Don't Run Into Glass

Two hosts, no guest, and the one topic we usually dodge: feelings.

In the Don’t Run Into Glass Season 3 finale, Gayeti and Anica look back at a season that took us from the crowds of the Mahakumbh to the quiet corners of Delhi’s mid-century homes, from reimagining Bharatanatyam to getting behind the booths at the India Art Fair, from queer politics to Delhi’s safety hacks, and even deep into the heart of the advertising industry.

Alongside the episodes, life was happening too — Anica stepped into motherhood, Gayeti waded back into political debates — and it all spills into this conversation. Expect honesty, detours, and rapid-fire questions that go from the big picture to the very personal.

🎧 Catch up before Season 4 lands.

“Art Matters” — with Umah Jacob & Saurabh Wasson of India Art FairIndia’s art world is no longer an insider’s club. The market is booming, the audience is evolving, and the gatekeepers are—sometimes—stepping aside. In this episode, we speak with Umah Jacob, Director of External Relations & Outreach, and Saurabh Wasson, Director of Exhibitor Relations at the India Art Fair, about what it really means for an art scene to emerge, who gets to participate, and why words like “curated” and “immersive” have lost all meaning.We explore how the Young Collectors Programme is quietly reshaping the economics of the art world, whether India’s art schools are still producing risk-takers, and who the real actors are in this increasingly visible but still uneven ecosystem.And then we ask the bigger questions: Why should art be part of a common person’s life? What does it reveal about contemporary society? And is art, in the end, our most enduring timekeeper?Hosted by Anica Mann—making a return to her collector roots—and Gayeti Singh, who once mistook a sculpture for a step.

Guest: Sahil, founder of Method Art GalleryWhat if a gallery measured success not in sales, but in impact? In this episode, Sahil from Method joins us to explore how art can be a force for purpose, resistance, and community-building. We dive into fresh economic models for supporting emerging talent, the evolving role of patronage and mentorship, and the challenges—and triumphs—of creating space for new voices. From solidarity initiatives to conversations around CAA and Gaza, discover how Method redefines what it means to be an art gallery today.🎧 Hosted by @gayeti & @anicamann#TheAntiGalleryArtGallery #DontRunIntoGlass #MethodGallery #ArtWithPurpose #EmergingArtists #ArtAndResistance

Guru, God & Gold | Don’t Run Into Glass
with Prof. Michal Riva Erlich

Why do millions still turn to gurus—for healing, hope, jobs, fertility, or freedom? And why does that devotion persist, even when scandals erupt or the spiritual turns suspicious?

In this episode, we speak to anthropologist and author Prof. Michal Riva Erlich, whose fieldwork across Delhi’s hyperlocal guru-bhakti communities offers a rare, grounded look at spiritual life beyond the headlines. From housewives-turned-gurus to the spiritual economies of kalyāṇ (a concept deeper than 'well-being'), we unpack how power, gender, and belief intersect in the making of a guru.

Through her lens, we explore:– What people actually seek from gurus (spoiler: it’s not always moksha)– The difference between dependence and transformation in spiritual life– How caste, class, and gender shape faith on the margins– Why belief often endures even after betrayal

And yes, we talk cults, charisma, and the contradictions—Radhe Ma on a throne, godmen with private jets, and the thin line between spiritual influence and manipulation.

This is an episode about faith—not just blind faith, but calculated, complex, lived faith. About how ordinary people navigate broken systems through extraordinary beliefs. And about the gurus who offer them not just god, but gold.

🎙 Hosted by Gayeti Singh & Anica Mann
🎧 A Don’t Run Into Glass production

#GuruGodGold #DontRunIntoGlass #MichalErlich #IndianGurus #Kalyan #FaithAndPower #BhaktiPolitics #Anthropology #Religion #India

What if fashion could hold memory? Not just echo it—but embody it, wear it, live it?In this episode, we speak to Vrinda Sachdev, co-founder of Qbik, and Tarini Manchanda, a creative voice who brings fashion into conversation with culture, sustainability, and visual identity. Together, we explore the idea of fashion as a palimpsest—a layered surface where past and present are stitched together in cloth.We reflect on India’s rich textile heritage, where garments were once sacred storytellers—bearing regional identity, artisanal mastery, and deep cultural rituals. As modern fashion accelerates, we ask what has been lost in the process: have we traded textile consciousness for trend, and can we reclaim it without romanticising the past?This conversation moves through the philosophy of slow fashion, where sustainability is not a buzzword but a return—to patience, process, and the intelligence of the hand. We talk about the agency of the kaarigar, and how true authorship in design must acknowledge those who shape it. We explore the new language of quiet luxury, where restraint speaks louder than excess, and detail becomes the new decadence.What emerges is a portrait of fashion that is rooted, intentional, and alive with meaning. Fashion not just worn, but kept. Not consumed, but understood.

The Mahakumbh—the world’s largest human gathering—has once again captured headlines, drawing millions to the Sangam, the fabled meeting point of three rivers. As the faithful take their holy dips, seeking absolution for lifetimes of misdeeds, the city of Prayagraj heaves under the weight of belief, devotion, and logistical chaos.But is a quick snaan really the ultimate cosmic reset button? And beyond the pursuit of purified souls, what else does Kumbh reveal? A living mandala, a mythic battleground, a grand collision of the ancient and the absurd—this festival is more than just a riverbank full of redemption seekers.In this episode of 'Don't Run Into Glass' - to unravel the layers of Kumbh's madness and meaning, we turn to Nick Brooker, founder of Indogenius, a Brit who’s been living in India for decades, has attended three Kumbhs, and taken six holy dips—all in the name of curiosity (or was it karma?).And where’s Gayeti in this great pilgrimage? Struck down—not by celestial reckoning, but by the flu. So it’s just Anica this time, deep-diving with Nick while Gayeti contemplates whether a bucket bath might have been just as effective.Join us as we wade through faith, spectacle, and the great Indian tradition of washing it all away—one snaan at a time.

What happens when adventure runs in the family? In this episode ofDon't Run Into Glass, we sit down with legendary explorerMandip Singh Soin and his son, climate storyteller and adventurerHimraj Singh Soin. From navigating the wild terrains of theHimalayas to unraveling the mysteries of theArctic, this father-son duo shares epic tales of exploration, survival, and what it means to be a modern-day adventurer.

Expectcrazy expedition stories,climate reflections, and a deep dive intohow adventure shapes legacy. Buckle up—it’s a wild ride! 🎒🌍

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In this episode of Don't Run Into Glass, Gayeti and Anica chat with Aishwarya Tipnis, the heritage superhero who's redefining what it means to live among ruins.

Architect, conservationist, and all-around savior of history, Aishwarya has turned crumbling cities, ancestral homes, and forgotten schools into stories worth living in (no cape needed, maybe just a dupatta!).

Why do we let history fade? Why do we demolish memories? Aishwarya's got the answers, the tools, and a vision to restore India’s architectural soul. Join us for a witty, eye-opening conversation about preserving heritage, celebrating history, and finding romance in every corner of our past. Because some heroes build the future by saving the past. 💫

Anica isn’t a co-host for this episode.

What happens when you meet an old school mad man for a podcast? Not someone who is actually mad, but surely is an eccentric Ad Man.

In this episode Anica and Gayeti talk to an Advertising legend Samit Sinha who takes us down memory lane of some of greatest ads we grew up watching on television. From the Amul Girl to the Kamasutra Ad, the journey of Indian advertising is just too tied to India the country and its people.

Yes Anica refuses to end the podcast and Gayeti does manage to reel her in. But this episode is too interesting to miss especially with the great insight given by one of the greats in the Industry.