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The WorkWise Pod

Slant Media 27 Episodes Feb 24, 2026

The WorkWise Pod is a conversation-style show hosted by Deepak Menon and Sujatha Rao. In each episode they invite a new guest to explore different ways of approaching work and structuring workplaces. The discussions focus on how people and organizations can design their working lives to support better performance. Beyond productivity, the podcast asks how work can be arranged so that people also lead better lives on the job.

Episodes

"Earlier they were beneficiaries. Now they are shareholders." Feb 24, 2026 01:20:30 In this episode of Work Wise Pod, Sujatha Rao, Deepak Menon, and Mohit Dave speak with Rajendra Joshi (Founder, Saath), Chinmay Desai, and Pooja Singh about Saath’s shift from beneficiary-led development to member-owned economic democracy.Saath began 36 years ago in Ahmedabad’s informal settlements with a simple belief: “Ability is equal. Opportunity is not.” With donor support, Saath ran Urban Re

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Global Cooperative Movement Jan 16, 2026 00:59:30 The cooperative movement is one of the largest economic and social movements in the world; yet it remains poorly understood and rarely spoken about. Globally, cooperatives involve over a billion members, millions of enterprises and provide livelihoods for around 10% of the world’s working population.In this episode, we speak with Rebecca Harvey, Executive Editor of Co-op News, about how cooperativ

The past, present and future of Cooperatives Dec 18, 2025 01:03:12 This is the first episode of our new series' Social and Solidarity Economy'. The Social and Solidarity Economy explores the world of cooperatives, collectives, platform workers, unions, and other democratic enterprises that are rooted in collaboration, equity and shared prosperity. Cooperatives are often dismissed as small, old-fashioned, or inefficient, but what if some of the world’s big

Meena's Story: Life behind & beyond bars Nov 19, 2025 00:39:48 Prisons@Work is a series of 6 episodes that step into Indian Society’s most hidden workplaces -the Indian Prison System. Through conversations with prison reformers and ex-convicts we explore life in prison, after prison, and unearth the complex web of justice, caste, gender, stigma and survival. We also look at possible reforms and restorative practices that could redefine the justice system.This

Aman's Story: Life behind & beyond bars Nov 19, 2025 00:49:36 Prisons@Work is a series of 6 episodes that step into Indian Society’s most hidden workplaces -the Indian Prison System. Through conversations with prison reformers and ex-convicts we explore life in prison, after prison, and unearth the complex web of justice, caste, gender, stigma and survival. We also look at possible reforms and restorative practices that could redefine the justice system.This

Rajiv's Story- Life Behind & Beyond Bars Nov 19, 2025 00:40:30 Prisons@Work is a series of 6 episodes that step into Indian Society’s most hidden workplaces -the Indian Prison System. Through conversations with prison reformers and ex-convicts we explore life in prison, after prison, and unearth the complex web of justice, caste, gender, stigma and survival. We also look at possible reforms and restorative practices that could redefine the justice system.This

Prisons@Work: Incarceration and the Indian Prison System -Part 2 Nov 3, 2025 01:00:34 Prisons@Work is a series of 6 episodes that step into Indian Society’s most hidden workplaces -the Indian Prison System. Through conversations with prison reformers and ex-convicts we explore life in prison, after prison, and unearth the complex web of justice, caste, gender, stigma and survival. We also look at possible reforms and restorative practices that could redefine the justice system.This

Prisons@Work: Incarceration and the Indian Prison System -Part 1 Oct 29, 2025 00:50:54 Prisons@Work is a series of 6 episodes that step into Indian Society’s most hidden workplaces -the Indian Prison System. Through conversations with prison reformers and ex-convicts we explore life in prison, after prison, and unearth the complex web of justice, caste, gender, stigma and survival. We also look at possible reforms and restorative practices that could redefine the justice system.This

Caste at Work Jan 10, 2025 01:50:04 In this episode, Sujatha and Deepak are in conversation with Pratap Tambe and Christina Dhanuja about caste. Caste is a subject conspicuously absent from conversations concerning workplaces in India, although it is a historical reality and continues to pervade our social spaces - this must be acknowledged to make any meaningful change possible. Pratap and Christina shed light on their personal jou

Leadership Ascent and Biological Distress: Opening the Black Box of Menopause at Work Dec 5, 2024 01:00:01 In this episode, Sujatha, Deepak and Amoolya talk to Reena Dayal, about a topic that we tend to tiptoe around, menopause! Specifically, about what happens in the world of work when a woman, typically in her 40s and 50s, on her way to leadership positions, is beset by menopause. Is it a death knell to the ambitious aspirations of those women, or an inflection point, which can give rise to positive

Open Book: Talented's Employee First Culture Oct 30, 2024 00:55:14 In this episode, Sujatha, Deepak and Amoolya explore what it means to have an Open, Employee first work place. What approaches signal such a culture? What does it mean to walk the talk? And what challenges accompany such an approach. Talking to PG Aditiya and Goutam Reghunath about Talented, the ad agency they founded with a determination to be a markedly different advertising agency, they discuss

Reframing our Work Reality through Appreciative Inquiry Sep 24, 2024 01:04:57 Many times a problem-solving approach focuses only on what is wrong. Appreciative Inquiry instead takes a positive and enabling approach to individual and organisational growth, grounded in an abundance mindset. In this episode, Vish, Deepak and Sujatha share three stories about their experience with AI and explore the potential as well as challenges associated with an AI approach to human and org

Mission Accomplished: How Non-Profits Can Design for Planned Closure Aug 23, 2024 00:58:56 In this episode, Sujatha and Deepak speak to Geoff Revell, who co-founded WaterSHED, a Cambodian non-profit organization working on water, sanitation and hygiene. WaterSHED was unique because it was designed to last only for 10 years. They speak on how WaterSHED’s planned exit influenced its goals, values, strategy, day-to-day operations. They also discuss the responses from the various stakeholde

Collaborating beyond Conflicts: Lessons from an Activist-Researcher Aug 6, 2024 00:49:26 In this episode, Sujatha and Deepak talk with K.J. Joy, an activist-researcher who has been working on people’s rights to natural resources at grassroots and policy levels for over four decades. Water is an essential resource with competing claims to its use. Conflicts while being inevitable can also lead to resolution of complex problems. Joy’s experiences as an activist, researcher, social scie

12. Organisational Transformation of Gram Panchayats Jul 30, 2023 00:41:53 In this episode, Sujatha and Deepak speak to Sonali Srivastava, founder and CEO of ANODE Governance Lab to uncover the intricacies of Gram panchayats as organisations - their role in Indian society and governance; their transformative potential and changes in Gram Panchayats over the years. They also discuss the different Organisation Development processes, Change Management processes that Sonali

11. The Pointy End of Performance: Learning Agility from the Indian Army Jun 15, 2023 00:45:08 In this episode, Deepak and Sujatha speak to Lt. General A. Arun on what makes the Indian army autonomous, adaptable and agile on the ground, even though the army can be bureaucratic with very clear common and controls. We discover a systematic way of building camaraderie, bonding and team spirit amongst the soldiers, the efficacy of different leadership styles and the difference between leadershi

10. What For-Profits can learn from Non-Profits May 10, 2023 00:49:22 The predominant narrative in the social sector ecosystem is what the Not-Profit Ecosystem can learn from the For-Profit Sector - in a sense about becoming more professional. Rarely if ever, the counter narrative is heard - of what the for-profit or the commercial sector can learn from non-profits, charities and social enterprises. In this open conversation, Sujatha and Deepak speak to Ravi Sreedha

9. Democracy @ Work: The Case Study of Nilenso Mar 27, 2023 00:45:12 In this episode, Deepak and Sujatha speak to Steven Deobald and Deepa Venkatraman from Nilenso - a 100%, employee owned software cooperative based out of Bangalore. They discuss the practicalities, unique workplace practices and decision-making processes that enable Nilenso to practice democracy for over a decade. Credits: Hosted by Deepak Menon & Sujatha Rao Mixed & Edited by Prashanth Ve

8: Beyond POSH: Gender Harassment in the Workplace Feb 5, 2023 00:43:23 Picture a Scientist, released in April 2020 on Netflix, is a movie that explores sexual harassment and gender bias in the scientific community through the narratives of three women scientists - biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring. In this episode, Sujatha and Deepak speak to Sharon Shattuck - one of the directors of the movie about the film, the making

7. Women on Top! How Women in Family-owned Businesses are Taking Control with Mala Paliwal Sep 6, 2021 00:29:40 More than ever today, women are making their presence felt in family owned businesses in India. In this episode, our guest Mala Paliwal, decodes why and what is happening with the second and third generations of women in family-owned businesses and how they are challenging patriarchy to establish themselves as leaders of their enterprises. About our guest: Mala is a negotiation coach, consultant,

6. The Liberated Entrepreneur: With Balaji Pasumarthy Aug 29, 2021 00:40:16 Entrepreneurs often struggle with managing time and freeing themselves from firefighting and micromanagement. They also experience the ‘fear’ of ‘letting go’ leading them to be trapped in the management of their everyday operations rather than strategic thinking and leadership. In today’s episode, our guest Balaji Pasumarthy talks about how entrepreneurs can create trusting work cultures that allo

5. Is your Business your Identity?: The Mental Health of Entrepreneurs with Raj Mariwala Aug 22, 2021 00:46:08 In this episode, we talk to our guest Raj Mariwala about why and how entrepreneurs struggle with mental health, and the holistic support systems that they can develop to ensure their wellbeing and resilience. About our Guest: Raj Mariwala is Director of Mariwala Health Initiative, (MHI), a funding agency that provides a range of resources and support to organisations working in mental health inter

4. Exponential Connections: The Power of Communities in Organisations with Saugata Chatterjee Aug 10, 2021 00:46:17 The onslaught of constant connectivity coupled with a pandemic that seems to go on forever has led to the great paradox of our lives: being simultaneously connected to tens if not hundreds of people through social media and yet feeling disconnected, lonely and alienated at work. In this episode, our guest Saugata Chatterjee talks about how organisations can leverage the power of communities for gr

3. "Oh no, not another meeting!": Generative Conversations with Sahana Chattopadhyay Jul 30, 2021 00:42:32 Can we change the office meeting from being tiring, unnecessary and unproductive to being effective and empowering? In today's episode, our guest Sahana Chattopadhyay talks about how organizations and employees can transform their office meetings into "generative" conversations which drive the desired outcomes and also foster well-being at the workplace. About our Guest: Sahana Chattopadhyay is a

2. Do we need Managers?: Holacracy and the Self-Managing Organisation with Mohd. Ali Vakil Jul 12, 2021 00:38:01 Is it possible for a group of people to self-manage and lead their organisations through distributed authority and decision making? In this episode, our guest, Mohammed Ali Vakil helps us understand the remarkable power of Holacracy and how this is changing the way organisations are led and managed. About our Guest: Mohammed Ali Vakil is the co-founder of Calm Achiever. They're the official partne

1. From Ill-being to Well-being at the Workplace: With Shashi Nair Jul 9, 2021 00:29:16 New research indicates that employees are experiencing mental stress, burnout and anxiety at work at levels that are unprecedented. What's more, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues with employees being more disengaged and stressed out than ever at work. In this episode, our guest Shashi Nair explains how employees can enhance their wellbeing and engagement at work, through s

Introducing: The WorkWise Pod Jun 4, 2021 00:01:35 Join Sujatha Rao and Deepak Menon as they figure out how we can create better workplaces- to not just help us do better work, but also lead better lives at work. Every week, Sujatha and Deepak talk to a guest about new ways of thinking about and structuring workplaces. Subscribe now for more updates and visit us at www.workwisepod.com.

The WorkWise Pod

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