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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Our longest episode so far might also be the most fun. In episode 85 of Everything is Everything, Amit Varma and Ajay Shah tackle a barrage of words & concepts & names thrown at them with responses of Underrated, Overrated or Complicated -- and then they explain why they feel that way.

Enjoy the lively disagreements! :)

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War has changed. Sometimes, an act of war doesn't seem like war at all. Often it can't be detected, or attributed, or responded to. It's a messy world.

Welcome to Episode 84 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Ajay lays out the many kinds of Hybrid Warfare in this modern world -- and the incentives that drive them.

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What is atheism? Is it a belief system? Is it political? Don't we need religion in our lives?

Welcome to Episode 83 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Amit describes the thought processes that led to him becoming a non-believer -- and busts common myths around atheism.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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A policy that works in one country often cannot simply be transplanted onto another. The invisible infrastructure that is needed to make it work may not exist.

But what is this invisible infrastructure? Why is it invisible? Why do specialists often get it wrong? Why is everything everything?

Welcome to Episode 82 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.

In this episode, Ajay elaborates on his frequent exhortation that before we talk about policy, we must consider the invisible infrastructure that will determine its success or failure.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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