The Raj Shamani podcast and Nikhil Kamath’s WTF is series get talked about together, but they work in very different ways. One starts with the guest. The other starts with an industry. If you are planning your own show in Jaipur or anywhere in Rajasthan, those differences matter more than the follower counts.
We record podcasts at Oskillo Studio, so we watch how these shows are built. This post compares guest selection, episode length, set and clips, then ends with what you can copy using one or two cameras. Seedhi baat: copy the thinking, not the budget.
Key takeaways
- Figuring Out is guest-led and its episode lengths vary a lot. WTF is is sector-led and usually long.
- Rankings change with the source and the day. Check the live Spotify India chart before quoting any position.
- Both hosts are linked with trailers or clip channels around their long episodes, so plan your clips from day one.
- Long runtimes suit only a few shows. A first-time creator does better with a tight 30 to 60 minutes.
- You can copy the structure with one or two cameras and a clean audio chain.
What is the Raj Shamani podcast, and how did it get here?
The Raj Shamani podcast, Figuring Out, is a guest-led interview show that Spotify Wrapped India 2025 ranked #1 among podcasts. Storyboard18 reported the milestone on 8 December 2025 and noted a studio team of 50+ people. That is a year-end 2025 result, not a live ranking for October 2026.
Forbes (7 October 2026) says the channel has nearly 20M YouTube subscribers. Other sources give anything from about 13M to 19.7M, so treat any single number with care and look at the date.
The same Forbes piece has a detail we like. Early episodes were recorded on a phone in his room, sometimes with a blanket over his head to cut echo. The show did not start with a big crew. It started with a clear idea and a habit of publishing.
How do Figuring Out and WTF is pick their guests?
Figuring Out builds each episode around a person, while WTF is builds each episode around an industry. Guests on Raj Shamani’s show have included Emmanuel Macron and Bill Gates, per Wikipedia. Nikhil Kamath’s show, by his own explanation, covers sectors he is considering investing in.
Figuring Out: the guest is the hook
Forbes reports that the team tests thumbnail concepts with an audience-analysis system before booking guests. In plain words, they ask early whether a guest’s story can become a click. The most talked-about example is the Vijay Mallya interview from June 2025, his first public interview in nine years. Wikipedia reports about 20M views in four days, while Shamani’s own site lists 26M+ views and calls it a 4.3-hour interview. Treat those as reported figures for one exceptional episode, not something a normal show should expect.
WTF is: the topic is the hook
Spotify’s show page describes WTF is as Kamath hosting friends and industry experts for casual yet intellectual conversations. Recent titles include "WTF is Travel?" (MakeMyTrip x Taj Hotels), "WTF are Batteries?" and "WTF is Pharma?". Business Today reported in 2023 that he explained the three-hour format this way: the topics are industries he is considering investing in. Kamath also runs a separate interview series, People by WTF, whose episodes carry timestamped chapters in their descriptions.
The lesson for you: a guest-led show needs a steady pipeline of interesting people. A topic-led show needs real depth in one field. Pick the one you can sustain every week.
How long are the episodes, and should you copy that?
Figuring Out episodes vary widely, from 48 minutes to 2 hr 46 min in one YouTube playlist view, and Apple Podcasts shows an average of about 1 hr 20 min across 578 episodes. WTF is episodes run longer, for example 3 hr 21 min for WTF is Travel. Most new shows should not copy these lengths.
| Point | Figuring Out | WTF is |
|---|---|---|
| Built around | The guest and their story | One industry or topic |
| Typical length | Mixed: 48 min to 2 hr 46 min in one playlist; average about 1 hr 20 min on Apple Podcasts | Long: 3 hr 21 min for WTF is Travel |
| Why it works | Big names plus thumbnails tested before booking | Deep, structured conversation with sector experts |
| Copy this | Pick guests with a clear story angle | Pick a topic and prepare real depth |
No source we found compares the two formats side by side, so this table is our reading of the facts above. The key point is that long runs follow reputation. A host with a large audience can ask for three hours. A new show asking a stranger for three hours may struggle to hold viewers.
What do we actually know about their video-first sets?
We know very little that is verified. We found no reliable source for either show’s camera count, lenses, microphones or lighting, so we will not guess. What is visible is the approach: long full episodes, with trailers, chapters or clips built around them.
Spotify’s page for Kamath’s show shows trailers released alongside full episodes. The People by WTF episodes carry timestamped chapters in their descriptions. Neither detail needs an expensive set. Both come from planning the edit before the shoot.
How do long episodes turn into clips?
A long episode becomes clips when you mark strong moments during the recording and cut each one as a self-contained 30 to 60 second story. One blog says Raj Shamani runs multiple clip channels, but it is a secondary source. A “Nikhil Kamath Clips” channel is also cited on Wikipedia.
The workflow we follow for podcast clips and reels:
- Mark moments live. Note the timecode when a guest tells a story, disagrees, or gives a number.
- Find a clean start and end. A clip should make sense without the question before it.
- Reframe to vertical. Keep the speaker’s face in the upper third and leave space for captions.
- Add captions and a cover. Many people watch with sound off, and the cover decides the tap.
- Export per platform. Reels, Shorts and YouTube need different safe areas.
Spotify chart rank vs YouTube views: what is the difference?
Spotify chart rank measures how a podcast performs among Spotify listeners, and the chart is refreshed daily. YouTube views count plays of each single video on YouTube. A show can rank high in one place and look small in the other, so never mix the two numbers.
The snapshots show how much trackers differ. One podstatus snapshot put WTF is at about #176. A podscan snapshot showed Figuring Out at #1 and People by WTF at #132. Check the live chart before you quote a position, and write the date next to it.
What can a Jaipur creator copy with one or two cameras?
A Jaipur creator can copy the structure, not the crew: a clear angle, a prepared question flow, clean audio, and clips planned from day one. Good sound and a steady frame matter more than camera count. Two angles are enough for a professional-looking interview.
- Pick one angle. Guest-led (founders, artists, jewellers, handicraft makers in Rajasthan) or topic-led (one sector you know well).
- Start at 30 to 60 minutes. Earn longer runs later.
- Spend on audio first. A Shure SM7B mic with a good recorder beats a fancy camera with a poor mic.
- Use two cameras if you can. A wide shot plus a close shot, for example with a Sony A7 IV or Sony A7C, gives you cutaways and vertical crops.
- Plan the clips before you record. Write three possible clip topics into your question list.
At Oskillo: how we record this kind of show in Jaipur
Oskillo Studio in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur records guest-led and topic-led video podcasts in soundproof, acoustically treated rooms. Our Economy Class Advance pack costs Rs 4,000 per hour and includes 2 Sony 4K cameras, a Shure mic, a pro audio recorder, lights and a technician. See the full podcast studio pricing in Jaipur.
Business Class Advance is Rs 8,000 per hour, with a Shure SM7B and RODECaster Pro II console. Economy Class uses a Shure MV7+ mic and a Zoom PodTrak P8 recorder. Our shows use Sony A7 IV and Sony A7C bodies. Founders are present at every shoot, and beginners are guided through question flow, mic technique and camera checks.
For clips, our Complete Podcast Edit is Rs 10,000: main edit, a cinematic highlight, 3 reels with covers and 2 thumbnails. A single reel edit is Rs 1,500. If you live outside Jaipur, we also edit remotely. You can rent the studio with or without editing, and we are open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM. Message us on WhatsApp to plan your first episode.
Some product links on this page are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, YTMahendra Podcast earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Who is India’s No. 1 podcaster on Spotify?
Spotify Wrapped India 2025 ranked Raj Shamani’s Figuring Out #1 among podcasts, ahead of The Horror Show, The Desi Crime Podcast and The Ranveer Show (Hindi). That is a year-end 2025 result. Live Spotify India charts are refreshed daily, so positions in 2026 can differ.
How long are Raj Shamani’s podcast episodes?
They vary a lot. One YouTube playlist view shows runs from 48 minutes to 2 hr 46 min, and Apple Podcasts lists an average of about 1 hr 20 min across 578 episodes. The Vijay Mallya interview was reported at about four hours.
What is the difference between WTF is and People by WTF?
WTF is is Nikhil Kamath’s topic-led series, usually three hours or more, built around industries like travel, batteries or pharma. People by WTF is a separate interview series launched by Kamath, and its episode descriptions carry timestamped chapters.
How does Raj Shamani pick guests?
We cannot see inside his team, but Forbes (October 2026) reports they test thumbnail concepts with an audience-analysis system before booking guests. Guests range from founders to world leaders such as Emmanuel Macron and Bill Gates, per Wikipedia.
How many YouTube subscribers does Raj Shamani have?
Forbes (7 October 2026) says nearly 20M. Other sources range from about 13M to 19.7M depending on date. Always quote the figure with its source and month, because subscriber counts change every week.
Can I record a podcast in Jaipur like these shows?
Yes. Oskillo Studio in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur has soundproof rooms, themed sets, Sony 4K cameras and Shure microphones. Economy Class Advance is Rs 4,000 per hour with technician included. Beginners are guided, and booking in advance is recommended.
Hindi ya English, Indian podcast ke liye kya better hai?
Choose the language your guests and viewers use most comfortably. Many Jaipur and Rajasthan audiences watch Hindi-first content, but a business show for investors may suit English or a mix. Record in the language where the conversation feels natural, because forced language makes episodes stiff.
Book your session at Oskillo Studio
Soundproof sets, 2 Sony 4K cameras, Shure mics and an on-site technician in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur. Studio rent starts at Rs 2,000 per hour.
WhatsApp +91 96101 80066 | See all prices | 3rd Floor, VR Theme Park, Gandhi Path, Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur
