Jest Business | Corporate Satire, Business Humour

The Business Model Airlines Wish They Thought Of

I was about to disrupt quick commerce… until the government ruined my plan. So naturally, I pivoted to starting an airline. In this episode of The Jest Business, I share my breakthrough ideas in airline pricing strategy - from business class upgrades without perks to finally monetising the middle seat in economy class. If you’ve ever been confused by airline ticket pricing, seat selection fees, and endless airline add-ons, trust me… there’s a method to the madness. This is my masterclass in dynamic pricing, airline upselling, and creative revenue models. After this episode, every airline upgrade and boarding pass fee will suddenly make perfect sense. ✈️ IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | Why My Startup Pivoted to an Airline 00:43 | The Real Innovation in Airlines (It’s Not Planes) 01:14 | The Sneaky Business Class Upgrade Trick 02:12 | How Airlines Charge for Everything 03:04 | Why Economy Passengers Still Pay More 03:16 | The “Priority Toilet Access” Seat Strategy 03:37 | My Plan to Monetise the Middle Seat 04:20 | Pitching Investors My Airline Idea 04:35 | More Airline Pricing Tricks Coming Soon Sponsor: Coromandel Productions At Coromandel Productions, we aim to showcase human interest & heart-warming stories from all walks of life. We do this through short films, documentaries, sports television, corporate films, feature based content & promotional videos.  Instagram: instagram.com/coromandel_productions [http://instagram.com/coromandel_productions]  YouTube: www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518 [http://www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518]  Vimeo: vimeo.com/coromandelproductions [http://vimeo.com/coromandelproductions]  Website: coromandel-productions.com [http://coromandel-productions.com]  Rahul Phondke Rahul Phondke has been a prolific writer of humour columns since his childhood days which ended sometime last year. People are still wondering how this happened. He turned to writing humour at an early age in an effort to find some meaning to the angst of life, which he found almost immediately after his first two cans of beer. Based in Singapore, he is extremely sought after by the locals ...unfortunately most of whom happen to be the police. He is an active member on Facebook and can be easily reached...unless he happens to owe you moneyConnect with Rahul at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul |phondke |522a17 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-phondke-522a17/?originalSubdomain=sg] Paddy Rangappa Paddy Rangappa has worked in marketing for more than twenty six years. After over a decade in Procter & Gamble in India, Indonesia, and Singapore, he became vice president, brand development for McDonald’s in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) and developed strategies to significantly grow breakfast, beverages, and desserts, especially the McCafé brand, across APMEA. He has also taught Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) to senior undergraduates and MBA students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is the author of Been There Bungled That and Spark. Connect with Paddy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/?originalSubdomain=sg] About the Show The Jest Business is a podcast that pokes fun at the wild world of corporate speak and boardroom absurdities. It’s where business meets banter—with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humour. From buzzwords to bloopers, we decode jargon, laugh at leadership, and challenge the serious side of succes

Indians Accidentally Invented Peak Corporate Jargon

In this Episode, Paddy takes jabs at India’s underrated contribution to business culture: corporate jargon. The innovative Indian phrases that make emails shorter and meetings funnier. From “pre-pone” and “time-pass” to “do the needful”, this is a most polite roast of office culture and how Indian English makes corporate life more efficient (and entertaining). Let’s recognise it. Let’s celebrate it. And… let’s ‘do the needful.’ IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Teaser (00:56) India's Secret Takeover of Corporate Jargon (02:13) Word That Confuses the World? (02:37) What Are You Doing? Time Pass! (03:05) 3 Words That Run Indian Offices (03:31) "The Same": Two Words to Rule All Emails (04:38) "I Passed Out of College" (Sounds Dangerous) (05:25) India: The Out of Station Nation (06:08) Celebrate the Hustle Sponsor: Coromandel Productions At Coromandel Productions, we aim to showcase human interest & heart-warming stories from all walks of life. We do this through short films, documentaries, sports television, corporate films, feature based content & promotional videos.  Instagram: instagram.com/coromandel_productions [http://instagram.com/coromandel_productions]  YouTube: www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518 [http://www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518]  Vimeo: vimeo.com/coromandelproductions [http://vimeo.com/coromandelproductions]  Website: coromandel-productions.com [http://coromandel-productions.com]  Rahul Phondke Rahul Phondke has been a prolific writer of humour columns since his childhood days which ended sometime last year. People are still wondering how this happened. He turned to writing humour at an early age in an effort to find some meaning to the angst of life, which he found almost immediately after his first two cans of beer. Based in Singapore, he is extremely sought after by the locals ...unfortunately most of whom happen to be the police. He is an active member on Facebook and can be easily reached...unless he happens to owe you moneyConnect with Rahul at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul -phondke -522a17 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-phondke-522a17/?originalSubdomain=sg] Paddy Rangappa Paddy Rangappa has worked in marketing for more than twenty six years. After over a decade in Procter & Gamble in India, Indonesia, and Singapore, he became vice president, brand development for McDonald’s in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) and developed strategies to significantly grow breakfast, beverages, and desserts, especially the McCafé brand, across APMEA. He has also taught Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) to senior undergraduates and MBA students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is the author of Been There Bungled That and Spark. Connect with Paddy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/?originalSubdomain=sg] About the Show The Jest Business is a podcast that pokes fun at the wild world of corporate speak and boardroom absurdities. It’s where business meets banter—with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humour. From buzzwords to bloopers, we decode jargon, laugh at leadership, and challenge the serious side of success.

How to Make Vendors Regret Emailing You

Ever wondered how not to work with vendors…  In this episode, Paddy, a fresh faced vendor gives a masterclass in corporate villainy. The kind that makes procurement teams clap and finance departments weep with joy. From demanding epic-length proposals, to strategic ghosting, to stretching payment terms so far they enter the multiverse. This is a satirical look at how big companies squeeze suppliers like toothpaste at the end of the month. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | Introduction 00:22 | Proposals? Yes, Make Them Extra Long and Boring  00:38 | Ghost Your Vendor 00:53 | Turn Payments into a Psychological Thriller 01:12 | Design Invoice Systems That Look Like Escape Rooms  01:33 | Keep Pointing Out Errors Till They Want to Die 02:47 | Kill Vendor's Cash Flow 03:32 | Pro Tip: Finishing Move Sponsor: Coromandel Productions At Coromandel Productions, we aim to showcase human interest & heart-warming stories from all walks of life. We do this through short films, documentaries, sports television, corporate films, feature based content & promotional videos.  Instagram: instagram.com/coromandel_productions [http://instagram.com/coromandel_productions]  YouTube: www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518 [http://www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518]  Vimeo: vimeo.com/coromandelproductions [http://vimeo.com/coromandelproductions]  Website: coromandel-productions.com [http://coromandel-productions.com]  Rahul Phondke Rahul Phondke has been a prolific writer of humour columns since his childhood days which ended sometime last year. People are still wondering how this happened. He turned to writing humour at an early age in an effort to find some meaning to the angst of life, which he found almost immediately after his first two cans of beer. Based in Singapore, he is extremely sought after by the locals ...unfortunately most of whom happen to be the police. He is an active member on Facebook and can be easily reached...unless he happens to owe you moneyConnect with Rahul at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul |phondke |522a17 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-phondke-522a17/?originalSubdomain=sg] Paddy Rangappa Paddy Rangappa has worked in marketing for more than twenty six years. After over a decade in Procter & Gamble in India, Indonesia, and Singapore, he became vice president, brand development for McDonald’s in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) and developed strategies to significantly grow breakfast, beverages, and desserts, especially the McCafé brand, across APMEA. He has also taught Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) to senior undergraduates and MBA students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is the author of Been There Bungled That and Spark. Connect with Paddy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/?originalSubdomain=sg] About the Show The Jest Business is a podcast that pokes fun at the wild world of corporate speak and boardroom absurdities. It’s where business meets banter—with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humour. From buzzwords to bloopers, we decode jargon, laugh at leadership, and challenge the serious side of success

I Built an 8-Minute Startup. The Government Built a Ban

I almost built India’s fastest 8-minute delivery startup… and the Government shut it down before launch. In this episode, I walk you through my very real (and slightly ridiculous) journey into the Indian startup ecosystem, from spotting a “market gap” during paneer makhani prep to pitching venture capital investors who loved my plan to out-Blinkit Blinkit. We talk quick commerce, VC funding logic, startup losses, infrastructure scaling, and how tech founders convince themselves they’re 20% smarter than everyone else. If you’re into tech startups, entrepreneurship, startup funding, or India’s delivery wars, this one will feel painfully familiar. And yes, I explain exactly how an 8-minute business model almost became my big break. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | The Startup Idea I Almost Raised VC Money For 01:07 | Why 8-Minute Delivery Could’ve Beaten Blinkit 01:44 | The “Market Research” That Changed My Business Plan 03:15 | Naming It, Framing It, and AB Testing Like a Real Founder 03:54 | The 20% Bigger Infrastructure Strategy (And the Risks) 04:30 | Why VCs Loved the Losses — Until Policy Killed It 05:59 | What This Taught Me About Startups, Hype & Reality Sponsor: Coromandel Productions At Coromandel Productions, we aim to showcase human interest & heart-warming stories from all walks of life. We do this through short films, documentaries, sports television, corporate films, feature based content & promotional videos.  Instagram: instagram.com/coromandel_productions [http://instagram.com/coromandel_productions]  YouTube: www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518 [http://www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518]  Vimeo: vimeo.com/coromandelproductions [http://vimeo.com/coromandelproductions]  Website: coromandel-productions.com [http://coromandel-productions.com]  Rahul Phondke Rahul Phondke has been a prolific writer of humour columns since his childhood days which ended sometime last year. People are still wondering how this happened. He turned to writing humour at an early age in an effort to find some meaning to the angst of life, which he found almost immediately after his first two cans of beer. Based in Singapore, he is extremely sought after by the locals ...unfortunately most of whom happen to be the police. He is an active member on Facebook and can be easily reached...unless he happens to owe you moneyConnect with Rahul at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul |phondke |522a17 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-phondke-522a17/?originalSubdomain=sg] Paddy Rangappa Paddy Rangappa has worked in marketing for more than twenty six years. After over a decade in Procter & Gamble in India, Indonesia, and Singapore, he became vice president, brand development for McDonald’s in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) and developed strategies to significantly grow breakfast, beverages, and desserts, especially the McCafé brand, across APMEA. He has also taught Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) to senior undergraduates and MBA students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is the author of Been There Bungled That and Spark. Connect with Paddy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/?originalSubdomain=sg] About the Show The Jest Business is a podcast that pokes fun at the wild world of corporate speak and boardroom absurdities. It’s where business meets banter—with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humour. From buzzwords to bloopers, we decode jargon, laugh at leadership, and challenge the serious side of success.

How AI Turned Job Applications Into a Joke

Sorry to break it to you… but the most honest cover letter you’ve ever written is probably also the most unemployable one. In this episode, I talk about my long, painful relationship with cover letters—and how AI quietly ruined (and exposed) the whole hiring game. I walk you through my journey of watching recruiters, candidates, and algorithms outsmart each other in the modern job application circus. From AI-written cover letters to recruiters using AI to read them, this is what hiring looks like now—and why sincerity is suddenly back in fashion. I share three very questionable strategies for writing a cover letter in the age of AI, ethics, and resume keyword obsession. If you’re navigating job search, hiring, or recruitment in 2025, this episode might help—or get you blacklisted. Either way, you’ll never look at a cover letter the same way again. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 | Why cover letters exist — and why you hate them   01:22 | How AI quietly broke the cover letter game   02:26 | Trick #1: The fastest way to stand out instantly   03:03 | Trick #2: Using AI without getting caught   03:34 | Trick #3: Radical honesty recruiters don’t expect   04:19 | Extra tricks recruiters secretly fall for   Sponsor: Coromandel Productions At Coromandel Productions, we aim to showcase human interest & heart-warming stories from all walks of life. We do this through short films, documentaries, sports television, corporate films, feature based content & promotional videos.  Instagram: instagram.com/coromandel_productions [http://instagram.com/coromandel_productions]  YouTube: www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518 [http://www.youtube.com/@coromandelproductions518]  Vimeo: vimeo.com/coromandelproductions [http://vimeo.com/coromandelproductions]  Website: coromandel-productions.com [http://coromandel-productions.com]  Rahul Phondke Rahul Phondke has been a prolific writer of humour columns since his childhood days which ended sometime last year. People are still wondering how this happened. He turned to writing humour at an early age in an effort to find some meaning to the angst of life, which he found almost immediately after his first two cans of beer. Based in Singapore, he is extremely sought after by the locals ...unfortunately most of whom happen to be the police. He is an active member on Facebook and can be easily reached...unless he happens to owe you moneyConnect with Rahul at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul |phondke |522a17 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-phondke-522a17/?originalSubdomain=sg] Paddy Rangappa Paddy Rangappa has worked in marketing for more than twenty six years. After over a decade in Procter & Gamble in India, Indonesia, and Singapore, he became vice president, brand development for McDonald’s in Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA) and developed strategies to significantly grow breakfast, beverages, and desserts, especially the McCafé brand, across APMEA. He has also taught Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) to senior undergraduates and MBA students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). He is the author of Been There Bungled That and Spark. Connect with Paddy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddyrangappa/?originalSubdomain=sg] About the Show The Jest Business is a podcast that pokes fun at the wild world of corporate speak and boardroom absurdities. It’s where business meets banter—with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humour. From buzzwords to bloopers, we decode jargon, laugh at leadership, and challenge the serious side of success.