Watching the Wheels

Amit Varma

Watching the Wheels is a show hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane, in which they talk about this, that, and whatever's left.

Episodes

  1. 1 hr ago

    Ep 5: A Citizen’s Guide to Public Finance

    Why should we care about government spending? Welcome to episode 5 of Watching the Wheels, hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane. In this episode, we launch Pranay Kothastane & Sarthak Pradhan’s new book Fiscal Fables: A Citizen's Guide to Public Finance. Pranay gives a masterclass in the public finance frameworks. Amit provides comic relief through limericks. And in the Infinite Game, we understand why Shruti is not a professor of geography or history. Please pick up Fiscal Fables right away: https://amzn.in/d/04Btr8MD TABLE OF CONTENTS00:00 Hype the Episode!00:20 Intro: What a book!01:18 Main Course: A Citizen’s Guide to Public Finance04:10 Why we should care about government spending?11:50 Kinds of Taxes16:45 India’s Failed Tax Experiments29:50 Why Taxes Exist35:14 The Tax Code is Not a Social Engineering Manual54:45 Indian Cities and Decentralization 1:10:36 Centrally Sponsored Schemes1:21:04 Fiscal Federalism1:33:22 Infinite Game1:56:06 Recommendations Our show notes are so legendary that people stop us often on the streets to say, "Give us a link! Give us a link!" You can browse full show notes for this episode here.

  2. 6 days ago

    Ep 4: Making Sense of World Disorder

    The old world order has gone to pieces, and you are trying to make sense of the new world disorder. Need help? We are here! Welcome to episode 4 of Watching the Wheels, hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane. In this episode, Pranay shares some useful frameworks that will help you think clearly about the world we are in. Shruti then humiliates the boys in an Infinite Game, and everyone takes refuge in art. Shamed before your viewers? No problem. Babble about design. Play some Bach. You are your own Jaani Dushman. TABLE OF CONTENTS00:00 Hype the Episode!00:23 Intro: Jaani Dushman02:41: Main Course: World Disorder!05:59 Framework 127:40 Framework 245:56 Framework 31:01:52 Infinite Game1:16:04 TIL (Trivia I Love)1:21:00 Recommendations Who has the best show notes in the world? We do. Who, who who? We, we, we! Check out the full show notes here!

  3. 14 Aug

    Ep 3: A Wishlist for Independence Day

    Long years ago, India got Independence — but did we get freedom? How can this country be a better place for all its people? If we had to dream, what would our dreams be Welcome to episode 3 of Watching the Wheels, hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan & Pranay Kotasthane. In this episode, our hosts share their dreams for India. Each of them talks about four things they would like to see change. Amit elaborates on the importance of freedom, Pranay gets concrete with his policy suggestions, and Shruti illustrates with examples why political freedom & economic freedom must always go together, & one does not make sense without the other. Amitabh Bachchan is also discussed. Do you think that Pranay is a Laawaris, Amit is Mahaan & the Dostana of this trio is good Naseeb that has led to this Trishul of a show? You surely can’t deny that everyone in India deserves Roti, Kapda aur Makaan, which is what this episode is about! TABLE OF CONTENTS00:00 Hype the Episode!0036 Intro03:29 Amit’s wishlist30:18 Pranay’s wishlist47:34 Shruti’s wishlist1:28:03 Infinite Game: Amitabh’s greatest hits1:54:49 Recommendations Our show notes among the best the human history. (We're being modest here; they're basically the best only.) So check out the full show notes on our YouTube page, where you can watch this podcast!

  4. 7 Aug

    Ep 2: What a Wonderful World

    We live in a magical world, but we normalize the good stuff and aren’t grateful enough. And sure, the world still has much that is messed up, and we must fight for progress — but it’s good to take inspiration from the distance we have already travelled! Welcome to episode 2 of Watching the Wheels, hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane. In this episode, our hosts share stories from their lives as well as data about the world to discuss the many ways in which our lives are better. They also acknowledge the distance left to travel, and because they are foolhardy, they even make projections into the future. Lol, peeps are gonna laugh at them 30 years from now, if not today only. Enjoy! :) TABLE OF CONTENTS00:00 Hype the Episode!01:13 Intro03:02 Main Course: What a Wonderful World!1:34:16 Infinite Game: Actors Born Abroad For the full show notes in all their wholesome awesomeness, and to also SEE the charts and stuff our hosts talk about, click here.

  5. 31 Jul

    Ep 1: Where Have All the Women Gone?

    Where are our women? As one paper shows, they’re not on the streets. As another paper shows, they don’t leave home. As a third paper shows, they’re not even in the colleges of their choice. What’s going on?Welcome to episode 1 of Watching the Wheels, hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane. In this episode, Shruti digs deep into three fantastic papers that reveal deep truths about the lives of women in India — and explains why we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Everything is multi-causal and complicated. Amit discusses pink shoes and the phenomenon of Simultaneous Sameness. Pranay shares how a dog bit him in central Bengaluru, and raises an ethical and policy question about street dogs. The 1983 Cricket World Cup is discussed. (Ballu zindabad!) And viewers from Kerala will love the chart of the week. :)And oh, btw, we released our pilot episode last week as episode 0. Watch it here:    • AI Can Help You. AI Can Hurt You | Episode...  TABLE OF CONTENTS00:00 Hype the Episode!00:27 Intro01:25 Main Course: Where Have All the Women Gone?43:19 TIL (Trivia I Love): Pink Shoes & Simultaneous Sameness55:18 In My Life: Dog Bites Pranay1:13:28 Infinite Game: The 1983 World Cup1:26:33 Chart of the Week: Kerala’s Schools1:31:53: Recommendations For the rest of our maginficent show notes, please visit our YouTube page!

  6. 31 Jul ·  Bonus

    Ep 0: AI Can Help You. AI Can Hurt You

    Should we let AI help us with our writing? What are the qualities of a successful narrative? Who will win the Infinite Game?Welcome to the pilot episode of Watching the Wheels, hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane. This is a weekly podcast that will appear here every Friday. We begin next week, but this is a trial episode we shot a few weeks ago, so we figured we might as well put it up. Please subscribe for more!In this episode, Amit explains the writing advice he gives his students when it comes to using AI: Use it extensively for research and brainstorming, but NEVER for writing. Shruti describes the implications for copyright law. Pranay talks about how his AI-forward organization, Takshashila, uses AI to accelerate the spread & use of knowledge. They also discuss what makes a narrative successful, why you should propose by carving Sanskrit Shlokas on Eucalyptus trees, why Gullak is great but piggybanks are bad & why Sonny Rollins was a saxophone colossus. Much fun!TABLE OF CONTENTS00:00 Intro02:31 Main Course: The Use of AI in Writing (& Research)32:28 The Infinite Game49:25 Framework of the Week: All About Successful Narratives1:04:58 Book Capsule: Simple Rules for a Complex World1:08:02 Paper Capsule: The Use of Knowledge in Society1:17:52 Recommendations For full show notes, in all their awesomeness and wholesomeness and joyfullness, visit our YouTube page!

  • 6 Episodes

About

Watching the Wheels is a show hosted by Amit Varma, Shruti Rajagopalan and Pranay Kotasthane, in which they talk about this, that, and whatever's left.

Information

  • Creator
    Amit Varma
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Amit Varma
  • Show Website
    Watching the Wheels