(UN)LEARN

without SHAPE without FORM
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

THE (UN)LEARN PODCAST creates moments of self-discovery. Each episode explores the power of the mind through unfiltered stories of resilience, curiosity, and personal growth with artists, thinkers, and cultural practitioners. Hosted by without SHAPE without FORM, a cultural platform inviting global voices to a cross-cultural dialogue about purposeful living.

  1. Oct 13

    Looking Beyond the Surface (ft. Russna Kaur)

    What lies beneath the surface of what we present to the world? Recorded in her Toronto studio, artist Russna Kaur joins host Deep Kailey to explore how internal mental chatter manifests on the canvas and how creative practice mirrors life’s unanswerable complexities. Drawing from her background as a biology major, Russna shares how studying anatomical structures under a microscope transformed her understanding of inner workings versus external facades—a perspective sharpened after surviving a life-altering car crash that compelled her to dive completely into painting. The conversation reflects on how we are born as blank canvases, continually adding unnecessary layers throughout life only to one day realise we must return back to that black canvas. Together, they discuss abstraction as a radical tool to slow down in an instant-gratification society, confronting the discomfort it can provoke, and how achieving true simplicity—whether in a masterwork or a stilled mind—is the highest form of discipline. Russna Kaur is a Toronto-based visual artist known for her vibrant, large-scale modular paintings that challenge traditional boundaries of surface and space. Her dynamic practice investigates the complex interplay between chaos, order, memory, and the multifaceted layers of human experience. Her incredible first limited-edition artist book, 'Looking Closely: Painting, Process & Abstraction' , is out soon, register interest here: https://elaiabooks.fillout.com/russnakaur

  2. Sep 14

    Designing Beyond Form (ft. OK-RM)

    What happens when design stops being about creating objects and becomes a way to understand the world? Ollie Knight and Rory McGrath, founders of the independent design practice OK-RM, join us to reflect on an 18-year journey driven by intuition over logic and predefined answers. We explore the space between instinct and structure, the importance of allowing ideas to evolve without over-defining them, and why the most profound creative work often begins without a name or a fixed form. Together, we examine what it means to question convention, reconnect with innate intuition, and cultivate a creative practice that is fluid, evolving, and deeply human.Ollie Knight and Rory McGrath are the founders of OK-RM, an independent design practice working across visual identity, publishing, art, research, and cultural initiatives. Their practice centers on deep collaboration, intuitive process, and building meaningful relationships between people, ideas, and spatial environments.

  3. Aug 10

    Who Are You When No One Is Watching? Dropping the Masks

    Who are you when no one is watching? Rajdeep, Ameet and Simran sit down for a raw, relatable conversation about what it truly means to live authentically. They reflect on their university years, the pressure to please others, and the heavy burden of wearing different masks at work, with family, and across curated social media profiles. Highlighting the striking disconnect between desire and reality—where 97% of people believe authenticity breeds happiness, yet only 16% feel they can be themselves at work—the team explores how to adapt your delivery without compromising your core integrity. They discuss how our default qualities of compassion, patience, and honesty become clouded over time by a busy and noisy mind, and how the practical application of Simran helps strip away those layers to reconnect with who we truly are. The episode leaves us with a compelling question for daily life: when you walk out of a room, what fragrance do you leave behind?

  4. Jul 13

    Answer the call. Then listen. (ft. Surya Botofasina & nep Sidhu)

    What gets in the way of truly hearing the world around us? In the final episode of our New York series, recorded ahead of their Total Response performance, devotional musician and composer Surya Botofasina joins Deep and nep to explore the profound spiritual discipline of listening. Surya reflects on how our own rigid expectations often block us from answering the call of the present moment. He shares his personal relationship with the lineage of chords and music—a gift he believes must be passed on with purely altruistic intentions. Deep introduces the concept of the "Unstruck Melody" that exists within everyone. By quietening external noise and shifting into a state of deep listening, we can return to our default natural state of compassion, kindness, and fearlessness. They close by redefining success as living in absolute, human-to-human integrity, exploring how true love transcends fleeting emotional feelings to become an undeniable, internal knowing. Surya Botofasina is an acclaimed pianist, composer, and keyboardist whose artistry is deeply rooted in the spiritual jazz tradition. His practice treats music not merely as a performance, but as a communal, meditative, and healing tool for collective elevation.

  5. Jun 8

    Battlefield of the Mind: Unloading the Mental Weight (ft. Angel Bat Dawid & nep Sidhu)

    How do we find true freedom when we are simply too tired to carry the weight of our own thoughts? Ahead of their Total Response performance in New York, critically acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Angel Bat Dawid and artist Nirbhai nep Sidhu join Deep for an unfiltered exploration of music, memory, and endurance. Angel shares nostalgic reflections on her childhood parlour room and how watching Amadeus sparked a hidden, lifelong obsession with classical music. We discuss art and music as essential portals that allow us to explore beyond. Shifting to the "Battlefield of the Mind," Angel opens up with raw honesty about the physical and emotional exhaustion of carrying heavy burdens, opening the door for Deep to share a transformative perspective on how to access genuine inner freedom. Finally, we dive into the transformative power of repetition and discipline, proving that rigorous practice is not a constraint, but the ultimate tool for personal growth and self-mastery. Angel Bat Dawid is a phenomenal Chicago-based composer, clarinetist, singer, and educator whose radical, genre-defying work interacts deeply with memory, spirituality, and the rich lineage of Black jazz avant-garde. nep Sidhu is an interdisciplinary practitioner whose work explores the metaphysics of form and spatial rhythm within community. Together, they embody a courageous commitment to the constant evolution of the self and the spirit.

  6. May 11

    Acknowledging Compulsion: Staying on the Path of the Seeker (ft. Ishmael Butler & nep Sidhu)

    What keeps you on the path when the world tries to pull you away? Ahead of their TOTAL RESPONSE performance in New York, artist Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu and legendary musician Ishmael Butler join Deep K Kailey to explore the "compulsion" that drives the seeker. They discuss the bravery required to evolve your art in a world that demands consistency, and the fascinating challenge of naming the "unnamed"—the realisation that by the time an artwork is defined, the creator has already moved on to the next.   Ishmael Butler is a Grammy-winning musician and pioneer (Digable Planets, Shabazz Palaces), celebrated for his experimental approach to sonic architecture. nep Sidhu is an interdisciplinary practitioner whose work explores the metaphysics of form and spatial rhythm within community. Together, they embody a courageous commitment to the constant evolution of the self and the spirit.

  7. Apr 18

    Playing is Serious Business: The Responsibility of Truth (ft. Carlos Niño & nep Sidhu)

    Is true play an act of discipline? Ahead of their TOTAL RESPONSE performance in New York, artists Carlos Niño and Nirbhai (nep) Singh Sidhu join Deep K Kailey to explore the rigorous yet joyful practice of creative expression. They discuss the concept of Simran and the profound responsibility of sharing it with care and integrity. Exploring their deep artistic connection, they reflect on the freedom found in the 'just doing'—where creation becomes a boundaryless act. The conversation moves into the nature of a "weak mind" and how easily it is influenced. Carlos Niño is an internationally renowned percussionist, producer, and composer known for his collaborative approach to spiritual jazz and ambient music (and the concerts Music Director). nep Sidhu is an interdisciplinary practitioner whose work explores the metaphysics of form and spatial rhythm. In collaboration with without SHAPE without FORM and other artists, they create immersive experiences that challenge the boundaries of sound and spirit.

  8. Mar 9

    The Creative Path Home: Unlearning the Need for Context (ft. Sejal Parekh)

    What do you do when a "creative" industry fails to fulfill your purpose? Artist Sejal Parekh shares her non-linear journey, from earning a BA in fine art to years in marketing, and the essential pull that brought her back to the studio. She discusses her experiential sculptural work, including a piece inspired by a vivid memory of a stone handmill (chaki) that was contested by others. We explore the deep freedom in unlearning the need for context, allowing art to be experienced directly, and the joy of finding your true path home. Sejal Parekh is a British-Indian cross-disciplinary artist whose sculptural practice serves as a cartographic intervention into the geographies of displacement. Her work transforms objects and motifs into complex instruments of critical refusal. https://sejalparekh.art/ Guest Curator: Xavier Leopold https://xavierleopoldstudio.com

See All (30)

About

THE (UN)LEARN PODCAST creates moments of self-discovery. Each episode explores the power of the mind through unfiltered stories of resilience, curiosity, and personal growth with artists, thinkers, and cultural practitioners. Hosted by without SHAPE without FORM, a cultural platform inviting global voices to a cross-cultural dialogue about purposeful living.

Information

  • Creator
    without SHAPE without FORM
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © without SHAPE without FORM
  • Show Website
    (UN)LEARN

You Might Also Like