Summary
AI Louisa
In this episode of Seriously, BUD?, Bud talks with Jagadish “Jaggy” Tulagapu from Visakhapatnam (Vizag), India – a fast-growing coastal tech hub that Jaggy describes as becoming an “AI city” thanks to major investments from companies like Google and Microsoft. The conversation explores life in southern India, including Jaggy’s roots in the region, the rapid modernization of his city, and the cultural differences between India and the United States. Bud and Jaggy
also bond over travel, trains, WordCamp events, and the challenge of enduring long international flights.
Jaggy shares his role in the WordPress ecosystem, explaining that he works for WPMU DEV as an international recruiter sourcing talent from around the world. Although the show is not heavily focused on WordPress itself, the discussion naturally circles around WordCamp Asia, mutual friends in the community, and the global relationships that form through open-source work. Bud reflects on his podcast wich is more about people and personal stories than software, echoing the idea that many people “came for the software and stayed for the community.”
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A major section of the conversation centers on cricket, which Jaggy describes as “a religion” in India. He explains the different forms of the game – including five-day Test cricket, One Day Internationals, and modern T20 matches – while Bud compares the sport to baseball and asks about terms like “sticky wicket.” The two also discuss the massive popularity and financial power of the Indian Premier League, sports gambling, and how sports culture differs between India and the United States.
The episode also takes a thoughtful look at Indian family life and arranged marriages. Jaggy explains how families often consider factors such as astrology, caste, financial stability, and community traditions when arranging marriages. Bud, who jokingly says he also had a “sort of arranged marriage” through family connections, is fascinated by the concept and asks many questions about how it works in practice. Jaggy talks about being married for 15 years, raising two daughters, balancing remote work with family life, and the everyday realities of working from home while sharing space with a spouse and children.
The conversation closes on a warm and personal note as Jaggy reveals himself to be a genuine fan of Seriously, BUD? and references several past episodes and guests by name, including Robert Jacobi and Katie Keith. Bud is clearly touched by Jaggy’s enthusiasm and appreciation for the podcast, and the episode becomes less of an interview and more of a conversation between two people connected through the WordPress community. Jaggy ultimately recommends another potential guest for the show and praises Bud for bringing people together through storytelling and conversation.