Off Syllabus

The Brigade Schools

A platform by The Brigade Schools where experts come together for real conversations about growing up, learning, failing, parenting, identity, and navigating modern childhood. It's part podcast, part YouTube show, and fully aligned with Brigade's belief that every child's journey is unique — and worth listening to. We host conversations — real ones — about parenting in the digital age, student anxiety, learning challenges, friendship, identity, even failure. We feature not just students and teachers, but parents, alumni, and external experts. We listen. We reflect.

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep 8: The Art of Resilience — Ms. Nisha Lobo & Dr. Aloma Lobo on Adoption, Inclusion & Raising Children Who Don't See Themselves as Victims

    When Nisha Lobo was four years old, a woman at a shopping mall spat on her and told her mother she shouldn't bring a child "like that" out in public. Nisha's response, sitting in the car afterwards while her mother cried: "Mama, what she did is her problem, not mine." Nobody taught her that. It was just how she saw it. Nisha was born with lamellar ichthyosis — a rare genetic skin condition that affects approximately one in a million people — and has around 10% vision in one eye. She is also a TEDx speaker, a Satyamev Jayate guest, the subject of the internationally screened Vicks Touch of Care film, and today, a full-time item data specialist at Target who takes a cab to work and argues with her mother about walking on busy roads. In this episode of Off Syllabus, Nisha sits with Dr. Aloma Lobo — her mother, a doctor, and someone who has spent decades working with the placement of abandoned and special needs children — for a conversation that covers a remarkable amount of ground without ever feeling like it's trying to. You will hear about the school that told Dr. Lobo to take Nisha away, and the school whose principal held her hand on the first day. About the classroom where only one hand went up when a teacher asked if anyone didn't have a problem. About the brother who made Nisha a stack of cards that read: "I have ichthyosis. It is not contagious. I am just like you." About the family who saw Nisha and brought their child with Down syndrome back home from an orphanage. And you will hear Nisha herself — calm, funny, entirely unbothered — talk about history being her favourite subject in school, crochet being her current hobby, and why she's been watching detective shows lately instead of anything remotely inspirational. For parents especially, this episode asks a question worth sitting with: are we raising our children to handle the world, or are we handling the world so our children never have to? Off Syllabus is the podcast of Brigade Schools. New episodes explore the conversations that shape children beyond the syllabus.

    55 min
  2. SEASON 1, EPISODE 7 TRAILER

    Raising Strong & Resilient Girls with Swetha Subbiah | Off Syllabus Ep. 7

    Can a sport-filled childhood actually be the secret ingredient to academic success? In this episode of Off Syllabus, we explore the intersection of physical strength and mental resilience with one of India’s most influential fitness leaders, Ms. Swetha Subbiah. As the co-founder of Sisters in Sweat and a Nike-certified coach, Ms. Swetha joins us to unpack why teenage girls often drop out of physical activities and how the language we use at home—specifically the "mother’s voice"—shapes a child’s inner world. In this episode, you’ll hear about: The "Shrinking" Phenomenon: Why we tell girls to "be careful" while boys are told to "go for it," and the lifelong impact of that messaging. The Mother-Daughter Mirror: How a parent's relationship with food and fitness serves as the primary "textbook" for their children. Fitness as an Ally: Moving past the myth that sports are a distraction from academics to seeing them as a tool for cognitive growth. Building Real Grit: How falling down on the field prepares a girl to stand up in the boardroom. At the Brigade Group of Schools, we believe education isn't just about what's in the syllabus—it's about building the character and confidence to navigate the world. Join us for a conversation that moves beyond the scale and focuses on building strength for life. Follow Off Syllabus to stay updated on how we’re redefining parenting and education, one conversation at a time.

    1 min
  3. APR 7

    Why Arts Education Isn't An Extra (ft. Ms. Manasi Prasad) | Off Syllabus Ep. 5

    Your child's music class might be doing more for their math grade than their math class is. In this episode of Off Syllabus, host Ms. Jeevitha Viswanath sits down with Manasi Prasad — Carnatic vocalist, IIM Bangalore alumna, former Director of India's first interactive music museum (Indian Music Experience), NCERT textbook committee member, and most importantly, a parent of two school-going children — for an honest, research-backed conversations about arts education. This is not a feel-good episode about "let your child be creative." This is a parent-to-parent, expert-to-expert conversation about what the science actually says, what NEP 2020 is quietly changing in your child's school, and what you might be accidentally taking away from your child every time exam season hits. In this episode: - Why every child is born creative — and where we lose it - How music builds memory, focus, pattern recognition and concentration (not just "right brain" skills) - The real reason arts were called "extracurricular" — and why that's finally changing - What LCM, physics of sound, and Carnatic talas have in common - The 3 C's every future career demands — and how the arts build all three - How to counsel a child (or yourself) who wants to pursue arts as a career - The difference between a career and a calling - What Mansi did when her son studied for the wrong exam the morning of — and why her reaction surprised even her - Why taking away arts periods before exams may be making your child more stressed, not less If you have ever said "arts is not a career" or quietly moved your child's music class to make room for exam prep — this episode is for you. Drop a comment below: What art form did YOU give up because of "practical reasons"? Do you wish someone had told you this earlier? Subscribe to Off Syllabus for conversations that go beyond marks, ranks, and report cards — because the most important lessons are rarely on the syllabus. {arts education India, NEP 2020 explained for parents, music and child development, Carnatic music, Indian Music Experience, parenting advice India, IGCSE extracurricular, should my child pursue arts, Manasi Prasad, Brigade Schools podcast, Off Syllabus, children cognitive development, music and academics, art as a career India, parenting school age children}

    1h 6m

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About

A platform by The Brigade Schools where experts come together for real conversations about growing up, learning, failing, parenting, identity, and navigating modern childhood. It's part podcast, part YouTube show, and fully aligned with Brigade's belief that every child's journey is unique — and worth listening to. We host conversations — real ones — about parenting in the digital age, student anxiety, learning challenges, friendship, identity, even failure. We feature not just students and teachers, but parents, alumni, and external experts. We listen. We reflect.