Stepwell Radio

This segment peers into the unsettling truth behind our online lives. It asks whether social media platforms were ever built for connection or if that promise was a clever disguise. Beneath the bright interfaces and endless scrolling lies a quiet trade: authenticity for validation, independence for influence. Algorithms study every move, every pause, every fleeting thought that flickers through a...

We joke about red flags, we romanticise trauma bonds, we edit toxic scenes into cute reels, but somewhere in the process, we lost sight of what love is supposed to look like. And honestly? We’re paying the price for it. This week, we are talking about one of the most twisted lessons our generation internalized: Why do we romanticise toxic love so much? Why toxic love feels addictive. And why healt...

In this episode of  Holy books to memes: how memes spread like religions , we explore an unexpected but fascinating question: why do memes spread the same way chants, prayers, and sacred stories once did? From Buddhist monks reciting teachings across Asia to early Christian communities passing handwritten letters, humans have always shared ideas in patterns. Today, those patterns appear in the for...

Dear Listeners, Picture this: the sun rising over a campus buzzing with possibility. One student wakes up in their childhood bedroom, minutes from class. Another wakes up miles from home, surrounded by unfamiliar walls and even more unfamiliar emotions. Same journey. Different heartbeat. Welcome to  Real Talk , where we peel back the polished surface of college life and slip into the stories that...

Cutting-Chai  follows a small moment in a regular morning. Two strangers stop at a stall, share tea, talk a little, and sit through a few stretches of silence. Nothing dramatic happens, yet something quiet hangs in the air. The piece moves through simple details and passing thoughts. It hints at shifts that are easy to miss while they are happening. A cup cools, the city keeps moving, and the mome...

This episode of The Stepwell Radio delves into the quiet obsession that pushes us back towards the past, a time period we never even got to experience. It’s something that asks us to consider whether our yearning for retro aesthetics, whether it's Polaroids, vinyls, Y2K, or grungecore, is just a passing nostalgic fad or if we’re really searching for meaning in a world that feels harsh and arti...

In this episode of Decoding the Influencer, we trace this fascinating evolution from perfection to relatability, from scripted pitches to self-aware storytelling. We explore how humor, chaos, and honesty have become the new languages of marketing. The modern influencer doesn’t just sell a product, they sell a feeling, a story, a piece of themselves. So, how did we get here? And what does it say ab...

In this special  Collaborate  episode with Tinkerers’ Lab, we sit down with Colonel Sanjay Gokhale (Retd), a veteran with over 36 years of distinguished service in the Indian Army, United Nations, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Through his insightful experiences, Colonel Gokhale sheds light on how cutting-edge research, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies are transformi...

Prophecies in Print: When the lines between fiction and reality blur. This episode explores how dystopian fiction has found a haunting resonance in today’s world... tracing its ties to extreme capitalism, widening social inequity, economic volatility, environmental collapse, and the rise of extremist ideologies. Has dystopia stopped being a distant warning and become our lived reality? We examine...

What is your relationship with art? Have you ever wondered about the broader role it plays in your life? These questions have already been thought by folks throughout history, often in ways surprisingly relevant to our world today. Welcome to It's Already Been Thought! Tune in to find out what they had to say about it, and how much the student's discourse obsesses over it.

We're all using AI now, but here's the honest question: Is it making us better thinkers, or just faster typers? ​In this episode, we sat down with Ms. Juhi Bansal, Senior Associate Director of CLEF, to reimagine how students can move past the temptation of using AI as a quick shortcut. The real power is in using it as a thought partner—a tool that sharpens your critical thinking and expand...

What do a billionaire's downfall and your own bank account have in common? More than you thinking 🤔💭 ​On the 1st episode of The Unread Manual, we're not just telling the story of a high-profile collapse; we're decoding the secrets of money that everyone should know. From cash flow to leverage and the quiet world of shell companies, we’ll reveal the financial mistakes that can bring a...

We've become experts at using terms like "anxiety" and "OCD," but are we really helping, or are we just trivializing what it means to live with these conditions? Meme-culture has exposed us to a bunch of new terms but do we even know what they mean or are we simply using them for the fun ot it? ​This week at The Stepwell Radio, we dive into the difference between awareness and understanding. We're...

Is the pursuit of being relatable costing us our originality? This week on The Stepwell Radio, we unpack performative authenticity, the hidden pressures faced by creators and why daring to be different, and maybe even uncool matters now more than ever! Tune in and rethink authenticity, algorithms and the future of creativity.

Geet from Jab We Met—icon of freedom or face of chaos? On the second episode of Reality Check, we step into Aditya’s & Anshuman’s shoes to see Geet beyond her bubbly charm—her contradictions, her choices, and their impact. Do her choices make sense in the real world? Or is it just exaggerated loudness of a "sunshine character"? Tune in for a reality check on another one of your Bolly...

Is democracy still what we were taught it was? We asked students of Ahmedabad University and they had some very strong opinions. Tune in to hear students' voices on what works, what doesn't and what might.

On May 3, 2023, violence broke the in Manipur. Ever since then, there hasn't been a solutions in sight to cease the conflict. Manipur is a complex entity that amalgamates ethnic, social, and political tensions which render the current insurgency endless. On *Manipur: Echoes on Conflict*, join us for an honest conversation with Professor Sudeep Chakravarti, which uncovers the historical tensions, t...

When you pass put from school, you're Almost There but not quite. Then, you graduate college, and you're Almost There, but not quite. 🙃🤭 Life is quite the journey, and there are plenty of destinations to be reached. So when those who are Almost There, to graduate in two months, how do they feel? What are their stories? What is the unknown regret behind the bright smile? 🥺This Saturday, join us...

Hustle harder? Or hustle smarter? This week's Hustle Culture podcast explores the toxic side of constant busyness and how it can mask emotional distress. Tune in for a fresh perspective on success!

"The words we don't say are often the ones that stay with us the longest." — Yasmin Mogahed Dear Listeners, Ever typed out a message, stared at it for minutes, and then hit delete instead of send? We all have words we couldn't say—whether it was a love confession, an apology, a thank you, or just something that felt too raw to share. This Valentine’s Day on Stepwell Radio, we’re...

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” ― Gustave Flauber Tune In for a World of Adventure on World Tourism Day!  Get ready to embark on an exciting journey of insights and wanderlust! Join us on World Tourism Day for an exclusive radio show where we take you on a whirlwind adventure with none other than Meeta Shah, the dynamic CEO of Flamingo Transworld Pvt L...

“Love art in yourself, and not yourself in art.”~Constantin Stanislavski Dear listeners, Are you a theatre enthusiast looking for a way to celebrate World Theatre Day in style? Look no further than The Stepwell Radio's special program "The Stage is Set"! Join us on this exciting program as we interview Ankit Gor, a talented theatre artist who has made a name for himself in the indust...

We mature in knowledge and wisdom but never leave the playground of our hearts. - Terri Guillemets Dear listeners, Throughout our childhood, every one of us has held onto some bizarre notions and even engaged in strange behaviour that is embarrassing but amusing to discuss. Do you remember the scary tales your grandmother used to tell you to get you to fall asleep? There are several tales from our...

“ "Zindagi ek safar hai suhaana, yaha kal kya ho kisne jaana"~ Kishore Da Hey there, music lovers! Today, we're diving into the world of melodies and moods, spotlighting the one and only Kishore Kumar. With a voice that could evoke every emotion and a personality as vibrant as his songs, Kishore da was a musical legend. From heartwarming classics to foot-tapping hits, his versatility...

“We will face the bullets of the enemy, we will remain free, we will remain free"~Chandra Shekhar Azad Dear Listeners, Today on "Historical Dive," we will be exploring one of the darkest events in Indian history - the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. On April 13, 1919, British Indian Army soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilians who had gathered in a public garden in Amritsar, Punjab. Ou...