Human Future

EP 98 Afghan Refugee Turned Investor: "Fear Is Not Real!" How To Thrive In Uncertainty with Khaled Khan

What happens when a six-year-old refugee from Afghanistan lands in New York City and eventually builds a venture capital empire? In this episode, Khaled Khan, Founding Partner of Koi3 Ventures with 20+ years of startup experience, three exits (including a unicorn), and $152M raised, shares his remarkable journey from the "Graveyard of Empires" to Wall Street and beyond. Khaled offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on AI anxiety: "Is AI going to take my job? No, it's not. It's the shareholders and the C-suite that make that decision." He breaks down why fear of technology stems from the unknown, how he adopted an "AI-first mindset" by testing every tool across industries, and why the most precious commodity we have is time. We explore the shifting landscape of entrepreneurship, why titles are becoming irrelevant in favor of personal branding, and how the tools available today make this the best time ever to test your startup ideas. Khaled also discusses his upcoming book "Graveyard Empire" and his mission to support displaced entrepreneurs worldwide. Whether you're navigating career uncertainty, considering entrepreneurship, or trying to make sense of our AI-driven future, this conversation delivers practical wisdom forged through real hardship. Timestamps: 00:00 Trailer: Afghan Refugee Turned Investor: "Fear Is Not Real!" How To Thrive In Uncertainty with Khaled Khan 05:24 Family Struggles and Lessons in Resilience 12:15 Navigating AI Anxiety: Fear, Curiosity, and the Love of Learning 17:06 Staying Calm in Chaos: Policy Uncertainty vs. Measurable Risk 22:45 Advice for the Uncertain Future: Building Your Personal Brand 27:12 Is Entrepreneurship for Everyone? Testing Ideas Without Quitting Your Job 32:52 How AI is Changing Team Dynamics and Investment Needs 37:09 Khaled's Vision for a Desirable Human Future 40:01 Closing Thoughts: The Book, the Mission, and Giving Back This show has been brought to you by 22HUMANS Podcast Agency. If you need help with launching or growing your own show, feel free to reach out to us at hello@22humans.com [hello@22humans.com]. We would be happy to help! About Khaled Khan Website: http://koi3ventures.decilehub.com [http://koi3ventures.decilehub.com]Instagram:YouTube: About the Host: Kirill Ignatieff Links: https://igkirill.com [https://igkirill.com] Other Links Instagram: https://humanfutur.com/instagram [https://humanfutur.com/instagram] YouTube: https://humanfutur.com/youtube [https://humanfutur.com/youtube] TikTok: https://humanfutur.com/tiktok [https://humanfutur.com/tiktok] Website: https://humanfutur.com [https://humanfutur.com] Spotify: https://humanfutur.com/spotify [https://humanfutur.com/spotify] Apple Podcast: https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast [https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast]

EP 97 Utopia Architect: "Why We'll Leave The Digital World Behind" with Mikhail Krymov

Are we on the verge of liberation from our screens, or about to get lost forever in the digital domain? In this thought-provoking conversation, serial entrepreneur and architect Mikhail (Misha) Krymov explores the fascinating tension between humanity and the technology we've created. Misha brings a unique perspective shaped by his PhD research on utopian architecture, his MIT fellowship, and his experience building companies like Morpheus XR (used by Google and Adobe) and Sleepbox (modular micro-hotels featured in Forbes and NYT). He argues that we're essentially giving birth to a new species, and like any parent, we must learn to let our creation become its own being. The conversation ventures into unexpected territory: Why have we lost our collective vision of utopia? What makes humans truly different from machines? And why does Misha believe "magic" is the one thing we must reclaim in our relationship with AI? Whether you're excited or anxious about the future, Misha offers a grounded yet imaginative framework for thinking about human-machine symbiosis, one that might just change how you see the screens you're staring at right now. 00:00 Trailer: Utopia Architect: "Why We'll Leave The Digital World Behind" | Mikhail Krymov 06:05 Cities as Layers of Failed Utopian Dreams 14:48 The Human-Machine Relationship Is Transforming 18:09 Giving Birth to a New Species: AI as Our Child 23:15 What Makes Humans Truly Special: The Gift of Magic 29:31 Human-AI Symbiosis: What Each Side Brings 37:23 Liberation from the Black Mirror: Returning to Physical Life 42:50 Virtual Reality, Embodiment, and the Digital Domain 50:47 Final Thoughts: Staying Present in Chaotic Times This show has been brought to you by 22HUMANS Podcast Agency. If you need help with launching or growing your own show, feel free to reach out to us at hello@22humans.com [hello@22humans.com]. We would be happy to help! About Mikhail Krymov Website: mkrymov.com [http://mkrymov.com]Instagram:YouTube: @iamkrymov About the Host: Kirill Ignatieff Links: https://igkirill.com [https://igkirill.com] Other Links Instagram: https://humanfutur.com/instagram [https://humanfutur.com/instagram] YouTube: https://humanfutur.com/youtube [https://humanfutur.com/youtube] TikTok: https://humanfutur.com/tiktok [https://humanfutur.com/tiktok] Website: https://humanfutur.com [https://humanfutur.com] Spotify: https://humanfutur.com/spotify [https://humanfutur.com/spotify] Apple Podcast: https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast [https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast]

Ep 96 Entrepreneur And Healer: The 8 Types Of Awareness Most Leaders Ignore with Mitali Saxena

What if the key to better business decisions isn't more data, but more awareness? In this episode, I sit down with Mitali Saxena, a serial entrepreneur who scaled an AI-powered fashion tech company to multi-million dollar revenue, only to discover that the missing ingredient in high-performing teams isn't strategy, it's consciousness. Mitali shares her journey from electrical engineer at T-Mobile to founding Fashom, where she pioneered AI that matches clothing to real body types. But when burnout started crushing her 50-person team during their Series A raise, she made an unconventional choice: she brought meditation into the office. Even the UPS delivery guy sat down to join. That experiment led her to develop "Awareness Intelligence", a neuroscience-backed framework that breaks human awareness into eight measurable dimensions, including intuition, emotional regulation, and spiritual grounding. We go deep on each pillar, exploring how intuition actually works (hint: it predates your thinking mind), why emotional regulation is the gateway to better decisions, and whether AI and ancient wisdom can coexist. We also venture into fascinating territory: Are there beings helping us through intuition? Can we engineer enlightenment? And what happens when a third-generation engineer discovers she can channel guided meditations? This conversation is for founders, leaders, and anyone sensing there's more to success than spreadsheets and strategy. 00:00 Trailer: Entrepreneur And Healer: The 8 Types Of Awareness Most Leaders Ignore | Mitali Saxena06:04 Bringing Meditation to the Office During Series A09:24 What is Awareness Intelligence? The Eight Pillars Explained15:24 Mental Clarity: Making Decisions from Presence, Not Reactivity21:33 Physical Awareness: Why Willpower is Actually Physical31:47 Intuition: The Awareness That Comes Before Thought41:42 Angels, Future Selves, and Where Intuitive Signals Come From49:55 The Remaining Pillars: Creative Flow, Emotional Regulation, Relationships, and Purpose59:56 A Desirable Human Future: Waking Up to Our Collective Nature This show has been brought to you by 22HUMANS Podcast Agency. If you need help with launching or growing your own show, feel free to reach out to us at hello@22humans.com [hello@22humans.com]. We would be happy to help! About Mitali Saxena Website: mitalisaxena.com [http://mitalisaxena.com]Instagram: @mitali_saxenaLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitalisaxena [http://linkedin.com/in/mitalisaxena]Fashom: fashom.com [http://fashom.com] About the Host: Kirill Ignatieff Links: https://igkirill.com [https://igkirill.com] Other Links Instagram: https://humanfutur.com/instagram [https://humanfutur.com/instagram] YouTube: https://humanfutur.com/youtube [https://humanfutur.com/youtube] TikTok: https://humanfutur.com/tiktok [https://humanfutur.com/tiktok] Website: https://humanfutur.com [https://humanfutur.com] Spotify: https://humanfutur.com/spotify [https://humanfutur.com/spotify] Apple Podcast: https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast [https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast]

Ep 95 Doctor Of Audiology: How I Escaped A Career That Was Killing Me with Dr. Ben Thompson

What does it take to leave a stable medical career and build a million-dollar business from scratch? In this episode, Dr. Ben Thompson, audiologist turned entrepreneur, shares the vulnerable moment on a bike in Berkeley that changed everything. After years of feeling stuck in a hospital job that "didn't feel quite right," Ben took a terrifying leap: starting a YouTube channel about tinnitus treatment. What began as a $3,000/month side hustle has grown into Treble Health, a telehealth company with 190,000+ YouTube subscribers and millions in revenue. But this isn't just a success story, it's a masterclass in navigating fear, assessing risk logically, and finding the courage to share fragile dreams with others. Ben opens up about the voices of self-doubt, the professors he imagined judging him, and why he made his family promise to support him before revealing his plan. We also explore how AI is reshaping content creation, why human connection may matter more than ever, and the surprising power of physical proximity in an increasingly digital world. Whether you're considering a career pivot or simply seeking more meaning, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. 00:00 Trailer: Doctor Of Audiology: How I Escaped A Career That Was Killing Me | Dr. Ben Thompson 02:44 The Bike Ride in Berkeley That Changed Everything 08:49 Overcoming Fear: Sharing Vulnerable Dreams 14:04 The Power of Leveraging Existing Skills 17:25 Hitting the $3,000/Month Goal & Quitting the Job 20:44 Do You Need a Safety Net to Take Risks? 27:24 Increasing Your Risk Tolerance: A Framework 32:12 AI's Impact on Jobs and Content Creation 40:32 The Future of Human vs. AI-Generated Content 47:17 Mindfulness, Presence & Mental Health in the AI Age 55:23 Closing Thoughts: The Power of Community This show has been brought to you by 22HUMANS Podcast Agency. If you need help with launching or growing your own show, feel free to reach out to us at hello@22humans.com [hello@22humans.com]. We would be happy to help! About Dr. Ben Thompson Website: https://treblehealth.com/ [https://treblehealth.com/]Instagram:YouTube: @Dr. Ben Thompson [https://youtube.com/@treblehealth?si=G_VhUpCaEAVkcRD8] About the Host: Kirill Ignatieff Links: https://igkirill.com [https://igkirill.com] Other Links Instagram: https://humanfutur.com/instagram [https://humanfutur.com/instagram] YouTube: https://humanfutur.com/youtube [https://humanfutur.com/youtube] TikTok: https://humanfutur.com/tiktok [https://humanfutur.com/tiktok] Website: https://humanfutur.com [https://humanfutur.com] Spotify: https://humanfutur.com/spotify [https://humanfutur.com/spotify] Apple Podcast: https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast [https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast]

EP 94 You Won’t Understand freedom Until You Hear This with Aaron Rosen

What happens when a Western analyst gets invited inside Russia's state propaganda machine? In this eye-opening episode, Aaron Rosen shares his firsthand experience visiting RT (formerly Russia Today) and reveals the sophisticated psychological tactics authoritarian regimes use to shape public perception. Aaron's unique journey took him from interning with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee to working inside parliaments across Europe, Australia, and Canada before spending nearly a year in Moscow as part of the prestigious Alpha Fellowship Program. His insider perspective offers rare insights into how propaganda actually functions in practice. The conversation explores "whataboutism," the Cold War-era deflection tactic that has become even more powerful in the digital age, and how "weaponized cynicism" convinces populations that corruption exists everywhere equally, so why bother caring? Aaron explains how limiting access to information does not just restrict knowledge; it literally narrows the vocabulary people have to think and talk about politics. We also discuss the surprising innovations that emerged from Soviet authoritarianism, the difference between innovation for state glory versus human flourishing, and what returning to America taught Aaron about freedoms we often take for granted. Timestamps: 00:00 Trailer: You Won’t Understand freedom Until You Hear This with Aaron Rosen 05:06 The Alpha Fellowship Program in Russia 09:24 Inside RT: State Media vs. Independent Journalism 16:29 Whataboutism as a Propaganda Tool 21:20 Weaponized Cynicism and Modern Propaganda 25:28 How Information Control Shapes Reality 31:07 The Closing Window of Russian Civil Society 36:09 Appreciating Freedom After Living in Authoritarianism 46:56 Innovation for State Glory vs. Human Flourishing 54:09 Could AI Help Maximize Human Flourishing? This show has been brought to you by 22HUMANS Podcast Agency. If you need help with launching or growing your own show, feel free to reach out to us at hello@22humans.com [hello@22humans.com]. We would be happy to help! About Aaron Rosen Website:Instagram:YouTube: About the Host: Kirill Ignatieff Links: https://igkirill.com [https://igkirill.com] Other Links Instagram: https://humanfutur.com/instagram [https://humanfutur.com/instagram] YouTube: https://humanfutur.com/youtube [https://humanfutur.com/youtube] TikTok: https://humanfutur.com/tiktok [https://humanfutur.com/tiktok] Website: https://humanfutur.com [https://humanfutur.com] Spotify: https://humanfutur.com/spotify [https://humanfutur.com/spotify] Apple Podcast: https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast [https://humanfutur.com/applepodcast]