He observed our society from up close as an advertising man -- and then became an iconic storyteller on Twitter. Ramakrishna Desiraju aka Ramki joins Amit Varma in episode 415 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about his journey, and all that it taught him. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Ramakrishna Desiraju a…

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 Aja…

Globalisation 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 gl…

In this episode, Deepak and Shray unpack the ins and outs of international investing—why it matters, when it makes sense, and who it’s really for. From rupee depreciation to political and geographical risks, they explore the key reasons to diversify your portfolio beyond India’s borders. They also discuss a crucial question: At what level of capita…

For all the toxicity of social media, it is also a source of much Good Gyan, as every day the best minds in the world think aloud for our benefit. Here’s another conversation about some more wisdom that we have gathered! Welcome to Episode 94 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 …

Social 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 episo…

Too 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 w…

At this point, you’ve probably read enough about tariffs to last a lifetime. But what if we told you the real story isn’t just about import duties or Donald Trump’s next announcement; it’s about a slow unraveling of the world order we’ve all taken for granted In this episode, Deepak and Shray dig into how the US once helped shape a global economic …

ETFs have taken over the world, or at least that’s what you’d believe if you spent any time reading financial media in the US. Passive investing! Low costs! No fund manager egos! And of course, that looming prediction: “ETFs will destroy price discovery!” But in India? Crickets. While ETFs have become mainstream in the US, with trillions of dollars…

He learnt his craft from Shyam Benegal, became a pioneer & a legend of advertising filmmaking, learnt & taught scuba diving, started the Prithvi Cafe, and lived every moment to the full in a million different ways. Prahlad Kakar joins Amit Varma in episode 414 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about his long and wondrous life. (FOR FULL LINKED SHO…

We 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, …

One of India's tragedies lies in the schooling of our children. We have let our kids down. Can we fix this problem? Shaheen Mistri joins Amit Varma in episode 413 of The Seen and the Unseen to describe her journey -- and what she has learnt about education. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Shaheen Mistri on Inst…

All 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…

There 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 prac…

Society 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. …

Deepak and Shray discuss the unexpected quirks and consequences of investing in mutual funds and pooled vehicles in general. The discussion covers how your returns and experiences can be impacted by other investors' actions, including issues with inflows, outflows, cutoff timings, and NAV calculations. Specific cases like DHFL, Yes Bank, and Zee pr…

So much in history never made it to the popular imagination -- such as the battles of 1967 in which India beat China. Probal DasGupta joins Amit Varma in episode 412 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss his time in the Indian army -- and his fascinating discoveries as a military historian. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also ch…