Our story
From one YouTube channel
to a Marathi stage
The Swayam Talks channel started in October 2012 with one idea — give the stage to people doing extraordinary work rather than to big names. Today: 1,100+ videos, 30+ series and 456K subscribers.
About the founders
Two very different worlds,
one shared curiosity
Navin Kale and Ashay Mahajan came to Swayam from two very different worlds, but with a shared curiosity about people and their stories.
Navin spent over a decade in the corporate world before choosing a life centred around storytelling, writing and meaningful conversations. An author of four Marathi books and the creator of KuriousKale, he is a natural storyteller and curator, constantly discovering people, ideas, films, books and experiences worth sharing.
Ashay, a Chartered Accountant with two decades of experience in business consulting for organisations, brought a very different lens to the journey. An endurance athlete who has completed an Ironman and several marathons, he brings to Swayam the same qualities that endurance sport demands: discipline, curiosity and the appetite to keep going farther.
What brought them together was a simple belief: extraordinary stories are everywhere, but not everyone gets a stage to tell them.
That belief became Swayam Talks.
Over the years, Navin's instinct for stories and Ashay's ability to connect people and build relationships have shaped Swayam into much more than a platform for talks. It has become a growing community of remarkable individuals, ideas and conversations, built on the belief that when people encounter a powerful story, they may begin looking at their own story differently.
The people behind Swayam Talks
The people who tell the stories
have one of their own
The founders who carried one idea from a first recording to a stage that fills halls.
- Navin Kale Co-founder · Author and storyteller Spent over a decade in the corporate world before choosing a life centred around storytelling, writing and meaningful conversation... Read their story →
- Ashay Mahajan Co-founder · Chartered Accountant and endurance athlete A Chartered Accountant with two decades of experience in business consulting for organisations, he brought a very different lens t... Read their story →
Our philosophy
A fulfilling life is not found.
It is designed.
At Swayam, we believe that a fulfilling life is not something we simply find, but something we consciously design. Inspired by the philosophy of Ikigai, we encourage people to explore what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs, and what gives their life a deeper sense of purpose.
For years, Swayam has brought you stories of people who discovered their own paths. But we believe inspiration is only the beginning. From listening to someone else's story to designing your own, Swayam seeks to create conversations, connections, communities and experiences that help you discover what matters to you, meet people who can enrich your journey, and take meaningful steps towards building the life you want.
We may not have the answer to "What should I do with my life?" But we hope to create the people, ideas and spaces around you that help you discover it for yourself.
Because ultimately, the most inspiring story you can ever create is your own.
Straight to the founders
Ask the Founders!
About the stories, about Swayam, or about finding your own path — ask anything. Navin and Ashay answer selected questions right here.