Code to Culture

Bengaluru wasn’t always India’s startup capital.

Before the traffic, the tech parks, and the relentless pace — it was a slow, deeply cultural, globally connected city shaped by community, music, and memory.

In this episode of Code to Culture by UnboxingBLR, Malini Goyal sits down with Prem Koshy, third-generation custodian of the iconic Koshy’s, to trace Bengaluru’s transformation across decades.

From a grandfather who went from banker to baker during the 1930s crisis, to building one of the city’s most enduring cultural institutions, Prem’s story is deeply intertwined with Bengaluru itself.

This conversation explores:

• Bengaluru’s evolution from cantonment culture to startup city
• The forgotten cosmopolitanism of pre-independence Bangalore
• How spaces like Koshy’s became keepers of memory and identity
• Youth, rebellion, excess, and self-discovery across continents
• What the city has gained — and what it may have lost

This is not just nostalgia.
 It’s a reflection on identity, growth, and what it means for a city to change faster than its memory.

UnboxingBLR presents "Code to Culture," a podcast hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR). This series features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have significantly influenced Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, we bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here, and want to shape its future. 

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

In this Code to Culture Podcast, hosted by Malini Goyal, speaks to historian and author Ramjee Chandran in a deep conversation on the real history of Bengaluru. In this episode, we go beyond the popular 1537 origin story and trace the city’s roots back to the Western Ganga Dynasty, exploring how early political formations, Jain patronage, trade guilds, and rainwater harvesting systems shaped the foundations of what would later become Bangalore. From ancient inscriptions and temple institutions functioning as proto-states to the strategic trade ambitions of the Chola Dynasty, this episode unpacks how Gangavadi, inland trade routes, merchant networks, and military stability built a cosmopolitan ecosystem centuries before the IT boom.

The conversation then moves to the rise of the Vijayanagara Empire and the transformative urban vision of Kempegowda I, who designed Bengaluru’s Pete as a purpose-built market town with economic zoning, civic regulations, layered security, postal systems, interconnected tanks, and a sustainable water infrastructure model. We also examine the dichotomy between Pete and British Cantonment, migration waves that shaped language and cuisine, the evolution of Bangalore’s cosmopolitan identity, and how trade, taxation, governance, and political power intersected to create a city that has always been transitory, migratory, and economically strategic.

From ancient trade routes and tank systems to urban planning, colonial influence, and the philosophical idea of Bengaluru as a “confluence” city, this episode connects early dynasties, merchant intelligence networks, secular governance traditions, and modern startup culture into one sweeping narrative. If you’re interested in Bengaluru history, Bangalore origin story, Kempegowda Pete, Ganga dynasty, Chola trade networks, Vijayanagara administration, British cantonment Bangalore, urban planning in India, rainwater harvesting history, and the making of India’s Silicon Valley — this conversation is essential listening.

UnboxingBLR presents "Code to Culture," a podcast hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR ). This series features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have significantly influenced Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here and want to shape its future. 

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

In this Code to Culture episode, Malini Goyal (Co-founder & CEO, UnboxingBLR) sits down with stand-up comedians Harman Preet Singh and Nithin M Kamath for a high-energy, Bengaluru-rooted conversation on growing up in Bangalore, college fest culture, and the evolution of Indian stand-up comedy.

From Indiranagar’s once empty roads, street cricket memories, and Yelahanka childhood runs to KR Market, to the rivalry and buzz of Bengaluru’s campus scene—St. Joseph’s, Bishop Cotton, Jain College, New Horizon (School & College)—this episode captures the city’s cultural DNA. The duo dives into early comedy influences, Kannada pop-culture inspirations, how they found their voice in stand-up, and the Delhi vs Bengaluru vs Mumbai comedy ecosystem.

They also unpack the rise of Kannada stand-up comedy, the real gap between demand and supply for Kannada comedy shows, and why Kannada representation in Indian media needs to grow. Plus: Malini Goyal answers a sharp question on Comedy vs Journalism, and the episode closes with the business side—pricing power, booking platforms, and why BookMyShow dominates live entertainment discovery.

UnboxingBLR presents "Code to Culture," a podcast hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR). This series features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have significantly influenced Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, we bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here, and want to shape its future. 

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

Bengaluru is changing faster than ever, but is the city planning ahead, or just reacting to growth?

In this insightful conversation, two of Bengaluru’s most influential builders and city-shapers reflect on how the city has evolved, where it went wrong, and what it must do next. From memories of a quiet, tree-lined Bangalore to today’s exploding construction boom, traffic chaos, and infrastructure chaos, this episode explores the city through the lens of urban planning, real estate, airports, sustainability, and culture.

We discuss:

How Bengaluru grew from a “pensioner’s paradise” into a global tech and aviation hub

Why North Bengaluru and the airport corridor may become the city’s new centre of gravity

The rise of mixed-use developments and the idea of the 15-minute walking city

Lessons from building large-scale infrastructure like airports and townships

Why master planning, public transport, and sustainability are no longer optional

Water scarcity, climate resilience, renewable energy, and circular economy solutions

The decline (and possible revival) of Bengaluru’s live music and events scene

What an ideal blueprint for Bengaluru’s future could look like

This conversation is not just about buildings, it’s about how cities should be designed for people, culture, and the next 50 years.

If you care about Bengaluru, urban development, infrastructure, or the future of Indian cities, this episode is a must-watch.


UnboxingBLR presents "Code to Culture," a podcast hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR). This series features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have significantly influenced Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, we bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here, and want to shape its future. 

Timestamps:
00:00 – Why Bangalore’s growth needs long-term city planning  
03:46 – What Bangalore looked like in the 80s & 90s  
09:49 – Why Bangalore felt like India’s first “modern” city  
15:23 – Life around MG Road, Brigade Road & the old CBD  
21:42 – The old Bangalore airport chaos & memories  
25:01 – How construction mirrors Bangalore’s economic growth  
28:41 – Brigade Gateway: a bold mixed-use experiment ahead of its time  
34:37 – Planning an airport for 60 years into the future  
41:31 – Why Bangalore desperately needs a master plan  
45:10 – Water crisis, sustainability & daily urban challenges  
50:22 – How the airport became water & energy self-sufficient  
55:20 – Why live music & events struggle in Bangalore today  
59:25 – Inside the vision of Bangalore’s Airport City  
1:05:21 – Why North Bangalore is the next growth engine  
1:12:30 – Lessons for planning Bangalore’s second airport  
1:18:45 – A blueprint for fixing Bangalore’s infrastructure mess  
1:26:23 – Bangalore’s evolving culture, food & creative scene  
1:34:58 – Closing thoughts: why Bangalore keeps reinventing itself

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

Bengaluru’s mobility captures the contradictions of a city bursting with ambition yet stuck in endless traffic, and in this Code to Culture episode, Malini Goyal sits down with Srinivas Alavilli (Program Senior Fellow – Sustainable Cities and Transport, WRI India), Deepesh Agarwal (Co-founder & CEO, MoveInSync) and Arun Pai (a corporate executive turned storyteller and founder of BangaloreWALKS) to decode why. 

As they trace the city’s journey from cycles and double-decker buses to metros, cabs, and corporate shuttles, a deeper story emerges — one about unequal access, long commutes, walkability struggles, the mental stress of travel, and the climate burden of a rapidly growing city. The conversation cuts through the noise to explore why Bengaluru has both India’s largest bus ridership and one of its highest private vehicle counts, why footpaths and last-mile connectivity shape dignity and safety, and how mobility influences everything from women’s participation in the city to the aspirations of migrants. With reflections on shared mobility, better street design, and a potential future vision, this episode asks what it would take for Bengaluru to move in a way that is humane, inclusive, and future-ready.

UnboxingBLR presents "Code to Culture," a podcast hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR ) . This series features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have significantly influenced Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home, or just got here and want to shape its future. 

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

Bengaluru, India’s fastest-growing metropolis and global tech hub, is transforming rapidly. But what does it take to manage a 15-million-strong city spread across 720 sq. km? In this in-depth episode of the UnboxingBLR Podcast, hosts Malini Goyal and Prashanth Prakash sit down with Maheshwar Rao, former BBMP Commissioner and BMRCL (Bangalore Metro) MD, now leading the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) initiative.

From Bengaluru Metro’s expansion milestones and public transport integration to urban governance reforms, flood resilience, and climate action, Maheshwar Rao breaks down how the city is preparing for the future. He also addresses the coordination challenges between multiple civic agencies, the role of citizen participation, and how the new GBA framework aims to bring efficiency, accountability, and long-term planning to Bengaluru’s governance.

Whether you care about Bengaluru’s traffic, waste management, sustainability, or civic leadership, this episode offers rare insights straight from the policymaker shaping the city’s next chapter.

UnboxingBLR’s podcast "Code to Culture" is hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR) and features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have had a significant influence on Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here and want to shape its future.

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

Bengaluru’s unique weather history and geography have long defined its identity as the Garden City of India. But in recent decades, Bangalore's climate change has become a pressing reality,  with flooding, disappearing lakes, rapid urbanisation, and shifting rainfall patterns transforming the city’s landscape.

On this episode of Code to Culture, we bring together Prakash Belawadi, acclaimed film and theatre personality, actor, activist, and journalist; Harini Nagendra, leading ecologist and research scholar; and Chiranjiv Singh, former IAS officer and India’s ambassador to UNESCO in Paris who explore the story of Bengaluru's sustainability, tracing its evolution from a city built around lakes and ecology to a fast-growing urban hub. They unpack the impact of Bangalore urban planning decisions, the loss of green cover, and the consequences of ignoring Bangalore rainfall patterns and natural water systems.

Through personal memories and policy insights, the episode reveals how a city once celebrated for its Bangalore lakes and cool weather now faces an environmental crisis,  and what must change to build a resilient future.

UnboxingBLR’s podcast "Code to Culture" is hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR) and features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have had a significant influence on Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here and want to shape its future. 

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

From “oddball” to new normal—host Malini Goyal speaks with Sahar Mansoor (Founder, Bare Necessities) and Reva Jhingan Malik (Co-founder, Primalise) about choosing a sustainable lifestyle in a world of constant upgrades. They unpack Bengaluru’s shift toward conscious living: finding community, learning from indigenous practices, cutting plastic waste, and embracing minimalism without losing comfort or joy. Sahar shares zero-waste hacks (from menstrual cups to waterless refills) and the economics behind them; Reva explores dignity, human scale, and moving beyond anthropocentric city design toward parks, public/green spaces, and community mixing. Together they touch degrowth vs. scale, greenwashing, EV & lithium-ion dilemmas, health benefits of low-waste living, and measuring success beyond GDP (think Gross Happiness Index).

UnboxingBLR’s podcast "Code to Culture" is hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR) and features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have had a significant influence on Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here and want to shape its future. 

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

From 10-minute delivery culture to the real cost of convenience, Malini Goyal hosts Sahar Mansoor (Founder, Bare Necessities) and Reva Jhingan Malik (Co-founder, Primalise) to unpack India’s new consumption cycle—quick commerce, packaging waste, upgrades, e-waste, and the psychology of instant gratification. Sahar traces the origins of Bare Necessities—from DIY zero-waste recipes to waterless refills, plastic-free packaging, and her book on living zero-waste—plus the tough calls on scale, e-commerce, and avoiding greenwashing. Reva explores the “illusion of unlimited resources,” the ethics of EV batteries and rare earths, and why dignity, human scale, and nature’s pace must guide growth. Together they debate degrowth vs scale, circular economy, rainwater harvesting, and designing choices that make sustainable Bengaluru/Bangalore the norm—not the exception.

UnboxingBLR’s podcast "Code to Culture" is hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR) and features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have had a significant influence on Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here and want to shape its future. 

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr

From stories to action—Malini Goyal sits down with Sahar Mansoor (Founder, Bare Necessities) and Reva Jhingan Malik (Co-founder, Primalise) to unpack how everyday choices can build a sustainable Bengaluru. This conversation spans the big shifts in consumption from the 80s/’90s to today—plastic and FMCG culture, “10-minute” convenience—and how both guests re-aligned life with nature: off-grid living in a mud house, rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, solar cooking, closing loops with circular economy practices, and saying no to unnecessary appliances.

Sahar shares her move from environmental law/economics to hands-on zero-waste living—segregation, composting, DIY personal care, plastic-free events, carpooling, and an electric car—plus why dignity in waste work and mindful packaging matter. Reva reveals the “illusion of unlimited resources,” designing a home with Mangalore-tile roof rain capture, hand-pump water (no taps), minimalism, and daily physical work that reconnects us to the real.

UnboxingBLR’s podcast "Code to Culture" is hosted by Malini Goyal (Founder and CEO of UnboxingBLR) and features conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators who have had a significant influence on Bengaluru. It dives into the unique journeys and experiences of individuals who have either introduced global concepts to Bengaluru or have introduced local ideas to a global audience.

At UnboxingBLR, bridge the gap between old and new, the traditional and the cutting-edge. We’re not just showing you the city; we’re inviting you to experience it, whether you’ve always called it home or just got here and want to shape its future.

Check us out on our socials: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcodetoculture   
Twitter: https://x.com/codetoculture 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unboxingblr