In this episode, I’m speaking with Aashrit Parvangada, a historical nerd based in Berlin, and one of the best folks to chat with about geopolitics, nationalism, and immigration.

I must say this was a sobering conversation, but also an enlightening one for me. Aashrit is not one to hold back on what he thinks about the world and how geopolitics and history shape most of what we’ve seen in recent times.

And for someone who’s lived in Dubai, India, Canada, the United States, Germany, and speaks English, Hindi, Japanese, and German, he has the lived experience to back up his takes.

Aashrit and I talk about:

• Why he thinks the West has always struggled with multiculturalism and diversity

• Why he believes the current anti-Indian hate is actually a lesson for Indians

• The “great divergence” that made the West wealthy, and the “great convergence” happening now

• Why the question of a multicultural future belongs to the West, not immigrants

• What he finds exciting about the world’s trajectory