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In this episode I talk to my good friend and photographer par excellence, Chenthil Mohan. Che shares how a journey he took inwards helped him over the last one year. We talk of multitude of topics in a free flowing conversation including about if AI is going to impact creative work and if so, how. It felt like a therapy session between two friends. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:48 - Celebrating 5 Years of the Podcast

00:03:19 - The Origin Story: Starting a Podcast During the Pandemic

00:04:35 - The Journey So Far & The Future of the Podcast

00:06:45 - What is a "Working Athlete"?

00:07:30 - Thinking About a New Podcast on Tech

00:10:13 - The Importance of Sustainability & Avoiding Burnout

00:11:57 - The Challenge of Keeping a Project Sustainable

00:13:44 - Current Training: A Mix of Gym, Cycling, and Running

00:14:42 - Recent Race Experiences & PBs

00:16:30 - Juggling Training Volume for Multiple Disciplines

00:18:11 - The Reality of Balancing Life, Work, Family, and Fitness

00:18:48 - Hitting Pause: A Journey into Mental Health

00:21:07 - How Meditation & Breathwork Changed Everything

00:22:41 - Discovering the Wim Hof Method & Cold Exposure

00:24:26 - Trusting the Process Over Chasing Results

00:26:33 - Learning How to Handle Loss from Professional Athletes

00:27:53 - Finding the Rush in Professional & Real-Life Challenges

00:29:54 - Shifting from Performance Goals to Foundational Health

00:32:08 - Using Habit Stacking for Consistency

00:35:00 - Adopting the "Something is Better Than Nothing" Mindset

00:36:18 - A Deep Dive into Journaling & "The Artist's Way"

00:39:48 - Learning Longevity from Athletes in Their 60s

00:42:05 - The Vipassana Meditation Experience

00:44:05 - The Shift from a Goal-Driven to a Process-Driven Life

00:47:53 - Reframing Setbacks as Opportunities for Growth

00:50:35 - How Journaling Helps Navigate the Swings of Life

00:53:36 - Onward, Inward, Forward: Finding Solutions Within

00:54:20 - Overcoming the Bane of Overthinking

00:57:08 - Exploring Different Breathing Techniques

01:01:30 - How Journaling Finally Became a Consistent Habit

01:03:17 - The Benefits of Ice Baths and Cold Showers

01:06:19 - Breaking Free from the Tyranny of Round Numbers

01:09:00 - Learning to Differentiate Between Laziness and a Need for Rest

01:14:31 - Redefining Goals: What Are You a "Working Athlete" For?

01:16:11 - A Look at Current Photography Work with Athletes

01:18:59 - The Explosive Growth of Hyrox

01:22:45 - Why People Are Drawn to Masochistic Events

01:24:40 - The Power of Staying in the Present Moment

01:25:55 - How AI is Used as a Tool in a Creative Profession

01:26:51 - Will AI Replace Human Creators?

01:33:39 - Focusing on Personal Responsibility

01:36:31 - Reflecting on a 14-Year Journey of Growth