"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier." - Rudyard Kipling.

In episode 8, FACT OF THE MATTER focuses on Afghanistan, a land locked country often referred to as a "roundabout" in the geopolitical maelstrom of Central Asia through the ages. Catch the trailer as it drops now!! Get a sneak preview of the rich fare we have in store for you in the main episode which will drop shortly!!

A sneak preview to episode 7 as Joy and Rathin take a hard look at food - be it gourmet or grotesque!!

In this episode, we celebrate all things Food!! In Main Course (for once totally apt!!), we talk about the sinful and fully illegal way of eating a sweet song bird, discover how the humble omelette became a legend in a small restaurant in France and closer home find out how the Rajasthani specialty Dal Bati Choorma was actually battle food!!. Joy tracks down some intriguing recipes involving birds' nests and shares how a Japanese delicacy can literally be your Last Supper!!! In Believe It Or Not, Joy and Rathin gag on Chocolate Biryani from Pakistan and discuss a French bread which was banned in Syria. Plus the regular sections like Cute Words and Phrases, Bare Naked Lies and audience questions!! If you love food and regularly eat a second lunch without guilt pangs, jump onto this food truck and burp your way into a happy coma!!

In this episode, we celebrate India's iconic lady dacoit, Phoolan Devi's birthday by discussing her life and times along with that of Pearl Hart, a Wild West outlaw who got lost in the desert after successfully robbing a stagecoach!! All this in the Main Course!  In Believe it or Not, Joy and Rathin talk about a sumo wrestler cut-out which spooked participating horses in the show jumping event at Tokyo 2020!! In Cute Words and Phrases, the focus is on sports as Rathin shares the meaning of the Aussie phrase - Doing a Bradbury and Joy breaks down the origin of golfing terms like birdie and eagle. Plus the regular sections like Bare Naked Lies and audience questions!! If you love bandits, dacoits, outlaws and other swashbuckling buccaneers - tighten your sashes, man the sails and get onboard the ride of your life! The thrill alone will be worth it!! Even if you manage to fall off!! We frequently do!!

In this first SPECIAL, its all about the Olympic Games and the vast fount of indelible stories and anecdotes! Listen to the marathoner Dorando Pietri's herculean effort through words crafted by the legendary Arthur Conan Doyle, check out how a Olympic shooter managed to dodge an attempted murder rap and get to know Michael Jordan's greatest basketball game ever!! Joy and Rathin also share some of the great moments in Indian Olympic history as well as some of their most memorable and iconic Olympic memories!! Plus the regular sections like Bare Naked Lies and audience questions!! If you are a fan of sports and Olympics, deep dive into the world of triumph and disaster, of overcoming odds and crashing out on the brink of immortality. Immerse yourself in the true Olympic spirit through these awesome anecdotes!!

In this episode, Rathin and Joy talk about spies in the White House, crazy World War espionage stories and Ian Fleming's literary inspirations, why Spanish flu might not be an appropriate name, Sunny Leone's association with a Kolkata University, how comedian Amit Tandon shared some funny recruitment stories and a place Harsha Bhogle remembers in Hyderabad which gets its name from the word Quarantine. All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Weird News, Cute Word Origins and Bare Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other!! And a special quiz question for listeners at the very end!!

In Episode 3, we find out why some cosmonauts carry vials of pee, meet a guy who visited hell and came back safely, find out how a hood from San Francisco contributed to the English language and why some national flags are sometimes flown upside down!! All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Weird News, Cute Word Origins and Bare Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other!! And a special quiz question for listeners at the very end!!

In episode 2, Joy and Rathin unearth a small market in Peshawar that was home to three Bollywood film stars, explore Jinnah's family tree, find out the interesting history of Mahindra & Mahindra - the Indian corporate giant, chase alcoholic rat armies and figure out how Clark Gable is connected to a 15th century Indian sultan. All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Believe it or Not, Cute Words and Phrases and Bare Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other!! And a special quiz question for listeners at the very end!!

We love to hear from you!! So write to us at [email protected]. Rate us and berate us!! Follow us on Twitter - @joybhattacharj and @rathindrabasu. Find us on all leading podcast platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

Visit our website - https://anchor.fm/factofthematter

In Episode 1, Rathin and Joy talk about a rare Euro football match result which was decided by a coin toss, chase cake eating leopards around the countryside, find out about mad British soldiers in India and meet some ghosts in a medical college! All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Believe it or Not, Cute Words and Phrases and Bared Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other for kicks!!

We love to hear from you!! So write to us at [email protected]. Rate us and berate us!! Follow us on Twitter - @joybhattacharj and @rathindrabasu. Find us on all leading podcast platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

Visit our website - https://anchor.fm/factofthematter