Finding the Strength in Trauma: Overcome Unnecessary Suffering
In this episode of the Let’s Get Naked Podcast, we sit down with Akshay Nanavati—veteran, ultramarathoner, author, and global speaker—for a raw and deeply inspiring conversation about the darkest corners of the human experience and the light that can emerge when we confront them.
Akshay’s journey begins with chaos: a young man caught in the grip of drug addiction, depression, and self-destruction. Seeking a way out, he joined the United States Marine Corps—a decision that would shape his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined. From surviving the trauma of war in Iraq to literally walking in front of military vehicles to detect IEDs, Akshay lived through the kind of suffering most can’t comprehend. He lost friends in combat and returned home with PTSD, only to face a new kind of battle: reintegrating into a world that no longer made sense.
But Akshay didn’t stay in the darkness.
Instead, he did something radical—he leaned in.
In this episode, he shares the wild story of being stuck inside a 7-ton truck during a combat mission, the heartbreak of fallen brothers, and the psychological descent that nearly ended his life. And yet, it was through that pain that he discovered his mission. Rather than run from fear, Akshay made it his ally. He coined a philosophy he now calls Fearvana—a synthesis of fear and nirvana—built on the belief that suffering is not the enemy, but the path to our greatest potential.
Akshay’s life today is a testament to that truth. He has run ultramarathons across brutal terrains, spent 17 days in total darkness to confront his mind, and completed one of the boldest Antarctic expeditions in modern history—dragging a 420-pound sled across 500 miles of icy wilderness. All while living with four biological defects that doctors warned would kill him in boot camp.
His book Fearvana, endorsed by none other than the Dalai Lama, dives into the neuroscience, psychology, and spiritual depth behind this life philosophy. And in this episode, we go deeper—exploring how trauma can be a transformative teacher and how embracing the edges of discomfort can lead to the deepest kind of peace.
This episode isn’t about glorifying pain—it’s about choosing to alchemize it. Akshay reminds us that the question isn’t if we’ll suffer. The question is how we’ll respond when we do. Will we numb it, run from it, or will we lean in and let it shape us?
If you're ready to see your own pain in a new light, to explore the possibility that your deepest wounds might be your greatest gifts, then this conversation is a must-listen.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
Reframing Suffering: Akshay explains how pain and fear, when approached with intention, can be powerful tools for growth and transformation.
The Power of Purpose: How serving something greater than yourself can pull you through the darkest moments.
Mind Over Biology: Akshay defied four life-threatening medical conditions to become a Marine and a world-class endurance athlete.
Isolation as a Teacher: What 100+ days alone in the polar regions taught him about the human spirit—and why solitude is a portal to truth.
Fearvana: Why merging fear and enlightenment creates a more meaningful life, and how you can apply this mindset to everyday challenges.
