Beyond Borders Podcast

Aakriti Dhawan

I Ask The Tough Question So You Don't Have To Beyond Borders Podcast is a global affairs and culture podcast hosted by Aakriti Dhawan — an Indian journalist based in Germany. Each week, we dive into thought-provoking conversations on politics, gender, media, identity, cross-cultural relations, and entertainment — through stories that challenge narratives and push beyond comfort zones. This podcast explores what it really means to go beyond borders — geographically, politically, and personally. I ask the tough questions so you don't have to. If you’re curious about the world and unafraid of tough questions, this is your space. Follow and subscribe to join a growing global community of listeners thinking outside the box. Donations: buymeacoffee.com/beyondborderspod #BeyondBordersPodcast#GlobalAffairs#PoliticalPodcast#Geopolitics#CurrentAffairs#CulturePodcast#MediaAndPolitics#WomenInMedia#IdentityPolitics#DiasporaVoices#IndianInGermany#CrossCultural#JournalismMatters#GlobalConversations#PodcastCommunity

  1. HOW FAIR IS TODAY'S MEDIA | WOMEN IN POWER | EQUALITY and MORE Ft. Debarati Guha

    VOR 11 STD.

    HOW FAIR IS TODAY'S MEDIA | WOMEN IN POWER | EQUALITY and MORE Ft. Debarati Guha

    In this episode of Beyond Borders Podcast, our host Aakriti Dhawan is joined by Debarati Guha, Director of Programs for Asia at DW (Deutsche Welle). Together, they discuss issues that deeply affect women in everyday life, often ignored, as well as the fairness of the media in 2026. From being gifted a sewing machine instead of a bicycle as a young girl to constantly having to fight to make a place for herself in professional spaces, Guha reflects on the subtle ways patriarchy continues to shape women’s lives even today. The conversation also touches on workplace inequality, women not being taken seriously in media spaces, how empowerment is often spoken about without real shifts in power truly being accepted, and the unsafe realities many women still face, from rape threats and domestic violence to female foeticide and the lack of basic dignity and safety that still exists for women in many parts of society. This is a conversation about feminism, patriarchy, and womanhood. 0:00 - 1:27 Introduction 1:28 - 5:00 Growing up in an orthodox family 5:01 - 9:49 Being a "headstrong" woman at work 9:50 - 13:11 How to raise boys to respect women 13:12 - 19:21 Surviving orthodox DW language services 19:22 - 29:07 Periods, pain, and career survival 29:08 - 35:38 The pay gap & the "child vs. career" trap 35:39 - 39:14 Is women's empowerment just fake branding? 39:15 - 41:57 How the West misinterprets South Asia 41:58 - 44:13 The privilege debate: Caste & class in media 44:14 - 48:27 Does newsroom orthodoxy still exist? 48:28 - 53:44 Indian media & the death of democracy 53:45 - 56:52 How WW2 history shapes German media 56:53 - 59:35 What global news is missing 59:36 - 1:01:31 Correcting the Western narrative 1:01:32 - 1:03:00 The DW project representing South Asia 1:03:01 - 1:04:22 Final advice to go Beyond Borders Listen on Spotify & all audio platforms Follow Beyond Borders for weekly conversations that challenge comfort zones . #Podcast #Feminism #WomenInMedia Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Our host, Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #DebaratiGuha #DeutscheWelle #BeyondBordersPodcast #WorkplaceInequality #WomenEmpowerment #Patriarchy #GenderEquality #WomenLeaders Subscribe for more Listen on Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdImNjwzf4NsLeVWDDAMy?si=lEWL0aogR-q_0Br7r9-a1w] Follow us on Instagram: @beyond_borderspod

    1 Std. 4 Min.
  2. PART 1: The Untold Story About Bose, Partition & West Bengal Ft. Surya Kumar Bose

    17. APR.

    PART 1: The Untold Story About Bose, Partition & West Bengal Ft. Surya Kumar Bose

    In this episode of the Beyond Borders Podcast, our host Aakriti Dhawan is in conversation with Surya Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Together, they dive into themes of politics, pre-independence India, the chapters of Indian history that most of us were simply never told and the present Indo-German connection that ties it all together “Can you ever truly belong to two worlds, or are you forever caught in the friction between them?" From the streets of Berlin to the heart of the Indian freedom struggle, Surya Kumar Bose navigates a dual identity that challenges everything we know about the meaning of "home. "He reflects on the claim that pre-independence, Mohammad Ali Jinnah stated that If Subhash Chandra Bose returns to India, he would drop the idea of partition and pakistan, discusses the relationship of Hitler and Netaji and reveals the truth about the declassification of Netaji secret files in 2015 and it's real political connection with Mamata Banerjee and touches on Indian history, the erasure of the Mughal period from textbooks, and what it means to carry a legendary name in a foreign land. Surya Kumar Bose speaks about the chapters of history that textbooks choose to skip, and hearing them from someone who grew up in the shadow of this legacy gives you clarity and a new lens for looking at history that you didn't know you needed. STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 This is a conversation about history, identity, and the courage to look at the past without filters. Timestamps: 00:00 - 01:15 Introduction 01:15 - 04:30 Why Surya Kumar Bose Speaks About Netaji's Legacy 04:30 - 08:00 Netaji's Vision for India: Planning, Casteism & What Could Have Been 08:00 - 11:30 Indo-German Relations & Netaji's International Alliances 11:30 - 15:00 Netaji's Core Values: Religion, Secularism & Leading by Example 15:00 - 18:30 The Temple Story, The Tika & One Kitchen for All 18:30 - 21:30 Language, Hindustani & The Roman Script Netaji Wanted 21:30 - 25:30 Partition, Jinnah & The Mistake That Divided India 25:30 - 29:00 Mamata Banerjee, The Declassification & The RTI 29:00 - 33:00 The Shanawaz Commission & Nehru's Role in Suppressing the Truth 33:00 - 36:30 Surya Kumar's Father Carrying Secret Letters & The Risk of Execution 36:30 - 39:00 Netaji, Hitler & The Nazi Gas Chambers 39:00 - 40:00 India, The Holocaust & What We Refuse to Learn from History 40:00 - 41:00 Social Media, Gaza & WhatsApp University 🎧 Listen on Spotify & all audio platforms 📲 Follow Beyond Borders for weekly conversations that challenge comfort zones. #NetajiSubhasChandraBose #SuryaKumarBose #Jinnah #Partition #BoseFiles #IndianHistory #SubhasChandraBose #BeyondBorders #Independence #Hitler #MamataBanerjee #TMC #BJP #India #Podcast #elections #westbengal #modi #pakistan Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Our host, Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #BeyondBordersPodcast #PodcastForChange #InspiringStories #IndoGerman #GlobalPerspectives #Conversation #IndiansInGermany #HistoryUncut #MeaningfulConversations 🔔 Subscribe for more 🎧 Listen on Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YR7..] 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @beyond_borderspod

    42 Min.
  3. She Came Out at 50. Here’s What No One Talks About | Raga D’Silva

    8. MÄRZ

    She Came Out at 50. Here’s What No One Talks About | Raga D’Silva

    Women's Day Special: Raga D'silva shares her journey of coming out in her late 40s, navigating stigma, resilience, and ultimately embracing her truth. From surviving trauma and discrimination to building platforms like Speaking Minds and Older Queer Voices, Raga's story is one of courage, feminism, and advocacy. LETS CELEBRATE TOGETHER This episode discusses themes including abuse, identity, violence, and personal transformation. Some listeners may find parts of this conversation emotionally sensitive. 00:00 – Introduction 01:15 – Coming out at 49: the first public declaration 04:30 – Labels: lesbian, bisexual, or simply authentic 07:20 – Early struggles, family trauma, and stigma in New Zealand 12:45 – Balancing career achievements with identity 16:30 – Founding Speaking Minds and the power of storytelling 21:00 – Feminism explained: etiquette vs. equality 26:15 – Resilience against hate and online abuse 30:40 – Creating Older Queer Voices podcast 35:00 – Reflections on living two lives and embracing truth 38:20 – Advice for anyone going beyond borders #LGBTQPodcast #womensday #feminism #strong #abuse #cominghout #marriage #women #indianwomen #freedom #lgbtq #community

    39 Min.
  4. Award- Winning Filmmaker on Trans Lives in India, Belonging, Gender Identity & the British Lens | Meera Darji

    20. FEB.

    Award- Winning Filmmaker on Trans Lives in India, Belonging, Gender Identity & the British Lens | Meera Darji

    Beyond Borders Podcast X Birmingham City University, Aakriti Dhawan sits down with an award-winning filmmaker and Senior Lecturer at BCU, Meera Darji for a powerful conversation on the lived realities of India’s trans community — the search for belonging, the gaps in public understanding of gender, and the impact of viewing Indian trans identities through a Western/UK lens. The discussion explores how conversations around gender in India are often shaped either by silence or by imported frameworks that don’t always reflect local histories and cultural contexts. From identity and visibility to policy, media narratives, and everyday belonging, this episode examines what gets misunderstood — both within India and abroad. This is a nuanced, honest conversation about community, dignity, and the need to build gender awareness beyond binaries and beyond borders. Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1iCK3rTLGlE?si=VjMg2_ArWwpmqfQD Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_borderspod/ Apply Podcast: #TransCommunity #LGBTQIndia #GenderIdentity #TransRights #Belonging #QueerVoices #India #BeyondBorders

    22 Min.
  5. “Our People Are Buried Under the Debris” | Palestinian Ambassador on Reconstruction & India’s Role

    17. FEB.

    “Our People Are Buried Under the Debris” | Palestinian Ambassador on Reconstruction & India’s Role

    In this episode of Beyond Borders Podcast X The Wire, Aakriti Dhawan speaks with the Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, on the humanitarian devastation in Gaza, the politics of “ceasefire,” and the role of international actors. The Ambassador challenges the language used around the conflict, shares personal accounts from his family in Gaza, and outlines the scale of destruction — with reconstruction estimated at $57 billion. The conversation also examines India’s position on the two-state solution, its diplomatic leverage with Israel, divisions within Palestinian politics, and whether meaningful peace is still possible. Referencing international law, UN Resolution 181, and global anti-colonial struggles, this interview brings a direct Palestinian perspective to Indian audiences in an urgent and deeply political moment Youtube: https://youtu.be/ISlqktwPyqI?si=RTafpN6SMY146cIy . #beyondborderspodcast #Gaza #GazaWar #Palestine #IsraelPalestine #HumanitarianCrisis #Ceasefire #TwoStateSolution #MiddleEast #IndiaForeignPolicy #GlobalPolitics #WarInGaza / @thewirenews

    54 Min.
  6. Anjali Gopalan on LGBTQ+ Rights, HIV Myths & Why India Is Failing Its Citizens

    15. FEB.

    Anjali Gopalan on LGBTQ+ Rights, HIV Myths & Why India Is Failing Its Citizens

    In this powerful episode of Beyond Borders Podcast, Aakriti Dhawan sits down with Anjali Gopalan — founder of the NAZ Foundation and one of India’s most prominent human rights activists, and All creatures great and small — for an unfiltered conversation on LGBTQ+ rights, HIV stigma, animal welfare, and the state of citizenship in India. From the fight to decriminalize Section 377 to the ongoing denial of marriage and inheritance rights, Anjali explains why decriminalisation was only the beginning — not the victory. She challenges the idea that LGBTQ+ rights are a “Western ideology,” calls HIV a “virus of blame,” and breaks down persistent myths that still exist decades later. 00:00:00 - 00:01:27 Introduction 01:28 - 04:09 Founding the NAZ Foundation and Decriminalizing Section 3 7:35 The Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights and Societal Misconceptions 11:20 NAZ Foundation's Continued Efforts and the Denial of Citizen Rights 13:00 Misconceptions and Prevention of HIV 15:00 HIV Transmission, Prevention, and the Virus of Blame 17:00 HIV Treatment, Myths, and the Role of Counselling 18:30 Support for Children with HIV and Commitment to Prevention 20:00 Hope and Government Support for HIV Treatment 22:00 Transition to Animal Welfare: All Creatures Great and Small 24:00 Challenges Facing Animal Shelters and the Sanctuary Approach 28:00 Recommended Shelters and the Subjectivity of "Good" and "Bad" 30:00 Concerns about the Supreme Court and Animal Welfare 36:00 Class, Caste, and Societal Attitudes 38:40 Recognition as a Top 100 Influential Person 40:00 The Amalgamation of HIV with LGBTQ 46:00 Cultural Pressures and the Acceptance of Sexuality 50:00 Overcoming Paralysis and Focusing on Small Actions 52:00 Advice for anyone going beyond borders Anjali also reflects on being named one of the world’s most influential people, why she believes no act of giving is truly selfless, and why helping even one person — or one animal — is enough. This is a conversation about rights, responsibility, and refusing to stay silent. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & all audio platforms 📲 Follow Beyond Borders for weekly conversations that challenge comfort zones. #AnjaliGopalan #LGBTQRights #Section377 #HIVAwareness #AnimalRights #HumanRights #BeyondBorders #nazfoundation #india #podcast Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #BeyondBordersPodcast#PodcastForChange#InspiringStories#WomenEmpowerment#IndoGerman#GlobalPerspectives#conversation Youtube: https://youtu.be/bqiTVev_Elw?si=7NVqlr4Oqq8ojFbQ #Indiansingermany#AnimalWelfareIndia#MeaningfulConversations 🔔 Subscribe for more 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YR7... 📲 Follow us on Instagram: / beyond_borderspod

    53 Min.
  7. Indian Olympian Reetika Hooda Speaks Out on Doping Allegations, Wresting & Paris Olympics

    17. JAN.

    Indian Olympian Reetika Hooda Speaks Out on Doping Allegations, Wresting & Paris Olympics

    In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Reetika Hooda, an Indian Olympian who turned struggle into strength and dreams into global recognition. She speaks about competing at the World Championships and making history as the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify in the heavyweight category for the Paris Olympics 2024. She also opens up about the ongoing doping allegations, the pressure of being prematurely labelled a failure, and the intense scrutiny created by sections of the Indian media and fellow sportspersons. Watch now. 00:00 intro 1:20 journey to becoming a wrestler 15:00 Advice for anyone wanting to go beyond borders ✨ Routing for her journey to Los Angeles 2028. 📌 Watch till the end to feel the motivation, understand the reality of Indian athletics, and get inspired by a true sporting warrior. 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe If you believe in Indian sports and Olympic dreams, this story is for you. Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #BeyondBordersPodcast#PodcastForChange#InspiringStories#WomenEmpowerment#IndoGerman#GlobalPerspectives#conversation#ReetikaHooda #OlympianJourney #RoadToLA2028 #IndianAthletics #OlympicDream #StruggleToGlory #PremanandMaharajJi #SportsMotivation #AthleteLife #IndiaAtOlympics #Indiansingermany#AnimalWelfareIndia#MeaningfulConversations 🔔 Subscribe for more 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YR7... 📲 Follow us on Instagram: / beyond_borderspod

    17 Min.
  8. दर्द, डर और हिम्मत | Acid Attack Survivor Roopa Speaks Out | X TheMooknayak

    21.12.2025

    दर्द, डर और हिम्मत | Acid Attack Survivor Roopa Speaks Out | X TheMooknayak

    This episode is not about pity. It’s about listening. In this conversation, Roopa shares her journey as an acid attack survivor — the pain, the fear, and the courage it takes to live every day in a society that often looks away. Roopa is an Indian acid attack survivor from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, who was attacked at the age of 15. The incident left her with severe facial injuries and long-term emotional trauma. Despite immense challenges, she chose to rebuild her life with courage and determination. Today, she works at Sheroes Hangout Café, a café run by acid attack survivors. Through her work, she promotes awareness, independence, and hope for other survivors. Disclaimer: This content is created for entertainment and conversational purposes only. We do not intend to hurt, offend, or target any individual or group. All views expressed are respectful and considerate. Aakriti Dhawan is a journalist and storyteller bridging India and Germany. Her podcast brings raw, thoughtful conversations on politics, gender, culture, animals, and the world we live in. #BeyondBordersPodcast#PodcastForChange#InspiringStories#WomenEmpowerment#IndoGerman#GlobalPerspectives#conversation #Indiansingermany#AnimalWelfareIndia#MeaningfulConversations 🔔 Subscribe for more 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YR7... 📲 Follow us on Instagram: / beyond_borderspod

    27 Min.
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Info

I Ask The Tough Question So You Don't Have To Beyond Borders Podcast is a global affairs and culture podcast hosted by Aakriti Dhawan — an Indian journalist based in Germany. Each week, we dive into thought-provoking conversations on politics, gender, media, identity, cross-cultural relations, and entertainment — through stories that challenge narratives and push beyond comfort zones. This podcast explores what it really means to go beyond borders — geographically, politically, and personally. I ask the tough questions so you don't have to. If you’re curious about the world and unafraid of tough questions, this is your space. Follow and subscribe to join a growing global community of listeners thinking outside the box. Donations: buymeacoffee.com/beyondborderspod #BeyondBordersPodcast#GlobalAffairs#PoliticalPodcast#Geopolitics#CurrentAffairs#CulturePodcast#MediaAndPolitics#WomenInMedia#IdentityPolitics#DiasporaVoices#IndianInGermany#CrossCultural#JournalismMatters#GlobalConversations#PodcastCommunity

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  • Erstellt von
    Aakriti Dhawan
  • Jahre aktiv
    2025 - 2026
  • Folgen
    34
  • Bewertung
    Unbedenklich
  • Copyright
    © Aakriti Dhawan
  • Sendungswebsite
    Beyond Borders Podcast