This interview is part of a series on MyndStories celebrating 100 episodes of The MyndStories Podcast. 

Some voices are meant to be heard- not just for their sound but for the emotions they carry.

Anitha Aswath had always dreamt of lending her voice to causes that matter. Being a voiceover artist and a trained classical singer, this wasn’t surprising, but when it happened, it happened in the most interesting, unconventional, unpredictable way.

Last year, she became the host of The Mynd Durbar podcast – a music-themed show where classical ragas meet human emotions.

Now, more than four episodes in, hosting the podcast feels like second nature to Anitha. Music, after all, has always been a bridge for her – between hearts, between experiences, between what we feel and what we struggle to express.

The Mynd Durbar episodes are among the most downloaded on the podcast. But the magic of The Mynd Durbar isn’t just in the music. It’s in the way Anitha brings it to life. In the reflections and stories she adds that brings each song its richest note.

Her voice has a rare gift. It can charm you, captivate you, and, most importantly, create a safe space for you and all the emotions you weren’t allowing yourself to feel all these years.

Anitha’s vocation isn’t podcasting, of course. She has spent years as a leadership and executive coach, helping people find their voices in boardrooms. 

But as the host of The Mynd Durbar, she goes a step further – she ensures no emotion is left unfelt. She isn’t a doctor. She isn’t a trained therapist. She isn’t even a professional musician.

Anitha sings because she has to. Because for her, music is cathartic. A release. A language when words fall short. And when she sings, it’s not about perfection, it’s about pure expression, raw and real. 

It’s about finding her home. And in that search for her own home in music, we find ours too.

In this interview, Anitha opens up about her journey with music, how it feels to give it back to people, her experience hosting The Mynd Durbar, and her hopes for its future.

How was your experience hosting the podcast?

I had always dreamed of hosting a podcast, and Smitha took a chance on me! Hosting the Mynd Durbar has been revelatory. It has a) allowed me to explore the magical and mysterious power of music and b) helped that music reach the hearts of those who are hurting.

How did you decide on the stories and the Raags? What was the process?

When Smitha and I first talked about a music podcast, it wasn’t even a music podcast! But thanks to her genius, she and Swati Nair took a chance on me, and The Mynd Durbar came to be. Our initial thinking was around focusing on the Nava Rasas or Nine Emotions/Sentiments, which is such an integral part of Indian visual arts. Later on, I realized how hard it is to show disgust or rage through music and instead, I chose the Emotion Wheel and looked at Raags or melodic scales that evoked those emotions. The simple idea was: 

• Allow music, mental health, and emotional expression to intersect
• Create a space where all emotions are welcome and can be expressed through the music 

How has hosting the podcast shaped your understanding of mental health and well-being?

As a teenager, I discovered that my mom was dying, and I lost her soon after. Losing the light of my life at such an early age meant struggling with sadness and well-being. Hosting the podcast has brought me closer to understanding mental health and well-being.

This is a solo show, but what stood out for me in each of the episodes was how deeply it seemed to move people. Just as deeply as it moved me – not because of me but because of the stories and the music. 

What were some of the most impactful or surprising moments across the episodes?

A lovely lady whom I had never talked to before texted me on a group and said that the first episode (Healing Touch of Karuna Rasa) gave her the space to cry.

When she lost her sister, who was 10 years younger than her, she couldn’t cry because she had to be strong and be there for her parents. She then lost her mom and her cherished memories of home and her city. She lost her dad, too, a few years later. And she shared with me how she cried for all these times. Times where she couldn’t cry and had to stay strong. Crying, she said, allowed her to begin healing. Ishani’s message moved me to tears. 

What was your favorite moment from the podcasts you did? And why? 

My favorite moments from the podcasts were, without a doubt, the stories and the listeners’ reactions. In the first episode, The Healing Touch of Karuna Rasa, I shared how I sang Raag Darbari Kanada for my father as he made his final journey. That moment wasn’t just about reliving grief—though it was undeniably poignant—but also about reconnecting with him through music.

Another cherished moment was recalling my first experience hearing Raag Bihag through Ustad Bismillah Khan’s Shehnai.

If there’s one instrument that can simultaneously evoke deep sorrow and celebratory delight, it’s the Shehnai. The magic of these stories and the melodies lies in their ability to transport you to another world by awakening a flood of memories.

What was your favorite podcast from the ones you hosted? And why?

My favorite wasn’t the one I hosted. Instead, it was the Mynd Stories Minis episode with Smitha Murthy as the host and me as the guest. Her questions were profound and transformative. Recording that was a level of vulnerability I didn’t expect to feel (and I’m very comfortable with vulnerability). 

It felt like two old friends sitting in the kitchen…preparing a wholesome meal together. From a recipe passed down by generations, we trusted each other and moved in and out of spaces to create a melting pot of stories filled with love, nostalgia, courage, laughter, and tears. 

Have you received any interesting feedback from listeners after your episodes aired?

A dear American friend and former Broadway artist called it a work of art. This was her message, verbatim:  

• You have the most gorgeous speaking voice. I could listen to you all day truly. There is something exquisite in your tone, your clarity, your sweetness, and your gentle ease when you speak. I really heard it in this recording.
• When you share YOUR stories, it draws me in even more. I would encourage you to keep sharing your stories as you connect them to the music – it is powerful!

“Beautifully narrated and sung, of course! Here’s to a whole season of The Mynd Durbar.” – Vasanthi Hariprakash, journalist, podcast host, founder, CEO, Pickle Jar Media

What kind of impact do you hope the podcast has had on its audience?

I hope that it continues to:

• create a safe space for emotions to come and go, 
• allow grief to exist, 
• let healing take the time it needs. 

There’s so much pressure for us to move on, but how are we supposed to do that if we’re utterly broken or in such deep despair? In the messages we read, this seems to be the overarching theme. A sense of gratitude for letting them experience the emotion they’ve been trying to avoid.

If you could describe the podcast or your journey in three words, what would they be?

Rich. Meaningful. Unique. 

Is there any topic you would like to talk about in a future episode?

Oh goodness, I can think of so many! I’d love to do podcasts with the following themes: 

• Grief, Mindfulness, Music, Calm, De-Stress, Joy, etc., themed short meditations
• Book excerpts from some of my favorite books (non-fiction)
• Use Indian classical music with a written script that helps evoke the Rasa of the Raag through words too 
• Have a guest singer on The Mynd Durbar 
• Interview minority communities (first learn the art of interviewing from Smitha Murthy) 

Any advice for new podcast hosts who are just starting?

I’m hardly an expert, but here are my two cents: 

• Invest in a decent podcast mic that suits your budget. Whatever little I have learned so far about microphones, audio interface, XLR cables, etc., is from the incredible Ravi at MyndStories! He is amazing! 
• Becoming a podcast host was a bit of a calling I pursued and listened to my heart…so if that’s what your heart is telling you, please follow your heart!
• I learned so much about Raags, the musicians behind the compositions, and my own stories of how and when I first befriended them. For us students of music, a Raag is a living entity…someone we get to meet, befriend, and get to know intimately. If you’re a new podcast host, do the necessary research and strive to bring the very best to your listeners.
• Pursue excellence – whether it’s in the script writing, the recording, the singing, the pauses, etc. Striving for excellence is different from the insecure struggle for perfection. I’ve made mistakes, struggled with a sore throat, and run out of ideas – I just never stopped striving. And I’m gentle with myself and know that it will be better the next time. 

Finally, is there anything you’d like to the audience as this podcast reaches the 100-mark milestone?

MyndStories is a rare ecosystem that is built on genuine care, terrifying vulnerability, and deep compassion. When we recognize the brilliance of female founders like Smitha Murthy and Swati Nair, we will find ways to honor, invest, and enable them to impact even more lives.

So, please listen, subscribe, and invest. At the 100^th podcast milestone, we know that the next 1000^th episode will be a result of you continuing to believe in us.