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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
Economic Growth
China
Advertising
Creativity
India-Pakistan Relations
South Africa
Misinformation
Terrorism
Delhi
Kashmir
Post-Apartheid Society
Bangalore
Political Landscape

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 monthlyEpisodes456Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Seen and the Unseen

Latest Episodes

The city and nature do not need to be at odds with each other; and dreamers can be doers. Harini Nagendra joins Amit Varma in episode 452 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss her work in ecology, urban sustainability, detective fiction and the art o... more

There should be more to our lives than just doing well for ourselves. Manish Sabharwal joins Amit Varma in episode 451 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe his journey from being a successful entrepreneur to trying to change India. (FOR FULL LINKED... more

YouTube

On Independence Day week, why not look back at some highlights and lowlights of the last 79 years? Pranay Kotasthane and Raghu S Jaitley join Amit Varma in episode 450 of The Seen and the Unseen, and each of them presents his list. You will find hope... more

YouTube

The 1980s were box office, and General K Sundarji was Forrest Gump, everywhere all at once. Probal DasGupta joins Amit Varma in episode 449 to tell the story of a fascinating man and the turbulent times he lived in. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Manish Sabharwal
Founder of TeamLease, entrepreneur, public policy thinker
TeamLease
Episode: Ep 451: Manish Sabharwal is a Good Ancestor
Raghu S Jaitley
Also known as RLJ, co-author of Anticipating the Unintended newsletter
Anticipating the Unintended (newsletter)
Episode: Ep 450: Small Doors Into the Large Rooms of India
Probal DasGupta
Former army officer turned historian, author of General Brasstacks
Episode: Ep 449: Five Assassinations and an Arms Deal
Vidya Mahambare
Economist and author; based in Chennai; columnist and educator
Episode: Ep 448: Vidya Mahambare, the Rooted Economist
Rahul Ahluwalia
Founder Director, Foundation for Economic Development
Foundation for Economic Development (FED)
Episode: Ep 447: Rahul Ahluwalia Fights for Growth and Freedom
Luis Miranda
Chairman, Centre for Civil Society; Co‑founder, Indian School of Public Policy; investor and social entrepreneur
Centre for Civil Society; Indian School of Public Policy
Episode: Ep 446: The Joyful Agency of Luis Miranda
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

Host

Amit Varma
Host of the longform conversation series, known for deep-dive interviews across history, economics, policy, and culture.

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 States8 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
    Indiaa year 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
    Indiaa year 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.

The long-form, thoughtful interviews reveal rich perspectives and deep intellect.
Listeners praise the host's listening style and the breadth of guests.
Some critique persistent libertarian framing, but overall value the nuanced discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#52
India/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#3
India/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#9
India/News
Apple Podcasts
#69
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#106
Singapore/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#215
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 451: Manish Sabharwal is a Good Ancestor
Q: How do you view the balance between thinking and doing in business and policy?
Sabharwal argues for a virtuous cycle where thinking informs action, action produces data, and learning sharpens vision to re-enter action with better decisions. He stresses the importance of combining thought and action rather than choosing one at the expense of the other.
Ep 451: Manish Sabharwal is a Good Ancestor
Q: What was the size of your world before Wharton, and how did Wharton change your thinking?
He describes growing up with a broad curiosity, then entering Wharton where he realized he could think bigger and that others weren't inherently smarter, which expanded his sense of possibility and pushed him to pursue bold plans like India Life and international funding.
Ep 451: Manish Sabharwal is a Good Ancestor
Q: Tell me about the motivations behind wanting to be an entrepreneur, even before you went to work.
Sabharwal explains that Hyderabad's four-year stint and exposure to a growth company culture sparked the entrepreneurial bug. He emphasizes learning from role models, reading biographies, and realizing that entrepreneurship is about taking charge of destiny, learning from failures, and mutating a business idea until it works.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Professions
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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 complex ideas across politics, economics, science, and culture with a focus on how institutions, incentives, and history shape modern society. Episodes often mix rigorous analysis with personal narratives, drawing on data, case studies, and historical context to illuminate why policies and human behavior produce certain outcomes. Notable strengths include deep, sustained dialogues, a knack for connecting micro-level details to macro effects, and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. This show tends to appeal to curious listeners who enjoy thoughtful, nuanced discussions and are comfortable with long, exploratory conversations that reward careful listening.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Seen and the Unseen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Seen and the Unseen:

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

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

The Seen and the Unseen launched 10 years ago and published 456 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. Manish Sabharwal
2. Raghu S Jaitley
3. Probal DasGupta
4. Vidya Mahambare
5. Rahul Ahluwalia
6. Luis Miranda
7. Saloni Dattani
8. Suman Kumar

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