Innocence Theory Podcast

A Look Back at Season 5 - Inflection Point Series In the closing episode of the Inflection Point series, Arjun and Dinesh share how their own thinking shifted across a season spent on ethics, AI-generated art, and systems thinking. They find a season that didn't resolve its questions so much as sharpen them. The world accelerated. The tools changed. The problems remained. What shifted was the...

Before the doing, there's the getting-ready-to-do In this episode of Innocence Theory's Inflection Point series, Arjun and Dinesh unpack what that actually looks like. Not a framework or a technique, but the mental state you step into before any of those things begin to matter. They move through ideas like abstraction, prototyping, and flow to explore the notion that mindset isn’t a fixe...

Power, anonymity, and truth reshape what it means to act ethically. A conversation on how accountability breaks down, how power influences behavior, and why ethical thinking becomes harder in a world of AI, political tension, and fragmented truth. In Part 2 of this conversation, Innocence Theory moves from personal ethics into a deeper examination of power, leadership, and responsibility. Professo...

When the world changes quickly, the question of what is right becomes harder to answer. A conversation on responsibility, power, and how people decide what is right when technology and society move quickly. In this episode of Innocence Theory, Professor Chris Brooks (Northeastern University) and his students Zofia, Noah, and Grace (Souhegan High School in Amherst, NH) discuss a very current questi...

Sustainability that doesn’t make financial sense isn’t sustainable. A conversation on sustainable product design, hardware startups, circular economy thinking, and the right to repair. In this episode of Innocence Theory , Koushiic Durai, Founder of WowFactories, talks about what it really takes to build sustainable hardware that can survive in the real market. His view is simple. People should bu...

In this episode of Innocence Theory , we speak with Vishwanath to rethink how water actually works in a city like Bengaluru. ​Instead of asking whether cities are running out of water, the conversation asks a more uncomfortable question: if water exists, why do so many people still struggle to access it - and why do they struggle to trust it even when it is treated and proven safe? ​This episode r...

In this early Innocence Theory episode, Dinesh shares a travel nightmare sparked by a cancelled flight. A late-night message. A reassuring link. A promise to reschedule. Except the link leads nowhere. Just like the flight. The episode moves from frustration to something more useful - Curiosity, gratitude, and perspective. Not as advice, but as a practical response to systems that fail under pressu...

In this episode, Arjun and Dinesh unpack what happens when the act of making music is no longer entirely human. From the neuroscience of creation — dopamine, oxytocin, and the state of flow — to the platforms banning artists caught between art and automation, this is a conversation about meaning, mastery, and identity. Because maybe the real disruption isn’t that machines can make music. Maybe it’...

Welcome to a brand new season of the Innocence Theory Podcast! Our Inflection Point Series dives deep into moments where everything changes—across creativity, design, technology, world events, and sustainability. In this kickoff episode, we blend personal storytelling and industry insight to uncover the hidden forces shaping our world and our decisions. What you’ll discover this week: A True Story...

It is estimated that annually 58000 people die of snakebites in India. The WHO considers snakebite envenoming a neglected tropical disease (NTD). Yet, the issue receives less attention. Meet Shubhra Sotie, an environmental lawyer who was part of the team that  helped turn this neglected crisis into action, making snakebite a notifiable disease in Karnataka, a step that later paved the way for nati...

Often seen as intruders in our homes; butterflies, spiders, ants and termites are rarely appreciated for the role they play in the environment. This episode is a field recording of a walk organised by Science Gallery Bengaluru. We uncover the wonders surrounding Jakkur Lake, a living museum where nature showcases its artistry. Amidst the rustling leaves and gentle ripples of the water, Karthik and...

Back to school After a long time, we return to school—different places, different roles, different seats in the classroom. In this episode, we discuss our shared (and wildly different) experiences in stand-up comedy, improv, teaching, cognitive ergonomics, ai, sustainability and now, academia again—this time from the other side of the desk. It’s the start of a new series—two friends, two hemispher...

Snakebites in rural India kill six people every hour, yet the issue remains overshadowed by its urban counterpart. Sumanth Bindumadhav , Director of wildlife programs at Human Society International India, discusses why snakebites disproportionately affect rural communities and how evidence-based solutions, like making snakebites a notifiable disease, can yield actionable insights.  From addressing...

Is your favourite eco-friendly product really as green as it claims to be? In the world of sustainability, not everything is what it seems. This episode takes a look at greenwashing—when companies falsely promote products as environmentally friendly—and its impact on genuine sustainability efforts. Our guest Uttam Banerjee, CEO of Ekam, a company pioneering waterless urinals and innovative sanitat...

Human-elephant conflict often grabs attention due to the destruction it causes, with media coverage highlighting the immediate losses for both people and elephants. However, the real story is far more complex. Beyond the headlines, what does life in a conflict zone look like for both elephants and the communities living alongside them?   Wildlife conservationist Vinod Krishnan, currently with Huma...

Intelligence, knowledge, society, culture—these are often seen as exclusive human traits, setting us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. But what if we’re wrong? What if the sounds in the natural world hold more truth than we can accept? Dr. Kathelijne Koops, a primatologist and biological anthropologist from the University of Zurich, takes us deep into the dense forests of the Nimba Mounta...

Join us as we revisit the historic success of Chandrayaan 3 on its first anniversary. Relive the moments that made the lunar mission a global milestone! In this episode we gaze at the moon, rediscover our romantic cosmic neighbour, — is it as pleasant as it seems or is it a hostile place with a violent past? What’s the story of moon mountains, gravitational lumps and permanent shadow region(PSR)? ...

Climate change impacts nearly every sector, creating a surge in opportunities within sustainability jobs. As the world approaches environmental challenges, a significant portion of the workforce will inevitably shift towards this vital space. But with so much information and noise, how can you effectively position yourself in this growing field? In this episode, we sit down with Koushik Yanamandra...

Have you ever traced the path of your toilet sewage pipe? In this engaging episode, we explore the world of sanitary workers through design researchers who immerse themselves in their daily lives. By understanding the real challenges sanitary workers face, these researchers show why many design solutions fail. Join us to discover how an empathy-driven approach can lead to more impactful and meanin...

There is a growing sense of fatigue due to the alarming reports on climate change, compounded by the increasingly extreme weather conditions we experience. We participated in a course called ‘Knowledge2Action’ that exposed us to the different facets of climate change. In this episode, we inquire into meaningful outlooks to addressing the climate change crisis in relatable ways. We explore the fear...

I speak to Ajay Binani, a voracious reader who is building a readers’ club. I speak to him about the book ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’. He vouches for the book. He says it has helped him pay attention to things that matter in life. I show up to the conversation a little sceptical and silly. Do you like the Innocence Theory Podcast? Tell your friends, support ITP on Patreon , and have your boss sponsor a...

Why is noise cancellation so impressive? How does it feel to experience the luxury of a preferred audio environment? If the quality of the soundscape is an indicator of a thriving ecosystem, what could be so off about urban spaces that a certain technology feels essential? In this segment, we delve into soundscapes and how they transform when transitioning from an urban setting to a natural enviro...

Boredom is a common feeling we experience, despite the abundance of activities available to us. James Danckert, a cognitive neuroscientist who studies this state, breaks it down to help us understand its causes, meaning, and how to move out of it constructively. Guest: Dr. James Danckert https://uwaterloo.ca/psychology/profiles/james-danckert Host: Arjun & Dinesh https://www.linkedin.com/in/ar...

“How does the activity of sending a kid to preschool fit into the eventful life of a working parent?” Kruthika Rao, a writer and a mother to a toddler, takes us on a journey through her parental emotions at play in this hilarious memoir. Featuring: Kruthika Rao https://www.linkedin.com/in/kruthika-rao-b6147115/ Episode Cover Design Artist Akshay Joshi https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshay-joshi-43384...

Visiting a new place can be an exhilarating experience for most of us. It challenges our assumptions about the world in which we live. Our host, Arjun, an amateur traveller, takes us through such an experience. We chat about how the environment presents itself to a curious visitor, the details that would go unnoticed otherwise, and how interesting conversations take place in unlikely places. Music...