The Analogue Dialogues

Conflicts are never fun but most of us are also not taught how to deal with it, how to safely engage with it, how to identify an ego butting in and derailing relationships. So, we talk about the Indian socio-cultural context in which our misguided understanding of conflicts often lives, and ways in which we can humanly respond. We then look at ways to build range in responding to conflict, what repair looks like and how to identify between healthy, intellectual conflict and corrosive interpersonal conflict.(00:00) Introduction(02: 23) Cultural context for conflict(02:50) Hierarchy(04:17) Saving face(07:03) Collectivist society(08:16) Intergenerational cycles (09:59) External mediators in conflict(12.23) Generationally different conflict styles(15:21) Chapter 2: Conflict responses(17:21) “Fight” response(19:58) “Fawn” response(22:08) “Freeze” response(23:49) “Flight” response(24:46) Chapter 3: Conflict styles (25:25) Avoiding (27:23) Accommodating(29:11) Competing (31:00) Collaborating(33:29) Compromising (36:58) Chapter 4: How to switch across styles (43:15) Chapter 5: Co-creating conditions for constructive conflict

Why, in these ultrabusy times, with our always on lives and large chunks of life spent in traffic, should we consider having interests? We unpack this and questions that follow: What do interests add to our lives? Do we really need to make any trade-offs? We hear from three people with diverse interests. All three of them have that unusual combination of gravitas and lightness of being. Vivek Radhakrishnan catches Pavan up at this workshop and talks about the richness of one life, fully lived. Sunitha Krishnamurthi and Monica spoke on Zoom about loving many interests all at once, and the joy it brings. Dr Latha Muthanna and Pavan had a Zoom chinwag about how her lifelong interests — some that have evolved with her, some that she's parted ways with — have all added enriched her life. This one is a warm cookie of an episode. (00:00) Introduction (00:56) The Importance of interests(03:10) Who gets to have interests? (06: 33) What makes something an interest? (11:26) Vivek Radhakrishnan (24:10) Sunitha Krishnamurthi(31:16) Permissions to give ourselves(33.51) Permissions to let go of interests(48.28) How can one get started? (55:14) Summing up 30.02: The study referenced: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840.2025.2512006#d1e63933.09: https://bigrockdirtpark.com/ 

We do a surface skim (It's the opposite of a deep dive) into - The leadership crisis brewing in companies - What's causing it - How to think about leadership in simple terms - First principles of adopting a leadership approach- What responsible delegation of work looks like - How do conflicts get dealt with - What price goodwill - How to make feedback exciting - Consistency is glamorous- Presence is more about gravitas than it is about opticsChapters: Chapters(00:00) Introduction(00:24) The leadership crisis(04:21) Leadership: Inherited or learnt?(08:04) Why leadership is losing its sheen(09:47) Leadership beliefs, skills and circumstances(11:04) Feedback embedded in reality(13:56) Giving tough messages(15:00) Kindness(20:55) Delegating with wisdom(23:48) Listening(28:35) Consistency(32:40) Conflicts(35:47) Presence vs. optics(40:34) "Psychological safety": Communication crime? (41:31) "Uncharted waters": Communication crime? (43:08) Summarising

We explore the evolving landscape of fitness while navigating our middle years. Episode SummaryRealistic Fitness Goals: Yes, motivation comes in varying degrees. We all have those marathoner and racing cyclist and hyrox friends and really, more power to them! How do the "rest of us" stay fit while managing work travel and commutes, caregiving, parenting, and all the stresses of everyday living.The Ageing Transition: What physically changes and what stays the same as you grow older, including why terms like "recovery" become central to your vocabulary.Sustainable Habits: Finding the balance for someone with only an hour or two daily to dedicate to health.Redefining "Fit": Shifting perspective from competitive sports to long-term health and mobility.Middle-Aged Realities: Managing super busy work-life schedules while avoiding burnout.Recovery as a Priority: Why rest is no longer optional but a core part of a middle-aged fitness routine.Host Info: Follow us on Instagram or YouTube channel for episode summaries and more.Mentioned Fitness Icons:Ultramarathoners like Athreya Chidambi (https://www.athreyachidambi.com/) Bicycling legends like BikeyVenky (https://bvcoaching.in/blog/), Racing goddesses like the young (for us) Tim Tim Sharma (https://www.getfittwithtim.com/). Don't just sit still: On off-days, engage in low-intensity movement like a 20-minute walk or light stretching. This keeps blood flowing to muscles without adding stress.The 48-Hour Rule: If you do a high-intensity session, give that specific muscle group or your central nervous system 48 hours to bounce back before hitting it hard again.The "Non-Negotiable" Hour: Instead of trying to mirror the 4-hour daily grinds of ultramarathoners, carve out one hour that is strictly yours.Sustainability Check: If a workout leaves you too exhausted to function at work or with family, dial the intensity back by 20%. The goal is to feel energized, not depleted.Joint Health: Incorporate dynamic stretches (like leg swings or arm circles) before any activity to lubricate joints that naturally become stiffer with age.Strength for Life: Prioritize compound movements (squats, lunges, pushes) that mimic real-life actions, helping prevent the common middle-age "niggles" and injuries.Early Intervention: In your 20s, you can ignore a "twinge." In middle age, a twinge is a warning. If something feels off, swap your run for a swim or a yoga session immediately to avoid a long-term layoff.Sleep is Training: Treat your 7–8 hours of sleep as the most important part of your fitness "program." This is when the actual repair happens.Protein Spacing: Ensure you’re getting enough protein throughout the day to combat age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia).Key TopicsLinks & ResourcesFollow experts and not influencers: Dr Arvind Bhateja: https://www.instagram.com/doc.arvind.bhateja/For perimenopausal women, Dr Mary Clare Haver: https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire/ Which protein should you take: Here's a zitizen funded project by Dr. Abby Philips, analysing protein brands, ultimately you make an informed decision: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10994440/ Chapter Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction (01:26) - Dr. Raaj love (02:04) - The Practitioner's Perspective (04:41) - There and back again - The Journey So Far(08:10) - Don't Stop Me Now: Tracking Goalposts (23:38) - Investing into fitness (29:00) - Lean On Me - The Charlatan Scale (31:08) - Busting fitness myths(44:20) - Summary