Everything is Everything

The world is complex, everything is in flux, no man steps in the same river twice. It’s been a fun ride, and it’s time to say goodbye. Welcome to Episode 128 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. Amit and Ajay say goodbye to the show in this episode, and tell you why they are stopping. TABLE OF CONTENTS:  00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: Reasons For Leaving...

This episode is an intimate offering. Through the years, Amit and Ajay were shaped by learnings that changed who they were as people, and how they saw the world. It’s time to talk about them! Welcome to Episode 127 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS:  00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: An Intimate Offering 03:01 Framework 1: Natural Select...

The most complex part of human nature is our sexuality. What do we want? What do we lust for? Where did these instincts and feelings arise? WTF even? Welcome to Episode 126 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit looks at the cutting-edge literature on the What and Why of human sexuality, using insights from evolution — and the reveal...

Know thyself, goes an Ancient Greek exhortation. And yet, too many of us have little understand of how we are hardwired. To truly know ourselves, we must understand the processes of evolution: natural selection and sexual selection. Welcome to Episode 125 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay explain why understanding natur...

Gig work gets a bad rap. Critics claim that workers are exploited, algorithmic bosses are creepy, it’s capitalism gone bad. But actually, Gig Work = Freedom + Empowerment. Welcome to Episode 124 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay tackle the arguments against gig work — and lay out the economic, ethical and social reasons...

There are people who argue that real reforms can only happen in a crisis. A crisis is a terrible thing to waste, they say. They are wrong. Welcome to Episode 123 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay explains how crises, most of the time, lead to terrible outcomes. Chaos is a ladder. And to actually do reforms during a crisis, you n...

The term ‘nationalism’ sounds so benign, almost as if it refers to something that is good for a nation. But it is a deeply toxic concept that tears societies apart. Welcome to Episode 122 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit argues that nationalism is always bad for the nation, and we should think deeply before we are seduced by it...

The GST was conceptually superb, utterly necessary — and implemented poorly. There are still so many problems with it that it defeats the purpose. How do we think clearly about its problems? How do we fix it? Welcome to Episode 121 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay, one of the authors of the original paper of 2004 that proposed...

Everyone wants to read more — but how do we do it? As lifelong readers, our hosts get asked this all the time, and decided to do an exhaustive primer with three parts. 1. Why should we read? 2. How do we build a reading habit? 3. How should we actually read a book? Welcome to Episode 120 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit does hi...

Financial crises are an unavoidable part of modern economies — and all of us have skin in the game. Why do they happen, how do they unfold, what can we do? Welcome to Episode 119 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay shares his learnings from a lifetime of studying and tackling financial crises — and Amit voices his strong dissent a...

Men and women have always struggled to understand each other — and never more so than in these complex, changing times. What can new forms of data reveal about what we really want? A lot! Welcome to Episode 118 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss what anonymised search results, dating apps and innovative surveys r...

How do we understand the world? Over the last couple of decades, new sources of data have given us great insights into our deep past — and our deep present. Welcome to Episode 117 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss what our genetic data tells us about our prehistory — and how phone battery life can reveal charact...

Sometimes, the data just ain’t enough. What’s going on in Russia? In fact, what’s going on in Karnataka — and all the rest of the world? Can we glean some insights in alternative sources of data? Yes we can. All hail nighttime lights! Welcome to Episode 116 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay discusses his pioneering work in using...

Ideas can often be an engine to think about the world. Seeing Like a State by James C Scott is a great book that has illuminated the world with the power of its frameworks — and both Amit and Ajay are fans. Welcome to Episode 115 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay talks about what Scott’s book meant to him — and lays out an easy...

The US state has gone rogue. 50% tariffs are crazy. What should India do now? How does one think rationally about an irrational world order? Welcome to Episode 114 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay lays out a roadmap for how India can thrive again despite the madness in the world. Note: Amit and Ajay have launched their online c...

The Indian media has lost its way. But how? And why? Well, there have been crises of relevance, purpose, money, quality, trust, power, incentives and attention. Phew! Welcome to Episode 113 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit gives us a lowdown on exactly what’s wrong with the Indian media. Note: REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for Cohor...

Human beings remain the same, while technology grows at a mad pace. This means that the face of war has changed forever. Everything we know now is already outdated. Welcome to Episode 112 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay & Amit discuss the future of war. It’s scary. Are we prepared? TABLE OF CONTENTS:  00:00 Packaging 00:13...

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is fully amaze — and also, sometimes, fully a maze. It should be something a country welcomes with open arms — and yet, India has often done fisticuffs with it. This should change. Welcome to Episode 111 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay explains why he loves FDI so much — and how India should emb...

How does one plan for retirement? What amount of money does one need to be sorted? Can you even arrive at a number? Welcome to Episode 110 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay explains why the question itself is misguided — and the approach one should take towards our future in such an uncertain world. TABLE OF CONTENTS:  00:00 Pac...

For almost 80 years, one book has been the go-to book for understanding economics — and the world. Henry Hazlitt wrote that book. Welcome to Episode 109 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt — a book you must read if you want to understand the subject! TABLE OF CONTENTS:  00:...

Politics 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...

Ideological 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...

It 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...

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 winne...

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 di...