PODCAST

Launching Doctor’s Creative Diary Podcast #VoiceofAnchor

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on November 29, 2021 8

If you think the left and right brains can’t be friends, I am here to share some secrets with you. Suppose you are a woman who likes art, books, nature, writing & not just “does” what people expect. In that case, you must listen to my podcast, Doctor’s Creative Diary I will bring you inspiration, interviews, and REAL information to help you in your creative journey. Doctor’s Creative Diary is my second podcast almost three years eleven months after my first one and this time it’s for Voice of Anchor.

I am on a journey to find out how creativity helps in well-being and make money too. I plan to share everything with you. Buckle up because it’s going to be a wild ride, and it’s happening right here, in your Ear.

Engineers can’t sing, and Doctors can’t draw, and there’s no way you can have it all. I am here to share my journey about finding the creative playground.

Welcome to the Doctors Creative Diary podcast. I am your host Dr.Amrita Basu, ENT surgeon, and Creative Entrepreneur, bringing you inspiration, interviews, and information about books, nature, writing, and art to help you in your creative journey.

Did I tell you this is part of Voice of Anchor? You will know more about that in the show.

And here’s the show.

My Superpowers need more work, and in the meantime, I am Voice of Anchor fighting for the crown. But what’s even better is we are getting a chance to listen to the most innovative digital creators in the audio space. It’s exciting, and I will share my journey with you too.

I need to tell you something though.I didn’t get in with the first cohort. I was invited to the second cohort and that’s why I feel doubly blessed.

This is the best way to wind up 2021. When I started podcasting back in 2018, I had no idea I would one day get a chance to have my podcast heard by people at Spotify.

So I believe the universe listens when we say it just right. Do you believe that too?

In the next episode, I will share creator spaces that support artists, what I love about them.

You might also like my Healthwealthbridge by Dr.Amrita podcast about Health, wellness, and Entrepreneurship, which is also hosted on Anchor.

If you liked this, dont forget to share it with one friend.If you want to read the blog post, it’s here.

If you want to know how I made the Podcast thumbnail:I used my favorite CANVA Pro. Here’s a link to try the pro version free for thirty days.

Check out Episode 3 in the series

How do Artists Earn Online?

Hoarseness and Leukoplakia(white patch) of Vocal Cord

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on November 10, 2021 4

As doctors, we want to help people get better. But sometimes it’s more about what you want to do when. All of us have an inner barometer for things going right and wrong. The gut feeling is often correct. But many don’t listen to their gut or their body. These are the people who will take advice from several people and then do nothing.

Luckily the elderly man who came with hoarseness in September was someone who listened and took action.

Let me start from the beginning.

A sixty-year-old man came to me with hoarseness for two weeks(approximately) and no other symptoms.

He was a farmer by profession with no history of any addictions.

Laryngoscopy revealed a whitish patch over both his vocal cords.

One week of conservative management brought no improvement.

The patient was advised of further tests, including a biopsy.

The histopathological report of the biopsy revealed a fungal infection of the vocal cord. It was an Aspergillus infection. The patient received a loading dose of antifungal followed by oral antifungal for five weeks. The treatment is underway, and he is significantly better. The patient is happy with voice quality and is under follow-up weekly.

In many cases with a short duration of hoarseness and leukoplakia, conservative management is indicated. But that was a red signal when the patient didn’t get better with voice rest, steam, and appropriate medications.

As my daughter said on listening to me discuss this case with my hubby-

” Being a doctor seems to be like being a detective with very few clues. That’s the reason why you ask so many questions.”

If you plan to become a doctor or know someone who wants to be a doctor, asking all those questions will help you.Curiosity and the why, that’s what help us find answers.

But the real work starts with you.When you decide to work on “You.”

There’s simply no other way of living a healthy, happy life. Look inside. See what works,what makes you feel happy ,healthy,strong What keeps you feeling at peace?

Do more of that .

Short Form Podcast?

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on June 23, 2021 2

What does one do when they want to do more professionally but have responsibilities which make them work more from home? They go digital.—That’s what I did in 2014. I was suffering from shopping burnout as a mommy to a two-year-old with limited socializing, a stressful new job, and a new home. Hi, I am Dr.Amrita.ENT surgeon, writer, artist, podcaster, and creative entrepreneur.

Please vote for my podcast here

https://myrodecast.com/listen/entry/4985

Starting my own blogging journey in 2014 helped me start sharing my knowledge online. I was helping more people than what was determined by the hours I worked and where I was.
In 2018 I started my podcast on Anchor, enjoying the process of creating audio content. But I was struggling with audio quality, tech, and monetization. Creative sustainability was missing.

In 2020 things became complex. The uncertainty of the pandemic and work-life balance went for a toss. My digital homes took a hit. I continued writing and podcasting but was feeling severe burnout.
In 2021 when the second wave hit, I suffered podcast block. I simply couldn’t find the motivation to keep doing it. I took a two-month break and then did a monthly podcast for the next two months.

I came across the My Rodecast challenge in the Anchor newsletter, and I realized this was an opportunity to rethink my podcast.
If short-form podcasts of 1 to 2 minutes work, I could do that two times a week and a long-form content once a month, maybe? Would that work?
Will that help my podcast better. Here’s to persistence and a second chance.

Children ,Social Media and (Digital) Privacy laws What Parents Should Know

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 9, 2021 2

As a Blogger who is a mom ,I am often approached for collaborations where the brand wants pictures or videos my daughter to use the product.

As parents we have long avoided excessive screen usage for our child.But this was a topic which we never even thought about before offers came.

Featured post

How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!

Health of the Nation Report — Apollo Pro Health

The answer was a “No” for us each time.Some brands respected that and we worked around the concept, some others had a different brand messaging.

What with Ryan being the most popular YouTube channel and highest revenue generating channel ,its no wonder kids are the target for many advertising.

But how healthy is it ?Is it even legal?What about mental health issues of child influenzers?

The health part I will deal with on another interview but on this blog post and Podcast ,I interview Noor Anand Chawla a lawyer about this sticky topic of privacy laws and child influenzers.

We talk parenting,parental aspiration,social media exposure ,money and what the law says .

Should kids be on the internet?Is it good for their health and body image?What kind of legal protection do they have when it comes to Privacy laws.The legal part is what we are talking about today with Noor Anand Chawla.She is a lawyer specializing in Intellectual property law .Ms Noor breaks down the nitty gritty of Childrens rights to digital privacy ,about a parent’s role and what the law says.

Bottomline:As a parent you have big responsibility.

Children, Social media and (Digital)Privacy Laws :In conversation with Noor Anand Chawla

Q: What does the privacy law for minors in India cover? Is the Children’s Online Privacy protection act in India clear?

Ans: India does not have clear laws that are equivalent to the American COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act). For years, all cases related to the online privacy of children have been adjudged on the basis of adhoc executive rulings, court cases and discussions. Currently there are no formal ways of ensuring responsible behaviour, but the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill currently being tabled in the Parliament will address this need.

The PDP Bill was introduced to Parliament in 2019 and is currently under deliberation.

The most notable feature of this Bill, is that it has a section covering minors under the age of 18, the highest age of children in all data protection laws thus far. COPPA in the United States protects children under 13 years of age, China’s Standard covers children under 14 years old while in Europe, GDPR-K covers those under 16 years old.

According to the bill, any company that uses information from minors would need to do so in “a manner that protects and advances the rights and best interests of the child”. This means incorporating strong mechanisms for age verification and parental consent. The accompanying white paper to the bill, clearly states that “the processing of personal data of children ought to be subject to greater protection than regular processing of data”.

Companies that operate websites or other online services directed at children, or process large volumes of personal data relating to children, will be unable to profile, track, monitor the behaviours of, or run targeted advertising on children, nor will they be permitted to extract personal data that could cause significant harm to the child.

The bill further proposes to:

Give data owners greater control over how their information is used, including the right to access, to be “forgotten”, and the transference of their dossier to other companies processing data;
Require companies that process sensitive and large amounts of personal data to submit under a Data Protection Officer who may ensure their compliance with data protection laws and liaise with the Data Protection Authority;
Create a “Data Protection Authority” able to issue penalties of up to 4% of the global turnover, should there be a data breach.

Q: Do you think parents are unintentionally violating Children’s digital privacy?

From a legal viewpoint, parents cannot be held responsible for violating their children’s digital privacy by using their footage or creating accounts for them online. As legal guardians, parents are within their rights to do as they please with their children’s pictures and other data. Parents are also presumed by the law, to be aware of their children’s digital presence on different platforms, as well as the extent to which their children are interacting with brands or people online.

Q: What are the international laws about children’s right to digital privacy?

Ans: USA has the COPPA ACT (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) which imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age.

This is why kids need to be at least 13 before getting their own Facebook and Instagram accounts. Though everyone is signing up, no matter the age, under this act they get protection/ are covered if their data or pictures are erroneously used.

Similarly, China has the Regulation on Online Protection of Children’s Personal Information up to age 14.

UK and EU follow the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR as it’s also known. Only children above the age of 13 can give their consent for their data being used similar to COPPA. Parental consent is required for children under that age.

Ans: There is no single answer to this question. It depends purely on one’s sensibilities and one’s personal beliefs and I dislike passing judgement- hence will not comment on this. Whatever parents feel is right for their child, is right for them!

Q: Do you share your kid’s pics and vieos in public domain?

Ans: Personally, I avoid putting my child online as much as possible, but even if and when I do put my son on there, I try to avoid full-frontal shots or try not make him the focus of the video or picture. It is a difficult decision and one must tread carefully as a content creator and parent!

AUTHOR’S BIO:

Noor Anand Chawla holds degrees from St. Stephen’s College, The Faculty of Law Delhi University and King’s College London. She is a lawyer by training, with a specialisation in Intellectual Property Laws. As a Senior Associate in the office of Mr. Sanjay Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India, she practiced at the Delhi High Court.

She pursued her passion for writing through her lifestyle blog https://nooranandchawla.com and by penning lifestyle feature columns for various newspapers and publications, including The Daily Guardian, Sunday Guardian, Business World and Sunday Standard, among others.

LinkedIn: @nooranandchawla

Kuku Fm Review Plus 10 (Easy) Tips to Start Your Own Podcast!

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on January 5, 2021 2

Have you heard of Kuku fm?Well let me tell you the story of KUKU FM.

It was September 2020 when I was invited by Swati of Kukufm, to join this amazing community-first podcast platform. I was trying to get my podcast in front of Indian audiences,but didn’t really know how.

Anchor was free but the lack of a podcasting community and the sheer size of it’s parent Spotify made me scared. Podcasting felt lonely. Much like blogging was, before I found Blogchatter.

Enter Kuku FM a podcasting platform with a difference.Things started looking up.In this blog post I will share what I love,what could be better about Kuku FM,plus easy tips to start podcasting without going crazy!

Did you know who founded Kukfm?
Why Kuku Fm is a good choice to start your podcasting journey? The Pros-
Now How do you sign up for Kukufm?
- Cons of Kukufm
Steps to start the podcast if you are a blogger
- What will you need to publish a podcast?
But why are podcasts so popular?
How do I choose podcasts to listen to?
10 Simple Tips to Start Your Own Podcast

Did you know who founded Kukfm?

The company was founded by Indian Institute of Technology , Jodhpur alumni Lal Chand Bisu, Vikas Goyal, and Vinod Kumar Meena.Entrepreneurship in a new space.

Quick Review of Kuku Fm

Why Kuku Fm is a good choice to start your podcasting journey? The Pros-

It has a great community that helps train a new Podcaster.
You can podcast in regional languages.
It is the fastest-growing Indian podcasting platform.
It hosts your podcast for free.
They have an option to upload multiple podcasts. You can add your audiobooks and even have live streams(select creators have this option).
But the best part is then community building by Kuku FM. Some amazing contests and content collaborations between creators keep the podcasting community buzzing and help you reach a new audience. They have a very active WhatsApp group, and it’s always full of great ideas.
What I really love is the option for multiple regional languages. They have plans of bringing monetization to the Indian podcasting scene in different formats.
You can sign up as a creator of audio content and have all your audio content under one umbrella. It’s like your Audio portfolio. It doesn’t cost a rupee to get started now.
You get feedback from people who listen to podcasts.

Thats as easy as clicking on this link .You can sign up or submit your rss feed.

Another way is –

Go to Google play
Download the app Kuku FM
Sign up as a creator
Start creating.
You can create podcasts in English or regional languages, audiobooks,or courses.
You can also Email kalakaar@kukfm.com for your queries.

Cons of Kukufm

RSS not available. They are soon going to have their own RSS feed and that’s what will be the game-changer for them.

Anchor is free and wonderful and big Daddy Spotify is the biggest player in the field . It’s not easy getting started as a small-time podcaster. That’s where learning from people who are in the same boat as you are in,is the best way to go forward in your own journey.

Seperate bits of audio cannot be uploaded.Editor could have more features.

These are minor points, but since I try to give all the info you need before you try something, this is what you need to know.

If it’s a question of Indian audience go for Kuku FM. If you want to start and distribute worldwide then since even now KUKU doesn’t have an RSS feed, you will need Anchor to start your podcast easily and for free.

*Kuku Fm is the place to be if you are an Indian Podcaster!*

You can read about the Anchor App I reviewed earlier.

Steps to start the podcast if you are a blogger

Your blog posts are the rough scripts. Structure intro,highlight the main points,see whether the topic will be something which you are comfortable talking about .Make an outro .Now try rehearsing a few times before you record.

If you are nervous, use an app like HiQ, on the phone to record short segments. That way you can edit the parts which you don’t like easily .

Then merge all the bits of audio using a audio merger app or online.

What will you need to publish a podcast?

A podcast image
Title
A description with details, links, etc
Category of audio. Choose from fiction, personality development, fiction, motivation, mythology, and spirituality.
Keywords
Publish
Share

*The Kuku studio dashboard looks like this*

Kuku FM also auto-generates the podcast videos first one minute after a day or 2 for social sharing. Definitely a great feature.Sharing is super easy and since podcasts are popular you should share.

But why are podcasts so popular?

Because you can fold the laundry and listen.
Make the bed and listen.
Cook or cut veggies and listen
Dust and listen
Walk on the treadmill and listen!
Pretend to listen while you snooze in the afternoon?

Whatever works for you.I absolutely love reading, but podcasting helps me catch up with many industry content that would be otherwise difficult to make time for.

How do I choose podcasts to listen to?

I focus on the topic .

Then the voice and audio quality .

Both are equally important but the first is crucial.

Everything I know and learn while Blogging and writing

Featured post

How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!

10 Simple Tips to Start Your Own Podcast

I have been creating audio content for my own website and podcast ,since 2018.But its only recently that things started picking up.2020 being what it was,it wasn’t easy to actually create the content I wanted to .I was more going with the flow than anything else.

Like when you start to swim and the first thing that you remember is stay afloat.

Listening to content creators talking about drops in traffic even worse drops in income, I realized once again that you and me we are all in this together.No one is unaffected .

The degree may differ but it’s there.

Now the part about podcasting top tips-

1 Pick a topic: Write a script with an intro, outro, and read it out loud several times before you start the actual recording. Stick to it.

2 Where to Record?

Pick a room in your house which has heavy curtains, sofa or bedding .Don’t choose a room with a lot of wooden cupboards and little furnishings. This makes the voice echo.

3 Now the when

It’s best if you record early in the morning because your voice sounds best then. But outside noise should also be less. Some people find it easier to record at night like I often do.

4 Voice fatigue

There’s a chance of voice fatigue if you have to also talk professionally. If you want a fresh-sounding voice before recording a podcast don’t, talk for at least an hour beforehand. Steam inhalation for ten minutes helps. Drink water. Record.

5 Practice saying “Om” a few times every day. It really helps to open up the voice.

6 Sometimes standing while recording a podcast helps to improve audio quality.

7 What to use while recording?

Use a lapel mike like Boya. It’s not expensive and improves audio quality. You can also record using the phone earplugs.Not as good but gets the work done. Hearing how your voice sounds, will help you.There is a variety of expensive audio gear as you get more experienced. One of them is the Rode mike.

8 You can record using the Kuku FM studio for better sound quality or a stand-alone app like HiQ.

9 You can use Audacity to improve voice quality on the laptop.

10 Keep practicing, be authentic you will go far. There’s absolutely no downside to practicing every day. That’s where the community on Kuku FM will help you top.

Stay inspired keep podcasting.

Why You Shouldn’t self medicate( #Podcast)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on December 17, 2020 24

What is self-medication? When you self administers treatment for physical or mental conditions, that’s self-medication.

What happens when parents medicate their kids using OTC (over the counter) drugs or refill an old prescription without consulting?

The child gets better-Best scenario.
The child gets better, and the symptoms recur after a few days-commonest cases.
Symptoms get worse- often enough to be a cause for concern.
A constant worry for parents.

What are you supposed to do when it’s late, you or your child have an earache and you can’t visit a clinic?

For Ear nose throat -What you should(not) do is what I will talk about today. A few incidents to give the background behind this post.

Case 1 :The case of the mixed up prescription

One of my patients mommy today told me about how her two year-old girls’ ears were aching since five days and started discharging blood mixed with pus .The child was having a cold for a week now and the mommy started an antibiotic prescribed from another doctor’s (one year) old prescription .Mommy also used my one year old prescription to buy the ear drop.

None of the previous prescriptions were available.The antibiotic was named but not the ear drop.Surprisingly common behavior. Read about acute otitis media here .

(For the sake of privacy personal details are not mentioned. )

Why you shouldn’t Self Medicate: Healthwealthbridge Podcast

Case 2 Thinking all ear drop are created equal

I had prescribed an ear drop for ear wax, 6 months back.Some of the drop was left.

The parent applied the same ear drop six months later, for a sudden earache.Me speechless.Again no prescription.

In both these cases the child was in severe pain.

Case 3 Nasal Spray Addiction

Mommy had a stuffy nose. She was using OTC nose drops for many years.Child has a stuffy nose, mom starts giving the child the same adult nose drop. Mother has rebound aggravation and the child suffers too.

This condition is called Rhinitis medicamentosa. When nose problems get worse by self-medication and overuse of OTC nose drops.

It’s a rebound nasal stuffiness most often due to OTC vasoconstriction(blood vessels are contracted) nasal drops.Its also known as Nasal spray addiction.

One of the common nose drop which is used for self medication is xymetazoline or oxymetazoline drops like Otrivin,Xylomist,Diconal etc.

So are these nasal drops like Otrivin safe to use?

When you use products like these as an adult,for two or three days within prescribed limits , its safe enough.But overuse,abuse ,excessive dosage and using on kids are never safe.

What happens if you use Otrivin for more than seven days ?Any side effects?

The problem of nasal blockage and feeling stuffy increases and worsening of nasal mucosa swelling.You may have feelings of anxiety irritability ,dryness of nose ,dryness of the back of throat ,sudden racing of heart,palpitations, difficulty sleeping,sudden mood swings ,sudden tremors and more .

Is it safe to use Nasal sprays instead of nose drops?

It depends on the product used.If its a normal saline spray its unlikely to be a problem.But all medicated products need to be taken after consultation with your doctor .

What could be behind self-medication and parents medicating their kids without medical consultation?

The reasons are multiple and multifactorial. As parents, you and I want to help our kids the best we can. With online healthcare access, many such problems at odd hours may be helped.

The problem of random self medication is worrying but when it’s your kid you need to be triple-y sure .

Few things to remember about self-medication problems

Never use ear drops,nose drops, eye drops ,ointments after expiry date.

Always use them within one month of opening to avoid problems .

Never self Medicate when it’s your sense organs, the harm could be permanent.

Never self Medicate when it’s your kid.

Never reuse your old prescription or that of your family members. Any pain which keeps you awake is serious .

Even OTC drugs, nutritional supplements can cause trouble. Side effects, complications, and drug reactions all occur when taken alone or in combination with prescription drugs.

Any condition persisting beyond two days in kids need check up.

Anything which doesn’t get better within 2 weeks will need a workup.

If you have a pre existing condition, always know when you should follow up.

Get Teleconsultation done if unable to visit in person.

Diabetes makes all infections worse,so take good care of your blood sugar.

Today for content that gives Expert advice I decided to tell you some of the things I always tell my patients. Don’t self medicate unless you can self manage the complications. It can cause unintentional, permanent harm. Choose your health care with CARE because “this” is the only body you have. Some ENT topics which will help you.

Childhood Obesity and Adult life (Nutrition Secrets Book 5) is free till Saturday. Share it today.)

Featured post

How is the Health of the Nation: The report is an eye-opener!

Healthwealthbridge Health Wellness Education Wealth

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Launching Doctor’s Creative Diary Podcast #VoiceofAnchor

Hoarseness and Leukoplakia(white patch) of Vocal Cord

Short Form Podcast?

Children ,Social Media and (Digital) Privacy laws What Parents Should Know

Featured post

Q: What does the privacy law for minors in India cover? Is the Children’s Online Privacy protection act in India clear?

Q: Do you think parents are unintentionally violating Children’s digital privacy?