This is an audio Podcast where we revisit stories that have stood the test of time. Fables, legends, and human truths that shaped our ancestors and can guide us today. For years, I’ve explored the power of the human voice, from the radio studio to the leadership stage. And I’ve realised that today’s generation is missing out on the oldest, most powerful 'Wi-Fi' signal we have... the Art of Storytelling. We aren't just listening to stories; we are co-creating them. We are building the 'Human Library,' one heartbeat at a time.
Once Upon A Time - Stories that have stood the test of time
Claim This Podcastby Rashmi Shetty
13 episodes
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Podcast Overview
This is an audio Podcast where we revisit stories that have stood the test of time. Fables, legends, and human truths that shaped our ancestors and can guide us today. For years, I’ve explored the power of the human voice, from the radio studio to the leadership stage. And I’ve realised that today’s generation is missing out on the oldest, most powerful 'Wi-Fi' signal we have... the Art of Storytelling. We aren't just listening to stories; we are co-creating them. We are building the 'Human Library,' one heartbeat at a time.
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Publishing Since
3/20/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 6, 2026
Once Upon A Time - Vishnu's Garuda
<p>In Hindu mythology, the story of <strong>Garuda</strong>, the king of birds and the vahana (mount) of Lord Vishnu, is a powerful epic of fierce devotion, maternal love, and the ultimate pursuit of freedom. His journey is primarily detailed in the Mahabharata.</p><p><strong>The Exchange of Boons</strong></p><p>Deeply moved by this level of selflessness and purity of intent, Vishnu blocked Garuda's path, not to fight him, but to honor him. Vishnu said, "I am immensely pleased with your strength and your self-restraint. Ask for any boon you desire."</p><p>Garuda, possessing a fierce sense of pride and independence, made a bold request. He asked for two things:</p><ol><li><strong>Immortal Sovereignty:</strong> To be immortal and eternally youthful without needing to drink the Amrita.</li><li><strong>A Higher Status:</strong> To hold a position higher than Vishnu himself.</li></ol><p>Vishnu, smiling at the clever and proud request, granted both immediately. To fulfill the second boon without upsetting the cosmic balance, Vishnu placed the emblem of Garuda upon his own <strong>dhwaja</strong> (battle flagstaff). Because the flag flies above the chariot, Garuda would literally always hold a position higher than Vishnu.</p><p><strong>The Sacred Partnership</strong></p><p>Touched by Vishnu’s grace, generosity, and lack of ego, Garuda’s fierce pride dissolved into deep reverence. He realized he was standing before the ultimate source of cosmic balance.</p><p>Wanting to reciprocate Vishnu's generosity, Garuda turned to the Lord and said, "You have granted my wishes. Now, it is my turn. Ask a boon of me."</p><p>Vishnu replied,</p><p>"Be my vehicle, and let us together sustain the universe."</p><p>Garuda joyfully accepted. From that moment on, he became <strong>Vishnu-Vahana</strong> (the mount of Vishnu).</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>The Symbology Behind the Alliance</strong></p><p>This was never a relationship of a master and a servant; it was a partnership of resonance.</p><ul><li><strong>Vishnu</strong> represents the cosmic order, preservation, and the ultimate internal intent of the universe.</li><li><strong>Garuda</strong> represents the external expression of that intent—swift, powerful, fearless, and capable of soaring to the highest heights of consciousness.</li></ul><p>By becoming Vishnu's mount, Garuda symbolized that when immense power is aligned with a righteous and selfless purpose, it moves the divine itself.</p><p><br></p><p>Through his unwavering focus, absolute clarity of intent, and deep love, Garuda not only broke the chains of his mother's bondage but earned a place of highest honor among the gods. He remains a timeless symbol of <strong>uncompromised freedom, fierce loyalty, and the power to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers.</strong></p><p>The moment Garuda became Lord Vishnu’s mount is one of the most beautiful turning points in Hindu mythology, highlighting a profound mutual respect between supreme power and absolute integrity.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
May 31, 2026
Once Upon A Time- The Bhagavad Gita
<p>Imagine a massive battlefield called Kurukshetra. Two massive armies—cousins turned bitter enemies—stand face-to-face, ready to wage a war that will alter history. The conch shells have blown, weapons are raised, and the air is thick with tension.</p><p><br></p><p>In the center of this impending chaos stands a single chariot.</p><p><br></p><p>Inside the chariot is Arjuna, the world’s greatest archer, and his charioteer, Krishna. Arjuna asks Krishna to drive him into the "no-man's-land" between the two armies so he can look upon the people he is about to fight.</p><p>As he looks across the field, reality hits him like a physical blow. He doesn’t just see an abstract enemy; he sees his uncles, his childhood teachers, his cousins, and old friends. Suddenly, his strength drains away. His legendary bow, Gandiva, slips from his trembling hands. His skin burns, and his mind races.</p><p><br></p><p>Arjuna collapses into the seat of his chariot, overwhelmed by an intense existential crisis. He tells Krishna: "I cannot fight. No good can come from killing my own kinsmen. Even if it wins me a kingdom, the price is too high."</p><p>This is the exact moment the Bhagavad Gita—which translates to <strong>"The Song of God”</strong>—begins. it is a beautiful, loving conversation between a sad prince and his wise friend.</p><p><br></p><p>Even though this story happened a very long time ago, the Bhagavad Gita is a book that people all over the world still read today. Why? Because we all have a little battlefield inside our own minds sometimes.</p><p>You might not have a bow and arrow, but have you ever felt totally stuck? Like when you have a big test and your tummy gets butterflies, or when you are so angry at a friend that you don't know what to do, or when doing the right thing feels really hard?</p><p>Krishna sat quietly with Arjuna and told him a few secrets to help him feel strong again. These are secrets we can use every single day:</p><p><strong>1. Focus on the "Doing," Not the "Winning"</strong></p><p>Krishna told Arjuna that when we worry too much about winning a trophy, getting a perfect grade, or what people will think of us, we get scared and freeze.</p><p><strong>The Secret:</strong> Just focus on doing your absolute best right now. Enjoy the drawing, practice the sport, or do the homework with love, and don't worry about the prize.</p><p><strong>2. Find Your Inner Superpower (</strong><strong>Dharma</strong><strong>)</strong></p><p>Krishna reminded Arjuna that he was a protector. It was his job to stand up for fairness and kindness. If he ran away, he wouldn't be true to who he was.</p><p><strong>The Secret:</strong> We all have a special job in the moments we live in. Sometimes your job is to be a helpful son or daughter. Sometimes it’s to be a kind friend to someone who is lonely. Find your job for the day and do it proudly.</p><p><strong>3. Take a Deep Breath and Listen Inside</strong></p><p>Arjuna’s mind was like a stormy ocean full of loud waves. Krishna helped him calm the storm by teaching him how to breathe, understand his feelings, and find a quiet, peaceful space inside his own heart.</p><p><strong>The Secret:</strong> No matter how loud or scary the world gets outside, you always have a quiet, safe, and happy place inside you. You just have to pause and listen to it.</p><p><strong>The Happy Ending</strong></p><p>By the end of their long talk, Arjuna wasn't scared anymore. He wiped away his tears, picked up his mighty bow, and stood up straight. He knew exactly what he had to do, and he felt a deep peace inside.</p><p>The Bhagavad Gita is such an important book because it reminds us that <strong>whenever we feel lost, sad, or confused, we don't have to run away.</strong> We just need to stop, talk to our inner wisdom, and remember that we are strong enough to face any storm!</p>
May 8, 2026
Once Upon A Time- Rabindranath Tagore
<p>In the sprawling, high-ceilinged corridors of the Jorasanko mansion in Calcutta, the air was perpetually thick with the sounds of the Bengal Renaissance. It was here, on May 7, 1861, that the thirteenth surviving child of the illustrious Tagore family was born: <strong>Rabindranath</strong>, affectionately known as "Rabi."</p><p>While his father, the reformer Debendranath, was often away on distant travels and his mother, Sarada Devi, passed during his early childhood, Rabi’s world was far from empty. He was raised in a "nest of giants," a household that functioned more like a vibrant cultural laboratory than a traditional home.</p><p><strong>A Dynasty of Intellect</strong></p><p>The Tagore family lived at the cutting edge of art, politics, and philosophy. To grow up in Jorasanko was to be tutored by the very architects of modern Indian thought:</p><ul><li><strong>Dwijendranath (Brother):</strong> A deep-thinking philosopher and poet.</li><li><strong>Satyendranath (Brother):</strong> A trailblazer who became the first Indian to join the elite Indian Civil Service.</li><li><strong>Jyotirindranath (Brother):</strong> A versatile musician and playwright who, along with his wife <strong>Kadambari Devi</strong>, provided the young Rabi with his most profound creative encouragement.</li><li><strong>Swarnakumari (Sister):</strong> A pioneering novelist in her own right.</li></ul><p><strong>The Symphony of Jorasanko</strong></p><p>Young Rabi’s education didn't just come from books; it was absorbed through the walls. The mansion echoed with:</p><ol><li><strong>Classical Mastery:</strong> Professional Dhrupad musicians lived within the house, filling the halls with the rigorous beauty of Indian classical music.</li><li><strong>Literary Ferment:</strong> The family-run magazines and theatrical recitals blurred the lines between Bengali tradition and Western classical influence.</li></ol><p>In this atmosphere of constant rehearsal and intellectual debate, the boy nicknamed "Rabi" began to find the voice that would eventually resonate across the globe.</p><p><br></p><p>Rabindranath Tagore's journey was never a straight line. As a young man, he was sent to manage his family’s river estates in what is now Bangladesh. Living on a houseboat, he watched the Padma River flow, observing the simple, profound lives of the villagers. It was here that he realized true leadership isn’t about power—it’s about resonance. He began to write stories like Kabuliwala, bridging the gap between a rugged Afghan fruit-seller and a little girl, proving that the language of the heart is universal.</p><p>But the world soon came knocking. In 1912, while sailing to England, he translated a collection of poems called Gitanjali just to pass the time. Those "Song Offerings" hit the West like a tidal wave of calm in a world bracing for war. A year later, he became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Suddenly, the boy who hated school was the teacher to the world.</p><p>Yet, Tagore knew that fame was a hollow "badge of honor" if it didn't serve justice. When British forces committed the horrific Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919, he did the unthinkable: he gave back his knighthood. He chose the "Physics of Presence" over prestige, standing in silent, powerful protest. He became the "Gurudev" to Mahatma Gandhi, the man who named Gandhi the "Great Soul," even as he warned that loving a country should never mean hating the rest of the world.</p><p>Starting Shantiniketan was Tagore’s way of proving that authority doesn't have to be loud or restrictive. True authority comes from creating a space where others can find their own resonance. By building this "nest," he ensured that his philosophy of peace, creativity, and connection would continue to breathe long after his own voice fell silent.</p><p>Rabindranath Tagore passed away on August 7, 1941, just years before seeing India walk free. But he didn't leave behind just books or medals; he left behind a map. He showed us that whether you are a student, a poet, or a leader, your greatest work is to find your own "Internal Signal" and live it so loudly that the world can't help but sing along.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
13 total episodes available
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