Akshay Nanavati
{{Promotional|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
|image = File:Akshaymccain.jpg
|caption = Nanavati with John McCain in Iraq in 2007
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|10|15}}
|birth_place = Bombay, Maharashtra, India
|death_date =
|death_place =
|nationality = American
|occupation = Speaker, author, runner, entrepreneur
|known_for = Fearvana
| alma_mater = Southwestern University (BA)
Syracuse University (MA)
|website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Akshay Nanavati (born October 15, 1984) is a United States Marine veteran, speaker, entrepreneur, ultra runner and author. He served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. His book Fearvana was endorsed by the Dalai Lama and Jack Canfield. His latest adventure is a plan to cross Antarctica solo over the 2024/2025 season.
Early life and education
Nanavati was born in Bombay, India, on October 15, 1984 to Indian parents. He did his Bachelors of Arts in History at Southwestern University.{{cite web|url=https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/6484-adventure-enthusiast |title=Adventure Enthusiast |publisher=Southwestern University. |date=February 13, 2012 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}} During his high school years, he watched the film Black Hawk Down, which inspired him to join the United States Marine Corps. He currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.{{cite web|url=http://voyagephoenix.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-akshay-nanavati/ |title=Daily Inspiration: Meet Akshay Nanavati|publisher=voyagephoenix.com |date=June 8, 2022 |accessdate=June 8, 2022}}
Career
After overcoming drug addiction, despite two doctors suggesting boot camp could kill him because of a blood disorder, he enlisted in the Marines.{{cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/joshua-spodek/the-marine-the-dalai-lama-overcoming-ptsd-and-over.html |title=The Marine, the Dalai Lama, Overcoming PTSD, and Overcoming Fear |publisher=Inc.com |date= July 25, 2017|accessdate=September 14, 2018}} Nanavati was then sent to Haditha, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/thai-nguyen/ptsd-a-marine-corps-veter_b_6134486.html |title=PTSD: A Marine Corps Veteran's Battle and Victory |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=December 6, 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}} He was an infantry non-commissioned officer,{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40443899/four-common-types-of-employee-recognition-that-usually-backfire |title=Three Types Of Employee Recognition That Backfire (And One That Doesn't) |publisher=Fastcompany.com |date= July 26, 2017|accessdate=September 14, 2018}} where one of his jobs was to walk in front of vehicles to find improvised explosive devices {{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-25/why-you-should-never-sleep-on-long-flights-travel-tips-from-a-marine |title=Why you should never sleep on long flights, travel tips from a Marine |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date= October 25, 2017|accessdate=September 14, 2018}} and another as communications liaison.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/how-to-survive-a-marathon-flight/2017/09/07/72879332-8cd4-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html?noredirect=on |title=How to survive a marathon flight |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 7, 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}
He received his Masters of Arts in journalism from Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He ended his tenure in the military as a sergeant before graduating. He was also diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and survivor's guilt,{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertlaura/2014/11/11/wounded-warriors/#2806d8d9446b |title=Wounded Warriors Using Entrepreneurship To Combat Military Injuries & Retirement |work=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2018}} which led him to alcoholism and depression before realizing he was on the brink of suicide. As a result, this led him to research neuroscience, psychology and spirituality.{{cite web|author=Akshay Nanavati |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/304193 |title=6 Lessons This Marine Veteran Learned Overcoming PTSD, Alcoholism and Suicidal Thoughts to Build a Successful Business |publisher=Entrepreneur.com |date= November 8, 2017|accessdate=September 14, 2018}}
While at base in Iraq, he started to run to cope with the stress of war, including running long distances and ultramarathons.{{cite web|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/g20835484/7-ways-that-running-makes-you-a-better-person/ |title=7 Ways That Running Makes You a Better Person |publisher=Runnersworld.com |date=November 28, 2016 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}} In addition to becoming an ultrarunner, he also took up skydiving, mountain biking, scuba diving, rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering and polar exploration, in trying to deal with his fears.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/run-around-the-world/index.html |title=Ex-Marine plans to beat PTSD by trekking every country |publisher=Edition.cnn.com |date= June 30, 2014|accessdate=September 19, 2018}} He is also a public speaker.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/akshay-nanavati2 |title=Akshay Nanavati - Author Biography |publisher=Entrepreneur.com |date= |accessdate=September 19, 2018}}
In December 2021, he skied up the Axel Heiberg Glacier in Antarctica.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/world/fearvana-former-marine-akshay-nanavati-antarctica-7875428/ |title=Who is Akshay Nanavati |publisher=indianexpress.com/ |date= April 18, 2022|accessdate=April 18, 2022}}
Antarctica
Nanavati attempted to be the first person to solo cross Antarctica in 2024/2025.{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/travel/akshay-nanavatis-historic-110-day-solo-ski-expedition-across-antarctica/articleshow/115191786.cms |title=Akshay Nanavati's historic 110-day solo ski expedition across Antarctica |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=November 12, 2024 |last1=John |first1=Nirmal}}{{cite web |url=https://www.muscleandfitness.com/athletes-celebrities/news/akshay-nanavati-is-spending-veterans-day-walking-across-antarctica/ |title=Akshay Nanavati is Spending Veterans Day Walking Across Antarctica |date=November 11, 2024}}
Bibliography
- Nanavati, Akshay. 2017. Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness. Morgan James Publishing.
References
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Category:American motivational writers
Category:American people of Gujarati descent
Category:American people of Indian descent
Category:American people of Pakistani descent
Category:People from Austin, Texas
Category:Military personnel from Mumbai
Category:Southwestern University alumni
Category:Syracuse University alumni
Category:United States Marines
Category:Westlake High School (Texas) alumni
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War