Episode 8, Season 4

Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting

Guest: Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Paediatrician & Global HIV/TB Expert, Former Chief Scientist at WHO, Former Director General of ICMR, Chair, MSSRF

Rising cases of dengue. Surging respiratory conditions. Harsher working environments. The climate crisis has become a public health crisis. The question remains: what can be done?

Rathish Balakrishnan is joined by the veteran Dr Soumya Swaminathan, who has served as the Former Chief Scientist at the WHO, to discuss the varying intersections of climate change and health.

Together, they explore

- The multiple ways in which climate change impacts health, from animal-human conflicts to climate anxiety

- How to build climate-resilient health systems

- The role of governments at all levels in shaping policy, leading research, and prioritising climate-informed health practices

- What solutions could look like, spanning from farmer-friendly apps to municipal-level climate action plans

The climate challenge looms large, but the drive to adapt, safeguard, and thrive does too.

Tune in for an engaging conversation with one of the most accomplished doctors of our time.

Episode 7, Season 4

Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting

Guest: Pankhuri Shah & Muzamil Baig, Co-founders, Project DEEP

Do you believe we could lift India out of poverty with the help of cash transfers?Because the evidence says yes: direct and unconditional cash transfers improve recipients’ incomes, asset ownership, and mental well-being. Instead of “being wasted on alcohol” and “making people lazy,” the cash is directed into building houses, buying livestock, paying off debt, and making investments.

In this episode, Co-founders of Project DEEP (Devising an End to Extreme Poverty), Pankhuri Shah and Muzamil Baig join Rathish Balakrishnan for an opinion-shifting conversation as they uncover:

- Myths we have about the poor (and the rich)

- How communities actually use cash transfers to grow income and build assets

- The role of the government in enabling these schemes

- Types of transfers, their benefits and limitations, and what is needed to make them most effective

- The what and why of Universal Basic Income

This is an episode you don’t want to miss out on. Tune in here!

Episode 6 | Decoding Impact - Season 4

Host: Rathish Balakrishnan, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Sattva Consulting

Guest: Govind Iyer, a Member on the Board of Trustees of The Rockefeller Foundation, Chairperson, SVP India, and Independent Director of Infosys & Karmayogi Bharat

Social sector spending in India is gaining momentum. Domestic philanthropy grew 7% y-o-y to ₹1.31 lakh crore (FY24), while CSR investments reached ₹34,000 crore in FY23–24 (Bain–Dasra India Philanthropy Report 2025; Sattva Consulting, CSR’s Next Act 2025).

As funding becomes more strategic and systems-focused, how can nonprofits position themselves to truly leverage this shift?

Govind Iyer, drawing on his experience across philanthropy, NGOs, and leadership, shares grounded, actionable insights with Rathish on what it takes to create long-term impact. Together, they unpack:

• Why leadership skills are essentials—not overheads—for nonprofits

• How NGOs can build and sustain donor trust

• What growing CSR and domestic philanthropy mean for the sector

• What real systems change looks like—and where India’s most urgent challenges lie

  
  

  Topics covered:

  1. Intro to the current social sector spending landscape

  2. Lessons for nonprofit leaders

  3. How can we encourage Indians to give more & how nonprofits can build trust among (potential) donors

  4. Rethinking what a “return” looks like in impact

  5. How to unlock giving at scale

  6. How CSR strategies are evolving

  7. The importance of CSR forums & platforms for collaborations

  8. How philanthropy can leverage government social spending + systems change

  9. How to strengthen nonprofit delivery capabilities & why donors should care