In this episode of the podcast, I have an in-depth conversation with Aishwarya Ashok, Product Manager at Zoho and Creator of “The Prodcastt”, “The Founder’s Foyer”, “One Good Thing” and “100+NotTech”. The Founder's Foyer is a space where creators, founders, and builders look for all the foundational concepts and support to grow their ideas into products. We discuss a broad-spectrum of topics ranging from her transition from Product Marketing to Product Management, advice for future and current Product Managers, product sustainability factors, Carnatic music, heritage walks, possibilities for AI, and much more! Key points in this episode: Emphasis on empathizing with users, picking and solving the right problems, and keeping personal preferences in check when giving feedback. Her comparison of Product Management to Stand-Up comedy. An in-depth analysis of the success of Duolingo and how it has proved to be a great example of a win-win for both the product and the user. The importance of social metrics and her non-belief in labels that restrict thinking. A closer look at her strong work ethic and how she’s given herself the freedom to explore new things, including her newfound love of ‘urbanscaping’. Her love for her home city, Chennai, and how it influenced her thinking. How her grandparents instilled in her a sense of punctuality and a proactive spirit that she carries with her to this day. Additionally, this episode features an interesting ‘Deep Fire’ (questions) round filled with some fun, deep, and detailed responses by Aishwarya. Show notes can be found here

Join me in this episode as I chat with Akash Devaraju and Noopur Porwal from Local Ferment Co (LFC), a micro-brewery and kitchen that specialises in all things probiotic and non-alcoholic drinks. We'll take a deep dive into their startup journey and their passion for aesthetics and design, which is evident in their visually appealing website. The LFC team places great importance on creating a brand that not only functions well but is also visually attractive to their customers. They share their experience in creating a positive work environment, where they prioritise enjoying the process of creating and producing their products, rather than solely focusing on the end result. We'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at their micro-brewery setup, which they lovingly refer to as their "brewery." You'll learn how their focus on quality and innovation has helped them gain recognition and appreciation from their customers, and how they're constantly experimenting with different flavors and ingredients to keep their offerings fresh and exciting. Throughout the episode, we'll dive into the importance of effective marketing and the power of a good newsletter in promoting and growing a business. Tune in for a lighthearted and fun conversation with the founders of LFC, and gain valuable insights into the startup journey, creating a positive work environment, and the power of effective marketing and innovation. Click here for the show notes.

In this episode, I interview Nandini Nair and Soubhik Hazra. Both of them had a background in hospitality industry, but decided to try their hand at the pet food business with their brand, "Hungry Eyes."Who would have imagined that two people from the hotel industry would end up starting a business for dogs? But that's precisely what they did.  We discussed their experiences as entrepreneurs, the challenges they encountered when launching their business, and, of course, their passion for pets. Nandini shared her insights on the importance of respect and trust in pet ownership, while Soubhik shared his thoughts on the freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur. They also shared their experiences with pet ownership and gave some advice for first-time pet owners. We also had a fun rapid fire round, where Nandini and Soubhik shared their favorite books, movies, and music. Key Takeaways: The importance of building confidence and never undervaluing oneself. The freedom and accountability of being an entrepreneur. The responsibility of pet ownership and the rules that need to be set. The possibility of having a celebrity endorse the brand. Recommendations for books and movies that the couple enjoyed. Join me and enjoy this lovely episode with Nandini & Soubhik! Detailed show notes here.

In this episode of the podcast, I have an in-depth conversation with Vaibhav Munjal, the co founder of the popular YouTube channel "Chalchitra Talks."  If you do not know about Chalchitra Talks, it’s a one-stop destination for all your recommendations...movies, books, podcasts, TV shows, poetry, sports and so on! So, in this episode Vaibhav shares the story behind the creation of the channel, how he came up with the name, and his insights on his journey towards reaching 100K subscribers. The episode covers: How Vaibhav created a sense of discipline in his life early on as a freelancer and how it has helped him to be more productive. His experiences of securing interviews with high-profile guests and how he has learned to organically build relationships with them. His thoughts on discipline, trust in instincts, and how he prepares for his interviews. Chalchitra Talk's journey towards reaching 100K subscribers. Vaibhav's passion for screenwriting, and the concept of probable impossibilities. His thoughts on his fear of failure and how he's working on overcoming it. Vaibhav's own online course on networking. Also, a fun filled rapid fire round of questions where I discuss various topics such as Vaibhav's experience with 100 days of solitude, the qualities he admires most in his parents, and what outfit he would wear for the rest of his life. Be sure to check our website here for detailed show notes and more information on Vaibhav and his channel.

Join me for an enlightening conversation with James Pierce on this brand-new episode of the podcast! James is a philosopher, a writer and an entrepreneur. We delve into James' journey towards spiritual growth and explore themes of mindfulness, self-discovery, and personal development. Along the way, we discuss the human desire for acceptance, love, and validation, the role of the ego, and the importance of self-acceptance and finding purpose in life. James also shares his insights on the power of questioning one's beliefs and his work with clients seeking inner peace.  Plus, don't miss the fun filled Rapid-fire Q&A session where James reveals personal details about his interests and experiences. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking spiritual growth and personal development. Show Notes can be found here

Pranav Radhankrishnan is a Youtube content creator known for his science based educational videos. I had the opportunity to sit down with him and discuss his background, his process for creating content debunking myths, and how it feels to be involved in the debate on scientific topics. Pranav was fascinated by science at a young age. He remembers reading an encyclopedia when he was only six years old. Pranav says that his channel, Science is Dope, was created because he noticed that there weren't any Indian channels that dealt with simplifying scientific, mathematical, or other pseudoscientific concepts. In this episode, we talk about: The difference between Evidence based thinking and Intuition based thinking. Why Evidence is important in drawing conclusions, and How intuition can also be a valuable tool. Points out that correlation does not necessarily mean causation and that many factors should be taken into account. Over time, How Pranav learned to adapt his manner of speech in order to debunk some myths and eliminate any misperceptions about himself.. Debunks some Pseudoscience Buzz words like Vibration, Quantum, Frequency, Dimension. Explains Survivorship bias in terms of Law of Attraction. Pranav shares the books he's most enjoyed reading, as well as some people who inspire him. He talks about some beliefs he had and how those have changed over time. We finish with a quick round of rapid fire questions. Pranav concludes this conversation by sharing one practical advice: “Think Rationally.” To learn more about this fascinating individual, click Play. Show notes: www.rareerth.com

I have a very special guest in this episode: Aamina Azhar. She is one of the youngest people I've ever had on the show; she's a published author and co-author of four books. She is also the founder of Sweet Retreat Cakery. Additionally, she is a very well-known member of Bangalore Student Community and Safe Space Project. All of this while studying Journalism and English Literature in Mount Carmel College. She has even appeared in Swadhyay Publications - listed in the top 50 poets. Aamina’s love of reading began at age nine, when she was already writing her own poems. At fifteen she published her first book. Writing is a form of expression for her, but Aamina makes sure to unplug from time to time, where you’ll find her baking some delicious-looking treats. In this episode we talk about What sparked her love of writing, and how her parents influenced her passion for literature. How the best things in life don't come planned and that spontaneity works for her when it comes to writing. Her Experience and the story behind publishing her very first book. How has baking aided her in her journey to become an entrepreneur. How being a rebel since a young age has helped her break all the stereotypes surrounding her culture. How she is learning to deal with Imposter Syndrome. The Safe Space Project and the other political and social causes she has been a part of. She talks about the achievement she's most proud of, and why. Shares  the books that have had an impact on her and offers advice that she has found to be helpful. We finish our conversation with a fun rapid-fire round of questions . Click Play to hear a very young and talented individual speak. Show Notes can be found here

In this episode I sit down with Kenny DeGiglio, the Director of Education at Pomp's Crypto Academy. I had the pleasure of speaking with Kenny at the Crypto Academy Course earlier this year, and we wanted to share a bit of it with you. Kenny joined us from Pennsylvania and we talked all things Blockchain, Bitcoin, and why everyone should be spending time educating themselves on this revolutionary technology. Being a rather disagreeable personality from a young age, Kenny had a lot of learnings (and failures) to understand what he was most passionate about. And that passion turned out to be Bitcoin. He shares how his skeptical personality led him in making decisions that changed his life. Key points in this episode: His journey towards Bitcoin, how he got started and why he is passionate about it. Simplifies some of the common terms used by people in the Crypto World - Hash rate, Public and Private Keys, Nodes, Blocks, Bitcoin Mining, Blockchain and Digital Signatures. How the first Bitcoins were mined and who published the original Bitcoin whitepaper. The innovation of the digital currency Bitcoin. Describes how Bitcoin has allowed for a truly censorship-resistant digital currency. He explains how it resolves the double-spending problem, is seizure resistant, and like gold it's a barrier asset that can be exchanged with anyone anywhere in the world—and instantly at that! How thinking from First Principles can help hone your skills and expertise in the right direction. Debugs the commonly misunderstood concepts about Bitcoin. How Printing Money is a challenge for a country’s Economy. How Money Fringing causes Price Inflation and how Price Inflation is essentially another form of Taxation. Kenny shares some of the best pieces of advice he has received, as well as some books that have had the biggest impact on his thinking. We delve into these topics before finishing with a fun Rapid Fire session! For show notes, click here

In this episode of the RareErth podcast, I'm speaking with Sitara Srinivasan. She is the founder at Naxxatra Sciences and an independent researcher and educator. Sitara is also the youngest guest we've had on the show so far. As a child, she was curious about topics such as the origins of the cosmos and how life arose on Earth. She had a strong interest in science and philosophy, and at first she was only interested in astronomy because it fulfilled a kind of curiosity within her that she couldn't explain. In time, she found herself drawn to the intricacies of the subject. Key points in this episode: At 22, how she developed a sense of vision for what she wanted and started Naxxatra.  How she began by reaching out and building a community that shared the same passion. The many setbacks she has endured in fulfilling her dream of creating a company and the vision to create 100’s of scientists through the brand that she runs independently. How as a child, she knew that Science was her way to make the world a better place and reach her own goals. Why Science is fueled by curiosity. And how it's a vehicle that can take us to a place where we can discover the mysteries of life. How to ask questions daily, some will be purely challenging and others will help you reach a new understanding. How debates can have lasting effects on your mindset. There are many different ways to enrich your life if you keep asking the right kinds of questions about them. She elaborates the variables in Newton's Second Law and explains the equation in a concise, simplified manner. How pseudoscience is a problem in our society and how it can be avoided by questioning everything we hear, no matter how popular it is. One could ask questions and open up a world of endless possibilities. How to get work done as an entrepreneur with lot of priorities. What can we do to encourage children to be critical and rational thinkers instead of just absorbing knowledge. The study of astronomy & the many different job opportunities. How Generalists will do better than Specialists in near future. Explains the Butterfly Effect and the Non Linear Dynamics and Chaos Theory. She discusses what success means to her and shares some of the books she's enjoyed. We end the interview with a round of Rapid Fire Questions. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did. Show Notes can be found here.

My guest this episode is Arun Benty, Co-founder and Head of Business Development at Fandefi (a platform to create and sell utility NFTs.) He is also a Co-founder and Director of Business Development at Trellisys and Co-founder and Head of Business Development at Papertrell. Arun, being a contrarian, sought opportunities in college that were not typical for his age group. While starting out, he ran a small magazine with a few friends, learning the basics of advertising sales. Soon he was earning money and had his mom to thank for being his first business partner. Arun tells us about how he learned to overcome the early confusion of his career choices and began a quest for visionary ideas in software development. In addition to his existing businesses, Arun actively develops business-based solutions for the artists community through Fandefi. This episode covers a lot of ground, including Arun's childhood, his early work years, his passion for technology and his philosophy towards life and entrepreneurship. Below are the highlights of this episode: How he started his first company "Trellisys" 22 years ago and what services the company provides for its customers. Why he believes entrepreneurship is a team sport. NFTs and how it’s the latest emerging trend in blockchain technology. About Fandefi: a crowdfunding application that lets innovators sell their artworks where the artists can gain directly from non-fungible tokens (NFTs.) How Digital Platforms are becoming a very important aspect of everyday life. How social media platforms and private companies use principles from human-machine interaction to maximize the user's experience. How technology is disrupting society. Explores the concept of Asymmetric Returns and explains how non-fungible tokens and crypto will be reshaping the future of investing. Arun says that every person can hone their ability to look at both sides of an argument, because it’s a skill that will always serve them well. He also mentions books that have shaped his thinking over the years and some of his favourite pieces of work from various genres. We conclude our time together with a lighthearted round of rapid fire questions. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. If you're interested in learning more about what we spoke about, click here for the show notes.