The Prakhar Gupta Xperience

Welcome to PGX Raw & Real.PGX Raw & Real is simple. I sit with people who’ve lived through something and/or made it big, and I try to understand what it did to them.Sometimes it gets deep, sometimes it gets weird, sometimes we end up laughing at stories that should’ve gone very differently — just like how real conversations go.This isn’t meant to be inspiration or a template for life (for that, you can check out PGX Ideas).This space is different. It’s their story, as they experienced it.In this episode, I spoke to — Rishab Rikhiram Sharma — sitarist, composer, and the mind behind “Sitar for Mental Health”.Timestamps:00:00 - Catching up03:00 - When did life start to change 05:15 - Origin of sitar for mental health10:10 - Rishab's Fashion Game16:00 - Sitar for Mental Health26:30 - The experience & influence of luxury31:21 - Big Fat Indian Weddings36:10 - How Rishab got his rhythm43:20 - Nerding out on Indian Music48:30 - Mehfil vibes52:10 - Unmatched sound of devotional music54:22 - Why presentation matters56:32 - Does Rishab ever question himself?57:50 - Collabs in the east & west59:50 - Changing sound aesthetics of india1:06:04 - Is language a barrier still?1:12:10 - AI, Playboi Carti & techno1:20:30 - Lack of civic sense in India1:24:20 - Should you move out of Delhi? 1:27:40 - Creativity in peace1:29:00 - Mini sitar concert1:35:57 - Masterclass with Rishab1:44:00 - Happy ever afterEnjoy.— Prakhar

Welcome to PGX Ideas #8

Here I sit down with some of the most interesting minds in the world — scientists, philosophers, economists, and creators — to think about the forces shaping the future.

Each episode is an attempt to understand ONE BIG question. The kind that doesn’t have a single answer but reveals how people who think deeply approach life, work, and meaning.

This time, I spoke with Simon Critchley (English philosopher) about:

What is death — and how do we deal with it?

Timestamps:

00:45 - Why do we think of death?

3:45 - Can philosophy set us free from death?

9:22 - Why do we fear death?

14:40 - The consequences of death

19:15 - Why does religion care about death?

26:55 - What’s the value in rituals around death?

29:45 - Are we moving away from god?

32:10 - Why are we alive?

35:35 - Did modernity kill god?

38:10 - Global village & metaphysics

41:45 - Do philosophers die with integrity?

44:30 - History of suicid*

53:15 - What does it mean to live well & die well?

55:55 - Can we practice dying?

59:30 - Do you have to die before you can live?

1:06:15 - Philosophy of humour

1:15:55 - What’s our obsession with immortality?

Welcome to this solo podcast.A new year is a good time to pause and reflect.In this episode, I’m sharing some thoughts on what it means to be young and Indian in the 21st century — how we should think, act, and how we should take responsibility for the future we’re stepping into.Happy New Year.— PrakharTimestamps:00:00 – Where is India right now?03:35 – We are deluded05:57 – Is India the next China?07:13 – Major issues of concern12:56 – How does a society move ahead?14:05 – Why is China ahead?17:13 – We are losing the AI race19:46 – How does India grow despite the challenges?23:50 – The hygiene issue35:05 – What is working for us?42:11 – India’s top 1 percent45:07 – The AQI issue49:00 – The global TFR fall57:48 – The economic shift we need59:10 – What I do not know

Welcome to PGX Ideas #7Here I sit down with some of the most interesting minds in the world — scientists, philosophers, economists, and creators — to think about the forces shaping the future.Each episode is an attempt to understand ONE BIG question. The kind that doesn’t have a single answer but reveals how people who think deeply approach life, work, and meaning.This time, I spoke with Dr. Gad Saad  @GadSaad  PGX Ideas - evolutionary psychologist about: What do we want what we want?Timestamps:00:00 – Why are humans wired to consume?05:27 – Why do people avoid emotional principles?08:36 – Why do we over-consume?13:04 – Why does money mean different things?17:32 – How do humans consume?29:40 – Are fake smiles social deception?33:11 – Why did Mamdani win?39:40 – What do marketers know?43:24 – Why do we compare socially?45:44 – What’s wrong with society?45:44 – Why do intellectuals dress poorly?56:14 – How does marketing psychology work?1:05:00 – How do generations differ?1:07:44 – Why do people consume ideologies? (Reacting to the Sydney Sweeney controversy)1:10:33 – Does morality shape evolution?1:15:35 – How will technology change consumption?1:22:46 – Questions for PrakharEnjoy.— Prakhar

Welcome to PGX Raw & Real PGX Raw & Real is simple. I sit with people who’ve lived through something and/or made it big, and I try to understand what it did to them.Sometimes it gets deep, sometimes it gets weird, sometimes we end up laughing at stories that should’ve gone very differently just like how real conversations go.This isn’t meant to be inspiration or a template for life (for that, you can check out PGX Ideas).This space is different. It’s their story, as they experienced it.In this episode I spoke to - Levy Rozman  @GothamChess  on PGX Raw and Real - international chess master.Timestamps:00:00 - Getting started01:59 - What are chess ratings?03:08 - Rise of chess in India05:45 - Why chess is popular in India07:29 - Cultural impact on Chess09:40 - Meaning & Money in chess 12:30 - understanding Hikaru’s play17:03 - Entertainment-fication of chess20:53 - Pressures of chess30:25 - Who’s at the top in chess today?36:51 - Levy’s highs & lows44:03 - What chess teaches you / what did levy take away from chess / levy’s thoughts on chess45:48 - The language of chess48:54 - What makes levy no.1 chess youtuber?52:45 - Popularisation of chess58:25 - Levi wants to be Magnus?1:00:51 - Why chess needs to evolve 1:05:29 - Who is the GOAT?1:21:03 - Modern chess dramas (CHECK THIS PART)1:30:20 - Psychological turmoil because of chess1:35:50 - Players take on chess politics 1:41:54 - Pedestrianisation of chess1:48:36 - Who will be the next champion?Enjoy. — Prakhar------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Watch NextIf you’re looking for human stories & emotion, go to PGX Raw & Real → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa6DgTttATAc0hftp0aZtUvCgVSKO8hbxIf you want ideas, insight, and perspective, go to PGX Ideas → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa6DgTttATAcNdrNSG8Hh78TK-5A0EJbC-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Learn with MeMaster the art of Conversation → https://www.artofconversation.in/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------GuestLevy RozmanTwitter: https://twitter.com/GothamChessInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothamchess/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCQHX6ViZmPsWiYSFAyS0a3Q Website: https://www.gotham-chess.com-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PGX SocialsInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/pgxpodcast/X (Twitter) → https://twitter.com/pgxpodcastLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/prvkhvr/Clips Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@PGXClips-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow meTwitter: https://twitter.com/prvkhvr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prvkhvr/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prvkhvr/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#PGXRaw&Real #PrakharGupta #chess #magnuscarlsen #gothamchess #chessbaseindia #worldchampionship #king

Welcome to PGX Ideas #6Here I sit down with some of the most interesting minds in the world — scientists, philosophers, economists, and creators — to think about the forces shaping the future.Each episode is an attempt to understand ONE BIG question. The kind that doesn’t have a single answer but reveals how people who think deeply approach life, work, and meaning.This time, I spoke with Aravind Srinivas on PGX Ideas - Co-founder and CEO of Perplexity Al about: Does AI truly understand me?Timestamps:00:00 - How did you get into AI?02:45 - Ad05:40 - Lessons from rejection or studying abroad11:16 - Why do emergent effects matter?13:05 - India’s competitive culture15:05 - Talent problem or system failure?16:25 - How can India evolve?17:45 - China’s approach to research21:02 - What’s cutting-edge in AI today?25:02 - What creates value in an economy?28:45 - What is the internet built on?32:48 - Can AI assist humans?35:25 - Why do humans wonder?37:25 - Why do humans create?40:50 - Does memory still matter?43:15 - Does curiosity create knowledge?45:40 - Biological vs artificial intelligence51:24 - Is curiosity uniquely human?58:55 - Can AI shape human thinking?1:05:24 - Do we understand intelligence?1:10:50 - Meaning beyond behaviourism1:21:48 - How do kids learn to learn?1:25:43 - Why is hardware innovation hard?1:31:19 - Can AI feel?1:39:00 - Path to superintelligence1:47:35 - Questions for PrakharEnjoy.

Welcome to this Solo Podcast. I recently got married, and this episode is me reflecting on what that experience has been like for me.The thoughts it triggered, the shifts I noticed, and the questions that quietly started forming.I’m not here to explain marriage or define it.Just sharing what it felt like, what surprised me, and what stayed with me.— PrakharTimestamps:00:00 - Marriage & Vulnerability02:00 - Why I Got Married05:55 - Importance of Vulnerability in Relationships09:12 - Is Materialism the Answer?10:40 - Marriage & Love12:35 - Why Is Love Important in a Marriage?18:45 - Portal into Marriage20:10 - How It Feels Before Marriage25:10 - Hosting Friends with Airbnb30:33 - Boat Trip36:00 - Mexican Mehendi & Sundowner40:05 - Shahi Haldi44:00 - Christian Ceremony47:35 - Why Photographers Matter52:36 - Tying the Knot in My Mother’s Garden54:15 - Friends All Around56:15 - The Love You Earn58:00 - Closing ThoughtsEnjoy. — Prakhar

Welcome to PGX Ideas #5Here I sit down with some of the most interesting minds in the world — scientists, philosophers, economists, and creators — to think about the forces shaping the future.Each episode is an attempt to understand ONE BIG question. The kind that doesn’t have a single answer but reveals how people who think deeply approach life, work, and meaning.This time, I spoke with Baland Jalal  @DrBalandJalal  - Harvard Neuroscientist about: What Are Dreams, and Why Do We Dream?Timestamps:00:00 - Science Behind Dreams11:44 - Why Do We Fly in Dreams?14:54 - Why Do We Dream?21:30 - Why Don’t We Remember Our Dreams?25:20 - Why Does Time Work Differently in Our Dreams?29:00 - Connection Between the Physical World and Dreams33:19 - Connection Between Dreams and the Cosmos36:46 - Do Dreams Mean Something?46:50 - Connection b/t Past and Dreams54:54 - Can We Control Our Dreams?59:56 - Can We Dream While We Are Conscious?1:03:07 - Why Can’t We Return to the Same Dream?1:07:18 - Technology of Dreaming1:10:16 - Do We Only Use 10% of Our Brain?1:14:40 - Treating Depression Through Dream Technology1:17:00 - Dreams in Psychedelic States1:20:12 - Sleep Paralysis and Its Cultural Meaning1:22:36 - Cultural Roots of Evil1:30:45 - Hallucinations and AI1:33:00 - Are We All Living a Dream?1:42:20 - Cotard Syndrome1:45:15 - Dissociation and Neural Activity1:47:25 - What Is Consciousness?Enjoy.— Prakhar

Welcome to PGX Raw & Real PGX Raw & Real is simple. I sit with people who’ve lived through something and/or made it big, and I try to understand what it did to them.Sometimes it gets deep, sometimes it gets weird, sometimes we end up laughing at stories that should’ve gone very differently just like how real conversations go.This isn’t meant to be inspiration or a template for life (for that, you can check out PGX Ideas).This space is different. It’s their story, as they experienced it.In this episode I spoke to - Grant Cardone  @GrantCardone  - entrepreneur and global business expertTimestamps:00:00 - Grant on drug & alcohol addiction03:33 - How he overcame addiction07:51 - Childhood dreams & ambitions11:28 - Building his billion $ empire14:16 - Work ethic: Americans vs Indians19:48 - How to get rich23:45 - Discovering his strengths26:23 - Scarcity & hunger Mindset28:03 - Traits needed for success30:36 - Why he respects Trump34:35 - Thoughts on Charlie Kirk35:37 - Building influence & power41:48 - Applying 10x principles in life46:38 - Thinking big: vacations & wealth51:44 - Why most people fail at sales54:49 - Basic Principles of sales1:00:47 - Spirituality w/ sales mindset1:02:07 - Grant on fatherhood1:09:11 - How to build a successful family?1:16:56 - What money means to himEnjoy. — Prakhar

Welcome to PGX Ideas #5Here I sit down with some of the most interesting minds in the world — scientists, philosophers, economists, and creators — to think about the forces shaping the future.Each episode is an attempt to understand ONE BIG question. The kind that doesn’t have a single answer but reveals how people who think deeply approach life, work, and meaning.This time, I spoke with  @Andrew-Bustamante  - former CIA operative about:What does the CIA know that we do not?Timestamps:00:00 - What the CIA Knows About Human Behavior03:50 - How the CIA Understands People08:37 - How to Influence and Manipulate People15:43 - How Media Shapes Behavior18:20 - How Algorithms Control Us24:43 - Why We’re Sad and Why Society Matters29:30 - Can You Program Someone36:31 - What Drives People41:20 - Why People Lie43:18 - Why Liars Succeed52:06 - The Hunger for More56:17 - How to Create Influence1:02:03 - How Influence Differs from Manipulation1:05:33 - What is Charm and How It Helps Influence1:09:58 - How Persuasion Works1:17:39 - How to Build Trust1:25:45 - What We Can Learn from Reading People1:35:16 - Question for PrakharEnjoy.— Prakhar