Imagine India

This episode brings together a multidisciplinary team working on a Biopackaging Consortia project led by the echo network. Featuring voices from academia, industry, and research—including Tridha Gajjar from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Anders from Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and Sunitha from LoopM Alternatives and Sreeraghavi, the PhD Fellow from NID — the conversation explores how agricultural waste can be transformed into sustainable packaging solutions.What begins as a materials innovation project quickly expands into a much larger systems challenge. The team discusses the intersection of design, material science, agriculture, and the circular economy—highlighting how crop residue burning, plastic dependency, and lack of scalable infrastructure are deeply interconnected issues.Together they unpack why plastics dominate (cost, durability, scalability), and why replacing them isn’t straightforward. Listen to the full episode here.

How do we build meaningful community engagement in large cities?The 50th episode of Imagine India, with this year’s Fireside Chats, explores how the Forum Project is bringing together students, researchers, and communities to co-create solutions for real-world challenges.In this episode, Prashanth N S and Kranthi Vysyaraju from the Institute of Public Health Bangalore, along with Nora Engel from Vrije University, the Netherlands, share insights on how collaborative, community-driven approaches can shape urban solutions across health, water, waste, and beyond.By listening deeply, working across disciplines, and centering communities, the Forum Project is reimagining how sustainable change can be built together.Tune in to the full episode to explore how ideas are being turned into action.

Today, we dive into one of the most urgent and often misunderstood topics of our time: disease surveillance.Sandul Yasobant (Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences-IIPHG), Abbey Olsen (Assistant Professor, University of Copenhagen), and Poonam Vyas(SAGE Surveillance Fellow - IIPHG) sit down with Shannon to unpack why surveillance isn’t about control, but about preparedness and why real-time monitoring is essential if we hope to prevent the next pandemic rather than simply react to it.In this thoughtful conversation, our experts break down complex ideas into clear, accessible language, addressing common myths and fears around data collection. They explore what surveillance truly means, who it serves, and how it protects communities.The discussion then turns to building a stronger One Health surveillance system in India, one that recognises the deep interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. Poonam emphasises the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration and meaningful community engagement, while Abbey reminds us that no system can function without trust at its core.Listen to the full episode.

For 4 years, at the Imagine India Podcast, we have been listening to our changemakers and light-bringers imagine the India & world they dream of building. Now, it is time for us to share with you what our students and consortia members are doing to turn those dreams into a reality.We’re excited to introduce Imagine India Fireside Chats—a new monthly series that takes you behind the scenes of impactful projects led by our students and consortia members. These conversations spotlight how knowledge is moving off the page and into real, on-ground action. Stay with us as these stories unfold.For our first episode, we have with us, G. Ravikanth, Deepanjana Saha, and Sourya Das, who dive into the timely and critical theme of ecosystem valuation. They unpack what ecosystem valuation really means and explore how these ideas can be meaningfully integrated into policy and practice.

Three young voices—rooted in purpose and driven by hope—are taking on one of today’s most urgent challenges: waste management. In this episode, meet Sowndarya Acharya (SAGE PhD Fellow), Devyani Srivastava (SAGE Senior Ambassador 2025), and Smita Singh(SAGE Junior Ambassador 2025), as they share why they chose to focus on waste, segregation, and community awareness.In conversation with host Shannon Olsson on the Imagine India podcast, they speak about the work they’re doing in their neighbourhoods, their city, and for the planet—proving that meaningful change often begins with informed, committed young citizens.Tune in to hear three bright minds imagine a cleaner, more responsible India—one action at a time.

In this thought-provoking episode, Shannon Olsson, Founder & Director of the echo network, sits down with Sunayana Ganguly, Co-founder and Director of the Climate Educator Network, to explore how learning shapes our relationship with our planet in the current climate crisis. Together, they reflect on what it means to connect deeply with nature, people, and place — and why building resilient, ecosystem-aware communities is essential in an age of climate collapse. Sunayana shares her vision of a future India or Bengaluru where nature has a seat at the table, and citizens practice awareness, care, and imagination in their everyday collective choices.Listen to this powerful conversation on climate education, empathy, and reimagining our shared world.

This month, we bring you a powerful conversation at the crossroads of technology, empathy, sustainability, and human choice. Lia Leffland, Managing Director of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV), joins Shannon Olsson to reflect on the shared responsibility we all carry in shaping the future of technology. Together, they explore how humane choices can guide innovation—and why science and technology must work hand in hand with the humanities and social sciences to ensure that the innovations of tomorrow are rooted in human values.We deeply value the voices of women leaders on our platform—voices that speak of power, sustainability, kindness, and hope. This episode, in particular, underscores the significance of humane intentions in technology and leadership—a powerful reminder worth reflecting on.

In this inspiring episode, Prof Gulshan joins Shannon to explore, how the Global South & Global North approach sustainability differently, why collaboration across borders is more urgent than ever, and the surprising life lessons he’s learned from his pet dog. When asked about how he dreams of India 10 years from now, he says, most insightfully, that he wants to see an India where everyone gets to live with dignity.This conversation is equal parts thoughtful, personal, and deeply hopeful.Tune in now & share what resonated with you most.

The echo network SAGE Summit 2025 was held in July in Bangalore. There were 56 SAGE Ambassadors, 82 global experts, and 11 PhD scholars who attended the 2-day Summit and participated in conversations & idea-sharing.In this episode, five of our experts reflect on the conversations that moved them, the students who inspired them, and why they believe this network is unlike any other. Listen now & connect with us if you want to be a part of our network.

Siddharth Kankaria, a dear friend of our network, joins Shannon in a powerful conversation about his vision to democratise and decolonise access to knowledge.Much like the Echo Network, Siddharth believes in nurturing a scientific temper, making research more accessible to all, and championing the recognition and respect of indigenous knowledge systems. His work is a call to bridge worlds—of science and society, of tradition and modernity.

In this inspiring episode of the Imagine India Podcast, host Shannon Olsson speaks with Dr. Lene Lange—scientist, author, advisor, and founder of LL Bioeconomy Research and Advisory. With a career spanning academia, government, and industry across over 100 countries, Dr. Lange shares her journey of bridging sectors to promote sustainable bioresource use and North-South collaboration. She reflects on how a strong personal value system, respect for local knowledge, and a passion for science have guided her work across global contexts—from Danish universities to partnerships in the Global South. The conversation also touches on the importance of mutual respect, inclusive innovation, and how we can collectively tackle biodiversity loss and climate challenges.

Our 40th Imagine India podcast is a beautiful conversation about 'kindness based on evidence', between two women leaders and earth-protectors, Prerna Singh Bindra; our guest for the month, and Shannon Olsson, our Founder & Global Director.Listen to this full episode as Prerna talks about her experience of being a wildlife journalist, author, Tiger & wildlife protector, Standing Member of theNational Board for Wildlife, Government of India, and a PhD student.

This month we have with us Dr. Bhaskar Rajakumar who is a doctor, a professor, a public health advocate, and Director of Healthcare Initiatives at AI & Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK) at IISC. Bhaskar talks to Shannon about his personal experience early on in life that led him to chose a profession where he could work towards making healthcare accessible to all. He then goes on to talking about his experience with pandemic preparedness and the need to create a template for disaster management, and more.Listen to the full episode to hear more about Bhaskar's vision on building a world with better healthcare, environment & educational practices.

Our latest episode of the Imagine India podcast features an inspiring leader; Sunitha Varadan. Sunitha is an entrepreneur, a mentor, an innovative thinker and the Founder of LoopM Alternatives. Catch Sunitha talk to Shannon Olsson about food security, plastic circularity, women empowerment, and more. Listen to the full episode here.

Today's guest on the Imagine India podcast is a dynamic professional, an entrepreneur, a researcher, a teacher & a consultant - Aditya Parekh. But to the echo network Aditya is first our friend. He joined our network as a promising post-doctoral volunteer and from there, over the last 4 years has now grown into a dependable Consortium member & an expert on regenerative agriculture. Listen to the whole episode to know how Aditya had taken risks to change his career paths based on intuition and has reached at a stage where he is making positive impacts in the lives of young students & professionals through his venture NaviClar.

In 2024 we had 13 brilliant lightbringers come to our Imagine India podcast and share their dreams & hopes with us all. From farmer to founders to ecologists to students to forest officers and theatre artists, we have a beautiful cohort of guests who dream of a better, kinder India, and world! Listen to snippets of the conversations here. You can access the full episodes on our Imagine India Spotify channel.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Imagine India podcast, where we discuss the sustainable dreams our changemakers have for our planet. In this episode, two 'possibilists', Shannon Olsson and Kirtana Kumar, discuss the need to recognise art and theatre as important tools for learning and understanding science and sustainability. If you are wondering what 'possibilists' mean, please tune into teh full episod now :)

This episode of the Imagine India podcast features Christian Rasmussen, who comes with a background in the Future of Sustainable Production and is the founder of ProBalance; a startup deeply committed to supporting the sustainability journey of small and medium-sized businesses through innovative technology and advanced data analysis. Christian talks to our Global Director, Shannon Olsson about the circular economy, how our upbringing and the choices we make drive sustainable behaviour change. He also brings to the table a very deep and intriguing thought - our need to forgive the people who wronged us, and the planet, including ourselves. Tune into this insightful episode now!

In this month's episode Dr. Rakesh Mishra, Director, Tata Institute for Genetics and Society talks to Shannon Olsson about his humble upbringing, and how that has helped widen his opportunities. Rakesh also talks about how his team at TIGS is working towards making the treatment of rare genetic disorders easily affordable to all by using mRNA therapeutics approach. Listen to the full episode and share your feedback with us.

Once again we have taken our Imagine India podcast 'on the road' in association with ECOBARI! Instead of speaking with our guests in their offices or studios, we visited the Mhaswandi village in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Our guest today is a very special person; Nanda Kale, or Nanda Taai as she is lovingly called by her community. Nanda Taai is the Vice President of the Women's Committee in her village, and inspires Shannon with the work she has been doing with WOTR for over 20 years on watershed development, women's empowerment, and more. Listen to the powerful vision Nanda Taai has for India and our planet and how she and the women of her village are working towards achieving this dream

In today's episode, we have with us Priya Shyamsundar, Lead Economist, Global Science, at The Nature Conservancy. Priya is an ardent advocate of Biodiversity conservation, Natural resource management, Poverty and equity and Policies and institutions. She is an economist & a researcher with immense expertise in the filed of Environment & development and Climate Change issues. Listen to the two women scientist, Priya and Shannon talk about the ways young women in science can break the generational discrimination to pave their way in a science based career. Priya also talks about the importance of agro-forestry for sustainable development, the need for farmer-friendly policies, and how she dreams of a world with where people have more time and inclination to listen to the birds & bees. Tune into the full episode now!

The 30th episode of the Imagine India podcast is a special one featuring young sustainability leaders from the echo network's SAGE Ambassadors Program! Listen to Ahaana, Rishabh & Anna talk to Shannon about their passion for building a sustainable world. In this inspiring episode, our young leaders talk about things they want to do to make the world a better place. They also share messages they want to tell our current world leaders. Tune into the full episode now.

This month's guest, Dr. Vijay Venugopalan is a Physicist turned Social Entrepreneur and is the Co-Founder of VigyanShaala. He is driven to create real-life impact through science and innovation. Vijay talks to Shannon about the need for scientific temperament, equity, innovation, and sustainability in education. He also discussed how VigyanShaala is changing the course of STEM education in the country, and a lot more. Listen to the full episode and share your feedback with us.

Welcome to our special 4th anniversary edition of Imagine India podcast where our beloved host Shannon Olsson is the guest! Catch Shannon in an exclusive and heart-warming conversation with guest host, and Shannon's husband; Petter Olsson. We have heard Shannon talk as the Global Director & Founder on various occasions. But in this episode, we learn what drives her, her inspiration, and how even as a child she dreamt of leaving behind a meaningful legacy. Listen to the full episode and let us know your thoughts.

This month we have taken our Imagine India podcast 'on the road' in association with ECOBARI! Instead of speaking with our guests in their offices or studios, we have visited Akole taluka of Maharshtra to talk to Balu, who is a Senior Officer, Field Operation - Environment at Raintree Foundation. Balu has over 15 years of experience in the field of biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and rural livelihoods. Listen to him talk to Shannon about his experience of developing sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural communities, how the youth of India has immense scope to earn their livelihoods from our forests & villages, and a lot more.

Martin Bech is Senior Advisor at the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV) where he is responsible for ATV’s international partnerships as well as the Academy’s focus on Technology for Sustainability. Listen to Martin and Shannon talk about the myriad possibilities that can come up from the Green Strategic partnership, a collaboration that India & Denmark entered into to engage in bilateral activities to address issues like climate change, sustainability, energy issues and other topics. Listen to the full episode here.

Today's guest is a scholar, an award-winning researcher, a citizen scientist, a community advocate & the Executive Director of Well Labs. Veena is leading WELL Labs’ mission to transform scientific research into real-world impact by designing solutions that simultaneously create livelihoods and conserve the environment. In 2022, she was listed as one of the top-cited scientists in the world. Veena & Shannon share a heartfelt conversation on bringing science to society, how behaviour change lies in the heart of all sustainable changes, and how human & ecological wellbeing should improve in our country. Listen to the full episode here

2023 has been a great year for us at the Imagine India podcast series. We spoke with 10 lightbringers this year as they shared their vision for India and how they each want to contribute to make this country more sustainable, inclusive and resilient. In this episode listen to the 10 inspiring visions shared by our guests.

A farmer, a foodie, an animal lover, and an environmentalist, Marwan Abubaker has over 14 years of experience across agriculture, fish farming, and community services. Marwan talks to Shannon about recognizing and acknowledging waste pickers, creating awareness about waste management, and how society needs to work together to create a seamless circularity journey. Listen to the full episode and let us know your thoughts

Our guest this month is Jayashree Ratnam; Director of the Wildlife Biology and Conservation Program at the National Centre for Biological Sciences. Jayashree talks about how ecosystem conservation in the Indian landscape is like performing a carefully calculated triage. We need to do the best for the ecosystems we have left. Shannon and Jayasharee talk about training conservation students in India, the need to de-centralise decision-making when it comes to conservation policies, and a lot more. Tune into this intense conversation on ecosystem conservation, and let us know your thoughts on it.

Our guest today is Jai Warrier, co-founder of Initiative for Climate Action and Zero to Positive. Jai is a founder, sustainability champion, climate action warrior, and one of the most empathetic person we have come across as part of our network. Listen to Jai and Shannon talk about the importance of climate action, the work his organisations are doing at ward level to make lives in cities more sustainable. Get inspired by Jai's vision of the India he wants to see in the next 10 years.

Shannon Olsson talks to Leena Dandekar, co-founder and principal of the Raintree Family Office and Raintree Foundation. Leena is a strategist, a conscious investor, a philanthropist and a visionary. She focuses on tackling India’s chronic social issues through a combination of strategies all aimed at maximising impact. Listen to the two successful, empathetic, and mindful women talk about the India they want to build.

Immerse yourselves into this beautiful conversation about eating, appreciating & embracing local cuisine. Nayantara Menon Bagla is a Functional Nutrition Coach and Chef. After spending more than a decade in kitchens around the country, she is now focusing on building the narrative and solutions around longevity. Longevity of both people and the planet from the lens of food systems and human behavior. 

Today's guest at the Imagine India podcast is Minhaj Ameen. Minhaj is an advisor, a catalyst for rural developement, an enabler for systems change, a champion for social impact and the Director of Strategic Operations, Finance and Administration of The Agroecology Fund (AEF). Minhaj speaks about the importance of communities of practice, and how important it is for people to find their calling and follow the same. His take on what needs to be done to achieve a systems leve transformation from industrial agriculture to agroecology Listen to the full episode and share with your friends.

Listen to our latest podcast at the Imagine India series. Today's guest is an award-winning filmmaker, a seeker, a game designer, and one of India's most fascinating thinkers: Anand Gandhi. A multi-faceted explorer, Anand has dabbled with philosophy, virtual reality, gaming, storytelling, and a lot more.In this wide-ranging conversation, Shannon and Anand discuss how to shift humanity’s focus to mankind’s existential threats, the importance of systems thinking, and the role of technology and AI in interdisciplinarity. Listen to Anand talk about his dream of building an India with equility, freedom, and inclusivity.

Today we have with us Abhayraj Naik. He is an educator, researcher, an advocate of climate justice, a visionary thinker, an erudite speaker, and the co-founder of Initiative for Climate Action. While many among us are fighting for the rights of people, it is not every day that we hear from someone who is fighting for the rights of the voiceless. All the work Abhayraj is associated with does in many ways create awareness around the need for individual and collective action to save and protect the rights of nature and indigenous people.

This month the echo network has been talking and listening about your understanding of zerowaste lifestyle. As part of this conversation, we have with us for this month's podcast a very special guest, whose life's mission is to create awareness and action around waste management. Shobha Raghavan, Chief Operating Officer of Saahas Zero Waste is a dynamic & visionary leader who has 'shown resilience when life has thrown curveballs' at her. She’s been associated with Saahas Zero Waste for the last 10 years, ever since its inception, and has been constantly evolving various business models as per market demand. Shobha talks to Shannon about the importance of community participation and building champions amongst communities. Listen to the India she dreams of and the actions she intends to take to build a sustainable and circular future.

In this episode, Shannon Olsson talks to Ravi Chellam, CEO, Metastring Foundation, and the Co-ordinator of Biodiversity Collaborative. Ravi is an unwavering advocate for knowledge-based, inclusive, just, and participatory conservation of biodiversity in India especially of the Asiatic lions. He talks about the recent African Cheetah controversy, how we can better influence policymakers to bring out evidence-based regulations which will help the communities and the wildlife, and what is the biggest ecological crisis faced by India.  Ravi very meticulously also highlights how he dreams of an India where prosperity is not measured by GDP but by good health, including mental health and well-being.

This month we celebrate the 1-year anniversary of Imagine India podcast with the echo network team. Meet Digangana Mukherjee (Head of Communications), Tina Patrao (Head of Engagement), and Akshata Pradhan (Head of Insight) in a candid chat about their inspiration, a typical workday at the network, and the India they dream about and are working hard to make a reality.   Listen to this fun and inspiring conversation with the all-women team who leads the echo network!

Our last podcast episode of the year is very special because we have with us Dr. Nimish Shah, who in many ways has been the brand ambassador for our network. Nimish is a thought leader, partnership builder, and influencer. He believed in our network from the beginning, and has been a trustworthy friend. Over the years Nimish had donned many hats and is currently Managing Director at the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) – India. Listen to Nimish and Shannon talk about why behaviour change is an integral part of WASH, how India can become a world leader in sustainability, the role women play in water & sanitation in the country, and much more.

Our guest this month on the Imagine India podcast is Shloka Nath. Shloka is currently the Acting CEO, India Climate Collaborative, a first-of-its-kind collaborative working to accelerate climate action in India. Shloka talks about the 'loss & damage' effort at the COP27 Summit this year, and what it means for India. Shloka and Shannon also discuss what it means to be a women leader when one is expected to be kind but also assertive. Tune in to today's episode to listen to Shloka's dream of an equitable India, where communities are kept in the center.

Our guest for this episode is Uma Ramakrishnan. She is a Professor of Ecology and Evolution at NCBS TIFR and a dear friend of our network. Her research work revolves around the conservation, biogeography, and evolutionary origins of Indian species. Uma talks to Shannon about the importance of communicating science, her work with the big cats in India, emerging infectious diseases, the challenges faced by Indian women scientists, and much more. Tune in to this warm conversation between two notable women scientists and empathetic human beings who want to help the community with science.

Our guest today is Dr. Prashanth NS, a scholar, a public health expert, an award-winning champion for indigenous communities, and a doting father. Prashanth leads the health equity cluster (research group) at IPH Bengaluru with broad interest in studying social determinants of health and health inequities, particularly the health of Adivasi (indigenous) populations. Prashanth talks to Shannon about how he wants to be remembered as a person, the India he dreams of, and much more. Tune in to the podcast now.

Today's guest at Imagine India podcast is Rajana Mani. Rajani is a documentary writer, director, and film editor. She is the co-founder of Elephant Corridor Films, an award-winning creative agency based in Bangalore. Rajani talks to Shannon about how she wants to be remembered; as someone who didn’t give up, who never stopped asking and learning, and never stopped sharing her knowledge and experiences. Her films often deal with narratives that find balance between human activities and the natural world. Want to know what dreams Rajani has for India? Tune in to this episode now.

Listen to our latest podcast episode! Today we have with us a law partner, a founder, a builder, a dreamer, a father, and the co-founder of Initiative for Climate Action and the Bangalore Creative Circus - Mr. Ajay Raghavan. Ajay talks about how he is most happy when he can do little things to brighten people's lives, his passion to make this planet a better place to live has driven him to leave his job at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country to work with ICA and BCC. Let's hear from him how he wants to see India, 10 years from now.

Presenting our latest episode of Imagine India podcast. This time we have with us a visionary leader, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a brand architect, and the CEO of 24 Mantra Organic - Balasubramanian N. Bala talks about what drove him to empathise with the farmers of India, what he and his organisation are doing for the well-being of the farmers and how he sees India shape up as a country 10 years from now.

And we’re back again! This time we have with us an intriguing storyteller, an experienced editor, and a writer, with a passion for sustainable tourism. Neha Dara is Business Head at RoundGlass Sustain. She talks to Shannon about how she is enabling others to be respectful of nature and the living creatures around us, and the different ways in which every individual can enjoy nature and wildlife.

We're back with our newest episode! This time we have with us a visionary, an author, a public-policy expert, a father, a son, a young global leader - Dr. Arunabha Ghosh.  Arunabha is also the CEO of Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), one of Asia's leading policy research institutions. An accomplished orator, Arunabha advises government, industry, civil society, and international organisations around the world on sustainability. Listen to him talk to Shannon Olsson, Global Director of the echo network, about small changes we can bring in our lives to be sustainable and planet-conscious.

And we're back again! But this time, with an intriguing artist working with conservation and environmental issues. Listen to Professor Shannon Olsson talk with Rohan Chakravarty, known for being the artist behind @green_humour. Rohan is a passionate illustrator and wildlife buff who combines humor and empathy to shed light on ecological and environmental issues in India and around the world. Rohan's art has also been featured in Mid-Day, The Hindu, Roundglass, and Gocomics, among many others. Listen to him discuss his love for nature, his journey from dentist to cartoonist, and his desire for better communication among all of us for the future of the planet.

Karishma Kaushik is a bioengineering pioneer, infection biology explorer, youth champion, social media warrior, mother, and leader. In this episode, Karishma speaks with Shannon about her experiences returning to India to build a lab and career, and find her own space on the global stage. With a firm commitment to promoting Indian science as a part of nation-building, Karishma shares her vision for communicating science and building an interdisciplinary mentoring network for youth from different backgrounds. We present to you our newest conversation!