Kumar hails from India, where he started coding at a young age. He's had an unconventional way of learning - where he has often learned a lot he earns and leverages today completely by himself using YouTube and the Internet. Starting from making his own small side projects, now he is working as an Engineer for Airchat, a company started by Naval Ravikant, the renowned Angel Investor and Founder of AngelList. He is merely 20! Currently living in San Francisco in his gap year. This podcast's best to learn how to learn and how to build.

Relevant links from the podcast:

Joe Rogan and Naval Ravikant Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qHkcs3kG44

Advanced React Course: https://advancedreact.com/

Mark has taken the unconventional route multiple times by self-teaching his iOS development, dropping out of university and working for Silicon Valley startups. Currently, he is building his own startup called Merce.co - we talk about it in the episode - check it out. The best thing I love about Mark is his ability to be vulnerable more than most people I have ever met and his ability to put thought before speaking his words. One of the best conversations I have ever had, beyond just this podcast.

Books recommended by Mark: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and Atomic Habits.

Afshawn Lotfi is a graduate of Georgia Tech and the Founder of Openorion.org where he is building machine-learning models to optimize the right shape of jet engines propels for the best flight. The podcast talks about how he got into engineering, his learning methods, his methods of boosting his creativity and more. Listen in his incredible story about how he went from applying to jobs in aerospace companies to making deals with them selling his product in less than 6 months.

Books mentioned by Afshawn:

- Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy

- Brief Answers to Big Questions by Stephen Hawking

Elizabeth is a first year university student at University of Maryland studying Computer Science. She is a programmer and an artist by identity and has been able to become MLH’s Top 50 Under 50 at the age of 18, while she has been mentioned in 10+ magazines at the same time. Listen to the podcast to listen to her story!