• Ep 64: The Global Tech Wars
    Sep 13 2024

    The world is at war -- and not all of it is in the obvious ways. There is a war around technology, and using technology, and the US and China are at the heart of it.

    Welcome to Episode 64 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    In this episode, Ajay and Amit discuss the contours of the global tech wars playing out on the geopolitical stage. It is fundamental, it is fierce and it affects us all.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: But a Distant Memory? 04:37 Chapter 1: What is This Great Drama? 07:19 Chapter 2: How This War is Playing Out 13:00 Chapter 3: It All Goes to Hell. Why? 38:31 Chapter 4: What Can Happen Next? 54:14 Chapter 5: Recommendations

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    56 mins
  • Ep 63: Knowledge Lost and Knowledge Regained
    Sep 12 2024

    We often assume that all knowledge is recorded, and every generation builds on the knowledge of past generations. This is not true. Much knowledge is lost -- and some is regained.

    Welcome to Episode 63 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss precious knowledge of remarkable things that we lost over time -- some of which we are slowly regaining!

    TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Intro: The Witch Casts a Spell 13:08 Chapter 1: Silphium/Silpheon 20:00 Chapter 2: Dhaka Muslin 29:11 Chapter 3: Fogbank 36:43 Chapter 4: Artemisinin 49:07 Chapter 5: Reconstructing Germany and Japan After WW2

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    59 mins
  • Ep 62: How to Write a Paper
    Aug 30 2024

    In academia and research, the pursuit of knowledge very often culminates in a paper. But even outside that field -- within any field, in fact -- knowledge must be pursued, parsed, processed and put down on paper. Everyone should know how to do this, even if you never want to write a paper in your life.

    Welcome to Episode 62 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    In this episode, Ajay distills his experience of many decades of writing papers into a masterclass that will help you not just be a better writer, but a better thinker.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging 00:13 Chapter 1: The Sociology of How This Machine Works 15:29 Chapter 2: The Elements of a Paper 20:24 Chapter 3: What Makes for a Good Paper? 25:59 Chapter 4: Put the Reader First 34:39 Chapter 5: The Structure of a Paper 47:21 Chapter 6: The Act of Writing 55:38 Chapter 7: Getting It Out There 1:01:11 Chapter 8: Ajay’s Insights About Writing Papers 1:06:39 Chapter 9: Recommendations

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Ep 61: The Outlaws
    Aug 23 2024

    The people who change the world are people who go against the grain. And yet, challenging conventional wisdom, or living an unconventional life, can make you an Outlaw.

    Welcome to Episode 61 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss a group of people who were ignored or reviled in their lifetimes -- and who we now remember as pathbreakers.

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Ep 60: Don't Run a Country Like a Company
    Aug 16 2024

    Firms are awesome. They are the source of a country's prosperity. And so, some people make the blunder of assuming that you should run a country like a company.

    This is a terrible mistake.

    Welcome to Episode 60 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ep 59: Rethinking Innovation Policy
    Aug 9 2024

    Should the state have a role in amplifying innovation? If so, what should it do?

    Welcome to Episode 59 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    In this episode, Ajay and Amit argue furiously about whether the state should spend its resources trying to make innovation happen. But while they disagree on the Why, they agree on what How and the What: the blueprint laid out in Ajay's brilliant paper with RA Mashelkar and Susan Thomas.

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Ep 58: Can We Build Switzerland in India?
    Aug 3 2024

    There is great natural beauty in India -- but we get tourism wrong. We allow beautiful places to become tourist traps. The local people do not benefit enough. We don't care about sustainability.

    It need not be this way.

    Welcome to Episode 58 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    In this episode, Ajay and Amit, recording the last of The Bir Sessions, discuss how Himalayan states can build tourism and grow their economies in a way that benefits the local people and is sustainable. Win-win all around.

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    51 mins
  • Ep 57: How to Do Development
    Jul 26 2024

    It is the moral imperative of every poor country to lift all its people out of poverty. And yet India, like so many other poor countries, has failed to do this. Development Economics carries much of the blame for this. Wrong beliefs and dangerous fashions within this field have mostly failed to help -- and sometimes caused much harm.

    Welcome to Episode 57 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

    For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, ⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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    1 hr and 39 mins