Vauhini Vara

Yes. So we all know that problems exist in society. I was watching the Super Bowl ads. I watched just the ads of the Super Bowl. That's the best part. Exactly. And there was this one ad, I don't know if you two saw it, there was this one ad that started out as like this really radical message about public health funding. Yeah. and how it's all broken.

And I was like, who is, you know, like who is going to be sponsoring this? And I thought it was like some kind of public service announcement. I had no idea. And then it turns out it's the startup. It was a startup that was selling some, I don't know, like web-based pharmaceutical something or other. It's not false that these problems exist.

And I was like, who is, you know, like who is going to be sponsoring this? And I thought it was like some kind of public service announcement. I had no idea. And then it turns out it's the startup. It was a startup that was selling some, I don't know, like web-based pharmaceutical something or other. It's not false that these problems exist.

And I was like, who is, you know, like who is going to be sponsoring this? And I thought it was like some kind of public service announcement. I had no idea. And then it turns out it's the startup. It was a startup that was selling some, I don't know, like web-based pharmaceutical something or other. It's not false that these problems exist.

The problem is making some venture capitalists a bunch of money rather than solving the problem. And so, yes, like we could invest a lot more money in public health and education and all these social systems and infrastructure in parks where we can all congregate and spend time together in shelters. But that's really expensive and takes a lot of political will.

The problem is making some venture capitalists a bunch of money rather than solving the problem. And so, yes, like we could invest a lot more money in public health and education and all these social systems and infrastructure in parks where we can all congregate and spend time together in shelters. But that's really expensive and takes a lot of political will.

The problem is making some venture capitalists a bunch of money rather than solving the problem. And so, yes, like we could invest a lot more money in public health and education and all these social systems and infrastructure in parks where we can all congregate and spend time together in shelters. But that's really expensive and takes a lot of political will.

So instead, we allow venture capitalists to invest in companies that then insinuate themselves into our communities, into our social systems.

So instead, we allow venture capitalists to invest in companies that then insinuate themselves into our communities, into our social systems.

So instead, we allow venture capitalists to invest in companies that then insinuate themselves into our communities, into our social systems.

And the solution they're offering us is a solution that plays into this idea that individualism is more... powerful than communal action, right? Like you can sign up for an app by yourself. You don't need to get together two or 10 or 20 or 50 people in your community to do it with you, right? Yeah.

And the solution they're offering us is a solution that plays into this idea that individualism is more... powerful than communal action, right? Like you can sign up for an app by yourself. You don't need to get together two or 10 or 20 or 50 people in your community to do it with you, right? Yeah.

And the solution they're offering us is a solution that plays into this idea that individualism is more... powerful than communal action, right? Like you can sign up for an app by yourself. You don't need to get together two or 10 or 20 or 50 people in your community to do it with you, right? Yeah.

Okay. A couple of years ago, I spent a year in Madrid because my husband had a sabbatical. We started the year, I didn't speak Spanish at all. And then I took intensive Spanish classes and started to learn. And then about halfway through the year, I got on this website called ConversationExchange.com, which is very like old school, not some new bells and whistles, well-funded startup or anything.

Okay. A couple of years ago, I spent a year in Madrid because my husband had a sabbatical. We started the year, I didn't speak Spanish at all. And then I took intensive Spanish classes and started to learn. And then about halfway through the year, I got on this website called ConversationExchange.com, which is very like old school, not some new bells and whistles, well-funded startup or anything.

Okay. A couple of years ago, I spent a year in Madrid because my husband had a sabbatical. We started the year, I didn't speak Spanish at all. And then I took intensive Spanish classes and started to learn. And then about halfway through the year, I got on this website called ConversationExchange.com, which is very like old school, not some new bells and whistles, well-funded startup or anything.

And I wrote to people on this website who were Spanish speakers who wanted to practice their English and started meeting up with them in person. I now have three very good friends in Madrid who I met through that site. Notably, we don't use the site anymore. We just used it to meet up the first time. And we, you know, we talk on Zoom all the time when we're in different countries.

And I wrote to people on this website who were Spanish speakers who wanted to practice their English and started meeting up with them in person. I now have three very good friends in Madrid who I met through that site. Notably, we don't use the site anymore. We just used it to meet up the first time. And we, you know, we talk on Zoom all the time when we're in different countries.

And I wrote to people on this website who were Spanish speakers who wanted to practice their English and started meeting up with them in person. I now have three very good friends in Madrid who I met through that site. Notably, we don't use the site anymore. We just used it to meet up the first time. And we, you know, we talk on Zoom all the time when we're in different countries.

When I'm in Madrid, we spend a lot of time together. And like they're three of my close friends and I met them on a website, I will say.