SparX by Mukesh Bansal

Suhasini Haidar, a seasoned journalist with extensive experience in foreign policy, provides a gripping analysis of the escalating India-Pakistan tensions. She explores the historical context of terrorism linked to the conflict and discusses the complex dynamics of military politics. Haidar scrutinizes the diminishing role of the UN and the shift towards transactional diplomacy. The conversation also touches on India's trade strategies and the challenges of balancing military partnerships with economic independence—all framed within the crumbling international order.

In this discussion, Neelkanth Mishra, economic advisor to the Government of India and Chief Economist at Axis Bank, sheds light on the shifting global power dynamics post-WWII. He critiques the waning influence of institutions like the UN and NATO while highlighting the rise of alliances such as BRICS and G20. The conversation unpacks the US-China tensions, Europe’s military development challenges, and the effects of conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, emphasizing the need for new economic frameworks in international relations.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys and a leading figure in India's tech landscape, shares his inspiring journey in this conversation. He discusses the IT industry's evolution and highlights the critical role of foundational research in AI and brain science. Gopalakrishnan advocates for a synergy between academia and entrepreneurship to drive India's next big leap. He also sheds light on groundbreaking brain research in India and the importance of nurturing the innovation ecosystem for a sustainable future.

Harshil Mathur, co-founder of Razorpay and a key figure in India's fintech revolution, shares his inspiring journey from coding at IIT Roorkee to transforming digital payments. He discusses the early challenges of being young founders and the organic evolution of Razorpay from a side project. Harshil unpacks the complexities behind payment systems and the significance of UPI, as well as the regulatory landscape. Insights on balancing innovation with regulations and the future of biometric payments round out this enlightening conversation for aspiring entrepreneurs and fintech enthusiasts.

Vikram Sampath, a prominent historian and author, dives into the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, revealing the complexities of this polarizing figure in Indian history. He discusses Savarkar's transformation from a young revolutionary to a nationalist icon, the fierce ideological debates of India’s independence movement, and the often-overlooked sacrifices of freedom fighters. The conversation also highlights the evolution of Savarkar's Hindutva ideology and its implications for modern politics, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of India's historical narratives.

What if the secret to better health isn’t just what you eat, but when you eat? In this episode, we sit down with renowned circadian biology expert Dr. Satchin Panda to explore the science behind time-restricted eating, body clocks, and how your daily routines can transform your metabolism, sleep, and overall well-being. From groundbreaking mouse studies to practical human applications, Dr. Panda breaks it all down in a way that’s eye-opening and actionable.About SparX by Mukesh BansalSparX is a podcast where we delve into cutting-edge scientific research, stories from impact-makers and tools for unlocking the secrets to human potential and growth. We believe that entrepreneurship, fitness and the science of productivity is at the forefront of the India Story; the country is at the cusp of greatness and at SparX, we wish to make these tools accessible for every generation of Indians to be able to make the most of the opportunities around us. In a new episode every Saturday, our host Mukesh Bansal (Founder of Myntra and Cult.fit) will talk to guests from all walks of life and also break down everything he's learnt about the science of impact over the course of his 20-year long career. This is the India Century, and we're enthusiastic to start this journey with you.Follow us on our Instagram: / sparxbymukeshbansal Also check out our website: https://www.sparxbymukeshbansal.com You can also listen to SparX on all audio platforms!Fasion | Outbreak | Courtesy EpidemicSound.com

Description - In the latest episode of SparX, your host, Mukesh Bansal, welcomes author and historian Vikram Sampath to discuss the contents of his book “Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum.” He shares stories not only from Tipu Sultan’s reign and but also a background about his father Hyder Ali. We hear some unheard stories where Vikram paints a picture of truth and reality bringing to light Tipu’s unsee sides. Chapters - About SparX by Mukesh BansalSparX is a podcast where we delve into cutting-edge scientific research, stories from impact-makers and tools for unlocking the secrets to human potential and growth. We believe that entrepreneurship, fitness and the science of productivity is at the forefront of the India Story; the country is at the cusp of greatness and at SparX, we wish to make these tools accessible for every generation of Indians to be able to make the most of the opportunities around us. In a new episode every Saturday, our host Mukesh Bansal (Founder of Myntra and Cult.fit) will talk to guests from all walks of life and also break down everything he's learnt about the science of impact over the course of his 20-year long career. This is the India Century, and we're enthusiastic to start this journey with you.Follow us on our Instagram:   / sparxbymukeshbansal  Also check out our website: https://www.sparxbymukeshbansal.com You can also listen to SparX on all audio platforms!Fasion | Outbreak | Courtesy EpidemicSound.com

Is money real, or is it just an illusion we all believe in? In this episode, Neelkanth Mishra takes us through his journey with studying and understanding money. We explore the concept of money—how it started, why it holds value, and why it might not be as real as we think. Neelkanth challenges everything we assume about wealth, explaining how inflation, trust, and government policies shape our financial system. Watch till the end to rethink how you see money!Resource list - What is Fort Knox? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Knox Gold in Fort Knox - https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/how-much-gold-is-in-fort-knox/Bank run - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bankrun.aspCRR - https://www.idfcfirstbank.com/finfirst-blogs/finance/what-is-crr What was the 2008 Financial crisis? - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_financial_crisis https://www.britannica.com/money/financial-crisis-of-2007-2008Loan-to-Deposit ratio - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/loan-to-deposit-ratio.asp#:~:text=The%20loan%2Dto%2Ddeposit%20ratio%20(LDR)%20helps%20you,expressing%20it%20as%20a%20percentage. Open market operations - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/openmarketoperations.asp Currency in circulation - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/currency-in-circulation.asp#:~:text=Currency%20in%20circulation%20is%20all,in%20checking%20and%20savings%20accounts.What is EBLR? - https://www.kotak.com/en/stories-in-focus/loans/home-loan/eblr-interest-rate.html What is CBDC? - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/central-bank-digital-currency-cbdc.asp How can RBI contain rupee depreciation? - https://www.icicidirect.com/research/equity/finace/how-can-rbi-contain-rupee-depreciation 

In this episode of SparX, we dive deep into the complexities of the global economy, India's growth trajectory, and the impact of Trump's return to power. Neelkanth Mishra breaks down why forecasting the economy is as tough as predicting the weather, how crowd behavior shapes policy, and why AI is disrupting global markets.We discuss India’s economic challenges—monetary tightening, regulatory hurdles, and geopolitical shifts—while exploring potential solutions for achieving 7%+ growth. Are global markets headed for a crisis? How will AI reshape economic structures? And can India leverage this disruption to its advantage?Resource List - US President Trump and Ukraine President Zelensky - https://youtu.be/ajxSWocbye8?feature=shared Nixon and Kissinger meeting Indira Gandhi - https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve07/d135 https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/henry-kissinger-indira-gandhi-when-henry-kissinger-called-indira-gandhi-a-b-h-indians-bastards-4619944 The Great Transformation, book by Odd Arne Westad and Jian Chen - https://amzn.in/d/0QllE5P India’s Quantitative Tightening by Neelkanth Mishra - https://tessellatum.in/?p=478 What is the Overton Window? - https://www.mackinac.org/OvertonWindow More on Mrs. Watanabe - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mrs._Watanabe https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-mrs-watanabe-how-japanese-housewives-became-force-moenga-alex-akg6f What is fiscal deficit? - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/fiscal-deficit?from=mdr What is base money injection? - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/monetarybase.asp#:~:text=The%20money%20that%20they%20provide,of%20the%20Federal%20Reserve%20System. What is loan deposit ratio? - https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/loan-to-deposit-ratio.asp#:~:text=The%20loan%2Dto%2Ddeposit%20ratio%20(LDR)%20helps%20you,expressing%20it%20as%20a%20percentage.

Welcome back to another episode of SparX by Mukesh Bansal. Today our host Mukesh, founder of Myntra and Cure.fit is in conversation with Alok Sama, the former President and CFO of SoftBank Group International. In this episode, we dive into the concept of the "money trap" and how one can avoid its pitfalls. Alok discusses his latest book, "The Money Trap", and explores topics such as his inspiration behind the book, Masayoshi Son's investment strategies, SoftBank's investment pitfalls, and more.Resource list - The Money Trap by Alok Sama - https://amzn.in/d/g4Kpx8G Read more about Masayoshi Son - https://www.forbes.com/profile/masayoshi-son/ https://group.softbank/en/about/officer/son SoftBank Vision Fund - https://visionfund.com/inAl Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize - https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2007/gore/facts/Trump’s Gold Card - https://thedispatch.com/article/trump-gold-card-visa-immigration-explained/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-gold-card-eb5-visa-5-million-immigration-oligarch-cbs-news-explains/ DeepSeek AI - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv5976z9pohttps://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/american-ai-firms-try-poke-holes-disruptive-deepseek-2025-01-28/ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/is-deepseeks-rise-a-threat-to-american-ai-dominance-here-is-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/117610064.cms?from=mdrTravis Kalanick’s Resignation - https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40352868https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/technology/uber-ceo-travis-kalanick.html?smid=url-share WeWork’s Downfall - https://accountancycloud.com/blogs/weworks-2-billion-disaster-what-went-wrong#:~:text=Adam%20Neumann%2C%20WeWork's%20founder%20and,fund%20his%20own%20personal%20projects. https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/9/23/20879656/wework-mess-explained-ipo-softbankSarvam AI - https://www.sarvam.ai/