What sets a legend apart from just another player? The answer lies in the mind.

In this episode, Tara dives deep into the psychology of peak performance with Dr. Samir Parikh and Divya Jain, authors of The Champion Within. What really makes someone a champion, not just in sport, but in life and work?

From game-day rituals and comeback stories to dealing with pressure, anticipatory anxiety, and failure, this episode is packed with stories and science behind how mental strength is built.

You’ll hear about the famous Wimbledon choke that turned into a redemption arc, what athletes do between points to reset their focus, and how a sense of fun can literally shift your performance. 

Whether you're building a startup, sitting for exams, or chasing your next big win, this episode will make you rethink what it means to show up with grit and joy.

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The Bound Publishing Course is a comprehensive, three-month-long, certified program designed to give people the skills, network, and opportunity to build a career in book, magazine, or digital publishing.

You will take part in 100 hours of live online sessions, led by over 40 experienced industry professionals. The course moves from foundational learning to specialised career tracks through live simulations, in-class exercises, and assignments. This hands-on approach is supported by career-focused guidance, such as resume workshops and interview preparation, and culminates in a Capstone Project.

You can explore more about the course here.

Apply here!

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

A pepper spray in your bag is smart, but knowing your legal rights as a female citizen of India might be what truly saves your case. 

In this episode of Books & Beyond, lawyer and Pink Legal founder Manasi Chaudhari unpacks her debut book Legally Yours, a witty, no-nonsense guide that explains women’s legal rights in India through pop culture, quizzes, and relatable scenarios. From decoding consent in Kabir Singh to tips for protecting yourself in a live-in relationship, Manasi shares the why and how behind creating a book that feels like your friend with a law degree. They also get into the realities of the justice system, how knowledge can be your most powerful defence, and what makes laws work—or fail—in real life.

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a stalking-turned-love-story in a Bollywood film, felt confused about filing an FIR, or just want to know what your rights really are (without Googling legalese), this episode will leave you feeling more informed, more aware, and way more equipped to speak up.

_________________________________________________________________________

The Bound Publishing Course is a comprehensive, three-month-long, certified program designed to give people the skills, network, and opportunity to build a career in book, magazine, or digital publishing.

You will take part in 100 hours of live online sessions, led by over 40 experienced industry professionals. The course moves from foundational learning to specialized career tracks through live simulations, in-class exercises, and assignments. This hands-on approach is supported by career-focused guidance, such as resume workshops and interview preparation, and culminates in a Capstone Project.

You can explore more about the course here.

Apply here!

_________________________________________________________________________

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What if the key to environmental action isn’t outrage, but observation? And what if the real climate crisis is a crisis of attention?

In this powerful conversation, nature writer and activist Yuvan Aves talks about his lyrical and politically urgent book Intertidal. Set along Chennai’s disappearing coasts and wetlands, the book prompts readers to notice, remember, and reconnect with the living world around them. 

Yuvan shares how he teaches children to fall in love with their local ecologies by example rather than instruction and how Indian nature writing cannot be separated from caste, class, and climate politics. 

This episode reminds us that nature is not a distant wilderness but something alive in our cities, streets, and schools, and to simply pay attention.

Books, shows, and films mentioned in this episode:

• Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane
• Tiger Lessons by Sannapureddy Venkatarami Reddy
• Marginlands by Arati Kumar-Rao

_________________________________________________________________________

The Bound Publishing Course is a comprehensive, three-month-long, certified program designed to give people the skills, network, and opportunity to build a career in book, magazine, or digital publishing.

You will take part in 100 hours of live online sessions, led by over 40 experienced industry professionals. The course moves from foundational learning to specialised career tracks through live simulations, in-class exercises, and assignments. This hands-on approach is supported by career-focused guidance, such as resume workshops and interview preparation, and culminates in a Capstone Project.

You can explore more about the course here.

Apply here! 

_________________________________________________________________________

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What happens when a celebrated film journalist turns the camera inward? 

In this moving episode, veteran critic and author Bhawana Somaaya unpacks her memoir Farewell Karachi. Known for her decades-long career documenting Bollywood’s biggest stars like Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan, Bhawana shares the deeply personal stories behind her family’s displacement from Karachi to Mumbai during Partition.

She recounts everything from her mother’s hilarious one-liners about working as a young journalist in the 1970s to the emotional weight of her father’s solitary journey during Partition and the legacy of a lost home. The conversation flows through intimate anecdotes, candid reflections, and the subtle power of memories that shape who we become.

Bhawana’s honest reflections offer a masterclass in sensitivity and storytelling. Her journey shows that emotional intelligence isn’t just a trait—it’s a lens, a compass, and sometimes, the story itself.

Books, shows, and films mentioned in this episode:

• Because He Is by Meghna Gulzar
• Darlingji: The True Love Story of Nargis and Sunil Dutt by Kishwar Desai
• Parveen Babi by Karishma Upadhyay
• A Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
• Pakeezah
• Garm Hava 
• Navrang
• Kaun Banega Crorepati

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What if one secret could shatter everything you thought you knew about your family?

In this episode, Bhavika Govil dives into her haunting, lyrical novel Hot Water, a coming-of-age story about the silences that pull families apart.

Bhavika talks about the novel’s striking water motif and the emotional and craft challenges of writing Ashu, a 14-year-old boy and Meera, a 9-year-old girl, and trying to make them feel both real and raw.

This episode takes a deep dive into understanding family dramas better, and how writing about what’s left unsaid is often more powerful than spelling things out. It’s a sharp, intimate, and deeply thoughtful episode on the stories we carry long after they’re over.

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Tried a fad diet and a get-rich scheme, but failed to do both? Let's talk about what actually works.

Ankush Datar, the author of The Health and Wealth Paradox, breaks down the complexities of health and financial planning by getting back to the core principles. His unique approach explains how managing your health and wealth isn’t so different after all. In this episode, Tara Khandelwal and Ankush explore how first principles thinking, mental barriers, and everyday habits shape our ability to stay consistent and make smarter decisions in both areas.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed with the amount of information available about managing your health and wealth, this conversation offers fresh insights and practical tips to simplify the process. Ankush’s approach will help you understand that it’s just not that complicated once you’ve gotten your basics set. 

Books, shows, and films mentioned in this episode:

• Ankush’s favourite authors: Morgan Housel & James Clear
• Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke
• Stop Reading the News by Rolf Dobelli
• The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
• Same as Ever by Morgan Housel
• Dollars and Sense by Dr. Dan Ariely
• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
• Outlive by Bill Gifford and Peter Attia
• Atomic Habits by James Clear

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Lost in Translation? Or Found in the Process?

In this episode, we talk to Gowri Ramnarayan and Kamalakar Bhat, two translators dedicated to bringing Tamil and Kannada texts to life in English.

Gowri shares the complex challenges of translating her grandfather’s historical novel, Ponniyin Selvan, from seamlessly blending poetry into prose to interpreting the layered meanings of cultural expressions. Kamalakar opens up about his translation of Kirtinath Kurtkoti's essays, Courtesy of Criticism, and how the process often involves reconstructing missing historical context and striking a balance between accuracy and accessibility. Together, they explore how translation is not just linguistic work but a journey into the heart of a text.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to translate a story without losing its soul, this episode is for you. Expect insights, behind-the-scenes secrets, and a fresh perspective on the art of bringing Indian literature to the world.

Books, shows and films mentioned in this episode:

• Yugadharma Haagu Sahitya Darshana (Kannada) by Kirtinath Kurtkoti
• Sakina's Kiss by Vivek Shanbhag
• Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
• Mithun Number Two and Other Mumbai Stories by Jayant Kaikini
• Tejo Tungabhadra by Vasudhendra
• Author recommendations:
  • Salma
  • Imaya Kumar Jagannathan
  • Prapanchan
  • Mogalli Ganesh
  • Abdul Rasheed
  • H. S. Shivaprakash

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What happens when the love of family feels more like a battlefield?

In her debut novel Famous Last Questions, Sanjana Ramachandran explores the messy, painful, and sometimes beautiful struggle of growing up caught between parental expectations and the search for your true self. With sharp honesty and warmth, she dives into themes of rebellion, identity, and the healing power of mindfulness.

Join Tara and Sanjana as they trace her journey—from getting kicked out of BITS Pilani to writing the viral “Sanjana Effect” article that sparked a conversation about cultural pressures, and finally to publishing her debut novel. It’s a story of resilience, courage, and finding your own voice against the odds.

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Are the wrong people making the biggest decisions at your company?

Tara and Michelle talk to Jennifer Sundberg—co-founder of Board Intelligence and co-author of Collective Intelligence—about why most leadership teams are flying blind. They dive into how poorly framed questions and bloated reports sabotage decision-making, why writing is thinking, and how to fix broken systems from the inside out. With examples ranging from NASA to FTSE boardrooms, this episode is a masterclass on designing cultures where the smartest ideas, not the loudest voices, win.

In this exciting partnership series with Jaico Publishing House, we are featuring fascinating new authors and writers who captivate the audience and bring forth a revolutionary perspective to Indian literature.

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Should we boycott problematic authors—or just read them with guilt? Tara and Michelle dive into the messy politics of author scandals, from cancel culture to complicity. Plus, what happens when AI writes a book? Would you read it? Should it even exist?

Tune in for a no-holds-barred chat on the ethics of art, the limits of accountability, and how readers can show up for real authors in a shifting industry. They also spill on their own reading dilemmas and the murky line between loving the work and questioning the creator.

Books mentioned:

• Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh
• Dalit Kitchen of Marathwada by Shahu Patole
• Books by Janice Pariat 
• The Twits by Roald Dahl
• Jasoda by Kiran Nagarkar
• Fault In Our Stars by John Green
• Neopolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante
• Harry Potter Series By J.K. Rowling

Imagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!

Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreat

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.