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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #209 (04.03.24 – 10.03.24)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #187 (02.10.23 – 08.10.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #186 (25.09.23 – 01.10.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #185 (18.09.23 – 24.09.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #184 (11.09.23 – 17.09.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #183 (04.09.23 – 10.09.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #182 (28.08.23 – 03.09.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #181 (21.08.23 – 27.08.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #180 (14.08.23 – 20.08.23)

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #179 (07.08.23 – 13.08.23)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Last 7 Days #166 (08.05.23 – 14.05.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 166th 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. Why “Should” Is Not Good For You? Read it here.
  2. What happens when a story loses a main character? Read here.
  3. Why Mark Zuckerberg And Elon Musk Fire Their Most Valuable People? Check it out here.
  4. The Zeenat Network: How the veteran actor is slaying Instagram game at 71. Read it here.
  5. Don’t believe these 4 myths about exercise, says 2021′s ‘Fitness Influencer of the Year’. 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. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, on The Decoder with Nilay Patel, talks about the future of search, why he reorganized DeepMind within Google, and what’s driving his ambition to take the company into the future, the competition with Microsoft, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Rob McElhenney, actor and co-owner of Wrexham FC, on The Aarthi and Sriram Show, talks about why he took on the Wrexham FC Challenge, the emotional weight of running a football club, the club’s remarkable promotion journey, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Science Vs, along with psychopharmacologist Andrew Scholey, a deep dive on what cures hangovers… whether water or sleep works and what actually works and the correlation with inflammation. Listen here.
  4. Valtteri Bottas, on F1 Beyond the Grid, talks about the inspiration behind his mullet, how he’s adapted to a team not fighting at the front and why he’s got no plans to leave F1 anytime soon. Plus, the Finn explains why he thinks Lewis Hamilton is still the fastest driver on the grid. Listen to it here.
  5. In this episode of All About Movies with Anupama Chopra, Yashraj Mukhate talks about his experience of singing at parties and live shows, the offers he gets after becoming a meme-lord musician and his experience of getting Ajay Devgn to rap. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this View From The Top interview, Shantanu Narayen, Chairman and CEO of Adobe, spoke about his personal evolution as a leader, including the last 16 years as CEO, the importance of innovative thinking across multiple scales, seeking opportunities in setbacks, his perspective on the future of technology and more. Watch it here.
  2. Martial artist and actor Scott Adkins breaks down fight scenes from the John Wick franchise, including ‘John Wick,’ ‘John Wick: Chapter 2,’ ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and the latest instalment ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Pizza Film School, the Russo Brothers sit down with Zack Snyder, to discuss the process of directing superhero films, getting his vision to reality, the director’s cut, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and so much more. Watch Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo (Savitri, the matriarch of a massive cartel in the lawless Borderlands, opens up a battle for succession to find her heir in a murky world of drugs and violence.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (During the war in Afghanistan, a local interpreter risks his own life to carry an injured sergeant across miles of gruelling terrain.)

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #165 (01.05.23 – 07.05.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 165th 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. Why young shoppers are cool with counterfeits? Read more here.
  2. Everything you don’t actually need to know about the economics of Succession. Check it out here.
  3. Is There Life After Influencing? Read here.
  4. You’ve probably had the Sunday scaries. To beat them, consider ‘bare minimum Mondays’. Read more here.
  5. Why the definition of high-functioning needs to be redefined? 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 Great Creators with Guy Raz, Diplo takes us through his rise from nomadic childhood, to spinning records while working at a movie theatre and zoo, to his big break that was years in the making, to performing in front of tens of thousands of fans and generating billions of streams. Also learn exactly how he collaborates with artists like Sia and Madonna, why he approaches music like fashion, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. David Marcus, the CEO of Lightspark, previously at PayPal and leading Libra at Meta, talks about how Bitcoin is still the future of payments, on the Decoder with Nilay Patel. Listen here.
  3. The dance with AI, reality and identity. Listen to it on Akimbo: a podcast from Seth Godin here.
  4. On The Overlap with Gary Neville, Ruud van Nistelrooy opens up about his early career and how he first got into football, shares some great stories about the dressing room at United, his aspirations for PSV and his own managerial career, and more. Check it out here.
  5. On Cyrus Says this week, actor, athlete & President of the Indian Rugby Football Union – Rahul Bose speaks about the recent news of this rugby stadium in Odisha named after him, some of his upcoming film projects, and one or two great mimicries of some great personalities. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon take us through their shared career, including ‘Field of Dreams,’ School Ties,’ ‘Chasing Amy,’ ‘Good Will Hunting,’ ‘Dogma,’ ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,’ ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,’ ‘The Last Duel’ and their newest film ‘Air.’ Watch it here.
  2. McLaren F1 Driver Lando Norris and GQ’s Deputy Global Editorial Director Adam Baidawi take us on an exclusive tour of McLaren’s Technology Centre in Woking, England. From “The Boulevard” to all of McLaren’s top-secret work planned for racing in 2023, Lando and Adam leave no stone unturned in this All Access episode. Check it out here.
  3. Suniel Shetty speaks about mental and emotional health issues, family life, and careers, the importance of quality content and how it can make a difference in someone’s life, on The Ranveer Show. He also discusses the need for mentors and positive masculinity in life, especially for those in their 30s and above. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – SK Sir ki Class (It is often said that UPSC is not a race, but a marathon that prepares you for your life. Will Ashish succeed in winning the marathon of his life under the guidance of SK Sir and his lessons of patience, perseverance and dedication?) Now streaming on YouTube here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 (Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If the mission is not completely successful, it could possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.) Now in theatres.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #164 (24.04.23 – 30.04.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 164th 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. Why Western Sanctions Failed To Truly Impact The Wealth Of Russia’s Billionaire Oligarchs? Read it here.
  2. Throughout the rich world, the young are falling out of love with cars. Read more here.
  3. Why Easy “Zone 2” Workouts Became the Biggest Thing in Fitness? Check it out here.
  4. The World’s Most Valuable Sports Empires 2023. Read here.
  5. 2023′s ‘Clean 15’: These are the fruits and veggies with the least pesticides—and how to include them in your daily diet. 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 surprisingly complex business of toys, with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks. Listen to it on the Decoder with Nilay Patel here.
  2. On Science Vs podcast, a deep-dive along with microbiologist Professor Gavin H Thomas, microbiologist Research Associate Professor Julie Horvath, epidemiologist Associate Professor Hanno Ulmer, and epidemiologist Professor Julia Knight, on how safe deodorants and antiperspirants are, or should we ditch them. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of All About Movies with Anupama Chopra, Kunal Shah talks about why there should be more films made on Entrepreneurs, the story behind the viral CRED ads and how he tackles being famous now. Listen to it here.
  4. On Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit are joined by Nalini, Hans and Mikhail Sadhu, proprietors of one of India’s top Kashmiri restaurants – Matamaal, to discuss the Kashmiri cuisine in detail, the difference between Kashmiri Muslim and Kashmiri Pandit food, the role of bread and rice in Kashmiri Pandit cuisine, and more. Listen here.
  5. Joaquin Phoenix joins the Smartless Podcast to talk with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett about his family, childhood, Beau is Afraid and his career. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Humans of Bombay, Kabir Khan talks about growing up in a family of politicians and academics, travelling the world as a freelance cameraperson, passion for making documentaries, thoughts on religion, duty as an artist and handling the lows and highs of this business, and more. Watch it here.
  2. On The Ranveer Show, Mohsin Raza Khan, an Associate Professor at The School of International Affairs, Jindal Global University, discusses Sufism, its origins, and its influence on art and culture, who was Rumi, the real story of Laila Majnu, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Decoding Voices, Yashraj Mukhate discussed with Johnny Lever the understanding of comic timing, the key elements of mimicry, getting ready to face the camera, and more. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Pathu Thala (An undercover cop goes to find and kill a crime lord. However, when he realizes that the crime lord’s business intentions are good and he has his own challenges, he needs to decide his next step) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Viduthalai Part 1 (A police officer is recruited to capture the leader of a separatist group.) Now streaming on Zee5 here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #163 (17.04.23 – 23.04.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 163rd 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. Subway’s Hidden Billions Revealed: How Its Founders Sliced Up A Fortune. Read more here.
  2. What the U.S. can learn from India’s TikTok ban? Check it out here.
  3. Plastic: What do the numbers on plastics mean? Read it here.
  4. Harvard gut doctor: These 8 foods will make you feel bloated—here’s what to eat instead. Read here.
  5. A star rating for Chips and Chocolates? 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 Andrew Weil, a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, talks about the top foods to eat to prevent cognitive decline, the benefits of eating fermented foods, why you should start drinking matcha and more. Listen to it here.
  2. BJ Fogg, founder and director of Stanford’s Behavior Design Lab, discusses with host Matt Abrahams in this ep of Think Fast, Talk Smart, how bringing our behaviour in line with our goals is easier than we think — we just have to know the emotional levers to pull. Check it out here.
  3. In this ep of Maha Bharat with Dhruv Rathee, he tracks the life of Nehru as well as the Indian National Congress, and finds out how both intersected when it was time to decide who will be India’s first Prime Minister. Listen here.
  4. Christian Eriksen, on The Manchester United podcast, discusses his career to date, recalls playing in Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy, plus adjusting to the style and pace of the Premier League, his relationship with Erik Ten Hag and more. Listen to it here.
  5. On Happy Sad Confused, Russell Crowe looks back at his iconic career, from GLADIATOR to MAN OF STEEL, and his new film THE POPE’S EXORCIST. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Psychiatrist Dr Eric Bender explores the mental health and family dynamics of Succession’s Roy family. Watch here.
  2. On Film Companion Front Row, the cast of Jubilee, including Aditi Rao Hydari, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aparshakti Khurana, Nandish Singh Sandhu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sidhant Gupta, and director Vikramaditya Motwane, talk about the making of the series. They talk about the scenes that were challenging for them, getting into the world of the 1950s and the period world, and their rapport with each other. Check it out here.
  3. Gulshan Grover, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about his early life struggles and learnings from acting, the origin of Bad Man, the truth about fame and the success formula of Bollywood, and more. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Jubilee (An ensemble of characters and the gambles they’re willing to take in pursuit of their dreams, passion and ambition.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Ayothi (A family from Ayodhya goes on a spiritual trip to Rameswaram. What follows is a series of incidents that transform the life of one of the family members.) Now streaming on Zee5 here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #162 (10.04.23 – 16.04.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 162nd 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. Tim Cook on Shaping the Future of Apple. Read more here.
  2. The end of free returns is coming. Check it out here.
  3. At 100 years old, I’m the ‘world’s oldest practicing doctor’—5 things I never do to live a long, happy life. Read here.
  4. India is Taking on China in the $447 Billion Space Economy. Check it out here.
  5. AI-generated images and videos: A game-changer or a threat to authenticity? 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 Business Breakdowns, joined by Saurabh Mukherjea, the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Marcellus Investment Managers, they break down India’s largest jewellery business, Titan, the importance of jewellery to Indian consumers, the intricacies of retailing across India, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Feeding the world’s growing population is an increasingly difficult challenge, and climate change won’t make it any easier. Vox’s Kenny Torrella visited the Netherlands, a small country with big ideas about the future of food, to find out more about how the country is approaching the problem. Listen more on the Today, Explained podcast here.
  3. On HBO’s Succession podcast, host Kara Swisher is joined by series creator Jesse Armstrong and episode director Mark Mylod to break down “Connor’s Wedding” Season 4 Episode 3 of the show. Later on, Brian Cox joins to share his experience of playing Logan Roy. Check it out here.
  4. In the new ep of The Humans of Cinema podcast, Vikramaditya Motwane talks about filmmaking, film schools, films that impacted him, his films Udaan, Lootera and Bhavesh Joshi, and his new show Jubilee. Listen here.
  5. On FC PopCorn, Anupama Chopra, Rahul Desai, Prathyush Parasuraman & Suchin Mehrotra take us through the nitty gritty of film criticism, anecdotes from years of journalistic experience, their approach to the range of cinema & web series, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. The Copy and Paste Culture of YouTube – Colin and Samir delve into good theft vs bad theft, why plagiarism is on the rise, can anything be original now, and more. Check it out here.
  2. Aakash Chopra appears on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast to talk about his start and experience with the Indian Cricket Team, recognition from sports, going strong into the content creation game, his thoughts into the future of Indian Cricket, plus analyzing a few players and much more. Watch it here.
  3. Take a look behind the scenes of CREED III and hear from the cast and crew about their experience shooting the film. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – BEEF (Two strangers get into a road rage incident that brings chaos into their lives.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Vaalvi (Aniket is fed up with his wife Avani’s tantrums and wants a divorce, but she refuses. Aniket and his girlfriend plot to kill the bothersome woman, but nothing goes as planned.) Now streaming on Zee5 here.

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

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The Last 7 Days #161 (03.04.23 – 09.04.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 161st 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 tiny, cheap smart speakers unlocked the rise of digital payments in India? Read here.
  2. RIP Canned Laughter, The Most Evil Innovation In TV History. Read more here.
  3. Coriander: The unsung hero of Indian cuisine. Check it out here.
  4. Why we’re so bad at forming new habits—and how to be better? Read here.
  5. How the Cinematography of ‘John Wick 4’ Makes an Action Flick Look Like an Arthouse Film? 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. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, on the Hard Fork podcast, talks about their ChatGPT competitor, Bard, competing with them, Google’s delicate balance between A.I. innovation and safety, and more. Check it out here.
  2. On The Great Creators with Guy Raz, Jason Sudeikis tells Guy about the origins of the football/soccer coach character, why the show has connected so deeply with audiences, and Ted’s impact on Jason’s own self-image, and much more. Listen to it here.
  3. An AI-generated image of Cool Pope in immaculate drip went viral over the weekend and almost everyone thought it was real. The Verge’s James Vincent explains how we should navigate our new internet reality. Listen on the Today, Explained podcast here.
  4. On Awards Chatter, Angela Bassett reflects on her humble upbringing and Yale education, the early roles that established her as one of the top talents in the business and the ups and downs that followed over the next three decades. Listen here.
  5. On Cyrus Says this week, Cyrus is joined by actor, Sharad Kelkar who about his first modelling gig and his love for cricket & CCL, his pivots into different fields, rejection from radio, and much more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Why China’s population is shrinking? Watch here.
  2. On The Slow Interview with Neelesh Misra, Hansal Mehta takes us on a journey of his life, his entry into films, the failures faced while making them, his perspective on making films, the relationships during this journey, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On The Ranveer Show, Sara Ali Khan speaks about spirituality, her weight loss journey, meditation, ambition, Saif Ali Khan, Amrita Singh, and much more. She opened up about her future plans, ambition, and her true purpose. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Happy Family Conditions Apply (The Dholakia family household have four generations living under one roof; together, they navigate the many ups and downs of their lives.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Purusha Pretham (It focuses on Inspector Sebastian as he handles an unidentified male body and becomes entangled in a procedural, personal and emotional maze. Somewhere between his personal troubles and procedural flaws, all hell breaks loose when he misplaces the corpse.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.

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

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The Last 7 Days #160 (27.03.23 – 02.04.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 160th 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. Why 2023 is the year of millets? Read more here.
  2. OpenAI vs The World. Read it here.
  3. Working with People Who Aren’t Self-Aware. Check it out here.
  4. An 85-year Harvard study found the No. 1 thing that makes us happy in life. Read it here.
  5. This is what it was like to go to McDonald’s in the 1950s. 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, Sam Altman talks about the birth of GPT4, how it came to be, the point from turning the non-profit to a capped-profit co, AI safety and AGI, truth and misinformation and more. Listen to it here.
  2. Seth Godin, on A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek, talks about giving without taking and the concept behind that, having a face behind the brand, knowing what to do and what not to do, saying no, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On HBO’s Succession Podcast, Host Kara Swisher is joined by Succession creator Jesse Armstrong and EP Frank Rich to unpack “The Munsters”, ep one of the final season. Then, Kara talks with Ben Smith, co-founder of the news site Semafor, about the Roy kids’ new media venture. Listen here.
  4. In this episode of All About Movies, boAt founder Aman Gupta discusses how DDLJ has inspired his personal life, his first meeting with Tom Cruise and the secret behind his filmy persona. Listen to it here.
  5. Jonathan Majors, on HAPPY SAD CONFUSED to talk about it all, CREED III, ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA, why he reveres Heath Ledger’s Joker performance, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. A look behind the scenes of ‘John Wick: Chapter 4‘ and hear from the cast & crew. Check it out here.
  2. In this ep of Journey of a Joke with Abish Matthew, Vir Das discusses his latest special, Landing, delivering a premise & a notion to the audience, ‘2 min bit’, the structure of the show, and more. Watch here.
  3. On Humans of Bombay, Alia Bhatt explains her thought process behind doing a film, how and with what intent she started her brand, and how she keeps a balance between her work schedule and personal life. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Shrinking (A grieving therapist starts to break the rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks. Jimmy has lost his wife and wants to try a new approach to his loss, but it is unclear how this will help others.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Iratta (After a cop is found dead, a policeman’s investigation sparks a chilling search for the truth connected to his estranged twin and their fraught past.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #159 (20.03.23 – 26.03.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 159th 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 secret history of Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and OpenAI. Read more here.
  2. Make Learning a Lifelong Habit. Read here.
  3. This is the perfect length of time to nap, says clinical psychologist—it won’t mess up your sleep schedule. Check it out here.
  4. What happens in our brain and body when we’re in love? Read it here.
  5. Tech companies spoiled workers for decades. Now layoffs are bringing them down to Earth. 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. Virendra Sehwag, on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, talks about his cricket journey and childhood, the pros and cons of being famous, the secrets behind his batting, the mental and physical fitness of sportspeople, the importance of mental health, and more. Check it out here.
  2. Kevin Systrom, the founder of Instagram and now Artifact, at the SXSW with Kara Swisher, discuss his regrets about Instagram, his plans to crack the news business and what’s wrong with tech bros. Listen to it here.
  3. How do human bodies use energy? In this episode of Origin Stories, Leakey Foundation grantee Dr Herman Pontzer shares groundbreaking research that upends our understanding of metabolism, calories, and the history of our species. Listen here.
  4. On the ReelBlend podcast, Chad Stahelski talks about the fallout of cutting off John Wick’s finger leading to over 600 VFX shots, why they decided to make John right-handed even though Keanu Reeves is a lefty, the franchises animal-loving roots, working with the Wachowski’s on The Matrix franchise and more. Check it out here.
  5. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck discuss their longtime friendship; sharing apartments and bank accounts; starting their own studio; tabloids and paparazzi; the ’90s movie era; their new film, ‘Air’; and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Eater, host Daniel Geneen heads to the McIlhenny factory on Avery Island, Louisiana, where the world’s supply of Tabasco sauce is made, where we learn about the 150-year-old family-run business, and the Tabasco-making process, from pepper to barrel to bottle. Watch it here.
  2. How are 150,000 people fed for Onam in Kerela, India? Watch here.
  3. In this episode of Mashable Mornings, Siddharth Roy Kapur, the founder and managing director of Roy Kapur Films, takes us on a journey of getting into the media industry, a deep dive into his entrepreneurial journey, producing some of the biggest hits in the industry, and more. Check it out here.
  4. In this series of India’s VFX Revolution, Pete Draper, the VFX lead supervisor for RRR, covers different aspects of the movie’s production, Ram and Bheem’s introduction, the bridge scene between them, the animal havoc scene, and many more. Watch it here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – John Wick 4 (With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin.) Now in theatres.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #158 (13.03.23 – 19.03.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 158th 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. We use words like “stupid,” “insane,” “crazy,” “lame,” or “dumb” every day without realizing the harm they can cause. Here’s why you should stop using these words (and how to do it). Read here.
  2. Rage-texting: Just don’t. Read more here.
  3. The surprising truth about Indian food. Check it out here.
  4. More hype than substance: erythritol and cardiovascular risk. Read more here.
  5. Neuroscientist shares the ‘nonnegotiable’ routine he uses to stay mentally sharp during the day. 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. Stephen Findeisen, also known as Coffeezilla, joins the Joe Rogan podcast, breaking down the FTX scam, explaining the other crypto scams and celebrity endorsements, how he got into exposing the scammers and fraudsters, traditional media vs YouTube, and more. Check it out here.
  2. On Business Breakdowns, joined by Ed Cowan, they break down the world’s fastest growing sports league, Indian Premier League; how the IPL came to be and its place in Indian society, the business model, from both the league and team perspectives. Listen to it here.
  3. In this episode of Into It, Vulture’s Joe Reid explains the on-again, off-again relationship between the Oscars and the box office. Listen here.
  4. Director Michael B. Jordan discusses his new film, Creed III, with fellow director Tim Miller in a Q&A at the DGA theatre in Los Angeles, discussing the challenge of directing himself, how the fight scenes were another language within the film, and how anime allowed the themes of the story to resonate. Listen to it here.
  5. On the RCB podcast, Virat Kohli talks about rising from failures and learning from them, the inspiration and emotional support from close ones, big life and career changes, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Lewis Hamilton talks with Wale Ogunleye, Head of Sports and Entertainment at UBS, about making an impact beyond the racetrack. Watch it here.
  2. Ram Charan, at India Today Conclave 2023, talks about the Oscar-winning moment, breaks down the Naatu Naatu dance, working with Jr NTR and SS Rajamouli, his father’s legacy and his journey, the rise of South Cinema, and more. Check it out here.
  3. Sound designers Markus Stemler, and Frank Kruse and their team made use of a variety of wild sounds to create a wartime collage for the picture “All Quiet on the Western Front.” They break down some of the most iconic scenes from the film and explain how they soundtracked these moments with incredible foley work. Watch here.
  4. On Humans of Bombay, Vidya Balan talks about her first audition process, getting selected for Hum Paanch and meeting Ekta Kapoor, getting selected for her debut film after much struggle, her love for acting and leading narratives, creating a niche with female-centric roles, and more. Watch it here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Vaathi (A young man faces a difficult time as he struggles against the privatization of education.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #157 (06.03.23 – 12.03.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 157th 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 stop yourself from bingeing? Read here.
  2. The ‘H’ In IMHO Does Not Mean Humble or Honest. Read more here.
  3. Here’s how every social media company is trying to adopt subscriptions. Check it out here.
  4. 3 tips for rejecting someone with kindness, from a Harvard-trained psychologist. Read it here.
  5. Here’s what’s inside the nearly $125,000 gift bag given to Oscar nominees. 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, Tim Urban, author of the blog Wait But Why, talks about human history, conspiracy theories, arguing on the internet, political division, social justice, and much more.Listen to it here.
  2. How to escape the cynicism trap, according to psychologist Jamil Zaki? Listen to it on TED Talks Daily here.
  3. Whether your caffeine of choice is coffee, tea, soda or energy drinks, how do you know that it’s working for you and not against you? On Life Kit, experts talk about how you can assess your relationship to caffeine and explore why caffeine may not deserve its bad rap. Check it out here.
  4. On Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, Ram Charan reflects on the what it meant to join forces with actor NTR Jr. on RRR guided by the singular vision of director S.S. Rajamouli, the influence of his father, actor Chiranjeevi, his upbringing in Hyderabad, how Charan carved out his own path to acting, and more. Listen here.
  5. On Awards Chatter, Ke Huy Quan, the former child star turned 2023 Oscar nominee reflects on coming to America from Vietnam and making ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ and ‘The Goonies,’ walking away from acting for two decades and making one of the greatest comebacks in Hollywood history. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Tennis champions Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka are among the best paid athletes in the world. But prize money drops off steeply, with lower-ranked players often struggling to make a living amid the expense of travel and coaching. The FT talks to governing bodies in what is a fragmented sport and follows two players fighting to get to the top and get paid. Check it out here.
  2. Top Gun: Maverick’s supervising sound producer Al Nelson breaks down the Darkstar sequence. He explains how his team made a plane that doesn’t exist sound real, and, more importantly, how they leveraged the sound design to be just as emotionally impactful as a piece of orchestrated music. Watch here.
  3. S. S. Rajamouli, director of Indian smash hit film ‘RRR,’ discusses everything about the Oscar-nominated “Naatu Naatu” scene from selecting the Mariinsky Palance in Kyiv as the location, working with Prem Rakshith for the choreography, the inspiration behind the costumes and more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – The Last of Us (Tasked with escorting a teenager across a post-apocalyptic world, a dreaded smuggler joins hands with a young apprentice to fulfil the mission unscathed.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Creed III (Adonis has been thriving in both his career and family life, but when a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces, the face-off is more than just a fight.) Now in theatres.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #156 (27.02.23 – 05.03.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 156th 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. Digital Detox Is a Fantasy. Do This Instead. Read it here.
  2. What interviews with 13 Fortune 500 CEOs revealed about their retirement? Read here.
  3. Who Votes for the Oscars, and How Do They Do It? Check it out here
  4. The Real-Life Diet of Andrew Huberman. Read it here.
  5. Here’s why rejection is actually good for your brain, according to a psychologist. 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 talks with author James Clear about practical ways to shift your internal narrative, how to begin and maintain productive habitual action, being flexible with your goals as you set and achieve them, and more. Listen to it here.
  2. In the past few decades, the rate of food allergies in both children and adults has dramatically increased. What’s causing this rise, and what can we do about it? Listen to it on the Unexplainable podcast here.
  3. On Awards Chatter, Michelle Yeoh reflects on blazing a trail for female martial artists in Hong Kong cinema, introducing the modern Bond girl 25 years ago and getting to show that she can do, well, everything everywhere all at once in A24’s biggest hit to date. Check it out here.
  4. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Charles Leclerc tells Tom Clarkson why missing out on the title in 2022 has made him the best he’s ever been, the soul-searching and changes at Ferrari since last season, and explains why new Team Principal Fred Vasseur is the right person to lead the famous red team to success. Listen here.
  5. In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Brendan Fraser explains all the ways he’s changed as an actor—and as a person, his journey into the films, how The Whale came out and his performance in it, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Jay Shetty shares insights into his daily routine, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness, meditation, and gratitude in his life. He also talks about his approach to personal growth and the importance of learning from one’s mistakes and challenges. Watch it here.
  2. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’s puppet fabrication supervisor Georgina Hayns shows us how she make puppets for stop-motion animated films. How do you show the animated evolution of the wooden boy who has never learned to walk? From 3D printed joints to animated face replacement, Georgina takes us through her process of creating practical stop-motion puppetry for the animated Netflix film. Check it out here.
  3. Dan Barrett takes us through his process of animating the Na’vi and creatures in ‘Avatar: The Way of Water.‘ From capturing human emotion through Facial Performance Captures (FACS) to the complexities of working with water, the Avatar animator discusses his work with James Cameron in the newest installment of the animated film franchise. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Argentina 1985 (The true story of how a public prosecutor, a young lawyer, and their inexperienced legal team dared to prosecute the heads of Argentina’s bloody military dictatorship.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Living (In 1950s London, a humorless civil servant decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis.)

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #155 (20.02.23 – 26.02.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 155th 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. Why flying has turned into a nightmare of delayed flights, lost bags, and tiny seats? Check it out here.
  2. Why does Your Brain Dwells on Unfinished Tasks? Read here.
  3. A neuroscientist shares 4 ‘highly coveted’ skills that set introverts apart. Read it here.
  4. Indians now want to eat out instead of delivery – a move that’s hitting pizza makers the most. Read more here.
  5. How the action-packed “RRR” took the world by storm? 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 How I Built This Lab, Guy Raz talks with Sam Altman about his journey from a Stanford dropout and teenage entrepreneur to president of the startup incubator Y Combinator and co-founder of the nonprofit OpenAI. He shares his hopes and fears for the future of AI and how his company is working to ensure it ultimately benefits all of humanity. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Tim Ferriss Show, Mark Manson talks about the path to ‘The Subtle Art of Giving a F*ck’, the Ups and Downs of Success, the craft of writing, personal reinvention, and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Chef René Redzepi said his Copenhagen restaurant, Noma, deemed the best in the world, isn’t sustainable and will close next year. But if an establishment charging top dollar can’t survive, what restaurant can? KCRW’s Evan Kleiman explains on the Today, Explained podcast here.
  4. On Awards Chatter, Cate Blanchett, the two-time Oscar winner reflects on her unexpected path to screen acting, how she landed and tackled the roles for which she is best known and the massive undertaking of playing symphony orchestra conductor Lydia Tár. Listen here.
  5. In this episode of All About Movies, YouTube sensation and actor Prajakta Koli talks about being an unconditional Hrithik Roshan fan, being a romantic in modern times and what films have shaped her ideas of love and romance. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. How Lewis Hamilton saved Formula 1? Watch it here.
  2. On Unfiltered by Samdish, Anurag Kashyap chats about cinema, the craft of filmmaking, life, Anurag’s arrest in Saudi Arabia, food reels and much more. Check it out here.
  3. Shriya Pilgaonkar, from doing supporting roles in Un Plus Une and Fan, to headlining Guilty Minds and The Broken News, traces her rise in the web world in an uncut, unfiltered candid interview with Mayank Shekhar only on midday India channel. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – TÁR (Set in the international world of Western classical music, the film centers on Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living composer-conductors and the very first female director of a major German orchestra.)
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – The Whale (A reclusive, morbidly obese English teacher attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.)

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #154 (13.02.23 – 19.02.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 154th 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. ‘Best Friends’ Are a Surprisingly Recent Phenomenon. Read more here.
  2. How to Fix Your Life – Mark Manson. Check it out here.
  3. Eating Less Beats Intermittent Fasting For Weight Loss, Study Says. Read here.
  4. Everyday experiences of racism can impact your brain-gut microbiome, a new study shows. Read more here.
  5. A 45-year-old brain expert shares how he eats like a ‘SuperAger’ to stay ‘sharp and focused’ every day. 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. Seth Godin, on The Rich Roll podcast, discusses creativity, writing, understanding the distinction between marketing and advertising, the pitfalls of modern education, and his most recent book, The Carbon Almanac, a one-stop-shop on everything we know about global climate change. Listen to it here.
  2. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, on The Decoder with Nilay Patel, talks about this next step in AI, the partnership with OpenAI, and why he thought now was the best time to go after Google search. Check it out here.
  3. Sitting all day isn’t good for your health. Long stretches glued to a chair can increase the risk of heart disease and early death. Why the 5-minute walk break is so powerful? Listen to it on Life Kit podcast here.
  4. On Awards Chatter, Colin Farrell reflects on his experience with sudden stardom, transitioning from big-budget films to indies and his three-film collaboration with Martin McDonagh. Listen to it here.
  5. In this episode of FC PopCorn, Anupama Chopra, Rahul Desai & Rajeev Masand (COO, Dharma Cornerstone) discuss the 2023 Oscar nominations, the ‘true’ definition of its Indian equivalents, and the fate of film award shows in India. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. 9-time National Award-winning film editor, A Sreekar Prasad discusses the intricacies of the craft, its sacrosanct place in the process of filmmaking, how nuanced editing choices make a huge difference to visual storytelling and of course, the mammoth of the movie called RRR. Watch it here.
  2. On the Film Companion Front Row, director duo Raj & DK speak with Suchin Mehrotra about their recent release Farzi on Prime Video, what to expect from the upcoming season of The Family Man, and their experience of working with Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi. Check it out here.
  3. After a breakthrough performance in Farzi, Bhuvan Arora speaks to Sneha Menon Desai about getting into the headspace of Firoz, learning the lingo and the rap, and finding his chemistry with Shahid Kapoor. The actor also talks to us about his decade-long journey to finding his footing as an actor, why he dislikes the ‘hero ka dost’ tag, and what the days since Farzi’s release has been like for him. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – The Romantics (Smriti Mundhra’s four-part documentary series ‘The Romantics‘ traces the life and legacy of Yash Chopra—the father of Bollywood romance.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Triangle of Sadness (Carl and Yaya, a couple of influencers, are invited to a luxury cruise ship alongside a group of out of touch wealthy people. The situation takes an unexpected turn when a brutal storm hits the ship.) Now streaming on MUBI here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #153 (06.02.23 – 12.02.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 153rd 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’s richest 1% own more than 40% of total wealth: Oxfam. Read more here.
  2. Psychiatrist and author Phil Stutz, subject of Netflix’s “Stutz” documentary, says these are the three best ways to hone self-discipline — a crucial life skill. Check it out here.
  3. When Does Elon Musk Sleep? Billionaire Speaks of Limits to Fixing Twitter and His Back Pain. Read it here.
  4. Dr Siddharth Warrier on clutter and the art of de-cluttering. Check it out here.
  5. Thrilled scientists used Webb telescope to find rocky, Earth-size planet. 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 Business Breakdowns, the hosts are joined by Connie Chan, to break down the Chinese super app, WeChat, its founder, how trust is integral to the app’s success, and why we haven’t seen super apps proliferate in the West. Listen to it here.
  2. Wealthy companies like Google and Microsoft are announcing unprecedented layoffs — all while the economy is trending in the right direction. Vox’s Emily Stewart explains. Listen to this episode on the Today, Explained podcast here.
  3. In this episode of Land of the Giants, the story of how Bumble came to rival the power of Tinder and Match Group by harnessing the brand power of feminism. Check it out here.
  4. In this episode of All About Movies with Anupama Chopra, Devdutt Pattanaik dissects films and the mythology behind them, whether it be the Bandra Mythology and the myths behind making modern superhero films, or the prospects of recreating Ramayana and Mahabharata in Indian cinema. Listen here.
  5. On Naan Curry, Sadaf Hussain discusses with Chef Jyoti Vishnani how Sindhi cuisine is different in different regions of India, Pakistan, and the diaspora, Sindhi’s love for fish and the folklore around it, stereotypical dishes undermine the flavors and cooking techniques of Sindhi cuisine. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Post the success of TVF Pitchers Season 2, creator Arunabh Kumar, Naveen Kasturia and Ronjini Chakraborty speak to Rohini Ramnathan about how the show came to be, behind-the-scenes stories. They also share their opinion on India’s startup culture and more. Watch it here.
  2. An exclusive conversation between Steven Spielberg and SS Rajamouli breaking down the scenes and the making of The Fabelmans and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Vanity Fair, Paul Dano and Carey Mulligan reunite after working on the film ‘Wildlife’, about their relationship off-camera and deep diving into each other’s filmography. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Farsi (An artist who gets pulled into the murky high stakes of a con job and a fiery task force officer on the mission to rid the country of his menaces in a fast-paced, edgy one-of-a-kind thriller.) now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Elvis (The film explores the life and music of Elvis Presley, seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

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

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The Last 7 Days #152 (30.01.23 – 05.02.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 152nd 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 Shah Rukh Khan be our Prime Minister? Read more here.
  2. Ted Gioia’s 8 Best Techniques for Evaluating Character. Check it out here.
  3. 23 good things already happening in 2023. Read here.
  4. What existed before Kayani Bakery at Poona at that spot? Check it out here.
  5. Neuroscientist Tara Swart Bieber shares how she boosts mental clarity, memory and concentration. 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. Lex Fridman joins Joe Rogan on his podcast, discussing the structure of ChatGPT, the future of AI, talk about topics like aliens, UFOs and much more.Listen to it here.
  2. On Life Kit, psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler believes there are 5 kinds of perfectionists in the world. Find out which one you are. Listen here.
  3. On Business Wars, a series on Apple vs Microsoft focuses on the battles to dominate the computer industry and what it entailed. Check it out here.
  4. Daniel Craig joins Josh, on Happy Sad Confused podcast, to talk about his filmography, and more so about James Bond and Benoit Blanc amongst other topics. Listen to it here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: Harley Quinn and the Joker: Sound Mind (Dr. Harleen Quinzel is a new psychologists at Arkham Asylum and seeks the assistance of a patient – The Joker – to help save her ill father, this creates an uncontrollable chain of events that even draws in Bruce Wayne.) Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Director Siddharth Anand speaks to Anupama Chopra on Directors’ Cut about the making of the film Pathaan, directing Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan in that iconic cameo scene and designing the ‘seeti and clap’ moments in the film.Watch it here.
  2. Why OpenAI’s ChatGPT Is Such A Big Deal? – its use cases, limitations and future implicatons. Check it out here.
  3. The cast and the filmmaker of Trial By Fire, Abhay Deol, Rajshri Deshpande, Prashant Nair, on Film Companion Front Row with Sneha Menon Desai, dissect specific scenes and how they approached the gamut of emotions. The actors share valuable insight on staying the course in the film industry and how not to give up or give in. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Trial By Fire (After the deadly Uphaar cinema fire, two grief-stricken parents navigate the loss of their kids and a dogged fight for justice. Based on true events.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – An Action Hero (A murder accusation turns a movie star’s own life into an eccentric action thriller as he flees the country, with a vengeful politician hot on his heels.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

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The Last 7 Days #151 (23.01.23 – 29.01.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 151st 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. Are jerks more likely to get ahead at work? Read here.
  2. What is compassion fatigue? Caregivers explain here.
  3. To reduce appetite, skip late-night snacks. Read more here.
  4. The Republic Of Pathaan: A Patriotic Ode To All Things Bollywood. Check it out here.
  5. Acupuncturist, herbal medicine doctor and pain expert Dr Eileen Li shares two simple acupressure moves that anyone can do at home to relieve tension headaches and migraines. 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. Executive producer Craig Mazin talks to Recode’s Peter Kafka about what makes the game, The Last of Us special — and adaptable into prestige television. Mazin dives into how he went from writing The Hangover sequels to making Chernobyl, and the science and emotional math of storytelling. Listen to it here.
  2. It’s not about the chocolate. Seth Godin riffs about the culture around chocolate and what it explains. Check it out here.
  3. On The Daily Stoic, Ryan speaks with Mark Manson about the new documentary based on his astronomically successful book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, how being highly successful can ruin one’s life, what he is striving to disrupt in the self-help industry, and more. Listen here.
  4. Most people watch RRR and see one of the greatest action epics in the history of cinema. But some see an insidious brand of Hindu nationalism that’s been creeping into Indian culture. Folks at the Today, Explained podcast share their perspective on this episode. Check it out here.
  5. Arunabh Kumar, founder of TVF, on the Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about starting his journey in the content space, building TVF and the multiple web-series, the future of social media and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Lewis Hamilton joins On Purpose with Jay Shetty to give a different perspective on finding your own purpose, how even the simplest things can help change the world, the power we give to our fears and how it’s stopping us from finding our truth, and more.Watch it here.
  2. 1000 Blind People see for the first time. Check it out here.
  3. At the Red Sea Film Festival 2022, Ranbir Kapoor talks about his journey into films, choosing his characters and a deep-dive into some of them. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – FC Barcelona: A New Era (a documentary series that discovers the ins and outs of the last two years of the club seen from the perspective of the first team.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Pathaan (An Indian spy takes on the leader of a group of mercenaries who have nefarious plans to target his homeland.) Now in theatres.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #150 (16.01.23 – 23.01.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 150th 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 collateral damage of America’s tech war with China. Read it here.
  2. From Doge To Drake, Here Are 10 Internet Moments Turning 10 In 2023. Check it out here.
  3. A vegan dietician shares 3 ways to meet your protein goals on a plant-based diet. Read here.
  4. Scientists Drop Absolutely Stunning New View Of The Milky Way Galaxy. Check it out here.
  5. India releases guidelines for social media influencers accepting paid promotions. 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 Lex Fridman podcast, MrBeast talks about the future of social media platforms, getting 1 billion views and 1 billion subscribers, mortality and mental health, building a business and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Ranveer Show, Vir Das discusses the Indian comedy scene in detail, social media numbers, how to be a global citizen, the controversy of his video ‘Two Indias’, the state after he was cancelled by the entire nation and so much more. Check it out here.
  3. Movie trailers are misleading audiences. On Today, Explained Podcast, Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson says you should stop watching them. Listen here.
  4. On the Awards Chatter podcast, SS Rajamouli reflects on his family of filmmakers, helping to forge a pan-Indian cinema and bringing together two of India’s biggest stars for what has proven to be one of India’s biggest — and most acclaimed — blockbusters, RRR. Listen to it here.
  5. On The Official Manchester United podcast, Ander Herrera recounts his first spell at Athletic Bilbao, describes his 2014 transfer to Old Trafford in amazing detail and dissects his five popular seasons as a Red, and finally discusses his difficult decision to leave the club for PSG in 2019. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Dr Mark Hyman joins On Purpose with Jay Shetty to talk about the ultimate benefit of eating the right food for our body. He explains the right ingredients we need to be mindful of for optimal health, the core systems in our body responsible for keeping it healthy, and more. Watch it here.
  2. How do Airplanes get painted? – The $18 billion aircraft plane industry. Check it out here.
  3. Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson stopped by the Genius studio to have an in-depth conversation about the score of the film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. They discuss tapping into new thematic sounds; drawing inspiration from trips to Mexico and Nigeria; and bringing in strong female artists to help emphasize the movie’s theme of motherhood.Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Super League: The War for Football (Plans for a breakaway league emerge, triggering a high-stakes battle, as the past, present and future of European soccer collide and leave the game’s most powerful leaders to defend, or upend, the traditions of the sport.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Mili (Young Mili is abducted and finds herself trapped in a freezer with no way out, and every ticking second lowers her chances of survival.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #149 (09.01.23 – 15.01.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 149th 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. Deconstructing ‘The Twitter Files‘. Check it out here.
  2. 3 things people never do in Finland – the No. 1 happiest country in the world, according to a psychology expert. Read here.
  3. Why you should start your day with a banana and not coffee? Read it here.
  4. The creators of ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once‘ broke down the stunning visuals behind their genre-jumping epic. Check it out here.
  5. Harvard expert on the worst thing about New Year’s resolutions—and how to beat it. 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 TED Talks Daily, accountant Robert A. Belle talks about what your money habits reveal about you: your hopes, fears, dreams and other deep personal truths you may not even be aware of. Listen to it here.
  2. Controversial manfluencer Andrew Tate is in a Romanian prison, accused of rape and human trafficking. On Today Explained, Vox’s Rebecca Jennings and sociolinguist Robert Lawson explain why his brand of grotesque misogyny appeals to millions of men. Check it out here.
  3. How to start an exercise routine that works for you, on the Life Kit podcast. Listen here.
  4. On Variety Awards Circuit, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan Teja discuss the insanity of director S.S. Rajamouli, the Golden Globe winning famous dance battle song in ‘RRR,’ as well as being recognized internationally and in Hollywood. Check it out here.
  5. From his everlasting fascination with SRK, and his tips on film marketing, to creating the iconic CRED ads, Tanmay Bhat tells some of these stories on All About Movies with Anupama Chopra. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. Kevin Hart, on On Purpose with Jay Shetty, places emphasis on the importance of focusing our energy on finding a solution rather than wasting time on the problem, how team effort is the foundation to all forms of success, why we should always consider both sides of the story, the beauty of cheering for others success and celebrating it with them, and how self-love and self-appreciation must start with you and not come from someone else. Check it out here.
  2. Ashneer Grover, on The Ranveer Show Hindi, talks about his early life, building Grofers and Bharatpe, the reality of investors, the probability of success and more. Watch it here.
  3. Hrithik Roshan and Baradwaj Rangan discuss a wide range of subjects, including his upcoming movie “FIGHTER,” his career to date, how he makes his roles his own, how he selects scripts to act in, thoughts on his stardom, films he loves doing as an actor, his favourite movie that he acted in, and much more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Taaza Khabar (A Sanitation worker, how he stumbles upon magical powers which leads to a riveting new ride for the man, and how it stirs his humble life.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Menu (A young couple travels to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.

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

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The Last 7 Days #148 (02.01.23 – 08.01.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 148th 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. ‘Healthy embarrassment’ can help you reach your goals next year—here’s how, from a Zen teacher. Read here.
  2. In Memoriam: The tech that died in 2022. Check it out here.
  3. Why I Exercise: Real People Weigh In on What Keeps Them Going. Read more here.
  4. A cardiologist shares the 4 worst foods for high cholesterol—and what she eats to keep her ‘heart healthy’. Read here.
  5. Meet the Chef Behind The Menu’s “Slutty,” Delicious Cheeseburger. 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. How we feel emotionally may be influenced by unseen troves of microbial life that live inside us. Is it possible to harness this gut power? Listen more on the Unexplainable podcast here.
  2. On How I Built This Lab, Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) reflects on his journey as a content creator and how he turned a love of tech into a lucrative and sustainable business. Plus, he shares his philosophy for building a strong team – which interestingly enough, is inspired by an octopus. Check it out here.
  3. How to be a better movie watcher, according to critics, on the Life Kit podcast. Listen to it here.
  4. On The Joe Rogan podcast, Jon Bernthal shared the challenges he faced early on in his career, with failure after failure, before landing his breakout role in The Walking Dead. He talks about his involvement in street fights and excessive drinking, when the Russian police pulled guns on his face, and so much more. Listen here.
  5. In this spoiler-filled interview, on the Empire Film Podcast, SS Rajamouli takes us behind-the-scenes of RRR, and shares tid-bits from the film and how he managed it all. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Rocking Star Yash in this conversation with Anupama Chopra talks about anecdotes from the sets of the KGF films, his dreams for the Kannada film industry and what we can expect from him in the coming year. Watch it here.
  2. At the WSJ Tech Live 2022, Snap’s CEO Evan Spiegel talks about steering the social media company through economic headwinds while focusing on augmented reality as a long-term strategy. Check it out here.
  3. On The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast, Rohit Shetty talks about the discipline and efforts it takes to make a film, the success formula behind his films, how to make blockbuster films, the future of OTT, and more. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – TVF Pitchers (A story of trials and tribulations of four young entrepreneurs who quit their day jobs in order to pursue their start up venture) Now streaming on Zee5 here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – She Said (New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor break one of the most important stories in a generation – a story that helped ignite a movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood.) Check it out here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #147 (26.12.22 – 01.01.23)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 147th 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. Are you the same person you used to be? Read more here.
  2. What if You Can’t Find the Silver Lining in Your Illness? Check it out here.
  3. ‘Positive stress’ can help you be happier and more productive at work, according to new research—how to harness it. Read here.
  4. Better Call Brad: Hollywood’s Secret Problem Solver Speaks. Read more here.
  5. 5 daily practices could up your chances of living to 90. 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. Sir Richard Branson joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how he became interested in starting businesses, why he is involved with global social issues, and how he enjoys being considered an underdog. Richard and Dax talk about their experiences with dyslexia, how they learn more from people’s failures, and their respect for artists. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Ranveer Show Hindi, IPS Vishwas Nangare Patil talks about Mumbai Police, the life of Police, the mindset of criminals, the first-view narration of 26/11, and more. Check it out here.
  3. In this ep of Naan Curry, Sadaf is hosting, writer Nilosree Biswas and photographer Irfan Nabi, co-authors of Calcutta on Your Plate, to discuss who all have played a role in influencing the food of Bengal, how can one define Calcutta cuisine, and if the Bengali food is evolving with time. Listen here.
  4. Ralph Macchio has been on quite the journey with THE KARATE KID and he’s ready to spill all the stories. On Happy Sad Confused podcast, he dives into his career, from THE OUTSIDERS to COBRA KAI, on the occasion of his new book, WAXING ON! Check it out here.
  5. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Karun Chandhok tells Tom Clarkson the astonishing story of his Grand Prix debut, reflects on the deals and behind-the-scenes events at Hispania and Lotus which changed the course of his career. Karun explains how his love for F1 is fuelling his current work as a broadcaster, racetrack design consultant and grassroots motorsport advocate. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Film Companion Actors’ Adda 2022, Rishab Shetty, Anil Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Janhvi Kapoor, Dulquer Salmaan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Vijay Varma, Sheeba Chadha, Rajkummar Rao discuss the year that was, break down scenes from their films that terrified them and performances from the year that made them jealous.Watch it here.
  2. MKBHD’s Smartphone Awards 2022 – which phone won the Best Camera, Best Design, Best Big/ Small Phone, Best Value, MVP? Check it out here.
  3. 2022, in 7 minutes.Watch it here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – Witness (The brutal reality of manual scavenging engulfs another family when street sweeper Rohini’s son dies while scavenging. Rohini decides to seek justice for her deceased son and is helped by Shraddha, a young woman with conscience, in her battle.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Ponniyin Selvan – I (Vandiyathevan sets out to cross the Chola land to deliver a message from the crown prince Aditha Karikalan. Meanwhile, Kundavai attempts to establish political peace as vassals and petty chieftains plot against the throne.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #146 (19.12.22 – 25.12.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 146th 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. Everything You Need to Know About Disordered Eating, According to Experts. Check it out here.
  2. How you can learn to be kinder to yourself? Read here.
  3. The fundamental differences between stablecoins and CBDCs. Read it here.
  4. What Does World Economy Look Like Through 2075? Here’s What Goldman Sachs Thinks. Check it out here.
  5. Should you sweat it out or rest when you’re sick? 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 Wisdom from the Top with Guy Raz, Bob Rosenberg breaks down how he matured into his leadership role, developed Dunkin’ Donuts into an international success, and about his experience from a career spanning 35 years. Listen to it here.
  2. Cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are and who we become in the face of a big change. Psychology professor and motivation expert Dr. Ayelet Fishbach joins Maya to share science-backed strategies for setting smarter goals…and actually sticking with them. Listen to this episode on WorkLife with Adam Grant here.
  3. On TED Talks Daily, Psychologist Fallon Goodman digs into why you feel anxious while socialising, the source of it, setting the record straight about this common condition with practical solutions to help you feel the most authentically “you” while out and about. Check it out here.
  4. Victoria Beckham joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why she wanted to start a line of makeup and skincare products, how she always wanted to be a dancer and singer from a young age, and why being a fashion designer is so important to her, and more. Listen here.
  5. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Guenther Steiner, Haas’ Team Principal, talks Tom Clarkson through his decisions of replacing Mick and getting Nico Hulkenberg, and how they’ll drive the team towards its goals. Guenther also gives his views on his fame, management style and even his merchandise, and more. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Ranveer Show Hindi, Zakir Khan talks about Instagram and Youtube trends, how to grab attention, comic timing and the important component of comedy, the emotional connection behind his new stand-up special and more. Watch it here.
  2. How 700 Kg Of Legendary Gulab Halwa Is Handmade Every Day In India? Check it out here.
  3. Toto Wolff, the team principal for Mercedes-AMG Petronas, shares what he’s learned from the past season, what’s changed about his leadership style, and what’s not. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation 1 of the Week – The Banshees of Inisherin (Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation 2 of the Week – Love Today [Tamil] (At the request of the bride-to-be’s suspicious father, a couple must swap phones for 24 hours before they get married.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #145 (12.12.22 – 18.12.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 145th 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. When Someone Asks Your Opinion, Give It. Read more here.
  2. How Amar Bose used research to build better speakers? Check it out here.
  3. Bust the myths and relish the sweetness of honey. Read it here.
  4. The “Double-Edged Sword” of Telling Black History in Film. Read here.
  5. Wikipedia is Everything the Internet Should Have Been. 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. Indra Nooyi joins Aarthi and Sriram’s Good Time Show about her upbringing and early life, her career including leading PepsiCo, her leadership lessons, making it as an immigrant, and her experience meeting Steve Jobs. Check it out here.
  2. On Creator Lab, Mike Evans talks about how Grubhub started, building it into a 2B$+ company, taking it public, and everything that happened in its process. Listen to it here.
  3. In this episode of Creative Elements, Sahil Bloom talks about his rocketship Twitter growth, how he attracts the support of others, how he’s changed his strategy as he’s grown, and why he believes his success all comes down to being consistent. Listen here.
  4. On Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit host two international desis; restaurateur Roni Mazumdar and Chef Vijay Kumar from the New York-based Michelin Star restaurant Semma, discussing the influence behind the food served, redefining southern Indian cuisine, and so much more. Check it out here.
  5. On the Official Game of Thrones Podcast, Composer Ramin Djawadi discuss the decisions that go into designing the iconic soundscape of the world of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The Galatta Plus Mega Roundtable 2022, Dulquer Salmaan, Karthi, Pooja Hegde, Varun Dhawan, Srinidhi Shetty, Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Hemanth Rao, Nipun Dharmadhikari gather around to discuss and dissect their industries, the films that impressed, and the practices that didn’t in 2022. Watch it here.
  2. For Film Companion’s India Filmmakers’ Adda, Anupama Chopra brought to the table Kamal Haasan, SS Rajamouli, Lokesh Kanagaraj, Swapna Dutt, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Gautham Vasudev Menon dissecting what goes into making the mass entertainer, how they created some of the most iconic visuals in their films, how they measure risk, and the scenes which gave them sleepless nights. Check it out here.
  3. The Truth About AI Getting “Creative” || MKBHD talks about AI Art, Lensa, ChatGPT, and why it’s all deeper than you think. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Slow Horses (Following a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents — and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb — as they navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Fabelmans (Young Sammy Fabelman falls in love with movies after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Armed with a camera, Sammy starts to make his own films at home, much to the delight of his supportive mother.)

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #144 (05.12.22 – 11.12.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 144th 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 Opposite of Schadenfreude Is Freudenfreude. Here’s How to Cultivate It. Read here.
  2. Expiration Dates Are Meaningless. Check it out here.
  3. Why being constantly wired and working can leave you feeling lost? Read it here.
  4. Why you need to train your legs regularly? Read here.
  5. Use these 9 little phrases to ‘instantly brighten’ someone’s day, says happiness 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. On The Decoder with Nilay Patel, Bose CEO Lila Snyder talks about Bose’s dependence on platform vendors like Apple and Google, how she thinks about standards like Bluetooth, and where she thinks she can compete and win against AirPods and other products that get preferential treatment on phones. Listen to it here.
  2. Medicine might not even be the best medicine. Simon Sinek chats with Dr Mark Hyman, on A Bit Of Optimism, why food is the best medicine. Check it out here.
  3. On MFM, Shaan Puri and Sam Parr talk to Kevin Rose, entrepreneur, founder, VC and CEO of many projects, about creating an online magazine that garners $100M/year focusing on watches, what projects he’s interested in, why he loves crypto, and where he invests his money. Listen here.
  4. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Toto Wolff tells Tom Clarkson how a difficult year will benefit the team in future. He explains how the performance of George Russell, the leadership of Lewis Hamilton, the legacy of Niki Lauda and Toto’s own influence will be key ingredients in Mercedes recovery. Check it out here.
  5. In this episode of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Jonathan Majors dives deep into the process that led him to Kang the Conqueror, “Creed III,” and beyond. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. In Film Companion’s Streaming Adda 2022, Suchin Mehrotra interviews Shriya Pilgaonkar (Guilty Minds), Masaba Gupta (Modern Love Mumbai – I Love Thane), Amit Sial (Maharani, Jamtara), Ishwak Singh (Rocket Boys), Kathir (Suzhal: The Vortex) and Geetanjali Kulkarni (Gullak) about crafting memorable characters, navigating the PR machinery, what success looks like on streaming and if there really is a star system within the OTT space. Check it out here.
  2. The cast of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Evan Peters, Niecy Nash, Richard Jenkins, Molly Ringwald and Penelope Ann Miller, sit down with the show’s co-creator Ryan Murphy for the first time after having finished shooting the series, to discuss its worldwide success, the stories behind their casting, and Ryan’s favorite scenes with each actor, in an intimate, revelatory and emotional conversation. Watch it here.
  3. In a spoiler-filled discussion, Swastika Mukherjee, Triptii Dimri, Babil Khan, and writer-director Anvita Dutt talk to Sucharita Tyagi about creating their characters and the world of Qala. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Welcome to Wrexham (Chronicles the purchase and stewardship of Wrexham AFC, one of the oldest clubs of professional football that has been struggling for a while.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Last Film Show (When the magic of movies conquers nine-year-old Samay’s heart, he moves heaven and Earth in pursuit of his 35mm dreams. However, he is unaware of heartbreaking times that await him.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #143 (28.11.22 – 04.12.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 143rd 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. Number One in Formula One – Leadership lessons from Toto Wolff and Mercedes, the team behind one of the greatest winning streaks in all of sports. Check it out here.
  2. A neuroscientist shares the 3 exercises she does to stop stress and anxiety—in ‘just a few minutes’. Read it here.
  3. Amazon Is Signaling its India Fatigue. Read here.
  4. What Is The E-Rupee? Read more here.
  5. The Stunning New Planets Discovered In 2022, So Far. 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, three experts on sleep (Dr Peter Attia, Andrew Huberman, and Dr Matthew Walker) share their tips and advice for how you can sleep both longer and deeper and the benefits sufficient sleep can have for your body. Listen to it here.
  2. On I How Built This with Guy Raz, Steve Kaufer talks about how he got the idea for Tripadvisor in 1998, how his business plan failed and the pivot towards reviews, and more. Listen here.
  3. Humans seem to be the only animals that cry from emotion. What makes our tears so special? Listen to it on the Unexplainable podcast here.
  4. On Image + Sound Lab, director Joseph Kosinski and his sound team discuss their groundbreaking work on the hit sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. Joining the discussion are re-recording mixers Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor, as well as supervising sound editors James Mather, Al Nelson, and Bjørn Schroeder. Check it out here.
  5. In this in-depth interview with Tom Clarkson, Daniel Ricciardo explores his decision to spend a season off the track and how he hopes it will boost his career and life outside racing. He reflects on why he left Red Bull in 2018, details his struggles at McLaren and explains how age, pressure, confidence and rest affect his performance. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. What actually happened at the MrBeast Burger world record opening day? || Colin and Samir take us behind-the-scenes with MrBeast. Check it out here.
  2. On The Bombay Journey, Rishab Shetty, director, writer and actor of Kantara, talks about the budget and making of the film, his training for traditional folk dance, the art of Kambala, making movies in regional content and more. Watch here.
  3. Sahiba Bali, actor, content creator and brand manager at Zomato, in her TED Talk, talks about the art of being a juggler and balancing everything that comes our way as an opportunity or challenge. She explains how she juggled between so many options and making sure that whatever she pursues, she performs it dutifully. Watch it here.
  4. Stand Up Special of the Week – Tathastu (Starting from Zakir Khan’s early school days ,the performance is a ride where the audience gets a peek at the family he was born in, the characters he grew closest to and his young years bloated with aspirations of becoming an RJ. He goes onto share a few personal learnings on stage as he tries to make sense of his journey thus far.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – The Wonder (Haunted by her past, a nurse travels from England to a remote Irish village in 1862 to investigate a young girl’s supposedly miraculous fast.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #142 (21.11.22 – 27.11.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 142nd 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. ‘Goblin Mode’: A State of Not Caring What Other People Think. Read more here.
  2. MrBeast Is Writing A New Consumer Playbook. Check it out here.
  3. There are 2 types of envy, say psychologists—here’s the ‘healthy’ one that can make you more successful. Read here.
  4. Marvel Has Found an Answer to So-Called “Fatigue”. Read more here.
  5. William Shatner on his Blue Origin flight to space: “It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered.” 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 Lex Fridman podcast, Chamath Palihapitiya, venture capitalist, engineer, CEO of Social Capital, and co-host of the All-In Podcast, talks about his childhood and forgiveness, the early jobs and Facebook, energy and cloud computing, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Medha Bhaskaran, an author, goes into the depths of the Mughal empire, before the Shivaji Maharaj era, and what was the country’s socio-economic status back then, what was the reality of the kings and the emperors who ruled our land mass. (Part 1) Check it out here.
  3. In this ep of The Ranveer Show, part 2 of the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj trilogy, Medha Bhaskaran focuses more on Shirvai’s early life, his early ascent to power, and his legendary philosophies. What was the beginning of his story? How did the Maratha empire begin, and what were its foundation stones of it? Listen here.
  4. In part 3 of the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj trilogy, Medha Bhaskaran speaks about the final vision of Shivaji Maharaj, his legacy and so much more. Check it out here.
  5. On Happy Sad Confused podcast, Chris Hemsworth joins Josh to talk about his latest series, Limitless, plus the future of THOR, why he’s skeptical of a STAR TREK return, and his experience on FURIOSA, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Sebastian Vettel – One Last Time. The final chapter of a remarkable story. Check it out here.
  2. In this Film Companion Exclusive, Rishab Shetty who wrote, directed, and acted in the Kannada film, Kantara speaks to Anupama Chopra about always knowing the film would have a universal appeal, the ‘energy’ that drove him on set to complete the project and how he plans to celebrate the stupendous success of the film. Watch it here.
  3. Vishal Verma on Film Companion Local analyses and breaks down the climax of Kantara, to get a better understanding of the film. Watch here.
  4. Movie Recommendation (1) of the Week – Kantara (It involves culture of Kambla and Bhootha Kola. A human and nature conflict where Shiva is a rebel who defends his village and nature.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation (2) of the Week – Chup: Revenge of the Artist (A psychopath killer, targeting film critics. The film is a fast-paced thriller that raises many questions of the ethics of criticism.) Now streaming on Zee5 here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #141 (14.11.22 – 20.11.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 141st 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 Science Behind Why We Follow Influencers — And How It Leads To Overconsumption. Check it out here.
  2. The World Hits 8 Billion In Population. But There’s More To It. Read more here.
  3. Harvard researcher says there are 8 types of ‘difficult’ people—and passive-aggressive is the ‘absolute worst’. Read here.
  4. The Amazonification of Uber. Check it out here.
  5. It’s Really Expensive to Be a Star. 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 Rich Roll podcast, YouTube legend Casey Neistat joins Rich to talk about his unique creative process, the dangers of a society that values influence over creativity, and his new documentary ‘Under The Influence’. Listen to it here.
  2. In a final in-depth interview with Tom Clarkson, Sebastian Vettel looks back at his entire F1 career: how he dealt with winning and losing, his rivalries and friendships with champions and teammates, and the races and moments that shaped him. Check it out here.
  3. In conversation with science journalist Nadia Drake, astronomer Heidi Hammel discusses the latest in astronomy and the breakthrough innovations behind her work with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Listen here.
  4. Recode’s Peter Kafka talks to Bloomberg’s Mark Bergen about changes to YouTube’s recommendation algorithm, its various attempts to make original premium content, the rise of TikTok, and FЯED. Plus, how the entirety of YouTube almost got filed under a tab on Google’s failed social network. Listen to it here.
  5. Director and co-writer Ryan Coogler, composer Lugwig Görannson, supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer Steve Boeddeker, supervising sound editor Benjamin Burtt, and re-recording mixer Brandon Proctor join the Sound + Image Lab podcast to discuss the making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. In an exclusive with Piers Morgan, Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on the lack of progress at Old Trafford since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, his character portrayal by the media, his sense of disrespect from the club, his comparison with Messi and also, his retirement. Check it out here.
  2. A spoiler-filled breakdown of Monica O My Darling, including all the easter eggs and homages, with the director Vasan Bala and Sucharita Tyagi. Watch it here.
  3. How Brooklyn’s Barclays Center Serves 18,000 People During an NBA Game? Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Save Our Squad with David Beckham (Following David Beckham as he returns to the East London football pitches where he played as a child. He will mentor a young grassroots side, struggling to survive in the league.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Sardar (An espionage agent who is branded a traitor returns from exile to take down a dubious water project and safeguard the country.) Now streaming on Aha here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #140 (07.11.22 – 13.11.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 140th 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 Inventions of 2022 – TIME || 200 innovations changing how we live. Check it out here.
  2. Crypto’s Lehman moment: Here’s how Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX compares to the biggest collapse of the Global Financial Crisis. Read it here.
  3. A five-step approach to avoid food cravings at night. Read here.
  4. How to know if breathwork is right for you? Check it out here.
  5. A brain expert shares his 7 ‘hard rules’ for boosting memory and fighting off dementia. 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 Huberman Lab, Dr Andrew Huberman discusses the biological mechanisms of the state changes that occur during different types of meditation, key meditation principles, how meditation practices lead to long-term trait changes and neuroplasticity, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. In this conversation with Kara Swisher, Brian Chesky (founder of AirBnb) discusses the challenge of being professionally successful and, sometimes, personally lonely. They talk about how the pandemic may have permanently changed how we work, travel and live. Listen here.
  3. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kelly McGonigal and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to channel stress toward more effective communication and a deeper connection to our own purpose and meaning. Check it out here.
  4. On Storytellers & Story Sellers, Vineet talks to Neha Sharma (Neha Doodles), whose passion for doodling paved her path to becoming a full-time illustrator and cartoonist. Neha shares her journey, from the early days of Perusing Chartered Accountancy to getting desired doodling projects. Listen here.
  5. On the Empire Film podcast, Hans Zimmer talks about his live shows, creating the best setlist imaginable, and synths. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Selena Gomez opens up about her battle with mental health, her mission to help spread mental health awareness, dealing with pressure of being a celebrity and the gossip that comes with it, finding self healing, embracing change, and more on the On Purpose podcast. Watch it here.
  2. Daniel Radcliffe breaks down a few of the most iconic characters, including the infamous Harry Potter Saga, ‘Swiss Army Man,’ ‘Horns,’ ‘Kill Your Darlings,’ ‘Guns Akimbo,’ ‘The Lost City,’ ‘Miracle Workers’ and ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.’ Check it out here.
  3. Why athletes are the biggest influencers? Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Bad Sisters (The Garvey sisters are bound together by the premature deaths of their parents and the promises they made to always protect one another.) Now streaming on AppleTV+ here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.) Now running in theatres.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #139 (31.10.22 – 06.11.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 139th 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 Internet Has Turned Self-Care Into A Scam. Read more here.
  2. What Indians Bought Or Didn’t This Festive Season? Read here.
  3. A psychologist says this is the No. 1 ‘sleep killer’—and it takes just 15 minutes to fix. Check it out here.
  4. A cardiologist shares the 5 foods she avoids for a ‘healthy heart’—and what she eats instead. Read it here.
  5. How ‘Pig’ Became Nicolas Cage’s Cash Cow? 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 Gabor Maté shares his deep understanding of childhood trauma, vulnerability, grief, and emotional distress. He explains what real trauma is and how time doesn’t necessarily lead to healing, how vulnerability is ingrained in us since we are young and more. Listen to it on ‘On Purpose with Jay Shetty‘ here.
  2. On the Hard Fork podcast, two Twitter employees speak out about their experience under Musk’s leadership. Check it out here.
  3. On HBR IdeaCast, Kara Swisher speaks about key trends — past, present, and future in the world of tech — and the lessons she’s learned as not just an observer but also a media entrepreneur herself along the way. Listen here.
  4. Henry Cavill makes an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, talking about his return as Superman, his latest film Enola Holmes 2, the new season of The Witcher and more. Listen to it here.
  5. Siddhaarth Aalambayan of The Bombay Journey shares the story of becoming a child actor, his life in front of and behind the camera, BTS of The Bombay Journey and more, on the Cyrus Says podcast. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. At the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2022, Yash shares his take on the box office, the attitude shift in how the Kannada film industry is perceived in recent times, and much more. Watch it here.
  2. Akshat Gupta, author and researcher, talks about astras, their types and power of astras, their use in Mahabharata and much more on The Ranveer Show Hindi podcast. Check it out here.
  3. The iPhone USB-C law explained. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Inside Man (A prisoner on death row in the U.S. and a woman trapped in a cellar under an English vicarage cross paths in an unexpected way.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (A young man on the brink of falling in love gets his world turned upside down when he discovers he has the power to control fire and a connection to a secret society of guardians.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #138 (24.10.22 – 30.10.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 138th 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. People who make good first impressions never do these 4 things, says public speaking expert. Read it here.
  2. Paul Grahram’s piece on Haters. Check it out here.
  3. The Importance of Being Single. Read here.
  4. Taking 10,000 steps a day can help you live longer, but how fast you go matters, new study shows. Check it out here.
  5. 5 Signs Your TV Show Should Be a Movie, and 2 Signs It Shouldn’t. 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. Lex talks to Kanye ‘Ye’ West about his current views, the holocaust, engineering, media and antisemitism and more, on his podcast, The Lex Fridman Podcast. Listen to it here.
  2. On WorkLife with Adam Grant, Neuroscientist Chantel Prat dispels some sticky myths about right-brainers and left-brainers, shares her research on how learning to code depends more on verbal skills than math skills, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Business Wars, the new series focuses on Taco Bell vs Chipotle, the battle to claim the fast food space in the US. Check out the series here.
  4. Gauri Devidayal talks to Shweta Bachchan Nanda about her childhood days, being a women entrepreneur, how important it is to be financially independent and the lessons they have learned as a parent, on her podcast This Round is on Me. Listen here.
  5. On Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Jon Bernthal sits down with Conan O’Brien to discuss his unique introduction to acting, the importance of discipline and well-roundedness and speaking with life-without-parole inmates on his podcast Real Ones. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Wall Street Journal, Apple marketing SVP Greg ‘Joz’ Joswiak and software engineering SVP Craig Federighi discuss privacy, product innovation and leadership. Watch it here.
  2. On The Bombay Journey, Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com deep dives into his early days and entrepreneurial ventures, what led to the founding of his venture, on leadership and memories of Mumbai. Check it out here.
  3. Here’s what happens to your knuckles when you crack them. Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – House of the Dragon (The reign of House Targaryen begins: House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, is here. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” the series, which is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, tells the story of House Targaryen.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Dobaaraa (In the middle of a mysterious thunderstorm, a mother saves someone’s life, which has unexpected consequences.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #137 (17.10.22 – 23.10.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 137th 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. On needing to find something to worry about – why we always worry for no reason? Read it in detail here.
  2. Your bathing habits can affect digestion; three things to keep in mind when taking a shower. Check it out here.
  3. The 6 common signs of a sociopath. Read it here.
  4. Are sprouts the ultimate superfood? Check it out here.
  5. What Is the Crypto Fear and Greed Index? 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. Bob Iger, the former CEO and Chairman of The Walt Disney Company, speaks with Kara Swisher at Code 2022 about the winners and losers in the streaming wars, the future of movies, that time he almost bought Twitter, and what he’s up to in retirement. Listen to it here.
  2. On The Great Creators with Guy Raz, The Chainsmokers production and DJ duo Alex Pall and Drew Taggart talk about why they stopped making remixes, how they moved past a breakthrough hit that felt like an artistic failure, and how they have managed to stay loyal to each other through the highs and lows. Check it out here.
  3. On the Archetypes podcast, Meghan dives into an in-depth and vulnerable conversation with Deepika Padukone, Jenny Slate and Constance Wu about the insidious ways ‘crazy’ is used to diminish women’s credibility. Listen here.
  4. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Mercedes Technical Director Mike Elliot tells Tom Clarkson how they traced the car’s problems to a single design decision, how a year of not winning has helped the people at Mercedes develop, why he chose a career in F1, and more. Check it out here.
  5. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Mila Kunis talks to Josh about her latest film, Luckiest Girl Alive, the sequel to That 70s show, her films and decisions, and more. Listen here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Aarthi and Sriram’s Good Time Show, they talk to Tanmay Bhat about his early start with Youtube, getting into live streaming, breaking down the construction of a joke, how comedy varies for different cultures and audiences, and more. Watch it here.
  2. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari in a Porsche Taycan, by Autocar India. Check it out here.
  3. Are F1 Drivers really the best in the world? Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – TVF Tripling (Divorced, jobless, hopeless. Three siblings plan a road trip together. Chandan, Chanchal & Chitvan. Together they start a hilarious journey, to find themselves and their relations..) Now streaming on TVFPlay here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Bimbisara (Bimbisara is an adventurous time travel film where the protagonist time travels from his kingdom to the present world. How and why does he do it?) Now streaming on ZEE5 here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #136 (10.10.22 – 16.10.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 136th 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 pandemic turned us all into jerks. Read more here.
  2. Young adults are now more neurotic, less agreeable, study finds. Read it here.
  3. What Twitter Is Really Planning for Crypto? Check it out here.
  4. White rice is as bad as candy when it comes to heart health: study. Read here.
  5. What is the 20-20-20 rule to prevent digital eye strain? 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. Daniel Negreanu makes an appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast talking about poker hands and ranges, game theory optimal, winning and losing, the mental game and more. Listen to it here.
  2. On WorkLife with Adam Grant, Mark Cuban talks about turning problems into opportunities, disrupting the healthcare industry, and why following your passion is not the best way to maintain your motivation. Check it out here.
  3. On Life Kit, experts bust myths about hydration, from drinking eight glasses of water a day to using the color of your pee as an indicator for dehydration. Listen here.
  4. A deep deep on all things spirituality, sharing new perspectives, the latest scientific findings, some concrete and non-secular spiritual practices, and the value that an awakened state of being can add to your daily life, on The Rich Roll Podcast. Listen to it here.
  5. A spoiler-filled deep dive of the show, House of the Dragon (along with a touch down upon other topics) with Paddy Considine, the actor who played King Viserys, on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined The Verge’s deputy editor Alex Heath for an in-depth conversation about the company’s new XR headset, the Quest Pro, and why he isn’t backing down from building the metaverse, the future of social media, why he enjoys “being doubted,” and the growing concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Watch it here.
  2. Hosted by Ankit Vengurlekar, Editor-in-Chief, CoinSwitch Kuber in conversation with Farheen Ahmad of Interality, Prakhar Singhal of IndieVerse & Himanshu Goel, creator of India’s first Metaverse Influencer attempt to decode Metaverse and its potential in India. Check it out here.
  3. How do F1 drivers turn really fast? Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Andor (The story of Rebel spy Cassian Andor’s formative years of the Rebellion and his difficult missions for the cause.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (A young low-caste village boy travels to Mumbai to earn a living and to study. His quest takes him on a series of unexpected events, where he gets involved in the underground activities of Mumbai’s Tamil gangsters.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #135 (03.10.22 – 09.10.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 135th 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 love your body and still want to lose weight? Read here.
  2. The 3 biggest signs of ‘passive aggressive’ and ‘childish’ behavior: Harvard-trained body language expert. Check it out here.
  3. Why grown-ups ought to make room for play? Read it here.
  4. TIME President on NFT Haters: ‘I Don’t Understand the Politicizing of a Technology’. Read here.
  5. Changing this 1 word in your thoughts can boost mental toughness and resilience, psychologists say. 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 Archetypes podcast, Meghan Markle talks to Serena Williams about the double standard women face when they are labeled “ambitious” and the ripple effect this has on other aspects of their lives. Listen to it here.
  2. On Ted Talks Daily, journalist Shankar Vendantam explains the profound impact of something he calls the “illusion of continuity” and shows how we can more proactively craft the people we are to become. Listen here.
  3. On Moonshots and Mindsets with Peter Diamandis, Elon Musk talks about how to solve climate change, if the planet can be saved, the impact of population collapse on society, and more. Check it out here.
  4. How the First World War made Smoking popular? Listen to it on the Historychatter Podcast here.
  5. On Story Tellers and Story Sellers, Vineet sits down with Sparsh & Monica to talk about how their lives have changed with the runaway hit of Jamtara, what it was like shooting with an amazing cast and how season 2 builds on the story of the scams. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On Aarthi and Sriram’s Good Time Show, GaryVee talks about what it takes to be a good online creator, the power of creating content that is contextualized, his advice to young people, his views on Logan Paul, on why Mr. Beast is incredibly successful, and how to be a good parent. Watch it here.
  2. Holly Gregory, partner at the international law firm Sidley Austin, analyzes the deals and applies real-world logic to the show Succession’s business deals. Check it out here.
  3. Christian Bale breaks down a few of his most iconic characters from ‘American Psycho,’ ‘The Dark Knight’ Trilogy, ‘The Fighter,’ ‘The Machinist,’ ‘The Big Short,’ ‘Vice,’ ‘Empire of the Sun,’ ‘Amsterdam’ and ‘The Pale Blue Eye.’ Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (The story of one of the most notorious serial killers in the United States, largely told from the points of view of his victims.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Vengeance (A journalist and podcaster travels from New York City to Texas to investigate the death of a woman whom he hooked up with.)

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

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The Last 7 Days #134 (26.09.22 – 02.10.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 134th 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. Why you should let your child be heard? Read more here.
  2. Why this Stanford researcher says you should ask your friends for more favors? Read here.
  3. The Painful Reality Of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. Check it out here.
  4. Status Traps: Learning from Web2 Social Networks. Read it here.
  5. ‘Succession’ Showrunner Jesse Armstrong on Writing the Show Organically. 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 Huberman Lab, Dr Andrew D Huberman explains how nicotine impacts the brain and body, the health impact of using common nicotine delivery methods, and how can you quit smoking and vaping. Listen to it here.
  2. Yuval Noah Harari, the author of Sapiens, tells the host why money is fiction, traffic can be mind-blowing, and politicians have a right to say stupid things in private, on People I (Mostly) Admire podcast. Listen here.
  3. On Life Kit, Psychologist Marisa Franco, author of a new book on the science of making and keeping friends, shares how to deepen the bonds in our platonic relationships. Check it out here.
  4. On F1 Beyond the Grid, Christian Horner tells host Tom Clarkson all about that incredible 2021 title fight from Red Bull’s perspective, why Red Bull decided now was the right time to set up their own engine division, and more. Listen to it here.
  5. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Sourav Ganguly spoke about his new venture Dream Set Go, his love for football, the IPL, and of course, cricket. He also discussed some very important things needed to achieve the impossible, a killer mindset and drive to defeat all odds. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. Dr Daniel Amen talks about how to change your life by changing your brain and the lies about happiness that are increasing depression and more, with Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast. Watch it here.
  2. In this ep of Creative Elements, the host talks to Sara Dietschy about her approach to creating content, what makes creating hardware so hard, what she’d do differently if she was starting today, and why she’s never been afraid of a little reinvention. Check it out here.
  3. How your TV settings ruins movies? Watch here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – The Rehearsal (Nathan Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for life’s biggest moments by “rehearsing” them in carefully crafted simulations.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Hridayam (Arun, a young man, enrols in an engineering college but falls prey to bad habits. As he grows up, he decides to turn over a new leaf and become a responsible adult.) Now streaming on Hotstar here.

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

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The Last 7 Days #133 (19.09.22 – 25.09.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 133rd 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 Media Hamster Wheel. Read more here.
  2. Our social media feeds prioritize recency over quality, which robs us of wisdom and makes us obsessed with the news. David Perell’s opinion piece on ‘How to improve the Internet?’ Check it out here.
  3. ‘It doesn’t have to be that magic 8’: Why this popular sleep advice might be making you feel worse? Read here.
  4. Mark Cuban says Gen Z are the real ‘greatest generation’ and boomers are the most ‘disappointing’. Read it here.
  5. That Instagram Selfie You Posted Is An Open Invitation To Surveillance. Read in detail 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 Knowledge Project, Kunal Shah discusses with Shane Parrish what he’s learned about what motivates people, and how observing trends hiding in plain sight has made him a runaway success in business, the many cultural differences between India and the West and more. Listen it here.
  2. Roham Gharegozlou visits Google to discuss his company Dapper Labs, the detailed history of cryptocurrency, and where he sees it going in the near future. Check it out here.
  3. In this episode of Advertising is Dead, Varun Duggirala is joined by Shephali Bhatt, Senior Assistant Editor, Live Mint; to discuss the booming industry of content creation & how it impacts us. Listen here.
  4. Business Wars’ new series focuses on the battle between Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun and her battle for her master recordings worth $300 million. Check out the series here.
  5. On Naan Curry, Sadaf and Archit explore the ingredient i.e. salt, its global history, why salt taxes have always been controversial, the difference between table salt and rock salt, the real story behind Dandi March and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Roger Federer sits down to discuss his excitement for Laver Cup 2022, becoming teammates with former rivals and why Laver Cup was the perfect place to end his career. Watch it here.
  2. Jay Shetty talks to Kendall Jenner on his podcast, On Purpose, about her childhood and self-reassurance, setting boundaries for yourself to increase happiness, healing your inner child, and more. Check it out here.
  3. On Film Companion, Dulquer Salmaan talks about his insecurities, critics, his new films Sita Ramam and Chup, why he will never consider acting his ‘birthright’ and more. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – Chef’s Table: Pizza (Digging into the best pizzas from around the world prepared by renowned chefs.) Now streaming on Netflix here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Thiruchitrambalam (A delivery driver navigates life while living with his strict policeman father and sassy grandfather. Meanwhile, he’s caught between two women.) Now streaming on SunNxT here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #132 (12.09.22 – 18.09.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 132nd 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 Fast-Foodification of Everything. Read more here.
  2. The Ethereum ‘Merge’ has happened and here’s what changing. Read here.
  3. The Merge Came with a Lesson We Can’t Afford to Ignore. Read in detail here.
  4. Why Patagonia’s billionaire founder gave away his $3 billion company to fight climate change? Check it out here.
  5. A cardiologist shares the 5 foods she eats to lower cholesterol—and keep her ‘heart healthy’. 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. Shortly after announcing layoffs, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel sat down with Kara and Scott to discuss the challenges facing his company, and why he thinks they can be overcome. Listen to it on the Pivot podcast here.
  2. Learning a new skill can be easy, if you have the right mindset. Understand more on this episode of the Life Kit podcast here.
  3. On this episode of Story Tellers and Story Sellers, Vineet talks to Tanya Bami, Netflix India’s Series Head, about how Netflix is creating something for everyone in India, from original shows and reality TV to documentaries and comedy specials and more. Check it out here.
  4. On My First Million, Shaan Puri and Sam Parr talk about the newly named third richest man in the world, being on team Zuckerberg, and MrBeast’s best business idea. Listen here.
  5. On this ep of SmartLess, Ethan Hawke joins Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett to go in-depth into his storied acting career, his entry into directing, child acting pitfalls, and more. Listen to it here.

What To Watch:

  1. Kaccha Baniyan Gang: The Real Story behind Delhi Crime Season 2 (Vice spoke to the real victims of these brutal crimes, tribal rights activists, and the actual police officers responsible for apprehending these criminals). Watch it here.
  2. The cast and creators of Cobra Kai sit down with host Alanah Pearce for a full-spoilers official after show for Cobra Kai Season 5, with scene breakdowns and character explorations. Check it out here.
  3. On Film Companion, the team of Delhi Crime Season 2 Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang, Tillotama Shome, and director Tanuj Chopra spoke to Suchin Mehrotra about crafting season 2, their favourite moments, and the future of the franchise. Watch here.
  4. Mrunal Thakur talks about her journey from the TV serials to films, her take on fears and insecurities, her ambitions and more, on The Ranveer Show. Check it out here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Gangubai Kathiawadi (After being duped and sold to a brothel, a young woman takes control of the world she was once a pawn in, utilising her underworld connections to rule it.) Now streaming on Netflix here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #131 (05.09.22 – 11.09.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 131st 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. ‘Too much free time won’t make you happier,’ says psychologist—how many hours you really need in a day. Read here.
  2. A psychologist shares the 7 signs of a narcissistic parent. Check it out here.
  3. Trigger Warning: Reality Hurts. Read it in detail here.
  4. Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health? Check it out here.
  5. The Right Way to Come Back From Vacation. 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 Huberman Lab, Dr Andrew Huberman discusses the physiological effects that drinking alcohol has on the brain and body at different levels of consumption and over time, how alcohol consumption of different amounts impacts inflammation, stress, neurodegeneration, and cancer risk and negatively impacts the gut microbiome, brain thickness, hormone balance, mood and feelings of motivation, and much more. Listen to it here.
  2. If you think Instagram sucks now, it’s by design. Vox’s Rebecca Jennings and Platformer’s Casey Newton explain Instagram’s identity crisis on Today, Explained podcast. Listen here.
  3. On the Colin and Samir Show, how Nick Martell and Jack Kramer built Snacks Daily and then, The Best One Yet. Check it out here.
  4. Tom Hanks joins the Armchair Expert to discuss what his approach was playing a beloved Disney character, what he loves most about making movies, and how he tries to remember everyone he meets. Listen to it here.
  5. On SmartLess, Ewan McGregor joins Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett to talk about everything from the first film he ever starred in Shallow Grave to bringing back Obi-Wan Kenobi. Check it out here.

What To Watch:

  1. On The BarberShop with Shantanu, Ankur Warikoo talks about his early life, lost identity, entrepreneurial journey, building the content empire, and more. Watch here.
  2. The Evolution of Stadiums. Check it out here.
  3. Vijay Kumar, executive chef and partner at Semma in New York City, demonstrates the equipment, ingredients, and artistry essential to making some of the most popular dishes at his celebrated South Indian restaurant. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – All or Nothing: Arsenal (Mikel Arteta leads North London-based football club Arsenal through the 2021-22 season.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Sita Ramam (An orphaned soldier’s life changes after he receives a letter from a girl named Sita. He meets her and love blossoms between them. When he returns to her camp in Kashmir, he sends a letter to Sita that will not reach her.) Now streaming on Amazon Prime here.

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

Link

The Last 7 Days #130 (29.08.22 – 04.09.22)

by Rohit M Thakur ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

It’s another Sunday, here’s the 130th 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. Be Intentional About How You Spend Your Time Off. Read more here.
  2. How mammals won the dinosaurs’ world? Read here.
  3. Quitting what you started is not always a sign of weakness. Check it out here.
  4. Heart attack: Indian research study reveals key causes. Read it here.
  5. Less meat is nearly always better than sustainable meat, to reduce your carbon footprint. 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 How I Built This Lab, Greg Solano and Wylie Aronow, co-founders of Yuga Labs and Bored Ape Yacht Club, recount how a shared love of storytelling and online gaming helped spawn the idea for the bored apes, and the next big endeavor for Yuga Labs. Listen to it here.
  2. Seth Godin riffs about game theory and finite vs infinite games on his podcast, Akimbo. Check it out here.
  3. In the ep of Cyrus Says, Cyrus and Sameer Nair (CEO of Applause Entertainment) discuss the many shows that Sameer has been an integral part of in his decades-long journey in television and OTT. They talk about everything right from Sameer’s initial days in the business to becoming a mover & shaker in the industry. Listen here.
  4. In this ep of In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast, Matthew Macfadyen breaks down how to be a breakout performer, even in a show (Succession) that’s all breakout performances. Check it out here.
  5. Podcast Recommendation of the Week: The Official House of the Dragon podcast (The hosts share insights, fan questions, interviews with the cast and crew of House of the Dragon show, and more every week) Check out the podcast here.

What To Watch:

  1. On the Joe Rogan podcast, Mark Zuckerberg talks about the future of VR and how social experiences would evolve, neural pathways and the advancement of technology, algorithm feed and discovery, and much more. Check it out here.
  2. On the Superteam podcast, Tanmay Bhat and Akshay BD chat with Vinod Khosla (co-founder of Sun Microsystems and now Khosla Ventures) about crypto, AI, business, emerging areas in health care, and more. Watch here.
  3. In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Ma Anand Sheela shares her thoughts on the Netflix documentary ‘Wild Wild Country’, the USA & its government, sexual rights at the ashram, OSHO’s teachings, concepts of Polyamory & monogamy, incarnation & so much more. Watch it here.
  4. TV Show Recommendation of the Week – TamilRockerz (A riveting drama chronicling the different aspects of Tamil Rockers, a piracy website that poses a gigantic threat to the Tamil film industry.) Now streaming on SonyLIV here.
  5. Movie Recommendation of the Week – Nope (Residents in a lonely gulch of inland California bear witness to an uncanny, chilling discovery.)

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.