When the Air Tells the Truth

Guest: Tanya Singhal – Founder, SolarArise | ClimateTech & Renewable Energy Expert

Air pollution tells the truth about the cost of growth.

In this episode of The First and Only, I speak with Tanya Singhal, founder of SolarArise and a leading force in India’s renewable energy transition. We discuss India’s clean energy momentum, climate leadership, and what it takes to scale climate-tech solutions in a rapidly developing economy.

We also explore leadership, responsibility, and why the Global South must be central to climate action.

A focused and timely conversation on energy, impact, and the future we are building.

🎧 Now streaming on Spotify.

In this episode of The First and Only, I speak with Sara Abdullah Pilot, co-founder of Centre for Equity and Inclusion (CEQUIN), about what it truly costs for girls to play — especially when they are the first and only in their families.

Before the pitch, there is permission.
Before ambition, there is justification.
Before talent, there is negotiation:

Is it safe? Is it respectable? Is it necessary?

Sara works with girls who are fighting systems they should never have had to fight — families to convince, institutions to educate, silence to push against. Our conversation makes one thing clear: resistance is systemic, not personal.

This episode is not just about football.

It’s about power, voice, and what it takes to claim space without apology — so that the next generation doesn’t have to fight the same battles alone.

In this episode, we travel into the world of elite youth football with Minerva Academy — one of India’s most respected football academies, known for developing young talent through discipline, belief, and world-class training.

We meet Chetan Tiwari (14) from Minerva Academy U14, whose journey recently reached an international milestone at the Norway Cup — the world’s largest youth football tournament.

Minerva Academy’s U14 team emerged as champions, marking a proud moment not just for the academy, but for Indian grassroots football on a global stage.

Beyond the win, this episode is about:

• What it takes to compete internationally at a young age
• The unseen discipline behind success
• Family sacrifice, belief, and resilience
• How Indian youth football is finding its place globally

As Chetan shares, his journey is inseparable from his older brother — who gave up his own dream so Chetan could live his.