Podcast microphone, black and white

Be on the show · A podcast by Arjun Thomas

Pull up
a chair.

Building Real is me sitting down with people in the middle of building something, and asking "tell me more" until we get to the good part. No pitch deck, no script, no highlight reel.

If that sounds like you (or someone you know), I'd love to hear the story.

Tell me your story I know someone
Building Real
Arjunasks the questions
Youbring the story
The details About 90 minutes Remote, wherever you are A short call first You see the outline before we record
What it's like

Less interview, more coffee.

That's what guests tell me once we stop recording, and it's the point. People tell better stories when they aren't performing them. So I try to make it feel like a catch-up with someone curious, because that's what it is.

"This has been fun. It felt like we were just having a cup of coffee together."
Priyanka ShahraSwapaholic · EP15
"It was a pleasure. You create the space for me, the safe space to share all these things. And I'm grateful for having that."
Claudiu PetriaQuesto · EP14
"Thanks for all your very insightful questions. It gave me a lot to think about."
Vinayak VarmaAuthor & illustrator · EP5
"I had a good time sharing this with you. So thank you for having me, and I hope this is useful for anyone who listens to it."
Joe KhooPolar Cold · EP11
How it goes

Four steps, none of them homework.

  1. 01

    A coffee first

    A half-hour call, usually. I want to hear the story before anyone presses record.

  2. 02

    A rough outline

    I send you the shape of the conversation. Not a script. Change anything that doesn't sound like you.

  3. 03

    We talk

    About 90 minutes on Riverside, from your desk or your kitchen. It's a browser link, nothing to install.

  4. 04

    You stay in the loop

    I tell you when it goes live and what we made from it. You pick the clips you'd like to share, if any.

Who I talk to

Who sits in the other chair.

Founders, yes. Also a football coach, a children's book illustrator, an educator and someone running a single coffee bar. Mostly not AI startups. There's plenty of that elsewhere.

What they share is that they're somewhere in the messy middle, and they're honest about it.

Know someone?

Who should I be talking to?

A lot of these conversations started with an introduction. If someone comes to mind, someone mid-build who'd tell the truth about it, just send me their name. I'll take it from there.

It's the most useful thing anyone can send me.

A note you can forward

"Arjun hosts Building Real: long, unscripted conversations with people in the middle of building something. It starts with a short call and there's no prep. I think your story would make a great one. buildingreal.com/be-on-the-show"

Or send me their name
Be on the show

Tell me more.

A few lines is plenty. I read every one myself. If it feels like a fit, I'll suggest a short call. If the timing isn't right, I'll tell you that too.

No scripts. No manufactured drama. No "five hacks." Just the process of how it actually happens, told by the person living it.

This is about
Under 18? Please ask a parent or guardian to get in touch with you.

Fifteen conversations so far and the next chair is open

All guests →
  • Tharun KumarEcoSTP
  • Dhruv ShankerMad Onion Slicer
  • Barry OoiChengal Centre
  • Nanda KumarThe Yellow Dwelling
  • Vinayak VarmaAuthor & illustrator
  • Supriya PanchangamFuture Founders Co.
  • Sunil J. MathewBlind Football Federation
  • Karthik SrinivasanEverything Motorcycling
  • Kunjpreet AroraAngirus Industries
  • Vic LevitinDiptera.ai
  • Joe KhooPolar Cold
  • Tobias WilsonShiva Industries
  • Ivan Chandra SuriadyPaco Coffee
  • Claudiu PetriaQuesto
  • Priyanka ShahraSwapaholic
  • You?The next chair