I’ve always believed that meaningful conversations have the power to change the way we see the world, and each other.
Born in Calcutta, I grew up surrounded by stories and voices that shaped my earliest understanding of connection. Over the years, that curiosity carried me across India and the U.S ; working with global teams, collaborating with institutions like MIT and Virginia Tech, and supporting Fortune 50 clients including UPS, Microsoft, UnitedHealth Group, Albertsons, Morgan Stanley, all while helping build a learning and design startup from the ground up.
Along the way, I wore many hats; sales leader, account manager, project lead, culture carrier, from setting up our U.S. office in Atlanta to bridging clients and cross-border teams. But no matter the role, the mission was always the same: helping people connect better, deeper, and more meaningfully.
That spirit now lives in Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™, a podcast that brings together voices from across sectors and walks of life to explore what truly matters: mental health, sustainability, entrepreneurship, healthcare, identity, and hope.
As host and producer, I don’t chase headlines, I hold space.
For stories that go deeper. For moments that stay. For people making sense of the world, together.
Because in the end, it’s not about spotlighting loud voices.
It’s about hearing the ones that often go unheard.
If you care about storytelling, community, and change… welcome.
Let’s make every conversation count
Santosh Kumar
Founder & Host, Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™
Storyteller | Culture-Builder | Global Collaborator
I’ve always believed that meaningful conversations have the power to change the way we see the world, and each other.
Born in Calcutta, I grew up surrounded by stories and voices that shaped my earliest understanding of connection. Over the years, that curiosity carried me across India and the U.S ; working with global teams, collaborating with institutions like MIT and Virginia Tech, and supporting Fortune 50 clients including UPS, Microsoft, UnitedHealth Group, Albertsons, Morgan Stanley, all while helping build a learning and design startup from the ground up.
Along the way, I wore many hats; sales leader, account manager, project lead, culture carrier, from setting up our U.S. office in Atlanta to bridging clients and cross-border teams. But no matter the role, the mission was always the same: helping people connect better, deeper, and more meaningfully.
That spirit now lives in Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™, a podcast that brings together voices from across sectors and walks of life to explore what truly matters: mental health, sustainability, entrepreneurship, healthcare, identity, and hope.
As host and producer, I don’t chase headlines, I hold space.
For stories that go deeper. For moments that stay. For people making sense of the world, together.
Because in the end, it’s not about spotlighting loud voices.
It’s about hearing the ones that often go unheard.
If you care about storytelling, community, and change… welcome.
Let’s make every conversation count
Santosh Kumar
Founder & Host, Between Us, Make Every Conversation Count™
Storyteller | Culture-Builder | Global Collaborator
The Startup Catalyst: Building the Ecosystem with Ashish Garde | Between Us™ Podcast
What does it really take to create a thriving startup culture in India’s small towns?
In this episode of Between Us™, we sit down with Ashish Garde, Director of MAGIC Incubator, and one of the most influential figures quietly reshaping India’s startup ecosystem.
From mentoring women entrepreneurs to empowering rural innovators, Ashish shares what it means to support startups that don’t always come from Silicon Valley-like cities — but from Tier II and Tier III Bharat.
This isn’t just about incubation — it’s about inclusivity, economic transformation, and building the future from the grassroots up.
In This Episode:
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more.
Watch now & subscribe for more real conversations from the heart of India’s transformation.
Let us know your biggest takeaway from the episode in the comments.
Timestamps
00:00 – Coming Up
01:49 – Introduction
03:12 – Personal Journey
04:26 – What Matters
15:40 – Tier 2 & 3 Startup Challenges
24:36 – Empowering Women & Rural Entrepreneurs
28:17 – How MAGIC Supports Innovators
29:47 – Stories from the Ground
32:56 – Bridging the Entrepreneurial Gap
40:22 – Social Impact of Startups
46:10 – Challenges as an Incubator
48:40 – What’s Brewing
54:18 – The Copy-Paste Problem in Startups
1:12:37 – Rapid Fire
1:21:46 – Final Thoughts & Outro
Between us ™️ Podcast links
Website: www.andbetweenus.com
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@betweenuspodcast
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5HD4qrh7B76uTJxVT81aQu?si=RFuQ844FTQyF7j2sop_6xA
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/between-us-make-every-conversation-count/id1693184962
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The idea of ‘Between Us’ stems from the fact that every conversation matters, especially the one that we have with ourselves. Using podcast as a medium, I am fortunate to bring folks who have made an impact in everyday lives, from diverse backgrounds, to engage in a meaningful conversation. The topics are as diverse and deeply interconnected - from climate justice to big tech to healthcare as a constitutional right to millennial expectations to gender equality and inclusiveness. I warmly welcome you to join me in this journey.
Tags:
between us podcast, ashish garde, magic incubator, startup india, grassroots innovation, women entrepreneurs india, rural startups india, startup mentorship, inclusive innovation india, tier 2 startups, startup growth india, startup ecosystem india, economic transformation india, incubators in india, indian entrepreneurs, leadership in startups, podcast for founders, make in india, build in bharat, startup trends india, startup funding, regional innovation india, incubator success stories
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