Best Rahel Podcasts (2025)

1
ITC’s 24 Mantra deal and organic foods’ unending wait for glory 14:30

2h ago14:30

14:30

In this episode we fill you in on three standout stories from the past week. First, what ITC’s acquisition of 24 Mantra means for the larger organic food market; Next, Musk’s latest attempt to save Tesla; And finally, why Blusmart’s unravelling was an eventuality we all chose to ignore. Check out the newsletter and podcast mentioned in this episode…

1
Indigo's stocks maybe flying high but passenger patience has hit turbulence 12:14

3h ago12:14

12:14

On 9 April, as the world reeling from the tariff standoff between America and China, one Indian company quietly made history. The stocks of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company Indigo, India’s top budget airline, hit an all-time high. For a brief moment, Indigo wasn’t just India’s largest airline—it became the most valuable airline in the world.…

1
How a made in Punjab jeera-flavoured soda is popping the Coke-Pepsi-Parle bubble 12:42

9h ago12:42

12:42

Here’s the thing about the Indian carbonated beverage market – for decades now it has been a two, sometimes three horse race dominated by everyone’s favourite black coloured colas. Pepsi, Coca Cola and Thums Up. But in the last year or so, a 160-ml bottle of cumin-flavoured soda has managed to do what very few bottled beverages could. It has challe…

1
Biyani’s retail empire flamed out. His daughters seek redemption in birthing new brands 9:19

1d ago9:19

9:19

In 2021, Ashni and Avni Bayani, the scions of industrialist Kishore Biyani’s Future Group, launched their own venture – a startup studio called Think 9 Consumer Technologies. The concept was simple – they would incubate new brands across categories like apparel, beauty, health and wellness and food; and then use common teams for marketing, technolo…

1
Episode 109: Curses in Creationism with Nate Labadorf 1:03:13

2d ago1:03:13

1:03:13

As Paul and Todd continue their series on natural evil, join them as they chat with Nate Labadorf about curses in the Bible. In the Ancient Near Eastern culture of the Bible, curses went hand in hand with blessings. You can't understand the one without the other. As we look to the curse pronounced in Genesis 3, it's important to look even closer to…

1
Turns out someone has to pay for free UPI 14:00

2d ago14:00

14:00

On 19 March, the Indian government slashed incentives for UPI transactions by more than half to Rs 1,500 crore for FY25. After it launched in 2016, UPI very quickly became the backbone of India’s digital economy–thanks to demonetisation, and well, the pandemic. Most importantly, it was the radical decision to keep it free that fuelled its growth. N…

1
The career ladder is broken. What’s your next step? 16:37

6d ago16:37

16:37

In this episode, we dive into a topic that is as daunting as it is exciting — the future of careers. First, we talk about a troubling trend in workplaces today — the rise of the unwilling retiree; Next, we share some of the lessons learnt by students who graduated during economic downturns in the past. Check out the stories and newsletters mentione…

1
When cricket and Koffee aren’t enough, JioHotstar wants to make 'Sparks' fly 20:34

11d ago20:34

20:34

What happens when India’s biggest streaming platform decides it’s no longer satisfied with just airing Koffee with Karan and cricket? And it now wants to take on YouTube and Instagram? You get Sparks–an ambitious experiment by Jiohotstar that’s is set on winning over Gen Z viewers, one short video at a time. In February, right before the IPL kicked…

1
Lenskart built its empire on franchisees. Now it’s battling them in courts 14:57

7d ago14:57

14:57

In a little over a decade, Lenskart has gone from being just India’s biggest online eyewear retailer to becoming one of Asia’s biggest omnichannel eyewear giants. Needless to say, business has been booming. And the company is now inching towards its next big step – an IPO. But in the midst of all its success, it appears Lenskart may have rubbed som…

1
Scaler wanted to do for tech education what Masters' Union did for the MBA. AI had other plans 15:17

8d ago15:17

15:17

Back in 2019, an ed-tech called Scaler Academy decided to do for tech education what Masters’ Union did for the traditional MBA. The tech-upskilling platform launched in 2019 with a simple pitch: take AI, machine learning, and data science courses, get placed at top tech firms, and make a lot more money. But five years later, that formula is breaki…

1
McKinsey, Bain, and BCG welcomed AI with open arms. Creativity is the first casualty 12:37

9d ago12:37

12:37

Welcome to the world of consulting in 2025. AI is everywhere—from writing reports and making decks to crunching numbers. But you’d think the likes of McKinsey, Bain, and BCG would be worried about AI, right? Because AI reduces the knowledge gap between them and their clients. Turns out, instead of resisting it, they’re going all in. The ones feelin…

1
‘Boys will be boys’ — Trump, tariffs and the dismantling of global trade 15:03

12d ago15:03

15:03

In this episode, we talk about the global trade war that stopped before it started. First, we talk about US President Donald Trump's decision to reverse the "reciprocal tariffs" on almost every country in the world, except one. Next, we talk about why India had little choice but to offer concession after concession to the US. Finally, we unpack the…

1
Minimalist was the glow-up Hindustan Unilever's skincare line needed 10:59

13d ago10:59

10:59

One of the largest deals to acquire a D2C brand took place in January this year. India’s largest manufacturer of consumer good, Hindustan Unilever acquired the skincare company Minimalist, a 90% shareholding for nearly Rs 3000 crores. Homegrown startup beauty brands have been on a roll in India. Scores and scores of new age skincare brands have cro…

1
From Medimix to Apsara Ice Creams — scions of family-run businesses are done building just another ‘parent’s brand’ 11:47

19d ago11:47

11:47

Indian family businesses contribute more than two-thirds to India’s GDP. 70 per cent. That’s amongst the highest in the world. And that number is expected to go up to as much as 85 per cent in the next 20 years. Yet, today a lot of these companies are at a crossroads. You see, many of them have realised that they can’t just carry on as they always …

1
Zerodha and Groww wanted to disrupt mutual funds. But they're stuck in first gear 14:19

15d ago14:19

14:19

For a while now, the new kids on the block in India’s $750 billion mutual fund industry have been trying to really shake things up. The likes of Navi, Zerodha and Groww have been dreaming of a big disruption. And a couple years ago, they thought they had found the answer to their prayers. A playbook that would catapult their growth. They were convi…

1
Episode 108: What is the Creation Research Society? with Joel Brown 1:12:29

18d ago1:12:29

1:12:29

Join Paul and Todd as they chat with Joel Brown, the director of the Van Andel Creation Research Center at Arizona Christian University in Phoenix, Arizona. With a PhD in genetics, Joel became a high school teacher in St Louis and then felt led to take on the leadership of the VACRC, the historic research lab of the Creation Research Society. How d…

1
China built the solar energy empire. India’s building the green hydrogen rebellion 10:11

17d ago10:11

10:11

Despite the recent upheaval in clean tech efforts, governments around the world are investing billions into green hydrogen. Analysts are calling it the missing piece in the clean energy puzzle, especially for industries that can’t run just on batteries or solar power. But the future of green hydrogen may not be decided in Silicon Valley or Europe o…

1
Cult turned amateur gym rats into fitness fanatics. Now they are paying in injuries 12:53

20d ago12:53

12:53

As fitness studios exploded across Indian cities after the Covid pandemic, Cult.fit rose to prominence on the back of its fun, accessible classes that appealed to sedentary urbanites. Meanwhile, doctors noticed a sharp rise in workout-related injuries. Majority of those injured fell in the "most vulnerable" 35-45 age bracket. What's going on? The K…

1
Groceries were just the beginning. Your 10-min delivery app is now selling your screen time 17:21

25d ago17:21

17:21

India's biggest quick-commerce apps, Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy, have become prime real estate not just for regular FMCG brands but also for financial services, stock-trading apps, and even real-money gaming platforms. The top three players are already making Rs 3 to 3,500 crore rupees in annual ad revenue. And that, dear listeners, is about half o…

1
India's AI mission could be transformative. But it's dead set on becoming Deepseek 12:44

22d ago12:44

12:44

Back in January, when China’s Deepseek R1 model stunned the world with its performance and low training cost, India was thinking only one thing – how do we beat it? How do we become a global AI superpower? But when it comes to the AI race, India has been stuck at the starting line for quite a while now. Its approach has largely been to throw things…

1
Private companies have stumbled upon a goldmine — Bengaluru's water crisis 15:36

23d ago15:36

15:36

On January 29 of this year, Denta Water and Infra Solutions – a company that specialises in groundwater recharging projects – listed on the bourses. Three weeks later, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, or BWSSB, issued a set of guidelines to address what has become pretty much inevitable every summer in the city – a full blown water cr…

1
Blusmart’s unfair advantage has now become its biggest roadblock 13:49

27d ago13:49

13:49

In this episode we fill you in on three standout stories from the past week. First, we talk about the unravelling of Blusmart, India's first EV ride hailing platform; Next, the private banking and wealth management boom in India; And finally how India’s ad agencies got raided over alleged price-fixing three days before country’s biggest marketing e…

1
Hari Menon has to save Bigbasket from itself 19:07

28d ago19:07

19:07

In January this year, nearly every single employee of the OG E-grocer Big Basket received an email from their CEO, Hari Menon. It was supposed to be a rallying cry. The Tata-owned e-grocery giant had finally—after much hemming and hawing—embraced quick commerce. For a long time, Bigbasket didn’t care much for quick commerce. Menon himself dismissed…

1
With an IPO around the corner, Phonepe’s biggest strength is becoming its Achilles heel 12:21

29d ago12:21

12:21

Phonepe is all set to debut in the public market in the second half of FY26. That perhaps seems like the natural next step for the fintech giant. After all, it commands nearly half of the market share in UPI transactions today. Between 2020 and now, it has gone from catering to one in five Indians to one in three. And yet, the path to its IPO isn’t…

1
India's only listed credit-card company is a revolving door of embattled CEOs 11:55

30d ago11:55

11:55

Every two years, SBI Cards, India’s only listed credit card company, valued at $9 billion, appoints a new CEO. This time, it's going to be Salila Pande, a career banker who has been with SBI for over 30 years. On the 1st of April, she will take the reigns from her predecessor, Abhijit Chakravorty. However, it is going to be a tough few years for he…

1
Episode 107: A Crack in the Crust with Ryan Thompson 1:00:03

1M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

The entire surface of the earth is broken up into pieces bounded by massive cracks called faults. Join Todd and Paul as they chat with geologist Ryan Thompson about these massive cracks and how they relate to earthquakes, the Flood, and even the Holy Land! Why does the Jordan River flow where it does? Find out on this episode of Let's Talk Creation…

1
Could a cashback convince you to change your go-to UPI app? 9:52

1M ago9:52

9:52

Remember that time in 2022 when India’s top digital payments companies Phonepe, Paytm*, and Bharatpe were in a no-holds-barred turf war? Looking back, it seemed like there was news almost every other day about some tiff between the three market leaders. In fact, former managing director of Bharatpe, Ashneer Grover, has spoken on record about “stree…

1
Haldiram's vs Bikaji just got spicier 15:38

1M ago15:38

15:38

In this episode we fill you in on three standout stories from the past week. First, why the fight between every Indian’s favourite namkeen brands Haldiram’s and Bikaji just got spicier; second, the controversy around Urban company’s newest pet project; and finally, the latest from Two by Two where our colleagues Rohin and Praveen discuss what the f…

1
How pharma companies are chasing newer, better, easier profits by going the FMCG way 16:40

1M ago16:40

16:40

Pharma is slow, complicated and tangled in regulatory approvals and compliances. But, consumer healthcare is fast moving, has far fewer rules and enjoys better margins. Under the umbrella of consumer healthcare you will find a plethora of categories and products – all of which claim to improve some aspect of health or well being. Think supplements,…

1
Why India's battery dreams are losing charge 12:58

1M ago12:58

12:58

About three years ago, the government decided that it wanted India to become a global powerhouse in cell manufacturing. So it went ahead and dangled a very juicy carrot for companies to produce batteries locally. It promised over Rs 18,000 crore in subsidies for anybody who would help it make its battery dreams come true by the end of this decade. …

1
Private schools are seeing a drop in enrolment. Where did the kids go? 10:06

1M ago10:06

10:06

Private schools across the country are going through quite a crisis right now. Just last month, The Ken reporter Atul Krishna saw this play out first hand at a budget private school called Blossoms in Bangalore. During a visit to its campus, he learnt that its once packed classrooms are now thinning down year after year. From 1,5000 students about …

1
IV drips move from hospitals to spas—to ‘fix’ the elite’s hangovers and hair loss 13:48

1M ago13:48

13:48

IV drip therapy has gone from being a fad among celebrities like the Kardashians, to becoming the wellness treatment for the uber rich. There is a growing consumer interest in quick, customisable wellness solutions and plush clinics across the country are cashing in on it. Whether you are looking to treat a hangover, get glowing skin, lose weight o…

1
Will Starlink in India pull off what giants Airtel and Jio couldn't? 17:06

1M ago17:06

17:06

In this episode we fill you in on some of the biggest business and tech stories from The Ken newsroom. We will talk about Reliance and Airtel’s latest deal with Space X’s Starlink Internet; how Dhan, the stock broking underdog, is defying all odds; and finally, we discuss the market for treating farmed animals humanely. Stay tuned Check out the sto…

1
The future of work is…whatever you don’t want to do 11:18

1M ago11:18

11:18

If there’s one thing urban Indians love to do, it is delegate. Today there’s all manner of apps for anything even vaguely resembling a chore. Need someone to deep clean your house? Or a stand-in for the driver that called in sick? Well, there’s an app for it. The Ken’s deputy editor Seetharaman G recently pointed out how all of this is possible onl…

1
Why Curefoods is dead set on expanding its menu beyond salads 12:24

1M ago12:24

12:24

When the Bengaluru-based Cloud kitchen operator Curefoods went ahead and acquired the distribution rights for the American donut and coffee brand Krispy Kreme in December last year, a lot of people were naturally quite surprised. Given the company’s roots in the fitness startup Cult fit, you would assume that it would be in Curefood’s best interest…

1
SUVs are taking over India — one accident, one parking spot at a time 11:35

1M ago11:35

11:35

After years of being associated with powerful politicians and menacing goons thanks to Bollywood films, SUVs are now undergoing a makeover. At car dealerships across the country, they are now being positioned as the ultimate family car — a fortress that can keep your loved ones safe on treacherous Indian roads. The word on the street, according to …

1
Episode 106: Does God Care About Animals with Dr. Rahel Wells 59:36

2M ago59:36

59:36

In this fascinating episode, Paul and Todd resume their discussion of natural evil with special guest Dr. Rahel Wells. If the world we live in is the same way God made it in the beginning, what does this tell us about God's care for the animals? On the other hand, if God really does care for the animals, how might that care shape our view of creati…

1
Swiggy's post-IPO pains are a lesson for rich Indians playing the pre-listing game 9:54

2M ago9:54

9:54

When the much-awaited Swiggy IPO took place in November last year, many HNIs make put in their money into the company. Some made smaller investments of more than Rs 2 lakh and the others who bought stocks for over Rs 10 lakh. But they weren’t buying stocks because they believed in the real value or long-term potential of these shares. They bought t…

1
'I am the Byju of Byju's and I am here now' 12:15

2M ago12:15

12:15

In this episode we fill you in on some of the biggest business and tech stories from The Ken newsroom. We’ll talk about the latest development in the Byjus story; how Reliance’s Campa is taking on the Coke-Pepsi duopoly; and finally, the battle between YouTube and streaming companies to be the next television. Stay tuned. Check out the stories and …

1
How the MG Windsor left Tata and Hyundai behind to become India's top-selling EV 13:18

2M ago13:18

13:18

This year the JSW MG Windsor became the highest selling electric car in India. It recently even managed to outperform Tata’s most popular offerings like the Nexon and Punch EV. It recorded total sales of over 10,000 units in a single quarter, beating all the models from Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai. The obvious question here is – what did MG do diff…

1
Why IITs and NLUs are setting up their own companies 10:54

2M ago10:54

10:54

Over the past few years, public universities here in India have been stuck in a rather difficult position. For decades, they were almost entirely dependent on state funding to keep the lights on. But now the state funding has steadily been drying up. So now, they have no choice but to fend for themselves. But legacy institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT …

1
Deepseek cracked open AI. India’s AI plumbers are loving it 12:14

2M ago12:14

12:14

Up until recently, for most enterprises the default choice ended up being ChatGPT maker Open AI's models. That was mainly since for a long time there were no serious alternatives. Then, in came Deepseek R1. It proved that other models could compete and even win against OpenAi, that too at a fraction of its price. So now its the one that’s nudging e…

1
The death of the independent doctor 10:46

2M ago10:46

10:46

Young independent doctors in India are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Take F M, a 32-year-old psychiatrist who has a clinic in South Mumbai. She’s spent a third of her life slogging through medical schools and internships to finally earn her super-specialised degree. But two years into her private practice in a posh South Mumbai area, she w…

1
Trump's tariff spree and what it means for India 19:08

2M ago19:08

19:08

In this episode we fill you in on some of the biggest business and tech stories from around the world. We’ll talk about US President Donald Trump’s trade war threat and what it means for India and why Meta is suddenly doubling down on its Indian market. Finally we will take you through some of our favourite offerings from The Ken’s newsroom this we…

1
How Wooden Street is challenging furniture giants in India with its Goldilocks game plan 12:17

2M ago12:17

12:17

Ten years in the business and the custom furniture maker Wooden Street has left its older peers far behind. If you ask the company’s founder and chief executive Lokendra Singh Ranawat, he will tell you that the Covid pandemic was when the company's fortunes changed. Within two years of the pandemic, the company’s top line nearly quadrupled to Rs 13…

1
Why Wework India is moving away from what it knows best — co-working 9:55

2M ago9:55

9:55

By now, we are all aware of the WeWork story. We know how the company grew to become synonymous with coworking spaces thanks to its lavish network of offices around the world. How these offices were once packed with young techies playing pool and sipping beer. And how, eventually, it all came crashing down. The company, once valued at 47 billion do…

1
Diamonds with a side of champagne — how Zoya finally hacked the luxury jewellery business 12:34

2M ago12:34

12:34

How do you sell diamonds to the ultra rich? Well, Zoya, the luxury jewellery brand from Tata-owned Titan Company can give you a masterclass. The Zoya playbook isn't focussed solely on designing and selling premium jewellery. Turns out, it’s all about the experience. From champagne brunches, to luxury cruises — the brand stops at nothing when it com…

1
Episode 105: Cambridge House 1:07:52

2M ago1:07:52

1:07:52

Paul and Todd welcome Stephen Lloyd back to the show to talk about the Cambridge House project. This past year, Biblical Creation Trust launched a student ministry in downtown Cambridge with the goal of building a residential study center to help train a new generation of thoughtful creation researchers. In this episode, Paul and Stephen discuss th…

1
How the govt gave the elderly free health cover, and insurers a reality check 12:59

2M ago12:59

12:59

In October 2024, the government of India launched the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a health insurance coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 and over, regardless of income. This is big news for healthcare in India because for the longest time, this is exactly the age group that has pvt insurance companies have been ignoring. …

1
In the run-up to IPL, there's a conflict brewing between OTT platforms & advertisers 17:40

2M ago17:40

17:40

In November 2024, one of India's biggest FMCG companies, Hindustan Unilever, started getting a barrage of complaints from its consumers, who said they were seeing the same Dove and Surf Excel ads repeatedly on OTT platforms during a single watch session. Some of them were shown the same ads as many as 150 times within a week. Now, with the IPL arou…

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