Ever dreamed of opening your own restaurant? Wondering what it takes to turn that dream into reality?

In this episode of Books and Beyond, Michelle and Tara chat with Ravi Wazir, author of Beyond the Menu who has over 30 years of experience in hospitality. Ravi spills the secrets of running a successful restaurant – from understanding what customers want to balancing creativity and business. He shares the highs and lows of managing staff, budgets, customer expectations, and how the COVID-19 pandemic changed the game.

In this exciting partnership series with Jaico Publishing House, we are featuring fascinating new authors every month, writers that captivate the audience and bring forth a revolutionary perspective to Indian literature.

Listen in as Ravi talks about the importance of food safety, ethics, and how technology is transforming the dining experience. If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in the restaurant world, this episode is for you.

Books mentioned in this episode:
Diamonds For Breakfast: Cool stories from Bombay’s hottest kitchen
McDonald's: Behind the Arches by John F Love
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
Sweets and Bitters by Satish Arora
Degh to Dastarkhwan: Qissas and Recipes from Rampur by Tarana Husain Khan

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

How are mourning practices in India varied? Are mourning rituals gendered?

In this episode of Books and Beyond, Tara speaks with Dr. Minakshi Dewan about her book The Final Farewell: Understanding the Last Rites and Rituals of India’s Major Faiths. After her father’s death, Dr. Minakshi chose to personally perform the Antim Sanskar, a ritual traditionally reserved for male family members. This experience, combined with her period of grieving, led her to explore the funeral rites traditions in India.

Tara and Dr. Minakshi delve into the customs surrounding funeral rites in India, examining the varied religious rituals, the gender roles involved in mourning, and the environmental impacts of these practices.

Tune in and learn more about the $2.5 billion Death Care Industry in India, the role of professional mourners, the portrayal of grieving women in Bollywood, and the evolving landscape of funeral services in the country.

Books mentioned in this episode:
Fire on the Ganges : Life Among the Dead in Banaras - Radhika Iyengar
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End - Atul Gawande
Samskara - U. R. Ananthamurthy
Death in Banaras - Jonathan P. Parry

Movies Mentioned in this episode:
Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi - Seema Pahwa
Rudali - Kalpana Lajmi
Pagglait - Umesh Bist

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Are influencers rewriting the rules of publishing?

Back with a brand new season of Books and Beyond, in this episode Tara and Michelle discuss the rise of influencer books and what it means for the Indian publishing scene. From the buzz at Penguin Palooza to the power of social media, they dig into how influencer-led content is changing the game. Plus, they tackle the big question: what happens to traditional authors when influencers dominate the shelves? Tune in to find out how content creation, smart distribution, and capturing young readers' attention early are shaping the future of publishing!

Books mentioned in this episode:

Under the Influence - Malini Agrawal
She’ll Never Make It - Masoom Minawala
The Psychology of Money - Morgan Housel
The Sex Book - Lisa Mangaldas
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones - James Clear
Make Epic Money - Ankur Warikoo
The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore- Manu S. Pillai
Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji - Manu S. Pillai
Spare - Prince Harry
Sach Kahu Toh - Neena Gupta
The Girls in Green - Tanushree Podder

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.