People by WTF
People by WTF is a series where Nikhil Kamath has conversations with personalities who stand out in their industries around the world.
Episodes
Martin Escobari: Trauma, Chaos & Three Industries Worth $100B | Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF
Martin Escobari is the co-president of General Atlantic, one of the largest growth equity funds in the world, and he says entrepreneurs and gangsters have more in common than we admit — so few make it, so many die early, and the ones that survive are almost always wounded in some specific way. He grew up in Bolivia in the 80s through 35,000% inflation, eleven presidents in ten years, and three cou
Martin Escobari: "America Is Freaking Out About 5%, We Had 35,000%" | Ep. 22 Trailer | People by WTF
Martin Escobari is the co-president of General Atlantic — one of the largest growth equity funds in the world, with over $5 billion deployed into India. He grew up in Bolivia in the 80s with 35,000% inflation, eleven presidents in ten years, three coups, and a family that lost everything in a revolution.I sat him down with a few Columbia Business School students and a 21-year-old AI founder named
The $120 Billion Man: Poverty, Power & Why Jobs Fix Everything | Ajay Banga x Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF
Ajay Banga took Mastercard from a $30 billion company to $360 billion in a decade, was the frontrunner to run Citibank's quarter of a million people, quit to become CEO of a company with 4,000 — and today runs the World Bank Group, a $120 billion-a-year institution that was originally built to rebuild Europe and Japan after the Second World War and now exists to kill poverty by creating jobs. He s
Ajay Banga x Nikhil Kamath | Ep. Trailer | People by WTF
Ajay Banga took Mastercard from a $30 billion company to $360 billion, left when he was the frontrunner to run Citibank's 250,000 people, and now controls $120 billion a year as the President of the World Bank Group — the institution that was built after the Second World War to stop poverty from turning into war. He says life is 50% luck but most people leave their luck on the station platform, th
Rishi Sunak & Akshata Murty: Dharma, Failure & The Middle Path | Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF
Rishi Sunak says patience is a bigger competitive advantage than speed, that every decision that reaches a leader is 50-50 by definition because if it weren't someone else would have made it, that the long term is just a succession of short terms you either survived or got kicked out of, and that the thing he wishes he'd done more of in his career is read fiction — because non-fiction tells you wh
Rishi Sunak & Akshata Murty : Marriage, Power & Losing All In Public | Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF
Rishi Sunak says he could not function without his marriage, that losing the most public job in the world taught him that the Gita was right about focusing on dharma and not outcomes, and that the blank canvas at 45 is more exciting than the track that got him there. Akshata Murty says she’s not stuck on being her father’s daughter or her husband’s wife, she is clear on who she is than any title e
I can't believe I said this
One of them says the Gita's line on duty over outcomes is what got him through the most public failure of his life. The other says her identity has never been her father's name or her husband's title. They've been together 20 years and still argue about ice cream flavours. First couple's episode we've ever done.#nikhilkamath Co-founder of Zerodha and GruhasHost of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcas
Pain, Power & The Game Nobody Wins | Chamath Palihapitiya x Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF
I sat down with Chamath Palihapitiya. He sold a company to Nvidia for $20 billion, woke up the next morning, saw $13 billion hit the account, and felt nothing. This is a guy who grew up in a home with alcoholism and abuse, immigrated to Canada with nothing, lost billions on SPACs, rebuilt, and now says the whole game is exactly that — a game. We got into the uncomfortable stuff: why pain is the si
Chamath Palihapitiya x Nikhil Kamath | Ep. 19 Trailer | People by WTF
Chamath Palihapitiya has made and lost billions. He backed Tesla, Bitcoin, and the Golden State Warriors when everyone told him he was insane. Now he's building what he calls a software factory — the machine that makes the machine. We talked about why pain is a prerequisite for scale, why socialism might be closer than any capitalist wants to admit, and why none of the metrics society uses to meas
The AI Tsunami is Here & Society Isn't Ready | Dario Amodei x Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF
I sat down with Dario Amodei in Bangalore. He built Claude, but he started as a biologist looking for a tool to cure disease. Today, he's at the helm of an AI revolution that he compares to a tsunami society is actively ignoring. We got into the heavy stuff: why Anthropic secretly withheld a working model before ChatGPT existed, whether AI is on the verge of consciousness, and if outsourcing our
Dario Amodei: The Tsunami Nobody's Preparing For | Nikhil Kamath | Ep. 18 Trailer | People by WTF
Dario Amodei runs a company valued at tens of billions of dollars, building the very AI systems he warns could reshape everything. So I asked him directly: isn't this a bit like rich people saying capitalism is bad? His answer surprised me. We went deep on the economics, the geopolitics, the safety debate, and why the people building AI might actually be the most paranoid about it. A long, honest,
Yuval Noah Harari: Stories, Power & Why Truth Doesn't Matter | Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF
I sat down with Yuval Noah Harari at the World Economic Forum in Davos and we ended up covering everything from why Christianity's core story is essentially "you are loved by an omnipotent God" to why Greenland might just be the world's most expensive real estate play. He walked me through how algorithms were handed the job of managing public conversation and optimised for hate because hate drives
Yuval Noah Harari x Nikhil Kamath | Ep. 17 Trailer | People by WTF
Is religion dying, or is it just being replaced by AI? We are living through a dramatic geopolitical shift. The rules we grew up with are being rewritten. I sat down with historian and author Yuval Noah Harari at the World Economic Forum to understand if we are witnessing the end of an era or the beginning of something entirely new. From the "madness" of the US-Europe split to the private conversa
Elon Musk: एक अलग बातचीत Nikhil Kamath के साथ | पूरा एपिसोड | People by WTF Ep. 16
Elon Musk × Nikhil Kamath — अब हिन्दी में।आपकी रिक्वेस्ट पर, हमने पूरा एपिसोड हिन्दी में डब किया है ताकि यह बातचीत और भी लोगों तक पहुंच सके।Timestamps :00:00 – Settling in02:08 – On X, text vs video, how people communicate06:45 – Collective consciousness09:54 – Meaning of life, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy14:16 – Individuals vs collectives17:35 – What makes a company worth investing in20:00 –
Elon Musk: A Different Conversation | Full Episode | People by WTF Ep. 16
A long conversation with #ElonMusk about work, consciousness, family, money, AI and how the future might unfold. No script, no performance, just two people thinking out loud. A big thank you to Manoj Ladwa - a close friend of many years and a remarkable connector of India to the world and the world to India. Through India Global Forum, he has built one of the most influential platforms showcasing
Elon Musk x Nikhil Kamath | Ep. 16 Trailer | People by WTF
Here’s to delaying gratification. The future belongs to the patient. #NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' PodcastX: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appFacebook: https://www.facebook.co
A.R. Rahman: The Genius Who Took Indian Music Global | Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF | Ep 15
What struck me most in this conversation with AR Rahman was not his mastery but his humility. He talks openly about fear, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and why he constantly leaves comfort to evolve.We got into everything, Bombay Dreams, London, Hollywood, Oscars, classical music’s future, AI composition, spiritual surrender, and why consistency matters more than lifestyle.If you’ve ever wondered
From Iran to Uber CEO | Nikhil Kamath x Dara Khosrowshahi | People by WTF | Ep. 14
Building the next Uber in India? Dara shares lessons on competition, EVs, quick commerce, and how he helped build Uber through chaos.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:22 - Dara’s visits to India01:58 - Uber’s Indian competitors04:42 - Growing up in Iran10:47 - Dara on religion & spirituality16:40 - From Iran to US19:54 - Key lesson from Barry Diller28:05 - How AI can reinvent travel32:12 - Dara’s vision
Sam Altman x Nikhil Kamath: How to Win When AI Changes Everything | People by WTF | Episode 13
I finally sat down with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, to discuss the launch of GPT-5, its differences, whether we’re inching closer to agent-like AI, what it takes to build a future that’s moving at breakneck speed.00:00 - Intro01:13 - What’s New in GPT-5?02:54 - Sam on First Principles, Careers & Future Industries05:47 - What’s Possible with GPT-507:09 - Building on GPT-5: Skills & Science Applicati
Is this Real, AI, or Cake?
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Vinod Khosla: College Degrees Are Becoming Useless | People by WTF | Episode 12
When I was starting out, this is the kind of conversation I wish I had access to. I sat down with Vinod Khosla, one of the sharpest minds in venture, and asked him the questions every young founder has on their mind.What industries will matter in 2035? Should you build for cities, small towns, or somewhere no one’s looking yet?Also listeners! Just a heads up that we recorded this episode on July 7
Nikhil Kamath x Vinod Khosla, Iconic Silicon Valley VC | People by WTF | Ep. 12 Trailer
In this upcoming episode, I sat down with Vinod Khosla, Sun Microsystems Co-founder and Founder of Khosla Ventures to find out where tomorrow’s big bets lie and why contrarian thinking still pays off.#NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcioLinkedIn: / nikhilkamathcio Instagram: / nikhilkamathcio Facebook: / nikhilkamathcio #VinodKhosla - Co-founder, Sun Microsy
From Ghaziabad to Silicon Valley: Nikhil Kamath x Nikesh Arora | People by WTF | Ep. 11
Here’s one of my favourite conversations with Palo Alto Networks’ CEO, Nikesh Arora. This episode is a CxO’s playbook where we deep dived into the mindset, strategy, and decision-making frameworks that have shaped Nikesh’s journey across roles at Google, SoftBank, and now leading one of the world’s top cybersecurity firms. This isn’t just business talk. Learn how to think like a CxO when the rules
Nikhil Kamath x Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks | People by WTF | Ep. 11 Trailer
In what can be described as one of my favourite chats, I sat down with Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks, to discuss where cybersecurity is headed in a post-AI world, why the education system is overrated, and a whole lot more. Full episode drops soon. #NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIn: / nikhilkamathcio Instagram: / nikhilkamathcio F
Nikhil Kamath x Netflix Co CEO, Ted Sarandos: Why Local Stories Win Global Audiences | People by WTF | Ep. 10
In this candid deep dive, I sit down with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos to unpack the company’s remarkable journey from a DVD-by-mail service to a global streaming giant. We revisit Netflix's early battle with Blockbuster, the bold pivot to streaming, the company’s plans for India, and how they cracked the code on turning binge-watching into a universal habit.What was interesting for me was how he s
Netflix's Ted Sarandos x Nikhil Kamath | India's Content Boom | People by WTF | Ep. 10 Trailer
I sat down with Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix, for a no-holds-barred chat. From what’s really disrupting the entertainment industry, how Netflix greenlights projects, and India’s potential, we covered it all. Full episode drops soon. #NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcioLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram
Nikhil Kamath x YouTube CEO, Neal Mohan | The World's Biggest Stage | People by WTF | Ep. 9 Teaser
Here’s a glimpse into my chat with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. We talk about the future of the platform to the masks we wear, and what happens when we take them off. Stay tuned for the episode#NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook: https://www.fac
Nikhil Kamath x YouTube CEO, Neal Mohan | People by WTF Ep.9
In this episode, I speak with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan about what defines the platform today and where it’s headed. We discuss why audiences now trust podcasters over traditional news, and what the next decade of content consumption might look like. For me, this wasn’t just a chat. It was a chance to question the shifting boundaries between passion, talent, identity, and influence. We also dug into
Bill Gates x Nikhil Kamath Part 2 | People by WTF | Ep.8
I’ve always been curious to know why people are the way they are. After reading Bill’s memoir, Source Code, it felt more like peeling back layers than simply asking questions. Part 2 of our chat, I got to know him in a way I haven’t before. In this episode of People by WTF, Bill talks about the drive and curiosity that keeps him active, playing ‘Crennis’ with Sachin Tendulkar, his childhood, how A
Bill Gates x Nikhil Kamath Part 2: Wealth, Wisdom & World Change | People by WTF | EP.8 Trailer
A conversation that veers from unexpected childhood confessions to what still drives him after decades at the top. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my conversation with Bill Gates.#NikhilKamath Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilk
Nikhil Kamath x NZ PM Christopher Luxon | People by WTF Ep #7
In our previous episodes, we’ve often spoken about the parallels between Business and Politics; be it risk taking abilities, micro vs macro zooming abilities, & most importantly, leadership. In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, to talk about exactly that. We also talk about the challenges of public scrutiny, and how global dynamics translate in today’
Nikhil Kamath X PM Christopher Luxon | People by WTF | Ep.7 Trailer
From corporate life to politics, cricket heartbreaks, people-to-sheep ratio in New Zealand —this conversation has it all. Stay tuned! #ChristopherLuxon Prime Minister of New Zealand Twitter: https://x.com/chrisluxonmp LinkedIn: / christopher-luxon-bb701b195 Instagram: / christopherluxon Facebook: / christopherluxon #NikhilKamath Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas Host of ‘WTF is?’ Podcast & ‘P
People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath | Ep. 6
Timestamps -00:00 - Introduction4:10 - Chapter 1 - Childhood9:00 - Student Life15:55 - Chapter 2 - Parallels between Politics & Entrepreneurship17:36 - Competition in Politics20:14 - Skills required to enter the field of Politics30:39 - Importance of Ideology and Idealism38:02 - Social Media and 'Moti Chamdi' in Politics44:10 - Anxiety, Setbacks & Risk-Taking Ability54:31 - Impact of Policymaking1
People with The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi x Nikhil Kamath | Ep 6 Trailer
Nikhil Kamath x Kumar Birla | People by WTF Ep #5
We often underestimate how complex leading a legacy might be. Success, I think, beyond a certain point is perhaps not as proportional to hard work as much as it becomes about who you are, where you are and the opportunities you create for yourself. To me, Authenticity should be transient. The most interesting question of life is why we are, how we are. In this episode of People by WTF, featuring K
Ep.5 Trailer | People by WTF: Nikhil Kamath & Kumar Birla
Life is much simpler if your need to conform is lower. Our next guest needs no introduction. stay tuned. #nikhilkamath Co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon and Gruhas Host of #wtfiswithnikhilkamath Twitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=prof
WTF is Artificial Intelligence Really? | Yann LeCun x Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF Ep #4
A lot of us have heard conjectures around A.I., edge cases of the positive and negative side of A.I., and a lot of us are trying to predict what’s next. Most of my understanding of A.I. comes only from viewing what is apparent today.. reinforcement learning spaces like chat gpt becoming a go-to.. In this episode of People by WTF, we uncover the basics of this mystery of artificial intelligence wit
WTF is A.I. Really? Yann LeCun x Nikhil Kamath | People by WTF Ep. 4 Trailer
Artificial Intelligence has undeniably transformed our world. Whether it's for better or worse, one thing is certain: it's here to stay. I often find myself debating - will AI eventually replicate human intelligence, or will it remain a powerful tool, an execution engine for humanity? The deeper you dive, the clearer it becomes that the reality is far more nuanced than it seems.So, I decided to go
Nikhil Kamath x Nandan Nilekani | People by WTF | Ep #3
India today is a different India, when compared to 10 years ago. A lot of it has to do with The India Stack Journey (a set of open API's & digital public goods). Interesting to note how opportunity to serve at population scale is the theme of these innovations.In this episode of People by WTF, we sat with Nandan Nilekani to understand the trajectory of building this advanced Digital Public Infrast
Ep.3 Trailer | People by WTF: Nikhil Kamath & Nandan Nilekani
Catching up with an old friend and picking his brain about India's tech future. #NikhilKamath #NandanNilekani #WTFiswithNikhilKamath #PeoplebyWTF
Nikhil Kamath x Ranbir Kapoor | People by WTF Ep #2
We all signal a version of ourselves that we think the world should see, but rarely show the sides that make us innately human. I think society misrepresents insecurity as a bad thing.. In my opinion, Insecurity with inaction is a bad thing… insecurity leading to action is a superpower.In this episode of People by WTF, we have Ranbir Kapoor. While the film industry seems to be all about glamour an
Ep.2 Trailer | People by WTF: Nikhil Kamath & Ranbir Kapoor
Just two friends catching up, stay tuned!
Nikhil Kamath x Bill Gates | People by WTF | Ep. #1
Episode 1 of ‘People by WTF'; where we have one-on-one conversations with personalities who stand out in various industries! In this 30 min exclusive with Bill Gates, we speak about his experience with India, from his early Microsoft days to his work with The Gates Foundation. We also cover topics such as the role of philanthropy in society, energy transition, the possibilities of AGI, along with
Ep. 1 Trailer | People by WTF : Nikhil Kamath & Bill Gates
We spoke about AGI, energy transition, philanthropy and more.
Stay tuned!
Nikhil Kamath - Co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon and Gruhas
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Bill Gates - Co-founder of Microsoft , Co-chair The Gates Foun
