5 Podcasts on Womanhood in Modern India
Curated by Aakriti Dhawan
Podcasts That Go Beyond Borders
Explore womanhood with honesty through podcast recommendations curated by Aakriti Dhawan, host of Beyond Borders. Beyond Borders is a series that takes you on a thrilling journey across the globe, unraveling stories that transcend boundaries and cultures. The aim is to share the experiences and narratives of individuals who have worked or been involved in any cross-border activities. From living abroad as a student to research accomplishments, we bring exciting journeys for you to listen to.
Aakriti’s list of podcast recommendations shares stories ranging from identity loss and emotional labor to resilience and self-rediscovery. Each episode highlights the social pressures, cultural expectations, and personal struggles women navigate across generations. Together, they create a powerful, nuanced portrait of women finding strength and empowerment in stories.
5 Podcasts on Modern Indian Womanhood
This list of podcast recommendations centers on Indian women navigating identity, expectation, and empowerment in a society shaped by tradition, visibility, and change. Through intimate conversations spanning single motherhood, emotional labour, public life, resilience, and self-reclamation, these episodes foster honest dialogues about what it means to choose oneself as an Indian woman today. Together, they reflect the quiet rebellions, inherited pressures, and personal courage that define modern womanhood in India.
The following recommendations — and episode descriptions — were thoughtfully curated and written by Aakriti
Beyond Borders Podcast
Episode: Women's Day Special: A Candid Conversation with My Mother
I sit down with my mother to explore her journey as a single parent — the identity struggles, social pressures, and responsibilities she carried alone. Together, we open up an honest dialogue about the often-unspoken choice women face between selfhood and motherhood and the idea of modern love.
Moment of Silence
Episode: A Moment of Silence for the Things That Broke Us
This episode dives into emotional vulnerability and healing — a heartfelt, honest conversation about pain, grief and the process of coping. It resonates with themes of women’s inner struggles, identity, and the emotional labour many carry silently.
Figuring Out with Raj Shamani
Episode: Are Women Safe in India? Sexual Violence, Marital Rape & Safety
This episode features a conversation on systemic violence against women in India, safety, social pressure — relevant to themes of women’s struggles, gender-based violence and empowerment.
What The Hell Navya
Episode: Failing, Learning, Growing
In this episode, Navya Naveli Nanda and the women of her household talk openly about failure, resilience, and the pressure women face to constantly perform and “get it right.” Coming from one of India’s most influential Bollywood families, their candid multigenerational conversation offers a rare, intimate look at how expectations, identity, and empowerment intersect in the lives of women who grew up in the public eye.
Bharti TV Podcast
Episode: Raw and Versatile: Rasika Dugal’s Journey
In this episode, Rasika Dugal — a respected actress known for her nuanced roles — shares her experiences navigating the film industry, confronting typecasting, and asserting her identity and creative agency. The conversation offers insight into how women in entertainment confront societal pressures, career expectations, and the cost of staying “true” to oneself.
Thank you to Aakriti Dhawan for bringing us this list of podcast recommendation on womanhood in modern Indian. Make sure to check out her show, Beyond Borders.