Akshay Nanavati

{{Infobox person

|image = File:Akshaymccain.jpg

|caption = Nanavati with John McCain in Iraq in 2007

|birth_date =

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|occupation = Speaker, author, runner, entrepreneur

|known_for = Fearvana

| alma_mater = Southwestern University (BA) (2009)
Syracuse University (MA) (2010)

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Sruti Nanavati (nee Sankar)|July 10, 2011|2019|end=divorced}}}}

|website = {{Official URL}}

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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.

Early life and education

Nanavati 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 at Westlake High School,{{Cite web |url=http://www.existing2living.com/about-old/about-akshay/ |title=About Me |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417055159/http://www.existing2living.com/about-old/about-akshay/ |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }} he watched the film Black Hawk Down, which inspired him to join the United States Marine Corps. The next year he for his MA in Journalism from Syracuse University.{{cite web | url=https://radaris.com/p/Akshay/Nanavati/ | title=Akshay Nanavati Phone Number, Address, Age, Contact Info, Public Records ᐈ Radaris }} 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}} After living in New Jersey for some years with his first wife, Madras-born Sruti Shankar,https://www.nj.com/somerset/2014/08/ex-marine_beats_drugs_ptsd_now_running_the_world_for_humanity.html whom he met at Syracuse, he got a divorce, initially as a separation after six years of marriage in 2017 and divorced two years later. His mother, Anjali,https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/akshay-nanavati-indian-americans-daring-solo-expedition-across-antarctica/articleshow/116085212.cms is also a published author.https://www.amazon.com/Wings-Courage-Mothers-Story-Resilience/dp/9370039724

Career

After overcoming drug addiction, despite two doctors suggesting basic training 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 by the Department of Veterans Affairs 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}} His genetic neurological patterns have also indicated,{{cite journal | pmc=6470315 | year=2019 | last1=Xiong | first1=J. | last2=Chen | first2=S. | last3=Pang | first3=N. | last4=Deng | first4=X. | last5=Yang | first5=L. | last6=He | first6=F. | last7=Wu | first7=L. | last8=Chen | first8=C. | last9=Yin | first9=F. | last10=Peng | first10=J. | title=Neurological Diseases with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Role of ASD Risk Genes | journal=Frontiers in Neuroscience | volume=13 | page=349 | doi=10.3389/fnins.2019.00349 | pmid=31031587 | doi-access=free }} that his brother has Asperger's.

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}} He had also served with Graham Dale.

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}} In Fall 2023 through 2024, he had planned to do a first solo pan-Antarctica trip,{{cite web | url=https://zachbitter.com/hpo-episode-282 | title=Episode 282: Keto & 2700 km Through Antarctica - Akshay Nanavati & Dr. Mike Nelson }} which was postponed by a year for logistical reasons.

''Fearvana''

File:Iraqakshay.jpg.]]

His philosophy is about fighting fear.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/julesschroeder/2017/09/29/fearvana-how-millennials-are-using-fear-as-a-gateway-to-bliss/#62175b525724 |title=Fearvana: How Millennials Are Using Fear As A Gateway To Bliss |work=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2018-11-06}} As a result of his research, he wrote Fearvana which is, in his words, about the "revolutionary science of how to turn fear into health, wealth and happiness." His research led him to believe in neuroplasticity and said of neuroscience, psychology and spirituality that:

Fearvana teaches the science of how to transform all your seemingly negative emotions into health, wealth and happiness. Fearvana’s revolutionary approach shatters conventional wisdom, giving you the tools to leverage your fear, stress and anxiety to accomplish anything you set your mind to.

The Dalai Lama wrote the foreword for his book.{{cite book|title=Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness: Akshay Nanavati: 9781630476052: Amazon.com: Books |date= October 10, 2017|isbn=978-1630476052 |last1=Nanavati |first1=Akshay |publisher= Morgan James}}

I am happy that Akshay Nanavati has found the strength to overcome the traumatic experiences of his life and has developed the aspiration to help others. His book, Fearvana, inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences, suggesting means for overcoming our fears. I appreciate his sincerity and hope that others will find reason and the encouragement to see the positive side of their lives.Nanavati, Akshay. Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health. Forward. Morgan James Publishing, 2017.

It was also endorsed by Jack Canfield, amongst others. All his profits from the book go towards his non-profit,https://fearvana.com/about-us/ {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} Fearvana Foundation, which sought funding for a vocational school in post-civil war in Liberia,{{Cite web |url=https://www.fearvanafoundation.org/liberia |title=Fearvana |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106132135/https://www.fearvanafoundation.org/liberia |url-status=dead }} amongst other projects.

Antarctica

Nanavati is planning to be the first one to solo cross Antarctica, without aid, in the 2024-2025 southern summer.Greatsoulcrossing.com In this regard, in 2024, he trained in Alaska, USA,{{Cite web |last=Schreck |first=Carly |date=2024-05-02 |title='The Marines taught me how to suffer': How a 2001 film changed everything for Akshay Nanavati |url=https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/05/02/marines-taught-me-how-suffer-how-2001-film-changed-everything-akshay-nanavati/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website= |language=en}} Iceland,{{cite web | url=https://www.mansworldindia.com/currentedition/akshay-nanavati-an-indian-polar-explorer-who-doesnt-believe-in-comfort-zones | title=Akshay Nanavati: An Indian Daredevil Who Stays Away from Comfort Zones | date=June 11, 2022 }} Norway and Greenland.{{cite web | url=https://fearvana.com/expeditions/ | title=Expeditions }}

As he started the "Great Soul Crossing" in November, it was listed in the mainstream media.{{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 }}