Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 33
December 22, 2021
Q&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, the Different Roles of Fear, the Delight of Deepening Friendships, the Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and More (#557)
Illustration via 99designsWelcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is usually my job to sit down with world-class performers of all different types to tease out the habits, routines, favorite books, and so on that you can apply and test in your own life. This time, we have a slightly different format, and I’m the guest.
As some of you know, I tested a “fan-supported model” in 2019, but I ended up returning to ads by request. That’s a long story, and you can read more about it at tim.blog/podcastexperiment. I recently sat down with the supporter group for a fun and live Q&A on YouTube.
I answered questions on plantar fasciitis relief, manga-assisted language learning and retention, breathing exercises, wolf conservation, parenting ambitions, VR therapy, mood and energy remedies, post-pandemic social reintroduction, the value of college, favorite wrestling movies, and much, much more.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the Q&A on YouTube here.
Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, GiveWell.org charity research and effective giving, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below.
The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#557: Q&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, The Different Roles of Fear, The Delight of Deepening Friendships, The Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and MoreThis episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is also brought to you by GiveWell.org! For over ten years, GiveWell.org has helped donors find the charities and projects that save and improve lives most per dollar. GiveWell spends over 20,000 hours each year researching charitable organizations and only recommends a few of the highest-impact, evidence-backed charities they’ve found. In total, more than 50,000 people have used GiveWell to donate as effectively as possible.
This year, support the charities that save and improve lives most, with GiveWell. Any of my listeners who become new GiveWell donors will have their first donation matched up to $250 when you go to GiveWell.org and select “PODCAST” and “Tim Ferriss” at checkout.
This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear a previous Q&A? Listen in on my conversation with you, my lovely listeners, in which we discussed how to go about finding a mentor, how to extinguish anxiety, cocktails, relationship advice, training into confidence, the meaning of life, and other light topics.
#363: Tea Time with Tim — How to Find Mentors, Decrease Anxiety Through Training, and Much MoreSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEPlantar Fasciitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More | HealthlineTheragun Massage Gun Devices | Therabody.comHRV Biofeedback Training | Dr. Leah LagosHeart Breath Mind: Conquer Stress, Build Resilience, and Perform at Your Peak by Dr. Leah Lago | AmazonDr. Andrew Huberman — A Neurobiologist on Optimizing Sleep, Enhancing Performance, Reducing Anxiety, Increasing Testosterone, and Using the Body to Control the Mind | The Tim Ferriss Show #521Thorne Research Super EPA Supplements | AmazonJarrow Formulas MagMind with Magnesium L-Threonate Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Amino Acid L-Theanine Supplements | AmazonSwanson Apigenin Prostate Health Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate Bioactive Vitamin B6 | AmazonHow Zeitgeber Time Signals Reset Sleep, Internal Clock | Verywell HealthHow to Get Caffeine Out of Your System | HealthlineThe 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe Random Show, Ice Cold Edition | The Tim Ferriss Show #146Nature’s Life Policosanol Tablets | AmazonThe Official PAGG Stack | AmazonTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss | AmazonDom D’Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer | The Tim Ferriss Show #117Peter Attia, M.D. — Fasting, Metformin, Athletic Performance, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #398Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training | The Tim Ferriss Show #158Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two — Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups | The Tim Ferriss Show #180Learn How to Use Gymnastics Rings: Iron Cross | GymnasticBodiesHow to Do a Maltese on the Rings | Strength ProjectStall (Stahl) Bars | AmazonJefferson Curls: Weighted Mobility for the Posterior Chain | GymnasticBodiesSeated Pike Pulses | Sustainable Training MethodThe Art and Science of Learning Anything Faster | The Tim Ferriss Show #191Richard Koch on Mastering the 80/20 Principle, Achieving Unreasonable Success, and the Art of Gambling | The Tim Ferriss Show #466The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch | AmazonMike Phillips — How to Save a Species | The Tim Ferriss Show #383Steven Rinella on Hunting (and Why You Should Care), Reconnecting with Nature, Favorite Trips, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #470How Wolves Change Rivers | Sustainable HumanThe Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady | The New YorkerThe Wolf Reintroduction Bet (and Resources) | Tim FerrissGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth | AmazonHanna | Prime VideoAmelia Boone on Beating 99% of Men and Suffering for High Performance | The Tim Ferriss Show #127Jason Nemer — Inside the Magic of AcroYoga | The Tim Ferriss Show #182Never Forget: The Softball Toss Event | r/crossfitThe Lion of Olympic Weightlifting, 62-Year-Old Jerzy Gregorek (Also Featuring: Naval Ravikant | The Tim Ferriss Show #228The Happy Body: The Simple Science of Nutrition, Exercise, and Relaxation by Aniela Gregorek and Jerzy Gregorek | AmazonTim Ferriss: Smash Fear, Learn Anything | TED TalkTotal Immersion: How I Learned to Swim Effortlessly in 10 Days and You Can Too | Tim FerrissTerry Laughlin, The Master Who Changed My Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #276Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier by Terry Laughlin and John Delves | AmazonItalia | Italian National Tourist BoardTaiwan | Lonely PlanetWar on Drugs Timeline in America | HistoryPsychedelic-Assisted Therapy (Resources) | Tim Ferriss“I Just Received a U01 Grant from NIDA to Study Psilocybin for Tobacco Addiction.” | Matthew W. Johnson, TwitterThe Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR) | Harvard Law SchoolThis Neurobiologist Swims with Great White Sharks to Study Fear | SeekerDr. Adam Gazzaley, UCSF — Brain Optimization and the Future of Psychedelic Medicine | The Tim Ferriss Show #507Bridging the Gap between Neuroscience and Technology | NeuroscapeAkili InteractiveFitness for Your Inner Self | TRIPPResonant: A VR Experiment in the Humanities | CyArkDennis McKenna — The Depths of Ayahuasca: 500+ Sessions, Fundamentals, Advanced Topics, Science, Churches, Learnings, Warnings, and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #523The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty | AmazonThe Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna by Dennis McKenna | AmazonThe Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Shamanism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History by Terence Mckenna | AmazonTrue Hallucinations: Being an Account of the Author’s Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil’s Paradise by Terence McKenna | AmazonOf Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez | AmazonArctic Dreams by Barry Lopez | AmazonAustin, TXA Guide to the Scandinavian Countries | Scandinavia StandardFinnish Flick | WikicarsWhere’s Waldo? by Martin Handford | AmazonJerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for Success | The Tim Ferriss Show #485Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin | AmazonPosts About Language Learning | Tim FerrissOne Piece Wiki | FandomThe Tim Ferriss Experiment | IMDbThe Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin | AmazonJosh Waitzkin and Tim Ferriss on The Cave Process, Advice from Future Selves, and Training for an Uncertain Future | The Tim Ferriss Show #498Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery | The Tim Ferriss Show #449Dr. Peter Attia — Supplements, Blood Tests, and Near-Death Experiences | The Tim Ferriss Show #6510 Jump Rope Benefits | CrossropeRadical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach | AmazonRichard Schwartz — IFS, Psychedelic Experiences without Drugs, and Finding Inner Peace for Our Many Parts | The Tim Ferriss Show #492Internal Family Systems Therapy, Second Edition by Richard C. Schwartz and Martha Sweezy | AmazonHow to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie | AmazonEye of Sauron | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | FandomHow I Built The Tim Ferriss Show to 700+ Million Downloads — An Immersive Explanation of All Aspects and Key Decisions (Featuring Chris Hutchins) | The Tim Ferriss Show #538Scott Adams: The Man Behind Dilbert | The Tim Ferriss Show #106Dilbert by Scott AdamsThe Kristina Talent Stack | Scott Adams SaysHow to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams | AmazonWin Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter by Scott Adams | AmazonTim Ferriss | The NerdistTim Ferriss | Joe Rogan ExperienceTim Ferriss | WTF with Marc MaronThe Tim Ferriss Podcast is Live! Here Are Episodes 1 and 2 | The Tim Ferriss ShowMake the Most of Your World | Peace CorpsTeach For AmericaGates and Zuckerberg Aren’t the Only Dropouts Who Became Billionaires | Yahoo! NewsTimeline: Bill Gates | NPRGo the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortés, Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson | AmazonTea Time with Tynan | YouTubeWhat Can a Technologist Do about Climate Change? A Personal View. | Bret VictorEight SleepMichael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics | The Tim Ferriss Show #313How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan | AmazonGraham Duncan — Talent Is the Best Asset Class | The Tim Ferriss Show #362Balaji Srinivasan — Centralized China vs Decentralized World, The DeFi Matrix, Ascending vs Descending Trends, Bitcoin Mining as Energy Storage, Reputational Civil War, and Maximalism vs. Optimalism | The Tim Ferriss Show #547Chris Dixon and Naval Ravikant — The Wonders of Web3, How to Pick the Right Hill to Climb, Finding the Right Amount of Crypto Regulation, Friends with Benefits, and the Untapped Potential of NFTs | The Tim Ferriss Show #542The Random Show — Biohacking, Tim’s COVID Experience, Holiday Gift Ideas, Favorite New Apps, Bad Science, Quarantine Delights, and a Small Dose of NFTs and DAOs | The Tim Ferriss Show #549Modern Finance (MoFi) with Kevin RosePROOF with Kevin RoseIncerto: Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, The Bed of Procrustes, Antifragile, Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb | AmazonStan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #347Generation 3 | Oura RingLow-Dose Lithium Orotate | AmazonShould We All Take a Bit of Lithium? | The New York TimesCold Shower for Anxiety: Research, Efficacy, and More | HealthlineVision Quest | Prime VideoDan Gable: Competitor SupremeThe Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter Drucker | AmazonGreg McKeown — How to Master Essentialism | The Tim Ferriss Show #355Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown | AmazonChiliSleep OOLER Sleep System | AmazonWhat My Morning Journal Looks Like | Tim FerrissThe Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal: A Companion Volume to the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron | AmazonThe Tail End | Wait But WhyManaging Procrastination, Predicting the Future, and Finding Happiness – Tim Urban | The Tim Ferriss Show #283What About Bob? | Prime VideoSHOW NOTESWhat worked best to help with my plantar fasciitis? [05:27]What breathing exercises do I practice and recommend? [07:20]What did I implement from Andrew Huberman’s advice on sleep? [08:38]If I were to revise The 4-Hour Body, what would I change? Has my opinion changed in regards to keto, intermittent fasting, multi-day fasting, PAGG, et cetera? [12:02]Why did I stop gymnastic strength training? Do I think I’ll revisit it? [13:57]Would I ever have David Goggins on the podcast? [15:31]When I’m learning something new, do I still follow the DS3 method from The 4-Hour Chef? [16:09]A recommendation for rock climbers. [20:01]How has my work with wolf conservation been going? What has been the impact of my support thus far? [20:19]Thoughts about the most important qualities I’d hope to pass on to my children, what I suspect a modern educational curriculum might omit from their lessons, and parental role models I might hope to emulate. [24:34]Outside of psychedelics, what other somatic experience/physical modality has created the largest positive shifts for me? [26:49]What past vacation destinations would I most like to revisit? [32:49]What are one or two of my super long-term goals? [33:15]Congratulations to Matthew W. Johnson for his U01 grant from NIDA to study psilocybin for tobacco addiction! [36:20]There’s been a lot of talk of experiential therapy techniques like psychedelics. Are there any promising research programs using VR gaming for similar results? [38:37]Favorite book from the past year. [41:08]Has moving to Austin made me more reflective? [43:30]Have I ever spent time in any Scandanavian countries? If so, what was my impression? [47:23]When can I get Steve Martin on as a guest? [49:35]How do I maintain the languages I’ve learned? What tip do I most recommend to language learners? [50:11]What principles have I learned from chess that I can use outside of the game? [53:13]Feel like low energy is keeping you from thinking optimally? Here are a few ideas about what might be causing it and what you can do to try and remedy the situation. [55:22]Outside of sleep, what is my biggest force multiplier? [56:23]After undergoing isolation, stress, and trauma, how would I suggest individuals deal with the lingering psychological effects and cognitive biases of the pandemic (heightened scarcity, mindset, risk aversion, et cetera) so they can keep making growth-based decisions as opposed to fear-based ones? [57:52]For people watching this on video, what’s the art behind me? [1:01:47]What advice would I give to someone just getting started in podcasting — not necessarily for making a living, but for creating something worth listening to? [1:02:27]Is college a must? What alternative methods of advanced education could fit into a gap year and be just as valuable? [1:07:16]How am I going to cope with sleepless nights once I become a father? [1:14:00]Do I know Tea Time with Tynan? For that matter, where’s my tea? [1:14:25]What’s my take on global warming? How am I preparing for possible worst case scenarios? [1:14:53]The power of Eight Sleep Pod compels you (to get a restful night of sweet, sweet slumber). [1:15:54]Why am I suddenly hosting these more frequently? What do these sessions bring to me? [1:16:16]Thoughts on psychedelics and their potential effects on people who have experienced psychosis, schizophrenia, et cetera. [1:16:51]Am I still interested in cryptocurrency? (Yes, but make sure to listen to Kevin Rose’s podcasts on the subject [Modern Finance and Proof] because he’s really got his finger on the pulse of that world right now.) [1:20:49]What do I think about Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Incerto series? [1:21:05]Does someone who considers themselves psychologically healthy risk opening Pandora’s box in their subconscious by tampering with psychedelics? [1:22:22]What do I do to pattern interrupt when I notice I’m slipping into a low point? [1:26:10]Do I have plans to engage Congress in federal changes related to psychedelics, or is this a longer-term objective once the science is solid? [1:29:24]What’s my favorite wrestling movie? [1:30:57]What gets most people the most bang for the buck in terms of time management when exceeding 200k annual income? [1:32:44]How has sleep tracking improved my quality of sleep? [1:33:54]Is there anything to which I say “F it” and just proceed willy nilly? Or am I robotically methodical about everything? [1:36:23]When practicing mindfulness and gratitude don’t seem to do the trick, how can you slow down and enjoy life without being so focused on the future? [1:37:44]Parting thoughts. [1:40:21]PEOPLE MENTIONEDLeah LagosAndrew HubermanRay CroniseDominic D’AgostinoPeter AttiaChristopher SommerDavid GogginsDave MacLeodMike PhillipsJason NemerJerzy GregorekAniela GregorekTerry LaughlinRichard M. NixonMatthew W. JohnsonAdam GazzaleyRobin Carhart-HarrisBoyd VartyDennis McKennaTerence McKennaBarry LopezJerry SeinfeldSteve MartinBenny LewisJosh WaitzkinBruce PandolfiniMarcelo GarciaTara BrachRichard SchwartzScott AdamsDonald TrumpJoe RoganMarc MaronKevin RoseBill GatesMark ZuckerbergMichael PollanGraham DuncanNassim Nicholas TalebStan GrofVincent van GoghDan GableJohn SmithPeter DruckerGreg McKeownTim UrbanMatt Mullenweg
Q&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, The Different Roles of Fear, The Delight of Deepening Friendships, The Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and More (#557)
Illustration via 99designsWelcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is usually my job to sit down with world-class performers of all different types to tease out the habits, routines, favorite books, and so on that you can apply and test in your own life. This time, we have a slightly different format, and I’m the guest.
As some of you know, I tested a “fan-supported model” in 2019, but I ended up returning to ads by request. That’s a long story, and you can read more about it at tim.blog/podcastexperiment. I recently sat down with the supporter group for a fun and live Q&A on YouTube.
I answered questions on plantar fasciitis relief, manga-assisted language learning and retention, breathing exercises, wolf conservation, parenting ambitions, VR therapy, mood and energy remedies, post-pandemic social reintroduction, the value of college, favorite wrestling movies, and much, much more.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the Q&A on YouTube here.
Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, GiveWell.org charity research and effective giving, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#557: Q&A with Tim — Tools for Better Sleep, Musings on Parenting, The Different Roles of Fear, The Delight of Deepening Friendships, The Purpose of College, How to Boost Your Mood, HRV Training, and MoreThis episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system.
Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.
This episode is also brought to you by GiveWell.org! For over ten years, GiveWell.org has helped donors find the charities and projects that save and improve lives most per dollar. GiveWell spends over 20,000 hours each year researching charitable organizations and only recommends a few of the highest-impact, evidence-backed charities they’ve found. In total, more than 50,000 people have used GiveWell to donate as effectively as possible.
This year, support the charities that save and improve lives most, with GiveWell. Any of my listeners who become new GiveWell donors will have their first donation matched up to $250 when you go to GiveWell.org and select “PODCAST” and “Tim Ferriss” at checkout.
This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear a previous Q&A? Listen in on my conversation with you, my lovely listeners, in which we discussed how to go about finding a mentor, how to extinguish anxiety, cocktails, relationship advice, training into confidence, the meaning of life, and other light topics.
#363: Tea Time with Tim — How to Find Mentors, Decrease Anxiety Through Training, and Much MoreSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEPlantar Fasciitis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and More | HealthlineTheragun Massage Gun Devices | Therabody.comHRV Biofeedback Training | Dr. Leah LagosHeart Breath Mind: Conquer Stress, Build Resilience, and Perform at Your Peak by Dr. Leah Lago | AmazonDr. Andrew Huberman — A Neurobiologist on Optimizing Sleep, Enhancing Performance, Reducing Anxiety, Increasing Testosterone, and Using the Body to Control the Mind | The Tim Ferriss Show #521Thorne Research Super EPA Supplements | AmazonJarrow Formulas MagMind with Magnesium L-Threonate Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Amino Acid L-Theanine Supplements | AmazonSwanson Apigenin Prostate Health Supplements | AmazonThorne Research Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate Bioactive Vitamin B6 | AmazonHow Zeitgeber Time Signals Reset Sleep, Internal Clock | Verywell HealthHow to Get Caffeine Out of Your System | HealthlineThe 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe Random Show, Ice Cold Edition | The Tim Ferriss Show #146Nature’s Life Policosanol Tablets | AmazonThe Official PAGG Stack | AmazonTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss | AmazonDom D’Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer | The Tim Ferriss Show #117Peter Attia, M.D. — Fasting, Metformin, Athletic Performance, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #398Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training | The Tim Ferriss Show #158Christopher Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two — Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups | The Tim Ferriss Show #180Learn How to Use Gymnastics Rings: Iron Cross | GymnasticBodiesHow to Do a Maltese on the Rings | Strength ProjectStall (Stahl) Bars | AmazonJefferson Curls: Weighted Mobility for the Posterior Chain | GymnasticBodiesSeated Pike Pulses | Sustainable Training MethodThe Art and Science of Learning Anything Faster | The Tim Ferriss Show #191Richard Koch on Mastering the 80/20 Principle, Achieving Unreasonable Success, and the Art of Gambling | The Tim Ferriss Show #466The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less by Richard Koch | AmazonMike Phillips — How to Save a Species | The Tim Ferriss Show #383Steven Rinella on Hunting (and Why You Should Care), Reconnecting with Nature, Favorite Trips, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #470How Wolves Change Rivers | Sustainable HumanThe Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady | The New YorkerThe Wolf Reintroduction Bet (and Resources) | Tim FerrissGrit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth | AmazonHanna | Prime VideoAmelia Boone on Beating 99% of Men and Suffering for High Performance | The Tim Ferriss Show #127Jason Nemer — Inside the Magic of AcroYoga | The Tim Ferriss Show #182Never Forget: The Softball Toss Event | r/crossfitThe Lion of Olympic Weightlifting, 62-Year-Old Jerzy Gregorek (Also Featuring: Naval Ravikant | The Tim Ferriss Show #228The Happy Body: The Simple Science of Nutrition, Exercise, and Relaxation by Aniela Gregorek and Jerzy Gregorek | AmazonTim Ferriss: Smash Fear, Learn Anything | TED TalkTotal Immersion: How I Learned to Swim Effortlessly in 10 Days and You Can Too | Tim FerrissTerry Laughlin, The Master Who Changed My Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #276Total Immersion: The Revolutionary Way To Swim Better, Faster, and Easier by Terry Laughlin and John Delves | AmazonItalia | Italian National Tourist BoardTaiwan | Lonely PlanetWar on Drugs Timeline in America | HistoryPsychedelic-Assisted Therapy (Resources) | Tim Ferriss“I Just Received a U01 Grant from NIDA to Study Psilocybin for Tobacco Addiction.” | Matthew W. Johnson, TwitterThe Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation (POPLAR) | Harvard Law SchoolThis Neurobiologist Swims with Great White Sharks to Study Fear | SeekerDr. Adam Gazzaley, UCSF — Brain Optimization and the Future of Psychedelic Medicine | The Tim Ferriss Show #507Bridging the Gap between Neuroscience and Technology | NeuroscapeAkili InteractiveFitness for Your Inner Self | TRIPPResonant: A VR Experiment in the Humanities | CyArkDennis McKenna — The Depths of Ayahuasca: 500+ Sessions, Fundamentals, Advanced Topics, Science, Churches, Learnings, Warnings, and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #523The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty | AmazonThe Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna by Dennis McKenna | AmazonThe Archaic Revival: Speculations on Psychedelic Mushrooms, the Amazon, Virtual Reality, UFOs, Evolution, Shamanism, the Rebirth of the Goddess, and the End of History by Terence Mckenna | AmazonTrue Hallucinations: Being an Account of the Author’s Extraordinary Adventures in the Devil’s Paradise by Terence McKenna | AmazonOf Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez | AmazonArctic Dreams by Barry Lopez | AmazonAustin, TXA Guide to the Scandinavian Countries | Scandinavia StandardFinnish Flick | WikicarsWhere’s Waldo? by Martin Handford | AmazonJerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for Success | The Tim Ferriss Show #485Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin | AmazonPosts About Language Learning | Tim FerrissOne Piece Wiki | FandomThe Tim Ferriss Experiment | IMDbThe Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin | AmazonJosh Waitzkin and Tim Ferriss on The Cave Process, Advice from Future Selves, and Training for an Uncertain Future | The Tim Ferriss Show #498Grandmaster Maurice Ashley — The Path and Strategies of World-Class Mastery | The Tim Ferriss Show #449Dr. Peter Attia — Supplements, Blood Tests, and Near-Death Experiences | The Tim Ferriss Show #6510 Jump Rope Benefits | CrossropeRadical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach | AmazonRichard Schwartz — IFS, Psychedelic Experiences without Drugs, and Finding Inner Peace for Our Many Parts | The Tim Ferriss Show #492Internal Family Systems Therapy, Second Edition by Richard C. Schwartz and Martha Sweezy | AmazonHow to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie | AmazonEye of Sauron | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | FandomHow I Built The Tim Ferriss Show to 700+ Million Downloads — An Immersive Explanation of All Aspects and Key Decisions (Featuring Chris Hutchins) | The Tim Ferriss Show #538Scott Adams: The Man Behind Dilbert | The Tim Ferriss Show #106Dilbert by Scott AdamsThe Kristina Talent Stack | Scott Adams SaysHow to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams | AmazonWin Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don’t Matter by Scott Adams | AmazonTim Ferriss | The NerdistTim Ferriss | Joe Rogan ExperienceTim Ferriss | WTF with Marc MaronThe Tim Ferriss Podcast is Live! Here Are Episodes 1 and 2 | The Tim Ferriss ShowMake the Most of Your World | Peace CorpsTeach For AmericaGates and Zuckerberg Aren’t the Only Dropouts Who Became Billionaires | Yahoo! NewsTimeline: Bill Gates | NPRGo the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortés, Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson | AmazonTea Time with Tynan | YouTubeWhat Can a Technologist Do about Climate Change? A Personal View. | Bret VictorEight SleepMichael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics | The Tim Ferriss Show #313How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan | AmazonGraham Duncan — Talent Is the Best Asset Class | The Tim Ferriss Show #362Balaji Srinivasan — Centralized China vs Decentralized World, The DeFi Matrix, Ascending vs Descending Trends, Bitcoin Mining as Energy Storage, Reputational Civil War, and Maximalism vs. Optimalism | The Tim Ferriss Show #547Chris Dixon and Naval Ravikant — The Wonders of Web3, How to Pick the Right Hill to Climb, Finding the Right Amount of Crypto Regulation, Friends with Benefits, and the Untapped Potential of NFTs | The Tim Ferriss Show #542The Random Show — Biohacking, Tim’s COVID Experience, Holiday Gift Ideas, Favorite New Apps, Bad Science, Quarantine Delights, and a Small Dose of NFTs and DAOs | The Tim Ferriss Show #549Modern Finance (MoFi) with Kevin RosePROOF with Kevin RoseIncerto: Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, The Bed of Procrustes, Antifragile, Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb | AmazonStan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond | The Tim Ferriss Show #347Generation 3 | Oura RingLow-Dose Lithium Orotate | AmazonShould We All Take a Bit of Lithium? | The New York TimesCold Shower for Anxiety: Research, Efficacy, and More | HealthlineVision Quest | Prime VideoDan Gable: Competitor SupremeThe Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter Drucker | AmazonGreg McKeown — How to Master Essentialism | The Tim Ferriss Show #355Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown | AmazonChiliSleep OOLER Sleep System | AmazonWhat My Morning Journal Looks Like | Tim FerrissThe Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal: A Companion Volume to the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron | AmazonThe Tail End | Wait But WhyManaging Procrastination, Predicting the Future, and Finding Happiness – Tim Urban | The Tim Ferriss Show #283What About Bob? | Prime VideoSHOW NOTESWhat worked best to help with my plantar fasciitis? [05:27]What breathing exercises do I practice and recommend? [07:20]What did I implement from Andrew Huberman’s advice on sleep? [08:38]If I were to revise The 4-Hour Body, what would I change? Has my opinion changed in regards to keto, intermittent fasting, multi-day fasting, PAGG, et cetera? [12:02]Why did I stop gymnastic strength training? Do I think I’ll revisit it? [13:57]Would I ever have David Goggins on the podcast? [15:31]When I’m learning something new, do I still follow the DS3 method from The 4-Hour Chef? [16:09]A recommendation for rock climbers. [20:01]How has my work with wolf conservation been going? What has been the impact of my support thus far? [20:19]Thoughts about the most important qualities I’d hope to pass on to my children, what I suspect a modern educational curriculum might omit from their lessons, and parental role models I might hope to emulate. [24:34]Outside of psychedelics, what other somatic experience/physical modality has created the largest positive shifts for me? [26:49]What past vacation destinations would I most like to revisit? [32:49]What are one or two of my super long-term goals? [33:15]Congratulations to Matthew W. Johnson for his U01 grant from NIDA to study psilocybin for tobacco addiction! [36:20]There’s been a lot of talk of experiential therapy techniques like psychedelics. Are there any promising research programs using VR gaming for similar results? [38:37]Favorite book from the past year. [41:08]Has moving to Austin made me more reflective? [43:30]Have I ever spent time in any Scandanavian countries? If so, what was my impression? [47:23]When can I get Steve Martin on as a guest? [49:35]How do I maintain the languages I’ve learned? What tip do I most recommend to language learners? [50:11]What principles have I learned from chess that I can use outside of the game? [53:13]Feel like low energy is keeping you from thinking optimally? Here are a few ideas about what might be causing it and what you can do to try and remedy the situation. [55:22]Outside of sleep, what is my biggest force multiplier? [56:23]After undergoing isolation, stress, and trauma, how would I suggest individuals deal with the lingering psychological effects and cognitive biases of the pandemic (heightened scarcity, mindset, risk aversion, et cetera) so they can keep making growth-based decisions as opposed to fear-based ones? [57:52]For people watching this on video, what’s the art behind me? [1:01:47]What advice would I give to someone just getting started in podcasting — not necessarily for making a living, but for creating something worth listening to? [1:02:27]Is college a must? What alternative methods of advanced education could fit into a gap year and be just as valuable? [1:07:16]How am I going to cope with sleepless nights once I become a father? [1:14:00]Do I know Tea Time with Tynan? For that matter, where’s my tea? [1:14:25]What’s my take on global warming? How am I preparing for possible worst case scenarios? [1:14:53]The power of Eight Sleep Pod compels you (to get a restful night of sweet, sweet slumber). [1:15:54]Why am I suddenly hosting these more frequently? What do these sessions bring to me? [1:16:16]Thoughts on psychedelics and their potential effects on people who have experienced psychosis, schizophrenia, et cetera. [1:16:51]Am I still interested in cryptocurrency? (Yes, but make sure to listen to Kevin Rose’s podcasts on the subject [Modern Finance and Proof] because he’s really got his finger on the pulse of that world right now.) [1:20:49]What do I think about Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Incerto series? [1:21:05]Does someone who considers themselves psychologically healthy risk opening Pandora’s box in their subconscious by tampering with psychedelics? [1:22:22]What do I do to pattern interrupt when I notice I’m slipping into a low point? [1:26:10]Do I have plans to engage Congress in federal changes related to psychedelics, or is this a longer-term objective once the science is solid? [1:29:24]What’s my favorite wrestling movie? [1:30:57]What gets most people the most bang for the buck in terms of time management when exceeding 200k annual income? [1:32:44]How has sleep tracking improved my quality of sleep? [1:33:54]Is there anything to which I say “F it” and just proceed willy nilly? Or am I robotically methodical about everything? [1:36:23]When practicing mindfulness and gratitude don’t seem to do the trick, how can you slow down and enjoy life without being so focused on the future? [1:37:44]Parting thoughts. [1:40:21]PEOPLE MENTIONEDLeah LagosAndrew HubermanRay CroniseDominic D’AgostinoPeter AttiaChristopher SommerDavid GogginsDave MacLeodMike PhillipsJason NemerJerzy GregorekAniela GregorekTerry LaughlinRichard M. NixonMatthew W. JohnsonAdam GazzaleyRobin Carhart-HarrisBoyd VartyDennis McKennaTerence McKennaBarry LopezJerry SeinfeldSteve MartinBenny LewisJosh WaitzkinBruce PandolfiniMarcelo GarciaTara BrachRichard SchwartzScott AdamsDonald TrumpJoe RoganMarc MaronKevin RoseBill GatesMark ZuckerbergMichael PollanGraham DuncanNassim Nicholas TalebStan GrofVincent van GoghDan GableJohn SmithPeter DruckerGreg McKeownTim UrbanMatt MullenwegDecember 16, 2021
The Incredible Kyle Maynard — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss (#556)
“I know there are many people who, whether they admit it or not, view disabled people as inferior. We are ‘broken’ in their eyes. We are of no use, no value, and we are just running out the string on life. But I believe that we are all disabled in one way or another, including disabilities of character and personality. My disability just happens to be more visual than some.”
— Kyle Maynard
Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is my job to deconstruct world-class performers to tease out the routines, habits, et cetera that you can apply to your own life.
You’ll get plenty of that in this special episode, which features my interview with Blake Mycoskie from my 2017 TV Show Fear{less}. The “less” is in parentheses because the objective is to teach you to fear less, not to be fearless.
Fear{less} features in-depth, long-form conversations with top performers, focusing on how they’ve overcome fears and made hard decisions, embracing discomfort and thinking big.
It was produced by Wild West Productions, and I worked with them to make both the video and audio available to you for free, my dear listeners. You can find the video of this episode on YouTube.com/TimFerriss, and eventually you’ll be able to see all episodes for free at YouTube.com/TimFerriss.
Spearheaded by actor/producer and past podcast guest Vince Vaughn, Wild West Productions has produced a string of hit movies including The Internship, Couples Retreat, Four Christmases, and The Break-Up.
In 2020, Wild West produced the comedy The Opening Act, starring Jimmy O. Yang and Cedric The Entertainer. In addition to Fear{less}, their television credits include Undeniable with Joe Buck, ESPN’s 30 for 30 episode about the ’85 Bears, and the Netflix animated show F is for Family.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#556: The Incredible Kyle Maynard — Fear{less} with Tim FerrissThis episode is brought to you by “5-Bullet Friday,” my very own email newsletter that every Friday features five bullet points highlighting cool things I’ve found that week, including apps, books, documentaries, gadgets, albums, articles, TV shows, new hacks or tricks, and—of course—all sorts of weird stuff I’ve dug up from around the world.
It’s free, it’s always going to be free, and you can subscribe now at tim.blog/friday.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear another episode with someone who manages to make the seemingly impossible a reality? Listen to my conversation with one-handed concert pianist Nicholas McCarthy in which we discuss proving doubters wrong, working with limitations instead of being obstructed by them, how to manage ego, and much more.
#174: The One-Handed Concert Pianist, Nicholas McCarthySELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Kyle Maynard:Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life by Kyle Maynard | AmazonA Fighting Chance | Prime VideoCongenital Amputation | Encyclopedia of Children’s HealthWalter Reed National Military Medical CenterSNES Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System | AmazonKyle Maynard Climbs Kilimanjaro | VimeoKyle Maynard’s MMA Fight | YouTubeThe Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists by Neil Strauss | AmazonKyle Maynard Football Portrait | WikipediaKyle Maynard Wrestling | YouTubeKeys To The Duck Under Takedown by John Smith | Fanatic WrestlingJap Whizzer Takedown (Jap Throw) | PMA MesaThe Jawbreaker by Kyle Maynard | CrossFit JournalKyle Maynard | National Wrestling Hall of FameKyle Maynard and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | YouTubeKyle Maynard: An Inspiration on the Summit of Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua | Planet MountainKyle Maynard | Speaking.comThe Upanishads | AmazonKyle Maynard and Taking Determination to New Heights | Unbeatable Mind with Mark Divine“And This Is How Kyle Maynard Dies” -Lindsay Maynard | Kyle Maynard, InstagramDualism | Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy‘22 a Day No More’: Marine’s Mission to End Veteran Suicide Goes Viral | 6 ABC PhiladelphiaAmputee Speaks on Resilience | The United States ArmyAmanda Palmer: The Art of Asking | TED 20131,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly | The TechniumThe Map Is Not the Territory | Farnam StreetBaptists: 10 Important Things to Know About The Church Beliefs | Christianity.comMonomyth: Hero’s Journey Project | ORIAS“C” Equals MD, but “D” = Door | Run Ozzie RunThe Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories by Ernest Hemingway | AmazonFollow Your Bliss | Joseph Campbell FoundationSHOW NOTESKyle tells us about his first and last wrestling seasons. [05:48]What is congenital amputation? [08:11]How did Kyle’s upbringing by such supportive parents set him up for success? [08:37]What Kyle’s experience with prosthetics was like as a kindergartner, why he decided to go without them, and how his classmates reacted at the time. [11:33]Growing up, what was Kyle most afraid of — and how did he deal with this fear? [13:12]Knowing the struggles of envisioning a bright future from beneath the shadow of depression, what advice does Kyle have for someone new to the experience of being an amputee? What got him through his own period of self-doubt? [14:47]How did Kyle get started with wrestling? Was he an immediate success? [19:02]A few live demonstrations. [20:45]Does Kyle think he has an unfair advantage in the ring? [23:49]What’s been the most valuable thing Kyle’s taken away from wrestling, and how did he develop the self-awareness to recognize it? [25:28]What drives Kyle to spend sometimes as many as 200 days on the road speaking? [31:24]Who does Kyle consider to be the most inspiring religious or spiritual leader? [32:53]A reminder that, visible or not, we’re all “disabled” in some way — and it doesn’t mean we’re broken. [34:15]What is Kyle’s self-talk whenever he feels like quitting? [35:44]What role has building physical strength played in overcoming mental, emotional, and social challenges for Kyle? [37:31]22 veterans a day are dying by suicide. What advice does Kyle have for someone who has a tendency to isolate themselves and maybe doesn’t know how to ask for help from others? [39:53]Recommended reading, inspiration from the uncaring face of any mountain worth climbing, and two words that carry a lot of mileage in conflict resolution. [42:44]Something Kyle’s changed his mind about in recent years. [45:56]How was Kyle inspired to take on Mount Kilimanjaro, and how did he pull it off? [49:00]What would Kyle’s billboard say? [53:47]Parting thoughts. [54:42]MORE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“I know there are many people who, whether they admit it or not, view disabled people as inferior. We are ‘broken’ in their eyes. We are of no use, no value, and we are just running out the string on life. But I believe that we are all disabled in one way or another, including disabilities of character and personality. My disability just happens to be more visual than some.”
— Kyle Maynard
“How could that guy be so drunk and still stay in his wheelchair?”
— Kyle Maynard
“I used to [say], ‘Oh, never, ever give up.’ Now I’m like, ‘Giving up is super important.’ And you should give up a lot of things a lot quicker. A job that you hate, a relationship that sucks, give it up immediately.”
— Kyle Maynard
“It’s like a mountain. It does not care what race you are, what gender you are, whether you’re in a wheelchair or not. It doesn’t give a shit. Mountain’s like, ‘Zero Fs given.'”
— Kyle Maynard
“We all have our assumptions and beliefs and judgments and it’s just impossible to see somebody else’s perspective with that. And when you look at me or if someone looks at me for the first time, if you haven’t seen the videos and stuff like that, it doesn’t automatically occur to someone like, ‘Oh, that guy’s clearly an MMA fighter or a mountain climber.'”
— Kyle Maynard
“We all walk around as these mental cryptographers, as if the maps that we go and create are reality, are the territory, and they’re not. They’re just maps. And any map that you go and create can get outdated.”
— Kyle Maynard
“If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”
— Joseph Campbell
December 15, 2021
The Liberation of Cosmic Insignificance Therapy
Photo by Benjamin Voros on UnsplashThe book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman (@oliverburkeman) was recently recommended to me by Cal Newport, bestselling author of Deep Work. The first few pages hooked me, and I devoured it over several days, capturing hundreds of Kindle highlights in the process. It’s quite unlike anything I’ve ever read, and one of my favorite chapters is titled “Cosmic Insignificance Therapy.” Even by itself, this chapter left me with a profound sense of calm that lasted several days. It sticks with you.
In short, I loved the book, so my team reached out to Oliver to see if we might be able to share this chapter on the podcast and blog, and here we are.
“Cosmic Insignificance Therapy” is excerpted below with permission from Farrar, Straus and Giroux. If you prefer to listen to this chapter, you can find the audio on The Tim Ferriss Show podcast here. The author, Oliver Burkeman, can be found at OliverBurkeman.com, and you can follow him on Twitter @oliverburkeman.
Enjoy!
The Jungian psychotherapist James Hollis recalls the experience of one of his patients, a successful vice president of a medical instruments company, who was flying over the American Midwest on a business trip, reading a book, when she was accosted by a thought: “I hate my life.” A malaise that had been growing in her for years had crystallized in the understanding that she was spending her days in a way that no longer felt as if it had any meaning. The relish she’d had for her work had drained away, the rewards she’d been pursuing seemed worthless, and now life was a matter of going through the motions, in the fading hope that it somehow all might yet pay off in future happiness.
Perhaps you know how she felt. Not everyone has this kind of sudden epiphany, but many of us know what it is to suspect that there might be richer, fuller, juicier things we could be doing with our four thousand weeks—even when what we’re currently doing with them looks, from the outside, like the definition of success. Or maybe you’re familiar with the experience of returning to your daily routines, following an unusually satisfying weekend in nature or with old friends, and being struck by the thought that more of life should feel that way—that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect the deeply engrossing parts to be more than rare exceptions. The modern world is especially lacking in good responses to such feelings: religion no longer provides the universal ready-made sense of purpose it once did, while consumerism misleads us into seeking meaning where it can’t be found. But the sentiment itself is an ancient one. The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes, among many others, would instantly have recognized the suffering of Hollis’s patient: “Then I considered all that my hands had done, and the toil I had spent in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
It’s deeply unsettling to find yourself doubting the point of what you’re doing with your life. But it isn’t actually a bad thing because it demonstrates that an inner shift has already occurred. You couldn’t entertain such doubts in the first place if you weren’t already occupying a new vantage point on your life—one from which you’d already begun to face the reality that you can’t depend on fulfillment arriving at some distant point in the future, once you’ve gotten your life in order or met the world’s criteria for success, and that instead the matter needs addressing now. To realize midway through a business trip that you hate your life is already to have taken the first step into one you don’t hate—because it means you’ve grasped the fact that these are the weeks that are going to have to be spent doing something worthwhile if your finite life is to mean anything at all. This is a perspective from which you can finally ask the most fundamental question of time management: What would it mean to spend the only time you ever get in a way that truly feels as though you are making it count?
The Great Pause
Sometimes this perceptual jolt affects a whole society at once. I wrote the first draft of this chapter under lockdown in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic, when, amid the grief and anxiety, it became normal to hear people express a sort of bittersweet gratitude for what they were experiencing: that even though they were furloughed and losing sleep about the rent, it was a genuine joy to see more of their children or to rediscover the pleasures of planting flowers or baking bread. The enforced pause in work, school, and socializing put on hold numerous assumptions about how we had to spend our time. It turned out, for example, that many people could perform their jobs adequately without an hour-long commute to a dreary office or remaining at a desk until 6:30 p.m. solely in order to appear hardworking. It also turned out that most of the restaurant meals and takeout coffees I’d grown accustomed to consuming, presumably on the grounds that they enhanced my life, could be forsworn with no feeling of loss (a double-edged revelation, given how many jobs depended on providing them). And it became clear—from the ritual applauding of emergency workers, grocery runs undertaken for housebound neighbors, and many other acts of generosity—that people cared about one another far more than we’d assumed. It was just that before the virus, apparently, we hadn’t had the time to show it.
Things hadn’t changed for the better, obviously. But alongside the devastation that it wrought, the virus changed us for the better, at least temporarily, and at least in certain respects: it helped us perceive more clearly what our pre-lockdown days had been lacking and the trade-offs we’d been making, willingly or otherwise—for example, by pursuing work lives that left no time for neighborliness. A New York writer and director named Julio Vincent Gambuto captured this sense of what I found myself starting to think of as “possibility shock”—the startling understanding that things could be different, on a grand scale, if only we collectively wanted that enough. “What the trauma has shown us,” Gambuto wrote, “cannot be unseen. A carless Los Angeles has clear blue skies, as pollution has simply stopped. In a quiet New York, you can hear the birds chirp in the middle of Madison Avenue. Coyotes have been spotted on the Golden Gate Bridge. These are the postcard images of what the world might be like if we could find a way to have a less deadly effect on the planet.” Of course, the crisis also revealed underfunded healthcare systems, venal politicians, deep racial inequities, and chronic economic insecurity. But these, too, contributed to the feeling that now we were seeing what actually mattered, what demanded our attention—and that on some level we’d known it all along.
When lockdown ended, Gambuto warned, corporations and governments would conspire to make us forget the possibilities we’d glimpsed, by means of shiny new products and services and distracting culture wars, and we’d be so desperate to return to normality that we’d be tempted to comply. Instead, though, we could hold on to the sense of strangeness and make new choices about how we used the hours of our lives:
What happened is inexplicably incredible. It’s the greatest gift ever unwrapped. Not the deaths, not the virus, but The Great Pause. . . . Please don’t recoil from the bright light beaming through the window. I know it hurts your eyes. It hurts mine, too. But the curtain is wide open. . . . The Great American Return to Normal is coming . . . [but] I beg of you: take a deep breath, ignore the deafening noise, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life. This is our chance to define a new version of normal, a rare and truly sacred (yes, sacred) opportunity to get rid of the bullshit and to only bring back what works for us, what makes our lives richer, what makes our kids happier, what makes us truly proud.
The hazard in any such discussion of “what matters most” in life, though, is that it tends to give rise to a kind of paralyzing grandiosity. It starts to feel as though it’s your duty to find something truly consequential to do with your time—to quit your office job to become an aid worker or start a space flight company—or else, if you’re in no position to make such a grand gesture, to conclude that a deeply meaningful life isn’t an option for you. On the level of politics and social change, it becomes tempting to conclude that only the most revolutionary, world-transforming causes are worth fighting for—that it would be meaningless to spend your time, say, caring for an elderly relative with dementia or volunteering at the local community garden while the problems of global warming and income inequality remain unsolved. Among New Age types, this same grandiosity takes the form of the belief that each of us has some cosmically significant Life Purpose that the universe is longing for us to uncover and then to fulfill.
Which is why it’s useful to begin this last stage of our journey with a blunt but unexpectedly liberating truth: that what you do with your life doesn’t matter all that much—and when it comes to how you’re using your finite time, the universe absolutely could not care less.
A Modestly Meaningful Life
The late British philosopher Bryan Magee liked to make the following arresting point. Human civilization is about six thousand years old, and we’re in the habit of thinking of this as a staggeringly long time: a vast duration across which empires rose and fell and historical periods to which we give labels such as “classical antiquity” or “the Middle Ages” succeeded each other in “only-just-moving time—time moving in the sort of way a glacier moves.” But now consider the matter a different way. In every generation, even back when life expectancy was much shorter than it is today, there were always at least a few people who lived to the age of one hundred (or 5,200 weeks). And when each of those people was born, there must have been a few other people alive at the time who had already reached the age of one hundred themselves. So it’s possible to visualize a chain of centenarian lifespans stretching all the way back through history with no spaces in between them: specific people who really lived, and each of whom we could name, if only the historical record were good enough.
Now for the arresting part: by this measure, the golden age of the Egyptian pharaohs—an era that strikes most of us as impossibly remote from our own—took place a scant thirty-five lifetimes ago. Jesus was born about twenty lifetimes ago, and the Renaissance happened seven lifetimes back. A paltry five centenarian lifetimes ago, Henry VIII sat on the English throne. Five! As Magee observed, the number of lives you’d need in order to span the whole of civilization, sixty, was “the number of friends I squeeze into my living room when I have a drinks party.” From this perspective, human history hasn’t unfolded glacially but in the blink of an eye. And it follows, of course, that your own life will have been a minuscule little flicker of near-nothingness in the scheme of things: the merest pinpoint, with two incomprehensibly vast tracts of time, the past and future of the cosmos as a whole, stretching off into the distance on either side.
It’s natural to find such thoughts terrifying. To contemplate “the massive indifference of the universe,” writes Richard Holloway, the former bishop of Edinburgh, can feel “as disorienting as being lost in a dense wood or as frightening as falling overboard into the sea with no-one to know we have gone.” But there’s another angle from which it’s oddly consoling. You might think of it as “cosmic insignificance therapy”: When things all seem too much, what better solace than a reminder that they are, provided you’re willing to zoom out a bit, indistinguishable from nothing at all? The anxieties that clutter the average life—relationship troubles, status rivalries, money worries—shrink instantly down to irrelevance. So do pandemics and presidencies, for that matter: the cosmos carries on regardless, calm and imperturbable. Or to quote the title of a book I once reviewed: The Universe Doesn’t Give a Flying Fuck About You. To remember how little you matter, on a cosmic timescale, can feel like putting down a heavy burden that most of us didn’t realize we were carrying in the first place.
This sense of relief is worth examining a little more closely, though, because it draws attention to the fact that the rest of the time, most of us do go around thinking of ourselves as fairly central to the unfolding of the universe; if we didn’t, it wouldn’t be any relief to be reminded that in reality this isn’t the case. Nor is this a phenomenon confined to megalomaniacs or pathological narcissists, but something much more fundamental to being human: it’s the understandable tendency to judge everything from the perspective you occupy, so that the few thousand weeks for which you happen to be around inevitably come to feel like the linchpin of history to which all prior time was always leading up. These self-centered judgments are part of what psychologists call the “egocentricity bias,” and they make good sense from an evolutionary standpoint. If you had a more realistic sense of your own sheer irrelevance, considered on the timescale of the universe, you’d probably be less motivated to struggle to survive and thereby to propagate your genes.
You might imagine, moreover, that living with such an unrealistic sense of your own historical importance would make life feel more meaningful by investing your every action with a feeling of cosmic significance, however unwarranted. But what actually happens is that this overvaluing of your existence gives rise to an unrealistic definition of what it would mean to use your finite time well. It sets the bar much too high. It suggests that in order to count as having been “well spent,” your life needs to involve deeply impressive accomplishments or that it should have a lasting impact on future generations—or at the very least that it must, in the words of the philosopher Iddo Landau, “transcend the common and the mundane.” Clearly, it can’t just be ordinary: After all, if your life is as significant in the scheme of things as you tend to believe, how could you not feel obliged to do something truly remarkable with it?
This is the mindset of the Silicon Valley tycoon determined to “put a dent in the universe” or the politician fixated on leaving a legacy or the novelist who secretly thinks her work will count for nothing unless it reaches the heights, and the public acclaim, of Leo Tolstoy’s. Less obviously, though, it is also the implicit outlook of those who glumly conclude that their life is ultimately meaningless, and that they’d better stop expecting it to feel otherwise. What they really mean is that they’ve adopted a standard of meaningfulness to which virtually nobody could ever measure up. “We do not disapprove of a chair because it cannot be used to boil water for a nice cup of tea,” Landau points out: a chair just isn’t the kind of thing that ought to have the capacity to boil water, so it isn’t a problem that it doesn’t. And it is likewise “implausible, for almost all people, to demand of themselves that they be a Michelangelo, a Mozart, or an Einstein. . . . There have only been a few dozen such people in the entire history of humanity.” In other words, you almost certainly won’t put a dent in the universe. Indeed, depending on the stringency of your criteria, even Steve Jobs, who coined that phrase, failed to leave such a dent. Perhaps the iPhone will be remembered for more generations than anything you or I will ever accomplish, but from a truly cosmic view, it will soon be forgotten, like everything else.
No wonder it comes as a relief to be reminded of your insignificance: it’s the feeling of realizing that you’d been holding yourself, all this time, to standards you couldn’t reasonably be expected to meet. And this realization isn’t merely calming but liberating, because once you’re no longer burdened by such an unrealistic definition of a “life well spent,” you’re freed to consider the possibility that a far wider variety of things might qualify as meaningful ways to use your finite time. You’re freed, too, to consider the possibility that many of the things you’re already doing with it are more meaningful than you’d supposed—and that until now, you’d subconsciously been devaluing them on the grounds that they weren’t “significant” enough.
From this new perspective, it becomes possible to see that preparing nutritious meals for your children might matter as much as anything could ever matter, even if you won’t be winning any cooking awards; or that your novel’s worth writing if it moves or entertains a handful of your contemporaries, even though you know you’re no Tolstoy; or that virtually any career might be a worthwhile way to spend a working life if it makes things slightly better for those it serves. Furthermore, it means that if what we learn from the experience of the coronavirus pandemic is to become just a little more attuned to the needs of our neighbors, we’ll have learned something valuable as a result of the “Great Pause,” no matter how far off the root-and-branch transformation of society remains.
Cosmic insignificance therapy is an invitation to face the truth about your irrelevance in the grand scheme of things. To embrace it, to whatever extent you can. (Isn’t it hilarious, in hindsight, that you ever imagined things might be otherwise?) Truly doing justice to the astonishing gift of a few thousand weeks isn’t a matter of resolving to “do something remarkable” with them. In fact, it entails precisely the opposite: refusing to hold them to an abstract and over-demanding standard of remarkableness, against which they can only ever be found wanting, and taking them instead on their own terms, dropping back down from godlike fantasies of cosmic significance into the experience of life as it concretely, finitely—and often enough, marvelously—really is.
###
Excerpted from FOUR THOUSAND WEEKS: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Copyright © 2021 by Oliver Burkeman. All rights reserved. Shared with permission.
If you prefer the audio version of this chapter:
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#555: The Liberation of Cosmic Insignificance Therapy — Oliver BurkemanListen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Excerpted with permission from the audiobook of Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, published by Macmillan Audio.
December 14, 2021
Jerry Colonna — How to Reboot Yourself and Feel Unrushed in the New Year (#554)
Illustration via 99designs“What benefit do I get from the conditions I say I don’t want?”
— Jerry Colonna
Jerry Colonna (@jerrycolonna) is the CEO and co-founder of Reboot.io, an executive coaching and leadership development firm dedicated to the notion that better humans make better leaders. For nearly 20 years, he has used the knowledge gained as an investor, an executive, and a board member for more than 100 organizations to help entrepreneurs and others lead with humanity, resilience, and equanimity.
Prior to his career as a coach, he was a partner with JPMorgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase. Previously, he led New York City-based Flatiron Partners, which he founded in 1996 with partner Fred Wilson. Flatiron became one of the nation’s most successful early-stage investment programs. Jerry’s first leadership position, at age 25, was editor-in-chief of InformationWeek magazine. He is the author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up.
Jerry lives in Boulder, Colorado. This is his second appearance on the podcast. His first can be found at tim.blog/jerrycolonna.
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 Wealthfront automated investing, Headspace easy-to-use app with guided meditations, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below.
The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#554: Jerry Colonna — How to Reboot Yourself and Feel Unrushed in the New YearThis episode is brought to you by Headspace! Headspace is your daily dose of mindfulness in the form of guided meditations in an easy-to-use app. Whatever the situation, Headspace can help you feel better. Overwhelmed? Headspace has a 3-minute SOS meditation for you. Need some help falling asleep? Headspace has wind-down sessions their members swear by. And for parents, Headspace even has morning meditations you can do with your kids. Headspace’s approach to mindfulness can reduce stress, improve sleep, boost focus, and increase your overall sense of well-being.
Go to Headspace.com/Tim for a FREE one-month trial with access to Headspace’s full library of meditations for every situation.
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 Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear the last time Jerry was on the show? Listen to our first conversation, in which we discuss being complicit in creating the conditions in life we don’t really want, nagging self-doubt, finding time for self-discovery, confronting the difficulty most of us have with saying “no,” acknowledging compassion from a distance, journaling, guilt versus remorse, and much more.
#373: Jerry Colonna — The Coach with the Spider TattooSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Jerry Colonna:Jerry Colonna — The Coach with the Spider Tattoo | The Tim Ferriss Show #373Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna | AmazonWhat About Bob? | Prime VideoA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Prime VideoThe Difference Between Coaching and Therapy Is Greatly Overstated | Psychology TodayVagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts | AmazonWall Street | Prime VideoRashomon | Prime VideoWhat is Inbox Zero? | WhatIs.comWhat My Morning Journal Looks Like | Tim FerrissShabbat 101 | My Jewish LearningGrand Canyon National Park | US National Park ServiceMeteor Showers Calendar 2022: Dates, Times, and How to See Them | InverseWhat Is Zen Buddhism and How Do You Practice It? | Lion’s RoarBird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott | AmazonRadical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach | AmazonStay on Your Cushion: The Importance of ‘Hot’ and ‘Cool’ Boredom During Meditation | HuffPost LifeFind Your Adventure Here! | Visit GreenlandFutaleufú River Rafting & Kayaking | Whitewater GuidebookNamibia | The CommonwealthThe Power Of A Digital Sabbath | Feld ThoughtsDigital Sabbath in the Time of COVID | Feld ThoughtsAustin, TXSan Francisco Main Library Trying to Address Bathroom Cleanliness Issues | The San Francisco ExaminerOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey | AmazonSome Practical Thoughts on Suicide | Tim FerrissCOVID-19 Is Making America’s Loneliness Epidemic Even Worse | TimeStaying Safe Around Bears | US National Park ServiceTranscendental MeditationSix Months Off: How To Plan, Negotiate, & Take The Break You Need Without Burning Bridges Or Going Broke by Hope Dlugozima, James Scott, and David Sharp | AmazonTo Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O’Donohue | AmazonTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss | AmazonSquid Game | NetflixHow to Cage the Monkey Mind | The Tim Ferriss Show #175Lost by David Wagoner | Poetry MagazineSHOW NOTESWhen there’s not an unchecked global pandemic going on, Jerry has been taking an annual two-month sabbatical for the past 10 years. He tells us about the first one that kicked off this tradition, how it came about, and the inner thoughts that initially tried to talk him out of it. [07:35]A counter to the “Can I afford it?” question someone of any means might ask themself when considering the form their own sabbatical could take. [14:25]What makes a sabbatical work in preparation and practice? [19:34]What kind of rookie sabbatical mistakes did Jerry make early on, and what did they teach him? [23:47]How does Jerry handle email on a sabbatical? [25:56]What happens if there’s a crisis that requires Jerry’s attention when he’s on sabbatical — and how would someone communicate this to him [27:38]Thinking back on past sabbaticals, what factors contribute to emerging fully charged versus least recharged? [29:33]Shooting stars, terrible first drafts, and sabbatical-related epiphanies about productivity. [33:37]How might we reframe and reduce the complexities that keep us from carving out time for sabbaticals so we don’t suffer consequences for neglecting them? [38:44]Explorations of complex structures, DNA versus subroutines, and hot and cold boredom. [45:46]Advice Jerry would have for someone considering a sabbatical who is unsure how to begin untangling themselves from the complexities that keep them busy. [53:58]Thoughts on feelings of loneliness or alienation that a sabbatical might conjure up, and how changing the surroundings and/or company you keep can make all the difference. [57:39]Resources Jerry might suggest to listeners who are considering the possibility of a sabbatical. [1:11:51]Lost by David Wagner. [1:16:44]Parting thoughts. [1:19:57]MORE JERRY COLONNA QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“What benefit do I get from the conditions I say I don’t want?”
— Jerry Colonna
“I was at my most productive when I stopped trying to be productive.”
— Jerry Colonna
“Sabbatical is a time of thinking differently, of considering things differently.”
— Jerry Colonna
“For many of our friends who are in the startup land, the thought of taking a weekend off is as terrifying as my thought of taking two months off. And that’s a problem. That’s a problem that not only affects them physically, it’s a problem that affects them mentally. It’s a problem that actually, I would argue, undermines their leadership capabilities and creates toxic environments.”
— Jerry Colonna
“By law, you have to build into the structure of the business sick time, vacation time, parental leave, all sorts of policies. And then periodically something awful happens, and we say, ‘Okay. Let’s build in some mental health time.’ But it’s always after some sort of horrible event.”
— Jerry Colonna
“A lesson I learned was to not turn the sabbatical into another source of self-criticism.”
— Jerry Colonna
“The number one rule in sabbatical is Sabbath. Rest. Rest. The body needs rest; the mind and heart need rest. That’s the simplest way I can put it for you.”
— Jerry Colonna
Jerry Colonna — How to Take a Two-Month Sabbatical Every Year (#554)
Illustration via 99designs“What benefit do I get from the conditions I say I don’t want?”
— Jerry Colonna
Jerry Colonna (@jerrycolonna) is the CEO and co-founder of Reboot.io, an executive coaching and leadership development firm dedicated to the notion that better humans make better leaders. For nearly 20 years, he has used the knowledge gained as an investor, an executive, and a board member for more than 100 organizations to help entrepreneurs and others lead with humanity, resilience, and equanimity.
Prior to his career as a coach, he was a partner with JPMorgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase. Previously, he led New York City-based Flatiron Partners, which he founded in 1996 with partner Fred Wilson. Flatiron became one of the nation’s most successful early-stage investment programs. Jerry’s first leadership position, at age 25, was editor-in-chief of InformationWeek magazine. He is the author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up.
Jerry lives in Boulder, Colorado. This is his second appearance on the podcast. His first can be found at tim.blog/jerrycolonna.
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 Wealthfront automated investing, Headspace easy-to-use app with guided meditations, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#554: Jerry Colonna — How to Take a Two-Month Sabbatical Every YearThis episode is brought to you by Headspace! Headspace is your daily dose of mindfulness in the form of guided meditations in an easy-to-use app. Whatever the situation, Headspace can help you feel better. Overwhelmed? Headspace has a 3-minute SOS meditation for you. Need some help falling asleep? Headspace has wind-down sessions their members swear by. And for parents, Headspace even has morning meditations you can do with your kids. Headspace’s approach to mindfulness can reduce stress, improve sleep, boost focus, and increase your overall sense of well-being.
Go to Headspace.com/Tim for a FREE one-month trial with access to Headspace’s full library of meditations for every situation.
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 Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.
And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM at checkout.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
Want to hear the last time Jerry was on the show? Listen to our conversation in which we discuss being complicit in creating the conditions in life we don’t really want, nagging self-doubt, finding time for self-discovery, confronting the difficulty most of us have with saying “no,” acknowledging compassion from a distance, journaling, guilt versus remorse, and much more.
#373: Jerry Colonna — The Coach with the Spider TattooSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Jerry Colonna:Jerry Colonna — The Coach with the Spider Tattoo | The Tim Ferriss Show #373Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up by Jerry Colonna | AmazonWhat About Bob? | Prime VideoA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Prime VideoThe Difference Between Coaching and Therapy Is Greatly Overstated | Psychology TodayVagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts | AmazonWall Street | Prime VideoRashomon | Prime VideoWhat is Inbox Zero? | WhatIs.comWhat My Morning Journal Looks Like | Tim FerrissShabbat 101 | My Jewish LearningGrand Canyon National Park | US National Park ServiceMeteor Showers Calendar 2022: Dates, Times, and How to See Them | InverseWhat Is Zen Buddhism and How Do You Practice It? | Lion’s RoarBird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott | AmazonRadical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach | AmazonStay on Your Cushion: The Importance of ‘Hot’ and ‘Cool’ Boredom During Meditation | HuffPost LifeFind Your Adventure Here! | Visit GreenlandFutaleufú River Rafting & Kayaking | Whitewater GuidebookNamibia | The CommonwealthThe Power Of A Digital Sabbath | Feld ThoughtsDigital Sabbath in the Time of COVID | Feld ThoughtsAustin, TXSan Francisco Main Library Trying to Address Bathroom Cleanliness Issues | The San Francisco ExaminerOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey | AmazonSome Practical Thoughts on Suicide | Tim FerrissCOVID-19 Is Making America’s Loneliness Epidemic Even Worse | TimeStaying Safe Around Bears | US National Park ServiceTranscendental MeditationSix Months Off: How To Plan, Negotiate, & Take The Break You Need Without Burning Bridges Or Going Broke by Hope Dlugozima, James Scott, and David Sharp | AmazonTo Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings by John O’Donohue | AmazonTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss | AmazonSquid Game | NetflixHow to Cage the Monkey Mind | The Tim Ferriss Show #175Lost by David Wagoner | Poetry MagazineSHOW NOTESWhen there’s not an unchecked global pandemic going on, Jerry has been taking an annual two-month sabbatical for the past 10 years. He tells us about the first one that kicked off this tradition, how it came about, and the inner thoughts that initially tried to talk him out of it. [07:35]A counter to the “Can I afford it?” question someone of any means might ask themself when considering the form their own sabbatical could take. [14:25]What makes a sabbatical work in preparation and practice? [19:34]What kind of rookie sabbatical mistakes did Jerry make early on, and what did they teach him? [23:47]How does Jerry handle email on a sabbatical? [25:56]What happens if there’s a crisis that requires Jerry’s attention when he’s on sabbatical — and how would someone communicate this to him [27:38]Thinking back on past sabbaticals, what factors contribute to emerging fully charged versus least recharged? [29:33]Shooting stars, terrible first drafts, and sabbatical-related epiphanies about productivity. [33:37]How might we reframe and reduce the complexities that keep us from carving out time for sabbaticals so we don’t suffer consequences for neglecting them? [38:44]Explorations of complex structures, DNA versus subroutines, and hot and cold boredom. [45:46]Advice Jerry would have for someone considering a sabbatical who is unsure how to begin untangling themselves from the complexities that keep them busy. [53:58]Thoughts on feelings of loneliness or alienation that a sabbatical might conjure up, and how changing the surroundings and/or company you keep can make all the difference. [57:39]Resources Jerry might suggest to listeners who are considering the possibility of a sabbatical. [1:11:51]Lost by David Wagner. [1:16:44]Parting thoughts. [1:19:57]MORE JERRY COLONNA QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“What benefit do I get from the conditions I say I don’t want?”
— Jerry Colonna
“I was at my most productive when I stopped trying to be productive.”
— Jerry Colonna
“Sabbatical is a time of thinking differently, of considering things differently.”
— Jerry Colonna
“For many of our friends who are in the startup land, the thought of taking a weekend off is as terrifying as my thought of taking two months off. And that’s a problem. That’s a problem that not only affects them physically, it’s a problem that affects them mentally. It’s a problem that actually, I would argue, undermines their leadership capabilities and creates toxic environments.”
— Jerry Colonna
“By law, you have to build into the structure of the business: sick time, vacation time, parental leave, all sorts of policies. And then periodically, something awful happens, and we say, ‘Okay. Let’s build in some mental health time.’ But it’s always after some sort of horrible event.”
— Jerry Colonna
“A lesson I learned was to not turn the sabbatical into another source of self-criticism.”
— Jerry Colonna
“The number one rule in sabbatical is Sabbath. Rest. Rest. The body needs rest; the mind and heart need rest. That’s the simplest way I can put it for you.”
— Jerry Colonna
The 30 Most Popular Episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show from 2021
The Tim Ferriss Show crossed 700 million downloads this year, and it’s fast approaching 800 million. Doing the podcast has been one of my emotional life rafts and saving graces amidst the madness of 2021, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening.
In case you want to dig in, perhaps after a pumpkin pie or cookie coma, below are the most popular episodes of the year. You can spot some trends.
We used an imperfect methodology—number of downloads one week after publication—but it’s good enough to surface episodes that got people really excited and that quickly spread via word of mouth.
2022 is going to be very big. If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your audio morsels.
Happy holidays to you and yours!
With sincerest thanks,
Tim
Below is the list, in descending order of downloads (i.e., #1 had the most downloads one week after publication):
#4: Dr. Andrew Huberman — A Neurobiologist on Optimizing Sleep, Enhancing Performance, Reducing Anxiety, Increasing Testosterone, and Using the Body to Control the Mind (Episode #521)
#6: Dr. Peter Attia on Longevity Drugs, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the 3 Most Important Levers to Pull (Episode #517)
#7: Katie Haun on the Dark Web, Gangs, Investigating Bitcoin, and the New Magic of “Nifties” (NFTs) (Episode #499)
#8: Jordan Peterson on Rules for Life, Psychedelics, The Bible, and Much More (Episode #502)
#9: The Random Show — Life-Extension Misadventures, Blockchain/Crypto Investing, NFT Experiments, Dogecoin, Zen Buddhism, and Weathering Sharp Elbows (Episode #527)
#10: The Random Show — Bitcoin Pros and Cons, 2021 Resolutions, Fave Books, Lucid Dreaming, Couples Therapy, and More (Episode #493)
#11: Greg McKeown — The Art of Effortless Results, How to Take the Lighter Path, the Joys of Simplicity, and More (Episode #510)
#12: Iconic Therapist Dr. Sue Johnson — How to Improve Sex and Crack the Code of Love (Episode #529)
#14: Sheila Heen of The Harvard Negotiation Project — How to Navigate Hard Conversations, the Subtle Art of Apologizing, and a Powerful 60-Day Challenge (Episode #532)
#15: Chip Wilson — Building Lululemon, the Art of Setting Goals, and the 10 Great Decisions of Your Life (Episode #514)
#16: Diana Chapman — How to Get Unstuck, Do “The Work,” Take Radical Responsibility, and Reduce Drama in Your Life (Episode #536)
#17: Michael Pollan — This Is Your Mind on Plants (Episode #520)
#18: Michael Phelps and Grant Hackett — Two Legends on Competing, Overcoming Adversity, Must-Read Books, and Much More (Episode #494)
#19: Marc Randolph on Building Netflix, Battling Blockbuster, Negotiating with Amazon/Bezos, and Scraping the Barnacles Off the Hull (Episode #496)
#20: Ramit Sethi — How to Play Offense with Money, Plan Bucket Lists, Build a Rich Life with Your Partner, and Take a Powerful $100 Challenge (Episode #524)
#21: Dr. Stefi Cohen — 25 World Records, Power Training, Deadlifting 4.4x Bodyweight, Sports Psychology, Overcoming Pain, and More (Episode #491)
#22: The Random Show — Biohacking, Tim’s COVID Experience, Holiday Gift Ideas, Favorite New Apps, Bad Science, Quarantine Delights, and a Small Dose of NFTs and DAOs (Episode #549)
#23: Steven Pressfield — How to Overcome Self-Sabotage and Resistance, Routines for Little Successes, and The Hero’s Journey vs. The Artist’s Journey (Episode #501)
#24: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway (Episode #531)
#25: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer (Episode #522)
#26: Richard Schwartz — IFS, Psychedelic Experiences without Drugs, and Finding Inner Peace for Our Many Parts (Episode #492)
#27: Paul Conti, MD — How Trauma Works and How to Heal from It (Episode #533)
#28: George Mumford, Mindfulness Coach to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, on Awareness, Compassionate Action, The Dizziness of Freedom, and More (Episode #509)
#29: David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group, on Lessons Learned, Jeff Bezos, Raising Billions of Dollars, Advising Presidents, and Sprinting to the End (Episode #495)
#30: Chris Bosh on How to Reinvent Yourself, The Way and The Power, the Poison of Complaining, Leonardo da Vinci, and More (Episode #515)
P.S. In case you missed it, transcripts for all episodes are available for free at this link, and you can find vetted podcast sponsors at this link.
P.P.S. To stay up to date when new episodes are released, and to receive other goodies, take a few seconds and sign up for my newsletter. It has 1.5M+ subscribers and includes “5-Bullet Friday,” a short email of five bullets sending you off to your weekend with fun and useful things to ponder and try. If you change your mind, it’s easy to unsubscribe.
The Top 30 Episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show from 2021
The Tim Ferriss Show crossed 700 million downloads this year, and it’s fast approaching 800 million. Doing the podcast has been one of my emotional life rafts and saving graces amidst the madness of 2021, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening.
In case you want to dig in, perhaps after a pumpkin pie or cookie coma, below are the most popular episodes of the year. You can spot some trends.
We used an imperfect methodology—number of downloads one week after publication—but it’s good enough to surface episodes that got people really excited and that quickly spread via word of mouth.
2022 is going to be very big. If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your audio morsels.
Happy holidays to you and yours!
With sincerest thanks,
Tim
Below is the list, in descending order of downloads (i.e., #1 had the most downloads one week after publication):
#4: Dr. Andrew Huberman — A Neurobiologist on Optimizing Sleep, Enhancing Performance, Reducing Anxiety, Increasing Testosterone, and Using the Body to Control the Mind (Episode #521)
#6: Dr. Peter Attia on Longevity Drugs, Alzheimer’s Disease, and the 3 Most Important Levers to Pull (Episode #517)
#7: Katie Haun on the Dark Web, Gangs, Investigating Bitcoin, and the New Magic of “Nifties” (NFTs) (Episode #499)
#8: Jordan Peterson on Rules for Life, Psychedelics, The Bible, and Much More (Episode #502)
#9: The Random Show — Life-Extension Misadventures, Blockchain/Crypto Investing, NFT Experiments, Dogecoin, Zen Buddhism, and Weathering Sharp Elbows (Episode #527)
#10: The Random Show — Bitcoin Pros and Cons, 2021 Resolutions, Fave Books, Lucid Dreaming, Couples Therapy, and More (Episode #493)
#11: Greg McKeown — The Art of Effortless Results, How to Take the Lighter Path, the Joys of Simplicity, and More (Episode #510)
#12: Iconic Therapist Dr. Sue Johnson — How to Improve Sex and Crack the Code of Love (Episode #529)
#14: Sheila Heen of The Harvard Negotiation Project — How to Navigate Hard Conversations, the Subtle Art of Apologizing, and a Powerful 60-Day Challenge (Episode #532)
#15: Chip Wilson — Building Lululemon, the Art of Setting Goals, and the 10 Great Decisions of Your Life (Episode #514)
#16: Diana Chapman — How to Get Unstuck, Do “The Work,” Take Radical Responsibility, and Reduce Drama in Your Life (Episode #536)
#17: Michael Pollan — This Is Your Mind on Plants (Episode #520)
#18: Michael Phelps and Grant Hackett — Two Legends on Competing, Overcoming Adversity, Must-Read Books, and Much More (Episode #494)
#19: Marc Randolph on Building Netflix, Battling Blockbuster, Negotiating with Amazon/Bezos, and Scraping the Barnacles Off the Hull (Episode #496)
#20: Ramit Sethi — How to Play Offense with Money, Plan Bucket Lists, Build a Rich Life with Your Partner, and Take a Powerful $100 Challenge (Episode #524)
#21: Dr. Stefi Cohen — 25 World Records, Power Training, Deadlifting 4.4x Bodyweight, Sports Psychology, Overcoming Pain, and More (Episode #491)
#22: The Random Show — Biohacking, Tim’s COVID Experience, Holiday Gift Ideas, Favorite New Apps, Bad Science, Quarantine Delights, and a Small Dose of NFTs and DAOs (Episode #549)
#23: Steven Pressfield — How to Overcome Self-Sabotage and Resistance, Routines for Little Successes, and The Hero’s Journey vs. The Artist’s Journey (Episode #501)
#24: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway (Episode #531)
#25: Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer (Episode #522)
#26: Richard Schwartz — IFS, Psychedelic Experiences without Drugs, and Finding Inner Peace for Our Many Parts (Episode #492)
#27: Paul Conti, MD — How Trauma Works and How to Heal from It (Episode #533)
#28: George Mumford, Mindfulness Coach to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, on Awareness, Compassionate Action, The Dizziness of Freedom, and More (Episode #509)
#29: David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group, on Lessons Learned, Jeff Bezos, Raising Billions of Dollars, Advising Presidents, and Sprinting to the End (Episode #495)
#30: Chris Bosh on How to Reinvent Yourself, The Way and The Power, the Poison of Complaining, Leonardo da Vinci, and More (Episode #515)
P.S. In case you missed it, transcripts for all episodes are available for free at this link, and you can find vetted podcast sponsors at this link.
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December 8, 2021
Jessica Lahey on Parenting, Desirable Difficulties, The Gift of Failure, Self-Efficacy, and The Addiction Inoculation (#553)
Illustration via 99designs“Did you make someone feel seen or heard today?“
— Jessica Lahey
Jessica Lahey (@jesslahey) is the author of the New York Times bestselling book The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Over twenty years, Jessica has taught every grade from sixth to twelfth in both public and private schools and spent five years teaching in a drug and alcohol rehab for adolescents in Vermont. She currently serves as a recovery coach at Sana at Stowe, a medical detox and recovery center in Stowe, Vermont, where 100 percent of her salary goes to a scholarship fund for young adults.
Jessica writes about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Washington Post, New York Times, and The Atlantic, is a book critic for Air Mail, and wrote the educational curriculum for Amazon Kids’ award-winning The Stinky and Dirty Show. She co-hosts the #AmWriting podcast with bestselling authors K.J. Dell’Antonia and Sarina Bowen from her house in Vermont, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and a lot of dogs.
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 Wealthfront automated investing, Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, and BlockFi crypto platform. More on all three below.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#553: Jessica Lahey on Parenting, Desirable Difficulties, The Gift of Failure, Self-Efficacy, and The Addiction InoculationThis 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 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.
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What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
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Want to hear another episode with a writer Jessica and I both admire? Listen to my conversation with award-winning author Mary Karr, in which we discuss curiosity and presence as a solution to fear, the role spirituality plays in maintaining her sobriety as a former atheist, coping with and expressing the aftermath of trauma, what she wished she’d known about therapy when she was younger, and much more.
#479: Mary Karr — The Master of Memoir on Creative Process and Finding Gifts in the SufferingSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Jessica Lahey:Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey | AmazonThe Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence by Jessica Lahey | AmazonThe #AmWriting PodcastSana at StoweThe Stinky and Dirty Show | AmazonHôpital Albert Schweitzer | WikipediaComplete Dune Series by Frank Herbert | AmazonLiving Well Is the Best Revenge | Quote InvestigatorRadiolab: Podcasts | WNYC StudiosBelmont Hill SchoolWhy Parents Need to Let Their Children Fail by Jessica Lahey | The AtlanticDr. Gabor Maté — New Paradigms, Ayahuasca, and Redefining Addiction | The Tim Ferriss Show #298The First Day: A Substance Use Prevention Education FilmIn the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté, MD | AmazonScattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It by Gabor Maté, MD | AmazonPredicting Alcohol Use Disorder Remission: A Longitudinal Multimodal Multi-Featured Machine Learning Approach | Translational PsychiatryKetamine: A Transformational Catalyst | MAPSHamilton Morris on Iboga, 5-MeO-DMT, the Power of Ritual, New Frontiers in Psychedelics, Excellent Problems to Solve, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #511Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia | Prime VideoMichael Pollan — This Is Your Mind on Plants | The Tim Ferriss Show #520How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan | AmazonGuide to Opioid Replacement Therapy | The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol RehabDifferences Between Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation | Verywell MindFlow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | AmazonWhy We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation by Edward L. Deci and Richard Flaste | AmazonDesirable Difficulty | WikipediaMake It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel | AmazonPerceived Threat, Controlling Parenting, and Children’s Achievement Orientations | Motivation and EmotionRole of Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy on Competence: A Conceptual Framework | IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social ScienceThe Hoffman Process | The Hoffman Institute FoundationWhat ACEs/PCEs Do You Have? | ACEs Too HighMaking Hope Happen: Create the Future You Want for Yourself and Others by Shane J. Lopez, Ph.D. | AmazonOn Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft by Stephen King | AmazonHow Stephen King Teaches Writing by Jessica Lahey | The AtlanticThe Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson | AmazonWinter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival by Bernd Heinrich | AmazonSummer World: A Season of Bounty by Bernd Heinrich | AmazonMind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds by Bernd Heinrich | AmazonOwls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl by Jonathan C. Slaght | AmazonMiddlebury Language SchoolsDiving Deeper into Medically Assisted Detox | Beachside RehabDelirium Tremens (DTs) | WikipediaNancy Reagan and the Negative Impact of the ‘Just Say No’ Anti-Drug Campaign | The GuardianFewer Teens Are Drinking. But a Group of Pediatricians Is Begging Parents To Be Vigilant. By Jessica Lahey | the Washington PostThe Effects of Marijuana on Your Memory | Harvard HealthInoculation Theory | WikipediaDay 7 | Armchair ExpertDax Shepard on the Craft of Podcasting, Favorite Books, and Dancing with Your Demons | The Tim Ferriss Show #480Scrivener | Literature & LatteDreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer | AmazonThe OpEd ProjectJulie Lythcott-Haims: How to Raise Successful Kids — Without Over-Parenting | TED TalkHow to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims | AmazonReal American: A Memoir by Julie Lythcott-Haims | AmazonHalf a Life: A Memoir by Darin Strauss | AmazonMary Karr — The Master of Memoir on Creative Process and Finding Gifts in the Suffering | The Tim Ferriss Show #479Little, Big by John Crowley | AmazonThe Book of Two Ways: A Novel by Jodi Picoult | AmazonImage Line FL Studio 20 | AmazonThe 10 Best Free Serum Presets for Music Production | LANDR BlogThe Most Elegant Key Change in All of Pop Music | Adam NeelyElectrojazz + EDM | SungazerBerklee School of MusicIn 1968, Vermont Banned Billboards. Here’s Why. | TwistedSifterAge of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence by Laurence Steinberg | AmazonGirls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape by Peggy Orenstein | AmazonBoys & Sex: Young Men on Hookups, Love, Porn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity by Peggy Orenstein | Amazon16 and Recovering | MTVSHOW NOTESWhy is Jessica fond of Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer’s intention to make his life his argument? [05:21]As someone who’s educated children from grades sixth to 12th, what does Jessica consider the most difficult cohort of students, and what would she change about the structure of when and how this group is commonly instructed? [07:50]What do I like about this particular grade — to the point I once considered specializing in teaching it? [13:29]What was “taking a nap” code for in Jessica’s extended family? [14:54]Why is June 7th, 2013 an important date for Jessica? [17:10]Why it’s important to understand the roots of an addiction if we want to gain control over it. [20:20]Jessica acknowledges the practical application of psychedelics — provided the recipient has a fully-formed adult brain. [23:15]Did Jessica’s commitment to writing a book influence how seriously she took the conversation with her father that changed her life? What most helped her adapt to the changes she knew she had to make in the aftermath? What has she found unhelpful? [24:37]What was the catalyst for The Atlantic article that evolved into The Gift of Failure? What are the book’s main theses? [30:39]Confidence vs. competence when trying to foster a child’s self-esteem. [36:43]How did writing The Gift of Failure affect Jessica’s parenting style? [42:07]Why instilling hope in a child is so crucial to their lifelong well-being. [46:05]What books and activities keep Jessica aligned along the path of hope and optimism? [49:34]What did Jessica find surprising in her research about preventing substance use and abuse in kids? [52:49]What does it look like to be a recovery coach at Sana? What is the format? [55:34]Why did Jessica decide to write Addiction Inoculation? [1:00:16]If “Just say no” is an ineffective script, what are some better ways for parents to guide their children toward making better decisions when they’re exposed to drugs and alcohol? [1:01:18]Advice for parents who get the dreaded phone call that their child has been caught up in non-ideal behavior. [1:06:19]A favorite failure. [1:10:29]Examples of what made Jessica’s “not-to-do” checklist when she was writing her second book, and how she audits her own work for clarity. [1:15:21]Writers whose work Jessica finds deserving of extra attention. [1:21:20]Best investments of time, money, or energy. [1:29:13]What would Jessica’s billboard say (provided she were allowed to post one in her home state)? [1:33:57]Visible quotations and objects on hand that serve to inspire Jessica on a daily basis. [1:35:27]Parting thoughts on the challenges of releasing a book during a pandemic, having (rather than avoiding) difficult conversations, why Jessica thinks I’d be a fantastic ninth-grade teacher, and Jessica’s dream. [1:41:25]MORE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“I decided I would make my life my argument.”
— Albert Schweitzer
“Rigidity is the bane of my existence.”
— Jessica Lahey
“Recovery looks different for different people.”
— Jessica Lahey
“Did you make someone feel seen or heard today?”
— Jessica Lahey
“There is nothing worse than taking a kid who is just figuring the world out and then telling them, at every turn, that their perceptions are inaccurate.”
— Jessica Lahey
“Resourcefulness only comes from having tried something and screwed it up and tried it again and all that, and had support throughout that process with someone who actually believes in your ability to be resourceful.”
— Jessica Lahey
“A lot of what I write about is, ‘We’re not doing this right. Oh, look, I’m not doing this right. How can I do better and learn from it?’ which is super fun and a little humiliating.”
— Jessica Lahey
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.
PEOPLE MENTIONEDKJ Dell’AntoniaSarina BowenTim LaheyAlbert SchweitzerGeorge HerbertFrank HerbertGabor MatéChris HerrenMarc SchuckitHamilton MorrisMichael PollanDaniel PinkEdward L. DeciMihaly CsikszentmihalyiJennie GritzWendy GrolnickMike Maples, Jr.Shane J. LopezBernd HeinrichStephen KingSanchit MarutiDax ShepardBenjamin DreyerJulie Lythcott-HaimsDarin StraussMary KarrJohn CrowleyJodi PicoultAdam NeelyCeline DionPolyphonicLaurence SteinbergHeraclitusPower GirlHarry PotterPeggy OrensteinDecember 2, 2021
TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss (#551)
“Fear really was a motivator, and has been in many different chapters in TOMS. Not because I was afraid of failing as a business, but failing other humans is a much heavier burden to wear.”
— Blake Mycoskie
Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is my job to deconstruct world-class performers to tease out the routines, habits, et cetera that you can apply to your own life.
You’ll get plenty of that in this special episode, which features my interview with Blake Mycoskie from my 2017 TV Show Fear{less}. The “less” is in parentheses because the objective is to teach you to fear less, not to be fearless.
Fear{less} features in-depth, long-form conversations with top performers, focusing on how they’ve overcome fears and made hard decisions, embracing discomfort and thinking big.
It was produced by Wild West Productions, and I worked with them to make both the video and audio available to you for free, my dear listeners. You can find the video of this episode on YouTube.com/TimFerriss, and eventually you’ll be able to see all episodes for free at YouTube.com/TimFerriss.
Spearheaded by actor/producer and past podcast guest Vince Vaughn, Wild West Productions has produced a string of hit movies including The Internship, Couples Retreat, Four Christmases, and The Break-Up.
In 2020, Wild West produced the comedy The Opening Act, starring Jimmy O. Yang and Cedric The Entertainer. In addition to Fear{less}, their television credits include Undeniable with Joe Buck, ESPN’s 30 for 30 episode about the ’85 Bears, and the Netflix animated show F is for Family.
Please enjoy!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube here.
Listen onApple Podcasts[image error]Listen onSpotify[image error]Listen onOvercast#551: TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie — Fear{less} with Tim FerrissThis episode is brought to you by “5-Bullet Friday,” my very own email newsletter that every Friday features five bullet points highlighting cool things I’ve found that week, including apps, books, documentaries, gadgets, albums, articles, TV shows, new hacks or tricks, and—of course—all sorts of weird stuff I’ve dug up from around the world.
It’s free, it’s always going to be free, and you can subscribe now at tim.blog/friday.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
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Want to hear another episode with Blake Mycoskie? Listen to our 2020 conversation in which we discussed the Hoffman Process, Blake’s experiences with plant medicine, conscious uncoupling, Madefor — his new business that helps people learn and sustain positive habits and practices that have the greatest impact on their lives, and much more.
#446: Blake Mycoskie — TOMS, The Hoffman Process, Conscious Uncoupling, and PsychedelicsSELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEConnect with Blake Mycoskie:Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Blake Mycoskie — TOMS, The Hoffman Process, Conscious Uncoupling, and Psychedelics | The Tim Ferriss Show #446Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie | AmazonTOMS ShoesTraining You to Thrive | MadeforButter Busters by Pam Mycoskie | AmazonWorld Changers Shaped Here | SMUIndiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark | Prime VideoStoicism Resources and Recommendations | Tim FerrissMeditations by Marcus Aurelius | AmazonWhat My Morning Journal Looks Like | Tim FerrissOne for One | SMU Daily CampusYellow Pages | WikipediaWit and Wisdom from Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin | AmazonBlake & Paige | The Amazing Race WikiFormer ‘The Amazing Race’ Contestant Blake Mycoskie Announces All-Reality “Reality Central” Televsion Network | Reality TV WorldLosing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson | AmazonDriver’s Ed DirectAn Ode to the Shirtless Abercrombie & Fitch Models | ElleHow I Did It: The TOMS Story by Blake Mycoskie | EntrepreneurSlumdog Millionaire | Prime VideoAmerican Rag CieTOMS Shoes’ Model Is Sell a Pair, Give a Pair Away | Los Angeles TimesThe Lowly Alpargata Steps Forward | The New York TimesCo-Founder Alejo Nitti Talks About the Beginnings of TOMS | YouTubeThe Hilarious Story of How TOMS Shoes Got Into Nordstrom | Inc.The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss | AmazonThích Nhất Hạnh – WikipediaThe Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh | AmazonPour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time by Howard Schultz | AmazonOnward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz and Joanne Gordon | AmazonPeace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh | AmazonLet My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman — Including 10 More Years of Business Unusual by Yvon Chouinard | AmazonSHOW NOTESNotes from the editor: Timestamps will be added shortly.
What is Butter Busters, and how did it help inspire Blake’s entrepreneurial vision at an early age? What backup career was Blake’s time at SMU preparing him for if his professional tennis aspirations didn’t work out? Blake’s favorite philosophers and their works. Blake details his journaling habit and how it started. The origin story of Blake’s first business on the SMU campus, and the sneaky ruse he borrowed from Ben Franklin to drum up customers. It turns out running a full-time business while trying to go to school full-time is hard. So what happened next? How did reality TV change Blake’s life and teach him a valuable, but costly lesson about business? What did Blake do to cope with the depression he experienced after this first big business failure, and how did this roll him into his next venture?The TOMS origin story: how it came about when Blake was trying to take a vacation from business. How did TOMS get its first burst of real publicity, and in what way did this quickly turn into a good news/bad news situation? Shoebags vs. shoeboxes from a retail standpoint. What is Blake’s greatest fear in business? What does failure look like to him? Books Blake can’t live without. If Blake lost everything today, what would he be most thankful for? Why the calendar is king in the Mycoskie household. What Blake’s billboard would say and parting thoughts. MORE GUEST QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW“Fear really was a motivator, and has been in many different chapters in TOMS. Not because I was afraid of failing as a business, but failing other humans is a much heavier burden to wear.”
— Blake Mycoskie
“The calendar is king.”
— Blake Mycoskie
“Carpe diem. That is the mantra that has served me so well. … If I do that, then I’m giving the most I can to what I’ve been given.“
— Blake Mycoskie
“A fortune can be made out of literally your kitchen and a typewriter.”
— Blake Mycoskie
“If there’s one thing that can help get your life on a more positive path, journaling is it.”
— Blake Mycoskie
“I think Indiana Jones is the best job.”
— Blake Mycoskie
