From Getting Fired to Finding Purpose: Rohan Raj on Books, Failures, and New Beginnings

What do you do when life throws you off course, twice? For Rohan Raj, the answer was simple: go back to what he loves most, books.

In this honest and warm episode, Mohua sits down with Rohan Raj, the heart behind Book Nerds, a thriving book community he co-founded with his wife Neha Raj. What started after two job rejections has grown into a movement bringing readers, authors, and book lovers together, one page at a time.

Rohan shares the raw moments that led him here—the doubts, the digital noise, and how he’s stayed grounded in a world moving too fast. He talks about his deep love for paperbacks, the magic of libraries, and why creating your own ecosystem as a writer might be the most powerful thing you can do.

He’s also refreshingly honest about the role of AI in creativity, the importance of showing up authentically, and what podcasting has taught him about listening. With a heart full of stories and a mind wired for community-building, Rohan reminds us that sometimes, the things that don’t go as planned are the ones that lead us home.

If you’ve ever felt like starting over, felt unseen as a writer, or just miss the smell of a good paperback—this episode will feel like a conversation with an old friend.