Tag: Movie Recommendation of the Week

Link

The Last 7 Days #222 (10.06.24 – 16.06.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 222nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Is personal style dead? Who is stylish when everyone dresses the same? Read more here.
  2. When TV shows end, fans experience grief similar to losing a partner or close friend: Study. Read here.
  3. Apple may finally be getting past its China slump. Check it out here.
  4. 10 health benefits of walking backwards: Improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Read it here.
  5. Dr. Anthony Fauci confesses he ‘made up’ COVID rules including 6 feet social distancing and masking kids. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Sir Richard Branson talks with Adam Grant about what he’s learned about courage and risk-taking in more than half a century of entrepreneurship, unveils his distinctive view of competition, and shares what he thinks great leaders have in common. Listen to it here.
  2. Protein influencers are telling us that we’re probably missing out on the protein we need — Why? They say that eating extra protein helps us build muscle, feel full, and lose weight. So is that true? Science Vs hosts talk to kinesiology professor Stuart Phillips and nutrition professor Faidon Magkos. Check it out here.
  3. On The Streaming Show, Varun Grover and Sumukhi Suresh chat about the do’s and don’ts of running a writers’ room, bringing together the right group of personalities, why writers fighting can be a good thing, what the job of a head writer is, toxic power structures, and more. Listen here.
  4. In this interview with Anupama Chopra, Kartik Aaryan talks about committing to the role of Murlikant Petkar in the Kabir Khan directorial, the process of shaping his body and mind to get into the skin of the character and eventually bringing his best out on screen, about being asocial, the importance of sleep, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Music Composer & Singer Shekhar Ravjiani, on The Karishma Tanna Podcast, gets candid on his journey till this point, starting his label, association with Vishal, his attempt to be a Singer, and his audition at Sa Re Ga Ma, and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth. Check it out here.
  2. Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri chats with Colin and Samir about being the head of Instagram and how he got there, how video has changed Instagram, how posts gain more reach, deep diving into the algorithm, creator monetization & revenue sharing, the competition for cultural relevance, and much more. Watch it here.
  3. Rohit Sharma, with Jatin Sapru, shares the triumphs and tribulations of his remarkable journey, offering invaluable insights into the mindset that propels him towards greatness, the fusion of sporting prowess and the indomitable spirit of ‘the backyard mindset’. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Chandu Champion (The film is based on the extraordinary story of an athlete who never gave up.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Maharaja [Tamil] (A barber seeks vengeance after his home is burglarized, cryptically telling police his “lakshmi” has been taken, leaving them uncertain if it’s a person or object. His quest to recover the elusive “lakshmi” unfolds.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #221 (03.06.24 – 09.06.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 221st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. That urge to photograph your food? Keep that going. Read more here.
  2. It’s not just JLo: Why big musical acts can’t sell out concerts anymore? Check it out here.
  3. Unable to get a good night’s sleep? Ultra-processed food may once again be to blame, a new study suggests. Read it here.
  4. Are you being defensive in your relationships? Read here.
  5. Beat uncertainty, anxiety by being mindful. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Psychology Podcast, Scott is joined by author and neuroscientist, Dr. James Doty. Scott and James discuss whether there is any science behind the law of attraction, the importance of “value tagging”, and the neuroscience behind manifestation. Listen to it here.
  2. In conversation with host Matt Abrahams, Amy Gallo provides useful frameworks and new concepts on how we can approach conflicts at work, the power of workplace friendships, balancing friendships and professional boundaries, and more. Listen here.
  3. Fiber is a dietary superhero. But chances are, you’re not getting enough of it. NPR health correspondent (and fiber fanatic) Maria Godoy shares easy ways to up your fiber intake. Plus, the science of what fiber does in your body and how having more in your diet could help you. Check it out here.
  4. Trevor Noah joins the SmartLess podcast, to delve into his life and career, a glimpse into his journey from South Africa to becoming a globally recognized comedian, his experience with Hollywood’s social dynamics, hosting The Daily Show, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. George Miller joins Josh, on Happy Sad Confused, to chat about his latest film FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA, his storytelling influences and passions, why he keeps returning to the wasteland, and how he came to cast his new Furiosa. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Apple lets YouTuber MKBHD inside its stress-test labs, where machines subject iPhones to water jets and drop tests. Watch here.
  2. Imtiaz Ali, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about the success and the theme of death in Chamkila, the touch of Rumi in Rockstar, how he made his films and commercial success, delving deep into Kun Faya Kun, content creation vs filmmaking, facing the lows and failure, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. On The R Ashwin Podcast, Gautam Gambhir talks about perception, winning mentality, acknowledging small contributions, giving credit, PR, and much more. Watch it here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Hit Man (A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Star [Tamil] (Follows a youngster Kalai and his aspirations of becoming a ‘Star’ in the Tamil Film Industry. Born in a lower-middle-class family, will Kalai overcome all his struggles to emerge as a Star?)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #220 (27.05.24 – 02.06.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 220th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Sam Altman’s tech villain arc is underway. Read more here.
  2. Google and OpenAI are racing to rewire the internet. Read here.
  3. Money can buy happiness! Just spend it on social experiences and not things, says a psychological study. Read more here.
  4. Yale psychologist: Feeling too busy can damage your brain health—here are 3 easy ways to fix it. Check it out here.
  5. Yogurt vs. Greek yoghurt: exploring the key differences in dairy products. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The Luke Coutinho Show, Dr. Bruce Lipton, a pioneer in epigenetics, a stem cell biologist deep dives into stem cells and their role in cellular regeneration, science of how the environment influences genetic activity, impact of subconscious programming, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On Nudge, Professor Moore talks about the persuasive power of profanity and shares the science behind swearing and reveals if swearing in ads helps or hinders a brand. Check it out here.
  3. What are the different ways in which loneliness can manifest? In this episode, Vir Das joins Ira Khan on her podcast to discuss his journey with loneliness, the importance of reaching out, and the power of community. Listen here.
  4. Host Karishma Tanna talks with Jackie Shroff about everything, from being neighbours, career in Bollywood, Jaggu Dada’s love for plants and nature, to their love for Gujju food and culture, and untold stories. Check it out here.
  5. Way back when forests first evolved on Earth … they might have triggered one of the biggest mass extinctions in the history of the planet. What can we learn from this ancient climate apocalypse? Listen to it on the Unexplainable podcast here.

What To Watch:

  1. Charles Leclerc, on Jay Shetty’s podcast, dives into his journey from karting at a young age, the pivotal moments that shaped his career, his routines and strategies for maintaining peak performance, valuable life lessons from his father and more. Watch it here.
  2. Karan Aujla talks about the vibe of his songs, his early life and his journey up till this point, life-threatening challenges, deep diving into ego, arrogance, money and fame, the bigger responsibilities even in the younger age, and more, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Crime Stories, former mob boss Michael Franzese and old-school gangster Bobby Cummines compare violent crime in New York and London, what it’s like to take the Mafia blood oath, work alongside the notorious Kray twins and reveal the brutal regrets that still haunt them. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Together: Treble Winners (Following Pep Guardiola, his staff and the squad in the final stages of the season with footage of memorable winning moments and post match celebrations.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Abigail (After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #219 (20.05.24 – 26.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 219th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Nvidia’s rivals take aim at its software dominance. Read more here.
  2. Warning: Dietary advice on social media can lead to food anxiety. Check it out here.
  3. Bread, butter, milk-based health drinks, cooking oils classified as ultra-processed food, ICMR advises restriction. Read here.
  4. Why Spotify is launching its own font, Spotify Mix? Read it here.
  5. Why did Hollywood not want to fund “Megalopolis” and “Horizon”? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dr Frank Anderson, a leading trauma expert and psychiatrist, on The School of Greatness, the challenges of growing up in a family with conflicting messages of love and acceptance, how enduring difficult childhood experiences can impact one’s self-perception and mental health, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Why do humans have most of our hair on our heads, not our bodies? Why do we have so many varieties of hair colour, thickness, and curliness? Dr. Tina Lasisi, a biological anthropologist, on Origin Stories, shares her research into why humans have scalp hair and her insights on why curly hair is uniquely human. Check it out here.
  3. Getting your heart broken sucks — and for some of us, it even feels physically painful. So why does it hurt so bad? And what can science tell us about how to get over it? Science Vs dives into all of this with neuroscientist Prof. Lucy Brown. Listen here.
  4. According to neurobiologist Christi Gendron, what you experience through your senses — sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch — can impact how healthy you are and how long you live. Listen more here.
  5. On Smartless, David Beckham discusses his playing career with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and other top clubs, as well as the abuse he faced from fans and media after England’s 1998 World Cup exit, transition to club ownership with Inter Miami CF, his businesses, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the WHOOP podcast, discusses his first memory of playing football, being motivated by his father, talent vs. work ethic, being at the top for so long, how Cristiano uses WHOOP, his recovery modalities, mindfulness and visualization, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, on Decoder with Nilay Patel, on how it’s building AI into virtually all of its products, AI-powered search, the future of the web, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Su filindeu, or “threads of God,” is the rarest pasta in the world. For a century, it was made by a single family in the Sardinian city of Nuoro for religious celebrations. Business Insider went to Italy to see how the process of making su filindeu is Still Standing. Watch here.
  4. Documentary Recommendation of the Week: Arnold (Follows the life of Arnold Schwarzenegger, from his days of lifting weights to his successes in Hollywood, his time serving as governor of California, and both the joys and volatility of his family life.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before her encounter and teamup with Mad Max.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #218 (13.05.24 – 19.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 218th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. US-China tariff war could benefit several sectors in India while harming a few others. Read more here.
  2. How to unpack anger? Check it out here.
  3. Is Your Ice Cream Really Ice Cream Or Frozen Dessert? Know The Difference here.
  4. The 5 Main Health Benefits of Coconut Water, According to Experts. Read here.
  5. Is a late workout giving you sleepless nights? Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Jay Shetty deep dives into how to set boundaries without offending people, how to say no effectively, how to communicate your boundaries clearly, and mainly, how boundaries are not for others, but for ourselves. Listen to it here.
  2. Can knowing more make you enjoy less? On Nudge, Professor Sarah Moore explains why here.
  3. Walt Mossberg, and Marques Brownlee, on the podcast ‘On with Kara Swisher‘, discuss the art, philosophy and ethics of reviewing tech, as well as the Tesla Cybertruck, Apple Vision Pro, AI-in-a-box and Taylor Swift. Listen here.
  4. Richard Gadd joins the Skip Intro podcast to talk about his show, Baby Reindeer, writing its seven episodes to preparing mentally and physically to play Donny, unpacks the show’s final scene, and shares a few of the surprising reactions he’s received from viewers so far. Check it out here.
  5. Dune’s cinematographer Greig Fraser returns to ReelBlend with editor Joe Walker to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two and their collaborations with Denis Villeneuve, shooting Feyd-Rautha’s introduction on Giedi Prime with infrared lighting, cutting Paul Atreides and Feyd’s final fight, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Imtiaz Ali, A.R. Rahman, Mohit Chauhan & Irshad Kamil deconstruct the gems from the films they have done together, the ideation or the process behind their songs, how those songs made the films what they are, the bonding between them that led to these gems, and more. Watch it here.
  2. The cast of Dune Part Two discuss their character’s arc and how new faces are woven into the story of Dune. Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and more open up about the process to explore themselves in the sands of Arrakis. Check it out here.
  3. Anupam Mittal, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about the truth of fame, visualising success, the biggest fear of life, delving deep into mental health and the lows of life, the correlation of fear and age, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil [Malayalam] (A young man faces a web of unforeseen bad luck before marrying a woman who hates him, and he suffers her wrath over it.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Dada [Tamil] (A college student embraces fatherhood and provides unconditional care and love to his child while facing the challenges of life as a single parent.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #217 (06.05.24 – 12.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 217th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Why a South Indian breakfast is tasty, healthy, and superb for weight loss? Read more here.
  2. Why Spotify is still fighting with Apple in Europe? Check it out here.
  3. FMCG index gains most in nearly two years; What is working for HUL, Marico, Dabur and GCPL. Read here.
  4. Movies go solo as OTTs swipe left on deals before theatrical release. Read it here.
  5. We need to talk about whatever’s happening with Starbucks’ drinks. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Luke Coutinho Show, Revant Himatsingka (Food Pharmer) talks about his journey to talking about food awareness, the substitution of nutritious food with packaged products due to misleading advertising, identifying misleading labels and ingredients, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. The best rapper in the world is beefing with the biggest rapper in the world. The Ringer’s Charles Holmes, on the Today Explained podcast, explains what their feud says about the state of hip-hop. Check it out here.
  3. On HBR IdeaCast, Ayelet Israeli, professor at Harvard Business School, delves behind the boom in celebrity brands, what works and doesn’t, and outlines lessons for non-famous entrepreneurs and established companies. Listen here.
  4. Steve Martin and Martin Short, on SmartLess, share insights into their illustrious careers in comedy and acting, reminisce about their long-standing partnership, the origins of their live shows and their creative process, the importance of thorough preparation, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. McLaren CEO, Zak Brown, on F1 Beyond the Grid, tells how he’s instilling a winning mentality at McLaren, what Norris’s victory means for his and the team’s future, why he thinks Oscar Piastri is a match for Lando, whether he’d like his close friend Adrian Newey to join the team, and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Anupama Chopra engages in an insightful chat with Fahadh Faasil, exploring various facets of his career and personal reflections. They delve into his recent film “Aavesham” and his portrayal of the character Ranga. He reflects on re-defining the “hero” in Malayalam Cinema, discusses his journey as a pan-Indian star, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Celebrity photographer, Dabboo Ratnani shares his unique insights and behind-the-scenes stories from decades of photographing Bollywood’s biggest stars, the process of these celebrity photoshoots, challenges versus the final output, change in trends and AI, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Special of the Week: The Roast of Tom Brady (Sports figures and comics team up to roast former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who will be forced to take the hits in this full-contact comedy special hosted by Kevin Hart.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Exhuma [Korean] (The process of excavating an ominous grave unleashes dreadful consequences buried underneath.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: The Fall Guy (A down-and-out stuntman must find the missing star of his ex-girlfriend’s blockbuster film.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #216 (29.04.24 – 05.05.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 216th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How disinformation works—and how to counter it? Read more here.
  2. Why Plastic Waste Is a C-Suite Issue? Read here.
  3. South Korea cracks down on ‘shrinkflation’. Check it out here.
  4. Why popcorn is expensive? PVR Inox answers as it pulls out all stops to draw in more crowd. Read it here.
  5. Court documents reveal Google’s payments to Apple increased to an eye-watering $20 billion. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, on Stanford GSB: View from the Top podcast, details his experience founding NVIDIA, building the first killer application for NVIDIA’s technology, deciding which markets are worth exploring, steering the company through challenging times, designing the right organization structure, and his views on the AI revolution. Listen to it here.
  2. On A Bit of Optimism, Glucose Goddess (Jessie Inchauspé) shares the fundamental understanding of Glucose, benefits of managing glucose levels, her personal journey and transformation, impact of water and alcohol on glucose spikes, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Julia Minson and host Matt Abrahams delve into the intricacies of conflict and disagreement, her expertise on decision-making and conflict negotiation, the need for genuine curiosity and receptiveness in communication to foster productive dialogue. Listen here.
  4. What do Bieber, Lorde, Cézanne, Monet, Nudge Podcast, and Rock Around The Clock have in common? They all became much more popular through exposure. This episode of Nudge shares the irrational psychology behind popularity, and you’ll learn what it takes to create a hit. Listen to it here.
  5. Dr. Subramanian Swamy, on The Ranveer Show, breaks down the workings of the current government and understand the rights and wrongs of politics, his views on PM Modi, his mission in life, what the BJP is doing wrong, the situation of corruption in India, the media and their fearful lies, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this episode of Stumble with Roshan Abbas, Zakir Khan shares candid insights into his personal and professional life, success, fame, and the intriguing world of meme culture. He opens up about his unforgettable experience of performing at the Royal Albert Hall to a crowd of thousands and reveals why he prefers not to set finite goals. Watch it here.
  2. Siddharth Roy Kapur delves into his journey from being one of the top management members at UTV Motion Pictures with Ronnie Screwvala, to starting his very own production house, the business of Bollywood, why he thinks we’re prospering as an industry, and the scope of making this larger. He discusses what went through in producing films like Dangal, Rang De Basanti, and Jagga Jasoos. Check it out here.
  3. In this interview with Baradwaj Rangan, director, director Kiran Rao opens up about her film, ‘Laapataa Ladies‘, the evolution of the script, does every film need a message, how they test films before it’s release, and whether she’s a good director of actors. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Baby Reindeer (Dealing with a female stalker, a man is forced to face a dark, buried trauma.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Philip’s [Malayalam] (Unforeseen events arose in Philip’s joyful family, disrupting their happiness. They must tackle these hiccups and regain their life.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #215 (22.04.24 – 28.04.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 215th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How green is your electric vehicle, really? || EVs are in the middle of an obesity epidemic. Read more here.
  2. How Indian Farmers Are Using AI To Increase Crop Yield? Read here.
  3. Science is closing in on the frailties of old age. Check it out here.
  4. Here’s how to stop caring so much about what other people think, says psychotherapist. Read it here.
  5. The inflation battle enters the hard last mile. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Decoder with Nilay Patel, Discord CEO Jason Citron makes the case for a smaller, more private internet, how he sees Discord in the landscape of other platforms, Discord’s evolving business model, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. In Part 2 of this School of Greatness episode with Matthew Hussey, they explore what it truly means to change for someone you love, and how to identify if you’re dating a high-value person, the hard-hitting questions you need to ask early in a relationship to set the stage for lasting love, and more. Listen here.
  3. With endocrinologists Dr. Deena Adimoolam and Prof. Anne Cappola, and urologist Prof. Mohit Khera, Science Vs podcast deep dives into hormone hacking, focusing on the internet talk on special supplements, diets, exercises, and prescriptions to tame our cortisol, boost our testosterone, and tackle our estrogen. Check it out here.
  4. On Happy Sad Confused, Zack Snyder talks about his REBEL MOON films, Batman & Superman controversies, casting stories, WATCHMEN, & more. Listen to it here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: The Rich Roll Podcast (A master-class in personal and professional development, ultra-athlete, wellness evangelist and bestselling author Rich Roll delves deep with the world’s brightest and most thought provoking thought leaders to educate, inspire and empower you to unleash your best, most authentic self.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Galatta Plus, Fahadh Faasil opens up about his recent blockbuster Aavesham, working with director Jithu Madhavan, the phrase “Re-introducing FAFAA”, the recent success streak of Malayalam films, his experience of working with Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and his upcoming films. Watch it here.
  2. On Unfiltered with Samdish, Vidya Balan deep dives into her relationship with money, process of getting into her character, her surprise box-office hit Kahaani, from Gobi Manchurian to gutkha, from international cinema to what troubles her, her journey with her healer, her relationship with religion and much more. Check it out here.
  3. When an asteroid landed on the Yucatan peninsula 66 million years ago, it turned our planet into a debris field of chemicals that, eventually, fostered human life. Sean B. Carroll, author and esteemed biologist, unpacks the consequences of this collision, and claims we, as a species, should feel fortunate that we’re on this planet at all. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Aatmapamphlet (Marathi) (Ten-year-old Ashish falls head-over-heels in love with his classmate, Srushti. While he grows up, the country goes through several socio-economic changes.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Varshangalkku Shesham (Malayalam) (Two young men leave their hometown to chase their dream of becoming big in the world of 1970s and ’80s South Indian cinema.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #214 (15.04.24 – 21.04.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 214th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The China-Russia trade friendship may not be quite what you think. Read more here.
  2. Meta wants to be the Microsoft of headsets. Read here.
  3. Scientists discover two great techniques to overcome past negative events. Check it out here.
  4. A Mango That Costs Rs 12000 a Piece? The Story Behind India’s Most Expensive Mango Varieties. Read it here.
  5. Shed negativity bias; it’s OK to be OK. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Kara Swisher and Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone discuss his vision for the new Yahoo, what’s going on with search, how he’s integrating AI, and whether there could be another Yahoo merger or IPO on the horizon. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Graham Weaver and host Matt Abrahams explore how being true to oneself not only fosters personal fulfillment but also enables us to show up better for others. Authenticity and self-belief lay the foundation for effective communication, leadership, and ultimately, success. Listen here.
  3. Rohit Sharma joins Michael Vaughan, The Prof, Ollie and Adam Gilchrist to discuss the Mumbai Indians, the test series against England, The upcoming T20 World Cup, this coming summer in Australia and what it’s like to be mates with Ed Sheeran. Check it out here.
  4. No matter how old you are, having a happy birthday is one of life’s great pleasures, says birthday enthusiast Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming. You just need to figure out what that means for you and put a plan in motion. Here’s how to transform your birthday into a moment worth celebrating on the Life Kit podcast. Listen here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: Business Wars (Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, inventors, investors and executives to new heights — or to ruin.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Music Podcast, Salim Merchant takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of the music industry, behind-the-scenes stories of his collaborations with top-notch artists on iconic Bollywood blockbusters like “Band Baaja Baraat” and “Chak de India”, the secrets behind his music composition process, his passion for background scoring in films, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Rohit Sharma sits down with Ed Sheeran as they speak about their interests, talking about cricket and music and their respective fields, and more on Breakfast of Champions. Check it out here.
  3. In this conversation with Anupama Chopra, Imran Khan, in his first interview post his sabbatical, talks about what these years were like, and how he put the focus on himself and his mental health, the reasons that led him to quitting the industry 9 years ago, and all that makes him want to still tell stories, from and to the heart. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Monkey Man (An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Premalu (The film narrates the love story of Sachin and Reenu, falls in love with her at first sight, become friends through funny incidents, and leads to amusing complications.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #213 (08.04.24 – 14.04.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 213th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Living to 120 is becoming an imaginable prospect. Excitingly, those extra years would be healthy—but there would be wide ramifications. Read more here.
  2. Who’s afraid of credit cards? Read here.
  3. Does time-restricted eating increase the risk of cardiovascular death? Check it out here.
  4. A Spike in Heart Disease Deaths Since Covid Is Puzzling Scientists. Read it here.
  5. Subscription traps to hidden charges: Dark patterns are plaguing the UPI boom. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Decoder with Nilay Patel, the host talks to Verge senior reporter Liz Lopatto about Vice, the media company: Where it came from, what it did, and, ultimately, why it collapsed into a much smaller, sadder version of itself. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Dana Carney (professor at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business) and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to read the nonverbal communication of others — and how to gain control of the nonverbals we express to the world. Listen here.
  3. This episode of Life Kit focuses on negotiation tactics for everyday life, techniques to help people make decisions with more confidence and get the outcome they want. Check it out here.
  4. The researcher who popularized the idea of the alpha wolf has spent decades trying to take it back. This episode of Unexplainable podcast tries to uncover how science got it wrong. Listen to it here.
  5. John Cena joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why he still owns his first car, what motivated him to get into the gym, and why he doesn’t like authority without reason. John and Dax talk about being around alpha male culture, how he got into wrestling by accident, and the evolution of his wrestling character. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Lex Fridman podcast, Dana White talks UFC, the origin, Mike Tyson and the early days of fighting, the aura of Muhammad Ali, what makes great fighters, the era of Conor McGregor, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, talk about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, importance of discipline and benefits of martial arts, the making of action scenes and why modern comedy films are failing, meme culture and Akshay Kumar’s iconic characters, and more. Check it out here.
  3. The cast and crew, including the director of Manjummel Boys, one of the biggest Malayalam hits of 2024, discuss the making of the film, how things came into place, casting, the set production and the authenticity of it, and much more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Aavesham [Malayalam] (Three teens come to Bangalore for their engineering education and get involved in a fight. They find a local gangster to help them.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Amar Singh Chamkila (A humble singer’s brash lyrics ignite fame and fury across Punjab as he grapples with soaring success and brutal criticism before his untimely death.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #212 (01.04.24 – 07.04.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 212th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How India spends: UPI reigns supreme, credit cards see 2nd-highest growth. Read it here.
  2. Reliance and Disney team up to crush Netflix and Prime Video in India. Read more here.
  3. How Ambani’s JioCinema Is Earning Crores When IPL Streaming Is Free? Check it out here.
  4. Jonathan Nolan Explains the Origin of ‘The Dark Knight’s’ Most Famous Line. Read here.
  5. The day Mark Cuban became a millionaire, he took off his watch and threw it away—here’s why.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Charan Ranganath, a psychologist and neuroscientist, and host Adam Grant discuss the science of memory, surprising evidence on why we remember, what we forget, and how learning new ideas happens. Listen to it here.
  2. On Science Vs podcast, nutrition researchers Dr. Krista Varady and Dr. Courtney Peterson, as well as cancer researcher Professor Valter Longo talk about intermittent fasting: the fad and the fears, does it help burn fat, can fasting help you live longer or help fight cancer, and much more. Listen here.
  3. Kara Swisher speaks to co-founder and CEO of Reddit, Steve Huffman about the Reddit IPO, content moderators, subscription economy and advertising, listening to the users, and whether the subreddit r/WallStreetBets could make this one a meme stock. Check it out here.
  4. Triple H joins the Impaulsive podcast to reveal his secret call w/ The Rock before WrestleMania 40, Logan Paul Vs Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes SLAPPING The Rock, Jake Paul Vs Mike Tyson, PRIME logo gracing the WWE ring, $5B Netflix deal, Logan fighting McGregor in UFC & more. Listen to it here.
  5. Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Oscar Piastri reflects on his rookie year in F1, his Sprint victory ahead of Max Verstappen, on-track clashes and off-track discussions with Lewis Hamilton, and why at his home race in Melbourne he’ll be fuelled by his Grandma’s baking as well as the Australian crowd. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Diljit Dosanjh, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about his childhood and staying away from family, his Coachella experience, the importance of Yoga, his filmography and Amar Singh Chamkila, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Mrunal Thakur, on Galatta Plus, opens up about her upcoming film, ‘Family Star’, being accepted by the audience, how she chooses her scripts, the kind of roles she wants to play and the films that changed her life. Check it out here.
  3. On The Bombay Journey, Prithviraj Sukumaran talks about donning multiple hats – producing, directing, acting, singing, the growth of Malayalam industry and the increasing reach of the films, favourite foods and stories of Mumbai, tid bits from multiple films and his Bollywood filmography, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: The Iron Claw (Tells the story of the Von Erich brothers as they make history in the highly competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Anweshippin Kandethum (A police officer returns from suspension and is thrown into a shocking murder case investigation.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #211 (25.03.24 – 31.03.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 211th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How Luckin Coffee overtook Starbucks as the largest coffee chain in China? Read more here.
  2. “The Minions Do the Actual Writing”: The Ugly Truth of How Movie Scores Are Made. Check it out here.
  3. This is why we feel sleepy after breakfast. Read here.
  4. Articulate your needs in your relationship. Read it here.
  5. OTT content spending surges 52% in 2023, driven by sports rights. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The School of Greatness, Matthew Hussey shares his invaluable insights on the key elements that constitute successful relationships, the importance of giving up certain types of attention to attract what you truly need, and the crucial role of authenticity in forming genuine connections. Listen to it here.
  2. Comedians Toni & Ryan join the hosts on the Science Vs podcast for a romp through the bizarre science of dreaming, along with neuroscientist Professor Francesca Siclari and dream/sleep researcher Professor Bob Stickgold. Listen here.
  3. Lily Gladstone joins In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast to discuss her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon and the historic Oscar nomination that came with it. She looks back at her acting training and explains the various techniques that make her the performer you see on screen. Check it out here.
  4. Conor McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal join the Armchair Expert to discuss their experience of remaking Roadhouse, what it’s like growing up in hypermasculine environments, how they approach failure, what training for a fight does for your physical health, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. In the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Prem Chopra reflects on his experiences during the partition days and how he ventured into theatre after moving to Shimla. He shares insights into landing his first hit movie and discusses why he gravitated towards villain roles and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Ranveer Show, Kareena Kapoor Khan sheds light on the real Kareena Kapoor Khan and the secret behind her confident personality, her career, the famous Kapoor family, her size zero phase, her ambition towards her work, insecurities, difficulties, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. On Film Companion, the cast of Madgaon Express – Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Avinash Tiwary, and Nora Fatehi along with Kunal Kemmu and Ritesh Sidhwani discuss their on-set experiences of sharing the friendliest of bonds, they delve into how each of them prepped for the film, and what made Excel Entertainment invest in a project as off-beat as this. Check it out here.
  3. In this conversation with Anupama Chopra, Prithviraj Sukumaran talks about the experience of working on The Goat Life, working on a film that lasted for almost 16 years, how he prepared for it and the resilience the cast and crew showed to get the output out in public. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Laapataa Ladies (Two newlyweds find themselves inadvertently separated from their husbands moments after their respective weddings.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Manjummel Boys (A group of friends faces a string of unexpected misadventures on a vacation trip to Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #210 (11.03.24 – 24.03.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 210th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Spotify Reveals Joe Rogan’s Podcast Numbers. Check it out here.
  2. Vulnerability found in Apple’s Silicon M-series chips – and it can’t be patched. Read more here.
  3. Avoid these 3 common phrases—they make you look weak and insecure, experts say. Read it here.
  4. Pay attention to your attention span. Read here.
  5. Airbnb banned indoor security cameras. Here’s why.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Zack Snyder, on the Joe Rogan podcast talks about 300, Watchmen, Justice League, TDKR, superhero storytelling as modern mythmaking, and his personal philosophy about art and life. Check it out here.
  2. In this episode of Life Kit, what to know about protein and muscle mass and tips about understanding how much protein you really need. Listen here.
  3. Josh Brolin, on SmartLess, discusses his career, Brolin’s upbringing in the entertainment industry, his passion for surfing, his approach to acting and collaborative projects with directors, and much more. Listen to it here.
  4. Director Denis Villeneuve discusses his new film, Dune: Part Two, with fellow Director Steven Spielberg in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles, the throes of filming in the desert in comparison with Lawrence of Arabia, the comic and painterly inspirations for his imagery, and adjusting his adaptation to closer fit Frank Herbert’s original intentions. Check it out here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation: Science Vs (Science Vs is the show from Gimlet that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. They do the hard work of sifting through all the science so we don’t have to and cover everything from 5G and Pandemics, to Vaping and Fasting Diets.)

What To Watch:

  1. R Madhavan, on The Ranveer Show, talked about his acting journey, the most terrifying time of his career, directing the Rocketry movie, the Shaitaan movie, his son’s accomplishments and the effect of news, how to deal with the fact of aging parents, men’s health after 30, his chocolate boy era, successful marriage, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. On The Bombay Dream, Mukesh Chhabra converses with Farah Khan about the difference in films between now and then, the casting differences between the times, how the actors were cast during Main Hoon Na, memories from snapshots of different films, getting rejected by many known talents and the timing of casting actors for the roles they’re now known for. Check it out here.
  3. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Maamla Legal Hai (Chaos collides with the letter of the law at the District Court of Patparganj, where quirky employees work to uphold justice. However, their daily escapades are not without a few objections.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Perfect Days (Hirayama feels content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, reads books and takes photos. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Aattam (After a theatre group’s party, their sole actress is subjected to a crime from one of the men. Stories unravel, suspicions surface and clamour ensues as a meeting is called to reach a consensus.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #209 (04.03.24 – 10.03.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 209th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The myth of the lone writer. Read here.
  2. Bored? It can be a good thing. Read more here.
  3. Young & luxurious: How new buyers are pushing luxe retail growth in India? Check it out here.
  4. This chart shows people who got phones earlier in life report more mental distress as adults. Isn’t that sadly obvious by now? Read it here.
  5. Gucci, Prada and Tiffany’s bet big on property. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Variety Awards Circuit, “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Zone of Interest” star Sandra Hüller talks about her two current films, getting into the character, the BTS of shooting the scenes and how it was shot differently than the traditional way, and more about the films. Listen to it here.
  2. In this career conversation with Josh, from THE GRIFTERS and BUGSY to AMERICAN BEAUTY and THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, Annette Bening opens up about her creative process, the journey from stage to screen, and her latest performance in NYAD. Listen here.
  3. Colman Domingo, on Variety Awards Circuit, talks about the film, Rustin, the importance of the film, his first reaction to getting his Oscar nomination and thoughts on being the first LGBTQ actor to be nominated alongside Jodie Foster, and some of his next big projects. Check it out here.
  4. Director Martin Scorsese discusses his new film, Killers of the Flower Moon, with fellow Director Ti West, lifting dialogue from real historical accounts when working on the script and its structure, speaking with current Osage tribal members to include their suggestions and accounts, and the fashioning of the title sequence and how a hundred-year-old camera was used in the crafting of it. Listen to it here.
  5. Oscar-nominated director Jonathan Glazer joins the ReelBlend podcast to discuss his new, harrowing film The Zone of Interest, chatting about the impact awards nominations and wins can have on a film, his unique approach to staging and filming scenes, the film’s incredible sound design and its importance to the narrative, and more. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Director of Photography Hoyte van Hoytema takes us behind the scenes of his process of shooting IMAX and custom back 65mm black and white Kodak film for Chris Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer.’ He explains the different points of view in colour and black and white representing Robert Downey Jr.’s character Strauss and Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer. Watch it here.
  2. Robbie Ryan, the cinematographer of Poor Things, explains how he crafted the film’s unique, almost dreamlike look, which was mostly captured in-camera, and on film, without post-production effects, and much more, on the Dolby Creator Talks podcast. Check it out here.
  3. Kunal Kamra‘s new stand-up special – Uncle Logic cleverly talks about the functioning of society and the viewpoint of how the Uncles of our society think. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Nyad (Sixty-four-year-old marathon swimmer Diana Nyad attempts to become the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: All of Us Strangers (A screenwriter drawn back to his childhood home enters into a fledgling relationship with his downstairs neighbor while discovering a mysterious new way to heal from losing his parents 30 years ago.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

Dune Special! The Last 7 Days #208 (26.02.24 – 03.03.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 208th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Sandworms and solar eclipses: 5 things we learned from ‘The Art and Soul of ‘Dune: Part Two”. Check it out here.
  2. Fan who has seen ‘Dune: Part Two’ 10 times breaks his silence. Read more here.
  3. Rebecca Ferguson Is the MVP of Dune: Part 2. Read here.
  4. Space babies and time jumps: How ‘Dune: Part Two’ handles the challenge of Alia Atreides. Read it here.
  5. Why The Harkonnen Planet Is Black & White Explained By Denis Villeneuve? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve joins the ReelBlend podcast to discuss the making of Dune: Part Two, starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Josh Brolin. Listen here.
  2. Oscar-winning cinematographer Greig Fraser, on the ReelBlend podcast, discusses the making of Dune and its sequel, behind the scenes of the now iconic Darth Vader scene in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, he details using The Volume on Matt Reeve’s The Batman and so much more. Listen to it here.
  3. Rebecca Ferguson joins the ReelBlend podcast to discuss all things Dune: Part Two, her collaborations with Denis Villeneuve on bringing Jessica to screen, fine-tuning Jessica’s relationship with her unborn prescient daughter, and even some of the silly NSFW names for objects in the Dune world. Check it out here.
  4. Hans Zimmer joins the Dolby Creator Talks podcast to discuss his work on “Dune: Part Two,” after winning an Oscar for his score to the first installment of the sci-fi franchise. He also talks about how he had been dreaming about working on these films since he was a boy and knowing how he wanted to take them in a less traditional direction, sonically. Listen here.
  5. Denis Villeneuve & Hans Zimmer join the Soundtracking with Edith Bowman podcast to discuss Dune 2, expanding the musical territory of Dune, experimenting with language + sound + collaborating, soundscape + musical influence, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. ‘Dune: Part Two’ director Denis Villeneuve breaks down the glorious scene where Paul Atreides uses the thumper for the first time to draw a sandworm out from beneath the surface as Chani, Stilgar and the Fremen look on. Denis explains how he built the “most important” scene of the film over the course of 44 days, with the use of various sunlight levels and blending of visual effects to make it feel edgy and real. Watch it here.
  2. Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem sat down with FD correspondent Naz Perez to talk about Dune: Part Two. Zendaya and Timothée demonstrated how to ride a sandworm, the cast detailed the intricacies of their characters and so much more. Check it out here.
  3. On Reign with Josh Smith, Rebecca Ferguson talks about everything Dune where she reveals she initially played hard to get, telling the franchise’s director, Denis Villeneuve, that she wasn’t interested in the role and she talks about the valuable lessons she learnt from working with Timothée. She also tells me about the time she stood up for herself in the face of a horrid co-star in another movie. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Dune Part Two (Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Poor Things (Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #207 (19.02.24 – 25.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 207th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How the 92-year-old snackmaker behind Biscoff captivated Gen Z? Read more here.
  2. What tennis reveals about AI’s impact on human behaviour? Check it out here.
  3. Tired of performing indifference? Turn your autocaps back on. Read here.
  4. ‘Embarrassing and wrong’: Google admits it lost control of image-generating AI. Read more here.
  5. What’s this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Morning Brew Daily, Neal and Toby chat with Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to talk about his notorious Apple Vision Pro review video, the future of AI, what’s next for Meta, and of course, cattle raisin’ & meat smokin’. Listen to it here.
  2. Trevor Noah is joined by Mark Cuban, who talks about why he’s selling his majority stake in Dallas Mavericks and leaving Shark Tank US after 15 seasons, his Twitter battle with Elon Musk, and how he’s planning to positively shake up the American healthcare system. Check it out here.
  3. On Life Kit, Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist and reporter Charles Duhigg breaks down the habits of highly communicative people and the power of authentic connection. Listen here.
  4. In this episode of Variety Awards Circuit Podcast, Jeffrey Wright discusses his experience making “American Fiction” and how it helped him through the grief of losing his mother, support from the Hollywood community and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Writer-director Richie Mehta, on The Streaming Show, speaks about his unconventional way of getting shows made, why he prefers to engage with platforms only when the shows are shot and ready, the bleak state of the streaming ecosystem at present, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Composer Ludwig Göransson breaks down the song “Can You Hear the Music?” from Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Hear how he created the different elements that combine into an unforgettable soundscape of emotion for J. Robert Oppenheimer and the making of the Atomic Bomb. Watch it here.
  2. Manoj Bajpayee, on Chalchitra Talks, talks about his love for independent cinema and his favourite indie movies, all-time favourite movies, early movie memories and one of his first TV gigs in Swabhiman, Om Puri’s best performance and much more. Check it out here.
  3. On the ANI podcast with Smita Prakash, Smita Thackeray, social activist and daughter-in-law of Bal Thackeray, talks about her personal dynamics with her father-in-law, shedding light on her marriage to Jaidev Thackeray and subsequent divorce. She also talks about the fight over Balasaheb’s legacy and Uddhav Thackeray’s political alliances with the Congress party & NCP. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: The Zone of Interest (The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife, Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Society of the Snow (In 1972, a Uruguayan flight crashes in the remote heart of the Andes, forcing survivors to become each other’s best hope.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #206 (12.02.24 – 18.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 206th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Why Tata wants Uber to speed up its super app Tata Neu? Read here.
  2. How Las Vegas Became Sports Town, USA? Check it out here.
  3. Why Data Breaches Spiked in 2023? Read more here.
  4. Mission: Impossible’s Theme Song Has a Secret Message. Read it here.
  5. Skip the platitudes, offer non-judgmental supportive presence. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Psychologist and author Ty Tashiro, in conversation with Simon Sinek, talks about the advantages of being awkward, what the socially fluent can learn from awkward people, and the best way to navigate conversations in loud clubs. Listen to it here.
  2. The Verge’s David Pierce chats with 1Password’s Anna Pobletts about good password hygiene, passkeys, and the upsides of a third-party password manager. Later, Victoria Song joins the show to discuss the state of wearables and why this may be the year for the smart ring. Check it out here.
  3. The Hidden World of Stadium Deals || In this episode of Good Sport, the host talks to David Samson, the former president of the Miami Marlins, who was in charge of one of the “worst stadium deals in history” about what really happens in a negotiation room. Listen here.
  4. Cillian Murphy, on Awards Chatter, reflects on his unexpected shift from making music to acting, what led him to the beloved drama series ‘Peaky Blinders’ and what is at the center of his special six-film, 20-year collaboration with Christopher Nolan. Listen to it here.
  5. In this ep of “SmartLess“, Mark Ruffalo shares a treasure trove of anecdotes, ranging from his early acting days with Ken Marino, facing a challenging yet transformative career setback, to the persistence that landed him a pivotal role in “You Can Count On Me”, the surreal experience of dreaming about his brain tumour diagnosis just before his wife’s delivery. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Vikrant Massey delve into the creative process behind “12th Fail,” sharing insights into the making of the film, memorable moments from the set shared by the cast crew of the film, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Johnny Lever opens up about his early life, living in Dharavi and his down-to-earth nature, alcoholism, how Bollywood was back then and the famous parties of the time, shedding light on his life learnings and the fear of God, and much more, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast. Check it out here.
  3. Emily Blunt, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, shares how Christopher Nolan developed her complex and highly nuanced character, stories from behind the scenes of Oppenheimer, the experience of reading that script for the first time and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Rustin (Activist Bayard Rustin faces racism and homophobia as he helps change the course of Civil Rights history by orchestrating the 1963 March on Washington.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Bhakshak (Revolves around the journey of an unwavering woman’s quest to seek justice and her perseverance in getting a heinous crime to light.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #205 (05.02.24 – 11.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 205th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Which countries get the best night’s sleep? Read it here.
  2. The power of friendships across age groups. Read more here.
  3. Spotify is still missing the high notes on profitability. Check it out here.
  4. Google Maps is getting ‘supercharged’ with generative AI. Read here.
  5. Apple domination: Seven out of top 10 smartphones sold worldwide are iPhones. Read about it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Chef David Chang joins Guy Raz to talk about opening his first restaurant after his epiphany about ramen on a trip to Japan; the panic and anxiety he felt in those early days; and how he’s learned to become a better leader and reject the toxic elements of “kitchen culture”. Listen to it here.
  2. Business Wars deep dives into the Smartwatch Industry domination battle between Samsung vs Apple, how it came out to be, the events that occurred and how it all panned out. Check out the series here.
  3. “The World’s Coolest Dictator” That’s how El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele describes himself. Silvia Viñas from the news podcast El hilo explains how his victory is a blueprint for authoritarians looking to get reelected in a democracy. Listen here.
  4. On The Dolby Institute podcast, Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema discusses how he got his start in the film business, working with Christopher Nolan, shooting “Oppenheimer” on film, how they did all those in-camera practical effects, and his fears about creating a dynamically visual film… with so much dialogue. Listen to it here.
  5. Lisa Joy, the co-creator of Westworld, spoke about the Hollywood model for creating series and what we can learn from it here, what the heck a showrunner is considering we still seem to have different definitions of it, how to navigate a writers room as a young writer and a whole lot more. Listen to it on The Streaming Show here.

What To Watch:

  1. Dr. Raghuram Rajan, former governor of the RBI and an Indian Economist, break down the positives and negatives of the Indian Economy, talks about the role of the RBI governor and how he works towards the betterment of the country, the negatives of demonetization, the Indian education system, and employment in India, on The Ranveer Show. Check it out here.
  2. Rajeev Shukla, Member of Rajya Sabha, Vice President of BCCI, spills the beans on politics, cricket, and everything in between on Unfiltered with Samdish. From what goes into running BCCI and managing the Indian cricket team, England Vs India at Lord’s in 2002, to stories with P.V. Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh & Clinton, and much more. Watch it here.
  3. On Film Companion, Sushmita Sen and director Ram Madhvani delve deep into the world of the crime show, Aarya. They talk about striking the right balance between the western and eastern way of storytelling, how one stirs through life during its lows and what they really give a damn about. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: American Fiction (A novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Baaplyok [Marathi] (Sagar and his father set out to invite their far-off relatives to Sagar’s wedding. Sagar and his father are always at odds against each other for no particular reason. This father-son tension characterises their journey, their relationship in the hands of the dust and the soil of the road.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #204 (29.01.24 – 04.02.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 204th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. India is a leading world economy but what makes it stand out among other emerging markets? Read here.
  2. Streaming Pirates Are Hollywood’s New Villains. Read more here.
  3. Are we all narcissists now? Read it here.
  4. Spotify’s exclusivity era nears its end. Check it out here.
  5. Cost pressures get studios to eye wins in regional cinema. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Trevor Noah sits down with Kevin Hart, chatting about life behind-the-scenes as professional comedians, their different preferences for theaters versus big arenas, and the benefits and downfalls of constantly working. Kevin also discusses rising up the ranks on the call sheet and the single table read that changed everything. Listen to it here.
  2. Some of the most important truths in life are found in paradoxes. Paradoxes seem like opposites on the surface, but once you look deeper beneath what are seeming contradictions, there are real grains of wisdom that emerge. Mark Manson shares 7 Paradoxes that will change how we see everything. Check it out here.
  3. Is it OK to exercise before you hit the hay? Sleep for less than 5 hours a night? On Life Kit, Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins sets the record straight to help you get better sleep. Listen here.
  4. Rio Ferdinand joins the Obi One podcast, discusses his battles with Chelsea, his run-ins with Sir Alex, the brilliance of Paul Scholes and Erik ten Hag’s immediate future. Listen to it here.
  5. Hrithik Roshan, in an interview with Anupama Chopra talks about all things Fighter. He breaks down a couple of scenes from the film, talks about his apprehensions on being a STAR before being an ACTOR, and his love for the packaging process of a film i.e direction, camera work and screenplay. Check it out here or on YouTube here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Flip The Script With Shubra, Rohan Bopanna reflects on his tennis journey and shares valuable insights, discusses the impact of yoga on his physical and mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of discipline and perseverance. He reflects on the sacrifices he made in pursuit of his tennis career and the support he received from his wife, Supriya, and more. Watch it here.
  2. In this episode of “Lights Camera Analysis,” Director Siddharth Anand and Baradwaj Rangan delve into the world of Fighter and talk about the writing, staging and other technical aspects of the film. Check it out here.
  3. In this video of WTF, Bilal and Meghana explore Bangalore through the lens of Nikhil Kamath, revisiting the spots that shaped his early years, the houses he lived in, his school, and all the places he used to hang out at. From talking about childhood crushes to how he ended up as a trader, they cover it all. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: The Boys in the Boat (During the height of the Great Depression, members of the rowing team at the University of Washington get thrust into the spotlight as they compete for gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Keedaa Cola [Telugu] (A hapless group takes on the challenge of a lifetime when they try to make some quick money and plant a cockroach in a soft drink bottle.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #203 (22.01.24 – 28.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 203rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Congrats, and Goodbye, to Peak TV. Read more here.
  2. Netflix Is the King of Streaming. Is It a Benevolent Dictator? Read here.
  3. BarbieGate: Why All Oscars Snubs Are Not Created Equal? Check it out here.
  4. ‘Suits’ Beats ‘The Office’ Streaming Record in 2023; Nielsen Reveals Original Streaming Shows Shut Out of Yearly Top 10. Check out the list here.
  5. Adulting sucks… but it does get easier. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Veteran journalist Sheela Bhatt unveils the details of interviewing Dawood Ibrahim and how he was as a person, the details around the meetings, the story of the Mumbai Mafia, stories about Haji Mastan, Abu Salem, Karim Lala, Arun Gawli, and Vardhabhai, and more, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. Harvard Medical School psychologist Susan David and host Adam Grant discuss the risks of judging and suppressing unwanted emotions — and effective techniques for managing them. They explore why optimism is not essential to well-being and how to overcome the pressure to be positive. Check it out here.
  3. The feeling of discomfort has an important role to play. On one hand, it can be a helpful warning sign. On the other hand, too much of it can lead to distress. Dr Kali Cyrus, on the Life Kit podcast, explains how to identify these emotions – and take action if it starts to affect your physical and mental health. Listen here.
  4. John Cena joins the Impaulsive podcast to discuss his random posts on Instagram, friendship w/ Dua Lipa & Margot Robbie, getting annoyed by ‘you can’t see me’ jokes, coming clean on a botched move Vs Batista at the 2005 Royal Rumble, why he hates when people film him in public, retirement, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Jason, Will & Sean on Smartless are joined by Selena Gomez, who shares her journey from a child star on “Barney & Friends” to a pop sensation and acclaimed actress. She recounts her early beginnings, her rise to fame with Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and the blossoming of her music career paralleling her acting pursuits. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In a spoiler-filled discussion with Rohini Ramnathan, Sriram Raghavan talks about the response to the film, Merry Christmas, his love for Classical Cinema transcending into the Easter Eggs and Music we see on-screen, and the praise he has for his lead actors. He delves deep into a few scenes from Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi and breaks the same down for us. Watch it here.
  2. In this conversation with Baradwaj Rangan, Ananya Pandey talks about the success of her recent film, ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, her previous films, being a part of Gen-Z, the impact of social media in our lives, her previous works and her definition of success. Check it out here.
  3. On this ep of ‘Kahaniyo ki Kahaniya‘ with Laksh Maheshwari, along with the cast and crew of CID, Dayanand Shetty (Daya), Shivaji Satam (ACP Pradyuman), Chritabella D’souza (Creative Director), Ansha Sayyed (Inspector Purvi), Aditya Shrivastav (Inspector Abhijeet), and Narendra Gupta (Dr. Salunkhe), delve into the camaraderie, anecdotes, and memorable experiences from their 21-year journey on the small screen. Watch it here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Neru [Malayalam] (Sara, a blind sculptor, seeks justice after suffering trauma. She contends with the legal system and her own resilience to find resolution.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye [Kannada] (A hospice counsellor, Prerana, finds a new meaning in her life when she befriends Aniketh, a terminally ill patient. Their bond challenges the conventional notions of love, life and humanity.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #202 (15.01.24 – 21.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 202nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. A Few Words About Netflix’s Success: Vivid. Snappy. Tags. Read it here.
  2. Health concerns soar as new research exposes high levels of nano plastics in bottled water. Read more here.
  3. Goodbye, nolen gur? Read here.
  4. Margot Robbie & LuckyChap’s Entertainment Empire: How They’re Thriving Off ‘Barbie,’ ‘Saltburn’ Shocks and ‘Being Original Every Time’. Check it out here.
  5. Watch out for these 9 ‘hidden’ signs that someone is lying to you, say psychology experts. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dan Buettner, behind the Netflix docu-series, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zone, on the On Purpose podcast, offers profound insights into how these lessons from the Blue Zones can be applied to our own lives, what role your genes play in the length of your life, what you can add to your diet daily that will add 4 years to your life, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Trevor Noah is joined by tennis player Nick Kyrgios, to discuss how Nick feels about that “bad boy” label, the challenges he’s faced on the road, and finding a kindred spirit in Naomi Osaka. Trevor and Nick also nerd out on gaming, and talk about what Nick’s girlfriend thinks of his new OnlyFans account. Check it out here.
  3. Caffeine is a drug that tons of us take every day. But is that a bad thing? And if we get it as energy drinks, is that super dangerous? On the Science Vs podcast, they talk to Dr Astrid Nehlig, Prof. Gregory Marcus, and Prof. Sachin Shah. Listen here.
  4. Martin Scorsese, on Awards Chatter, reflects on the tug of war that he has always felt between his faith and the reality of his life, and how that has shaped the films that he has made; the origins and evolution of his special relationships with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio; and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Composer and Singer Amit Trivedi talks about music for films, the story behind working with Anurag Kashyap and hit songs like Udta Punjab, Lutera, Qaafirana, the knowledge of music, and much more, at The Lallantop. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this interview with Baradwaj Rangan, director Vidhu Vinod Chopra discusses his film, 12th Fail, how the filmmaking process and the writing process of the film was, scenes that worked, making films for himself, film-making culture and more. Watch it here.
  2. In the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Konkona Sen Sharma delves into the role of her mother shaping her life as an actor, emphasizing her journey as an accidental actor, and highlighting the crucial role of a director’s intention, and more. Check it out here.
  3. In a conversation with Lallantop, composer Manan Bharadwaj shared the back story of making the song, Arjan Vailly. He also talked about the criticism this film is receiving and also shared the insights of Sandeep’s Personality. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Baipan Bhaari Deva (Six estranged sisters decide to take part in a Mangalgauri competition, and reunite at their childhood home to practice. They must overcome their past and face their struggles head-on.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Merry Christmas (Two strangers meet on a fateful Christmas Eve, but a night of romance soon becomes a nightmare.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #201 (08.01.24 – 14.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 201st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Billionaires Wanted to Save the News Industry. They’re Losing a Fortune. Read more here.
  2. As Flames Surged, Order Prevailed Inside a Japan Airlines Jet. Read here.
  3. Shoe Imports Ban, Fiscal Sops, Design Centres To Help Footwear Industry Hit $90 Billion Mark: Report. Check it out here.
  4. Apple beats Samsung for the first time since 2010, tops global smartphone shipments. Read more here.
  5. It’s Not Just You, Google Search Really Has Gotten Worse. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On this episode of NoSugarCoat, Riyaaz Amlani (Mocha, Salt Water Cafe, Smoke House Deli and Social) and Pooja Dhingra chat about the importance of being adaptable to the ever-evolving social culture and how delivery apps are not the enemy of in-house dining, but a completely different experience in themselves. Listen to it here.
  2. On A Bit of Optimism, James Clear (Atomic Habits) and Simon Sinek explain his powerful approach to forming better habits, breaking the bad ones, and living the life we desire. Check it out here.
  3. Seth Godin deep dives into the hype cycle of something/ anything, the early adopters and how it then spreads to the masses, on his Akimbo podcast. Listen here.
  4. On THE MUSIC PODCAST by Tarsame Mittal, Javed Ali (behind Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein, Kun Faya Kun, Srivalli) talks about his journey to Bollywood, the difficult moments, his bond with A. R. Rahman, industry insights, the legend Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab’s advice to him and much more. Listen to it here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: What Now? with Trevor Noah (A show wherein each episode Trevor will go deep with a special guest, including entertainers, CEOs, actors, athletes, and thought leaders. These are the kind of conversations that happen behind the scenes, full of radical candor, authentic back-and-forths, and honest reactions.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On the On Purpose podcast, Michelle Obama opens up about her thoughts on marriage, fame, public service, relationships, why we put so much pressure on our marriage, how to choose the right person for you and make the relationship work even when it isn’t perfect, the toxicity of social media and technology, and more. Watch it here.
  2. On The Bombay Journey, Vishal Bhardwaj, filmmaker, composer, and screenwriter, takes us through his journey right from the start, and how with different places, different events took place, the stories behind the films and songs he has done and much more. Watch here.
  3. Documentary Recommendation of the Week: Curry and Cyanide – The Jolly Joseph Case (The real life case of Jolly Joseph, a lady suspected of planning the cyanide poisoning of six family members over more than ten years, including a two-year-old kid.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Anatomy of a Fall (A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Maestro (On the verge of securing a golden opportunity, American conductor Leonard Bernstein begins a tumultuous relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre, upturning their lives.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #200 (01.01.24 – 07.01.24)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 200th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The luxury markets spotlighted in 2023, and what that tells us about the year ahead. Check it out here.
  2. The Rise of the Forgotten Grains: How Millets are Reclaiming the Plate in India. Read here.
  3. Here are 2024’s public domain works, and how you can use them. Read it here.
  4. Box Office Report Card 2023: Hindi Film Industry Collects Rs 4418 crore with 54 releases. Check it out here.
  5. Harvard psychologist: If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these 9 questions, you’re ‘more emotionally secure than most’. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Ankit Garg, co-founder of Wakefit, on the Neon Show, talks about why do Indians sleep so poorly, why Is Quality Of Sleep going down but focus on health going up, how has the Indian Consumer changed over the years, Ankit’s backstory & its influence on creating Wakefit, misconceptions about sleep and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Rohan Bopanna, on Cyrus Says, chats about how the tennis journey began for Rohan, what it was like winning the Grand Slam, playing against Roger Federer, how the ‘Indo-Pak Express’ duo formed with Pakistani tennis player Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, and what the future holds for tennis in India. Listen to it here.
  3. Doctor and journalist Chris van Tulleken wanted to know how ultra-processed foods affect us, so for a month he ate almost nothing but UPFs. His book Ultra-Processed People examines how the food we eat today is dramatically changing our bodies and minds. This episode of Today Explained deep dives into this more. Check it out here.
  4. Julianne Moore, on the Awards Chatter podcast, reflects on how a nomadic childhood led her to acting; the most important roles of her career, ranging from ‘The Big Lebowski’ to ‘Still Alice’; and her special relationship with Todd Haynes, which has yielded five films up till now with the release of May December with Natalie Portman. Listen here.
  5. On The Ranveer Show Hindi, Rajpal Yadav shares about his early life and film career, comedy and meme culture, how the best comedy is filmed, working with Akshay Kumar, Johnny Lever, Priyadarshan, his jail experience, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. At The Galatta Plus Mega Pan India Roundtable 2023, Rani Mukerji, Karan Johar, Taapsee Pannu, Prithvi Konanur, Jude Anthany Joseph, Rima Das, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga delve into discussions about their respective works, the evolving dynamics of audience preferences across different industries and reflect on the diverse cinematic landscape that our country has to offer. Watch it here.
  2. In this episode of “Lights Camera Analysis,” Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Baradwaj Rangan delve into the world of Animal and talk about the writing, staging and other technical aspects of the film, going behind the scenes of the film and breaking down the scenes. Check it out here.
  3. On The Film Companion Content Creators Adda 2023, Sneha Menon Desai has Bhuvan Bam, Prajakta Koli, Niharika NM, Raghav Juyal, and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju talking about how their careers have grown in the creator economy, staying true and relevant in the ever-changing digital world, balancing content and their own projects. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Kaathal – The Core (Mathew, a retired bank secretary, reluctantly enters politics for a by-election. The movie delves into their marriage dynamics, justice, and personal fulfillment amidst a tight-knit village community.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Hi Nanna (A single father begins to narrate the story of the missing mother to his child and nothing remains the same.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #199 (25.12.23 – 31.12.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 199th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How ‘Barbenheimer,’ Taylor Swift and ‘Sound of Freedom’ Rewrote All the Box Office Rules in 2023? Read more here.
  2. End of dominance? US dollar to keep falling against G10 currencies in 2024. Read here.
  3. The Making of ‘Maestro’: Bradley Cooper Studied Conducting for Six Years to Portray Leonard Bernstein. Check it out here.
  4. 2024 may be the hottest year in recorded history. Read it here.
  5. Photos that defined tech and business in 2023. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Awards Chatter, Emerald Fennell reflects on the roots of her interest in dark material, being handed the reins to ‘Killing Eve’ by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and what inspired her sophomore feature, Saltburn, which was just nominated for the best picture Critics Choice Award. Listen to it here.
  2. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a good time to check in with yourself and take stock of the year. On Life Kit, Reporter Kyle Norris talks with Buddhist Lama Rod Owens about how to get reflective during this time. Plus, a creative exercise to help you look back from cartoonist Nicole J. Georges. Listen here.
  3. On Variety Awards Circuit, “Past Lives” writer and director Celine Song shares her experience with making her love story; later, “Past Lives” star Greta Lee also discusses what is arguably one of the best performances on film in 2023. Check it out here.
  4. In this ep of the “SmartLess” podcast, the hosts engage with Arnold Schwarzenegger talking about his diverse career in bodybuilding, acting, and politics, his fitness routine, and his experiences in the United States. They also discuss the importance of having a clear vision, pursuing goals relentlessly, and giving back to the community. Listen to it here.
  5. On The Awardist, Killers of the Flower Moon stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone reflect on their experience making Martin Scorsese’s epic about the Osage Reign of Terror in 1920 Oklahoma. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. 2023, in 7 minutes. Check it out here.
  2. MKBHD’s Smartphone Awards 2023 – Best Phone/ Best Battery/ Best Value/ Best Camera/ Bust and more. Watch it here.
  3. On The Film Companion Music Adda 2023, Sunidhi Chauhan, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Shilpa Rao, Sachin-Jigar, and Achint Thakkar delve into the songs that have surprised them over the past year, highlighting the unpredictable nature of music reception and the joy of seeing regional music gain mainstream success, evolving ways people consume and interact with music, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Three of Us (When a woman with early onset dementia visits her hometown with her husband, buried memories and a former love pave a poignant path through her past.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Dream Scenario (Hapless family man Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #198 (18.12.23 – 24.12.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 198th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Live events became a status symbol in 2023. Read more here.
  2. Year in Search 2023: Check Most Googled Person, Events, Movies, Shows and Memes Here.
  3. Why gold price surged 13% in 2023? Experts list out these 5 reasons. Check it out here.
  4. From RRR winning Oscar to Diljit Dosanjh performing at Coachella, it was the year of many ‘firsts’. Read it here.
  5. Is social media killing your IRL friendships? Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Maestro, with fellow Director Todd Phillips, working with Bernstein’s children and how he was given the project, the practice that went into major performance scenes, and capturing the thought process of Leonard Bernstein while in the dual roles of lead Actor and Director of the film. Listen to it here.
  2. Carey Mulligan, on the Smartless podcast, discusses her career in theater and film, her film industry experiences, her nervousness meeting Bradley Cooper and her film Maestro, and her love for Marcus Mumford’s music. Listen here.
  3. Director Kristoffer Borgli discusses his new film, Dream Scenario, with fellow Director Tim Heidecker, working with Actor Nicolas Cage to create the character he envisioned, his writing process and the influences that went into the story, and how he borrowed from multiple genres in an effort to transcend categorization. Check it out here.
  4. Michael Fassbender, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, talks about returning on the big screen with Next Goal Wins and The Killer, the process and the journey, tid-bits regarding those films, his passion for race car driving and quoting movies. Listen to it here.
  5. Jose Mourinho, on the Obi One Podcast, talks about being the Special One, reminisces about his days at Chelsea, what happened with Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah and the player that gave him more grey hairs than any other, why beating Liverpool at Anfield in 2014 was so special, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Film Companion Actors’ Adda 2023, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vikrant Massey, Tillotama Shome, Jyothika, Siddharth, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Bobby Deol speak about the challenges and joys of acting, sharing personal stories and insights, the impact of industry stereotypes, and explore the therapeutic aspects of their craft. Watch it here.
  2. On The Music Podcast, Arijit Singh opens up about the inner workings of the music industry, his independent label Oriyon Music, his passion for films, the profound influence of his mother and mentors, and shares surprising yet captivating stories from his live shows and life, the intricacies of his creative process, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Salaar: Part One – Ceasefire (A gang leader makes a promise to a dying friend by taking on other criminal gangs.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Saltburn (A student at Oxford University finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate, who invites him to his eccentric family’s sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 3 of the Week: Toby (Toby, an estranged man deemed to be a beast, vows to break free from the evil world and transform himself for Jenny.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #197 (11.12.23 – 17.12.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 197th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How India Swiggy’d 2023 – unwrapping India’s year in on-demand convenience. Check it out here.
  2. Can Singapore hold on to its reputation as Asia’s ‘safe haven’? Read here
  3. Cocktails to Prasad: What Indians wanted to cook and brew in 2023. Read it here.
  4. YouTube Trends 2023: ‘Tere Vaaste’, ‘Kaavaalaa’ music videos top list. Check it out here.
  5. 5 money lessons to learn from Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Casey Neistat joins the Impaulsive podcast to discuss why Logan Paul’s Prime is better than any other creator-led product, severed friendship with David Dobrik, why he “f**king hates LA,” #1 advice for aspiring YouTubers, selling his company for $36M, NYC Marathon, X and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Vicky Kaushal, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, starts with his early life and engineering days, doing army-based films and his acting journey, the intricacies of filming Sardar Udham, looking at life and success, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Director Sam Esmail discusses his new film, Leave the World Behind, with fellow Director Luke Greenfield, the changes he considered when adapting the book to screen, working with the Obama family as producers, and the amount of preparation he underwent before going into production. Listen here.
  4. Emma Stone joins the Smartless podcast talking about changing her name, her long track record of injuries to her bones, her Spice Girls meeting, her recent projects including Poor Things and The Curse, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Daniel Ricciardo tells Tom Clarkson what he got up to during his sabbatical and why a trip to the Super Bowl ignited a desire to get back in the cockpit. The Honey Badger talks about a change in mentality, the crash that broke his hand at Zandvoort, his Formula 1 endgame, and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. At the FC 2023 Streaming Adda, Mona Singh (Kaala Paani/ Made in Heaven), Gagan Dev Riar (Scam 2003), Adarsh Gourav (Guns & Gulaabs), Wamiqa Gabbi (Jubilee/ Charlie Chopra/ Khufiya), Arjun Mathur (Made in Heaven) and Gulshan Devaiah (Dahaad/ Guns & Gulaabs) spoke to Suchin Mehrotra about creating unforgettable characters, their game-changing years, navigating the beast of social media and the pressures of stardom. Watch it here.
  2. Martin Scorsese sits down with Zane Lowe to discuss his latest movie, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’ He deep dives into the impact that movies made on him as a young boy, the evolution of movie premieres, how the production process was for this impactful movie and what moved him to share the story on the big screen. Check it out here.
  3. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Priscilla (When teenager Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who’s already a meteoric rock ‘n’ roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, and a gentle best friend.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (Debika Chatterjee, an Indian woman living in Norway with her family, fights to regain custody of her children after Norwegian authorities take them away from her.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 3 of the Week: The Holdovers (A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #196 (04.12.23 – 10.12.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 196th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Breaking Down Taylor Swift’s 2023 Impact By the Numbers. Check it out here.
  2. Metrics to keep an eye on in 2024, from solar cells to superhero movies. Read here.
  3. The Chemistry of Building Better Habits. Read it here.
  4. Digital advertising is still far too murky. Read here.
  5. This common two-word phrase is the ‘worst thing’ a parent can tell a child, says education expert. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dave Asprey, known as the ‘Father of Biohacking’, on the Jay Shetty podcast, shares the science behind the concept of biological age, how to exercise effectively, how to eat right to avoid inflammation, how physical health affects emotional health, how much protein the body needs, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. In the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, authors Amish and Bhavna delve into questions surrounding the enduring practice of idol worship, the benefits of bhakti, their views on the ongoing debate over Sanatana Dharma, the impact of foreign invasions on society and more. Check it out here.
  3. Director Todd Haynes discusses his new film, May December, with fellow Director Gregg Araki, scouting for the right location to match the specific time and feel of the story, casting and working with longtime collaborator Julianne Moore, and playing with framing and reflections to mirror the multifaceted narrative of the story. Listen here.
  4. In this ep of HAPPY SAD CONFUSED, Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, and Charles Melton open up about their experiences and memories from MAY DECEMBER, how they and Haynes developed the characters, how the cast worked to create a profoundly contemporary tale of morality and exploitation, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Joaquin Phoenix, on the Reelblend podcast, dives into his preparation and creative decisions that went into playing Napolean. He shares some wonderful stories of working with Ridley Scott on “Gladiator,” why he thinks it took so long to get the call to work with Ridley again, and how Napoleon’s hat was like his best friend. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. The Barbenheimer phenomenon personified, Cillian Murphy (‘Oppenheimer’) and Margot Robbie (‘Barbie’) discuss the experience of being the biggest summer box office sensation, their acting processes, and what it was like working with Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig. Watch it here.
  2. On The Film Companion Directors Adda 2023, Karan Johar, Konkona Sensharma, Vetri Maaran, Jeo Baby, Nelson, Hemanth M Rao, Avinash Arun and Karthik Subbaraj talked about their work and the emotional parts of making movies, how hard it is to make a film, how they choose actors, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: May December (Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance, a married couple buckle under the pressure when a Hollywood actress meets them to do research for a film about their past.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Jigarthanda Double X (In 1975, a filmmaker agrees to collaborate on a film with a gangster who wishes to become a famous actor.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 3 of the Week: 12th Fail (IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma fearlessly embraces the idea of restarting his academic journey and reclaiming his destiny at a place where millions of students attempt the world’s toughest competitive exam: UPSC.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #195 (27.11.23 – 03.12.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 195th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Google Can’t Catch All the AI Images. Can You? Check it out here.
  2. How to get back into an exercise routine: 6 tricks from a former fitness coach. Read more here.
  3. Amazon CTO Werner Vogels’ Tech Predictions For 2024. Read here.
  4. He Pioneered Carbon Offsets to Save Tropical Forests. Now the Market Is Collapsing. Read here.
  5. Savour end-of-the-year bittersweet emotions. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Willoughby Britton, PhD, clinical psychologist, talks about the hidden risks of meditation, challenging assumptions about meditation as a purely beneficent practice, the neuroscience behind psychedelics and meditation, ideological power and scaffolding, and more on The Tim Ferriss podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. PC Musthafa, founder of iD Fresh Foods, on the Neon Show, takes us through the roots of his life and journey into starting this company which today stands at a valuation of 3,000 crs, working on the quality and freshness of the product, creating trust, and capturing the fresh batter market. Check it out here.
  3. Being thankful doesn’t have to happen just once a year. Creating a daily gratitude habit can improve our mental and physical health. Here’s how to make it a habit. Listen to it on the Life Kit podcast here.
  4. Emily Blunt, on the Awards Chatter podcast, reflects on how a childhood stutter led her to acting, taking on frightening physical and vocal challenges in film roles and playing the wife of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed summer blockbuster. Listen here.
  5. Pierre Gasly returns to F1 Beyond The Grid and reflects on embracing a new challenge with Alpine, the ups and downs of his first season, losing his seat at Red Bull, the passing of his close friend Anthoine Hubert, and the day he became a Grand Prix winner. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Nikhil Kamath, along with Nuseir Yassin, Tanmay Bhat, Prajakta Koli and Ranveer Allahbadia delve into the world of content creation, and its longevity and distribution tactics, staying relevant, how big is the space and how will it evolve, understanding genZ mindset, collaborations, thumbnails and much more. Watch it here.
  2. Indian pacer Mohammed Shami gets raw and real about his childhood in Sahaspur, moving to Kolkata as a 15-year-old, love for biryani, career-ending injury in 2015, personal struggles & mental health, fiery form and hitting back at critics, and comeback on the biggest stage. Check it out here.
  3. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Animal (A son undergoes a remarkable transformation as the bond with his father begins to fracture, and he becomes consumed by a quest for vengeance.)
  4. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Sam Bahadur (The film pays commendable attention to detail, meticulously depicting Manekshaw’s illustrious career, which played a pivotal role in shaping India’s borders.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 3 of the Week: Killers of the Flower Moon (Real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal as Mollie Burkhart, a member of the Osage Nation, tries to save her community from a spree of murders fueled by oil and greed.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #194 (20.11.23 – 26.11.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 194th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. ‘Ray, This Is a Religion’ How the world’s largest hedge fund lost two top hires — and was paralyzed by puddles of pee. Read more here.
  2. The Founder of Uniqlo Has a Wake-Up Call for Japan. Check it out here.
  3. The best time to eat breakfast, according to a nutritional expert. Read here.
  4. Here is why F1 drivers have to meet an exact weight. Read it here.
  5. Bill Gates says Warren Buffett taught him to value free time: Filling ‘every minute of your schedule’ doesn’t make you more serious. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Joe Rogan discuss a wide range of topics, including fitness, discipline, gratitude, and the pursuit of passion. He also talks about the importance of maintaining a disciplined workout routine, his hectic schedule, his WWE debut how that came to be, and a lot more stories here and there. Check it out here.
  2. In this episode of Remarkable People, host Guy Kawasaki dives into the captivating story of Joe Foster, one of the minds behind the iconic brand Reebok. Joe takes us through the untold tale of Reebok’s rise and his recent autobiography, “Shoemaker.” Listen here.
  3. Dipping in cold water is a growing trend. It’s not just for the thrill — people who cold plunge say it helps with anxiety, metabolic health and more. But is there science to support those claims? Listen to it on the Life Kit podcast here.
  4. In this ep of Smartless, Steph Curry talks about his successful career in basketball and his status as the greatest shooter in NBA history. He also mentions his love for golf and his fitness regimen, which helps him stay youthful despite being in his 15th year in the NBA, insights into his food preferences and more. Check it out here.
  5. Tom Hiddleston is back on Happy Sad Confused, talking about season 2 of LOKI, the potential end of his MCU run, and much much more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Yuvraj Singh, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, talks about it all, life during and after cricket, failures in life, his relationship with his father, dealing with loneliness, diet and fitness culture in Team India, 2007 and 2011 World Cup wins and stories around that, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. Vir Das talks to Faye D’Souza about being the first Indian to win an International Emmy for Comedy, the behind-the-scenes on his comedy special ‘Landing’, a memorable flight home, will the Emmy open doors for Indian comics, GenZ audience, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Bobby Deol, on The Bombay Journey, pens up on his early films and stories around them, not getting projects for a while, his brief stint as a DJ, social media support and trolling, and much more on Mumbai and his life. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Chithha [Tamil] (A man is raising his niece like his own daughter, and everything appears normal in their life until the little girl goes missing.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Chaaver [Malayalam] (Political thugs commit an abhorrent crime, taking an innocent bystander on the run. The police chase them, and moral dilemmas arise among them.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #193 (13.11.23 – 19.11.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 193rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. On American shelves, Made-in-India is slowly replacing Made-in-China. Read more here.
  2. 3 Ways to Better Understand Your Emotions. Read here.
  3. A golden age of TV is losing its shine. Check it out here.
  4. Doctor explains why some people die in their sleep. Read it here.
  5. Longevity is challenging people to reimagine their later years. One age cohort is ‘carrying the most stress and burden,’ research finds. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The School of Greatness, Sadhguru speaks about karma and how it affects us every day, why we shouldn’t be worried about getting rid of waste in our lives, the evil of limited identity, why we need to redefine abundance in our lives, the problem with “being in the moment.” Listen to it here.
  2. On Business Breakdowns, Matt Reustle and George Hadjia break down the Match Group, the company behind brands like Tinder and Hinge, comparing the different brands within the industry, the different avenues of monetization, revenue per customer, threats and risks, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Julian Treasure (an expert on speaking and sound) and host Matt Abrahams explore the power of breath; the four steps to show someone we’re engaged and listening; and how by framing speech as a gift, we can better serve our audience. Listen here.
  4. Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal, on F1 Beyond the Grid, shares a revealing insight into the culture he’s creating at McLaren, how his experience of winning World Championships with Michael Schumacher at Ferrari can help him make the team a winning machine, Norris and Piastri’s greatest strengths, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Deepinder Goyal, Zomato CEO, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, talks about Zomato’s success story, the company culture, entrepreneurship mindset and the world of startups, Zomato vs Swiggy, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Former President Barack Obama sat down with The Verge’s editor-in-chief and Decoder host Nilay Patel to talk about AI, tech regulation and avoiding mistakes of social media, why AI companies are asking for regulation, Biden’s executive order on AI, and more. Watch it here.
  2. On Take a Pause, Varun Duggirala and Ali Fazal take a journey through Ali’s memories of childhood to his incredible journey as an actor, how he still feels like a kid in front of the camera, his unique perspective on life’s 4 beat rhythms, his mental health and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Chalchitra Talks, Vir Das talks about his relationship with movies, his favourite films, actors, podcasts, why are true crime stories comforting, thoughts on award shows, comedy in India, Muhammad Ali and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Kannur Squad [Malayalam] (A police officer and his team face a challenging journey across the country to catch a criminal gang. He leads them toward triumph amid professional uncertainties.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: The Road [Tamil] (A national highway becomes a primary conflict in the lives of journalist Meera and college professor Maya, turning their lives upside down.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #192 (06.11.23 – 12.11.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 192nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Bob Iger’s return as Disney’s CEO once sparked hope inside the company. Now, insiders are anxious and losing faith. Read more here.
  2. Send resentment packing. Read here.
  3. Scientists end the debate on whether age is biological or psychological. Check it out here.
  4. One in six Indians spends 1.2 hours a day scrolling through Shorts, Reels and more such. Read here.
  5. People with ‘poor speech etiquette’ always use these 7 ‘rude’ phrases, says public speaking expert. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Elon Musk, on Joe Rogan’s podcast, discuss the manufacturing challenges of the Cybertruck, the difficulties of mass production, the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement (VHEMT), the myths and facts about radiation, the propaganda of old Twitter, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. The legendary Charlie Munger, on the Acquired podcast, reflected on his own career and his nearly 50-year partnership at Berkshire Hathaway with Warren Buffett. He offered lessons and advice for investors today, and of course, he shared his speech on the virtues of Costco once again. Check it out here.
  3. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is on the rise in children as a result of reduced time outside and screen usage. On Life Kit, TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi talks to Maria Liu, an optometrist, about how to slow down this progression and how adults can protect their eyes, too. Listen here.
  4. David Beckham and director Fisher Stevens, on the Skip Intro podcast, share what went into the making of the docu-series, Beckham, which traces David Beckham’s rise from his humble beginnings in east London to international sports superstar. Listen to it here.
  5. Director Craig Gillespie discusses his film, Dumb Money, with Director Phil Lord about his process in finding a tonal balance between the comedy and serious in his scenes, working with a script so soon after the real-life events transpired, and using real footage, texts and even memes in the film. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Virat Kohli recounts never-heard-before stories about his childhood, his slump, his comeback century, what it would mean for him to reach Sachin’s record, and how sport has shaped him into the person he is today. Watch it here.
  2. A dialogue featuring Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi exploring topics close to their hearts, from family to football, highlighting monumental memories like scoring in a World Cup final, the essence of the iconic number 10, a symbol of beauty and uniqueness in the world of football. Check it out here.
  3. The Galatta Plus Mega OTT Roundtable 2023, brings together Raj and Dk, Pushkar Gayathri, Sobhita Dhulipala, Jim Sarbh, and Avinash Tiwary discussing the 2023 series and films that impressed them, as well as the practices that didn’t, exploring OTT as a medium and being able to do things that can’t be done on the big screen. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: The Fall of The House of Usher (Siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built a pharmaceutical company into an empire of wealth, privilege and power; however, secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Dumb Money (David vs. Goliath tale about everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (the video game store) into the world’s hottest company.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #191 (30.10.23 – 05.11.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 191st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. You Need to Practice Being Your Future Self. Read more here.
  2. The 5 Main Benefits of Walking After Eating. Check it out here.
  3. Why do we start coughing due to pollution? The science behind it. Read it here.
  4. How you can sustain hope and find meaning in life? Read here.
  5. Treat your happiness like an investment portfolio and focus on these 4 areas, says Harvard professor. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On WTF is with Nikhil Kamath, Riyaaz Amlani, Pooja Dhingra, and Zorawar Kalra start with how their restauranteur journeys started, moving to regulations around the industry, innovative monetisation, why most restaurants fail, aggregators in F&B, future of QSR and more. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode, Kara Swisher grills Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi on the company’s sky-high prices, high take rate, treatment of drivers/couriers, policies around safety and why oh why he is kind to his predecessor, Travis Kalanick. Listen here.
  3. Speaking with lab coordinator Pam DeYoung, sleep researcher Dr. Brady Riedner, and circadian scientist Prof. Russell Foster on the Science Vs podcast, on what lack of sleep does to us, what happens in a sleepy brain, how circadian rhythm affects sleep, and more. Check it out here.
  4. Baba Sehgal, on the Untriggered podcast, starts with if he is India’s first rapper, the difference between him and other rappers, sharing some of his unknown songs, his thoughts on a positive mindset and depression, his first big deal, how to be secure as a man, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. “Barbie” writer/director Greta Gerwig, on Variety Awards Circuit breaks down countless moments from the film, as well as what a sequel could look like and where she is in her upcoming adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia” for Netflix. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Sonu Nigam, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, shares about his early life, singing practice, what music is and its essence, the shelf life of music, talent and understanding, the rise of AI and autotune, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. WSJ’s Joanna Stern investigates why her iPhone 14 Pro’s battery degraded to 87% in just one year. She also reviews your battery replacement and repair options. Check it out here.
  3. Express Adda Live with Shefali Shah, Jim Sarbh, and Vir Das take a deep dive into what’s mainstream in Bollywood, has hierarchy changed in the last 25 years, art and artists, stars and stardom, on ego in big actors and directors, and more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (‘Scam 2003’ is based on true events and traces Abdul Karim Telgi’s rise from fruit seller to the kingpin of the stamp paper scam.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Flamin’ Hot (This is the inspiring true story of Richard Montañez who, as a Frito Lay janitor, disrupted the food industry by channelling his Mexican heritage to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #190 (23.10.23 – 29.10.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 190th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Constructive criticism works — when you deliver it correctly. Read more here.
  2. Why The UPI-Linked RuPay Credit Card Hasn’t Found Its Groove Yet? Read here.
  3. The best time to eat dinner, according to the experts. Check it out here.
  4. A history of violence: In defence of ‘Leo’ and Lokesh Kanagaraj’s penchant for the action genre. Read more here.
  5. If you use any of these 9 phrases, you have ‘better etiquette skills’ than most: public speaking expert. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The High Performance podcast, Chef Gordon Ramsay delves deep into what really drives him, how to cultivate a winning mindset and the most crucial lessons from his career so far, how he found his passion for the culinary arts, the key to strong and successful family relationships, and more. Check it out here.
  2. Should you publish your book? What’s the difference between simply writing something vs publishing it? Should one publish it themselves? Seth Godin riffs on it on his Akimbo podcast here.
  3. Can plunging into an ice bath make us feel happier? What about gratitude journaling? Digging into some of the quirkiest self-care hacks around the internet to find out what the science says — and whether you should add them to your routine on the Science Vs podcast. Listen to it here.
  4. In today’s episode of The Ranveer Show, Raghavan Srinivasan, an author, a political commentator, and someone well-versed in the Chola Dynasty talks about the origin and peak of the Chola Dynasty, the start of Rajaraja Chola’s leadership and how he changed the dynamics of Tamil Nadu. Check it out here.
  5. Shawn Levy is riding high after Stranger Things, Free Guy, and landing a Star Wars film. So what’s he doing next? Mixing it up as he always does with Deadpool 3 and a WWII drama for Netflix, All The Light We Cannot See. Josh and Shawn cover it all in this chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. The Fight Over AI Music (feat. Grimes + Spotify CEO Daniel Ek) || What is happening with AI in music? How does copyright work in music? How could AI music be “huge if true”? Cleo Abrams takes a deep drive into it all here.
  2. On Cyrus Says, he is joined by Javed Akhtar who spoke about the latest book on his life called ‘Talking Life’, some hilarious and unbelievable anecdotes from the book, relationship with his parents, getting into the world of poetry, the talent of writing useless lyrics, and more. Watch it here.
  3. At Prabhav 2023, Tanmay Bhat and Sharan Hegde have a conversation with MS Dhoni exploring his background and remarkable achievements, keeping his composure on the field, captaining the senior players, and more. Check it out here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Tatsama Tadbhava [Kannada] (A seasoned police inspector delves into a perplexing missing person’s investigation that reveals a web of secrets, lies, and mystery.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret (When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #189 (16.10.23 – 22.10.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 189th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Warren Buffett’s “20 Slot” Rule. Read more here.
  2. Do I really have to give up milk, coffee, white rice and all the fried food I love? Read here.
  3. Why do fitness experts rank walking, jogging, and climbing stairs as the best exercise pack? Check it out here.
  4. How to cope with mid-life meltdowns? Read it here.
  5. Scientists toss 350,757 coins to prove the theory that coin tosses aren’t 50/50. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Arnold Schwarzenegger, on the Rich Roll podcast, shares his vision, work ethic, and salesmanship that he deployed to become the world’s greatest bodybuilder, the top-grossing action star in Hollywood, and the highest elected official in California, and why his 4th act is leveraging his influence to forge a better world. They go deep on how he thinks about the influence he wields—and why usefulness and positivity are the antidotes to unhappiness and apathy. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of Leadership Next, Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of Starbucks, talks about how his six-month immersion is informing his leadership of Starbucks, plans for growth and why this is the right time to open thousands of new stores around the world. Additionally, Narasimhan gives his take on the state of Chinese and Western relations, and how that affects Starbucks’ business. Check it out here.
  3. On this episode of the Colin and Samir Show, they sit down with YouTube’s CEO Neal Mohan deep-diving into how YouTube is paying creators, the challenges of AI, Neal’s advice for creators and more. Listen here.
  4. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Milind Deora, an Indian politician and one of the youngest members of the 15th Lok Sabha talks about the reason why he chose politics as a career, how governance works, his viewpoint on why the government should not interfere in the business segment and talks about his professional life in opposition. He further talks about urban development in India and how the government is working towards it. Listen to it here.
  5. F1 Explains how F1 circuits go from a sketch on a piece of paper, through state-of-the-art digital simulation, to reality. What are the challenges of building a racetrack? How are they designed to allow close racing, overtaking and interesting strategy? Christian and Katie ask the team from Apex Circuit Design, who were behind the Miami International Autodrome. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Stumble with Roshan Abbas, Imtiaz Ali talks about never-heard-before stories from College, his experiences in Delhi, the making of Highway, his post-Tamasha films, and the beautiful places, stories (and food) he has stumbled upon in his journey. Watch it here.
  2. On The Lallantop, Amit Trivedi talks about his independent label, and creating indie songs, and music for films, the approach of music or lyrics first. He also talks about the story behind working with Anurag Kashyap and hit songs like Udta Punjab, Lutera, and Qaafirana. Check it out here.
  3. On TimeOut with Ankit, Shakti Kapoor shares personal stories and decisions that led to his entry into films, starring in over 600 films, the stories around many of them, and much more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Leo (Parthiban is a mild mannered cafe owner in Kashmir, who he fends off a gang of murderous thugs, and gains attention from a drug cartel claiming he was once a part of them.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Lucky Man (Follows a man as he sets out to find out what real luck is about.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #188 (09.10.23 – 15.10.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 188th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. How to use anxiety to your advantage? Read here.
  2. Having fun in your 20s looks different for everyone — and that’s okay. Read more here.
  3. Which exercise burns the most calories? Check it out here.
  4. How To Improve Your Work-Life Balance? Read it here.
  5. This is the best answer I ever received to ‘Tell me about yourself’—after 20 years of interviewing. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Sam Altman, on the Joe Rogan podcast, talks about why ChatGPT was necessary for the world of AI, getting to the point of AGI, whether society should be concerned about fake AI content, neural interfaces, future of money, simulation theory and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Decoder with Nilay Patel, Getty Images CEO Craig Peters talks about the implementation of AI in the world of photography, the role of Getty Images in that scenario and how they are playing a different role than their competitors, and the safety measures to keep all of this under control. Check it out here.
  3. Scarfing down your food? Lilian Cheung, a mindful eating lecturer at Harvard, shares helpful tips on how to slow down while eating, on the Life Kit podcast. Listen here.
  4. On ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Akshay Kumar talks about his admiration for films that convey meaningful social messages and stories of individuals who have made a difference through their acts, his fitness regime and his strong belief in Hinduism. He also talks about the recent controversy over a new advertisement for a tobacco product brand and opens up on the controversy surrounding his Canadian citizenship. Check it out here.
  5. Shriya Pilgaonkar, on Unscripted with Akarsh Khurana, takes us on a journey through her remarkable acting career, her life journey, achievements, aspirations and dreams… her first break, passion for theatre, learnings from her parents, and much more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, in conversation with Piers Morgan, gives a detailed insight into his childhood, his mentality and upbringing, playing career and controversial moments including his public fallout with Pep Guardiola during his stint at Barcelona, THAT bicycle kick against England, his love for playing under Jose Mourinho, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. On this episode of Be A Man Yaar, Naseeruddin Shah reflects on his life, love and the legacy of a storied career, men embracing feminism, his personal relationships, especially the unwavering bond he shares with his wife, Ratna Pathak Shah and discusses intimate details about his childhood. Check it out here.
  3. ‘Mass Maharaja’ Ravi Teja, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, talks about his early life and keeping everything private, thoughts on failure, life without money and fame, what keeps him going, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Harkara (Traces the history of the postal service from the times of the first postman to the current times.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: RDX: Robert Dony Xavier (Young friends Robert, Dony and Xavier make a formidable team, honing their martial arts skills at a local academy, but an altercation with a rival gang forces them to separate. Years later, a brutal assault compels the trio to reunite.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #187 (02.10.23 – 08.10.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 187th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The many faces of Scooter Braun. Read here.
  2. How Top Creator Khaby Lame Became TikTok’s Most Popular Influencer? Check it out here.
  3. What constitutes good mental health? Read more here.
  4. Hit the snooze button: it’s good for you. Read here.
  5. Build time for a hobby and learn to enjoy your free time. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Nitin Gadkari, Minister Of Road Transport & Highways Of India, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, shares why he joined politics and the life after joining, working principles and the work done during his tenure, management in politics, considering himself a social worker, and more. Check it out here.
  2. Bumble Founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd speaks with CNBC Correspondent Julia Boorstin at Code 2023, discussing the power of AI, and whether it could play the role of a digital matchmaker. Listen to it here.
  3. On the Science Vs podcast, tobacco researcher Dr Michael Chaiton, inhalation toxicologist Professor Ilona Jaspers, and pharmacology researcher Melissa Herman talk about the dangers/ fears around vaping, how it could make you sick, nicotine and depression, and whether it could be changing our brains. Listen here.
  4. In this episode of Take a Pause, Varun Duggirala sits down with Tanya Ghavri, celebrity stylist, deep-diving into her career, sharing insights on how travels fuel her creativity, the secrets behind building trust with high-profile clients and maintaining loyalty in a fiercely competitive field and so much more. Check it out here.
  5. On The Streaming Show, Suchin spoke to the Amazon Head of India Originals, Aparna Purohit about the Amazon secret sauce, the challenges of nailing a second season, the need for more rockstar streaming executives, and the changes she’d like to see within the streaming landscape. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Anirudh Ravichander dissects his musical journey with Anupama Chopra, from his debut sensation “Why This Kolaveri Di”, to orchestrating scores for blockbuster films like Jawan, Jailer, Vikram & Leo – the composer takes us through his collaborations with eminent directors like Atlee, Lokesh Kanagaraj, and Nelson. Watch it here.
  2. On The Bombay Journey, Gaur Gopal Das talks about his start with Iskcon and becoming a monk, about perfect morning schedules, the worries of today’s youth, insights about life, perspective and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Documentary Recommendation of the Week: Stephen Curry: Underrated (The remarkable coming-of-age story of Stephen Curry, one of the most influential, dynamic, and unexpected players in basketball history and his rise from an undersized college player to a four-time NBA champion.)
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week: Bambai Meri Jaan (A sneak into the post-independence Bombay and streets riddled with crime. An honest cop’s journey as he tries to protect his family.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week: Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (Miss Shetty is a feminist living in London and wants to be single forever. Mr. Polishetty from Hyderabad in Telangana, India, wants to be in a committed relationship. The two appear to be in different stages of life but somehow connect.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #186 (25.09.23 – 01.10.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 186th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. AI has a big, dirty problem that is tarnishing Big Tech’s environmental image. Read more here.
  2. The best time to exercise for weight management is between 7 and 9 in the morning: Study. Check it out here.
  3. Why Novak Djokovic And Other Top Tennis Stars Call Monaco Home? Read it here.
  4. Can You Be Productive Working Only 45% Of The Day? Read here.
  5. Not all narcissistic traits are bad, therapist says. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Alex Heath talks to Mark Zuckerberg about Threads, his vision for how generative AI will reshape Meta’s apps, his perspective on open source, his vision for decentralized social media, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. When should we trust our gut and when should we depend on logic? Liv Boeree, on A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek, talks about intuition vs. reason, game theory, competition, and how we can all find more win-win. Listen here.
  3. On Life Kit, NPR’s Maria Godoy, a fibre fanatic, explains how to add fibre to your diet and provides a grocery list of high-fibre foods that you can print out at home. Check it out here.
  4. Nikhil Kamath talks to Aadit Palicha, Kaivalya Vohra, Navya Naveli Nanda, and Tara Sutaria about what the next generation is thinking, everyone’s personal and professional journey, changing taste of the audience, changing consumption trends, paying for premiumization, education system, and much more. Listen to it here.
  5. On this episode of Unscripted with Akarsh Khurana, Pratik Gandhi shares his journey from the occasional stage appearances to being the lead in plays, TV shows and movies. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Airbnb CEO, Brian Chesky sits down with Jay Shetty to talk about who you surround yourself with, the need for balance between focusing on your goals and creating a community where you can thrive, the outdated perceptions we have of ourselves that potentially block personal growth, and more. Watch it here.
  2. In this post-mortem of Jawan, director Atlee opens up about the rhythmic blueprint behind his blockbuster films, the seamless blend of emotion, action, and spectacle that have marked his trajectory in the cinematic realm. Watch here.
  3. An unfiltered conversation by Samdish with Omar Abdullah, J&K’s former CM, talks about Indian Muslims, BJP and Appeasement, Diversity of J&K, death and democracy, the night of the 4th August and house arrest, Stories across the border, and much more. Check it out here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Sapta Sagaradaache Ello – Side A (Manu and Priya’s ardent love story unfolds, delving into the depths of their emotions. Manu goes to great lengths to fulfill his promise and their love faces a profound transformation when destiny triggers an unexpected turn.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Reptile (Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and, by doing so, dismantles the illusions in his own life.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #185 (18.09.23 – 24.09.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 185th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Inside the Ad Boycott That Has Facebook on the Defensive. Read here.
  2. A Biscuit That Cost ITC Rs 1 Lakh. Read more here.
  3. The incredible story of Mrs B. Check it out here.
  4. Weight-loss jabs and other drugs to save me from myself. Read here.
  5. The 4 traits lucky people have in common, according to author of ‘The Luck Factor’. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On MFM, Shaan Puri talks with ex-CEO and co-founder of Twitch, Emmett Shear, about the potential of AI, the value of understanding consumer/user needs, his simple framework for problem-solving, the power of seemingly small ideas that can have a huge impact and lessons he’s directly learned from Silicon Valley greats like Paul Graham and Andy Jassey. Listen to it here.
  2. Can researchers decipher what people are thinking about just by looking at brain scans? With AI, they’re getting closer. How far can they go, and what does it mean for privacy? Listen to it on the Unexplainable podcast here.
  3. In a new series focusing on capitalism on the Today Explained podcast, they look at how Americans came to blame it for just about everything, making it look like a villain. Check it out here.
  4. Why did the chicken cross the road? Listen to the analogy behind this by Seth Godin on his Akimbo podcast here.
  5. In this episode of All About Movies, comedian and content creator Rohan Joshi talks about his love for The Matrix, his early memories of visiting VHS stores and his profound experience working with Irrfan Khan. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. For this episode of Unfiltered by Samdish, Hansal Mehta deep dives into Scoop, Scam 1992, his love for cinema, and cooking, his time in Fiji and how he got into filmmaking. From his movies Shahid and Omerta, his favourite directors and their works to his memories of the Emergency, and more. Watch it here.
  2. On SIT with Hitlist, Karan Johar deep dives into the character-writing and story-process of RRKPK, his friendships and fears, also touching upon his previous films, and much more. Watch here.
  3. Actor Abhishek Bachchan talks to Baradwaj Rangan about the difference between his past self and now, breaks down his characters in various of his films, what he has learned from Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Verma, Karan Johar, and so much more. Check it out here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Virupaksha (A man must decode the secret behind a series of unexplained brutal deaths that leaves the villagers terrorised and shocked.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Good Night [Tamil] (Mohan, a man from a middle-class family, faces problems in life due to his snoring. He fears that it will also ruin his burgeoning relationship with Anu.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #184 (11.09.23 – 17.09.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 184th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Inside PepsiCo’s Effort to Reach Net Zero Emissions. Read it here.
  2. Bizarre reason behind why we have intrusive thoughts will make you feel less ashamed. Read here.
  3. What Google’s trial means for the company — and your web browsing? Check it out here.
  4. The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes. Read it here.
  5. Be considerate, get a headphone. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the Lex Fridman podcast, Walter Isaacson, biographer, shares about his latest book on Elon Musk, the journey behind the book and his readings on Musk and his life/ vision. He also talks about his other books on Steve Jobs, Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, how to write, time management, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On Business Breakdowns, they break down the business behind Padel, the dynamics of the sport that are making it popular, the investment characteristics of Padel Clubs, how sustainable its recent growth is, the main differences between Padel and Pickleball, and more. Check it out here.
  3. In part one of The Vergecast’s AI mini-series, David Pierce dives into the boom of voice synthesis and artificially generated speech. The process is a lot more accessible for everyone, but how realistic can it sound? Listen here.
  4. On ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Muttiah Muralitharan talks about his two-decade cricket career, his love for the game, the controversies and criticism which came along the way, his relations with cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, controversy around his political connections with former Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and his party, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Kara Swisher, tech journalist and podcaster, talks about Elon Musk and his smartness, the good and bad of AI that we aren’t able to understand, her journalism journey, and much more on the Smartless podcast. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. The post-launch press conference of Jawan, where the cast and crew of the film share the stories and behind-the-scenes of making the film and more. Watch it here.
  2. On the Bombay Journey, former Maharashtra Tourism and Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray, openly talks about his grandfather Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, the defection of Shiv Sena’s MLAs and the formation of the Eknath Shinde faction, the rise and fall of power in Mumbai and more in this episode. Check it out here.
  3. Chris Hemsworth and his director Sam Hargrave take a deep dive into how they created the intense action and stunts for their Netflix movie Extraction 2. (Behind-the-Scenes) Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Writer Padmabhushan (After his first book fails to succeed, an aspiring writer’s life takes a twist when an anonymous person releases a book under his name and it becomes popular. Soon he sets out to find the real author.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: Aneethi (A food delivery guy, finds himself captivated by Subbu’s (Dushara) charm. However, their lives take a tumultuous turn when a series of unexpected events unfold, plunging them into a chaotic world)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #183 (04.09.23 – 10.09.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 183rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Inside Apple’s Impossible War On Child Exploitation. Read more here.
  2. Why isn’t Canada an economic giant? Check it out here.
  3. Cancer Is On The Rise Among Younger People—But Scientists Don’t Know Why. Read here.
  4. Air pollution linked to lower birth weight in babies, says new European study. Read more here.
  5. 3-morning habits to help you be happier and more productive at work, according to psychologists. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On WTF is with Nithin Kamath, Karthik Reddy, Rajan Anandan, and Prashanth Prakash, speak about what venture capital is, what works and what doesn’t, and their learnings from many decades of funding the startup ecosystem in India, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. Jay Barney, professor at the University of Utah’s Eccles School of Business, talks about the necessity of stories when it comes to culture change, taking action on it and the six rules of this practice that leaders need to follow, on the HBR IdeaCast podcast. Check it out here.
  3. On Ted Talks Daily, researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, explaining practical neuroscience hacks to block those signals quickly. Listen here.
  4. Nico Hulkenberg tells Tom Clarkson how family life and his recent break from F1 have given him a completely different outlook on the sport, what his relationship with teammate Kevin Magnussen is like, whether Team Principal Guenther Steiner is just like the man we see on TV, and much more. Listen to it here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation: Sound + Image Lab: The Dolby Institute Podcast (Dolby Institute director Glenn Kiser in conversation with the artists who are using the image and sound technologies creatively in some of your favourite films, TV shows, video games, and songs.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Why the US Open replaced 200 Human Referees? Highlighting semi-automated offside technology, video assistant referee (VAR), Why some fans LOVE and HATE robot referees, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Why Saudi Arabia is Betting Big On Soccer And Cristiano Ronaldo? The Public Investment Fund and soccer, competition with Europe’s top leagues, ‘Sportswashing’ and Saudi soccer. Check it out here.
  3. Vijay Varma speaks with Anupama Chopra about his early days of struggle, learning the nuances of acting, and his approach towards characters. He also sheds light on the changing dynamics of the entertainment industry, the joys of theatre, and his aspirations. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Jawan (A man is driven by a personal vendetta to rectify the wrongs in society, while keeping a promise made years ago. He comes up against a monstrous outlaw with no fear, who has caused extreme suffering to many.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah (Stacy and Lydia are BFFs who’ve always dreamed about having epic bat mitzvahs. However, things start to go comically awry when a popular boy and middle school drama threatens their friendship and their rite of passage.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #182 (28.08.23 – 03.09.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 182nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Western values are steadily diverging from the rest of the world’s. Read more in detail here.
  2. Roger Federer-Backed Shoe Brand On Takes A Big Swing At Tennis. Check it out here.
  3. The early ancestors of humans were reduced to 1,300 individuals and came close to extinction, scientists say. Read it here.
  4. Bill Gates thought school wasn’t ‘interesting’ as a child—until a conversation with his 8th-grade teacher. Read more here.
  5. A Harvard nutritionist and brain expert says she avoids these 5 foods that ‘weaken memory and focus’. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The School of Greatness, Dr. Alan Goldhamer, Dr. Jason Fung, MD, Sal Di Stefano share their insights on the importance of intermittent fasting, how our mental health affects our physical health, why the burning calories strategy to losing weight is a losing battle, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On Science Vs podcast, immunologist Dr. Armin Alaedini, gastroenterologist Dr Carolyn Newberry, and nutrition epidemiologist Dr. Natalie Riediger talk about why the internet hates gluten, is gluten actually bad for all of us, what’s the deal with gluten sensitivity, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Business Wars releases a new series focusing on the domination of the hotel business – the war between Hilton vs. Marriott, how they individually come into place, the rise to the top, and everything in between. Listen here.
  4. Vir Das, on The Streaming Show, talks about what streaming has done for stand-up and vice versa, why there seems to be a fear of funny among platforms, the multiple shows he’s currently show running, the need for more platform executives who understand comedy and more. Listen to it here.
  5. In this ep of the Humans of Cinema podcast, Harshvardhan Kapoor discusses all things cinema – from Sofia Coppola to Aditya Vikram Sengupta, experimenting with cinema and his film choices, his filmmaking aspirations and his favourite cinematic moments, favourite films and TV shows, the importance of exposure to different films, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Raj and DK, the director duo, on Chalchitra Talks, share how they choose their movie/ show topics, binge-worthy tv shows and the recommendations of the best tv shows, realistically showcasing the corporate world on screen, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. On The Lallantop, Kay Kay Menon talks about his role in the film, Love All. Along with this, KK Menon also talks about some of his iconic characters and shares how he prepared for the role in Shaurya, Gulaal, Special Ops, Ghazi, Haider, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Erling Haaland joins the Impaulsive podcast to discuss winning the Premier League w/ Manchester City, fighting Kylian Mbappé, signing as a PRIME athlete, cheat meals, high-level athlete hacks, growing up in Norway, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week: Joy Ride (Follows four Asian American friends as they bond and discover the truth of what it means to know and love who you are, while they travel through China in search of one of their birth mothers.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week: King of Kotha (In a crime-infested town, Kannan bhai and his gang are the reigning powers. To combat this reign and seek revenge, Inspector Shahul tactfully plots the return of the ‘King’, leading to a transformative turn of events.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #181 (21.08.23 – 27.08.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 181st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. The U-bend of life – Why, beyond middle age, people get happier as they get older. Read more here.
  2. Should you count calories? Read here.
  3. Traversing the Jioverse – A look at the Reliance digital network, from cloud to e-comm. Check it out here.
  4. A therapist shares the 9 things people want most in life. Read it here.
  5. Where Have All the DC Fans Gone? Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The High Performance podcast, Fernando Alonso shares the origins of his legendary racing career, dating back to his very first race at the age of three. He also gives insights to the transformation his two-year F1 hiatus had on him personally, deepening connections with his fans, and discovering an appreciation of the privileges of his position. Check it out here.
  2. Nedra Glover Tawwab, therapist and author sits down with Adam Grant for an insightful discussion on why people struggle with creating boundaries, how we can deal with saying “no,” and why setting a boundary is the ultimate act of self-respect. Listen to it here.
  3. When are white lies harmless or hurtful? On Life Kit, experts weigh in on when it’s appropriate to tell a lie, explain how lying can lead to more lying and share tips for cutting back if you want to break the habit. Listen here.
  4. Hoyte van Hoytema, on Happy Sad Confused podcast, chats about his latest collaboration with Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer and the behind-the-scenes talk and process during the shoot of the film, what’s it like to shoot with Nolan, how has the long journey of collaborating on four films been like, and more. Check it out here.
  5. Martin Short and Steve Martin sit down to talk with Conan O’Brien about his cameo appearance in their live show, season 3 of Only Murders in the Building, the origin of their working partnership, and run-ins with Elvis and Frank Sinatra. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Jeff Bridges (The Old Man), Kieran Culkin (Succession), Damson Idris (Snowfall & Swarm), Michael Imperioli (The White Lotus), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us & The Mandalorian) and Evan Peters (Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) join The Hollywood Reporter for their Drama Actor Roundtable. Check it out here.
  2. In this (spoiler-filled) Post Mortem of Guns & Gulaabs, Raj & DK delve deep into their journey, from the conception of Guns and Gulaabs to their approach toward storytelling, their unique collaboration process, the challenges they face, and the growth of streaming content in India. Watch it here.
  3. Jim Sarbh, on Chalchitra Talks, deep dives into his music playlist choices, amazing artists you should see, films/ books recommendations, appreciation for animal documentaries/ films, take on acting process, and much much more. Watch here.
  4. Short Film Recommendation: Man Woman Man Woman (Set in contemporary times, ‘Man Woman Man Woman’ (directed by Naseeruddin Shah) navigates the dating lives of two couples who have a lot in common but eventually find themselves at a crossroads.) Check it out on YouTube here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Maaveeran (After a head injury, timid newspaper cartoonist Sathya hears a voice narrating his life as an epic tale of heroism and urging him to take on Jeyakodi, a corrupt politician.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #180 (14.08.23 – 20.08.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 180th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. What’s Holding Back India’s Economic Ambitions? Read more here.
  2. Mess at Chef’s Table: How claims of theft, embezzlement, and abuse shut down Brooklyn Fare’s legendary Michelin-starred restaurant. Read it here.
  3. Putin, Pushkin and the decline of the Russian empire. Read here.
  4. Wealth per adult: India growing 2X that of global average but still 1/5th in real terms. Check It out here.
  5. Finland is home to the world’s happiest people. Their No. 1 secret is this 500-year-old mindset, says psychology expert. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The School of Greatness, Dr. Matthew Walker discusses why sleep is the foundational pillar for our overall health, why most people are terrible at prioritizing sleep and how to change that, the effects of poor sleep over time, how anxiety and stress affect our sleep, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala, he dives deep into Sahiba Bali‘s transition from becoming the host of her own Zomato show to her unique Bollywood roles and becoming a creator. From the best advice, her father has given her to her biggest learning about the corporate world and tips on how to juggle between your head and heart. Check it out here.
  3. On the Science Vs podcast, obesity expert Dr Yoni Freedhoff, psychiatrist Dr Gary Cooney, neuroscientist Prof. Wendy Suzuki and urologist Dr Stacey Kenfield tackle the power of exercise and why you should bother. Listen here.
  4. To decode the TVF secret sauce, Suchin spoke to the Head of TVF Originals Shreyansh Pandey about the mammoth success of Panchayat, how they maintain the level of intimacy in their stories when they’re making so many at once, the curse of season 2, stepping into the sci-fi space, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Cillian Murphy may have worked with Christopher Nolan before but he’s never been his leading man. He has more than met the moment in OPPENHEIMER and he’s on the Happy Sad Confused podcast to talk all about it. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Dulquer Salmaan talks about Acting and how he began his career, his life in the 40s, the Hindi film industry, his Social Life & more. He also opens up about how he met his wife and all about his married life. Watch it here.
  2. On Chalchitra Talks, Shriya Pilgaonkar chats about her love For Animation and Classic Movies, Passion for Film Festivals, All-Time Favorite Films, her life-changing moment, Love for Reading and Book Clubs, and a lot more recommendations. Check it out here.
  3. Suvinder Vicky speaks with Anupama Chopra about his 20-year journey as an actor, handling fame after the grand success of Kohrra, his struggles and how he uses silence to create compelling performances. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Jailer (A retired jailer goes on a manhunt to find his son’s killers. But the road leads him to a familiar, albeit a bit darker place.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – OMG 2 (An unhappy civilian asks the court to mandate comprehensive education in schools in a dramatic yet amusing courtroom play.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #179 (07.08.23 – 13.08.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 179th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Who will be remembered in 1,000 years? Read here.
  2. Picasso was a genius—and a beast. Can the two be separated? Read it here.
  3. Is modern-day bread even food? Check it out here.
  4. At what age do people experience depression for the first time? Read it here.
  5. The real meaning of life in 5 words, according to a psychology expert in Finland. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Peter Attia and Jay Shetty explore the detrimental effects of over-nourishment and three transformative approaches to address this imbalance and unlock the path to optimal well-being, the concept of glucose control and its profound impact on our overall health, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Black Mirror Creator Charlie Brooker, on Recode with Peter Kafka, tells that, despite what you might think, he doesn’t hate tech – his problem is with the humans that use it and highlights that and its correlation with the show. Listen here.
  3. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, David Dodson, a lecturer in management at Stanford GSB and author of the new book The Manager’s Handbook, shares valuable insights and actionable advice for individuals in leadership and management roles, highlighting the importance of effective communication and feedback in achieving success. Check it out here.
  4. On Variety Awards Circuit, Pedro Pascal talks about The Last of Us and The Mandalorian, plus how he knows his huge success also comes with the duty to be a bit of a mentor and role model to others, just as he once had. Listen to it here.
  5. Variety’s Michael Schneider, Clayton Davis, Emily Longeretta and Jazz Tangcay dissect this year’s Emmy nominations — including big noms for “Succession” and HBO, as well as how all the major categories played out. From snubs and surprises to big wins and the usual befuddlement, the Roundtable tackles it all. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Film Companion Front Row, Kiara Advani speaks with Anupama Chopra about – her rigorous preparation for roles to the audacious risks she takes in selecting projects, sharing her passion for acting with fellow actor & husband Sidharth Malhotra, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Why are Citibank branches closing Around The World? – the company’s new direction, rise and fall, and revenue streams. Check it out here.
  3. Celebrating 20 years of “Koi Mil Gaya”, Hrithik Roshan speaks with Anupama Chopra about the evolution of Indian cinema and the film’s 2023 relevance, particularly when viewed with his children. He reflects on his role as Rohit, addresses criticism, and shares his career’s highs and lows. He also explores his pursuit of balancing commercial and artistically fulfilling roles, the shifting film industry landscape, and his future project aspirations. Watch it here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Por Thozil (An academically bright but faint-hearten rookie cop needs to man up and overcome his fears in order to succeed in his very first assignment-team up with a hostile and reclusive senior cop to catch a serial killer on the loose.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Satyaprem ki Katha (A middle-class boy in Ahmedabad, Satyaprem falling in one-sided love with Katha, who is coping with her breakup with Tapan. Through the journey, they discover each other’s life and complement in accomplishing what was left halfway.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #178 (31.07.23 – 06.08.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 178th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. What we get wrong about time? Read more here.
  2. Why Asia’s super-app companies are stuck in a rut? Check it out here.
  3. Sleeping ‘extra’ late on weekends can affect your gut health. Read here.
  4. People-pleasers are at a higher risk of burnout, says Harvard-trained psychologist—how to spot the signs. Read more here.
  5. New movie releases seem to keep getting longer—despite groans from audiences and executives alike. Can anyone make a 90-minute movie anymore? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Henk Rogers breaks down his journey into building The Tetris Company, the challenges faced, and they got the worldwide rights for the game, and more, on How I Built This with Guy Raz. Listen to it here.
  2. Gaurav Kapur, on Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala, takes us through his extraordinary journey in cricket, entertainment, and storytelling. He reveals the story behind the inception of his wildly popular show, Breakfast With Champions, his undying love for cricket and the microphone. Listen here.
  3. We are used to thinking of artificial intelligence as knowledge generated by machines. The Verge’s Josh Dzieza pulls back the curtain on the vast network of human labor that powers AI, on the Today Explained podcast. Check it out here.
  4. Supervising sound editor James Mather and re-recording mixer Chris Burdon, on the Dolby Institute Podcast, along with picture editor Eddie Hamilton, discuss the sound of the latest instalment in the Mission: Impossible series. Listen here.
  5. Greta Gerwig sits down with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett for an episode of SmartLess to dive into her early roots of acting and writing and how the idea of Barbie the movie landed in her lap, the importance of le cinéma: ‘un-fussy filmmaking,’ Hitchcock, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this Post Mortem of ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, Karan Johar speaks with Anupama Chopra about the creation of the characters and what inspired ‘Rocky’, and shares behind-the-scenes stories from the set of RRKPK, how he balanced humour with a serious message. He also addresses the criticism he faced before the film’s release, his need for validation, and what he hopes to make next. Watch it here.
  2. Composer Ludwig Göransson, on the Dolby Institute Podcast discusses his latest collaboration with Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer, with guest host Jon Burlingame. They discuss the composer’s process, including why he composed over three hours of music before principal photography even began. Check it out here.
  3. On The Humans of Cinema Podcast, filmmaker Kabir Khan talks about filmmaking, the films that impacted him, directing documentaries, his films New York, Bajrangi Bhaijaan and 83, and how there should be subtlety in political filmmaking. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Flamboyant Punjabi Rocky and intellectual Bengali journalist Rani fall in love despite their differences. After facing family opposition, they decide to live with each other’s families for three months before getting married.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Tetris (The story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to players around the globe. Businessman Henk Rogers and Tetris inventor Alexey Pajitnov join forces in the USSR, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #177 (24.07.23 – 30.07.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 177th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch.

What To Read:

  1. Learning Is a Learned Behavior. Here’s How to Get Better at It. Read more here.
  2. “Now I Am Become Death”: The Story Behind Oppenheimer’s Indelible Quote. Check it out here.
  3. This Ken Is CEO: An Interview With Mattel’s Ynon Kreiz. Read it here.
  4. Here’s how curiosity can change the world we’re living in, according to
    Malcolm Gladwell. Read here.
  5. Diving deep into the data and discovering that the more Tom Cruise runs, the better his movies are. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On WTF is with Nikhil Kamath, Kishore Biyani – the ‘father of modern retail’ in India; Vidit Aatrey – Co-Founder of the $5 billion dollar e-commerce company Meesho, and Sujeet Kumar – Founder of the B2B industry leader Udaan, go in-depth into why some products fly off the (virtual) shelves while others fail, successes and failures on the journey to growing multi-billion dollar businesses, and why e-commerce is inescapable – we either sell or get sold to. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Ranveer Show, Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Minority Affairs, talked about various aspects of her media and political career, the New Education Policy, the Role of the Ministry towards the Minority, skills needed to be a politician and how a politician can build good policies and more. Check it out here.
  3. How to tell your own story? Life Kit explains how to write deeply personal memoirs and what to do once your story is out in the world. Listen here.
  4. Kevin Hart sits down with comedian and host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah to discuss how Trevor was offered the hosting job by Jon Stewart, what it was like to take over as host of such an iconic show, how he started out as a comedian in South Africa, and the comedy formula used by most late-night hosts for the material. Listen to it here.
  5. On The Streaming Show, Suchin speaks to Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair was to discuss their unique business model, the onslaught of remakes, the pros and cons of licensing and why he isn’t put off by the formula, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. At Film Companion’s Mid-Year Streaming Adda, Sidhant Gupta (Jubilee), Rajshri Deshpande (Trial By Fire), Tillotama Shome (Lust Stories 2), Aamir Bashir (School Of Lies), Bhuvan Arora (Farzi) and Radhika Madan (Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo) came together to discuss their stand-out performances, the roles they’re tired of getting offered, championing writers, and the difference between meaningful storytelling and ‘content’. Check it out here.
  2. Gajraj Rao reflects on his impeccable performances and versatile role, his love for languages, how his 11th-grade sociology teacher changed his life forever and why he no longer feels guilty about the finer things in life, on Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala podcast. Watch it here.
  3. On the first episode of Back To The Start, Janice Sequeira sits down with Rajeev Masand, Anupama Chopra and Malishka Mendonca to discuss all the madness that goes behind celebrity interviews, goof-ups, embarrassing/ proud moments, celebrities they love and hate interviewing and more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – DARK (A family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Maamannan (The community that was exploited by the town’s influential man, who completely rules due to the powerful backing of the authorities. A man collects evidence to flip him upside down when he was helpless to stop his endless torture.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

Barbenheimer Special… The Last 7 Days #176 (17.07.23 – 23.07.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Here’s the 176th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days, weekly recommendations of What To Read, What To Listen and What To Watch. Considering it was the Barbenheimer week, this week’s list is heavily Oppenheimer and Barbie based, and is the longest recommendations list yet.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. How ‘Oppenheimer’ Pulled Off an Atomic Bomb Explosion Without CGI: A Giant Aquarium, Balloons and More. Check it out here.
  2. ‘Oppenheimer’ Cast and Historical Guide: The Real People Behind the First Atomic Bomb. Read it here.
  3. Barbenheimer was the real deal. Read more here.
  4. Inside the Barbie Movie: How the massive movie came to be. Check it out here.
  5. What’s The Real Story Of Lewis Strauss in ‘Oppenheimer’? Read here.
  6. This summer’s biggest hit? The Barbie marketing team. Read more here.
  7. What does Oppenheimer the film gets wrong about Oppenheimer the man? Check it out here.
  8. Barbie + Oppenheimer = Barbenheimer? The story behind the movie mashup. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. The Real Tragedy of Robert Oppenheimer – He coulda woulda shoulda been the next Einstein. Instead, Robert Oppenheimer fritted away his talents on trendy science and political gamesmanship—and it burned him deep in his soul… Listen to it here.
  2. Writer, Director Greta Gerwig joins the ReelBlend podcast to discuss her new film Barbie, sharing about the F-bomb removed from the film featuring Helen Mirren and historical figure Marie Curie (naturally), working with cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, America Ferrera’s brilliant monologue, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Soundtracking with Edith Bowman, Christopher Nolan breaks down the music of Oppenheimer, how the planning came to be, integrating it with the story, the making of the film, and more. Listen here.
  4. Is Barbie a toy commercial doubling as the first instalment of an inevitable Mattel Cinematic Universe? Or does it have something important to say? Barbie’s multitudes are explained on the Today Explained podcast here.
  5. Greta Gerwig, on Soundtracking, discusses the music of her extraordinary take on Barbie, which is witty, funny, smart and cerebral, Mark Ronson’s involvement, who has a key hand to play in both the score and soundtrack, and more. Check it out here.
  6. Christopher Nolan, on the HAPPY SAD CONFUSED podcast, discusses the planning and execution of the film OPPENHEIMER, his amazing cast, James Bond, and much more! Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. A conversation b/w Christopher Nolan and Professor Brian Cox, on how, exactly, do you prepare a cast for a film of this scale and scientific complexity, what’s up with those black-and-white scenes, and much more delving into the knottier topics of the film. Check it out here.
  2. How Los Alamos built Oppenheimer’s bomb – the secret city, explained. Watch it here.
  3. 15 Things You Missed While Watching ‘Barbie’ The Movie – Variety breaks down some of the discontinued Barbies cameos, cartoon Barbie movie references and all of the hidden B’s. Watch it here.
  4. Around the Table with the cast of Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. chat about their new film and reveal how they each landed their role. Watch here.
  5. What a Nuclear Bomb Explosion Feels Like – British atomic veterans who were present at test sites in Australia and the Pacific, share what it’s like to experience a nuclear bomb explosion up close. Check it out here.
  6. From the significance of horses to the use of moody black and white scenes, there’s more to “Oppenheimer” than meets the eye – here are the small details you may have missed in Oppenheimer. Watch it here.
  7. The Disturbing Thing ‘Oppenheimer’ Leaves Out About The Trinity Tests. Watch here.
  8. The Victims of Hiroshima & Nagasaki – covering just what happened in the days, weeks and months following the dropping of the atomic bomb that would go onto shape the remainder of the 20th century. Check it out here.
  9. Around the Table with the cast of Barbie, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, America Ferrera and Greta Gerwig breakdown their new film inspired by the iconic Mattel doll ‘Barbie.’ Watch it here.
  10. Robert Downey Jr. and Christopher Nolan (‘Oppenheimer’) answer their most searched questions from the web. How did Christopher Nolan film a nuclear bomb detonation? How did Robert Downey Jr. become Marvel’s Iron Man? What would an Avengers film directed by Christopher Nolan be like? Watch here.
  11. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Oppenheimer (The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.)
  12. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Barbie (Barbie suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #175 (10.07.23 – 16.07.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 175th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. RIP bear market? Read more here.
  2. We are all paying the hidden toll of the pandemic. Read it here.
  3. The Benefits of Saunas vs. Steam Rooms. Check it out here.
  4. Former FBI agent shares 3 things people with high emotional intelligence always do when talking to others. Read here.
  5. The New Mission: Impossible’s Big Twist May Not Be What It Seems. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Sheela Bhatt talks about her entry into journalism, interviewing Dawood Ibrahim and the stories around that, and the transition from being a revenue reporter to running a magazine of her own, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Vidya Balan, on The Ranveer Show, talked about mental health in generations, having a lack of confidence, the impact of her professional life, dealing with body image insecurities, Siddharth Roy Kapur, fame, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Alua Arthur, a death doula, on TED Talks Daily, talks about why talking about death helps you live a better life. Listen here.
  4. Christopher Nolan joins ReelBlend for an interview featuring behind-the-scenes stories from the making of Oppenheimer, how his journey with IMAX has grown since The Dark Knight, idolizing Sir Ridley Scott, whether or not he plans to retire early and more. Listen to it here.
  5. In this episode of All About Movies, film critic and now COO at Dharma Cornerstone Agency, Rajeev Masand, talks about his experience of managing artists way before he got into the business of managing artists, his views on superstardom and his best memories of interviewing International artists. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Jay Shetty chats with Tom Holland on his podcast about growing up in a family with a solid foundation, recognizing that drinking can become a problem, how to stop living a false version of your life and take care of your mental health, reconnecting with nature, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. How Chess Broke YouTube? – The Incredible Economics of Chess, Its History and the Netflix/ YouTube Boom, The Secret Behind the Rise, The Content and more. Check it out here.
  3. HT City chat with playback singer Sonu Nigam, composer duo Salim-Sulaiman and lyricist Sameer Anjaan to talk all things independent music and what has led to the resurgence of indie music in India in such a big way, their love for both the music forms and how the lines are blurring. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One (Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.) Now in theatres.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Tarla (This ZEE5 Original film follows the journey of India’s iconic home chef, Tarla Dalal. It captures the integral role she played in empowering women and helping them realise their dreams through food.) Now streaming on Zee5 here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #174 (03.07.23 – 09.07.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 174th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Moderate Drinking Has No Health Benefits, Analysis of Decades of Research Finds. Read more here.
  2. Why do So Many of Us Experience a Midlife Crisis? Read here,
  3. The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Entertainers. Check it out here.
  4. 3 signs you’re gaslighting yourself with ‘toxic gratitude’–and how to overcome it. Read it here.
  5. Gen Z And Millennials More Likely To Fall For Fake News Than Older People, Test Finds. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Jay Shetty breaks down what is it like to be a people pleaser, 7 signs your one, and 7 methods to break this habit. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Vanessa Patrick (professor of Marketing at the University of Houston) and host Matt Abrahams explore how to use the power of no, how to move from strategy forming to strategy implementation, and how to resist momentary pleasures that distract us from our larger goals. Check it out here.
  3. Dreams are weird, but can they be a scientific tool? Can they teach us anything about humanity? About ourselves? Listen to it on the Unexplainable podcast here.
  4. Sumit Purohit (Scam 1992) and Nandini Gupta (Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo) speak to Suchin, on The Streaming Show, about how much the life of a writer has changed in the last few years, why the system of crediting writers on shows is so frustrating and inconsistent, why screenwriters are often a soft target for critics, and more. Listen here.
  5. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Lando Norris talks about the extra pressure and responsibility of being the team’s senior driver, coping with fame, dealing with criticism, and even what kind of dad he hopes to be one day. Also, how new teammate Oscar Piastri compares to his predecessor Daniel Ricciardo. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On WTF is with Nikhil Kamath, Umang Bedi, Tanmay Bhat and Aprameya Radhakrishna speak about all things social media, their personal journeys, the psychology and the future of social media, is traditional media dead, is social media making us unhappier every day, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Cleo Abrams, with MKBHD, test out 3 movie-making tools that are changing how movies, shows get made, the problems and future of green screen, how motion capture works, what’s the future of video and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Chalchitra Talks, Kunal Kemmu discusses his relationship with films, his all-time favourite films and Indian films/ tv shows, his favourite villains, his perspective as a director, recommendations of books/ podcasts, thoughts on subtitles vs dubbed and more. Watch here.
  4. Stand-up Recommendation of the Week – Kevin Hart: Reality Check (Kevin Hart self-reflects on his growing family, fame, mentions on Black Twitter and more.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Kadina Kadoramee Andakadaham (Bachu, a young man who wishes to become a businessman, is in a big crisis. His family forces him to go to Gulf but he is not ready to change his decision.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #173 (26.06.23 – 02.07.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 173rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The Art of Persuasion Hasn’t Changed in 2,000 Years. Read more here.
  2. In an interview with The Economist, India’s foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar laid out his vision of the country’s long-term future role in the world. Check it out here.
  3. What To Know About Aspartame: The Sugar Substitute In Diet Coke That Will Reportedly Be Declared A Possible Cancer Risk By WHO? Read here.
  4. Shark or Dolphin? Ashneer Grover hits out at growing founder-investor rift on Shark Tank India. Read it here.
  5. Harvard-trained psychologist shares 3 signs you’re addicted to stress. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dr Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, on The School of Greatness, talks about how sleeping poorly negatively affects you, the main things that prevent you from sleeping well and how to fix them, how nutrition and exercise affect sleep, and what is happening in the brain when we sleep. Listen to it here.
  2. James Clear speaks with Adam Grant about changing our systems for achieving goals, building habits around identities as well as actions, and accumulating small wins that add up to big change. Check it out here.
  3. Ultra-processed foods are tasty, cheap and everywhere. But they come with health risks. NPR health correspondent Maria Godoy, on the Life Kit podcast, lays out ways to spot and avoid ultra-processed foods during your next grocery run. Listen here.
  4. Ishant Sharma, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, talks about his cricket journey, aggression on field, childhood in Delhi, training of bowlers, happiness and insecurity, and much more. Listen to it here.
  5. Robert Downey Jr joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what it’s like to have an addictive personality, finding closure with his father, and whether life is a joke or tragedy, why he wanted to modernize his car collection, and what the two most significant projects he’s been involved in were. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Colin and Samir have an unfiltered conversation with MrBeast about fame, focus, fitness, stress, belief in YouTube, money and creativity, work-life balance, problem with YouTube and much much more. Watch it here.
  2. Rajeev Masand, film critic & COO at Dharma Cornerstone, on the Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala podcast, shares his insightful journey of witnessing the changing landscape of movies and the evolving experience of film watching over the past 25 years. Check it out here.
  3. On Decoding Voices with Yashraj Mukhate, Sanket Bhosale talks about learning Sanjay Dutt’s voice, every voice having its personality, voice comparisons between different celebrities and more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Black Mirror (In an abstrusely dystopian future, several individuals grapple with the manipulative effects of cutting edge technology in their personal lives and behaviours.) Streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Balagam (Set in a village in Telangana and it revolves around the after effects on a family and its relations, both with the village folks and among themselves, after the jovial patriarch of the family suddenly passes away.) Streaming on Amazon Prime here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #172 (19.06.23 – 25.06.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 172nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Can You Be Productive Working Only 45% Of The Day? Read more here.
  2. Cumulative time spent in “vigorous” physical activity lowers mortality risk. Read it here.
  3. Are plant-based milks healthier or less nutritious than cow’s milk? Check it out here.
  4. Committed And Ghosted: Why Young Founders Are Losing Faith In Shark Tank India? Read here.
  5. Spider-Verse Artists Say Working on the Sequel Was ‘Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts’. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the Lex Fridman podcast, Mark Zuckerberg talks about the future of AI at Meta, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, both near-term open-source development of AI and the journey of human civilization toward building AGI. Listen to it here.
  2. Where does change come from? Seth Godin riffs on anthems, pledges and change on his Akimbo podcast here.
  3. On Life Kit, they talk about how to identify generated AI and other fake content, how media literacy can help, and how to use these tools responsibly. Check it out here.
  4. Deep-sea explorer G. Michael Harris has been down to the wreck of the Titanic 14 times. He begged his friend PH Nargeolet not to get on the OceanGate Titan submersible before it imploded in the sea earlier this week. On the Today Explained podcast, he explains why he saw this coming. Listen here.
  5. Shriya Pilgaonkar discusses with film critic Suchin Mehrotra on The Streaming Show podcast her journey, how much the platform matter when considering a role, pay disparity and the changes she’d like to see in the streaming space. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Ranveer Show, Dr. S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, shares his experience of working with PM Modi and what are the challenges he has to face as the Minister of External Affairs. He further discusses the Role of AI and Quantum Computing in the field of Geopolitics and put light on the situation of Brain Drain in the Country. Watch it here.
  2. Diego Luna (Andor), Helen Mirren (1923), Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets), Patrick Stewart (Picard) and Jeremy Strong (Succession) on the L.A. Times Envelope Drama Roundtable, talk about their roles, their acting process, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Chris Hemsworth and director Sam Hargrave break down how they shot one of the most epic chase scenes in Extraction 2, which was also a 21-minute one-take scene. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Based on a True Story (A realtor, a former tennis star, and a plumber seize a unique opportunity to capitalize on America’s obsession with true crime.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Hypnotic (A detective investigates a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #171 (12.06.23 – 18.06.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 171st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Your Most Ambivalent Relationships Are the Most Toxic. Read more here.
  2. Who Is Jorge Mas, The Billionaire Owner Behind Lionel Messi’s New Team? Check it out here.
  3. Living longer doesn’t necessarily mean healthier, longevity expert says: 7 ways to extend your best years. Read here.
  4. What do superhero franchises do when an actor is problematic? Read it here.
  5. Bacteria in your mouth can cause a flesh-eating infection. Don’t bite people (without consent). Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Wisdom from the Top with Guy Raz, Peter Cuneo tells his unlikely origin story and how he became the “turnaround superhero” saving Marvel from the brink of bankruptcy in 1999. Listen to it here.
  2. Dan Snow speaks to horologist, historian and former curator of timekeeping at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, David Rooney, about the importance of time, and what clocks can tell us about the history of human civilisation. Check it out here.
  3. Therapist Farah Maneckshaw joins the Respectfully Disagree podcast to discuss why Indians struggle with setting boundaries, what it actually means to ‘be triggered,’ and the dangers of seeing therapy as bias-free. Listen here.
  4. Jigesh Gajjar, head of VFX at DNEG India, in this episode of FC Popcorn talks behind-the-scenes secrets from blockbuster hits like Tenet and The Matrix 4, and about the groundbreaking real-time pipeline technique revolutionizing VFX. Listen to it here.
  5. Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the brother/sister filmmaking team behind DC’s The Flash, speak with the ReelBlend boys about the revolutionary technology behind Ezra Miller playing duel roles, how Michael Keaton came on board the project, what to expect from the film’s deleted scenes and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Ranveer Show, Piyush Goyal, Cabinet Minister, talks about his time with our Former Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee and how he positively impacted his life. His insights on leadership, the different focal points that the Government of India focuses on including Tourism and Biodiversity, and more. Watch it here.
  2. The cast and team of the Malayalam film 2018, Tovino Thomas, Asif Ali, Tanvi Ram, Jude Anthany Joseph, and Venu Kunnappilly speak to Anupama Chopra about the success of the film and why they believe it resonated with the audience, challenges of making a Malayalam film reach a wider demographic, and their team bond that they will carry forward from the film’s set. Check it out here.
  3. On Unfiltered by Samdish, Manoj Bajpayee discusses the process of discovering a character, performance and mental health in Gali Guleiyan, his thoughts on payment, art, revolution and the movie Mephisto, and more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Silo (Men and women live in a giant silo underground with several regulations which they believe are in place to protect them from the toxic and ruined world on the surface.) Now streaming on AppleTV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Extraction 2 (Back from the brink of death, commando Tyler Rake embarks on a dangerous mission to save a ruthless gangster’s imprisoned family.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #170 (05.06.23 – 11.06.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 170th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. If stigma is the problem, using different words may not help. Read more here.
  2. My fitness trackers took me hostage. Read here.
  3. The Inside Story of How HBO Almost Lost Succession. Check it out here.
  4. Junk food diet may disrupt sleep by altering brain activity. Read more here.
  5. Jeremy Strong Knows What You Think – on shutting out the noise, from the buzz of ‘Succession’ to that one very loud profile. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, on ‘On With Kara Swisher’, talks about the challenges facing the company’s AI chatbot, how augmented reality glasses could change how we compute the real world and why a TikTok ban would “help” Snap. Listen to it here.
  2. On HBR IdeaCast, a marketing professor at the NYU Stern School of Business, Adam Alter explains how to break through when you feel stuck and shares different methods for breaking free, including one proven tactic: doing nothing. Check it out here.
  3. On Life Kit, they explain what to look for on the back of a sunscreen bottle and how to use it effectively – what SPF to use, how often to reapply and the difference between chemical and physical sunscreen. Listen here.
  4. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, on the ReelBlend podcast, deep dive into spoilers and moments from the making of. Listen to it here.
  5. Actor, writer, and director Sharon Horgan sits down with Conan O’Brien to discuss winning a BAFTA for Bad Sisters, grade school confessional galas, starting from scratch, and her process for writing believable characters. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Why Apple is getting into sports? – their SportsOS, the ultimate media property and more. Watch it here.
  2. How streaming caused the TV writers’ strike? Check it out here
  3. In their Actors on Actors conversation, Kieran Culkin and Claire Danes reminisce on filming ‘Igby Goes Down’ so early on in their careers. Kieran talks about Roman Roy dealing with Logan’s shocking death in the final season of Succession. Claire talks about the portrayal of her character’s strained relationship with Toby Fleishman and the cathartic scream on set. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – 2018 (People from all walks of life face catastrophic consequences during devastating floods in 2018. The people of Kerala work together to survive the calamity.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Reality (A former American intelligence specialist is given the longest sentence for the unauthorized release of government information to the media about Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections via an email operation.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #169 (29.05.23 – 04.06.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 169th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. What to Do When Your Mind (Always) Dwells on the Worst-Case Scenario? Read here.
  2. The unsung heroes of the Apple Watch are its hidden buttons. Check it out here.
  3. 7 toxic signs of someone who is ‘addicted to drama,’ according to a psychologist—and how to respond. Read it here.
  4. Scientists Detect Brain Activity in Dying People Linked to Dreams, Hallucinations. Read here.
  5. Matthew Macfadyen Breaks Down the Succession Series Finale. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday speaks with Tim Urban about why everyone who wants to improve at something should aim to do it slowly, what it really means to “trust the process,” why they like writing so much, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. In this ep of Think Fast, Talk Smart: the podcast, Valerie Fridland, professor of sociolinguistics, sits down with host Matt Abrahams to discuss how and when we use “you know”, “so”, and other filler words, and how they can create more connected, effective communication. Check it out here.
  3. On the Succession podcast, host Kara Swisher unpacks the series finale in a two-part episode. In part one, Kara talks with Alexander Skarsgård about why his tech billionaire character, Lukas Matsson, just can’t let Waystar Royco go. Then with Jeremy Strong to discuss the tragic end of Kendall and what his character really wanted all along. Listen here.
  4. In part two of the Succession series finale podcast, director and executive producer Mark Mylod breaks down everything about episode 10 from the first table read, to that tense boardroom showdown, the Tom/Shiv of it all, and the final fate of the Roy children. Listen here.
  5. On ReelBlend, the filmmaking duo behind Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse, Phil Lord and Chris Miller discuss their process, building the story that bridges the first and third films in the trilogy, the prospects of Miles and friends finding themselves in a live-action world in Beyond the Spider-Verse, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On WTF is with Nikhil Kamath ft. Tanmay Bhat, Umang Bedi & Aprameya Radhakrishna, dive into the topic of the metaverse, traditional vs new-age media, are we already in the Metaverse, defining the Metaverse, VR, Metaverse use cases, gaming, Unreal Engine, and more. Watch it here.
  2. On The Ranveer Show Hindi, Neeraj Chopra shares his early life journey and his start with javelin throwing, the importance of physical and mental strength, thoughts after winning the Olympics Gold medal, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Sit with Hitlist, Vikramaditya Motwane talks about his journey up to Jubilee, his almost-first movie “Bombay Talkies” with Big B, working in various filmmaking departments, the commonality in all films, and much more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Scoop (The shocking murder of a journalist thrusts a crime reporter into the nexus of police, media and the Mumbai underworld as she fights for justice.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Spider-man: Across the Spider-verse (Miles Morales catapults across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. When the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles must redefine what it means to be a hero.) Now in theatres.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #168 (22.05.23 – 28.05.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 168th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Goodbye, ‘Succession’: A Pre-Finale Ode to the Great Show of Our Time. Read more here.
  2. The Day Streaming Died. Check it out here.
  3. Why Retail Therapy Is So Therapeutic? Read here.
  4. How to win every internet argument, in 5 easy steps? Check it out here.
  5. Cardiologist shares the 5 foods she eats to lower cholesterol—most people ‘aren’t eating enough’ of them. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Tim Ferriss Show, Seth Godin talks about the pursuit of meaning, the life-changing power of choosing your attitude, overcoming rejection, life lessons from Zig Ziglar, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Vox’s Peter Kafka talks to consultant Merissa Marr about Succession’s obsession with getting tiny details about Big Media just right; which non-Murdoch moguls influence the show’s depiction of the Roy clan; what happens when art and reality clash — and, of course, some Elon Matsson talk. Check it out here.
  3. On Life Kit, what to do when you’re feeling anxious and tips on how to turn down the dial on your anxiety symptoms. Listen here.
  4. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin speaks to Gary Neville on The Overlap, on his childhood & growing up in Slovenia, before becoming a defence lawyer, Liverpool’s Champions League final, and the European Super League and the following fallout. Listen to it here.
  5. In this episode of All About Movies, Anupama Chopra sits across Karan Johar to discuss some of the best BTS stories from his film sets and dissect the films that have inspired him to define the romantic aspirations of an entire generation. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Marvel Studios’ Iron Man, Marvel Studios President and Producer Kevin Feige and Executive Producer/ Director Jon Favreau take a look back at the film’s origins, share insights into its development, and discuss its legacy. Watch it here.
  2. Director Mark Mylod breaks down that scene from Connor’s Wedding you should have seen by now ahead of Succession’s series finale. Check it out here.
  3. What do the finances look like for characters in the Succession family like Cousin Greg, Kendall and Logan Roy? Is a $40,000 watch a good investment for Greg? How much does Tom and Shiv’s apartment cost? WSJ asked a certified financial planner to demystify some of the Roy family’s finances and give his expert opinion on their money habits. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (Inspired by true events, it showcases the long-drawn legal battle a sessions court lawyer carries out against a godman accused of assaulting a minor girl. Will justice prevail?) Now streaming on Zee5 here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum (A middle-class Malayali man settles in Mumbai and must resolve incidents taking place during a journey to Kerala, India.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #167 (15.05.23 – 21.05.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 167th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Is it possible to have compassion for billionaires? ‘Succession’ fans and ‘empathy scholars’ weigh in. Read it here.
  2. Yes, the metaverse is still happening. Check it out here.
  3. How lonely are you? Read more here.
  4. How technology reinvented chess as a global social network? Read here.
  5. Dietitians hate the term ‘superfood’—here’s why, and what they wish you’d say instead. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. The business breakdown of FC Bayern Munich, how Bayern’s been able to maintain such consistent success, the three major revenue buckets for Bayern Munich, whether they are buyers, builders, or borrowers in regards to their team, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Steve Martin and Adam Gopnik, on WorkLife with Adam Grant, discuss impersonation and authenticity, humour and writing, success and happiness, and valuing the friends you make along the way. Check it out here.
  3. Friendship expert Marisa Franco says losing a close friend can feel like we’re losing a part of ourselves. In this ep of Life Kit, how to process the loss of a friendship — and tips on how to save ones that matter to us. Listen here.
  4. On Gold Minds with Kevin Hart, Kevin sits down with actor and podcaster Jason Bateman to discuss Jason’s new podcasting career, his shift into directing, and the surprising way that Jason inspired Kevin to create one of his favourite projects. Listen to it here.
  5. Director Chad Stahelski discusses his new film, John Wick: Chapter 4, with fellow director Louis Leterrier on The Director’s Cut podcast, the influence location scouting had on setpieces, the preparation required for stunts, and how his earlier work as a Second Unit Director and Stunt Coordinator informed his directorial style. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Zindagi with Richa, Pankaj Tripathi shares his life in detail, from his small beginnings, to finally getting the part on the big screen, and everything in between, along with a bunch of stories that melt your heart away. Watch Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
  2. On Unfiltered with Samdish, Seema Bhargava Pahwa talks about working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, her relationship with her husband and children, the goal of being a producer, her opinion on dating apps and much more. Check it out here.
  3. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Dahaad (Anjali Bhaati investigates a series of deaths where women are found dead in public bathrooms. The death first appears to be a suicide, but as the investigation progresses, Bhaati realises that there’s a serial killer on the loose.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Air (Sonny Vaccaro and Nike pursue basketball rookie Michael Jordan, creating a partnership that revolutionizes the world of sports and contemporary culture.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Kathal – a Jackfruit Mystery (A local politician’s prized jackfruit trees have disappeared from his garden. A young policewoman desperately tries to solve this strange case to prove herself worthy of her position.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #129 (22.08.22 – 28.08.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 129th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Ethereum ‘merge’ will change crypto forever: Everything you need to know. Read it here.
  2. Social fatigue is real. Here’s how you can manage it. Check it out here.
  3. Setting boundaries in your daily life can protect you from ‘harmful experiences’: Here are 3 tips to get you started. Read here.
  4. Only Murders in the Building creator breaks down the season 2 finale. Read it here.
  5. The story of the ‘Dancing Girl’ from Mohenjodaro – the greatest find of the Indus Valley Civilization. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Liv Boeree, one of the UK’s most successful poker players, talks about core strategies, turning $500 into $1.7M, game theory, metaphysical curiosities, and more on The Tim Ferriss Show. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of Creative Elements, Chris Do talks about his path from design school to content creation, the bold moves he took to transition from agency life to creator life, how you can make that same transition, and why today he’s all in on content as a way to impact a billion people. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri sit down with YouTube sensation MrBeast, and award-winning comedian Hasan Minhaj to talk about obsession, how to win, finding your creativity, measuring success, how to run a company… and more. Listen here.
  4. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Lando Norris opens up to Tom Clarkson about the races he feels he should have already won, his moments of self-doubt, his ambitions, his attitude to life and work, and how he’s seen by the public and his fans. Listen to it here.
  5. On Awards Chatter, Kaley Cuoco talks about her journey into acting, her life before Big Bang Theory and since then, stumbling upon The Flight Attendant and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. The power of colour in sports performances. Watch it here.
  2. Pankaj Tripathi makes an appearance on The Ranveer Show talking about his early life, films and family, India’s uniqueness, why men can cry, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Why roller coaster loops aren’t circular? Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – I Am Groot (A series of shorts featuring the seedling Groot along with several new and unusual characters.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Kaduva (The film is set in the late 90s revolving around the life of a young high range rubber planter from Mundakayam and his rivalry with a high ranking officer in the Kerala Police.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #128 (15.08.22 – 21.08.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 128th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Stop working so hard. It’ll make you happier — and more productive. Read more here.
  2. ‘Better Call Saul’ Co-Creator Explains Why the Series Finale Was So Different From ‘Breaking Bad’. Read here.
  3. Imagining how soulbound tokens could impact the ad industry and web3 marketing. Read more here.
  4. Elon Musk wants to cut this ‘terrible habit’ from his morning routine. Check it out here.
  5. The story of ‘The One Line‘, Nike’s most audacious & forgotten sneaker in history. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Centenarian Mike Fremont talks about longevity secrets, breaking world running records, and how to thrive, on the Rich Roll podcast. Listen here.
  2. Brian Armstrong, founder of Coinbase talks about his journey towards building the company, cryptocurrency and regulations, and so much more on the Lex Fridman podcast. Check it out here.
  3. How to have a healthy adult relationship with your parents? Listen to it on Life Kit here.
  4. Business Wars’ new series focuses on the Battle for Paramount Pictures – who are joining hands, who is taking over and so much in the middle. Check it out here.
  5. On Variety Awards Circuit, Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn break down the Better Call Saul series ending episode, including what happened to Jimmy/Saul and Kim – and whether this might be considered a “happy ending.” Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. An interview from 2020, where Graham Bensinger speaks with Novak Djokovic about his life in Serbia, his tennis career and achievements in life, and more. Djokovic shows Graham around his home town with stops at his tennis center, childhood playground and local gym. Watch it here.
  2. Why ‘turning the other cheek‘ is fundamentally misunderstood? Check it out here.
  3. Chef Kunal Kapur takes us through his journey from childhood to becoming a chef, his love for cooking, becoming a MasterChef judge and much more on The Slow Interview with Neelesh Misra. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Saas Bahu Achaar Pvt. Ltd. (It revolves around Suman who constantly struggles to set up an achaar business and kickstart her entrepreneurial journey with a pure-hearted intent to get her kids back) Now streaming on Zee5 here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (East Indian aerospace engineer Nambi Narayanan makes enemies due to his genius and obsession, and he faces charges of espionage.) Now streaming on Voot here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #127 (08.08.22 – 14.08.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 127th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Lewis Hamilton: The F1 Superstar on Racism, His Future, and the Shocker That Cost Him a Championship. Read it in detail here.
  2. Who Owns The Rights To Your Face? Read here.
  3. NFTL;DR || NFTs explained in less than 400 words. Check it out here.
  4. How to work from your bedroom without ruining your sleep, according to experts? Read it here.
  5. The unlikely connection between burnout and your shopping habits. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. The conversation with Peter Attia, MD, on the Rich Roll podcast focuses on longevity, metabolic health, strength mobility and brain health, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Nuseir Yassin joins Big Technology Podcast to talk about what such a large social media audience makes possible, why “YouTuber” is such a desirable occupation for kids today, what his fame really costs, and what it takes to build an audience online. Listen here.
  3. On the Land of the Giants: The Facebook/ Meta Disruption series explores how the social media juggernaut has arrived at this unprecedented moment of transition and what lies ahead. Check it out here.
  4. On Variety Awards Circuit, “Only Murders in the Building” co-creators Steve Martin and John Hoffman discuss the success of the Hulu series, which earned 17 Emmy nominations, including outstanding comedy. Listen to it here.
  5. Sunny Kaushal talks to Cyrus about his life as an actor and what that journey has been like till now, on the Cyrus Says podcast. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Elon Musk shared his insights on colonising Mars, aliens, recession, the meaning of life, civilisation and so much more on the Full Send Podcast. Watch it here.
  2. In this episode of the Good Time Show, Aarthi and Sriram chatted with A.R. Rahman covering a wide range of topics from his music to movies, working with world-class directors, his family and kids, spirituality and the meaning of life, his creative process, technology and AI and the future of India. Check it out here.
  3. How dieting could reprogram your DNA? Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Malayankunju (In the aftermath of a terrible landslide in Kerala, an ill-tempered electrician struggles as a neighbour’s newborn child stirs up unwanted memories from his past.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Gargi (The journey of a young school teacher to prove her father’s innocence with the help of a juvenile advocate who’s never even seen the interiors of a court hall.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #126 (01.08.22 – 07.08.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 126th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. ‘You can’t say that!’: how to argue, better? Read here.
  2. How do NFTs fit into loyalty programs and first-party data for brands? Check it out here.
  3. Something is making the Earth spin faster and days shorter. Read it here.
  4. The most successful people are always ‘sharpening their memory power,’ says a brain expert—here’s how. Read here.
  5. Why retroactively editing Stranger Things would be the beginning of a worrying TV trend? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the Huberman Lab podcast, Dr Charles Zuker, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics and Neuroscience at Columbia University discusses the neural circuits of taste, the “gut-brain axis,” the basis of food cravings, the key difference between wanting (craving) and liking (perceiving) sugar, exploring how taste perception relates to specific food satiety, thirst, to our emotions, and expectation. Listen to it here.
  2. On the Tony Robbins podcast, Ray Dalio talks about the new world order, how countries rise and fall, and what cycles of history can teach us now. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Shaan Puri talks with vegan ultra-endurance athlete and entrepreneur, Rich Roll about starting from nothing to building a million-dollar business based on his love of eating plants, and fitness, and being an inspiration for personal transformation. Listen here.
  4. In this ep of Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit discuss with Dr Kurush F. Dalal, anthropologist and culinary chronicler, the origins of cheesemaking in India, the growth of artisanal cheese, popular and lesser-known Indian cheeses and more. Listen to it here.
  5. In this ep of The Ranveer Show, Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai breaks down the 4 Vedas of the Hindu culture – the Agniveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda & the Atharvaveda, his knowledge of Tantra, Black Magic, Rudraksha, our body’s mechanisms and so much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Aman Gupta, on The BarberShop with Shantanu, talks about building a 10,000 cr company, his co-founder, the Indian startup ecosystem and herd mentality, his relationship with money, the celebration of founders, and more. Watch it here.
  2. How traditional Italian Gelato is made? Check it out here.
  3. ‘The Gray Man’ directors Joe and Anthony Russo discuss the universal language of the action genre with ‘RRR’ director S.S. Rajamouli. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – The Terminal List (James Reece returns home after his entire platoon of Navy SEALs is ambushed, only to discover new dark forces working against him and endangering the ones he loves.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Darlings (Badru hopes her volatile husband will reform if he stops drinking. However, when his rage goes too far, she and her mum boldly, albeit clumsily, seek revenge.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #125 (25.07.22 – 31.07.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 125th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. How Can Blockchain and NFTs Decentralize Your Digital Identity on Web3? Read more here.
  2. GDP dips, sparking recession fears, but ‘don’t confuse the headlines’ with the reality, expert says: Here’s what’s really happening. Check it out here.
  3. Will It Rain Today? Will It Not? Why Accurate Local Weather Forecasts Are Elusive To India? Read here.
  4. ‘The Bear’ Co-Showrunner on How FX/Hulu Cooked Up the Series of Summer. Check it out here.
  5. The secret history of how Keanu Reeves became John Wick. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Andrew Huberman sits down with Joe Rogan (The Joe Rogan Experience) to talk about science and health, covering the topics of hormones, cold, sauna, aggression, mating, nutrition, social isolation, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. On Life Kit, therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab shares advice on how to set boundaries — and stick to them — in your daily life. Listen here.
  3. Lewis Howes and Jay Shetty have a conversation about how to create a safe environment for uncomfortable conversations, how to change the narrative behind the thinking of money is the root of all evil, why impact is always greater than income and how to separate money and success, on The School of Greatness podcast. Check it out here.
  4. “The Bear” series star Jeremy Allen White stopped by the Bingeworthy podcast to discuss getting involved with the series despite his reluctance to start another Chicago-based, family-centric series after his eleven-year stint on the hit Showtime series, “Shameless.” Listen to it here.
  5. On Cyrus Says, Rajat Kapoor takes us through the different elements of RK/RKAY, the film’s cast, shares instances that happened while writing & making the movie, and sheds light on what one can expect from the film. Cyrus and Rajat also discuss his love for theatre and what he thinks of the cinema of today’s time. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. The Manchester United Paradox. Watch here.
  2. Mark Cuban joins the Full Send podcast taking us through his journey, his business interests and approach, social media and web3, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. 7 Days in Syria in 2022 – Yes Theory takes us through the streets of Syria showcasing the people and culture there along with all the damage that has occurred there and its impact. Watch it here.
  4. Short Film Recommendation of the Week – Recommended for You (The thriller follows the dystopian story of a young man who, while randomly watching online videos at home, gets entangled in a dangerous game.) Now streaming on Amazon MiniTV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – 19(1)(a) (The mundane life of a woman running a photocopy shop goes into a tailspin when a revolutionary writer leaves the manuscript of his unpublished novel with her.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #124 (18.07.22 – 24.07.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 124th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Rupee At 80: How The Indian Currency has Aged? Check it out here.
  2. Why Central Banks Got Serious About Digital Money? Read here.
  3. How Instagram Is Changing Bollywood Music? Read it here.
  4. Dietitians swear by these 5 midday snacks to stay healthy and avoid becoming ‘over-hungry’. Check it out here.
  5. Breaking Bad Originally Started Out As A Joke. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Business Breakdowns, Ben Clymer, founder of HODINKEE, and an expert on all things luxury watches help break down one of the strongest brands in the world – Rolex, the leading name in luxury watches. Listen to it here.
  2. Susan Cain talks about the power of introverts and loneliness on the Lex Fridman podcast. Listen here.
  3. How does Drowning work? Listen to it on Stuff You Should Know podcast here.
  4. Jeremy Allen White joins host Kerry Diamond on Radio Cherry Bombe to talk about how he prepared for his role in The Bear, the team behind the show, and his take on restaurants today. Check it out here.
  5. Ryan Gosling joins Skip Intro to talk about his role in The Gray Man, explains how his childhood love of the genre inspired him to take on the highly ambitious project and describes the collaborative on-set environment the Russo’s created, and shares how he prepared for the role. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Luke Coutinho takes a deep dive into the basics of health and fitness, covering the various aspects of healing, fitness mistakes, acne, and skin problems, and fitness advice as well as health advice, on The Ranveer Show. Watch it here.
  2. How authentic croissants are made in France? Check it out here.
  3. Manoj Pahwa sat down to chat about his younger days, family, acting, theatre, food, Delhi and much more, on Unfiltered By Samdish. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – The Bear (A young chef from the fine dining world comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after a heartbreaking death in his family.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Gray Man (When the CIA’s top asset — his identity known to no one — uncovers agency secrets, he triggers a global hunt by assassins set loose by his ex-colleague.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #123 (11.07.22 – 17.07.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 123rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. How Elon Musk Became The Internet’s New Main Character? Read more here.
  2. Why DAOs could be the key to Gen Z brand loyalty? Read here.
  3. The James Webb telescope’s first stunning cosmic images are here. Check it out here.
  4. How Stranger Things got Gen Z humming 80s music? Read it here.
  5. A doctor shares the one stretch he does every day to prevent lower back pain. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The attached links redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. How to avoid ‘lifestyle creep’? Listen to it on Life Kit here.
  2. Joe Rogan sat down for a lengthy discussion that ranges across various topics such as the role discipline plays in Rogan’s life, what he did to manage his attempted cancellation following interviews with polarizing medical professionals, UFOs, Putin, the CIA and more, on the Lex Fridman podcast. Check it out here.
  3. Business Wars focuses on a new ‘battle’, Gucci vs Louis Vuitton, in their quest to become the largest luxury accessory brand in the world. Listen to the series here.
  4. George Russell tells Tom Clarkson about emotive highs with his former team, Williams, a bitter disappointment on his Mercedes debut in Sakhir and a learning moment in Italy which helped shaped him into the driver and the man he is today, on F1 Beyond the Grid podcast. Check it out here.
  5. Bryan Cranston joins the Armchair Expert to discuss his work ethic as an actor, where he learned improv from, and how playing Walter White changed television. Bryan and Dax talk about their love for motorcycles, their experiences involving alcoholism, and how much they love history. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. How real Swiss Chocolate is made? Watch it here.
  2. All the ways Google gets Street View Images. Check it out here.
  3. The cast and creators of Stranger Things sit down with host Felicia Day for a full-spoilers official after-show for Stranger Things 4 Vol. 2, as well as hints at what’s ahead for Stranger Things Season 5. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Suzhal – The Vortex (In a small South Indian town, a seemingly routine minor case explodes into a twisted crime thriller that rips apart its social fabric.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Dear Friend (For a group of friends living together in Bengaluru, life is all about fun and laughter – until one of them inexplicably disappears.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #122 (04.07.22 – 10.07.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 122nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. MrBeast explains YouTube’s algorithm. Read it here.
  2. Here’s how to build a better work-life balance, according to therapists. Read more here.
  3. People who are good at small talk ask these 5 questions to be ‘more real and less awkward’: Public speaking expert. Check it out here.
  4. Can physics help us understand habits? Read here.
  5. You should take 1 mental health day per month, the psychologist says—here are 4 great ways to use them. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this ep of Huberman Lab, Dr Andrew Huberman explains the biology and psychology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the neural circuitry underlying repetitive “thought-action loops” and why in OCD, the compulsive actions merely make the obsessions even stronger. Check it out here.
  2. How to deconstruct ageism and reframe your beliefs about ageing with tips from Becca Levy, author of Breaking the Age Code on the Life Kit podcast. Listen to it here.
  3. Jimmy Fallon speaks on How I Built This with Guy Raz about his journey to becoming the host of The Tonight Show alongside his multiple entrepreneurial ideas. Listen here.
  4. Krish Ashok talks about how food works, how it was grown, how it was marketed, what happens to it when it’s being cooked, what happens to it when it’s digested, and so on, on the podcast, One Rep at a Time by cult.fit. Check it out here.
  5. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Duffer Brothers, creators of The Stranger Things, go deep into the many momentous events of Season 4 and look ahead to the fifth and final season. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Ethan Kross on what to do if your inner voice is cruel? Watch here.
  2. Gary Vaynerchuk joins On Purpose with Jay Shetty to talk about living without judgments, how to stop beating yourself up when you make mistakes, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Hansal Mehta makes an appearance on The Bombay Journey talking about his early days in the industry, the kinds of films he’s made, and much much more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – The Gone Game (A global pandemic, a nation in lockdown, and a mysterious disappearance in the midst of it all! Sahil Gujral is gone. Did he fall prey to the virus?) Streaming on Voot here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (In this action-packed comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Nick Cage, channeling his iconic characters as he’s caught between a superfan and a CIA agent.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #121 (27.06.22 – 03.07.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 121st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. S&P 500 posts Worst First Half Loss Since 1970: What It Means And What Could Be Next. Read it here.
  2. Should You Copyright Your NFTs? Read here.
  3. A psychologist says the most successful people ‘reframe failure’ by doing 4 things—here’s why it’s so important. Check it out here.
  4. Anxiety, Depression and Gut Health: It’s Not All in Your Head. Read more here.
  5. FSSAI Comes Out With Regulations For Vegan Foods. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The School of Greatness, we learn how to spot signs of a narcissist w/ Behavioral Investigator Vanessa Van Edwards, how to view narcissism w/ Psychologist Dr Ramani Durvasula, and the main traits of a narcissist w/ Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb. Listen to it here.
  2. On the podcast, How I Built This with Guy Raz, Mark Cuban talks about his interest in NFTs and how his latest business, the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, is looking to disrupt the pharmaceutical industry. Listen here.
  3. On Masters of Scale, Sheryl Sandberg shares the practical, tactical on-the-ground leadership lessons she learned while scaling at Google and Meta. Check it out here.
  4. On the Sound + Image Lab podcast, the creators of ‘Stranger Things’ The Duffer Brothers, along with several key members of the post-production team discuss the sound, music, and editorial process behind the show. Listen here.
  5. Bradley Cooper opened up to Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes on their podcast ‘SmartLess‘ covering everything from his battles with substance abuse, how fatherhood has changed his life and perspective, the benefits of therapy, and his passion for filmmaking, specifically writing, directing, producing and starring in A Star is Born and Maestro, the latter of which is currently shooting. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Marvel vs Norse Mythology: Every God in Thor Explained & Compared. Check it out here.
  2. How Stranger Things’ SFX Artists Created Vecna? Watch it here.
  3. ‘Stranger Things’ Creators The Duffer Brothers breakdown Season 4. Watch here.
  4. On The Bombay Journey, Director Kabir Khan, known for his work in New York, Kabul Express, 83 to name a few spoke about shooting in Kabul to getting into mainstream Hindi cinema and so much in between. Watch it here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Jana Gana Mana (As a college professor’s brutal murder sparks student unrest, a cop launches an investigation while a lawyer seeks justice in the courtroom.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #120 (20.06.22 – 26.06.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 120th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary explains why he’s buying the dip in bitcoin and ether — and says the collapse of risky tokens will help the crypto market in the long run. Read more here.
  2. ‘God hates NFTs’ – Behind The Hundreds’ staged anti-crypto protest. Check it out here.
  3. The story of Apple I: From Side-Project to Historical Artifact. Check it out here.
  4. Why brands are paying thousands for crypto domain names? Read here.
  5. People who are ‘incredibly good’ at catching liars ‘on the spot’ do these 6 things, say top psychologists. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the Lex Fridman podcast, Tony Fadell, an engineer and designer, co-creator of the iPod, iPhone, and Nest Thermostat, spoke about the process of making those products, the Apple culture and how it was working with Steve Jobs, running a business and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On the Huberman Lab podcast, Dr Andrew Huberman breaks down the science and process of healing from grief, how it is distinct from depression, and the tools to deal with it. Check it out here.
  3. Shaan Puri and Sam Parr talk with YouTube stars and content creator experts Samir Chaudry and Colin Rosenblum about how to become a successful YouTuber, on the My First Million podcast. Listen here.
  4. On Awards Chatter, Selena Gomez reflects on the pros and cons of Disney Channel child stardom, finding her voice as a solo artist and getting the chance to show what she can do as an adult — opposite comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short in the show ‘Only Murders in the Building’. Check it out here.
  5. Sonu Sood makes an appearance on The Ranveer Show (Hindi) talking about his early life, his early struggles in the industry, the thought process and execution of helping people during the pandemic, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. 10,000 years of branding in 6 minutes. Check it out here.
  2. On The Ranveer Show, Dr Seema Rao, India’s first and only woman commando trainer, about her journey of becoming 1st woman commando trainer, what were the challenges she went through during her journey, and the inspiration behind it and more. Watch it here.
  3. On Unfiltered By Samdish, Anurag Basu opens up about his family and children, how he battled blood cancer and his entry into television and all things cinema. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Obi-wan Kenobi (The Jedi Master contends with the consequences of his greatest defeat — the downfall and corruption of his one-time friend and apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Runway 34 (A pilot’s flight takes a stirring and mysterious trajectory after taking off from an international destination.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #119 (13.06.22 – 19.06.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 119th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. 7.3 Billion People, One Building. Read more here.
  2. The philosophy of René Girard explains why celebrity ads are everywhere. Read here.
  3. Don’t make these 11 punctuation mistakes that ‘irritate people the most,’ say grammar experts. Check it out here.
  4. Redefining luxury for Gen Z: How the metaverse can help brands evolve? Read here.
  5. Does Skim-Watching Videos On 2X Speed Hurt Or Help Your Brain? Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Sway, Kara Swisher asks Chris Dixon if we’re watching the beginning of an all-out crash for the crypto industry, discussing the parallels to the 2008 financial crisis, digging into how much of crypto is a “scam at scale,” and contemplating what regulation from the government could help. Listen to it here.
  2. On How I Built This Lab, Sundar Pichai reflects on the unique journey that led him to Google, and the values that inspire and drive his leadership today. He and Guy Raz also discuss Google’s recent advances in artificial intelligence, and how the company is reimagining the workplace as offices across the globe reopen. Check it out here.
  3. On WorkLife with Adam Grant, Adam talks to Satya Nadella about the future of work, leadership, and building cultures of care. Listen here.
  4. Director Joseph Kosinski discusses his new film, Top Gun: Maverick, with fellow director Jason Reitman about how Top Gun came into his life (the first and second time), convincing Tom Cruise to hop back into the cockpit, and the complex process of shooting the actors while flying inside the jets. Listen to it here.
  5. On Naan Curry with Sadaf and Archit, they talk about onions, its historical significance, its health benefits, its price fluctuations, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. The School of Life founder Alain de Botton lays out his ideas on love in the modern world. Watch it here.
  2. How are South Indian films like KGF, Bahubali, and Pushpa dubbed in Hindi? Check it out here.
  3. In their Actors on Actors conversation Zendaya and Andrew Garfield reminisce on filming ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ talk about what it’s like playing Rue in her worst moments, and how Andrew Garfield chooses his roles. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – The Broken News (News channels Awaaz Bharati News and Josh 24/7 have opposing principles that lead to a fierce rivalry. The dynamic journalists attempt to balance their lives while facing an uncertain future.) Now streaming on Zee5 here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Vikram (Members of a black ops team must track and eliminate a gang of masked murderers.) Now in theatres.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #118 (06.06.22 – 12.06.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 118th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Comparing yourself to others is a sure route to misery — 5 ways to turn it into action instead. Read it here.
  2. The “dial-up” era of cryptocurrency. Check it out here.
  3. Why Pink Is Hollywood’s Favorite Post-Pandemic Power Hue? Read more here.
  4. What to say when someone says we’re in a recession? Read here.
  5. Indian billionaires held on to 99% of their wealth while the rest of the world lost over $1 trillion. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Marc Andreessen and Chris Dixon talk about the early days of the Internet, its flaws, encryption and how web3 is reinventing the internet, on the Bankless podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. Lex Fridman joins Joe Rogan on his podcast to talk about science, technology, history, philosophy, and the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power. Check it out here.
  3. On Sway, Kara Swisher talks to David Ellison, founder and CEO of Skydance Media, about working with Tom Cruise, how Ellison’s heritage factored into his future as a filmmaker, and people coming back to the theatres and more. Listen here.
  4. In this ep of Naan Curry with Sadaf and Archit, the hosts talk about the iconic Parle-G, its battle with English competitors, its brand evolution, what goes inside biscuits and more. Check it out here.
  5. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Winona Ryder and David Harbour join for a fun-filled chat about Stranger Things, their working relationship, philosophies on working with jerks, and their favourite movie and TV shows. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Unfiltered by Samdish, he speaks to one of the youngest members of the Rajya Sabha, Raghav Chadha about issues concerning the youth, the making of laws in India, his childhood and entry into politics, and more. Watch it here.
  2. Historian Abhijit Chavda joins The Ranveer Show to talk about the reality of the Indian Independence movement, the India-Pakistan conflict, partition and more. Check it out here.
  3. The cast and creators of Stranger Things – Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Priah Ferguson, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Joseph Quinn, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, creators the Duffer Brothers and executive producer Shawn Levy – sit down with host Felicia Day for a full-spoilers official after show for Stranger Things 4 Vol. 1. Watch it here.
  4. Rocky and Mayur are back with Season 8 of RoadTrippinWithRnM touring around the state of Uttarakhand. Check it out here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Don (Tamil) (Seeking a sense of purpose, a wayward college student navigates life on campus while enduring a controlling father and a disciplinarian professor.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #117 (30.05.22 – 05.06.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 117th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The 2022 State of Crypto Report. Check it out here.
  2. If Self-Discipline Feels Difficult, Then You’re Doing It Wrong (a piece by Mark Manson). Read it here.
  3. How they made ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ the most realistic flying movie ever? Check it out here.
  4. What makes the perfect ice cream? Read more here.
  5. The Duffer Brothers on Stranger Things 4′s big reveals, cameos, and why ‘everybody is in jeopardy’. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Ray Dalio joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how the world’s economy is driven by debt, how investors can study history to try to predict financial outcomes, how new world orders can shape the rules for the rest of humanity, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. How often can you get covid? Listen to it on the Today Explained podcast here.
  3. On Raw and Organic with Kunal Rajput, Prajakta Koli talks about her everyday regime, how MostlySane came into being, how she keeps up with the uncertainties of life, her relationship with the fans and her perspective on what she thinks while she is putting out any kind of content on social media. Check it out here.
  4. On the ReelBlend podcast, director Joseph Kosinski joins to discuss his new film Top Gun: Maverick, diving into some behind-the-scenes moments from making the film — everything from convincing Tom Cruise to make the movie to how the actors had to record their own reactions from the cockpit. They also discuss the film’s music, some story elements brought over from the original, and the incredible inclusion of Val Kilmer’s Iceman. Listen here.
  5. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Alex Albon tells Tom Clarkson how hard he worked behind the scenes to help Verstappen win the Drivers’ Championship and fight for his F1 return with Williams in 2022, and much more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. How to find your ‘flow‘ for optimal performance, with Steven Kotler? Check it out here.
  2. How did FIFA and EA Sports split? Watch it here.
  3. Behind the Mac: Skywalker Sound spotlights the team of creators who collaborate to make the magic we hear onscreen. From field recording and Foley to sound design and mixing, these artists reveal their process, showing us how they use Mac to bring to life sounds from the Star Wars universe and beyond. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Stranger Things (In 1980s Indiana, a group of young friends witness supernatural forces and secret government exploits. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries.) Streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Top Gun: Maverick (After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete Mitchell is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.) Now in theatres.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #116 (23.05.22 – 29.05.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 116th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Money is about to enter a new era of competition. Read more here.
  2. The State Of Inequality In India: Five Facts To Know. Check it out here.
  3. Bill Gates sees a ‘pretty strong argument’ for a global economic slowdown hitting this year — here’s why. Read here.
  4. What is the science of mangoes? Know more here.
  5. The right way to give constructive feedback at work. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Andrew Huberman talks about diet, mental states, focus, stress, relationships and friendships on the Lex Fridman Podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. On The School of Greatness, Vinh Pham, a licensed physical therapist, talks about how to future-proof your body, why you should be proactive about your health, how to improve your body’s movement efficiency, and how to unravel all the body damage you’ve built up over time. Check it out here.
  3. On Sway, Roger Lynch, CEO of Condé Nast, explains the company’s pivot towards digital, why and how the company has changed through a cultural reckoning, fielding accusations of toxic work culture and firing some of its top editors in recent years, and more. Listen here.
  4. On Variety Awards Circuit, Jared Leto discusses playing real-life WeWork founder Adam Neumann, the instant chemistry he had with co-star Anne Hathaway, and how he’s known for transforming for his roles, such as his recent, unrecognizable turn in “House of Gucci.” Check it out here.
  5. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Ajay Devgn spoke about his married life, family responsibilities, ageing, spirituality, his innate love for cinema, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Why has Casey Neistat stopped uploading? What does his new life look like in Los Angeles? Why does he never look at the number of views he gets? Casey Neistat dropped by Nas Summit to answer all those questions and many more. Watch it here.
  2. In this TEDx talk, Brian Jung gives us a glimpse into the future of the metaverse and how it will impact every aspect of society be it socialization, communication, education, fashion or work. Check it out here.
  3. Why are football shirts so expensive? Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Modern Love: Mumbai (Exploring six unique yet universal stories of human connection and love in its varied forms, including romantic, platonic, parental, sexual, familial, marital and self love.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Everything Everywhere All at Once (When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bizarre and bewildering dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.)

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #115 (16.05.22 – 22.05.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 115th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Art is an Investment to Appreciate. Read more here.
  2. How NFTs Could Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? Read here.
  3. Why Some Animals And Plants Don’t Belong Everywhere? Read it here.
  4. A Harvard nutritionist and brain expert avoids these 5 types of foods that can make you ‘tired and stressed’. Check it out here.
  5. Food fights are not new to India. Medieval texts show mud-slinging among Jains, Buddhists, and Hindus. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Life Kit, Psychologist Aarti Gupta explains how FOMO shows up in our lives and how to battle it. Listen to it here.
  2. On Props & Drops with Matt Kalish and GaryVee, Kevin Rose joins in to talk Moonbirds, Proof.xyz, and drop some history about Gary and his time in the Web2 world, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Business Wars focuses on a new ‘battle’, Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry’s, the battle for ice cream supremacy. Listen here.
  4. Seth Godin riffs about creating conditions for change, on his podcast Akimbo. Check it out here.
  5. In this episode of Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit chat about one of the most important ingredients in India – milk, its history, its health benefits, types of milk, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On TED Talks Daily, design thinker and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri explains how this new age of the internet (web3) will give way to “the greatest transfer of power from institutions to individuals in all time.” Watch it here.
  2. On Unfiltered by Samdish, Pankaj Tripathi shares his fond memories of doing theatre, talks about some of his iconic roles and reveals his strong opinions on birthdays, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Pooja Hegde speaks to Anupama Chopra about her Cannes 2022 debut, being a ‘Potter nerd’, Arabic Kuthu and the craze around it and what she’s hoping to achieve with the All About Love foundation. Watch here.
  4. Short Film Recommendation of the Week – Tasalli Se (The story revolves around two friends, Somesh and Ranjan, who had a spat on social media but reconcile after 12 long years.) Now streaming on Amazon MiniTV here.
  5. Short Film Recommendation 2 of the Week – Gray (Based on the life of a young woman, Naina, who goes through a tumultuous time after an uncomfortable experience changes her life.) Now streaming on Amazon MiniTV here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #114 (09.05.22 – 15.05.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 114th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The Tail End. Read in detail here.
  2. A psychotherapist shares the 3 exercises she uses every day to ‘stop obsessing about the future’. Check it out here.
  3. Inflation And The Nominal Illusion. Read here.
  4. Long Covid is ‘continuing to increase,’ experts say. Here’s how to know if you have it — and what to do about it. Read more here.
  5. Behold the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole in the first-ever photo. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the On Purpose podcast, Jay Shetty sits down with Andrew Huberman to talk about the beauty and power of the human mind, the best way people can approach learning, what happens while we sleep, the impact of dopamine and so much more. Listen here.
  2. On the a16z podcast, General partner Chris Dixon chats with Brian McCullough about How the Internet Happened — and more broadly, about how tech adoption and innovation happens. They discuss lessons learned, how innovation doesn’t happen in a straight line, and what the past can tell us about the next phase of the internet and technology. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri sit down with entrepreneur and online marketing guru Neil Patel to talk about his success starting as a blogger to making 9-figures in revenue. Listen to it here.
  4. On Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast, Neil deGrasse Tyson talks about how he picked which college to attend, the naming of his daughter, what he would do if he were dean of admissions of Harvard, how flight attendants assume he’s not in first-class because he’s black, the limitations of the bible as a reference source and more. Check it out here.
  5. In this episode of “In the Envelope,” John Cena walks us through every step from selling out arenas in the WWE to the on-screen failures that motivated him in the lead-up to joining the DC Universe and “Fast & Furious” franchise, Cena breaks down how he always tries to find—and subvert—the motivations of any persona he plays. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Gary Vaynerchuck joins the Impaulsive podcast to discuss the Web3 revolution, his biggest regret with Kobe Bryant, why he didn’t invest in UBER, being impersonated on TikTok, why Jake Paul vs Logan Paul MUST happen, cancelling college forever, Cryptopunks over Bored Apes, how to love yourself & more. Watch it here.
  2. Why Cloves Are So Expensive? Check it out here.
  3. In this edition of FC Front Row, Ranveer Singh speaks about his purpose as an actor, the dissonance between his public and private persona and Jayeshbhai Jordaar. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Guilty Minds (Legal drama erupts between a family that is the paragon of virtue and the other, a leading law firm dealing with all shades of grey.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Puzhu (A gripping thriller with focus on the relationship between a father and son, and the underlying family dynamics and trust issues that follow.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #113 (02.05.21 – 08.05.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 113th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. 7 Essential Ingredients of a Metaverse. Check it out here.
  2. We Created the ‘Pandemicene’. Read more here.
  3. Scientists Find No Benefit to Time-Restricted Eating. Read here.
  4. With NFTs Any Type of IP Can Be Monetized. Find out more here.
  5. Successful people do these 3 things on Sunday for a happier, stress-free week, according to a productivity expert. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Sway, Kara Swisher asks Ray Dalio, the billionaire behind the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater, to explain his theory behind the rise and decline of empires. They talk about China’s rise and how American competitiveness will shake out as the nation faces potential stagflation in addition to polarization, inequality and a new, Gen Z approach to work. Listen to it here.
  2. 25 Essential Rules for Life (from the Stoics) on the Daily Stoic Podcast. Check it out here.
  3. In this conversation with LinkedIn Editor-in-Chief Dan Roth, Toto Wolff holds forth on his journey, his business practices, including his infamous commitment to candor and transparency, and his hope for the next generation. Listen here.
  4. On Naan Curry with Sadar and Archit, the hosts discuss Halwa, its beautiful history, why is it a healthy tonic, what are Habshi and Sohan Halwas and more. Check it out here.
  5. On Variety Awards Circuit, Tom Hiddleston talks about his two Emmy contenders, Loki and The Essex Serpent, having a milestone birthday during the pandemic and more. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this View From The Top interview, CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, speaks to Archana Sohmshetty, MBA ’22, about the impact of access to technology, humanity’s challenge to harness it, and how Google is sustainably defining the future of work. Watch it here.
  2. Why there’s no one inside the Spider-man suit? Check it out here.
  3. On this episode of The Bombay Journey X Sunday Brunch, Pooja Hegde talks about her journey from the Miss India stage to working in various film industries across the Nation and more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Made for Love (A woman is on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to a tech billionaire, who has implanted a monitoring device in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her and know her “emotional data” as she tries to regain her independence.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Thar (A veteran cop sees the chance to prove himself when murder shakes up a sleepy desert town, sending him into the seedy underbelly of the town as he attempts to uncover a grisly torture plot.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #112 (25.04.21 – 01.05.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 112th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Elon Musk can’t insult Twitter: Every weird detail in Musk’s $44 billion Twitter buyout deal that ensures both parties commit to the agreement. Read it here.
  2. The NFT Narrative. Read more here.
  3. Why Billionaires and Celebrities Are Tripping Over Themselves to Buy Chelsea F.C. Check it out here.
  4. The Controversy of Copyright in NFTs… is CC0 The Solution? Read here.
  5. A nutritionist shares the 35 best foods to boost mood and brain energy levels. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the Superteam podcast, Tanmay Bhat and Akshay BD interview Brian Armstrong, co-founder, and CEO of Coinbase about his entrepreneurial journey, Coinbase’s history, India launch, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. In this conversation on Sway, Kara Swisher and Jimmy Kimmel discuss whether cancel culture has come too far, Kimmel’s own evolution from pranks on “The Man Show” to political commentary on access to health care and how Trump changed the comedy world. Listen here.
  3. On The Joe Pomp Show, AJ Vaynerchuk discusses the qualities that all world-class entrepreneurs share, the balance between hard work, family, and health, the pros & cons of angel investing, and much more. Check it out here.
  4. Podcast Recommendation: Think Fast with Varun and Suchita (Think Fast is a podcast about the latest trends and conversations happening in the world of business, media, content, marketing and beyond.) Check it out here.
  5. On The Empire Film Podcast, Kenneth Branagh talks about growing up during very different eras, about Branagh’s decision to make the movie now, and about his creative choices such as going black-and-white and using copious amounts of Van Morrison on the soundtrack, Northern Irish accents and much more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. How Nike tricked the US Government? Know more here.
  2. On The Bombay Journey, Abhishek Bachchan talks about his film Dasvi, growing up in Juhu and stories from there, and his life in and around the film industry. Watch it here.
  3. In this session of FC Front Row, Ajay Devgn talks to Anupama Chopra about negotiating success on his terms, the need for the Hindi film industry to be more unified and being a spontaneous actor. He also talks about his upcoming film Runway 34 and a quick update about Singham 3. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Better Call Saul (Ex-con artist Jimmy McGill turns into a small-time attorney and goes through a series of trials and tragedies, as he transforms into his alter ego Saul Goodman, a morally challenged criminal lawyer.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Naradan (When a colleague lands a coveted job, a journalist throws away his moral principles and writes fabricated and half-baked stories to become a major influencer.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #111 (18.04.21 – 24.04.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 111th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The ‘Batman Effect’: How having an alter ego empowers you? Read it here.
  2. In the Metaverse, community transcends technology, time and “Myspace”. Read more here.
  3. Here are the biggest signs that someone is lying to you, according to a body language expert. Check it out here.
  4. People aren’t ready to quit quitting. Read here.
  5. Iconic Bollywood Villains Analysed by a Psychiatrist. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Chris Dixon thinks web3 is the future of the internet. Is it? Listen to it on Decoder with Nilay Patel here.
  2. On the School of Greatness, Dr Daniel Z. Lieberman, a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University in Washington deep dives into the topic of dopamine, how to use dopamine in a healthy, productive way, a common mistake people make about love, about the root causes of depression, and how not to focus too much on the future. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri talk about their interactions with famous people and how to leave a good impression, how in-person events make money (and why they’re only getting bigger), and much more. Listen here.
  4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt digs deep into the artistic process in this episode of “In the Envelope,” which touches on everything from the joys of editing to the complex lessons you can learn from your IMDB page. Listen to it here.
  5. Suresh Raina talks about his early life, how his career started and his journey with the Indian Cricket Team, his family background, his investments and more on The Ranveer Show Hindi. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. How OpenSea Cornered The $17 Billion Market For NFTs? Watch it here.
  2. On The Colin and Samir Show, Yes Theory founders and creators Thomas Brag and Ammar Kandil talk about their journey and their craziest ideas, the secret to creative partnerships, their latest film release, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Actor Yash talks to Baradwaj Rangan about his film KGF2, about being a pan Indian star, the success of KGF and a lot more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Killing It (A comedy about class, capitalism and one man’s quest to achieve the American dream.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – James (James also called Santhosh Kumar, who works as a manager in a security company and finds himself up against the big bad guys.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #110 (11.04.21 – 17.04.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 110th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. NFTs and the Environment: Why the Anger Is Unjustified. Read more here.
  2. Mango Inflation: No Country For Aam Aadmi. Read here.
  3. Why do billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel want to live longer — and Elon Musk doesn’t. Check it out here.
  4. Serena Williams talks about mom guilt, her venture capital firm, and ‘King Richard’ sequel. Read here.
  5. Narcissists share these 5 toxic money habits, says a psychologist. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In conversation with the head of TED Chris Anderson, Elon Musk details how the radical new innovations he’s working on—Tesla’s intelligent humanoid robot Optimus, SpaceX’s otherworldly Starship and Neuralink’s brain-machine interfaces—could help maximize the lifespan of humanity and create a world where goods and services are abundant and accessible for all. Listen to it here.
  2. On his podcast, Naval hosts Vitalik Buterin and Haseeb Qureshi and deep dive into Vitalik’s background, understanding Ethereum and everything about it, decentralisation and Blockchain, and more. Listen here.
  3. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Sanjay Dutt spoke about the three most difficult stages of his life – his drug addiction, jail time, his cancer diagnosis, and his mindset to come out of each phase as a warrior. Check it out here.
  4. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Kevin Magnussen tells Tom Clarkson how it felt to lose his place in F1, why his second stint in the sport feels different, what it’s like racing as a dad, and his goals now he’s back in F1. Listen here.
  5. Bob Odenkirk joins the Armchair Expert to discuss beginning his career flying back and forth from Chicago to New York, being open and curious about people without judgment, creating successes out of their failures, and so much more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On TED Talks Daily, Elon Musk digs into the recent news around his bid to purchase Twitter and gets honest about the biggest regret of his career, how his brain works, the future he envisions for the world and a lot more. Watch it here.
  2. NTR Jr and Ram Charan in conversation with Baradwaj Rangan on what It takes to fulfil director SS Rajamouli’s vision, how they navigated through their legendary characters in RRR, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Farhan Akhtar interviews Yash and Prashanth Neel, director of KGF2 about the vision of the film, the writing and shooting process, how the dialogues were written on set and breaking the industry barriers to making a pan-India film. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation # 1 of the Week – RRR (A tale of two legendary revolutionaries and their journey far away from home. After their journey they return home to start fighting back against British colonialists in the 1920s) Now in theatres.
  5. Movie Recommendation # 2 of the Week – K.G.F: Chapter 2 (In the blood-soaked Kolar Gold Fields, Rocky’s name strikes fear into his foes. While his allies look up to him, the government sees him as a threat to law and order, and Rocky must battle threats from all sides.) Now in theatres.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #109 (04.04.21 – 10.04.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 109th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. ‘Gm’: A Jolly Crypto Greeting Goes Viral, Sparks Squabbles. Read this piece by WSJ here.
  2. Is a recession on the way? These unconventional economic indicators may provide some clues. Read here.
  3. 4 signs you may have a weak immune system—and what to do about it, according to an immunologist. Check it out here.
  4. Here’s what it will take for movie theatres to survive 10 years from now. Read it here.
  5. WeCrashed: Inside Rebekah Neumann and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Relationship. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Ranveer takes a deep dive into John Abraham’s mind, the mistakes he has made in the past, the failures, his brand image & more. He also breaks down how he disassociates his self-worth from the success or failure of a particular film. Listen to it here.
  2. On Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala, Ankur Warikoo chats about approaching creativity as a process, finding what works with an audience, and also finding what actually brings happiness. Check it out here.
  3. When Airbnb arrived in New York City in 2009, it began operating in neighbourhoods where affordable housing was already in short supply. Angry renters complained, and city officials decided to do something about it. This is the story of Airbnb vs NYC on Business Wars. Check out the series here.
  4. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: WeCrashed: The Companion Podcast, hosted by Prof Scott Galloway, where he talks to the cast, crew, and experts to give an inside look into how the “WeCrashed” TV series brought this fascinating story to the screen. Listen here.
  5. On Variety Awards Circuit, Denis Villeneuve discusses his passion for creating the world of “Dune” and teases what to expect with “Dune Part Two,” including working with Zendaya. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On the Superteam Podcast, Tanmay and Akshay host Sam-Bankman Fried and Aravind Memon to talk about FTX, its launch in India, Sam’s approach as a founder, web2 vs web3, and so much more. Watch it here.
  2. Manish Malhotra talks about starting his journey in fashion, the current trends and his role in it, his love for food, and much much more, on The Bombay Journey. Check it out here.
  3. The Double Life of Daniel Ricciardo. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Moon Knight (Steven Grant and mercenary Marc Spector investigate the mysteries of the Egyptian gods from inside the same body.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Etharkkum Thunindhavan (When a lawyer uncovers a ruthless leader’s criminal network that sexually exploits and threatens young women, he embarks on a bloody pursuit.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #108 (28.03.21 – 03.04.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 108th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The Best Carbs Eaten by the Longest Living People In The World. Check it out here.
  2. Mark Manson’s opinion piece on ‘Slaps and Celebrity‘. Read here.
  3. Why you can’t stop reading about the Slap? Read more here.
  4. Moving Mainstream: How Big Brands Are Using NFTs. Check it out here.
  5. How video game development has changed over the last decade? Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Kris Fade Show, GaryVee talks about the basics of NFTs and Web3 and why we care about digital assets, the lack of accountability in society, and much more. Listen here.
  2. Dr Daniel Amen discusses with Lewis Howes the main causes of dementia and how to prevent it, the five different brain types, the lies around happiness, 5 questions to ask yourself when you have a negative thought, and so much more on The School of Greatness. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Advertising Is Dead, Varun Duggirala is joined by Malini Agarwal taking us through the journey of establishing Miss Malini, how it began as a blog and eventually became an empire consisting of multiple offsets that aim at helping creators with tips to make great content, create a safe space for women, and give all the news from the glam world. Listen to it here.
  4. Susie Wolff, CEO of the front-running Venturi Formula E team, talks about becoming the first woman to drive in an official F1 session for more than two decades, how she earned her F1 opportunity through making life-changing decisions and dedication to her dream and more on F1 Beyond the Grid podcast. Check it out here.
  5. On Sway, Andrew Garfield and Kara talk about his unconventional approach to the internet and the dangers of idolizing Kanye West or Elon Musk. They also speak about Garfield’s portrayal of Jonathan Larson, the composer of “Rent,” in “Tick, Tick … Boom!” And they discuss how the death of a parent has affected the way they each embrace life. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Ashwin Sanghi, an Indian writer of thriller, fiction, and history, spoke about the Hindu culture, various political narratives, culture & the art of storytelling, on The Ranveer Show. Watch it here.
  2. Tanmay Bhat hosts Sadhguru taking a deep dive into living alone, love and boundaries, the purpose of life, nutrition in available food, the save soil campaign and more. Check it out here.
  3. John Abraham talks about fitness, his love for bikes, his food choices, his routine and choosing his film roles, on The Bombay Journey. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – WeCrashed (The love story at the centre of the rise and fall of one of the world’s most valuable startups. WeWork grows from a single co-working space into a global brand worth $47 billion in under a decade. Then, in less than a year, its valuation plummets.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Sharmaji Namkeen (A light-hearted coming-of-age story of a lovable 60-year-old-man.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #107 (21.03.21 – 27.03.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 107th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. There’s something off about ApeCoin (an opinion piece by Casey Newton) Read more here.
  2. Ash Barty’s shock retirement from tennis offers some vital career lessons. Read here.
  3. ‘CODA‘ Forever Changed Director Sian Heder’s Approach to Filmmaking. Check it out here.
  4. Director Ryusuke Hamaguchi on Grief, Forgiveness and Breaking Language Barriers in ‘Drive My Car‘. Read it here.
  5. The Power Of Silliness In A Dark World. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Dr Andrew D Huberman takes a deep dive into the emerging field of mind-body neuroscience, the neuroscience of ADHD, focus, hypnosis, and processing trauma, how to leverage light, temperature, breath, and sleep to better control your biology and many other fascinating topics on the Rich Roll podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. With the Oscars around the corner, the hosts dig into all 10 Best Picture nominees and discuss whether their Tomatometer scores accurately represent where they rank against each other, on Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong podcast. Check it out here.
  3. Troy Kotsur, the first deaf male ever nominated for an acting Oscar reflects on growing up as the only deaf member of his family, making his name in deaf theatre and how the making of and tremendous response to his performance in Sian Heder’s film about a child of deaf adults (or “CODA”) has changed his life, on the Awards Chatter podcast. Listen here.
  4. On IMDb is Obsessed, Ian and Alex break down every reason you should watch Drive My Car, this quiet but fascinating Academy Award-nominated film. Check it out here.
  5. Cate Blanchett discusses her duo of Oscar contenders, “Don’t Look Up” and “Nightmare Alley” on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. How NFTs are building the internet of the future? (a TED Talk by Kayvon Tehranian, founder and CEO of Foundation) Watch it here.
  2. Hans Zimmer, ‘Dune’ composer, gives his in-depth analysis and insider’s look at how the score was created for Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film. Watch here.
  3. On The Ranveer Show, Satpal Singh from Nanak Naam, a spiritual coach and an expert on Sikhism, went into the depth of Sikhism, Spirituality, Meditation, and more. Satpal Singh explained the idea of ego, inner peace, and happiness. He also put the light on the concept of death & rebirth, the warrior aspect of Sikhism, and 5 important elements of Sikhism. Check it out here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (The story of Uber from the perspective of the company’s CEO Travis Kalanick.) Now streaming on Voot here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Drive My Car (Adapted from Haruki Murakami’s short story, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car is a haunting road movie traveling a path of love, loss, acceptance, and peace.) Now streaming on MUBI here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #106 (14.03.21 – 20.03.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 106th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The Life Cycle of Outrage. Check it out here.
  2. How the Oscars Are Embracing Coming-of-Age Stories This Year? Read here.
  3. What If No One Owned Chelsea FC? Read more here.
  4. Got a headache? Nostalgia might help cure it, according to a new study. Read here.
  5. How Dune created the sinister sounds of those menacing sandworms? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the NFT now podcast, Gary Vaynerchuk talks about his NFT predictions for summer 2022, his personal multi-million dollar NFT collection, how he practices accountability to his token holders, the NFT bubble, and more. Listen here.
  2. On Advertising Is Dead, Chef Saransh Goila joins Varun Duggirala to talk about his latest venture ‘Bambai Meal Rolls’, how he became a chef, his inspirations on the way, his culinary travels, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast, Carlos Sainz tells about how his seasons at McLaren shaped him into the driver he is today, his rivalries and friendships with Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, the physical and mental gains he’s made during early morning gym sessions and why F1’s Smooth Operator is not actually smooth at all. Listen to it here.
  4. Vidya Balan converses about her journey so far, the ups and downs, coping mechanisms, her love for acting and how she has enjoyed working on every project so far, and much more, on This Round Is On Me with Gauri Devidayal. Check it out here.
  5. On Variety Awards Circuit, Jessica Chastain discusses how she wanted to portray televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” plus how Oscar campaigns have changed in the post-Harvey Weinstein era and what’s next on her busy acting plate. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. On the Joe Rogan podcast, Sadhguru talks about the importance of soil, the origin of yoga, going beyond the realm of logic to understand things we don’t know about, and so much more. This was a power-packed conversation that you can watch here.
  2. The Problem with F1 Sponsorships. Check it out here.
  3. On Film Companion, Vidya Balan & Shefali Shah speak to Anupama Chopra about their experience collaborating with each other on Jalsa, what they picked up from each other’s process and the reality of being married to film producers. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Jugaadistan (A college life drama focusing on the gritty side of campus life, Politics, Love and Emotions.) Now streaming on Lionsgate Play here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Jalsa (A hit and run of an 18 year old girl raises many a question only to realise that truth is rarely pure and never simple.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #105 (07.03.21 – 13.03.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 105th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. What Makes You, You? (one of the best things I’ve read) Read it here.
  2. The Mythology of Red Bull. Read more here.
  3. Crypto Brain Drain Is ‘Crazy’ in India, Polygon Co-Founder Says. Read here.
  4. Why saturated fats are not bad? Check it out here.
  5. ‘The Batman‘: Breaking Down the Sound and Fury that Brought the Batmobile to Life. Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Mila Kunis joins the podcast, Props and Drops with Matt Kalish and GaryVee to chat about Web3, the challenges and changes she faced when building Stoner Cats, and her experiences in this wild space. Listen here.
  2. A riff on making up your mind by Seth Godin on his podcast, Akimbo. Listen to it here.
  3. Vulnerability and Redemption with Adrian Grenier on A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek. Check it out here.
  4. Matt Reeves deep-dives into The Batman, breaking down every aspect of it, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Listen here.
  5. Matt Reeves and his incredible team of sound and music artists: Michael Giacchino (composer), Will Files (Supervising Sound Editor), Douglas Murray (Supervising Sound Editor), Andy Nelson (Re-Recording Mixer) discuss the sound and music of The Batman on the Sound + Image Lab: The Dolby Institute Podcast. Check out Part 1 here.
    In Part 2: joining Matt Reeves, Director of Photography Greig Fraser, Supervising and Lead Digital Colorist, David Cole deep dive into the technical aspects of their post-production process on The Batman. Check out Part 2 here.

What To Watch:

  1. Inside A Village In Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the reality of Mubarakpur, Samdish Bhatia speaks to the children, youth, and the elderly to understand their lifestyle, livelihood, and their relationship with the state, on his channel Unfiltered by Samdish. Check it out here.
  2. Shefali Shah, Prajakta Koli, Kusha Kapila, Neelam Kothari Soni, Masaba Gupta, Mrunal Thakur and Swastika Mukherjee share their views with Anupama Chopra about the changing dynamics of women in cinema and entertainment, the role OTT has played in empowering female actors and the areas that still need our attention. Watch it here.
  3. Rocky and Mayur return with season 7 of RoadTrippinWithRnM highlighting the state of Rajasthan this time around. Check it out here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Severance (Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and personal lives; when a mysterious colleague appears outside of work, it begins a journey to discover the truth about their jobs.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Adam Project (After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #104 (28.02.21 – 06.03.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 104th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The Meaning of NFTs: It’s About More Than Money or Art. Read more here.
  2. Why India Isn’t Buying NFTs (Yet)? Read here.
  3. The psychology behind your sudden Wordle obsession. Check it out here.
  4. Stop trying to work in multiple browser tabs. It’s terrible for your focus. Read more here.
  5. It’s not the end of the world… yet. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Huberman Lab, Dr Andrew D Huberman discusses the psychology and biology of desire, love and attachment, how childhood attachment types are thought to inform adult attachment styles to romantic partners, and some of the major theories of human mate selection, relationships and infidelity. Listen here.
  2. On Creative Elements, Seth Godin talks about art, freelancing, building a personal brand, and why he disagrees with the idea of authenticity. Listen to it here.
  3. Shaan Puri sits down with Raoul Pal (@RaoulGMI) to talk about his career, how he 10X-ed his money with crypto, why NFTs are a bubble, winning the game of life, and more, on the My First Million podcast. Check it out here.
  4. On Comedy Gold Minds, Kevin Hart is joined by Aziz Ansari to have a detailed conversation about their rise to success in stand-up, how the show Master of None came about, where Aziz draws his inspiration from for his material, and Aziz’s experience in taking a step back from performing and work for time to himself. Listen to it here.
  5. On the ReelBlend podcast, director Matt Reeves discusses the making of the Batman movie, living up to Batman’s iconic name, his choice to skip the Wayne origins story, and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On the Lex Fridman podcast, Elon Musk talks about SpaceX, Mars, Tesla AutoPilot, Self-Driving, Robotics, Cryptocurrencies and more. Watch here.
  2. On The Ranveer Show, Sadhguru talks about Generation Z, Metaverse, Death, the Save Soil movement, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. The best deal Cristiano Ronaldo ever made was selling his image rights. Watch it here.
  4. Zoë Kravitz, Robert Pattinson, Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark break down ‘The Batman’. Watch here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Batman (Batman ventures into Gotham City’s underworld when a sadistic killer leaves behind a trail of cryptic clues. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator’s plans become clear, he must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued the metropolis.) Now in theatres.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #103 (21.02.21 – 27.02.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 103rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. How Covid Stole Our Time and How We Can Get It Back? Read it here.
  2. Why are so many people saying ‘Wordle‘ is harder now? Check it out here.
  3. A psychotherapist shares the 3 exercises she uses every day ‘to stop overthinking’. Read here.
  4. How Square grew from a scrappy hardware start-up to a payments powerhouse in just over a decade? Read about here.
  5. The inside story of how Tumblr lost its way. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The School of Greatness, Lewis discusses with Robin Sharma why your story about yourself could be what’s holding you back, how to transition from a victim to a hero in your own life, the best habits that most people are unwilling to build, the 8 forms of wealth that we should be focusing on and so much more. Listen to it here.
  2. Maajid Nawaz, a former Islamist turned counter-extremism activist, author of multiple books, and public speaker, talks about his story, why the machine is broken, the vaccine mandate side effects, the banality of evil, a war on reality, CBDCs and so much more, on the Joe Rogan podcast. Check it out here.
  3. The history, truth and future of Russia vs Ukraine explained simply by Abhijit Chavda on The Ranveer Show. Listen here.
  4. An in-depth conversation with Reese Witherspoon on her journey, her approach to acting and producing films and the future on the podcast, ‘In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast‘. Listen to it here.
  5. On the podcast, ‘Women on Top in India‘, Gauri Devidayal and Suchita Salwan, founder of LBB India, dive deep into why omnichannel presence is key to succeeding, how to build a loyal customer base, how to approach prejudice at work and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Why are NFTs in sports so valuable? (feat Pique) Watch here.
  2. Why do Kombucha makers spend millions to make the drink less boozy? Check it out here.
  3. Tanmay Bhat and Rohan Joshi have a conversation with Anupam Mittal about Shark Tank India, its sudden craze and rise, his entrepreneurial journey and the investments he has made and much more. Watch it here.
  4. On Film Companion, Sushmita Sen joins Anupama Chopra for a conversation about redefining her life and career. The actor speaks about her return to OTT with the second season of Aarya, being discoverable for filmmakers through Instagram and breaking free from the ‘black book of guidelines’ to thrive in the industry. Check it out here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Belfast (A semi-autobiographical film which chronicles the life of a working-class family and their young son’s childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital.) Check it here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #102 (14.02.21 – 20.02.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 102nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Part 1: Why Procrastinators Procrastinate? Read here.
    Part 2: How to Beat Procrastination? Read here.
  2. 5 Problems With the Self-Help Industry. Check it out here.
  3. The 3 biggest fears that hold people back in life, according to an emotional wellness coach. Read it here.
  4. The customers who repeatedly buy doomed products. Read more here.
  5. The deep-sea discoveries and sightings of 2021 are amazing. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the NFT now podcast, Reese Witherspoon talks about how she became involved in the NFT ecosystem, her thoughts on digital identity and the metaverse, the potential of NFTs and web3 to impact the film industry, bringing her company Hello Sunshine into the NFT space, and much more. Check it out here.
  2. On Business Breakdowns, they cover Solana, the killer app for decentralized ledgers, the history of on-chain transaction speeds, and the fundamental difference between software and blockchain technology. They then delve into the architecture that has enabled Solana’s speed unlock and look at the platform’s potential to become a huge piece of the world’s financial infrastructure. Listen to it here.
  3. On My First Million podcast, Sam Parr sits down with Max Lytvyn, co-founder and head of revenue at Grammarly, to talk about the founding story of the company, how he grew it from 0 to $13B in revenue, why he decided to hire an outside CEO, and much more. Listen here.
  4. On The Ranveer Show, Mayur Kalbag – the best-selling author of the book ‘Aghori – The Untold Story and Ranveer dig a little deeper into the spiritual side of Aghoris, their origin, history, and the secret behind their long life. We’ll also discuss Maha Aghoris, their Yog Sadhanas, and their spiritual practices at the graveyard. Check it out here.
  5. From engineering to content creation, get to know Viraj Ghelani’s story on creating internet-breaking content every day on the Pepper Spotlight podcast. He also talks about scaling up his fanbase with exciting merch and how you can do it too. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Why Wordle won’t go away? Watch here.
  2. On Unfiltered with Samdish, MP Manoj Tiwari spoke about the aftermath of their first interaction, the upcoming 2022 Assembly Elections, the inner workings of the BJP, and much much more. Watch it here.
  3. 30 Questions with Rohan Joshi ft Peyush Bansal, Founder of LensKart, looking back at the Shark Tank India season and the deals he made. Check it out here.
  4. In this episode of “Notes on a Scene,” ‘Dune’ director Denis Villeneuve breaks down the scene where Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is challenged to a test, the Gom Jabbar, to see if his humanity will overcome his animal impulses. A poisoned needle is held to his neck to incentivize him to complete the test. Denis explains how he built such a tense scene with the layering of ancient aesthetic and visual effects. Watch here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Bro Daddy (The plot revolves around the life of a family man. Unexpected events happen in their house. The brother and father decide to take on the challenges.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #101 (07.02.21 – 13.02.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 101st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. The economics of Spotify. Read more here.
  2. Silicon Valley is no longer the edgy tech frontier as workers flee Google and Amazon for crypto and Web3 startups, recruiters say. Read here.
  3. New modes of ownership: From torrents to music NFTs. Check it out here.
  4. When is it okay to lie? Read it here.
  5. Covid fatigue is making the pandemic worse — and prolonging its end, experts say. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Ranveer Show, Nikhil Kamath – Co-founder of Zerodha, talks about the updates on the union budget, Crypto trading and the impact of the budget on Crypto investors. Also, Nikhil expressed his thoughts on taxation, the future of India, and the problems in the country from the financial perspective. Listen to it here.
  2. On Sway, Kara Swisher and designer and podcaster Debbie Millman discuss the impact — and limits — of brands in shaping our lives and what that means in an age where people increasingly refer to themselves as brands. They grapple with the economy of influencers, the illusions of Insta-happiness and Facebook’s recent rebranding to Meta. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri are joined by Ben Levy to discuss the story of the World copycat who topped the app store charts and then lost everything, Shaan and Ben’s new project, Milk Road, and how to pick your next project. Listen here.
  4. On this episode of Story Tellers and Story Sellers, Vineet talks to acclaimed filmmaker Nikkhil Advani about his latest creation, Rocket Boys. Nikkhil tells Vineet about how the show was developed, his impressions of the two scientists & how stories about our modern history help recreate the social fabric of modern India. Check it out here.
  5. On That Scene with Dan Patrick, actor J.K. Simmons joins Dan to discuss his Academy Award-winning performance as music instructor Terence Fletcher in the 2014 film Whiplash. He talks about his approach to portraying such an intense character and goes in-depth on some of the most memorable scenes. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. The Silent Genius of Khaby Lame – who is he, how did his videos go viral, and what can we learn from his rise. Watch it here.
  2. The Sound of Dune: Visionary director Denis Villeneuve discusses the creative benefits of early collaboration with his sound team, the process of crafting Dune’s unique soundscapes including Arrakis desert, sandworm, ornithopter, spice (melange) and the voice of the Bene Gesserit. Check it out here.
  3. 30 Questions with Rohan Joshi ft Jim Sarbh, Ishwak Singh and Abhay Pannu deep-diving into Rocket Boys and the stories while filming it. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Rocket Boys (The story of two extraordinary men, Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, who created history while building India’s future.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Looop Lapeta (When her boyfriend loses a mobster’s cash, Savi races against the clock to save the day — if only she can break out of a curious cycle of dead ends.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #100 (31.01.21 – 06.02.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 100th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. How does Wordle’s Creator Feels About Selling His Viral Game? Read here.
  2. VR vs. AR vs. MR vs. XR: What’s the difference? Check it out here.
  3. Bots Are Overrunning Crypto Networks Like Solana as They Hunt for Profits. Read about this here.
  4. Body neutrality is one way to reject diet culture. Here’s what that means. Read here.
  5. How flavours are linked to memories? Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this episode of The School of Greatness, Lewis discusses with Dr Andrew D Huberman how sleeping poorly negatively affects you, the main things that prevent you from sleeping well and how to fix them, how nutrition and exercise affect sleep, what is happening in the brain when we sleep and so much more. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Joe Pomp Show, Gary Vaynerchuk talks about when he first heard about crypto and NFTs, how he plans to grow the IP for VeeFriends, the future of the digital economy, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri are joined by Ryan Holiday to discuss how Ryan makes and spends his money, why he opened a book shop, what fuels him, why he decided to sell coins instead of tee shirts, and much more. Listen to it here.
  4. Podcast Recommendation – The Last Movie Ever Made: The DON’T LOOK UP Podcast (A six-part series behind the scenes of Adam McKay’s disaster comedy, featuring interviews with Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, and more.) Check out the podcast here.
  5. Bastian Schweinsteiger joined the UTD Podcast this week to look back on a legendary career that saw him retire with Champions League, World Cup and Bundesliga honours, to name just a few. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. What should you do with your crypto investments before the 30% tax comes in? In conversation with Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan’s Badri Narayanan & KPMG India’s Vivek Gupta. Watch here.
  2. The Story of CRED’s design. Know more here.
  3. In this special 45-minute retrospective, Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15-year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Ozark (A financial advisor drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – House of Gucci (When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge — and ultimately murder.)

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #99 (24.01.21 – 30.01.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 99th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. Intuitive eating is what anti-diet culture actually looks like. Read more here.
  2. 4 ways Bitcoin like a boss/ How to help anyone understand the digital asset? Read here.
  3. Bullshitting Is Actually a Sign of Intelligence, Study Finds. Read it here.
  4. Maybe creator funds are bad. Read here.
  5. The Inside Story of an NFT Project That Didn’t Sell Out. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Sway, Kara and Bob Iger talk about his strategy for getting Disney through the streaming wars, including the impact of significant acquisitions, from Iger’s deal to bring in Lucasfilm, to the purchase of 21st Century Fox assets. They also discuss the symbiosis and tensions between Silicon Valley and Hollywood, the power of creators in the digital world and what entertainment will look like on web3. Listen here.
  2. In this episode of Advertising is Dead, Varun talks with Aman Gupta, Co-Founder & CMO of boAt about capturing the audio accessories market at the right time, foraying into wearables and more, and being profitable from day zero. Varun also questions him about being one of the sharks on Shark Tank India and his experiences on the same. Listen to it here.
  3. On Big Money Energy, DraftKings Co-Founder, Matt Kalish, sits down with Ryan to discuss the origins of DraftKings, why it’s important to share equity of your brilliant idea with people who can help you make it better, and what the future of online sports betting may entail. Check it out here.
  4. Director George Clooney discusses his new film, The Tender Bar, with fellow director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA Theatre in Los Angeles. Listen here.
  5. John Cena makes his “Happy Sad Confused” debut to chat about his collaborations with James Gunn, the superhero roles he missed out on, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s first interview together post the release of Spiderman: No Way Home. Check it out here.
  2. On Unfiltered by Samdish, he sits down with the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Charanjit Singh Channi for a candid chat about life, politics, and issues at large. Watch it here.
  3. GaryVee discusses with Joel Prentiss, Owner/Founder of GTX Comics, the current state of comic books and NFTs, why he believes NFTs are the biggest medium to new character creation since 1980s after-school television and why he believes the next Batman, Spider-Man, Superman will come from an NFT. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Peacemaker (Peacemaker is a man who fights for peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it.)
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Tender Bar (The Tender Bar is a coming-of-age film about a man who, for all intents and purposes, grew up in a bar. Based on a 2005 memoir by author and journalist JR Moehringer.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #98 (17.01.21 – 23.01.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 98th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. How to stick to your 2022 goals, according to motivation scientist — and why most people fail? Read it here.
  2. The Definitive Timeline of Early NFTs on Ethereum. Check it out here.
  3. There are 5 main stages of life—here’s what to do at every age to ‘minimize your regrets,’ says life coach. Read more here.
  4. The surprising health benefits of binge-watching. Read here.
  5. Is honey better than sugar? A dietitian shares why she loves its health benefits—and her favourite ways to use it. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On the GaryVee Audio Experience, he talks to Mark Manson about his success as a writer, the relationship between books & NFTs, their experiences with Web2 and Web3, and their vision about the NFT Market. Listen here.
  2. On The School of Greatness, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar deep dives with Lewis Howes what he believes happens when we die and how we should think about death, the importance of meditating and how you tap into your meditative power, the different ways to find spiritual abundance, why we’re bad at being happy and a few simple practices to bring more joy into your life, why it’s crucial to find a higher purpose in your life and so much more. Check it out here.
  3. On Happy Sad Confused, Andrew Garfield spills all the Spiderman: No Way Home secrets. Listen to it here.
  4. Jeremy Renner joins the Armchair Expert to discuss where the confidence in his own masculinity comes from, how his first investments were in real estate, and how he was a makeup artist while auditioning for roles early in his career. Listen here.
  5. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the Present Company to talk about her feature directorial debut, The Lost Daughter, why she was originally drawn to the story, what it was like to contact Ferrante, and how she brought Olivia Colman onto the project. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Gary Vee explains how he made $90 Million* on NFTs & why they’ll change the World, on the Full Send podcast. Watch it here.
  2. Colin and Samir interview tech reviewer Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) about his business as a creator. Check it out here.
  3. WSJ’s Heather Haddon explains how Starbucks used technology to garner its loyal customer base and why mobile orders are shifting the chain’s business priorities. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Aarya (When her world suddenly turns upside down, will Aarya become the very thing she hated? How far will she go to survive and protect her family?) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – C’mon C’mon (When his sister asks him to look after her son, a radio journalist embarks on a cross-country trip with his energetic nephew to show him life away from Los Angeles.) Check it out here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #97 (10.01.21 – 16.01.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 97th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

What To Read:

  1. India Now Among The Most Unequal Countries: World Inequality Report. Read more here.
  2. NFT Predictions for 2022. Check it out here.
  3. There are 7 money personality types, says psychology expert—how to tell which one you are (and the pitfalls of each). Read here.
  4. What if your brand gets ‘canceled‘? Read more here.
  5. This is the ‘worst food ingredient for your immune system’—especially during Covid, says immunologist. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Sway, Kara and Phil Spencer, head of Xbox and executive vice president of gaming at Microsoft, discuss the elements of the metaverse that are mirrored in gaming and whether Xbox aims to become the Netflix of gaming, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. On this episode of the DNA series, Gary speaks with Jade aka mumbot about her early beginnings as an artist, where her inspiration for NFTs and art, in general, came from, her intro into the NFT space, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. President Barack Obama sits down with Reid Hoffman in Part 1 of the episode (on Masters of Scale) on finding the right moment to act, and when the moment chooses you. Obama talks about how being in the right place, at the right time, with the right mindset enabled his political ascension. Listen here.
  4. On Cyrus Says, Chef Vikas Khanna talks about his amazing journey and career. They talk about how Punjabi families feed everyone with love and affection, Vikas’ new book ‘Barkat’, what it’s about, and how he wrote it in the pandemic. They also talk about Cyrus and Vikas being born during the 1971 war, the stories of partition that Vikas would hear about when he was younger, and tons more. Check it out here.
  5. Nicolas Cage reveals it all on ‘In The Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast‘, from the ongoing mission to find “eclectic” roles, to the keys to great on-set collaboration and tricks of the trade stretching back over four decades. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Tech company lies exist on a spectrum. How far is too far? Watch here.
  2. 30 Questions with Shark Tank’s Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar ft Rohan Joshi, Sahil Shah, Tanmay Bhat. Check it out here.
  3. YouTube Channel Recommendation of the Week – The School of Life (a collective of psychologists, philosophers, and writers devoted to helping people lead calmer and more resilient lives. We share ideas on how to understand ourselves better, improve our relationships, take stock of our careers and deepen our social connections as well as find serenity and grow more confident in facing challenges.) Check out the channel here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Cobra Kai (Thirty four years after events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Madhuram (Manikyam, a generous man and the owner of a factory, offers Dhana, a young unemployed boy, a job and shelter. However, Sunitha, Manikyam’s wife, develops feelings for Dhana.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #96 (03.01.21 – 09.01.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 96th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. Bill Gates has ‘never been a big New Year’s resolution’ person — why that’s smart, according to a clinical psychologist. Read it here.
  2. Nikhil Taneja writes this eye-opening and relatable thread on ‘performatives pressure’ in the creator economy of our world. Check it out on Instagram here.
  3. How Crypto Could Be Like the Music Industry? Read here.
  4. A neuroscientist shares the brain exercise she does for a stronger memory—and the mistake that can ‘harm’ it. Check it out here.
  5. Andrew Garfield Finally Spills About ‘Spider-Man’ Return and Future — and the ‘Gift’ of ‘Tick, Tick Boom!’. Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. The Verge’s Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Alex Cranz run through the huge amount of products announced at the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 this week — from QD-OLED TVs, to EVs, to a hair-coloring gadget. Listen to it here.
  2. On the Mint podcast, Gary Vaynerchuk speaks on the 2022 Web3 trends: Music NFTs, Social Tokens and DAOs. Listen here.
  3. Dr. Andrew D Huberman breaks down the science of social bonding in family, friendship, and romantic love, on his podcast Huberman Lab. Check it out here.
  4. On Present Company, Andrew Garfield shares his intense preparation for the role, the urgency that lies at the heart of the story, and the importance of activist artists. He also reflects on the unique pressures faced by young actors today. Listen to it here.
  5. Director Kenneth Branagh discusses his new film, Belfast, with fellow director Christopher Nolan in a Q&A at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Is TikTok destroying sports? Watch here.
  2. Appearing on the Joe Rogan podcast, artist Beeple takes a deep dive into his art, the story behind ‘The Everydays’, and a bunch of random stuff. Watch it here.
  3. On The Maniesh Paul podcast, Prajakta Koli (aka MostlySane) talks about her journey as a creator, the opportunities in the field, touching upon friendship in this competitive space, and more. Check it out here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Shark Tank India (Aspiring entrepreneurs from India pitch their business models to a panel of investors and persuade them to invest money in their idea.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Pushpa: The Rise (Violence erupts between red sandalwood smugglers and the police charged with bringing down their organisation in the Seshachalam forests of South India.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #95 (27.12 – 02.01.21)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 95th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. 22 Tiny Mental Health Habits That Can Improve Your Life In 2022. Check it out here.
  2. However you feel right now is totally OK. Read more here.
  3. How did food tech in India evolve beyond Swiggy and Zomato? Read here.
  4. How ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Was “Shaped” by Its Secret Stars? Check it out here.
  5. The best time to go to sleep for a healthier heart. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On Pivot, Kara and Scott look back at the biggest news of 2021. From the Capitol insurrection to the Facebook Files, 2021 was chock full of wild events, big personalities, and strange happenings. Listen to it here.
  2. On Modern Finance, Kevin Rose is joined by Alexis Ohanian, founder of venture capital firm SevenSevenSix and co-founder of Reddit, discuss Web2 lessons for Web3 aspirants, the cultural and economic benefits of diversifying the crypto space, NFT collecting, the future of investment, Bored Apes vs. CryptoPunks, the power of community, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri share their favorite Twitter accounts to follow and what they have learned from them. Listen here.
  4. When Hans Zimmer first started working on the music of Dune, he made what he calls a “sketchbook” – creating motifs and themes that might occur in the film. And in this episode of Song Exploder, he takes us through the first sketch he did for Dune. Check it out here.
  5. On Cyrus Says, Sanjeev Kapoor talks all about how he started out, started out the trend of celebrity chefs in India, and lots more. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. 2021, in 6 minutes. Check it out here.
  2. Elon Musk sat down with Babylon Bee for an in-depth interview on wokeness, Elizabeth Warren, taxing the rich, the Metaverse, which superhero Elon would be, and how the left is killing comedy. Watch it here.
  3. Jonah Hill, Adam Mckay, Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, and Tyler Perry break down their new Netflix film ‘Don’t Look Up‘. Watch here.
  4. Documentary Recommendation of the Week – Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (The cast from the film series ‘Harry Potter’ reunite and embark on a journey down memory lane with nostalgic conversations while celebrating 20 years since the first film.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Minnal Murali (A tailor gains special powers after being struck by lightning, but must take down an unexpected foe if he is to become the superhero his hometown needs.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #94 (20.12 – 26.12)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 94th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. Why 2021 felt worse than 2020, and how to feel better in 2022? Read more here.
  2. 21 really good things that happened in 2021, posted by Mashable. Check it out here.
  3. 5 things everyone was talking about in 2021 (AdAge). Read here.
  4. Chicken Biryani, Samosa Most-Binged Foods Of 2021, Says Swiggy. Read the entire list here.
  5. What Are POAPs and Why Are They Important? Read it here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joins Recode’s Peter Kafka to sort what changed, what didn’t, and what 2022 might bring in the media world, in particular the movie business, streaming, music, TikTok on the Recode Media podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. Gary Vaynerchuk unpacks the “eureka!” moment when he first realized NFTs were about to change everything, plus how big brands and small influencers can be smart with this “goldrush” moment. Also, why this is the biggest consumer shift since Web 2.0. Listen here.
  3. Gaurav Kapur talks about creativity, understanding your passion, the reality of it, being a creative entrepreneur, and so much more, on Stupid No Mor by Anshu Mor. Check it out here.
  4. Director Adam McKay discusses his new film, Don’t Look Up, with fellow director Barry Jenkins in a Q&A at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. You can listen to it on The Director’s Cut podcast here.
  5. On Variety Awards Circuit, Andrew Garfield discusses playing Jonathan Larson in the new musical film Tick Tick Boom from director Lin-Manuel Miranda, his preparation for the role, and his perspective on what he has accomplished. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. MKBHD is back with the 2021 edition of the Smartphone Awards. Which one won the phone of the year? Which phone has the best camera? Best design? Check it out here.
  2. Apple’s Emmy-winning comedy series, Ted Lasso has released a brand-new holiday-themed animated short, which features the entire main cast. Watch it here.
  3. On EW, Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Jessica Henwick break down what it was like to film the newest Matrix film, ‘The Matrix Resurrections‘. Watch here.
  4. On Film Companion, Deepika Padukone chats about her cinema, her singular ability to be both relatable and larger-than-life, and the stories she wants to tell now. Check it out here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Don’t Look Up (Two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #93 (13.12 – 19.12)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 93rd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. From Spotify hits to indie films, Barack Obama shares his favorite pop culture picks for 2021. Check it out here.
  2. 44 things you forgot happened in 2021. Check out the list here.
  3. Twitter names top brand tweets of 2021. Read it here.
  4. An opinion piece on ‘The Meme Stock‘. Read here.
  5. The Best Way to Hug Someone, According to Science. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Kara Swisher, Scott Galloway, and a handful of Friends of Pivot make some predictions about what 2022 has in store for Metaverse, China, Apple, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Decoder with Nilay Patel, John Hanke, the CEO of Niantic, talks about the reality of metaverse, the role of Niantic and in particular, Pokemon Go has played in it. Listen here.
  3. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Abhishek Bachchan opens to many personal stories about his family, more specifically his father Amitabh Bachchan, about his mindset. He also talks about the future of cinema, OTT platforms, content & more. Check it out here.
  4. Sir Kenneth Branagh shares how his own family’s experiences influenced Belfast, his new film that focuses on adult-sized issues like ‘the troubles’ in Ireland from the perspective of a child, on The No Film School Podcast. Listen to it here.
  5. On this episode of Naan Curry, the hosts explore India’s favorite healthy flour – Besan, the source of Besan, the difference between chickpea flour and Besan, health benefits, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. EW gathered the ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘ stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon for a SPOILER-FREE conversation about what life was like while making their new Marvel movie. Watch it here.
  2. Max Verstappen, World Champion Formula 1 2021 sat down together with his dad Jos Verstappen and David Coulthard the day after his historic victory in Abu Dhabi, breaking down the season in detail, his mindset throughout the season, and the moments of glory and disappointments in 2021. Check it out here.
  3. 16 Smartphones. Which one wins the Blind Smartphone Camera Test of 2021, on MKBHD’s channel? Watch here.
  4. Cristiano Ronaldo and Sir Alex Ferguson reunite on camera for a conversation about communication and leadership. Check it out here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Spiderman: No Way Home (With Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, our friendly neighborhood web-slinger is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life as Peter Parker from the high stakes of being a superhero. When Peter asks for help from Doctor Strange, the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.) Now in theatres.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #92 (06.12 – 12.12)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 92nd edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. Allyship is Dictionary.com’s word of the year. Read more here.
  2. How to Say 2021’s Most Mispronounced Words, From Omicron to Ethereum? Check it out here.
  3. The worst buzzwords of 2021, by AdAge. Read the list here.
  4. Why Would Anyone Buy Your NFT? Read here.
  5. How tomatoes conquered Indian cooking? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Seth Godin riffs about money, how it is a story we tell ourselves, and the value around it, on his podcast Akimbo. Listen here.
  2. Simon Sinek talks to Tristan Harris about the power tech companies have amassed, whether they act responsibly or they abuse it, on A Bit of Optimism. Check it out here.
  3. On MFM, Shaan Puri and Sam Parr break down Mr. Beast’s Squid Games recreation and talk about how he was able to get 100M views in less than four days. They also discuss a number of business ideas including chrome extensions, building QVC for mobile, and more. Listen to it here.
  4. On F1 Beyond the Grid, ahead of his final race in Formula 1, Kimi Raikkonen joins Tom Clarkson to look back at his 20-year career: the races, the teammates, the bosses, the championship he clinched in 2007, and those he missed out on. Check it out here.
  5. Bradley Cooper joins the Armchair Expert to discuss their long-standing friendship that started at the beginning of their sobriety, exploring the mysteries of the human experiences through storytelling, and how he almost didn’t get his breakthrough role in The Hangover, and so much more. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Film Companion rounds up the actors behind the finest Hindi language performances of 2021 – Vicky Kaushal, Taapsee Pannu, Sidharth Malhotra, Sanya Malhotra, Samantha Prabhu, and Adarsh Gourav discussing stardom, social media, scenes that tested their caliber, and what’s in store for them next, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. The Pepsi Paradox. Everybody loves Pepsi, but everybody buys Coca-Cola. Why? Check it out here.
  3. Rohit Shetty talks about his journey into Bollywood, his filmography, how he plans his stunts, and much more, on The Bombay Journey. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Hawkeye (Clint Barton and Kate Bishop shoot a few arrows and try to avoid becoming the target themselves.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Love Story (Telugu) (A Christian Zumba instructor falls in love with a starry-eyed upper caste Hindu girl. In their quest for happiness, however, they must first overcome a massive caste divide.) Now streaming on Aha Video here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #91 (29.11 – 05.12)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 91st edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. The internet’s third chapter is coming. Read more here.
  2. What are DAOs? Here’s what to know about the ‘next big trend’ in crypto. Check it out here.
  3. How To Get The Most Out Of Your Best Habits? Read here.
  4. MrBeast’s ‘Real Life Squid Game’ and the price of viral stunts. Read more here.
  5. What’s an Audio Aura? An aura expert explains Spotify Wrapped’s new feature. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Neil Degrasse Tyson discusses the responsibility of using your platform to champion causes you care about, how to keep your head above water when pursuing a passion until it pays the bills, and why the hell it’s taken so long for space tourism to become an industry, on Big Money Energy. Listen to it here.
  2. On Today Explained, Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil explains how humans are trashing space. A space environmentalist explains what cleanup might look like. Listen here.
  3. When a psychologist who studies well-being ends up with a brain tumor, what happens when she puts her own research into practice? Listen to it on Ted Talks Daily here.
  4. On Cyrus Says, Ashish Singhal, Founder & CEO of CoinSwitch, talks about the new Cryptocurrency Bill 2021, how CoinSwitch Kuber has evolved over the years, how crypto companies are solving real world problems, investing in crypto, and lots more. Check it out here.
  5. Hosts Lizzie Bassett and Alex Logan break down Jane Campion’s ‘The Power of the Dog‘, why you need to see it, why it’s a major Oscar contender, on IMDb is Obsessed podcast. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Daily Stoic, Ryan Holiday talks to Gary Vaynerchuk about his new book Twelve and a Half, how to get comfortable with vulnerability and emotional development, the best way to maintain long-term business success, and more. Watch it here or listen to it on Spotify here.
  2. Squid Game recreated in real-life, with 456 contestants and a $456,000 prize money, by MrBeast. Watch it here.
  3. Nuseir Yassin aka Nas Daily chats about work, life, his inspiration, money, and more on the Curly Tales episode of Sunday Brunch. Check it out here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – All or Nothing: Juventus (An exploration of the highs and lows of the Turing-based Juventus football club in the 2020/21 season as they strive for victory in the Italian Premier League under the guidance of Massimiliano Allegri.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Sardar Udham (Based on the life of Sardar Udham Singh, a revolutionary freedom fighter best known for assassinating Michael O’Dwyer in London to take revenge for 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #90 (22.11 – 28.11)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 90th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. What to expect in year three of the pandemic? || The World Ahead 2022. Read here.
  2. What is the metaverse? How blockchain, crypto, gaming, VR, and AR are building a new way to experience the Internet? Read more here.
  3. 2022 Colour Trends: The Year’s Top Colours. Check it out here.
  4. How did the seven-day week come to rule the world? Read here.
  5. Ask yourself these 5 prejudice-fighting questions after watching any movie, says a Stanford psychologist. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. AirBnB CEO Brian Chesky talks about how he manages and structures his company, the future of work, metaverse and cryptocurrencies, and more on The Decoder with Nilay Patel. Listen to it here.
  2. Seth Godin talks about branding vs marketing, the right approach for brands, actionable ideas, and more on Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. Check it out here.
  3. On My First Million, Shaan Puri and Sam Parr talk about what an early adopter mindset is and how to adopt it, the ConstitutionDAO and whether it’s a good idea, how Gary Vaynerchuk used NFTs to create the greatest preorder of all time, and more. Listen here.
  4. Fernando Alonso opens up on why racing Michael Schumacher was so special, why he wasn’t ready for their fierce championship fights in 2005 and 2006, on his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren and the world titles he missed out on in 2007, 2010 and 2012, on F1 Beyond the Grid podcast. Check it out here.
  5. In this episode of Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit explore India’s favorite cheese – Paneer, its health benefits, why Paneer is so versatile, and the multiple origin stories of paneer. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Andrew Garfield shares how art helps him get through grief. Watch this here.
  2. In this session of FC FrontRow, Vicky Kaushal talks about his film, Sardar Udham, how he prepares for his role, preparing for characters from his own life experiences, saying no to Uri initially, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Rocky and Mayur are back with a Season 6 of #RoadTrippinWithRockyAndMayur, touring Hyderabad and Chennai. Watch it here.
  4. In this episode of “Notes on a Scene,” Andrew Garfield and ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ director Lin-Manuel Miranda break down the scene where Jon (Garfield) gets the party started with an impromptu acapella performance of “Boho Days.” Check it out here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Tick, Tick… BOOM (Based on the autobiographical musical by playwright Jonathan Larson. It’s the story of an aspiring composer in New York City who is worried he made the wrong career choice, whilst navigating the pressures of love and friendship.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #89 (15.11 – 21.11)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 89th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. Deadmau5’s ‘Oberhasli’ is what it looks like when the metaverse comes for music fans. Check it out here.
  2. Are NFTs Only Art? 7 Use Cases For NFTs. Check it out here.
  3. Nestlé says the majority of its food portfolio is unhealthy. Read it here.
  4. The No. 1 habit successful leaders share, according to executive coaches who have worked with Apple and Twitter. Read here.
  5. How Brentford Used ‘Moneyball’ to Return to the Premier League? Read more here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Brian Armstrong, the founder of Coinbase, talks about his journey as an entrepreneur, how he started the company, and his journey until now, on How I Built This with Guy Raz. Check it out here.
  2. Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, breaks down his deep insights around artificial intelligence on Rapid Response. Listen to it here.
  3. From actor to changing agent, Adrian Grenier talks about creating a symbiosis with yourself, on The Rich Roll podcast. Listen here.
  4. In this conversation on Sway, Kara Swisher talks to Hans Zimmer about his process for composing the score for “Dune,” how composers can adapt to the shifting demands of viewers and a streaming economy — and what he’s working on next. Check it out here.
  5. In this episode of Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit discuss with Vikram Doctor, editor at Economic Times, a food historian and podcast host, what inspired him to explore food and food history, the food challenges and issues India faces in modern times, why chefs and public policy wonks should join hands to tackle hunger problems in India, and more. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Gary Vaynerchuk speaks about the potential of the NFT market specifically and the cryptocurrency industry generally at the Yahoo Finance-Decrypt “Crypto Goes Mainstream” special. Watch it here.
  2. Colin and Samir talk about the business of being a YouTuber and everything to do with the creator economy, with MKBHD on the Waveform podcast. Check it out here.
  3. Akarsh Khurana, the director of Rashmi Rocket and Mismatched, talks about how to tell a story before telling it, on MostlySane’s YouTube channel. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Dexter: New Blood (Set 10 years after Dexter Morgan went missing in the eye of Hurricane Laura, he is now living under an assumed name in Upstate New York, Iron Lake, far from his original home in Miami.) Now streaming on Voot here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Finch (A robot that lives on a post-apocalyptic earth which was built to protect the life of his dying creator’s beloved dog, it learns about love, friendship, and the meaning of human life.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #88 (08.11 – 14.11)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 88th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. Web 3.0 can repair the attention-driven digital economy. Read more here.
  2. 13 principles of Web3 (a Twitter thread by David Phelps). Check it out here.
  3. Apple CEO Tim Cook is anti-mindless scrolling. Read more about it here.
  4. Master Indian cooking with the science of tadka. Read here.
  5. ‘Ted Lasso‘ has a question: What kind of man are you? Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. In this conversation of Sway, Kara Swisher talks to Jaron Lanier, often called the “godfather of virtual reality,” and his company, VPL Research, developed V.R. goggles and gloves in the 1980s, about Facebook’s pivot to Meta, also discuss why Lanier viewed technologies like automation and V.R. as “a little technological token of that hope of eternal creativity” back in the ’80s. Check it out on Spotify here.
  2. On My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri talk about the Metaverse and what everyone is getting wrong about it, the billion-dollar investment group that no one knows about, companies that are able to achieve viral growth without marketing, and much more. Listen to it here.
  3. Seth Godin riffs about status roles, and how it plays a factor with respect to money and skill, on Akimbo. Listen here.
  4. Sidharth Malhotra talks to Salil on Stars se Baatein about how he dealt with failure for three years after Student of The Year and Ek Villain, how he was typecast for his looks, and why Shershaah is a special film for him and his family given his Army background. Check it out here.
  5. Composer Hans Zimmer joins ReelBlend to chat topics from across his career including Dune, The Lion King, Man of Steel, Interstellar, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Gary Vaynerchuk chats with Mark Zuckerberg about the future of the Metaverse and Web3.0, taking a dive into how it will change our lives and Mark gives us his thoughts on when and how this new world will come to fruition. Watch it here.
  2. On completing 10 years of Rockstar, director-writer Imtiaz Ali, composer A.R. Rahman, lead Ranbir Kapoor, lyricist Irshad Kamil, production designer Sumit Basu, and actor Sanjana Sanghi gathered to reminisce about the making of the film; this conversation is a part of a 90-minute documentary chronicling the journey of ‘Rockstar’ that unpacks never-before-seen and heard pages from the film’s book. Check it out here.
  3. In this session of FC Front Row, Anupama Chopra does a deep dive into the brand that Ayushmann Khurrana has built and what it means to live with it. He chats with us about his film choices, his latest film Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, his processes as an actor, and how he kept himself busy in the middle of a pandemic. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Tiger King (An exploration of big cat breeding and its bizarre underworld, populated by eccentric characters, namely zoo operator Joseph Maldonado-Passage.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Shershaah (The life of Indian army captain Vikram Batra, awarded with the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest award for valor for his actions during 1999 Kargil War.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #87 (01.11 – 07.11)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 87th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. Why melatonin is known as the ‘master switch’ of the human body? Check it out here.
  2. How do you build a personal brand when your life is in chaos? Read more here.
  3. Early Riser or Night Owl? New Study May Help to Explain the Difference. Check it out here.
  4. The psychology behind why you spend so much money on Amazon Prime. Read it here.
  5. The underrated pleasures of eating dinner early. Read here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. On The Tim Ferriss Show, Chris Dixon and Naval Ravikant talk about the Wonders of Web3, how to pick the Right Hill to climb, finding the right amount of crypto regulation, and the Untapped Potential of NFTs. Listen to it here.
  2. On this episode of Decoder, vice president of Reality Labs Andrew Bosworth talked with The Verge’s Alex Heath about Facebook’s rebrand to Meta, how content moderation will work in the metaverse, and the hardware journey from virtual to mixed reality, and eventually, AR glasses. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Life Kit, New York Times technology reporter Taylor Lorenz shares how spending less time on email and changing the way she thought about online communication has increased her productivity and given her back hours of time. Listen here.
  4. In this episode of Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit explore the global and local history of potatoes, how the British used potatoes to spread their colonialism in India, its health benefits, and much more. Check it out here.
  5. Tom Hanks talks about the concept of war films, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and some other films, and anecdotes from the early days, on the Smartless podcast. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Sara Dietschy chats with Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook’s name change to Meta, centralized vs decentralized organizations, and what the Metaverse means for creators, and there’s a meme review too. Check it out here.
  2. HBR editor in chief Adi Ignatius interviews the Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella to discuss what team collaboration will look like going forward, the next generation of workplace technology, the new imperatives of leadership — and whether and when our future workplaces will in fact start to look like the “metaverse” fantasies of science fiction. Watch it here.
  3. On this episode of ‘Notes on a Scene,’ ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage‘ director Andy Serkis breaks down the scene where Venom and Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) finally come together in an argument turned to fight. Serkis walks us through his vision for the action sequence frame by frame and highlights where exactly Tom Hardy adds his own sound effects. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Succession (The Logan family is known for controlling the biggest media and entertainment company in the world. However, their world changes when their father steps down from the company.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Sooryavanshi (Starting off from where Akshay Kumar`s character was introduced in Simmba, Sooryavanshi traces the acts and serious antics of DCP Veer Sooryavanshi, the chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad in India.) Now in theatres and streaming on Netflix, December 5th onwards.

There is a lot of insightful, engaging, and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.

Link

The Last 7 Days #86 (25.10 – 31.10)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

With another Sunday, here’s the 86th edition of my weekly series, The Last 7 Days.

What’s it about?

It’s a weekly series where I talk about what I read, what I listened to, and what I saw in the last seven days.

Since the content I consume around the topics of mindset, marketing and movies brought me value, I decided to share that with you as well, through these weekly editions.

If any of the below-mentioned topics interest you, let’s chat – @rth24 on Instagram.

What To Read:

  1. A neuroscientist shares the 4 brain-changing benefits of exercise—and how much she does every week. Read here.
  2. Two Words That Win Your Audience’s Undivided Attention. Check it out here.
  3. ‘Lose fat in 5 days’ exercise videos are harmful for fitness beginners. Read here to know more.
  4. The 4 Simple Introspection Steps That Will Boost Self Awareness. Read more here.
  5. 20 Background Details You Definitely Missed On ‘The Office‘. Check it out here.

What To Listen:

*The links being attached redirect to Spotify, but you can search for these episode titles wherever you listen to your podcasts.

  1. Mark Cuban joins Scott Galloway to discuss Bitcoin, Ethereum, use-cases for digital assets, and where SEC regulations might come in, why he’s bullish on AI, and more, on The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway. Listen here.
  2. In this episode of On Purpose, Jay Shetty tells us how to find our own voice and turn our insecurities into stepping stones for healing and self-improvement. Find out more here.
  3. Raymond Tallis on what it means to be human, on Philosophy for our Times podcast. Listen to it here.
  4. On Cyrus Says, Yashraj Mukhate talks about the common factor of doing engineering which exists in so many creative people, how he realized that music was what he wanted to pursue, his parents always bring extremely supportive, and tons more. Check it out here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week – HBO’s Succession Podcast (The official podcast about the HBO Original series Succession. Each week journalist and host Kara Swisher unpacks real-world events that echo the saga unfolding on screen.) Find it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo on his Manchester United move, his approach to the game, his hunger to win, thoughts on retirement, and more. Check it out here.
  2. Amit Trivedi talks about music creation, creativity, spirituality, the future of the music industry, and much more, on The Ranveer Show (Hindi) Watch it here.
  3. In this session of Film Companion, Janhvi Kapoor speaks to Anupama Chopra about the rules of Gen Z stardom, the pressures of social media, wanting to do movies in multiple genres & languages, and more. Watch here.
  4. Documentary Recommendation of the Week – Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (A chronicle of the SpaceX Dragon mission, Inspiration4, in which four civilians travel into space on a three-day trip.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Shang Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings (Martial-arts master Shang-Chi confronts the past he thought he left behind when he’s drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.)

There is a lot of insightful, engaging and entertaining content mixed in all of this.

If any of these topics interest you, then your time will be well-spent.

You can check out the previous editions of The Last 7 Days – here.