The Seen and the Unseen
Hosted by Amit Varma
A weekly long-form interview podcast exploring public policy, economics, and the life stories of influential Indians.
This is an exceptionally deep interview podcast where conversations regularly exceed three to five hours. Host Amit Varma conducts exhaustive biographical interviews, starting from his guest's childhood to understand the origins of their work and ideas. The show uses individual life stories as a lens to explore broader themes in Indian public policy, economics, societal norms, and the nature of expertise itself.
“The extreme length and biographical depth are the show's most defining features, setting it apart from almost any other interview podcast. The host's detailed introductory monologue, which frames the guest's work and importance before the conversation begins, is another unique element.”
Who hosts this show
The Seen and the Unseen is a weekly long-form podcast hosted by Mumbai-based writer and journalist Amit Varma. The show features deep, multi-hour conversations with experts and creators from various fields, aiming to provide deep insights by examining the seen and unseen effects of policies and ideas. The podcast's name is inspired by Frédéric Bastiat's essay on the visible and invisible consequences of policy. It covers topics ranging from economics and politics to science, art, and the creative process.
Credentials & credits
- Two-time winner of the Bastiat Prize for Journalism (2007, 2015).
- Former Managing Editor of Cricinfo.
- Columnist for publications like The Times of India, Mint, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian.
- Author of the novel "My Friend Sancho" (2009).
- Named one of the '50 Most Powerful People in India' by Business Week in 2009 for his blog, India Uncut.
- B.A. in Economics from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Other ventures
- India Uncut (popular blog and current newsletter).
- The Art of Clear Writing (online course).
- Co-host of the 'Everything is Everything' podcast.
- Pragati (relaunched online magazine as chief editor).
- Professional poker player (former).
When new episodes drop
- 01Ep 446: The Joyful Agency of Luis MirandaJun 15, 2026 · 5h 20m
- 02Ep 445: 'I Am Saloni and I Like Collecting Mice'Jun 1, 2026 · 4h 27m
- 03Ep 444: Suman Kumar is Perennially Pregnant With StoriesMay 18, 2026 · 3h 50m
- 04Ep 443: The Making of a Law FirmMay 4, 2026 · 3h 07m
- 05Ep 442: A Masterclass on Regulation (and Deregulation)Apr 20, 2026 · 4h 36m
- 06Ep 441: Ravikumar Kashi Is in Play ModeApr 6, 2026 · 3h 36m
Notable episodes
- 01Ep 444: Suman Kumar is Perennially Pregnant With Stories
A deep exploration of the creative process and life journey of a prominent writer for major streaming shows like 'The Family Man', showcasing the podcast's focus on storytelling.
- 02Ep 445: 'I Am Saloni and I Like Collecting Mice'
Exemplifies the show's ability to tackle complex scientific topics, discussing the ecosystem of science, the replication crisis, and medical breakthroughs with a leading science writer.
- 03Ep 446: The Joyful Agency of Luis Miranda
A classic episode blending finance, philanthropy, and life philosophy, centered on a key figure in Indian banking and public policy.
What you'll be asked on this show
The format is a one-on-one long-form interview, always beginning with a solo, detailed monologue from the host. Varma's interview style is chronological and biographical, often starting with questions about the guest's childhood and upbringing to trace the development of their ideas. The tone is serious, academic, and highly detailed.
Questions Amit Varma keeps coming back to
- “Tell me about your childhood, where you grew up, and what you were like as a kid?”
- “If the 15-year-old version of you were to meet you today, what would they be pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised by?”
- “How did your early years shape your aspirations?”
- “What was your journey in figuring out what you wanted to do professionally?”
- “How has the passing of time changed the way that you look at time?”
- “What was your idea of India as you were growing up, and how did it change?”
Signature segments
- · Detailed solo introductory monologue by the host.
- · Extremely long-form conversations (often 3+ hours).
- · Biographical interviews starting from childhood.
- · The tagline 'Welcome to The Seen and the Unseen'.
- · Extensive, linked show notes for each episode on the official website.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically highly accomplished Indian writers, academics, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and policy thinkers. The show books people with a substantial body of work and a complex life story that can sustain a multi-hour exploration of their ideas and motivations.
- Luis Mirandaon Ep 446: The Joyful Agency of Luis Miranda
- Saloni Dattanion Ep 445: 'I Am Saloni and I Like Collecting Mice'
- Suman Kumaron Ep 444: Suman Kumar is Perennially Pregnant With Stories
- Akshay Jaitlyon Ep 443: The Making of a Law Firm
- Shruti Rajagopalanon Ep 442: A Masterclass on Regulation (and Deregulation)
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Based on observed sponsors like 'The 6% Club' and 'CTQ Compounds', the podcast appears to attract advertisers targeting an audience of professionals, creators, and knowledge workers interested in personal and professional development.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is the podcast's format?
- It is a weekly, long-form interview podcast. Each episode features a single guest in a deep conversation with host Amit Varma, often lasting three to five hours.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, it is an active podcast with new episodes released weekly, as of mid-2026.
- Who is the host?
- The host is Amit Varma, a writer, journalist, and podcaster based in Mumbai. He is a two-time winner of the Bastiat Prize for Journalism.
- What topics does the show cover?
- The show focuses on public policy, economics, and behavioral science, explored through the life and work of its guests from fields like journalism, science, art, and business.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on its official website, seenunseen.in, as well as on all major podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. A small percentage of views also come from YouTube.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Amit Varma - Official Websiteamitvarma.com
- [02]The Seen and the Unseen - Official Websiteseenunseen.in
- [03]Amit Varma (writer) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [04]India Uncut - Amit Varma's Blog/Newsletterindiauncut.substack.com
- [05]The Seen and the Unseen - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [06]The Seen and the Unseen - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
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