Mint Podcast

Partnered: In this powerful and deeply introspective podcast episode, we sit down with Shekhar Natarajan, Founder and CEO of Orchestro.AI, a business technologist with over 207 patents, decades of leadership across global Fortune 500 companies like Walmart, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Disney, and a radically different philosophy on how artificial intelligence should be built, deployed, and governed.Shekhar’s mornings begin at 4 a.m., not with emails, investor decks, or lines of code, but with classical Indian Tanjore painting, patiently layering gold leaf onto canvas, one meticulous step at a time. It is an unusual ritual for someone building cutting-edge AI systems, but for Shekhar, this discipline is not a contradiction. It is a reminder that meaningful creation, whether art or technology, demands patience, intention, and restraint.This episode goes far beyond surface-level conversations around “ethical AI” or “responsible innovation.” Shekhar introduces a compelling concept he calls Angelic Intelligence, which refers to systems designed not just to avoid harm, but to actively do good. In a world where speed, scale, and efficiency are rewarded above all else, he challenges listeners to ask a more uncomfortable question: What happens when machines optimise faster than humans can reflect on the consequences?Drawing from a life shaped by poverty, immigration, corporate power, and personal loss, Shekhar reflects candidly on the true cost of success. He speaks openly about building technologies that increased efficiency while eliminating thousands of jobs, and the moral reckoning that followed. In chasing optimisation, he realised, humanity often becomes an afterthought. These experiences eventually pushed him to walk away from conventional corporate success and build something fundamentally different.The discussion also addresses one of the most uncomfortable questions facing technologists today: What if profit-first AI wins? What if systems built purely for speed and efficiency outcompete value-driven models? Shekhar’s response is neither naive optimism nor philosophical detachment. Instead, he speaks about building structures, like ownership models, incentives, and governance frameworks, that protect values even within a capitalist system. His belief is clear: capital may own companies, but it should never own values.As the episode unfolds, listeners are invited to reconsider what “ethical AI” really means. According to Shekhar, avoiding harm is not the same as doing good. Ethical AI may stop damage, but Angelic Intelligence aims to amplify human goodness, like empathy, fairness, dignity, and compassion, especially for those who are invisible to systems optimised only for efficiency.Follow Shekhar Natarajan on social media to learn more about him and his take on today’s tech world:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shekharnatarajanofficialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shekharnatarajanofficial/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tomorrowtodayshowbysrn #ShekharNatarajan#OrchestroAI#AILeadership#EthicalAI#AngelicIntelligence#FutureOfAI#HumanCentricAI#TechLeadership#AIPhilosophy#StartupFounders#Fortune500#PodcastInterview#IndianLeaders#PurposeDrivenTech

Indian roads may soon get a major safety upgrade. The government plans to mandate Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology by 2026, allowing cars to “talk” to each other in real time to warn drivers of collision risks. Announced by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the system works without internet, using onboard units that exchange safety signals between nearby vehicles. Designed to tackle some of India’s deadliest crash scenarios—rear-end collisions, fog-related pile-ups and blind-spot accidents—V2V could cut road accidents by up to 50% if deployed effectively. Watch to know more!Mint is an Indian financial daily newspaper published by HT Media. The Mint YT Channel brings you cutting-edge analysis of the latest business news and financial news. With in-depth market coverage, explainers and expert opinions, we break down and simplify business news for you.

Donald Trump’s stunning operation to capture Nicolás Maduro has put Venezuela at the centre of a global storm. In this video, we break down why the US moved, what it means for oil, China, Russia and Latin America, and whether this is the next Iraq or another Panama. In this podcast, Abhishek Singh, Deputy Editor, Livemint talks to Maria Alejandra Aristeguieta-Alvarez, a Venezuelan diplomat who has served as interim President Juan Guaidó’s representative to the Swiss Confederation and to United Nations–related international organisations in Geneva. She is also a member of the opposition’s international political council, a group of 17 leading international policy experts led by Machado and the 2024 election’s winning presidential candidate, Edmundo González.#maduro #maduroarrested #madurocrisis #madurocapture #donaldtrump #donaldtrumpnews #greenland #greenlandcrisis

The Enforcement Directorate is carrying out raids against a private company called I-PAC; they are known for helping political parties map out their strategies. This clearly hasn't gone down well with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who's been targeting the Home Minister while her MPs have been protesting outside his residence. But why exactly is the party so concerned? Watch. #ipac #westbengal #election

India has been a major player in the global leather trade for decades. What India has not produced, however, is a comparable presence at the brand level, particularly in high-end men’s shoes.This because, for decades, India’s leather industry has been built around contract manufacturing, with design and branding sitting outside the country. The model delivered scale, but produced very few premium shoe brands.Bridlen is one of the exceptions. But can they crack luxury in India? Watch. #chennai #luxury #brand

[Partnered] From January 2026, exporting carbon-intensive goods to the European Union will fundamentally change. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) moves from reporting to mandatory taxation, CBAM certificate pricing, data verification, and customs enforcement—and the consequences of non-compliance could include blocked shipments, penalties, CBAM tax and loss of EU buyers.In this in-depth podcast with Climate Journalist Shubham Thakur, Cleancarbon.ai’s Founder and CBAM Expert Mr Nilesh Bhattad breaks down what CBAM really means for Indian & Asian exporters, EU importers, manufacturers, compliance teams, and sustainability leaders.#CBAM #EUCBAM #CBAMReporting

The Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings on Friday, which could possibly include one on the legality of tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).According to the apex court's website, it could release decisions on argued cases on Friday. #donaldtrump #usnews #tarifs #ussupremecourt #scotus

Equities could drive part of the rally in 2026 after a “middling” year, but investors should continue to hold gold and silver for diversification, according to Radhika Gupta, managing director and chief executive officer at Edelweiss Mutual Fund.In this exclusive podcast, Radhika tells us how she would invest money at this point, which sectors she's bullish on, and what India's stock market outlook looks like at this point. Watch!#stockmarket #equity #investing

The Times, citing an intelligence source, claimed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has a plan to flee the country for Russia if ongoing protests in the country overwhelm his security forces.At least 35 people have died in the violence engulfing Iran, according to the latest figures from a US-based monitoring group. #ayatollahalikhamenei #ayatollahkhamenei #iranprotests #iranprotest

Lack of formal jobs, Poor finances, lack of skill set, huge supply of youngsters willing to work in most demanding conditions, are fuelling India's gig economy. And therefore all the rules on paper are failing to address these realistic issues on the ground.#zomato #swiggy #amazon #blinkit #zepto #delivery #onlineordering #food #fastdelivery #10minutes #ecommerce #abhinavtrivedi #abhinav #narendramodi #nirmalasitharaman #india

The United States left the world stunned on Friday as it launched missiles towards Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro from his home. It prompted a global outcry with many suggesting the operation violated international laws. But the White House remains defiant, insisting their actions were a ‘Trump Corollary’ to the historical Monroe Doctrine. What is the Monroe Doctrine? Abhishek Singh explains.#monroedoctrine #donaldtrump #nicolasmaduro #maduro #venezuela #venezuelacrisis #venezuelalibre

Salary Hikes In 2026: How Your Employer Will Factor In The New Labour Codes While Deciding You HikeIndia Inc. is expected to roll out an average increment of 8.5-9.5% in the upcoming appraisal cycle, as companies calculate the impact of the new labour code and almost-stagnant inflation.Watch Mint's National Editor Devina Sengupta decode what possible hikes you will get in 2026!#salary #appraisal #salaryhikeWatch the full episode on YouTube- https://youtu.be/tqo4uf-k_rc

In this episode of Let's Get Real, we’re not talking about the Aravallis being destroyed by bulldozers. We’re talking about something far quieter—and far more dangerous - they're being erased by definition. A technical change in a ruling by the Supreme Court has quietly reclassified over 90 per cent of the Aravalli's as 'non-Aravalli', stripping them of legal protection.This change in definition could decide the future of our air, water, biodiversity and climate in Delhi–NCR, a region already gasping for breath, and dealing with dangerous levels of pollution. Here are all the reasons you should care. #aravalli #realestate #legal

Lets go behind the scenes with Sanjeev Bikhchandani, the visionary behind Naukri dot com, Jeevansathi dot com, and 99acres, in a candid conversation with Kumkum Chadha. From the Eureka moment in 1996 when he discovered the internet and envisioned India’s first online job portal, to the secrets of India’s dot-com empire. Bikhchandani also opens up about his incredible journey from a modest staff quarter. If you are a startup enthusiast, entrepreneur, or business student, this conversation is a masterclass in grit, strategy, and vision.#startups #entrepreneurship #naukri #zomato #sanjeevbhikkachandani

Cars are on sale with huge year-end offers as brands clear 2025 stock. Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Jeep are leading with bumper discounts across hatchbacks and SUVs. Maruti is offering benefits of over ₹2 lakh on select models via cash discounts, exchange bonuses and corporate schemes. Hyundai has rolled out December benefits up to about ₹1.7 lakh on popular models like Creta and Venue, varying by variant. Jeep dealers are giving sizeable deals on Compass and Meridian ahead of 2026 prices. Most offers run till December 31 or till stocks last#cardiscounts #hyundai #hyundaicreta #marutisuzuki #jeep

H-1B and H-4 visa holders in the US reportedly received emails from the consulate informing them that temporary working visas had been “prudentially revoked” amid the postponement of H-1B visa interviews.The US Embassy in India announced on December 9 that many H-1B visa appointments have been postponed until next year. This comes as US authorities prepare to start social media vetting of applicants from December 15.#h1b #h4 #h1bvisa #trump

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen opens up on his transition from cricket to business and why India’s Alcobev market caught his attention.Joined by Debashish Shyam, Director at Ardent Alcobev, and Radhika P Nair of Mint, the discussion decodes the boom, opportunities, and challenges in India’s fast-growing Alcobev industry.Watch!

Last week in parliament, a 78-year-old member of parliament, TMC's Saugata Roy was told off by 2 ministers for smoking outside parliament building. A day later, he was again asked by reporters to comment on his errant smoking to which he retorted that his one cigarette wasn't going to solve the sundry problems that the government had. They should, he said, get down to focussing on their own work like solving the Capital's pollution problem.Watching this whole incident unravel in parliament raises some questions - is this really such an important matter? Is this just another handle to attack a rival MP ahead of a crucial election in his state of West Bengal? And can rival MPs actually be friends?Watch. #tmc #bjp #parliament #elections #westbengal

In this episode of Transforming India: The Road to 2047, presented by Mint in partnership with JSA Advocates & Solicitors, host Alokesh Bhattacharya sits down with Karan Mitroo and Nand Gopal Anand, Partners at JSA and leading experts in financial regulation, debt markets, and infrastructure financing.Together, they unpack how India’s BFSI sector is evolving amid heightened regulatory scrutiny, shifting risk norms, cross-border capital inflows, and the rise of digital lending. The conversation explores the RBI and SEBI’s role in maintaining systemic stability, the changing landscape of project finance, the growing urgency around green finance, and the legal considerations shaping foreign borrowing and global transactions.With deep insights into compliance, IBC outcomes, climate-linked lending, and the future of India’s credit markets, this episode offers a crisp, strategic view of how financial regulation will power India’s economic and infrastructure transformation on the road to 2047.Chapters00:00 – Introduction 00:20 – India’s BFSI Sector02:28 – Regulatory Landscape: RBI & SEBI Priorities05:45 – Infrastructure Financing: New Trends & Risks08:32 – Foreign Debt Inflows: Global Capital Outlook11:38 – BFSI Compliance Challenges15:25 – IBC’s Impact on Debt Resolution17:38 – Key Trends Shaping the BFSI Future20:08 – Data Localisation & Operational Compliance21:25 – Digital Lending: New Regulatory Frameworks22:33 – Project Finance Under New Norms26:10 – Green Finance & India’s Climate Goals33:37 – Cross-Border Financing: Legal & Regulatory Risks38:42 – Future of Regulation

Microsoft announced a $17.5 billion investment in India, its rival Amazon wrote a $35 billion cheque to focus on AI, exports and job creation. Not long ago Google said it was investing $15Bn in India over the next 5 years on AI. But why is the big tech suddenly interested in India ?#bigtech #amazon #microsoft #google #alphabet #meta #facebook #usa #india #china #ai #artificialintelligence #abhinavtrivedi #bigdata #narendramodi #xijinping #satyanadella #sundarpichai #jeffbezos