Varun Mayya

What Consciousness is according to Modern Science (2019)

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Cero means "Zero" in Spanish.

Uploaded 12-07-19

Business was my gateway drug to philosophy and understanding humans.
In these short podcasts, let's talk black holes, computing, physics, business and philosophy, and let's try to keep it short.

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At the end of the day, everything from product to marketing to sales is fundamentally about psychology.
I spend a lot of time reading research papers and running experiments in the neurosciences lab and on people.
On Instagram, I've noticed how putting out any advanced content on this type of research gets me lower engagement - so I'm going to reserve that platform to put up motivational quotes and updates, and use this playlist to put out content for people to really win at this game of life.

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How to obtain Optimum Neurotransmission

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:00:00 -0000

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10 Projects I've Built and 1 Thing I Learned From Each

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Overhaul your legacy code with https://modelcode.ai/morph
Use my code "VARUNMAYYA" to get 50% off your first year!

Uploaded 27-06-26

In this video, we look back at 10 projects we built over the last 19 years, from early startups and games to AI products, content businesses, and everything in between. Some of them worked, some failed, some got acquired, and some taught lessons that ended up shaping everything we do today.

We talk about what it was like building products in very different eras of the internet, how our thinking changed over time, and why distribution, timing, and execution often mattered more than the technology itself. Along the way, we discuss projects like Jobspire, Avalon Scenes, God-in-a-Box, AI Avatars, Autocode Pro, Video Vault, and Unleash The Avatar, sharing what went right, what went wrong, and what we’d do differently if we were starting today.

More than anything, this is a conversation about experimentation. Why running lots of small bets teaches you more than chasing one perfect idea, how to think about competition, product-market fit, and timing, and why many of the lessons that built AEOS today came from projects that never became big businesses. If you’re building something of your own, or trying to figure out what to build next, there’s probably something here for you.

00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Jobspire
05:08 - Avalon Scenes
11:24 - Wolfang
13:18 - Mumbai Main Ek Haadsa
15:19 - God In A Box
18:22 - AI Avatar
23:23 - Autocode Pro
27:53 - VideoVault
31:10 - Unleash The Avatar
40:23 - Aeos

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Why Apple won and Kodak lost

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0000

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Instagram is the best example of the Peak Shift effect

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:45:00 -0000

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Build a personal website WITHOUT CODING in under 30 minutes!

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:00:00 -0000

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram!
http://instagram.com/thevarunmayya

Uploaded 06-08-18

With Webflow, the time I take to build a website has dropped from a few weeks to a few hours.

A personal website is your calling card - it will replace business cards, resumes and even the way you introduce yourself.

In this video, we'll learn how to build a personal website from scratch, without the need to write code. You'll learn the basics of HTML and CSS without the need to actually write any. The possibilities of what you can create are endless!

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Don't lie

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:00:00 -0000

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How to Think Like Rich People (1 Hour Masterclass)

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 17:00:00 -0000

In this Kata, we discuss wealth, risk, and how rich people think about money and constraints. We talk about how money changes the way you think about time, attention, risk, and opportunity. We look at why some expenses are worth paying when they remove a major problem, and why the real question is often not “how much does this cost?” but “what does this give me back?”

Uploaded 14-08-26

We also discuss ownership, investing, and why building wealth is ultimately about separating your time and energy from the money you create. Along the way, we look at how wealthy people think about risk, where they choose to place their bets, and how they decide what is actually worth owning.

Finally, we talk about opportunity, access, and how to think about the things that limit you. The goal is not simply to have more money, but to use it in ways that give you more time, freedom, and room to do the things that matter.

00:00 - Intro
02:39 - "Blinking" — teleporting into people's minds
03:48 - What rich people actually want
08:36 - Traits of every successful person
14:34 - The 4 wealth zones
15:23 - ₹1 Cr — security and status
18:26 - ₹10 Cr — freedom and recognition
22:57 - ₹100 Cr — influence and access
30:15 - ₹1,000 Cr — legacy and trust
36:56 - Free market participation
39:53 - Rich people buy freedom, not things
48:31 - How the rich take risks
54:55 - How to actually reach the rich
1:02:06 - Trust and proximity to power
1:10:35 - Final summary

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Session games people play

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 16:00:00 -0000

Down the rabbit hole we go

Uploaded 12-07-19

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The Most Valuable Skill After AI

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 15:00:00 -0000

In this secret Kata, we start by talking about world-building and why creating your own world can sometimes be a better way to think about life and business than simply following the paths that already exist.

Uploaded 12-09-26

We discuss why people often get risk completely wrong, either by being too scared to try anything or by taking massive bets without really thinking them through. We also talk about FOMO, social pressure, and why doing what everyone else thinks is safe does not always mean it actually is.

We then look at how we think about taking risks at AEOS, testing new ideas without betting the entire company on them, and knowing when to keep going versus when to shut something down.

The goal is not to avoid risk, but to understand it well enough to take bigger swings without unnecessarily destroying yourself if things go wrong.

00:00 - Intro
01:10 - What a Brand Actually Is
02:46 - What Triggered This Video
07:51 - The Four Worlds
10:07 - The Premise
11:15 - Characters
14:07 - Hierarchy and Power
17:47 - Entry and Access
20:07 - Language
23:43 - Rituals
28:25 - Shaming
32:21 - Mechanics and Laws
33:57 - Chance
35:21 - The Everyday
36:39 - Lore
40:02 - Forking
44:53 - Technology
47:16 - Eras
50:42 - Aesthetic and Style
53:10 - Exit Penalties
54:16 - Exposition vs Interpretation
58:02 - Story Machine
1:00:52 - Consistency
1:04:55 - Retcons
1:08:12 - Why World Building Makes You Successful
1:13:14 - World Building Is Your Only Moat
1:14:04 - Outro

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Reacting To Your Feedback On Unleash The Avatar

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 14:00:00 -0000

The new trailer for Unleash the Avatar has had an incredible response. It's gone viral with millions of views across India and China, and we're truly humbled by all the love and support.

Uploaded 30-06-26

But along with that, we also saw a lot of your feedback. So in this video, I'm going through some of the feedback you guys have shared, in the comments and in general on the internet. I'll show you what we've already fixed, what's intentional design and what we're still working on.

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"Indian Engineers Need to Wake Up." Nothing CEO on AI, India Plan and Future of Tech Jobs

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:45:00 -0000

In this conversation, we sit down with Carl Pei, founder of Nothing, to talk about how he built a phone company from scratch in a hypercompetitive market like India. We get into how Nothing stood out not by having the biggest budget but by noticing a simple thing: all the big brands were trying to sell to everyone, which meant nobody was really selling to anyone specific.

Uploaded 21-03-26

We then go deep on how a phone actually gets made, from deciding what the product stands for to managing hundreds of supplier relationships, keeping cash from getting stuck in inventory, and shipping on time when delays cost millions. Carl also talks about where Nothing is headed with AI, what Essential Apps is really pointing toward, and why he thinks the entire idea of an operating system is going to change completely within the next few years.

We then wrap up by talking about people and culture, why Carl brought everyone back to the office five days a week, what that did to the quality of hiring, and what he thinks the next few years mean for software engineers who are not actively paying attention. If you’re someone who wants to understand how a hardware startup actually competes, how Carl thinks about building for the long term, and where phones and AI are headed, this episode is absolutely worth your time.

00:00 – Introduction
02:16 – Breaking into a commodity market
05:08 – How Nothing plans to be uncopyable
06:25 – Beyond vibe coding
07:50 – The way we build software has changed
09:25 – The process of phone manufacturing
15:04 – Distribution strategy
21:50 – Why Nothing opened a physical store
25:32 – Nothing's content playbook
29:34 – First hires are never your best hires
35:27 – Carl Pei's learnings
41:19 – The OS that makes apps obsolete
46:50 – Closing Thoughts

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LinkedIn CEO on Which Jobs Will Matter in 5 Years, Getting Hired, Advice for Indians and More

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:00:00 -0000

In this conversation, I sat down with Daniel Shapero, CEO of LinkedIn, and got him to reverse engineer his entire career on a whiteboard. Yes, a whiteboard where he walks us through starting a company as a math student back in 1998, watching three startups collapse one after another, getting an MBA to regroup, spending four years at Bain doing due diligence on companies for private equity deals, and then landing at LinkedIn almost by luck, where he built a sales org from just himself to a team of 1,500 people before working his way up to COO and eventually CEO.

Uploaded 30-08-26

The whiteboard session also gets into the skills he didn't have at every stage, the people who took a bet on him when it mattered, and the decisions that looked reckless at the time but ended up defining his career.

We then get into where jobs are actually headed with AI. What should a 22 year old in India be doing right now. Which roles are quietly disappearing. Why entrepreneurship, healthcare, and data center jobs are booming while old-school skill sets are getting wiped out fast. Daniel pushes back on the "AI is cheating" mindset some people online have, explains why real skill still beats knowing how to prompt, gives advice to someone in their 40s who feels like they're falling behind, and talks about where LinkedIn is headed with video, short-form content, and paying creators directly.

00:00 Highlights
00:59 Reverse-Engineering the LinkedIn CEO’s Career
14:23 Becoming CEO After 18 Years at LinkedIn
16:28 What Changes When You Go from COO to CEO?
19:41 What Should a 22-Year-Old in India Do in the AI Era?
21:21 Which Industries Are Growing in India?
24:20 Does a College Degree Still Matter?
27:23 How LinkedIn Is Adapting to New AI-Era Jobs
29:08 Open to Work and the Changing Culture of Employment
31:31 How LinkedIn Makes Money and Why India Matters
33:10 How AI Agents Are Changing Job Applications and Hiring
36:33 Which Jobs Are Growing and Which Are Fading?
41:49 Are Colleges Leaving Graduates Behind on AI?
44:43 LinkedIn’s Strategy for Creators and Video
49:26 Closing Thoughts

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How I Manage Projects End To End (1 Hour Masterclass)

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0000

In this Kata, we break down how to manage projects when you don’t have all the answers from the start. We explain why traditional project management methods no longer work as well, how clarity comes from building instead of planning forever, and how we used Unleash the Avatar as a real example to develop our own way of managing projects.

Uploaded 05-08-26

We then walk through the entire process of turning a rough idea into a structured team. We cover how to decide what needs research, what already works, when to hire, when to outsource, when to invest in better tools, and how to use AI to keep large teams aligned. Along the way, we also share how we built different parts of Unleash the Avatar, from motion capture and photogrammetry to custom internal tools and playtesting.

Finally, we talk about how projects grow over time. We discuss getting feedback early, building the right team before scaling, avoiding expensive mistakes, and why every successful project is really a series of small experiments that slowly bring more clarity. Whether you’re building a startup, an app, a game, or any large project, the ideas in this Kata can be applied almost anywhere.

00:00 - Intro
02:04 - You Don't Know What You're Building (Low Resolution)
03:17 - Why Waterfall and Agile Are Outdated
05:45 - Set a Deadline to Decide
06:31 - Break Projects into Departments, Not Roles
08:17 - The Minimum Viable Team
09:43 - Sure Shot vs R and D
14:18 - Vertical Slicing: Alpha, Beta, Gold
15:58 - Building the High Resolution Team
18:03 - Case Study: Photogrammetry R and D
21:46 - When to Invest in Technology (The Math)
25:11 - Where AI Fits in Projects
27:50 - 5 Choices for Every Role
31:03 - Why Distribution Helps (Feedback, Talent, Mentors)
34:58 - Funding: Seed to Series B
36:46 - Success Metrics: Conversion, Wishlists and TAM
40:44 - The Playbook = Your Org Chart
42:12 - Closing Thoughts

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How Simplifying Everything Makes You Rich

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0000

In this Kata, we talk about why simplicity almost always beats complexity. We discuss why so many people assume that doing more, building more, or adding more systems leads to better results, when in reality it often creates confusion, slows teams down, and makes businesses harder to scale.

Uploaded 26-07-26

We also look at how great companies stay simple as they grow. We cover topics like delegation, team structure, decision making, reducing unnecessary work, and why the best managers focus on making things easier for everyone around them instead of adding more layers. Along the way, we share lessons from companies like Apple, Amazon, and our own experience building and scaling teams.

If you’re building a company, managing a team, or simply trying to work better, this Kata will give you a practical way to think about keeping things simple.

00:00 Intro
00:53 Why People Chase Complexity
02:43 Steve Jobs and the Power of Focus
05:20 Why Large Teams Become Inefficient
06:14 Jeff Bezos’ Two-Pizza Team Rule
09:31 Why You Shouldn’t Build Everything Yourself
11:50 Why Simple Ideas Perform Better
14:27 How Too Many Features Hurt Products
18:08 The Hidden Cost of Changing Systems
20:44 Why Engineers Overcomplicate Things
24:02 One Person, One Responsibility
25:49 Do It Manually Before Automating
27:11 Final Lessons for Managers
27:57 Final Takeaway

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Build What Moves India: Rules and How to Participate

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Submission Link : https://forms.gle/Uv4JM9o1YNJJhnjm6

Uploaded 21-08-26

We’ve finally kicked off Build What Moves India, and in this video, we go through exactly how the hackathon will work, what you need to build, and how your project will be judged. The focus is simple: take a public service platform, rethink it from the point of view of an everyday citizen, and build a working proof of concept with ideas that actually make the experience better.

We also cover the submission process, how the projects will be shortlisted, what the top 250 participants can expect, and how the mentorship round and final presentations will work.

Finally, we talk about what this hackathon is really trying to do. Beyond the prizes, the larger goal is to bring together people from technology, content, and government, and hopefully turn some of these ideas into conversations that can lead to real improvements in the public services millions of Indians use.

https://buildwhatmovesindia.com/

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How to make a Human Apex Predator

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Cero means "Zero" in Spanish.

Uploaded 12-07-19

Business was my gateway drug to philosophy and understanding humans.
In these short podcasts, let's talk black holes, computing, physics, business and philosophy, and let's try to keep it short.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More:

At the end of the day, everything from product to marketing to sales is fundamentally about psychology.
I spend a lot of time reading research papers and running experiments in the neurosciences lab and on people.
On Instagram, I've noticed how putting out any advanced content on this type of research gets me lower engagement - so I'm going to reserve that platform to put up motivational quotes and updates, and use this playlist to put out content for people to really win at this game of life.

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Hacking Neuroscience to be Happy

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0000

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Quantum Suicide

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 07:00:00 -0000

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What if Mickey Mouse was conscious?

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0000

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Your brain is scamming you

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Credit to https://twitter.com/foone for inspiring me to do this video.

Uploaded 12-07-19

Cero means "Zero" in Spanish.

Business was my gateway drug to philosophy and understanding humans.
In these short podcasts, let's talk black holes, computing, physics, business and philosophy, and let's try to keep it short.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More:

At the end of the day, everything from product to marketing to sales is fundamentally about psychology.
I spend a lot of time reading research papers and running experiments in the neurosciences lab and on people.
On Instagram, I've noticed how putting out any advanced content on this type of research gets me lower engagement - so I'm going to reserve that platform to put up motivational quotes and updates, and use this playlist to put out content for people to really win at this game of life.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Get Hired Faster Than Everyone Else | Kata 8

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 04:00:00 -0000

In this Kata, we break down how to hire and also, how to get hired. The focus is on what companies really look for, what actually matters, and why most people misunderstand the process.

Uploaded 09-04-26

We talk about why hiring is not about treating people as replaceable, but about building teams where each person brings something unique. We also explain what companies look for beyond just skills, like attitude, learning ability, judgment, and whether someone can actually do the work instead of just talking about it.

A big part of this Kata is understanding why people struggle to get hired. We look at how CVs often do not mean much anymore, why portfolios and proof of work matter more, and how referrals and real experience play a role. The overall idea is simple: what you say matters less than what you can show.

00:00 – 00:37 Highlights
01:34 -- Intro
04:22 -- How Different Companies Hire
06:33 - Fungibility Fallacy
15:16 - Live Exercise with Hiring Team
27:16 - CHAMPR Framework
30:05 - Entry vs Senior Level Hiring
31:37 - Hiring Mistakes
37:20 - A B C Players and Retaining Talent
42:00 - Red Flag Syndromes
49:03- Closing

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Zuckerberg's Secret Plan To WIN The AI Race | Meta AI Chief Reveals Future

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Wang, former founder of Scale AI and now Chief AI Officer at Meta, to understand what Meta Superintelligence Labs is actually building. We talk about how Meta is designing its AI organisation from scratch, focusing on research depth, talent density, and long-term scientific foundations instead of short-term wins.

Uploaded 26-02-26

We then understand how Meta balances frontier research with real-world products, and how models, infrastructure, and consumer applications all work together. They focus then shifts to AI agents, including wearables like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Finally, we talk about leadership, what it is like working with Mark Zuckerberg. So if you’re someone even remotely interested in AI, this conversation has it all.

00:00 - Highlights
00:57 - Introduction
01:46 - What is Meta Super Intelligence Labs?
03:31 - Balancing Research vs Product
05:17 - What's the team structure at MSL?
06:16 - Why Meta is betting big on personal agents
07:05 - What is Meta's identity in the AI race?
08:21 - The hardware vision beyond the phone
09:28 - When will Meta Ray-Bans get modern AI?
11:22 - Lessons from being an 18-year-old entrepreneur vs. today
13:54 - Why Alex left Scale AI to join Meta
16:18 - Alex's Unconventional Views on AI
18:10 - Should Meta have a chief philosopher for AI?
19:21 - What's it like working with Mark Zuckerberg?
21:12 - Closing thoughts

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Step by Step Plan to Become 10x Smarter (For Humans)

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0000

The Robot Design in the intro is designed by: Aze Λlter https://x.com/AzeAlter?s=20

Uploaded 17-05-26

Go to https://cyberghostvpn.com/VarunMayya to get 84% off from our sponsors CyberGhost VPN with 4 months free!

In this video, we explore how the same ideas that made AI models smarter over the last few years can also help humans think and learn better. Using the evolution of large language models as a reference point, we talk about things like reasoning, learning through feedback, using tools properly, recognizing patterns, and adapting to new situations. The idea is simple: intelligence is not just talent, it’s something that can be trained and improved deliberately over time.

We then go through practical ideas around thinking clearly, learning faster, building judgment, teaching others, and becoming more adaptable. The conversation touches on mentorship, creativity, decision-making under pressure, multimodal learning, and why people who can combine different skills and perspectives tend to do better in the long run. Instead of treating learning as just consuming information, we discuss how real understanding usually comes from doing, experimenting, explaining, and building things yourself.

Finally, we talk about continual learning and why the ability to unlearn old ways of thinking is becoming more important than ever. A lot of people get stuck because they become too attached to old identities, old systems, or old assumptions. The people who keep growing are usually the ones who stay flexible, curious, and willing to update themselves as the world changes.

00:00 - Introduction
02:50 - Stage One
04:50 - Stage Two
08:17 - Stage Three
11:28 - Stage Four
14:09 - Stage Five
17:12 - Stage Six
19:40 - Stage Seven
22:17 - Stage Eight
24:32 - Stage Nine
27:23 - Stage Ten
30:35 - Closing Thoughts

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The Secret to Creativity

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 01:45:00 -0000

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