Ira talks to Dr. Abhijit Nadkarni about understanding addiction — how to tell the difference between deeply enjoying something and being unable to step away from it, and what that distinction really means.

They explore the biology of addiction, while also asking where our scope for change lies — often in the psycho-social spaces of support, structure, and daily choices. The conversation turns to what help actually looks like in practice, and how to operationalise advice or treatment instead of just talking about it.

They reflect on the often misunderstood point: quitting is a single decision but staying away is often an everyday choice.

It’s a conversation about agency with accountability and replacing shame with compassion.

Because even when the going gets really hard, curiosity helps!

Chapters:

00:00 The Hidden Risks of Casual Drinking

00:47 What Is Addiction?

01:35 Enjoyment vs Compulsion: Understanding Addiction

06:46 Substance vs Behavioral Addictions

10:49 Alcohol and Its Health Risks

12:39 The Biology of Addiction: Dopamine & the Brain

17:47 Genetics vs Environment in Addiction

21:13 Why People Start Drinking

28:27 The Spectrum of Alcohol Problems

33:38 How to Recognize Risky Drinking

42:52 Why Early Drinking Increases Addiction Risk

55:23 Treatment, Recovery, and Staying Sober

CREDITS:

Host: Ira Khan 

Agatsu Foundation Team 

Art Design: Ayushi Lilani

Creative Consultant: Abhishek Saha 

Theme Music: Amit Kumar (OtoAcoustic)

This is a Maed in India production

Head of Production: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Director & Video Editor: Jishnu Guha 

Visual Designer: Alika Gupta

Producer: Ruchi Sawardekar 

Mix Engineer: Kartik Kulkarni

Asst. Sound Recordist & Sound Editor: Nihar Temkar

Production Coordinator: Natasha Vakil

Recorded at Island City Studios, Mumbai