Akshaya

The Untold Stories

Society EN ↓ 52 episodes

In a world of specialists, "The Untold Stories" takes a generalist view of the human experience. Join me for explorations that connect the dots between seemingly unrelated fields, from science and art to business and philosophy on every alternate days. Follow to discover the perspectives you didn’t know you were missing.

Author

Akshaya

Category

Society

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

Psychological safety at work — why motivation and recognition are the new productivity metrics. 11.05.2026

Fear kills output faster than any deadline. We look at how psychological safety turns teams from cautious to creative, and why leaders are swapping hours tracked for trust built. How motivation beats micromanagement, and what companies get wrong when they measure productivity. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #art #business #interviews #documentary

Pacemakers Were Invented After a Wiring Mistake, Wilson Greatbatch grabbed the wrong resistor and accidentally built a heartbeat. 09.05.2026

In 1956 an electrical engineer reached for the wrong resistor and heard a rhythm that changed medicine forever. We follow Wilson Greatbatch’s accidental invention of the implantable pacemaker, from a basement lab mistake to a device that now keeps millions of hearts beating. Hear how one error rewired cardiac care, the early tests that terrified doctors, and why failure is sometimes the best way t...

The Bangladesh model — how one of the world’s poorest nations became a garment superpower. 07.05.2026

In 50 years Bangladesh went from famine headlines to the world’s second largest garment exporter. We trace how policy bets, a young workforce, and global supply chains rewired an entire economy. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #art #business #interviews #documentary

The 4-day workweek experiments — results from around the world. 05.05.2026

Countries and companies have been testing shorter workweeks. So, did productivity tank or thrive? We break down real results from Iceland, the UK, Japan, and Portugal. Hear how fewer hours changed burnout, revenue, and hiring, plus what it actually takes to make a 4-day week work beyond the headlines. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #art #business #interviews #docu...

Micro credentials vs. degrees — which one actually gets you hired in 2026? 03.05.2026

A four-year degree or a six-week certificate. Which one lands the job in 2026? We dig into hiring data, talk to recruiters, and hear from people who bet their careers on each path. From tech bootcamps to traditional universities, we map where micro-credentials win, where degrees still dominate, and how to combine both to stand out. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #...

The IKEA Effect; Why we value things more when we've assembled them ourselves — and what it means for design 01.05.2026

Why does that wobbly bookshelf you built feel priceless? We unpack the IKEA Effect: the psychology that makes us value things more once we’ve put labor into them. From flat-pack furniture to meal kits and app design, we look at how brands use self-assembly to boost attachment. Plus, when does effort backfire and leave users frustrated instead of loyal?

Why Coca-Cola Is Cheaper Than Water in Mexico; Infrastructure, sugar subsidies, and the geography of thirst. 29.04.2026

In parts of Mexico, a bottle of Coke costs less than clean water. How did we get here? We trace the pipeline from broken public infrastructure to sugar subsidies and trade deals that flooded the country with soda. We look at the geography of thirst: why communities with unreliable water systems became Coca-Cola strongholds, and what that means for public health today. From Chiapas villages to gove...

The "Accidental Rise of Botox": How a deadly toxin became a multi-billion dollar beauty tool. 27.04.2026

From a deadly 18th-century "sausage poison" to a multi-billion dollar global phenomenon, discover the improbable journey of Botox. This episode explores how a lethal neurotoxin, once considered for biological warfare, was accidentally transformed by a husband-and-wife medical duo into the world’s most famous beauty secret. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #art #busi...

Banning Unsold Clothes Destruction: The EU banned the destruction of unsold apparel to promote a circular economy. 25.04.2026

The Untold Stories unpacks the EU’s landmark ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear — what it means, why it matters, and how it could reshape the future of fashion. From burning luxury stock to building a circular economy, we break down the regulation that’s changing the rules for the entire industry.

The "Broken Heart" Syndrome: The actual biological condition where emotional stress mimics a heart attack. 23.04.2026

What if “dying of a broken heart” isn’t just a figure of speech? In this episode, we explore Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy — the real, documented condition where sudden emotional shock causes the heart to balloon, stall, and mimic a full cardiac arrest. From grief and trauma to lottery wins and surprise parties, we break down the science of how extreme emotion hijacks your cardiovascular system, why po...

A janitor who built a Fortune 500 company. 21.04.2026

A janitor. A mop. A marble lobby at 2 AM. And thirty years later — a Fortune 500 company. This is the story of a man the history books forgot. A man who wasn’t supposed to make it — and built an empire anyway.

The Unclaimed Baggage Center: Where all lost airline luggage goes to be sold. 19.04.2026

This podcast explores the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama—the only retailer in the United States that sells the contents of lost airline luggage. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #art #business #interviews #documentary

Flying Electric Ferries: Stockholm's "flying" electric ferries have been declared a resounding success by Swedish transport authorities for reducing emissions on city waterways. 17.04.2026

This podcast covers the official success of the Candela P-12 Shuttle, nicknamed "Nova," which recently completed a successful pilot program in Stockholm. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #art #business #interviews #documentary

The Rentable Brain: A startup has begun renting access to living human brain cells grown on silicon chips for $300 a week. 15.04.2026

This week we’re plugging directly into the future. A new startup is renting out living human brain cells grown on silicon chips for $300 a week. Yes, you heard that right — actual neurons, wired to a computer, running real code.

The Mona Lisa's Mailbox: The painting has its own mailbox at the Louvre to handle the thousands of love letters it receives. 13.04.2026

The Mona Lisa's personal mailbox, located in a room adjacent to her display at the Louvre Museum, is a real tradition dating back to the 19th century. Every year, thousands of admirers send love letters, poems, flowers, and even marriage proposals to the portrait. #storytellling #human_connection #humanity #lifestories #science #art #business #interviews #documentary

Hyperloop Trials: China is moving forward with a Hyperloop train designed to exceed 1,000 km/h in 2026. 11.04.2026

This podcast covers the latest on China's T-Flight hyperloop, designed to reach speeds of 1,000 km/h.

Kodak – The company that invented digital cameras… but ignored its own future. 09.04.2026

This podcast explores the rise and fall of Kodak, a company that pioneered the digital age only to be consumed by its own legacy.

The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment – Delayed gratification and success 06.04.2026

This script explores the legendary Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, delving into the science of willpower, the surprising long-term results, and the modern criticisms that changed how we view "success."

China’s Ghost City Experiment, ‘Ordos’ - The City That Waited 03.04.2026

In this episode, we dive into the rise of Ordos—how a booming coal economy fueled an ambitious dream of luxury skyscrapers, grand museums, and wide, empty streets. But what went wrong? Why did a city built for millions struggle to attract even a fraction of its population?

Life In The Metaverse – The Future Of Digital Worlds 31.03.2026

Step into a world where reality is no longer limited by physics, distance, or even identity. This podcast explores the Metaverse—the next evolution of the internet—where virtual worlds, augmented experiences, and digital economies collide. From immersive gaming and virtual real estate to NFTs, AI avatars, and the rise of decentralized communities, we break down how this new digital frontier is res...

The Billion Dollar Fraud ; Rise And Fall Of Theranos. 27.03.2026

Step into one of Silicon Valley’s most shocking downfalls—Theranos, the billion-dollar startup that promised to revolutionize healthcare, but instead became a symbol of deception. Led by the enigmatic Elizabeth Holmes, this story unravels how ambition, secrecy, and unchecked power blurred the line between innovation and fraud. From groundbreaking claims of instant blood tests to whistleblowers ris...

Varosha - The Luxury City Abandoned Overnight. 26.03.2026

Varosha dives into the eerie story of a luxury city abandoned overnight in 1974—left frozen behind barbed wire. From glamorous past to ghost town, this podcast uncovers the secrets, stories, and silence of a place time forgot.

Auroville - The City Without Money | India’s Real-Life Utopia Experiment 20.03.2026

Welcome to a place where money doesn’t define value, ownership is reimagined, and humanity experiments with a new way of living. This is “Auroville – The City Without Money.” Set in the heart of Auroville, this podcast dives deep into one of the world’s most fascinating social experiments—a universal township founded on the idea of human unity. Here, traditional systems like currency, borders, and...

MKDecoded - Breaking Down The Most Secret Experiment In History. 17.03.2026

Behind closed doors, a covert operation reshaped lives in the name of science and national security. The MK Files explores the hidden history of MKUltra—examining real cases, controversial experiments, and the long-lasting impact on its subjects. Breaks down evidence, separates fact from myth, and reveals how far institutions were willing to go in the pursuit of control.

Claudette Colvin - The Teenager Who Refused Before Rosa Parks. 15.03.2026

Most people know the name Rosa Parks, but few know the name Claudette Colvin. Nine months before the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott, a 15-year-old girl refused to give up her seat on the very same bus system. In this podcast, we explore why history chose to center one woman while pushing a "complicated" teenager to the margins. Join us as we uncover the true start of the revolution and th...

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