AwokenWord is a long-form, conversation style podcast hosted by writer, poet, and music composer, Anuj Rastogi. Through nuanced and thoughtful dialogue with an incredible array of guests, Anuj explores the worlds of society, culture, art, music, science, current events and all things that comprise the human experience. "I want to challenge and evolve ideas, intuitions and convictions. This world, is quite simply, nuts, and often terrifying. Yet, this same world is incredibly beautiful, inspiring and mesmerizing. I want to get to know people who are interesting, who hold varied opinions and have life experiences different than my own. This podcast is my humble attempt to bring goodness, unique conversation and inspiration to the beach of human experience. This podcast is my love letter to the world, and to what it means to be human." ~ Anuj Rastogi
Anuj sits down with Captain Matthew Hoh, former US Marine and now Fellow with the Eisenhower Media Network. Matt's personal journey has literally moved through war, to trying to take on the machine of war making. While Matt is prominent as a writer, podcast and media guest for sharing his informed perspectives on current affairs, this conversation is a deeper look into Matt the man, and the personal journey that led him to be who he is today. Recorded in January 2025, this conversation captures many questions that we all should be asking ourselves about the state of the world, our perpensity for war, and what we can do to change the narrative of the future.
EMN Associate Director Matthew Hoh had nearly twelve years experience with the US military and the wars overseas with the United States Marine Corps, Department of Defense and State Department.
Matthew Hoh is the Associate Director of the Eisenhower Media Network.
In 2009, Matthew Hoh resigned in protest from his post in Afghanistan with the State Department over the American escalation of the war. Prior to his assignment in Afghanistan, Matt took part in the American occupation of Iraq; first in 2004-2005 in Salah ad Din Province with a State Department reconstruction and governance team and then in 2006-2007 in Anbar Province as a Marine Corps company commander. When not deployed, Matt worked on Afghanistan and Iraq war policy and operations issues at the Pentagon and State Department from 2002-2008.
From 2010-2024, Matt was affiliated with the Center for International Policy, first as a senior fellow and later as a senior fellow emeritus. He is a disabled veteran.
Special Guest: Matthew Hoh.
20 Oct 2024
#027: Uzma Rizvi - "Living History"
Anuj sits down with Uzma Rizvi - an anthropological archaeologist to explore a fascinating journey through her field, and the history of one of the world's oldest civilizations, in the Indus Valley. Uzma shares many stories and insights into the way in which archaeologists study and piece together the past, and how she uniquely works with many contemporary disciplines to both understand the past, and also connect it to our present moment. Uzma also shares unique insights on how decolonization of the field and our use of certain ways of framing conversations are problematic and in need of reflection. Uzma shares her thoughts on the role technology, and in particular, AI, may play in the field of archaeology. Uzma and Anuj also reflect on the situation in Gaza in January 2024, and the place and practice of hope and our current moment in time.
Dr. Uzma Z. Rizvi is an anthropological archaeologist, and currently a professor at the Pratt Institute. Uzma received a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. She specializes in the archaeology of the first cities, while teaching anthropology, ancient urbanism, new materialisms, critical heritage studies, decolonization/the postcolonial critique, and social practice.
(source: https://www.pratt.edu/people/uzma-z-rizvi/ (https://www.pratt.edu/people/uzma-z-rizvi/))
Special Guest: Uzma Rizvi.
5 Feb 2024
#026: Dr. Yasser Khan - "Humanitarian in Gaza"
Anuj sits down with Dr. Yasser Khan - a Canadian opthamologist who was among the first in the world to visit Gaza in the midst of the recent Israel-Hamas war, to help injured civilians and see the dire conditions first hand. Yasser shares his humbling experiences and perspectives on being a humanitarian, in one of the most important conversations yet on AwokenWord.
Dr. Yasser Khan is an internationally renowned ophthalmic surgeon, humanitarian and entrepreneur. He is a leading ophthalmologist in oculoplastics, orbital and cataract surgery with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Khan is devoted to national and global humanitarian medical work. He is a founder and CEO of GIVE − Global Initiative for Vision and Eyecare. GIVE’s primary aim is to develop social and entrepreneurship solutions to empower local populations and treat blindness. He has worked in this capacity in over 40 different countries and in Northern Ontario with the indigenous communities. He is an associate Professor at McMaster University and the University of Toronto. He teaches cutting-edge and innovative surgical techniques to surgeons nationally and globally. In January 2024, Yasser was among the first few people in the world to travel to Gaza in the middle of the war to volunteer as a physician helping to save injured civilians.
Special Guest: Dr. Yasser Khan.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
17,083
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 53 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
65
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
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