Small Talk: Work | Play | Build

We hear it all the time. "Just manage your stakeholders."But who are they really? Your client? Your team? Your toddler? In this episode of Small Talk: Work, Play, Build, Subha and Hasita untangle the very human mess of stakeholder management. From clients with invisible influence to HR teams that make or break your deadlines, we break down what it really means to manage relationships at...

Imposter. Fraud. Con artist. Harsh words. But how many of us have whispered them to ourselves in the quiet moments before a pitch, a promotion, or a big presentation? In this deeply honest episode of Small Talk: Work, Play, Build, Subha and Hasita unpack the universal (yet often hidden) feeling of impostor syndrome. From startup founders to world-class actors like Tom Hanks and Michelle Obama, no...

Can empathy and ambition coexist? Can workplaces be spaces of true care and creativity? This week on Small Talk: Work, Play, Build, Subha and Hasita sit down with Tina Mansukhani Garg, founder of Pink Lemonade, to talk about building a workplace culture rooted in care, without losing sight of performance, growth, and self. From sending pani puri carts to grieving with her teams, Tina’s leadership...

Tired of “working the room”? Same. This episode is for all of us who’ve been to a networking event and left with… exactly one name and a sore jaw. What if networking didn’t feel like performance theatre? What if we could just be ourselves? In this episode of Small Talk: Work Play Build, Subha and Hasita tear apart the myth of professional networking. From awkward intros to soul-sucking visibility...

Why is the word “no” so hard to say—even when we’re overwhelmed, out of time, or just not up for it? In this episode of Small Talk: Work, Play, Build, hosts Subha and Hasita dive into the uncomfortable but essential skill of saying no—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. From people-pleasing at the office to emotional labour at home, we explore how cultural conditioning, guilt, and the “go...

What does it take to put a bolt on Mars? Or build an aerospace legacy from scratch? In this episode of Small Talk: Work, Play, Build, we’re joined by Ankit Patel, Group CEO of the Ankit Group —a man whose company manufactures the fasteners that literally hold India’s spacecrafts together. From telephone screws in the 70s to parts that flew with Mangalyaan and Chandrayaan, this is a story of legacy...

There’s a lot of noise right now about AI replacing humans. But how much of that is fear… and how much is fact? We recorded this episode in March 2025, at a time when Google was laying off employees from its developer relations team — while also posting jobs for AI content specialists. Talk about mixed signals. Subha and Hasita unpack the headlines, connect the dots, and offer a no-BS take on how...

How to Escape the Success Trap (Before It’s Too Late!) Success used to mean climbing the corporate ladder, securing promotions, and chasing ever-growing paychecks. But in 2025, are these metrics still relevant? With economic shifts, evolving workplaces, and changing personal priorities, how we define success is undergoing a transformation. At the time of this recording, layoffs continue to loom la...

Who really decides how we work? The employees, the leaders, or just the loudest voice in the room? Post-pandemic, companies are still trying to figure out where and how work should happen. Should employees return to office full-time? Is hybrid the perfect middle ground, or just a logistical nightmare? And what about the generational shift—why does it feel like Gen Z and millennial managers are wor...

Some people run marathons. Some paint. Some DJ at weddings. And some, like Hasita, spend enough time underwater to log 100+ dives within two years. In this episode, Subha and Hasita talk about the growing movement of people reclaiming their time outside of work—not just for vacations, but for pursuits that shape who they are. From balancing client expectations to redefining career success, they un...

If everyone pursues a 90-hour workweek, who’s going to stare at the wives? As 2025 rolls in, one wonders when a conversation about work has become a conversation about genders once again. At the time of recording this episode in January 2025, the US Presidential Inauguration had just taken place. Mark Zuckerberg went on The Joe Rogan Experience and said, “I think having a culture that celebrates t...

Welcome to Small Talk: Work, Play, Build ! Now in its sixth season, the Small Talk podcast has won multiple accolades and a steady fanbase over the past five years. Your hosts, Subha Chandrasekaran and Hasita Krishna have experience creating podcasts that have consistently ranked in the Top 5 of their respective categories- because we’re committed to giving the most nuanced individuals and their s...

Visibility isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity.  Think about leaders like Kamala Harris. Her rise to prominence hasn’t just been about the work she does behind the scenes, but about how visible she’s made that work now. Harris has skillfully crafted a presence that not only highlights her achievements but also adds credibility to her role. In this episode of  Small Talk for Rainkraft , Hasita...

Do we just show up to the Olympics and shoot our shot? Ironically, all the visibility Yusuf Dikeç gained as he grabbed a silver medal in Olympic Shooting was for looking like he just woke up and decided to walk into the Olympic arena. But, this wasnt his first rodeo! It was his 5th. He first participated in the Olympics in Beijing representing Turkey in 2008. So can we also take our shots quietly...

Join Coach Subha Chandrasekaran as she introduces this season's focus on the non-linear nature of career growth. Whether you're a mid-management professional, a leader in transition, or someone early in your career looking to accelerate your growth, this season is designed to provide you with actionable insights and inspiration. In this conversation, Subha and Hasita discuss the challenges of turn...

Join Coach Subha Chandrasekaran as she introduces this season's focus on the non-linear nature of career growth. Whether you're a mid-management professional, a leader in transition, or someone early in your career looking to accelerate your growth, this season is designed to provide you with actionable insights and inspiration. In this episode, Subha and Hasita's conversation revolves around the...

Join Coach Subha Chandrasekaran as she introduces this season's focus on the non-linear nature of career growth. Whether you're a mid-management professional, a leader in transition, or someone early in your career looking to accelerate your growth, this season is designed to provide you with actionable insights and inspiration. In this episode, Subha and Hasita discuss the importance of strategic...

Welcome to a new season of "Small Talk for Rainkraft," where we embrace the theme "Careers are Curvy." Join Coach Subha Chandrasekaran as she introduces this season's focus on the non-linear nature of career growth. Whether you're a mid-management professional, a leader in transition, or someone early in your career looking to accelerate your growth, this season is designed to provide you with act...

Hey, Smalltalkers! As we wrap up 2023 on 'Small Talk with Rainkraft- Career Lifting Conversations,' we see that we've delved into intentional conversations about careers, transitions, and the ever-evolving workplace. From discussing layoffs to embracing failure, comfort zones, and practical tips, we've covered it all. As we step into 2024, I hope these insights on crisis management...

Join Subha and Hasita as they reflect on the transformative experiences of the past year. Hasita shares her journey into deep-sea diving and the profound impact it had on her life choices. Subha delves into the importance of focus, sharing insights from her own introspective journey. Together, they explore the evolving nature of work, breaking free from traditional structures, and embracing the en...

Explore the mid-career curve with Subha and Hasita as they discuss the challenges of leaving a familiar job or just jumping into the job market. Delve into the complexities of navigating change, crafting a compelling resume, and articulating career goals. Join this exploration of career transitions, offering practical advice for those contemplating a change in their professional lives. IN THIS EPI...

Subha and Hasita explore the nuances of the evolving workplace dynamics amidst the return-to-office mandates. They delve into the concept of coffee badging, where employees meet in the office for a cup of coffee to signal their presence. The conversation navigates through the challenges faced by employees and companies in adapting to new work models, questioning the need for rigid return-to-office...

Join Subha and Hasita, as they engage in this conversation about the complexities of failure. They discuss the impact of social media on our view of success and failure and explore the three types of failures – preventable, complex, and intelligent. The duo challenges the conventional wisdom of 'fail fast,' emphasising the power of language in mitigating the impact of failures. With anecdo...

Have you ever found yourself in a meeting wondering, "What's the point of all this?" If so, you're not alone. In today's episode, we dive deep into the world of meetings and ask a fundamental question: Are meetings wasted opportunities? We discuss the power of asking "WIIFM" (What's In It For Me), a crucial concept in understanding the motivations of meeting par...

Join Subha Chandrasekaran and Hasita Krishna in this week's episode as they reflect on navigating a family health crisis and how it revealed different roles within their family. They discuss the traits of crisis leaders, effective communication in tumultuous times, and whether you can build for crisis leadership. Whether you're a natural leader or a skilled follower, there's something valuable in...