Dating apps, wedding industries, and the ever-elusive “happily ever after”—has love become just another product we’re sold? In this episode of The Monkey Mind Lab, Dr Laurie Essig takes us on a sharp and thought-provoking journey through the economics of desire. From Tinder to tradition, we explore how capitalism has shaped our expectations of romance—and whether love can still be real in an age of algorithms and aspiration.

Is being religious seen as unfeminist? Are Hindu rituals regressive, empowering or neither? What is the ethical value of stridharma in the modern world? Can tradition and feminism coexist? In this episode, Dr Jennifer Ortegren unpacks the complex roles women occupy in Hinduism—through rituals, scriptures, and lived experience. From Karva Chauth to questions of agency and devotion, this episode explores how gender, religion, and modernity intersect in surprising (and sometimes conflicting) ways.

What does it really mean to be educated? In this episode, Dr Nadia Rabesahala Horning breaks down the subtle but significant difference between international and global education—one that goes beyond travel and curriculum into questions of power, perspective, and purpose. Tune in as we unpack how education can shape (and challenge) our place in the world!

In this short introductory episode, host Abhir shares the story behind the podcast’s quirky name and what you can expect from future episodes!