RareErth Podcast

Get ready for a fascinating conversation with Arjun Khemani, a remarkable 17-year-old who's the youngest guest ever on my podcast! Arjun's journey is anything but conventional - he dropped out of school to pursue his passions, explored various gigs, and landed a job at AirChat, a platform for authentic voice conversations. In this episode, we dive into Arjun's incredible story, including: The mindset shift that led him to question traditional education and leave school His experience working with visionaries like Naval Ravikant at AirChat The philosophy of Taking Children Seriously and nurturing their potential Arjun's personal growth through diet, fitness, and voracious reading The importance of focusing on ideas over individuals His intriguing recommendations, like "The Beginning of Infinity" by David Deutsch Arjun's wisdom, curiosity and boldness shine throughout our discussion. His story is an inspiration for anyone feeling the pull of the road less traveled. So sit back, hit play, and get ready for an adventure! Check the show notes for all the cool stuff we mentioned.

Join me for an incredibly real chat with Priyanka Raghuvanshi, an artist who's not afraid to be herself. Priyanka opens up about her wild ride, from studying the mind to trying out different jobs before realizing art is her true calling. She drops some serious truth bombs about how important it is to ask questions, even if it makes you look silly. Priyanka believes that's the secret to growing and figuring yourself out. She also shares what gets her creative juices flowing, how being super observant shapes her art, and why music means so much to her. What I love about Priyanka is how genuine she is, especially when we dive into the messy stuff like relationships, dealing with office politics, and staying true to yourself. She's all about keeping it real and doing her own thing, even if it goes against the norm. If you're into history, you'll love this part. Priyanka and I geek out about her passion for Indian history. She dishes on how politics can totally twist the way history is told and why it's so important to explore the parts that often get overlooked. Priyanka's unfiltered take on life will leave you feeling inspired to embrace your own truth. Her story proves that following your heart and chasing what truly lights you up is the way to go, even when society tells you otherwise. Tune in now and get ready for some serious wisdom from an artist who's not afraid to question the status quo. Trust me, Priyanka's raw, real talk about art and life might just change the way you see things. For Show notes: RareErth

Welcome to Season 3 of the RareErth Podcast! I'm kicking things off with a special guest, Ina Lulaj, who courageously left her 9-to-5 life to pursue her writing dreams in Tokyo. Our chance encounter blossomed into a wonderful friendship, and Ina's here to share that journey with us. From Albania to Oxford, Boston, and Miami, Ina's adventures have been vast, but it was in Japan where she truly found her home and her voice. She'll talk about the challenges of starting over in a new country, finding inspiration from thinkers like Naval Ravikant, and fully embracing this new chapter in her life. But Ina's story isn't just about moving from place to place. She dives deep into Japanese culture, from the creativity seen in train ads to the meticulous design of food packaging, showcasing her love for the country's minimalist yet impactful design philosophy.  In this episode, you'll hear about: Unexpected Friendships: How digital platforms can lead to meaningful real-life connections. A Global Career: The joys and challenges of adapting to life and work in a foreign country.    Inspiration to Independence: How mentors and thinkers can inspire personal and professional growth. Cultural Immersion: Ina's passion for Japanese culture and the beauty of its design. Join me for an inspiring conversation that explores the beauty of following your dreams, embracing change, and living a life fueled by curiosity. If you're thinking about taking a leap of faith or just love stories of cultural exploration, this episode is a reminder that it's never too late to chase what makes you happy. Let's dive in! Show notes: www.rareerth.com

In this episode I have an in-depth conversation with Sumit Ramani - Actuary and Co-Founder of ‘Protect Me Well’. In a touching homage to his parents during the interview, Sumit shared his unique journey to becoming an expert in the field of finance. We lamented about how financial companies have made financial products too complicated and we laughed as he shared some interesting anecdotes. From the people, instances, and books that have influenced his own perspective on money, to how he imbues responsible financial literacy in his young daughter, we’ve covered it all in this super-interesting season finale! Key Points: 1. Sumit sheds light on the relatively lesser-known Actuary profession and Actuarial Science. 2. How Sumit used his actuarial skills to help a gaming company design their gaming engine. 3. How his father, a wise and well-read medical doctor, instilled some great values in him including admirable conflict management skills. 4. Sumit’s other passion, fitness, and how he makes time for it every day despite his busy schedule. 5. Importance of financial independence, and the difference between retirement and financial independence. 6. How investing is more of a behavioral game than a skill game and shared his thoughts on common money mistakes people make, especially in insurance. With plenty of laughter and fascinating stories along the way, this episode is the perfect way to wrap up our season 2 and leave you excited for what's to come. So, tune in and get ready to be inspired! Show notes can be found here

Join me for an enlightening conversation with James Pierce on this brand-new episode of the podcast! James is a philosopher, a writer and an entrepreneur. We delve into James' journey towards spiritual growth and explore themes of mindfulness, self-discovery, and personal development. Along the way, we discuss the human desire for acceptance, love, and validation, the role of the ego, and the importance of self-acceptance and finding purpose in life. James also shares his insights on the power of questioning one's beliefs and his work with clients seeking inner peace.  Plus, don't miss the fun filled Rapid-fire Q&A session where James reveals personal details about his interests and experiences. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking spiritual growth and personal development. Show Notes can be found here

Pranav Radhankrishnan is a Youtube content creator known for his science based educational videos. I had the opportunity to sit down with him and discuss his background, his process for creating content debunking myths, and how it feels to be involved in the debate on scientific topics. Pranav was fascinated by science at a young age. He remembers reading an encyclopedia when he was only six years old. Pranav says that his channel, Science is Dope, was created because he noticed that there weren't any Indian channels that dealt with simplifying scientific, mathematical, or other pseudoscientific concepts. In this episode, we talk about: The difference between Evidence based thinking and Intuition based thinking. Why Evidence is important in drawing conclusions, and How intuition can also be a valuable tool. Points out that correlation does not necessarily mean causation and that many factors should be taken into account. Over time, How Pranav learned to adapt his manner of speech in order to debunk some myths and eliminate any misperceptions about himself.. Debunks some Pseudoscience Buzz words like Vibration, Quantum, Frequency, Dimension. Explains Survivorship bias in terms of Law of Attraction. Pranav shares the books he's most enjoyed reading, as well as some people who inspire him. He talks about some beliefs he had and how those have changed over time. We finish with a quick round of rapid fire questions. Pranav concludes this conversation by sharing one practical advice: “Think Rationally.” To learn more about this fascinating individual, click Play. Show notes: www.rareerth.com

I have a very special guest in this episode: Aamina Azhar. She is one of the youngest people I've ever had on the show; she's a published author and co-author of four books. She is also the founder of Sweet Retreat Cakery. Additionally, she is a very well-known member of Bangalore Student Community and Safe Space Project. All of this while studying Journalism and English Literature in Mount Carmel College. She has even appeared in Swadhyay Publications - listed in the top 50 poets. Aamina’s love of reading began at age nine, when she was already writing her own poems. At fifteen she published her first book. Writing is a form of expression for her, but Aamina makes sure to unplug from time to time, where you’ll find her baking some delicious-looking treats. In this episode we talk about What sparked her love of writing, and how her parents influenced her passion for literature. How the best things in life don't come planned and that spontaneity works for her when it comes to writing. Her Experience and the story behind publishing her very first book. How has baking aided her in her journey to become an entrepreneur. How being a rebel since a young age has helped her break all the stereotypes surrounding her culture. How she is learning to deal with Imposter Syndrome. The Safe Space Project and the other political and social causes she has been a part of. She talks about the achievement she's most proud of, and why. Shares  the books that have had an impact on her and offers advice that she has found to be helpful. We finish our conversation with a fun rapid-fire round of questions . Click Play to hear a very young and talented individual speak. Show Notes can be found here

In this episode I sit down with Kenny DeGiglio, the Director of Education at Pomp's Crypto Academy. I had the pleasure of speaking with Kenny at the Crypto Academy Course earlier this year, and we wanted to share a bit of it with you. Kenny joined us from Pennsylvania and we talked all things Blockchain, Bitcoin, and why everyone should be spending time educating themselves on this revolutionary technology. Being a rather disagreeable personality from a young age, Kenny had a lot of learnings (and failures) to understand what he was most passionate about. And that passion turned out to be Bitcoin. He shares how his skeptical personality led him in making decisions that changed his life. Key points in this episode: His journey towards Bitcoin, how he got started and why he is passionate about it. Simplifies some of the common terms used by people in the Crypto World - Hash rate, Public and Private Keys, Nodes, Blocks, Bitcoin Mining, Blockchain and Digital Signatures. How the first Bitcoins were mined and who published the original Bitcoin whitepaper. The innovation of the digital currency Bitcoin. Describes how Bitcoin has allowed for a truly censorship-resistant digital currency. He explains how it resolves the double-spending problem, is seizure resistant, and like gold it's a barrier asset that can be exchanged with anyone anywhere in the world—and instantly at that! How thinking from First Principles can help hone your skills and expertise in the right direction. Debugs the commonly misunderstood concepts about Bitcoin. How Printing Money is a challenge for a country’s Economy. How Money Fringing causes Price Inflation and how Price Inflation is essentially another form of Taxation. Kenny shares some of the best pieces of advice he has received, as well as some books that have had the biggest impact on his thinking. We delve into these topics before finishing with a fun Rapid Fire session! For show notes, click here

In this episode of the RareErth podcast, I'm speaking with Sitara Srinivasan. She is the founder at Naxxatra Sciences and an independent researcher and educator. Sitara is also the youngest guest we've had on the show so far. As a child, she was curious about topics such as the origins of the cosmos and how life arose on Earth. She had a strong interest in science and philosophy, and at first she was only interested in astronomy because it fulfilled a kind of curiosity within her that she couldn't explain. In time, she found herself drawn to the intricacies of the subject. Key points in this episode: At 22, how she developed a sense of vision for what she wanted and started Naxxatra.  How she began by reaching out and building a community that shared the same passion. The many setbacks she has endured in fulfilling her dream of creating a company and the vision to create 100’s of scientists through the brand that she runs independently. How as a child, she knew that Science was her way to make the world a better place and reach her own goals. Why Science is fueled by curiosity. And how it's a vehicle that can take us to a place where we can discover the mysteries of life. How to ask questions daily, some will be purely challenging and others will help you reach a new understanding. How debates can have lasting effects on your mindset. There are many different ways to enrich your life if you keep asking the right kinds of questions about them. She elaborates the variables in Newton's Second Law and explains the equation in a concise, simplified manner. How pseudoscience is a problem in our society and how it can be avoided by questioning everything we hear, no matter how popular it is. One could ask questions and open up a world of endless possibilities. How to get work done as an entrepreneur with lot of priorities. What can we do to encourage children to be critical and rational thinkers instead of just absorbing knowledge. The study of astronomy & the many different job opportunities. How Generalists will do better than Specialists in near future. Explains the Butterfly Effect and the Non Linear Dynamics and Chaos Theory. She discusses what success means to her and shares some of the books she's enjoyed. We end the interview with a round of Rapid Fire Questions. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did. Show Notes can be found here.

My guest this episode is Arun Benty, Co-founder and Head of Business Development at Fandefi (a platform to create and sell utility NFTs.) He is also a Co-founder and Director of Business Development at Trellisys and Co-founder and Head of Business Development at Papertrell. Arun, being a contrarian, sought opportunities in college that were not typical for his age group. While starting out, he ran a small magazine with a few friends, learning the basics of advertising sales. Soon he was earning money and had his mom to thank for being his first business partner. Arun tells us about how he learned to overcome the early confusion of his career choices and began a quest for visionary ideas in software development. In addition to his existing businesses, Arun actively develops business-based solutions for the artists community through Fandefi. This episode covers a lot of ground, including Arun's childhood, his early work years, his passion for technology and his philosophy towards life and entrepreneurship. Below are the highlights of this episode: How he started his first company "Trellisys" 22 years ago and what services the company provides for its customers. Why he believes entrepreneurship is a team sport. NFTs and how it’s the latest emerging trend in blockchain technology. About Fandefi: a crowdfunding application that lets innovators sell their artworks where the artists can gain directly from non-fungible tokens (NFTs.) How Digital Platforms are becoming a very important aspect of everyday life. How social media platforms and private companies use principles from human-machine interaction to maximize the user's experience. How technology is disrupting society. Explores the concept of Asymmetric Returns and explains how non-fungible tokens and crypto will be reshaping the future of investing. Arun says that every person can hone their ability to look at both sides of an argument, because it’s a skill that will always serve them well. He also mentions books that have shaped his thinking over the years and some of his favourite pieces of work from various genres. We conclude our time together with a lighthearted round of rapid fire questions. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. If you're interested in learning more about what we spoke about, click here for the show notes.

My guest this episode is Swetha Devaraj, a Vascular Radiologist, a certified Animal-Flow Master Instructor, co-founder of Sweaty Ninjas and a passionate Fitness Coach. She shares how she juggled multiple roles to create a work life that integrates her passion for health and fitness with her medical career. Swetha says no matter what career you choose or switch between, one thing is certain: you'll have to work hard at it, and you'll have to bring a lot of sustainability and passion to your work. In this episode we discuss: Things the Fitness Industry doesn't want you to know. The importance of doing proper research before choosing a trainer. Why setting goals, staying motivated, and not burning out is important. How sleep, movement, and nature often go overlooked when it comes to taking care of oneself. How empathy is a valuable quality when you're working with clients. Debunks some popular myths about the benefits of weightlifting for women. How to listen to your body, and what kind of food is best for it. How anxiety has impacted her life and how does she cope with it. In Swetha’s life, the joy of being part of Mysore has been a major positive force. The city imbues her with pride and joy, which she makes evident in her Instagram bio. She has a reputation for being a prankster with her loved ones, something that keeps her from taking herself too seriously. Her idea of success is making a positive contribution to people's lives, whether it's one person or thousands. She also mentions a few of the podcasts she likes to listen to and the documentaries that helped her shift to a meat-free diet. We conclude this conversation with a fun round of rapid-fire questions. We hope you will enjoy this conversation with Swetha as much as we did. Click here for all the show notes.

Dr. Siddharth Warrier is a Neurologist with close to a decade experience. He is an MD Medicine with super specialisation DM (Neurology). He also holds his MRCP-UK degree from London. Dr. Siddharth, off duty is an impressive Youtuber. On his channel, he explores science, mental health and human behaviour through the perspective of Neuroscience. He likes to share his enthusiasm and knowledge through his Podcasts, Instagram Live Sessions, Public Speaking and Poetry. In fact one of his poems won a special prize in the International Hippocrates Conference for Medical Poetry in London. He has also appeared on TedX explaining the Neuroscience behind learning. In this episode, Dr. Siddharth explains: -How our Brain functions towards social expectations and Internet trolls -How our environment directly affects our behaviour change -What are the optimal practices to boost Brain Health -How consumption and elimination of information leads to Brain Hygiene and much more. He also discusses skill acquisition and habit formation.It was an honour to have him join on the RareErth Podcast. You don't want to miss this one. Here are few notable quotes from this conversation "In today's world, being literate means being technically capable" "Poetry is a play with language" "Habits are outsourcing decision making" "Happiness is a scam" "Neuroscience is beautiful. Don't be harsh on your Brain" Siddharth Warrier social coordinates: Website Twitter Instagram Youtube For detailed show notes, please visit www.rareerth.com

On this Episode of the RareErth Podcast, Manoj talks with Raghav Somani, Founder and CEO of Headphone Zone. India's first exclusive Headphone Retail Chain. With over 800 different headphones from 35 major international brands across the world, Headphone Zone boasts South Asia's largest Collection of Headphones under one roof.  Raghav Somani, is not only a 9th Generation Entrepreneur but also holds a Guinness World Record for the highest collection of Airline Baggage Tags for the past 16 years. Raghav is an audiophile and a driven entrepreneur. He has always been passionate about music and understands the feelings it brings to an individual. A few years back although a business school graduate, he recognized there was an opportunity to cater to all the music enthusiasts who wanted to get hands-on with high-end audio equipment normally used by professionals. Raghav has been widely successful in building a sound reputation of his brand over the years. He believes in defining his brand's niche as India’s best destination for Headphones, Earphones and Personal Audio Products. He focuses on delivering the Best Headphones from around the world, not necessarily the best selling. Raghav explains why the Brand's USP is mainly focused on customer service. He loves to engage with every customer and believes in helping them choose the right pair of Headphones. Raghav also explains jargons like a "DAC" and "Amp" and how its usage can make a huge difference in the way we listen to our Music. He defines what success means to him in a very special way, and end the conversation by sharing few of his best read books and documentaries. Come join Manoj and Raghav in this deep dive conversation about Headphones and much more. Check out Raghav and his company here: Linkedin Instagram Headphone Zone All show notes at www.rareerth.com

Rahul Kolle is a Network Consulting Engineer at Cisco and provides Business-Critical network solutions and recommendations to large-scale Enterprises. He is also very passionate about the Art of Public Speaking, Business Storytelling, and Design Thinking. As a Public Speaking and Presentation Coach, he has trained over 5,000 professionals from diverse backgrounds. He has also been a TedX Curator in the past. He is very eloquent and artful in his conversations. On this episode of RareErth podcast, Manoj gets into a deep conversation with Rahul about the Art of Public Speaking.  His passion for stage first manifested when he was just four years old. He shares how it taught him to 'Embrace the uncertainty' when on stage. Had it not been for his parents encouragement and his teachers efforts, his life would have taken a different path. Rahul strongly believes that age and language is never a barrier to becoming a fantastic speaker. He breaks down the three major mistakes to avoid when addressing an audience. He shares the lessons learnt from his previous gigs and how a mental framework helps him to produce a methodized speaking. A lot of us have heard the importance of storytelling, but very few actually develop it as a habit. Rahul explains the importance of storytelling in public speaking context. He explains why video etiquette has become a necessity these days and few tips to make a good impression on video calls. Rahul reveals how the pace of a speech can help in engaging the audience. He provides tactical advice on how to break through a complete cold audience, and how to build rapport with people who are much smarter than you. He elaborates on how design thinking helped him to make the other person think outside the box and be more vulnerable. Concluding this super informative conversation, Rahul shares how he handles FOMO and how one can overcome Impostor Syndrome. He mentions a few of his favorite speakers and a few books that have had an impact in his life. The ability to communicate effectively is possibly the single most important life-skill. In this episode we discuss how to become a great speaker and unleash your ability to persuade, influence and connect with other human beings. You will learn why speaking skills are so incredibly important and how having them can accelerate your success in business and beyond. Come join with Manoj. Show Notes: www.rareerth.com Rahul Kolle: -Instagram -Website

On this Episode of RareErth Podcast, Manoj sat down with Preethi Kasireddy. Preethi Kasireddy who was the Founder & CEO of TruStory. She was previously a partner at Andreessen Horowitz , an investment banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs, and a software engineer at Coinbase. From studying industrial engineering to becoming a CEO, Preethi’s career path has been a fascinating one. Preethi is also a well-known figure in the world of Blockchain and Crypto economics. When she’s not immersed in  Cryptocurrencies, Functional Programming, or giving back to the tech community through her writing and teaching you can find her sharing her excitements on fitness and food on Instagram. Preethi writes on a wide range of topics at her website, preethikasireddy.com She has also participated in a few events like Open Source Summit North America 2018, Slush 2018, and EDCON. In this conversation Preethi talks about her brand new online course 'A Step-by-Step Introduction to Cryptocurrency' which is free and accessible to anyone who sign's up. She also runs a private community on 'Discord' where members can have direct access to her and can discuss many topics including the future of technology, finance and cryptocurrency. She elucidates why her writing is mostly from a beginner's point of view. On quoting, "Go deep into one thing, than shallow into five things", She explains How to build trust and fight information asymmetry when the internet is flooded with infinite options. She shares her wisdom on how to train our minds to perceive a particular topic we choose to learn. She discusses the importance of health and fitness and gives three specific advices for today's youth. She strongly believes Discipline is much more important than intelligence and how she turned this into an advantage in her company. Ending the conversation by mentioning a few books she is currently reading and the biggest takeaways from the past year. Tune in to know and learn from one of the Rare Autodidact . Show Notes: www.rareerth.com