Innocence Theory Podcast

Innocence Theory Podcast

Enter the world of simple genuine heartfelt conversations, connecting with people through their stories. Innocence Theory is where we explore the role of design thinking in nudging climate action. Your favourite podcast sprinkled with insights and occasional facetious humour. Brought to you by two childhood buddies, rediscovering everyday life as it happens. 

  1. #36 Trusting Treated Water - A city's struggle for clean water (An Inflection Point episode by Innocence Theory)

    JAN 10

    #36 Trusting Treated Water - A city's struggle for clean water (An Inflection Point episode by Innocence Theory)

    In this episode of Innocence Theory, we speak with Vishwanath to rethink how water actually works in a city like Bengaluru. ​Instead of asking whether cities are running out of water, the conversation asks a more uncomfortable question: if water exists, why do so many people still struggle to access it - and why do they struggle to trust it even when it is treated and proven safe? ​This episode reframes water as a socio-hydrological resource, shaped as much by human behaviour, institutions, and the 'yuck'  factor as by rainfall or rivers.  The central idea is simple: people don’t have water problems - water has people problems. What This Episode Explores Why water scarcity is often about access and equity, not absolute shortage.How water reaches cities and the energy cost behind every tap.Treated wastewater as a resource, not a liability.Psychological barriers to water reuse (and what it takes to build confidence in treated water).​Lakes as critical infrastructure, not aesthetics.Key Takeaways Water security is more about governance than geology.​Cities rarely fail because 'there is no water'; they fail because human systems break - distribution, maintenance, pricing, and accountability.​Reuse is essential, but acceptance is the real challenge: the 'yuck factor' and low trust in how consistently treatment systems are operated.Citizens share responsibility with communities and the state​Why Listen Now As Indian cities face flooding, groundwater depletion, tanker dependence, and infrastructure strain, this episode offers clarity without panic. ​ It replaces fear with practical thinking and shows that solutions already exist, but they only work when people, policy, and systems align Useful Resources Manohar, R. P. (2025, December 18). From waste to wealth, wealth to worth: Shaping Bengaluru’s next water frontier [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drramprasath-ias_bwssb-brandbengaluru-watersecurity-activity-7406200421377032192-S18d Biome Environmental Services - https://biometrust.org/ Connect with Us Share your thoughts: listen@innocencetheory.comIf this episode resonates, please share it or leave a review - it truly helps us grow.Guests : Vishwanath S Host: Dinesh Kumar C Editor: Abhinav Suresh Cover Art: Akshay Joshi Do you like the Innocence Theory Podcast? Tell your friends, support ITP on Patreon, and have your boss sponsor an episode.

    45 min
  2. #35 How Furious Should I Still Be for a Cancelled Flight (Repost)

    12/31/2025

    #35 How Furious Should I Still Be for a Cancelled Flight (Repost)

    In this early Innocence Theory episode, Dinesh shares a travel nightmare sparked by a cancelled flight. A late-night message. A reassuring link. A promise to reschedule. Except the link leads nowhere. Just like the flight. The episode moves from frustration to something more useful - Curiosity, gratitude, and perspective. Not as advice, but as a practical response to systems that fail under pressure. Today, the story feels familiar. In late 2025, IndiGo cancelled thousands of flights across India, stranding tens of thousands of travellers. The crisis exposed operational limits, poor communication, and how quickly institutional stress gets transferred to individuals. What This Episode Explores The emotional anatomy of a cancelled flightHow institutions unintentionally create powerlessnessWhy curiosity is hard when you feel wrongedOutrage versus strategic thinkingTravel as privilege, not entitlementHow “operational difficulties” become personalKey Takeaways When communication fails, emotion fills the gapCuriosity takes effort, especially when you feel invisibleMost failures are systemic, not personalPerspective lowers psychological costClarity often works better than outrageConnect with Us Share your thoughts: listen@innocencetheory.comIf this episode resonates, please share it or leave a review—it truly helps us grow.Hosts: Dinesh Kumar C, Arjun Shrivatsan Editor: Abhinav Suresh Cover Art: Akshay Joshi Do you like the Innocence Theory Podcast? Tell your friends, support ITP on Patreon, and have your boss sponsor an episode.

    22 min
  3. #34 A.I. Music, We Got This Wrong (An Inflection Point episode by Innocence Theory)

    11/07/2025

    #34 A.I. Music, We Got This Wrong (An Inflection Point episode by Innocence Theory)

    In this episode, Arjun and Dinesh unpack what happens when the act of making music is no longer entirely human. From the neuroscience of creation — dopamine, oxytocin, and the state of flow — to the platforms banning artists caught between art and automation, this is a conversation about meaning, mastery, and identity. Because maybe the real disruption isn’t that machines can make music. Maybe it’s that they’ve exposed how fragile our business of music and arts were really. Maybe we’ve had it wrong all along. What you’ll discover this week AI-Generated Music’s Emotional Impact Discover how AI-generated music can evoke real emotional reactions comparable to human-created music, challenging traditional ideas about music creation and perception.The Evolution of Music Creation Understand the dramatic advancements in AI music generation by 2025, enabling near human-quality production that mimics creative flow states and artistic nuances.Changing Role of the Creator Explore how AI challenges the traditional role of the creator in music, questioning whether the creator’s identity or effort is critical to the listener’s emotional experience.Disruption of Music Business Models Learn about the impact of AI on music copyrights, distribution, and monetization, highlighting flaws in current systems and opportunities for new business models.Future of Music Engagement Gain insights on how listener engagement with music is shifting from focusing on authorship to emotional connection, and how creators can embrace AI tools for enhanced creativity.Key Takeaways AI-generated music can produce genuine emotional resonance, sometimes even provoking stronger reactions than human music.Technological progress means AI can create high-quality music rapidly, offering new creative possibilities while raising ethical and artistic questions.The question of "who created the music" becomes less important as the listener's emotional response takes precedence.Current music industry structures face challenges due to AI, necessitating new thinking in copyrights and monetization.Both creators and listeners must adapt their approaches toward a new landscape where AI and human creativity coexist.Tune in to observe, not just listen. We’re not experts above it all. We’re observers wrestling with the same questions you hold. What’s changing in your world? Where do you feel the inflection point? Connect with Us Share your thoughts: listen@innocencetheory.comIf this episode resonates, please share it or leave a review—it truly helps us grow.Stay tuned: Next up, we explore how the music industry is reinventing itself from the inside out.Hosts: Dinesh Kumar C, Arjun Shrivatsan Editor: Abhinav Suresh Cover Art: Akshay Joshi Do you like the Innocence Theory Podcast? Tell your friends, support ITP on Patreon, and have your boss sponsor an episode.

    53 min
  4. #33 Inflection Point - Its not personal, its just business

    SEASON 5, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    #33 Inflection Point - Its not personal, its just business

    Welcome to a brand new season of the Innocence Theory Podcast! Our Inflection Point Series dives deep into moments where everything changes—across creativity, design, technology, world events, and sustainability. In this kickoff episode, we blend personal storytelling and industry insight to uncover the hidden forces shaping our world and our decisions. What you’ll discover this week: A True Story: What does “It’s not personal, it’s just business” really mean in day-to-day life?The Empathy Gap: How “move fast and break things” as a motto sidelined empathy and what it means for our culture.Climate in Words and Wallets: How subtle climate denial in public speeches ripples out to policy—and your grocery bill.Empathy Economics: Why empathy, though costly, might be the most vital skill of our future.Key Takeaways Every business decision ripples outward and touches real lives.Industry rules (like new tariffs or spotifys payout model) directly shape the lives of everyday creators.Trust in technology is layered—bigger doesn’t always mean safer, and transparency often matters more than size.The way we use language influences how we see climate realities, economic futures, and even personal responsibility.Building empathy is one of the hardest things in business—and one of the most necessary.Don’t just listen—observe the patterns around you. Inflection points are closer than you think.We’re not here as experts above it all. We’re here as fellow observers, wrestling with the same questions you hold.So, what’s changing in your world? Where do you feel the inflection point?Tune in to observe, not just listen. We’re not experts above it all. We’re observers wrestling with the same questions you hold. What’s changing in your world? Where do you feel the inflection point? Connect with Us Share your thoughts: listen@innocencetheory.comIf this episode resonates, please share it or leave a review—it truly helps us grow.Stay tuned: Next up, we explore how the music industry is reinventing itself from the inside out.Host: Arjun Shrivatsan Editor: Abhinav Suresh Cover Art: Akshay Joshi Do you like the Innocence Theory Podcast? Tell your friends, support ITP on Patreon, and have your boss sponsor an episode.

    14 min

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About

Enter the world of simple genuine heartfelt conversations, connecting with people through their stories. Innocence Theory is where we explore the role of design thinking in nudging climate action. Your favourite podcast sprinkled with insights and occasional facetious humour. Brought to you by two childhood buddies, rediscovering everyday life as it happens.