Panoptic Conversations

About Panoptic Conversations

Listen in on Tapan and Ishan discussing various interesting topics they come across in their lives. This podcast is a collection of their telephonic conversations. Stay tuned for spontaneous episodes every week.

Publisher

Tapan and Ishan

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Jun 2021

Latest episode

7 Jul 2025

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Jul 2025

   Charu M: Urban Design, Indian Cities and Bureaucratic Adventures

   Urban designer Charu M. discusses her experiences shaping Indian cityscapes and navigating bureaucratic challenges, including innovative solutions like using shipping containers for tourist amenities, in this interview episode.

2. 

   26 Aug 2024

   Hardik Madhiwalla: CA, Policy Making and Impact Consulting

   In this episode of Panoptic Conversations, we sit down with the ever-impressive Hardik Madhiwalla. A Chartered Accountant with experience at Big Four firms like EY and a stint with the Tamil Nadu government , Hardik is now gearing up for a major leap—pursuing his master's and PhD in finance in the US. 🏛️ We explore many fascinating career paths for a CA, delving into the challenges and opportunities that come with working at prestigious firms and within the government sector. Hardik shares his journey, from navigating corporate corridors to influencing policy-making at the state and central level! Expect insights on the intersection of finance, governance, and the academic pursuits that lie ahead for him. Whether you're an aspiring CA, a policy enthusiast, or just curious about the diverse paths a finance career can take, this episode is packed with knowledge, experiences, and plenty of thought-provoking moments. 🎙️ Opportunities 📈 Social Change Fellowship (https://acumenacademy.org/fellowship/ (https://acumenacademy.org/fellowship/)) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Fellowship (https://www.tn.gov.in/tncmfp/ (https://www.tn.gov.in/tncmfp/)) mByom (https://mbyom.com/join-our-team (https://mbyom.com/join-our-team)) GDI Partners (https://www.gdipartners.in/ (https://www.gdipartners.in/)) Brij Disa Center for Data Science and AI (https://www.iima.ac.in/faculty-research/centers/Brij-Disa-Centre-for-Data-Science-and-Artificial-Intelligence (https://www.iima.ac.in/faculty-research/centers/Brij-Disa-Centre-for-Data-Science-and-Artificial-Intelligence)) Resources 📖 Account Aggregator Network (https://sahamati.org.in/ (https://sahamati.org.in/)) 2024 Union Budget - Credit Support Scheme for MSMEs (https://www.business-standard.com/budget/news/budget-announces-package-for-msmes-to-make-them-globally-competitive-124072301421_1.html (https://www.business-standard.com/budget/news/budget-announces-package-for-msmes-to-make-them-globally-competitive-124072301421_1.html)) Too long? Jump to your favourite part (00:53) Who is Hardik? (05:41) What, Why and How of CA (43:24) Working as a Consultant (53:30) Tax India: Citizen vs the State (01:19:42) Tamil Nadu days: Cultural Shift, Bureaucracy and more! (01:42:18) Gory Government Policy Implementation Details (02:28:48) Research in Finance

3. 

   29 Jul 2024

   Pranit Kulkarni: Inside Indian Law, Legal Life and Stories

   In this episode of Panoptic Conversations, we hang out with our incredibly talented friend Pranit Kulkarni. Not only is he a counsel at the Bombay High Court ⚖️, but he also holds a master's degree in Law from University of Cambridge, bachelor's in Law from IIT Kharagpur and has an engineering background—talk about versatile! 🎓 We dive headfirst into the labyrinth of India's legal system, breaking down its structure and the unique challenges it throws at budding lawyers. Pranit spills the beans on his journey from the world of engines and cars to courtrooms and case files. Get ready for some insider tips, courtroom anecdotes, and a peek into the life of a modern-day lawyer. 🕵️♂️ Whether you're a law geek or just curious about the legal world, this episode is packed with insights, laughter, and a few surprises.🎙️ Read about Indian laws ⚖️ 1. https://www.indiacode.nic.in/ 2. https://sansad.in/phistory#mainContent 3. https://njdg.ecourts.gov.in/njdgnew/index.php Books 📖 1. Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India (https://amzn.in/d/0fxI7Ihx) 2. Roses in December- an autobiography (https://amzn.in/d/0ehRLElf) 3. Judges of the Supreme Court of India (https://amzn.in/d/01YoFyho) 4. Supreme Whispers (https://amzn.in/d/06wWXZd0) Games 🎮 1. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Too long? Jump to your favourite part (0:00) Pranit's Intro (02:36) Peculiarities of Indian Judicial System (6:44) Process of Law and Solving a Case (13:40) The Many Different Courts of Justice (18:59) Writ Jurisdiction of the High Court (20:53) Benches of High Courts (26:37) Colonial Hangover and Changing the System (28:15) Common Law vs Civil Law (34:11) Law and History (35:56) What's a Privy Council? (38:13) Visit to Cambridge and Historic Buildings (42:00) Masters at Cambridge (43:25) What Made You Choose Law? (46:59) Prominent Institutes for Law (47:54) What is Taught at Law School? (49:22) Engineer vs Lawyer (54:19) Patent Law India vs the World (57:29) Different Types of IP Law (01:00:16) Notable Cases from Personal Experience (01:03:13) Common Trademark Infringement Cases (01:06:49) Caveat Emptor or Responsibility of Consumer (01:08:29) Career in Law (01:12:35) Importance of Tags and Internships in Early Career Law (01:15:42) How to Decide if Law is for You? (01:17:43) Financial Realities of a Career in Law (01:25:24) Old Wine in New Bottle - Reform in Indian Law (01:29:15) Constitution is the Foundation, New Laws are the Apartments (01:34:27) Basic Structure of the Constitution (01:37:12) Law College Fun (01:39:39) Impact of Technology on Practice of Law (01:43:20) Reading List of Avid Law Enthusiasts (01:49:23) AI in Law (01:57:05) Amul Domain Name Scam: Challenges in Enforcing Technology Law (02:03:09) Responsibility of the Court and Impact of Decisions (02:06:33) What is a Day in the Life of a Lawyer? (02:09:54) Emotions of a lawyer (02:10:51) Lawyers: Morals vs Duty (02:16:33) Lawyers and Fun? (02:18:41) Closing Remarks and Advice for Young Lawyers

4. 

   25 Sept 2022

   Disha Paul: Mental Heath, Psychology and City Life

   For this Panoptic Conversation, our special guest is Disha Paul, a dear friend from school. Having completed her BA and MS in psychology she's a trained psychologist 👩⚕️. Through our meandering conversation, we explore the mental health profession, its challenges and relevance in the modern context. Disha also shares how she got fascinated with psychology, her experience as a young professional and also busts a bunch of myths and stereotypes along the way. 👂 Join in on our fun and informative chat, from mental health to city life in various metros (with Disha espousing her undying love for Kolkata 😆). ToC: (0:00) Introductions (3:14) Who are mental health professionals (6:30) School times; A budding interest (13:45) College times; What did I learn... 🤔 (18:00) Would I recommend psychologist as a career... (22:00) Inter-sectional psychology. Therapy with a cause. (27:15) Money talks 🤑 (34:30) Getting started as a professional (40:00) State of mental health; an on-ground perspective (51:00) Should you go for therapy? (55:30) Bade bade sheher mein, badi badi baatein 😂 (1:02:00) Tech in psychology (1:09:10) Bade bade sheher once again 🤣 (1:07:30) Hazards and misconceptions (1:27:00) Saying bye 👋 Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

5. 

   24 Apr 2022

   Anu Sharma: Traveller, Digital Nomad, and thevirgocompass

   In this episode of Panoptic Conversations, we meet Anu Sharma, part product manager, part Influencer, full traveler 😎. Our free flowing and lively conversation traces her journey (pun!) turning her passion from a once a year trip into a full time gig. ToC: (0:00) Introductions (6:30) Catching the travel bug (11:30) Taking the leap - moving to Manali 🥶 (19:30) Finding a following on Instagram (24:00) Are you a digital nomad? (30:20) Travel vlogging as a full time job (35:00) Influencer Diaries: Content strategy 📸 (46:00) Influencer Diaries: Rapid fire round (55:20) Pro lessons in dissecting a travel itinerary (1:04:00) Safety concerns as a solo female traveler (1:15:00) Kolkata stories (1:18:00) Managing as a vegetarian traveler (1:26:20) Ending thoughts Checkout her handles and share widely.: * https://www.instagram.com/thevirgocompass (https://www.instagram.com/thevirgocompass) * https://www.youtube.com/c/TheVirgoCompass (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheVirgoCompass) Anu recently crossed 20k followers on her Instagram page! Congratulations! 🎊. Music: Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5050-wholesome License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

6. 

   13 Feb 2022

   Aashay Mehta: GRE, Masters and Sports

   Welcome to the second season of Panoptic Conversations with Tapan and Ishan. Woohoo, feels good to be back! In this season we will have unscripted discussions with our peers and friends who inspire us and we will try to get a sneak peek into their lives. As our first guest we have Aashay Mehta, our dear friend from BITS Pilani. Aashay is that guy in your college with excellent academic record and yet ever so humble. With a perfect score of 340 in GRE, we discuss Aashay's thoughts on GRE preparations, university selections and most importantly, is Masters abroad worth it? We also deep dive into some interesting topics like the higher education system and end it with some sports banter. We had lots of fun during the conversation, hope you enjoy it too. Cheers! ToC: (0:00) - Introduction (1:30) - GRE prep (19:50) - Choosing university for MS (34:00) - Measuring up academics and industry (42:00) - Aashay and sports (48:00) - Travel experiences (partly ruined by COVID!) Links: 1. Word Power Made Easy - Norman Lewis (https://www.amazon.in/Word-Power-Made-Norman-Lewis/dp/8183071007) 2. How Music Got Free - Stephen Witt (https://www.amazon.in/How-Music-Free-Stephen-Witt/dp/0099590077/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25VP76AFCEC25&keywords=how+music+became+free&qid=1644777483&s=books&sprefix=how+music+became+free%2Cstripbooks%2C358&sr=1-1) Live Update: Aashay just received admits from top US universities. Congratulations!

7. 

   12 Sept 2021

   Content discovery and introspection

   It has been a long journey and an exciting one to record and release 10 episodes of Panoptic Conversations. In this episode , the last one of the first season, Tapan and Ishan discuss the purpose of starting this podcast i.e their audio journal. They dive deep into analytics of their podcast and go through various metrics displayed on the distribution platform dashboard. They also discuss about the problem of discovery of podcasts and good content on the web in general. Stay tuned to get a glimpse of the second season, it's going to be fun.

8. 

   29 Aug 2021

   Making LinkedIn connections and statistical paradoxes

   Tapan and Ishan stumble upon statistical paradoxes in this recording of Panoptic Conversations. They are fascinated by the social network phenomenon that your friends have more friends than you and how, of all things, they'll use this to optimize their LinkedIn connections. They also talk about Simpon's paradox, Zipf's Law, Six degrees of separation and the hilarious Kevin Bacon number. Tune in to this episode and be introduced to an eclectic set of paradoxes and trivia. Links: Why your friends have more friends than you (https://towardsdatascience.com/how-simulating-social-networks-revealed-why-i-have-no-friends-and-also-no-free-time-a61dec4d677a) Facebook: Degrees of Separation (https://research.fb.com/blog/2016/02/three-and-a-half-degrees-of-separation/) Simpson's paradox (https://youtu.be/t-Ci3FosqZs) Zipf's Mystery (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCn8zs912OE) Oracle of Bacon (https://oracleofbacon.org/)

9. 

   15 Aug 2021

   AI voices and virtual celebrities

   In this recording of Panoptic Conversations, Tapan and Ishan share their fascination for AI voice technology and it's possibilities. From virtual influencers to podcast editing tools using AI voice and from cloning Amitabh Bachan's voice to startups coming up with innovating ways to protect voices, they discuss everything in between. Tune into this episode to hear this informative conversation on this fascinating new technology. Links Guide to synthetic and AI voice (https://www.voices.com/blog/guide-synthetic-ai-human-voice-brand/) Witcher 3 mod using AI voice (https://www.gamesradar.com/amp/witcher-3-mod-uses-ai-to-create-new-voice-lines-without-geralts-original-voice-actor/) Preventing voice fraud (https://thehustle.co/pindrop-funding-round-alexa-salesforce-siri/) Virtual influencers (https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/6/3/18647626/instagram-virtual-influencers-lil-miquela-ai-startups) AI Voice actors (https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/07/09/1028140/ai-voice-actors-sound-human/) Vernacular.ai (//vernacular.ai)

10. 

    1 Aug 2021

    Elon Musk, Tesla and Green Tech

    Elon Musk. The name needs no introduction. In this recording of Panoptic Conversations, Tapan and Ishan discuss about the companies led by this social media hype machine. They focus on Tesla and how it has ushered us into an era of "Electronic Cars" from traditional "Mechanical Cars". However, is this fairy tale success story a coverup PR operation? Is there any trouble in paradise? Tapan and Ishan go through the latest criticisms faced by Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk. They also delve into Green Tech and progress made in India with some examples from around the world. Links Criticism of Tesla (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Tesla,_Inc) Musk's Wealth : To the Moon? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_0geClYYJI) Tesla ex-CTO's new company (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/10/tesla-jb-straubel-redwood-materials-battery-recycling.html) Braking News (https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2021/01/08/tesla-brakes/) EV Scooter Race (https://www.fortuneindia.com/enterprise/the-big-electric-scooter-battle/105440) Geopolitics of Lithium (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/lithium-not-oil-clean-energy-revolution-will-reshape-global-geopolitics-178857) Singapore's Farms of the Future (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ueVw83Plec)

11. 

    18 Jul 2021

    The Rashomon Effect

    How do you know what's true? Is there a single truth? In this recording of Panoptic Conversations, Tapan and Ishan discuss the critically acclaimed movie, "Rashomon", directed by Akira Kurosawa in 1950. They talk about the confusing yet engaging story which gave birth to a number of "firsts" in the film industry. With an open ended plot, the only conclusion that can be drawn from the movie is about the fallibilities of human nature. They observe Rashomon's influence in modern cinema and compare it with various Hollywood as well as Bollywood releases. This also leads to a possible solution to finding truth as they cite sci-fi series, "Black Mirror"'s episodes. Links The Rashomon Effect (https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/195-the-rashomon-effect) How do you know what's true? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg5y6Ao7VE4) Movies : A fistful of dollars, Django, Yojimbo, Vantage Point, Talvar (2015) TV Series : Black Mirror (Nosedive, Crocodile)

12. 

    4 Jul 2021

    Biofuels, Healthcare and What data can't do

    In the early 2000s UK hospitals gamed the very policy made to govern them, how did that happen? What could have caused the COVID figures misreporting in many Indian states? Do we really know if bio-fuels are carbon neutral? Tapan and Ishan discuss these questions in the context of the Hannah Fry's article "What data can't do". They don't find a lot of answers, but still uncover interesting insights about the shortcomings of data. Links: "What data can't do" by Hannah Fry - https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/29/what-data-cant-do (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/03/29/what-data-cant-do) "The truth about biofuels" - https://youtu.be/OpEB6hCpIGM (https://youtu.be/OpEB6hCpIGM) An analysis of ethanol production - https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/files/ethanolnetenergy.pdf (https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/files/ethanolnetenergy.pdf) Moral Hazard in Health Insurance - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6128379/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6128379/)

13. 

    27 Jun 2021

    The exciting world of indie games

    In this phone call, Tapan and Ishan talk about the games they've played last year. They share some of their favourite indie games that they cherish and highly recommend to everybody. Games Baba is You - a critically acclaimed, highly awarded but most importantly super fun and challenging 2d puzzler game Katana Zero - an slick atmospheric, hack and slash, rogue-like platformer that makes the player feel like a true samurai god Super Hot - a unique game that pushed the boundaries of what an FPS can be with it's unique time-bending mechanics and meta story line Mini metro - A beautiful looking metro simulator that makes the player manage a vast connected network of metro lines Others What is an Indie game? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_game) Blood, Sweat and Pixels (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34376766-blood-sweat-and-pixels): A book on the stories behind some of the most important games of the past two decades. It's a Gamer's Christmas (https://youtu.be/Wt-qH7IQMV4): A chill song that captures the lockdown Christmas feeling of 2020 Rktcr (http://tchow.com/games/rktcr/): A self proclaimed "physics-based side-view action-platformer-turned-puzzle-platformer"

14. 

    20 Jun 2021

    Disneyland, Fortnite and digital theme parks

    In this recording of Panoptic Conversations, Tapan and Ishan talk about their experience playing sandbox games like Minecraft and Roblox. Their conversations leads them to the idea of digital theme parks, which is incepted by Matthew Ball's excellent blog post on that topic. They discuss the nature of digital theme park platforms, from it's historical context in physical theme parks to its modern relevance for media businesses built around intellectual property, as a space where people can create anything and every experience is unique. Articles and blog post links: Digital Theme Park platforms: https://www.matthewball.vc/all/digitalthemeparkplatforms (https://www.matthewball.vc/all/digitalthemeparkplatforms) Fortnite party royale concert: https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/8/21423004/fortnite-party-royale-concert-series-dominic-fike (https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/8/21423004/fortnite-party-royale-concert-series-dominic-fike) Coronavirus hurting theme parks: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/12/coronavirus-hurt-theme-parks-costing-disney-2point4-billion.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/12/coronavirus-hurt-theme-parks-costing-disney-2point4-billion.html) Stay tuned for more spontaneous conversations every week!

15. 

    13 Jun 2021

    Internet fame, meme NFTs and million dollar webpage

    In this episode of Panoptic Conversations, Tapan and Ishan share their fascination of internet culture, cryptocurrencies and people who have on rare occasions brought these two together. They talk about Zoë Roth who auctioned her photograph using NFTs, popularly recognized as the "Disaster Girl" meme template, for about $500,000 and about Alex Tew who sold every single pixel of a webpage for $1 million in 2006. This led them to an interesting conversation around the internet fame, ideas around virtual assets, NFTs with their problems, and the famous Winklevoss twins. Primary Links: Woman in Disaster Girl meme sells original photo as NFT for $500,000: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/30/disaster-girl-meme-nft-sale-zoe-roth (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/30/disaster-girl-meme-nft-sale-zoe-roth) How the Million Dollar Homepage kid became the $250m app man: https://thehustle.co/million-dollar-homepage-alex-tew (https://thehustle.co/million-dollar-homepage-alex-tew) Secondary Links: NFT mania is here, and so are the scammers: https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/20/22334527/nft-scams-artists-opensea-rarible-marble-cards-fraud-art (https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/20/22334527/nft-scams-artists-opensea-rarible-marble-cards-fraud-art) Winklevoss brothers: https://www.forbesindia.com/article/cross-border/winklevoss-brothers-they-say-facebook-was-their-idea-but-they-lost-the-battle-for-ownership-now-they-are-bitcoin-billionaires/67649/1 (https://www.forbesindia.com/article/cross-border/winklevoss-brothers-they-say-facebook-was-their-idea-but-they-lost-the-battle-for-ownership-now-they-are-bitcoin-billionaires/67649/1) El Salvador Becomes First Country to Approve Bitcoin as Legal Tender: https://www.wsj.com/articles/el-salvador-becomes-first-country-to-approve-bitcoin-as-legal-tender-11623234476 (https://www.wsj.com/articles/el-salvador-becomes-first-country-to-approve-bitcoin-as-legal-tender-11623234476) I Accidentally Became A Meme: Hide The Pain Harold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3WnvDtDD2M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3WnvDtDD2M) The Pet Rock Captured a Moment and Made Its Creator a Millionaire: https://abcnews.go.com/US/pet-rock-captured-moment-made-creator-millionaire/story?id=30041318 (https://abcnews.go.com/US/pet-rock-captured-moment-made-creator-millionaire/story?id=30041318) Stay tuned for more spontaneous episodes every week!

16. 

    6 Jun 2021

    First 1000 and 1000 true fans

    In this episode of Panoptic Conversations, Tapan and Ishan discuss how Instagram and Discord got their first 1000 customers as covered in the "First 1000" newsletter by Ali Abouelatta. They also relate this with the "1000 True Fans" article by Kevin Kelly. Primary Links: "First1000" by Ali Abouelatta: https://first1000.substack.com/ (https://first1000.substack.com/) "1000 True Fans" by Kevin Kelly: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ (https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/) Secondary Links: Instagram's First 1000: https://first1000.substack.com/p/-instagram-in-1-minute (https://first1000.substack.com/p/-instagram-in-1-minute) Discord's First 1000: https://first1000.substack.com/p/-discord (https://first1000.substack.com/p/-discord) Early Adopter Effect in Social Media: https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/the-early-adopter-effect-social-marketing-strategy-isnt-as-important-as-getting-there-first/articleshow/34487150.cms (https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/the-early-adopter-effect-social-marketing-strategy-isnt-as-important-as-getting-there-first/articleshow/34487150.cms) Hackers hack unique twitter handle: https://medium.com/@N/how-i-lost-my-50-000-twitter-username-24eb09e026dd (https://medium.com/@N/how-i-lost-my-50-000-twitter-username-24eb09e026dd) The Long Tail: https://www.wired.com/2004/10/tail/ (https://www.wired.com/2004/10/tail/) Stay tuned for more spontaneous episodes every week!

17. 

    5 Jun 2021

    Audio Journal sounds cool

    During one of the phone calls, Tapan and Ishan decide to record their conversations and thoughts behind their wide-ranging discussions. "Panoptic Conversations" is born.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

3.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

30

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.