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

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