In this episode, I speak with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan about what defines the platform today and where it’s headed. We discuss why audiences now trust podcasters over traditional news, and what the next decade of content consumption might look like. For me, this wasn’t just a chat. It was a chance to question the shifting boundaries between passion, talent, identity, and influence. We also dug into how algorithms shape what people see. If you’ve ever wondered what drives YouTube behind the screen, this conversation peels back the curtain.

#NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcio LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #NealMohan - CEO, YouTubeTwitter: https://x.com/nealmohanLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-mohan/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neal_mohanFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NealMohanCEO/

00:00 - Intro

01:25 - Defining WAVES’ vision for the creative industry

3:10 - Creators & politics: More linked than ever?

04:50 - Did YouTube shape the US election?

08:49 - Are podcasts replacing traditional news?

13:12 - Defining YouTube

17:21 - The future of content consumption

22:50 - YouTube movie releases: Fighting piracy

24:53 - Influencer vs Entrepreneur

28:19 - Tips to crack YouTube’s algorithm

31:15 - Neal on passion: Input vs output

36:54 - Growing up between cross-cultural content

41:16 - Navigating identity & Indian market

46:33 - Where should investors bet?

50:54 - Building YouTube’s competitor

53:54 - Who owns the most data?

57:16 - Attention spans: Shrinking or growing?

59:05 - Learning: YouTube’s core use case

1:04:37 - Final thoughts: The rise of India’s creator economy