RareErth Podcast Manoj Radhakrishna

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

In this episode of the podcast, I have an in-depth conversation with Aishwarya Ashok, Product Manager at Zoho and Creator of “The Prodcastt”, “The Founder’s Foyer”, “One Good Thing” and “100+NotTech”. The Founder's Foyer is a space where creators, founders, and builders look for all the foundational concepts and support to grow their ideas into products. We discuss a broad-spectrum of topics ranging from her transition from Product Marketing to Product Management, advice for future and current Product Managers, product sustainability factors, Carnatic music, heritage walks, possibilities for AI, and much more!

Key points in this episode:


Emphasis on empathizing with users, picking and solving the right problems, and keeping personal preferences in check when giving feedback.
Her comparison of Product Management to Stand-Up comedy.
An in-depth analysis of the success of Duolingo and how it has proved to be a great example of a win-win for both the product and the user.
The importance of social metrics and her non-belief in labels that restrict thinking.
A closer look at her strong work ethic and how she’s given herself the freedom to explore new things, including her newfound love of ‘urbanscaping’.
Her love for her home city, Chennai, and how it influenced her thinking.
How her grandparents instilled in her a sense of punctuality and a proactive spirit that she carries with her to this day.

Additionally, this episode features an interesting ‘Deep Fire’ (questions) round filled with some fun, deep, and detailed responses by Aishwarya.

Show notes can be found here

Join me in this episode as I chat with Akash Devaraju and Noopur Porwal from Local Ferment Co (LFC), a micro-brewery and kitchen that specialises in all things probiotic and non-alcoholic drinks. We'll take a deep dive into their startup journey and their passion for aesthetics and design, which is evident in their visually appealing website.

The LFC team places great importance on creating a brand that not only functions well but is also visually attractive to their customers. They share their experience in creating a positive work environment, where they prioritise enjoying the process of creating and producing their products, rather than solely focusing on the end result.

We'll also get a behind-the-scenes look at their micro-brewery setup, which they lovingly refer to as their "brewery." You'll learn how their focus on quality and innovation has helped them gain recognition and appreciation from their customers, and how they're constantly experimenting with different flavors and ingredients to keep their offerings fresh and exciting.

Throughout the episode, we'll dive into the importance of effective marketing and the power of a good newsletter in promoting and growing a business.

Tune in for a lighthearted and fun conversation with the founders of LFC, and gain valuable insights into the startup journey, creating a positive work environment, and the power of effective marketing and innovation.

Click here for the show notes.