[ poet + music producer + awokenword founder ]
Anuj Rastogi is a Toronto-based writer, spoken word poet and music composer. Anuj has cultivated his worldly sensibilities and uses elements of word play and storyline that thread together broad narratives about social, political, personal and human insights. His works "Breaking News", "Baby Girl", and "While You Were Sleeping" have featured extensively.
As a musician, he has composed and produced music for film scores, studio albums, and has performed with a number of diverse artists across Canada, the US, the UK and India. Anuj also composed the original theme music track, "Cosmos", for the AwokenWord podcast.
Anuj founded the AwokenWord Podcast out of a deep desire to surface nuanced, meaningful long-form conversation that can help us reconnect with our shared humanity.
Anuj Rastogi has hosted 27 Episodes.
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#003: Raheel Raza - "Religion & the Real World"
November 1st, 2018 | Season 1 | 1 hr 28 mins
culture, feminism, humanity, islam, love, multiculturalism, muslim, pakistan, politics, raheel, raza, religion, tolerance, youth
In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi speaks with Raheel Raza, author, speaker, and incredibly fierce activist and advocate for reform within the Muslim world. Raheel talks about her experience as a muslim, and a woman pushing for reformation within the community, and for open, honest dialogue. Raheel speaks about her work with youth, with the UN Human Rights Commission, and the crisis of an increasingly polarized world, and how difficult it can be to call a "spade a spade" in a climate where both sides of the political spectrum take issue with one's views without engaging in that dialogue.
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#002: Raj Sharma - "Home"
October 31st, 2018 | Season 1 | 1 hr 9 mins
brexit, home, humanity, immigration, law, lawyer, love, migrants, politics, raj sharma, refugees, society
In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi talks to Raj Sharma, one of Canada's leading refugee lawyers. Raj talks about his experience as a refugee protection officer, as a refugee and immigration lawyer in the context of the current migrant crisis in the US, and potential impact on Canada. Anuj and Raj discuss the concept of home itself, what it means to leave home, and what it means to find a new place to call home. The conversation makes timely reference in the context of a rise in political polarization, brexit, far-right fears and increasing globalization.
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#001: Anuj Rastogi (Intro) - "Theory of Encumbered Will"
October 30th, 2018 | Season 1 | 18 mins 38 secs
awoken, determinism, free will, history, host, human experience, introduction, love, omnesia, podcast
In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi introduces himself, the podcast and the reasons behind launching this podcast. Anuj also introduces his hypothesis on free-will, entitled the "Theory of Encumbered Will".