
my name is Sheila Celia I host a joke for a radio show I am a podcaster I
for a radio show I am a podcaster I
for a radio show I am a podcaster I dabble with comedy I post stuns of
dabble with comedy I post stuns of
dabble with comedy I post stuns of videos on the internet and I am an MC I
videos on the internet and I am an MC I
videos on the internet and I am an MC I host a whole lot of corporate shows get
host a whole lot of corporate shows get
host a whole lot of corporate shows get to travel around the world hosting shows
to travel around the world hosting shows
to travel around the world hosting shows for companies and it’s a great gig you
for companies and it’s a great gig you
for companies and it’s a great gig you know you have a great gig when people
know you have a great gig when people
know you have a great gig when people come up to you and say shouldn’t what
come up to you and say shouldn’t what
come up to you and say shouldn’t what you be doing considered a hobby how much
you be doing considered a hobby how much
you be doing considered a hobby how much do you actually get paid and what are
do you actually get paid and what are
do you actually get paid and what are you going to do five years from now
you going to do five years from now
you going to do five years from now that’s that’s when you know that what
that’s that’s when you know that what
that’s that’s when you know that what you’re doing is actually something
you’re doing is actually something
you’re doing is actually something that’s on the edge something that’s
that’s on the edge something that’s
that’s on the edge something that’s alternative which makes you feel great
alternative which makes you feel great
alternative which makes you feel great so let me just take you on a small
so let me just take you on a small
so let me just take you on a small little journey of how I started out
little journey of how I started out
little journey of how I started out being a broadcaster it all started when
being a broadcaster it all started when
being a broadcaster it all started when I first heard frequency modulation radio
I first heard frequency modulation radio
I first heard frequency modulation radio waves in Bangalore City for the very
waves in Bangalore City for the very
waves in Bangalore City for the very first time and I remember listening to a
first time and I remember listening to a
first time and I remember listening to a guy called John Z Korean and going wow
guy called John Z Korean and going wow
guy called John Z Korean and going wow what a fabulous gig this is I can’t
what a fabulous gig this is I can’t
what a fabulous gig this is I can’t believe somebody is getting paid to
believe somebody is getting paid to
believe somebody is getting paid to actually speak their mind have fun and
actually speak their mind have fun and
actually speak their mind have fun and just go back home
just go back home
just go back home can there be something like this and
can there be something like this and
can there be something like this and that was the time when I was doing my
that was the time when I was doing my
that was the time when I was doing my commerce I just finished my graduation I
commerce I just finished my graduation I
commerce I just finished my graduation I was placed with a couple of companies
was placed with a couple of companies
was placed with a couple of companies top financial institutions but something
top financial institutions but something
top financial institutions but something that’s coming to you so easily can never
that’s coming to you so easily can never
that’s coming to you so easily can never be respected you have to strive
be respected you have to strive
be respected you have to strive something you have to actually put your
something you have to actually put your
something you have to actually put your efforts for something that’s when you
efforts for something that’s when you
efforts for something that’s when you feel that yes I now rightfully deserve
feel that yes I now rightfully deserve
feel that yes I now rightfully deserve this so that’s when I decided I’ll take
this so that’s when I decided I’ll take
this so that’s when I decided I’ll take a couple of years of Media Studies and
a couple of years of Media Studies and
a couple of years of Media Studies and that was pretty much what I’d call my
that was pretty much what I’d call my
that was pretty much what I’d call my decision something that I definitely
decision something that I definitely
decision something that I definitely wanted to do I don’t know how many of
wanted to do I don’t know how many of
wanted to do I don’t know how many of you out here actually wanted to study
you out here actually wanted to study
you out here actually wanted to study engineering but but still nonetheless
engineering but but still nonetheless
engineering but but still nonetheless great to see you actually following your
great to see you actually following your
great to see you actually following your passion and that’s what I will be
passion and that’s what I will be
passion and that’s what I will be talking about here and I will dabble
talking about here and I will dabble
talking about here and I will dabble about what the reality is but what it
about what the reality is but what it
about what the reality is but what it looks like from the outside as well so
looks like from the outside as well so
looks like from the outside as well so during my stint with this college I
during my stint with this college I
during my stint with this college I ended up setting up a first of a
ended up setting up a first of a
ended up setting up a first of a kind internet radio station a campus
kind internet radio station a campus
kind internet radio station a campus radio station and I posted a whole lot
radio station and I posted a whole lot
radio station and I posted a whole lot of content that was objectionable to the
of content that was objectionable to the
of content that was objectionable to the college
college
college it was Christ’s College but that’s when
it was Christ’s College but that’s when
it was Christ’s College but that’s when I knew that what I’m doing can actually
I knew that what I’m doing can actually
I knew that what I’m doing can actually have a lot of impact and the medium
have a lot of impact and the medium
have a lot of impact and the medium itself is so powerful that it can it can
itself is so powerful that it can it can
itself is so powerful that it can it can raise a whole lot of objections and
raise a whole lot of objections and
raise a whole lot of objections and people coming up to you and talking
people coming up to you and talking
people coming up to you and talking about what you have actually put up at
about what you have actually put up at
about what you have actually put up at the same time I approached a place where
the same time I approached a place where
the same time I approached a place where you can store a nuclear bomb and still
you can store a nuclear bomb and still
you can store a nuclear bomb and still nothing will happen because there is no
nothing will happen because there is no
nothing will happen because there is no radioactivity happening whatsoever this
radioactivity happening whatsoever this
radioactivity happening whatsoever this place is called All India Radio
place is called All India Radio
place is called All India Radio good old All India Radio where I walked
good old All India Radio where I walked
good old All India Radio where I walked in they still hold written auditions you
in they still hold written auditions you
in they still hold written auditions you have to give you a voice test and that’s
have to give you a voice test and that’s
have to give you a voice test and that’s how you get actually selected to do a
how you get actually selected to do a
how you get actually selected to do a radio show I was in college I started
radio show I was in college I started
radio show I was in college I started hosting shows for all india radio it was
hosting shows for all india radio it was
hosting shows for all india radio it was a part-time gig they used to pay me 300
a part-time gig they used to pay me 300
a part-time gig they used to pay me 300 rupees to do one show it was great for
rupees to do one show it was great for
rupees to do one show it was great for fuel money you go from your bike one
fuel money you go from your bike one
fuel money you go from your bike one place to another and come back and
place to another and come back and
place to another and come back and you’re broke all over again but I would
you’re broke all over again but I would
you’re broke all over again but I would do anything just to be on air just to
do anything just to be on air just to
do anything just to be on air just to have my voice heard across Bangalore
have my voice heard across Bangalore
have my voice heard across Bangalore City at least for a few minutes I joined
City at least for a few minutes I joined
City at least for a few minutes I joined as a content producer for a Kannada
as a content producer for a Kannada
as a content producer for a Kannada radio station at the same time I was
radio station at the same time I was
radio station at the same time I was also working as a traffic reporter where
also working as a traffic reporter where
also working as a traffic reporter where I would sit with the traffic management
I would sit with the traffic management
I would sit with the traffic management centre Bangalore City police and I would
centre Bangalore City police and I would
centre Bangalore City police and I would just give our traffic updates about the
just give our traffic updates about the
just give our traffic updates about the most obvious places where you find
most obvious places where you find
most obvious places where you find traffic in Bangalore what else can there
traffic in Bangalore what else can there
traffic in Bangalore what else can there be so I would do that for exactly one
be so I would do that for exactly one
be so I would do that for exactly one minute when my voice was heard on the
minute when my voice was heard on the
minute when my voice was heard on the radio but I felt it was absolutely worth
radio but I felt it was absolutely worth
radio but I felt it was absolutely worth it and when I was through with this gig
it and when I was through with this gig
it and when I was through with this gig I got hired as an intern from an intern
I got hired as an intern from an intern
I got hired as an intern from an intern worked my way to being a producer and
worked my way to being a producer and
worked my way to being a producer and one fine day when an American host I was
one fine day when an American host I was
one fine day when an American host I was working with decided to leave town
working with decided to leave town
working with decided to leave town they said why don’t you host the
they said why don’t you host the
they said why don’t you host the breakfast show you seem to know a lot
breakfast show you seem to know a lot
breakfast show you seem to know a lot about the show so why don’t you just go
about the show so why don’t you just go
about the show so why don’t you just go ahead and start hosting the breakfast
ahead and start hosting the breakfast
ahead and start hosting the breakfast show I was 21 I was hosting the
show I was 21 I was hosting the
show I was 21 I was hosting the breakfast show – what I looked up to the
breakfast show – what I looked up to the
breakfast show – what I looked up to the most at the same time I didn’t even have
most at the same time I didn’t even have
most at the same time I didn’t even have conformed opinions on a lot of things
conformed opinions on a lot of things
conformed opinions on a lot of things so it felt great it felt great having so
so it felt great it felt great having so
so it felt great it felt great having so much of responsibility when you don’t
much of responsibility when you don’t
much of responsibility when you don’t even know what it is that you’re putting
even know what it is that you’re putting
even know what it is that you’re putting out whatever it is that you’re seeing is
out whatever it is that you’re seeing is
out whatever it is that you’re seeing is that actually impacting so many people
that actually impacting so many people
that actually impacting so many people at the same time but the journey though
at the same time but the journey though
at the same time but the journey though has been from there to no looking back
has been from there to no looking back
has been from there to no looking back because from one thing to another
because from one thing to another
because from one thing to another you actually end up being a predominant
you actually end up being a predominant
you actually end up being a predominant voice in a city where radio is such a
voice in a city where radio is such a
voice in a city where radio is such a secondary medium and it is even to this
secondary medium and it is even to this
secondary medium and it is even to this day you guys are tuning in to the radio
day you guys are tuning in to the radio
day you guys are tuning in to the radio it’s running in the background you guys
it’s running in the background you guys
it’s running in the background you guys are doing whatever it is that you’re
are doing whatever it is that you’re
are doing whatever it is that you’re doing but my voice comes in just for a
doing but my voice comes in just for a
doing but my voice comes in just for a few minutes and at that minute of time
few minutes and at that minute of time
few minutes and at that minute of time am I able to make enough impact or no
am I able to make enough impact or no
am I able to make enough impact or no that’s where the deciding factor lies
that’s where the deciding factor lies
that’s where the deciding factor lies all over again
all over again
all over again so in this journey it’s it’s been
so in this journey it’s it’s been
so in this journey it’s it’s been absolutely fabulous because when I was
absolutely fabulous because when I was
absolutely fabulous because when I was through with my all india radio gig i
through with my all india radio gig i
through with my all india radio gig i actually put up a whole lot of demos i
actually put up a whole lot of demos i
actually put up a whole lot of demos i ended up putting and burning a lot of
ended up putting and burning a lot of
ended up putting and burning a lot of cds do you guys know how to burn a CD
cds do you guys know how to burn a CD
cds do you guys know how to burn a CD you still do I thought we have way
you still do I thought we have way
you still do I thought we have way advanced now but no we used to burn CDs
advanced now but no we used to burn CDs
advanced now but no we used to burn CDs and I would hand it over to a lot of
and I would hand it over to a lot of
and I would hand it over to a lot of programming directors just so that they
programming directors just so that they
programming directors just so that they give me an audition just so that they
give me an audition just so that they
give me an audition just so that they hear what it sounds like
hear what it sounds like
hear what it sounds like and I get an honest opinion on what this
and I get an honest opinion on what this
and I get an honest opinion on what this is going to be like but the reality of
is going to be like but the reality of
is going to be like but the reality of the situation though is that this is
the situation though is that this is
the situation though is that this is such a revered gig that a whole lot of
such a revered gig that a whole lot of
such a revered gig that a whole lot of people want it and I’m sure at one point
people want it and I’m sure at one point
people want it and I’m sure at one point of time in your life you guys have heard
of time in your life you guys have heard
of time in your life you guys have heard somebody on the radio being extremely
somebody on the radio being extremely
somebody on the radio being extremely judgmental about the voice you’ve been
judgmental about the voice you’ve been
judgmental about the voice you’ve been hearing or thought I can easily do this
hearing or thought I can easily do this
hearing or thought I can easily do this I had the extreme same bug except I
I had the extreme same bug except I
I had the extreme same bug except I never let go of it I wanted it so bad
never let go of it I wanted it so bad
never let go of it I wanted it so bad that I ended up pursuing a whole lot of
that I ended up pursuing a whole lot of
that I ended up pursuing a whole lot of programming directors and when I finally
programming directors and when I finally
programming directors and when I finally got the gig it wasn’t easy after that as
got the gig it wasn’t easy after that as
got the gig it wasn’t easy after that as well because that’s when you’ve got what
well because that’s when you’ve got what
well because that’s when you’ve got what you always wanted
you always wanted
you always wanted what now because you can actually get
what now because you can actually get
what now because you can actually get away by putting up a show probably a
away by putting up a show probably a
away by putting up a show probably a twice probably thrice but what if you
twice probably thrice but what if you
twice probably thrice but what if you have to do it consistently and you have
have to do it consistently and you have
have to do it consistently and you have to do this as your livelihood you have
to do this as your livelihood you have
to do this as your livelihood you have to do this every day that’s when the
to do this every day that’s when the
to do this every day that’s when the challenge lies
challenge lies
challenge lies I’ve actually had days when my station
I’ve actually had days when my station
I’ve actually had days when my station head has walked up to me and said
head has walked up to me and said
head has walked up to me and said Shriram why do you sound so constipated
Shriram why do you sound so constipated
Shriram why do you sound so constipated and I’m wondering how does he know but
and I’m wondering how does he know but
and I’m wondering how does he know but you get extreme harsh criticisms and you
you get extreme harsh criticisms and you
you get extreme harsh criticisms and you develop a thick skin to take it all it’s
develop a thick skin to take it all it’s
develop a thick skin to take it all it’s not just from people within the four
not just from people within the four
not just from people within the four walls of where you work but you are a
walls of where you work but you are a
walls of where you work but you are a public voice so everyone has an
public voice so everyone has an
public voice so everyone has an entitlement to pass on their judgement
entitlement to pass on their judgement
entitlement to pass on their judgement of whether you’re good or bad whether
of whether you’re good or bad whether
of whether you’re good or bad whether they should switch channels or not why
they should switch channels or not why
they should switch channels or not why should they subscribe to you on social
should they subscribe to you on social
should they subscribe to you on social media or not and it’s all fair and
media or not and it’s all fair and
media or not and it’s all fair and that’s what I love about this medium I
that’s what I love about this medium I
that’s what I love about this medium I could be talking in Bangalore but
could be talking in Bangalore but
could be talking in Bangalore but somebody in Delhi is getting offended
somebody in Delhi is getting offended
somebody in Delhi is getting offended about what I’m saying because I’m
about what I’m saying because I’m
about what I’m saying because I’m cracking a joke makes all the more fun
cracking a joke makes all the more fun
cracking a joke makes all the more fun makes it all the more enticing at the
makes it all the more enticing at the
makes it all the more enticing at the same time and it puts you on the edge
same time and it puts you on the edge
same time and it puts you on the edge every little time you are live on the
every little time you are live on the
every little time you are live on the air doing something or another so over
air doing something or another so over
air doing something or another so over these years there have been times when
these years there have been times when
these years there have been times when I’ve gotten to meet a whole lot of
I’ve gotten to meet a whole lot of
I’ve gotten to meet a whole lot of business leaders people who owned
business leaders people who owned
business leaders people who owned multi-billion dollar industries because
multi-billion dollar industries because
multi-billion dollar industries because my job requires me to interact with them
my job requires me to interact with them
my job requires me to interact with them on a daily at the same time you’re
on a daily at the same time you’re
on a daily at the same time you’re standing on the same pedestal and a
standing on the same pedestal and a
standing on the same pedestal and a stage as a Shahrukh Khan and one thing
stage as a Shahrukh Khan and one thing
stage as a Shahrukh Khan and one thing I’ve noticed is everyone’s a person we
I’ve noticed is everyone’s a person we
I’ve noticed is everyone’s a person we are all just people but some people end
are all just people but some people end
are all just people but some people end up striving a little more for what they
up striving a little more for what they
up striving a little more for what they are passionate about and I guess that is
are passionate about and I guess that is
are passionate about and I guess that is a big differentiator from one individual
a big differentiator from one individual
a big differentiator from one individual to another if you have a passion you
to another if you have a passion you
to another if you have a passion you definitely need to aim for it and I’ve
definitely need to aim for it and I’ve
definitely need to aim for it and I’ve seen a big generation gap that’s
seen a big generation gap that’s
seen a big generation gap that’s happening right now where parents are
happening right now where parents are
happening right now where parents are totally okay with you guys getting a gig
totally okay with you guys getting a gig
totally okay with you guys getting a gig of your choice they are totally okay
of your choice they are totally okay
of your choice they are totally okay with you pursuing whatever it is that
with you pursuing whatever it is that
with you pursuing whatever it is that you love doing but finding that niche
you love doing but finding that niche
you love doing but finding that niche however can take time and it is
however can take time and it is
however can take time and it is subjective but don’t ever stop doing it
subjective but don’t ever stop doing it
subjective but don’t ever stop doing it as a radio personality who talks to you
as a radio personality who talks to you
as a radio personality who talks to you on a daily I speak to strangers I
on a daily I speak to strangers I
on a daily I speak to strangers I thoroughly advocate you speak to
thoroughly advocate you speak to
thoroughly advocate you speak to strangers as well greet people talk to
strangers as well greet people talk to
strangers as well greet people talk to people with a smile wherever possible
people with a smile wherever possible
people with a smile wherever possible because that could take you a very very
because that could take you a very very
because that could take you a very very long way and always have
long way and always have
long way and always have very very positive approach to whatever
very very positive approach to whatever
very very positive approach to whatever it is that you’re doing because it could
it is that you’re doing because it could
it is that you’re doing because it could definitely take you a long way it’s now
definitely take you a long way it’s now
definitely take you a long way it’s now proved that happiness is just a state of
proved that happiness is just a state of
proved that happiness is just a state of mind but how do you make it happen
mind but how do you make it happen
mind but how do you make it happen constantly it could actually happen if
constantly it could actually happen if
constantly it could actually happen if you are upbeat about whatever little
you are upbeat about whatever little
you are upbeat about whatever little things that you are doing makes you feel
things that you are doing makes you feel
things that you are doing makes you feel excited as a kid and you go pursue it
excited as a kid and you go pursue it
excited as a kid and you go pursue it and achieve it in all of the flow and
and achieve it in all of the flow and
and achieve it in all of the flow and all of the admiration that you have for
all of the admiration that you have for
all of the admiration that you have for whatever it is that you’re doing that’s
whatever it is that you’re doing that’s
whatever it is that you’re doing that’s all the time I’m going to take from you
all the time I’m going to take from you
all the time I’m going to take from you guys but thanks so very much guys really
guys but thanks so very much guys really
guys but thanks so very much guys really appreciate your time once again
appreciate your time once again
appreciate your time once again [Applause]
”
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