In this episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar speaks with Mira Thevan, a global development expert whose work spans the World Bank, UNICEF, and Amnesty International. Mira shares how she has driven change through gender equity initiatives, blockchain-powered aid transparency, and advocacy campaigns impacting millions worldwide. She also offers insights on building a career in international development and making a difference at both the grassroots and global levels.
This week on The Youth Ledger, we unpack the biggest global stories shaping the economy and world order. From Japan’s political shake-up and its impact on U.S. trade talks, to Xi Jinping hosting EU leaders in Beijing, and looming U.S.–EU tariff battles, the stakes couldn’t be higher. We’ll also cover record-breaking market highs, Putin’s costly war strategy, China’s $170B hydropower mega-project, and why the Fed is under political fire.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, we sit down with Kesan Ucheya, an Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar, Deloitte Strategy Analyst, and future Harvard Business School MBA. Kesan shares his journey from UNC-Chapel Hill to working in global development in Rwanda, interning at Credit Suisse, and breaking into top consulting. We explore how young leaders can navigate elite opportunities, balance impact-driven work with business careers, and shape the future of global leadership.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, we unpack a whirlwind week of economic and geopolitical upheaval: Trump’s fresh wave of tariffs on allies like Canada and Japan, market reactions from Wall Street to the FTSE, and growing inflation concerns within the Fed. Plus, we explore the UK's shrinking economy, Taiwan's massive military drills, Russia's recognition of the Taliban, and what the latest Prime Day spending says about the American consumer. Tune in as we connect the dots between policy, power, and the global economy’s growing pains.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar sits down with Joe Mazur, Senior Analyst at Trivium China and former Harvard Model UN China Director, to explore the complexities of China's economic and political systems. They discuss Mazur’s on-the-ground insights into U.S.–China trade relations, rare-earth policy, rule of law, and youth diplomacy. Drawing from his experience as a Mandarin speaker, educator, and World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Mazur unpacks how young people can meaningfully engage in geopolitics and global policy. Whether you're curious about China’s future or global affairs more broadly, this conversation offers depth, nuance, and real-world relevance.
In this solo episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar breaks down the biggest global headlines of the week, from Trump’s proposed 10% tariffs and a rare-earth export deal with China, to NATO’s historic defense spending agreement and the economic toll of Europe’s heat waves. With data, analysis, and fresh insight, Shiven connects the dots between trade, geopolitics, and climate policy in a rapidly shifting world. Tune in for thoughtful takes and a global roundup that goes beyond the headlines.
In this special Independence Day episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar explores the forgotten facts, economic roots, and modern meaning of July 4th. From trade policy in 1776 to today’s billion-dollar fireworks industry, this solo episode blends history, economics, and thoughtful reflection on what American freedom really means in 2025.
In this solo episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar breaks down this week’s most important global developments, from the Senate’s high-stakes battle over the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and major defense pledges at the NATO Summit, to a new U.S.–China rare earths trade deal and the economic toll of record-breaking North American heat waves. Plus, we unpack renewed Canada–U.S. trade talks and what these moves mean for policy, economics, and our interconnected world. Whether you're into geopolitics, climate economics, or trade dynamics, this week’s update connects the headlines to the systems shaping our future.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar interviews Anirudh Mazumder, a rising Stanford student whose work spans artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation, and public policy. From conducting medical AI research at Harvard and Stanford AIMI to co-founding KidneyChain and building FuturaSustain, Anirudh shares how he’s using technology to solve real-world problems. He also reflects on the impact of programs like the Non-Trivial Fellowship, JSEP in Greenland, and Youth in Policy, while offering insights for students who want to follow a high-impact path in STEM, advocacy, and systems thinking.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar breaks down a week of rising global tension—from Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz to volatile oil prices, Fed caution, and mass protests in the U.S. and Turkey. With energy markets rattled and central banks freezing rate cuts, the world economy hangs in a delicate balance. Shiven unpacks what these developments mean for inflation, global stability, and everyday lives, connecting geopolitics, economics, and youth impact in a way that’s clear, bold, and thought-provoking.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar sits down with nonprofit leader Tricia Medrano Bridges to explore the story behind Chiapas International—a groundbreaking initiative that helped raise over $6 million in microloans for women across Latin America. Tricia shares how she partnered with the Grameen Foundation, worked in countries like Mexico, El Salvador, and Haiti, and saw firsthand how financial empowerment created long-lasting change. From her early work in the YMCA to global recognition from Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, Tricia reflects on what it takes to create sustainable impact through grassroots development and global collaboration.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar breaks down the rising tensions between Israel and Iran and their ripple effects across oil markets, inflation, and global diplomacy. From the cautious stances of the European Central Bank and Bank of England to the World Bank’s grim global growth forecast, this episode connects the dots between geopolitics and economics in real time. Shiven also explores how conflict drives up food and fuel prices, why trade policy still matters, and what it all means for the future of global systems, especially for students and young thinkers navigating a complex world.
In this episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar sits down with Eli Lehrer, president of the R Street Institute, to explore how free markets can solve public problems, from climate change and crop insurance to online speech and AI innovation. With decades of experience in public policy and think tank leadership, Mr. Lehrer brings a unique libertarian-conservative lens to topics like federal disaster relief, government overreach, and the role of regulation in innovation. If you've ever wondered whether markets or mandates are the better fix, this is the episode for you.
In this debut episode of The Youth Ledger, host Shiven Diwakar introduces the podcast and its mission to amplify Gen Z voices on economics, policy, and global affairs. He shares his motivation for launching the platform and outlines upcoming projects, reflecting on why youth voices matter more than ever in shaping the future of public discourse.