As we bring the first season of this podcast to a close, hosts Deepali and Soumya are joined by Breakthrough's CEO, Sohini Bhattacharya, to reflect on the story so far. They delve into Breakthrough's impactful work in challenging gender norms and the dominant cultural narrative through the lens of pop culture.

They reminisce about Breakthrough's pioneering campaigns like “Mann ke Manjeere,” which aimed to engage people in conversations about domestic violence; and "Bell Bajao," which encouraged men to stand up against it. They discuss the power of storytelling, and highlight moments from the podcast where female friendships, women uplifting women, and representation in media were explored. They emphasise the importance of seeding narratives through various cultural platforms and reaching out to audiences in regional languages to make the message more accessible.

They also touch upon Breakthrough’s ongoing research that aims to decode contemporary pop culture and develop intervention strategies that promote inclusivity and representation both on and off-screen.

Sohini Bhattacharya is the CEO of Breakthrough, an organisation focused on transforming gender norms and building the leadership of young people to prevent gender-based violence. She has worked in the development sector for 30+ years with a focus on women and empowerment. She has been closely connected to the Women’s Movement in India and co-founded Sanhita Gender Resource Centre — the first of its kind in Eastern India in 1996.

Know more about Breakthrough’s work at https://inbreakthrough.org/

Our Guest:

Sohini Bhattacharya

Find them on social media

Instagram @InBreakthrough

Twitter @InBreakthrough

Facebook @InBreakthrough

Or email us if you have questions contact@inbreakthrough.org / contact@maed.in

This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni

Producer: Meghna Gulati

Sound Editing & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Artwork: Alika Gupta