Podcast · Business
by Mukesh Bansal · English · Business
Welcome to Sparx, the show that empowers you with the latest research, strategies and tools to help you achieve exponential impact in every aspect of your life. Whether you're looking to advance your career, improve your relationships, leave a mark on the world or simply become the best version of y
2 Oct 2026 · 48 min
AI is getting better at answering questions. But what happens when it starts asking and solving the questions scientists haven’t answered yet?In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Paras Chopra, founder of Wingify and Lossfunk, to explore AI research, scientific discovery, consciousness, and India’s place in the global AI race.
E138 · 2 Oct 2026 · 53 min
AI is getting better at answering questions. But what happens when it starts asking and solving the questions scientists haven’t answered yet?In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Paras Chopra, founder of Wingify and Lossfunk, to explore AI research, scientific discovery, consciousness, and India’s place in the global AI race.
4 Sep 2026 · 56 min
What will it take to build robots that can truly operate in the real world? 🤖 In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal is joined by Sergey Levine, computer scientist and co-founder of Physical Intelligence, to explore the future of AI and robotics and why giving machines physical intelligence is one of the hardest problems in AI. From Moravec’s Paradox and imitation learning to general-purpose robots and robot learning, we explore why AI that can write, reason and talk still struggles with the physical world, and what it will take to build robots that can learn, adapt, and perform a wide…
E136 · 24 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
What does the roadmap to a "Viksit Bharat 2047" look like from the very top? 🇮🇳In this special episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal is joined by Professor Ajay Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister of India. As a key architect of India’s scientific policy and a Padmashri awardee, Professor Sood offers an exclusive look into the government’s strategic vision for technology as the ultimate pillar of national sovereignty and economic growth.From the explosion of space-tech startups like Skyroot to the revolutionary ₹1 Lakh Crore R\&D fund, we dive deep into the missions that…
E134 · 8 Aug 2026 · 42 min
Description- Is superintelligence a few years away, and would we even notice if the systems we built started to matter morally?- Nick Bostrom is the philosopher who put superintelligence on the map. His 2014 book defined the field, and his recent Deep Utopia asks the harder question: what is life for once machines can do everything better than us?- In this episode of Sparks, he tells [Host] that we don't have superintelligence yet but are seeing limited forms of AGI, that frontier labs using AI to accelerate their own research could trigger recursive self-improvement, and that he can no…
31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
India just carved its name into the history of space.In this episode of SparX by Mukesh Bansal, we sit down with Pawan Chandana, Co-founder & CEO of Skyroot Aerospace, just days after the company achieved a historic milestone - becoming the first private Indian company to successfully launch a satellite into orbit on its very first attempt.Chapters0:00 - Introduction 0:59 – History, Made in India06:14 – The Cold Message That Started It All 09:34 – The Lowest Point: COVID and the Investors Who Believed 12:38 – Building Rockets Was Illegal? 15:10 – The 20-Something Team launching rockets in…
E133 · 11 Jul 2026 · 35 min
Can India build the next SpaceX? From building satellites at just 19 years old to founding Dhruva Space , one of India's pioneering private space companies, Sanjay Nekkanti shares the incredible journey behind India's emerging space revolution. In this episode of SparX , we explore how India's decades of investment through ISRO laid the foundation for a new generation of private space startups that are now building world-class technology designed, engineered, and manufactured in India. In this episode you'll learn: How Sanjay built satellites while still a student Why India's Chandrayaan…
E132 · 27 Jun 2026 · 52 min
Tanay built a 72% habit-forming product that changed how millions compute. In 12 months, Wispr Flow went from side project to 40% MoM growth, beating OpenAI's model, while staying obsessively focused on one thing. Inside: how to build products people can't live without, why focus kills you if you lose it, and what happens when a 28-year-old founder thinks from first principles instead of copying Silicon Valley playbooks.
E131 · 13 Jun 2026 · 52 min
Legendary venture capitalist Vinod Khosla joins Mukesh Bansal on SparX, for one of the most wide-ranging and provocative conversations on the future of technology, investing, and humanity. Vinod makes bold claims: AI will replace doctors within 5 years, colleges as we know them are obsolete, space-based data centers don't make sense, India's IT and BPO industry faces an existential threat - and yet, AI may be the greatest opportunity India has ever seen. And ultimately, AI will free humanity from servitude to survival. In this episode, Vinod shares his contrarian investment philosophy,…
E130 · 30 May 2026 · 49 min
Is AI the biggest scam of our generation — or the most misunderstood technology in history? Cognitive scientist Gary Marcus has been studying artificial intelligence for over 30 years, and what he has to say will make you question everything you thought you knew about ChatGPT, AGI, and the trillion dollar AI gold rush. In this episode of SparX, we are talking with Gary Marcus – professor, author, and one of the most respected and fiercely independent voices in AI research – about why the promises being made by Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, and Elon Musk may be leading the global economy toward a…
E129 · 16 May 2026 · 55 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Peter Diamandis to break down the future of AI, abundance, exponential technology, and the massive shift happening right now in business, society, and humanity itself. If you’ve been wondering how artificial intelligence, AI agents, automation, and emerging technologies will impact entrepreneurs, creators, and the global economy… this interview is a must-watch. Peter shares why we are entering one of the greatest windows of opportunity in history, how creators will thrive while consumers fall behind, and what mindset is required to win…
E128 · 2 May 2026 · 42 min
Mukesh Bansal hasn't written code in 20 years. In the last 60 days, he built two fully functional websites, an iOS app integrating four frontier AI models, and a working health tracker — live, on camera, in under an hour. This isn't your usual conversation about AI. It's a live demonstration of what's possible right now. In this solo episode of SparX, Mukesh shares his unfiltered journey from non-technical founder to hands-on builder — and why he believes the distinction between "tech" and "non-tech" has permanently ceased to exist. He walks through everything he's built using Claude Code,…
E127 · 18 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
What does it look like when a Google VP, a Flipkart CTO, and a 30-year technology veteran stop managing people — and start building again with AI? In this episode of SparX , Mukesh Bansal (Founder of Myntra & Cult.fit) speaks with Peeyush Ranjan (former VP of Engineering at Google Pay and Group CTO of Flipkart) about what’s actually happening inside companies as AI agents begin to reshape how products are built. This isn’t a conversation about the future of AI.It’s about what’s already happening — in their companies, on their laptops, and in the way builders are now working. This is a…
E125 · 4 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
What happens when the most powerful technology ever built is also the one nobody fully understands - including its creators? Connor Leahy, US Director of Control AI and one of the clearest thinkers in the AI safety space, joins Mukesh Bansal for a conversation that cuts through the hype and lands somewhere far more unsettling: we may have two to five years before AI systems cross a threshold we cannot reverse. This isn't a doom scroll. It's a strategic briefing. In this episode of SparX, Connor breaks down why the race to superintelligence is a national security issue, not a technology one…
14 Mar 2026 · 59 min
In this episode of SparX, we sit down with Priyamvada Natarajan, theoretical astrophysicist at Yale University and author of the acclaimed book "Mapping the Heavens", for a wide-ranging conversation about black holes, dark matter, alien life, and the future of modern astrophysics. From her early fascination with science to her years at MIT and her groundbreaking research at Yale, Priyamvada takes us through the ideas and experiences that shaped one of the most compelling minds in contemporary science. In this conversation, she breaks down the search for life beyond Earth, the discovery of…
E125 · 22 Feb 2026 · 59 min
In this episode of SparX, we speak to Roman Yampolskiy, a leading AI safety researcher and professor of computer science, about the risks of creating superintelligence and whether humanity is prepared for what may come next. Roman argues that we may be closer to human-level AI than many assume, and that permanently controlling a system more intelligent than humans could prove fundamentally impossible. He lays out why some researchers believe development should slow down, and why the window for meaningful intervention may be narrowing. Roman discusses the rapid acceleration toward AGI, early…
31 Jan 2026 · 53 min
In this episode of SparX, we speak with Neelkanth Mishra one of the leading voices of India Semiconductor Mission. He talks about India’s semiconductor journey from the origins of the Semiconductor Mission to the realities of execution and global competition.He breakdown how the semiconductor ecosystem works, why entry barriers are so high, and what India’s roadmap looks like today. The conversation also explores Micron’s entry into India, early implementation learnings, India’s geopolitical advantage, and the question of whether the country can truly challenge global leaders like NVIDIA.If…
17 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Emad Mostaque about the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence and how it could fundamentally reshape work, daily life, and global power over the next decade.Emad breaks down why AI is advancing faster than any previous technology, the role of data, scale, and open-source systems in driving this shift, and what it means for jobs, companies, and countries racing to stay relevant. From the rise of AI-first organizations to how life may look by 2030, this conversation offers a clear, unsentimental view of the future that’s already…
27 Dec 2025 · 58 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Stanford behavior scientist B.J. Fogg about how habits are designed, how they break, and the science that governs lasting behavior change. With over 30 years of research in behavior science, Fogg is the creator of the Tiny Habits method and the author of Tiny Habits, widely regarded as one of the most practical frameworks for building habits in real life. He has taught at Stanford since the mid-1990s and has personally coached tens of thousands of people in applying behavior design at scale. If you’re looking for a grounded, evidence-based…
E120 · 13 Dec 2025 · 55 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukeshl sits down with, Debjani Ghosh, leader of the Frontier Tech Hub within NITI Aayog for a critical discussion. They dive deep into India's technological future, the existential role of AI in national growth, and the dramatic changes impacting careers and geopolitics. Debjani, who brings a unique perspective from 21 years at Intel and leadership at NASSCOM, discusses her experience driving change from within the government and why technology is now the "axis of power" globally.
E119 · 29 Nov 2025 · 53 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with economist and policy thinker Neelkanth Mishra to unpack why he believes this is the true golden age of Indian entrepreneurship. They talk about: Falling cost of capital and a stronger banking system expanding access to debt and equity. Massive domestic flows via SIPs, EPFO, and insurance fueling startups and exits. Policy shifts in GST, decriminalization, and state reforms that slowly ease doing business. The next wave beyond internet startups: fintech, precision manufacturing, hardware, semiconductors, and data centers. The next wave of…
E118 · 15 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 10 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Sanjeev Bikhchandani, founder of Info Edge (Naukri.com), the man who quietly built the foundation of India’s internet economy. From bootstrapping Naukri for 10 years without a salary to backing iconic startups like Zomato and Policybazaar, Sanjeev’s story is a masterclass in patience, conviction, and timing. He reflects on his early dreams of entrepreneurship in the 1970s, quitting his stable job in the 80s for independence, surviving the dot-com bubble, and helping shape India’s startup ecosystem. They talk about: How Naukri was born…
E117 · 31 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Peeyush Bansal, Co-founder and CEO of Lenskart. They dive into Peeyush’s journey from building early ventures to creating one of India’s most impactful consumer brands. How his mission to solve India’s vision crisis became a movement to make eyewear accessible for all. They talk about: Why India remains the blind capital of the world. The untapped opportunity in the eye correction market. Crises and hard choices that shaped Lenskart’s growth. Why putting the customer first isn’t a strategy, but a survival skill. How to build with purpose…
27 Oct 2025 · 56 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal talks with Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology and former Director of IIT Kanpur. They break down how India can build core technology at home, move research from labs to real products, and grow deep tech in AI, quantum, space, biotech, energy and medical tech. They speak about: How capital will be deployed through trusted second-level fund managers like AIFs, DFIs, TDB, BIRAC and IIT research parks Priority areas, from energy transition to biotech, quantum, robotics, space and defence tech The path from basic…
11 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind. They discuss how artificial intelligence is evolving, what it means to build truly inclusive AI, and why India must aim higher in research, innovation, and ambition. Manish shares DeepMind’s vision of solving “root node problems,” fundamental scientific challenges that unlock breakthroughs across fields, and how AI is already accelerating discovery in areas like biology, materials, and medicine. They talk about: What AGI really means and how close we are to it. Why India needs to move from…
4 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
In this episode of SparX , Mukesh Bansal sits down with Roopa Kudva , former head of CRISIL and Omidyar Network India, to discuss her new book Leadership Beyond the Playbook and her powerful reflections on leadership. Roopa shares why leadership is not about following fixed frameworks but about writing your own playbook, shaped by values, lived experiences, and conscious choices. They explore: The toughest transition from middle to top management and why so few make it How leaders can build breadth of experience and step out of silos Why authenticity and developing your unique leadership…
27 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal takes a hard look at the state of India’s deep tech ecosystem. While the world races ahead with AI, semiconductors, and frontier science, India is at a crossroads: will we be creators of technology, or just consumers? Mukesh argues that true deep tech is only possible when rooted in deep science, a culture of research, curiosity, and discovery. He unpacks why India risks being left behind if we don’t invest in science the way the US, Europe, and China have, and what it will take for India to build original IP, Nobel-worthy science, and globally…
20 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Rana Adhikari, experimental physicist at Caltech and leading voice in gravitational-wave research. From doubting Einstein as a student to helping build the LIGO detectors that confirmed his theories, Rana has been honoured with the Breakthrough Prize, Gruber Prize, and the New Horizons in Physics Prize. They dive into: What gravitational waves really are, and how LIGO measures distortions smaller than an atom. The story behind LIGO’s breakthrough detections which is now catching 2–3 black hole mergers every week. Why LIGO-India, now…
13 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Raghuram Rajan (Former RBI Governor) on India’s economic crossroads, tariff wars, shifting geopolitics, AI disruption, and the urgent need for jobs and human capital investment. They discuss: India’s position between the U.S. and China. The real impact of tariffs on trade, GDP, and livelihoods. Why 7.8% GDP growth isn’t the full story. The jobs crisis and AI’s disruption of tech roles. Building human capital: world-class universities, R&D, and upskilling. Strategic autonomy in AI and reducing vulnerabilities. Dr. Rajan’s message to India’s…
6 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Sharad Sharma, one of the key minds behind Aadhaar and UPI. Sharad shares why he left a successful corporate career to focus on nation building, and how India can avoid becoming a trade colony of China or a tech colony of the US by doubling down on deep tech and research-driven innovation. They discuss: - The origins of India Stack and Digital Public Infrastructure. - How UPI really scaled and the lessons for entrepreneurs. - Why India must build a strong R&D and product innovation ecosystem. - The urgent need for new research institutions,…
Welcome to Sparx, the show that empowers you with the latest research, strategies and tools to help you achieve exponential impact in every aspect of your life. Whether you're looking to advance your career, improve your relationships, leave a mark on the world or simply become the best version of yourself, this is where you need to start.
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