Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 32
January 12, 2022
Sarah Silverman — The Joy of Being Alone, Becoming Your Own Best Friend, Insights from Therapy, and More (#563)
Illustration via 99designs“Mom always said ‘Be your own best friend,’ and I really, really mastered that.”
— Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) is a two-time-Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, writer, and producer.
She currently hosts The Sarah Silverman Podcast and stars in the HBO Max animated series Santa Inc., opposite Seth Rogen. She will next be seen opposite Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in the feature film Marry Me. Other upcoming projects include TBS’s Stupid Pet Tricks, an expansion of the famous David Letterman late-night segment, and the indie psychological thriller Viral, starring alongside Blair Underwood.
Her first book, a memoir called The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee, which went on to become a New York Times bestseller, is currently being adapted into a musical with the Atlantic Theater Company to premiere in April 2022.
Silverman served as creator, executive producer, and host of the Emmy-nominated series I Love You, America, which streamed weekly on Hulu and saw her connecting with people through honesty and humor. On stage, she continues to be recognized as a force in stand-up comedy. Her latest stand-up special, A Speck of Dust, debuted on Netflix in May 2017 and culminated in two Emmy Award nominations and a Grammy Award nomination. Her additional film and television work includes Battle of the Sexes, I Smile Back, Wreck-It Ralph, Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks The Internet, Masters of Sex, and Bob’s Burgers.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
Brought to you by Helium 10 all-in-one software suite to sell on Amazon, Dry Farm Wines natural wines designed for fewer hangovers, and Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement. More on all three below.
The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#563: Sarah Silverman — The Joy of Being Alone, Becoming Your Own Best Friend, Insights from Therapy, and MoreThis episode is brought to you by Helium 10! Helium 10 is an all-in-one software suite designed to help entrepreneurs launch, manage, and scale a profitable e-commerce business on Amazon and Walmart.com. Whether you are an entrepreneur who wants to start a business on your own terms or you want to scale your existing e-commerce operations, Helium 10 is here to help. They process more than 2 billion data points daily, have a robust 450+ million ASIN database, and provide at-a-glance analytics like seasonal trends for products, profit estimates, and more.
Join more than 1 million Helium 10 users worldwide by signing up for a free account at Helium10.com/Tim!
This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is brought to you by Dry Farm Wines. I’m a wine drinker, and I love a few glasses over meals with friends. That said, I hate hangovers. For the last few months, all of the wine in my house has been from Dry Farm Wines. Why? At least in my experience, their wine means more fun with fewer headaches. Dry Farm Wines only ships wines that meet very stringent criteria: practically sugar free (less than 0.15g per glass), lower alcohol (less than 12.5% alcohol), additive free (there are more than 70 FDA-approved wine-making additives), lower sulfites, organic, and produced by small family farms.
All Dry Farm Wines are laboratory tested for purity standards by a certified, independent enologist, and all of their wines are also backed by a 100% Happiness Promise—they will either replace or refund any wine you do not love. Last but not least, I find delicious wines I never would have found otherwise. It’s a lot of fun. Dry Farm Wines has a special offer just for listeners of the podcast—an extra bottle in your first box for just one extra penny. Check out all the details at DryFarmWines.com/Tim.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear an episode with someone who takes half-and-half with his coffee? Have a listen to my conversation with Jerry Seinfeld in which we discussed the book that nudged him toward comedy as a potential career, how to generate and maintain a prolific wellspring of creative ideas, why the word “systemize” is such an important part of his personal operating system, self-rewards and other routines that keep him writing, and much more.
#485: Jerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for SuccessSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Sarah Silverman:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Sarah Silverman PodcastThe Bedwetter | Atlantic Theater CompanyThe Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman | AmazonMarry Me | IMDbSanta Inc. | HBO MaxI Love You, America | HuluA Speck of Dust | NetflixViral | IMDbComedians in Cars Getting Coffee | NetflixSarah Silverman Opens Up About Her Battle With Depression and Her Gutsiest Career Move Yet | GlamourXanax (Alprazolam) | Rx ListCardigan Mountain State Park | NH State ParksSarah Silverman: ‘There Are Jokes I Made 15 Years Ago I Would Absolutely Not Make Today’ | The GuardianMein Kampf | WikipediaDo You Have an Inner Monologue? Not Everyone Does. | My Modern MetMeditation, Mindset, and Mastery | The Tim Ferriss Show #201Law & Order Franchise | WikipediaColumbo | Prime VideoWhat We Do in the Shadows (Series) | Prime VideoWhat We Do in the Shadows (Film) | Prime VideoPeaky Blinders | NetflixSarah Silverman Discusses Her Movie ‘Jesus Is Magic’ | Fresh Air with Terry GrossThe Origins of Sarah Silverman’s Dirty Mouth | The AdvocateSarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic | IMDbChris Rock Recalls Testing Jokes at the Comedy Store With Steve Martin Before 2020 Oscars | The Hollywood ReporterThe Story Behind Sarah Silverman’s Firing From ‘Saturday Night Live’ | UproxxSarah Silverman Plays Pickup Basketball (And is a Terrible Teammate) | GQMove On | Sunday In the Park With GeorgeInspirational Writing Advice From Charlie Kaufman | On WritingFahrenheit 451: A Novel by Ray Bradbury | Amazon1984 by George Orwell | AmazonThe Social Dilemma | NetflixWhatever Happened to the News? | Center for Media LiteracyHow to Dox Yourself on the Internet | The NYT Open TeamDonald Trump’s False Claim That Doctors Inflate COVID-19 Deaths to Make More Money | PolitiFactReceive Voice Messages from Your Podcast Listeners | SpeakPipeI Smile Back | Prime VideoCaptain Phillips | Prime VideoPrecious | Prime VideoThe Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling | Prime Video‘Fight Club’ with Better Jokes: Inside Garry Shandling’s Secret Pickup Game | ESPNNCIS | Prime VideoFred Phelps’ Death Sparks a Different Kind of Protest: ‘Sorry for Your Loss,’ ‘Live Your Life and Be Awesome,’ Banners Read | BustleGarry Shandling Memorial Mixes Laughs, Tears and a Few Characters | The New York TimesSHOW NOTESSarah continues her story about childhood depression that Jerry Seinfeld interrupted in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, explains what was going on in her life at the time, and answers the question her stepfather posed: “What does it feel like?” [06:34]How did Sarah become her own best friend, and does this make her asocial? [10:47]As a television aficionado, what shows give her comfort and deserve regular revisiting? [17:35]What does Sarah mean by “comedy stress?” [21:02]What Sarah discovered about herself and the comedic process while writing her memoir, working on her first feature, and observing Chris Rock. [22:04]How Sarah’s experience as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live — and as a basketball player growing up — made her tougher. [28:05]The aftermath of Sarah’s time at SNL and favorite Charlie Kaufman quotes. [36:30]On the rise of extremism across the political spectrum, where it seems to be headed, and what we need to remember about the things we consume via social media. [42:19]The comfort zone of worrying. [46:24]Sarah’s advice to people who are prone to constant self-flagellation. [48:27]How has therapy helped Sarah, and how frequently does she attend sessions? Why did she recently switch therapists? [52:27]Why prompted Sarah to start her own podcast? How does it differ from her comedic work, and how does she choose her participants? [59:47]Is Sarah becoming her mother? [1:05:28]How did Sarah get involved as the dramatic lead in the movie I Smile Back, and what did she take away from the experience? [1:08:16]What did Sarah learn from spending time and working with the late Garry Shandling? [1:11:37]What would Sarah’s billboard say? [1:14:42]Grab joy where you can get it. [1:16:34]Why you should never miss the chance to mourn at a comedian’s funeral. [1:17:31]What would Sarah’s name be if she’d been born a boy? [1:18:41]Parting thoughts. [1:19:11]MORE GUEST QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“When you accept yourself the way you accept any schmuck on the street, you just have a lot more room for other stuff.”
— Sarah Silverman
“There’s nothing better than someone canceling plans.”
— Sarah Silverman
“Mom always said ‘Be your own best friend,’ and I really, really mastered that.”
— Sarah Silverman
“I am a people person, but I just really love being alone.”
— Sarah Silverman
“I had a dad who thought it was hilarious to teach his three-year-old swears, and then I would yell those swears at the market. And I just remember the feeling of yelling it out and all these grownups giving me this wild approval despite themselves. And that feeling, I just became addicted. … Shock became my currency at three and four and five.”
— Sarah Silverman
“Hey, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s okay if you don’t like what I say, and it’s okay if you’re no longer a fan.”
— Sarah Silverman
“With my stand-up, I’m a very slow honer. I’ll work on a joke for months, months, months, months, maybe even a year or two years and I hone it so slowly, even though it may sound kind of in the moment, I’m working on it inch by inch. And on the podcast, it’s very immediate. It’s messy.”
— Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman — How to Be Your Own Best Friend, Lessons from Therapy, and Grabbing Joy Where You Can Get It (#563)
Illustration via 99designs“Mom always said ‘Be your own best friend,’ and I really, really mastered that.”
— Sarah Silverman
Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) is a two-time-Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, writer, and producer.
She currently hosts The Sarah Silverman Podcast and stars in the HBO Max animated series Santa Inc., opposite Seth Rogen. She will next be seen opposite Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in the feature film Marry Me. Other upcoming projects include TBS’s Stupid Pet Tricks, an expansion of the famous David Letterman late-night segment, and the indie psychological thriller Viral, starring alongside Blair Underwood.
Her first book, a memoir called The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee, which went on to become a New York Times bestseller, is currently being adapted into a musical with the Atlantic Theater Company to premiere in April 2022.
Silverman served as creator, executive producer, and host of the Emmy-nominated series I Love You, America, which streamed weekly on Hulu and saw her connecting with people through honesty and humor. On stage, she continues to be recognized as a force in stand-up comedy. Her latest stand-up special, A Speck of Dust, debuted on Netflix in May 2017 and culminated in two Emmy Award nominations and a Grammy Award nomination. Her additional film and television work includes Battle of the Sexes, I Smile Back, Wreck-It Ralph, Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks The Internet, Masters of Sex, and Bob’s Burgers.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Brought to you by Helium 10 all-in-one software suite to sell on Amazon, Dry Farm Wines natural wines designed for fewer hangovers, and Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#563: Sarah Silverman — How to Be Your Own Best Friend, Lessons from Therapy, and Grabbing Joy Where You Can Get ItThis episode is brought to you by Helium 10! Helium 10 is an all-in-one software suite designed to help entrepreneurs launch, manage, and scale a profitable e-commerce business on Amazon and Walmart.com. Whether you are an entrepreneur who wants to start a business on your own terms or you want to scale your existing e-commerce operations, Helium 10 is here to help. They process more than 2 billion data points daily, have a robust 450+ million ASIN database, and provide at-a-glance analytics like seasonal trends for products, profit estimates, and more.
Join more than 1 million Helium 10 users worldwide by signing up for a free account at Helium10.com/Tim!
This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is brought to you by Dry Farm Wines. I’m a wine drinker, and I love a few glasses over meals with friends. That said, I hate hangovers. For the last few months, all of the wine in my house has been from Dry Farm Wines. Why? At least in my experience, their wine means more fun with fewer headaches. Dry Farm Wines only ships wines that meet very stringent criteria: practically sugar free (less than 0.15g per glass), lower alcohol (less than 12.5% alcohol), additive free (there are more than 70 FDA-approved wine-making additives), lower sulfites, organic, and produced by small family farms.
All Dry Farm Wines are laboratory tested for purity standards by a certified, independent enologist, and all of their wines are also backed by a 100% Happiness Promise—they will either replace or refund any wine you do not love. Last but not least, I find delicious wines I never would have found otherwise. It’s a lot of fun. Dry Farm Wines has a special offer just for listeners of the podcast—an extra bottle in your first box for just one extra penny. Check out all the details at DryFarmWines.com/Tim.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear an episode with someone who takes half-and-half with his coffee? Have a listen to my conversation with Jerry Seinfeld in which we discussed the book that nudged him toward comedy as a potential career, how to generate and maintain a prolific wellspring of creative ideas, why the word “systemize” is such an important part of his personal operating system, self-rewards and other routines that keep him writing, and much more.
#485: Jerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for SuccessSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Sarah Silverman:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Sarah Silverman PodcastThe Bedwetter | Atlantic Theater CompanyThe Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman | AmazonMarry Me | IMDbSanta Inc. | HBO MaxI Love You, America | HuluA Speck of Dust | NetflixViral | IMDbComedians in Cars Getting Coffee | NetflixSarah Silverman Opens Up About Her Battle With Depression and Her Gutsiest Career Move Yet | GlamourXanax (Alprazolam) | Rx ListCardigan Mountain State Park | NH State ParksSarah Silverman: ‘There Are Jokes I Made 15 Years Ago I Would Absolutely Not Make Today’ | The GuardianMein Kampf | WikipediaDo You Have an Inner Monologue? Not Everyone Does. | My Modern MetMeditation, Mindset, and Mastery | The Tim Ferriss Show #201Law & Order Franchise | WikipediaColumbo | Prime VideoWhat We Do in the Shadows (Series) | Prime VideoWhat We Do in the Shadows (Film) | Prime VideoPeaky Blinders | NetflixSarah Silverman Discusses Her Movie ‘Jesus Is Magic’ | Fresh Air with Terry GrossThe Origins of Sarah Silverman’s Dirty Mouth | The AdvocateSarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic | IMDbChris Rock Recalls Testing Jokes at the Comedy Store With Steve Martin Before 2020 Oscars | The Hollywood ReporterThe Story Behind Sarah Silverman’s Firing From ‘Saturday Night Live’ | UproxxSarah Silverman Plays Pickup Basketball (And is a Terrible Teammate) | GQMove On | Sunday In the Park With GeorgeInspirational Writing Advice From Charlie Kaufman | On WritingFahrenheit 451: A Novel by Ray Bradbury | Amazon1984 by George Orwell | AmazonThe Social Dilemma | NetflixWhatever Happened to the News? | Center for Media LiteracyHow to Dox Yourself on the Internet | The NYT Open TeamDonald Trump’s False Claim That Doctors Inflate COVID-19 Deaths to Make More Money | PolitiFactReceive Voice Messages from Your Podcast Listeners | SpeakPipeI Smile Back | Prime VideoCaptain Phillips | Prime VideoPrecious | Prime VideoThe Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling | Prime Video‘Fight Club’ with Better Jokes: Inside Garry Shandling’s Secret Pickup Game | ESPNNCIS | Prime VideoFred Phelps’ Death Sparks a Different Kind of Protest: ‘Sorry for Your Loss,’ ‘Live Your Life and Be Awesome,’ Banners Read | BustleGarry Shandling Memorial Mixes Laughs, Tears and a Few Characters | The New York TimesSHOW NOTESNote from the editor: Timestamps will be added shortly.
Sarah continues her story about childhood depression that Jerry Seinfeld interrupted in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, explains what was going on in her life at the time, and answers the question her stepfather posed: “What does it feel like?”How did Sarah become her own best friend, and does this make her asocial?As a television aficionado, what shows give her comfort and deserve regular revisiting?What does Sarah mean by “comedy stress?”What Sarah discovered about herself and the comedic process while writing her memoir, working on her first feature, and observing Chris Rock.How Sarah’s experience as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live — and as a basketball player growing up — made her tougher.The aftermath of Sarah’s time at SNL and favorite Charlie Kaufman quotes.On the rise of extremism across the political spectrum, where it seems to be headed, and what we need to remember about the things we consume via social media.The comfort zone of worrying.Sarah’s advice to people who are prone to constant self-flagellation.How has therapy helped Sarah, and how frequently does she attend sessions? Why did she recently switch therapists?Why prompted Sarah to start her own podcast? How does it differ from her comedic work, and how does she choose her participants?Is Sarah becoming her mother?How did Sarah get involved as the dramatic lead in the movie I Smile Back, and what did she take away from the experience?What did Sarah learn from spending time and working with the late Garry Shandling?What would Sarah’s billboard say?Grab joy where you can get it.What would Sarah’s name be if she’d been born a boy?Parting thoughts.MORE GUEST QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“When you accept yourself the way you accept any schmuck on the street, you just have a lot more room for other stuff.”
— Sarah Silverman
“There’s nothing better than someone canceling plans.”
— Sarah Silverman
“Mom always said ‘Be your own best friend,’ and I really, really mastered that.”
— Sarah Silverman
“I am a people person, but I just really love being alone.”
— Sarah Silverman
“I had a dad who thought it was hilarious to teach his three-year-old swears, and then I would yell those swears at the market. And I just remember the feeling of yelling it out and all these grownups giving me this wild approval despite themselves. And that feeling, I just became addicted. … Shock became my currency at three and four and five.”
— Sarah Silverman
“Hey, I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s okay if you don’t like what I say, and it’s okay if you’re no longer a fan.”
— Sarah Silverman
“With my stand-up, I’m a very slow honer. I’ll work on a joke for months, months, months, months, maybe even a year or two years and I hone it so slowly, even though it may sound kind of in the moment, I’m working on it inch by inch. And on the podcast, it’s very immediate. It’s messy.”
— Sarah Silverman
January 7, 2022
Dr. Michio Kaku — Exploring Time Travel, the Beauty of Physics, Parallel Universes, the Mind of God, String Theory, Lessons from Einstein, and More (#562)
Illustration via 99designs“If quantum theory says that an electron could be in two places at the same time, then why can’t people also be in two places at the same time? And for that matter, why can’t the universe be in two places at the same time? At this point you may say to yourself, ‘This is weird.’ Well, get used to it. It’s called physics!”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
Dr. Michio Kaku (@michiokaku) is a professor of theoretical physics at The City College of New York, co-founder of string field theory, and the author of several widely acclaimed science books, including Beyond Einstein, The Future of Humanity, The Future of the Mind, Hyperspace, Physics of the Future, Physics of the Impossible, and his latest, The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything.
He is the science correspondent for CBS This Morning, the host of the radio programs Science Fantastic and Exploration, and a host of several science TV specials for the BBC and the Discovery and Science Channels.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Brought to you by 99designs global design platform, Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, and Wealthfront automated investing. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#562: Dr. Michio Kaku — Exploring Time Travel, the Beauty of Physics, Parallel Universes, the Mind of God, String Theory, Lessons from Einstein, and MoreThis episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is brought to you by Wealthfront! Wealthfront pioneered the automated investing movement, sometimes referred to as ‘robo-advising,’ and they currently oversee $20 billion of assets for their clients. It takes about three minutes to sign up, and then Wealthfront will build you a globally diversified portfolio of ETFs based on your risk appetite and manage it for you at an incredibly low cost.
Smart investing should not feel like a rollercoaster ride. Let the professionals do the work for you. Go to Wealthfront.com/Tim and open a Wealthfront account today, and you’ll get your first $5,000 managed for free, for life. Wealthfront will automate your investments for the long term. Get started today at Wealthfront.com/Tim.
This episode is brought to you by 99designs, the global creative platform by Vista that makes it easy for designers and clients to work together to create designs they love. Its creative process has become the go-to solution for businesses, agencies, and individuals, and I have used it for years to help with display advertising and illustrations and to rapid-prototype the cover for The Tao of Seneca. Whether your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99designs.
You can work with multiple designers at once to get a bunch of different ideas or hire the perfect designer for your project based on their style and industry specialization. It’s simple to review concepts and leave feedback so you’ll end up with a design that you’re happy with. Click this link and get $20 off plus a $99 upgrade.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear another episode with someone who ponders the mysteries of the universe for a living? Listen to my conversation with Columbia University physics and astronomy professor Janna Levin in which we discuss youthful indiscretion, extra dimensions, omnivorous reading, Möbius strips, philosophy 101, time travel, UFOs, and much more.
#445: Janna Levin on Extra Dimensions, Time Travel, and How to Overcome Boots in the FaceSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Dr. Michio Kaku:Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything by Michio Kaku | AmazonPhysics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel by Michio Kaku | AmazonPhysics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100 by Michio Kaku | AmazonHyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension by Michio Kaku | AmazonThe Future of the Mind: The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind by Michio Kaku | AmazonThe Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth by Michio Kaku | AmazonBeyond Einstein: The Cosmic Quest for the Theory of the Universe by Michio Kaku | AmazonParallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos by Michio Kaku | AmazonJapanese-American Internment During World War II | National ArchivesHow the Search for a Unified Theory Stumped Einstein to His Dying Day | The ConversationMichio Kaku: An Atom Smasher in the Garage | Big ThinkMichio Kaku: A Fish Out of Water | CosmosWhat is the Big Bang Theory? | Phys.orgFoundation Series Books 1-7 by Isaac Asimov | AmazonFlash Gordon Episode One: Planet of Death | Timeless TelevisionEinstein’s Theory of General Relativity | SpaceSelf-Driving Cars: The 21st-Century Trolley Problem | VoxEpistemology | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyThe Turing Test | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyEthics of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyBorrowed Time: Interview with Michio Kaku | Scientific AmericanThe Chronology Protection Conjecture | Scientific AmericanWhat Is String Theory? | SpaceThe Alice in Wonderland Omnibus by Lewis Carroll and John Tenniel | AmazonThe Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli | AmazonWormhole Tunnels in Spacetime May Be Possible, New Research Suggests | Scientific AmericanEinstein’s Enigma or Black Holes in My Bubble Bath by C.V. Vishveshwara | AmazonLearn about the Many-Worlds Picture of Quantum Mechanics | BritannicaTime, the Arrow of Time, and Quantum Mechanics | Frontiers In PhysicsGrandfather Paradox (RE: All You Zombies by Robert Heinlein) | Encyclopedia BritannicaNASA’s Study of Astronaut Twins Creates a Portrait of What a Year in Space Does to the Human Body | Smithsonian MagazineScott Kelly — Lessons Learned from 500+ Days in Space, Life-Changing Books, and The Art of Making Hard Choices | The Tim Ferriss Show #478Human Connectome ProjectThe Human Genome ProjectThe Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology by Ray Kurzweil | AmazonMichio Kaku: Consciousness Can be Quantified | Big ThinkAlbert Einstein — The Story of His ‘God Letter’ | Christie’sSpinozism | WikipediaThe Standard Model | CERNWhat Is Nirvana in Buddhism? | Tricycle10 Ways Fermilab Advanced Science and Technology in 2021 | FermilabWelcome to LISA | Lisamission.orgWhat is Dark Matter? | SpaceThe 10 Wildest Things We Learned about Black Holes in 2021 | Live ScienceThe Laws of Thermodynamics | Khan AcademyWhat is the Big Freeze? | Universe TodayPlanck Energy | CosmosWhen the Big Bang Was Just a Theory | The New York TimesHas Contemporary Academia Outgrown the Carl Sagan Effect? | Journal of NeuroscienceThe Supercollider That Never Was | Scientific AmericanThe Higgs Boson: What Makes It Special? | CERNHow the Cold War Defined Scientific Freedom | The New RepublicClarke’s Three Laws | WikipediaNeuromancer by William Gibson | AmazonMoore’s Law | WikipediaTime Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein | Amazon13 Future Predictions That Were So Wrong People Would Probably Regret Saying Them | Bored Panda30 Predictions in History That Came True | Best LifeNew MRI Technique Captures Image of a Brain Thinking | News MedicalBrainNet: A Multi-Person Brain-to-Brain Interface for Direct Collaboration Between Brains | Scientific ReportsSHOW NOTESWhat piqued Michio’s curiosity about science at an early age — and what did he build in his garage with his parents’ grudging permission? [05:08]How did hydrogen bomb pioneer Edward Teller, the patron who paid Michio’s way through Harvard, react when he turned down his generous job offer to design hydrogen warheads in favor of probing the mysteries of The Big Bang? [10:20]Knowing his California-born parents had been locked up by the United States government in an internment camp on the basis of their Japanese heritage during WWII, did Michio have any reservations about serving the country during the Vietnam War? [11:30]The ingredients Michio feels are necessary for anyone to rise above any hardship. [12:53]What sci-fi had an impact on young Michio’s curiosity and passion to explore the mysteries of science? [14:47]Does Michio think Einstein underestimated philosophy’s potential for practical application? Are there any philosophies better suited than others for answering the universe’s big questions? Are there any questions that can’t be answered? [16:46]What constitutes burden of proof when it comes to science? [25:56]What is a parallel universe? [35:20]Why does the rate at which time moves vary depending on where it’s observed, and what are the implications of this phenomenon? [37:04]How does Michio think about consciousness? Is the term synonymous with self-awareness? [42:26]When Einstein pondered what it would take to “read the mind of God,” what kind of God was he imagining? For that matter, how does Michio think about the concept of God? [53:22]What is string theory, why is it controversial, and why are such controversies healthy for science? [58:50]What would be the practical applications of a theory of everything proven? What questions could we finally answer? [1:04:37]Does music play a part in how Michio contemplates physics? [1:09:52]Michio’s challenge to our listeners. [1:13:07]Why didn’t cosmologist George Gamow win the Nobel Prize for his work on proving the Big Bang theory? [1:13:36]Is there a career cost for research scientists who work to make science more accessible to the non-academic masses? What is the cost to society if there aren’t scientists willing to take that risk? [1:16:58]How are some scientists seemingly able to predict the future more accurately than others? What advancements does Michio foresee in the next couple of decades? [1:22:13]For listeners unfamiliar with the body of Michio’s work, where does he recommend they begin? [1:29:17]Michio’s favorite Einstein quote and other parting thoughts. [1:30:56]MORE GUEST QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“Curiosity by itself is not enough. … You have to have a passion that takes you all the way to the top.”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“If the quantum theory says that an electron could be in two places at the same time, then why can’t people also be in two places at the same time? And for that matter, why can’t the universe be in two places at the same time? At this point you may say to yourself, ‘This is weird.’ Well, get used to it. It’s called physics!”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“In science, truth comes out of incorrect debate with untruth.”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“I said, ‘Mom, can I have permission to build a 2.3 million electron volt particle electron accelerator in the garage?’ And she kind of stared at me and said, ‘Sure, why not? And don’t forget to take out the garbage.'”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“To a physicist, what is beauty? Beauty to a physicist is symmetry. There’s a symmetry in music. … The ultimate symmetry would take the universe, just like the prongs of an ice crystal, rotate all the prongs so that the universe rotates into itself. That is string theory. The lowest octave of string theory is relativity.”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“I have a challenge for young people out there. For you young people out there listening to this interview, if you ever discover the God equation and figure out the mystery of dark matter, then I give you a word of advice. What should you do? First of all, tell me first. Tell me first and we’ll split the paper. We’ll split the Nobel Prize and we’ll both be considered the next Einstein.”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“When you listen to the static on a radio, you’re listening to Genesis. The Big Bang itself is still reverberating throughout the universe.”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“Unless you engage the public, they’re not going to give you tax money to do your research.”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
“If it ain’t fun, don’t do it.”
— Dr. Michio Kaku
January 4, 2022
Rich Roll — Reinventing Your Life at 30, 40, and Beyond (#561)
Illustration via 99designs“Who are you becoming?”
— Rich Roll
At age 40, Rich Roll (@richroll) made the decision to overhaul the sedentary throes of overweight middle age. Walking away from a career in law, he reinvented himself as a globally recognized ultra-distance endurance athlete, bestselling author, and host of the wildly popular Rich Roll Podcast, one of the world’s most listened to podcasts, with more than 200 million downloads.
Named one of the “25 Fittest Men in the World” by Men’s Fitness and the “Guru of Reinvention” by Outside magazine, Rich shares his inspirational story of addiction, redemption, and athletic prowess in his bestselling memoir, Finding Ultra, and in the cookbooks/lifestyle guides The Plantpower Way and The Plantpower Way: Italia, which he co-authored with his wife Julie Piatt.
Rich is a graduate of Stanford University (where he was a member of their dynastic, multiple-NCAA-championship men’s swimming program) and Cornell Law School. He has been featured on CNN and on the cover of Outside and has been profiled in The New York Times, Forbes, ESPN, and many other prominent media outlets.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and Tonal smart home gym. More on all three below.
The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#561: Rich Roll — Reinventing Your Life at 30, 40, and BeyondThis episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
This episode is brought to you by Tonal! Tonal is the world’s most intelligent home gym and personal trainer. It is precision engineered and designed to be the most advanced strength studio on the market today. Tonal uses breakthrough technology—like adaptive digital weights and AI learning—together with the best experts in resistance training so you get stronger, faster. Every program is personalized to your body using AI, and smart features check your form in real time, just like a personal trainer.
Try Tonal , the world’s smartest home gym, for 30 days in your home, and if you don’t love it, you can return it for a full refund. Visit Tonal.com for $100 off their smart accessories when you use promo code TIM100 at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear another episode that outlines effective paradigms for dealing with trauma and addiction? Listen to my conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté, in which we discuss investigating the causes rather than the consequences of addiction, the therapeutic value of psychedelics (including the right way and the wrong way to experience ayahuasca), why some powerful modalities aren’t for everyone, and much more.
#298: Dr. Gabor Maté — New Paradigms, Ayahuasca, and Redefining AddictionSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Rich Roll:Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
The Rich Roll PodcastFinding Ultra, Revised and Updated Edition: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll | AmazonThe Plantpower Way: Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes and Guidance for The Whole Family: A Cookbook by Rich Roll and Julie Piatt | AmazonThe Plantpower Way: Italia: Delicious Vegan Recipes from the Italian Countryside: A Cookbook by Rich Roll and Julie Piatt | Amazon“Watch Your Kite Soar.” | Rich Roll, TwitterRich Roll Is the Guru of Reinvention | Outside OnlineStanford UniversityNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Lower Companions | THIS24Leaving Las Vegas | Prime VideoSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPLong-Term DUI Consequences | BACtrackAlcoholics AnonymousInception | Prime VideoHow Addiction Stunts Emotional Growth and Development | Boardwalk RecoveryThe Twelve Steps | Alcoholics AnonymousA Look at Step 10 of AA’s 12-Step Program | Verywell MindA New Pair of Glasses by Charles A. Chamberlain | AmazonBlockchain: What You Need to Know | InvestopediaWhat Is Addiction? These Experts Say It’s Not Black and White | Well+GoodMood Follows Action: A Minimalist Approach To Mental Health | Mostly Mindful13 Effects of Fast Food on the Body | HealthlineDale Carnegie TrainingThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss | AmazonStrong for Vegetables | Stanford magazine10 Uncommon “Superfoods” from the World of Ultra-Endurance by Rich Roll | The Blog of Author Tim FerrissHow to Say “No” Gracefully and Uncommit | The Tim Ferriss Show #328IronmanTriathlon | WikipediaTraining Zones Explained | ACTIVEAMA #19: Deep Dive on Zone 2 Training, Magnesium Supplementation, and How to Engage with Your Doctor | The Drive #145Dr. Peter Attia on Longevity Drugs, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the 3 Most Important Levers to Pull | The Tim Ferriss Show #517Why I Sleep In A Tent | Rich RollMountain Lion | National Wildlife FederationGravity Blankets | AmazonMindfold Sleeping Mask | AmazonRick Rubin on Cultivating World-Class Artists (Jay-Z, Johnny Cash, etc.), Losing 100+ Pounds, and Breaking Down The Complex | The Tim Ferriss Show #76See Total Solar Eclipse Over Antarctica | CNNVoicing Change | Rich RollEffortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg McKeown | AmazonEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown | AmazonSHOW NOTESPrior to turning things around at age 40, what role had alcohol played in Rich’s life, and when did he realize it was a problem? How bad did it get? [07:27]Why did Rich decide to pursue a career in law? [16:09]What was the last straw that made Rich decide to seek help for his addiction to alcohol? How old was he, what was going on in his life at the time, and what form did this help take? [18:26]What does Rich notice people commonly missing when he retells his story of addiction recovery and lifestyle changes that led him to become the person he is today? [27:45]As Dr. Gabor Maté says: “Don’t ask why the addiction, ask why the pain.” What tools have most helped Rich understand and manage his own addiction? [33:51]Was the decentralized nature of Bill Wilson’s Alcoholics Anonymous basically blockchain before blockchain was cool? [40:45]Rich says that addiction is “a spectrum so broad that almost anybody can find themselves somewhere along the line.” Even if you might not consider yourself an addict, the tools of addiction recovery can often be used to help you break bad patterns you find yourself repeating. [43:45]Having trouble cultivating good habits (like regular exercise)? Remember: “Mood follows action.” [48:36]Why (and how) did Rich turn his physical health around at age 40? [50:52]Rich’s most worthwhile investment of time, money, or energy. [57:59]Rich’s advice for anyone trying to make positive changes in their own life — whether it’s building a small, beneficial habit, picking up a new set of skills, or overhauling their physical regimen for maximum results. [1:03:55]Zone 2 training thoughts, experiences, and recommendations. [1:14:59]How — and why — did Rich get in the habit of regularly sleeping in a tent on his roof? How does he maximize benefits and alleviate potential dangers of this unorthodox practice? [1:24:34]By not scheduling commitments before noon, what does Rich’s daily architecture look like? How often does he succeed in fending off disruptions to this schedule? [1:32:00]How Rich got to the point where he commits to living a month off the grid every year, what he does to ensure that it happens, and how he benefits from this practice. [1:38:37]An aside: Rich asks me to share what I experienced off the grid recently in Antarctica. [1:42:41]What would Rich’s billboard say? [1:49:49]What is Rich most excited about for the year ahead? [1:52:32]What Rich would ask the audience to consider and parting thoughts. [1:56:51]MORE RICH ROLL QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“Addiction lives on this incredibly broad spectrum. And it’s a spectrum so broad that almost anybody can find themselves somewhere along the line.”
— Rich Roll
“Compulsion to want to know all the answers and how it’s going to play out and all the steps you’re going to need to take to get there can prevent us from moving forward in our lives.”
— Rich Roll
“You have to live your life if you’re going to have anything worthy to say about the human experience.”
— Rich Roll
“My original thought was, ‘Who are you?’ But I’ve modified that. I think a better question is, ‘Who are you becoming?'”
— Rich Roll
“Every decision that we make, every interaction that we have, every word that comes out of our mouth is either moving us towards a better, more authentic version of ourselves or away from it.”
— Rich Roll
“My whole life has been premised on this idea that if I haven’t suffered to create this thing, that I haven’t worked hard enough, or that it doesn’t hold value. And I’m in this journey of trying to let go.”
— Rich Roll
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
PEOPLE MENTIONEDJulie PiattGabor MatéBill WilsonJames WoodsRichard SpindleWarren BuffettDale CarnegiePeter AttiaKevin KellyLaird HamiltonGabby ReeceRick RubinEsther DysonGreg McKeownRich Roll — From Alcoholic to Ultra-Endurance Star, Rebooting Life at 40, the Trap of Lower Companions, and How to Reinvent Yourself in the New Year (#561)
Illustration via 99designs“Who are you becoming?”
— Rich Roll
At age 40, Rich Roll (@richroll) made the decision to overhaul the sedentary throes of overweight middle age. Walking away from a career in law, he reinvented himself as a globally recognized ultra-distance endurance athlete, bestselling author, and host of the wildly popular Rich Roll Podcast, one of the world’s most listened to podcasts, with more than 200 million downloads.
Named one of the “25 Fittest Men in the World” by Men’s Fitness and the “Guru of Reinvention” by Outside magazine, Rich shares his inspirational story of addiction, redemption, and athletic prowess in his bestselling memoir, Finding Ultra, and in the cookbooks/lifestyle guides The Plantpower Way and The Plantpower Way: Italia, which he co-authored with his wife Julie Piatt.
Rich is a graduate of Stanford University (where he was a member of their dynastic, multiple-NCAA-championship men’s swimming program) and Cornell Law School. He has been featured on CNN and on the cover of Outside and has been profiled in The New York Times, Forbes, ESPN, and many other prominent media outlets.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and Tonal smart home gym. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#561: Rich Roll — From Alcoholic to Ultra-Endurance Star, Rebooting Life at 40, the Trap of Lower Companions, and How to Reinvent Yourself in the New YearThis episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
This episode is brought to you by Tonal! Tonal is the world’s most intelligent home gym and personal trainer. It is precision engineered and designed to be the most advanced strength studio on the market today. Tonal uses breakthrough technology—like adaptive digital weights and AI learning—together with the best experts in resistance training so you get stronger, faster. Every program is personalized to your body using AI, and smart features check your form in real time, just like a personal trainer.
Try Tonal , the world’s smartest home gym, for 30 days in your home, and if you don’t love it, you can return it for a full refund. Visit Tonal.com for $100 off their smart accessories when you use promo code TIM100 at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear another episode that outlines effective paradigms for dealing with trauma and addiction? Listen to my conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté, in which we discuss investigating the causes rather than the consequences of addiction, the therapeutic value of psychedelics (including the right way and the wrong way to experience ayahuasca), why some powerful modalities aren’t for everyone, and much more.
#298: Dr. Gabor Maté — New Paradigms, Ayahuasca, and Redefining AddictionSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Rich Roll:Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
The Rich Roll PodcastFinding Ultra, Revised and Updated Edition: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World’s Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself by Rich Roll | AmazonThe Plantpower Way: Whole Food Plant-Based Recipes and Guidance for The Whole Family: A Cookbook by Rich Roll and Julie Piatt | AmazonThe Plantpower Way: Italia: Delicious Vegan Recipes from the Italian Countryside: A Cookbook by Rich Roll and Julie Piatt | Amazon“Watch Your Kite Soar.” | Rich Roll, TwitterRich Roll Is the Guru of Reinvention | Outside OnlineStanford UniversityNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Lower Companions | THIS24Leaving Las Vegas | Prime VideoSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPLong-Term DUI Consequences | BACtrackAlcoholics AnonymousInception | Prime VideoHow Addiction Stunts Emotional Growth and Development | Boardwalk RecoveryThe Twelve Steps | Alcoholics AnonymousA Look at Step 10 of AA’s 12-Step Program | Verywell MindA New Pair of Glasses by Charles A. Chamberlain | AmazonBlockchain: What You Need to Know | InvestopediaWhat Is Addiction? These Experts Say It’s Not Black and White | Well+GoodMood Follows Action: A Minimalist Approach To Mental Health | Mostly Mindful13 Effects of Fast Food on the Body | HealthlineDale Carnegie TrainingThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss | AmazonStrong for Vegetables | Stanford magazine10 Uncommon “Superfoods” from the World of Ultra-Endurance by Rich Roll | The Blog of Author Tim FerrissHow to Say “No” Gracefully and Uncommit | The Tim Ferriss Show #328IronmanTriathlon | WikipediaTraining Zones Explained | ACTIVEAMA #19: Deep Dive on Zone 2 Training, Magnesium Supplementation, and How to Engage with Your Doctor | The Drive #145Dr. Peter Attia on Longevity Drugs, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the 3 Most Important Levers to Pull | The Tim Ferriss Show #517Why I Sleep In A Tent | Rich RollMountain Lion | National Wildlife FederationGravity Blankets | AmazonMindfold Sleeping Mask | AmazonRick Rubin on Cultivating World-Class Artists (Jay-Z, Johnny Cash, etc.), Losing 100+ Pounds, and Breaking Down The Complex | The Tim Ferriss Show #76See Total Solar Eclipse Over Antarctica | CNNVoicing Change | Rich RollEffortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most by Greg McKeown | AmazonEssentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown | AmazonSHOW NOTESPrior to turning things around at age 40, what role had alcohol played in Rich’s life, and when did he realize it was a problem? How bad did it get? [07:27]Why did Rich decide to pursue a career in law? [16:09]What was the last straw that made Rich decide to seek help for his addiction to alcohol? How old was he, what was going on in his life at the time, and what form did this help take? [18:26]What does Rich notice people commonly missing when he retells his story of addiction recovery and lifestyle changes that led him to become the person he is today? [27:45]As Dr. Gabor Maté says: “Don’t ask why the addiction, ask why the pain.” What tools have most helped Rich understand and manage his own addiction? [33:51]Was the decentralized nature of Bill Wilson’s Alcoholics Anonymous basically blockchain before blockchain was cool? [40:45]Rich says that addiction is “a spectrum so broad that almost anybody can find themselves somewhere along the line.” Even if you might not consider yourself an addict, the tools of addiction recovery can often be used to help you break bad patterns you find yourself repeating. [43:45]Having trouble cultivating good habits (like regular exercise)? Remember: “Mood follows action.” [48:36]Why (and how) did Rich turn his physical health around at age 40? [50:52]Rich’s most worthwhile investment of time, money, or energy. [57:59]Rich’s advice for anyone trying to make positive changes in their own life — whether it’s building a small, beneficial habit, picking up a new set of skills, or overhauling their physical regimen for maximum results. [1:03:55]Zone 2 training thoughts, experiences, and recommendations. [1:14:59]How — and why — did Rich get in the habit of regularly sleeping in a tent on his roof? How does he maximize benefits and alleviate potential dangers of this unorthodox practice? [1:24:34]By not scheduling commitments before noon, what does Rich’s daily architecture look like? How often does he succeed in fending off disruptions to this schedule? [1:32:00]How Rich got to the point where he commits to living a month off the grid every year, what he does to ensure that it happens, and how he benefits from this practice. [1:38:37]An aside: Rich asks me to share what I experienced off the grid recently in Antarctica. [1:42:41]What would Rich’s billboard say? [1:49:49]What is Rich most excited about for the year ahead? [1:52:32]What Rich would ask the audience to consider and parting thoughts. [1:56:51]MORE RICH ROLL QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“Addiction lives on this incredibly broad spectrum. And it’s a spectrum so broad that almost anybody can find themselves somewhere along the line.”
— Rich Roll
“Compulsion to want to know all the answers and how it’s going to play out and all the steps you’re going to need to take to get there can prevent us from moving forward in our lives.”
— Rich Roll
“You have to live your life if you’re going to have anything worthy to say about the human experience.”
— Rich Roll
“My original thought was, ‘Who are you?’ But I’ve modified that. I think a better question is, ‘Who are you becoming?'”
— Rich Roll
“Every decision that we make, every interaction that we have, every word that comes out of our mouth is either moving us towards a better, more authentic version of ourselves, or away from it.”
— Rich Roll
“My whole life has been premised on this idea that if I haven’t suffered to create this thing, that I haven’t worked hard enough, or that it doesn’t hold value. And I’m in this journey of trying to let go.”
— Rich Roll
December 29, 2021
Zen Master Henry Shukman — 20 Minutes of Calm, Plus the Strange and Powerful World of Koans (#560)
Illustration via 99designs“Through koans, you can meet in the boundless wonder of this other dimension of our experience.“
— Henry Shukman
Henry Shukman (@mountaincloudzencenter) teaches mindfulness and awakening practices to a wide range of students from all traditions and walks of life. Henry is an appointed teacher in the Sanbo Zen lineage and is the Guiding Teacher of Mountain Cloud Zen Center. He has an MA from Cambridge and an MLitt from St Andrews and has written several award-winning books of poetry and fiction.
Henry’s essays have been published in The New York Times, Outside, and Tricycle, and his poems have been published in The New Republic, The Guardian, The Sunday Times (UK), and London Review of Books. He has taught meditation at Google, Harvard Business School, UBS, Esalen Institute, Colorado College, United World College, and many other venues. He has written of his own journey in his memoir One Blade of Grass: Finding the Old Road of the Heart, a Zen Memoir.
Henry has also recently created a new meditation program, Original Love, which aims to provide a broad, inclusive path of growth through meditation.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Brought to you by GiveWell.org charity research and effective giving, Laird Superfood clean, plant-based creamers, and LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 770M+ users. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#560: Zen Master Henry Shukman — 20 Minutes of Calm, Plus the Strange and Powerful World of KoansThis episode is brought to you by Laird Superfood. Founded by big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and volleyball champion Gabby Reece, Laird Superfood promises to deliver high-impact fuel to help you get through your busiest days. Laird Superfood offers a line of plant-based products designed to optimize your daily rituals from sunrise to sunset.
My two favorite products are their Turmeric Superfood Creamer and Unsweetened Superfood Creamer. I put one of them in practically everything. Both can really optimize your daily coffee or tea ritual, and a $10 bag will last you a long time. For a limited time, Laird Superfood is offering you guys 20% off your order when you use code TIM20 at checkout. Check out LairdSuperfood.com/Tim to see my favorite products and learn more.
This episode is brought to you by GiveWell.org! For over ten years, GiveWell.org has helped donors find the charities and projects that save and improve lives most per dollar. GiveWell spends over 20,000 hours each year researching charitable organizations and only recommends a few of the highest-impact, evidence-backed charities they’ve found. In total, more than 50,000 people have used GiveWell to donate as effectively as possible.
This year, support the charities that save and improve lives most, with GiveWell. Any of my listeners who become new GiveWell donors will have their first donation matched up to $250 when you go to GiveWell.org and select “PODCAST” and “Tim Ferriss” at checkout.
This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Whether you are looking to hire now for a critical role or thinking about needs that you may have in the future, LinkedIn Jobs can help. LinkedIn screens candidates for the hard and soft skills you’re looking for and puts your job in front of candidates looking for job opportunities that match what you have to offer.
Using LinkedIn’s active community of more than 770 million professionals worldwide, LinkedIn Jobs can help you find and hire the right person faster. When your business is ready to make that next hire, find the right person with LinkedIn Jobs. And now, you can post a job for free. Just visit LinkedIn.com/Tim.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to catch Henry Shukman’s last appearance on this show? Listen to our conversation here in which we discuss examining the deep wounds of childhood trauma, how the phenomenon of awakening compares and contrasts with psychotic episodes, Zen tramps, what koans are and how they guide us toward nonduality, why Henry considers the term “non-ordinary consciousness”– when applied to an awakened mind — a misnomer, if someone can have a “bad trip” through Zen, and much more.
#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the DoorwaySELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Henry Shukman:Mountain Cloud Zen Center | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
A New Approach to the Ancient Path of Awakening | Original LoveOne Blade of Grass: Finding the Old Road of the Heart, a Zen Memoir by Henry Shukman | AmazonOther Books by Henry Shukman | AmazonHenry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway | The Tim Ferriss Show #531Tame Reactive Emotions by Naming Them | MindfulDiana Chapman — How to Get Unstuck, Do “The Work,” Take Radical Responsibility, and Reduce Drama in Your Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #536Nature’s Lessons in Healing Trauma: An Introduction to Somatic Experiencing by Peter Levine | Somatic Experiencing Trauma InstituteMindful Somatic Psychotherapy | Hakomi InstituteWhy Saying “Boys Don’t Cry” Hurts Boys and Men | Blackburn CenterTerra Incognita | WikipediaNot Knowing Is Most Intimate | Marc LesserWhat Is A Zen Koan? History And Interpretation Of Koans | Being ZenHow to Practice Zen Koans | Lion’s Roar15 of the Deepest Zen Koans | Wisdom PillsChan Buddhism | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyTang Dynasty | World History EncyclopediaNonduality: Defining the Undefinable | Deconstructing YourselfKoan | WikipediaPsilocybin Acutely Alters the Functional Connectivity of the Claustrum with Brain Networks That Support Perception, Memory, and Attention | NeuroImageMeditation Alters Brain Connectivity in Areas Associated with Emotion, MRI Shows | Health ImagingJorge Ferrer: The Challenge of Shared Psychedelic Visions for Scientific Materialism | International Transpersonal ConferenceKenshō | WikipediaJ.D. Salinger and a Zen Koan by Henry Shukman | Tricycle: The Buddhist ReviewSanbo Kyodan | WikipediaSong Dynasty | World History EncyclopediaThe Blue Cliff Record | AmazonThe Book of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans | AmazonThe Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans | AmazonFlowing Bridge: The Miscellaneous Koans | AmazonHow Does a Zen Master Determine When a Student’s Answer to a Koan Is Correct? | QuoraWhat is Mu in Zen Buddhist Practice? | Learn ReligionsBuddhist Concept of Emptiness | Routledge Encyclopedia of PhilosophyOxford Brookes UniversityWho Framed Roger Rabbit | Prime VideoBuddhism Is Not a Treatment for Mental Illness | Lion’s RoarWaking Up with Sam Harris AppThe 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonDharma Transmission | WikipediaVipassana Meditation | Dhamma.orgTop Five Major Beliefs in Tibetan Buddhism | Tibet TravelAldous Huxley: The Reducing Valve Theory | Nexus VoidDonald Hoffman: Do We See Reality as It Is? | TED TalkDo Psychedelics Expand the Mind by Reducing Brain Activity? | Scientific AmericanThe Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes by Donald Hoffman | AmazonHow Different Languages Say “It’s All Greek to Me.” | The Language NerdsSHOW NOTESHow does Henry deal with unexpected curveballs the game of life often throws our way? [05:18]“To name it is to tame it.” What are the characteristics of allowing/not allowing and accepting/not accepting, and how might someone consciously manifest them when trying to identify and correct what’s upsetting their balance? Henry mellifluously leads us through an exercise. [11:46]Things to consider when we’re having difficulty pinpointing and processing the emotions we’re experiencing (to which many men in the West may relate). [25:25]For anyone not familiar with Henry’s first appearance on this show, what is a koan, and how do they work? [35:14]For the healthy skeptics among us: why the states toward which koans are designed to guide us aren’t “woo woo,” but scientifically documented. [47:14]How can the experience of “awakening” be explained to someone who’s never experienced it? [52:01]How many koans are there, and how many has Henry passed? [55:24]What are the checking questions that determine whether or not a koan has been passed? Once someone has passed a koan, are they done with it? [1:00:02]Sitting with Mu and Roger Rabbit. [1:04:22]What isn’t a koan? [1:11:49]There’s no business like Kenshō business. Is it possible for someone to experience something that might be perceived as a psychotic break if they experience awakening but don’t have a framework to make sense of it? [1:16:11]Using koans for meditation. [1:25:31]How does someone who is brand new to Zen separate a legitimate teacher from a charlatan? [1:27:13]What is a Dharma transmission? [1:32:43]Do shared psychedelic visions have anything in common with the “right” answers to a koan’s checking questions? In other words, is someone who experiences Kenshō extending their senses into the same unseen world as someone on, say, an ayahuasca journey? [1:37:42]Parting thoughts. [1:57:48]MORE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“To name it is to tame it.”
— Dr. Daniel Siegel
“A koan isn’t an annoying, boring, little, pointless thing. It’s got an incredible purpose, which is sharing this deepest reality of our existence.”
— Henry Shukman
“Inside of many of us, I believe there’s some kind of deep, primordial wound. There’s some deep, ancient grief. [But] … grief is not an enemy.”
— Henry Shukman
“I can’t believe how fortunate it is to be a human being.”
— Henry Shukman
“Koans love the world so much”
— Henry Shukman
“We sit with koans because they can open us up to this boundless reality. Ongoing beyond a first experience, they train us more and more in realizing that our ordinary life and that mind-blowing reality, they’re not separate.”
— Henry Shukman
“Through koans, you can meet in the boundless wonder of this other dimension of our experience.”
— Henry Shukman
December 27, 2021
Forget New Year’s Resolutions and Conduct a ‘Past Year Review’ Instead (#559)
I’m often asked about how I approach New Year’s resolutions. The truth is that I no longer approach them at all, even though I did for decades. Why the change? I have found “past year reviews” (PYR) more informed, valuable, and actionable than half-blindly looking forward with broad resolutions. I did my first PYR after a mentor’s young daughter died of cancer on December 31st, roughly eight years ago, and I’ve done it every year since. It takes 30-60 minutes and looks like this:
Grab a notepad and create two columns: POSITIVE and NEGATIVE.Go through your calendar from the last year, looking at every week.For each week, jot down on the pad any people or activities or commitments that triggered peak positive or negative emotions for that month. Put them in their respective columns.Once you’ve gone through the past year, look at your notepad list and ask, “What 20% of each column produced the most reliable or powerful peaks?”Based on the answers, take your “positive” leaders and schedule more of them in the new year. Get them on the calendar now! Book things with friends and prepay for activities/events/commitments that you know work. It’s not real until it’s in the calendar. That’s step one. Step two is to take your “negative” leaders, put “NOT-TO-DO LIST” at the top, and put them somewhere you can see them each morning for the first few weeks of 2022. These are the people and things you *know* make you miserable, so don’t put them on your calendar out of obligation, guilt, FOMO, or other nonsense.That’s it! If you try it, let me know how it goes.
And just remember: it’s not enough to remove the negative. That simply creates a void. Get the positive things on the calendar ASAP, lest they get crowded out by the bullshit and noise that will otherwise fill your days.
Good luck and godspeed, everyone!
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If you prefer to listen to the audio version of this blog post, you can find the audio on The Tim Ferriss Show podcast:
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#559: Forget New Year’s Resolutions and Conduct a ‘Past Year Review’ InsteadListen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
December 22, 2021
Q&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, the Different Roles of Fear, the Delight of Deepening Friendships, the Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and More (#557)
Illustration via 99designsWelcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is usually my job to sit down with world-class performers of all different types to tease out the habits, routines, favorite books, and so on that you can apply and test in your own life. This time, we have a slightly different format, and I’m the guest.
As some of you know, I tested a “fan-supported model” in 2019, but I ended up returning to ads by request. That’s a long story, and you can read more about it at tim.blog/podcastexperiment. I recently sat down with the supporter group for a fun and live Q&A on YouTube.
I answered questions on plantar fasciitis relief, manga-assisted language learning and retention, breathing exercises, wolf conservation, parenting ambitions, VR therapy, mood and energy remedies, post-pandemic social reintroduction, the value of college, favorite wrestling movies, and much, much more.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the Q&A on YouTube here.
Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, GiveWell.org charity research and effective giving, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below.
The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#557: Q&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, The Different Roles of Fear, The Delight of Deepening Friendships, The Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and MoreThis episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is also brought to you by GiveWell.org! For over ten years, GiveWell.org has helped donors find the charities and projects that save and improve lives most per dollar. GiveWell spends over 20,000 hours each year researching charitable organizations and only recommends a few of the highest-impact, evidence-backed charities they’ve found. In total, more than 50,000 people have used GiveWell to donate as effectively as possible.
This year, support the charities that save and improve lives most, with GiveWell. Any of my listeners who become new GiveWell donors will have their first donation matched up to $250 when you go to GiveWell.org and select “PODCAST” and “Tim Ferriss” at checkout.
This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear a previous Q&A? Listen in on my conversation with you, my lovely listeners, in which we discussed how to go about finding a mentor, how to extinguish anxiety, cocktails, relationship advice, training into confidence, the meaning of life, and other light topics.
#363: Tea Time with Tim — How to Find Mentors, Decrease Anxiety Through Training, and Much MoreSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEPlantar Fasciitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More | HealthlineTheragun Massage Gun Devices | Therabody.comHRV Biofeedback Training | Dr. Leah LagosHeart Breath Mind: Conquer Stress, Build Resilience, and Perform at Your Peak by Dr. Leah Lago | AmazonDr. Andrew Huberman — A Neurobiologist on Optimizing Sleep, Enhancing Performance, Reducing Anxiety, Increasing Testosterone, and Using the Body to Control the Mind | The Tim Ferriss Show #521Thorne Research Super EPA Supplements | AmazonJarrow Formulas MagMind with Magnesium L-Threonate Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Amino Acid L-Theanine Supplements | AmazonSwanson Apigenin Prostate Health Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate Bioactive Vitamin B6 | AmazonHow Zeitgeber Time Signals Reset Sleep, Internal Clock | Verywell HealthHow to Get Caffeine Out of Your System | HealthlineThe 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe Random Show, Ice Cold Edition | The Tim Ferriss Show #146Nature’s Life Policosanol Tablets | AmazonThe Official PAGG Stack | AmazonTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss | AmazonDom D’Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer | The Tim Ferriss Show #117Peter Attia, M.D. — Fasting, Metformin, Athletic Performance, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #398Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training | The Tim Ferriss Show #158Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two — Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups | The Tim Ferriss Show #180Learn How to Use Gymnastics Rings: Iron Cross | GymnasticBodiesHow to Do a Maltese on the Rings | Strength ProjectStall (Stahl) Bars | AmazonJefferson Curls: Weighted Mobility for the Posterior Chain | GymnasticBodiesSeated Pike Pulses | Sustainable Training MethodThe Art and Science of Learning Anything Faster | The Tim Ferriss Show #191Richard Koch on Mastering the 80/20 Principle, Achieving Unreasonable Success, and the Art of Gambling | The Tim Ferriss Show #466The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch | AmazonMike Phillips — How to Save a Species | The Tim Ferriss Show #383Steven Rinella on Hunting (and Why You Should Care), Reconnecting with Nature, Favorite Trips, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #470How Wolves Change Rivers | Sustainable HumanThe Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady | The New YorkerThe Wolf Reintroduction Bet (and Resources) | Tim FerrissGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth | AmazonHanna | Prime VideoAmelia Boone on Beating 99% of Men and Suffering for High Performance | The Tim Ferriss Show #127Jason Nemer — Inside the Magic of AcroYoga | The Tim Ferriss Show #182Never Forget: The Softball Toss Event | r/crossfitThe Lion of Olympic Weightlifting, 62-Year-Old Jerzy Gregorek (Also Featuring: Naval Ravikant | The Tim Ferriss Show #228The Happy Body: The Simple Science of Nutrition, Exercise, and Relaxation by Aniela Gregorek and Jerzy Gregorek | AmazonTim Ferriss: Smash Fear, Learn Anything | TED TalkTotal Immersion: How I Learned to Swim Effortlessly in 10 Days and You Can Too | Tim FerrissTerry Laughlin, The Master Who Changed My Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #276Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier by Terry Laughlin and John Delves | AmazonItalia | Italian National Tourist BoardTaiwan | Lonely PlanetWar on Drugs Timeline in America | HistoryPsychedelic-Assisted Therapy (Resources) | Tim Ferriss“I Just Received a U01 Grant from NIDA to Study Psilocybin for Tobacco Addiction.” | Matthew W. Johnson, TwitterThe Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR) | Harvard Law SchoolThis Neurobiologist Swims with Great White Sharks to Study Fear | SeekerDr. Adam Gazzaley, UCSF — Brain Optimization and the Future of Psychedelic Medicine | The Tim Ferriss Show #507Bridging the Gap between Neuroscience and Technology | NeuroscapeAkili InteractiveFitness for Your Inner Self | TRIPPResonant: A VR Experiment in the Humanities | CyArkDennis McKenna — The Depths of Ayahuasca: 500+ Sessions, Fundamentals, Advanced Topics, Science, Churches, Learnings, Warnings, and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #523The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty | AmazonThe Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna by Dennis McKenna | AmazonThe Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Shamanism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History by Terence Mckenna | AmazonTrue Hallucinations: Being an Account of the Author’s Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil’s Paradise by Terence McKenna | AmazonOf Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez | AmazonArctic Dreams by Barry Lopez | AmazonAustin, TXA Guide to the Scandinavian Countries | Scandinavia StandardFinnish Flick | WikicarsWhere’s Waldo? by Martin Handford | AmazonJerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for Success | The Tim Ferriss Show #485Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin | AmazonPosts About Language Learning | Tim FerrissOne Piece Wiki | FandomThe Tim Ferriss Experiment | IMDbThe Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin | AmazonJosh Waitzkin and Tim Ferriss on The Cave Process, Advice from Future Selves, and Training for an Uncertain Future | The Tim Ferriss Show #498Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery | The Tim Ferriss Show #449Dr. Peter Attia — Supplements, Blood Tests, and Near-Death Experiences | The Tim Ferriss Show #6510 Jump Rope Benefits | CrossropeRadical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach | AmazonRichard Schwartz — IFS, Psychedelic Experiences without Drugs, and Finding Inner Peace for Our Many Parts | The Tim Ferriss Show #492Internal Family Systems Therapy, Second Edition by Richard C. Schwartz and Martha Sweezy | AmazonHow to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie | AmazonEye of Sauron | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | FandomHow I Built The Tim Ferriss Show to 700+ Million Downloads — An Immersive Explanation of All Aspects and Key Decisions (Featuring Chris Hutchins) | The Tim Ferriss Show #538Scott Adams: The Man Behind Dilbert | The Tim Ferriss Show #106Dilbert by Scott AdamsThe Kristina Talent Stack | Scott Adams SaysHow to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams | AmazonWin Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter by Scott Adams | AmazonTim Ferriss | The NerdistTim Ferriss | Joe Rogan ExperienceTim Ferriss | WTF with Marc MaronThe Tim Ferriss Podcast is Live! Here Are Episodes 1 and 2 | The Tim Ferriss ShowMake the Most of Your World | Peace CorpsTeach For AmericaGates and Zuckerberg Aren’t the Only Dropouts Who Became Billionaires | Yahoo! NewsTimeline: Bill Gates | NPRGo the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortés, Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson | AmazonTea Time with Tynan | YouTubeWhat Can a Technologist Do about Climate Change? A Personal View. | Bret VictorEight SleepMichael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics | The Tim Ferriss Show #313How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan | AmazonGraham Duncan — Talent Is the Best Asset Class | The Tim Ferriss Show #362Balaji Srinivasan — Centralized China vs Decentralized World, The DeFi Matrix, Ascending vs Descending Trends, Bitcoin Mining as Energy Storage, Reputational Civil War, and Maximalism vs. Optimalism | The Tim Ferriss Show #547Chris Dixon and Naval Ravikant — The Wonders of Web3, How to Pick the Right Hill to Climb, Finding the Right Amount of Crypto Regulation, Friends with Benefits, and the Untapped Potential of NFTs | The Tim Ferriss Show #542The Random Show — Biohacking, Tim’s COVID Experience, Holiday Gift Ideas, Favorite New Apps, Bad Science, Quarantine Delights, and a Small Dose of NFTs and DAOs | The Tim Ferriss Show #549Modern Finance (MoFi) with Kevin RosePROOF with Kevin RoseIncerto: Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, The Bed of Procrustes, Antifragile, Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb | AmazonStan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #347Generation 3 | Oura RingLow-Dose Lithium Orotate | AmazonShould We All Take a Bit of Lithium? | The New York TimesCold Shower for Anxiety: Research, Efficacy, and More | HealthlineVision Quest | Prime VideoDan Gable: Competitor SupremeThe Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter Drucker | AmazonGreg McKeown — How to Master Essentialism | The Tim Ferriss Show #355Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown | AmazonChiliSleep OOLER Sleep System | AmazonWhat My Morning Journal Looks Like | Tim FerrissThe Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal: A Companion Volume to the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron | AmazonThe Tail End | Wait But WhyManaging Procrastination, Predicting the Future, and Finding Happiness – Tim Urban | The Tim Ferriss Show #283What About Bob? | Prime VideoSHOW NOTESWhat worked best to help with my plantar fasciitis? [05:27]What breathing exercises do I practice and recommend? [07:20]What did I implement from Andrew Huberman’s advice on sleep? [08:38]If I were to revise The 4-Hour Body, what would I change? Has my opinion changed in regards to keto, intermittent fasting, multi-day fasting, PAGG, et cetera? [12:02]Why did I stop gymnastic strength training? Do I think I’ll revisit it? [13:57]Would I ever have David Goggins on the podcast? [15:31]When I’m learning something new, do I still follow the DS3 method from The 4-Hour Chef? [16:09]A recommendation for rock climbers. [20:01]How has my work with wolf conservation been going? What has been the impact of my support thus far? [20:19]Thoughts about the most important qualities I’d hope to pass on to my children, what I suspect a modern educational curriculum might omit from their lessons, and parental role models I might hope to emulate. [24:34]Outside of psychedelics, what other somatic experience/physical modality has created the largest positive shifts for me? [26:49]What past vacation destinations would I most like to revisit? [32:49]What are one or two of my super long-term goals? [33:15]Congratulations to Matthew W. Johnson for his U01 grant from NIDA to study psilocybin for tobacco addiction! [36:20]There’s been a lot of talk of experiential therapy techniques like psychedelics. Are there any promising research programs using VR gaming for similar results? [38:37]Favorite book from the past year. [41:08]Has moving to Austin made me more reflective? [43:30]Have I ever spent time in any Scandanavian countries? If so, what was my impression? [47:23]When can I get Steve Martin on as a guest? [49:35]How do I maintain the languages I’ve learned? What tip do I most recommend to language learners? [50:11]What principles have I learned from chess that I can use outside of the game? [53:13]Feel like low energy is keeping you from thinking optimally? Here are a few ideas about what might be causing it and what you can do to try and remedy the situation. [55:22]Outside of sleep, what is my biggest force multiplier? [56:23]After undergoing isolation, stress, and trauma, how would I suggest individuals deal with the lingering psychological effects and cognitive biases of the pandemic (heightened scarcity, mindset, risk aversion, et cetera) so they can keep making growth-based decisions as opposed to fear-based ones? [57:52]For people watching this on video, what’s the art behind me? [1:01:47]What advice would I give to someone just getting started in podcasting — not necessarily for making a living, but for creating something worth listening to? [1:02:27]Is college a must? What alternative methods of advanced education could fit into a gap year and be just as valuable? [1:07:16]How am I going to cope with sleepless nights once I become a father? [1:14:00]Do I know Tea Time with Tynan? For that matter, where’s my tea? [1:14:25]What’s my take on global warming? How am I preparing for possible worst case scenarios? [1:14:53]The power of Eight Sleep Pod compels you (to get a restful night of sweet, sweet slumber). [1:15:54]Why am I suddenly hosting these more frequently? What do these sessions bring to me? [1:16:16]Thoughts on psychedelics and their potential effects on people who have experienced psychosis, schizophrenia, et cetera. [1:16:51]Am I still interested in cryptocurrency? (Yes, but make sure to listen to Kevin Rose’s podcasts on the subject [Modern Finance and Proof] because he’s really got his finger on the pulse of that world right now.) [1:20:49]What do I think about Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Incerto series? [1:21:05]Does someone who considers themselves psychologically healthy risk opening Pandora’s box in their subconscious by tampering with psychedelics? [1:22:22]What do I do to pattern interrupt when I notice I’m slipping into a low point? [1:26:10]Do I have plans to engage Congress in federal changes related to psychedelics, or is this a longer-term objective once the science is solid? [1:29:24]What’s my favorite wrestling movie? [1:30:57]What gets most people the most bang for the buck in terms of time management when exceeding 200k annual income? [1:32:44]How has sleep tracking improved my quality of sleep? [1:33:54]Is there anything to which I say “F it” and just proceed willy nilly? Or am I robotically methodical about everything? [1:36:23]When practicing mindfulness and gratitude don’t seem to do the trick, how can you slow down and enjoy life without being so focused on the future? [1:37:44]Parting thoughts. [1:40:21]PEOPLE MENTIONEDLeah LagosAndrew HubermanRay CroniseDominic D’AgostinoPeter AttiaChristopher SommerDavid GogginsDave MacLeodMike PhillipsJason NemerJerzy GregorekAniela GregorekTerry LaughlinRichard M. NixonMatthew W. JohnsonAdam GazzaleyRobin Carhart-HarrisBoyd VartyDennis McKennaTerence McKennaBarry LopezJerry SeinfeldSteve MartinBenny LewisJosh WaitzkinBruce PandolfiniMarcelo GarciaTara BrachRichard SchwartzScott AdamsDonald TrumpJoe RoganMarc MaronKevin RoseBill GatesMark ZuckerbergMichael PollanGraham DuncanNassim Nicholas TalebStan GrofVincent van GoghDan GableJohn SmithPeter DruckerGreg McKeownTim UrbanMatt MullenwegQ&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, The Different Roles of Fear, The Delight of Deepening Friendships, The Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and More (#557)
Illustration via 99designsWelcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is usually my job to sit down with world-class performers of all different types to tease out the habits, routines, favorite books, and so on that you can apply and test in your own life. This time, we have a slightly different format, and I’m the guest.
As some of you know, I tested a “fan-supported model” in 2019, but I ended up returning to ads by request. That’s a long story, and you can read more about it at tim.blog/podcastexperiment. I recently sat down with the supporter group for a fun and live Q&A on YouTube.
I answered questions on plantar fasciitis relief, manga-assisted language learning and retention, breathing exercises, wolf conservation, parenting ambitions, VR therapy, mood and energy remedies, post-pandemic social reintroduction, the value of college, favorite wrestling movies, and much, much more.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the Q&A on YouTube here.
Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, GiveWell.org charity research and effective giving, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#557: Q&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, The Different Roles of Fear, The Delight of Deepening Friendships, The Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and MoreThis episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is also brought to you by GiveWell.org! For over ten years, GiveWell.org has helped donors find the charities and projects that save and improve lives most per dollar. GiveWell spends over 20,000 hours each year researching charitable organizations and only recommends a few of the highest-impact, evidence-backed charities they’ve found. In total, more than 50,000 people have used GiveWell to donate as effectively as possible.
This year, support the charities that save and improve lives most, with GiveWell. Any of my listeners who become new GiveWell donors will have their first donation matched up to $250 when you go to GiveWell.org and select “PODCAST” and “Tim Ferriss” at checkout.
This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
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Want to hear a previous Q&A? Listen in on my conversation with you, my lovely listeners, in which we discussed how to go about finding a mentor, how to extinguish anxiety, cocktails, relationship advice, training into confidence, the meaning of life, and other light topics.
#363: Tea Time with Tim — How to Find Mentors, Decrease Anxiety Through Training, and Much MoreSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEPlantar Fasciitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More | HealthlineTheragun Massage Gun Devices | Therabody.comHRV Biofeedback Training | Dr. Leah LagosHeart Breath Mind: Conquer Stress, Build Resilience, and Perform at Your Peak by Dr. Leah Lago | AmazonDr. Andrew Huberman — A Neurobiologist on Optimizing Sleep, Enhancing Performance, Reducing Anxiety, Increasing Testosterone, and Using the Body to Control the Mind | The Tim Ferriss Show #521Thorne Research Super EPA Supplements | AmazonJarrow Formulas MagMind with Magnesium L-Threonate Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Amino Acid L-Theanine Supplements | AmazonSwanson Apigenin Prostate Health Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate Bioactive Vitamin B6 | AmazonHow Zeitgeber Time Signals Reset Sleep, Internal Clock | Verywell HealthHow to Get Caffeine Out of Your System | HealthlineThe 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe Random Show, Ice Cold Edition | The Tim Ferriss Show #146Nature’s Life Policosanol Tablets | AmazonThe Official PAGG Stack | AmazonTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss | AmazonDom D’Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer | The Tim Ferriss Show #117Peter Attia, M.D. — Fasting, Metformin, Athletic Performance, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #398Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training | The Tim Ferriss Show #158Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two — Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups | The Tim Ferriss Show #180Learn How to Use Gymnastics Rings: Iron Cross | GymnasticBodiesHow to Do a Maltese on the Rings | Strength ProjectStall (Stahl) Bars | AmazonJefferson Curls: Weighted Mobility for the Posterior Chain | GymnasticBodiesSeated Pike Pulses | Sustainable Training MethodThe Art and Science of Learning Anything Faster | The Tim Ferriss Show #191Richard Koch on Mastering the 80/20 Principle, Achieving Unreasonable Success, and the Art of Gambling | The Tim Ferriss Show #466The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch | AmazonMike Phillips — How to Save a Species | The Tim Ferriss Show #383Steven Rinella on Hunting (and Why You Should Care), Reconnecting with Nature, Favorite Trips, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #470How Wolves Change Rivers | Sustainable HumanThe Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady | The New YorkerThe Wolf Reintroduction Bet (and Resources) | Tim FerrissGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth | AmazonHanna | Prime VideoAmelia Boone on Beating 99% of Men and Suffering for High Performance | The Tim Ferriss Show #127Jason Nemer — Inside the Magic of AcroYoga | The Tim Ferriss Show #182Never Forget: The Softball Toss Event | r/crossfitThe Lion of Olympic Weightlifting, 62-Year-Old Jerzy Gregorek (Also Featuring: Naval Ravikant | The Tim Ferriss Show #228The Happy Body: The Simple Science of Nutrition, Exercise, and Relaxation by Aniela Gregorek and Jerzy Gregorek | AmazonTim Ferriss: Smash Fear, Learn Anything | TED TalkTotal Immersion: How I Learned to Swim Effortlessly in 10 Days and You Can Too | Tim FerrissTerry Laughlin, The Master Who Changed My Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #276Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier by Terry Laughlin and John Delves | AmazonItalia | Italian National Tourist BoardTaiwan | Lonely PlanetWar on Drugs Timeline in America | HistoryPsychedelic-Assisted Therapy (Resources) | Tim Ferriss“I Just Received a U01 Grant from NIDA to Study Psilocybin for Tobacco Addiction.” | Matthew W. Johnson, TwitterThe Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR) | Harvard Law SchoolThis Neurobiologist Swims with Great White Sharks to Study Fear | SeekerDr. Adam Gazzaley, UCSF — Brain Optimization and the Future of Psychedelic Medicine | The Tim Ferriss Show #507Bridging the Gap between Neuroscience and Technology | NeuroscapeAkili InteractiveFitness for Your Inner Self | TRIPPResonant: A VR Experiment in the Humanities | CyArkDennis McKenna — The Depths of Ayahuasca: 500+ Sessions, Fundamentals, Advanced Topics, Science, Churches, Learnings, Warnings, and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #523The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty | AmazonThe Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna by Dennis McKenna | AmazonThe Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Shamanism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History by Terence Mckenna | AmazonTrue Hallucinations: Being an Account of the Author’s Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil’s Paradise by Terence McKenna | AmazonOf Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez | AmazonArctic Dreams by Barry Lopez | AmazonAustin, TXA Guide to the Scandinavian Countries | Scandinavia StandardFinnish Flick | WikicarsWhere’s Waldo? by Martin Handford | AmazonJerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for Success | The Tim Ferriss Show #485Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin | AmazonPosts About Language Learning | Tim FerrissOne Piece Wiki | FandomThe Tim Ferriss Experiment | IMDbThe Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin | AmazonJosh Waitzkin and Tim Ferriss on The Cave Process, Advice from Future Selves, and Training for an Uncertain Future | The Tim Ferriss Show #498Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery | The Tim Ferriss Show #449Dr. Peter Attia — Supplements, Blood Tests, and Near-Death Experiences | The Tim Ferriss Show #6510 Jump Rope Benefits | CrossropeRadical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach | AmazonRichard Schwartz — IFS, Psychedelic Experiences without Drugs, and Finding Inner Peace for Our Many Parts | The Tim Ferriss Show #492Internal Family Systems Therapy, Second Edition by Richard C. Schwartz and Martha Sweezy | AmazonHow to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie | AmazonEye of Sauron | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | FandomHow I Built The Tim Ferriss Show to 700+ Million Downloads — An Immersive Explanation of All Aspects and Key Decisions (Featuring Chris Hutchins) | The Tim Ferriss Show #538Scott Adams: The Man Behind Dilbert | The Tim Ferriss Show #106Dilbert by Scott AdamsThe Kristina Talent Stack | Scott Adams SaysHow to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams | AmazonWin Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter by Scott Adams | AmazonTim Ferriss | The NerdistTim Ferriss | Joe Rogan ExperienceTim Ferriss | WTF with Marc MaronThe Tim Ferriss Podcast is Live! Here Are Episodes 1 and 2 | The Tim Ferriss ShowMake the Most of Your World | Peace CorpsTeach For AmericaGates and Zuckerberg Aren’t the Only Dropouts Who Became Billionaires | Yahoo! NewsTimeline: Bill Gates | NPRGo the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortés, Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson | AmazonTea Time with Tynan | YouTubeWhat Can a Technologist Do about Climate Change? A Personal View. | Bret VictorEight SleepMichael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics | The Tim Ferriss Show #313How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan | AmazonGraham Duncan — Talent Is the Best Asset Class | The Tim Ferriss Show #362Balaji Srinivasan — Centralized China vs Decentralized World, The DeFi Matrix, Ascending vs Descending Trends, Bitcoin Mining as Energy Storage, Reputational Civil War, and Maximalism vs. Optimalism | The Tim Ferriss Show #547Chris Dixon and Naval Ravikant — The Wonders of Web3, How to Pick the Right Hill to Climb, Finding the Right Amount of Crypto Regulation, Friends with Benefits, and the Untapped Potential of NFTs | The Tim Ferriss Show #542The Random Show — Biohacking, Tim’s COVID Experience, Holiday Gift Ideas, Favorite New Apps, Bad Science, Quarantine Delights, and a Small Dose of NFTs and DAOs | The Tim Ferriss Show #549Modern Finance (MoFi) with Kevin RosePROOF with Kevin RoseIncerto: Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, The Bed of Procrustes, Antifragile, Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb | AmazonStan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #347Generation 3 | Oura RingLow-Dose Lithium Orotate | AmazonShould We All Take a Bit of Lithium? | The New York TimesCold Shower for Anxiety: Research, Efficacy, and More | HealthlineVision Quest | Prime VideoDan Gable: Competitor SupremeThe Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter Drucker | AmazonGreg McKeown — How to Master Essentialism | The Tim Ferriss Show #355Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown | AmazonChiliSleep OOLER Sleep System | AmazonWhat My Morning Journal Looks Like | Tim FerrissThe Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal: A Companion Volume to the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron | AmazonThe Tail End | Wait But WhyManaging Procrastination, Predicting the Future, and Finding Happiness – Tim Urban | The Tim Ferriss Show #283What About Bob? | Prime VideoSHOW NOTESWhat worked best to help with my plantar fasciitis? [05:27]What breathing exercises do I practice and recommend? [07:20]What did I implement from Andrew Huberman’s advice on sleep? [08:38]If I were to revise The 4-Hour Body, what would I change? Has my opinion changed in regards to keto, intermittent fasting, multi-day fasting, PAGG, et cetera? [12:02]Why did I stop gymnastic strength training? Do I think I’ll revisit it? [13:57]Would I ever have David Goggins on the podcast? [15:31]When I’m learning something new, do I still follow the DS3 method from The 4-Hour Chef? [16:09]A recommendation for rock climbers. [20:01]How has my work with wolf conservation been going? What has been the impact of my support thus far? [20:19]Thoughts about the most important qualities I’d hope to pass on to my children, what I suspect a modern educational curriculum might omit from their lessons, and parental role models I might hope to emulate. [24:34]Outside of psychedelics, what other somatic experience/physical modality has created the largest positive shifts for me? [26:49]What past vacation destinations would I most like to revisit? [32:49]What are one or two of my super long-term goals? [33:15]Congratulations to Matthew W. Johnson for his U01 grant from NIDA to study psilocybin for tobacco addiction! [36:20]There’s been a lot of talk of experiential therapy techniques like psychedelics. Are there any promising research programs using VR gaming for similar results? [38:37]Favorite book from the past year. [41:08]Has moving to Austin made me more reflective? [43:30]Have I ever spent time in any Scandanavian countries? If so, what was my impression? [47:23]When can I get Steve Martin on as a guest? [49:35]How do I maintain the languages I’ve learned? What tip do I most recommend to language learners? [50:11]What principles have I learned from chess that I can use outside of the game? [53:13]Feel like low energy is keeping you from thinking optimally? Here are a few ideas about what might be causing it and what you can do to try and remedy the situation. [55:22]Outside of sleep, what is my biggest force multiplier? [56:23]After undergoing isolation, stress, and trauma, how would I suggest individuals deal with the lingering psychological effects and cognitive biases of the pandemic (heightened scarcity, mindset, risk aversion, et cetera) so they can keep making growth-based decisions as opposed to fear-based ones? [57:52]For people watching this on video, what’s the art behind me? [1:01:47]What advice would I give to someone just getting started in podcasting — not necessarily for making a living, but for creating something worth listening to? [1:02:27]Is college a must? What alternative methods of advanced education could fit into a gap year and be just as valuable? [1:07:16]How am I going to cope with sleepless nights once I become a father? [1:14:00]Do I know Tea Time with Tynan? For that matter, where’s my tea? [1:14:25]What’s my take on global warming? How am I preparing for possible worst case scenarios? [1:14:53]The power of Eight Sleep Pod compels you (to get a restful night of sweet, sweet slumber). [1:15:54]Why am I suddenly hosting these more frequently? What do these sessions bring to me? [1:16:16]Thoughts on psychedelics and their potential effects on people who have experienced psychosis, schizophrenia, et cetera. [1:16:51]Am I still interested in cryptocurrency? (Yes, but make sure to listen to Kevin Rose’s podcasts on the subject [Modern Finance and Proof] because he’s really got his finger on the pulse of that world right now.) [1:20:49]What do I think about Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Incerto series? [1:21:05]Does someone who considers themselves psychologically healthy risk opening Pandora’s box in their subconscious by tampering with psychedelics? [1:22:22]What do I do to pattern interrupt when I notice I’m slipping into a low point? [1:26:10]Do I have plans to engage Congress in federal changes related to psychedelics, or is this a longer-term objective once the science is solid? [1:29:24]What’s my favorite wrestling movie? [1:30:57]What gets most people the most bang for the buck in terms of time management when exceeding 200k annual income? [1:32:44]How has sleep tracking improved my quality of sleep? [1:33:54]Is there anything to which I say “F it” and just proceed willy nilly? Or am I robotically methodical about everything? [1:36:23]When practicing mindfulness and gratitude don’t seem to do the trick, how can you slow down and enjoy life without being so focused on the future? [1:37:44]Parting thoughts. [1:40:21]PEOPLE MENTIONEDLeah LagosAndrew HubermanRay CroniseDominic D’AgostinoPeter AttiaChristopher SommerDavid GogginsDave MacLeodMike PhillipsJason NemerJerzy GregorekAniela GregorekTerry LaughlinRichard M. NixonMatthew W. JohnsonAdam GazzaleyRobin Carhart-HarrisBoyd VartyDennis McKennaTerence McKennaBarry LopezJerry SeinfeldSteve MartinBenny LewisJosh WaitzkinBruce PandolfiniMarcelo GarciaTara BrachRichard SchwartzScott AdamsDonald TrumpJoe RoganMarc MaronKevin RoseBill GatesMark ZuckerbergMichael PollanGraham DuncanNassim Nicholas TalebStan GrofVincent van GoghDan GableJohn SmithPeter DruckerGreg McKeownTim UrbanMatt MullenwegDecember 16, 2021
The Incredible Kyle Maynard — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss (#556)
“I know there are many people who, whether they admit it or not, view disabled people as inferior. We are ‘broken’ in their eyes. We are of no use, no value, and we are just running out the string on life. But I believe that we are all disabled in one way or another, including disabilities of character and personality. My disability just happens to be more visual than some.”
— Kyle Maynard
Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is my job to deconstruct world-class performers to tease out the routines, habits, et cetera that you can apply to your own life.
You’ll get plenty of that in this special episode, which features my interview with Blake Mycoskie from my 2017 TV Show Fear{less}. The “less” is in parentheses because the objective is to teach you to fear less, not to be fearless.
Fear{less} features in-depth, long-form conversations with top performers, focusing on how they’ve overcome fears and made hard decisions, embracing discomfort and thinking big.
It was produced by Wild West Productions, and I worked with them to make both the video and audio available to you for free, my dear listeners. You can find the video of this episode on YouTube.com/TimFerriss, and eventually you’ll be able to see all episodes for free at YouTube.com/TimFerriss.
Spearheaded by actor/producer and past podcast guest Vince Vaughn, Wild West Productions has produced a string of hit movies including The Internship, Couples Retreat, Four Christmases, and The Break-Up.
In 2020, Wild West produced the comedy The Opening Act, starring Jimmy O. Yang and Cedric The Entertainer. In addition to Fear{less}, their television credits include Undeniable with Joe Buck, ESPN’s 30 for 30 episode about the ’85 Bears, and the Netflix animated show F is for Family.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#556: The Incredible Kyle Maynard — Fear{less} with Tim FerrissThis episode is brought to you by “5-Bullet Friday,” my very own email newsletter that every Friday features five bullet points highlighting cool things I’ve found that week, including apps, books, documentaries, gadgets, albums, articles, TV shows, new hacks or tricks, and—of course—all sorts of weird stuff I’ve dug up from around the world.
It’s free, it’s always going to be free, and you can subscribe now at tim.blog/friday.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
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Want to hear another episode with someone who manages to make the seemingly impossible a reality? Listen to my conversation with one-handed concert pianist Nicholas McCarthy in which we discuss proving doubters wrong, working with limitations instead of being obstructed by them, how to manage ego, and much more.
#174: The One-Handed Concert Pianist, Nicholas McCarthySELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Kyle Maynard:Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life by Kyle Maynard | AmazonA Fighting Chance | Prime VideoCongenital Amputation | Encyclopedia of Children’s HealthWalter Reed National Military Medical CenterSNES Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System | AmazonKyle Maynard Climbs Kilimanjaro | VimeoKyle Maynard’s MMA Fight | YouTubeThe Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists by Neil Strauss | AmazonKyle Maynard Football Portrait | WikipediaKyle Maynard Wrestling | YouTubeKeys To The Duck Under Takedown by John Smith | Fanatic WrestlingJap Whizzer Takedown (Jap Throw) | PMA MesaThe Jawbreaker by Kyle Maynard | CrossFit JournalKyle Maynard | National Wrestling Hall of FameKyle Maynard and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | YouTubeKyle Maynard: An Inspiration on the Summit of Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua | Planet MountainKyle Maynard | Speaking.comThe Upanishads | AmazonKyle Maynard and Taking Determination to New Heights | Unbeatable Mind with Mark Divine“And This Is How Kyle Maynard Dies” -Lindsay Maynard | Kyle Maynard, InstagramDualism | Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy‘22 a Day No More’: Marine’s Mission to End Veteran Suicide Goes Viral | 6 ABC PhiladelphiaAmputee Speaks on Resilience | The United States ArmyAmanda Palmer: The Art of Asking | TED 20131,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly | The TechniumThe Map Is Not the Territory | Farnam StreetBaptists: 10 Important Things to Know About The Church Beliefs | Christianity.comMonomyth: Hero’s Journey Project | ORIAS“C” Equals MD, but “D” = Door | Run Ozzie RunThe Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories by Ernest Hemingway | AmazonFollow Your Bliss | Joseph Campbell FoundationSHOW NOTESKyle tells us about his first and last wrestling seasons. [05:48]What is congenital amputation? [08:11]How did Kyle’s upbringing by such supportive parents set him up for success? [08:37]What Kyle’s experience with prosthetics was like as a kindergartner, why he decided to go without them, and how his classmates reacted at the time. [11:33]Growing up, what was Kyle most afraid of — and how did he deal with this fear? [13:12]Knowing the struggles of envisioning a bright future from beneath the shadow of depression, what advice does Kyle have for someone new to the experience of being an amputee? What got him through his own period of self-doubt? [14:47]How did Kyle get started with wrestling? Was he an immediate success? [19:02]A few live demonstrations. [20:45]Does Kyle think he has an unfair advantage in the ring? [23:49]What’s been the most valuable thing Kyle’s taken away from wrestling, and how did he develop the self-awareness to recognize it? [25:28]What drives Kyle to spend sometimes as many as 200 days on the road speaking? [31:24]Who does Kyle consider to be the most inspiring religious or spiritual leader? [32:53]A reminder that, visible or not, we’re all “disabled” in some way — and it doesn’t mean we’re broken. [34:15]What is Kyle’s self-talk whenever he feels like quitting? [35:44]What role has building physical strength played in overcoming mental, emotional, and social challenges for Kyle? [37:31]22 veterans a day are dying by suicide. What advice does Kyle have for someone who has a tendency to isolate themselves and maybe doesn’t know how to ask for help from others? [39:53]Recommended reading, inspiration from the uncaring face of any mountain worth climbing, and two words that carry a lot of mileage in conflict resolution. [42:44]Something Kyle’s changed his mind about in recent years. [45:56]How was Kyle inspired to take on Mount Kilimanjaro, and how did he pull it off? [49:00]What would Kyle’s billboard say? [53:47]Parting thoughts. [54:42]MORE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“I know there are many people who, whether they admit it or not, view disabled people as inferior. We are ‘broken’ in their eyes. We are of no use, no value, and we are just running out the string on life. But I believe that we are all disabled in one way or another, including disabilities of character and personality. My disability just happens to be more visual than some.”
— Kyle Maynard
“How could that guy be so drunk and still stay in his wheelchair?”
— Kyle Maynard
“I used to [say], ‘Oh, never, ever give up.’ Now I’m like, ‘Giving up is super important.’ And you should give up a lot of things a lot quicker. A job that you hate, a relationship that sucks, give it up immediately.”
— Kyle Maynard
“It’s like a mountain. It does not care what race you are, what gender you are, whether you’re in a wheelchair or not. It doesn’t give a shit. Mountain’s like, ‘Zero Fs given.'”
— Kyle Maynard
“We all have our assumptions and beliefs and judgments and it’s just impossible to see somebody else’s perspective with that. And when you look at me or if someone looks at me for the first time, if you haven’t seen the videos and stuff like that, it doesn’t automatically occur to someone like, ‘Oh, that guy’s clearly an MMA fighter or a mountain climber.'”
— Kyle Maynard
“We all walk around as these mental cryptographers, as if the maps that we go and create are reality, are the territory, and they’re not. They’re just maps. And any map that you go and create can get outdated.”
— Kyle Maynard
“If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”
— Joseph Campbell
