In The Field is a show that attempts to capture India’s development story, as it happens, through a feature-style podcast that combines interviews, commentary, and debate. By showcasing the ideas that drive the development agenda, and the people working at the forefront of these issues, the show will tell a larger story, one that links backs to the daily actions of all people. We want to muddle the typical problem-solution, hero-villain or donor-recipient narrative common to development work, and change the way listeners understand their role and position in relation to each of the issues we present.

We also hope to start a conversation about culture: the culture of development work as we practice it and to examine how it influences social progress in India today. Episodes will be released every two weeks, and in each episode we will examine an issue or idea India is trying hard to overcome and we will talk to people working on its solutions.

Radhika Viswanathan 

Radhika Viswanathan is a researcher and development communication specialist from Bangalore, India. Her interests lie in the intersection between research, policy and communication in the development sector. She has worked with governments, international development agencies and NGOs on local governance, water and sanitation, science and innovation policy and fundraising research. In 2011, she translated a popular science book for children from French to English. In an earlier avatar she used to speak French every day, these days her repertoire has expanded to include child-speak. She holds Masters degrees from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Strasbourg.

Samyuktha Varma

Samyuktha Varma is a writer and researcher based in Bangalore, India. She has worked with NGOs, large and small, across South Asia on issues such as social protection, natural resource management and agriculture, and waste and its reuse. Samyuktha has had a longstanding interest in how challenging topics are communicated to broader audiences. She co-authored Out of Water – From Abundance to Scarcity and How to Solve the World’s Water Problems, published by the Financial Times Press in 2010. She also is the co-founding editor of Broken Toilets, a global development and culture magazine. She has a Masters in Gender and Social Policy from the London School of Economics.