In this episode, Sujit Surendran shares his incredible journey of growing up as a Malayali in Gujarat, where he experienced the challenges of being from the South, including stereotypes and regional biases. He also talks about witnessing the 2002 Gujarat riots and how these early experiences shaped his perspective on life.

Sujit’s career path is just as fascinating — from working as a mining engineer in Bhutan to living in Bangalore. Now an energy consultant, he opens up about adapting to different cultures, handling tough situations, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

We talk about everything from his career shifts to his thoughts on work-life balance and staying mentally strong. It’s an inspiring and down-to-earth conversation about navigating life’s challenges and making the most of every opportunity.

Tune in for a story that’s honest, relatable, and full of valuable insights.

An actor’s craft — it’s so much more than what meets the eye. From delving deep into emotions to perfecting the process, navigating anxiety, enduring the grind, and embracing both the applause and the metaphorical death of an actor — we unpack it all in this candid conversation. 

In this episode, we sit down with the versatile and talented actor Udit Arora, who has brought to life unforgettable characters like Saurav in Jamtara, Binny Bhaiya in Crash Course, and Dhiman in Saas, Bahu, aur Flamingo. Each role exists in its own distinct universe, and yet, Udit makes every performance feel authentic, raw, and natural.

How does he seamlessly switch between such contrasting characters? What goes into staying true to each role, while building depth and complexity?

We explore these questions and dive into the larger world of acting and theatre — the emotions behind the craft, the discipline it demands, and the personal and creative journey it takes an actor on.

Whether you’re a fan of Udit’s work or curious about what it takes to create magic on-screen, this episode is packed with insights, reflections, and a whole lot of inspiration.

Tune into this conversation that takes you behind the scenes of acting and storytelling! 

In this episode of The Story Bar podcast, Garima delves into the exciting world of marketing with Pavithra, a seasoned branding expert. Pavithra talks about her journey from interior design to becoming a force in the industry, highlighting the pivotal moments that fueled her passion for creating compelling brand identities. She offers insights into the importance of understanding a brand's core essence and how her early experiences shaped her approach to brand storytelling.

Pavithra discusses what it means to build a brand in today's complex market. She emphasizes the significance of brand reputation and how it parallels personal identity. Through relatable metaphors, she explains how brand loyalty is cultivated by consistently resonating with the audience's needs and values, turning a brand from a mere product into a trusted companion in the consumer's life.

Garima and Pavithra also explore the challenges of reaching diverse audiences in India, particularly bridging the gap between urban and rural markets. Pavithra shares her strategies for effective communication, stressing the need to first understand the audience's unique context before choosing the right channels.

Listen to the full episode for more amazing ideas and insights on the art of brand storytelling and the power of connecting authentically with diverse consumer bases. This conversation is a real treat! 

You can connect with Pavithra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavithra-pasupathi-205319132/

Follow The Story Bar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestorybar/?viewAsMember=true 

Today, we have a very inspiring story for you that might help you reflect on some questions that trouble us, keep us awake at night, and shake our soul 

Who gets to decide - who is “ordinary” and who is “special”? 

Do we really understand the harsh realities of the remote villages in India?

Why is money so important for receiving a quality education?

Why do people bring up a child in this world when they can’t take care of them? 

What does it mean to truly connect with another soul and be present for that person? 

"The subject of education is very close to my heart. There is a production mentality, lacking basic human elements. What really finds a place on the report card is devoid of emotions. If you are not happy, how can you perform or learn? What’s happening in school takes up most of your time. We need to take care of a person overall - in the class, field, corridor during breaks, the real person outside the school. It's important to get to know the students and then work with them for education to happen in the real sense - to bring the best a person can bring to the table - not just academically - a human being is so much more than that!" 

Mukesh George is a development professional with over 10 years of experience, a fearless and gifted human being sharing his power with the world.

We hope you take some thoughts home from this conversation today. AND most importantly, we are very thankful for your love and support for The Story Bar. 

Civil services - one of the most prestigious career paths in India. Lakhs of people appear every year in the UPSC examinations to build their dreams. But only a few make it to the top.

Well, this episode is not about how good or tough the Indian Civil Services is but what is beyond the exam and the service - the will to make a real impact, the dream to bring out real change. And for making a difference in society, is joining the civil services the only way?

These are some questions we explore in our conversation with Kumar Vivek, an IRS officer, presently serving as Deputy Commissioner at the Ministry of Finance. We also look at some of the most common perceptions and stereotypes attached to the job.

From his initial inspiration to challenges on the job, his roots and family, Kumar Vivek talks about it all. What's even more extraordinary is his belief that to make a difference in this wide world, you do not need to get into civil services. Everyone here is leading the way in their own little unique ways and that's magical.

This humble, kind, and determined officer has given us so many thoughts to reflect upon and we are truly grateful.

Before we begin, we thank you all for the overwhelming support to our Rooting For You Campaign. And If you really like our content, please do drop us reviews and ratings on Apple Podcasts or you can follow the podcast on Podbean, Spotify, and Google. Do check out our website for more: www.thestorybar.online 

In this episode of The Cast of Oil and Gas edition, we have Keith Stelter, West Texas Business Development Manager at ARC Energy. 

With almost two decades of operational experience in the oil and gas industry that includes vast international exposure as well, Keith is an industry leader. Not just that, but he is also a LinkedIn Influencer and Storyteller.

When we connected with Keith some time back, he was looking for a new opportunity and it was his brilliance in storytelling that really fascinated us. From talking about his oilfield journey to his fitness routine, from sharing interesting pictures to joining great shows as a guest to inform and inspire others, Keith has included the LinkedIn community in his everyday conversations and this has truly made an impact. 

You can connect with Keith here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-stelter-575b9312/ 

We are so honored that we got the opportunity to listen to Keith talking about his roots, his lovely family, his oilfield journey, his love for wireline, and his extraordinary experiences in this challenging yet exciting landscape. 

Keith touches upon some really important issues in the industry such as diversity, work culture, work-life balance, the impact of COVID 19, the role of networking, layoffs, and so much more. One episode can't really do justice to his rich experience and expertise in this sector. 

We are grateful to our followers and your support makes a huge difference. If you are listening to the episode now, please do leave us ratings and reviews on Apple Podcasts. You can follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and everywhere where podcasts are! 

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.thestorybar.online/ 

Welcome to another brand new episode of The Story Bar Podcast. 

I recently connected with Jessica Kumar,  she is the host of the Invisible India Podcast. What’s her story and what the podcast is all about is something we discuss in this conversation. 

We also talk about her own personal journey of making a major international move with its' personal, cultural, and professional implications. I request you all to check out the website

www.invisibleindiapodcast.com to learn more about it.

Before we begin, we all know what India is going through right now. The least we could do as storytellers is to inspire hope, light through people who are making a difference, specially during these times. 

We’ve started with a campaign called “Rooting For You” where We are inviting messages of love, hope, and prayers for India. If you  want to send in your prayers, do drop us your message at [email protected]. We are featuring all these messages on our social media channels. You can find the links to our social media in the show notes as well. 

You can support us by following the podcast on Apple, Spotify, or visit our website: thestorybar.online., It truly  makes a huge difference to us. 

Hope you learn and get inspired from Jessica Ma’am’s story as much as I did. 

Follow Invisible India on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invisibleindia/ 

Visit our website to learn more: https://www.thestorybar.online/ and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. 

We are very happy to launch our first episode of The Cast of Oil and Gas edition. 

Assaad Mohanna is the Director of Business Strategy at National Oilwell Varco. He is also the host of the NOV Insight Out Show. 

Born in Beirut in an environment of extreme civil & political unrest, Assaad has waged his way forward, and built a life that inspires others. 

In this conversation, he opens up about his roots, his family, and his extraordinary journey in the oil and gas industry. This episode will help you reflect that we are so much more than our jobs, our professional recognitions. It’s only when we trace the roots, we understand the people and events that help us become who we are.

Without a doubt, the COVID crisis is a global shared challenge but every geography has its own peculiarities. Every country had a problem that got worse with the pandemic. In India, it is the migrant crisis.

Migrant workers comprise a significant section of India’s workforce today. But how much do we really know about them? 

Just yesterday, we got to know that hundreds of migrant workers are fleeing Indian cities and heading home. New restrictions in some states to contain the second wave of pandemic has stoked fears that they will be left jobless again. 

How has the lockdown in 2020 been for these workers? Are we looking at a painful and heartbreaking repetition of the migrant crisis last year in India? 

We have with us today Siddhartha Prakash. He is a Development Economist and the Founder of Daily Wage Worker Platform, an NGO supporting India’s 450 million migrant workers with access to food security, healthcare, and livelihoods.

Siddhartha has over 20 years of experience in health systems, pharmaceutical policy, intellectual property, pricing, reimbursement, innovative business models, and access to medicines. He has worked with international organizations such as the WTO, WHO, and the World Bank. 

Further, Siddhartha has extensively worked in Asia and Africa on public-private partnerships and facilitated dialogue on policy options for universal health coverage. 

We will try to understand the myriad layers surrounding the migrant crisis in this conversation today. 

Do visit dailywageworker.com to learn more about the platform and the difference it is making in the lives of migrant workers.

Your support is valuable, don’t forget to leave ratings and comments for The Story Bar Podcast on Apple, Spotify, and Google. 

Welcome to another brand new episode of The Story Bar Podcast. 

"Nobody tells the same story the same way for the second time." 

In an extremely raw, candid, detailed conversation, Garima tries to understand the journey of the legendary writer Lawrence Grobel. This is not an interview, so much more than that, an extraordinary learning experience. 

Why would anyone trust you? To share the most intricate details of their lives on record. Just think about the spotlight on celebrities and yet can you imagine the vulnerability? That’s where Mr. Grobel truly makes a mark, bringing out the good, the bad, and the ugly, in his interviews. 

“Larry Grobel is the Mozart of Interviewers”, said Joyce Carol Oates and in this conversation, we will get to know why. 

We have so much to learn from him. One episode can never be enough. 

While you enjoy listening to him, we also request you to visit his website to understand his brilliant work, its: lawrencegrobel.com 

You can also order books written by him on Amazon, the latest one being SCHEMERS, DREAMERS, CHEATERS, BELIEVERS.