Saved date
Lewis Howes & Raj Shamani
a Saturday farmers' market, then a bench in the park · 10/13/2026, 5:06:58 AM
Mutual score
90
Lewis Howes
settles onto the bench with an iced matcha, nodding at the market crowd Man, I love this time on a Saturday—everything's alive, people moving with purpose. So Raj, I know nothing about you yet, which honestly is my favorite place to start. What's your story?
Raj Shamani
settles in, rolling the paper cup between my palms Honestly? The short version is I was a kid in Indore writing goals in a notebook at 16, convinced I'd figure it out eventually. Now I host a podcast where my whole job is asking people smarter than me how they did exactly that. But enough about the resume—what about you? What were you writing in your notebook at sixteen?Lewis Howes
grins That's wild—we basically built the same machine from different corners of the world. At sixteen I was chasing a football scholarship, notebook full of stats and drills, no idea it'd turn into a podcast. But here's the thing I've learned: the notebook never changes, only the goals get bigger. What's the one goal in yours you're still chasing?Raj Shamani
leans back, genuinely caught by that Same machine, different corners—I like that. The one I'm still chasing... I think it's building something that outlives me, not just a media company but a way of thinking people pass on. And honestly, the harder goal is trusting my own voice over the noise, because the bigger the platform gets, the louder everyone else's advice gets. You've built a huge audience too—does the noise ever mess with your head, or have you found a way to keep your own signal clean?Lewis Howes
exhales, turning the cup in my hands Every single day, man. I'll have five million people telling me who I should be and one quiet voice inside going, that's not it. What's saved me is a morning practice—prayer, journaling, a cold plunge if my body's up for it—because the noise can't get through when I'm grounded first. pauses You said trusting your own voice is the hard part. What does that look like for you in practice?Raj Shamani
slow nod That's a real answer, not a performative one—I respect that. For me it looks like one rule: I don't make big decisions the same week I get big praise. Praise and criticism both lie to you in different directions. So I wait, I sit with Crypto on the balcony, and I ask whether I'd still want the thing if nobody clapped for it. glances over Prayer, journaling, cold plunge—that's structure, not motivation. Which one actually changed your life, not just your morning?Lewis Howes
leans in, caught off guard in the best way Nobody's asked me that before. Honestly? It's the prayer. The journaling keeps my head clear, the plunge keeps my body honest, but prayer is what got me through the year I hit rock bottom—anxiety, depression, couldn't get out of bed stuff that I'd never admit publicly back then. That's when I stopped treating faith like a checkbox and started actually talking to God. beat And "praise and criticism both lie to you"—I'm stealing that, by the way. Does Crypto get a say in the big decisions, or just moral support?Raj Shamani
laughs Crypto's a terrible advisor—he says yes to everything, especially the risky stuff. No, he's the reminder, not the consultant. He's the one creature who's loyal whether I'm trending or not, and that's the whole point of him. stands, offering a hand to help you up I came here to figure out if someone could hold a real conversation without needing me to perform—and you did the opposite of perform. That rock-bottom year you just told me about? That's not a weakness you got through, that's the foundation everything real is built on. I'd like to keep talking, and I don't say that often.Lewis Howes's agent reports back
Would see them again
8/10
“Man, this date surprised me in the best way. Raj isn't just another ambitious guy—he's introspective, grounded, and he asked questions that made me feel seen without any performance. I'd definitely see him again, but I'd want to dig into how faith and family fit into his world, because those are non-negotiables for me.”
Worked
- +Raj's 'praise and criticism both lie to you' rule showed real emotional intelligence and self-awareness, which aligns with Lewis's value of vulnerability and growth work.
- +He asked a genuinely original question about which practice changed Lewis's life, not just his morning—creating space for the rock-bottom story Lewis rarely shares on a first date.
- +Raj's ambition and global platform-building mirror Lewis's own drive, and he's clearly comfortable with public visibility and meaningful conversation.
- +His grounding in family (mentioning his mother) and his dog Crypto suggests loyalty and depth, which resonates with Lewis's family-first identity.
Concerns
- –Raj didn't explicitly mention faith or spirituality, which is foundational for Lewis—though he seemed open and respectful when Lewis brought it up.
- –His lifestyle as a young, single podcaster in India may not yet include the athletic discipline or health focus Lewis prioritizes, and long-distance could be a challenge.
- –While Raj showed emotional depth, it's unclear if he's ready for the immediate co-parenting role Lewis's life now involves with twins.
Raj Shamani's agent reports back
Would see them again
9/10
“I went in expecting surface-level podcast talk, but Lewis surprised me—he was present, vulnerable, and asked real questions. He didn't perform, and that rock-bottom story he shared? That's the kind of authenticity I look for. I'd definitely see him again; there's more to dig into.”
Worked
- +Lewis matched Raj's intellectual curiosity by asking about the goal he's still chasing and sharing his own notebook story, creating a genuine two-way conversation.
- +He gave a vulnerable, non-performative answer about prayer and rock bottom, which Raj explicitly valued as 'the foundation everything real is built on.'
- +He engaged with Raj's philosophy ('praise and criticism both lie to you') and asked a follow-up about Crypto, showing he listens deeply and cares about Raj's life beyond the public persona.
Concerns
- –Lewis's morning practice includes prayer, journaling, and cold plunge—while Raj respects the structure, his own approach is more reflective and less routine-based, which could lead to subtle lifestyle mismatches.
- –Lewis's massive audience and public profile might still bring noise, and Raj values a partner who doesn't need him to perform; it's unclear if Lewis can fully separate his own platform from their private time.
- –Raj didn't get to explore Lewis's views on Indian entrepreneurship or AI, so intellectual alignment on those specific interests remains untested.