📚 Turning Potential into Prominence, Business of IPL, Hunger Inc, Accountability Sink

Controversial Problems, History of Tomatoes, Inside Erewhon, Quilling & much more…

Jun 16, 2025

Hello, this is post #215.

It was my birthday week—and yes, it was quite eventful. Celebrations at home and work matched the mood and the age just right.

But what I was most excited about—and thrilled we pulled off—was the early birthday celebration for my elder daughter. We kept it small: cousins, kids, and a cozy gathering at home.

There was a nature walk, word search games, and a quiz themed on our favorite city, Bangalore. I loved putting it all together—and watching the kids dive in with so much energy and joy was the best gift of all.

These are the kind of parties I enjoy most: thoughtful, playful, and full of memories worth holding on to.

Here’s the link to the kids’ quiz—they had a blast and got pretty competitive.

There’s also a grown-up version with trickier questions and loads of fun trivia (inspired, and let’s be honest, shamelessly borrowed from Roopa Pai’s brilliant book).

Ping me if you want to give it a shot—I’ll share it in the comments or send it your way!

🧑‍🎨 Michael Ovitz on Turning Potential into Prominence

Michael Ovitz helped build CAA, one of the most powerful talent agencies in the world. In this conversation with Patrick O’Shaughnessy, he talks about spotting rare talent, why time is his most precious resource, and what it takes to build something that lasts.

There are plenty of great stories, but my favorite is the one about his time on the Gulfstream board.

I was on five of Ted's 13 boards and spent a ton of time with him. He was a very close friend until he passed away. And he said, "What can I do to make Gulfstream different?" And Bombardier was killing them at the time because they had a bigger cabin.
And I said, "Teddy, there's only one thing you can do. You need to recruit a board that becomes the greatest set of super salesmen in history, because you don't need our advice, you don't need our financial engineering, you don't need us to read balance sheets, you need us to sell airplanes."
And what he did is he went out and he put a list together and he brought it back to me, and we went through it. And on the list was the who's who of certain areas. So on the list was Roger Penske. On the list was Don Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, a guy who was the CFO of GE when they were the most important company in New York City, when Jack Welch was there. Dale Fry was his name. He had Charlotte Beers, who was the most important female advertising executive in New York City. And he had Bill Acquavella, the great art dealer.
And all of us had assignments and we all covered areas. So Bill covered art. Kissinger covered politics. Colin Powell covered the U.S. army and the DOD. Everybody had an assignment. And we met monthly, not quarterly. And the attendance at the meetings was 100% every time because everyone had assignments. We had so much fun at the board meetings and board dinners that after we sold the company seven years later, we all continued the board meeting.
[...]
And we used to stand up at the beginning of each meeting and announce what we'd sold. At the board meetings. So that was the first thing we did. Teddy had approved the minutes, 100% attendance.
Board meetings were always like 5 o'clock. Then we all went to dinner and, you know, Colin would stand up and say, "Well, I've sold three G4s to the US Air Force." And Kissinger was saying, "I've sold five G4s to this Royal family." It was like crazy, you know, I got up, I said, "I sold a G4 to two actors" and I'd give their names, you know, and everybody did that.

My first glimpse into the world of talent agents came from Estelle—Joe’s flaky agent who always got a laugh. Then came Jerry Maguire, and later Ari Gold from Entourage.

A few years ago, I read Michael Ovitz’s biography, Who Is Michael Ovitz?, and was surprised at how much deeper his real story goes. The book—and his interviews—are full of sharp ideas on spotting and shaping talent.

Another voice I’ve learned from is Tyler Cowen. He thinks deeply about talent and shares his ideas freely. If you're into this theme, his work is a goldmine.

🏏 Acquired Mega Episode on the Business of IPL

The 18th edition of the IPL just wrapped up. As always, it was a wild mix of cricket, drama, and the kind of entertainment that only IPL can deliver.

RCB finally won their first title, so Bangalore had plenty to celebrate—until the tragic incident that followed the victory parade.

I still remember watching the very first IPL match back in 2008—RCB vs KKR, right after the opening ceremony. Back then, IPL’s impact on cricket was a hot topic in every MBA group discussion. I kept watching it for years, but never really dug into the business behind it.

That changed when I saw Acquired had dropped a massive 4.5-hour episode on the IPL. I gave it a shot—and got hooked. They start with Lalit Modi’s early playbook and dive deep into how the league was built.

It’s the longest podcast I’ve ever finished. The arc of the story, their breakdown of the business, and how it stacks up against global leagues like the NFL—it’s all sharp and entertaining.

Yes, some assumptions feel a bit off. These are two non-Indians who don’t play cricket and are trying to decode a very Indian beast. And it’s Acquired, so there’s a bit of flair in the storytelling. But if you’re curious and have the time, this one’s worth adding to your playlist. So much to learn—and marvel at.

🧑‍🍳 Hunger Inc: Empire of Taste with Tigerfeathers

Since we’re on a roll with long-form content, here’s the biggest one I’ve read—and I’m still soaking it in.

Rahul Sanghi’s mega post “Hunger Inc: Empire of Taste” tells the story behind the team that built The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro, Veronica’s, Bombay Sweet Shop, and enthucutlet.

If you’re from India, at least a couple of these names should ring a bell. Enthucutlet, in particular, has shown up in this newsletter more than once. For those unfamiliar, these spots are some of Mumbai’s most exciting food experiences—on the same track as icons like Gramercy Tavern, Tabla, Dishoom, and more.

It’s classic Tigerfeathers—deep research, great storytelling, sharp analysis, lovely visuals, and memes that actually make you laugh.

I’m in awe of the team. They’re taking bold, unusual topics like this restaurant group and going all in—bringing out lessons packed with hustle, heart, and delightful surprises.

Here’s one of my favorite bits from the piece.

At the core of TBC’s food philosophy is an idea the team has since christened as ‘Form v/s Flavour’. It’s the not-so-secret secret ingredient sprinkled onto each dish that’s made their food so endearing to their patrons over the last ten years. Because they knew they were introducing restaurant-goers to dishes they’d likely never tried before, much less seen before on a restaurant menu, the culinary brains at Hunger Inc had to find a way to make their offerings still seem relatable to their customers.
“It’s about balancing surprise and comfort,” explains Sameer. “You can think of Form v/s Flavour almost like a quadrant. For any dish we either experiment with the form or the flavour, so there’s an element of surprise that makes things interesting, but it’s rooted in something familiar - a memory or an association that people can grab onto. If you stretch things too far on both form and flavour, you don’t give people anything to connect with. That’s when you start losing them.”
Take, for example, the conception of one of TBC’s iconic dishes that was on the original menu in 2015 - the Gulab Nut.
“The Gulab Nut is basically a gulab jamun shaped like a doughnut, dipped in Old Monk and served with fresh pistachio cream,” says Yash. “The dish was originally inspired by the Baba Au Rhum, a traditional French dessert where a brioche bun is soaked in rum. Now if you put a Baba Au Rhum on an Indian restaurant menu, no one will be able to even pronounce it, much less relate to it. But by calling it a ‘Gulab Nut’ you create that callback to a gulab jamun and a doughnut. When people bite into it, they get the same familiar texture and flavour of a gulab jamun, and then the nostalgic hit of Old Monk. The muscle memory kicks in and their brain says ‘oh it’s like this!’”

One more, on creativity & taking risks…

For every successful reincarnation there’s been accusations of defiling someone’s childhood favourite. That’s part of the gig. “To be creative is to take risks,” says Yash. “We’d much rather create things that people either love or hate than just play in the middle”

There’s a ton more I could share—but that would turn this into the longest Stay Curious post ever.

So I’ll just say this: I’d vouch for it a dozen times if that’s what it takes. Go give it a read.

💡 Accountability Sink

Martin Sustrik’s post on LessWrong explores a sharp idea—Accountability Sinks—originally coined by Dan Davies in his book The Unaccountability Machine: Why Big Systems Make Terrible Decisions — and How the World Lost Its Mind.

The title says a lot, but here’s a quick snippet from Sustrik that nails the core:

Something that used to be a matter of human judgement gets replaced by a formal process. Suddenly, nobody makes any deliberate decisions. Instead, a formal process is followed. In fact, the process may be executed on a computer, with no human involvement at all. There's nobody to blame for anything. There’s nobody to complain to when the process goes awry. Everybody’s ass is safely covered.
In any organization, incentives to replace human judgement by process are strong. Decisions may be controversial. More often than not someone's interests are at play and any decision is going to cause at least some bitterness, resentment and pushback. Introducing a non-personal process allows the decision to be made in automated manner, without anyone being responsible, without anyone having to feel guilty for hurting other people.

It’s a brilliant post, packed with real-world examples—from startups to state offices. What hit me most was how common and slippery this problem is.

🥊 Making Progress on Controversial Problems

Since we’re on the topic of thorny problems, here’s another gem—this one from Ami Vora. Making Progress on Controversial Problems delivers exactly what the title promises.

She kicks off with a relatable setup:

Have you ever been pulled into a controversial strategy or team problem — one where every person involved has an opinion, no one agrees, and no one has an actual solution? This could be “Should we shut down this big project that the CEO isn’t convinced about?” or “Should we expand into this new market right now?” or “Should we change our interview process?” At some point at any company, these thorny problems become inevitable.

If that rings a bell, keep reading. Here’s a quick snapshot of her playbook:

Map where you are in the problem-solving journey
Use documents to get specific and share context
Over-communicate the process and where things stand
Ask the awkward questions anyway
Share a bold, opinionated recommendation

I’ve already tried using this in a real work situation. It’s still playing out, so I can’t say it’s a win yet—but I’m feeling a lot more confident and clear-headed, thanks to her approach.

🍅 80000 Year History of the Tomato

If you’ve made it this far, hats off to you. You’ve powered through the dense, info-packed, business-bettering part of this post without breaking a sweat. Now, let’s shift gears and make the rest of the ride more fun.

Let’s start with An 80,000-Year History of the Tomato—a delightful piece from the brilliant folks at Works in Progress.

Evan DeTurk, a science writer and molecular biologist at UC Berkeley, spins a lively tale about the fruit that quietly rules our plates. Without it, most meals (minus desserts) would be bland and forgettable.

It’s a quick read by Works in Progress standards, but it packs plenty of punch—smart trivia, solid research, and unexpected insights. Here’s a small taste to whet your appetite.

🎨 Quilling Magic with Colossal

Everyday Colossal’s newsletter is my go-to window into the world of art, craft, and visual wonder. It’s part of my daily ritual—a quick scroll that never fails to spark joy or surprise.

If you’ve been reading Stay Curious for a while, you’ve probably noticed that a bunch of the recommendations in the “Everything Else” section come from this one gem of a source.

Today’s pick deserved a bit more space—and your full attention. So I’ve brought it up front.

Here’s a screenshot from the original post, followed by the four links it featured. One craft. Four takes. All stunning and soul-stirring.

That’s the magic of art—no rules, just endless ways to express something beautiful.

This one’s all about quilling.

Links to the four stories…

✨ Everything else

Taylor Bell takes us inside Erewhon and tells us why the world's most expensive grocery store is worth it. I’ve read a bit about this, her video is one of the most engaging takes on it.
Probe lenses and focus stacking: the secrets to incredible photos taken inside instruments. This one’s a visual treat. You’ll be amazed by the hidden worlds inside the instruments you thought you knew. And if you’re into photography, there’s plenty of behind-the-scenes detail on how these stunning shots were made.
And to finish it on a high, here’s another gem from McSweeney’s - On my deathbed, I have just one regret: Not spending more time resetting passwords. Hilarious!

ICYMI…

From the secret life of Madras checks to the creative spark of a quiet walk, from customer wisdom to sibling science, small-town museums to big-city nostalgia—last edition of Stay Curious was packed with unexpected insights and delightful detours. Check it out, if you’ve not yet already…

📚 Celebrating cents, Operationalizing Taste, Become Bangalore, Creative power of walking

Pritesh

June 9, 2025

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That's all for this week, folks!

I hope I've earned the privilege of your time.

If this piece sparked something for you, I’d love to hear what stood out—leave a comment and let’s keep the conversation alive. And if you know someone who’s always asking "why?" or "how come?", pass this along to them. The world gets more interesting every time a curious mind shares what they’ve found.

Pritesh

Stay Curious

📚 Celebrating cents, Operationalizing Taste, Become Bangalore, Creative power of walking

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