The xMonks Drive

Gaurav Arora
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

What if wisdom had a voice and it sounded like this Welcome to The xMonks Drive with Gaurav Arora, where soulful conversations meet real-world insight. Hosted by Master Certified Coach and founder of xMonks Gaurav Arora, this weekly podcast brings together a rare mix of CEOs, monks, psychologists, spiritual masters, doctors, and changemakers. Together, they explore what it truly means to lead with purpose, live with clarity, and grow from the inside out. From mindfulness and emotional mastery to conscious leadership, healing, entrepreneurship, and legacy, these episodes are more than interviews. They are invitations to shift your perspective and awaken your potential. If you are done with surface-level talk and crave depth, truth, and transformation, you are in the right place. New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify along with short, powerful clips to fuel your daily journey. Come curious. Leave clearer.

  1. Bijay Anand: Bollywood Actor Turned Yogi on The Spiritual Science of Success

    6d ago

    Bijay Anand: Bollywood Actor Turned Yogi on The Spiritual Science of Success

    What does real success look like? Bollywood actor Bijay J Anand rejected 22 Bollywood film offers at the peak of his career to pursue Kundalini Yoga and spirituality — and in this conversation with Gaurav Arora on the xMonks Drive Podcast, he explains exactly why, and what he found on the other side. Bijay J Anand is one of India's most extraordinary voices on spirituality, wellness, and conscious living. A working Bollywood actor, international Kundalini Yoga teacher, author, art consultant, and founder of Anahata Retreats Mumbai, Bijay has taught Kundalini Yoga and chakra healing across more than 30 countries, headlined international yoga festivals worldwide, and trained under legendary Kundalini Yoga teacher Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa in Los Angeles. He is the author of The Prosperity Code: The Spiritual Science of Wealth, Success and Power. In this episode Bijay reveals why he knows people worth $8 billion who have attempted to end their lives multiple times — and what that tells us about the real meaning of prosperity, success, and happiness. He breaks down the four stages of enlightenment, why the Anahata chakra is the easiest and most important chakra to open, what most people get completely wrong about Kundalini awakening and tapasya, and why going after Saraswati is the only real path to Lakshmi. He also shares his personal journey — from selling soaps on Mumbai local trains to becoming a Bollywood actor, a globally recognised Kundalini Yoga guru, and the author of The Prosperity Code — and why he believes you don't need a guru, a temple, a mosque, or a church to find God. Aham Brahmasmi. The divinity already exists within you. Released on International Yoga Day, this episode is one of the most honest and thought-provoking conversations on Kundalini Yoga, Indian spirituality, chakra healing, karma, Vedanta, and what it truly means to live a prosperous, awakened, and fulfilling life. --- ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Chasing Wisdom Not Wealth 00:21 Leaving Bollywood Behind 02:41 Returning as King Janak 04:14 Redefining Prosperity 06:54 Anahata and Love 09:22 Goals Versus Flow 12:06 Warrior Sage Balance 14:32 Self Work Attracts Lakshmi 18:41 Kundalini and Miracles 19:36 Be Honest Be Humble 21:12 Rich Happy Blissful Enlightened 21:41 You Are Your Own Guru 22:44 Closing Gratitude --- 🎙️ Guest: Bijay J Anand — Bollywood Actor | International Kundalini Yoga Teacher | Author of The Prosperity Code | Founder Anahata Retreats Mumbai 🎙️ Host: Gaurav Arora — Founder xMonks 📖 The Prosperity Code: The Spiritual Science of Wealth, Success and Power — Bijay J Anand 🔔 Subscribe to xMonks Drive for conversations on leadership, consciousness, spirituality, and human potential. --- TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Kundalini Yoga | Kundalini Awakening | Kundalini Yoga India | Chakra Healing | Chakra Balancing | Anahata Chakra | Heart Chakra | Ajna Chakra | Sahasrara Chakra | Spiritual Awakening | Indian Spirituality | Vedanta | Aham Brahmasmi | Karma | Law of Attraction | Meditation | Mindfulness | Yoga Philosophy | The Prosperity Code | Wealth and Spirituality | Money and Happiness | Real Success | Personal Growth | Life Transformation | Self Realisation | Ayurveda | Naturopathy | Bollywood Actor | Bijay J Anand | Bijay Anand | Gaurav Arora | xMonks | xMonks Drive | xMonks Drive Podcast | Indian Podcast | Spirituality Podcast | Yoga Podcast | Wellness Podcast | Hindi Podcast | International Yoga Day | Yoga Day 2026 | Anahata Retreats | Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa | Siya Ke Ram | Bollywood Spirituality | Celebrity Yoga Teacher | Prosperity Code Book | Mumbai Wellness | Tapasya | Saraswati Lakshmi | Yoga Guru India 🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    23 min
  2. Tailor, Theatre, Then Filmfare | Bollywood's Favourite Dad Gajraj Rao Breaks It Down

    Jun 24

    Tailor, Theatre, Then Filmfare | Bollywood's Favourite Dad Gajraj Rao Breaks It Down

    Gajraj Rao — the actor who waited 25 years for Bollywood to notice him — sits down with Gaurav Arora on xMonks Drive for his most honest interview yet. Best known for his National Award and Filmfare Award-winning role as Jeetendra Kaushik in Badhaai Ho, Gajraj Rao opens up about his journey from a railway colony in Rajasthan to Delhi theatre to becoming one of Hindi cinema's most loved character actors. In this episode, Gajraj Rao talks about his early struggles before fame — working as a tailor, writing for newspapers for a few hundred rupees, and getting rejected at hundreds of auditions alongside actors who are now household names. He shares rare, personal stories from the set of Bandit Queen with Shekhar Kapur, his 40-year friendship with Manoj Bajpayee, and an unforgettable backstage memory from their theatre days together. He also opens up about his father, the quiet lessons he learned at home, and how that shaped the man and actor he became. Gajraj Rao reflects on his chemistry with Neena Gupta in Badhaai Ho, the hardest scene he ever shot, his preparation process as an actor, and his sharp, unfiltered opinion on what it really means to be a "character actor" versus a star in Hindi cinema. He also speaks about his decades-long career in advertising filmmaking that quietly supported him through his most uncertain years, and the one principle he says he never compromised on — his self-respect. This conversation covers his most celebrated films and shows — Badhaai Ho, Talvar, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Maidaan, Dabba Cartel, Dupahiya — and the people who shaped his career, including Manoj Bajpayee, Ashish Vidyarthi, Neena Gupta, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Ajay Devgn. Whether you know him as the dad from TVF's Tech Conversations with Dad, Kaushik Saab from Badhaai Ho, or one of Bollywood's most respected character actors, this episode of xMonks Drive gives you the most complete, honest, and personal conversation with Gajraj Rao yet. 🎙️ Watch the full episode for stories on Bollywood, struggle, fame, friendship, and self-respect — straight from one of Hindi cinema's most underrated actors. ▶️ Subscribe to xMonks Drive for more honest, in-depth conversations with India's most interesting minds. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Green Room Dedication 00:19 Building Onscreen Chemistry 00:33 Feeling Like a Servant 01:06 Badhaai Ho Breakthrough 02:57 Gratitude For The Team 04:01 Luck And Casting Journey 05:23 Where Characters Live 07:40 Hardest Scene To Play 09:17 Bandit Queen Set Lessons 13:21 Preparing For A Role 16:21 Staying Present On Set 17:38 Stars Versus Character Actors 20:14 Manoj Bajpayee Stories 23:42 Childhood Values And Equality 30:43 Choosing Theatre At 17 32:39 Early Career Humiliations 36:38 Pride Mentors And No Compromise 38:35 Closing Thanks #GajrajRao #xMonksDrive #BadhaaiHo #BollywoodPodcast #GauravArora #ManojBajpayee #IndianPodcast #HindiPodcast #BollywoodInterview #CharacterActor 🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    39 min
  3. Was Osho Actually Right? India's Top Yogi Finally Answers | Prof.(Dr.) Rajesh Kumar

    Jun 18

    Was Osho Actually Right? India's Top Yogi Finally Answers | Prof.(Dr.) Rajesh Kumar

    On the occasion of International Yoga Day, xMonks Drive sits down with one of India's most extraordinary minds — Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Kumar, Sanyasi Bhargava Ph.D. — Professor of Happiness & Wellbeing, Kundalini Yogi, Tantric Master, Applied Psychologist and S*xologist with over 22 years of experience across India and Europe. In this conversation, Gaurav Arora and Prof. Rajesh Kumar explore the hidden secrets of Kundalini awakening, the real meaning of Tantra, the science of human consciousness, and why ancient Indian wisdom holds the answers to modern mental health and happiness. This is the knowledge they never taught you in school. What we cover: Kundalini explained | Chakras and the body's energy system | Ida, Pingala and Sushumna | The shadow side of Kundalini awakening | Why a guru is essential | Hidden secrets of Kundalini | What Tantra really is | Left-hand vs right-hand Tantra | Why Tantra was suppressed | Desire, consciousness and enlightenment | Can you reach enlightenment through physical intimacy | Shame, guilt and physical illness | Why spiritual gurus fall | Osho — Gyani Yogi or controversial master | Carl Jung and Kundalini | The five states of consciousness | AUM decoded | Om chanting and brainwaves | Ancient healing mantras | Depression through yogic science | How to begin your Kundalini practice | Appo Deepo Bhava Chapters: 00:00 Can We Enlighten 00:35 Brainwaves And Samadhi 01:15 Osho And Guru Scandals 01:29 Becoming A Yoga Professor 04:24 What Is Kundalini 05:43 Chakras And Energy Path 09:57 Heart Chakra Awakening 15:24 Fake Awakening Claims 15:46 Meditation Cleanses Mind 21:12 Celibacy And Tradition 22:56 Shame Guilt And Trauma 24:16 Emotions And Illness 28:08 Nadis And Hidden Secrets 30:01 Yoga Beyond Healing 31:08 Shakti Three Gunas 31:50 Tamasik Awakening Path 32:37 Durga to Saraswati Shift 33:58 Tantra vs Yoga Explained 35:01 Left Hand Right Hand Tantra 36:40 Sex and Moksha Link 40:01 Science of Prana Vitality 41:28 Carl Jung Consciousness Map 44:27 Om and Brainwave States 46:29 Healing Mantras Routine 48:54 Discipline and Self Love 51:40 Closing Thanks Farewell About the Guest: Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Kumar — Sanyasi Bhargava Ph.D. Professor of Practice, Manav Rachna International University. Ph.D. in Yogic Science. Master's in Applied Psychology, Applied Yogic Sciences from Bihar Yoga Bharati — the world's first yoga university — and S*xology and Psychos*xual Counselling. Author of Kundalini: Secret of All Secrets and Happiness and Well-being. About xMonks Drive: Deep, unhurried conversations on consciousness, happiness, leadership and the human experience. Founded by Gaurav Arora. Subscribe for new episodes every week. Keywords: Kundalini awakening, Kundalini yoga, what is Kundalini, Kundalini awakening explained, Tantra explained, what is Tantra, left hand Tantra, right hand Tantra, hidden secrets of Kundalini, science of yoga, yoga and neuroscience, chakras explained, Muladhara chakra, Ida Pingala Sushumna, Om chanting brainwaves, alpha waves meditation, delta waves samadhi, Gayatri mantra, Mahamrityunjaya mantra, AUM meaning, five states of consciousness, turiya state, Shiva consciousness, Carl Jung and yoga, science of happiness, professor of happiness, ancient Indian wisdom, Bihar Yoga Bharati, Kundalini tantra enlightenment, how to awaken Kundalini, Kundalini dangers, yoga for happiness, yoga for depression, yoga for anxiety, ancient Indian secrets, hidden secrets yoga, tantra and consciousness, human consciousness explained, self realization yoga, Patanjali yoga sutras, Bihar School of Yoga, happiness professor India, International Yoga Day 2026, Yoga Day special, Indian podcast, xMonks Drive, Gaurav Arora podcast, Prof Rajesh Kumar, Sanyasi Bhargava #KundaliniAwakening #Tantra #Yoga #KundaliniYoga #YogaDay #InternationalYogaDay #YogaDay2026 #Happiness #Wellbeing #Consciousness #AncientWisdom #IndianPhilosophy #Meditation #Chakras #Spirituality #SpiritualAwakening #xMonksDrive #GauravArora #ProfRajeshKumar #SanyasiBhargava #HiddenSecrets #Enlightenment #MentalHealth #Depression #YogaScience #Neuroscience #Om #AUM #GayatriMantra #CarlJung #Osho #BiharYogaBharati #IndianPodcast #podcastindia  🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    52 min
  4. The Silent Killer Hiding in Every Young Indian's Body | Dr. Avinash Verma

    Jun 10

    The Silent Killer Hiding in Every Young Indian's Body | Dr. Avinash Verma

    Why are young Indians dying of cardiac arrest? Why are fit, healthy people in their 30s and 40s suddenly collapsing at the gym, at weddings, on stage, in their sleep — with no warning? In this episode of xMonks Drive, host Gaurav Arora sits down with Dr. Avinash Verma, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, for one of the most important conversations about heart health in India. Dr. Avinash Verma is one of India's leading cardiac electrophysiologists with over 15 years of experience, 2,400+ device implantations, and 1,300+ radiofrequency ablations. He is the only doctor in North India trained in laser-assisted lead extraction. In this episode, he explains why Indians get heart disease 10 years earlier than Western populations, what the difference is between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest, and why India's out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rate is just 2-3% compared to 50-60% in the world's best out-of-hospital cardiac arrest programs. Dr. Verma shares real patient stories including a 36-year-old woman who passed away from sudden cardiac death after refusing a life-saving device, a cardiology colleague who collapsed outside his own home just 1 kilometre from the hospital and could not be revived, and a 19-year-old whose brother had passed away at 17 from a genetic heart condition — who is now thriving after treatment. He also discusses the cases of Sidharth Shukla, Shefali Jariwala, KK, and Prateek Yadav, and explains what actually happens during these sudden cardiac events. Topics covered in this episode include sudden cardiac death in young Indians, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, inherited heart conditions, genetic screening for heart disease, cardiac arrest vs heart attack, how CPR works and why it must be taught in Indian schools, pacemakers and ICDs, the danger of steroids and unregulated gym supplements, why vaping is illegal in India and what it does to the heart, why sugar may be as harmful as smoking, the link between sleep deprivation and heart disease, chronic stress and the heart's electrical system, sedentary lifestyle and cardiac risk, binge drinking and arrhythmia, the role of COVID and vaccines in myocarditis, the truth about pharma conspiracy theories, Ayurveda and evidence-based medicine, whether smartwatch ECG data is medically reliable, the genetic risk of same-community marriage, organ donation and heart transplant in India, and why selling miracle cures is illegal in India. If you or someone you love has a family history of cardiac arrest, heart disease, or sudden unexplained loss — this episode could save a life. Dr. Verma explains exactly what tests to get, what warning signs to watch for, and what to do if someone collapses near you. 🫀 CHAPTERS  00:00 Pharma Mafia Claims 00:28 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Fears 00:44 Supplements Vaping Myths 01:45 Why Indians Get Heart Disease Early 02:25 Genes SNPs Multi Hit Risk 05:28 Metabolic Syndrome Indian Profile 06:35 Cholesterol FH Explained 08:03 ICDs Ablation Saving Lives 09:38 What Cardiac Arrest Really Is 12:13 CPR AEDs Survival Gap 16:58 Gym Collapses Real Causes 17:57 Steroids Caffeine Substance Abuse 20:54 COVID Vaccines Heart Risks 22:48 Mental Stress Patient Stories 30:27 Screening Before Sports 31:55 ECG Screening For Sports 32:33 Family History Sudden Death Steps 34:54 Indian Lipid Pattern Fixes 35:52 Heart Attack Vs Cardiac Arrest 40:46 Sleep Stress And Binge Drinking 43:03 Sugar Fatty Liver And NASH 47:08 Primordial Prevention Checklist 50:43 Vaping Myths And Harms 52:26 Ayurveda Evidence And RCTs 54:49 Pharma Conspiracies And Anecdotes 56:46 Smartwatch Accuracy Reality Check 59:12 Final Wrap And Thanks  🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    59 min
  5. Climbers Are Being Poisoned On Everest. The Reason Will SHOCK You! | Kaamya Karthikeyan

    Jun 3

    Climbers Are Being Poisoned On Everest. The Reason Will SHOCK You! | Kaamya Karthikeyan

    In this episode of xMonks Drive, host Gaurav Arora sits down with Kaamya Karthikeyan — India's youngest female Everester, world record holder, and one of the most extraordinary young athletes in the world — for a rare long-form conversation about what it really takes to push past the limits of human endurance, again and again, from the time she was seven years old. Kaamya Karthikeyan became the youngest female in the world to complete the Seven Summits — climbing the highest mountain on every continent — at the age of 17. She has summited Mount Everest, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, Mount Denali in North America, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia. She has also skied 111 kilometres to the Geographic South Pole as part of the Last Degree expedition, becoming the youngest Indian and one of the youngest women in the world to do so. She is currently 18 years old and studying engineering at Shiv Nadar University. She is also a competitive ski mountaineer who has represented India at the Asian Championships and the Youth World Cup, and won medals at the Khelo India Winter Games and the National Championships. Ski mountaineering recently became an Olympic sport at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. In this episode Kaamya talks about her Everest summit push — starting from Camp 4 in the middle of the night after 250 climbers had turned back, navigating whiteout conditions on the Lhotse Face, losing her expedition mitten at 8000 metres above sea level, and what her Sherpa did in that moment that she will never forget. She talks about skiing alone to the South Pole for 10 days with no landmarks, getting frostbite, being told by doctors to go home, and walking 8 hours with no guarantee she would be allowed to continue. She talks about the avalanche on Mount Trishul in Uttarakhand in 2021 that took the lives of six people she was close to, and how she processed that loss and went back to the mountains seven months later for the Denali expedition. She talks about the controversy around evacuation practices currently affecting the Himalayan climbing community and what it is doing to the relationship between climbers and the Sherpa community. This episode is essential viewing for anyone interested in mountaineering, Everest, high altitude climbing, the Seven Summits, the Explorers Grand Slam, polar expeditions, the South Pole, ski mountaineering, adventure sports in India, mental strength, resilience, overcoming fear, dealing with loss, and the human capacity to keep going when everything says stop. Kaamya Karthikeyan's story is one of the most remarkable sporting and human stories to come out of India in recent years. She started trekking at age 7 in Uttarakhand, summited her first 6000 metre peak at age 9 on Stok Kangri in Ladakh, trekked to Everest Base Camp at age 9, summited Kilimanjaro at age 10, Elbrus at age 11, Aconcagua at age 12 becoming the youngest girl in the world at the time, Denali at age 14, Everest at age 16 becoming the youngest Indian and one of the youngest women in the world to summit from the Nepal side, Vinson Massif in Antarctica at age 17 completing the Seven Summits, and skied to the South Pole at age 17. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about her on Mann Ki Baat when she was 12 years old. She has won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. She has been supported by the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation and the Reliance Foundation. Only the North Pole expedition remains before she completes the full Explorers Grand Slam. 🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    58 min
  6. First the Censor Board. Then the Government. She Didn't Cut a Single Scene | Alankrita Shrivastava

    May 27

    First the Censor Board. Then the Government. She Didn't Cut a Single Scene | Alankrita Shrivastava

    Alankrita Shrivastava — the writer, director, and creator behind Lipstick Under My Burkha, Bombay Begums, and Made in Heaven — sits down with Gaurav Arora on xMonks Drive for one of her most in-depth conversations ever. Alankrita Shrivastava is one of India's most fearless and acclaimed filmmakers. Her debut film Lipstick Under My Burkha was banned by the CBFC censor board before fighting its way to a theatrical release and winning awards at over 80 international film festivals including Tokyo International Film Festival and Créteil International Women's Film Festival. Her Netflix series Bombay Begums, which she created, wrote, and directed, was targeted by the NCPCR. Her Amazon Prime Video series Made in Heaven, co-created with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, received an International Emmy nomination. In this episode, Alankrita Shrivastava opens up about the real story behind Lipstick Under My Burkha, what it felt like when the censor board called her film obscene and refused certification, and how she fought to get it released in India. She talks about working with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti in the Made in Heaven writers room, why she cast Pooja Bhatt in Bombay Begums, and why Konkona Sen Sharma is the only actor she would make every film with for the rest of her life. She also speaks candidly about the challenges facing women directors in Indian cinema, why only 6% of Indian films are directed by women, what OTT platforms like Netflix India are afraid of, and why Bollywood's business model is structurally rigged against independent filmmakers and women's stories. Alankrita also reflects on her years as assistant director under Prakash Jha on films like Raajneeti, Gangaajal, and Apaharan, the personal challenges she faced during the release of Lipstick Under My Burkha, her upcoming film on Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch and the circumstances of her death, and what she wants every woman watching her films to feel. This is an unmissable conversation about Indian cinema, women's stories, creative freedom, censorship in India, OTT platforms, Bollywood, filmmaking, and the fight to tell the stories that matter. Timestamps 00:00 Lipstick Trailer Impact 00:23 Creative Room Debates 01:24 Censorship Release Battle 05:19 Personal Loss And Faith 06:00 First Big Set Experience 07:40 Tough Love Mentorship 08:56 Writing Turning 30 12:16 Director Versus Actor 14:48 Female Gaze Origins 18:54 Made In Heaven Writers Room 22:35 Women Behind Camera Gap 23:18 Casting Pooja Bhatt 25:14 Showrunner Stress Points 26:51 Films vs Series Space 27:23 OTT Boom for Actors 28:11 Prithvi Theatre Struggle Days 30:14 Why Konkona Works 32:20 Pappu Character Spotlight 34:09 Laapataa Ladies 35:14 Theatrical vs Streaming Debate 38:36 Staying True to Craft 41:01 Writing Complex Women 43:48 Themes Agency and Class 45:09 What Keeps Her Going 49:52 Impact on Small Town Girls 52:01 Advice for New Filmmakers 54:15 Closing Thanks  Topics covered: Lipstick Under My Burkha | Bombay Begums | Made in Heaven | Zoya Akhtar | Reema Kagti | Konkona Sen Sharma | Pooja Bhatt | Prakash Jha | Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare | Kiran Rao | Laapataa Ladies | CBFC censor board India | Netflix India | Amazon Prime Video India | women directors India | feminist filmmaking | Indian independent cinema | OTT platforms India | Bollywood filmmaking | Qandeel Baloch | NCPCR | International Emmy India | Tokyo Film Festival | female gaze | women in Bollywood | Indian web series | best Indian films | Indian female director | women empowerment India | bold Indian storytelling | Indian podcast | Hindi cinema | streaming wars India | creative freedom India | xMonks Drive | Gaurav Arora 🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    55 min
  7. The Honest Warning Every Working Indian Needs to Hear in 2026 | Prashant Puri

    May 20

    The Honest Warning Every Working Indian Needs to Hear in 2026 | Prashant Puri

    AI is already replacing jobs. Most people are completely unprepared. In this episode, Gaurav Arora sits down with Prashant Puri — Founder and CEO of AdLift, one of India's leading digital marketing and AI agencies — for the most important career conversation of 2026. Prashant has run SEO, digital marketing, and AI strategy for PayPal, HP, Myntra, and some of the world's biggest brands. He built AdLift from 5 people to 200 and exited for ₹50 crore. He is also the creator of Tesseract, an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform that is changing how brands think about search in the AI era. In this episode he names the AI tools beyond ChatGPT that are already replacing jobs, explains why knowing only ChatGPT in 2026 is not enough, and gives a step by step breakdown of what to learn right now to stay ahead. He also explains why Google is losing — 60% of searches now end without a single click — what the zero click era means for your career and business, why India has 180 million AI users but not a single homegrown AI company, and why most learn AI and earn lakhs courses are Ponzi schemes. What You Will Learn: - Which jobs AI will replace first in 2026 - The best AI tools to learn beyond ChatGPT — Runway, Kimi, Claude, N8N, MidJourney and more -  How to use AI agents to automate your work and run tasks 24/7 - Why Google is dying and what is replacing it - How to start learning AI from scratch as a complete beginner - Why India is the biggest AI user in the world but hasn't monetized it - The difference between someone AI replaces and someone AI makes unstoppable - How Prashant Puri built a ₹50 crore company from a 2 out of 5 performance review Chapters: 00:00 Will AI Take Your Job 00:20 Meet Prashant Puri 01:35 AI Tools Beyond ChatGPT 02:40 Ocean Of AI Use Cases 03:47 Marketing Creatives And Automation 06:33 AI For Learning And Email 08:44 Jobs And The New Marketer 10:31 Why Degrees Still Matter 12:29 Making Money With AI 16:17 Avoiding AI Course Scams 19:00 First Steps For Beginners 20:13 Brand Visibility And SEO Basics 21:45 AdLift PayPal Pitch Story 24:04 Can AI Identify Problems 25:19 Stop Being Lazy With AI 25:33 Google vs LLM Search Shift 26:59 GEO and Consideration Funnel 28:58 From Searching to Asking 29:39 Zero Click Era Explained 30:56 Expertise Beats Fake AI 33:12 Start Small and Compound 34:32 AI as an Equalizer 37:56 Tracking LLM Visibility Tool 41:57 Tech Convenience vs Connection 43:55 India Monetization and Ads 45:54 Building Indian AI Models 48:07 One Truth About AI Future About Prashant Puri: Prashant Puri is the Founder and CEO of AdLift, one of India's leading digital marketing and AI agencies. With over 15 years of experience in SEO, paid media, and AI-driven marketing, he has worked with global brands including PayPal, HP, and Myntra. He is also the creator of Tesseract, an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform built for the zero click era. About Gaurav Arora: Gaurav Arora is one of India's most respected podcast hosts, known for deep and honest conversations with leading voices in business, entrepreneurship, technology, and personal growth. 🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    50 min
  8. No One Has Life Figured Out. Your Brain Was Never Designed To | Dr. Sid Warrier

    May 13

    No One Has Life Figured Out. Your Brain Was Never Designed To | Dr. Sid Warrier

    Nobody actually knows what they're doing. Not your boss. Not your parents. Not the most successful person in your office. This is not a self-help video. This is the science of why you are the way you are. Dr. Siddharth Warrier, neurologist, author, and one of India's most important voices on the science of the brain, joins Gaurav Arora on xMonks Drive for a conversation that will change the way you understand yourself, your relationships, your habits, and your mind. We cover why your brain never actually grew up, what cheap dopamine is silently doing to your focus and your mood, why social media is the most perfectly engineered addiction in human history, why movement is the most underrated mental health tool available to you, how the brains of high performers and wealthy people actually work, why Indian men shut down emotionally and what that costs them, why your childhood is still making decisions for you, and why the one thing every human being on earth is secretly doing (faking it) is not a character flaw. It is just neuroscience. If you have ever felt anxious for no clear reason, addicted to your phone, stuck in patterns you can't explain, disconnected from the people you love, or quietly convinced that everyone else has figured out something you haven't, this episode is for you. They haven't. And Dr. Sid Warrier explains exactly why. --- What you will learn in this episode: — Why the adult brain is still fundamentally a child's brain and what that means for your daily life — The neuroscience of cheap dopamine and why your brain will always choose the easiest reward — Why social media is the most addictive substance ever created and what it is doing to an entire generation — How movement and physical activity directly regulate emotion, anxiety, and decision-making — Why knowledge and wealth compound the same way and what that means for high performance — The real reason Indian men struggle to express emotion and how that shapes their relationships — Why your childhood environment is still running your adult nervous system — How to use awareness to break the automatic cycle between emotion and reaction — What the brains of the most successful people in the world actually have in common --- Timestamps: 00:00 Adults Are Scared Too 01:42 Talk Therapy Basics 03:03 Name It To Tame It 04:12 Movement Regulates Emotions 06:07 Dopamine And Decisions 06:52 Samay Raina And Authenticity 09:43 Comedy As A Symphony 10:55 Brain Floors And Responses 14:38 Gamification And Problem Solving 16:22 Gamification Mindset 16:31 Male Female Brain Differences 17:15 Hormones Emotions Reality Check 19:50 Father Son Chemistry 21:28 Why Alpha Movies Sell 24:33 Art Versus Real Life 26:44 Raising Kids Safely 28:28 Safety And Curiosity Plan 29:43 Rich Brain Myth 32:04 Social Media Cheap Dopamine 35:05 Men And Therapy Stigma 37:03 Building Emotional Awareness 39:55 Expressing Anger Lessons 41:29 Closing Thanks --- About Dr. Siddharth Warrier: Dr. Siddharth Warrier is a neurologist, author, and one of India's leading communicators on brain science and mental health. Known for making complex neuroscience accessible and relevant to everyday life, he has spoken to millions across platforms about the brain, behaviour, emotional regulation, and the science of the mind. Follow him on Instagram @thesidwarrier. 🔗 Connect with us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gauravaroragrv Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithgrv Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vdhTjZlhltIt4e9YiBgMF?si=92853a15e3584866 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-xmonks-drive/id1549886334 Website: https://xmonks.com

    42 min
See All (266)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

What if wisdom had a voice and it sounded like this Welcome to The xMonks Drive with Gaurav Arora, where soulful conversations meet real-world insight. Hosted by Master Certified Coach and founder of xMonks Gaurav Arora, this weekly podcast brings together a rare mix of CEOs, monks, psychologists, spiritual masters, doctors, and changemakers. Together, they explore what it truly means to lead with purpose, live with clarity, and grow from the inside out. From mindfulness and emotional mastery to conscious leadership, healing, entrepreneurship, and legacy, these episodes are more than interviews. They are invitations to shift your perspective and awaken your potential. If you are done with surface-level talk and crave depth, truth, and transformation, you are in the right place. New episodes drop weekly on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify along with short, powerful clips to fuel your daily journey. Come curious. Leave clearer.

Information

  • Creator
    Gaurav Arora
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    266
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The xMonks Drive
  • Show Website
    The xMonks Drive