The Ancient Road Home

Soma Vidya

The Ancient Road Home takes you on a transformative journey through ancient wisdom and modern living. Each episode blends timeless Vedic philosophies with practical tools to help you cultivate a harmonious and vibrant life. Join us for down-to-earth insights and practices that integrate mind, body, and spirit, making the complete yogic path accessible and relevant for today’s world. Discover how ancient teachings can guide you towards holistic well-being and a more fulfilling life.

  1. JAN 25

    31. Metacognition: Why Psychology Is Catching Up to Ancient Wisdom

    We’re living in a time of unprecedented insight. We understand trauma, the nervous system, attachment, somatics, and emotional regulation. We know why we are the way we are — and yet many of us still feel stuck, reactive, or exhausted by carrying so much knowledge that doesn’t seem to translate into real-life change. In this episode, we explore metacognition — the psychological term now gaining attention for what ancient traditions have been teaching for millennia: that suffering doesn’t come from a lack of information, but from unconscious thinking. First named in modern psychology in the 1970s, metacognition refers to our ability to observe how we think, not just what we think. And research is now showing that this capacity is one of the strongest predictors of learning, emotional regulation, and real behavioural change. But this isn’t new. This is the heart of yogic philosophy, mindfulness in Buddhism, Vedic-based understanding of prajñāparādha, and even the Socratic method in ancient Greek philosophy. Different languages, different cultures — the same insight: wisdom arises not from accumulating knowledge, but from cultivating clear perception and Right View. In this episode, we explore why so many people feel intellectually overloaded, why “knowing more” no longer works, and why learning how to think — how to see clearly in real time — may be the next evolutionary step in personal and spiritual development. We’ll also explore how metacognition restores discernment, helping you respond to life as it unfolds rather than forcing yourself to follow external rules or ideals, and I’ll share a simple way you can begin practising this capacity in everyday life. This is not about chasing the next trend.It’s about remembering what has always mattered. Welcome back to The Ancient Road Home. If you have questions, reflections, or would like to inquire about being a guest on the podcast, you’re warmly invited to reach out. 📩 Email: hello@soma-vidya.com📷 Instagram: @_soma.vidya

    13 min
  2. JAN 1

    29. How to Create Lasting Change: Reorientation > Resolution

    Is your New Year’s resolution feeling more like a sentence than a fresh start? You’re not alone. The cycle of setting goals only to watch them fade by February isn’t a personal failure—it’s a sign that we’re using the wrong map for change. In this 2026 inaugural episode, we explore a radical alternative to the willpower grind: reorientation. Drawing from the deep wells of Tantric, Buddhist and Yogic philosophy, we’ll unpack why lasting transformation doesn’t begin with doing, but with seeing. We’ll journey through: Shunyata (Emptiness) as the Ground: Discovering the open, fluid space within which real change becomes possible.Samyak Drishti (Right View): Learning what it means to correct your perception, not just your behaviour.The Alchemy of Embodiment: How to move a philosophical truth from your intellect into your nervous system, so change flows naturally, without force.This is a conversation about ending the inner civil war of self-improvement. It’s about trading the brittle checklist for a clear, compassionate lens—and allowing your life to reorganise itself from the inside out.  Deepen Your Journey: The companion essay to this episode,"The 2026 Awakening: Swap Your Resolutions for These," expands on these ideas with seven tangible entry points for your own practice. Read it here We’d Love to Hear From You: What’s one view or story you feel ready to reorient? What questions are left hanging from today's episode? Share your reflections with us on Instagram @_soma.vidya, email us hello@soma-vidya.com, comment on Spotify or reply to the Substack post. Subscribe to The Ancient Road Home wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every week.

    23 min
  3. 12/08/2025

    28. Healing for Perfectionists: How Imogen Broke Free from Rigidity and Found Real Freedom

    In this episode, Imogen shares her powerful healing journey — from living with severe disabilities and perfectionism to moving through the extremes of Western medicine, natural health, and even Ayurveda. What looked like “wellness” on the surface eventually became another form of rigidity, triggering some of the deepest disordered eating and self-pressure she had ever experienced. Imogen opens up about how our mentorship work to expand her consciousness/relationship with life helped her step out of the cycle of extremes and into a completely new relationship with her body. Through somatics, energetic awareness, and deeper consciousness work, she discovered a way of healing that wasn’t based on protocols or purity, but on presence, intuition, and self-trust. This episode explores: healing after severe disability diagnoses, wellness rigidity, and perfectionismthe shadow side of wellness culture and Ayurvedic dogmaFinding freedom in accepting our humanness & embracing the joys of lifeSomatics, energy and nervous system awareness as a path to liberation what real, sustainable healing looks like beyond extremes how consciousness, energy, and embodiment change everything If you’re navigating chronic symptoms, caught between healing modalities, or feeling pressure to “do wellness perfectly,” this conversation will show you a gentler, truer way back to yourself. Have a question for Deni or Imogen? Reach out at hello@soma-vidya.com or find Deni on Instagram @_soma.vidya

    36 min
  4. 12/01/2025

    27. From Panic to Power: How Vedic Wisdom Rewired Her Life in 10 Weeks

    In this episode of The Ancient Road Home, Deni sits down with a long-time mentee whose journey reflects the heart of the Vedic path: transformation that begins in the body, deepens in the mind, and ultimately reshapes the spirit. She first came to Deni seeking physical healing, burdened by severe anxiety and recurring panic attacks. But as Deni’s work evolved and expanded into the deeper esoteric layers of the Vedic tradition, so did her own awakening. What began as support for the nervous system became a complete rewiring of her relationship with herself, her purpose, and the nature of reality. Over 10 weeks of mentorship, she experienced more clarity, stability, and self-trust than years of conventional therapy had ever given her. In her words: “Ten weeks with Deni did more for me than six psychologists and two counsellors combined.” This conversation explores:– How physical imbalance is only the entry point into spiritual misalignment– Why ancient Vedic frameworks cut deeper than mindset work– The hidden roots of anxiety and panic through the lens of consciousness– How esoteric understanding creates rapid, lasting change– What true self-initiation feels like when the path is aligned with Dharma If you’ve ever felt like you’ve ‘done everything’ and still don’t feel whole, this episode will open a door — not just to healing, but to remembering who you truly are. For questions and collaborations, reach out here: hello@soma-vidya.com @_soma.vidya

    44 min

About

The Ancient Road Home takes you on a transformative journey through ancient wisdom and modern living. Each episode blends timeless Vedic philosophies with practical tools to help you cultivate a harmonious and vibrant life. Join us for down-to-earth insights and practices that integrate mind, body, and spirit, making the complete yogic path accessible and relevant for today’s world. Discover how ancient teachings can guide you towards holistic well-being and a more fulfilling life.