Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 32

Michael Schur, Creator of “The Good Place” — How SNL Trains Writers, His TV University at “The Office,” Lessons from Lorne Michaels, Wisdom from David Foster Wallace, and Exploring Moral Philosophy with “How to Be Perfect” (#565)

Illustration via 99designs

“The thing that SNL teaches you is to not be precious with your own material.”

— Michael Schur

Michael Schur (@KenTremendous) created the critically acclaimed NBC comedy The Good Place and co-created Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and the Peacock series Rutherford Falls. He is also an executive producer on HBO Max’s Hacks and Netflix’s Master of None.

Prior to “Parks,” Michael spent four years as a writer-producer on the Emmy Award-winning NBC hit The Office. His first TV writing job was at Saturday Night Live, where he spent seven seasons, including three as the producer of “Weekend Update” with Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon.

Michael’s new book is How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question.

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 LMNT electrolyte supplement, Helix Sleep premium mattresses, and LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 770M+ users. More on all three below.

Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercastMichael Schur, Creator of “The Good Place” — How SNL Trains Writers, His TV University at “The Office,” Lessons from Lorne Michaels, Wisdom from David Foster Wallace, and Exploring Moral Philosophy with “How to Be Perfect” (#565)

This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep! Helix was selected as the #1 overall mattress of 2020 by GQ magazine, Wired, Apartment Therapy, and many others. With Helix, there’s a specific mattress to meet each and every body’s unique comfort needs. Just take their quiz—only two minutes to complete—that matches your body type and sleep preferences to the perfect mattress for you. They have a 10-year warranty, and you get to try it out for a hundred nights, risk free. They’ll even pick it up from you if you don’t love it. And now, Helix is offering up to 200 dollars off all mattress orders plus two free pillows at HelixSleep.com/Tim.

This episode is brought to you by LMNT! What is LMNT? It’s a delicious, sugar-free electrolyte drink mix. I’ve stocked up on boxes and boxes of this and usually use it 1–2 times per day. LMNT is formulated to help anyone with their electrolyte needs and perfectly suited to folks following a keto, low-carb, or Paleo diet. If you are on a low-carb diet or fasting, electrolytes play a key role in relieving hunger, cramps, headaches, tiredness, and dizziness.

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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.

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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 another SNL alum? Have a listen to my conversation with Sarah Silverman, in which we discussed what it means to be one’s own best friend, the comfort zone of worrying, why you should never miss the chance to mourn at a comedian’s funeral, and much more.

#563: Sarah Silverman — How to Be Your Own Best Friend, Lessons from Therapy, and Grabbing Joy Where You Can Get ItSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Michael Schur:

Twitter

How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur | Amazon The Good Place | Prime VideoParks and Recreation | Prime VideoBrooklyn Nine-Nine | Prime VideoRutherford Falls | PeacockHacks | HBO MaxMaster of None | NetflixThe Office (US) | Prime VideoSaturday Night Live (SNL) | PeacockThe Harvard LampoonThe Simpsons | Prime VideoAnimal House | Prime VideoShouts & Murmurs: Humor, Satire, and Funny Observations | The New YorkerRolling StoneThumb Up or Thumb Down? From Gladiator to FB, the Roman Roots of Pollice Verso | ITALY MagazineInfinite Jest by David Foster Wallace | AmazonThe Rules of the Game: Narrative Logic in Thomas Pynchon’s V. and David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest by Michael Herbert Schur | HarvardBilly Budd by Herman Melville | AmazonThe Brattle TheatreThe Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770Mare of Easttown | HBO MaxSliding Doors | Prime VideoString Theory: David Foster Wallace on Tennis: A Library of America Special Publication by David Foster Wallace | AmazonBlack Mirror | NetflixDavid Foster Wallace Predicted You Will Get Tired of iPhone 4’s New Functionality | VultureMotherless Brooklyn: A Novel by Jonathan Lethem | AmazonMotherless Brooklyn | Prime VideoGolden Handcuffs | InvestopediaCurb Your Enthusiasm | Prime VideoThe Office (UK) | Prime VideoUS Braces Itself for Coupling | The GuardianThe Matrix | Prime VideoSensitivity Training | The Office (US)Q&A: The Office Writer Michael Schur | Vanity FairWhy “F = Ma” Is the Most Important Equation in Physics | Big ThinkThe Sopranos | Prime VideoYankee Swap | The Office (US)Babies Dressed Like Adults = Too Cute! | PinterestConflict Resolution | The Office (US)Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, First Edition | AbeBooksCurse of the Bambino | WikipediaPnin by Vladimir Nabokov, First Edition | AbeBooksFremulon | WikipediaMonty PythonFire Joe MorganCity of Hartford, CTThe Trolley Problem | The Good PlaceFender Bender | The New YorkerThe Devastation of Hurricane Katrina: A City Underwater | HistoryHelp Those Affected by Disasters | American Red CrossWhat Is ‘Whataboutism’? | Merriam-WebsterMoral Philosophy | Ethics UnwrappedA Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking | AmazonE=mc2: What Does Einstein’s Most Famous Equation Mean? | Discover MagazineEthics 101 — The Good Place: A Reading List | Harvard University Press BlogCritique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant | AmazonThe History of Utilitarianism | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyJeremy Bentham’s Auto-Icon | Atlas ObscuraPragmatism | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyX-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Omnibus | AmazonPunisher War Journal Vol 1 (1988–1995) | Marvel DatabaseFiend Folio: Tome of Creatures Malevolent and Benign by Don Turnbull and Chris Baker | AmazonElf | Dungeons & Dragons Lore WikiChaotic Good Alignment Explained + How To Play + Character Examples | My Kind of MeepleThis is Water by David Foster Wallace (Full Transcript and Audio) | Farnam StreetDeath (The Art of Living) by Todd May | AmazonExistentialism | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyInternational Rescue Committee (IRC)Rainforest TrustWorld Central KitchenThe Constant | LostpediaFly | Breaking Bad WikiSHOW NOTESHow did Michael get involved with The Harvard Lampoon, and what did the audition process look like? How was the writing process different during his time there than it might be in a comparable publication today? [05:58]How performing live comedy is like Roman gladiator combat, and what Michael learned during his seven seasons as a writer for Saturday Night Live. [12:53]Michael shares his David Foster Wallace story, and his own thoughts about adapting Infinite Jest into a miniseries. [20:03]Why did Michael decide to leave SNL and continue his career in Los Angeles? How did he wind up writing for the US adaptation of The Office in spite of being unsure that such an adaptation was even a good idea? [31:10]Why does Michael consider the opportunity to work with The Office showrunner Greg Daniels “the greatest stroke of good fortune” that’s ever befallen him? What did he learn from the experience that SNL didn’t teach him? [39:12]What is the F = ma of sitcom writing, and how did this play into character development on The Office? [44:35]If Michael’s house were burning down and he only had time to rescue five things, what would they be? [53:20]How did Michael become a rare book collector? [57:45]Where did Michael’s alter ego of Ken Tremendous (and Fremulon, his equally fictitious place of employment) originate? [1:01:13]With television networks often skittish about deviating from proven formulas, how did a show as unique as The Good Place come about? [1:08:10]How the seed of the idea that became The Good Place was planted by an outrageous car repair bill. [1:16:15]Michael once joked that he would love How to Be Perfect to do for moral philosophy what A Brief History of Time did for astrophysics. If that’s a tall order, what would he consider an acceptable takeaway for its readers? [1:27:58]What qualifies the legitimacy of a philosopher? Is it when they can get people to actually read (and understand) their work? [1:32:58]If Michael could have a drink or dinner with any philosopher, living or dead, who would he choose? [1:39:53]What two philosophers would Michael choose to have on speed dial for his own personal instruction? [1:43:36]What comics in my own collection do I most treasure? What kind of D&D characters did I tend to play in my youth? [1:49:11]Michael’s most worthwhile failures (and one recurring failure that still gives him nightmares). [1:51:17]Michael is sorry if his billboard offends you. [2:01:28]Who are Todd May and Pamela Hieronymi, and how did they become The Good Place writers’ room emergency contacts? [2:06:00]Why Michael encourages us all to get educated about ethics by any means comfortable (and if that includes reading How to Be Perfect, so be it) where the proceeds of book sales will be directed, and other parting thoughts. [2:10:12]MORE GUEST QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW

“There are ethical components to almost everything that happens, and we are better off when we pay attention to them and really try to untangle them and wrestle with them.”
— Michael Schur

“I’m verified on Twitter as an imaginary fictional personality. It’s amazing.”
— Michael Schur

“I think that if everyone who worked in Hollywood had to work for one year at SNL, in general, things would be a lot better. From a creative standpoint, the thing that SNL teaches you is to not be precious with your own material.”
— Michael Schur

“[Moral philosophy is] like someone wrote a recipe for a chocolate chip cookie that’s both delicious and helps you lose weight and build muscle mass, but the recipe is 600 pages long, and it’s written in German, and no one is ever reading it. If you could somehow take what they wrote, synthesize it, and talk about it conversationally with people in a way that isn’t condescending, but it is engaging, then that might be of use to people.”
— Michael Schur

“I just recommend ethics as a life improvement strategy.”
— Michael Schur

“Even when I do the wrong thing —which is frequent—I take a tremendous amount of pleasure from wrestling with the questions, and from at least having some kind of scaffolding or structure that I can go to and think about and use to examine the problems that I face in my life.”
— Michael Schur

“Comedy for performance, it’s like the Roman Coliseum. A bunch of people give you a thumbs up or a thumbs down, and then it’s up to you to figure out what to do next.”
— Michael Schur

“I would so much rather my kids take classes in ethics in high school than advanced math or biochemistry. Nothing against those subjects, but I think that the two subjects that are woefully undertaught in this country, and that are really the foundational underpinnings of everything that I think is important for the continuation of society, are ethics and civics. I think understanding the way governments work and understanding the way that ethics work, and the way that we treat each other are vitally important.”
— Michael Schur

PEOPLE MENTIONEDWilliam Randolph HearstJohn UpdikeGeorge PlimptonDavid LettermanConan O’BrienDouglas KenneyJim DowneyP.J. O’RourkeLorne MichaelsAndy SambergDan GoorAmy PoehlerDavid Foster WallaceD.H. LawrenceHenry JamesTom HanksJulia RobertsRandy SavageEdward NortonJennifer PhilbinGreg DanielsMichael ScottJim HalpertPam BeeslyRoy AndersonIsaac NewtonTony SopranoPhyllis VanceRyan HowardB.J. NovakOscar MartinezCreed BrattonAngela MartinDavid HalberstamKeith FoulkeCurt SchillingBarack ObamaVladimir NabokovDon DeLilloJoe MorganAngela MerkelTed DansonKristen BellChidi AnagonyeStephen HawkingAristotleImmanuel KantJohn LockeThomas HobbesJeremy BenthamDavid HumeMichael JordanLudwig WittgensteinFriedrich NietzscheWilliam JamesJim LeeTodd McFarlaneWill FerrellMolly ShannonTracy MorganTina FeyJimmy FallonTodd MayMichaelPamela Hieronymi

Performance Psychologist Michael Gervais — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss (#564)

“Every day is an opportunity for a living masterpiece.”

— Michael Gervais

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 Michael Gervais 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.

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#556: Performance Psychologist Michael Gervais — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss

This 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.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear another episode with a guest from Fear{less}? Listen to my conversation with David Blaine in which we discussed what happens when stunts go awry, sleep deprivation hallucinations, how magic got David through a night in jail, controlling audience expectations, childhood superstitions, maximizing results with a minimal timeframe, and much more.

#546: Master Magician David Blaine — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Michael Gervais:

Website | Finding Mastery | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Tim Ferriss | YouTubeWild West Productions | TwitterStratos | Red BullHow Systematic Desensitization Can Help You Overcome Fear | HealthlineWhat Is Flooding? Psychology of Coping with Trauma, Anxiety, Phobias, and OCD | BetterHelp“Snakes! Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?” | My Geek WisdomWarrenton, VAFight Club | Prime VideoTao Te Ching by Lao Tzu | AmazonThe Art of Seeing: An Interpretation of the Aesthetic Encounter by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Rick E. Robinson | AmazonGrand Canyon National Park | US National Park ServiceWhat is Buddhism? | The Buddhist CentreThe 50 Weirdest Superstitions in Sports | Bleacher ReportThe Amazing, Heartbreaking, Ugly Super Bowl History of the Seattle Seahawks | NBC SportsStoicism Resources and Recommendations | Tim FerrissHow a Book on Stoicism Became Wildly Popular at Every Level of the NFL | Sports IllustratedThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday | AmazonThe Magic of Mindfulness: Complain Less, Appreciate More, and Live a Better Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #122The Extreme Engineering That Made Luke Aikins’ Historic Skydive Possible | CreateBella Notte Spaghetti Scene | Lady and the TrampSHOW NOTESHow Michael helped daredevil Felix Baumgartner mentally prepare for his 24-mile fall to earth from the edge of space. [05:06]What does extinguishing phobia look like? [08:07]What was Michael’s childhood like? After moving away from their farm, how did his family help him adjust to life in the big city? [10:48]How Fight Club SoCal led to Surfin’ USA, and what kept Michael’s ambitions in check during this time. [13:48]How Michael began to rein in this anxiety, and who was there to help him. [17:24]Michael describes the week he spent at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and how it changed his life. [18:37]How Michael became involved in the world of performance psychology, the mentor who guided him, and what his first lessons as a teacher looked like. [21:24]Michael and I share our basic life philosophies. [23:27]What was Michael’s first paid gig with an athlete, and why is the word “potential” often such a powerful performance killer? [26:25]Effective pre-performance routines Michael has seen, and why he discourages the popular deference to superstition so popular among athletes. [27:31]Is the effectiveness of a team dictated simply by a formula of individual multiplied by X number of team members? What ingredients best facilitate a team’s culture toward success? [29:34]Three rules (and one bonus, unwritten rule) that govern the Seattle Seahawks. [30:55]What was it like to lose a Super Bowl? [33:08]What role does mindfulness play in Michael’s world? [36:47]Michael’s advice for someone new to — but curious to explore — mindfulness, and what they can do if it’s just not clicking for them from the get-go. [38:47]To avoid encouraging false confidence leading to overly risky or reckless behavior, how does Michael know when to draw the line? What specific incident really put this sense to the test, and how did he manage it? [43:01]Something Michael believes everyone should do on an everyday basis, and how he puts this into practice. [46:18]What is the first step back from massive failure? [47:29]Would the general advice Michael dispenses differ between high performers and everyday people? [48:57]How much of a role does Stoicism play in Michael’s life? [51:24]What would Michael’s billboard say? [52:28]Parting thoughts. [53:21]MORE MICHAEL GERVAIS QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW

“‘How do you make decisions?’ is what a philosophy is.”
— Michael Gervais

“Every day is an opportunity for a living masterpiece.”
— Michael Gervais

“The word ‘potential’ can be a crippler.”
— Michael Gervais

“Make a decision, build capacity, and test yourself.”
— Michael Gervais

“Get in really rugged and hostile environments and feel what it feels like to be on the razor’s edge, and be overwhelmed by it, and then come to love that razor’s edge.”
— Michael Gervais

“Learn how to be here now.”
— Michael Gervais

“There’s no shortcut to the path of mastery or understanding the complexity and the beauty of the human experience. It’s complicated.“
— Michael Gervais

“The only reason people change is because of pain. So the worst thing a friend or a psychologist or a coach could do is take away pain.”
— Michael Gervais

PEOPLE MENTIONEDFelix BaumgartnerKerri Walsh JenningsIndiana JonesAristotlePlatoSenecaBuddhaJesusMartin Luther King, Jr.Pete CarrollMarcus AureliusLuke Aikins

Performance Psychologist Michael Gervais — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss (#556)

“Every day is an opportunity for a living masterpiece.”

— Michael Gervais

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 Michael Gervais 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: Performance Psychologist Michael Gervais — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss

This 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.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear another episode with a guest from Fear{less}? Listen to my conversation with David Blaine in which we discussed what happens when stunts go awry, sleep deprivation hallucinations, how magic got David through a night in jail, controlling audience expectations, childhood superstitions, maximizing results with a minimal timeframe, and much more.

#546: Master Magician David Blaine — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Michael Gervais:

Website | Finding Mastery | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Tim Ferriss | YouTubeWild West Productions | TwitterStratos | Red BullHow Systematic Desensitization Can Help You Overcome Fear | HealthlineWhat Is Flooding? Psychology of Coping with Trauma, Anxiety, Phobias, and OCD | BetterHelp“Snakes! Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?” | My Geek WisdomWarrenton, VAFight Club | Prime VideoTao Te Ching by Lao Tzu | AmazonThe Art of Seeing: An Interpretation of the Aesthetic Encounter by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Rick E. Robinson | AmazonGrand Canyon National Park | US National Park ServiceWhat is Buddhism? | The Buddhist CentreThe 50 Weirdest Superstitions in Sports | Bleacher ReportThe Amazing, Heartbreaking, Ugly Super Bowl History of the Seattle Seahawks | NBC SportsStoicism Resources and Recommendations | Tim FerrissHow a Book on Stoicism Became Wildly Popular at Every Level of the NFL | Sports IllustratedThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday | AmazonThe Magic of Mindfulness: Complain Less, Appreciate More, and Live a Better Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #122The Extreme Engineering That Made Luke Aikins’ Historic Skydive Possible | CreateBella Notte Spaghetti Scene | Lady and the TrampSHOW NOTESHow Michael helped daredevil Felix Baumgartner mentally prepare for his 24-mile fall to earth from the edge of space. [05:06]What does extinguishing phobia look like? [08:07]What was Michael’s childhood like? After moving away from their farm, how did his family help him adjust to life in the big city? [10:48]How Fight Club SoCal led to Surfin’ USA, and what kept Michael’s ambitions in check during this time. [13:48]How Michael began to rein in this anxiety, and who was there to help him. [17:24]Michael describes the week he spent at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and how it changed his life. [18:37]How Michael became involved in the world of performance psychology, the mentor who guided him, and what his first lessons as a teacher looked like. [21:24]Michael and I share our basic life philosophies. [23:27]What was Michael’s first paid gig with an athlete, and why is the word “potential” often such a powerful performance killer? [26:25]Effective pre-performance routines Michael has seen, and why he discourages the popular deference to superstition so popular among athletes. [27:31]Is the effectiveness of a team dictated simply by a formula of individual multiplied by X number of team members? What ingredients best facilitate a team’s culture toward success? [29:34]Three rules (and one bonus, unwritten rule) that govern the Seattle Seahawks. [30:55]What was it like to lose a Super Bowl? [33:08]What role does mindfulness play in Michael’s world? [36:47]Michael’s advice for someone new to — but curious to explore — mindfulness, and what they can do if it’s just not clicking for them from the get-go. [38:47]To avoid encouraging false confidence leading to overly risky or reckless behavior, how does Michael know when to draw the line? What specific incident really put this sense to the test, and how did he manage it? [43:01]Something Michael believes everyone should do on an everyday basis, and how he puts this into practice. [46:18]What is the first step back from massive failure? [47:29]Would the general advice Michael dispenses differ between high performers and everyday people? [48:57]How much of a role does Stoicism play in Michael’s life? [51:24]What would Michael’s billboard say? [52:28]Parting thoughts. [53:21]MORE MICHAEL GERVAIS QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW

“‘How do you make decisions?’ is what a philosophy is.”
— Michael Gervais

“Every day is an opportunity for a living masterpiece.”
— Michael Gervais

“The word ‘potential’ can be a crippler.”
— Michael Gervais

“Make a decision, build capacity, and test yourself.”
— Michael Gervais

“Get in really rugged and hostile environments and feel what it feels like to be on the razor’s edge, and be overwhelmed by it, and then come to love that razor’s edge.”
— Michael Gervais

“Learn how to be here now.”
— Michael Gervais

“There’s no shortcut to the path of mastery or understanding the complexity and the beauty of the human experience. It’s complicated.“
— Michael Gervais

“The only reason people change is because of pain. So the worst thing a friend or a psychologist or a coach could do is take away pain.”
— Michael Gervais

PEOPLE MENTIONEDFelix BaumgartnerKerri Walsh JenningsIndiana JonesAristotlePlatoSenecaBuddhaJesusMartin Luther King, Jr.Pete CarrollMarcus AureliusLuke Aikins

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 More

This 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

PEOPLE MENTIONEDSeth RogenJennifer LopezOwen WilsonDavid LettermanBlair UnderwoodJerry SeinfeldSarah’s Stepdad and DadSarah’s MomMaryHoward SternJason FriedTaika WaititiJemaine ClementJudd ApatowMartin ScorseseTerry GrossChris RockPaula PoundstoneCharlie KaufmanBalaji SrinivasanNostradamusSarah’s StepmomDoris Kearns GoodwinAbraham LincolnFranklin D. RooseveltWinston ChurchillRaj DesaiDyana GoldmanGarry ShandlingAmy KoppelmanMichael KivesTom HanksGabourey SidibeFred PhelpsMegan Phelps-RoperAuntie MarthaKevin NealonJohn F. KennedyRobert F. Kennedy

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 It

This 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 NOTES

Note 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

PEOPLE MENTIONEDSeth RogenJennifer LopezOwen WilsonDavid LettermanBlair UnderwoodJerry SeinfeldSarah’s Stepdad and DadSarah’s MomMaryHoward SternJason FriedTaika WaititiJemaine ClementJudd ApatowMartin ScorseseTerry GrossChris RockPaula PoundstoneCharlie KaufmanBalaji SrinivasanNostradamusSarah’s StepmomDoris Kearns GoodwinAbraham LincolnFranklin D. RooseveltWinston ChurchillRaj DesaiDyana GoldmanGarry ShandlingAmy KoppelmanMichael KivesTom HanksGabourey SidibeFred PhelpsMegan Phelps-RoperAuntie MarthaKevin NealonJohn F. KennedyRobert F. Kennedy

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 More

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 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

PEOPLE MENTIONEDToshio and Hideko KakuAlbert EinsteinEdward TellerIsaac AsimovGodCleopatraAlan TuringStephen HawkingKurt GödelRoy KerrElvis PresleyCarlo RovelliIsaac NewtonAbraham LincolnScott KellyMark KellyBaruch SpinozaGalileo GalileiGeorge GamowCarl SaganArthur C. ClarkeWilliam GibsonRobert A. HeinleinLazarus Long

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 Beyond

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 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 McKeown

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 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 Year

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 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

PEOPLE MENTIONEDJulie PiattGabor MatéBill WilsonJames WoodsRichard SpindleWarren BuffettDale CarnegiePeter AttiaKevin KellyLaird HamiltonGabby ReeceRick RubinEsther DysonGreg McKeown

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 Koans

This 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

PEOPLE MENTIONEDKevin RoseJ.D. SalingerAllen GinsbergJack KerouacAlan WattsNanyang HuizhongJohn GaynorJoan RieckRuben HabitoRyoun Yamada RoshiZhàozhōu CōngshěnBob HoskinsSam HarrisObi-Wan KenobiAldous HuxleyDonald Hoffman

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:

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