What does it mean to belong when your life spans cultures, countries, and identities in motion?

In this episode, we speak with Arvinn Gadgil, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi. With roots in Maharashtra and a childhood in Pune, his return to India raises a deeper question: does a place ever stop being home?

We explore identity beyond nationality, the experience of being seen differently across contexts, and what it means to live — and belong — between worlds.

When the Air Tells the Truth

Guest: Tanya Singhal – Founder, SolarArise | ClimateTech & Renewable Energy Expert

Air pollution tells the truth about the cost of growth.

In this episode of The First and Only, I speak with Tanya Singhal, founder of SolarArise and a leading force in India’s renewable energy transition. We discuss India’s clean energy momentum, climate leadership, and what it takes to scale climate-tech solutions in a rapidly developing economy.

We also explore leadership, responsibility, and why the Global South must be central to climate action.

A focused and timely conversation on energy, impact, and the future we are building.

🎧 Now streaming on Spotify.

In this episode of The First and Only, I speak with Sara Abdullah Pilot, co-founder of Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEQUIN), about what it truly costs for girls to play — especially when they are the first and only in their families.

Before the pitch, there is permission.
Before ambition, there is justification.
Before talent, there is negotiation:

Is it safe? Is it respectable? Is it necessary?

Sara works with girls who are fighting systems they should never have had to fight — families to convince, institutions to educate, silence to push against. Our conversation makes one thing clear: resistance is systemic, not personal.

This episode is not just about football.

It’s about power, voice, and what it takes to claim space without apology — so that the next generation doesn’t have to fight the same battles alone.

In this episode, we travel into the world of elite youth football with Minerva Academy — one of India’s most respected football academies, known for developing young talent through discipline, belief, and world-class training.

We meet Chetan Tiwari (14) from Minerva Academy U14, whose journey recently reached an international milestone at the Norway Cup — the world’s largest youth football tournament.

Minerva Academy’s U14 team emerged as champions, marking a proud moment not just for the academy, but for Indian grassroots football on a global stage.

Beyond the win, this episode is about:

• What it takes to compete internationally at a young age
• The unseen discipline behind success
• Family sacrifice, belief, and resilience
• How Indian youth football is finding its place globally

As Chetan shares, his journey is inseparable from his older brother — who gave up his own dream so Chetan could live his.

In this episode of The First and Only, Ranjit Bajaj — founder of Minerva Academy — shares how he’s transforming Indian football from the grassroots. With 183,000 annual applications and no government or corporate backing, Minerva has produced champions who’ve won the Norway Cup, Dana Cup, and World Youth Cup.

Ranjit talks about spotting raw rural talent, building discipline and belief in young players, and what India must change to become a true football nation. A powerful conversation about opportunity, ambition, and the future of Indian football.