The Apple Email That I Thought Was Spam

Hey Beyonder! 👋

Sorry I'm late today, but I couldn't let the week pass without updating you on what's been happening!

You know those weeks that feel like they were written by a screenwriter? Last week was exactly that, complete with plot twists, epic locations, and a finale I'm still smiling about.

The Phone Call That Started It All

One month ago, my phone rings. It's an agency asking something I never expected:

Apple collaborations aren't typical brand deals. They're insanely selective. And here's the kicker, for the first time ever, they're exploring regional creators. People who don't just create in English.

My answer? "Yes, obviously. Why wouldn't I?" But then came the waiting game...

When Dreams Actually Come True

Fast forward to last week. The confirmation finally arrived.

Since I'm part of the Apple ecosystem, they're giving me free tickets and covering everything for their Apple Experience show in Mumbai. Everything. Flights, hotel, and meals.

I was so excited I postponed a podcast recording. Because sometimes, you have to choose the experience over the content, right?

Third Time's the Charm (Finally!)

I've tried visiting Mumbai twice before, both fell through at the last minute. Classic "almost but not quite" story.

This time felt different from the moment I boarded that flight.

I land in BKC (one of Mumbai's major business districts) and the first thing that hits me isn't the crowds. It's the sheer scale of everything.

These aren't just buildings; they're monuments to ambition. Glass towers reaching for the sky, lobbies that cost more than entire businesses, and this palpable energy of money moving at incomprehensible speeds.

Standing there, watching the scale at which people like the Ambanis operate, I felt incredibly small. But not in a bad way, in that humbling way that expands your vision of what's possible.

Living Like I'm in a Movie

They put me up in this gorgeous five-star hotel. Marble everywhere, service that anticipates your needs, views that make you forget you're not permanently rich.

I made a video about it (if you haven't watched it yet, you're missing out!). But beyond the content, it was this surreal moment of "Is this actually my life right now?"

Then came the Apple event itself. Walking into that space, understanding their vision for regional content, it was proof that our kind of storytelling actually matters on the biggest stages.

Plot Twist: Home is Where the Magic Was Happening

But here's the beautiful part I didn't expect.

I fly back to Chennai, walk into our office, and something incredible has been brewing. The team has found their rhythm.

Everyone's gelling in this way that just feels... right. We've been shooting brand ads that don't feel like ads, they feel like stories that happen to sell something.

There's this creative energy buzzing through the office that wasn't there before.

When Everything Clicks Into Place

Here's what made last week special: everything was aligning.

I got to create content I love making. I shared my Apple experience authentically, and you guys absolutely loved it. The team is working like a well-oiled machine. We've already produced fantastic brand ads.

explorewithepaphra

612K followers

View more on Instagram

But more than that, people's responses have been different. Not just likes and comments, but genuine excitement. Like you've been on this journey with me, and this felt like our win, not just mine.

The Week That Felt Like Hope

You know what last week really was? It was a sign of hope.

Hope that the stories we tell in our own languages matter. Hope that authenticity wins over perfection. Hope that building something real, with real people, actually pays off.

For months, maybe years, I've been building toward something without knowing exactly what it was. Last week felt like the moment when all those puzzle pieces suddenly showed me the bigger picture.

Over to You, My Fellow Dreamers

I'm still processing everything from last week, but here's what I know: this feels like the beginning, not the destination.

Hit reply and tell me about it. I read every single email, and your stories often spark what I write about next.

Cheers,
Epaphra

P.S. The team keeps asking when I'm going to stop randomly taking pictures of everything with this new iPhone. Answer: probably never. Sorry, not sorry! 😉