Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala
411 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago -Actionable Insights & Inspiring conversations on Work, Well-being & Wealth to learn from and use in your Career & Life.
Homepage Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Dhruv Sehgal (of Little Things) on the Art of Storytelling , Relationships & Social media
January 12, 2023 00:30 - 58 minutes - 54 MBThere’s never been a time in human history when we as a species have been as “connected” as we are now. Social media pervades almost every aspect of our lives. And yet, writer Dhruv Sehgal confesses that the need to actively engage with the world is something that he feels less and less everyday. Because there is an abundance of mostly irrelevant information being thrown our way every minute, that we have very little desire or energy left to build connections that really matter. In this episo...
Arman Sood (Sleepy Owl) on the Entrepreneur Mindset
January 09, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBPeople often believe that there is only one way to start your entrepreneurial journey. But the more you talk to other entrepreneurs, you will realise just how unique and different each person’s path is. Each path has its own set of challenges, learnings, and speed of growth. Some faced numerous obstacles, while others saw success early. However, what does remain constant is the belief in their vision and the determination to reach the end. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun chats with Arm...
Arman Sood (Sleepy Owl) on the Entrepreneur Growth Mindset & Work Life Balance
January 09, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBPeople often believe that there is only one way to start your entrepreneurial journey. But the more you talk to other entrepreneurs, you will realise just how unique and different each person’s path is. Each path has its own set of challenges, learnings, and speed of growth. Some faced numerous obstacles, while others saw success early. However, what does remain constant is the belief in their vision and the determination to reach the end. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun chats with Arma...
Arman Sood (Sleepy Owl) on the Entrepreneur Growth Mindset & Work Life Balance
January 09, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBPeople often believe that there is only one way to start your entrepreneurial journey. But the more you talk to other entrepreneurs, you will realise just how unique and different each person’s path is. Each path has its own set of challenges, learnings, and speed of growth. Some faced numerous obstacles, while others saw success early. However, what does remain constant is the belief in their vision and the determination to reach the end. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun chats with Arma...
Raj Shamani on Figuring out Your Passion
January 05, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBWhen you’re a creator, confidence is considered a given. As a creator there is a level of vulnerability that comes into play every time you put a piece of content out into the world. While some creators enjoy the external appreciation and validation, others derive their joy from the content-making process itself. As content creation becomes a steady business of its own, the need to build a culture, understand short-term and long-term goals, and avoid the constant urge to compare numbers beco...
Raj Shamani on Figuring out Your Passion
January 05, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBWhen you’re a creator, confidence is considered a given. As a creator there is a level of vulnerability that comes into play every time you put a piece of content out into the world. While some creators enjoy the external appreciation and validation, others derive their joy from the content-making process itself. As content creation becomes a steady business of its own, the need to build a culture, understand short-term and long-term goals, and avoid the constant urge to compare numbers beco...
How You Can Achieve Work Life Balance
January 02, 2023 00:30 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBOnce you reach a certain point in adulthood, work starts taking up the number one spot in your list of priorities. We believe that to do well in your career, one needs to spend every waking moment working and working hard. While it may be a sure fast way to ensure success, it may not always be the most sustainable. Our mind is like any other machine – it requires downtime. It is constantly working round the clock to ensure our body's smooth functioning, along with carrying out the different ...
How You Can Achieve Work Life Balance
January 02, 2023 00:30 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBOnce you reach a certain point in adulthood, work starts taking up the number one spot in your list of priorities. We believe that to do well in your career, one needs to spend every waking moment working and working hard. While it may be a sure fast way to ensure success, it may not always be the most sustainable. Our mind is like any other machine – it requires downtime. It is constantly working round the clock to ensure our body's smooth functioning, along with carrying out the different ...
Love, Loneliness & Relationship questions with Smiti Srivastava
December 29, 2022 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBTrigger Warning: The following content may contain sensitive themes that is not suitable for all audiences. Listener Discretion is Advised. Relationships in the digital age are in a league of their own. New terms to describe relationships circulate every few months like the latest fashion trend. Situationship, ghosting, zombie-ing (yes, it’s an actual term), and soft launching are some of the types of relationships the youth find themselves in. Is there a deeper reason for the proliferatio...
Love, Loneliness & Relationship questions with Smiti Srivastava
December 29, 2022 00:30 - 59 minutes - 54.2 MBTrigger Warning: The following content may contain sensitive themes that is not suitable for all audiences. Listener Discretion is Advised. Relationships in the digital age are in a league of their own. New terms to describe relationships circulate every few months like the latest fashion trend. Situationship, ghosting, zombie-ing (yes, it’s an actual term), and soft launching are some of the types of relationships the youth find themselves in. Is there a deeper reason for the proliferatio...
Find Happiness Within Yourself
December 26, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.9 MBIf happiness is an emotion, and emotions, by definition, a part of our consciousness, then why do we go out of our way to search for it? Why is most of our life spent looking for happiness externally when it is available on the inside? In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about happiness and what it means for everyone. The definition of happiness may remain the same but the way it manifests itself in each of our lives is unique to each individual and their journey thus far. You can...
Find Happiness Within Yourself
December 26, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.92 MBIf happiness is an emotion, and emotions, by definition, a part of our consciousness, then why do we go out of our way to search for it? Why is most of our life spent looking for happiness externally when it is available on the inside? In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about happiness and what it means for everyone. The definition of happiness may remain the same but the way it manifests itself in each of our lives is unique to each individual and their journey thus far. You can...
Abish Mathew on unlocking Confidence in life
December 22, 2022 00:30 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBBeing onstage and performing can be an overwhelming experience for many. However, for some, it fills them with energy, and they thrive in the spotlight. Abish Mathew is the latter. In this episode of Take APause, Varun and Abish have an honest conversation about their content creation processes and who they are truly creating content for. They discuss their struggles with confidence, the advantages of therapy, and how it is not easy to say “no”. Abish Mathew is an Indian stand-up comedia...
Abish Mathew on unlocking Confidence in life
December 22, 2022 00:30 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBBeing onstage and performing can be an overwhelming experience for many. However, for some, it fills them with energy, and they thrive in the spotlight. Abish Mathew is the latter. In this episode of Take APause, Varun and Abish have an honest conversation about their content creation processes and who they are truly creating content for. They discuss their struggles with confidence, the advantages of therapy, and how it is not easy to say “no”. Abish Mathew is an Indian stand-up comedia...
Building community & amplifying voices with Supriya Paul ( CEO Josh Talks)
December 19, 2022 00:30 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBWhether due to language barriers or lack of access, the true potential of India's youth beyond Tier 1 cities remains largely untapped. Enabling them with opportunities and skills required to take on the cutthroat challenges of the job world or realise their entrepreneurial dreams, is what Josh Talks does best. In conversation with Supriya Paul, Varun asks her about her vision for the future, the journey of Josh Talks, and the challenges of running multiple verticals. Don’t miss this enriching...
Kubbra Sait on How She Overcame Her Fears
December 15, 2022 07:10 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBIn this episode of Take APause, Varun talks to the talented Kubbra Sait as they delve deeper into her life story. The metamorphosis from a shy, anxious kid to the enigmatic woman she is today, is a journey not many people know of. She shares key learnings from her life and why she consciously chooses to step out of her comfort zone. Kubbra Sait is an Indian actress, TV host and model who has appeared in films like Sultan and Ready. She became a household name for her performance as Kukoo o...
How I Found My Best Life in 7 Steps
December 12, 2022 00:30 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBIf life’s a journey, we are its passengers. Sometimes we find ourselves lost on our way, wishing there was something to help us navigate through the tough times. Well, no one thing works for everyone; however, some lessons do apply to all of us. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun shares seven such life-changing lessons he picked up through the various phases of life. By sharing them with you, he hopes they will help you lead a more fulfilling life. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything...
Follow your curiosity > passion
December 09, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.78 MBYou can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work “ at https://amzn.to/335QKow Follow Varun across social media platforms @VarunDuggi https://www.instagram.com/varunduggi/ https://www.youtube.com/c/VarunDuggi https://twitter.com/varunduggi And for a weekly download of mind musings and recommendations subscribe to his newsletter “Unschooled with Varun Duggirlala” at https://varunduggi.substack.com About the show “Take apause with Varu...
Choose Curiosity Over Passion
December 09, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.76 MBWhen we say we are passionate about something, it usually stems from a place of knowledge. We are well-informed about the subject at hand and function from a place of knowledge. Curiosity, on the other hand, is the thirst for knowledge. It denotes a need to learn more about a topic of interest. It fuels our learning and pushes us out of our comfort zone to get the questions in our minds answered. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks about what happens when we choose to follow our pa...
Why You Should Keep Repeating Yourself
December 05, 2022 00:30 - 5 minutes - 4.92 MBIn the pursuit of perceived uniqueness, we often tend to avoid being repetitive. If you think about the most famous, impactful people in the world, you will notice that they don’t have a new and unique perspective every time they speak. The core message will always remain the same, they just have a unique way of putting it across. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks about why it is okay to repeat ourselves. As a creator, he does find himself going back to older pieces of content an...
Why You Should Keep Repeating Yourself
December 05, 2022 00:30 - 5 minutes - 4.91 MBIn the pursuit of perceived uniqueness, we often tend to avoid being repetitive. If you think about the most famous, impactful people in the world, you will notice that they don’t have a new and unique perspective every time they speak. The core message will always remain the same, they just have a unique way of putting it across. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks about why it is okay to repeat ourselves. As a creator, he does find himself going back to older pieces of content an...
This Is How I Consistently Create Content
December 02, 2022 00:30 - 7 minutes - 6.58 MBIn the digital world, content is the currency that works. To ensure a steady stream of income (read: content) in this case, one has to be consistent. The truth is there are no original ideas. Every idea you see is a derivation of an original idea that has existed for a long time. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun shares his secret to consistently creating content across platforms. As a podcaster, YouTuber, and Instagram creator he is juggling multiple platforms at the same time. Mainta...
Train Your Mind to Look at the Bright Side
November 28, 2022 00:30 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MBOur mind is a powerful tool. Creative thinkers have channeled this power for centuries to build architectural marvels, invent technological gadgets and find a way to reach the moon. So, if we choose to only look at the negatives, our mind will spend time showing us evidence of it. In this episode, Varun talks about how our minds can be utilized to help us succeed. The outlook we choose determines our attitude toward life. So, choose wisely. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of...
Pause But Don’t Stop Moving
November 25, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.87 MBWe are all dealing with our own demons and fighting battles every day. Somedays we lose big, everything feels tougher, and the terrain ahead seems rougher. The constant barrage of people who tell you to move on can seem more like a taunt than well-meaning advice. In this episode, Varun talks about how this pain can be used. We don’t need to easily move on from things important to us, our feelings about them are very valid. Experience these emotions. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything ...
The Real Reason Behind Your Anxiety About the Future
November 21, 2022 00:30 - 2 minutes - 2.52 MBWe all worry about the future. Its uncertain nature, its ability to throw curveballs, and the resulting worry about whether we are truly prepared for what our future has in store. What we fail to realize is there is no way of knowing. There is no instrument, application, or human that can tell you exactly what your future will bring except one person – you. What you do today will determine how your tomorrow looks. In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about the root cause of our worri...
Is Your Indecisiveness Deciding Your Future?
November 18, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.86 MBIn our growing-up years, the chance to make our own decisions seems like the ticket to freedom we all crave. However, as we move ahead in life, we realize that every second we’re forced to make choices. It can be extremely overwhelming to face these decisions without knowing the outcome. Or, without knowing which path will lead us to the right destination. Sometimes, not taking a decision seems like a safe bet but in doing so we are making a choice – a choice to choose inaction and stay in...
Good Decisions Needn’t Be Perfect
November 14, 2022 00:30 - 2 minutes - 2.58 MBWe often find ourselves weighing our options before every decision. Our hands get clammy, we have sleepless nights, we overthink every aspect, and we wonder if each decision is going to be the one that will have a butterfly effect on our lives. We want it, no, we need each decision to be perfect. In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about this common dilemma everyone has faced at some point in their life. He suggests an approach where we don’t put the idea of perfection above the go...
How to Make Better Decisions (Listen to Your Body!)
November 11, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 3.13 MBOur body is an intuitive and efficient machine. Along with performing so many functions, it is also deeply attuned to our true emotions. Have you noticed how your body reacts before you’re going to do something exciting, and how different it feels when you’re doing things you don’t enjoy? In this episode, Varun talks about a concept recently discussed by Marie Forleo on gauging our true emotions about the tasks we’re about to do. She shares an interesting insight into the part our ego and o...
The Thin Line Between Passion & Stress
November 07, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.9 MBWhen doing something we love and enjoy, the passage of time and the volume of effort we put in seem immaterial. We want to continue with the task until we get the desired result, no matter how difficult it may be. Similarly, when tasked with something we find no joy in, time seems to drag on, making the task extremely difficult to complete. So how do we tackle this? In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about this unique situation and the thin line that determines whether the project...
How Slow Growth Helps You Progress Fast
November 04, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.89 MBThe very act of our inception was a race! Since then, we have just been running through life, chasing our next destination, the next goal, and the next milestone. We believe that society has set markers for our life, where if you’re 25 and not in a dream job, you are a failure. Is there a need to rush through life to meet the so-called standards the faceless people have set for us? Or can we choose to pick our pace and match our standards and expectations to live a fuller life? In this ep...
Try This Effective Way to Accomplish Your Goals
October 31, 2022 00:30 - 2 minutes - 2.6 MBIf you had to list down everything you want to achieve, how long would the list be? The expectations we set for ourselves can sometimes become those very things that overwhelm us. A mountain-worth of goals in a finite lifetime may be a tall order to fulfill. In this episode of Take APause, Varun talks about an effective way to achieve your goals without letting their sheer volume overwhelm you and throw you off your game. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instr...
Successful People Have Struggles Too!
October 28, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.79 MBHow many times have you seen a success story and thought to yourself, why not me? How many times have you compared yourself to someone else and thought about how easy their journey has been? Your journeys cannot be compared because the obstacles they had to overcome are far different than yours. Everyone has their own demons to fight, their own battles to win just like you. So, comparing your first few drafts to someone’s final masterpiece is a fruitless pursuit. In this episode of Take AP...
Successful People Have Struggles Too!
October 28, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.81 MBHow many times have you seen a success story and thought to yourself, why not me? How many times have you compared yourself to someone else and thought about how easy their journey has been? Your journeys cannot be compared because the obstacles they had to overcome are far different than yours. Everyone has their own demons to fight, their own battles to win just like you. So, comparing your first few drafts to someone’s final masterpiece is a fruitless pursuit. In this episode of Take AP...
Provide Support Through Listening
October 24, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.93 MBOur first instinct when we know someone is struggling is to ensure we give them support. We state similar instances from our lives to let them know they are not alone. This course of action might not have the desired effect on the individual. It may make them feel even worse. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun shares why he believes listening is an integral step to healing. What do you think? You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & wo...
7 Lessons That Changed My Life
October 21, 2022 00:30 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBOur lives are filled with moments that can alter its course. It is upto us to decide whether to take the path in front of us, or take a detour and learn a few new things along the way. Sadly, our decisions often tend to be influenced by fear – fear of judgement, fear of failure. Imagine if you could make decisions without these fears whispering in your head. What would you choose? In this episode, listen as Varun candidly shares lessons that helped pave the way for his life ahead. You can ...
The Formula for Fighting Your Fears
October 17, 2022 00:30 - 5 minutes - 4.81 MBWhen you think of the word “fear”, what comes to mind? Is it a collection of small things, or just one large looming emotion pertaining to something that scares you at a visceral level? Things you fear are like a close-knit bunch of friends; they usually flock together lending each other the power needed to control you. In this episode, Varun explores what it means to be afraid, and how you can wield that fear to grow as an individual. As humans, we tend to avoid things that scare us. By f...
Why We Only Remember the Winners!
October 14, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.81 MBDo you know who the first man on the moon was? The first Indian to win the Olympic gold? History is notorious for honouring only the ones who have achieved the impossible. Emphasis on the word “achieved”. When we look at winners, it is easy to get swept up in the waves of their accomplishments; we want to emulate their journey. It is common knowledge that for every winner that exists, there are far more who didn’t win. What can we do to learn from the best and the second-best? Tune in to t...
Why We Only Remember the Winners!
October 14, 2022 00:30 - 3 minutes - 2.82 MBDo you know who the first man on the moon was? The first Indian to win the Olympic gold? History is notorious for honouring only the ones who have achieved the impossible. Emphasis on the word “achieved”. When we look at winners, it is easy to get swept up in the waves of their accomplishments; we want to emulate their journey. It is common knowledge that for every winner that exists, there are far more who didn’t win. What can we do to learn from the best and the second-best? Tune in to t...
Finding Balance In Short Term vs Long Term Thinking
October 10, 2022 00:30 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MBA question most of us have heard often is, ‘what is your 5-year plan?’ While we may have some semblance of what we want to achieve, charting how to achieve them is equally important. The planning is just as important as the execution. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun weighs the importance of long-term and short-term goals to figure out how we can strike the right balance between the two in our lives. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for...
Finding Balance In Short Term vs Long Term Thinking
October 10, 2022 00:30 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MBA question most of us have heard often is, ‘what is your 5-year plan?’ While we may have some semblance of what we want to achieve, charting how to achieve them is equally important. The planning is just as important as the execution. In this episode of Take aPause, Varun weighs the importance of long-term and short-term goals to figure out how we can strike the right balance between the two in our lives. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for...
The Thin Line Between Being Confident and Bragging
October 07, 2022 00:30 - 5 minutes - 5.14 MBThe word bragging by definition is to speak with pride about something you have done or something you possess. Confidence, on the other hand, is defined as the feeling that you are sure about your own abilities. Read the definitions again. Aren’t they almost similar? In this episode of Take aPause, Varun breaks down a very famous quote by Muhammad Ali and how you can apply it to your own life too! You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & ...
Make Your Impossible Goals Possible! Listen Now
October 03, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.81 MBWe all have big plans for our lives and our future. The enormity of our goals can sometimes be extremely overwhelming. The How’s & Ifs of the plan threaten to dismantle the structure instead of helping form it. In this episode of Take APause, Varun shares a story from Will Smith’s life and how he still applies that lesson in the face of adversity. What helps you move forward with your life plans? You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & w...
Make Your Impossible Goals Possible! Listen Now
October 03, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.8 MBWe all have big plans for our lives and our future. The enormity of our goals can sometimes be extremely overwhelming. The How’s & Ifs of the plan threaten to dismantle the structure instead of helping form it. In this episode of Take APause, Varun shares a story from Will Smith’s life and how he still applies that lesson in the face of adversity. What helps you move forward with your life plans? You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruction manual for life & w...
How I Build Deeper Connections, Organically!
September 30, 2022 00:30 - 5 minutes - 4.96 MBConversations are the currency of the networking world. Every interaction comes with a subtext, a silent agenda. The way to navigate it is to ensure the purpose with which you conduct each exchange. At a personal level, it may be to find romantic relationships or make a friend. Professionally, it may be to increase your likeability and their perception. In this episode, Varun shares an interesting tip for building deeper connections and it may help you too! You can Order Varun’s book “Eve...
How I Build Deeper Connections, Organically!
September 30, 2022 00:30 - 5 minutes - 4.96 MBConversations are the currency of the networking world. Every interaction comes with a subtext, a silent agenda. The way to navigate it is to ensure the purpose with which you conduct each exchange. At a personal level, it may be to find romantic relationships or make a friend. Professionally, it may be to increase your likeability and their perception. In this episode, Varun shares an interesting tip for building deeper connections and it may help you too! You can Order Varun’s book “Eve...
Why You Should Own Up When You're Wrong
September 26, 2022 00:30 - 4 minutes - 3.91 MBWhen you own up to a mistake you’ve made, you indicate that you’re willing to change and rectify things.This may come with its own repercussions in the short term, but to be willing to face them is what shows your strength of character. In this episode of Take a Pause, Varun talks about the importance of owning up to your mistakes and admitting when you are wrong, while being humble about the times you’ve been right. It’s not something that comes naturally to most of us, but truly is a test...
Uncomfortable Conversations: Your Key to Better Relationships
September 23, 2022 00:30 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MBEach time you avoid an uncomfortable conversation, you end up creating a bigger problem for another day – a day that is bound to arrive sooner rather than later. It is in fact the conversations that you feel like running away from that hold the key to real freedom and growth. In this episode of Take a Pause, Varun talks about the importance of uncomfortable conversations in overcoming barriers in life and relationships. You can Order Varun’s book “Everything is out of syllabus: An instruct...
How You Can Get Past Your Fears
September 19, 2022 00:30 - 4 minutes - 4.12 MBNone of us are born fearful. But we all develop different fears over time. Our fears usually stem from one bad experience that we either overlooked or swept under the rug in that moment. It is the tendency of these ‘pushed away’ fears to build over time and hold us back from truly moving forward. In this episode of Take a Pause, Varun talks about the importance of understanding the real root of our fears and building mechanisms to overcome them and move forward. You can Order Varun’s book...
Hustling ≠ Happiness
September 16, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.69 MBDoes working longer hours really lead to more productivity? Does pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion really lead to happiness and success? In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks to Sid Warrier about the impact of the hustle culture on day-to-day life. Dr Sid Warrier is a neurologist with over five years of experience in the field of neurology. On his YouTube channel, he explores science, mental health, and human behaviour in an attempt to bring conversations about neuroscience...
Hustling ≠ Happiness
September 16, 2022 00:30 - 6 minutes - 5.67 MBDoes working longer hours really lead to more productivity? Does pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion really lead to happiness and success? In this episode of Take aPause, Varun talks to Sid Warrier about the impact of the hustle culture on day-to-day life. Dr Sid Warrier is a neurologist with over five years of experience in the field of neurology. On his YouTube channel, he explores science, mental health, and human behaviour in an attempt to bring conversations about neuroscience...