Everything is Everything

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.

Many of the objects we grew up with have disappeared with time -- and overall, progress is a damn good thing. But many of these lost objects also represent a different way of doing things and of living life, and some of that would have been worth holding on to. Welcome to Episode 77 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. In this episode, Amit and Ajay share objects from their past -- and what they represented then and mean now. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: What's in the Bag? 06:33 Chapter 1: Mixtapes 12:01 Chapter 2: Letters by Hand 22:02 Chapter 3: Playboy 26:45 Chapter 4: Diary 31:06 Chapter 5: Old Books 33:52 Chapter 6: Address Book 39:20 Chapter 7: Filofax and Recipes 43:10 Chapter 8: Visiting Cards 45:09 Chapter 9: STD Booths 50:34 Chapter 10: Maps 53:10 Chapter 11: Landline Phones 57:37 Chapter 12: Cash For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.

Discover the intricate narratives of Hinduism, a rich cultural tapestry shaped by migration and historical interactions. Explore the evolution of beliefs through the Puranas and the open-source nature of epic tales like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Delve into how colonial encounters and missionary narratives have influenced societal perceptions of Hindu identity. Learn about the impact of key reformers on modern political Hinduism and the emergence of Hindutva, highlighting the coexistence of traditional values and contemporary challenges.

In a fascinating discussion, the hosts explore how economics can benefit from anthropology and sociology. They emphasize the need for interdisciplinary approaches to enrich understanding and foster cognitive empathy. Topics include the value of direct interactions with firms for real-world insights, and the dangers of rigid methodological boundaries. The episode advocates for embracing holistic perspectives and eclecticism in knowledge production. It's a compelling call to break down academic silos and engage deeply with the complexities of human experience.

Which Indian hasn't experienced a KYC nightmare? And yet, we have normalised it. We should instead fight it. India's KYC is not just the worst such measure in the world, it is also an infringement on our rights. Welcome to Episode 74 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: Kaagaz Dikhaao! 00:50 Chapter 1: The Curious Tale of Lal Bihari Mritak 04:55 Chapter 2: The Nightmare of KYC 09:26 Chapter 3: The Importance of Financial Privacy 21:24 Chapter 4: The History of KYC 34:02 Chapter 5: Why India Has the Worst KYC 38:58 Chapter 6: Why Aadhaar Didn’t Solve This 41:55 Chapter 7: Don’t Take Blindly From the USA 44:29 Chapter 8: Recommendations

Should alcohol be banned? What about recreational drugs? Gambling? Hate speech? You may disapprove of certain things, but if they do not infringe anyone's rights, then turning them into crimes tends to backfire. We should think hard about what we classify as crimes -- and also examine our own morality. Welcome to Episode 73 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: How Do We Wow Them Today? 01:02 Chapter 1: What Are Victimless Crimes? 03:47 Chapter 2: Why We Should Not Punish Victimless Crimes 07:10 Chapter 3: Alcohol 14:19 Chapter 4: Drugs 20:32 Chapter 5: Gambling 25:03 Chapter 6: Prostitution 30:30 Chapter 7: Homosexuality 34:37 Chapter 8: Self-Harm 39:10 Chapter 9: Hate Speech 40:47 Chapter 10: The German Cannibal and our Moral Intuitions 47:36 Chapter 11: State Capability 58:31 Chapter 12: Recommendations For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Songs, albums, books, films are the way they for a reason -- and those reasons are outdated. The dominant forms of creative expression evolved because of constraints that no longer apply. We should free our minds and look beyond them! Welcome to Episode 72 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: The Contemplative Atom 02:29 Chapter 1: Understand Form 05:57 Chapter 2: The Sound of Birds 09:51 Chapter 3: How Music Was Shaped By Form 26:26 Chapter 4: Form and Writing 37:48 Chapter 5: The Audio-Visual Medium 44:52 Chapter 6: A Golden Age For Creators 56:42 Chapter 7: Recommendations For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Ajay Shah, an esteemed economist and policy expert on Indian finance, delves into the transformative journey of India’s financial system. He highlights the historical failures of banking pre-regulation and the impact of nationalization. The evolution of equity markets post-1990s reforms is showcased as a success story. Additionally, Ajay argues for cautious growth in banking to prevent crises and critiques the downsides of capital controls and financial surveillance. His insights on bankruptcy and household finance reveal pressing contemporary challenges.

The discussion tackles the broken Indian competitive exam system, emphasizing the immense pressure it places on students and families. The hosts critique the meritocracy myth associated with exam scores and explore the disconnect between rote memorization and genuine learning. They propose a three-part solution, including a computerized testing approach and diverse assessments, while advocating for educational reform that prioritizes holistic development. The need for accessible learning and innovative methods in higher education is also a key focus.

The hosts dive into the art of storytelling, revealing how just seven plots underpin countless narratives across cultures. They explore archetypes like 'Overcoming the Monster' and 'Rags to Riches,' using beloved films and classics to illustrate each theme. Discussion on the journey of transformation, both internal and external, showcases how comedies and epic tales evolve. The significance of rebirth is examined, emphasizing character growth. Ultimately, they argue for embracing the complexities of human nature in storytelling, avoiding simplistic moral portrayals.