The Secret Sauce

Mukul Deora

The Secret Sauce Podcast - a thought-provoking show that decodes the science and systems behind better health, performance, and decision-making. Hosted by Oscar-nominated filmmaker and entrepreneur Mukul Deora, it cuts through the noise with depth, intelligence, and conversations that make you think differently. Tune in every Thursday for world-class conversations that sharpen how you think, live, and lead.

  1. 6d ago

    The Woman Who Built Apollo Beyond Hospitals | Shobana Kamineni | Mukul Deora | E28

    Shobana Kamineni is the force behind Apollo HealthCo, a triple-unicorn healthcare business built across Apollo 24|7, Keimed, and Apollo Pharmacy. In this episode of The Secret Sauce Podcast, Mukul Deora speaks with Shobana Kamineni about what it takes to build and scale healthcare businesses inside one of India’s most respected healthcare groups. She shares the story behind Apollo Pharmacy, the creation of Keimed’s medicine distribution network, and the rise of Apollo 24|7 as a digital healthcare platform built for modern India. The conversation explores how Apollo transitioned from being hospital-led to becoming an integrated healthcare ecosystem covering medicine delivery, doctor consultations, diagnostics, health records, AI, and preventive healthcare. Shobana also explains why the biggest opportunity in healthcare is not only treating illness, but also helping people detect risks early and manage their health better over time. From building teams and handling failure to selling Apollo Munich, scaling during COVID-19, and aligning Apollo’s businesses into a single ecosystem, this episode offers a rare look into how a triple-unicorn healthcare business is built. This episode covers: How Apollo HealthCo became a triple-unicorn healthcare business The story behind Apollo 24|7, Keimed and Apollo Pharmacy Why 80% of healthcare happens outside the hospital How digital health records can change patient care Why AI in healthcare will support doctors, not replace them The importance of preventive healthcare, whole body MRI and genetic testing How early detection can reduce the cost of disease What India’s healthcare future could look like Watch this episode to understand the future of healthcare in India.

    1h 3m
  2. Jun 5

    A Top Radiologist Reveals What Your Health Checkup Misses | Dr. Anirudh Kohli | Mukul Deora | E27

    Most people wait for symptoms before taking their health seriously. But some of the biggest risks, heart disease, fatty liver, visceral fat, aneurysms and metabolic syndrome, can build silently for years. In this episode Dr. Anirudh Kohli, radiologist and CEO of Breach Candy Hospital, to understand how preventive imaging can help detect hidden health risks before they become serious. Dr. Kohli breaks down the scans and tests that matter, from CT angio, calcium score and photon-counting CT to MRI, DEXA scan, ultrasound, brain MRI angiography and liver elastography. He explains why blood tests alone may not give the full picture, why Indians are at higher risk for early cardiovascular disease, and why visceral fat is one of the most important health markers to track. This conversation also explores the reality of executive health checkups, the fear around CT scan radiation, the rise of fatty liver due to metabolic syndrome, the limits of full body MRI, and why even fit people, runners and gym-goers can still carry serious hidden risks. We also discuss: • Why heart disease can be silent until it becomes dangerous • What calcium score actually reveals about your heart • When CT angio may be more useful than a basic checkup • Why visceral fat matters more than visible weight • How fatty liver can progress into liver damage • Whether full body MRI is truly worth doing • Why a brain MRI angiography may help detect aneurysm risk • What health scans to consider in your 30s, 40s and 50s • Why executive health checkups need to go beyond blood tests • How AI is changing radiology, diagnosis and medical imaging • Why self-diagnosis through Google or AI can create unnecessary panic This episode is for anyone who wants to understand preventive health, early detection, medical imaging, heart disease risk, metabolic syndrome and the tests that can help people make better health decisions before symptoms appear. Watch till the end for a practical, age-wise understanding of preventive scans and what modern medicine can reveal before disease becomes urgent. Subscribe to The Secret Sauce for more conversations with doctors, experts, leaders and thinkers who decode health, longevity, performance, decision-making and the systems that shape our lives.

    1h 17m
  3. May 21

    The Sleep Signs Every Parent Should Know| Dr. Indu Khosla| Mukul Deora| E25

    A child’s sleep problem doesn’t always look like a sleep problem. Sometimes it looks like poor focus, mood swings, anxiety, weight gain, bedwetting, mouth breathing, snoring, or a child who wakes up tired despite “sleeping enough.”In this episode, Dr. Indu Khosla explains why children’s sleep health is deeply connected to growth, immunity, learning, hormones, behaviour, breathing, and long-term development. She breaks down how child sleep problems change from infancy to teenage years, what parents often get wrong about bedtime, and why screens, overstimulation, routines, and delayed sleep cycles are affecting children more than ever.The conversation also covers sleep apnea in children, REM and non-REM sleep, melatonin, baby sleep training, toddler sleep habits, teenage sleep deprivation, parasomnia, sleepwalking, mouth breathing, snoring, and ADHD-like symptoms linked to poor sleep.If you’re a parent trying to understand what healthy sleep really looks like, this episode gives you a clear framework for what is normal, what is not, and what signs should never be ignored.Topics covered:How sleep needs change from infancy to teenage yearsWhy screens and overstimulation affect children’s sleepBaby sleep training and common bedtime mistakesToddler sleep habits and the importance of routineTeenage sleep deprivation and delayed sleep cyclesREM sleep, non-REM sleep, melatonin, and circadian rhythmSnoring, mouth breathing, bedwetting, and sleepwalkingSleep apnea in children and why it can be missedHow poor sleep can look like ADHD-like symptoms or anxiety

    1h 17m
  4. May 7

    India's top art auctioneer: I couldn't sell this painting for 4 lakh. It just crossed 40 crore| Mallika Sagar| Mukul Deora | E23.

    A painting sells for ₹100 crore. But how does that number actually happen? In this conversation with Mallika Saagar, India’s top art auctioneer, we demystify the Indian art market from how artworks move from artists to galleries, to how they enter auctions, to what really happens when collectors start bidding against each other. Mallika breaks down the difference between the primary and secondary art market, how auction houses work, what buyer’s premium means, why the hammer price is not the final price, and how terms like reserve price, provenance, rarity, medium, condition, and quality shape the value of Indian paintings. The conversation also goes deeper into the psychology of auctions: why people overbid, why some collectors hide their bids, why bidding can become emotional, and why patience matters if you’re looking at art as an investment. For anyone curious about Indian art, art auctions, collecting, luxury markets, or alternative asset classes, this episode is a sharp introduction to a world that is growing fast but still widely misunderstood. This episode covers: How artworks move from artists to galleries to collectors What happens inside a live art auction Primary market vs secondary market in art Buyer’s premium, GST, hammer price, and hidden costs Reserve price, estimates, and how bidding starts How provenance, rarity, medium, and condition affect value Why collectors sometimes overbid or hide their bids The psychology, ego, and adrenaline behind auctions Indian art as an investment and asset class How India’s art market compares with global markets

    1h 35m
  5. Apr 30

    This what reading can do to your brain | Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta | Mukul Deora | E22

    What does reading actually do to your brain, your stress levels, your focus, and the way you live?  In this conversation, Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta Asia’s 1st Reading Coach tells us why reading still matters in the age of endless scrolling, short-form content, screens, and constant stimulation. The discussion goes beyond “reading is good for you” and looks at what actually happens inside the brain when we read, why books activate deeper thinking, and how reading can shape the way we learn, respond, create, communicate, and understand other people. A major part of the conversation also looks at children, families, and the culture of reading at home. What do children learn when they are handed screens instead of stories? Why do conversations, books, and shared reading matter for a child’s development? And how can parents create an environment where curiosity, thinking, and learning are rewarded? This episode also explores the therapeutic side of reading how the right book can help someone process anger, anxiety, grief, identity, conflict, and emotional blocks. Books can become mirrors, mentors, interventions, and tools for self-mastery when chosen with the right context. In this conversation, you will learn: →Why reading is brain training, not just entertainment →How screens and scrolling affect focus, attention, and deep thinking →What reading does for stress, creativity, memory, and emotional control →Why paper reading and digital consumption affect the mind differently →How books help build empathy, patience, and cognitive flexibility →Why reading matters for children, families, and learning cultures →How stories can help us understand ourselves and others better →Why successful people often use reading as a tool for clarity and growth →How the right book can help change the way you think, respond, and live If you struggle to read, feel addicted to scrolling, want to build a sharper mind, or want to understand why books still matter in the modern world, this episode will give you a deeper reason to return to reading.

    1h 21m
  6. Apr 23

    The Best Formula For Longevity ⁠ | Dr. Vishakha Shivdasani| Mukul Deora| E21

    Why do so many Indians struggle with metabolic health, sugar cravings, and rising diabetes risk even when they feel “fine”? In this conversation with Dr. Vishakha Shivdasani, Physician practicing metabolic health, longevity and disease reversal breaks down the real problem behind modern Indian health. This episode explores how the typical Indian diet, hidden insulin resistance, and everyday habits are quietly driving conditions like diabetes, fatty liver, and metabolic dysfunction. More importantly, it explains why most people only focus on treatment after disease shows up and what you can do to stay healthy before it’s too late. Dr. Shivdasani shares a practical, science-backed approach to metabolic health, including how to read your body beyond standard blood tests, why sugar cravings happen, and how small changes in nutrition, movement, and lifestyle can help reverse early-stage metabolic issues. In this episode, we cover: Why “normal” blood reports can still hide underlying problems The truth about sugar cravings and what actually drives them How the Indian plate contributes to metabolic dysfunction Why medication often manages symptoms but doesn’t fix the root cause Simple daily habits that improve blood sugar and overall health If you care about improving your health, preventing disease, and understanding how your body really works, this conversation offers a clear starting point. Watch till the end for a deeper understanding of how to move from treating illness to truly staying well.

    1h 28m

About

The Secret Sauce Podcast - a thought-provoking show that decodes the science and systems behind better health, performance, and decision-making. Hosted by Oscar-nominated filmmaker and entrepreneur Mukul Deora, it cuts through the noise with depth, intelligence, and conversations that make you think differently. Tune in every Thursday for world-class conversations that sharpen how you think, live, and lead.

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