Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 73
October 8, 2017
Intimacy, Emotional Baggage, Relationship Longevity, and More – Esther Perel
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“The most powerful anti-depressant is doing for other people.”
– Esther Perel
Psychotherapist Esther Perel (@estherperel) is back to answer your most requested questions.
The New York Times called her the most important game-changer in sexuality and relational health since Dr. Ruth.
Her TED talks on maintaining desire and rethinking infidelity have more than 17 million views, and she’s tested and been exposed to everything imaginable in 34 years of running her private therapy practice in New York City.
In this episode, Esther explains:
How to foster relationship longevity.
The most effective ways to improve communication in relationships.
How to deal with criticism.
Letting go of emotional baggage from past relationships.
How to know when to move on from a relationship that doesn’t seem to be working.
And much more.
Esther is the author of the international bestseller Mating in Captivity, which has been translated into 26 languages, and her new book, The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity .
Her creative energy is focused on co-creating and hosting an Audible original audio series, Where Should We Begin.
Enjoy!
Intimacy, Sex Drive, Relationship Longevity, and More - Esther Perel
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/e4cf219a-1a1f-4f4d-98b2-b68ef2e87e1e.mp3
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another episode with Esther Perel? — Listen to her first appearance on the podcast. In this conversation, we discuss polyamory, why happy people cheat, how to find (and convince) mentors who can change your life, what she’s learned from Holocaust survivors, and much more (stream below or right-click here to download):
#241: The Relationship Episode: Sex, Love, Polyamory, Marriage, and More (with Esther Perel)https://rss.art19.com/episodes/e4cf219a-1a1f-4f4d-98b2-b68ef2e87e1e.mp3
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The Tao of Seneca by Seneca
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Esther Perel:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
The Relationship Episode: Sex, Love, Polyamory, Marriage, and More (with Esther Perel)
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel
The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel
Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
Rethinking Infidelity … A Talk for Anyone Who Has Ever Loved by Esther Perel, TED2015
The Four Horsemen: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling Ellie Lisitsa, The Gottman Relationship Blog
No Secrets by Carly Simon
Breaking the Male Code: Unlocking the Power of Friendship by Robert Garfield
Fighting for Your Marriage: A Deluxe Revised Edition of the Classic Best-seller for Enhancing Marriage and Preventing Divorce by Howard J. Markman and Scott M. Stanley
Monogamish — The Documentary
Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships by Tristan Taormino
Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha
Show Notes
Esther’s exercises, routines, and habits for fostering relationship longevity. [08:01]
How to lessen arguments in your marriage. [10:16]
How do we rid ourselves of negative emotions often generated by being in a relationship? [14:32]
What is the best way to move on past divorce and post-marriage depression? [15:52]
How do we overcome the anger and self-blame we feel when our partner has been unfaithful? [18:53]
Do you have to be young and stupid to find true love? Do most people in search of a relationship wind up “settling?” [23:29]
How do you know when a relationship is done? [26:27]
Can too much communication in a relationship hurt desire? [30:52]
What are the essential blocks to building a strong foundation between partners and establishing balance for longevity? [34:21]
Advice for millennials looking to bring romance and emotional intimacy back to dating. [38:30]
Young men and the mistakes they make during courtship. [42:29]
How to lessen conflict in a relationship. [45:33]
How can men effectively handle their sex drive? [52:20]
Advice for a couple looking to explore beyond the boundaries of monogamy. [54:22]
How does Esther help people accept themselves? [59:23]
People Mentioned
Ruth Westheimer
Bruce Nauman
John Gottman
Carly Simon
Robert Garfield
Tristan Taormino
October 5, 2017
Investing Wisdom from Marc Andreessen, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Chris Sacca, and Others
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This episode contains some of the best lessons I’ve learned about investing, making money, and growing your personal wealth. It was inspired by my recent talk with Ray Dalio, which has been incredibly popular and led to many additional questions about money and investing.
There is no doubt we need to create systems and procedures that work for each of us. What works for me might not work for you. But you can learn from some of the smartest money managers in the world, and this includes billionaires and legends in the world of finance.
This episode includes tips and recommendations from:
Marc Andreessen
Chris Sacca
Reid Hoffman
Peter Thiel
Seth Godin
I also share my own personal investing strategies, and the methods I use to assess risk and reward.
Enjoy!
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#270: Investing Wisdom from Marc Andreessen, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Chris Sacca, and Others
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/9f3128b7-769e-4ae4-bb89-16988c526a85.mp3
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another episode about money and investing? Listen to my conversation with Ray Dalio. We discuss how Ray thinks about investment decisions, the three books he would give to every graduating high school or college senior, how he might assess cryptocurrency, and much, much more (stream below or right-click here to download):
#264: Ray Dalio, The Steve Jobs of Investinghttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/12871ab9-f085-4f1e-83db-7b088c4a2d92.mp3
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Marc Andreessen:
Twitter | Andreessen Horowitz | a16z Podcast
Connect with Chris Sacca:
Connect with Peter Thiel
Founders Fund | Twitter | Clarium Capital |Palantir | Y Combinator
Connect with Reid Hoffman:
LinkedIn | Greylock Partners | Twitter
Connect with Seth Godin
The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz
Bridgewater Associates
High Output Management by Andrew S. Grove
Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company by Andrew S. Grove
Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel with Blake MastersAirbnb
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler
Smart People Should Build Things: How to Restore Our Culture of Achievement, Build a Path for Entrepreneurs, and Create New Jobs in America by Andrew Yang
Bitcoin
Coinbase
In Tech We Trust? A Debate with Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen
The Start-up of You and The Alliance by Reid Hoffman
Learn more about Greylock Partners
A partial list of Chris Sacca’s investments.
Want to skip an MBA program? Check out Feld Thoughts
October 3, 2017
TRIBE OF MENTORS — Sample Chapter and a Taste of Things to Come
The sample chapter is below, but first, to answer a common question…
Some people have asked how the new Tribe of Mentors (subtitle: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World) is different from my last book, Tools of Titans. They’re different in content but similar in format.
Differences — First, 90% of Tools of Titans was based on the podcast, and more than 90% of Tribe of Mentors has never appeared on the podcast. It’s a new cast of characters and all new material. Second, my reasons for writing Tribe of Mentors are totally different. Third… well, if you read the first chapter in this post, you’ll understand how much they diverge.
That said, I did keep the “snackable” short-profile format that worked so well in the last book, and the universe helped me pull off some miracles for Tribe of Mentors (e.g. Ben Stiller, Temple Grandin, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Yuval Noah Harari, Arianna Huffington, Marc Benioff, Terry Crews, Dan Gable, and many more). So, thanks, universe!
Enjoy the sample chapter below, and please grab the book at one of these fine retailers! Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Apple iBooks | Books-A-Million | Indigo I promise it won’t disappoint.
Now, on to the first chapter…
INTRODUCTION TO TRIBE OF MENTORS — READ THIS FIRST
“The only true voyage would be not to travel through a hundred different lands with the same pair of eyes, but to see the same land through a hundred different pairs of eyes.”
— MARCEL PROUST
“Albert grunted. ‘Do you know what happens to lads who ask too many questions?’
Mort thought for a moment.
‘No,’ he said eventually, ‘what?’
There was silence.
Then Albert straightened up and said, ‘Damned if I know. Probably they get answers, and serve ’em right.’”
— TERRY PRATCHETT, MORT
To explain why I wrote this book, I really need to start with when.
2017 was an unusual year for me. The first six months were a slow simmer, and then, within a matter of weeks, I turned 40, my first book (The 4-Hour Workweek) had its tenth anniversary, several people in my circle of friends died, and I stepped onstage to explain how I narrowly avoided committing suicide in college.
Truth be told, I never thought I’d make it to 40. My first book was rejected 27 times by publishers. The things that worked out weren’t supposed to work, so I realized on my birthday: I had no plan for after 40.
As often happens at forks in the path — college graduation, quarter-life crisis, midlife crisis, kids leaving home, retirement — questions started to bubble to the surface.
Were my goals my own, or simply what I thought I should want?
How much of life had I missed from underplanning or overplanning?
How could I be kinder to myself ?
How could I better say no to the noise to better say yes to the adventures I craved?
How could I best reassess my life, my priorities, my view of the world, my place in the world, and my trajectory through the world?
So many things! All the things!
One morning, I wrote down the questions as they came, hoping for a glimmer of clarity. Instead, I felt a wave of anxiety. The list was overwhelming. Noticing that I was holding my breath, I paused and took my eyes off the paper. Then, I did what I often do — whether considering a business decision, personal relationship, or otherwise — I asked myself the one question that helps answer many others . . .
What would this look like if it were easy?
“This” could be anything. That morning, it was answering a laundry list of big questions.
What would this look like if it were easy? is such a lovely and deceptively leveraged question. It’s easy to convince yourself that things need to be hard, that if you’re not redlining, you’re not trying hard enough. This leads us to look for paths of most resistance, creating unnecessary hardship in the process.
But what happens if we frame things in terms of elegance instead of strain? In doing so, we sometimes find incredible results with ease instead of stress. Sometimes, we “solve” the problem by simply rewording it.
And that morning, by journaling on this question — What would this look like if it were easy? — an idea presented itself. Ninety-nine percent of the page was useless, but there was one seed of a possibility . . .
What if I assembled a tribe of mentors to help me?
More specifically, what if I asked 100+ brilliant people the very questions I want to answer for myself? Or somehow got them to guide me in the right direction?
Would it work? I wasn’t sure, but I did know one thing: If the easy approach failed, the unending-labor-in-the-salt-mines approach was always waiting in the wings. Pain is never out of season if you go shopping for it.
So, why not spend a week test-driving the path of least resistance?
And so it began. First, I scribbled down a list of dream interviewees, which started as one page and quickly became ten. It had to be a list with no limitations: no one too big, no one too out-of-reach, and no one too hard to find. Could I get the Dalai Lama? The incredible Temple Grandin? My personal white whale, author Neil Gaiman? Or Ayaan Hirsi Ali? I wrote out the most ambitious, eclectic, unusual list possible. Next, I needed to create an incentive to encourage people to respond, so I sought out a book deal. I figured “Be in my book?” might help. From the outset, I told the publisher that it also might not work, and that I’d return the advance if so.
Then, I started pitching my little heart out.
I sent an identical set of 11 questions to some of the most successful, wildly varied, and well-known people on the planet with “Answer your favorite 3 to 5 questions . . . or more, if the spirit moves you.”
After hitting “send” dozens of times, I clasped my hands to my chest with excitement and bated breath, to which the universe replied with . . . silence. Crickets.
For 12 to 24 hours, nothing. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. And then, there was a faint trickle through the ether. A whisper of curiosity and a handful of clarifying questions. Some polite declines followed, and then came the torrent.
Nearly all of the people I reached out to are busy beyond belief, and I expected short, rushed responses from a few of them, if I got any at all. Instead, what I got back were some of the most thoughtful answers I’d ever received, whether on paper, in person, or otherwise. In the end, there were more than 100 respondents.
Granted, the “easy” path took thousands of back-and-forth emails and Twitter direct messages, hundreds of phone calls, many marathons at a treadmill desk, and more than a few late-night bottles of wine, but . . . it worked. Did it always work? No. I didn’t get the Dalai Lama (this time), and at least half of the people on my list didn’t respond or declined the invitation. But it worked enough to matter, and that’s what matters.
In cases where the outreach worked, the questions did the heavy lifting.
Eight of the questions were fine-tuned “rapid-fire” questions from my podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, the first business-interview podcast to pass 200 million downloads. These questions have been refined over more than 300 interviews with guests such as actor/musician Jamie Foxx, General Stanley McChrystal, and writer Maria Popova. I knew that these questions worked, that they could help me in my own life, and that interviewees generally liked them.
The remaining three questions were new additions that I hoped would solve my most chronic problems. Before taking them into the wild, I tested, vetted, and wordsmithed them with friends who are world-class performers in their own right. These three often ended up indirectly answering the “big” questions.
The older I get, the more time I spend — as a percentage of each day — on crafting better questions. In my experience, going from 1x to 10x, from 10x to 100x, and from 100x to (when Lady Luck really smiles) 1000x returns in various areas has been a product of better questions. John Dewey’s dictum that “a problem well put is half-solved” applies.
Life punishes the vague wish and rewards the specific ask. Conscious thinking is largely asking and answering questions in your own head, after all. If you want confusion and heartache, ask vague questions. If you want uncommon clarity and results, ask uncommonly clear questions.
Fortunately, this is a skill you can develop. No book can give you all of the answers, but this book can train you to ask better questions. Milan Kundera, author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, has said that “The stupidity of people comes from having an answer for everything. The wisdom of the novel comes from having a question for everything.” Substitute “master learner” for “novel,” and you have my philosophy of life. Often, all that stands between you and what you want is a better set of questions.
The 11 questions I chose for this book are listed below. It’s important to read the full questions and explanations, as I shorten them throughout the rest of the book. Special thanks to Brian Koppelman, Amelia Boone, Chase Jarvis, Naval Ravikant, and others for their hugely helpful feedback.
First, let us take a quick pass of the 11 questions. Some of them might seem trite or useless at first glance. . . . But lo! Things are not always what they appear.
What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)? My readers love specifics like brand and model, where you found it, etc.
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions — what would it say and why? It could be a few words or a paragraph. (If helpful, it can be someone else’s quote: Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?)
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment of money, time, energy, etc.)
What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?
What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)
Now, let’s take a look at each, and I’ll explain why they appear to work. You might ask, “Why should I care? I’m not an interviewer.” To that, my response is simple: If you want to build (or foster) a world-class network, you need to interact in a way that earns it. All of the following points will help.
For instance, I spent weeks testing the order of questions for optimal responses. To me, proper sequencing is the secret sauce, whether you’re trying to learn a new language in 8 to 12 weeks, overcome a lifelong fear of swimming, or pick the brain of a potential mentor over coffee. Good questions in the wrong order get bad responses. Conversely, you can punch well above your weight class by thinking about sequencing, as most people don’t.
As one example, the “billboard” question is one of my podcast listener and guest favorites, but it’s heavy. It stumps or intimidates a lot of people. I didn’t want to scare busy people off, who might opt out with a quick, “Sorry, Tim. I just don’t have bandwidth for this right now.” So, what to do? Easy: let them warm up with lightweight questions (e.g., Most gifted books, purchase of
My explanations get shorter toward the end, as many of the points carry over or apply to all questions.
What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
“What’s your favorite book?” seems like a good question. So innocent, so simple. In practice, it’s terrible. The people I interview have read hundreds or thousands of books, so it’s a labor-intensive question for them, and they rightly worry about picking a “favorite,” which then gets quoted and put in articles, Wikipedia, etc. “Most gifted” is lower risk, an easier search query (easier to recall), and implies benefits for a broader spectrum of people, which the idiosyncratic “favorite” does not.
For the curious and impatient among you, here are a few books (of many) that came up a lot:
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley
The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
Poor Charlie’s Almanack by Charlie Munger
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)? My fans love specifics like brand and model, where you found it, etc.
This might seem like a throwaway, but it isn’t. It provides an easy entry point for busy interviewees while providing readers (and me) with something immediately actionable. Several answers have already changed my life, boosting immune function, improving sleep, and much more. The deeper questions elicit more profound answers, but profundity is the fiber of knowledge — it requires intensive digestion. To keep marching forward in the meanwhile, humans (yours truly included) need short-term rewards. In this book, I accomplish that with questions that provide tangible, easy, and often fun answers — Scooby snacks for your hard-working soul. To get the heavier lifting done, these breathers are important.
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?
This one is particularly important to me. As I wrote in Tools of Titans:
The superheroes you have in your mind (idols, icons, elite athletes, billionaires, etc.) are nearly all walking flaws who’ve maximized one or two strengths. Humans are imperfect creatures. You don’t “succeed” because you have no weaknesses; you succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them. . . Everyone is fighting a battle [and has fought battles] you know nothing about. The heroes in this book are no different. Everyone struggles.
If you could have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions — what would it say and why? It could be a few words or a paragraph. (If helpful, it can be someone else’s quote: Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?)
Self-explanatory, so I’ll skip the commentary. For would-be interviewers, though, the “If helpful…” portion is often critical for getting good answers.
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment of money, time, energy, etc.)
This is also self-explanatory . . . or so it seems. With questions like this and the next, I’ve found it productive to give interviewees a real-world answer. In a live interview, it buys them time to think, and in text, it gives them a template. For this question, for instance, I gave everyone the following:
SAMPLE ANSWER from Amelia Boone, one of the world’s top endurance athletes, sponsored by big brands and 4x world champion in obstacle course racing (OCR):
“In 2011, I shelled out $450 to participate in the first World’s Toughest Mudder, a brand new 24-hour obstacle race. Saddled with law school debt, it was a big expenditure for me, and I had no business thinking I could even complete the race, let alone compete in it. But I ended up being one of 11 finishers (out of 1,000 participants) of that race, and it altered the course of my life, leading to my career in obstacle racing and multiple world championships. Had I not plunked down the cash for that entry fee, none of that would have happened.”
What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
I was first asked this when interviewed by my friend Chris Young, scientist, co-author of Modernist Cuisine, and CEO of ChefSteps. Before responding, and while sitting onstage at the Town Hall in Seattle, I said, “Oooooh . . . that’s a good question. I’m going to steal that.” And I did. This question has deeper implications than you might expect. Answers prove a number of helpful things: 1) Everyone is crazy, so you’re not alone. 2) If you want more OCD-like behaviors, my interviewees are happy to help, and 3) Corollary to #1: “normal” people are just crazy people you don’t know well enough. If you think you’re uniquely neurotic, I hate to deliver the news, but every human is Woody Allen in some part of life. Here’s the sample answer I gave for this question, taken from a live interview and slightly edited for text:
SAMPLE ANSWER from Cheryl Strayed, best-selling author of Wild (made into a feature film with Reese Witherspoon): “Here’s my whole theory of the sandwich… every bite should be as much like the previous bite as possible. Do you follow? [If ] there’s a clump of tomatoes here, but then there’s hummus — everything has to be as uniform as possible. So any sandwich I’m ever given, I open it up and I immediately completely rearrange the sandwich.”
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
This is short, effective, and not particularly nuanced. It has particular application to my life reassessment. I’m surprised I don’t hear questions like this more often.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?
The second “ignore” sub-question is essential. We’re prone to asking “What should I do?” but less prone to asking “What shouldn’t I do?” Since what we don’t do determines what we can do, I like asking about not-to-do lists.
What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
A close cousin of the previous question. Many problems of “focusing” are best solved by defining what to ignore.
In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
Saying yes is easy. Saying no is hard. I wanted help with the latter, as did many people in the book, and some answers really delivered the goods.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)
If your mind is “beach balling” (nerdy Mac reference to when a computer freezes), nothing else matters much until that is resolved. Once again, the secondary “if helpful” question is often critical.
***
Since any greatness in these pages is from other people, I feel comfortable saying that you will love some of what’s here, no matter where you are in life.
In the same breath, I know you will find some of what’s inside boring, useless, or seemingly stupid. This is by design and a byproduct of collecting very different people with very different life experiences from around the world. Out of roughly 140 profiles, I expect you to like 70, love 35, and have your life changed by perhaps 17. Amusingly, the 70 you dislike will be precisely the 70 someone else needs.
Life would be boring if we all followed exactly the same rules, and you will want to pick and choose your own.
The more surprising part of all of this is that Tribe of Mentors changes with you. As time passes and life unfolds, things you initially swatted away like a distraction can reveal depth and become unimaginably important.
That cliché you ignored like a throwaway fortune cookie? Suddenly it makes sense and moves mountains. Conversely, things you initially found enlightening might run their course, like a wonderful high school coach who needs to hand you off to a college coach for you to reach the next level.
There’s no expiration date on the advice in this book. In the following pages, you’ll find advice from 30-something wunderkinds and seasoned veterans in their 60s and 70s. The hope is that, each time you pick up this book, not unlike with the I Ching or Tao Te Ching, something new will grab you, shake your perception of reality, illuminate your follies, confirm your intuitions, or correct your course that all-important one degree.
The entire spectrum of human emotion and experience can be found in this book, from hilarious to heart-wrenching, from failure to success, and from life to death. May you welcome it all in.
On my coffee table at home, I have a piece of driftwood. Its sole purpose is to display a quote by Anaïs Nin, which I see every day:
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
It’s a short reminder that success can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations we are willing to have, and by the number of uncomfortable actions we are willing to take.
The most fulfilled and effective people I know — world-famous creatives, billionaires, thought leaders, and more — look at their life’s journey as perhaps 25 percent finding themselves and 75 percent creating themselves.
This book is not intended to be a passive experience. It’s intended to be a call to action.
You are the author of your own life, and it’s never too late to replace the stories you tell yourself and the world. It’s never too late to begin a new chapter, add a surprise twist, or change genres entirely.
What would it look like if it were easy?
Here’s to picking up the pen with a smile. Big things are coming. . . .
Pura vida,
Tim Ferriss
Austin, Texas
August 2017
###
Get Tribe of Mentors at these fine retailers! Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Apple iBooks | Books-A-Million | Indigo
September 29, 2017
Eric Ripert — Lessons in Mastery and Mindfulness
Photo cred: Nigel Parry
“Anger doesn’t help to create quality.”
– Eric Ripert
Eric Ripert (@ericripert) is recognized as one of the best chefs in the world. In 1995, at just 29 years old, he earned a four-star rating from The New York Times. Twenty years later and for the fifth consecutive time, Le Bernardin, where Eric is the chef and a co-owner, again earned the highest rating of four stars, becoming the only restaurant to maintain this superior status for such a marathon length of time. In 1998, the James Beard Foundation named him Top Chef in New York City and, in 2003, Outstanding Chef of the Year.
In 2009, Avec Eric, his first TV show, debuted and ran for two seasons, earning two Daytime Emmy Awards. It returned for a third season on the Cooking Channel in 2015. Eric has also hosted the show On the Table on YouTube, which debuted in July 2012, and he has appeared in media worldwide. He is the author of the New York Times best-selling memoir 32 Yolks: From My Mother’s Table to Working the Line, Avec Eric, and several other books.
In this episode we discuss:
Daily routines
Conquering weakness and anger
Mindfulness and meditation
The art of hiring
And much, much more
Please enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Eric Ripert!
#268: Eric Ripert -- Lessons in Mastery and Mindfulness
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/f0fac20b-a76f-4e97-b013-37919a8e032e.mp3
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another podcast with a world-class chef and entrepreneur? — Listen to my conversation with Andrew Zimmern. In this episode, we discuss his meditation practice, morning routines, and creative process (stream below or right-click here to download):
Ep 40: Andrew Zimmern on Simple Cooking Tricks, Developing TV, and Addictionhttps://rss.art19.com/episodes/6ad82b8e-4c2d-446f-848f-8983420428fc.mp3
This podcast 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, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. As a listener of The Tim Ferriss Show, you’ll get 30 percent off your first order at AthleticGreens.com/Tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring 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 put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet.
People are always asking me what I use for cognitive enhancement right now — this is the answer. You can try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/tim and using the code Tim to get 20 percent off your first order. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you’ll be disappointed.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Eric Ripert:
Avec Eric | Le Bernardin | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
32 Yolks: From My Mother’s Table to Working the Line by Eric Ripert and Veronica Chambers
Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Timothy Ferriss
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss
No Reservations
The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss
Samsara
Eric Ripert Looks Back on a Youth Both Tender and Tough by Jeff Gordinier, The New York Times
‘Traditional’ Kendo Pedagogy and Abuse by Ben Sheppard, kenshi 24/7
Eric practices Samatha and Vipassana meditation.
How to Cage the Monkey Mind
The 12 Links and the Four Noble Truths by Venerable Thubten Chodron
Buddhism For Dummies by Jonathan Landaw and Stephan Bodian
The Four Noble Truths by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh
Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach
Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech by the 14th Dalai Lama
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Stoicism & Buddhism: Lessons, Similarities and Differences, The Daily Stoic
Blue by Eric Ripert
La Tour d’Argent
Le Bernardin’s 1995 four-star review in The New York Times by Ruth Reichl
A Return to Cooking by Michael Ruhlman and Eric Ripert
Amazon Cuts Whole Foods Prices as Much as 43% on First Day by Jennifer Kaplan and Matthew Boyle, Bloomberg Technology
Show Notes
My first exposure to Eric. [06:31]
When hiring, what does Eric look for in a good line cook? [08:02]
How does Eric identify a natural team player? [11:43]
Eric is slow to hire — is he quick to fire? [14:36]
What makes Eric’s office unique? [15:42]
As a Buddhist, what mantras does Eric look to for guidance? [19:13]
Eric talks about his pre-Buddhist days as a demanding “borderline violent dictator” of a chef. [21:06]
Was there a particular moment of epiphany that triggered Eric’s change for the better? [26:54]
How does Eric convince sous chefs and other staff to be kinder and gentler when they’re as abusive as he once was? [28:36]
Where has Eric found the balance between kindness and enforcing the discipline necessary to maintain high quality? [33:57]
On understanding anger and taming it with the right tools — particularly meditation. [37:07]
Eric’s typical morning habits and practices. [41:53]
How does Eric remind himself to be grateful to be alive? [50:03]
Eric drinks coffee before he meditates. What kind does he favor, and how is it prepared? [51:27]
What does Eric like to read? [54:23]
Eric explains the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. [55:17]
A quick and simple way to challenge the ultimate truth. [1:00:37]
How Thich Nhat Hanh and Tara Brach got me to pay attention to spirituality in spite of a lifelong aversion to it. [1:02:31]
The book that changed Eric’s life. [1:05:31]
Overlap between Stoicism and secular Buddhism. [1:10:37]
Rejecting dogma, conquering ignorance (“the root of all weaknesses”), and the three poisons of the mind. [1:13:37]
Weighing quality vs. scale. [1:21:20]
How Eric got involved in the culinary world. [1:30:37]
Eric moved to the United States in 1989 “without speaking a word of English.” [1:32:32]
When did Eric think of cooking as something at which he could excel rather than just another job? [1:33:42]
Can Eric cook as well as his mother? [1:37:01]
Why does Eric use non-artisanal Swiss cheese to calibrate his palate? [1:39:31]
What Eric wishes home cooks would use more — and less. [1:42:13]
What’s Eric’s favorite cocktail? [1:46:03]
Parting thoughts. [1:46:37]
People Mentioned
Anthony Bourdain
Dalai Lama
Sandra Ripert
Thich Nhat Hanh
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tara Brach
Sharon Salzberg
Marcus Aurelius
Seneca
Epictetus
Jerry Colonna
Joël Robuchon
Gilbert Le Coze
Maguy Le Coze
Ruth Reichl
Antonio Vivaldi
September 26, 2017
Tools and Tips for Better Sleep
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In this episode of the podcast, I focus on a topic that has been a lifelong personal struggle: sleep.
I’ve found that if you prioritize sleep — and recovery, in general — it magnifies everything else in your life, from your emotional health to physical training. To help you take better care of your mind and body, I’ve gathered some of the best advice from multiple guests about rest and regeneration.
This episode includes tips and recommendations from:
Strength coach Charles Poliquin
Obstacle course racer Amelia Boone
Comedian Mike Birbiglia
Dr. Peter Attia
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another episode of featuring multiple guests and their best tips? In this episode, we explore the best morning routines with Jocko Willink, Seth Godin, Jamie Foxx, and Scott Adams (stream below or right-click here to download):
#253: Morning Routines and Strategies
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/278e5254-e683-433f-a3a4-d08d9d12959b.mp3
This podcast is brought to you by Soothe.com, the world’s largest on-demand massage service. Because I’ve been broken so many times, I have body work done at least twice a week — so I have a high bar for this stuff. I do not accept mediocrity, and I wouldn’t expect you to, either.
After much personal testing, I can affirm that Soothe delivers a hand-selected, licensed, and experienced massage therapist to you in the comfort of your own home, hotel, or office in as little as an hour. I was amazed at the quality of service and convenience. Think of it as Uber for massages, available in fifty†cities worldwide. Download the app at Soothe.com, and use code TIM to get $20 off each of your first two massages.
This podcast is also brought to you by MVMT. The founders are two college dropouts who wanted to wear fancy watches, but couldn’t afford them — so they decided to scratch their own itch and build a company around high-quality but affordable watches in 2013. They’ve gone from startup to more than one million watches sold across 160 countries in just a few years — an awesome success story that makes sense when you check out the product.
MVMT offers classic designs, quality construction, and many different modern styles, so you can pick one that suits you. Get 15 percent off your entire purchase with free shipping (and free returns if you’re dissatisfied for any reason) by visiting MVMTwatches.com/tim!
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Charles Poliquin:
StrengthSensei.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Connect with Amelia Boone:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Mike Birbiglia:
Connect with Peter Attia:
Marpac Dohm-DS All Natural Sound Machine
Alternative Sleep Schedule Overviews, Polyphasic Society
Charles Poliquin — His Favorite Mass-Building Program, His Nighttime Routine For Better Sleep, and Much More
Arm Size and Strength: The Ultimate Guide by Charles R. Poliquin
Yin Reserve
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
OmegAvail
Jailhouse Strong by Josh Bryant and Adam benShea
Amelia Boone on Beating 99% of Men and Suffering for High Performance
Foam Rollers
Mike Birbiglia, The Sleepwalking Comedy Giant
Fitbit One Wireless Activity Plus Sleep Tracker
REM Behavior Disorder
Sleep With Me Podcast
Memento
Mike Birbiglia: Thank God For Jokes
The Comedy Cellar in New York City
The Chicago Theatre
Dr. Peter Attia on Life-Extension, Drinking Jet Fuel, Ultra-Endurance, Human Foie Gras, and More
Krebs Cycle
Show Notes
My struggles with insomnia and techniques that have helped. [06:03]
Charles Poliquin talks about supplements and routines he uses for improving sleep. [10:18]
Amelia Boone pushes her body to the absolute limits. Here’s how she makes the most of her downtime with rest, routine, and nutrition. [19:01]
Mike Birbiglia’s nightly rituals, and how he deals with his own serious sleepwalking disorder. [34:47]
What endurance athlete and researcher Dr. Peter Attia knows about the science of recovery, metabolic syndrome, and synthetic ketones. [42:44]
People Mentioned
Ray Dalio
Paul Dalio
Matt Mullenweg
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Jane Fonda
Oliver Stone
Steven Rosenberg
George F. Cahill, Jr.
September 22, 2017
Favorite Books, Supplements, Simple Technologies, and More
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In this episode, I answer the most up-voted questions from subscribers to 5-Bullet Friday, the free newsletter I send out every week.
In this Q&A, I reveal:
My 3-5 favorite books of the past year.
Technologies and apps that have made my life easier.
How to build a new network from scratch.
My top five supplements for longevity and well-being.
The exercises and self-talk I use for avoiding (or minimizing) depression.
Want to ask me your own questions? Just subscribe to 5-Bullet Friday, which — every Friday — sends five bullet points of cool things I’ve found that week, including apps, books, gadgets, albums, articles, new hacks or tricks, and — of course — all sorts of weird stuff I dig up around the world. It’s free, it’s always going to be free, and you can check it out here: tim.blog/friday.
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another Q&A episode? — Listen to this episode where I discuss the Myer’s-Briggs personality test, diet mistakes, immortality, and much, much more (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring 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 put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet.
People are always asking me what I use for cognitive enhancement right now — this is the answer. You can try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/tim and using the code Tim to get 20 percent off your first order. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you’ll be disappointed.
This episode is also brought to you by LegalZoom. I’ve used this service for many of my businesses, as have quite a few of the icons on this podcast — such as Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg of WordPress fame.
LegalZoom is a reliable resource that more than a million people have already trusted for everything from setting up wills, proper trademark searches, forming LLCs, setting up non-profits, or finding simple cease-and-desist letter templates.
LegalZoom is not a law firm, but it does have a network of independent attorneys available in most states who can give you advice on the best way to get started, provide contract reviews, and otherwise help you run your business with complete transparency and up-front pricing. Check out LegalZoom.com and enter promo code TIM at checkout today to save 15%, and see how the fine folks there can make life easier for you and your business.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Subscribe to 5-Bullet Friday: tim.blog/friday
How to Build a World-Class Network in Record Time
Clif Energy Bars
Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
Some Practical Thoughts on Suicide
My recent TED Talk: Fear-Setting: The Most Valuable Exercise I Do Every Month
Utilize the “Steel Man” Tactic to Argue More Effectively by Eric Ravenscraft, Lifehacker
Think Twice: Harnessing the Power of Counterintuition by Michael J. Mauboussin
Seeking Wisdom: From Darwin to Munger by Peter Bevelin
Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger by Charles T. Munger and Peter D. Kaufman
The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss
stickK
BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model
Microplane 40020 Classic Zester/Grater
Joule — “The world’s smallest, smartest, and sexiest sous vide tool.”
Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Timothy Ferriss
Spinal Tap — “These Go to Eleven…”
“Productivity” Tricks for the Neurotic, Manic-Depressive, and Crazy (Like Me)
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss
Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge A Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution by Terence McKenna
Tara Brach on Meditation and Overcoming FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Momentum extension for Chrome
A simple countdown timer: E.gg Timer
How to Get Everything Done in Just 4 Hours, Even in a Coworking Space by Emma Hinchliffe, Mashable
WeWork
Wait But Why
Miele Futura Classic Plus Dishwasher with Cutlery Tray for Silverware
Ascent Protein
The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy by Donald Robertson
The Tao of Seneca: Practical Letters from a Stoic Master
The 30-Day Challenge: No Booze, No Masturbating (NOBNOM)
My Life Extension Pilgrimage to Easter Island
Berberine
Resveratrol
Metformin: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects
Rapamycin
Dom D’Agostino on Disease Prevention, Cancer, and Living Longer
Dom D’Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer
Should We All Take a Bit of Lithium? by Anna Fels, The New York Times
Bragg USDA Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Bedtime Honey Improves Sleep “1000%. Crazy Good Tip” by Seth Roberts, Seth’s Blog
Show Notes
How do you find great, like-minded people when you’re new in town? [05:02]
What am I most proud of? [07:22]
What processes do I use to break a bad habit or convert it into a positive habit? [12:33]
Simple chef secrets for changing good food to great food. [14:05]
When is my next book coming out? (Actually, it’s out now!) [17:36]
What self-talk keeps me from the precipice of suicidal thoughts and depression now? [18:41]
Top books I’ve read this year. [24:14]
Why is worldly success apparently so important to me? [26:26]
What recent apps/technologies have made my life easier? [29:24]
If I could only ask one question of my guests on this podcast, what would that question be? [31:01]
What advice would I give a 24-year-old male struggling to control his sex drive? [32:22]
If I were only able to take five supplements for longevity and well-being, what would they be? [36:08]
People Mentioned
Trip Hawkins
Ed Byrd
Gary Erickson
Jack Canfield
Naval Ravikant
Kevin Rose
Charles Darwin
Charlie Munger
Warren Buffett
BJ Fogg
Jacques Pépin
Richa Chadda
Ricardo Semler
Ray Dalio
Bill Gates
Tony Robbins
Kahlil Gibran
Terence McKenna
Tara Brach
Molly
Viktor E. Frankl
Tim Urban
Seneca
Dom D’Agostino
Seth Roberts
September 17, 2017
Bill Burr — The Comedian’s Comedian
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“Everybody fucking relax. Get yourself a sandwich.”
– Bill Burr
This episode of the podcast features Bill Burr (@billburr). Many of you know Bill as a standup comedian. I know him as one of the funniest humans alive, and someone that many of you requested to be on the show. Rolling Stone called Bill “the undisputed heavyweight champ of rage-fueled humor,” and when we were finally able to talk, he did not disappoint.
In this wide-ranging conversation we explore:
How Bill found his way into standup comedy
Why he enjoys going for an encore after he’s been booed
The transformation from a “squeaky clean” comedian to offending everyone
How learning can serve as powerful therapy
The importance of enjoying success
And much, much more
This interview comes from my television show Fear(less), where I interview world-class performers on stage about how they’ve overcome doubt, conquered fear, and made their toughest decisions. You can watch the entire first episode with illusionist David Blaine for free at att.net/fearless. (To watch all episodes, please visit [directv.com] DIRECTV NOW).
We recorded three hours of material and only one hour was used for the TV show. This podcast episode is almost entirely new content that didn’t appear on TV.
Please enjoy this hilarious conversation with Bill Burr.
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another podcast with a comedian, actor, and director? — Listen to my conversation with Vince Vaughn. In this episode, we discuss stories of his early beginnings, how to negotiate, his cold-calling career, and important decisions he’s made as a producer, an artist, and a businessperson. (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by FreshBooks. FreshBooks is the #1 cloud bookkeeping software, which is used by a ton of the start-ups I advise and many of the contractors I work with. It is the easiest way to send invoices, get paid, track your time, and track your clients.
FreshBooks tells you when your clients have viewed your invoices, helps you customize your invoices, track your hours, automatically organize your receipts, have late payment reminders sent automatically and much more.
Right now you can get a free month of complete and unrestricted use. You do not need a credit card for the trial. To claim your free month and see how the brand new Freshbooks can change your business, go to FreshBooks.com/Tim and enter “Tim” in the “how did you hear about us” section.
This podcast is also brought to you by Shopify. With the help of Shopify, many readers of my blog — first-time business owners — have ended up making millions of dollars each with their side gigs. Back in 2009, I helped create Shopify’s Build a Business, which is now the world’s largest entrepreneurship competition.
The goal of this competition is to entice would-be entrepreneurs to get off the couch and make things happen, and all you have to do to qualify is open a store on Shopify and start selling. Top sellers in each category then have the exclusive opportunity to learn from mentors and experts like Tony Robbins, Daymond John, Seth Godin, Sir Richard Branson, and me a location like Oheka (aka Gatsby’s) Castle or Necker Island.
Listeners to this show can go to shopify.com/tim to sign up for a free, 30-day trial and get access to video courses that will help you get started — including How to Quickly Start a Profitable Dropshipping Store with Corey Ferreira and some goodies from me. Check it out at shopify.com/tim today!
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Bill Burr:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
When Bill Burr Went to Battle against the City of Philadelphia, The Laugh Button
F Is for Family
Worst I Ever Bombed: Bill Burr, The Tonight Show
Gordon Ramsay’s Scrambled Eggs, The Daily
Comedy Central Presents: Bill Burr
HBO’s One Night Stand: Bill Burr
Bill’s Netflix specials: Let It Go, I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, and Walk Your Way Out
Grubman Pleads Guilty in Crash That Hurt 16 at Club in Hamptons by Marc Santoraaug, The New York Times
Billy Bush Breaks Silence on Infamous Tape with Trump: ‘I Sacrificed … My Own Dignity’ by Catherine Thorbecke, ABC News
Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast
A clip of Bill on Chappelle’s Show
Bill on Breaking Bad
Opie and Anthony
Randy Baumann & the DVE Morning Show
Black or White
Eddie Murphy Raw
Back to the Future
The Comedy Union
Dangerfield’s Comedy Club
Bill Burr’s Animated Helicopter Bit
Show Notes
Why Bill always takes the opportunity for an encore if he’s been booed. [06:33]
Childhood in the ’70s (“Back when you could almost kill a kid and it wasn’t a problem”). [09:45]
Was getting into standup comedy Bill’s best anti-bullying, life-fulfillment strategy? [10:39]
Bill goes over his brief career as a dental assistant for his dad. [15:17]
Bill’s conversion from squeaky clean to offending everybody. [18:00]
How does Bill know when a joke or a piece of writing is close and when it’s done? [19:43]
How did Bill recover from his first time bombing on stage? [20:19]
Bill talks about what led to a particularly dark period in his life and how he climbed out of it. [22:15]
How have Bill’s goals changed since beginning in standup comedy? [30:46]
When did Bill finally feel like he’d arrived as a comedian? [34:01]
On the importance of enjoying success in the moment. [35:15]
Does a comedian who goes through therapy, meditates, or tries to cope with life in a healthy way run the risk of losing their “edge?” [37:03]
Why Bill thinks we should have stopped advancing technology circa ’94-’95. [40:01]
What prompted Bill to start his podcast? [42:00]
Formative experiences between beginning comedy specials and “F Is for Family.” [44:32]
Who is alienated by Bill’s humor? [48:44]
Does Bill ever deliberately try to alienate an audience in order to reel them back in? [51:42]
What Bill observed by comparing Rodney Dangerfield’s audience to Eddie Murphy’s. [53:20]
What advice would Bill give his 25-year-old self? What advice does he think his 60-year-old self would tell him now? [56:10]
Most memorable heckles. [101:25]
Is Bill prepared for the apocalypse? [1:04:58]
People Mentioned
Gregg “Opie” Hughes
Dave Elitch
Robert Burr
Ron Howard
Nia Hill
Gordon Ramsay
Jim Norton
Lizzie Grubman
Billy Bush
Amanda Schatz
Lucien Hold
Dave Chappelle
Anthony Cumia
Randy Baumann
Mike Binder
Joseph Stalin
Donald Trump
Barack Obama
George W. Bush
Bill Clinton
George H. W. Bush
Ronald Reagan
Rodney Dangerfield
Eddie Murphy
Rudy Giuliani
Jay Mohr
Wil Sylvince
Robert Kelly
John F. Kennedy
Kim Jong-un
September 13, 2017
Ray Dalio, The Steve Jobs of Investing
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“Pain plus reflection equals progress.”
– Ray Dalio
Ray Dalio (@raydalio) grew up a middle-class kid from Long Island. He started his investment company Bridgewater Associates out of a two-bedroom apartment at age 26, and it now has roughly $160 billion in assets under management. Over 42 years, he has built Bridgewater into what Fortune considers the fifth most important private company in the U.S.
Along the way, Dalio became one the 100 most influential people in the world (according to Time) and one of the 100 wealthiest people in the world (according to Forbes). Because of his unique investment principles that have changed industries, CIO Magazine dubbed him “the Steve Jobs of investing.”
Ray believes his success is the result of principles he’s learned, codified, and applied to his life and business. Those principles are detailed in his new book Principles: Life and Work.
In this interview, we cover a lot, including:
How Ray thinks about investment decisions, how he thinks about correlation, etc.
The three books he would give to every graduating high school or college senior
How he might assess cryptocurrency
And much, much more…
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear a podcast featuring another great investor? — Listen to this conversation with Naval Ravikant. In this episode, we discuss the habits and behaviors of both highly successful and happy people (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring 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 put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet.
People are always asking me what I use for cognitive enhancement right now — this is the answer. You can try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/tim and using the code Tim to get 20 percent off your first order. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you’ll be disappointed.
This podcast is also 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, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. As a listener of The Tim Ferriss Show, you’ll get 30 percent off your first order at AthleticGreens.com/Tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio
Connect with Ray Dalio:
Bridgewater Associates | Principles.com | Twitter | Facebook
Einstein’s Mistakes: The Human Failings of Genius by Hans C. Ohanian
Us v Them: The Birth of Populism by John B Judis, The Guardian
Schism Atop Bridgewater, the World’s Largest Hedge Fund: Bridgewater Associates Founder Ray Dalio and Presumed Heir Apparent Greg Jensen Called for Votes on Each Other’s Conduct; Using the ‘Pain Button’ by Rob Copeland and Bradley Hope, The Wall Street Journal
Employees at the World’s Largest Hedge Fund Use an App to Rate Each Other on Over 100 Traits — Here’s How It Works by Richard Feloni, Business Insider
Ray’s TED Talk: How to Build a Company Where the Best Ideas Win
My most recent TED Talk: Why You Should Define Your Fears Instead of Your Goals
Paul Dalio on Being Proud to Be Bipolar, Charlie Rose
Touched with Fire
Could It Be Bipolar? 14 Signs to Look For by Timothy J. Legg and Kathryn Watson, Healthline
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis
The Upside of Inequality: How Good Intentions Undermine the Middle Class by Edward Conard
The Serengeti Rules: The Quest to Discover How Life Works and Why It Matters by Sean B. Carroll
From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds by Daniel C. Dennett
A Magic Web: The Forest of Barro Colorado Island by Christian Ziegler and Egbert G. Leigh
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
The Lessons of History by Will Durant and Ariel Durant
River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life by Richard Dawkins
Ray’s famous video: How the Economic Machine Works (in 30 Minutes)
The Quiet Master of Cryptocurrency — Nick Szabo
Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook by Tony Robbins
More Money Than God: Hedge Funds and the Making of a New Elite by Sebastian Mallaby
Show Notes
Ray describes his middle class childhood in Long Island and what got him hooked on investing at the tender age of 12. [06:33]
What Ray learned about business as “a professional mistake-maker.” [08:29]
“Pain plus reflection equals progress.” [12:01]
Many mistakes are avoidable if we remember to look outside of the events of our own lifetimes and experiences. [14:39]
What Ray has learned about patterns from examining history — on a grand scale and in everyday life. [16:42]
How evidence-based meritocracy works at the radically truthful, radically transparent environment at Bridgewater. [20:07]
Ray talks about the function of his company’s “pain button” app. [23:21]
On the “invaluable” benefits of Transcendental Meditation (which Ray has been practicing since 1969). [25:59]
Ray gives us the specifics behind his daily TM routine (and what he does when he’s not in his usual surroundings). [29:54]
Other tools developed at Bridgewater that promote the company’s culture of truth and transparency. [33:29]
Ray explains the three things that go into nurturing an “idea meritocracy” in a company culture — and its benefits. [36:33]
The “Two-Minute Rule” and other protocols for preventing disagreement from boiling over into emotionally charged fighting. [40:35]
Why does Ray remember early failures more vividly than early successes — and what does this tell him about both? [43:14]
What helped Bridgewater win out over some of its more established competition? [46:59]
The three ingredients of a successful life. [47:12]
What makes intelligent people unhappy? [48:22]
Our personal experiences with clinical depression. [49:41]
Four protocols Ray’s son Paul follows for dealing with bipolar disorder. [53:24]
What I’ve recently learned about observing a consistent, earlier bedtime. [56:03]
Why it’s important to work toward removing the stigma of mental illness. [56:57]
Ray talks about some of his own positive influences and role models growing up. [1:00:24]
What is Ray’s reading process? [1:02:18]
Books in Ray’s current reading list. [1:04:31]
How does Ray choose what to read? [1:08:00]
The three books Ray would give to every graduating high school or college senior. [1:09:49]
The best investors I’ve met almost all have a fascination with evolution. Why is that? [1:11:50]
Good ways to explore or investigate someone else’s reasoning behind their conclusions. [1:14:42]
Ray clarifies one of his most misunderstood maxims: “Don’t pick your battles; fight them all.” [1:16:32]
What Ray considers the overarching challenge we all face, and how our challenges adapt over time. [1:17:50]
How does Ray define and think about risk? [1:22:54]
A deep dive into data sets and the layers on uncorrelated bets. [1:29:43]
Learning the basics: Ray explains economics as “a pretty simple machine” in his famous 30-minute video. [1:37:40]
How would Ray begin to assess if a new investment opportunity — such as cryptocurrency — is worthwhile? [1:38:38]
Assessing the motivations of buyers and sellers. [1:42:05]
How should the decreasing value of a favored asset class change an investor’s behavior? [1:45:00]
How is Ray’s diversification approach unique? [1:48:00]
What advice would Ray have for someone who has the majority of their concentrated portfolio in a particular asset? [1:48:47]
What would Ray’s self-talk be like if he found himself stuck in a difficult investment position? [1:51:38]
Has stress ever caused Ray to liquidate all positions and start over? [1:53:17]
Psychology is a big deal in the markets. Here’s how Ray uses technology to remove a lot of his own emotional stress from the equation. [1:54:46]
Wrapping up: making transitions and sharing principles. [1:57:40]
People Mentioned
Steve Jobs
Bill Gates
Albert Einstein
Richard Nixon
George Soros
Karl Popper
Rick Rubin
Chase Jarvis
Paul Dalio
Saint Christopher
Abraham Lincoln
Winston Churchill
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Joseph Campbell
Will Durant
Ariel Durant
Richard Dawkins
Sigmund Freud
Tony Robbins
David F. Swenson
September 9, 2017
Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky — Exploring Creativity, Ignoring Critics, and Making Art
Photo credit: Niko Tavernise
“Procrastination is part of the process.”
– Darren Aronofsky
Darren Aronofsky (@DarrenAronofsky) is the founder and head of production company Protozoa Pictures. He is the acclaimed and award-winning filmmaker behind both cult classics and blockbusters, including Pi (which earned him a Best Director award at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival), Requiem For a Dream, The Wrestler (the third U.S. film in history to win the esteemed Golden Lion award), Black Swan (which won Natalie Portman the Academy Award for Best Actress and garnered four other Oscar nominations), Noah (His biblically inspired epic that opened at number at the box office and grossed more than $362,000,000 worldwide), and his latest, mother!, a psychological horror-thriller film starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
In this episode, we explore a wide range of topics, including:
His creative process and “nomadic writing”
Work environment and highly unusual desks
The “Month of Fury”
How to navigate tough conversations over creativity and control
Psychedelics
Dealing with critics
And much more…
Many thanks to Peter Attia for making the introduction — check out his three previous appearances on this show here.
Please enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another podcast with another award-winning movie maker? — Listen to my conversations with Robert Rodriguez. In this episode, we discuss the making of From Dusk ’till Dawn, Sin City, and what it means to be the “Wizard” of Hollywood (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by WordPress, my go-to platform for 24/7-supported, zero downtime blogging, writing online, creating websites — everything! I love it to bits, and the lead developer, Matt Mullenweg, has appeared on this podcast many times.
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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
All you need to do to get your free 30-day Audible trial is visit Audible.com/Tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose any of the endless options they offer. That could be a book, a newspaper, a magazine, or even a class. It’s that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and get started today. Enjoy.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Darren Aronofsky:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
mother!
Pi
The Pipe Organ Desk by Kagen Sound
Final Draft
Carrie by Stephen King
Black Swan
The Wrestler
The Fountain
Noah
The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker
Fear-Setting: The Most Valuable Exercise I Do Every Month (The TED Talk in which I discuss my own thoughts of suicide)
Animals on Psychedelics: Survival of the Trippiest by Steven Kotler, Psychology Today
Are Psychedelic Drugs the Next Medical Breakthrough?
Treating PTSD with MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy by Amy Emerson, MAPS
Exploring the Benefits of Outdoor Experiences on Veterans by Jason Duvall and Rachel Kaplan, Sierra Club
Dr. Peter Attia on Life-Extension, Drinking Jet Fuel, Ultra-Endurance, Human Foie Gras, and More
Barfly
Angel Heart
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera
A Marrakech Tale: Master Storyteller Ahmed Ezzarghani and Apprentice Sara Are Fighting to Keep the Moroccan Storytelling Tradition Alive by Horia El Hadad, Al Jazeera
The School for Field Studies
After 25 Years, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Hasn’t Ended by Marybeth Holleman, CNN
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
Nobody’s Perfect by Tom Shone, New York Magazine
The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
The Hero with a Thousand Faces (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell) by Joseph Campbell
Requiem for a Dream
Welcome to the Dollhouse
AlphaGo: The First Computer Go Program to Beat a Human Human Go Player
The Alien of Extraordinary Ability
Japanese Chess (Shogi)
The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
Requiem for a Dream: A Novel by Hubert Selby, Jr.
Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg
Heavy Weather: Darren Aronofsky Gets Biblical by Tad Friend, The New Yorker
Dungeons & Dragons
Humans of New York
Show Notes
Darren tells us about his peculiar, one-of-a-kind desk. [07:50]
How does Darren’s “nomadic” writing process differ from project to project? [11:26]
How is screenwriting like sculpting? [14:39]
Darren tells us why it only took him about 18 hours to write the draft for Pi. [15:30]
For contrast, Darren walks us through the formation of the draft for mother! and how years can often pass between an idea for a film and its end result. [16:27]
The sometimes fine line between genius and madness. [18:17]
Psychedelics and nature as therapy. [23:30]
On the benefits of fasting. [27:21]
Why Darren believes in being up front with people from the very beginning — as illustrated by his first conversation with Mickey Rourke. [31:40]
What does Darren want the audience to take away from his films? [39:32]
What are the ingredients that create emotional engagement in a movie? [42:43]
The experience that got Darren involved in storytelling. [45:05]
Darren’s life-changing experiences as a 16-year-old “concrete jungle flea” in Kenya, and kayaking next to glaciers in Alaska. [49:38]
How does Darren respond to public perception and criticism? [52:06]
Why does Darren not consider himself a “real” writer? [56:09]
As an aside, here’s why you shouldn’t stay awake for six days straight. [59:11]
How does Darren stay creatively focused without sacrificing balance in other areas of his life? [1:02:16]
The schedule of a filmmaker. [1:06:43]
Resources for aspiring filmmakers and the real secret to gaining an audience. [1:09:20]
Darren’s history with the game of Go. [1:13:19]
The unwritten rule of people watching in New York City, and why Darren laments the advent of Wi-Fi on the subway. [1:18:33]
Darren talks about his first time in Tokyo. [1:21:40]
Darren explains the three rules behind a “Month of Fury.” [1:22:48]
How does Darren write heavily visual components into his screenplays? [1:28:11]
Why mother! required an especially long time to put together. [1:30:43]
The importance of boundaries and constraints in any art form. [1:32:49]
The origin ideas behind mother! and what Darren hopes people take away from seeing it. [1:35:28]
On feedback loops, climate change, and coping with the guilt of being an accidental litterbug. [1:36:49]
What potential mother! viewers should know before going into the theater. [1:39:49]
Career advice Darren might give to a new filmmaker who wants to avoid being chewed up by the industry. [1:46:18]
What would Darren’s closest friends say is the superpower behind his success? [1:50:08]
How is Darren’s teaching process like playing Dungeons & Dragons? [1:53:31]
If Darren himself could no longer make films, how might he focus on teaching others to do so in six months? [1:55:23]
Top scriptwriters Darren recommends for inspiration. [1:59:03]
Parting thoughts. [2:01:34]
People Mentioned
Peter Attia
Natalie Portman
Jennifer Lawrence
Javier Bardem
Kagen Sound
David Blaine
Ari Handel
Bob Dylan
Mickey Rourke
Mike Tyson
Milan Kundera
Paul Newman
Dr. Seuss
Rick Rubin
Federico Fellini
Debbie Millman
Maria Popova
Christopher Vogler
Joseph Campbell
Scott Silver
Murray Carter
Howard Stern
Tony Robbins
Allen Ginsberg
Steven Spielberg
George Lucas
Eric Roth
Scott Silver
Chris Terrio
Charlie Kaufman
September 6, 2017
The CIA, The Police, and Other Adventures from Stewart Copeland
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“Get yourself into a state of calmness, and then ferocity will take care of itself.”
– Stewart Copeland
Stewart Copeland (@copelandmusic) is a Grammy Award-winning musician, considered by Rolling Stone Magazine to be one of the top ten drummers of all time. He’s a founding member of The Police, and an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In this conversation, we delve into lessons for surviving the music industry, why entrepreneurs (and self-directed artists) never get a day off, how The Police developed their unique sound, the decision that changed everything, and much more.
This episode comes from my new television show Fear(less), where I interview world-class performers about how they’ve overcome doubt, conquered fear, and made their toughest decisions. You can watch the entire first episode with illusionist David Blaine for free at att.net/fearless. (To watch all episodes, please visit DIRECTV NOW).
We recorded three hours of material and only one hour was used for the TV show. This podcast episode is almost entirely new content that didn’t appear on TV.
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another podcast with an incredibly inspirational musician? — Listen to my conversation with Nicholas McCarthy. In this episode, we discuss how to overcome limitations, proving doubters wrong, how to manage ego, and much more. (Stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Mizzen + Main. These are the only “dress” shirts I now travel with — fancy enough for important dinners but made from athletic, sweat-wicking material. No more ironing, no more steaming, no more hassle. They are a personal favorite of NFL phenom J.J. Watt, alongside many professional athletes. Click here for the exact shirts I wear most often.
Don’t forget to use the code “TIM” at checkout for free shipping. And if you purchase before September 15, they’ll also donate a shirt to the effort to help those in need in Houston.
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Need that slow carb diet boost? Take a look at kettleandfire.com/tim for 20 percent off your entire order!
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Stewart Copeland:
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo, and Pygmies by Stewart Copeland
The Police
The Special Operations Executive 1940 – 1946 by Nigel Morris, BBC History
Kim Philby, Spies, and the Dangers of Paranoia by Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker
Wild Thing (The Backstage, on the Road, in the Studio, Off the Charts Memoirs of Ian Copeland) by Ian Copeland
Eberhard Schoener / The Police — Only the Wind [Rare Live, 1978]
Andy Summers Curious about Lost Police Gum Ad, Daily Express
Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
The White Album by The Beatles
Stravinsky: Petroushka & The Rite of Spring
Spinal Tap – “These Go to Eleven…”
Gene Simmons “Proud to Be a Part of Charity Concert Event in Support of Wildwood School”
Don’t Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin
Whiplash
Stewart Copeland live with Ben Hur conducted by Richard Kaufman
Show Notes
As multifaceted as Stewart’s life has been, his mother’s life could easily be considered more fascinating. [07:28]
On growing up as an American abroad. [08:58]
What did Stewart aspire to be when he was a kid? [10:49]
Stewart talks about leaving Beirut as a teenager when his CIA father’s cover was blown. [11:20]
“I’m going to have to hang up now — they’re shooting at me personally!” [15:18]
Stewart’s brother was a war hero. He decided to take a different route. [18:30]
Stewart’s early entrepreneurial venture with his brother, and the summer vacation that led to the formation of The Police. [22:05]
Important lessons learned from running his own business in college. [23:55]
Why dub reggae appealed to London punks in the ’70s, and what “secret weapon” Stewart had in his arsenal from learning drums in Lebanon. [25:39]
How bringing Andy Summers into The Police put Sting on his A game and helped the band transcend its “punk group” roots. [26:45]
How did The Police make stylistic decisions? [31:06]
On musical differences, synergy, co-dependence, and the changing dynamic of The Police during their recording career. [32:50]
How scoring a film differs from playing drums in a band. [36:48]
For people who don’t know drums, Stewart explains why he plays with traditional grip — and what that means. [45:00]
Top three favorite albums. [47:26]
Three favorite drummers. [48:28]
What weaknesses does Stewart encounter in his own work, and how does he overcome them? [50:19]
Is Stewart the Indiana Jones of rock and roll? [54:51]
That time Stewart and Gene Simmons argued about Old Testament theology backstage at a charity event. [58:16]
Are there any inspirational quotations that influence Stewart’s lifestyle? [59:54]
Advice to a musician getting ready for their first “big” performance. [1:01:09]
On the capacity of some to switch from “on” to “off” (and vice versa) before performing. [1:03:11]
People Mentioned
Francis Ford Coppola
Oliver Stone
Lorraine Copeland
Miles Copeland, Jr.
Kim Philby
Fuad Chehab
Ian Copeland
Shukri al-Quwatli
Husni al-Za’im
Miles Copeland III
Topper Headon
Sting
Andy Summers
Eberhard Schoener
Felix Mendelssohn
Johannes Brahms
Buddy Rich
Gene Krupa
Jimi Hendrix
Igor Stravinsky
John Bonham
Clyde Stubblefield
Mitch Mitchell
Jon Fishman
Indiana Jones
Stephen Stills
Gene Simmons
Bob Dylan
Zebadiah
Seneca
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Marcelo Garcia
Michael Jordan
Mike Tyson
Wayne Gretzky
