Forked

Welcome to Forked. In this episode I’m talking with Sanidhya Agarwal, author of Gita for Gen Z, for a deep and honest conversation about stress, focus, modern life, and the wisdom we’ve left behind. Drawing from his university experience and personal struggles, Sanidhya shares why ancient teachings like the Bhagavad Gita aren’t relics of the past—but practical guides for navigating today’s mental overload. This episode is a conversation with Sanidhya Agarwal, author of Gita for Gen Z, he shares his thought on what happens when ancient wisdom meets modern pressure. Sanidhya tells us what first provoked him to write the book, tracing the idea back to his time at university, where he witnessed—both in himself and his peers—a growing undercurrent of stress, anxiety, and inner unrest. What became clear to him was the absence of spiritual grounding in a world that increasingly rewards speed, productivity, and constant comparison. Our conversation moves into the cultural crossroads of modern India, including a thoughtful discussion on Western outsourcing, capitalism, and how rapid economic change has both improved lives and quietly reshaped values, identity, and inner well-being. We explore why the ability to focus—to sit quietly with one’s own mind—is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Sanidhya explains how modernity has intensified mental restlessness, and why practices rooted in stillness, reflection, and self-observation are more relevant now than ever. We also dive into: The psychological toll of fear of missing out Why keeping a daily journal or diary can be a stabilizing force What to do when you’ve followed all the “right steps” in life—and the path suddenly disappears This episode is an invitation to slow down, question inherited ideas of success, and reconnect with inner clarity in an increasingly noisy world. Get the book! 👉 Gita for GenZ Follow Sanidhya on Instagram 👉 click here Email Sanidhya 👉sani.ag2002@gmail.com Acknowledgements: Music by Poradovskyi Andrii you can find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inplusmusic Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@INPLUSMUSIC

As we move into a new year, there’s a lot of talk about reinvention — new goals, new momentum, becoming more of who we think we should be. But there’s another side to growth that doesn’t get talked about much. The moments when you’re doing the work, showing up honestly… and the feedback goes quiet. In this solo episode, I reflect on what it means to keep walking when momentum fades, when clarity gives way to fog, and when progress turns inward. This is a conversation about staying oriented without forcing certainty — and learning to trust the path even when it’s harder to see. Momentum is easy to trust when it’s loud — when feedback is clear and effort feels rewarded. But almost every meaningful project eventually enters a quieter phase. Nothing breaks. Nothing ends. The road just stops talking back. In this episode, I explore what happens when momentum fades — not as failure, but as a shift. Drawing from my own experiences with creative work, ADHD, mindfulness, and long periods of uncertainty, I talk about how progress can turn inward, and why learning to stay present during these phases matters more than forcing clarity. In this episode, we explore: Why momentum often goes quiet after initial progress The difference between feedback and validation How ambiguity and lack of signal can trigger doubt and rumination What it means when motion doesn’t stop, but turns inward The role of personal tools during periods of fog Why learning and integration matter more than acceleration How to keep walking without pretending you know exactly where the path leads If you’re in a season where the excitement has faded, the signals are unclear, or the road feels harder to see — this episode is a reminder not to check out. Sometimes the quiet isn’t a problem to solve, but a different kind of work asking for your attention. The Journeyman: An Apprentice's Tale https://a.co/d/iiiWTiv Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/seanchrislewis/ Acknowledgements: Music by Poradovskyi Andrii you can find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inplusmusic Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@INPLUSMUSIC

Welcome to Forked. I’m Sean Lewis and today I wanted to share my insights from last weeks episode with Ananda Fitzsimmons and I hope they resonate with you and maybe we can have some quiet reflections together. As I shared in my 2 part series on the 5 practices, we heard those themes throughout the exchange with Ananda. The importance of being present and witnessing the natural world around us, action steps to be in service to the world under our feet and, not striving for perfection but just doing our own small part. You know, when we talk about the environment, most of us feel two things at once: love… and helplessness. We love the Earth — most of our fondest memories were born close to it. Hot summer days at the lake. Childhood vacations at the beach. Sledding down a snow-swept hillside narrowly escaping real connection with that big oak that sits in the middle of the hill. The first time probably around our late teen years of discovering the peace of sitting under an old tree after a heartbreak. The Earth has been our quiet companion through it all — always there, always offering her gifts, never asking for anything in return. And that’s why this week’s episode — the first in the Journeyman season — is about remembering that our connection to the Earth is essential to finding true peace and lasting meaning. Meaning that carries us through our careers, through the noise of life, and into old age — when everything slows down, and we begin to see what’s always been constant. People come and go. Chapters open and close. But you… and the Earth… are never broken companions. Our conversation last week with Ananda Fitzsimmons brought to light the beautiful complexity of life and the interactions and cooperation that all living creatures provide in order for life to be sustained and well on our earth. The vast majority of people want to be loyal to the great memories nature has provided and want the next generation to share in those experiences of connecting with the earth. And yet, even with all that love, many of us feel a quiet ache underneath it.We see what’s happening to the world — the headlines, the pollution, the garbage, the fires, the storms — and somewhere inside, we start to feel small. Helpless. But maybe that’s where we’ve misunderstood our role.We’re not here to change the entire world — we’re here to connect with it again. Like we were when we were kids. Because the moment you reconnect, the helplessness begins to fade. Let’s take a look together at our 5 daily practices and how they can be guiding points to help us reconnect with the natural world and remind us what it is to be human. Part 1 — As you’ve learned, Breathing deeply brings The Power of Connection, breathing is a tool for feeling connected When you connect — when you actually walk, breathe, and pay attention — something inside you reawakens. You stop standing on the outside looking in. You start to belong again. And belonging is powerful. It dissolves helplessness. I think a lot of the apathy we feel — the burnout, the guilt — comes from forgetting that we’re part of nature, not separate from it. We scroll through feeds and headlines that show destruction, and we start believing that the world is something happening to us.But it’s not. It’s still happening through us, every single day. (pause) Every morning I take my dog Jaybe for a walk. We often follow the same trail near my home — gravel path, tiny forested areas, and small lake. I’ve walked that route hundreds of times. But almost every time, I notice something new — a new resident muskrat, field mice living under last summers meadow grass. Some geese migrating later than others, calmly floating on a tiny circle of unfrozen lake. You see that at closer inspection, nothing is ever really the same in nature. And sometimes, I’ll stop to pick up a piece of garbage — a coffee cup or a bit of plastic. I don’t do it out of duty or to feel like a hero. I just do it because, in that moment, it

Forked — Episode: Presence, Motion & Walking Your Own Path Welcome back to Forked!This is part two of our two-part mini-series introducing the five quiet principles from my free eBook, Magic in the Mundane—a guide to help us find clarity and balance when life shifts unexpectedly.You can grab the eBook through the link below, or just listen along—we’ll walk through it together. Last time, we explored Breathing and Embracing Imperfection—two keys to creating space for clarity.Today, we close with the final three: Presence, Motion, and Walking Your Own Path. Presence: Returning to the Moment You’re Actually In Presence begins with the smallest noticing.It’s not about shutting the world out—it’s about letting it back in with awareness.When you’re grounded in the moment, you can observe how the world affects you and choose how you respond. In presence, you begin to see the quiet signals life sends:A coincidence that makes you smile.A conversation that arrives at the perfect time.A small shift inside whispering, “I’m ready for something new.” Presence is the foundation of intuition—it’s how we start hearing what life’s been trying to say all along. Being in Motion: Finding Clarity Through Movement Once we’re present, the next step is movement.Our bodies aren’t meant for stillness—motion creates clarity.Even the smallest action can shift our perspective:A walk, a stretch, a deep breath. In The Journeyman, Rohan learned peace not through thinking, but through moving.Each step he took interrupted the loops that trapped him. Movement builds momentum. Even when you don’t see results, your intentional actions ripple beneath the surface—shaping outcomes in ways you can’t yet see.Stay present. Keep moving. The magic often appears when you least expect it. Walking Your Own Path: The Liberation of Being You There comes a moment when you begin to feel your inner compass—quiet, steady, pulling toward authenticity.Walking your path means listening to that pull, even when it doesn’t fit others’ expectations. Your path isn’t meant to be tidy.It’s shaped by your contradictions, your pain, your joy, your growth.And every step you take in honesty builds trust in yourself. You stop explaining.You stop comparing.You begin to live from alignment. The wisdom of others can guide you, but your voice must lead.That’s how you find freedom—by showing up fully as yourself. Closing When life changes—as it always does—remember these five principles:Breathe. Embrace imperfection. Be present. Stay in motion. Walk your path. Trust that even without certainty, you have what you need.“I trust myself enough to walk forward—even without knowing where it leads.” Download free ebook Magic In The Mundane https://sean-lewis.kit.com/32983ca3e5 The Journeyman: An Apprentice's Tale https://a.co/d/iiiWTiv Acknowledgements: Music by Poradovskyi Andrii you can find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inplusmusic Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@INPLUSMUSIC

What The Journeyman Taught Me About Change” In this season we reflect on the moment when the old story stops working and a new one begins. After years of creative pause through the uncertainty of 2020–2024, I share how writing my debut novel The Journeyman: An Apprentice’s Tale helped me rediscover purpose, rhythm, and flow. I speak about how the world’s turbulence mirrored my own inner crossroads — and how The Journeyman became both a story and a mirror for the times we’re living in. The true meaning of the word journeyman — “a day’s labor” — and how steady, daily effort shapes both craft and character. Rohan, the book’s protagonist: a man caught between anxiety and ambition, striving and surrender, learning to find harmony in a world that no longer makes sense. That search becomes the foundation for this new season of Forked, built around five timeless lessons from The Journeyman:1️⃣ Breathe2️⃣ Embrace imperfection3️⃣ Be present4️⃣ Stay in motion5️⃣ Walk your path This episode sets the tone for a season about growth, courage, and the daily work of becoming — reminding us that the next step doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be ours. The Journeyman: An Apprentice's Tale https://a.co/d/iiiWTiv Download free ebook Magic In The Mundane https://sean-lewis.kit.com/32983ca3e5 Acknowledgements: Music by Poradovskyi Andrii you can find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inplusmusic Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@INPLUSMUSIC

Erik Chevrier is an accomplished professor, researcher, and social activist. He’s a PhD candidate, specializing in subjects such as, food and culture, political economy of inequality, community and local activism, and food sustainability; to name a few. In this episode we discuss: the importance of our imagination and seeing what kind of future we want to create. How we need to dispel myths in our beliefs of what we’ve been taught about the world. Such as, agriculture does not have to be mechanized and large industrial farms do not necessarily feed the world. Our present agricultural methods are destroying our planet. Erik explains the concept of “carbon sinks” and carbon extraction from the air. How reconnecting with our food through gardening and cooking, helps us to build deeper awareness of our responsibility to our planet. Small plot intensive farming and how we can produce a significant amount of food on a small piece of land. Urban agriculture as a real model to produce food. Building local communities through changing models of agriculture. In order to solve our current crisis we need to look beyond our present “for profit” way of producing food. Prioritizing community over profit. The consumer mentality and how to curtail the behaviour in a way that moves away from over consumption. The myth that food is cheap. In actuality we have cheap food due to the poor work conditions and pay to migrant labourers. The true cost of food is far higher. How our capitalist system is set up to require continuous consumption. The need to change our politics and have citizens more involved in their local communities and catalyze change locally as a start. Beliefs need to change but helping an individual to recognize that their beliefs need to be modified is no easy task. When our beliefs are challenged we can sometimes become irrational in the defence of them. Introducing people to ways of seeing different dietary practices in a less intimidating way. Even though slow change in our industry practices seems like an accessible way forward, we must recognize that change actually needs to be done now and absolutely. You can connect with Erik on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/erik.chevrier

As we arrive to the middle of summer, the Covid disruption and quarantine seems so far away. We can’t help but think to the months ahead and hope that we don’t revisit the circumstances of early 2020. Whatever the future may hold, we as individuals can challenge ourselves to see our situation as an opportunity to change. As we look to industries and governments to take on the responsibility to adopt more sustainable practices, we as well must take on the challenge to change our lives. Chase Tucker is an outdoor adventurer, YouTube movie creator, and ultra athlete. He shares his beliefs and practices during the Covid quarantine and lifestyle advise to help us to recapture our sense of adventure. In this episode we discuss: The importance of following up with people who show interest in our online brand. Structuring our online business in a way that allows us to be interactive with followers. The second wave of Covid-19 in Spain. Chase shares how the quarantine impacted his training and preparation for ultra events. We can continue to work on our conditioning with at home training. It may not be as motivating but we can remain fit while being in quarantine . Managing online business while taking extended days off to compete in events. The importance of having big goals to keep us engaged in our objectives. When we are people who chase goals, we can become better people and transmit that to others. The importance of mental toughness. Overcoming fear as the main block to our success. Daily journaling as a method to work on self improvement. The importance of devoting time to our personal development each day. Making life decisions based on our values and not always be money motivated. Discussion on Chases youtube video “When all this passes.” Link to video below in the show notes. Chase offers advise on mindset shift, should we go into a second wave of quarantine this fall. Nutrition, longevity, and radicalized attitudes toward what we eat. 6 PRACTICAL WAYS TO BUILD MENTAL STRENGTH FOR THE MOUNTAINS https://basecamptraining.com.au/2020/01/30/mental-strength-for-the-mountains/ When all this passes what will be different? https://youtu.be/U16EJkQeC-s Website: https://www.basecamptraining.com.au YouTube: : https://www.youtube.com/c/ChaseMountains Instagram: https://instagram.com/chase_mountains?

As society slowly returns to activity, there is no denying that our conversations among one another have changed. Covid-19 has awakened us and brought to light fragilities in our current system. Though we have demonstrated our ability to transform many of the ways in which we conduct business, we see more clearly the elements of society that we must work harder on. One of the most pressing issues that demands our attention is the significantly large portion of the population that is not in good health. Remote indigenous populations are among those who suffer most from health inequality. It is imperative that we acknowledge that these populations represent the failure of our system to foster diversity and support communities far from urban centres. Indigenous people live closest to the natural environment and therefore are most impacted by the deterioration of our ecosystem and poor government polocies. Diversity is our only safeguard for the future of our planet and should we fail to recognize the urgency to reestablish the health of these remote communities, we risk failing our planet. This weeks guest is Dr. Bernard Reid. He is a family care practitioner in North Eastern Canada. He shares his learning experience and insights into working with these unique remote communities. In this episode we discuss: The Waskaganish region in Northern Quebec where Bernard practices as a doctor in family medicine. Waskaganish is a very rural region that poses very unique challenges to practice medicine. Bernard describes the diverse medical conditions that present daily in his clinic. Urban settings verses rural settings and how they differ in a family medical practice. Bernard acknowledges the challenges of being thrust into this rural setting and dealing with such a variety of medical conditions after only 2 years internship. We discuss the incredibly steep learning curve in the first year of a medical practice. Bernard’s passion for the unique challenges that come with practicing family medicine in a remote region. The unique challenges the region had to face with Covid-19. The health status of the indigenous people in the James Bay region. The rates of chronic diseases among indigenous people. Very high rates of obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and coronary heart disease. The major challenges of health inequality. Our imperative to respect and embrace cultural diversity as an absolute requirement to safeguard our planets future. The systematic destruction by Western practices to destroy the indigenous way of life. The root cause of many of our cultural problems is the disregard for the indigenous people through colonial practices.

During these times of sequestration, many of us have found ourselves in contemplation about our health, fitness, and what we would like to change in our lives. With a deep sense that the world is changing and certainly our hopes that the world will in fact change, we don’t want to miss this opportunity to challenge ourselves to change with it. This is our 3rd part of our conversation with coaches Julia Balit and Nathan Zentner. We go deep in this discussion and explore the very controversial questions of the individual taking accountability for their personal well being. In this episode we discuss: let’s take action on our health today and not wait for something to go wrong before we start. When we wait to make changes in our health practices, we have to take more drastic measures to improve our wellbeing. Being fit and healthy takes effort and energy. We acknowledge that there are some people living in scarcity and practicing health and fitness is almost impossible for them due to lack of resources. We look at reasons people claim as to why they don’t exercise. Why we should not be so quick to claim to be a specific body type. Adhering to principals of fitness will approximate everyone to a fitter body. We acknowledge that being underweight and overweight are equally unhealthy. Body shaming should never be a reason to have someone exercise. The importance of mentally laying the foundation for better health. Start with the mind and the fitness will follow. Creating clear, attainable, but challenging goals. We also need a very big goal that challenges our behaviour over the long term. You can connect with Julia on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliabalit/ You can connect with Nathan on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zentnernathan/

Every individual and industry is at a fork in the road. Our lives have been disrupted with very little notice. These are the covid19 lockdown podcast editions. These are the stories of people, sharing their experience & vision of how we can emerge better. This is part 2 of our discussion with fitness coaches, Julia Balit and Nathan Zentner. In this episode we discuss: This fit/sick curve. This is a theory that proposes that, our fitness will inevitably help us to shorten sickness times and withstand illness better than those who are not fit. The importance of maximizing our fitness in current times. When we don’t know where to start in our health journey, the best thing to do is to start taking control of the things in our life that we have some control over. How to keep our mindset focused on goal attainment. Action is what builds our motivation. We need to get into action to get motivated. Will power and how to harness it to get into action. To just get moving and the endorphins kick in quickly to keep us moving. Motivation through accountability partners. Having a huge goal is the best way to keep us focused on success. Work hard, be patient, and consistency will come. To have the taste of a win is critical to elevating our belief that we are capable of winning. The importance of personal development. You can connect with Nathan on instagram https://www.instagram.com/zentnernathan/ You can connect with Julia on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliabalit/

Every individual and industry is at a fork in the road. Our lives have been disrupted with very little notice. These are the covid19 lockdown podcast editions. These are the stories of people, sharing their experience & vision of how we can emerge better. Personal trainers and strength coaches are having to reinvent how they coach their clients and athletes online. This week we are talking to strength and conditioning specialist, Dean Hollingworth. In this episode we discuss: How Dean is maintaining his own fitness and health during the lockdown. He shares, how with very limited home equipment, Dean has managed to keep his fitness up. Using exercise bands and body weight exercises. Practicing exercises with a slower tempo to compensate for lack of equipment. The bright side of not having heavy weights to train with has given people a chance to repair their body from all of the heavy lifting. There is no reason that we can not stay very fit, exercising at home with very little or no equipment. We talk about the cancellation of all sporting events. Athletes dealing with limited training equipment during quarantine and maintaining competition level fitness. How does an athlete stay motivated when there’s no event to work up to. Tips for all of us to apply in our daily lives to keep some form of healthy routine. You can connect with Dean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deanmtl/

There are statistics that indicate that only 8% of people will succeed with their New Years resolutions. Whether this leads some to believe that making resolutions is a waste of time, I am personally more concerned with helping those who have fallen, to get back up and get back on track. No one can deny that change is difficult and the frustrations that we encounter along the way can easily nudge us back into our old habits. My goal with forked podcast is to share the stories of everyday people and how they overcome their personal challenges. My hope is that listeners may find a story that inspires them and enables them to stay the course in discovering their personal potential. In this weeks episode, I’ve included excerpts of recent past episodes, highlighting some solutions to the most common reasons we fall short of goals and resolutions. In this episode we discuss: That nagging feeling that we are behind and too late in the game to realize our goals. Don’t wait for things to be perfect to go out and give it your best shot. Being true with ourselves and admitting if we just aren’t willing to give certain things up in order to reach our new goals. Focusing on todays wins and being committed in the present. Depression as a major cause to break away from our goals. What can we do to ease the destructive force of depression. When we look back at the startup of successful people, we see that it took time to find success. Patience with determination and commitment will bring its rewards. For the full podcast With Natalia Feldman, scroll to July 19, 2019. For the full podcast with Julia Balit, scroll to January 20, 2020. For the full podcast with Nathan Zentner, scroll to November 17, 2019. For the full podcast with Dean Hollingworth, scroll to December 1, 2019.