Shows
Everything is EverythingEp 108: Accidental PoliticiansPolitics attracts a particular kind of creature — which is why accidental politicians, who never meant to be in that game, are a curious breed.Welcome to Episode 108 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit and Ajay relate the stories of five inspiring accidental politicians — and discuss the pros and cons of their situation!TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Absolute power is pretty cool!01:24 Chapter 1: Mark Carney11:16 Chapter 2: Václav Havel30:52 Chapter 3: Jawaharlal Nehru44:36 Chapter 4: Manmohan Singh57:37 Chapter 5: Volodymyr Zelenskyy1:10:01 Chapter 6: The Pros and Co...2025-07-261h 33Everything is EverythingEp 107: What These Labels MeanIdeological labels can be damn confusing. What do we mean by liberal, conservative, socialist, nationalist, left, right? They even seem to mean different things to different people!Worry not. We are here to lift the fog!Welcome to Episode 107 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, on popular demand, Amit and Ajay break down the meanings of some commonly used labels and isms. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Labels Are Dangerous!02:36 Chapter 0: Important Clarifications09:32 Chapter 00: What We Believe14:32 Chapter 1: Liberal25:18 Chapter 2: C...2025-07-111h 42Everything is EverythingEp 106: The World in 2050It is difficult to even know what happened in the past, leave alone predicting the future. But one day, when our brave hosts were asked what the world will look like in 2050, they decided to have some fun.Welcome to Episode 106 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit and Ajay make 15 predictions about 2050 in full humility, likely to be wrong, but hey, that will give us a mea culpa episode in 2050! Too much fun, this episode is, as they talk about trends and specifics...2025-07-061h 54Everything is EverythingEp 105: Is Manufacturing the Answer?Last week, we spoke about how manufacturing in India has been hobbled by the state for decades, and continues to be in a bad way. But does that mean the state should now direct its focus on it?No!Welcome to Episode 105 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In the second of a two-parter, Ajay lays out his argument for why the state should not pick winners, not just within a sector but also among sectors. State coercion makes everything worse!TABLE OF...2025-07-0156 minEverything is EverythingEp 104: What Ails Indian Manufacturing?Manufacturing in India was hobbled by the state for many decades after Independence — and is still not in great shape. Why is this so? How can we move forward?Welcome to Episode 104 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In the first of a two-parter, Ajay lays out the grim reality today, and Amit gives a historical perspective. In the next episode, we discuss why Industrial Policy would be the worst way to tackle this.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Travails of the Indian Businessman05:12 Cha...2025-06-231h 12Everything is EverythingEp 102: You Should Start a BusinessWelcome to Episode 102 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.There are many good reasons to start a business. In this episode, Amit and Ajay take you through a few of them — and then Amit elaborates on the mindset you need to get started.This is Part 1 of a grand two-parter. If you don’t start a business after this, you are doomed! Start! Now!TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Eh, Chhoti Ladki!06:34 Chapter 1: Why You Should Start a Business19:19 Chapter 2: The Detachment Argument24:01 Chapter 3: Prioritise Love...2025-06-0651 minEverything is EverythingEp 101: Metrics for InterventionWhen we think about state intervention, the first principle we consider is whether it is necessary. But we should also think about whether it is possible — and how easy or hard it is. How do we figure this out?Welcome to Episode 101 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay lays out the metrics by which we can judge the difficulty of a proposed state intervention. Monetary policy is easy. Financial regulation is hard. Let’s understand why!TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The L...2025-06-0643 minEverything is EverythingEp 99: Where Indian Regulation Went WrongRegulation always has the potential to go wrong. But in India, it’s been worse than in much of the world. It has become a tool of oppression of the worst kind. Welcome to Episode 99 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit talks about the theory of regulation in general — and Ajay delivers a masterclass on how the Indian state turned it into a horror film. Despite that, the episode begins and ends with good news!TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro...2025-05-231h 20Everything is EverythingEp 98: Is Your State Legitimate?We define a state as the entity that has a monopoly on violence. But does political authority lead to political legitimacy? How do we define legitimacy? What happens without it? How should we approach it as citizens.Welcome to Episode 98 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay draws from political philosophy to expand on the intricacies of the concept of political legitimacy. And at the end, Amit gives an impassioned monologue on why it may not even matter in India!TABLE OF...2025-05-1158 minEverything is EverythingEp 97: The Light in WinterWe often assume that art and genius are the playground of the youth. Well, while giving himself an education in art during a vacation in Spain, Amit realised that all the great Spanish masters did their most powerful work in old age, when thehraav met mastery. The light in winter is different.Welcome to Episode 97 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit expands on his observation about the artistic possibilities of old age, while introducing the lives and work of Diego Velázquez, Francisco G...2025-05-021h 06Everything is EverythingEp 96: Is Globalization Doomed?Last week, we went through a 101 of globalisation: the first principles, why it rocks, why tariffs are terrible. We also did a potted history of how it spread and almost unravelled. Now, it’s time to come to these current times.Is globalisation doomed?Welcome to Episode 96 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay brings the narrative up to the present times. What GATT and the WTO achieved, why they weren’t enough, where the fault lines lie, the problem of China, and...2025-04-261h 33Everything is EverythingEp 95: The Globalisation EpisodeGlobalisation is great. Tariffs are terrible. But why? What is the history of trade? What is the history of the ideas around it?Today, more than ever, it is important to understand.Welcome to Episode 95 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit and Ajay give a 101 masterclass on why globalisation is great — as well as a 101 history of globalisation so far.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Need for a 10105:52 Chapter 1: Why is Globalisation Great?34:30 Chapter 2: The Story of Globalization57:25 Cha...2025-04-251h 10Everything is EverythingEp 93: The Good Gyan EpisodeSocial media may be addictive, even sometimes toxic, but it is almost magical in one gift it gives us: every day, the best minds in the world think aloud for our benefit. And some of us, gentle readers, are listening & taking notes.Welcome to Episode 93 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit shares nuggets from his Good Gyan folder on Twitter. He shares why he considers those tweets to be good gyan — and Ajay responds to them, and adds his own good gyan!...2025-04-1459 minEverything is EverythingEp 92: Rules, Not DiscretionToo often, we think a Strong Man will solve all our problems, and that decisive leadership is all a nation needs. This could not be more wrong. We need strong rules, not strong rulers — and we need those strong rules to restrain the state. The secret to prosperity lies in rules, not discretion.Welcome to Episode 92 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay explains the history of a concept that is one of the most important in political philosophy: Rules, Not Discretion. Also discussed: th...2025-04-141h 19Everything is EverythingEp 91: Separation of PowersWe think of the state as a monolithic beast -- but it should be anything but monolithic. The state exists to serve us, not rule us, and for that, we must have checks and balances -- and the best kind is the separation of powers.Welcome to Episode 91 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay explains why for democracy to be meaningful, a separation of powers is essential. We talk history, theory and India's story.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Planner...2025-03-241h 01Everything is EverythingEp 90: Constraints & CreativityAll of us suffer from constraints in our life. Some are small -- and some can be huge. We should take inspiration from people who have fought huge constraints and broken barriers despite the obstacles in their way -- and sometimes because of them.Welcome to Episode 90 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit takes us through a few inspiring stories of how a few pioneers used their constraints to break new ground.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: We are Stupid AND...2025-03-1455 minEverything is EverythingEp 89: Beware of Industrial PolicyThere are few things a government can do to harm society more than Industrial policy. It sounds well-intentioned, but is born out of hubris and results in disaster.Welcome to Episode 89 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay breaks down the thinking behind industrial policy, the practice of it, and why it is always bad for the people.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The 500 Dollar Bill08:01 Chapter 1: What is Industrial Policy?15:39 Chapter 2: How Industrial Policy Works26:50 Chapter 3: Subsidies42:54 Chapter 4: The Folly of...2025-03-141h 27Everything is EverythingEp 88: Why I Am a Free Speech AbsolutistSociety needs free speech. Democracy needs free speech. For our lives to have meaning and purpose, WE need free speech.Welcome to Episode 88 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit lays out the case for free speech absolutism -- and also, the troubled history of free speech in India. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: It's Not All Black and White03:02 Chapter 1: The Ranveer Episode13:45 Chapter 2: The Arguments for Free Speech20:43 Chapter 3: The Troubled History of the Freedom of Expression34:46 Chapter 4: The Hypocrisy...2025-03-141h 04Everything is EverythingEp 87: The Power of Moore's LawsHumanity has progressed more in the last few decades than in all of history before that. Moore's Laws -- yes, we used the plural -- go some way in addressing that, as do a couple of other frameworks shared in this episode.Welcome to Episode 87 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, you will find mathematical joy, technological wonder and life lessons that are priceless. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Testing Ajay's Math Skills04:57 Chapter 1: What is Moore’s Law?12:56 Chapter 2: The Implications of...2025-02-221h 15Everything is EverythingEp 86: The Heart of DisruptionAmit had a minor heart attack recently. As he was put back together, he reflected on how the miraculous technology that was reviving & renewing him was a result of rebels questioning conventional thinking. Indeed, all progress depends upon that.Welcome to Episode 86 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss some rousing stories of heretics who reshaped the foundational thinking of their fields -- from the pioneers of angiography & angioplasty to underdog Sri Lankan cricketers to an audacious upstart that first disrupted...2025-02-211h 32Everything is EverythingEp 84: The Age of Hybrid WarfareWar has changed. Sometimes, an act of war doesn't seem like war at all. Often it can't be detected, or attributed, or responded to. It's a messy world.
Welcome to Episode 84 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay lays out the many kinds of Hybrid Warfare in this modern world -- and the incentives that drive them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: 'Not in an amorous way'
02:10 Chapter 1: The Middle Zone of Hybrid War
06:51 Chapter 2: The Different Elements of Hybrid Warfare
33:06 Chapter 3...2025-02-041h 24Everything is EverythingEp 83: The Atheism EpisodeWhat is atheism? Is it a belief system? Is it political? Don't we need religion in our lives?
Welcome to Episode 83 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit describes the thought processes that led to him becoming a non-believer -- and busts common myths around atheism.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: Why Atheism?
02:34 Chapter 1: Atheism is Not a Belief But an Absence of Belief
06:24 Chapter 2: Atheist & Agnostic
12:09 Chapter 3: Why Religion Exists
26:51 Chapter 4: New Atheism and the Four Horsemen
38:20 Chapter 5: Closing Thoughts
2025-01-2742 minEverything is EverythingEp 82: Invisible InfrastructureA policy that works in one country often cannot simply be transplanted onto another. The invisible infrastructure that is needed to make it work may not exist.
But what is this invisible infrastructure? Why is it invisible? Why do specialists often get it wrong? Why is everything everything?
Welcome to Episode 82 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay elaborates on his frequent exhortation that before we talk about policy, we must consider the invisible infrastructure that will determine its success or failure.2025-01-271h 00Everything is EverythingEp 81: Life Lessons From Chess in 2024Chess is a beautiful game -- and holds many lessons for life.
A lot happened in chess in 2024: Gukesh Dommaraju won the World Chess Championships, Arjun Erigaisi reached 2809, India won Olympiad golds, Magnus Carlsen threw his weight around -- and there are Life Lessons in it for all of us.
Welcome to Episode 81 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit shares the nuances in the events in chess in 2024 -- and draws timeless learnings from them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13...2025-01-151h 18Everything is EverythingEp 79: MORE Stories That Should be FilmsThere is a man who steals the electricity bills of everyone in his apartment block. Why? Can he find love and redemption? Two young Sikhs take a stand defending a bridge. Why? What do they really want? Two great chess players take each other on. Are they playing the game on the board, or some other game? There is a child in the mail. What? A child in the MAIL?
Welcome to Episode 79 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay lay out...2024-12-2853 minEverything is EverythingEp 78: The Case for Nuclear ElectricityNuclear power has been given a bad name. It is the safest form of energy, and a huge leap forward in solving for climate change. What's more, with small modular reactors becoming feasible, it may end up being far cheaper than it used to be as well.
Welcome to Episode 78 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay put forward the case for nuclear electricity -- and Ajay describes in detail how India should think about it. They allay all the typical fears...2024-12-2853 minEverything is EverythingEp 77: Objects From Our PastMany of the objects we grew up with have disappeared with time -- and overall, progress is a damn good thing. But many of these lost objects also represent a different way of doing things and of living life, and some of that would have been worth holding on to.
Welcome to Episode 77 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay share objects from their past -- and what they represented then and mean now.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: What's...2024-12-191h 00Everything is EverythingEp 76: A History of HinduismHinduism contains multitudes -- and is contained by multitudes. Any simple story you tell about it is bound to be false.
Welcome to Episode 76 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay put together a potted history of Hinduism that goes beyond simple narratives and acknowledges its complexity. They also try to make sense of the historical circumstances and incentives that shaped it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: Not a Name, But a River
03:32 Chapter 1: The Early History
17:09 Chapter 2: The Role...2024-12-191h 16Everything is EverythingEp 75: What Economics Can LearnThe study of humanity is the study of humanity. Everything is everything. And yet, different disciplines of study have imprisoned themselves in silos, refusing to learn from each other.
Welcome to Episode 75 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss a great paper from Biju Rao that talks about what economists can learn from anthropologists and sociologists -- and how only a multidisciplinary approach can reveal the world.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: How We Read and Why
09:08 Chapter 1: Economics...2024-11-2956 minEverything is EverythingEp 74: The Horrors of KYCWhich Indian hasn't experienced a KYC nightmare? And yet, we have normalised it. We should instead fight it. India's KYC is not just the worst such measure in the world, it is also an infringement on our rights.
Welcome to Episode 74 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: Kaagaz Dikhaao!
00:50 Chapter 1: The Curious Tale of Lal Bihari Mritak
04:55 Chapter 2: The Nightmare of KYC
09:26 Chapter 3: The Importance of Financial Privacy
21:24 Chapter 4: The History of KYC
34:02 Chapter 5: Why India Has the Worst KYC
38:58 Chapter 6: Why...2024-11-2248 minEverything is EverythingEp 73: Don't Punish Victimless CrimesShould alcohol be banned? What about recreational drugs? Gambling? Hate speech?
You may disapprove of certain things, but if they do not infringe anyone's rights, then turning them into crimes tends to backfire. We should think hard about what we classify as crimes -- and also examine our own morality.
Welcome to Episode 73 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: How Do We Wow Them Today?
01:02 Chapter 1: What Are Victimless Crimes?
03:47 Chapter 2: Why We Should Not Punish Victimless Crimes
07:10 Chapter 3: Alcohol
14:19...2024-11-161h 02Everything is EverythingEp 72: The Changing Forms of CreativitySongs, albums, books, films are the way they for a reason -- and those reasons are outdated. The dominant forms of creative expression evolved because of constraints that no longer apply. We should free our minds and look beyond them!
Welcome to Episode 72 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: The Contemplative Atom
02:29 Chapter 1: Understand Form
05:57 Chapter 2: The Sound of Birds
09:51 Chapter 3: How Music Was Shaped By Form
26:26 Chapter 4: Form and Writing
37:48 Chapter 5: The Audio-Visual Medium
44:52 Chapter 6: A Golden Age For Creators
56:42 Chapter 7...2024-11-1458 minEverything is EverythingEp 70: How to Fix Competitive ExamsIndia's system of competitive entrance exams is broken. There is too much pressure on kids and their families -- and we don't even get the best outcomes.
Welcome to Episode 70 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss what's broken about the system. What can we do to make the current system work better? What can we do to attack the root cause and build a better world for the generations to come? Listen in!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro...2024-10-2555 minEverything is EverythingEp 69: The Seven Basic PlotsThe specialisation of our species is storytelling -- and yet, some people say, we are really just telling the same stories again and again.
Welcome to Episode 69 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit discusses the classic book by Christopher Booker, The Seven Basic Plots. Booker asserts that there are just seven storylines we recycle again and again -- and all of literature & Hollywood & Bollywood & Tollywood & Lollywood draw on these. What are they? Can there be more? Why should we never feel constrained as...2024-10-2544 minEverything is EverythingEp 68: Inflation Targeting Rocks!Inflation is a tax on the poor. High and variable inflation can shatter the fine interplay of incentives and information within an economy. And, as Milton Friedman famously said, inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon.
The state is responsible -- and the central bank's one job should be to keep inflation in check.
Thankfully, we got that right with inflation targeting.
Welcome to Episode 68 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay talks about why inflation can be such...2024-10-141h 04Everything is EverythingEp 67: Don't Mess With the Exchange RateIn the last episode, Amit and Ajay spoke about how the state should never mess with the price system. Well, the exchange rate is the most important price -- and the state shouldn't try to control that either!
Welcome to Episode 67 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay sheds light on one of his pet peeves -- people's obsession with the exchange rate. It doesn't matter if the rupee is 'strong' or 'weak', he argues -- these terms mean nothing. All mature economies have...2024-10-061h 16Everything is EverythingEp 66: Don't Mess With the Price SystemHow do people in society fulfil each other's needs while being self-interested? No human person or committee could coordinate all this -- but the miraculous, decentralised system of prices do exactly this.
And when you mess with prices, you harm society. Always.
Welcome to Episode 66 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay describe how all interventions in the price system end badly & harm the poor -- from price caps to rent control to the minimum wage to MSPs to import...2024-10-011h 18Everything is EverythingEp 65: Understanding India's Pensions DisasterThere was a time when India's pensions system grew to become a threat to the country. Then we fixed it -- kinda. And now it's going to hell again.
Welcome to Episode 65 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay takes us through the history and evolution of pensions, why the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) was such a catastrophe, how there was a bipartisan consensus on the New Pension Scheme (NPS), and how this field is on fire again. And of course, why it matters...2024-09-201h 42Everything is EverythingEp 64: The Global Tech WarsThe world is at war -- and not all of it is in the obvious ways. There is a war around technology, and using technology, and the US and China are at the heart of it.
Welcome to Episode 64 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit discuss the contours of the global tech wars playing out on the geopolitical stage. It is fundamental, it is fierce and it affects us all.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: But a Distant Memory?
04:37...2024-09-1356 minEverything is EverythingEp 63: Knowledge Lost and Knowledge RegainedWe often assume that all knowledge is recorded, and every generation builds on the knowledge of past generations. This is not true. Much knowledge is lost -- and some is regained.
Welcome to Episode 63 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss precious knowledge of remarkable things that we lost over time -- some of which we are slowly regaining!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Packaging
00:13 Intro: The Witch Casts a Spell
13:08 Chapter 1: Silphium/Silpheon
20:00 Chapter 2: Dhaka Muslin
29:11 Chapter 3: Fogbank
36:43 Chapter 4: Artemisinin
49:07...2024-09-1258 minEverything is EverythingEp 62: How to Write a PaperIn academia and research, the pursuit of knowledge very often culminates in a paper. But even outside that field -- within any field, in fact -- knowledge must be pursued, parsed, processed and put down on paper. Everyone should know how to do this, even if you never want to write a paper in your life.
Welcome to Episode 62 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay distills his experience of many decades of writing papers into a masterclass that will help you not just...2024-08-301h 09Everything is EverythingEp 61: The OutlawsThe people who change the world are people who go against the grain. And yet, challenging conventional wisdom, or living an unconventional life, can make you an Outlaw.
Welcome to Episode 61 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss a group of people who were ignored or reviled in their lifetimes -- and who we now remember as pathbreakers.
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-08-231h 07Everything is EverythingEp 60: Don't Run a Country Like a CompanyFirms are awesome. They are the source of a country's prosperity. And so, some people make the blunder of assuming that you should run a country like a company.
This is a terrible mistake.
Welcome to Episode 60 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-08-161h 05Everything is EverythingEp 59: Rethinking Innovation PolicyShould the state have a role in amplifying innovation? If so, what should it do?
Welcome to Episode 59 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit argue furiously about whether the state should spend its resources trying to make innovation happen. But while they disagree on the Why, they agree on what How and the What: the blueprint laid out in Ajay's brilliant paper with RA Mashelkar and Susan Thomas.
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-08-091h 33Everything is EverythingEp 58: Can We Build Switzerland in India?There is great natural beauty in India -- but we get tourism wrong. We allow beautiful places to become tourist traps. The local people do not benefit enough. We don't care about sustainability.
It need not be this way.
Welcome to Episode 58 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit, recording the last of The Bir Sessions, discuss how Himalayan states can build tourism and grow their economies in a way that benefits the local people and is sustainable. Win-win all...2024-08-0350 minEverything is EverythingEp 57: How to Do DevelopmentIt is the moral imperative of every poor country to lift all its people out of poverty. And yet India, like so many other poor countries, has failed to do this. Development Economics carries much of the blame for this. Wrong beliefs and dangerous fashions within this field have mostly failed to help -- and sometimes caused much harm.
Welcome to Episode 57 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-07-261h 39Everything is EverythingEp 56: The Problem With Digital Public GoodsEveryone is raving about India's digital public goods -- or its digital public infrastructure, aka DPI. But is the picture all rosy? What is the flip side of this technological achievement?
Welcome to Episode 56 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit talk about how such a government monopoly cannot be a good thing. In the long run, suppressing competition will hurt us. Firstly, it empowers the state more than it should, and power corrupts. Secondly, it stifles competition, and thus, innovation.
2024-07-2058 minEverything is EverythingEp 55: Where Has All the Infrastructure Gone?It is considered a truism that building infrastructure is always great for the economy. Roads, ports, airports & bridges always have huge positive externalities. But is this truism true? Yes -- and no. There is a good story; and there is a bad story.
Welcome to Episode 55 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay talks about how infrastructure enabled a services revolution in India -- but did not move the needle when it became to goods. What's more, while big infrastructure projects once gave us...2024-07-141h 01Everything is EverythingEp 54: A Deep Dive Into EducationEducation in India is broken. It is a tragic waste of our potential. How can it be fixed? Why will pumping in more spending solve nothing? What is the link between education & development? Why do we need to redefine education?
Welcome to Episode 54 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay give a comprehensive lay of the land in the field of education in India, challenging many conventional notions on the way.
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-07-051h 40Everything is EverythingEp 53: A Passion for CyclingCycling is physically one of the most gruelling sports in the world -- and it requires as much of the mind as of the body.
Welcome to Episode 53 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit explains his passion for cycling by telling us how the sport works. Amit and Ajay discuss the kinds of races and the kinds of racers. They discuss why it is a team sport. They get into deep nuances of strategy -- and the drama of some of the great...2024-06-291h 09Everything is EverythingEp 52: The Life and Times of ChessWe love chess -- and now, as it has exploded as a spectator sport, so do millions of others. But why do we love it so much? What does it mean for India that D Gukesh has qualified for the World Championship match? How did Vishy Anand inspire a generation of grandmasters to emerge? What role do computers play?
Welcome to Episode 52 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit takes us through a history of the World Chess Championships, all the way from 1886 to...2024-06-211h 38Everything is EverythingEp 51: Lines on Maps Are Toxic!We have normalized lines on maps -- but they are unnatural to the way we live. They are toxic in the ways they push us to think of people in categories decided by the accidents of geography and politics.
We must free our minds.
We must tear down these walls.
Welcome to Episode 51 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-06-1441 minEverything is EverythingEp 48: Graduating to GlobalisationIn these insular times of shrill nationalistic rhetoric, there is a danger that we may become less globalised instead of more. But internationalisation (aka I18N) is key to India's progress. The more Indian firms learn to compete in the global marketplace, the more our nation will prosper.
Welcome to Episode 48 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay shares his thinking around what I18N implies, how it involves more than exports, and how Indian firms can make that journey.
This episode...2024-06-071h 00Everything is EverythingEp 47: India Needs DecentralizationIndia is too large to be governed in a top-down way, with an all-powerful center. It makes a mockery of democracy. Decentralisation is the only way out.
Welcome to Episode 47 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss how a country as large and diverse as India needs more local government. But what does this mean in practical terms? Should we be happy with dictatorial chief ministers? How does democracy work at the level of a village? Why do we need many...2024-06-071h 21Everything is EverythingEp 46: Stay Away From Luxury BeliefsIt is fashionable for privileged elites to have ideas about the world that make them feel virtuous -- but end up harming the poor. Stay away from such Luxury Beliefs!
Welcome to Episode 46 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss how socialism, focusing on inequality, banning victimless crimes and being generally against capitalism can fill you with a sense of your own goodness -- but also end up hurting the poor.
Dive in with an open mind!
...2024-06-0752 minEverything is EverythingEp 45: Beware of These Five Fallacies!Our brains are hardwired to think in ways suited to a pre-historic world -- which is why there are so many fallacies in our thinking!
Welcome to Episode 45 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss five foundational fallacies, and speak about how we can improve our thinking if we learn to recognise them and avoid them.
Who can object to becoming a better thinker!
This episode was first published on YouTube on May 3, 2024. For magnificent, detailed, juicy...2024-06-0756 minEverything is EverythingEp 44: Maps Are MagicImagine a world without maps. What is out there? How do you reach that place? What does the world look like?
Maps brought us from darkness into light.
Welcome to Episode 44 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit speak about the evolution of maps, from the laborious survey work pioneered by the legendary George Everest to the miracles of modern technology, which gives us a real-time high-definition picture of the world. Also, Amit gives Ajay an exam. Can he pass...2024-06-071h 09Everything is EverythingEp 43: Six More Stories That Should Be FilmsWe are surrounded by stories that need to be told, must be told, will blow your mind!
Welcome to Episode 43 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay continue the series of talking about stories that should be films. Amit builds fiction based on IIT aspirants and vloggers, as well as a real life story about the Delhi of the 1800s, a Delhi in churn. Ajay tells us about missing plutonium up on Nanda Devi, how a navy was once 'delivered' and a...2024-06-0757 minEverything is EverythingEp 42: The Populist PlaybookPopulism is on an upsurge across the world. It is a danger to democracy and civilisation. But what does that term even mean?
Welcome to Episode 42 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay break down what political scientists mean by 'populism' -- it's isn't simply what is popular! They discuss the populist playbook as laid out by Jan-Werner Muller in his great book 'What is Populism?' You might find it sounds familar, no matter where you are. Ajay then shares his...2024-06-071h 08Everything is EverythingEp 41: Four Papers That Changed the WorldWe think of papers as boring -- but they contain ideas, and ideas change the world
Welcome to Episode 41 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit take us through four papers -- actually, three papers and one essay -- that shaped the way they think, and how millions of others think as well. The power of a great idea is that it can help explain the world better than before -- and all progress is built on better understanding.
This...2024-06-0746 minEverything is EverythingEp 40: The Brave New Future of ElectricityOur power sector is stuck in an old world. Climate change and the needs of future generations demand that we shift from our traditional sources of power. But how?
Welcome to Episode 40 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay takes us through the history of the power sector, the problems it faces, the remarkable progess in renewables, and the way forward. (Spoiler alert: the price system!) Amit expresses his enthusiasm for nuclear power, and busts the myths around it. Plug in now!
...2024-06-071h 14Everything is EverythingEp 39: The Surface Area of SerendipityGood things happen to us when we give them the chance to do so. The more we put ourselves out there, the more we are likely to get lucky.
But Exposure is pointless without Excellence.
Welcome to Episode 39 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit shares his fascination with the phrase, the Surface Area of Serendipity. And together, Ajay and Amit explore the delicate balance between excellence and exposure that is required to be both good and successful.
This episode...2024-06-0750 minEverything is EverythingEp 38: Poker and LifeUnderstanding the foundations of poker can help you understand the foundations of life. How to think about the world -- and how to find peace.
Welcome to Episode 38 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit shares his learnings about the foundational principles of playing poker in a special presentation made for this show. Then Amit and Ajay discuss the life lessons that one can draw from poker.
This episode was first published on YouTube on March 15, 2024. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes...2024-06-0735 minEverything is EverythingEp 37: From Imperial to Adaptive FirmsOnce upon a time, Indian firms thought local. Then they started thinking national. Do they need to think local again?
Welcome to Episode 37 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit discuss the great waves in the evolution of Indian firms. Until the 1980s, firms thought local, and the branch manager of a firm was like a regional satrap. In the 90s, technology enabled them to nationalise and bring in best practices and processes. But they need to evolve further, as India is...2024-06-0751 minEverything is EverythingEp 36: The Long Road to ChangeHow do we bring about change? How should we think about changing the state, changing society, changing ourselves?
Welcome to Episode 36 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit discuss discuss theories of change in different contexts, with one common theme: we need to play the long game.
This episode was first published on YouTube on March 1, 2024. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-06-071h 17Everything is EverythingEp 35: The Hiking EpisodeWe are monkeys -- and yet, we don't spend enough time in nature. We should go hiking more!
Welcome to Episode 35 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay talks about his lifelong love for hiking, which emerges naturally from his love for nature. He tells hiking stories, and gives us all tips on how to get into hiking -- and how the hiking mindset can help us live better lives.
This episode was first published on YouTube on February 23, 2024. For magnificent, detailed...2024-06-071h 12Everything is EverythingEp 34: How Family Firms EvolveFamily Firms get a bad rap -- but the professional CEO is often not the solution, but an added problem. The modern firm has evolved to solve this.
Welcome to Episode 34 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay gives us a masterclass in the different ways in which is family firm can be structured, and the incentives those structures bring with them. He takes us through the four stages of its evolution, from a one-person business to the modern company with dispersed shareholders and...2024-06-0749 minEverything is EverythingEp 33: Public Choice Theory Explains SO MUCHWe tend to think of the government as the solution to all our problems. But governments are people. And people respond to incentives.
Welcome to Episode 33 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay talk about a branch of economics that they both love: Public Choice Theory. This is the study of how politicians, bureaucrats, special interests and voters all respond to incentives -- and why this often goes against the interest of We the People. This is why government failure is ubiquitous.2024-06-0756 minEverything is EverythingEp 32: The UNIX EpisodeUnix is the backbone of the world's technology. It is also a way of living that can help us discover purpose and beauty.
Welcome to Episode 32 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
This is the long-awaited episode in which Ajay explains to the world, with an incredible screencast, how to use Unix. But before that, Ajay and Amit discuss the history and philosophy of Unix -- and why it contains life lessons that are priceless.
This episode was first published on YouTube on February 2, 2024. For...2024-06-072h 10Everything is EverythingEp 31: A Deep Dive Into the Indian MilitaryIs the Indian military well-equipped for the challenges that face India? What's wrong with it -- and how do we fix it?
Welcome to Episode 31 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this conversation, Ajay uses an analysis by cult YouTuber Perun to launch an educational deep dive into how we should think about the Indian Armed Forces.
This episode was first published on YouTube on January 26, 2024. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-06-071h 40Everything is EverythingEp 30: DeclutterAre we slaves to the things that own us? To find ourselves, do we need to lose the mess around us? Do we need to declutter?
Welcome to Episode 30 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this conversation, Amit and Ajay share their philosophies towards decluttering -- and towards things. What should we buy? What should we give away? Do we need... stuff? Can Bengalis run?
This episode was first published on YouTube on January 19, 2024. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-06-0752 minEverything is EverythingEp 29: Five Epic Stories That Must Be FilmsThey are grand. They are intimate. They're incredible stories, and they need to be told!
Welcome to Episode 29 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
This week, carrying on from episode 23's dream of presenting stories that should be films, Amit and Ajay talk about the hardest decision of WW2, a couple that drifts apart because they hear the world differently, air raids into Japan, the making of a nation and a man who refused to flee. The fate of the world is at stake -- till you...2024-06-071h 18Everything is EverythingEp 28: The ReformersIndia did not become completely free in 1947. For decades after that, a group of people worked behind the scenes to reform our oppressive state and expand our freedoms -- especially our economic liberty.
Welcome to Episode 28 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
This week, carrying on from episode 23's dream of presenting stories that should be films, Amit and Ajay lay out the plan for what could be an incredible web series -- the story of a silent Freedom Movement that still continues. The story of The...2024-06-071h 06Everything is EverythingEp 27: We Love Vaccines! We Love Freedom!Vaccines are a modern miracle. Individual freedom is a value we shoud cherish. We love both!
Welcome to Episode 27 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit rave about how beautiful vaccines are -- and ask the thorny question, should the state step in to produce vaccines, & coerce people into getting them? They use the toolkit laid out in the previous two episodes to dig deep into when state coercion is justified. Spoiler alert: most of the time, it's not.
This...2024-06-0755 minEverything is EverythingEp 26: When Should the State Act?What is the duty of the state? It's limited. When should it intervene? Only at specific times. In this episode, we lays out a framework for looking at this question, with freedom as a default.
Welcome to Episode 26 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
This episode was first published on YouTube on December 22, 2023. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-06-0747 minEverything is EverythingEp 25: Understanding the StateWhat do we mean when we use the words 'the state'? Why did it evolve? What should its limits be? What have we normalized about it that should terrify us? Are we all part-time slaves?
Welcome to Episode 25 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay talk about how the existence of the state is itself an act of violence -- a necessary one, as we need it to protect our rights. But we should consider, whenever we recommend government action, that every...2024-06-0750 minEverything is EverythingEp 24: Fixing the Knowledge SocietyOur universities are broken. The academy is a circlejerk. Our intellectuals have failed us. To nurture a Knowledge Society, we need to rethink how we make knowledge, how we diffuse it, and how we use it to make the world a better place.
Welcome to Episode 24 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
This episode was first published on YouTube on December 8, 2023. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-06-071h 04Everything is EverythingEp 23: Seven Stories That Should Be FilmsThe nonviolent resistance of a supposedly warrior tribe. The fat frogs who played a pivotal role in World War 2. The fierce will of a child widow who remakes herself and her world. The crucible of democracy, the soldiers who had to kill their own, the author whose book was lost, the young man who went missing.
Welcome to Episode 23 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay share seven great stories that they think should be films or web series. And what stories!2024-06-071h 13Everything is EverythingEp 22: Three Great Leaps by FirmsFirms tend to grow, and even innovate, along predictable paths. But sometimes a firm does something truly audacious, involving a leap of imagination that seems to come out of thin air. Today's episode is about three such great leaps.
Welcome to Episode 22 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay discusses three great leaps by three great firms: Sun Microsystems, Google and Amazon. Amit talks about how such leaps of imagination are more an act of creative storytelling than linear business logic.
What...2024-06-0749 minEverything is EverythingEp 21: The Beauty of FinanceHuman progress is enabled by the world of finance -- a world that seems dreadfully complicated from the outside. But once you understand its historical context, and how it evolved, everything about finance makes sense.
Welcome to Episode 21 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay demystifies finance by giving us a guided tour of its history -- from primitive times to limited liability companies to banking to modern finance to derivatives. Finance is essential to our progress -- and yet, in India, we don't...2024-06-071h 20Everything is EverythingEp 20: Our Population Is Our Greatest AssetWe've been taught for generations that India's biggest problem is its population. This is a lie. Our population is our greatest strength. People are brains, not stomachs.
Welcome to Episode 20 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit discusses the origin of the flawed belief that population is a problem -- and states his case for why population density is the greatest driver of prosperity. Most problems ascribed to population are actually problems of governance. He goes over India's troubled history with population control, which...2024-06-0755 minEverything is EverythingEp 19: How to Think About Cricket (and Life)To truly understand cricket, or life for that matter, we need to learn from poker. We need to understand the concept of Expected Value. We also need to learn from economics, and understand Opportunity Cost.
Welcome to Episode 19 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit shares what he learnt about cricket from being a professional poker player and understanding economics. Amit and Ajay then apply those concepts to life itself. Never again will you be results-oriented. Never again will you be judgemental and insufferable...2024-06-0753 minEverything is EverythingEp 18: What's Wrong With Indian Agriculture?India's farmers are suffering. Indian agriculture has been in crisis since we gained Independence. Why? What can we do about it?
Welcome to Episode 18 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss the many complicated problems of Indian agriculture, breaking them down one by one. Spoiler alert: the oppressive hand of the state is at the heart of it all. Us city slickers take some of our freedoms for granted -- but our farmers are still denied basic liberties. It's a tragedy.2024-06-071h 19Everything is EverythingEp 17: The Three GlobalizationsHumanity should not be divided. Globalization is a powerful force for good. But it is has ebbed and flowed. Are we retreating to a more insular world -- or does globalization continue, but in a modified form?
Welcome to Episode 17 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay talks about the first two waves of globalisation -- and then explains the term he has coined, 'The Third Globalization.' We still live in a globalised world, he explains -- but with caveats based on economic...2024-06-071h 12Everything is EverythingEp 16: The China Model is BrokenThe Soviet Union functioned under the delusion that you don't need freedom of any sort to grow as a society. The China model functions under the delusion that economic properity is all you need, and it can be directed from above. The Soviet model broke. The China model is breaking. Freedom matters.
Welcome to Episode 16 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay and Amit discuss how economic freedom, social freedom and political freedom must go hand-in-hand for a society to progress. Ajay lays out...2024-06-071h 28Everything is EverythingEp 15: Math Is Better Than the Brigadier's GirlfriendOne of the giants of 20th century statistics died a few weeks ago. He was Indian. His name was CR Rao, and he was the finest product of the Bengal Renaissance.
Welcome to Episode 15 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay tells us the story of his great hero, CR Rao. The love for statistics is infectious, and so is the storytelling, as Amit follows up with stories about Abraham Wald, PC Mahalanobis, JBS Haldane, the Bharat Sadhu Samaaj and the urbane finance minister...2024-06-0757 minEverything is EverythingEp 14: The State of the Ukraine WarHow is the Ukraine counteroffensive going? Some are disappointed at not seeing the tactical blows they expected -- but Ukraine might just be playing a positional masterpiece.
Welcome to Episode 14 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay follows up his cult masterclass on The Seen and the Unseen with an update on where the war stands today. What exactly is going on in Ukraine? Why does it matter? How should we look at Putin? How has the nature of warfare changed? Why is there...2024-06-071h 30Everything is EverythingEp 13: What Bruce Springsteen Means to UsHe is not just a Rock and Roll star, he is a great artist -- and his work is literature. Happy 74th Birthday, Bruce Springsteen!
Welcome to Episode 13 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay describes what Bruce Springsteen's music means to him at a personal level. And Amit talks about the different aspects of Springsteen's work that he admires.
This episode was first published on YouTube on September 22, 2023. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.2024-06-071h 20Everything is EverythingEp 12: Nothing is Indian! Everything is Indian!Most of what we think of as quintessentially Indian originated elsewhere. So what? Culture is a khichdi -- and that's delightful!
Welcome to Episode 12 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay talk about the amazing khichdi called culture -- and how food, clothes, language, architecture all evolve in a giant melting pot of influences. Just as salmon sushi is not from Japan, most Indian food is not from India, and that's fine. It doesn't matter where influences come from -- once they...2024-06-071h 08Everything is EverythingEp 11: The Greatest Productivity Mantra: Kaator Re Bhaaji!The road from desire to action is long & painful. How can we make it a smooth journey?
Welcome to Episode 11 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit shares his learnings on productivity, beginning with the inspiring story of a young Goan boy, speechless in a grand hall in Lisbon in the 18th century, finding his wits when his father hisses at him -- and at us -- the greatest productivity mantra ever: Kaator Re Bhaaji. Amit explains what this means, and shares a set...2024-06-071h 08Everything is EverythingEp 10: Why Freedom MattersHumanity progresses when people are free. India still hasn't learnt that lesson.
Welcome to Episode 10 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay talk about how freedom is the only route to prosperity -- and India has suffered for decades from its lack of freedoms of all kinds. They trace India's economic history from before Independence to the present day, examining the peaks & troughs in between.
This episode was first published on YouTube on September 1, 2023. For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes...2024-06-071h 13Everything is EverythingEp 9: How I Reversed My Type 2 DiabetesEverything that we were taught about nutrition and diabetes back in the day was wrong. Today we know that sugar is poison and fat is fine. And that Type 2 diabetes can be reversed.
Welcome to Episode 9 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit talks about how he reversed his Type 2 Diabetes -- and along the way, he tells us the history of how the Sugar Lobby of America shaped a dangerous consensus that led to the Obesity Epidemic...2024-06-071h 00Everything is EverythingEp 8: Why Talent Comes in ClustersTo make the most of your talent, you often need to be in the right place with the right people.
Welcome to Episode 8 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit talks about what the Challenger explosion of 1986 teaches us about Bollywood and Silicon Valley. Ajay talks about how a government is exile cannot learn to act like a state by mere play-acting. And there is Orwell, Gandhi and why development economists get so much wrong.
2024-06-071h 13Everything is EverythingEp 7: Newton the Alchemist. Gandhi the Black SwanIsaac Newton was not just a great scientist, but the last of the magicians. Mohandas Gandhi was a black swan event: a flawed, complex man who shaped history.
Welcome to Episode 7 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay talks about Isaac Newton, and why he was a product of historical forces. Amit cites Mohandas Gandhi as an example of why historical currents aren't everything, and historical accidents can produce a man like Gandhi who changes everything. Ajay and Amit also recommend some of their...2024-06-071h 08Everything is EverythingEp 6: The Incredible Insights of Bastiat and HayekFrédéric Bastiat taught us to seen the Unseen effects of our actions. Friedrich Hayek showed us how economies and societies really function.
Welcome to Episode 6 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss the powerul ideas of two great Freddies. We learn how our government, like most goverments, redistributes FROM THE POOR TO THE RICH. We understand how economies work -- not through central planning, but the decentralised coordination of the price system. Amit and Ajay also recommend their favourite books for understanding how ma...2024-06-071h 00Everything is EverythingEp 5: My Hero, OPPENHEIMERJ Robert Oppenheimer was an extraordinary man who dedicated himself to his field and his country -- and faced persecution from the mediocre and the venal.
Welcome to Episode 5 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay tells us the moving story of his hero, Oppenheimer -- and why that resonates with him. Amit talks about building cities and how power can corrode character. Listen in!
This episode was first published on YouTube on July 28, 2023. For detailed show notes...2024-06-0753 minEverything is EverythingEp 4: The WRONG Way to Fight ExtremistsIs OPEC an evil cartel? What mistakes has the Indian state made both in Kashmir and in our Naxal areas? What book should you read this week? What film should you see?
Welcome to Episode 4 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay discusses why fears of OPEC manipulating oil prices as a cartel were always overblown. Amit speaks about how fighting guerrillas and militants is completely different from fighting a conventional war -- and how India keeps getting it wrong. Ajay then recommends a book that anyone interested...2024-06-0756 minEverything is EverythingEp 3: Are You Just One Version of Yourself?
We could all be many things, but we often allow ourselves to get boxed into one version of us. And we don't even realise this.
Welcome to Episode 3 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay talk about the dangers of allowing yourself to be frozen into one version of you. They also discuss how the process of investigation & prosecution need to be fixed in India. If the incentives are right, it will not be easy for a party in power to harass its opponents using the...2024-06-0745 minEverything is EverythingEp 2: Is the Singularity Near?In this episode, Amit Varma and Ajay Shah talk about artificial intelligence. How will it change the world? How excited should we be? How scared should we be? Also discussed: pioneering feminists, pioneering monsters and pioneering masala chai.
For full show notes, go to the YouTubePage for this episode.
2024-06-0759 min
Everything is EverythingEp 1: Halfway From Coal, Halfway to DiamondWelcome to Episode 1 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. This is a video show on YouTube, and you will find full show notes for this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG9jDXRaXOo2024-06-0754 min