Everything is Everything

Humanity has progressed more in the last few decades than in all of history before that. Moore's Laws -- yes, we used the plural -- go some way in addressing that, as do a couple of other frameworks shared in this episode.Welcome to Episode 87 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, you will find mathematical joy, technological wonder and life lessons that are priceless. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Testing Ajay's Math Skills04:57 Chapter 1: What is Moore’s Law?12:56 Chapter 2: The Implications of Moore’s Law23:17 Chapter 3: The Impact on Prices33:04 Chapter 4: Two More Frameworks51:38 Chapter 5: I, CPU1:00:26 Chapter 6: Some Larger Thoughts1:11:44 Chapter 7: RecommendationsFor magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.

Amit had a minor heart attack recently. As he was put back together, he reflected on how the miraculous technology that was reviving & renewing him was a result of rebels questioning conventional thinking. Indeed, all progress depends upon that.Welcome to Episode 86 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss some rousing stories of heretics who reshaped the foundational thinking of their fields -- from the pioneers of angiography & angioplasty to underdog Sri Lankan cricketers to an audacious upstart that first disrupted the behemoth of their sector, and then disrupted themselves.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: A Life Update13:43 Chapter 1: Rethink the Fundamentals16:18 Chapter 2: Matters of the Heart29:15 Chapter 3: More Matters of the Heart42:37 Chapter 4: Matters of Sport54:20 Chapter 5: Watching Movies1:03:30 Chapter 6: A Personal Story1:10:15 Chapter 7: Closing ThoughtsFor magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.

A lively discussion unfolds as the hosts categorize words and concepts as underrated, overrated, or complicated. They dive into the evolving landscape of cinema and urban culture, explore the moral complexities of dictatorship, and critique capital punishment. The conversation shifts to social media's dual nature, navigating meaningful connections amidst superficial engagements. Lastly, they reflect on marriage's changing dynamics, the influence of NGOs, and the significant impact of parental guidance on personal growth.

Discover the shifting landscape of modern conflict, where hybrid warfare intricately blends tactics like cyber attacks and misinformation. Explore the importance of information and propaganda in shaping public perception and democratic resilience. The discussion delves into the dynamics of authoritarian tactics against democracies, using historical contexts such as the Crimea takeover. Additionally, the complexities of hybrid warfare's impacts on India are highlighted, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and robust state capabilities.

Dive into the fascinating world of atheism and its misconceptions. Personal journeys reveal how the decline of religiosity shapes modern beliefs. The difference between atheism and agnosticism gets clarified, shedding light on evidence-based thinking. Discover how morality can exist without religion and the historical context that has influenced belief systems. The evolution of religious narratives is explored alongside critiques of oppressive traditions, advocating for independent thought and mutual respect in a diverse world.

A policy that works in one country often cannot simply be transplanted onto another. The invisible infrastructure that is needed to make it work may not exist. But what is this invisible infrastructure? Why is it invisible? Why do specialists often get it wrong? Why is everything everything? Welcome to Episode 82 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay elaborates on his frequent exhortation that before we talk about policy, we must consider the invisible infrastructure that will determine its success or failure. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: Finding Life Lessons 01:22 Chapter 1: What is Invisible Infrastructure? 07:21 Chapter 2: A Concrete Example 11:56 Chapter 3: ‘Think of It as an API Call’ 18:53 Chapter 4: One Example – Privacy in India 26:06 Chapter 5: The New York Taxi Driver 29:57 Chapter 6: What is to be Done? 32:37 Chapter 7: Be Wary of Specialisation 41:18 Chapter 8: Everything is Everything 42:23 Chapter 9: Think About Incentives 45:05 Chapter 10: Think Locally 47:29 Chapter 11: Sometimes, We Should Do Nothing 52:39 Chapter 12: Focus on the Foundations 58:05 Chapter 13: An Idea For a Future Episode For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.

Chess is a beautiful game -- and holds many lessons for life. A lot happened in chess in 2024: Gukesh Dommaraju won the World Chess Championships, Arjun Erigaisi reached 2809, India won Olympiad golds, Magnus Carlsen threw his weight around -- and there are Life Lessons in it for all of us. Welcome to Episode 81 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit shares the nuances in the events in chess in 2024 -- and draws timeless learnings from them. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: Finding Life Lessons 01:35 Chapter 1: The Last Blunder 13:45 Chapter 2: The Game Outside the Game 25:50 Chapter 3: The Different Journeys of Gukesh and Arjun 42:13 Chapter 4: The Decline of Classical Chess 52:24 Chapter 5: Magnus’s Misbehaviour 1:10:44 Chapter 6: Computers and Coverage 1:14:14 Chapter 7: Sagar and Amruta For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.

Firms are awesome. So is creative destruction. In a well-functioning market, firms die, new firms are born, there is rebirth and renewal. For this to play out smoothly, there has to be a good bankruptcy process, so that resources & people are not tied up in unproductive zombie firms. Welcome to Episode 80 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma & Ajay Shah. In this episode, Ajay lays out a masterclass on a) how to think about bankruptcy; & b) how bankruptcy happens in practice in India. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: We Love Firms! 00:32 Chapter 1: Creative Destruction 06:27 Chapter 2: What is a Firm? 10:48 Chapter 3: Don’t Be Sentimental 17:59 Chapter 4: Intangible and Tangible Capital 23:47 Chapter 5: The Committee of Creditors 27:18 Chapter 6: What is the Endgame? 31:50 Chapter 7: What is an Ideal Bankruptcy Code? 34:24 Chapter 8: The History of Bankruptcy Law 39:34 Chapter 9: Our Bankruptcy Code in the Real World 46:09 Chapter 10: What Happens to the Promoter? 50:04 Chapter 11: The Role of the Courts 51:12 Chapter 12: A New Regulator 53:57 Chapter 13: The Indian Non-Rule of Law 55:36 Chapter 14: A Useful Framework 1:08:10 Chapter 15: Recommendations For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.

There is a man who steals the electricity bills of everyone in his apartment block. Why? Can he find love and redemption? Two young Sikhs take a stand defending a bridge. Why? What do they really want? Two great chess players take each other on. Are they playing the game on the board, or some other game? There is a child in the mail. What? A child in the MAIL? Welcome to Episode 79 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay lay out four more stories that should be films. Great fun -- and much to think about! TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: More Stories! 00:54 Story 1: Collector of Bills 23:04 Story 2: The Khalsa Bridge 38:13 Story 3: Two Chess Stories 48:02 Story 4: Postal Boy For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.

Nuclear power has been given a bad name. It is the safest form of energy, and a huge leap forward in solving for climate change. What's more, with small modular reactors becoming feasible, it may end up being far cheaper than it used to be as well. Welcome to Episode 78 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay put forward the case for nuclear electricity -- and Ajay describes in detail how India should think about it. They allay all the typical fears -- and then make a case for freedom, not for action. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: What's in a Name? 00:50 Chapter 1: The Broad Case for Nuclear Energy 04:15 Chapter 2: A Historical Perspective: Why Nuclear Stumbled 09:06 Chapter 3: Let’s Talk About Safety 18:29 Chapter 4: Small Modular Reactors 30:33 Chapter 5: The Indian Story 37:27 Chapter 6: Our Nuclear Energy Dream 40:50 Chapter 7: The Five Conditions for Success 49:20 Chapter 8: An Argument for Freedom 52:09 Chapter 9: Recommendations For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.