We joke about red flags, we romanticise trauma bonds, we edit toxic scenes into cute reels, but somewhere in the process, we lost sight of what love is supposed to look like.
And honestly? We’re paying the price for it.
This week, we are talking about one of the most twisted lessons our generation internalized: Why do we romanticise toxic love so much? Why toxic love feels addictive. And why healthy love feels “too boring.”
In this episode of Holy books to memes: how memes spread like religions, we explore an unexpected but fascinating question: why do memes spread the same way chants, prayers, and sacred stories once did? From Buddhist monks reciting teachings across Asia to early Christian communities passing handwritten letters, humans have always shared ideas in patterns. Today, those patterns appear in the form of meme templates, reaction faces, TikTok audios, and the language of internet culture.
Along the way, we look at how images evolve, how communities form, how “original sources” become digital relics, and how using a meme incorrectly is treated almost like heresy. You might be surprised by how closely the internet mirrors ancient traditions.
Join us as we dive into the strange and delightful parallels between holy books and meme formats, and discover what this tells us about human nature, storytelling, and our endless search for meaning.
Dear Listeners,
Picture this: the sun rising over a campus buzzing with possibility. One student wakes up in their childhood bedroom, minutes from class. Another wakes up miles from home, surrounded by unfamiliar walls and even more unfamiliar emotions.
Same journey. Different heartbeat.
Welcome to Real Talk, where we peel back the polished surface of college life and slip into the stories that don’t make it onto brochures. A localite and a non-localite sit down for a conversation that’s part confession, part revelation, and completely honest. They talk about the messy, magical reality of the first year juggling independence, navigating family expectations, drowning in assignments, finding community, missing home in ways they didn’t expect, and learning that boundaries aren’t walls but bridges to self-respect.
If you’re trying to survive your first semester, searching for your people, or simply needing a reminder that you’re not wandering this road alone, tune in as we unravel the truths, the tensions, and the tiny victories that make this journey yours.
Cutting-Chai follows a small moment in a regular morning. Two strangers stop at a stall, share tea, talk a little, and sit through a few stretches of silence. Nothing dramatic happens, yet something quiet hangs in the air.
The piece moves through simple details and passing thoughts. It hints at shifts that are easy to miss while they are happening. A cup cools, the city keeps moving, and the moment fades before anyone names it.
What it means is left open.
A moment of connection, born out of routine, reminding us that sameness is only the surface—Underneath, everything flows.
This episode of The Stepwell Radio delves into the quiet obsession that pushes us back towards the past, a time period we never even got to experience. It’s something that asks us to consider whether our yearning for retro aesthetics, whether it's Polaroids, vinyls, Y2K, or grungecore, is just a passing nostalgic fad or if we’re really searching for meaning in a world that feels harsh and artificial.
What starts as a memory can turn into a simulation; our memories can become marketing, and so can longing become a trend.
In this episode of Decoding the Influencer, we trace this fascinating evolution from perfection to relatability, from scripted pitches to self-aware storytelling. We explore how humor, chaos, and honesty have become the new languages of marketing. The modern influencer doesn’t just sell a product, they sell a feeling, a story, a piece of themselves.
So, how did we get here? And what does it say about us, the audience that craves “realness” even when it’s carefully curated?
Tune in to Stepwell Radio as we decode how influence, authenticity, and attention have rewritten the rules of marketing because sometimes the smartest ads don’t look like ads at all;
In this special Collaborate episode with Tinkerers’ Lab, we sit down with Colonel Sanjay Gokhale (Retd), a veteran with over 36 years of distinguished service in the Indian Army, United Nations, and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Through his insightful experiences, Colonel Gokhale sheds light on how cutting-edge research, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies are transforming strategy, surveillance, and security in the modern world. From drones to data driven warfare, this conversation explores how science and innovation are redefining national defence and the ethical questions that come with it.
Prophecies in Print: When the lines between fiction and reality blur.
This episode explores how dystopian fiction has found a haunting resonance in today’s world... tracing its ties to extreme capitalism, widening social inequity, economic volatility, environmental collapse, and the rise of extremist ideologies. Has dystopia stopped being a distant warning and become our lived reality? We examine what forces have shaped this landscape, how eerily it mirrors the worlds once confined to fiction, and whether we still have the power, or the time, to change course. What hope remains for us now?
What is your relationship with art? Have you ever wondered about the broader role it plays in your life? These questions have already been thought by folks throughout history, often in ways surprisingly relevant to our world today. Welcome to It's Already Been Thought! Tune in to find out what they had to say about it, and how much the student's discourse obsesses over it.
We're all using AI now, but here's the honest question: Is it making us better thinkers, or just faster typers?
In this episode, we sat down with Ms. Juhi Bansal, Senior Associate Director of CLEF, to reimagine how students can move past the temptation of using AI as a quick shortcut. The real power is in using it as a thought partner—a tool that sharpens your critical thinking and expands your curiosity. If we get this right, technology won't replace human intelligence, it will amplify it.
It's time to redefine your relationship with AI.
What do a billionaire's downfall and your own bank account have in common? More than you thinking 🤔💭
On the 1st episode of The Unread Manual, we're not just telling the story of a high-profile collapse; we're decoding the secrets of money that everyone should know. From cash flow to leverage and the quiet world of shell companies, we’ll reveal the financial mistakes that can bring an empire to its knees.
Tune in to learn the unwritten rules of money and you might just save yourself from a costly mistake.
We've become experts at using terms like "anxiety" and "OCD," but are we really helping, or are we just trivializing what it means to live with these conditions?
Meme-culture has exposed us to a bunch of new terms but do we even know what they mean or are we simply using them for the fun ot it? This week at The Stepwell Radio, we dive into the difference between awareness and understanding.
We're talking about why "meme-ifying" mental health can be so dangerous. This is a serious call to move from casual conversation to mindful ones, that come from a place of genuine empathy and support.
Join us as we explore what it means to have a conversation that truly heals and remember, your words hold value, even when the conversations are casual.
Is the pursuit of being relatable costing us our originality? This week on The Stepwell Radio, we unpack performative authenticity, the hidden pressures faced by creators and why daring to be different, and maybe even uncool matters now more than ever!
Tune in and rethink authenticity, algorithms and the future of creativity.
Geet from Jab We Met—icon of freedom or face of chaos?
On the second episode of Reality Check, we step into Aditya’s & Anshuman’s shoes to see Geet beyond her bubbly charm—her contradictions, her choices, and their impact. Do her choices make sense in the real world? Or is it just exaggerated loudness of a "sunshine character"?
Tune in for a reality check on another one of your Bollywood favorites.
Is democracy still what we were taught it was? We asked students of Ahmedabad University and they had some very strong opinions.
Tune in to hear students' voices on what works, what doesn't and what might.
On May 3, 2023, violence broke the in Manipur. Ever since then, there hasn't been a solutions in sight to cease the conflict. Manipur is a complex entity that amalgamates ethnic, social, and political tensions which render the current insurgency endless.
On *Manipur: Echoes on Conflict*, join us for an honest conversation with Professor Sudeep Chakravarti, which uncovers the historical tensions, the present standing of the conflict, the complexities of Manipur, and a possible future.
When you pass put from school, you're Almost There but not quite. Then, you graduate college, and you're Almost There, but not quite. 🙃🤭 Life is quite the journey, and there are plenty of destinations to be reached. So when those who are Almost There, to graduate in two months, how do they feel? What are their stories? What is the unknown regret behind the bright smile? 🥺This Saturday, join us on the Stepwell Radio to know about the stories of these four Almost-graduates, and know what is the joy of contentment
Hustle harder? Or hustle smarter?
This week's Hustle Culture podcast explores the toxic side of constant busyness and how it can mask emotional distress. Tune in for a fresh perspective on success!
"The words we don't say are often the ones that stay with us the longest."
— Yasmin Mogahed
Dear Listeners,
Ever typed out a message, stared at it for minutes, and then hit delete instead of send? We all have words we couldn't say—whether it was a love confession, an apology, a thank you, or just something that felt too raw to share.
This Valentine’s Day on Stepwell Radio, we’re bringing you "Unsent Texts: The Words We Couldn’t Say." A special segment where we read real, anonymous messages that never made it to their intended recipients. Some are sweet, some are heartbreaking, and some might just make you laugh—but all of them remind us of the power of words left unspoken.
Let’s bring those words into the light—one message at a time.
Tune in and feel the feels.
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
― Gustave Flauber
Tune In for a World of Adventure on World Tourism Day!
Get ready to embark on an exciting journey of insights and wanderlust! Join us on World Tourism Day for an exclusive radio show where we take you on a whirlwind adventure with none other than Meeta Shah, the dynamic CEO of Flamingo Transworld Pvt Ltd.
Meeta Shah will share her captivating experiences from the world of travel, revealing how globetrotting has transformed her life. But that's not all! She'll also inspire students to consider travel as a thrilling career choice, shedding light on the fact that it's not just about fun – it's a booming industry!
So, mark your calendars and fasten your seatbelts for a show that promises to be as exhilarating as a round-the-world trip! Don't miss out!