Praana Cafe

In this episode of Praana Cafe, the focus is on Forests across India - the laws that were meant to protect and how they have softened and the comofrting story we tell ourselves about the growing green cover in India. And then three painful stories, from Chattisgarh (where a forest still breathes) to Andaman & Nicobar (an island too quiet to fight back) to the Aravallis (where the mountain that stopped the desert). There is a pattern beneath these stories that should make us uncomfortable.

P.S: Regarding the laws mentioned in the episode, I've tried to understand and simplify them to the best of my ability. If any discrepencies, please email me: [email protected]

This episode of the Praana Cafe podcast is simply a Biodiversity Fix we all need. Can we pause and understand some simple truths in an increasingly complex world? I have personally seen and worked with Dr Deepti Sharma and she is passionate and throughly informed about the natural world, and that inspired me to have an indepth chat with her. You can see the work of her company TerraNero: http://www.terranero.com/ and you may reach out to me @PrathyushaCFA18

P.S: The speaker mentioned Bengal Florican in the interview but asked for it to be corrected to Lesser Florican

On this World Environment Day, sharing my experience of being at the Vegan Forest Festival in 2025. The life, lifestyle and learnings over three days of being part of a wholesome community and how holistic sustainability looks like.

https://sadhanaforest.org/

https://sadhanaforest.org/veganforestfestival/

You can reach out to me @PrathyushaCFA18 across Insta or X or LinkedIn

On this episode of Praana Cafe, I'm having an impromptu freeflowing conversation with Kinjal Dawda who was first introduced to me as my sustainability soulmate having similar passion and commitment to not just working, but living in harmony with the natural world and thinking of environmental sustainability.

Kinjal and I talk about those early seeds, influences in our life that made us who we are today and how the present day children can be brought into environmental action.

If you want to share your thoughts, you can reach out to me @PrathyushaCFA18 on socials.

I interviewed three composting practitioners who simplified it for us. 

Niharika is a solopreneur of a sustainable business called @wildberryorganics and speaks about her learnings on the composting journey. 

Nalini garu has won the best home composter award for Alwal municipality and sets an example with composting as a part of her lifestyle for over three decades. She gives some excellent tips to make composting easy and you can reach out to her at [email protected]

Shailender is a naturopathic practitioner from SarvamMayee. He says composting is also a way of grounding and healing and being close to the natural ways of life.

Listen to all of this and more on this episode of Praana Cafe, and you can reach out to me @PrathyushaCFA18

How do you tread lightly on Earth, in a way that you minimize your footprint and choose a more conscious lifestyle? In this episode of the Praana Cafe, I tell you about practical ways on how each one of us can shift from our present ways to be lead a more environmentally sustainable, low waste lifestyle.

You can reach out to me on my social media:

While political fasts are common, Ladakh has been in news for Climate Fast where politics, environment and climate change are intertwined. 

In this episode, I interview Dr Tsewang Namgail, the Director of Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust on the recent events: 

Should the local people have a say in the process of development?
How will the environment and biodiversity of Ladakh be affected by the demand of Ladakh being included in the 6th schedule of our constitution?

How is climate change manifesting in Ladakh?

These are some of the questions we will be exploring through this episode of the Praana Cafe. 

I've been to a few places here and there. In this episode of Praana Cafe, I take you on a trip around the world, from UK to USA, Singapore and to the final stop in Uzbekistan. As a tourist, traveller or living in these countries, what has my experience been with environmental sustainability - the hits, misses and some things I have learnt about their way forward.

Do share what have you seen or observed on your travels on Fb / Insta / X : @PrathyushaCFA18

Ladakh has faced both territorial disputes and the stark effects of climate change. The region's sparsely populated villages have witnessed shifting weather patterns that have already altered people's lives through floods, landslides and droughts apart from the obvious melting glaciers. Tune into this episode to know why Ladakh has been in news (or not) since the last few months.

Podcast available on: Anchor/Spotify/Apple

Reach out to me on Insta/Twitter: @PrathyushaCFA18

What connects the 'Save Aarey' campaign in Mumbai & the 'Save Chevella Banyans' or even 'Save KBR' in Hyderabad. They are urban green space which are being threatened in the name of Development & are being stronly opposed by citizen actvisits & environmentalists. In this episode of Praana Cafe, you'll hear about what the issue is, how it impacts the environment & what you can do about it. 

Aarey: https://aareyconservationgroup.org/save-aarey-movement/  

Link to the Banyan tree database: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1rYZY4oeTh12IRdAebxjSUsdKtWwCcEA&ll=17.31456075599138%2C78.14358915&z=11

Chevella Banyans: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/263e1beb735c4402a92b00f1f1c256c0

If you have questions, or need help with resources, reach out to me via Insta/Fb/Twitter: @PrathyushaCFA18