Human after all

Anoushka Shankar is one of the guests on the podcast

Musicians AR Rahman, Anoushka Shankar, Karsh Kale and film producer Guneet Monga. Those are just some of the big names that feature as guests on a new podcast that singer Monica Dogra is hosting, titled Reverence. In it, she unmasks hidden stories about these celebrities' daily lives, breaking the wall that exists between us and them. We speak to her about the endeavour. Edited excerpts from an interview.

Monica Dogra

What are the factors you kept in mind while choosing your guests for the podcast?
I initially wanted to choose people who I had personal relationships with, people who I know have traversed the peaks and valleys of life to an extreme; the ones who have paid a price for standing up for something.

What has it been like transitioning into a podcaster, in terms of the shift in your creative approach?
It is an entirely new medium for me. I've done unscripted interviews before, as the host of [singing show] Dewarists, and I also have had extensive experience in being interviewed. So, I felt fairly prepared to tackle this task. I was also ably supported by the team at the platform where it's airing, and that made me feel as though I was in good hands.

What would you say the central theme of the podcast series is?
The central theme of this podcast is examining the spiritual worlds of public figures, who are often touted for their accomplishments by being placed on untouchable pedestals. I believe that in this space, we can all meet one another with our defences down.

How would you encapsulate the meaning of the word ‘reverence'?
To revere something is to hold it in the highest regard. For me, reverence has romantic and devotional overtones.

What would you hope that the key takeaways for the listeners would be?
I believe each interview reveals a side of some of the most influential people that has never had light thrown on it before. Each episode has a life lesson in it that was like medicine for me in these times of isolation and devastation. Reverence, the podcast, is intimate, magical, and sweet, and I hope that listeners feel all of those emotions.

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