's Lab was also selected as a part of Climate Launchpad by Climate KIC.

Besides this, Amishi has also founded The Upcycle Co, one of India’s first companies creating valuable products from waste using upcycling and Startup Genie, a digital media agency creating solutions for startups. Amishi was selected as a Cherie Blair Foundation mentee in 2015 and an UnLtd India Fellow in the year 2015 and 2016. The Upcycle Co was also selected as one of the Top 100 startups by Hay Group India.

Prior to her entrepreneurial journey, Amishi helped grow several startups in different sectors such as corporate training, dance and tourism. She also worked in finance, where she led a team in designing a unique VAS offering for Japanese and Korean clients. Her product was one of the first of its kind in India.
In 2017, World Economic Forum selected her as a Global Shaper. As a part of this, she worked on Bottle Bricks and Improve. Bottle Bricks helped create awareness on plastic pollution by involving citizens in creating “Ecobricks” from waste plastics.

Improve Shanghai allowed Shapers to submit proposals to improve Shaghai within a week. Her project proposal, "Waste to Oxygen", was selected from among hundreds and taught citizens how to use common plants to improve indoor air quality.

She is currently serving as Regional Lead for the Climate Action Steering Committee for the Global Shapers Community.

She has represented India at a global level as a professional Dancesport athlete. Educated in financial markets and international business, Amishi is an alumnus of HR college and the University of Bath.

Jun 30, 202029:32
Magda Cebrian, GoZeroWaste App

Magda Cebrian, GoZeroWaste App

Today join us in welcoming Magda Cebrian, Co founder of Go Zero Waste, a social startup based in Barcelona that works to enable a waste-free life. We will be discussing a variety of topics from zero waste living, to circular economies, to building a healthy community and the importance of doing our own research!

Together with her partner Martí they found themselves navigating their way towards a more sustainable lifestyle for the better of our planet and people, and started becoming increasingly aware and in incorporating zero waste habits! Next, they decided to start their own business to help make it easier for other people to transition to a zero waste lifestyle by creating Go Zero Waste app, an app that helps you find local business and products to shop local and waste-free. It also includes small challenges to learn how to reduce your everyday waste with tips at your own pace. Lastly, hear from Magda one her one powerful tip to all aspiring change makers and entrepreneurs out there

GoZeroWaste App is currently available in Spain, the UK, Argentina and Chile and working to make it available worldwide soon.

Jun 20, 202023:47
Monica Kisic, Roots Radicals

Monica Kisic, Roots Radicals

Mónica (Lima, Perú 1982) is a scientist, a chef and an artist. After receiving honors as a Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry, Mónica directed all of her knowledge and time to pursue a Master's degree at the prestigious Basque Culinary Center. Since 2013, she has had various culinary experiences ranging from having her own artisan bakery and ice cream line to working at some of the highest-ranked restaurants in the world. Mónica approaches through science to the development of her own singular cuisine, and is always inspired by seasonal, organic and vegetarian produce. She works to connect food-making with anthropology, taste, habits, culture, sound, visual arts and space. Actively involved and inspired into working and collaborating in artistic fields, and searching for a gastronomy that goes beyond the palate, Mónica is co-founder of the artist collective Elephants & Volcanoes. Based now in Berlin, she is an advocate of the circular economy and in 2019 founded Roots Radicals, a sustainable food company focused on food waste prevention and upcycling, aiming to empower and reconnect people to good food.

Roots Radicals is an authentic, handcrafted and Zero Waste food project that aims to reconnect people with food.

Food is a vehicle of values, culture, and identity. It builds communities. It has the power to change us, reconnect us, and raise our consciousness and awareness.

At Roots Radicals we want to bring the idea of the 'production kitchen' to our community, by creating a hub in Berlin: an open kitchen, food store, and Café. We believe that showing all processes of how our food is prepared will offer a window to reconnect to a process we sadly no longer experience.

Community, education, information and transparency are fundamental to us, and we will offer workshops to fight food waste at home. Care, time, and love are our added ingredients, as we believe that they carry the magic and wisdom needed to channel lost traditions.

Roots Radicals is taking part in the fight against food waste!

We believe in the Circular Economy, and we cook focusing highly on efficiency, zero waste and upcycling. Through culinary innovation we create new products and processes that help Us design the so-called “waste” out of the food system: we up-cycle rescued food into delicious products and we also up-cycle from our own processes.

With a seasonal, regional, and cultural focus our products are mostly long-lasting conserves such as pickles, ferments, sauces, soups, vinegars, fruit preserves, and spices. All delicious products suitable for day-to-day cooking as well as for special occasions.

We look to inspire and empower people into changing habits of consumption by shifting our participation from a 'throw-away' economy to a participation in a 'circular economy'.

Roots Radicals conducts our effort in transitioning from competition to cooperation, from manipulation to emergence, from hiding and over-protecting to being open source. We are part of the change we want to see in the world.

Jun 12, 202035:50
Pragya Kapoor, Ek Saath Foundation

Pragya Kapoor, Ek Saath Foundation

Pragya Kapoor (@pragyakapoor_) - A film producer, and a passionate, action-oriented environmentalist, most recently, the founder of an impact NGO, Ek Saath Foundation (@eksaathfoundation) - an initiative to educate and empower people to become part of the solution while understanding the effects our actions can have on the environment, and during COVID and lockdown, the NGO changed gears and donated freshly-cooked meals to over 5000 people everyday! 

Join us this episode as we sit down with Pragya, also one of the #VogueWarriors, to discuss what sustainability means to her as a celebrity, a citizen, a mother and a founder, the art of balancing, gender roles and motherhood!

Jun 03, 202026:50
Amita Deshpande, Recharkha The EcoSocial Tribe

Amita Deshpande, Recharkha The EcoSocial Tribe

Amita Deshpande is the co-founder of Recharkha The EcoSocial Tribe (formerly) Aarohana EcoSocial Developments. She has worked extensively in Sustainable Development and CSR since the past 12 years. She designs our EcoSocial projects, managing them at the grassroots and ensuring their transparent operations.

1) EcoSocial Conservation: We work on Conserving the Environment, by UPCYCLING non-biodegradable and difficult-to-recycle plastic bags, grocery bags, multilayered wrappers of cookies, chips and glittery gifts wraps.

2) EcoSocial Livelihoods: We work in a remote tribal village in India, to enable livelihoods for tribal women and youth.

3) EcoSocial Participation: We engage with our customers and citizens of this planet to help them understand the concept of REfuseREduceREuse and REcycle or UPCYCLE by conducting workshops and giving awareness sessions. Our products also provide an alternative to accessories and daily utility items we buy from the open market; the advantage that they help support a significant cause!

Our process of UPCYCLING is fascinating as we use a traditional CHARKHA (spindle) and HANDLOOM to weave fabric from waste plastic. Our weaving is entirely manual, as we aim to create EcoSocial livelihoods!

May 29, 202032:08
Sandra Nicoline Nielsen & Tim van der Loo, Hands.On.Matter

Sandra Nicoline Nielsen & Tim van der Loo, Hands.On.Matter

Sandra, a techno-anthropologist, and Tim, a material and product designer, discuss their personal journeys, their perspectives on transitioning to a circular economy and Hands.On.Matter, a collective that unfolds the potentials of novel as well as traditional materials and production techniques as an outset for questioning resource use, consumption, sustainability and material culture of our current time.

May 21, 202029:14
Asha Scariya, People Kraft

Asha Scariya, People Kraft

Our first episode of Bare Thoughts is a special one! We invited Asha Scariya, Chief Creative Officer at People Kraft - a humble impact-driven, sustainability focused enterprise. "By impacting design, you can design impact" is one of her core beliefs, and during this episode we dive into various social issues businesses need to address, from gender equality and equal opportunities, to transparent and ethical supply chains, and lastly embedding environmental sustainability.

May 05, 202021:32