Let's Dive Right In

by Vivek Ramani and Arvind Chari

Season 2

We Dive Back In - New baby, confronting a pet's illness, and a sprinkle of Trump tarriffs

00:00 Intro and Personal Updates 02:51 Navigating Fatherhood: Experiences and Challenges 06:03 Understanding Dad Guilt 11:54 Mom Guilt and Societal Expectations 14:54 Work Dynamics: Remote vs In-Office 23:58 The San Francisco Revival and Navigating Life Changes During COVID 27:24 Coping with Pet Illness 29:31 Philosophical Reflections on Life and Death 34:23 Political Landscape and Its Implications 39:32 Economic Policies and Their Consequences 44:20 The Future of Global Power Dynamics

S2 · E1

May 2, 2025

48:32

Season 1

From CS to materials science, Teresa Liu on how university research can be commercialized by anyone

Teresa Liu is the CEO & Cofounder of Ouros Materials, a materials innovation company making better, cheaper building materials for the construction industry — that happen to also use CO2 in the process. Their futuristic materials are 100x tougher than concrete, disaster resilient against wildfires and earthquakes, super strong, and delivers 90% carbon reductions, at a mere half the price of competitive alternatives. Teresa had quite the journey behind starting this company, starting off as a product manager and software engineer at companies like Lyft and Google, before deciding to fully pivot into the climate tech industry and winning the highly-selective 776 Foundation Fellowship, which set her on her path to starting this company. This podcast talks through her experience switching into the world of materials science, learning how to commercialize research from labs, creating a purpose-built team and technology from a climate problem, and her mindset around the need to build cheaper, better products first rather than relying on any sustainability value proposition.

S1 · E21

Mar 21, 2025

52:30

Arjun Srivatsa discusses the deeper value of finding your creativity, taste, and time

Today we chat with Arjun Ram Srivatsa, an artist, musician, poet, animator, creative director, video director, video editor, motion designer, graphic designer, sound designer, podcaster, journalist, writer, music critic, birdwatcher, and friend living in Brooklyn. He holds a masters degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. He's made editorial videos for publications including The New York Times, Vogue, GQ, and Vanity Fair. He's also made commercial work for Ford, McDonalds, and Sony Music. From 2020 to 2021, he hosted Diversity Hire, a podcast about being “POC” in media. You can email him at arjunrsri@gmail.com

S1 · E20

Mar 8, 2025

1:03:40

How will GenAI transform work with Ananth Kasturiraman of Indeed

In this episode, we chat with Ananth Kasturiraman, Senior Product Director for AI Acceleration at Indeed and former CEO of Skillist, about the role of generative AI in transforming our work lives. Ananth shares his journey—from building a skills-based hiring platform to leading cutting-edge AI initiatives at Indeed—and explains how these new tools are streamlining workflows without losing the human touch. During our conversation, we explore real-world challenges in adopting emerging technology at large organizations, the shifting balance between remote and in-person work, and what these changes mean for economic opportunity and community. Tune in for an engaging discussion that invites you to rethink the future of work and the skills we need to thrive.

S1 · E19

Feb 27, 2025

1:02:07

We condense 20 years of AI learning into 90 minutes with Akshay Krishnamurthy of Microsoft Research

In today’s episode, we explore the depths of AI research with Akshay Krishnamurthy, a senior principal research manager at Microsoft Research in New York City. Akshay’s journey in machine learning began at UC Berkeley, followed by a Computer Science Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University. Akshay went on to become an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, before deciding to move into a research role at Microsoft Research. His research focuses on reinforcement learning and interactive decision-making, areas where he’s made significant contributions. His work bridges the gap between theoretical foundations and practical applications in machine learning, with a particular emphasis on developing efficient algorithms for complex prediction problems. His innovative approach to machine learning continues to shape the field, making him a notable figure in AI research. Dive in with us as we pick Akshay’s brain on the current state of AI research and where things go from here.

S1 · E18

Feb 22, 2025

1:32:19

Jesika Haria Talks Entrepreneurship, Product, and AI's Potential to Transform Work

In this conversation, Jesika shares her journey from growing up in Bombay to studying at MIT and eventually founding Logic Loop and joining Glean. She discusses the challenges and triumphs of startup life, including the importance of user research, navigating growth challenges, and the eventual acquisition of her company. Jesika emphasizes the significance of collaboration, adaptability, and the need for technical founders to learn sales skills. The conversation also touches on personal experiences, including the impact of parenthood on her professional journey. We dive into Glean, an innovative AI company focused on enhancing enterprise search capabilities. The discussion delves into the evolution of Glean's technology, the importance of structured data, and the future of work in an increasingly automated world. Finally, we jump into the potential for AI to augment human creativity and efficiency, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities that arise from this technological shift.

S1 · E17

Feb 15, 2025

56:49

Crypto, Web3, and the Future of Finance: Insights from Blockchain Pioneer Jayant Krishnamurthy

Join us as we dive deep into the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology with Jayant Krishnamurthy, co-founder and CTO of Dourolabs. In this eye-opening episode, we explore the evolution of crypto from early arbitrage opportunities to the development of decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Jayant shares his unique perspective on the potential of Web3, the role of stablecoins, and the challenges facing the crypto industry. We also discuss the changing media landscape and its impact on public discourse. Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or just curious about the future of finance, let's dive right in!

S1 · E16

Feb 6, 2025

55:56

Revolutionizing Clinical Trials: Karthik Chandran's Journey into Healthcare Technology

Join us as we dive into the world of healthcare tech startups with one of our best friends, Karthik Chandran, founder of Rising Tide Health. Discover how he’s tackling the lack of diversity in clinical trials, his journey from idea to prototype, and the challenges of fundraising. Learn about the FDA’s new diversity requirements, the potential impact of AI on patient matching, and the personal risks of entrepreneurship. This episode is packed with insights for aspiring founders and anyone interested in the intersection of technology and healthcare. https://www.risingtidehealth.ai/ Karthik@risingtidehealth.ai

S1 · E15

Feb 3, 2025

58:22

Musings 1: Will AI take all the jobs and what's going on with DOGE?

Hey folks! In this episode, Vivek and Arvind dive into the wild world of AI and its impact on jobs and government. We chat about how AI might be coming for white-collar gigs faster than we thought, and we take a look at some recent government plans to shake things up. We also ponder what life might be like if traditional jobs become a thing of the past and debate whether our Constitution can handle all these political curveballs. Immigration policies and their economic domino effects? Yeah, we touch on that too. So come along for the ride as we try to make sense of all this tech and political craziness, and maybe get a glimpse of what’s in store for us down the road. Let's Dive Right In!

S1 · E14

Jan 31, 2025

26:30

A Rising Star in Hollywood: Madhulika Krishnan on LA Wildfires and Industry Challenges

Actor Madhulika Krishnan shares her firsthand experience of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, discusses the challenges facing Hollywood, and offers insights into the life of an up-and-coming artist in the entertainment industry. From the impact of AI on creativity to the resilience of the LA community, this episode provides a captivating glimpse into the world of showbiz, current events, and the future of filmmaking. Some suggestions for where to donate for fire recovery LAFD: https://supportlafd.kindful.com/ , Donate Directly to Displaced Families: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pK5omSsD4KGhjEHCVgcVw-rd4FZP9haoijEx1mSAm5c/htmlview Check our her IMDB here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6641432/

S1 · E13

Jan 28, 2025

1:08:17

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