The Ordinary Maverick

Who doesn’t love pickles? We all have a special memory associated with pickles and the art of pickling has been around for a long time. For me, pickles have a unique place in our cuisine and as I delved more into this interesting topic I discovered so much more. Join me on this podcast to learn more about pickles including a pickle business from scratch, and about pickle boats and pickle ball! Wou...

We are creatures of worry. And can feel surrounded by worries of all kinds, big and small. Is worrying good for you? And how can one manage worry in a way that helps find solutions. We’ve been practicing some worry management techniques ourselves and there are ideas like deliberate worrying and worry time. Join me on this podcast to learn more about some tips that we’ve stumbled on over the years...

Ever experienced jumping off into the trees and swinging through the branches in a green ocean? That’s the fun of ziplining and the experience is etched in my mind and heart forever. There’s a history behind ziplining and some learnings. Join me on this podcast to hear my experience with ziplining in a beautiful part of the world and the thoughts linked to life that crossed my mind 30 meters away...

We’ve all enjoyed shopping especially for clothes. But experiencing a behind the scenes tour of how these garments are produced was a real treat. And the story of yarn, its journey from start to product is nothing but impressive. I was fortunate to have that new experience and see first-hand this journey during our time in Bangladesh. Join me on this podcast to hear more about the yarn story but a...

The Cachaca from Brazil, a spicy, sweet and fruity clear liquor distilled from fermented sugarcane juice and best known for its role in the drink Caipirinha. My encounter with cachaca was at its origin, in Brazil. And there’s no turning back since. Cachaca’s history, the different types and flavors and aromas are fascinating and tell us so much about why it’s the ‘people’s spirit’. Join me on this...

Often referred to as the ‘sea of pink’, it is indeed a majestic sight to see the flock of flamingoes together. Apart from being beautiful birds, flamingoes have some interesting traits and behaviors. And interestingly these are like humans.  Join me on this podcast as I share more about these beautiful birds and our special encounter with them as well as the link with friendship and bonding and th...

Our vocabulary has grown over the last years with words and phrases like variants of concern, social distancing, super spreader and more. Flatten the curve is another term that was used often during the pandemic.  But why is it important?  And have you heard about the term ‘raising the line’?  Join me on this podcast as I share more about these as well as the importance of flattening the curve not...

It’s an unwritten rule in theatre that the show must go on. Regardless of what happens, no matter the unfortunate incident one must always ensure that the show goes on. What were the origins of this saying and what lies behind it? What compels people to follow through and keep the show going. Join me on this podcast as I share more insights including my experience and our family’s love for theatre...

Fishbowls and fish tanks are extremely soothing and looking at them is proven to be relaxing and especially helpful for those in high stress jobs. But how does it feel to be in the fishbowl and to be able to see and be seen. It’s linked to the inside out and outside in aspect of visioning and working. It’s the ability to step out of a particular situation and see it unfolding from the outside even...

Dolphins are fascinating marine mammals with unique and distinctive qualities. Found across the world, dolphins exhibit specific traits and features based on their origin and demonstrate self-awareness, problem solving, empathy, teaching skills, grief, joy, playfulness and a great talent for mimicry. Join me on this podcast as I share some of our close encounters with wild dolphins, pink dolphins...

Standup comedy performances have increased in popularity over the last few decades. The live performance designed by the standup knits together jokes and sequences that all add up to a grand finale that is co-constructed with the audience. It’s interesting to learn about the history and the different components associated with standup like the jester’s privilege and tight fives. Join me on this po...

The world loves diamonds. Never mind the shape, the color, the size, diamonds are forever. But maybe the shape, the color and the size do matter. There are many interesting stories with diamonds including skepticism and curses. Join me on this podcast as I speak about diamonds and the fascinating aspects with some fun facts, little bit of history plus my own encounter with diamonds.  Would love to...

Global cosmopolitans, you might have come across this term refers to a talented population of highly educated multilingual people that have lived, worked and studied for extensive periods in different cultures. These persons develop an interesting mindset and tools given their varied experiences living and working in different cultures and contexts. Join me on this podcast as I share how we joined...

Many of us have experienced riding shotgun in our lives. But where did this phrase come from and what is it’s importance in today’s world.  Riding shotgun is a responsibility and can also facilitate and support new experiences. We all need shotgun riders in our lives. Join me on this podcast as I share our experience with discovering Kokerboom trees and riding shotgun.   Would love to get your fee...

Camping is a fun activity but glamping is something else. One needs to experience to really get the most out of it. We’ve enjoyed many experiences with camping and glamping in a green canyon, in the desert and in a special glamping safari. Join me on this podcast as I speak about needing a dose of glamping now and again and rejuvenating your mind and soul. Would love to get your feedback !

We’ve all experienced magic in some form or the other and heard about the different types of magic. In fact our brains are hardwired to think magically. But we don’t always keep the magic alive in our lives. There is a deep link between magic and the Maverick formula. Magic is about being in the moment and going with your gut and so much more. Join me on this podcast as I share my experiences with...

There’s a saying that there is music in nature if only one takes the time to listen. This was reinforced by my experience of spending a few nights in a crater. Spending time in an ‘astrobleme’ and the world’s oldest crater and impact site was a lifetime experience. The close encounter with ‘dassies’ gave us insights into the world of these mammals. One realizes that ‘Being true’ is only possible w...

The letter Q is an interesting one in the English alphabet and several words starting from the letter Q have deep meanings. Often some life altering events trigger reflection about choices. Life is about choices and let’s delve deep into one aspect of choices regarding things that we choose to keep or not keep. Can some questions help us? Join me on this podcast as I share more about a few of thes...

We often speak about being perfect or give examples of the quality of a particular kind of person or thing. Well, how about quintessential street food? Street food captures the heart and rhythm of a city and is reflective of the very fabric of its people. But how did this word ‘quintessential’ come about and why do some cities score higher on their street food and stand apart?  Join me on this pod...

Quantum physics and mechanics is one of the greatest discoveries and it includes fascinating concepts. We are surrounded by its application in our everyday lives. Learning about quantum mechanics is fun and the very definition tells us that everything comes in discrete amounts. Now how does this connect with long distance relationships? And how can we remain connected across distances in a meaning...

Our life revolves around questions. Think about it, from the time we enter this world and throughout our journey, it’s questions that carry us through. So, what are questions and how does a questioning life influence our journey. There’s a flip side to questioning when one is faced with a paradox of choice and the Maverick formula has helped us navigate better. We’ve done our fair share of questio...

Some phrases stick with you and relate more than others to you and your life. Shoestrings and empty nests are two such phrases for me. Of course, both mean entirely different things and have varying theories to their origins. Used in different contexts, a shoestring budget means to stretch monies and empty nests bring their own challenges but also new perspectives. Join me on this podcast to explo...

It’s springtime and the play of colors is astounding. Colors play such an integral role in our lives and our experiences and emotions. Coffee is a color too and a much-loved drink by many. The origins of coffee, types including the expensive ones and raising awareness about coffee sourcing and growing practices is so important. Strangely, some random combinations, like coffee and colors get inextr...

We are creatures of habit and going fast has become quite the norm. Everything must be done now or shall I say, yesterday! But how about slowing down, what does ‘slow your roll’ mean? And is this something we should even consider? Our experience in a white village gave us some insights about slowing down and being intentionally slow. Join me on this podcast as I speak about this experience and abo...

We’ve grown up with superheroes and reel life heroes and heroines and many of us have identified our real-life heroes too. So just what is heroism and who is a hero? We all love watching movies and shows from Hollywood, Bollywood, Tollywood, Nollywood and many more and have favorites that recreate the magic of our heroes and their lives. But come to think of it, how do we choose our heroes, and do...