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Listen to JCO Global Oncology's Art of Global Oncology article, "Whispers After the Cure: Reflections on Marriage and Malignancy in India” by Dr. Vangipuram Harshil Sai, who is a fourth semester medical student at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The article is followed by an interview with Harshil Sai and host Dr. Mikkael Sekeres. Sai shares his personal reflection of a visit which transformed into an education in silence, stigma, and the unseen aftermath of survivorship for young women in India. TRANSCRIPT Narrator: Whispers After the Cure: Reflections on Marriage and Malignancy in India, Vangipuram, Harshil Sai A Summer Afternoon and A Story That Stayed The summer break of my fourth semester of medical school offered a fleeting reprieve from the relentless immersion in textbooks and caffeine-fueled study sessions. I had envisioned a few weeks of rest—a pause from the algorithms of diagnosis and the grind of multiple-choice questions that had become my daily rhythm. But one humid afternoon altered that plan. I accompanied my mother—a senior medical oncologist—to her clinic in a Tier 2 city in Southern India. Over the years, I had seen her not just as a clinician but as a quiet force of empathy. She was one of those remarkable physicians who listened not just to symptoms but also to stories. Her practice was rooted in presence, and her calm resilience often made my academic anxieties seem trivial. I settled into a corner chair in the waiting area, where the air was tinged with antiseptic and that uncomfortable waiting room stillness—an alert hush between uncertainty and news. Patients waited in quiet constellations: a man turning the same page of a newspaper, a teenage girl watching her intravenous drip as if it held answers, and a couple clasping hands without meeting eyes. It was in this atmosphere of suspended quiet that Aarthi entered. She was a young woman whose presence was composed yet tentative. Her story would become a quiet inflection point in my understanding of medicine. She was 24 years old, embodying the aspirations tied to a recent engagement. A postgraduate in English literature and a practicing psychologist; she carried herself with a rare blend of intellect, poise, and cultural grace that, in the eyes of many families, made her a deeply desirable bride. Her sari was immaculately draped, her posture measured and calm, yet in the way her fingers intertwined and her eyes briefly lowered, there was a trace of vulnerability—a shadow of the turmoil she carried within. She came alone that day, stepping into the waiting room with a composed demeanor that only hinted at the weight she bore in silence. What began as a day to observe became the beginning of something far more enduring: a glimpse into how healing extends beyond treatment—and how survival, though silent, often speaks the loudest. The Diagnosis That Changed the Wedding The consultation was precipitated by a clinical presentation of persistent neck fullness, low-grade fevers, and drenching night sweats, which had prompted a fine-needle aspiration before her visit. The atmosphere in the room held an implicit gravity, suggesting a moment of significant change. My mother, with her characteristic composure, initiated a diagnostic process with a positron emission tomography-computed tomography and biopsy. As usual, her steady presence provided reassurance amid the uncertainty. A week later, the diagnosis of classic Hodgkin lymphoma, stage IIB, was confirmed. Rapid initiation of ABVD chemotherapy would provide an almost certain pathway to remission and an excellent prognosis. Yet, this clinical assurance did not extend to personal tranquility. Aarthi made a deliberate choice to share the diagnosis with her fiancé—a considerate and empathetic individual from a well-regarded family. Their wedding preparations were already underway with gold reserves secured and a vibrant WhatsApp group of 83 members chronicling the countdown to their big day. Shortly thereafter, a prolonged silence settled, eventually broken by a call from a family member—not the fiancé—indicating that the family had decided to terminate the engagement because of apprehensions about future stability. The union dissolved without public discord, leaving Aarthi to navigate the subsequent journey independently. As expected, 6 months of chemotherapy culminated in a clean scan. Her physical health was restored, but an emotional chasm remained, unrecorded by clinical metrics. Yet beneath that silence was a quiet resilience—a strength that carried her through each cycle of treatment with a resolve as steady as any celebrated elsewhere. The regrowth of her hair prompted a conscious decision to trim it shorter, seemingly an assertion of autonomy. Her discourse on the illness shifted to the third person, suggesting a psychological distancing. Her reactions to inquiries about the terminated engagement were guarded. She would yield only a restrained smile, which intimated a multifaceted emotional response. Her remission was certain, yet the world she stepped back into was layered with quiet hurdles—social, cultural, and unseen—barriers far more intricate than the disease itself. Survivorship Without A Map In the weeks that followed Aarthi's diagnosis, I began to notice a quiet but consistent pattern in the oncology clinic—one that extended beyond medical recovery into the unspoken social aftermath. Among young, unmarried women in India, survivorship often came with a parallel challenge of navigating shifts in how they were perceived, particularly as marriage prospects. In Indian families where marital status is closely tied to stability and future security, a woman with a cancer history, even after complete remission, somehow came to be quietly perceived as less suitable. Proposals that had once moved forward with confidence were paused or reconsidered after disclosure. In some cases, financial discussions came with requests for additional support framed as reassurance rather than rejection. These changes were seldom explicit. Yet, across time, they pointed to a deeper uncertainty—about how survivorship fits into the expectations of traditional life scripts. For women like Aarthi, the narrative shifted toward caution. There were subtle inquiries about reproductive potential or disease recurrence and private deliberations over disclosure during matrimonial discussions, even within educated circles. Meanwhile, my observation of the disparity in how survivorship was interpreted across genders in our country left a profound mark on me. A 31-year-old male investment banker who had recovered from testicular cancer was hailed in local media as a testament to fortitude. Male patients seemed to gain social capital from their cancer journeys. This suggested a cultural framework where female value was quietly reassessed, influencing their post-treatment identity through unstated societal perceptions. Digital Ghosting and the New Untouchability Within the digital landscape of curated profiles and algorithmic matchmaking, the reassessment of female survivorship acquired a new dimension. In one instance, a sustained exchange of text messages ended abruptly following the mention of cancer remission. The final message remained unanswered. This form of silent disengagement—subtle, unspoken, and devoid of confrontation—highlighted how virtual spaces can compound post-treatment vulnerability. Designed to foster connection, these platforms sometimes amplified social distance, introducing a modern form of invisibility. Similar to employment status or religion, a cancer history has become another addition to a checklist used to evaluate compatibility. When Medicine Ends, but Society Does Not Begin As a medical student, I felt a growing discomfort. Our curriculum equips us to manage treatment protocols and survival metrics but rarely prepares us for the intangible burdens that persist after cure. What captures the weight of a canceled engagement? What framework supports the quiet reconstruction of identity after remission? Aarthi's path, echoed by many others, revealed a dissonance that medicine alone could not resolve. The challenge was not solely the illness but the reality that she was now unqualified to return to her normal life. Medicine delivers clean scans and structured follow-up, but social reintegration is less defined. In that space between biological recovery and social acceptance, cancer survivors often stand at the edge of wholeness—clinically well but navigating a quieter uncertainty. A Different Ending Two years later, Aarthi's journey took a quiet turn. At a spiritual retreat in Bengaluru, she met an ear, nose, and throat resident who had lost his father to lung cancer. Their connection, shaped by shared experiences, evolved into a partnership grounded in empathy and mutual respect. They married the following year. Their invitation carried a brief but powerful line: “Cancer Survivor. Love Thriver. Come celebrate both.” Today, they comanage a private hospital in Hyderabad. Aarthi leads psycho-oncology services, whereas her partner performs surgeries. He often notes that her presence brings a calm to the clinic that no medication can replicate. Aarthi's journey continues to guide me as I progress through my medical training, reminding me that cure and closure often follow separate paths. Healing, I have come to understand, extends beyond the clinic. It often unfolds in quieter spaces where scans no longer guide us. The real curriculum in oncology lies not only in staging and response rates but in recognizing the many transitions—social, emotional, and cultural—that survivors must navigate long after treatment has concluded. Social stigma is often a second metastasis—undetectable by imaging but present in tone, hesitation, and traditions that quietly redefine survivorship. For many women of marriageable age, treatment marks not the end of struggle but the start of another kind of uncertainty. These survivors carry wounds that do not bleed. Yet, they persist, navigate, and redefine strength on their own terms. Aarthi's quiet resilience became a point of reckoning for me, not as a medical case, but as a guide. Her story is not one of illness alone, but of dignity quietly reclaimed. “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”—Khalil Gibran. Mikkael Sekeres: Welcome back to JCO's Cancer Stories: The Art of Oncology. This ASCO podcast features intimate narratives and perspectives from authors exploring their experiences in oncology. I'm your host, Mikkael Sekeres. I'm professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Hematology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami. In oncology, we often focus on treatment and a way to find a cure. But what about the expectations and challenges a patient may face from their diagnosis, and even discrimination, especially in different cultures? Today, we're going to examine that space with Harshil Vangipuram, a medical student from India whose JCO Global Oncology article, "Whispers After the Cure: Reflections on Marriage and Malignancy in India," touches on this complexity after treatment. Harshil, thank you for contributing to JCO Global Oncology and for joining us to discuss your article. Harshil Vangipuram: Thank you for having me, Dr. Sekeres. I was raised by a family of oncologists, my mother being a senior medical oncologist and father a senior radiation oncologist. I had exposure to contrasting worlds, which were resource constrained and a cutting edge technology world. And I have unfulfilled curiosity, and I'm still learning, forming ideals. I also see patients as my teachers, so I think that might be helpful. Mikkael Sekeres: Thank you so much for a little bit of that background. So, tell us a little bit about your journey through life so far. Where were you born and where did you do your education? Harshil Vangipuram: I was born in a state called Gujarat in the western part of India. My father got transferred to the southern part of India, so I did my education there. That's it, yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: Okay. That's enough. You're not that old. You haven't had the sort of training and final job that a lot of us have gone through. So, what about your story as a writer? How did you first get interested in writing, and how long have you been writing reflective or narrative pieces? Harshil Vangipuram: I read some books from Indian authors and from foreign, too. And they actually inspired me how patient care was being seen around globally. I always used to carry a hand note. I used to write what I used to see in the clinical postings here at AIIMS. And actually, journaling started as a stress relief for me, and slowly, after hearing patients' stories, it almost became an obligation to write about them. Mikkael Sekeres: Obligation, you use that word, which is such an interesting one. How did writing become an obligation? What did you feel obliged to do when writing about some of the patients you were seeing for the first time? Harshil Vangipuram: Many of them were having struggles which were not seen by everybody. And I got astonished by their confidence and resilience in those situations. So, I thought that I should write about them so that everybody knows about it. And these social stigmas were never talked by anyone around them. So, I felt that if I could voice them, others might eventually know about them. So, that's pretty much the reason I wrote. Mikkael Sekeres: It's so interesting. The people we meet every single day, particularly in hematology oncology, bring such fascinating backgrounds to us, and they're backgrounds that may be unfamiliar to us. And I think that as doctors and writers, we do often feel obliged to tell their stories from the mountaintops, to let other people in on some of the aspects of life and medical care that they're going through and just how inspiring some of these patients can be. Harshil Vangipuram: Yeah, yeah, very true. Very true. Mikkael Sekeres: You mentioned that your mom is a medical oncologist. What kind of influence did she have on your decision to enter medicine and perhaps your own specialty one day? Harshil Vangipuram: Observing my mother practice influenced a lot, and she taught me that medicine is not only about treating a patient, but also listening to their problems. It may be more present in the room. The textbooks I read didn't capture live experiences. I always thought that stories will stay with people longer than actual survival curves. Writing filled that gap between what I studied and what I felt in the OPD. Mikkael Sekeres: It's a great phrase you just whipped out. Patients' stories will stay with us longer than survival curves. Can you tell us a little bit about where her clinic is located? You said in southern India. Can you describe the types of patients she sees? Harshil Vangipuram: It's a small town called Nellore in Andhra Pradesh state. The patients are, most of the time, from a rural population where decisions are mostly family-driven and there's a tight community surveillance and the stigmas are more overt, too. A few of them can be from urban population also, but they have subtler discriminations towards stigmas. Mikkael Sekeres: Can you explain a little further what you mean by decisions are often family-driven? Harshil Vangipuram: If we take marriage, it is often seen as an alliance between two families that are trying to increase their social value, their economic status, and respect in the society. In arranged marriages, for suppose, it's basically driven between these concepts. Mikkael Sekeres: I don't know if it's too personal to ask, but are your parents in an arranged marriage? Harshil Vangipuram: No, not at all. Mikkael Sekeres: So not all the marriages in the clinic are arranged marriages. Harshil Vangipuram: Yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: You know, when you said that decisions are family-driven, you mentioned that people are in arranged marriages. And I wanted to talk a little bit about the stigma you highlight in your essay. I'll talk about that in a second. I thought you were going to go down a route about medical decisions being family-driven, meaning people have to support their families, and getting medical care is costly and takes time away from work, and that sometimes influences decisions about treating cancer. What examples have you seen of that in shadowing your mom? Harshil Vangipuram: I have seen patients who have Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer, who were in the age of 25 to 35, who were getting married. Many of them actually got their engagements broken. And many of them got rejected at matrimonial apps. Many of them also had been told to increase the dowry that is given actually in the form of financial security. Mikkael Sekeres: In your essay, you describe a woman who is engaged and who has a new diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. Can you talk a little bit about the process of getting engaged and marrying in southern India? Harshil Vangipuram: We have the arranged marriage, love marriage, and hybrid, which is kind of arranged and kind of in love. Mostly, these problems really occur in arranged marriages. In love marriages, we don't see that that often because both are understanding about themselves and their families. And both families actually accept them both. Mikkael Sekeres: What's the process of going through an arranged marriage? What happens? Harshil Vangipuram: It can be through parents, relatives, or any known ones or through peers. We just find a man or woman who has a similar caste, who has a good financial income, and people who are respected by the society. And obviously, both the families should have aligned interests for them to accept the marriage. Mikkael Sekeres: About how often are marriages arranged and how often are they love marriages in southern India where you live? Harshil Vangipuram: Almost 90% of the marriages are arranged here. Mikkael Sekeres: Wow. So, your parents were unusual then for having a love marriage. Harshil Vangipuram: Yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: In your essay, you write, and I'm going to quote you now, "Among young, unmarried women in India, survivorship often came with a parallel challenge of navigating shifts in how they were perceived, particularly as marriage prospects. In Indian families where marital status is closely tied to stability and future security, a woman with a cancer history, even after complete remission, somehow came to be quietly perceived as less suitable." Wow, that's a really moving statement. I'm curious, what stories have you seen where, in your words, women became less suitable as a marriage prospect? Harshil Vangipuram: For women, the most important thing in a marriage is, what do you call, a family honor, fertility, and economic status in the community. So, after a long dose of chemo, many people think that people become infertile. In India, basically, we have many misconceptions and stigmas. So, people obviously think that people who have got cancer can spread it to their children or are infertile and are often excluded out of the society as a marriage prospect. Mikkael Sekeres: Gosh, that must be devastating. Harshil Vangipuram: Yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: Does the same occur for men? So, is it also true that if a man has cancer, that he is perceived as less fertile, or it may be perceived that he can pass the cancer on to children? Harshil Vangipuram: Here, after a man beats cancer, they start to celebrate it, like they have achieved something, and it's not like that for a woman. Mikkael Sekeres: In your essay, you do write about a happy ending for one woman. Can you tell us about that? Harshil Vangipuram: Yeah, a cancer survivor obviously met her true love of life in Bengaluru, who was an ENT resident then. And his father died from lung cancer. So obviously, he knew what it felt to beat cancer. Mikkael Sekeres: Yeah, he'd been through it himself. And the irony, of course, is that most cancer treatments that we give do not lead to infertility, so it's a complete misperception. Harshil Vangipuram: Yeah. Mikkael Sekeres: Tell us about your future. What are the next steps for you in your training and what do you hope to specialize in and practice? Harshil Vangipuram: Actually, I'm working on another paper which involves financial toxicity after treatment and post treatment depression. I think it would be completed in another year. And after that, after my med school is completed, I think I'm going to pursue oncology or hematology as my branch of interest. Mikkael Sekeres: Wonderful. It's thrilling to hear that somebody who is as sensitive to his patients and both their medical needs and their needs outside of medicine will be entering our field. It'll be great to know that you'll be taking care of our future patients. Harshil Vangipuram: The pleasure is all mine, sir. Mikkael Sekeres: Harshil Vangipuram, I want to thank you for choosing JCO Cancer Stories: The Art of Oncology and for submitting your great piece, "Whispers After the Cure: Reflections on Marriage and Malignancy in India" to JCO Global Oncology. To our listeners, if you've enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague or leave us a review. Your feedback and support helps us continue to have these important conversations. If you're looking for more episodes, follow our show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and explore more from ASCO at asco.org/podcasts. Until next time, this has been Mikkael Sekeres from the Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami. Have a good day. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Show notes:Like, share and subscribe so you never miss an episode and leave a rating or review. Guest Bio:Dr Vangipuram Harshil Sai is a fourth semester medical student at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Additional Reading Impact of Gender of the Child on Health Care–Seeking Behavior of Caregivers of Childhood Patients With Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study | JCO Global Oncology
Sriram Krishnan is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and former senior product leader at tech giants like Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter (now X), and Snap. Born in Chennai, India, he began his career at Microsoft before moving to Silicon Valley, where he contributed to product development at leading companies and later transitioned to venture capital as a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz from 2021 to 2024, focusing on consumer and enterprise investments. In December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump appointed him as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, tasked with advancing U.S. dominance in AI amid global competition. Krishnan co-hosted "The Aarthi and Sriram Show" podcast with his wife Aarthi Ramamurthy, interviewing tech leaders and exploring innovation topics. A prolific writer and speaker, he advocates for immigration reform to attract global talent, ethical AI development, and bridging technology with policy to foster economic growth. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://betterhelp.com/srs This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. https://bruntworkwear.com – USE CODE SRS https://calderalab.com/srs Use code SRS for 20% off your first order. https://meetfabric.com/shawn https://shawnlikesgold.com https://helixsleep.com/srs https://www.hulu.com/welcome https://ketone.com/srs Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order. https://moinkbox.com/srs https://patriotmobile.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/srs https://ROKA.com – USE CODE SRS https://ziprecruiter.com/srs Sriram Krishnan Links: X personal - https://x.com/sriramk X official - https://x.com/skrishnan47 Website - https://sriramk.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In an essay about her recent book Searches (Pantheon, 2025), a genre-bending chronicle of the deeply personal ways we use the internet and the uncanny ways it uses us, Vauhini Vara admits that several reviewers seemed to mistake her engagement with ChatGPT as an uncritical embrace of large language models. Enter Aarthi Vadde to talk with Vauhini about the power and the danger of digital tech and discuss to what it means to co-create with AI. Vauhini tells Aarthi and host Sarah Wasserman that at the heart of all her work is a desire to communicate—that “language,” as she says, “is the main tool we have to bridge the divide.” She explains that the motivation in Searches as in her journalism is to test out tools that promise new forms of communication—or even tools that promise to be able to communicate themselves. Amidst all her interest in new tech, Vauhini is first and foremost a writer: she and Aarthi discuss what it means to put ChatGPT on the printed page, what genre means in today's media ecosystem, and whether generative AI will steal writers' paychecks. Considering generative AI models as tools that “don't have a perspective,” makes for an episode that diagnoses the future of writing with much less doomsaying than authors and critics often bring to the topic. And if all of this writing with robots sounds too “out there,” stay tuned for Vauhini's down-to-earth answer to our signature question. Mentioned in this episode: Vauhini Vara, Searches (2025), The Immortal King Rao (2022), “My Decade in Google Searches” (2019) Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays (1580) Tom Comitta, The Nature Book (2023) Sheila Heti, Alphabetical Diaries (2024), “According to Alice” (2023) Audre Lorde, “The Master's Tools will never Dismantle the Master's House” (1979) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In an essay about her recent book Searches (Pantheon, 2025), a genre-bending chronicle of the deeply personal ways we use the internet and the uncanny ways it uses us, Vauhini Vara admits that several reviewers seemed to mistake her engagement with ChatGPT as an uncritical embrace of large language models. Enter Aarthi Vadde to talk with Vauhini about the power and the danger of digital tech and discuss to what it means to co-create with AI. Vauhini tells Aarthi and host Sarah Wasserman that at the heart of all her work is a desire to communicate—that “language,” as she says, “is the main tool we have to bridge the divide.” She explains that the motivation in Searches as in her journalism is to test out tools that promise new forms of communication—or even tools that promise to be able to communicate themselves. Amidst all her interest in new tech, Vauhini is first and foremost a writer: she and Aarthi discuss what it means to put ChatGPT on the printed page, what genre means in today's media ecosystem, and whether generative AI will steal writers' paychecks. Considering generative AI models as tools that “don't have a perspective,” makes for an episode that diagnoses the future of writing with much less doomsaying than authors and critics often bring to the topic. And if all of this writing with robots sounds too “out there,” stay tuned for Vauhini's down-to-earth answer to our signature question. Mentioned in this episode: Vauhini Vara, Searches (2025), The Immortal King Rao (2022), “My Decade in Google Searches” (2019) Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays (1580) Tom Comitta, The Nature Book (2023) Sheila Heti, Alphabetical Diaries (2024), “According to Alice” (2023) Audre Lorde, “The Master's Tools will never Dismantle the Master's House” (1979) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies
In an essay about her recent book Searches (Pantheon, 2025), a genre-bending chronicle of the deeply personal ways we use the internet and the uncanny ways it uses us, Vauhini Vara admits that several reviewers seemed to mistake her engagement with ChatGPT as an uncritical embrace of large language models. Enter Aarthi Vadde to talk with Vauhini about the power and the danger of digital tech and discuss to what it means to co-create with AI. Vauhini tells Aarthi and host Sarah Wasserman that at the heart of all her work is a desire to communicate—that “language,” as she says, “is the main tool we have to bridge the divide.” She explains that the motivation in Searches as in her journalism is to test out tools that promise new forms of communication—or even tools that promise to be able to communicate themselves. Amidst all her interest in new tech, Vauhini is first and foremost a writer: she and Aarthi discuss what it means to put ChatGPT on the printed page, what genre means in today's media ecosystem, and whether generative AI will steal writers' paychecks. Considering generative AI models as tools that “don't have a perspective,” makes for an episode that diagnoses the future of writing with much less doomsaying than authors and critics often bring to the topic. And if all of this writing with robots sounds too “out there,” stay tuned for Vauhini's down-to-earth answer to our signature question. Mentioned in this episode: Vauhini Vara, Searches (2025), The Immortal King Rao (2022), “My Decade in Google Searches” (2019) Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays (1580) Tom Comitta, The Nature Book (2023) Sheila Heti, Alphabetical Diaries (2024), “According to Alice” (2023) Audre Lorde, “The Master's Tools will never Dismantle the Master's House” (1979) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications
In an essay about her recent book Searches (Pantheon, 2025), a genre-bending chronicle of the deeply personal ways we use the internet and the uncanny ways it uses us, Vauhini Vara admits that several reviewers seemed to mistake her engagement with ChatGPT as an uncritical embrace of large language models. Enter Aarthi Vadde to talk with Vauhini about the power and the danger of digital tech and discuss to what it means to co-create with AI. Vauhini tells Aarthi and host Sarah Wasserman that at the heart of all her work is a desire to communicate—that “language,” as she says, “is the main tool we have to bridge the divide.” She explains that the motivation in Searches as in her journalism is to test out tools that promise new forms of communication—or even tools that promise to be able to communicate themselves. Amidst all her interest in new tech, Vauhini is first and foremost a writer: she and Aarthi discuss what it means to put ChatGPT on the printed page, what genre means in today's media ecosystem, and whether generative AI will steal writers' paychecks. Considering generative AI models as tools that “don't have a perspective,” makes for an episode that diagnoses the future of writing with much less doomsaying than authors and critics often bring to the topic. And if all of this writing with robots sounds too “out there,” stay tuned for Vauhini's down-to-earth answer to our signature question. Mentioned in this episode: Vauhini Vara, Searches (2025), The Immortal King Rao (2022), “My Decade in Google Searches” (2019) Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays (1580) Tom Comitta, The Nature Book (2023) Sheila Heti, Alphabetical Diaries (2024), “According to Alice” (2023) Audre Lorde, “The Master's Tools will never Dismantle the Master's House” (1979) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society
In this empowering and eye-opening episode of The Healthy Sleep Revolution, Dr. Meghna Dassani is joined by the passionate and insightful Dr. Aarthi Raghavan—a trailblazing dentist who is redefining what it means to provide whole-patient care. Together, they dive into the exciting innovations transforming the sleep and airway space, from cutting-edge tech to collaborative care models that center patient wellbeing. With warmth, wisdom, and real-world experience, Dr. Raghavan shares how her practice blends clinical excellence with education and empathy to improve sleep health, especially for those who often go undiagnosed. Whether you're a provider looking to stay ahead of the curve or someone curious about how to get better sleep, this episode is packed with practical tips and thought-provoking insights that will inspire you to take action. In this episode, you'll learn: The latest in sleep and airway tech: from wearables like the Oura Ring to sleep-tracking apps and direct-to-consumer tools Why sleep tech is best used as a screening and monitoring tool, not a replacement for diagnosis How technology is empowering both providers and patients to take control of their health The unique role dentists play in screening for sleep-disordered breathing The challenges (and breakthroughs) of collaborating with MDs in today's healthcare landscape How sharing bite-sized education—via email, social media, and team conversations—can spark life-changing awareness Dr. Raghavan's top 3 sleep hygiene tips everyone should follow “We spend a third of our lives sleeping. A sleep study should be as routine as blood work once you hit 35.” – Dr. Aarthi Raghavan This episode is a must-listen for clinicians, caregivers, and anyone who wants to better understand how innovation, collaboration, and patient empowerment are reshaping sleep care. Connect with Dr. Aarthi Raghavan Www.ddentalgroup.com Www.dupagesleepsolutions.com Instagram: @dupagedentalgroup Facebook: @dupagedentalgroup Instagram: @ad.ventures.of.a.sleepdentist Instagram@an_empath_s_diary_ About Meghna Dassani Dr. Meghna Dassani is passionate about promoting healthy sleep through dental practices. In following the ADA's 2017 guideline on sleep apnea screening and treatment, she has helped many children and adults improve their sleep, their breathing, and their lives. Her books and seminars help parents and practitioners understand the essential roles of the tongue, palate, and jaw in promoting healthy sleep. Connect with Dr. Meghna Dassani Website: https://www.meghnadassani.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthysleeprevolution Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthysleeprevolution/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Lh_n7xmbhQVPGQrSjBIrw Get a copy of Airway is Life: https://www.airwayislife.com
We kick off Season 9: TECH by talking with our very own Aarthi Vadde, the E. Blake Byrne Associate Professor of English at Duke University. Hosts and co-producers Chris Holmes and Emily Hyde ask Aarthi about the role of the novel in relation to the mass writing platforms that dominate our digital lives. Aarthi is at work on a book called We the Platform: Contemporary Literature after Web 2.0, and she explains how the novel can mark the invisible infrastructures of the internet, defamiliarize the “computational surround” of everyday life, and give us new angles on writing with and against bots. Join us to hear about the novelists and critics appearing in Season 9 of Novel Dialogue and to find out what Aarthi's students say when asked: "What would you never automate even if you could?" Mentions -Jennifer Egan: “Black Box” -Teju Cole: Small Fates, Tremor -Lauren Oyler: Fake Accounts -Stewart Home -Tom McCarthy: Satin Island -Yxta Maya Murray: Art Is Everything -Fred Benenson -Xu Bing: Book from the Ground -Rachel Cusk: Transit Naomi Alderman -R.F. Kuang: Yellowface -Sally Rooney: Beautiful World, Where Are You -Sheila Heti, “According to Alice” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
We kick off Season 9: TECH by talking with our very own Aarthi Vadde, the E. Blake Byrne Associate Professor of English at Duke University. Hosts and co-producers Chris Holmes and Emily Hyde ask Aarthi about the role of the novel in relation to the mass writing platforms that dominate our digital lives. Aarthi is at work on a book called We the Platform: Contemporary Literature after Web 2.0, and she explains how the novel can mark the invisible infrastructures of the internet, defamiliarize the “computational surround” of everyday life, and give us new angles on writing with and against bots. Join us to hear about the novelists and critics appearing in Season 9 of Novel Dialogue and to find out what Aarthi's students say when asked: "What would you never automate even if you could?" Mentions -Jennifer Egan: “Black Box” -Teju Cole: Small Fates, Tremor -Lauren Oyler: Fake Accounts -Stewart Home -Tom McCarthy: Satin Island -Yxta Maya Murray: Art Is Everything -Fred Benenson -Xu Bing: Book from the Ground -Rachel Cusk: Transit Naomi Alderman -R.F. Kuang: Yellowface -Sally Rooney: Beautiful World, Where Are You -Sheila Heti, “According to Alice” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies
We kick off Season 9: TECH by talking with our very own Aarthi Vadde, the E. Blake Byrne Associate Professor of English at Duke University. Hosts and co-producers Chris Holmes and Emily Hyde ask Aarthi about the role of the novel in relation to the mass writing platforms that dominate our digital lives. Aarthi is at work on a book called We the Platform: Contemporary Literature after Web 2.0, and she explains how the novel can mark the invisible infrastructures of the internet, defamiliarize the “computational surround” of everyday life, and give us new angles on writing with and against bots. Join us to hear about the novelists and critics appearing in Season 9 of Novel Dialogue and to find out what Aarthi's students say when asked: "What would you never automate even if you could?" Mentions -Jennifer Egan: “Black Box” -Teju Cole: Small Fates, Tremor -Lauren Oyler: Fake Accounts -Stewart Home -Tom McCarthy: Satin Island -Yxta Maya Murray: Art Is Everything -Fred Benenson -Xu Bing: Book from the Ground -Rachel Cusk: Transit Naomi Alderman -R.F. Kuang: Yellowface -Sally Rooney: Beautiful World, Where Are You -Sheila Heti, “According to Alice” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications
Chapters:0:00 Intro1:50 Gokul Rajaram on Google and what makes a great CEO14:30 Ishan Mukherjee on the State of LLMs22:23 Mark Pincus on how to come up with good ideas and build great products33:12 Anil Varanasi on how to spot great talent36:18 Rio Ferdinand on Leadership and Young Prodigies41:33 Hudzah on using Claude LLM to build products quickly47:29 Mike Maples on patterns for successful startups56:00 Career and life advice by Aarthi and Sriram1:06:55 Aravind Srinivas on Google's Larry Page being his favourite entrepreneur1:10:50 Bryan Johnson's 7 simple hacks to live longer Follow Sriram:https://www.instagram.com/sriramk/https://twitter.com/sriramkFollow Aarthi:https://www.instagram.com/aarthir/https://twitter.com/aarthirFollow the podcast:https://www.instagram.com/aarthiandsriramshow/https://twitter.com/aarthisrirampod
Imagine growing up between Sacramento, California and Logar, Afghanistan; you hear stories about war, watch coverage of the United States' War on Terror on television, and then visit your family in the very places that the U.S. army invaded and occupied. These experiences shape the work of novelist Jamil Jan Kochai, author of 99 Nights in Logar and The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories, which was a finalist for The National Book Award. Jamil joins Northwestern prof. Kalyan Nadiminti and host Aarthi Vadde for a wide-ranging conversation about narrative form and the cycles of war. We begin by discussing the second person, a technique Jamil uses throughout Hajji Hotak. He describes it as the most “dangerous perspective” for a fiction writer to take because it brings readers to the edge of the immersive world fiction is supposed to create. The second person in The Haunting of Hajji Hotak, from which Jamil reads, forces readers to grapple with our own complicity in the surveillance of Afghan families in the United States and to consider the paradoxical affection that develops between people on opposing sides of war. From there, Jamil, Kalyan, and Aarthi discuss the relationship between video games as mass media and the novel as literary form. Jamil is a huge fan of Final Fantasy 7 (who isn't?) and talks about how games like Call of Duty (a game he played more ambivalently) perform a recruitment function for the U.S. army. He rewrites that vision of war in more complex terms in his own story “Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain." Kalyan reflects on how the category of the post-9/11 writer intersects with the War on Terror, and the three of us consider the symbolic function of 9/11 in contemporary fiction written from inside and outside the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Imagine growing up between Sacramento, California and Logar, Afghanistan; you hear stories about war, watch coverage of the United States' War on Terror on television, and then visit your family in the very places that the U.S. army invaded and occupied. These experiences shape the work of novelist Jamil Jan Kochai, author of 99 Nights in Logar and The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories, which was a finalist for The National Book Award. Jamil joins Northwestern prof. Kalyan Nadiminti and host Aarthi Vadde for a wide-ranging conversation about narrative form and the cycles of war. We begin by discussing the second person, a technique Jamil uses throughout Hajji Hotak. He describes it as the most “dangerous perspective” for a fiction writer to take because it brings readers to the edge of the immersive world fiction is supposed to create. The second person in The Haunting of Hajji Hotak, from which Jamil reads, forces readers to grapple with our own complicity in the surveillance of Afghan families in the United States and to consider the paradoxical affection that develops between people on opposing sides of war. From there, Jamil, Kalyan, and Aarthi discuss the relationship between video games as mass media and the novel as literary form. Jamil is a huge fan of Final Fantasy 7 (who isn't?) and talks about how games like Call of Duty (a game he played more ambivalently) perform a recruitment function for the U.S. army. He rewrites that vision of war in more complex terms in his own story “Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain." Kalyan reflects on how the category of the post-9/11 writer intersects with the War on Terror, and the three of us consider the symbolic function of 9/11 in contemporary fiction written from inside and outside the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies
Imagine growing up between Sacramento, California and Logar, Afghanistan; you hear stories about war, watch coverage of the United States' War on Terror on television, and then visit your family in the very places that the U.S. army invaded and occupied. These experiences shape the work of novelist Jamil Jan Kochai, author of 99 Nights in Logar and The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories, which was a finalist for The National Book Award. Jamil joins Northwestern prof. Kalyan Nadiminti and host Aarthi Vadde for a wide-ranging conversation about narrative form and the cycles of war. We begin by discussing the second person, a technique Jamil uses throughout Hajji Hotak. He describes it as the most “dangerous perspective” for a fiction writer to take because it brings readers to the edge of the immersive world fiction is supposed to create. The second person in The Haunting of Hajji Hotak, from which Jamil reads, forces readers to grapple with our own complicity in the surveillance of Afghan families in the United States and to consider the paradoxical affection that develops between people on opposing sides of war. From there, Jamil, Kalyan, and Aarthi discuss the relationship between video games as mass media and the novel as literary form. Jamil is a huge fan of Final Fantasy 7 (who isn't?) and talks about how games like Call of Duty (a game he played more ambivalently) perform a recruitment function for the U.S. army. He rewrites that vision of war in more complex terms in his own story “Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain." Kalyan reflects on how the category of the post-9/11 writer intersects with the War on Terror, and the three of us consider the symbolic function of 9/11 in contemporary fiction written from inside and outside the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature
Some helpful linksMeter - https://www.meter.com/Meter command - https://command.meter.com/Link to Tyler's book on culture - https://www.amazon.com/Praise-Commercial-Culture-Tyler-Cowen/dp/0674001885Sam Hinkie - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Hinkie0:00 - Intro3:48 - Anil's early years and background5:23 - Unconventional parenting9:35 - Anil's journey to entrepreneurship12:30 - Sleeping in factories in China15:22 - China VS U.S.18:30 - Why Networks are so important21:35 - Why networking is still an unsolved problem24:10 - Is hardware too hard?26:11 - What does Meter do?37:17 - How does Meter work?41:08 - Future of enterprise software44:00 - Human interaction with AI models46:30 - Why Meter is building AI models50:50 - Spotting young talent54:00 - Anil's framework to find good talent57:30 - How Anil helped Dwarkesh Patel start his podcast1:02:00 - The “X factor” in Anil's investments1:02:00 - Raising the ambition bar1:06:55 - Escaping the competitive Indian dynamics1:08:38 - How cinema influences entrepreneurship1:17:25 - Why don't we know how planes fly1:19:20 - Lessons from Sam Hinkie1:21:04 - Kindness as an operating principle1:22:10 - Why hasn't Anil had a more public brand?1:24:03 - US Immigration1:28:00 - Aarthi, Sriram and Anil show?1:30:44 - Best Indian restaurant in London1:32:50 - Has sneaker culture peaked?1:34:25 - Why don't wealthy people build monuments anymore?1:38:04 - London's rich history1:40:30 - Why does Sriram have sriramk.eth?1:42:00 - Should all startups go direct on comms?1:47:07 - Are Aarthi and Sriram “too online”?1:49:10 - Sriram's Silicon Valley groupchats1:49:46 - Will Aarthi and Sriram move back to India?1:48:12 - Aarthi and Sriram's failures in tech1:53:55 - Netflix's 3D and streaming software1:58:18 - Popfly1:59:55 - Microsoft success under Satya2:02:00 - On tech execs2:03:10 - Nonfiction book that Aarthi and Sriram would write2:06:27 - Aarthi and Sriram's favorite Indian movie before 20002:09:48 - The End Follow Sriram:https://www.instagram.com/sriramk/https://twitter.com/sriramkFollow Aarthi:https://www.instagram.com/aarthir/https://twitter.com/aarthirFollow the podcast:https://www.instagram.com/aarthiandsriramshow/https://twitter.com/aarthisrirampod
0:00 - Intro1:10 - Meet Gokul Rajaram, on the Mount Rushmore of Silicon Valley2:19 - Gokul's relationship with Aarthi and Sriram4:00 - What is Founder Mode? And Zuck's Micromanagement6:33 - Founder Mode Vs Management Mode8:26 - Why Gokul disagrees with Paul Graham10:56 - Learnings from Google's Larry and Sergey15:58 - What were early days at Google like?18:58 - What makes a great CEO?20: 42 - How to engage with high performing executives25:45 - Why Gokul left Google to launch his own startup28:53 - Chamath's Acquisition offer31:30 - Fundraising advice for founders34:13 - Gokul's HOT take on AI startups38:10 - The evolving consumer apps landscape40:55 - Career Advice for young people48:00 - When is the right time to start a company?52:17 - Why titles don't matter1:01: 45 - Why Gokul left Facebook to join Square1:06:46 - Regret Minimization Framework1:07:28 - Gokul's Best Bet - Doordash1:13:18 - Doordash's secret hiring process1:16:11 - Sriram's favorite interview question1:17:30 - Gokul's advice for first time founders1:20:10 - Final Thoughts Follow Sriram:https://www.instagram.com/sriramk/https://twitter.com/sriramkFollow Aarthi:https://www.instagram.com/aarthir/https://twitter.com/aarthirFollow the podcast:https://www.instagram.com/aarthiandsriramshow/https://twitter.com/aarthisrirampod
Rio Ferdinand is a football legend who spent over a decade playing for Manchester United and was a cornerstone of the England national team. With six Premier League titles, two League Cups, and a UEFA Champions League trophy under his belt, Rio is no stranger to the highs and pressures of elite football. He joined Sriram and Aarthi for a deep dive into the trials and tribulations of a career in competitive sports, the mental and physical demands of playing for one of the world's most prestigious clubs, and the new wave of young athletes rising to stardom. From his experiences with legends like Sir Alex Ferguson to his thoughts on modern football, Rio shares what it takes to truly be the greatest, not just in sports, but in life.Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(2:03) The English experience during the Euros(3:21) What's it going to take for England to bring it home(7:19) Jude Bellingham is different (9:23) What separates young prodigies that make it vs. those that don't(12:01) The all-timers are not normal(15:17) Underdog mentality and fighting for recognition (17:13) Handling the pressure of playing for Man Utd(19:18) Rio rewatches the 2008 UCL Final(21:06) Rio learned this while playing for Sir Alex (21:38) How Sir Alex managed the egos of the best players(28:17) A great team needs experienced players(30:43) Mbappe's challenge ingraining to Real Madrid (34:06) Parallels between sports and tech(38:06) Tech CEOs and founders are receptive to Rio's opinions(40:39) Clubs still need to improve how to connect with fans(41:23) Ted Lasso and Rio's new show(42:10) Ronaldo smashes YouTube records(42:48) Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham are modeling the way for football clubs(48:17) Changing the conversation around mental health in sports(54:52) Rio's penalty-taking strategies (57:40) How Rio would fix Man Utd (59:33) Biggest lesson from running a restaurant (1:00:47) Rio defends ballet (1:01:59) Meeting a young Drake at Old TraffordOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Kyla Scanlon is an economic commentator who joins Sriram and Aarthi to discuss the disconnect between the economy and consumer sentiment. Kyla is also the author of her brand new book 'In This Economy' which reveals the hidden forces driving key economic outcomes, the most common myths to steer clear of, and the dusty, outdated assumptions that constrain our political imagination, offering a bold new path to building a prosperous society that works for everyone. Show Notes:(0:00) Intro(2:14) How would Kyla fix the U.S. economy?(4:05) Why home ownership might NOT be the best way to build wealth (10:26) Leadership gap left by Steve Jobs at major tech companies(13:11) Why Kyla wrote a book(17:33) What people get wrong about Gen Z(22:55) The difficulties of measuring the economy (27:55) Living in a post-truth society(30:03) The end of monoculture(34:00) Kyla's video-creation strategy (35:33) Current state of social media platforms(38:44) Kyla's bold 2024 predictionOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 76 - How To Fix Legal Immigration In AmericaEP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Aarthi and Sriram's Good Time Show ✓ Claim Show Notes:(0:00) Audio issue (0:51) Introduction (3:40) Deals are long-term relationships(6:02) Facebook-WhatsApp acquisition story(12:04) The most important part of deal-making(16:44) Don't come off as desperate (19:35) Maintaining momentum during a deal(25:53) Know everything about the person you're dealing with (33:37) How we closed our London home (37:54) Mistakes we often see (44:40) Managing emotions while deal-making (50:19) What to do if the deal falls throughOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 76 - How To Fix Legal Immigration In AmericaEP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Aarthi and Sriram's Good Time Show ✓ Claim Show Notes:(0:00) Audio issue (0:51) Introduction (3:40) Deals are long-term relationships(6:02) Facebook-WhatsApp acquisition story(12:04) The most important part of deal-making(16:44) Don't come off as desperate (19:35) Maintaining momentum during a deal(25:53) Know everything about the person you're dealing with (33:37) How we closed our London home (37:54) Mistakes we often see (44:40) Managing emotions while deal-making (50:19) What to do if the deal falls throughOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 76 - How To Fix Legal Immigration In AmericaEP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Show Notes:(0:00) Audio issue (0:51) Introduction (3:40) Deals are long-term relationships(6:02) Facebook-WhatsApp acquisition story(12:04) The most important part of deal-making(16:44) Don't come off as desperate (19:35) Maintaining momentum during a deal(25:53) Know everything about the person you're dealing with (33:37) How we closed our London home (37:54) Mistakes we often see (44:40) Managing emotions while deal-making (50:19) What to do if the deal falls throughOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 76 - How To Fix Legal Immigration In AmericaEP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Show notes:(0:00) Intro(0:56) Prioritize hiring yourself(5:37) Always keep looking for talent (8:10) Align incentives with your hire (15:05) How to find the best hires(19:15) How to run a good loop(29:51) Reference checks are underrated(37:25) How to close the hire(45:45) ConclusionOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 76 - How To Fix Legal Immigration In AmericaEP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
We continue our conversation with Aarthi and Arvin from House Of Oracles, who are well experienced in Oracle Reading. They share their experiences, misconceptions and also dive into a little sharing session on growing up in an Indian household! Enjoy the episode! ========== Thank you for watching our video! If you enjoyed what you saw and want to stay connected with us, be sure to follow us on our social media platforms. Stay up-to-date with our latest content, behind-the-scenes moments, and exciting updates by following us on: ▶️Youtube
This episode, the hosts sit down with Aarthi and Arvin from House Of Oracles, who are well experienced in Oracle Reading. They share their experiences, misconceptions and also dive into a little sharing session on growing up in an Indian household! Enjoy the episode! ========== Thank you for watching our video! If you enjoyed what you saw and want to stay connected with us, be sure to follow us on our social media platforms. Stay up-to-date with our latest content, behind-the-scenes moments, and exciting updates by following us on: ▶️Youtube
Sriram and Aarthi break down popular audience questions about jobs, work-life balance, and more.Show notes:(0:00) Intro (2:21) Advice for our younger selves(13:20) Betting on yourself (23:19) Benefits of taking more shots(28:59) Work-life balance(33:32) Aarthi's hot take(35:45) Time to switch jobs?(47:21) Our unpopular opinionsOther episodes you might enjoy:EP 76 - How To Fix Legal Immigration In AmericaEP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Sriram and Aarthi respond to your reaction to the immigration episode.Show notes:(0:00) We're on a billboard(2:38) Our podcast journey(4:39) Response to our skilled immigration episode(11:07) Core issues hindering skilled immigration(23:07) Remembering our immigration process(29:01) Recapping WrestleMania 40(49:21) Mark Zuckerberg's personal rebrand(54:00) Meta releases Llama 3Other episodes you might enjoy:EP 76 - How To Fix Legal Immigration In AmericaEP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Sriram Krishnan is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz where he invests in crypto and currently heads up the UK offices of a16z crypto. He works closely with Farcaster, Story Protocol, Kindred. Prior to joining a16z, Sriram led product and engineering teams at X, Meta and Snap. Sriram started his career at Microsoft as a founding member of Windows Azure. He was also previously a personal investor in several prominent tech companies. Sriram writes actively at @sriramk on Twitter and at sriramk.com. He co-hosts “The Aarthi and Sriram Show”, a leading podcast on tech and business. Stay connected with Sriram: https://sriramk.com/ Follow Sriram on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sriramk Follow Sriram on X: https://twitter.com/sriramk Subscribe to the newsletter: https://www.aarthiandsriram.com/ Learn more about a16z: https://a16z.com/author/sriram-krishnan/ Follow Casey Adams on Instagram: https://instagram.com/casey Learn more about www.Listener.com SUBSCRIBE ON THE APPLE PODCAST APP: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-casey-adams-show/id1328795944
Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, we're launching a miniseries of the ESG Insider podcast looking at plastic. We'll explore how plastic impacts human health and the environment, how companies and investors are approaching the topic, and what to expect from international plastic treaty negotiations starting April 23. In today's episode, we hear about the health and environmental impacts of plastics from Dr. Philip Landrigan, Director of the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College. He was lead author of a major scientific study the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health published in 2023. We hear why recycling is only part of the solution to plastic pollution in an interview with Richard Wielechowski, Senior Investment Analyst in the Textiles Programme at Planet Tracker, a nonprofit think tank focused on sustainable finance. And we hear how plastics are affecting oceans and contributing to climate change from Aarthi Ananthanarayanan, Director of the Climate and Plastics Initiative at Ocean Conservancy, an environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. She calls for a broad rethink of the approach to the plastic challenge. "We have to see it as an opportunity. We've done a lot of that work in the climate space already, but we haven't included plastics in the conversation yet," Aarthi says. "When we can break our minds out of the idea that we're on this inevitable trajectory with plastics, and instead we're planning for a future where what's good for investors is also good for our climate and our health and our ocean — there's a different range of goals and commitments you make, there's a different type of innovation that you have to be thinking about." This piece was published by S&P Global Sustainable1, a part of S&P Global. Copyright ©2024 by S&P Global DISCLAIMER By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, S&P GLOBAL does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The third party materials or content of any third party site referenced in this Podcast do not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of S&P GLOBAL. S&P GLOBAL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. Moreover, S&P GLOBAL makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.
Debarghya 'Deedy' Das is an investor and he joins Aarthi and Sriram to break down the hurdles of immigration in America for skilled workers. Show notes:(0:00) Intro(8:08) Immigration routes to the United States (12:52) Cap for Chinese and Indian immigrants (15:30) Aarthi and Sriram's green card story(17:48) Why should US citizens care about skilled immigration?(22:31) Challenges legal immigrants face(30:16) Aarthi and Sriram's US citizenship ceremony (32:52) Solving the issue of skilled immigration(40:06) Per-country cap controversy (41:47) Immigrating to Canada or the UK instead of the US(48:43) The politics of immigration(51:52) Overlooked advantages of working for a US-based company (57:07) Options for immigrant founders and non-founders(1:06:48) Changing immigration policies—Other episodes you might enjoy:EP 74 - How To Fix Google's WOKE AI DisasterEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Sriram and Aarthi talk about Google's Gemini disaster after viral 'woke' photos surface. Show notes:(0:00) Welcome to the new studio!(4:13) Our best AI episodes(10:23) Google Gemini's launch controversy(17:15) How can Google fix Gemini? (20:55) What Gemini gets right(26:11) The rise of Groq(35:37) NVIDIA and Jenson Huang are on top of the world(42:14) Is Sora going to replace Hollywood?—Other episodes you might enjoy:EP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA
Sriram and Aarthi are joined by Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, an AI conversational engine that answers users' questions with sources and citations. Show notes:(0:00) Introduction (4:44) Aravind's background(10:05) Getting hired at OpenAI(13:30) DeepMind vs. OpenAI (22:57) Cultivating Perplexity AI's culture (28:24) Why Aravind avoids meetings(32:30) Why Larry Page is Aravind's favorite entrepreneur (36:30) Career advice for students(42:23) Why Perplexity AI won't become commoditized (47:00) How Perplexity AI views distribution (49:47) Competing with tech giants for top talent(53:22) Seeking truth—Other episodes you might enjoy:EP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCs
On today's episode of the GaryVee Audio Experience Im sharing a conversation I had with Sriram & Aarthi. We talked about what it takes to be a good online creator, the power of creating content that is contextualized, advice to young people, and why I think some of the biggest influencers today have found success in what they do. Enjoy! THINGS I TALK ABOUT: My Journey and Content Creation Contextual Content Creation Advice to Young People and Accountability Social Media and Youth Work Ethic and Opportunity Career Advice for Young Adults The Future of Influencers and Entrepreneurs --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/garyvee/message
Sriram and Aarthi are joined by longevity advocate and Project Blueprint founder Bryan Johnson._Show notes:(0:00) Intro(6:20) Bryan's origin story(14:43) The idea that changed Bryan's life(20:34) Bryan's power laws to live longer(31:07) Improving willpower naturally (33:59) Responding to online criticism (37:31) Creating the Don't Die movement(46:50) Bryan's blueprint explained (50:20) The future of gene therapy (53:28) Bryan's physical appearance (56:00) Call to action to the human race—Other episodes you might enjoy:EP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCs
Creator of Ruby on Rails, Co-owner & CTO of 37signals (Basecamp & HEY) David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH) joins Sriram and Aarthi._Show notes:(0:00) Intro(5:07) Why Sriram used to hate DHH(13:09) Why DHH avoided VC money(17:54) Demystify wealth online(23:08) DHH's issues with woke culture(38:15) Craft and beauty(45:51) Learnings from racing cars(54:37) DHH's work setup(55:51) Le Mans and racing(1:02:45) Apple's mistake could mirror Google and Microsoft(1:09:00) The Denmark fairytale—Other episodes you might enjoy:Bonus: Marc Andreessen's Advice For Founders And StartupsEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCs
Aarthi Ramamurthy breaks down her secret to be confident at work and overcome hurdles._Show notes:(0:00) How to build confidence (3:20) Do the work!(7:00) Build relationships (11:56) Ignore the haters (13:20) Imposter syndrome(18:00) Summary —Other episodes you might enjoy:Bonus: Marc Andreessen's Advice For Founders And StartupsEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCs
Sriram and Aarthi review their 2023 hits, podcasting for a year, and moving across the pond._Show notes:(0:00) Intro(2:27) Podcast growth (6:51) Are we creators now? (14:41) Favorite episodes of 2023(35:19) Moving to London(49:11) Best movies of 2023(1:01:46) Best books of 2023(1:09:23) Year in tech (1:15:38) Looking ahead to 2024—Other episodes you might enjoy:Bonus: Marc Andreessen's Advice For Founders And StartupsEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCs
A year-end compilation of some of the best nuggets on all things AI from the Aarthi and Sriram Show._Show notes:(00:00) The state of AI's progress ft. Alex Wang(02:00) Advice for AI founders ft. Marc Andreessen(03:00) Ethics of AI ft. Emad Mostaque(06:10) Society's model of computing ft. Steven Sinofsky(07:50) How smart Can AI Get? ft. Marc Andreessen(08:55) What if AI takes 'control'? ft. Stephen Wolfram(11:08) AI in the Metaverse ft. Emad Mostaque(13:26) What if AI goes rogue? ft. Marc Andreessen—Other episodes you might enjoy:Bonus: Marc Andreessen's Advice For Founders And StartupsEP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCs
Sriram and Aarthi break down the gameplay for new and young leaders ___ Show notes (0:00) Intro (4:40) How to be a new leader (9:50) The first thing you should do (17:24) Document everything (18:33) Pitfalls to avoid (21:21) Make obvious changes quickly (26:57) Setting the tone and culture (32:59) Don't forget to use the product (35:21) Talk to customers early on (38:31) Presenting your plan (39:54) Find your first win — Other episodes you might enjoy: EP 65 - How To Pitch (The Investor's Perspective) EP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon Valley EP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech Industry EP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBA EP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCs EP 49 - How To Be A Venture Capitalist, Explained
Sriram and Aarthi break down the secrets behind angel investing._Show notes:(0:00) Intro(3:39) Why should you get into angel investing(14:38) How do you get started in angel investing(21:09) Sriram's pro-tip!(22:10) Pitching yourself to the founder(26:10) Building reputation as an angel(29:50) Signs of a good angel investor(34:52) Signs of a bad angel investor(39:09) What is a good angel investment?(50:15) How to know if it's working for you?(54:40) How Sriram goes the extra yard(56:22) Aarthi's edge as a founder-investor(58:52) Thanks for listening!—Other episodes you might enjoy:EP 65 - How To Pitch (The Investor's Perspective)EP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCsEP 49 - How To Be A Venture Capitalist, Explained
Sriram Krishnan and Aarthi Ramamurthy dissect the mystery of the ideal pitch from an investor's point of view. Don't miss out on the upcoming episode where they delve deeper into the art of pitching, exploring it from the founder's perspective.—Show Notes: (0:00) Intro(4:19) What is a good pitch?(5:04) People who don't need to pitch(7:47) Big takeaway about pitching(9:17) Aarthi's experience working with Netflix's Reed Hastings(11:22) VC perspective on pitching(15:17) Founder perspective on pitching(18:24) Dangers of bringing too many people to a fundraising meeting(21:39) Aarthi and Sriram disagree on pitching(26:25) Right and wrong way to show power as a founder (30:04) Important things to get across in a pitch(35:01) Bringing up competition when pitching (37:17) Aarthi's mistake while fundraising(39:48) Talking about your startup team(42:07) How VC's test founders during a pitch(43:30) Knowing who you're pitching ahead of time(47:50) Pitching process broken down(55:10) Dealing with rejection(1:03:47) Difficulties of being a founder — Other episodes you might enjoy: EP 63 - Lessons From Networking In Silicon ValleyEP 61 - The Reality of Raising Kids in the Tech IndustryEP 59 - Why We Moved to London, The Elon Musk Book, Should You Get An MBAEP 55 - When To Quit Your Job: Advice From Silicon Valley VCsEP 49 - How To Be A Venture Capitalist, Explained
Sriram and Aarthi break down how to actually benefit from networking in your career.
Paul Adams is the longtime chief product officer at Intercom, where he leads the product management, product design, data science, and research teams. Before Intercom, Paul was the global head of brand design at Facebook, a senior user researcher at Google, and a product designer at Dyson. He's also a best-selling author, a podcast host, and a public speaker. In today's episode, we discuss:• Practical advice on integrating AI into your organization• Tips and tools for learning AI as a PM• Hilarious stories from Google and Facebook• How to build conviction with skeptical coworkers• Lessons learned from pricing at Intercom• How Intercom implemented JTBD—Brought to you by Eppo—Run reliable, impactful experiments | Hex—Helping teams ask and answer data questions by working together | HelpBar by Chameleon—The free in-app universal search solution built for SaaS—Find the full transcript at: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/what-ai-means-for-your-product-strategy-paul-adams-cpo-of-intercom/—Where to find Paul Adams:• X: https://twitter.com/Padday• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauladams/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Paul's background(04:09) Freezing onstage in front of 8,000 people(07:28) Insights from Google+ days(12:31) Learning from failure(13:56) Intercom's “ship fast, ship early, ship often” principle(15:17) Integrating AI into product strategy(17:31) Making time for AI learning(19:37) AI in new-product development(21:16) Questions to ask about your product(23:33) How Intercom pivoted after the release of ChatGPT(25:13) Intercom's AI chatbot, Fin (26:45) The early impact of AI adoption at Intercom(28:53) Mind-blowing capabilities of AI(34:27) How to structure teams around AI products(37:57) Why all teams should be involved in AI(39:04) Staying up to date on emerging technology(42:44) Hurdles implementing AI at Intercom(45:52) Building conviction around AI(49:52) Why you shouldn't fear AI(50:56) Paul's “before-after” framework(51:54) Pricing lessons from Intercom(54:54) Paul's “differentiation vs. table stakes” framework(59:22) What “swinging the pendulum” means and examples from Intercom(1:05:21) Paul's “product market story fit” framework(1:08:23) His take on JTBD(1:11:01) How Intercom uses the “four forces” framework(1:12:54) Lightning round—Referenced:• Intercom: https://www.intercom.com/• The New ChatGPT Can “See” and “Talk.” Here's What It's Like: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/technology/new-chatgpt-can-see-hear.html• Fergal Reid on X: https://twitter.com/fergal_reid• Intercom's AI chatbot, Fin: https://www.intercom.com/drlp/fin• Mark Zuckerberg: First Interview in the Metaverse | Lex Fridman Podcast #398: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVYrJJNdrEg• Black Mirror “Joan Is Awful” episode: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20247352/• Mission: Impossible on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Impossible-Tom-Cruise/dp/B000X4IRE4• Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/• Claude: https://claude.ai/• Matt Rickard's newsletter: https://substack.com/@mattrickard• OpenAI's blog: https://openai.com/blog• The Rundown AI newsletter: https://www.therundown.ai/• Exponential View newsletter: https://www.exponentialview.co/• Google Bard: https://bard.google.com/• Rewind: https://www.rewind.ai/• The Three Horizons Framework: https://medium.com/fact-of-the-day-1/the-three-horizons-framework-9d7ac0fbea21• Sam Altman on X: https://twitter.com/sama• Tableau: https://www.tableau.com/• Kano model: https://www.productplan.com/glossary/kano-model/• The ultimate guide to JTBD | Bob Moesta (co-creator of the framework): https://www.lennyspodcast.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-jtbd-bob-moesta-co-creator-of-the-framework/• Hot takes and techno-optimism from tech's top power couple | Sriram and Aarthi: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/hot-takes-and-techno-optimism-from-techs-top-power-couple-sriram-and-aarthi/• Outcome-Driven Innovation: JTBD Theory in Practice: https://jobs-to-be-done.com/outcome-driven-innovation-odi-is-jobs-to-be-done-theory-in-practice-2944c6ebc40e• The Four Forces Framework: https://thefourforces.com/four-forces-framework/• It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want to Be: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-How-Good-Want/dp/0714843377/• Principles: Life and Work: https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Life-Work-Ray-Dalio/dp/1501124021• The Bear on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/series/the-bear-05eb6a8e-90ed-4947-8c0b-e6536cbddd5f• “Terry (Olivia Colman) and Richie peel mushrooms” scene from The Bear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7D8THR_osU• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change: https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519• Guinness: https://www.guinness.com/—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe
Sriram and Aarthi open up about balancing parenthood while working in tech. One of the most common questions Sriram and Aarthi get is “How do you folks handle parenting and your work/schedule/life”. They had resisted for years as they felt everyone's situation and choices were unique. However, they recently got convinced that this could be useful to listeners.
We had the great David Goyer on to talk about all things Foundation, how he reinvented superhero movies with Batman, his writing process, and much more! Ask anyone about the greatest movies of the last 20 years and the Dark Knight Trilogy will be up there near the top. David Goyer has lived out every nerd's fantasy and has had a hand in creating some of the most iconic movies and TV shows - the Dark Knight series, Man of Steel, Batman vs Superman among many others. His latest effort is the TV form of what may be the holiest book in sci-fi - Asimov's Foundation. Aarthi and I love the show and we had a blast talking to David about the new season, working with Nolan and much more.
In this episode, we dive deep into his latest piece on 'Why AI Will Save the World'. We get into the piece and some of the critiques and really go all out.
Is it time for you to look for your next job? Should you haggle over your salary? How should you network while being busy with your current job? Having worked in the tech industry for over a decade and a half, Sriram and Aarthi are here to help you with your job hunt.
Get ready to be amazed by Zarna Garg, the Indian mom who's taking the comedy scene by storm! Ever wondered how she went from running the household to opening for Tina Fey? Well, wonder no more, because she's spilling all the hilarious details on the Sriram and Aarthi show.
Surprise! Peloton On Tour is coming to L.A. You can now change the icon color on the Peloton app. Peloton paid more for music and TikTok. Paddle looks at Peloton's pricing. Huge new Peloton perk for Chase Sapphire members. Helper Bee
Subscribe to The Realignment to access our exclusive Q&A episodes and support the show: https://realignment.supercast.com/.The Good Time Show YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AarthiAndSriram/featuredREALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/PURCHASE BOOKS AT OUR BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail us at: realignmentpod@gmail.comAarthi Ramamurthy and Sriram Krishnan, investors and hosts of The Good Time Show, join Saagar and Marshall on The Realignment to discuss all things tech and Silicon Valley. They cover the implications of ChatGPT and the rise of AI, their critiques of mainstream media's tech coverage, where crypto goes from the crash, the future of social media, and more...
Today's episode of the GaryVee Audio Experience is a podcast I did recently called "Aarthi and Sriram's Good Time Show". We discussed the difference between my content now versus 10 years ago, why I make creative content that's contextual, why I don't need to convince anyone, how you can get comfortable with yourself, advice on accountability, my view on a "life well lived" and much more! Enjoy! Let me know what you thought! Check Out or Host/Guest: YouTube: Aarthi and Sriram's Good Time Show IG: @aarrhir and @sriramk Check out my new NFT project: veefriends.com Join the VeeFriends Discord: https://discord.gg/veefriends Tweet Me! @garyvee Text Me! 212-931-5731 My Newsletter: garyvee.com/newsletter
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