The evolution of Indian podcasting
Feb 17, 2026 [[read-time]] minute read
India’s podcasting landscape is rapidly evolving from audio-only formats into dynamic, visual-first 'podshows.' We sat down with the creators of Having Said That Show, Explore with Epaphra, and The Chill Hour to uncover how they are redefining storytelling and building authentic communities.
The Having Said That Show
What was the inspiration behind starting your podcast?
The inspiration for the show comes from Seinfeld and its idea of being a “show about nothing.” We wanted to translate that philosophy and create a podcast about nothing, where a group of friends are having conversations about random everyday things.
How did sharing your podcast on YouTube change your approach to content production?
We were always clear that video would be the format we champion. As a result of that approach, we were not confined to a studio and we began recording across multiple environments—restaurants, concerts, festivals, and real-world settings that add context and texture to the conversation.
How do you make your audience feel a part of the community?
One of the most effective ways we’ve built a sense of community is by taking HST offline through live podcast shows and recordings, where we get to meet and engage with our listeners in person.
Explore with Epaphra
What was the inspiration behind starting your podcast?
Most people are shown only two lanes: the “safe” path or the “highly visible” path. But in reality, many meaningful careers are built in a third, unconventional lane—quietly, patiently, and often against the norm. The Third Lane Podcast was born from that exact tension.
What role do the language and topics you choose play in forming a deeper connection with your audience?
I primarily use a mix of English and Tamil (Tanglish), which mirrors how my audience actually thinks and speaks. Topic-wise, I lean toward ideas people feel but haven’t fully articulated yet—identity, pressure, ambition, confusion, growth. When you name something someone is already experiencing internally, connection happens instantly.
How do you decide which moments from a long-form episode are worthy of clipping into a YouTube Short?
A good Short usually captures a sharp insight, a reframing of a common belief, or a sentence that makes someone pause. If a clip can stand alone, spark curiosity, and still respect the depth of the original conversation, it’s worth sharing. Shorts for me are invitations, not summaries.
The Chill Hour
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind starting your podcast?
I decided to launch The Chill Hour in 2023. It’s a podcast with authentic, real, raw conversations. The idea was to meet interesting, like-minded people and spark conversations that would add to important discussions on the internet.
How did sharing your podcast on YouTube change your approach to content production?
YouTube helps us navigate through what the audience is looking for through its analytics and Studio and especially the new "Podcast" playlist has made it easier for the audience to clearly bifurcate between normal videos and podcast episodes.
Do your fans engage more with the topic or the personality?
Ideally, both. For some episodes, the topic runs the show but for some, if the guest is famous or is trending, they take the front seat. But the idea is to do content based on what's been working and that's where the Analytics comes into picture. The topic and the guest are also interlinked - we try to think of guests we want to get on the show and then think of different topics that can be discussed with the guest —something that has not been discussed before in their interviews.