This month the echo network has been talking and listening about your understanding of zerowaste lifestyle. As part of this conversation, we have with us for this month's podcast a very special guest, whose life's mission is to create awareness and action around waste management. Shobha Raghavan,

She’s been associated with Saahas Zero Waste for the last 10 years, ever since its inception, and has been constantly evolving various business models as per market demand. Shobha talks to Shannon about the importance of community participation and building champions amongst communities. Listen to the India she dreams of and the actions she intends to take to build a sustainable and circular future.

In this episode, Shannon Olsson talks to Ravi Chellam, CEO, Metastring Foundation, and the Co-ordinator of Biodiversity Collaborative. Ravi is an unwavering advocate for knowledge-based, inclusive, just, and participatory conservation of biodiversity in India especially of the Asiatic lions. He talks about the recent African Cheetah controversy, how we can better influence policymakers to bring out evidence-based regulations which will help the communities and the wildlife, and what is the biggest ecological crisis faced by India. 

Ravi very meticulously also highlights how he dreams of an India where prosperity is not measured by GDP but by good health, including mental health and well-being.

This month we celebrate the 1-year anniversary of Imagine India podcast with the echo network team. Meet Digangana Mukherjee (Head of Communications), Tina Patrao (Head of Engagement), and Akshata Pradhan (Head of Insight) in a candid chat about their inspiration, a typical workday at the network, and the India they dream about and are working hard to make a reality.  

Listen to this fun and inspiring conversation with the all-women team who leads the echo network!

Our last podcast episode of the year is very special because we have with us Dr. Nimish Shah, who in many ways has been the brand ambassador for our network. Nimish is a thought leader, partnership builder, and influencer. He believed in our network from the beginning, and has been a trustworthy friend. Over the years Nimish had donned many hats and is currently Managing Director at the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) – India.

Listen to Nimish and Shannon talk about why behaviour change is an integral part of WASH, how India can become a world leader in sustainability, the role women play in water & sanitation in the country, and much more.

Our guest this month on the Imagine India podcast is Shloka Nath. Shloka is currently the Acting CEO, India Climate Collaborative, a first-of-its-kind collaborative working to accelerate climate action in India.

Shloka talks about the 'loss & damage' effort at the COP27 Summit this year, and what it means for India. Shloka and Shannon also discuss what it means to be a women leader when one is expected to be kind but also assertive. Tune in to today's episode to listen to Shloka's dream of an equitable India, where communities are kept in the center.

Our guest for this episode is Uma Ramakrishnan. She is a Professor of Ecology and Evolution at NCBS TIFR and a dear friend of our network. Her research work revolves around the conservation, biogeography, and evolutionary origins of Indian species. Uma talks to Shannon about the importance of communicating science, her work with the big cats in India, emerging infectious diseases, the challenges faced by Indian women scientists, and much more.

Tune in to this warm conversation between two notable women scientists and empathetic human beings who want to help the community with science.

Our guest today is Dr. Prashanth NS, a scholar, a public health expert, an award-winning champion for indigenous communities, and a doting father. Prashanth leads the health equity cluster (research group) at IPH Bengaluru with broad interest in studying social determinants of health and health inequities, particularly the health of Adivasi (indigenous) populations. Prashanth talks to Shannon about how he wants to be remembered as a person, the India he dreams of, and much more. Tune in to the podcast now.

Today's guest at Imagine India podcast is Rajana Mani. Rajani is a documentary writer, director, and film editor. She is the co-founder of Elephant Corridor Films, an award-winning creative agency based in Bangalore. Rajani talks to Shannon about how she wants to be remembered; as someone who didn’t give up, who never stopped asking and learning, and never stopped sharing her knowledge and experiences. Her films often deal with narratives that find balance between human activities and the natural world. Want to know what dreams Rajani has for India? Tune in to this episode now.

Listen to our latest podcast episode! Today we have with us a law partner, a founder, a builder, a dreamer, a father, and the co-founder of Initiative for Climate Action and the Bangalore Creative Circus - Mr. Ajay Raghavan. Ajay talks about how he is most happy when he can do little things to brighten people's lives, his passion to make this planet a better place to live has driven him to leave his job at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country to work with ICA and BCC. Let's hear from him how he wants to see India, 10 years from now.

Presenting our latest episode of Imagine India podcast. This time we have with us a visionary leader, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a brand architect, and the CEO of 24 Mantra Organic - Balasubramanian N. Bala talks about what drove him to empathise with the farmers of India, what he and his organisation are doing for the well-being of the farmers and how he sees India shape up as a country 10 years from now.