The Curious Case Of... with Ira Khan

In this episode of The Curious Case of…, Ira sits down with Dr. Amit Malik to talk about the mental health system — what’s missing, what’s delayed, and what still needs to change. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. Because if you’re someone struggling right now, knowing the system isn’t perfect doesn’t tell you what to do today. It doesn’t make it easier to take the first step. So they ask a more immediate question: given the system we have, how do you actually find help — and find it early? They explore what it means to navigate care in a practical way — how to recognise early signs, what to look for in the help you’re receiving, and when it might be time to keep searching. The conversation also reflects on the realities of the system in India today, and where it still needs to evolve. Because even if the system takes time to change, your need for support is here, now. Stay curious.   Resources: Mental Health and Additional Resources Directory ​​ What is Therapy? What is a Safe Space?  CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Art Design: Ayushi Lilani Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

Ira talks to Nikhil and Bakul about the growing use of mental health terms — how they’ve become more accessible, and at times, misused. They explore when labels can help us make sense of our experiences, and when they might limit us or shift responsibility.   It’s a conversation about finding balance — and learning how to engage with these terms more thoughtfully. It’s a conversation about language, meaning, and the space between understanding and oversimplifying.   Because the way we use words shapes the way we see ourselves — and that’s worth approaching with curiosity. CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Art Design: Ayushi Lilani Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

Ira talks to the guest about their journey with mental health, shaped by growing up in an environment where abuse was normalised. Space is held for their experiences with suicidality and self-worth, which continue to influence who they are today. They discuss what healing, rebuilding relationships and moving forward has looked like.   It’s a conversation about survival, understanding, and living with what we’ve been through.   Even through trauma, curiosity can keep you going. CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Art Design: Ayushi Lilani Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Agatsu Foundation Community Centre, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

Ira talks to Dr. Abhijit Nadkarni about understanding addiction — how to tell the difference between deeply enjoying something and being unable to step away from it, and what that distinction really means.   They explore the biology of addiction, while also asking where our scope for change lies — often in the psycho-social spaces of support, structure, and daily choices. The conversation turns to what help actually looks like in practice, and how to operationalise advice or treatment instead of just talking about it.   They reflect on the often misunderstood point: quitting is a single decision but staying away is often an everyday choice.   It’s a conversation about agency with accountability and replacing shame with compassion. Because even when the going gets really hard, curiosity helps!   Chapters: 00:00 The Hidden Risks of Casual Drinking 00:47 What Is Addiction? 01:35 Enjoyment vs Compulsion: Understanding Addiction 06:46 Substance vs Behavioral Addictions 10:49 Alcohol and Its Health Risks 12:39 The Biology of Addiction: Dopamine & the Brain 17:47 Genetics vs Environment in Addiction 21:13 Why People Start Drinking 28:27 The Spectrum of Alcohol Problems 33:38 How to Recognize Risky Drinking 42:52 Why Early Drinking Increases Addiction Risk 55:23 Treatment, Recovery, and Staying Sober   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Art Design: Ayushi Lilani Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

Ira talks to her guest about navigating divorce while raising young children — making the decision to separate, holding personal pain, and still creating stability for the kids. They reflect on the added responsibility of parenting, and the effort it takes to set aside feelings about a partner so children can continue to see their father simply as their father, while constantly trying to understand what they need and how best to show up for them. It’s a conversation about care, resilience, and finding steadiness in the midst of change. Because even life’s hardest transitions call for curiosity.   For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Art Design: Ayushi Lilani Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

What does it mean to show up for someone you love when the path ahead is turbulent and unclear?   In this episode, Ira talks to Amrit Bakshy about his journey as a father to a daughter living with Schizophrenia. He reflects on the early days — when information was scarce, fear was high, and every decision was consequential and how all those experiences slowly reshaped his life, his priorities, and his own understanding.   Over time, his personal journey grew: doing his best to support his own child, helping other families walking similar paths. It’s a conversation about learning as you go and what it can look like to care deeply in the face of uncertainty.   Because even in uncertainty, curiosity means hope.   00:00 Intro — A Father’s Role as Caregiver   01:37 When His Daughter’s Illness First Appeared   05:50 Learning about Schizophrenia With No Information available   08:55 Medication Struggles & Early Treatment Mistakes   12:00 Turning to Faith, Stigma & Family Strain   14:30 Moving Cities to Support Long-Term Care   17:05 Finding the Right Medication & Stability   19:50 Life Now — Ongoing Care & Future Worries   21:50 Living Without Shame or Hiding the Illness   27:15 It’s the Illness, Not the Person   41:40 When a Loved One Refuses Treatment   49:25 Why Medication Is Often Non-Negotiable   51:40 The Importance of Early Intervention   52:50 Hope, Awareness & Support in Schools   54:00 Emotional Hygiene Exercise & Closing     For more information, click here. CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar  Editorial Assistance: Devanshi Chandak, Rachna Sukuru Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Grey Spark Audio Academy, PuneSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

What makes someone start therapy? And what actually changes when you stay with it? In this episode, Ira talks to Kenny Sebastian about his personal journey with therapy — what got him started, how he navigated the taboo in the early days, and how therapy helped him understand himself more clearly. It’s a conversation rooted in lived experience. Through Kenny’s candour and humour, it helps set expectations around what therapy can offer, and just as importantly, what it can’t. Because understanding ourselves is a journey, and it unfolds when we approach it with curiosity.   For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Art Design: Ayushi Lilani Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

Why do we use labels for understanding people? What does “normal” mean — and who decides what’s normal for someone else?   In this episode, Ira talks with Divyanshu about how the meaning of “normal” shifts across contexts — from evolutionary needs to social expectations. They explore why labels continue to exist despite being limiting, and how questioning them can help us reframe our experiences and live more fully on our own terms.   It’s a conversation about language, identity, and empowering ourselves by asking better questions.   Because, if you really think about it, ‘normal’ is a curious word.   For more information, click here. CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar, Quoyina Ghosh Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil Recorded at Island City Studios, Mumbai  Support the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

What does it mean to love and respect your child — fully, exactly as they are?   In this episode, Ira talks to Sushama about her journey as a mother to a child with autism. She shares how she never asked “Why me?” or “Why now?”. Instead, she focused on her role as the parent. What she could do to equip her child to best deal with the world that might not always be kind to her. Because some struggles come not from the person but from the way our world is currently designed.    It’s a conversation about acceptance, perspective, and allowing yourself to make mistakes. Along the way, you might also discover unexpected, unnoticed beauty hiding in plain sight.   This is Sushama's invitation to approach all - especially the neurodivergent - with love, respect and curiosity.   For more information, click here.   ​00:00 – Introduction: Sushama and Aarti's Early Story 01:22 – Aarti’s Birth & Early Health Challenges 07:39 – ​Family Life and Support 14:14 – Processing Expectations, Grief & Acceptance​ 17:43 – Mountains, Yoga & Finding Inner Balance 20:12 – Aarti’s Insight, Language Challenges & Strengths 24:48 – Moving to the ​U​S: ​Navigating the Culture and Challenges of Limited Support 29:50 – ​D​ivya's Experience as Aarti's Sibling 33:56 – Returning to India & Rebuilding Life 35:01 – Can Caregivers Have a Life? 36:22 – Preparing Aarti for Independence 41:45 – Respect, Diversity & Early Lessons in Equality 45:52 – Why Relationships With Disabled People Are Hard for Many 53:57 – Focusing on What We Can Control 55:20 – Emotional Hygiene 56:08 – ​Closing Remarks and Resources   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar, Quoyina Ghosh Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

In this episode Ira talks to Anissa about her journey as a mother to a child with OCD — at first, simply responding to what was in front of her without realising how severe things were.    Even with financial resources, it took time, mistakes, and learning to understand the illness and the weight of caregiving.   Because curiosity is what turns confusion into understanding.   For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, Mumbai  Support the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

In this episode, Ira talks with Vijay Nallawala about his journey with Bipolar Disorder. Together, they reflect on what happens when pain gets romanticised, why early treatment matters, and how hope can still coexist with struggle.   It’s a conversation about honesty — about seeing things as they are, not as they’re often portrayed or what we may like them to be.   Because understanding starts with awareness. And awareness begins with curiosity.   For more information, click here. CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

How much of who we are comes from where we come from? And how do we make peace with the parts of our story that began before we had a say?   In this episode, Ira sits down with Nuzhat Khan to explore the complicated relationship between our parents, our past, and the people we grow up to be. Seen through a psychoanalytical lens, it emerges as a conversation about understanding without resentment, and healing without losing accountability.   Because blame is unhelpful. And curiosity works like a charm.   For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

Why is it so hard to find a clear reason when it comes to the mind? In this episode, Ira talks with Swanand Kelkar about his experience, being the child of someone living with a mental illness and how his understanding of mental health has shifted over the years. From searching for neat explanations to recognising that sometimes, there isn’t a simple “why.” It’s a conversation about letting go of the need to make everything make sense, and finding peace — and even strength — in that uncertainty. Because sometimes, curiosity isn’t about answers. It’s about learning to sit with the questions. For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

The internet is a permanent part of our lives. It isn’t going anywhere. But then, neither is your child’s curiosity.   In this episode, Ira sits down with Kiran Rao and Dr. Shekhar Seshadri to talk about raising kids in a screen-saturated world — how to prepare them for the world (whatever that world may look like), and how to adapt our parenting to the fast-changing realities of the digital age. The positives, the pit falls and everything in between.   Because in the end, what matters most isn’t control. It’s cultivating curiosity.   For more information, click here.    CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

How does someone end up in addiction without even realizing it’s happening? And what does it take to find your way out?   In this episode, Ira sits with Dr. Azhar Hakim, who shares his deeply personal journey through addiction — from the slide into it, to the moment he realized he was unwell, and what getting help truly meant. This is a conversation about feelings of inadequacy, denial, despair, confusion... and awakening. For Azhar, it was when he finally stopped to ask - If I'm trying my 100%, why can't I choose my behaviour?   For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, MumbaiSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

What is lived experience — and what is the role of lived-experience of a mental illness in our regular understanding of mental health and illness?   In this episode, Ira speaks with Dr. Kavita Arora about how reflecting on personal experiences can open up doors that science alone can't access. How engaging in conversations about lived-experience shapes how individuals and caregivers navigate their treatment and recovery - be it treatment decisions or just forging a path to better understanding. And how professionals learn, train, and evolve — not just in theory, but in the quality of care they’re able to offer.   Because sometimes, the most powerful shift begins by asking: What was it like for you? And being curious enough to truly hear the answer.   For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil   Recorded at Island City Studios, Mumbai Support the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

What is therapy — and does it work? What should you expect from it? And what’s expected of you?   If you've ever been curious about starting therapy (or unsure if it’s “for you”), this is a space to explore the basics — without judgment, pressure, or jargon.   In this episode, Ira chats with Radhika Bapat to discuss what therapy really is, what one should and should not expect from it, how understanding the process can help you take better care of yourself and why it’s okay if your therapist does not want to have coffee with you.   For more information, click here.   CREDITS: Host: Ira Khan    Agatsu Foundation Team  Research: Rohini Sen  Art Design: Neeta Borkar Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha  Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)   This is a Maed in India production Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha  Visual Designer: Alika Gupta Producer: Quoyina Ghosh, Ruchi Sawardekar  Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar TemkarSupport the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate

Hosted by Ira Khan, the show invites you to slow down and get curious about the complexities of mental health and mental illness — not just as clinical terms, but as real parts of real life. In a world flooded with advice, opinions, and endless content, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and walk away with more confusion than clarity. This podcast is a counter-space. A space for asking instead of assuming. For listening instead of scrolling. For wondering why we think, feel, and behave the way we do. Joined by psychologists, artists, caregivers, people with lived experience, and fellow question-askers, Ira explores the many layers of the human experience — from how we cope and connect to how we break and rebuild. Each episode offers a space to go deeper — whether it’s through experiences, stories, science, or shared vulnerability. No pressure to have it all figured out. Just room to explore the questions that matter. Because maybe the most powerful thing we can do — is stay curious.Support the show: https://www.agatsufoundation.org/donate