SparX by Mukesh Bansal

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Bank, to unpack the chaos behind Trump’s tariff wars and what it means for the global order. They explore why these moves aren’t just about trade, but about four bigger objectives. Covering various topics from stagnant U.S. wages and life expectancy gaps to America’s renewed manufacturing drive for nat...

In this episode of Sparx, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Tejasvi Surya, one of India’s youngest Members of Parliament for an unfiltered conversation on leadership, purpose, and building a stronger nation. From his early days as a student activist to becoming a Member of Parliament at 28, Tejasvi shares the defining moments, risks, and unwavering convictions that shaped his journey. They dive deep in...

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal dives deep into something that we do all the time - breathing - one of the most integral part of our lives. He explores all the different styles of breathing and shares actionable steps to master breathing.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Naresh Krishnaswamy, CEO of Cult and longtime business partner, to explore the future of fitness, health, and AI-powered transformation in India. They reflect on Cult’s near-death experiences, why crisis builds culture, and how fitness in India remains massively under-penetrated. Naresh shares behind-the-scenes stories on the explosive popular...

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Shamik Sharma, SVP Product at Atlassian and former Head of Technology at Myntra, to explore how AI is radically transforming software development, programming, and enterprise workflows. They unpack how natural language is becoming the new code, how tools like Lovable are reshaping developer productivity, and why the future of software engineer...

In this powerful solo episode of SparX , Mukesh Bansal - founder of Myntra, CureFit, and Nurix breaks down the seismic shifts AI is bringing to our world. From exponential improvements in capability and cost, to real-world demos of voice AI and autonomous enterprise workflows, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone still on the sidelines of the AI revolution. Mukesh shares: Why AI is underhyped...

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal explores the fast-growing world of Pilates with Rishabh Telang, Business Head at CULT, and Kavitha Srinivasan, one of India’s foremost Pilates educators. Together, they dive into how this century-old practice is becoming a modern-day fitness essential. Rishabh shares why CULT is going all-in on Pilates, the incredible reception from users, and how the brand...

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Subrata Mitra, legendary venture capitalist and Partner at Accel, to unpack what it really takes to back iconic startups from day zero. From being the first institutional investor in Flipkart to shaping India’s startup DNA over two decades, Subrata shares rare insights on pattern recognition, founder-market fit, and why ambition often matters...

n this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal dives deep into the science of fasting - one of the most powerful tools for improving health, focus and longevity. Drawing from personal experience and cutting-edge research, Mukesh shares how a 10-week fasting journey transformed his energy, blood markers and mental clarity. He explores the benefits of intermittent fasting, ketosis, and autophagy, while also...

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Prabhjeet Singh, President of Uber India, to unpack what it takes to build for a diverse and complex market like India. From theater to tech, Prabhjeet shares how empathy, culture, and hands-on leadership have shaped his journey. They dive into Uber's driver ecosystem, AI innovations, and the future of mobility. A conversation filled with real...

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with tech veteran and former Google and Flipkart leader Peeyush Ranjan to explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping work, expertise, and entrepreneurship. From replacing human expertise in fields like medicine, law, and education to building AI-native startups, Peeyush dives deep into the promises and pitfalls of the AI revolution. They discuss the...

In this deeply moving episode of SparX, Dr. Devi Shetty—renowned cardiac surgeon and founder of Narayana Health—opens up about his life, purpose, and groundbreaking journey in making healthcare accessible for all. From treating Mother Teresa early in his career to pioneering India’s most affordable heart surgeries, Dr. Shetty shares how simplicity, spirituality, and a relentless focus on purpose s...

In this thought-provoking episode of SparX, we speak with Pratyush Kumar, co-founder of Sarvam AI, about India's bold journey to build its own large language models (LLMs) and establish true AI sovereignty. Pratyush shares insights into the launch of Sarvam, a homegrown multilingual model capable of handling math, programming, and Indic languages with impressive accuracy. The conversation dive...

In this compelling episode of SparX, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Revant Himatsingka, popularly known as "Food Pharmer." A former McKinsey consultant and Wharton MBA, Revant left a high-profile corporate career to champion health literacy in India. He unpacks how misleading marketing and hidden ingredients are silently harming millions of Indians through widely consumed packa...

(Disclaimer - This podcast was recorded prior to the ceasefire announcement made on the evening of May 10, 2025. All discussions reflect the situation as it stood before that development. Viewers are advised to keep this context in mind while watching the episode.) In this gripping episode of SparX, journalist Suhasini Haidar joins us to decode the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan am...

For the latest episode of SparX, we are joined by Neelkanth Mishra, Economic advisor to the Government of India, Chairman of UIDAI, and Chief Economist at Axis Bank. In this episode, Neelkanth dives into the unraveling of the post-WWII global order and what might replace it. From the fading influence of institutions like the UN, WHO, and NATO to the rise of new groupings like G20, BRICS, and QUAD,...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and one of India’s foremost technology entrepreneurs. In this episode, we explore his remarkable journey — from the early days of building Infosys to his ongoing contributions to deep-tech research, innovation, and philanthropy. Mr. Gopalakrishnan shares his thoughts on the evolution of India’s IT industry, the...

What does it take to build one of India’s most important fintech companies from scratch? In this candid and deeply insightful conversation, Razorpay co-founder Harshil Mathur walks us through his journey, from coding at IIT Roorkee and working on oil rigs at Schlumberger to co-creating Razorpay, a company that has redefined digital payments in India. We dive into the early struggles of being taken...

In this in-depth conversation, historian and author Vikram Sampath discusses his comprehensive two-volume biography on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, one of India's most debated and influential political thinkers. Tracing Savarkar's journey from a young revolutionary in Maharashtra to his years at India House in London, and eventually to his imprisonment in the Cellular Jail, Vikram explores the ideolo...

What if the secret to better health isn’t just what you eat, but when you eat? In this episode, we sit down with renowned circadian biology expert Dr. Satchin Panda to explore the science behind time-restricted eating, body clocks, and how your daily routines can transform your metabolism, sleep, and overall well-being. From groundbreaking mouse studies to practical human applications, Dr. Panda b...

Description -  In the latest episode of SparX, your host, Mukesh Bansal, welcomes author and historian Vikram Sampath to discuss the contents of his book “Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum.” He shares stories not only from Tipu Sultan’s reign and but also a background about his father Hyder Ali. We hear some unheard stories where Vikram paints a picture of truth and reality bringin...

Is money real, or is it just an illusion we all believe in? In this episode, Neelkanth Mishra takes us through his journey with studying and understanding money. We explore the concept of money—how it started, why it holds value, and why it might not be as real as we think. Neelkanth challenges everything we assume about wealth, explaining how inflation, trust, and government policies shape our fi...

In this episode of SparX, we dive deep into the complexities of the global economy, India's growth trajectory, and the impact of Trump's return to power. Neelkanth Mishra breaks down why forecasting the economy is as tough as predicting the weather, how crowd behavior shapes policy, and why AI is disrupting global markets. We discuss India’s economic challenges—monetary tightening, regulatory hurd...

Welcome back to another episode of SparX by Mukesh Bansal. Today our host Mukesh, founder of Myntra and Cure.fit is in conversation with Alok Sama, the former President and CFO of SoftBank Group International. In this episode, we dive into the concept of the "money trap" and how one can avoid its pitfalls. Alok discusses his latest book, "The Money Trap", and explores topics su...

We are back with Ajai Chowdhry as he launches his latest book, 'Just Aspire', a thought-provoking account of his entrepreneurial journey and insights on technology, innovation, and the future. In this episode, we dive into the fascinating story of HCL's rise to success, from its humble beginnings to its current status as a global IT leader. Join us as we explore HCL's pioneering ac...