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The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma

Amit Varma
India
Public Policy
Economics
Social Media
Journalism
Education
Cultural Identity
China
Advertising
Economic Growth
Creativity
India-Pakistan Relations
South Africa
Misinformation
Terrorism
Delhi
Kashmir
Post-Apartheid Society
Political Landscape
Healthcare

The Seen and the Unseen, hosted by Amit Varma, features longform conversations that aim to give deep insights into the subjects being discussed. Timeless and bingeworthy.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes449Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

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Artwork for The Seen and the Unseen

Latest Episodes

She's one of the best writers on science today, combining optimism about progress with a realist understanding of the messiness of our world. Saloni Dattani joins Amit Varma in episode 445 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss science, medicine, data... more

YouTube

He is best known for writing The Family Man and Farzi, but his journey to being a storyteller was far from smooth. Suman Kumar joins Amit Varma in episode 444 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the highs and lows of his life, as well as the craft ... more

YouTube

An Indian lawyer in 2000 could not have recognised the legal ecosystem of today. One firm took India marching forward into a new world. Akshay Jaitly joins Amit Varma in episode 443 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe the rise of the firm he found... more

YouTube

We keep using the terms 'regulation' and 'deregulation' -- and now it's time for a primer. Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 442 of The Seen and the Unseen go discuss first principles AND get into the weeds. What is regulation? When do w... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Saloni Dattani
Scientist, journalist, founding editor of Works in Progress
Works in Progress, Scientific Discovery, Our World in Data
Episode: Ep 445: 'I Am Saloni and I Like Collecting Mice'
Suman Kumar
writer and director of The Family Man, Guns and Gulaabs, Farzi
Episode: Ep 444: Suman Kumar is Perennially Pregnant With Stories
Akshay Jaitly
Founder of Trilegal, co-founder of TrustBridge
Trilegal; TrustBridge
Episode: Ep 443: The Making of a Law Firm
Ravikumar Kashi
Indian artist and educator, based in Bangalore
Independent artist
Episode: Ep 441: Ravikumar Kashi Is in Play Mode
Ram Guha
Historian and author, long-time guest on the show
Historian and author
Episode: Ep 440: Ram and Friends
Janhavi Nilekani
Founder of Aastrika Foundation and Aastrika Midwifery Centre
Aastrika Foundation / Aastrika Midwifery Centre
Episode: Ep 439: Janhavi Nilekani Threw the Other Shoe
Gautam John
CEO of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and former entrepreneur.
Episode: Ep 437: Gautam John is Figuring it Out
Rukmini S
Data journalist and founder of Data For India
Data For India
Episode: Ep 436: Rukmini and the Numbers
Manoj Kewalramani
China expert in India, launched a podcast exploring the intersection of International Relations and policy.
Takshashila Institution
Episode: Ep 435: A Primer on China

Host

Amit Varma
Host of the longform conversations, guiding discussion with a focus on deep analysis and storytelling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.9k ratings
  • Tired of the liberarianism

    I used to listen to this show quite regularly and enjoyed the long chats with thinkers, artists and writers. But I have gotten tired of libertarianism being injected into everything. May I point out that Amit’s enlightened childhood with access to arts, ideas, films etc via his father is the product of a “big government” that funded public arts. Surely the govt should get out of markets but a lot more Indians could use access to public libraries, public parks and publicly funded arts. It just se... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Totto1234!
    United States5 months ago
  • WOW

    wow, what do I say, where do I start? I am a fan of Gurucharan Das’ s writings. Enjoyed the podcast. Did it in just two phases.

    Amazing, learning so much through these podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    navikusam
    India9 months ago
  • Conversations I wish I could have, being had here

    Amit. You’re beautiful. The honesty with which you’ve been pursuing this is really appreciated. I absolutely love the work you’re putting out into the world, and I’m so glad there’s a lot of people supporting this work and making it worth your while to pursue it full time! Beautiful show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hrishi Somani
    India9 months ago
  • The best podcast for your brain

    Such an amazing find :)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AjithNeelakantan0501
    Swedena year ago
  • Undoubtedly one of the best podcasts out there. I wouldn't waste time comparing this to other podcasts, but what Amit does well in this podcast is to teach you how to be a good attentive speaker and the art of letting the other person open up. The guests are some of the most interesting personalities I've listened to. Started questioning my social life while listening to these as the quality of conversations I listen here is much better.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    akfeeil
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the long runtime for immersive understanding and the breadth of ideas.
The host curates guests thoughtfully and asks questions that invite detailed, nuanced answers.
Long-form, deeply informative conversations with rich guest experiences are a hallmark.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#236
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#95
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#242
Australia/News/Politics
Spotify
#135
India/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#62
India/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#3
India/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 443: The Making of a Law Firm
Q: What were the core founding values and why were they necessary?
The founders wanted equality, respect, meritocracy, client-centricity, ambition, and firm-first mentality because existing firms were not living up to those ideals; they explicitly wrote these values to guide decision-making and culture, ensuring a non-hierarchical, client-focused, collaborative environment.
Ep 441: Ravikumar Kashi Is in Play Mode
Q: What is your view on success and the market pressure around art?
He reflects that not seeking wild commercial success has afforded him freedom to explore diverse directions. He acknowledges occasional financial needs but argues that chasing market trends can constrain artistic exploration. He also notes the shifting gatekeeping landscape and the importance of staying true to one's own trajectory while remaining open to external influences.
Ep 441: Ravikumar Kashi Is in Play Mode
Q: How do you balance personal narrative with audience interpretation?
Kashi discusses the calibration of language and visuals to invite multiple readings, the use of incomplete signals, and the idea that context can both reveal and constrain meaning. He emphasizes that while art can be deeply personal, it should also invite viewers to bring their own experiences to the work.
Ep 441: Ravikumar Kashi Is in Play Mode
Q: How did your relationship with materials, especially paper, evolve?
He explains that paper became central not just as a surface but as an active material, with tactile qualities, pulp control, and diverse fiber sources. The shift from printmaking to experimental pulp painting emerged from curiosity, workshops, and access to resources, culminating in a mature body of work where materiality drives meaning.
Ep 441: Ravikumar Kashi Is in Play Mode
Q: What was your childhood like and how did it shape your art sensibilities?
Ravikumar describes a large, culturally rich upbringing in Bangalore with a strong family network, religious and RSS influences early on, and a deep early attraction to art triggered by local workshops, schooling, and community centers. This basement of experiences fostered a lifelong curiosity and a drive to explore materials beyond conventional painting, setting the stage for his later experimental approach to paper and installation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Seen and the Unseen

What is The Seen and the Unseen about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form conversations that explore big ideas at the intersection of economics, governance, culture, and society. The show features deep dives with policymakers, lawyers, academics, journalists, artists, and entrepreneurs, often unpacking complex topics like regulation, public policy, economic reform, and social change through data, history, and personal narratives. Episodes tend toward nuanced, long conversations that illuminate how incentives, institutions, and culture shape outcomes for individuals and societies, with a distinctive Indian context. A few standout traits include rigorous analytical framing, guest-driven storytelling, and a capacity to connect abstract theories to real-world implications. This mix makes it a strong fit for... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Seen and the Unseen?

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1. Cyrus Says
2. In Focus by The Hindu
3. ThePrint
4. Daybreak
5. The Morning Brief

How many episodes of The Seen and the Unseen are there?

The Seen and the Unseen launched 9 years ago and published 449 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Seen and the Unseen?

Recent guests on The Seen and the Unseen include:

1. Saloni Dattani
2. Suman Kumar
3. Akshay Jaitly
4. Ravikumar Kashi
5. Ram Guha
6. Janhavi Nilekani
7. Gautam John
8. Rukmini S

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