Watch: Long-form Podcast with Aaron Pete + Personal Update-ish

Hi everyone,

Hope you’re well. I wanted to share a very enjoyable, thought-provoking interview I recently did with independent Chilliwack podcaster Aaron Pete. We discussed the legacy of institutional racism, identity politics, losing friends over politics, being fiercely independent and nonpartisan, Covid wars, my debate with Mark Cuban spurred by a Joe Rogan mention, interviewing Jordan Peterson, spirituality and psychedelics, and what’s next in my career.

In a moment of rare candid vulnerability (I’ve made a point in not sharing personal life issues over the past year) at the start of the podcast, I revealed to the audience why I rejected Aaron’s interview request last year and the year before. I was going through an extremely painful time — psychologically and physically — and didn’t feel ready to jump into a 2-3 hour interview about my journalistic and personal evolution (I was doing short 10-20 minute interviews at the time, but they were focused on a particular political or cultural topic). Something about it felt nauseatingly hypocritical. Throwing a podcast mic on everyone is ludicrous. Not every public figure with insight into culture, politics, or even science and religion has their own (mental) house in sufficient order to open up to the whole world.

Opening up one’s life and views in a longer-form podcast and honestly discussing personal matters — even just for a few minutes (I didn’t discuss much of my mental health journey in this interview) — requires a level of self-realization, stability, and equanimity that I only recently came or returned to, let’s say. Earlier this year, I would have described my mental state as the exact opposite.

I will go into some detail on the various inner issues I’ve battled — and to some degree, overcome — in a very intentional, thoughtful manner in a couple of essays in the new year. I’m also gearing up for a potential* upcoming psychedelic journey, two years after my last, which will (hopefully) tie a few remaining knots in this particular challenging phase of life I’m in.

Suffice it to say for now, I’m in a much better and less anxiety-plagued place than I was a year ago (though still have some more inner work to do), freer to work on important journalistic projects — as well as enjoy life and engage in more fun adventures and pursuits. One outcome of this greater peace and fearlessness (I use that word very intentionally, as you will see in a few months hopefully) is this long-form podcast interview I happily accepted and enjoyed.

Full Bigger Than Me Interview: Rav Arora on Race, Religion & Covid Wars

Spotify:

Thanks to

Aaron Pete

(go follow him on Substack, Twitter, and YouTube) and I look forward to doing it again in a year. Let me know what you think of the interview in the comments below.

— Rav Arora

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