About the show
AwokenWord is a long-form, conversation style podcast hosted by writer, poet, and music composer, Anuj Rastogi. Through nuanced and thoughtful dialogue with an incredible array of guests, Anuj explores the worlds of society, culture, art, music, science, current events and all things that comprise the human experience.
"I want to challenge and evolve ideas, intuitions and convictions. This world, is quite simply, nuts, and often terrifying. Yet, this same world is incredibly beautiful, inspiring and mesmerizing. I want to get to know people who are interesting, who hold varied opinions and have life experiences different than my own.
This podcast is my humble attempt to bring a grain of sand of goodness, conversation and inspiration to the beach of human experience. This podcast is my love letter to the world, and to what it means to be human."
~ Anuj Rastogi
AwokenWord on social media
Episodes
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#004: Roger Christian - "Star Wars & The Alchemy of Cinema"
November 2nd, 2018 | Season 1 | 2 hrs 36 mins
alien, film, george lucas, hollywood, humanity, light saber, love, oscar, science fiction, star wars
In this episode of the AwokenWord podcast, Anuj Rastogi speaks with legendary, Academy award-winning Art Director and Filmmaker, Roger Christian. Roger walks through his incredible life's journey from childhood in the UK, to learning the craft of set direction to the day he was hired personally by George Lucas to lead set design on "Star Wars: A New Hope". Roger explains the process he went through in inventing and designing the light-saber, R2D2, and the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, among many elements in the enduring look of the Star Wars universe.
Anuj and Roger discuss the evolution of cinema, Roger's inspirations and experiences with some of the greats of Hollywood, today's changing political and social landscape, what it means to be a man today, and the future of his newly resurrected feature film project, "Black Angel".
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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".