An AI girlfriend, a trafficking survivor, and a social entrepreneur walk into the same conversation… and somehow it becomes one of the most human discussions I've had all year. This week on Changemakers Book Club, we're unpacking Annie Bot with Bharathy Tahiliani, the founder of Kshamata, and Yeoh Wan Qing, co-founder of Hatch. Bharathy has spent over 20 years helping women rebuild their lives after trafficking and gender-based violence, while Yeoh Wan Qing works with youth navigating identity, belonging, and the future of work. What surprised me most was how quickly the conversation stopped being about artificial intelligence and became about loneliness, control, abusive relationships, self-worth, and what it really takes to rebuild trust. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | The AI Girlfriend Who Feels Too Human 00:58 | Built To Be The Perfect Partner 01:45 | When Love Becomes Control 03:14 | Why This Story Won't Leave You 03:43 | Meet The Changemakers 05:33 | Is Annie Bot Really About AI? 09:48 | Can AI Solve Loneliness? 12:52 | Why Isolation Is So Dangerous 18:53 | The Real Meaning Of Freedom 21:39 | What Annie Bot Gets Right About Us 25:28 | The Question That Stayed With Me Bharathy Tahiliani | Founder of Kshamata Bharathy Tahiliani, the founder of Kshamata, an organization she established in 2011 that is doing deeply transformative work with women and girls who have experienced trafficking and gender-based violence. With over two decades of experience working across organizations like UNICEF, the Government of Maharashtra, and anti-trafficking organisations in India, she has spent her career not just rescuing women from exploitative situations, but asking the harder question—what comes after? How do you rebuild a life, restore dignity, and create a real sense of belonging again? At Kshamata, she’s built a holistic model that supports survivors through every stage of that journey—from healing and trauma-informed care, to skilling and livelihood training, to long-term reintegration into society. Yeoh Wan Qing| Co-founder & CEO of Hatch Wan Qing’s work sits at the intersection of impact and enterprise, driven by a deep belief in unlocking potential—across people, systems, and opportunities. Her journey has taken her from grassroots volunteering and working with children with special needs, to building communities and exploring how businesses can create meaningful, scalable impact. She co-founded Hatch to tackle a fundamental gap—access to meaningful work. Hatch is a social venture that supports individuals, particularly those who are underemployed, to discover pathways into careers they might not otherwise have access to, regardless of their background or networks. Alongside this, she chairs Kita, a youth development non-profit that goes a step further—creating spaces where young people don’t just prepare for jobs, but explore identity, agency, and what it means to shape their own futures. Gunjali Singh | Host | Changemaker's Book Club I’ve spent over a decade working in the development sector, and a lifetime finding both escape and meaning in good books. Book clubs have been my anchor and helped keep me grounded through many seasons of change. This podcast brings together two things I care deeply about: powerful stories, and the passionate people working to drive real change in the world. I hope it leaves you with fresh ideas, renewed hope, and a good book recommendation to dive into. About The Changemakers Book Club The Changemakers Book Club is where powerful books meet powerful voices. In each episode, host Gunjali sits down with inspiring changemakers to explore stories that spark reflection and action. It’s part book chat, part deep dive into the world we live in. Come for the books, stay for the bold conversations.
