Social media may be addictive, even sometimes toxic, but it is almost magical in one gift it gives us: every day, the best minds in the world think aloud for our benefit. And some of us, gentle readers, are listening & taking notes.

Welcome to Episode 93 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Amit shares nuggets from his Good Gyan folder on Twitter. He shares why he considers those tweets to be good gyan — and Ajay responds to them, and adds his own good gyan!

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Good Gyan on Twitter? Really?02:52 Good Gyan 1: Perception09:42 GG 2: Relevance13:32 GG 3: Relevance again16:28 GG 4: Solitary hobbies19:32 GG 5: Relationships22:52 GG 6: Happiness30:39 GG 7: Courage33:11 GG 8: Breadth35:35 GG 9: Whiners40:16 GG 10: Complexity41:48 GG 11: Purpose44:28 GG 12: Knowing Oneself46:06 GG 13: AI & Us47:41 GG 14 & 15: Good Doctors53:02 GG 16: Preparation & Planning54:52 GG 17: Crackheads56:40 GG 18: Wisdom

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Too often, we think a Strong Man will solve all our problems, and that decisive leadership is all a nation needs. This could not be more wrong. We need strong rules, not strong rulers — and we need those strong rules to restrain the state. The secret to prosperity lies in rules, not discretion.

Welcome to Episode 92 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Ajay explains the history of a concept that is one of the most important in political philosophy: Rules, Not Discretion. Also discussed: the contribution of economics to this concept, what poker also teaches us, and why rowing machines are good for you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: A Rebel With Rules01:03 Chapter 1: Beware of the Strong Man09:16 Chapter 2: Ireland’s Story20:33 Chapter 3: Monetary Policy26:01 Chapter 4: A Paper That Made Ajay Drunk With Happiness28:52 Chapter 5: Focus on Rules43:31 Chapter 6: Rules are the Key to Growth48:48 Chapter 7: Amit’s Thoughts1:05:08 Chapter 8: Other Applications of this Framework1:17:25 Chapter 9: Recommendations

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

We think of the state as a monolithic beast -- but it should be anything but monolithic. The state exists to serve us, not rule us, and for that, we must have checks and balances -- and the best kind is the separation of powers.

Welcome to Episode 91 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Ajay explains why for democracy to be meaningful, a separation of powers is essential. We talk history, theory and India's story.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Planner and the Doer02:59 Chapter 1: Introducing the Subject06:10 Chapter 2: Arriving at The Separation of Powers18:02 Chapter 3: The Indian Story33:08 Chapter 4: What Some Regulators Get Wrong38:32 Chapter 5: Two Big Developments in the US49:55 Chapter 6: Some Additional Thoughts55:26 Chapter 7: Recommendations

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All of us suffer from constraints in our life. Some are small -- and some can be huge. We should take inspiration from people who have fought huge constraints and broken barriers despite the obstacles in their way -- and sometimes because of them.

Welcome to Episode 90 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Amit takes us through a few inspiring stories of how a few pioneers used their constraints to break new ground.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: We are Stupid AND Creative02:40 Chapter 1: Joni Mitchell Plays Guitar10:09 Chapter 2: Frida Kahlo Won’t Be Stopped18:23 Chapter 3: Dr Seuss Has 50 Words32:23 Chapter 4: Fosbury was Not a Flop42:40 Chapter 5: Some More Stories

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There are few things a government can do to harm society more than Industrial policy. It sounds well-intentioned, but is born out of hubris and results in disaster.

Welcome to Episode 89 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Ajay breaks down the thinking behind industrial policy, the practice of it, and why it is always bad for the people.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The 500 Dollar Bill08:01 Chapter 1: What is Industrial Policy?15:39 Chapter 2: How Industrial Policy Works26:50 Chapter 3: Subsidies42:54 Chapter 4: The Folly of PLI52:56 Chapter 5: Coercive Power57:36 Chapter 6: Ethno-Nationalism1:05:42 Chapter 7: Government Monopolies 1:11:54 Chapter 8: The China Question1:14:55 Chapter 9: What Should the State Do?

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Society needs free speech. Democracy needs free speech. For our lives to have meaning and purpose, WE need free speech.

Welcome to Episode 88 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Amit lays out the case for free speech absolutism -- and also, the troubled history of free speech in India.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: It's Not All Black and White03:02 Chapter 1: The Ranveer Episode13:45 Chapter 2: The Arguments for Free Speech20:43 Chapter 3: The Troubled History of the Freedom of Expression34:46 Chapter 4: The Hypocrisy of the Elites41:23 Chapter 5: Some Common Objections to Free Speech50:28 Chapter 6: Ajay’s Closing Remarks

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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: Recommendations

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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 Thoughts

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