Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 44

Dan Harris on Becoming 10% Happier, Hugging Inner Dragons, Self-Help for Skeptics, Training the Mind, and Much More (#481)

Illustration via 99designs

Seeing clearly the cacophony of your own inner landscape is how you are no longer owned by it.

— Dan Harris

After ABC News anchor Dan Harris (@danbharris) had a nationally televised panic attack on Good Morning America in 2004, he knew he had to make some changes. He found himself on a bizarre adventure to rein in the voice in his head that provoked his on-air freak-out and found a solution in meditation. A lifelong nonbeliever, meditation was something Dan always assumed to be either impossible or useless.

In 2014, Dan published the book 10% Happier, which takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America’s spiritual scene and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives. In 2017, Dan followed up with Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book.

In 2016, Dan launched the 10% Happier company with co-founders Ben Rubin, CEO, and Derek Haswell, VP Product. The company was rebranded to Ten Percent Happier in 2019.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one supplement, Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and Theragun percussive muscle therapy devices. 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


#481: Dan Harris on Becoming 10% Happier, Hugging Inner Dragons, Self-Help for Skeptics, Training the Mind, and Much More
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/30ffdc41-d86a-4edd-b099-8f682c298e76.mp3Download

This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually 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 with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.

This episode is brought to you by Eight Sleep! Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover is the easiest and fastest way to sleep at the perfect temperature. It pairs dynamic cooling and heating with biometric tracking to offer the most advanced (and user-friendly) solution on the market. Simply add the Pod Pro Cover to your current mattress and start sleeping as cool as 55°F or as hot as 110°F. It also splits your bed in half, so your partner can choose a totally different temperature.

And now, my dear listeners—that’s you—can get $250 off the Pod Pro Cover. Simply go to EightSleep.com/Tim or use code TIM. 

This episode is brought to you by Theragun! Theragun is my go-to solution for recovery and restoration. It’s a famous, handheld percussive therapy device that releases your deepest muscle tension. I own two Theraguns, and my girlfriend and I use them every day after workouts and before bed. The all-new Gen 4 Theragun is easy to use and has a proprietary brushless motor that’s surprisingly quiet—about as quiet as an electric toothbrush.

Go to  Theragun.com/Tim  right now and get your Gen 4 Theragun today, starting at only $199.

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 episode I did with mutual friend Jerry Colonna (the coach with the spider tattoo)? 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 Tattoohttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/643ace4c-54ab-4421-bb6d-a8e2c902a144.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Dan Harris:

Website | Podcast | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story by Dan HarrisMeditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book by Dan Harris, Jeffrey Warren, and Carlye AdlerMemento | Prime VideoABC News’ Dan Harris on Ambition, Mindfulness, and Reaching Peace of Mind | Daily StoicYerkes-Dodson Law: How It Correlates to Stress, Anxiety, Performance | HealthlineHow to Handle Coronavirus Anxiety | Special Edition | Ten Percent HappierTim Ferriss, Host of ‘The Tim Ferriss Show,’ Author | Ten Percent HappierInsight Meditation SocietySpirit Rock – An Insight Meditation CenterThe Jewish-Buddhist Encounter | My Jewish LearningWhat is an American JewBu? | The Jerusalem PostRam Dass, Going Home | NetflixBecoming Nobody | Prime VideoBooks by Mark Epstein | AmazonEmotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel GolemanDo the Jews Own Anxiety? | The New York TimesMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | WikipediaThese Go to 11 | This Is Spinal Tap9/11 FAQs | National September 11 Memorial & MuseumReporter’s Notebook: Inside the Taliban | ABC NewsIsrael-Palestine Conflict: The Intifadas, Explained | VoxThe Iraq War | Council on Foreign RelationsIraq: Was it Worth It? | ABC NewsDan’s Panic Attack on Live Television | ABC NewsPanic Attack vs. Anxiety Attack: What’s the Difference? | HealthlineThe Wolf Of Wall Street | Prime VideoThe Pentecostal Church: 10 Things Christians Should Know About the Pentecostal Church | Christianity.comThe Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart TolleThe Secret by Rhonda ByrneJames Arthur Ray’s Cult Retreat Causes Sweat Lodge Deaths | Crime NewsGoing to Pieces without Falling Apart: A Buddhist Perspective on Wholeness by Mark EpsteinBuddhism | Ancient History EncyclopediaDebate: Does God Have a Future? Sam Harris & Michael Shermer vs. Deepak Chopra & Jean Houston | NightlineConscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Annaka HarrisMindfulness Meditation: What It Is and How to Practice | Verywell MindWhat Does Mindfulness Meditation Do to Your Brain? | Scientific American Blog NetworkBuddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen BatchelorHow Did Casper the Friendly Ghost Die? | Mental FlossTranscendental Meditation (TM)Homo Sapiens Sapiens | BritannicaMy Healing Journey After Childhood Abuse (Includes Extensive Resource List) | The Tim Ferriss ShowHuffy BikesFeeling Angry? Try This | The Science of HappinessAwareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality by Anthony de MelloAll You Need Is Love by The BeatlesCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) | Mayo ClinicTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy FerrissTribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Timothy FerrissPsychedelics — Microdosing, Mind-Enhancing Methods, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #377Island by Aldous HuxleyThe Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell by Aldous HuxleyThe Concept of No Self in Buddhism | Tricycle360-Degree Feedback | WikipediaWhy Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert WrightWaking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam HarrisReal Happiness: A 28-Day Program to Realize the Power of Meditation by Sharon SalzbergYou Belong: A Call for Connection by Sebene SelassieThe Overstory: A Novel by Richard PowersCub Scouting | Boy Scouts of AmericaThe Last Waltz | Prime VideoOnce Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band | Prime VideoThe Go-Go’s | ShowtimeBLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky | NetflixNo Direction Home: Bob Dylan | NetflixSong Exploder | NetflixLosing my Religion by R.E.M.Guardians of the Amazon (Full Documentary) | YouTubeNewbury Comics



SHOW NOTES



Dan says his career has been guided by a motto his dad handed down to him: the price of security is insecurity. What has this meant to Dan over the years? [05:59]What is the Yerkes-Dodson law and what does it imply? [09:11]Considering the motto Dan inherited from his father, what mottoes would Dan pass on to his own children that might be a little more helpful in guiding them through their first 20 or 30 years? Here’s motto number one. [11:34]Why do so many Buddhism-oriented meditation and mindfulness teachers come from a Jewish background? Enter: the JewBu. [17:16]What were the years leading up to Dan’s infamous live panic attack on Good Morning America in 2004 like, and what were the primary factors contributing to the event? Did he see it coming, or was it as much of a surprise for him as it was for the rest of the audience? [24:18]After the panic attack, Dan was–against his wishes–assigned to cover faith and spirituality, and this was when he discovered mindfulness meditation, which he credits with correcting his course and changing his life for the better. But was there anything else of value he, the son of atheist scientists, picked up during this time? [33:43]How covering Pentecostalism and meeting Eckhart Tolle set Dan on the path toward discovering meditation. [36:35]How did the next steps of Dan’s journey lead him to Mark Epstein’s Going To Pieces Without Falling Apart–his first real introduction to Buddhism and meditation? [42:34]Ideally, what is the frequency of Dan’s meditation practice, and what does he recommend for a beginner? [47:59]What does Dan with meditation look like compared to Dan without meditation, and how can falling off the wagon from time to time actually be helpful to the practice? [50:57]What kind of meditation does Dan practice? [54:26]The “bicep curl” and my experiences with transcendental meditation. [1:02:24]The biggest revolution in Dan’s own practice. [1:04:48]What is Dan’s relationship with anger? [1:07:25]Before 2010, how would Dan have answered our mutual friend Jerry Colonna’s question: “How am I complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?” Would the answer be different today? [1:12:01]Admitting he hasn’t always been good at prioritizing attention to friendships, would Dan consider himself an introvert? [1:14:47]How did Dan go about writing 10% Happier and find success with it in the already crowded self-help category? Was he aware of how much effort would go into it at the risk of a comparably small reward if it didn’t make its mark? [1:19:52]What book is Dan working on now? [1:27:10]The struggles I’m going through with my own project around surviving childhood abuse, and why Dan hopes I stay the course and get it out into the world. [1:29:48]After witnessing the role religion plays in the lives of many when he himself grew up in a house that didn’t embrace it, in what ways does Dan contemplate his own place in the cosmos? [1:35:39]How are meditation and psychedelics similar? I have some thoughts on Aldous Huxley’s Island and the idea of “gratuitous graces.” [1:38:39]What does the Dan of today think the Dan from three years in the future would have to say about the way he’s spending his time between now and then? Would he be satisfied? [1:42:48]How would Dan’s wife complete this sentence?: “Dan, I’m so proud of you for…” [1:48:25]Books Dan has gifted most to others. [1:52:55]Favorite documentaries? [1:55:58]What is Guardians of the Amazon? [1:57:20]What might Dan’s billboard say? [1:58:46]Parting thoughts. [2:00:58]



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Jay R. HarrisRobert M. YerkesJohn Dillingham DodsonLuana MarquesJoseph GoldsteinJack KornfieldSharon SalzbergSam HarrisSylvia BoorsteinRam DassTimothy LearyMark EpsteinDaniel GolemanTara BrachJon Kabat-ZinnPeter JenningsRobin RobertsCharlie GibsonDiane SawyerNancy Lee HarrisSarah PalinJohn McCainFelicia BibericaEckhart TolleDeepak ChopraJames Arthur RayBianca HarrisAnnaka HarrisStephen BatchelorCasper the Friendly GhostChris CuomoJocelyn K. GleiJerry ColonnaJohann HariAnthony de MelloBarbara WaltersMatt HarrisDebbie MillmanSeth GodinPeter AttiaAldous HuxleyRobert WrightSebene SelassieMartin ScorseseRobbie RobertsonBob Dylan

Dax Shepard on the Craft of Podcasting, Favorite Books, and Dancing with Your Demons (#480)

Illustration via 99designs

Be as kind and forgiving to yourself as you are to the people you love.

— Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard (@daxshepard) is an American actor, writer, director, and podcast host. He is known for his work in the feature films Without a Paddle, Zathura: A Space Adventure, Employee of the Month, Idiocracy, Let’s Go to Prison, Hit and Run, and CHiPs, the last pair of which he also wrote and directed, and the MTV practical joke reality series Punk’d. He is also known for portraying Crosby Braverman in the NBC comedy-drama series Parenthood.

Since 2018, Dax has hosted the juggernaut podcast Armchair Expert , 2018’s most downloaded new podcast on Apple Podcasts, winning “Breakout Podcast” at the 2019 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. His roster of guests includes Kristen Bell, Ashton Kutcher, Alicia Keys, Chelsea Peretti, Sarah Silverman, Conan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, 50 Cent, Jimmy Kimmel, Alanis Morissette, and hundreds more. You can find Armchair Expert on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can also watch the conversation on YouTube.

Brought to you by ButcherBox premium meats delivered to your door, Oura smart ring wearable for personalized sleep and health insights, and Vuori comfortable and durable performance apparel. 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


#480: Dax Shepard on the Craft of Podcasting, Favorite Books, and Dancing With Your Demonshttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/ced909d2-1df2-4244-a70b-b35b65a2d40c.mp3Download

This episode is brought to you by ButcherBox! ButcherBox makes it easy for you to get high-quality, humanely raised meat that you can trust. They deliver delicious, 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef; free-range organic chicken; heritage-breed pork, and wild-caught seafood directly to your door.

For a limited time, new members can get 6 free grass-fed, grass-finished steaks when they go to ButcherBox.com/Tim. That’s 2 New York strips and 4 top sirloin steaks added to your first box for free when you go to ButcherBox.com/Tim. Act quickly! This offer is only good through Cyber Monday, November 30th.

This episode is brought to you by Oura! Oura is the company behind the smart ring that delivers personalized sleep and health insights to help you optimize just about everything. I’ve been using it religiously for at least six months, and I was introduced to it by Dr. Peter Attia. It is the only wearable that I wear on a daily basis.

With advanced sensors, Oura packs state-of-the-art heart rate, heart-rate variability, temperature, activity, and sleep monitoring technology into a convenient, non-invasive ring. It weighs less than 6 grams and focuses on three key insights—sleep, readiness, and activity.

Try it for yourself. The Oura Ring comes in two styles and three colors: Silver, Black, and Matte Black. For $299, you can give or get the gift of health by visiting OuraRing.com.

This episode is brought to you by Vuori clothing! Vuori is a new and fresh perspective on performance apparel. Perfect if you are sick and tired of traditional, old workout gear. Everything is designed for maximum comfort and versatility so that you look and feel as good in everyday life as you do working out.

Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at VuoriClothing.com/Tim. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but you’ll also enjoy free shipping on any US orders over $75 and free returns.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear an episode with a friend Dax and I share? Listen to my most recent conversation with Sam Harris, in which we discuss pandemic coping strategies, taming anxiety, lessons learned about fear, cleaning the “gun” of mindfulness, bad trips, the messiah complex, worthwhile nonprofits, and much more.

#433: Sam Harris on Psychedelics, How to Cope During a Pandemic, Taming Anxiety, and Morehttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/084844f6-7026-43e6-8e4e-2d2fab01f3cd.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Dax Shepard:

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

5-Bullet Friday | Tim FerrissAtul Gawande | Armchair ExpertThe Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul GawandeMaking Sense with Sam Harris PodcastPrehistoric Life During the Pliocene Epoch | ThoughtCo.Inside the Actors Studio | Bravo TVTim Ferriss | WTF with Marc Maron PodcastFresh Air | NPRTim Ferriss Archives | The Joe Rogan ExperienceTim Ferriss | The NerdistDax’s Mom (Laura Labo) | Armchair Expert12 Step Programs for Addiction Recovery | Addiction CenterDr. Vivek Murthy — Former Surgeon General on Combating COVID-19, Loneliness, and More | The Tim Ferriss ShowZathura | Prime VideoDax Shepard Says He Relapsed After 16 Years of Sobriety | VarietyDay 7 | Armchair ExpertIdiocracy | Prime VideoLightlifeThe Big Book | Alcoholics AnonymousUpright Citizens Brigade ComedyDax Shepard’s Biggest Hit Is a Podcast He Records in His Attic | Los Angeles TimesEp 19: Dax Shepard | Inside of You with Michael RosenbaumWhat’s So Special about Mirror Neurons? | Scientific American Blog NetworkKristen Bell | Armchair ExpertJimmy Kimmel | Armchair ExpertBill Gates | Armchair ExpertChanneling Mike Wallace: How to Manage Gotcha Journalism | Public Relations TacticsMy Healing Journey After Childhood Abuse (Includes Extensive Resource List) | The Tim Ferriss ShowDax Shepard Was Molested as a Child | PeopleThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der KolkFrequently Asked Questions | International Dyslexia AssociationDavid and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm GladwellThe Selfish Gene by Richard DawkinsRichard Dawkins | Armchair ExpertCHiPs | Prime VideoNick Kroll | Armchair ExpertDavid Farrier | Armchair ExpertTickled | Prime VideoDark Tourist | Netflix‘Top Gear America’: Dax Shepard, Rob Corddry and Jethro Bovingdon Host | DeadlineThe Howard Stern ShowHillary Clinton’s Full Interview | The Howard Stern ShowInside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates | NetflixMy Favorite MurderRadiolabThis American LifeTitan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron ChernowJohns Hopkins UniversityEradicating Hookworm | The Rockefeller FoundationWhere Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon KrakauerArizona CardinalsGenghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack WeatherfordMongol Warfare | Ancient History EncyclopediaGenghis Khan’s Secrets of Success | History NetGenghis Khan a Prolific Lover, DNA Data Implies | National GeographicTen Other Men Left Genetic Legacies So Huge They Rival Genghis Khan’s | Smithsonian MagazineInside Marlon Brando’s Private Island Resort | NUVOCHiPS (2017) Financial Information | The NumbersParenthood | Prime Video



SHOW NOTES

Note from the editor: Timestamps will be added shortly.

How I’ve lately been putting more effort into the craft of podcasting, in no small part, thanks to Dax’s work, and some other influences that have inspired me to up my game.Why did Dax interview his mom on Armchair Expert, and what were some of his concerns going into the prep phase? How did his approach differ from the way he might have interviewed other guests, and what new insights were revealed — to both of them — in the process?Coping with addiction is one reason Dax wanted to start Armchair Expert. When did he first think of himself as having a problem with substance abuse?Dax found fulfillment especially elusive when he was regularly succumbing to addiction and hating himself for it. Since this realization, what levers do make him happy?After 16 years of sobriety, Dax recently had a relapse — and he chose to go public with the news. What was the psychological process of sharing this lapse with the world, and what did he take away from the experience?How did the relapse happen, and what has Dax changed about his own daily routines to decrease the likelihood of a future relapse?Who is Armchair Expert cohost Monica Padman?What did the planning stages of Armchair Expert look like?How do Monica, producer Rob Holysz, and Dax (and sometimes Dax’s wife Kristen Bell) split responsibilities behind the scenes to make Armchair Expert come together?With so many new podcasts coming out every week to divide the public’s attention, Dax attributes the seemingly unfaltering dominance of Armchair Expert in this space to one thing: vulnerability.Dax addresses a personal vulnerability and how he’s channeled into a superpower: dyslexia.How does Dax believe he’s improved most as an interviewer since the podcast began, and in what ways would he like to keep improving?When he’s worked on so many projects that have consumed years of his life for less-than-stellar results, it was initially confusing to Dax that the runaway success of Armchair Expert came with comparably minimal effort. After some reflection, why does he think this is the case?How does Dax get excited about the process of something a lot of actors dread — the audition — and in what way might we apply his attitude to our own endeavors and become less outcome-dependent?Has the success of Armchair Expert changed what Dax will say yes or no to?Does Dax ever fear straying from whatever it is that seems to make Armchair Expert resonate with his core audience? If so, how does he balance this concern with keeping things fresh and interesting?Desiring to cover the week with more episodes of Armchair Expert and no shortage of eager sponsorships in sight, what’s holding Dax back from diving into such an expansion immediately?Why does Dax hold Howard Stern in such high regard, and what, in Dax’s estimation, makes him such a compelling interviewer? Can we look forward to hearing him as a guest on Armchair Expert?Aside from Howard Stern, who would Dax consider to be a dream guest?What advice would Dax and I give to someone starting a podcast now?Books Dax gifts most.How the heartbreaking failure of his life’s ambition set Dax up for the success and flexible lifestyle he’s enjoyed with Armchair Expert.What would Dax’s billboard say?Parting thoughts.



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Kristen BellAshton KutcherAlicia KeysChelsea PerettiSarah SilvermanConan O’BrienSeth Rogen50 CentJimmy KimmelAlanis MorissetteAtul GawandeSam HarrisTerry GrossLaura LaboHoward SternCharles BukowskiWaylon JenningsMike JudgeMonica PadmanDave Robert Shepard, Sr.Rob HolyszBill GatesMalcolm GladwellRichard DawkinsEddie HaskellNick KrollLena DunhamBill MurrayDavid LettermanSheryl CrowBaba BooeyBarack ObamaRon ChernowJohn D. RockefellerCharlie BrownJon KrakauerPat TillmanAlexander the GreatMarlon BrandoJack Kornfield

Dax Shepard on the Craft of Podcasting, Favorite Books, and Dancing With Your Demons (#480)

Illustration via 99designs

Be as kind and forgiving to yourself as you are to the people you love.

— Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard (@daxshepard) is an American actor, writer, director, and podcast host. He is known for his work in the feature films Without a Paddle, Zathura: A Space Adventure, Employee of the Month, Idiocracy, Let’s Go to Prison, Hit and Run, and CHiPs, the last pair of which he also wrote and directed, and the MTV practical joke reality series Punk’d. He is also known for portraying Crosby Braverman in the NBC comedy-drama series Parenthood.

Since 2018, Dax has hosted the juggernaut podcast Armchair Expert , 2018’s most downloaded new podcast on Apple Podcasts, and winning “Breakout Podcast” at the 2019 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. His roster of guests includes Kristen Bell, Ashton Kutcher, Alicia Keys, Chelsea Peretti, Sarah Silverman, Conan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, 50 Cent, Jimmy Kimmel, Alanis Morissette, and hundreds more. You can find Armchair Expert on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can also watch the conversation on YouTube.

Brought to you by ButcherBox premium meats delivered to your door, Oura smart ring wearable for personalized sleep and health insights, and Vuori comfortable and durable performance apparel. More on all three below.

Listen onApple Podcasts



[image error]Listen onSpotify



[image error]Listen onOvercast


#480: Dax Shepard on the Craft of Podcasting, Favorite Books, and Dancing With Your Demons
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/ced909d2-1df2-4244-a70b-b35b65a2d40c.mp3Download

This episode is brought to you by ButcherBox! ButcherBox makes it easy for you to get high-quality, humanely raised meat that you can trust. They deliver delicious, 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef; free-range organic chicken; heritage-breed pork, and wild-caught seafood directly to your door.

For a limited time, new members can get 6 free grass-fed, grass-finished steaks when they go to ButcherBox.com/Tim. That’s 2 New York strips and 4 top sirloin steaks added to your first box for free when you go to ButcherBox.com/Tim. Act quickly! This offer is only good through Cyber Monday, November 30th.

This episode is brought to you by Oura! Oura is the company behind the smart ring that delivers personalized sleep and health insights to help you optimize just about everything. I’ve been using it religiously for at least six months, and I was introduced to it by Dr. Peter Attia. It is the only wearable that I wear on a daily basis.

With advanced sensors, Oura packs state-of-the-art heart rate, heart-rate variability, temperature, activity, and sleep monitoring technology into a convenient, non-invasive ring. It weighs less than 6 grams and focuses on three key insights—sleep, readiness, and activity.

Try it for yourself. The Oura Ring comes in two styles and three colors: Silver, Black, and Matte Black. For $299, you can give or get the gift of health by visiting OuraRing.com.

This episode is brought to you by Vuori clothing! Vuori is a new and fresh perspective on performance apparel. Perfect if you are sick and tired of traditional, old workout gear. Everything is designed for maximum comfort and versatility so that you look and feel as good in everyday life as you do working out.

Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at VuoriClothing.com/Tim. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but you’ll also enjoy free shipping on any US orders over $75 and free returns.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear an episode with a friend Dax and I share? Listen to my most recent conversation with Sam Harris in which we discuss pandemic coping strategies, taming anxiety, lessons learned about fear, cleaning the “gun” of mindfulness, bad trips, the messiah complex, worthwhile nonprofits, and much more.

#433: Sam Harris on Psychedelics, How to Cope During a Pandemic, Taming Anxiety, and Morehttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/084844f6-7026-43e6-8e4e-2d2fab01f3cd.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Dax Shepard:

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

5-Bullet Friday | Tim FerrissAtul Gawande | Armchair ExpertThe Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul GawandeMaking Sense with Sam Harris PodcastPrehistoric Life During the Pliocene Epoch | ThoughtCo.Inside the Actors Studio | Bravo TVTim Ferriss | WTF with Marc Maron PodcastFresh Air | NPRTim Ferriss Archives | The Joe Rogan ExperienceTim Ferriss | The NerdistDax’s Mom (Laura Labo) | Armchair Expert12 Step Programs for Addiction Recovery | Addiction CenterDr. Vivek Murthy — Former Surgeon General on Combating COVID-19, Loneliness, and More | The Tim Ferriss ShowZathura | Prime VideoDax Shepard Says He Relapsed After 16 Years of Sobriety | VarietyDay 7 | Armchair ExpertIdiocracy | Prime VideoLightlifeThe Big Book | Alcoholics AnonymousUpright Citizens Brigade ComedyDax Shepard’s Biggest Hit Is a Podcast He Records in His Attic | Los Angeles TimesEp 19: Dax Shepard | Inside of You with Michael RosenbaumWhat’s So Special about Mirror Neurons? | Scientific American Blog NetworkKristen Bell | Armchair ExpertJimmy Kimmel | Armchair ExpertBill Gates | Armchair ExpertChanneling Mike Wallace: How to Manage Gotcha Journalism | Public Relations TacticsMy Healing Journey After Childhood Abuse (Includes Extensive Resource List) | The Tim Ferriss ShowDax Shepard Was Molested as a Child | PeopleThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der KolkFrequently Asked Questions | International Dyslexia AssociationDavid and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm GladwellThe Selfish Gene by Richard DawkinsRichard Dawkins | Armchair ExpertCHiPs | Prime VideoNick Kroll | Armchair ExpertDavid Farrier | Armchair ExpertTickled | Prime VideoDark Tourist | Netflix‘Top Gear America’: Dax Shepard, Rob Corddry and Jethro Bovingdon Host | DeadlineThe Howard Stern ShowHillary Clinton’s Full Interview | The Howard Stern ShowInside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates | NetflixMy Favorite MurderRadiolabThis American LifeTitan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron ChernowJohns Hopkins UniversityEradicating Hookworm | The Rockefeller FoundationWhere Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon KrakauerArizona CardinalsGenghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack WeatherfordMongol Warfare | Ancient History EncyclopediaGenghis Khan’s Secrets of Success | History NetGenghis Khan a Prolific Lover, DNA Data Implies | National GeographicTen Other Men Left Genetic Legacies So Huge They Rival Genghis Khan’s | Smithsonian MagazineInside Marlon Brando’s Private Island Resort | NUVOCHiPS (2017) Financial Information | The NumbersParenthood | Prime Video



SHOW NOTES

Note from the editor: Timestamps will be added shortly.

How I’ve lately been putting more effort into the craft of podcasting, in no small part, thanks to Dax’s work, and some other influences that have inspired me to up my game.Why did Dax interview his mom on Armchair Expert, and what were some of his concerns going into the prep phase? How did his approach differ from the way he might have interviewed other guests, and what new insights were revealed — to both of them — in the process?Coping with addiction is one reason Dax wanted to start Armchair Expert. When did he first think of himself as having a problem with substance abuse?Dax found fulfillment especially elusive when he was regularly succumbing to addiction and hating himself for it. Since this realization, what levers do make him happy?After 16 years of sobriety, Dax recently had a relapse — and he chose to go public with the news. What was the psychological process of sharing this lapse with the world, and what did he take away from the experience?How did the relapse happen, and what has Dax changed about his own daily routines to decrease the likelihood of a future relapse?Who is Armchair Expert cohost Monica Padman?What did the planning stages of Armchair Expert look like?How do Monica, producer Rob Holysz, and Dax (and sometimes Dax’s wife Kristen Bell) split responsibilities behind the scenes to make Armchair Expert come together?With so many new podcasts coming out every week to divide the public’s attention, Dax attributes the seemingly unfaltering dominance of Armchair Expert in this space to one thing: vulnerability.Dax addresses a personal vulnerability and how he’s channeled into a superpower: dyslexia.How does Dax believe he’s improved most as an interviewer since the podcast began, and in what ways would he like to keep improving?When he’s worked on so many projects that have consumed years of his life for less-than-stellar results, it was initially confusing to Dax that the runaway success of Armchair Expert came with comparably minimal effort. After some reflection, why does he think this is the case?How does Dax get excited about the process of something a lot of actors dread — the audition — and in what way might we apply his attitude to our own endeavors and become less outcome-dependent?Has the success of Armchair Expert changed what Dax will say yes or no to?Does Dax ever fear straying from whatever it is that seems to make Armchair Expert resonate with his core audience? If so, how does he balance this concern with keeping things fresh and interesting?Desiring to cover the week with more episodes of Armchair Expert and no shortage of eager sponsorships in sight, what’s holding Dax back from diving into such an expansion immediately?Why does Dax hold Howard Stern in such high regard, and what, in Dax’s estimation, makes him such a compelling interviewer? Can we look forward to hearing him as a guest on Armchair Expert?Aside from Howard Stern, who would Dax consider to be a dream guest?What advice would Dax and I give to someone starting a podcast now?Books Dax gifts most.How the heartbreaking failure of his life’s ambition set Dax up for the success and flexible lifestyle he’s enjoyed with Armchair Expert.What would Dax’s billboard say?Parting thoughts.



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Kristen BellAshton KutcherAlicia KeysChelsea PerettiSarah SilvermanConan O’BrienSeth Rogen50 CentJimmy KimmelAlanis MorissetteAtul GawandeSam HarrisTerry GrossLaura LaboHoward SternCharles BukowskiWaylon JenningsMike JudgeMonica PadmanDave Robert Shepard, Sr.Rob HolyszBill GatesMalcolm GladwellRichard DawkinsEddie HaskellNick KrollLena DunhamBill MurrayDavid LettermanSheryl CrowBaba BooeyBarack ObamaRon ChernowJohn D. RockefellerCharlie BrownJon KrakauerPat TillmanAlexander the GreatMarlon BrandoJack Kornfield

Mary Karr — The Master of Memoir on Creative Process and Finding Gifts in the Suffering (#479)

Illustration via 99designs

For me, the solution to fear is curiosity and presence. I can’t be terrified and curious at the same time.

— Mary Karr

Mary Karr (@marykarrlit) is the author of three award-winning, bestselling memoirs: The Liars’ Club, Cherry, and Lit. She is also the author of The Art of Memoir, which lays bare her own process as she breaks down the craft of memoir, and Tropic of Squalor, her latest volume of poetry.

A Guggenheim fellow in poetry, Karr has won Pushcart Prizes for both verse and essays. Other grants include the Whiting Award, PEN/Martha Albrand Award, and a Radcliffe/Bunting Institute Fellowship. Karr is also the Peck Professor of Literature at Syracuse University.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Brought to you by Wealthfront automated and intelligent investment service, ShipStation trusted and comprehensive shipping software, and Helix Sleep premium mattresses. More on all three below.

The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

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#479: Mary Karr — The Master of Memoir on Creative Process and Finding Gifts in the Suffering
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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.

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What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear another episode with a writer who isn’t afraid to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable? Listen to my conversation with Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk, in which we discuss maintaining surface tension in a story, making people faint with words, the therapeutic application of dangerous writing, cross-cultural explorations of mythology, and much more.

#457: Chuck Palahniuk, Author of Fight Club — A Masterclass in Creative Living and Dangerous Writinghttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/7d881d4e-feef-40b5-bd84-0a5ec9224e29.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Mary Karr:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Tropic of Squalor: Poems by Mary KarrThe Liars’ Club: A Memoir by Mary KarrCherry by Mary KarrLit: A Memoir (P.S.) by Mary KarrThe Art of Memoir by Mary KarrNonna (Grandma) | Daily Italian WordsEast Texas Cities, Towns, and Ghost Towns | East Texas Travel GuideRingworm | CDCMemento | Prime VideoWinnie-the-Pooh by A.A. MilneCharlotte’s Web by E.B. WhiteChristianity: Eucharist | BBCThe Riverside Shakespeare by William Shakespeare[in Just-] by E. E. Cummings | Poetry FoundationThe Duty of Newspapers Is to Comfort the Afflicted and to Afflict the Comfortable | Quote InvestigatorTo Comfort The Disturbed, and to Disturb the Comfortable: Onward Children of the Sun by Cesar A. CruzWhen Exactly Did Bansky Say “Art Should Comfort the Disturbed and Disturb the Comfortable?” | RedditMacalester CollegeSyracuse UniversityHow I Teach My Students Not to Trust Their Memories | Mary Karr, the Washington PostDifference Between Eidetic Memory and Photographic Memory | Better HelpThe 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy FerrissThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy FerrissSobriety Coin | WikipediaMary Karr Thought Her Whiting Award Call Was a Prank and Hung Up | Literary HubWhat Are the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius? | Loyola PressThe Jesuit Mission: Seeking God in All Things | Georgetown UniversityElectile Dysfunction: The GOP’s Incredible Shrinking Boehner | SlateUS Results: How Will This Endless Election End? | BBC News99 Questions to Complete Your Examination of Conscience | The Catholic CompanySteve Kornacki and John King Are the Election Coverage MVPs We Need Right Now | For the Win“Most Likely to Secede” | Tim Ferriss, InstagramRifle Build: 7mm Remington Magnum | Guns and AmmoGlock 34 | GlockM&P 45 M2.0 | Smith & WessonThe 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy FerrissSteven Rinella on Hunting (and Why You Should Care), Reconnecting with Nature, Favorite Trips, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #470Boar Hunting with a Knife is Not for the Faint of Heart | Wide Open Spaces‘Lit’ by Mary Karr: The Top 10 Everything of 2009 | TimeRaining Like a Cow Pissing on a Flat Rock | Tony GoffMore Colorful Texas Sayings Than You Can Shake a Stick At | Texas MonthlyIambic Pentameter Made Easy | Shakespeare CoachMary Karr Interview: Boss of Memoir | The WriterOne Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia MarquezMy Healing Journey After Childhood Abuse (Includes Extensive Resource List) | The Tim Ferriss Show #464D-Day: The Allies Invade Europe | The National WWII MuseumBattle of the Bulge | The US ArmyUS Forces Liberate Buchenwald | United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumWhy Is Quitting Smoking So Difficult? The Science Behind Addiction | American Lung AssociationCommencement Address by Poet Mary Karr | Syracuse University News‘Honeydew’ Turns Road Trip into Bizarre, Hallucinatory Backwoods Nightmare | Bloody Disgusting



SHOW NOTES



Mary elaborates on an excellent, real-life illustration of why she became a memoirist sharing her life growing up in what she calls “The Ringworm Belt.” [04:40]What does Mary consider to be the catalyst for expressing herself in the way she does and publishing it to the world? [06:59]On the role that reading played for young Mary. [10:13]What was the feeling that elicited Mary’s desire to become a poet when she was five or six years old — even though she’d never met one? [13:04]“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable” seems to be graffiti artist Banksy’s 21st-century adaptation of the Cesar A. Cruz 1997 poem title “To Comfort The Disturbed, and to Disturb the Comfortable: Onward Children of the Sun,” which was apparently modified from humorist Finley Peter Dunne’s 1902 sarcastic media critique that stated: “Th’ newspaper…comforts th’ afflicted, afflicts th’ comfortable.” [17:07]As a high school dropout, how did Mary weasel her way into college, and what was it about the environment that turned her from someone who got a D in art her senior year to an A student in college? [17:57]How Mary, even after leaving the place where she’d gone through so much trauma, brought the darkness with her wherever she went. [22:22]With up to 1,200 applications submitted for 12 positions, how is it decided who gets into Mary’s hyper-selective graduate seminar at Syracuse University? [26:06]What does the first day of this class look like, and what is it designed to illustrate about the way we process the memories that build our memoirs? [29:10]Another effective, memorable exercise: writing down beautiful pieces of language one might encounter in a commonplace book, and maybe helping others in need keep an eye out for door number three when the first two seem unnecessarily rash. [35:02]Having grown up in an atheistic household, what is the importance and utility of prayer in Mary’s life today? What part did it play in helping her maintain sobriety? [39:09]Now Catholic, what do the Ignatian exercises mean to Mary? How do they help her remain mindful of the everyday experiences for which she’s grateful — like the feeling she gets from seeing Steve Kornacki delivering election updates on MSNBC? [52:28]Obligatory Texas talk about weaponry and hunting. [58:49]In what kind of forge did Mary’s unique wordsmithing come to be? [1:02:24]On rough drafts, the process of revision, and tapping into past memories for storytelling grist. [1:10:22]When dredging up past memories is painful and draining, what does Mary do to cope with it all, and why does writing about it seem to be such a different experience from expressing it in some other way? [1:18:52]At 65, why does Mary feel the happiest she’s ever been, and what advice would she give her younger self about therapy? [1:22:34]What type of therapy has been most effective for Mary (and what’s been the least)? [1:26:04]Mary’s solution to fear, and how getting through an uncomfortable time can be like having a trick knee or trying to quit smoking. [1:30:16]We don’t always recognize the gifts we’re given by suffering through disappointing and difficult times until long after the fact. [1:35:37]What would Mary’s billboard say? [1:44:19]Parting thoughts. [1:45:21]



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Charlie Marie Moore KarrPete KarrWilliam ShakespearePrince HamletRomeo and JulietMacbethRichard IIILady MacbethJanis JoplinMichael JoplinE.E. CummingsBanksyCesar A. CruzFinley Peter DunneColin KaepernickDoonieGeorge SaundersArthur FlowersJuno DiazStanley KunitzDevereux MilburnSteve KornackiSteven RinellaPhil LaMarcheLev GrossmanMark TwainDr. PhilDon DeLilloLeo TolstoyDana SpiottaLecia Karr

How to Survive a Black Hole: Instructions and Other Brilliance from Astrophysicist Janna Levin

Photo by Yong Chuan Tan on Unsplash

This guest post is authored by Janna Levin (@jannalevin), the Tow Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University. Janna has contributed to an understanding of black holes, the cosmology of extra dimensions, and gravitational waves in the shape of spacetime. Janna is also director of sciences at Pioneer Works, a cultural center dedicated to experimentation, education, and production across disciplines, as well as Pioneer Works’ virtual home, The Broadcast.

Janna’s books include How the Universe Got Its Spots, the novel A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, which won the PEN/Bingham Prize, and Black Hole Blues and Other Songs from Outer Space, the inside story on the discovery of the century: the sound of spacetime ringing from the collision of two black holes over a billion years ago. In 2012, she was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a grant awarded to those “who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship.”

What follows is the third chapter from her new book, Black Hole Survival Guide. Accompanying artwork is by Lia Halloran.

Enjoy!

Enter Janna . . .



HORIZON

Light Falls Too

You should appreciate the hazards of encountering a black hole unawares. A black hole is invisible in the absence of any tracers, just darkness against darkness. You may well not realize the threat before your fate is secured. You must carry a powerful light source to reveal in backlight the clandestine black hole, an unilluminated disk, an absence in a bright world.

Light lives in space too and has to follow some path. If you shine a flashlight from your couch, you don’t notice the light beam falling toward the Earth. The lines appear straight. But they’re not perfectly straight. The comparative inflexibility of light’s route through space is attributable to its intrinsic speed. Light only travels at one speed, the speed of light. The free-fall curves for light—launched as light must be, at the cosmic speed limit—are straighter than the curves of slower objects. So the bend that the Earth’s gravity imparts to the path of light is more subtle, straighter, and more difficult to detect. 

The bending of light offered the first test of general relativity. On the twenty-ninth of May, 1919, the Moon eclipsed the Sun to allow a thin ray of light from the Hyades star cluster to fall into Arthur Eddington’s telescopes. With the blinding solar rays occulted, the faint image of Hyades could be collected. But at the time of the eclipse, Hyades was positioned directly behind the Sun from the Earth’s perspective. If light traveled along straight lines, none of the luminosity from Hyades should have made it to the Earth. The cluster would spray its rays in all directions, and those headed toward the Earth would fall into the Sun. If light traveled along the curved paths predicted by relativity, then the Sun would act like a lens and bend an image of Hyades our way.

The Sun was eclipsed in totality only from the point of view of a swatch of the Earth that cut through Brazil at dawn, across the Atlantic Ocean as the Earth turned, and fell off Africa by dusk. From any given vantage point between sunrise and sunset, totality would last less than seven minutes. Barely six months after the end of the First World War, on the small island of Principe off the coast of Africa, Eddington and his team waited out heavy rains and cloud cover until the Sun broke through, the eclipse already under way. Although behind the Sun, the star cluster was visible to their telescopes (glossing over some ambiguities in the data), proving that light did not travel on straight lines around our star, but rather curved ones that deflected the light toward Africa.

Eddington presented his analysis of the resultant photographic plates from the eclipse expedition in Principe, in conjunction with those from his team near the equator in Brazil, and his announcement made headlines, catapulting Einstein’s fame in the English-speaking world. Eddington became the conduit that transmitted these discoveries, discoveries that transcended political animosity and nationalism stirred up by the war. Eddington, unlike some of his compatriots, had no urge to denigrate Einstein’s accomplishments, though he was a citizen of a country so recently a bitter enemy. Einstein was born in Germany, Eddington in England.

Out of the shadow of the war into the shadow of the Moon, they were citizens of the same Earth, and the theory of relativity was heralded as one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

Eddington measured the slight deflection of light’s path around the Sun. Outside every black hole, there is a curve in space so sharp that light can fall around the hole in a circular orbit. You could jet-pack to the location of light’s circular orbit and hover there. You will need to fire engines to resist your fall into the hole. Once there, you could shine a light on your face. Your face will reflect some of the light (if we didn’t reflect light, we’d be invisible) and send the image of your face in a reverse orbit toward the back of your head. You could wait a few tenths of a millisecond for that light to reflect off the back of your head then circle back about and land in your eyes. You could watch your own back.

When you get near enough to a black hole, the curves are sharper and the free fall faster. It becomes harder to stop your fall. You will need a considerable payload of fuel to accelerate you to sufficient speeds. To escape from the Earth, a rocket launched from Cape Canaveral must reach more than 11 kilometers per second.

The escape velocity from the Moon is about 2.5 kilometers per second, the Moon being less substantial than the Earth. The escape velocity from the Sun is more than 600 kilometers per second, the speed of the plumes of plasma able to blow off the hot stellar atmosphere into the solar system in the form of ionized winds.

The nearer you approach a black hole, the faster you need to drive your spacecraft to resist falling. In the emptiness that surrounds a black hole, you can get closer and closer to the center until you hit a proximity outside the hole at which no amount of jet thrusters is sufficient to reverse your decline. You would need to reach a velocity greater than the speed of light to escape, a speed of almost 300,000 kilometers per second. And since nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, you would fail to escape. Extrication impossible, you plunge irrevocably.

That special location where the escape velocity climbs to the speed of light defines the infamous event horizon: “The region beyond which not even light can escape.” I’m using unattributed quotes because everyone seems to use that exact sentence. We all say it at some point in our lives: “The region beyond which not even light can escape.” I said almost these exact words at the opening of this guide.

Light shining from the precise location of the event horizon seems to hover there, traveling at its fixed speed and still unable to escape, a fish swimming against an insurmountable waterfall of space. Knock the light slightly and it loses the battle, falling down the hole. 

The event horizon is the extent of the black hole’s shadow. Anything that crosses the event horizon is forever lost to the outside. From the exterior, the black hole is dark. It is black. It’s a black hole. If you were to fall through that shadow, you’d find no physical, material surface. You’d just plummet in the dark emptiness, the moment of transition unspectacular, as unspectacular as stepping into the shadow of a tree. 

The essence of a black hole is the event horizon, the severe demarcation between events and their causal relationships. Events interior to the horizon can have no effect on the outside, can tolerate no transmission of any kind to the exterior of the horizon, although the reverse is not the case. Happenings outside the horizon can be transmitted to the interior. The world beyond the black hole can have consequences for the world within. The black hole is thoroughly opaque from the outside, utterly transparent from the inside.

Should the choice arise, you are advised to fall into as big a black hole as possible. If you are very small compared to the black hole, you will hardly notice that the horizon is curved, like you hardly notice that the Earth’s surface is curved. If you stood on a basketball, the curvature under your feet is more noticeable than the curvature of the entire Earth. The bigger the black hole, the less you’ll notice. Your feet and your head could more or less fall in unison. You’d find yourself compromised if the hole was so small that your feet fall across the horizon along their own path that diverges from that of your head. Your connective tissue would have to resist the fall of your feet away from your crown and eventually the ligaments would fail and rip and the consequences would be pretty gruesome. But traverse the event horizon of a big black hole, no problem.

So you could survive the fall across the shadow, although you’d never find your way out again. And once inside the black hole you will eventually get pulverized, a caution we’ll detail later. 

If you fall close to the center of the Sun, you could in principle escape the gravitational pull, but you’d be incinerated in the nuclear furnace of the core, a scenario that concludes with equally emphatic finality. At least you can get a million kilometers closer to the center of a black hole and live, in principle. 

Your ruination inside a black hole the mass of the Sun typically takes less than microseconds. You could prolong your life expectancy to as much as a year in a black hole trillions of times more massive. You should aim for a bigger black hole if you intend to survive long enough to reflect on your experience. You may not want to prolong your demise if you cannot tolerate the existential dread, the gnawing suspicions, the cogent predictions about your unstoppable departure from this adventure.

If you find yourself approaching an utterly dark shadow, visible only in contrast to a bright background of light, beware. Avoid at all costs. Maintain a safe distance. If you get too close you will need all the fuel in the universe to escape, and that will not be enough. It will be hard to assess if the shadow is small and nearby or big and far away. If you do cross the shadow, you will be the first human to be dismembered by spacetime and obliterated near the infamous singularity, prophesized to be an actual hole in the center of the black hole, a tear in the fabric of spacetime that leads nowhere.

Take solace in your observations, but they will be yours alone. None of your transmissions will make it out of the hole to home. All documentation of your demise will follow you into oblivion.

###

Did you enjoy this chapter? Check out  the rest of the book here .

Excerpted from  Black Hole Survival Guide  by Janna Levin. Copyright © 2020 by Janna Levin. Excerpted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Scott Kelly — Lessons Learned from 500+ Days in Space, Life-Changing Books, and The Art of Making Hard Choices (#478)

Illustration via 99designs

If the Earth was flat, wouldn’t the edge be the most popular tourist attraction on Earth? I would just go set up a taco truck and make a billion dollars with my edge-of-the-Earth tacos.

— Scott Kelly

Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut, and a retired US Navy captain. A veteran of four space flights, Scott commanded the International Space Station (ISS) on three expeditions and was a member of the yearlong mission aboard the ISS, the single longest space mission by an American astronaut. In October 2015, he set the American record for the total accumulated number of days spent in space.

Go for Launch: How to Dream, Lead, and Achieve is Scott’s two-hour audio course available exclusively on Knowable. In this candid and entertaining audio course, Scott shares instructive stories from his childhood in New Jersey, his days as a US Navy test pilot, and his year hurtling around the globe at 17,500 mph and teaches hard-earned lessons on perseverance, personal motivation, and the human side of success, drawn from his experiences in the most competitive, extreme environments imaginable. You can find it now at knowable.fyi/scott.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Brought to you by Rokform rugged cases for iPhone and Galaxy, Athletic Greens all-in-one supplement, and 99designs global creative platform. More on all three below.

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#478: Scott Kelly — Lessons Learned from 500+ Days in Space, Life-Changing Books, and The Art of Making Hard Choices
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This episode is brought to you by Rokform! Rokform is the active lifestyle iPhone and Galaxy protective case company. Their protection is beyond great, with thousands of 5-star reviews and customer testimonials—or “Survival Stories” as Rokform calls them—that include a drop from the upper deck of a baseball stadium and a 75-foot cellphone tower fall.

Rokform’s rugged cases have been called the Swiss Army Knives of phone cases due to a versatile design that allows you to use your iPhone or Galaxy phone in ways you never thought possible. Each case is built around an integrated magnet that is completely safe for your phone. The magnet allows you to instantly attach your device to any magnetic surface—toolboxes, file cabinets, refrigerators, golf carts, you name it. The Tim Ferriss Show listeners — that’s you! — get 25% off at Rokform.com when you use promo code TIM.

This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually 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 with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.

This episode is brought to you by 99designs, the global creative platform that makes it easy for designers and clients to work together to create designs they love. Its creative process has become the go-to solution for businesses, agencies, and individuals, and I have used it for years to help with display advertising and illustrations and to rapid-prototype the cover for The Tao of Seneca. Whether your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99designs.

You can work with multiple designers at once to get a bunch of different ideas or hire the perfect designer for your project based on their style and industry specialization. It’s simple to review concepts and leave feedback so you’ll end up with a design that you’re happy with. Click this link and get $20 off plus a $99 upgrade.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

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Want to hear another episode with someone who has a fascination with space? Listen to my conversation with Columbia physics and astronomy professor Janna Levin, in which we discuss youthful indiscretion, omnivorous reading, Möbius strips, philosophy 101, UFOs, and much more.

#445: Janna Levin on Extra Dimensions, Time Travel, and How to Overcome Boots in the Facehttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/6c86cddb-7d41-471c-a58a-20bafc7ef516.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Scott Kelly:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Go For Launch: How to Dream, Lead, and Achieve by Scott Kelly | KnowableEndurance: My Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott KellyInternational Space Station | NASASpace Shuttle Overview: Endeavour (OV-105) | NASAJuly 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind | NASAWhat is ADHD? | CDCThe Right Stuff by Tom WolfeSUNY Maritime CollegeBUD/S Warning Order | Military.comWhy the F-14 Tomcat Is Such a Badass Plane | Popular MechanicsEndurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred LansingThe Old Man and The Sea by Ernest HemingwayThe Good Earth by Pearl S. BuckBecoming Scientifically Literate | NSTA10 Easy Ways You Can Tell for Yourself That the Earth Is Not Flat | Popular ScienceSteph Curry Tells Former Astronaut Scott Kelly Moon-Landing Comment Was ‘Made in Jest’ | SpaceHow to Talk to Conspiracy Theorists—and Still Be Kind | MIT Technology ReviewBillionaire Space Race | WikipediaAstronaut Scott Kelly: “It’s Political Science, Not Rocket Science” That’s Keeping Humans from Going to Mars | Sharp MagazineMeasuring Return on Investment for Government Programs and Agencies | NASAScience, Technology, Engineering, and Math, Including Computer Science | US Department of EducationEvery White Guy on Facebook Is an Epidemiologist Now | Mother Jones



SHOW NOTES

Note from the editor: Timestamps will be added shortly.

Lesson excerpt: the smartest person on the mission.Scott tells us how his mom was breaking boundaries right here on Earth in West Orange, New Jersey during the 1960s, and how it inspired his brother and him to aim high (really high!) with their own ambitions.Many astronauts come from an elite pool of overachievers, but as someone who graduated from high school among the lower half of his peers, Scott was atypical in this respect. What catalyzed his course correction?Self-describing as “a below-average guy performing at an above-average level,” how did Scott find the right approach to sustaining the momentum necessary to succeed?How did Scott begin to put his plans in action, and what did his twin brother Mark — who also went on to become an astronaut and a senator — do to nudge further correction to a course that might have otherwise faltered when there was a choice to be made between going to a frat party and studying for a calculus test?Can Scott point to any failures that set him up for later success?Incidentally, how does flying an F-14 Tomcat differ from flying a space shuttle?What books has Scott most gifted to others?On scientific literacy, taco trucks, and how someone might develop a larger capacity to separate fact from fiction.What would it really take to expand humanity’s presence beyond Earth to — for example — Mars, and why is it important even if it shouldn’t be seen as a “plan b” for our collective future should we fail in the stewardship of Earth?Why did Scott produce Go For Launch on Knowable, and what does he hope people will take away from it?What would Scott’s billboard say?In space, no one can hear you cry.Parting thoughts.



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Gabby GiffordsMark KellyPatricia McAvoy KellyRichard KellyNeil ArmstrongTom WolfePete ConradJerzy GregorekTom BradyLarry PageAlfred LansingErnest ShackletonErnest HemingwayPearl S. BuckWang LungSteph CurryElon MuskJeff BezosChris PaulAlexis OhanianGalileo GalileiIsaac Newton

Yuval Noah Harari on The Story of Sapiens, Forging the Skill of Awareness, and The Power of Disguised Books (#477)

Illustration via 99designs

“As a species, we are very good in acquiring more power, but we are not good at all in translating power into happiness.”

— Yuval Noah Harari

Prof. Yuval Noah Harari (@harari_yuval) is a historian and bestselling author who is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. His popular books—Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century— have sold 27.5 million copies in 60 languages. They have been recommended by Barack Obama, Chris Evans, Janelle Monáe, Bill Gates, and many others. The Guardian has credited Sapiens with revolutionizing the nonfiction market and popularizing “brainy books.”

He is also behind Sapiens: A Graphic History, a new graphic novel series in collaboration with comics artists David Vandermeulen (co-writer) and Daniel Casanave (illustrator). This beautifully illustrated series is a radical reworking of his book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. The series will be published in four volumes starting in fall 2020 with Volume 1, The Birth of Humankind, which is out now.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with ~700M users, Pique Tea high-end, instant tea crystals (pu’er, etc.), and Allform premium, modular furniture. 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


#477: Yuval Noah Harari on The Story of Sapiens, The Power of Awareness, and The Brilliance of Bone-Conduction Headphoneshttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/8b6371e7-0cc0-44f5-bff3-392c39e18f37.mp3Download

This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Whether you are looking to hire now for a critical role or thinking about needs that you may have in the future, LinkedIn Jobs can help. LinkedIn screens candidates for the hard and soft skills you’re looking for and puts your job in front of candidates looking for job opportunities that match what you have to offer.

Using LinkedIn’s active community of more than 690 million professionals worldwide, LinkedIn Jobs can help you find and hire the right person faster. When your business is ready to make that next hire, find the right person with LinkedIn Jobs. You can pay what you want and get $50 off your first job. Just visit LinkedIn.com/Tim.

This episode is brought to you by Pique Tea! I first learned about Pique through my friends Dr. Peter Attia and Kevin Rose, and now Pique’s fermented pu’er tea crystals have become my daily go-to. I often kickstart my mornings with their Pu’er Green Tea and Pu’er Black Tea, and I alternate between the two. Their crystals are cold-extracted, using only wild-harvested leaves from 250-year-old tea trees. Plus, they triple toxin screen for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic mold—contaminants commonly found in tea. I also use the crystals for iced tea, which saves a ton of time and hassle.

Pique is offering 15% off of their pu’er teas for the first time ever, exclusively to my listeners. Simply visit PiqueTea.com/Tim, and the discount will be automatically applied. They also offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so your purchase is completely risk free. Just go to PiqueTea.com/Tim to learn more.

This episode is brought to you by Allform! If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about Helix Sleep mattresses, which I’ve been using since 2017. They just launched a new company called Allform, and they’re making premium, customizable sofas and chairs shipped right to your door—at a fraction of the cost of traditional stores. You can pick your fabric (and they’re all spill, stain, and scratch resistant), the sofa color, the color of the legs, and the sofa size and shape to make sure it’s perfect for you and your home.

Allform arrives in just 3–7 days, and you can assemble it yourself in a few minutes—no tools needed. To find your perfect sofa, check out Allform.com/Tim. Allform is offering 20% off all orders to you, my dear listeners, at Allform.com/Tim.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear another episode with someone who lives to share their fascination with history? Listen to my conversation with Hardcore History‘s own Dan Carlin in which we discuss finding one’s ‘radio’ voice, podcasting as a full-time job, the upsides of masochism, touchy subjects to avoid, creativity, and much more.

#20: Dan Carlin - Hardcore History, Building Podcasts, Creativity, and Morehttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/96475272-ad10-4e7c-9e00-3399acc5cbd4.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Yuval Noah Harari:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind (Vol. 1) by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel CasanaveSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah HarariHomo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah HarariHow the ‘Brainy’ Book Became a Publishing Phenomenon | The GuardianKibbutz and Moshav | Israel Ministry of Foreign AffairsTribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim FerrissWhat is Vipassana Meditation? | Dhamma.orgTranscendental Meditation (TM)How to Practice Mindfulness Meditation | MindfulUniversity of OxfordFrom Animals into Gods: A Brief History of Humankind by Harari Yuval NoahThe Deborah Harris Agency | JerusalemThe Hebrew University of JerusalemZero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake MastersBuddhist Researchers Seek to Reveal Link between Heart, Mind | Lion’s RoarStone Age Economics by Marshall SahlinsYuval Noah Harari Gives the Really Big Picture | The New YorkerMoney Isn’t the Root of All Evil | The Simple DollarTech CEOs Are in Love with Their Principal Doomsayer | The New York TimesSources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity by Charles TaylorBrave New World by Aldous Huxley1984 by George OrwellThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana ZuboffFINIS Duo Underwater Bone Conduction MP3 PlayerThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Audiobook Narrated by Stephen Fry)Black Mirror Season 3, Episode 4: “San Junipero” Is the Show’s Most Beautiful, Most Hopeful Episode Yet | Vox‘Black Mirror’ Recap: ‘Nosedive’ Is a Sharp Satire About Social Media | The AtlanticA ‘Black Mirror’ Episode Predicted the 2016 Election and the Similarities Are Eerie | BustleChina’s Chilling ‘Social Credit System’ Is Straight Out of Dystopian Sci-Fi, and It’s Already Switched On | Science AlertHer | Prime VideoExhalation by Ted ChiangStories of Your Life and Others by Ted ChiangArrival | Prime VideoThe Turing Test | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyPopulation Reconstructions for Humans and Megafauna Suggest Mixed Causes for North American Pleistocene Extinctions | Nature CommunicationsFossil DNA Reveals New Twists in Modern Human Origins | Quanta MagazineThe Impossible Task of Remembering the Nanking Massacre | The Atlantic‘Humans Were Not Centre Stage’: How Ancient Cave Art Puts Us in Our Place | The Guardian20 Things You Didn’t Know About … Neanderthals | Discover MagazineThe Sandman Box Set by Neil GaimanSapienshipHow Did Shark Attack Hysteria Originate in the US? | AccuWeatherNuclear War Makes a Comeback | Sierra ClubThe Climate Crisis – A Race We Can Win | United NationsTechnology Outlook 2020: A New Breed of Disruption | Chief ExecutiveWe Could Resurrect the Woolly Mammoth. Here’s How. | National GeographicIsland by Aldous Huxley



SHOW NOTES



Does Yuval live on a moshav, or is this just another example of the Wikipedia echo effect? [06:34]Yuval practices vipassana meditation for two hours every day and takes an annual meditation retreat for a month or two. But how did this dedication to the practice begin? [07:39]Six months after this first experience with vipassana meditation, what changed for Yuval? [12:21]How did Sapiens evolve from Yuval’s history lectures at Hebrew University to a sleepy Amazon self-publication of 2,000 to a worldwide sensation published in 60 languages to an audience of over 20 million (and counting)? [14:45]What are the advantages to developing a book from lecture notes (as Peter Thiel and Blake Masters also did for Zero to One)? [18:53]How did Yuval come to be so cognizant of suffering, and in what ways does he see it fitting into the larger picture of human history? [21:16]On the test of suffering as a way to sort the real from the imaginary stories we collectively tell ourselves. [26:15]Why money, from antiquity to the modern day, is really a story about trust. [31:20]In what ways has life changed for Yuval since his unexpected elevation to fame as a bestselling author, and how does it compare to what it might have been like if he’d remained an obscure medieval history professor? [35:40]If Yuval were superhuman, what would be his superpower — and why? [38:57]What kind of advice can Yuval’s close friends rely on him to give? [41:23]What would Yuval’s friends say is his superpower? [43:27]How does Yuval relate to happiness and how it contrasts with suffering and misery? [44:46]Has Yuval made any decisions or adopted any frameworks that have helped him preserve some modicum of personal space and privacy? [47:15]Thinkers and writers from history who have influenced Yuval. [51:01]Why art moves us most when it expresses externally the inner feelings and thoughts for which we have no vocabulary — and should serve as a reminder that it’s unfair to expect others to understand us fully when we don’t necessarily understand ourselves fully. [52:41]On Brave New World, 1984, and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as philosophy, and how Yuval listens to audiobooks while swimming. [55:42]Is Black Mirror philosophy or prophecy? [1:02:23]Why Yuval thinks the movie Her raises more interesting philosophical questions about the future of AI than, say, The Terminator. [1:04:05]Does Yuval think we’re close to the point where AI will demonstrate the difficulties posed by the word “understand” and the concept of understanding? [1:08:06]How and why did Yuval decide to take Sapiens into the realm of the graphic novel with Sapiens: A Graphic History, and how has it allowed him and his co-conspirators (David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave) to rethink and teach history in an unconventional way? [1:10:40]How did Yuval and his team balance scientific objectivity with political correctness when bringing Sapiens into a visual format? [1:16:03]Sapiens: A Graphic History will eventually be a four-volume set. How soon can we expect to see the next three, what does the creation process look like, and what do Yuval, David, and Daniel hope the world will take away from the series? [1:22:50]What is Yuval’s mission statement? [1:24:29]What does Yuval see as the most important global problems facing humanity right now, and where does he see humanity going in the next two centuries? [1:26:40]Of our possible fates, which worries Yuval the most? [1:34:12]When reflecting on the darker aspects of past, present, and potential future, what keeps Yuval going? [1:35:56]Parting thoughts. [1:38:01]



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Barack ObamaChris EvansBill GatesDavid VandermeulenDaniel CasanaveS.N. GoenkaItzik YahavDeborah HarrisPeter ThielBlake MastersRichard FeynmanGautama BuddhaWoody AllenMarcus AureliusCharles TaylorAldous HuxleyShoshana ZuboffStephen FryZaphod BeeblebroxDonald TrumpTed ChiangAlan TuringSherlock HolmesAgatha ChristieWinston ChurchillAdolf HitlerJoseph Stalin

Yuval Noah Harari on The Story of Sapiens, The Power of Awareness, and The Brilliance of Bone-Conduction Headphones (#477)

Illustration via 99designs

“As a species, we are very good in acquiring more power, but we are not good at all in translating power into happiness.”

— Yuval Noah Harari

Prof. Yuval Noah Harari (@harari_yuval) is a historian and bestselling author who is considered one of the world’s most influential public intellectuals today. His popular books—Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century— have sold 27.5 million copies in 60 languages. They have been recommended by Barack Obama, Chris Evans, Janelle Monáe, Bill Gates, and many others. The Guardian has credited Sapiens with revolutionizing the nonfiction market and popularizing “brainy books.”

He is also behind Sapiens: A Graphic History, a new graphic novel series in collaboration with comics artists David Vandermeulen (co-writer) and Daniel Casanave (illustrator). This beautifully illustrated series is a radical reworking of his book Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. The series will be published in four volumes starting in fall 2020 with Volume 1, The Birth of Humankind, which is out now.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with ~700M users, Pique Tea high-end, instant tea crystals (pu’er, etc.), and Allform premium, modular furniture. More on all three below.

Listen onApple Podcasts



[image error]Listen onSpotify



[image error]Listen onOvercast


#477: Yuval Noah Harari on The Story of Sapiens, The Power of Awareness, and The Brilliance of Bone-Conduction Headphones
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/8b6371e7-0cc0-44f5-bff3-392c39e18f37.mp3Download

This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Whether you are looking to hire now for a critical role or thinking about needs that you may have in the future, LinkedIn Jobs can help. LinkedIn screens candidates for the hard and soft skills you’re looking for and puts your job in front of candidates looking for job opportunities that match what you have to offer.

Using LinkedIn’s active community of more than 690 million professionals worldwide, LinkedIn Jobs can help you find and hire the right person faster. When your business is ready to make that next hire, find the right person with LinkedIn Jobs. You can pay what you want and get $50 off your first job. Just visit LinkedIn.com/Tim.

This episode is brought to you by Pique Tea! I first learned about Pique through my friends Dr. Peter Attia and Kevin Rose, and now Pique’s fermented pu’er tea crystals have become my daily go-to. I often kickstart my mornings with their Pu’er Green Tea and Pu’er Black Tea, and I alternate between the two. Their crystals are cold-extracted, using only wild-harvested leaves from 250-year-old tea trees. Plus, they triple toxin screen for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic mold—contaminants commonly found in tea. I also use the crystals for iced tea, which saves a ton of time and hassle.

Pique is offering 15% off of their pu’er teas for the first time ever, exclusively to my listeners. Simply visit PiqueTea.com/Tim, and the discount will be automatically applied. They also offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so your purchase is completely risk free. Just go to PiqueTea.com/Tim to learn more.

This episode is brought to you by Allform! If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about Helix Sleep mattresses, which I’ve been using since 2017. They just launched a new company called Allform, and they’re making premium, customizable sofas and chairs shipped right to your door—at a fraction of the cost of traditional stores. You can pick your fabric (and they’re all spill, stain, and scratch resistant), the sofa color, the color of the legs, and the sofa size and shape to make sure it’s perfect for you and your home.

Allform arrives in just 3–7 days, and you can assemble it yourself in a few minutes—no tools needed. To find your perfect sofa, check out Allform.com/Tim. Allform is offering 20% off all orders to you, my dear listeners, at Allform.com/Tim.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

Want to hear another episode with someone who lives to share their fascination with history? Listen to my conversation with Hardcore History‘s own Dan Carlin in which we discuss finding one’s ‘radio’ voice, podcasting as a full-time job, the upsides of masochism, touchy subjects to avoid, creativity, and much more.

#20: Dan Carlin - Hardcore History, Building Podcasts, Creativity, and Morehttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/96475272-ad10-4e7c-9e00-3399acc5cbd4.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Yuval Noah Harari:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Sapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of Humankind (Vol. 1) by Yuval Noah Harari, David Vandermeulen, and Daniel CasanaveSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah HarariHomo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah HarariHow the ‘Brainy’ Book Became a Publishing Phenomenon | The GuardianKibbutz and Moshav | Israel Ministry of Foreign AffairsTribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim FerrissWhat is Vipassana Meditation? | Dhamma.orgTranscendental Meditation (TM)How to Practice Mindfulness Meditation | MindfulUniversity of OxfordFrom Animals into Gods: A Brief History of Humankind by Harari Yuval NoahThe Deborah Harris Agency | JerusalemThe Hebrew University of JerusalemZero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake MastersBuddhist Researchers Seek to Reveal Link between Heart, Mind | Lion’s RoarStone Age Economics by Marshall SahlinsYuval Noah Harari Gives the Really Big Picture | The New YorkerMoney Isn’t the Root of All Evil | The Simple DollarTech CEOs Are in Love with Their Principal Doomsayer | The New York TimesSources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity by Charles TaylorBrave New World by Aldous Huxley1984 by George OrwellThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power by Shoshana ZuboffFINIS Duo Underwater Bone Conduction MP3 PlayerThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Audiobook Narrated by Stephen Fry)Black Mirror Season 3, Episode 4: “San Junipero” Is the Show’s Most Beautiful, Most Hopeful Episode Yet | Vox‘Black Mirror’ Recap: ‘Nosedive’ Is a Sharp Satire About Social Media | The AtlanticA ‘Black Mirror’ Episode Predicted the 2016 Election and the Similarities Are Eerie | BustleChina’s Chilling ‘Social Credit System’ Is Straight Out of Dystopian Sci-Fi, and It’s Already Switched On | Science AlertHer | Prime VideoExhalation by Ted ChiangStories of Your Life and Others by Ted ChiangArrival | Prime VideoThe Turing Test | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyPopulation Reconstructions for Humans and Megafauna Suggest Mixed Causes for North American Pleistocene Extinctions | Nature CommunicationsFossil DNA Reveals New Twists in Modern Human Origins | Quanta MagazineThe Impossible Task of Remembering the Nanking Massacre | The Atlantic‘Humans Were Not Centre Stage’: How Ancient Cave Art Puts Us in Our Place | The Guardian20 Things You Didn’t Know About … Neanderthals | Discover MagazineThe Sandman Box Set by Neil GaimanSapienshipHow Did Shark Attack Hysteria Originate in the US? | AccuWeatherNuclear War Makes a Comeback | Sierra ClubThe Climate Crisis – A Race We Can Win | United NationsTechnology Outlook 2020: A New Breed of Disruption | Chief ExecutiveWe Could Resurrect the Woolly Mammoth. Here’s How. | National GeographicIsland by Aldous Huxley



SHOW NOTES

Note from the editor: Timestamps will be added shortly.

Does Yuval live on a moshav, or is this just another example of the Wikipedia echo effect?Yuval practices vipassana meditation for two hours every day and takes an annual meditation retreat for a month or two. But how did this dedication to the practice begin?Six months after this first experience with vipassana meditation, what changed for Yuval?How did Sapiens evolve from Yuval’s history lectures at Hebrew University to a sleepy Amazon self-publication of 2,000 to a worldwide sensation published in 60 languages to an audience of over 20 million (and counting)?What are the advantages to developing a book from lecture notes (as Peter Thiel and Blake Masters also did for Zero to One)?How did Yuval come to be so cognizant of suffering, and in what ways does he see it fitting into the larger picture of human history?On the test of suffering as a way to sort the real from the imaginary stories we collectively tell ourselves.Why money, from antiquity to the modern day, is really a story about trust.In what ways has life changed for Yuval since his unexpected elevation to fame as a bestselling author, and how does it compare to what it might have been like if he’d remained an obscure medieval history professor?If Yuval were superhuman, what would be his superpower — and why?What kind of advice can Yuval’s close friends rely on him to give?What would Yuval’s friends say is his superpower?How does Yuval relate to happiness and how it contrasts with suffering and misery?Has Yuval made any decisions or adopted any frameworks that have helped him preserve some modicum of personal space and privacy?Thinkers and writers from history who have influenced Yuval.Why art moves us most when it expresses externally the inner feelings and thoughts for which we have no vocabulary — and should serve as a reminder that it’s unfair to expect others to understand us fully when we don’t necessarily understand ourselves fully.On Brave New World, 1984, and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy as philosophy, and how Yuval listens to audiobooks while swimming.Is Black Mirror philosophy or prophecy?Why Yuval thinks the movie Her raises more interesting philosophical questions about the future of AI than, say, The Terminator.Does Yuval think we’re close to the point where AI will demonstrate the difficulties posed by the word “understand” and the concept of understanding?How and why did Yuval decide to take Sapiens into the realm of the graphic novel with Sapiens: A Graphic History, and how has it allowed him and his co-conspirators (David Vandermeulen, and Daniel Casanave) to rethink and teach history in an unconventional way?How did Yuval and his team balance scientific objectivity with political correctness when bringing Sapiens into a visual format?Sapiens: A Graphic History will eventually be a four-volume set. How soon can we expect to see the next three, what does the creation process look like, and what do Yuval, David, and Daniel hope the world will take away from the series?What is Yuval’s mission statement?What does Yuval see as the most important global problems facing humanity right now, and where does he see humanity going in the next two centuries?Of our possible fates, which worries Yuval the most?When reflecting on the darker aspects of past, present, and potential future, what keeps Yuval going?Parting thoughts.



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Barack ObamaChris EvansBill GatesDavid VandermeulenDaniel CasanaveS.N. GoenkaItzik YahavDeborah HarrisPeter ThielBlake MastersRichard FeynmanGautama BuddhaWoody AllenMarcus AureliusCharles TaylorAldous HuxleyShoshana ZuboffStephen FryZaphod BeeblebroxDonald TrumpTed ChiangAlan TuringSherlock HolmesAgatha ChristieWinston ChurchillAdolf HitlerJoseph Stalin

Seth Godin on The Game of Life, The Value of Hacks, and Overcoming Anxiety (#476)

Illustration via 99designs

“Perfectionism has nothing to do with perfect.”

— Seth Godin

Seth Godin (@ThisIsSethsBlog) is the author of 19 international bestsellers translated into more than 35 languages, including Tribes, Purple Cow, Linchpin, The Dip, and This Is Marketing. He writes daily at Seths.blog, which is one of the most popular blogs in the world. He’s also the founder of the altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, online seminars that have transformed the work of thousands of people. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership, and most of all, changing everything. His newest book is The Practice: Shipping Creative Work.

In this episode, we explore many topics, including:

The value of hacksThe magic of HamiltonWhat learning to juggle and cultivating creativity have in commonThe myth of qualityWhat Seth means by “Don’t steal the revelation.”Focusing on generosity instead of anxietyChoosing the ruleset of your own game of lifeHow Joni Mitchell eschewed the safety of the sinecureWhat you would do if you knew you would fail?

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one supplement, Four Sigmatic mushroom coffee, and Tonal smart home gym.

Listen onApple Podcasts



[image error]Listen onSpotify



[image error]Listen onOvercast


#476: Seth Godin on The Game of Life, The Value of Hacks, and Overcoming Anxiety
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/44c9d0ba-7cc8-455b-ab0d-0e33d4142401.mp3Download

This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually 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 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 podcast is also brought to you by Four Sigmatic and their delicious mushroom coffee, featuring lion’s mane and chaga. It tastes like coffee, but there are only 40 milligrams of caffeine, so it has less than half of what you would find in a regular cup of coffee. I do not get any jitters, acid reflux, or any type of stomach burn. It’s organic and keto friendly, plus every single batch is third-party lab tested.

You can try it right now by going to FourSigmatic.com/Tim and using the code TIM. You will receive up to 39% off on the lion’s mane coffee bundle.  Simply visit FourSigmatic.com/Tim. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you’ll be disappointed. 

This episode is brought to you by Tonal! Tonal is the world’s most intelligent home gym and personal trainer. It is precision engineered and designed to be the world’s most advanced strength studio. Tonal uses breakthrough technology—like adaptive digital weights and A.I. learning—together with the best experts in resistance training so you get stronger, faster. Every program is personalized to your body using A.I., and smart features check your form in real time, just like a personal trainer.

Try Tonal, the world’s smartest home gym, for 30 days in your home, and if you don’t love it, you can return it for a full refund. Visit Tonal.com for $100 off their smart accessories when you use promo code 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 Seth was on the show? Click here to listen to our conversation in which we discussed how Seth deals with overwhelm, saying “no” and setting boundaries, long work vs. hard work, how to find your smallest viable audience, crafting April Fool’s jokes, and much more.

#343: Seth Godin on How to Say “No,” Market Like a Professional, and Win at Lifehttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/f90ab568-0eb2-4724-8b22-3d08685cf062.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Seth Godin:

Website | Seth’s Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | altMBA | The Akimbo Workshops

Seth’s previous appearances on the podcast: 402, 343, 177, 138

The Practice: Shipping Creative Work by Seth GodinOther Books by Seth GodinProfessionals, Hacks, and Amateurs | Seth’s BlogHackneyed | World Wide WordsSpecification-Based Management is Not Sufficient | The W. Edwards Deming InstituteTotaling Up the Repairs on the Cheapest Rolls-Royce Phantom in the USA | AutotraderHamilton | BroadwayWest Side Story | BroadwayRichard Serra Exhibitions | Dia BeaconYou Can’t Say You Can’t Play | Seth’s Blog1,000 True Fans | The TechniumNike ‘Just Do It’ Slogan Inspired by Utah Spree Killer Gary Gilmore | Business InsiderHow Long Does It Take To Climb Mount Everest? | OutdoorsmanLabPermission Marketing: Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers by Seth GodinThe Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm GladwellLinchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth GodinDouble Take: The Art of Elizabeth King | Prime VideoOrigin and Meaning of Amateur | Online Etymology DictionaryThe Interview Master: Cal Fussman and the Power of Listening | The Tim Ferriss Show #145House Of The Rising Sun by Joni MitchellThe 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy FerrissTufte’s Principles | thedoublethinkSurvival Is Not Enough: Zooming, Evolution, and the Future of Your Company by Seth GodinPurple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth GodinThe HBS Case Method | Harvard Business SchoolCase Studies | Stanford Graduate School of BusinessThe Sunk Cost Fallacy | You Are Not So SmartR.E.M. Reflect on ‘Radical’ ‘Out of Time’ LP 25 Years Later | Rolling StoneThe Go-Go’s | ShowtimeOn Kings by David Graeber and Marshall SahlinsStone Age Economics by Marshall SahlinsThe Flintstones | Prime VideoYoyodyne | WikipediaSquidoo | WikipediaRefuseniks | YIVOThrowing and Catching | Seth’s BlogTerry Laughlin, The Master Who Changed My Life | The Tim Ferriss Show #276The History of Search Engines: A Timeline | WordStreamMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs | Simply PsychologySinecure | WikipediaDon Juan’s Reckless Daughter by Joni MitchellGod Must Be a Boogie Man by Joni Mitchell



SHOW NOTES

Note from the editor: Timestamps will be added shortly.

What’s the etymology of the word “hack,” and how does it relate to Seth’s new book, The Practice?What is the specific definition of the word “quality,” and how does it differ from its generally accepted meaning?What makes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway blockbuster Hamilton more “magical,” in Seth’s estimation, than West Side Story? Perhaps the real question: what is magic, and what does it take to make it?Why hiding behind words like “quality” or “perfection” as a means of postponing action to avoid risk is a cop-out — especially these days.What Isaac Asimov and Gary Gilmore can teach us about writer’s block and other common procrastinations.Examining what we mean when we tell ourselves our work isn’t “good enough,” weighing the real reasons we might opt to take a less challenging path, what it sometimes takes to get us back on the right path, and why generosity doesn’t mean free.“Process saves us from the poverty of our intentions.” -Elizabeth KingOn the selfishness of authenticity, and why Seth believes the way we act determines how we feel way more often than the way we feel determines how we act.If attitudes are skills, how do we sharpen them?Skills with a disproportionate return on investment that entrepreneurs and creatives should consider cultivating.On anxiety and the futility of reassurance.One of the biggest mistakes ineffective teachers make, and what we should remember if we want to be effective learners.The importance of applying constraints and boundaries to the learning process, and understanding the gift that tension gives.How do you not steal the revelation as a teacher, but create tension so that people will plow ahead with developing a skill or learning something?Examples of how the power of positive constraints have had an impact on Seth — and how they went from being a source of frustration to the core of his useful working life.How would Seth usher a prospective entrepreneur through the process of deciding on constraints before they embark on creating some darling that they’re not willing to kill?How can an entrepreneur or freelancer apply constraints when their plans are already in motion?A nugget from The Practice: Seek joy. But how does one do this?As someone who’s succeeded in zigging where others have zagged, How has Seth chosen the games he has played, and in what ways has this changed over time?What provided Seth with a template to understand the difference between doing fulfilling work and simply training for the outcome? For that matter, what’s so bad about training for the outcome?The Practice is Seth’s 20th book. What is he saying in this one that he didn’t get around to in the 20 before, and what should prospective readers hope to get from it?How would Seth suggest someone literally learn how to juggle, and how does this process figuratively encapsulate the building of resilience necessary for thriving in an ever-changing world?How the way I learned to swim — in my 30s — was similarly counterintuitive but completely effective (and by coincidence, the technique Seth uses to swim every day).In what ways is cultivating creativity similar to learning how to juggle?How does Seth separate genre from generic, and who was Earl Stanley Gardner?With 230 chapters in less than 230 pages, which ones does Seth hope most resonate with readers?How Joni Mitchell alienated her mainstream audience in order to find her smallest viable audience and, ultimately, do better work that didn’t train for the outcome.What would you do even if you knew you would fail?Parting thoughts.



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Edwards DemingAlexander HamiltonLin-Manuel MirandaRichard SerraLenny LevineKevin KellyIsaac AsimovCharles MansonGary GilmoreMalcolm GladwellElizabeth KingBen FranklinDale CarnegieCal FussmanMuhammad AliMikhail GorbachevJoni MitchellEdward TufteNapoleon BonaparteGoldilocksMarie SchachtAlex PeckSusan RothenbergKen BurnsFred RogersIsaac NewtonDavid GraeberMarshall SahlinsMilton FriedmanChögyam TrungpaTerry LaughlinBill BoomerEarl Stanley GardnerAgatha ChristiePerry MasonDella StreetJames PattersonJames BondMarissa MayerAbraham MaslowJaco Pastorius

Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights (#474)

Illustration via 99designs

“If all we’re doing is asking ourselves questions, but never coming up with an answer, well, that can lead to some very imbalanced insanity at times.”

— Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) is a Texas native and one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men. A chance meeting in Austin with casting director and producer Don Phillips led him to director Richard Linklater, who launched the actor’s career in the cult classic Dazed and Confused. Since then, he has won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club, appeared in more than 40 feature films that have grossed more than $1 billion, and has become a producer, director, and philanthropist with his Just Keep Livin’ Foundation—all the while sticking to his Texas roots and “jk livin'” philosophy.

McConaughey also serves as creative director for Wild Turkey and has co-created his own bourbon, Longbranch. He serves as Minister of Culture/M.O.C. for the University of Texas Athletic Department and the Austin FC Soccer Club, where he is part owner. McConaughey will launch his first book, Greenlights, on October 20, 2020. He currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife Camilla and their three kids while he is a professor at the University of Texas in Austin.

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The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

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#474: Matthew McConaughey on His Success Playbooks, The Powerful Philosophy of Greenlights, and Choosing The Paths Less Traveledhttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/bf368b25-ad0b-436b-ad4d-7ebc05704ac8.mp3Download

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. 

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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 an episode with a friend Matthew and I have in common? Listen to my most recent conversation with Ryan Holiday in which we discuss using Stoicism to cope with pandemic lockdowns, managing fear when everything seems out of control, fast decisions versus rushed decisions, and much more.

#419: Ryan Holiday — How to Use Stoicism to Choose Alive Time Over Dead Timehttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/cbf0214e-5f23-4032-9a3a-f9ea2d530a02.mp3Download







SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE



Connect with Matthew McConaughey:

Official Greenlights Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Just Keep Livin’ FoundationLongbranch | Wild TurkeyDallas Buyers Club | Prime VideoDazed and Confused | Prime VideoMatthew McConaughey: ‘My Agent Said No to Romcoms. And Then There Was Nothing’ | The GuardianMatthew McConaughey Was Voted ‘Most Handsome’ After Struggles with Acne | HuffPost IndiaThe Greatest Salesman in the World by Og MandinoDelta Tau DeltaThe Road Not Taken by Robert Frost | Poetry FoundationBest of the Goth Kids | South ParkDie Hard | Prime VideoStoicism Resources and Recommendations | tim.blogThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan HolidaySocratic Dialogue Definition and Examples | ThoughtCo.A Time To Kill | Prime VideoYes, Impostor Syndrome is Real: Here’s How to Deal With It | TimeMatthew McConaughey: My Baby Will Be a Surfer Dude, Too | PeopleHollywood Tried Really Hard to Keep Matthew McConaughey in Rom-Coms | CinemaBlendCreative Artists Agency (CAA)Killer Joe | Prime VideoThe Paperboy | Prime VideoMud | Prime VideoMagic Mike | Prime VideoBernie | Prime VideoTrue Detective: Season 1 | Prime Video



SHOW NOTES



Matthew comes from peddlin’ stock. What did his father peddle, and what is Matthew’s most vivid memory of him? [06:28]How did the thing Matthew’s mother peddled get him involved in a lengthy legal dispute that had the potential to change his family’s fortune? [08:41]Is it true that Matthew’s parents had an unusual marriage history, and that the words “hate” and “can’t” were forbidden in their household? What lesson did young Matthew learn on one occasion when he said “I can’t” to his father? [15:23]Why has The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino had such an impact on Matthew, and how did he serendipitously happen upon it while studying to be a lawyer? [18:06]Matthew’s 10 goals in life circa 1992, and what he was doing at that point in time. [26:52]What did Matthew mean specifically with goal number five: be an egotistical utilitarian? [31:45]Six: take more risks. Why? [33:42]Why did Matthew start using a diary, and what have been the benefits of doing it for decades? How has its purpose evolved over this span of time? [39:10]Why is Matthew’s new book titled Greenlights? [43:24]A million directions and eight options. Where to go first? Down dirt roads and autobahns, and maybe a footpath of Stoicism. [47:52]Was writing Greenlights in self-prescribed solitary confinement an act of penance? What did the process look like, and how does he address himself when he’s the only one around to talk to? What’s the most important thing to remember when you ask yourself questions? [55:57]The art of running downhill — like when your world’s become inverted by overnight fame and success. [1:00:47]How hard was it for Matthew to start saying “No” to roles he was no longer interested in playing when Hollywood had already typecast him as the rom-com guy — and financially rewarding him accordingly? [1:05:09]What practices helped Matthew get through the 22-month period it took to become “unbranded” as the rom-com guy in the eyes of Hollywood? [1:18:12]What misconceptions does the world have about Matthew that he’d like to clear up? [1:21:30]What would Matthew’s billboard say? [1:27:04]The galvanizing effects of Texas groundwater on optimal storytelling and other parting thoughts. [1:31:00]



PEOPLE MENTIONED



Richard LinklaterRon WoodroofCamila McConaugheyJim McConaugheyKay McConaugheyJerry HarrisCamisa SpringsOg MandinoS.R. BindlerMonnie WillsJohn WayneJesusJosh WaitzkinRobert FrostSergei EisensteinRyan HolidayMike TysonWilliam FriedkinLee DanielsJeff NicholsSteven SoderberghRooster McConaugheyPat McConaugheyMary Karr