ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Asian News International (ANI)
  • 4.7 (92)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash gets eminent people from different walks of life to talk about issues that impact you and society at large. Join Smita Prakash as she brings important voices from the field of politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. Dive in for a great listening experience brought to you by India’s largest news agency.

  1. EP-415 | Ramayana & Mahabharata in Urdu, and Art of Storytelling | Fouzia Dastango

    1D AGO

    EP-415 | Ramayana & Mahabharata in Urdu, and Art of Storytelling | Fouzia Dastango

    In this edition of ANI Podcast, Smita Prakash speaks to India’s first female Dastango, Fouzia Dastango, about Urdu, theatre, storytelling, women in traditional art spaces, and her journey of keeping the 16th-century art of Dastangoi alive in modern India. She explains why people should not have any problem with her reciting the Ramayana and Mahabharata in Urdu, and how the art of storytelling must evolve with the current generation. 00:00 - Introduction 01:04 - What is Dastangoi? 03:08 - Kathavachak vs Dastango 04:37 - Real Identity of Urdu 05:32 - Ramayana & Mahabharata in Urdu 09:14 - Fouzia Dastango’s Story 15:05 - Feminist Elements in Stories 22:53 - Choosing Stories Based on Audience 28:47 - Classical vs Folk Art 33:14 - Inspiration Behind Performance 37:05 - Gen Z Connect with Dastangoi 42:03 - Hardest Emotion to Portray 46:46 - Cultural Home of Dastangoi 51:48 - Advice for Younger Generation

    58 min
  2. EP-414 | Why Are India’s Roads So Dangerous? | IIT Delhi Professor Geetam Tiwari Explains

    5D AGO

    EP-414 | Why Are India’s Roads So Dangerous? | IIT Delhi Professor Geetam Tiwari Explains

    Geetam Tiwari is an Emeritus Professor at the Transportation Research & Injury Prevention Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. She has over 25 years of experience in transportation planning, road safety, and urban mobility. Her work focuses on safer roads, better footpaths, bicycle infrastructure, and protecting pedestrians. In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, she talks about why Indian cities face traffic chaos, unsafe roads, and poor pedestrian facilities. She also discusses what India needs to do to build safer, smarter, and more efficient transport systems. 00:00 – Introduction 02:21 – Rising Road Deaths 08:13 – International Driving Tests 10:03 – Road Safety Rules 11:49 – School Bus Safety 13:38 – Highways & Expressways Design Flaws 17:03 – Audible Road Markers 21:12 – Why Indians Ignore Road Signs 22:05 – Facilities on Expressways & Highways 23:53 – Expressways & Highways for Two-Wheelers 25:41 – Importance of Service Roads 29:07 – Wrong-Side Driving 31:26 – Pedestrians & Cyclists 37:45 – Public Spaces Accessibility 39:13 – Reality of Vendors on Indian Roads 41:38 – Why Foot Overbridges & Underpasses Fail 46:31 – The Pothole Problem 49:58 – Corruption in Road Construction 53:11 – Municipal Corporations and Dug-Up Roads 55:02 – Labourers at Road Construction Sites 58:18 – Road Reality Check Segment 1:04:49 – Building Proper Bicycle Paths

    1h 12m
  3. EP-413 | Collapse of Global Order? NATO, West & Emerging World System | Arvind Gupta & Veena Sikri

    MAY 10

    EP-413 | Collapse of Global Order? NATO, West & Emerging World System | Arvind Gupta & Veena Sikri

    Dr Arvind Gupta is Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation and a former Deputy National Security Advisor of India. Ambassador Veena Sikri is a former Indian diplomat who served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Malaysia, with decades of experience in foreign policy. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, the discussion focuses on how the global power structure is changing and whether institutions like NATO, the Quad, the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20 still remain relevant in today’s world. The episode also explores India’s foreign policy approach, including strategic autonomy, multi-alignment and the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, as well as Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role and its impact on South Asia. 00:00 – Introduction 02:04 – NATO Crisis 07:15 – Decline of Post-Cold War Order 13:34 – Gulf Countries’ Security Alliances 18:25 – Germany and Japan’s Defence Reset 21:48 – Future of US-China G2 27:09 – Global Sea Route Security 30:47 – India’s Balancing Act in West Asia 35:25 – Pakistan as Mediator Between the US and Iran 39:34 – Can SAARC Be Revived? 43:36 – India, Pakistan & Narrative War 52:47 – India-Bangladesh Ties 55:44 – India’s Strategic Role in BRICS 1:02:13 – ‘Vishwamitra’ Doctrine Under PM Modi 1:05:08 – India’s Geopolitical Challenges 1:09:08 – Regionalisation & Global Power Shifts

    1h 15m
  4. EP-412 | The 'Real' Samosa Caucus 8.0 Edition | Abhijit, Anand, Sushant & Tehseen

    MAY 6

    EP-412 | The 'Real' Samosa Caucus 8.0 Edition | Abhijit, Anand, Sushant & Tehseen

    The much-awaited episode of The ‘Real’ Samosa Caucus – Edition 8.0 is here, packed with raw, uncensored, and no-holds-barred conversations. Joining the panel are: Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow at ORF Tehseen Poonawalla, TV personality and political analyst Anand Ranganathan, author and scientist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies This episode discusses the recently conducted Assembly polls in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam; the Iran war; the Trump phenomenon; Pakistan’s stature after the war.

    2h 57m
  5. EP-411 | War, Tech & Strategy: Lessons Learned from Iran War & Operation Sindoor | Sushant & Tilak

    MAY 2

    EP-411 | War, Tech & Strategy: Lessons Learned from Iran War & Operation Sindoor | Sushant & Tilak

    In this live session of the ANI Podcast, the guests discuss the lessons India has drawn from the Iran war and the learnings from Operation Sindoor as it completes one year. The conversation explores military readiness, evolving threats, and the role of technology and strategy in shaping India’s defence posture. Participants Sushant Sareen, Senior Fellow, ORF Tilak Devasher, Author; Former Member, National Security Advisory Board Moderators Smita Prakash, Chief Editor & Deputy CEO, ANI Naveen Kapoor, National Bureau Chief, ANI *Timestamps* 00:00 - Introduction 00:34 - Lessons from Operation Sindoor 13:46 - Pakistan’s Close Ties with the USA 25:48 - How Pakistan Handles the Media 31:26 - What Changed in Pak After Op Sindoor? 35:56 - Dhurandar Operations in Pakistan 42:35 - India’s Strategic Autonomy 48:45 - How Pakistanis View Indians 1:00:28 - India’s Reaction to Global Conflicts 1:09:09 - India’s Defence Strategy 1:20:10 - India’s Border Security

    1h 27m
  6. EP-410 | Inside India’s Food Culture: Street Food, Cloud Kitchens & Kitchen Hygiene | Sanjeev Kapoor

    MAY 1

    EP-410 | Inside India’s Food Culture: Street Food, Cloud Kitchens & Kitchen Hygiene | Sanjeev Kapoor

    Sanjeev Kapoor is one of India’s most well-known chefs, authors and entrepreneurs. From ‘Khana Khazana’ to global restaurants, and from cookbooks to food innovation, he has influenced how India looks at cooking and flavour over the last few decades. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Chef talks about how eating habits in India are changing, with busy lifestyles and ready-to-eat meals replacing home-cooked meals. He also explores India’s food culture, from street food and restaurant experiences to hygiene standards and cloud kitchens. Kapoor shares honest views on overhyped food trends, along with what makes a dish special. 00:00 - Introduction 01:23 - Choosing a Cooking Career 13:43 - Starting the Restaurant Journey 26:10 - Western Cooking vs. Indian Cooking 34:13 - Curating Restaurant Menus 38:38 - Indian Food Plating 42:33 - Curating Airline Menus 56:11 - Cooking in Modern Times 1:01:22 – Restaurant Culture 1:04:26 - Snap Reactions 1:08:16 - Hygiene In Cloud Kitchens 1:22:37 - Indian Food Culture 1:44:02 - Underrated Indian Spices

    1h 54m
  7. EP-409 | Inside Bastar: The Journalist Who Made 200 Naxals Surrender | Vikas Tiwari

    APR 27

    EP-409 | Inside Bastar: The Journalist Who Made 200 Naxals Surrender | Vikas Tiwari

    Vikas Tiwari, also known as Ranu Tiwari, runs the YouTube channel Bastar Talkies. He has helped over 200 Naxals surrender and return to mainstream society. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about how Naxalism began in Chhattisgarh, the challenges of reporting from Bastar, and the goal set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make India Naxal-free. He was awarded the Rameshwaram Hindi Journalism National Award in December 2025. This is a simple, first-hand account from a journalist reporting directly from the remote areas of Chhattisgarh. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 03:18 – From Truck Driver to YouTuber 11:58 – Dangers in Naxal-Affected Areas 15:34 – Naxalism and Its Causes 22:07 – How Naxals Return to the Mainstream 28:33 – Challenges of Reporting in Naxal Areas 36:41 – Naxals in Bastar: What Has Changed 41:10 – Thulthuli Encounter Explained 44:41 – The Story of Mukesh Chandrakar 50:58 – Why Maoists Resisted Development 56:03 – The Reality of Salwa Judum 58:28 – Life After Maoists’ Surrender 1:00:53 – Youth and Maoist Ideology 1:02:35 – Reporting from Naxal Areas 1:07:22 – Stories from Families of Martyrs 1:14:08 – When Maoists Started Losing Power 1:16:36 – Attack on Congress Leader V.C. Shukla 1:18:35 – Understanding “Urban Naxals” 1:24:10 – Suggestions to Counter “Urban Naxals” 1:27:15 – Reality of Bastar Villages

    1h 31m
  8. EP-408 | Indian Economy, Energy Crisis, Stock Market, AI & Power Politics | Nilesh Shah

    APR 24

    EP-408 | Indian Economy, Energy Crisis, Stock Market, AI & Power Politics | Nilesh Shah

    India’s financial markets are going through a complex global situation, shaped by changing geopolitics and shifts in domestic growth. To help us understand what lies ahead, the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash is joined by one of the most respected voices in the investment world, Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company. He is also a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. With decades of experience across market cycles, he shares valuable insights on the economy, markets, and where investors should consider placing their bets. He also explains what lessons India can learn from the West Asia crisis. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:39 – Role in PM’s Economic Advisory Council 03:49 – India’s GDP Ranking 07:30 – India’s Economic Vulnerability 12:30 – Progress of Banking in India 16:16 – Impact of West Asia Conflict on India 20:41 – How India Can Improve Its GDP 25:22 – US Markets During Iran War 27:44 – India–China Trade Explained 31:07 – Monsoon Impact on Indian Economy 32:30 – Why is Rupee Falling? 37:55 – Role of AI in Indian Economy 41:06 – Investor Trust in Indian Equities 42:37 – IPO Rush in 2025 Explained 44:09 – Buy or Sell in the Stock Market 46:45 – How to Manage Money Better

    48 min
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About

ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash gets eminent people from different walks of life to talk about issues that impact you and society at large. Join Smita Prakash as she brings important voices from the field of politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. Dive in for a great listening experience brought to you by India’s largest news agency.

Information

  • Creator
    Asian News International (ANI)
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    415
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Asian News International (ANI)
  • Show Website
    ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

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