Why We're Producing Jaipur Bytes - The #ZEEJLF2019 Podcast

It’s almost midnight. It’s almost January 19.

However, it’s already 2019. And it’s already been an unbelievable year.

Earlier this week, we - the Launchora team - announced our partnership with Teamwork Arts, the producers of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival (and another 30 international festivals), to produce a podcast that will give you a new way to experience the festival, as it happens, from wherever you are. This podcast is called Jaipur Bytes, and it is currently live and available for you to listen to on multiple apps (including Launchora of course).

But let’s back up. In case you didn’t know, the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival is the world’s largest free literary festival. This year, it will be taking place during January 24 to 28 at the Diggi Palace (as it always has) in Jaipur. Last year’s festival saw a footfall of nearly 500,000 people. This year’s registrations are already up 50%.

So today… or technically, tonight, I’d like to tell you why we’re producing Jaipur Bytes.

I moved back to India about five years ago to start Launchora. My goal was to create a platform for new voices, new stories. A home for all kinds of storytellers. A place where anyone can share their stories, whatever they may be, wherever they may come from.

Our web platform went live in July of 2014. Our Android app came a year later in July 2015. In 2016, I got an office in Gurgaon and started building my team. In 2017, we began enhancing our community and peer-learning elements - introducing the Bar, the Garage, the Playground. In 2018, we delved deeper into creative learning, which led to the creation of Launchora’s Creative Hub, Launchora’s Creative School, Launchora’s Creative Workplace.

However, the change that has the most to do with our JLF connection started near the end of 2017, when we introduced two of my favorite things to do - the Guide, my weekly series of articles on storytelling and creative learning, and ’Storytalking' - my weekly podcast where I talk about stories some real ones, some made-up ones, some inspiring ones - while also talking to different kinds of storytellers about why and how they do what they do.

On episode 48 of Storytalking, I got the opportunity to speak with Sanjoy Roy, the producer of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival. That happened in August 2018. After a few weeks, I contacted Sanjoy’s team at Teamwork Arts with a shot-in-the-dark proposal: would they be interested in turning the festival into a podcast?

Why? Two reasons.

Reason #1: JLF’s conversations are worth sharing

This year alone, there are about 500 speakers attending the festival, taking part in over 250 panels and discussions over the course of five days. And given how popular the festival already is, not everyone can attend each session, if at all. So turning these riveting conversations into a podcast made perfect sense - whether you’re in Jaipur or not, you can listen in to the festival as if you were actually there.

Reason #2: 2019 is the year India embraces podcasts

I’ve been a podcast listener since 2012. I listen to about 4-5 different shows each week. Some are about writing, some are about science, some are about comedy. This medium - its content, its delivery, its production, and its possibilities - they are meant for the Indian consumer’s palette and preferences.

When 2018 came to a close, I told myself that my 2019 - would be about two primary things: teaching, and podcasts.

Earlier today, I recorded episode 70 of Storytalking With Lakshya. Also earlier today, I recorded episode 5 of Jaipur Bytes.

With over 75 hours of podcasting under my belt, I’m hoping to triple that number by the end of the year. Jaipur Bytes is our second podcast, one of many more that I hope to launch in the coming months as I add ‘Podcasts’ to Launchora’s 2019 agenda.

I moved back to India on January 7, 2014. The morning after, my mom showed me an article in a newspaper talking about the Jaipur Literature Festival, which was taking place a few days from then. I told her I can’t go, because of three reasons.

One, "I don’t even know what kind of company I want to start so I won’t have anything to talk about with other people."

Two, “Going to these big festivals will stress me out, because I get a bit anxious in big crowds and I’m generally quite introverted when it comes to talking to strangers."

Three, "I will go to JLF when I can be a part of it.”

My mom considered that last one to be a joke.

I meant it. I didn’t know how I would get there, but I knew even back then that it wasn’t a joke. I would get there someday. It was only a matter of time. And here we are, five years later, going to my first ever JLF. Doing our little part of bringing JLF to all current and future storytellers and storylovers from all over the globe in the form of the Jaipur Bytes Podcast.

Would you believe me if I told you something that will sound like I am making it up? As I was typing that last sentence, I got an email from the team at JLF, informing us that they have just added a button for ‘Jaipur Bytes’ on their website. See it for yourself if you don’t believe me - https://jaipurliteraturefestival.org (it’s in the ‘Jaipur 2019’ dropdown).

Somehow, my ridiculous, unplanned, unbelievable wish just came true - we are now a part of JLF.

For all you launchers reading this, who have been with us for for these past 5 (or less) years, I just want to say one thing -

Create a ridiculous, unplanned, and unbelievable wish today. And then say it out loud.

Then just trust in your vision, and have faith in yourself. And until your wish comes true…

Subscribe to the Jaipur Bytes Podcast!

www.launchora.com/jaipurbytes

Conversations, discussions, debates, and dialogue - between some of the best storytellers this world has ever seen.

We’re taking JLF - a storyteller’s paradise - and putting it in the palm of your hand.

All you need to do is press play.

I will see you soon - either in Jaipur, or through Jaipur Bytes.

Happy storytelling.