Sanjay Rawal: podcast appearances and interviews

Sanjay Rawal is an Indian-American documentary film director based in New York City. His work often addresses issues related to social justice, human rights, and community healing. Rawal's first feature-length film, Food Chains, debuted at the Berlin Film Festival in 2014 and premiered in the United States at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film, which Rawal produced, was narrated by Forest Whitaker and earned the 2015 James Beard Foundation Award for a documentary or special, as well as sharing the 2016 BritDoc Documentary Impact Award. His second feature, 3100: Run and Become, released in 2018, explores themes of running and cultural unity, receiving positive reviews and notable coverage in podcasts and media outlets. His third film, Gather, released directly to digital platforms in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, was recognized as a New York Times Critic's Pick and won the James Beard Foundation Media Award in 2022, marking Rawal as a two-time recipient. Raised in northern California in a family involved in agriculture, Rawal developed an early awareness of food industry issues, which influenced his filmmaking. He has also been involved in international development, activism, and has worked with prominent figures on projects related to peace and social justice. Inspired by his spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, Rawal has edited and published books on spiritual themes. Additionally, he is an accomplished master's level long-distance runner and secured first place in the US half-marathon championship in the men's 45-49 category in 2023.