Network Capital

Esther Wojcicki is a renowned educator and journalist, best known for her transformative parenting philosophy outlined in her books In this episode, she shares the principles that guided her as a mother to Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of YouTube, Anne Wojcicki, founder of 23andMe, and Dr Janet Wojcicki, a professor of paediatrics at UCSF. She reflects on how childhood trauma, loss and adversity can...

What kind of economy does India need—not just to grow, but to serve its people with dignity and purpose? In this episode, we speak with Arun Maira, former Member of India’s Planning Commission, Chairman of BCG India, and author of Reimagining India’s Economy: An Inquiry into the Real Costs of Economic Growth. Tracing his journey from Tata Motors to the highest levels of government, Maira reflects...

Podcast Description: The nuclear family has become the dominant model in much of the world—but was its rise a step forward or a profound social loss? Critics argue that the shift from joint families to nuclear households has led to loneliness, burnout, fragile caregiving systems, and the erosion of intergenerational wisdom. Joint families, they say, offered economic resilience, shared childcare, a...

Private space travel once belonged in the realm of science fiction—but today, celebrities like Katy Perry are booking tickets on Blue Origin, and billionaires are launching rockets. In this episode, Dhruva and Utkarsh explore the growing role of private companies in space exploration and whether the shift away from government-led missions is cause for celebration or concern. They delve into the te...

In this episode, you will learn What is disability and ways in which our society discriminates against people with disabilities  What can do about it Ways to deconstruct "I am not your inspiration" In The Anti-Ableist Manifesto, Tiffany Yu highlights the myriad ways in which our society discriminates against people with disabilities - and what we can do about it. Foregrounding disabled i...

About this Podcast What did European missionaries misunderstand about Hinduism when they first arrived in India? How did colonial power and missionary pressure help reshape Hindu identity from within? Could the rise of modern Hindu nationalism be traced back to these early cultural and religious encounters? When European missionaries arrived in India in the sixteenth century, they entered a world...

Selective admissions have long defined access to elite universities but a number of scholars are challenging this model, arguing that it reinforces privilege and entrenches inequality. In this episode, Dhruva and Utkarsh examine the case for replacing selective admissions with a lottery among qualified applicants. The discussion draws on John Rawls’s concept of the veil of ignorance, and Michael S...

Foreign aid and reparations are terms often used interchangeably, yet they embody distinct principles and purposes. In this episode, we discuss the differences between these concepts, exploring their definitions, the potential risks of conflating them, and the implications of such conflation. Foreign aid typically refers to financial or technical assistance provided by one nation to another, aimin...

Tariffs—taxes on imports—have long been a powerful tool in economic policy, shaping global trade for centuries. But are they always harmful, or can they serve a strategic purpose? In this episode, we trace the history of tariffs from the British East India Company to modern trade disputes between the U.S., China, India, and Europe. William Dalrymple, in The Anarchy, writes about how Britain used t...

In this debate, we explore the tension between structure and spontaneity, discipline and serendipity, as it plays out in the lives of ambitious professionals. For young professionals navigating packed calendars, hustle culture, and the constant pressure to optimize every minute, the debate is real: Does saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities fuel growth, or does it lead to chaos and burnout? Doe...

Elon Musk’s $56 billion compensation package from Tesla sparked intense debate and legal scrutiny. Approved in 2018, the performance-based package hinged on Tesla reaching ambitious market and operational milestones. As Tesla’s stock price soared beyond expectations, the package’s value ballooned to $101.4 billion by 2024. Notably, Musk would have earned nothing had Tesla not achieved these metric...

Today it is easier than ever to stay in touch with friends, check out their updates, milestones, and everyday moments even when life gets busy. For those separated by distance, platforms like social media and messaging apps help us remain part of each other’s lives. Work friendships often flourish thanks to digital tools, and technology has made possible countless improbable connections, offering...

Alok Sama was the chief dealmaker at SoftBank, the backer of Arm Holdings, Yahoo, Nvidia, TikTok, Uber, T-Mobile, Alibaba and WeWork. In his first book The Money Trap, Sama discusses the inside story of some of these deals and presents a stranger-than-fiction personal odyssey featuring his experiences alongside SoftBank's iconic founder, Masayoshi Son, a maverick who wants to be remembered as “the...

Justice delayed is justice denied. Given how much time trials take, the emotional toil, and the reputation damage that comes with it, is it ethical for people to turn to media for justice? This is a question relevant to both prominent celebrities and regular citizens as they figure out appropriate redressal mechanisms in an increasingly connected world. In this episode, we explore whether media tr...

In this Episode, you will learn 1. How to think about problems from first-principles 2. Why digital public infrastructure of India could propel the GDP 3. How to build in India for India Deepak and Dipankar embarked upon the mission of democratizing quick commerce in India by launching Kirana Pro, a cutting-edge e-commerce platform that leverages ONDC (Open Network For Digital Commerce) to address...

A crypto entrepreneur bought a banana taped to a wall for several millions. Jaguar launched a widely watched advertisement that confused and irritated the fans. Zomato announced a new position that got 18,000+ applications, even though the selected candidate would have to pay $25,000 to join. In this debate, we analyse the short and long term impact of publicity stunts. Do they work? If yes, under...

This American election was a battle of narratives. One side won. Dhruva and Utkarsh debate the key constructs and analyse macro implications. Most media outlets would have you believe that this election was the outcome of a supremely popular candidate vs one who wasn’t. That doesn’t quite capture the essence. Tune in for a deep dive

Voters often face a dilemma: should they vote based on ideology or pragmatism? This podcast delves into the tension between these two approaches, exploring questions like: What is ideology, and how does it shape our values and worldview? When do pragmatic considerations—those based on practical outcomes and interests—come into conflict with ideological commitments? William Clay once said, “This is...

TikTok has over 1 billion users globally. Instagram has 2 billion. If these apps were countries, they would be some of the most highly populated countries in the world. As concerns grow about misinformation, addiction and foreign control of these apps, how should governments respond? Are attempts to ban social media apps, like the Indian government’s TikTok ban in 2020, legitimate? These are quest...

In this episode, we explore the complex intersection of climate change, environmental conservation, and human rights with environmental lawyer and legal scholar Arpitha Kodiveri. While nations of the Global North focus on emissions trading and alternative energy sources, communities in the Global South—especially forest-dwelling communities in India—face life-and-death decisions about natural reso...

Should popular media always seek to have storylines and characters with different ethnicities, religious backgrounds, and sexualities? In this episode, Dhruva and Utkarsh debate whether the growing focus on diversity has gone too far. They explore how diversity of ideas, origin, conviction, and orientation make the world a more vibrant and interesting place, but question whether mandating it furth...

Ashoka University, India’s top liberal arts university, charges over a million rupees per year in tuition - three times the yearly income of the average Indian. Williams College, one of America’s best-known liberal arts colleges, charges 68,000 dollars per year - more than the average yearly income in the US.  Despite its cost, the popularity of the liberal arts system is growing. Many new univers...

385,000 children are born every day, around the world. Should we be contributing to that? Welcome to a new episode of Arguable, where we dig into the heart of controversial debates and ask the questions others shy away from. Is it ethical to have a child in today's world? Do they truly consent to being born? And when it comes down to it, is life filled with more joy or pain? As we ponder these...

Unicorns! Edtech! Startup bros! Welcome to a new episode of Arguable, where we dive into the world of venture capital and startups and try to separate hype from truth. Seven of the world’s eight most highly-valued public companies were once venture capital-based tech startups. Venture capital and technology are eating the world. But what is VC, really? How does it work, and how does it make decisi...

Building Your Category of One with Ex-KKR India CEO Sanjay Nayar Points discussed in the podcast 1. Mental models for shaping the early stages of your career 2. Decision frameworks for making big career transitions 3. Frameworks for investments, the new world order, and India's role in shaping it 4. Insights on work-life integration, family, and a being supportive partner