Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 79
January 18, 2017
Arnold Schwarzenegger Part 2! Bodybuilding, Investing, and Online Battles
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“Part of being successful is to give something back.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger (@Schwarzenegger) told you he’d be back.
In our first conversation (Episode 60), the former Mr. Olympia, Terminator, and Governator shared daily routines, psychological warfare tactics, favorite books, early entrepreneurial ventures (and tips), and many stories no one had heard before. This time around, the new host of The Celebrity Apprentice answered your most popular and upvoted questions, including some controversial ones. He does not shy away from anything, and this is no exception.
In this episode, Arnold talks about his recent Twitter battle with President-elect Donald Trump, his investment strategies, politics, the state of bodybuilding, his sleep schedule, and much more. [Special thanks to Daniel Ketchell for pitching the questions here.]
He forgot to plug his latest project, however, so I will do it here: tune into The New Celebrity Apprentice Mondays at 8 p.m., or watch it on the NBC app.
I hope you enjoy this incredible round two with Arnold Schwarzenegger! It doesn’t disappoint.
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 Arnold Schwarzenegger? — Listen to his first appearance on the podcast. In this episode, we discuss the art of psychological warfare, how Twins became his most lucrative movie, mailing cow balls to politicians, how Arnold made millions before his acting career took off, and much, much more (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $4B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you — for free — exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
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. Listeners of The Tim Ferriss Show get $100 worth of travel packs for free when placing an order — that’s twenty free additional travel pouches. Just visit 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
Connect with Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Tim Ferriss Interviews Arnold Schwarzenegger on Psychological Warfare (And Much More)
The New Celebrity Apprentice
Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes The High Road After Trump’s Twitter Diss by Tod Perry, Good
Conan the Barbarian
Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor of California — 2003 Commercial
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
2016 Arnold Classic Women’s Physique International Highlights
Ms. Olympia
I Don’t Give a **** If We Agree about Climate Change by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Facebook
Prop 23: Schwarzenegger, Van Jones Say No by Siel Ju, 89.3 KPCC Pacific Swell
USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy
The Surprisingly Lucrative Pre-Fame Career of Arnold Schwarzenegger by Karl Smallwood, Today I Found Out
No, Arnold Schwarzenegger Can’t Be President — and This Is Dumb by Ian Millhiser, ThinkProgress
Sylmar-San Fernando Earthquake: 45 Years Ago Tuesday, 64 Killed by Dana Bartholomew, Los Angeles Daily News
Show Notes
Arnold sets the scene and talks about his mic-drop response to a tweet from President-elect and former Celebrity Apprentice host Donald Trump. [05:56]
What’s been the hardest choice in Arnold’s life, and the biggest sacrifice he’s made while climbing the ladder of success? [08:34]
What is the most important thing a woman needs to know if she wants to lead both men and women effectively? [10:55]
On women in bodybuilding (or anything else, for that matter). [13:07]
Arnold talks sleep habits and time management. [14:32]
Going green and having a strong economy aren’t mutually exclusive. [18:38]
Arnold’s tips on preparing mentally for competition. [20:52]
How does aging affect diet and fitness? [23:10]
How can environmentalists better communicate the urgency of tackling climate change now rather than later? [26:06]
On learning from failures. [31:51]
What wisdom does Arnold know today that he could have used in his twenties? [34:40]
Has pursuit of success ever made Arnold blind to other parts of life? [37:48]
What circumstances led to Arnold befriending Warren Buffett? [42:20]
What’s Arnold’s take on modern bodybuilding and steroid use? What’s changed in the sport — on a professional and personal level — since he began? [45:02]
How does Arnold approach risk? Is it possible to train yourself to take better risks? [51:01]
How does Arnold stay motivated? [55:14]
What specific things did Arnold look for in his real estate investments? [57:20]
Arnold’s worst real estate investment is still growing in value. [1:01:46]
What law would Arnold pass, remove, or amend if given the power? [1:03:07]
How did Arnold and his partner Franco Columbu drum up business when they owned a construction company? [1:07:37]
Who would win in a fight between Arnold and me? [1:10:44]
Closing thoughts. [1:11:28]
People Mentioned
Donald Trump
Daniel Ketchell
Maria Shriver
Indira Gandhi
Margaret Thatcher
Golda Meir
Angela Merkel
Catherine the Great
Michael Jordan
Ted Williams
Reg Park
Warren Buffett
George Shultz
Steve Reeves
John Grimek
Clint Eastwood
Charles Bronson
Warren Beatty
Joe Weider
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Franco Columbu
January 16, 2017
The Return of the Money Shot
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“In order for art to imitate life, you have to have a life.”
– Whitney Cummings
Whitney Cummings (@whitneycummings) is a Los Angeles-based comedian, actor, writer, and producer.
She is the executive producer and, along with Michael Patrick King, co-creator of the Emmy-nominated CBS comedy 2 Broke Girls. She has headlined with comics including Sarah Silverman, Louis C.K., Amy Schumer, Aziz Ansari, and others.
Her first one-hour stand-up special, Money Shot, premiered on Comedy Central in 2010 and was nominated for an American Comedy Award. Her second stand-up special,
I Love You, debuted on Comedy Central in 2014, and her latest special, I’m Your Girlfriend, premiered on HBO in 2016.
Whitney will be publishing her first book later this year, titled I’m Fine… And Other Lies.
In this episode, Whitney answers questions submitted by listeners, including:
How to overcome codependency
Her updated thoughts on marriage
The art and luck of creating something funny
The benefits of having dogs (or pets in general)
How to maximize your creative energy
Tips for more effective writing
And much, much more.
Please enjoy this Q&A with Whitney Cummings!
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 Whitney Cummings? — Listen to her first appearance on the podcast. In this episode, we discuss emotional intelligence, how to overcome workaholic tendencies, managing instant gratification and much, much more (stream below or right-click here to download):
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. Listeners of The Tim Ferriss Show get $100 worth of travel packs for free when placing an order — that’s twenty free additional travel pouches. Just visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by Varidesk. You’ve probably heard of research concluding that sitting all day is terrible for you (“Sitting is the new smoking” is a phrase I hear a lot.). But standing all day isn’t an option for everyone, either.
My assistant and I have been enjoying the use of Varidesk, the middle ground that effortlessly converts your standard desk to a standing desk (and back again) in seconds. It comes fully assembled — just take it out of the box, put it on your desktop, and go. Models start at just $175. Check out Varidesk.com to see which one might be the right fit for you. It even comes with a 30-day, hassle-free return policy if you decide it’s not your style. That’s Varidesk.com.
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 Whitney Cummings:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Whitney Cummings on Turning Pain Into Creativity (her first appearance on this show)
Whitney’s stand-up comedy specials: Money Shot, I Love You, and I’m Your Girlfriend
2 Broke Girls
What is codependency?
The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine
Whitney Cummings to Direct ‘The Female Brain’ Movie Comedy by Dave McNary, Variety
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie
Whitney Cummings: Rough Sex, Frozen Eggs, and What Chris Rock Said about Her Hair on Howard Stern
The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
Susan Garrett — Master Dog (and Human) Trainer
Learn about a real-life horse whisperer in the documentary Buck
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Adult Children of Alcoholics Fellowship Text
Whitney copes with writer’s block through Bambi, adult coloring books, and Marina Abramovic’s documentary and autobiography.
Black Mirror — Series 1-2 and Special
The Shining
Against The Stream Buddhist Meditation Society
The Magic Ingredient That Brings Pixar Movies to Life TED Talk by Pixar’s Danielle Feinberg
Whitney calls The Comeback “one of the top three greatest comedy shows of all time.”
Miraval Resort & Spa in Arizona
The Larry Sanders Show
The Reflective Horse
How ‘2 Broke Girls’ Star Beth Behrs Is Using Equine Therapy to Help Sexual Assault Victims by Tracy Ross, The Hollywood Reporter
Learn more about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming (EMDR)
The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller
The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower — and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels
Phil Stutz on WTF with Marc Maron
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
The Male Brain: A Breakthrough Understanding of How Men and Boys Think by Louann Brizendine
Laird Hamilton, The King of Big Wave Surfing (Plus: Gabrielle Reece and Brian MacKenzie)
Friday Night Lights
Show Notes
On being expeditious. [05:14]
Defining codependence, getting to the root of its origins, and ways Whitney works to overcome its pervasive influence. [06:10]
“Perfectionism leads to procrastination, which leads to paralysis.” [16:35]
The fabric of humor: can Whitney deconstruct what makes something funny? [20:55]
Has Whitney’s view on relationships changed since her interview with Howard Stern last year? [27:51]
Would there be a market for The 4-Hour Marriage? [36:19]
Whitney’s advice on introducing dogs when upgrading to a multiple-canine household. [37:28]
Ways to maintain creative energy during overwhelming workloads. [44:50]
How Whitney nurtures her inner child. [45:43]
Why rituals are important (especially if you work from home). [51:59]
The surprising efficacy of color therapy. [54:16]
On developing a healthier attitude about working in a male-dominated industry — even among other women. [56:15]
How Whitney would approach show business if she were just getting started today. [1:01:07]
Challenges the codependent faces when hiring and firing people. [1:03:47]
What’s been the most challenging thing that equine therapy has prompted Whitney to accept and overcome about herself? [1:08:50]
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming), hypnosis, and therapeutic book recommendations. [1:16:14]
Want a low-risk place to test your jokes? Start a funny Twitter feed. [1:26:32]
Worrying about being perceived as a hack might be a sign of codependent tendencies. [1:27:15]
Out of writing, acting, stand-up, and other projects in which she’s involved, what is Whitney’s favorite creative outlet? [1:35:35]
Why Whitney thinks everyone should try stand-up comedy at least once. [1:38:19]
How do you get your TV script or screenplay read by the right people in Hollywood (especially when you don’t live in Hollywood)? [1:40:42]
Where does Whitney get ideas for jokes? [1:43:27]
Whitney wants to redo her billboard answer. [1:45:37]
Wisdom from Vince Lombardi and other closing thoughts. [1:48:40]
People Mentioned
Michael Patrick King
Sarah Silverman
Louis C.K.
Amy Schumer
Aziz Ansari
George Carlin
Sebastian Maniscalco
Josh Fadem
Howard Stern
Buck Brannaman
Ramona
Julie Iles
Marina Abramovic
George Haas
John Bowlby
Lisa Kudrow
Neal Brennan
Garry Shandling
Cassandra Ogier
Beth Behrs
Chief Raincloud
Phil Stutz
Marc Maron
Gabrielle Reece
Laird Hamilton
Bill Burr
Dave Attell
Marianne Williamson
Oprah Winfrey
Byron Allen
Beyoncé
George Foreman
Gregg “Opie” Hughes
Anthony Cumia
Chris Rock
Peter Berg
Vince Lombardi
January 12, 2017
How to Design a Life – Debbie Millman
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“Hard decisions are only hard when you’re in the process of making them.”
– Debbie Millman
For some of you, this may be most important podcast episode you ever listen to. I don’t say that lightly.
It has nothing to do with me and everything to do with my guest, who walks us through gripping stories, tactical details, humor, pain, and emotional redemption. We cover some sensitive and extremely important ground. Thank you, Debbie.
Graphic Design USA has named Debbie Millman (@debbiemillman) “one of the most influential designers working today.” She is also the founder and host of Design Matters, the world’s first and longest-running podcast about design, where she’s interviewed nearly 300 design luminaries and cultural commentators including Massimo Vignelli and Milton Glaser.
Debbie’s done it all. Her artwork has been exhibited around the world. She’s designed everything from wrapping paper to beach towels, greeting cards to playing cards, notebooks to t-shirts, and Star Wars merchandise to global Burger King rebrands.
Debbie is the President Emeritus of AIGA (one of only five women to hold the position in the organization’s one-hundred-year history), the editorial and creative director of Print magazine, and the author of six books. In 2009, Debbie co-founded (with Steven Heller) the world’s first masters program in branding at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, which has received international acclaim.
We cover a lot in this discussion: how to recover from rejection, how to overcome personal crises of faith, class exercises from her most impactful mentors, and much more.
Please enjoy (and reflect on) this wide-ranging conversation with Debbie Millman…
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 an influential podcaster? — Listen to my interview with Stephen J. Dubner. In this episode, we discuss how to grow a podcast, the President’s actual influence over the economy, how virtual reality might affect education, and much, much more (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 Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you — for free — exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.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 Debbie Millman:
Twitter | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Design Matters Podcast
AIGA (Founded in 1914 as the American Institute of Graphic Arts)
The Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts
Print magazine
Books by Debbie Millman
See Debbie’s childhood drawing that predicted her future in this interview with The Great Discontent.
The Complete Gidget Collection
Working on the UAlbany student newspaper is where Debbie was bitten by the design bug.
Hanlon’s razor: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
Nantucket Nectars
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
NO MORE | Joyful Heart Foundation
HOT 97 | Where Hip Hop Lives
Sterling Brands
Eleven Madison Park Restaurant
365 | Design Effectiveness Competition
AIGA: Sold Out — the Speak Up open letter by Felix Sockwell and its follow up, Is the Dark Side Prevailing?
Landor
Stop Being Sheep (PDF)
Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works by Erik Spiekermann and E.M. Ginger
Debbie in Ironic Chef garb
How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman
Wally Olins: The Brand Handbook
This is Historic Times by M. Kingsley & Debbie Millman, Speak Up
VoiceAmerica
Design Observer
Al Pacino in The Godfather: Part III
Don’t know a lot about design? Debbie recommends checking out her interviews with Chris Ware, Amanda Palmer, Alain de Botton, Krista Tippett, Nico Muhly, and…Tim Ferriss. (Thanks!)
Show Notes
As someone who has such a diverse tapestry of backgrounds, how does Debbie describe what she does to someone she meets for the first time? [07:14]
How a rediscovered childhood drawing predicted Debbie’s future. [09:13]
Debbie never set out to become a designer. [14:47]
On being thwarted by (and recovering from) initial rejection. [21:59]
What would Debbie say to her college self after her first big rejection? [26:38]
Empathy for those who reject us vs. feeling slighted by them. [30:53]
How did a lifelong desire to live in Manhattan figure into Debbie’s pursuit of happiness and influence what she does today? [36:54]
Debbie talks frankly about a history of abuse, and how it guided her desire for self-sufficiency and her work with NO MORE and the Joyful Heart Foundation. [44:34]
On coping with the aftermath of abuse and feeling profoundly alone because the ordeal seems “so surreal, and unnatural, and punishing.” [51:18]
Debbie tells us what it was like to be called a “corporate clown” and a “she-devil.” [57:57]
The lowest point becomes the catalyst: the journey from she-devil to godmother. [1:14:21]
Brochures can change the world. [1:18:07]
The origins of Debbie’s Design Matters podcast, and how it’s changed over the course of twelve years. [1:24:08]
Debbie explains the impact of Milton Glaser on the world of design and her life. [1:28:03]
Debbie shares “Your Ten-Year Plan for a Remarkable Life” exercise she modified from Milton Glaser and teaches in her classes. [1:33:51]
“Hard decisions are only hard when you’re in the process of making them.” [1:40:00]
Design Matters episodes Debbie recommends for people who might not know much about design. [1:49:50]
People Mentioned
Massimo Vignelli
Milton Glaser
Steven Heller
Chris Sacca
David Bowie
Rosalind Russell
Robert Edelstein
Scarlett O’Hara
Mariska Hargitay
Maile Zambuto
Joe Biden
Felix Sockwell
Dave Weinberger
Walter Landor
Armin Vit
Erik Spiekermann
Bryony Gomez-Palacio
Michael Bierut
Paul Archer
Joyce Rutter Kaye
Mark Kingsley
Bill Drenttel
Molly
Simon Williams
Austin McGhie
Al Pacino
Dani Shapiro
Naval Ravikant
Chris Ware
Amanda Palmer
Alain de Botton
Krista Tippett
Nico Muhly
January 9, 2017
Cribs for Gyms — Rust and Iron, Episode 1
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After visiting dozens, maybe hundreds, of gyms all over the world, I decided to create a show that showcases some of my favorites. From home gyms to the training meccas of the world, welcome to the Rust and Iron® TV mini-series!
Thinks of it as Cribs for gyms.
The first episode of Rust and Iron® features the home gym of Kelly Starrett (@mobilityWOD), one of the top Crossfit coaches in the world, and one of my favorite PTs and performance trainers.
Links to nearly everything Kelly shows, plus some bonuses, can be found in the show notes below. His expanded bio is also included.
Please let me know what you think in the comments!
I’m not married to the idea of this series; this is just an experimental episode. Should I do more or focus elsewhere? Whose gyms or which gyms should I feature? What would you like more of, less of, etc.? All feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Enjoy!
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Kelly Starrett
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Start Here: The Foundation
Rogue Folding Back Squat Rack: After your workout, you have the ability to quickly remove the pull-up bar and fold the sides of the rack back against the wall.
Rogue Garage Pull Up Bar: Standard pull up bar that can be mounted to both a concrete wall or garage support beams.
Rogue Parallettes: Meant for gymnastics training such as handstand pushups, planches, or L-sits.
Rogue Bumper Plates: Standard training plates with a rubber exterior to cut down on noise and damage to floors.
Rogue Barbells: The Rogue Beater Bar is a budget-priced barbell made to handle regular high-rep abuse. Kelly only uses basic barbells and does not use any of the $1000+ barbells, but any serious Olympic weightlifter should consider one.
Rogue Fat Bells: Just like a regular kettlebell, but with the handle on the inside. With this change, it allows you to use it like both a kettlebell as well as a dumbbell. It reduces the shearing force on your joints since the grip is centered around the weight.
Rogue Jump Ropes: Great for warming up or conditioning. Beginners often prefer heavier ropes, but as they progress, athletes often opt for lighter ropes so they can move at faster speeds.
If You Have Extra Budget…
Rogue Log Bar: Initially used as a strongman tool, it’s effective for any weightlifter looking to gain strength. The neutral grip handles are easier on your wrists and shoulders, and the thickness of the bar forces you to stay over the weight longer to maintain power during your initial pull.
Rogue Thompson Fat Pad: Thicker and wider than a regular bench, the Thompson Fat Pad is Kelly’s preferred training pad for benching. It promotes proper scapular movement and eliminates shoulder hangover.
Rogue Multi-Grip Bench Bar: Kelly has wrist issues from 30 decades of paddling, so this is his preferred bar to bench with. It has multiple handles, all in a neutral grip. This makes it easier to pin your shoulders back, thus putting you into a more stable and safer position.
Rogue Bandbell Earthquake Bar: A unique bar made with bamboo, meant to hold tons of weight attached with bands. Benching/squatting/pressing/overhead walking are all made extremely difficult due to the constantly moving weight. Just put some kettlebells on the end with some bands and wait to feel the burn.
Rogue Farmer’s Walk Handles: Simple but sinister tool to work your grip, shoulders, traps, posterior chain, etc.
Rogue Slam Balls: Ideal balls for overhead ball slams, as they are much sturdier than medicine balls.
Dynamax Medicine Balls: Good grip and durability, they are most often used for wall balls, but can be used for a variety of different exercises.
MobilityWOD Tools
Rogue Supernova: An alternative to foam rollers, the Supernova’s grooved design and firmness allow athletes to get deep into their larger muscles.
Voodoo Floss Bands : Kelly calls this his most versatile piece of equipment. Compression flossing (aka Voodoo flossing) works on so many levels to break apart adhesions and flush out swollen tissues and joints. Plus it’s easy to travel with.
Rogue Mobility Stick and Cradle: A short metal bar for mobilizing your janky tissues. Same look and feel as a barbell, but hand-held and easier to transport.
Other Mobility Tools
Raw Roller Foam Roller Kelly’s preferred roller. A thin layer of foam over a pipe that is stronger and thicker than most rollers.
Lacrosse Balls Any brand will work, perfect for rolling out your feet or very specific areas of your body.
Rogue Monster Bands The go-to bands for mobility, specifically banded distraction to help joint mobility.
Geisha Body Tempering Roller (Thompson X-Wife)
Endurance Training
Watt Bike: This is a perfect indoor bike for any serious cyclists. The data it delivers is vast and extremely accurate.
Concept 2 Rower: The best selling indoor rower in the world, and for good reason. Great for cardiovascular training that taxes both your upper and lower body.
Concept 2 SkiErg: Think of it as a rower turned on its end. Fantastic aerobic trainer and especially ideal for anyone looking to maintain their aerobic training through a lower body injury.
Assault Bike: The resistance ramps up automatically as you push, pull and pedal with greater speed and force.
Onnit Mace Kelly loves to use this to hit a tractor tire. It’s an effective way to mimic real world movement and gives you a total body workout.
Tractor Tire: You could buy one online, but the easiest way to get one is to contact your local tire supplier as they most likely have some old, used ones lying around that will be perfect for your needs.
Armor Plyo Boxes: Kelly’s preferred boxes for box jumps or step ups. Lifetime guarantee.
Inflatable Tub: Kelly (and his wife Juliet) use this for their cold baths, alternating between a few minutes in their hot tub, and then jumping into this for 10-30 slow, controlled breaths.
About The Host: Kelly Starrett
Kelly Starrett (@mobilityWOD) is a coach, physical therapist, author, speaker, and creator of MobilityWOD, which has revolutionized how athletes think about human movement and athletic performance.
His 2013 release, Becoming a Supple Leopard, was a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller. He teaches the wildly popular Crossfit Movement & Mobility Trainer course and has been a guest lecturer at the American Physical Therapy Association annual convention, Google, Perform Better Summit, Special Operations Medical Association annual conference, and elite military groups nationwide.
Kelly Starrett received his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2007 from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland, California. Kelly’s clients have included Olympic gold-medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world and national record-holding Olympic Lifting and Power athletes, Crossfit Games medalists, ballet dancers, military personnel, and competitive age-division athletes.
January 4, 2017
Fasting vs. Slow-Carb Diet, Top $150 Purchases, Balancing Productivity and Relaxation, and More
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“People tend to abandon the good system they’ll follow in search of the perfect system that they will quit.”
We’re going to kick off the year with an in-betweenisode where I answer the most popular questions you’ve submitted.
If you’re wondering what you can do to ask a question that gets answered in the future, these are good criteria to follow:
I can answer it in a few minutes or less.
It will help more than the one person asking.
It will not immediately be irrelevant.
In contrast, here are some examples of questions that don’t generally get answered:
“If you had $100 and six months, how would you turn it into $10,000 or $100,000, etc.?”
“If there were one particular home business opportunity where I could make $2,000 additional per month, what would you suggest?”
If I had the magical answer to either of these, I’d use it for myself! And if there were an answer to share with one of you, I’d share it with my whole audience — which diminishes its usefulness as a competitive edge considerably.
Without further ado, here are the questions I’m answering this time around. Happy New Year!
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 where I answer questions? — Listen to “17 Questions That Changed My Life.” In this episode, I share how reality is largely negotiable. If you stress-test the boundaries and experiment with the “impossibles,” you’ll quickly discover that most limitations are a fragile collection of socially reinforced rules you can choose to break at any time. What follows are 17 questions that have dramatically changed my life (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by TrunkClub. I hate shopping with a passion. And honestly, I’m not good at it, which means I end up looking like I’m colorblind or homeless. Enter TrunkClub, which provides you with your own personal stylist and makes it easier than ever to shop for clothes that look great on your body. Just go to trunkclub.com/tim and answer a few questions, and then you’ll be sent a trunk full of awesome clothes. They base this on your sizes, preferences, etc. The trunk is then delivered free of charge both ways, so you only pay for clothes that you keep. If you keep none, it costs you nothing. To get started, check it out at trunkclub.com/tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs.
I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, and I’ve also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service, which is non-spec. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you’re happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
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
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss
Dom D’Agostino on Disease Prevention, Cancer, and Living Longer
Real Life Extension: Caloric Restriction or Intermittent Fasting? Part 1 and Part 2
Beating the Morning Rush: The 3-Minute “Slow-Carb” Breakfast
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Stoicism Resources and Recommendations
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton
What I Learned in 2016
Smash Fear, Learn Anything
Goals vs. Systems, Scott Adams’ Blog
How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams
The Perfect Posterior: Kettlebell Swings and Cheap Alternatives
Here’s the video where I show you how to build your own kettlebell with $10 worth of plumbing supplies.
I recommend coach.me, Stickk or DietBet if you’re looking to make behavior changes and need an extra incentive
Abbott Precision Xtra Glucose Monitor
Dom D’Agostino — The Power of the Ketogenic Diet
Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks by Ben Goldacre
The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
The Five Minute Journal: A Happier You in 5 Minutes a Day
I talk about The Jar of Awesome and Celebrating Small Wins with CreativeLive
Security Analysis: Sixth Edition, Foreword by Warren Buffett by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel by Benjamin Graham and Jason Zweig
Berkshire Hathaway Letters to Shareholders by Warren Buffett
The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville — Warren Buffett’s 1984 speech at Columbia University
The PayPal Mafia
How to 10X Your Results, One Tiny Tweak at a Time
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
My Life Extension Pilgrimage to Easter Island
Coach Sommer episodes: The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training and The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two — Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups
Pavel Tsatsouline episodes: 80/20 Powerlifting and How to Add 110+ Pounds to Your Lifts and Pavel Tsatsouline on the Science of Strength and the Art of Physical Performance
The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter F. Drucker
True Rest Floatation Labs
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly
Seth Godin episodes: How Seth Godin Manages His Life — Rules, Principles, and Obsessions and Seth Godin on How to Think Small to Go Big
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: Violate Them at Your Own Risk! by Al Ries and Jack Trout
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
Jack Welch & The G.E. Way: Management Insights and Leadership Secrets of the Legendary CEO by Robert Slater
Show Notes
Slow-Carb Diet vs. Intermittent Fasting (IF). Is it okay to skip breakfast and get 30 grams of protein at lunch instead of within 30 minutes of waking? [05:11]
Are Stoicism and compassion mutually exclusive concepts? [09:21]
How do I deal with disappointment when reaching goals? [12:21]
I’ve talked a lot about success, but how about rebounding from failure? [15:08]
My top purchases for health, knowledge, and behavioral change. [18:26]
When does experience trump scientific explanation, if ever? [22:41]
Do high performers find intimacy and appreciation of small wins difficult? [27:11]
How do I distinguish “lucky” top performers from the truly good worth studying? [28:33]
How can someone use The 4-Hour Workweek principles when employed full time or actively serving in the military? [37:20]
How to think about balancing longevity with muscle gain and physical performance. [41:14]
On blending productivity with “relaxation” (or recovery) as a high performer. [47:06]
How to “break through the noise” — my three rules for branding and marketing. [52:38]
People Mentioned
Dom D’Agostino
Seneca
Marcus Aurelius
Matt Mullenweg
Neil Strauss
Scott Adams
Derek Sivers
BJ Fogg
Warren Buffett
Mark Bell
Barry Ross
Allyson Felix
Jocko Willink
David M. Sabatini
Christopher Sommer
Pavel Tsatsouline
Dan Engle
Joe Rogan
Kevin Kelly
Seth Godin
Jack Welch
December 29, 2016
What I Learned in 2016
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“If you’re having trouble thinking bigger, just think stranger.”
This episode is a review of the past year, as well as a look at how I plan for new years.
I haven’t written New Year’s resolutions for roughly six years. Instead, I do a post-game analysis with a series of exercises and odd questions. This episode describes that, as well as a few lessons I’ve learned.
All of the links and resources I mention in the audio can be found below.
Thank you for listening, and wishing you and yours all the best in 2017!
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 end-of-year review? — Listen to my last podcast of 2015. In this episode, I share 25 of my favorite learnings from 2015: tips, gadgets, and quotes from podcast guests that I’ve incorporated into my own life. (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 Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last 2 years and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you for free exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.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
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss
Making Oprah from WBEZ
How a Gang of Skinheads Forever Changed the Course, The Oprah Winfrey Show
Shopify’s Build a Business Competition
The Culting of Brands: Turn Your Customers into True Believers by Douglas Atkin
Debt by David Graeber (Get it on Audio)
The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World and Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth and Art by Lewis Hyde
Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud
Seth Godin likes Cramer knives
Mystery Show Case #3: Belt Buckle
1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly, The Technium
Testing The “Impossible”: 17 Questions That Changed My Life
My Life Extension Pilgrimage to Easter Island
How to Say “No” When It Matters Most (or “Why I’m Taking a Long ‘Startup Vacation'”)
DonorsChoose, QuestBridge, and BUILD are education-oriented nonprofits I enjoy working with.
Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton
The Five Minute Journal: A Happier You in 5 Minutes a Day
The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two — Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups
Jason Nemer — Inside the Magic of AcroYoga
Wired Business Conference
How to 10X Your Results, One Tiny Tweak at a Time
The 30-Day Challenge: No Booze, No Masturbating (NOBNOM)
Show Notes
What I took away from a documentary about Oprah Winfrey. [07:29]
There are only two emotions: love and fear. [08:18]
Are you attempting to be a force of good in the world, or are you representing darkness? [09:44]
Book, podcast, and knife recommendations from Seth Godin. [10:36]
“If you delight them, you’ll never lose them.” [11:39]
If I had to charge two times more for my product or service and couldn’t do any paid advertising, what would I do instead? [12:50]
80/20 analysis: 20 percent of activities, experiences, or people who produced 80 percent or more of my most positive emotions and outcomes. [14:21]
Should I go on a podcast tour? [19:14]
I need to see more sunrises and spend fewer days in big cities. [20:34]
If it is not on the calendar, it is not real. [21:12]
Can money buy happiness? [22:20]
Using my journal to spot patterns. [24:14]
Thinking in threes: three things to add and three things to remove from life. [26:57]
Matchmaking? [27:21]
The solution to cleaning up dog hair without anyone moving my stuff. [27:50]
Can I pay for every possible VR demonstration? [28:38]
Coming up with absurd ideas for experiments. [30:17]
10x vs. 10% [33:16]
The importance of scheduling the fun stuff. [34:54]
I’m taking suggestions for potential 30-day challenges and experiments (remember NOBNOM?). [36:59]
A virtual hug and legitimate gratitude to all of you and best wishes for the new year! [38:58]
People Mentioned
Oprah Winfrey
Tony Robbins
Seth Godin
Lewis Hyde
Kevin Kelly
Peter Attia
David M. Sabatini
Navdeep S. Chandel
Derek Sivers
Dan Sullivan
Molly
Jocko Willink
Sarah Silverman
Jerrod Carmichael
Shay Carl
December 26, 2016
A.J. Jacobs: Self-Experimenter Extraordinaire
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“Calling it an experiment gives you permission to fail.”
– A.J. Jacobs
A.J. Jacobs (@ajjacobs) is a kindred guinea pig of self-experimentation who chronicles his shenanigans in books that seem to keep winding up as New York Times best sellers. The Know-It-All was about his quest to learn everything in the world. In The Year of Living Biblically, he tried to follow all the rules of the Bible as literally as possible. Drop Dead Healthy followed his well- (and ill-) advised experiments to become the healthiest person alive. My Life as an Experiment is about exactly what it sounds like, and It’s All Relative — which will be out in 2017 — will aim to connect all of humanity in one family tree.
A.J. is also the host of the new podcast Twice Removed, which takes a celebrity guest and introduces them to a surprise cousin they didn’t know they had. It could be one of their heroes, an old friend, a teacher, etc.
In this episode, we talk about:
What A.J.’s learned from his experiments
His creative process
Tipping points in his life
How he learned to love marketing
And much, much more.
I think you’ll have a blast with this one — I know I did. 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 a human guinea pig? — Listen to my conversation with Morgan Spurlock. In this episode, we discuss how Morgan made his own luck, builds rapport with people and gets them to open up, gets people to care about important issues, and much more (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last 2 years and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they’ll show you for free exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.com/tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. I have used them for years to create some amazing designs. When your business needs a logo, website design, business card, or anything you can imagine, check out 99Designs.
I used them to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, and I’ve also had them help with display advertising and illustrations. If you want a more personalized approach, I recommend their 1-on-1 service. You get original designs from designers around the world. The best part? You provide your feedback, and then you end up with a product that you’re happy with or your money back. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run.
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 A.J. Jacobs:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Twice Removed
The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs
Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection by A.J. Jacobs
My Life as an Experiment: One Man’s Humble Quest to Improve Himself by Living as a Woman, Becoming George Washington, Telling No Lies, and Other Radical Tests by A.J. Jacobs
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
Habitat for Humanity
The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
The Importance of Self-Delusion in the Creative Process by A.J. Jacobs
The 9:10 to Crazyland by A.J. Jacobs
The book trailer for The Year of Living Biblically
The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana: The Classic Burton Translation
Life Logging Is Dead. Long Live Life Logging? by Antonio Regalado
The Entire History of You, Black Mirror Season 1, Episode 3
I Think You’re Fat by A.J. Jacobs
Liar Liar
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss
A.J. uses a combination of treadmill desk, Fitbit, and mockery to stay active while working.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
StickK goal-setting app
The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University by Kevin Roose
Why We’re Living in the Age of Fear by Neil Strauss, Rolling Stone
A.J.’s columns at Mental Floss
The Two Kings: Jesus; Elvis by A.J. Jacobs
Go the F**k to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life by Neil Strauss
The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined by Steven Pinker
When Doctors Literally “Blew Smoke up Your Arse” by Terynn Boulton
Everything is Amazing and Nobody is Happy, Louis CK on Conan O’Brien
Patton Oswalt addresses his Whole Foods friends about home birth (from My Weakness is Strong)
The Global Family Reunion
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
This American Life
Mystery Show
The Thousand Gates (Christo’s Central Park project)
I use Scrivener to write and procrastinate
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
The Holy Land Experience
Lying by Sam Harris
Unreal’s Kinda Guy: A.J. Jacobs, A Human Guinea Pig
Free Will by Sam Harris
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
Why depend on 18th century technology when you can use Lock Laces (elastic no-tie shoelaces)?
The Maximum Good: One Man’s Quest to Master the Art of Donating by A.J. Jacobs
My Life as a TV Sitcom by A.J. Jacobs
Before and After My $800 Haircut by A.J. Jacobs
America Off-Line: The Complete Outernet Starter Kit by A. J. Jacobs
Show Notes
How A.J. and I met. [06:25]
A.J. talks about his writing process. [08:10]
A.J. makes no apologies for being a day drinker. [12:05]
“It’s easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than to think your way into a new way of acting.” – Millard Fuller [12:45]
How does A.J. bolster his own confidence? [14:26]
A.J. shares advice he got from George Clooney. [17:00]
How does A.J. cope with writer’s block? [19:16]
What experiments from The Year of Living Biblically have resulted in enduring life changes? [21:58]
How does A.J.’s wife deal with the life disruption surrounding his experiments? [28:20]
What A.J. learned from a brief foray into quantified-self life logging. [31:32]
A.J. once spent a month without lying as research into the Radical Honesty movement. How did that go? [34:21]
My own experiment with expressing gratitude to people from my past on a daily basis. [38:33]
On being kind to your older self. [44:01]
What experiments from Drop Dead Healthy have resulted in enduring life changes? [47:00]
Want to stop a bad behavior? Blackmail yourself. [48:44]
Strategic chutzpah, biblical slavery, and Jerry Falwell. [52:50]
What advice would A.J. give to someone entering the world of marriage and parenting? [56:16]
We discuss the different ways people we know are generous with ideas. [1:04:34]
How does A.J. choose his projects? [1:16:28]
How did A.J. get involved in genealogy for his current project? [1:19:43]
Why did A.J. decide to do a podcast? [1:23:28]
How did A.J. learn to love marketing? [1:29:16]
I explain why Tools of Titans is the first book I enjoyed writing (and how I’ve learned to love marketing). [1:32:57]
A.J. talks about throwing the biggest worldwide family reunion. [1:37:30]
Has any experiment turned out to be a total dud? [1:38:42]
Are there any memorable outtakes from The Year of Living Biblically that didn’t make it into the final draft? [1:39:55]
Never underestimate the entertainment value of well-placed humiliation. [1:46:31]
The first person who comes to mind when A.J. hears the word “successful.” [1:48:59]
On ethical cannibalism, free will, and our reality’s place in the multiverse. [1:50:12]
Most gifted books. [1:53:53]
Recent purchase of $100 or less that had a positive impact on A.J.’s life. [1:54:46]
A.J.’s morning (and evening) rituals. [1:55:59]
If A.J. could give a TED Talk on something for which he’s not well known, what would it cover? [1:56:56]
Bad advice commonly heard. [1:58:24]
What would A.J.’s billboard say? [2:00:30]
What advice would A.J.’s 82-year-old self give him? [2:02:05]
One of A.J.’s favorite failures. [2:03:43]
A.J. talks about expensive haircuts, encyclopedias, and his first book. [2:05:45]
Suggestions, recommendations, and parting thoughts. [2:10:00]
People Mentioned
Millard Fuller
Tony Robbins
Julie Schoenberg
Teddy Roosevelt
George Clooney
Ben Franklin
Vladimir Nabokov
Friedrich Schiller
P. Diddy
Brad Blanton
Jim Carrey
Marcus Aurelius
Jerry Falwell
Kevin Roose
Amanda Palmer
Dan Savage
Neil Strauss
Adam Mansbach
Kevin Rose
Kevin Kelly
Louis CK
Conan O’Brien
Patton Oswalt
B.J. Novak
Scott Adams
Barack Obama
Kevin Bacon
George H.W. Bush
Susan Sontag
Chris Sacca
Alex Blumberg
Abbi Jacobson
Betsy Ross
John F. Kennedy
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Rick Rubin
Wim Hof
Tara Brach
Maria Popova
Dominic D’Agostino
BJ Miller
Ed Cooke
Joshua Foer
Paul Ekman
P.J. O’Rourke
Pierre de La Montagne
Mary-Louise Parker
Arnold S. Jacobs
Sam Harris
Jonathan Haidt
Joseph Stalin
Will MacAskill
Donald Sutherland
Paget Brewster
Amelia Boone
December 20, 2016
Becoming the Best Version of You
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“Plato would have made a lousy investor.”
– Adam Robinson
This is a special episode of The Tim Ferriss Show. The audio is from a live conversation with not one, not two, but three guests: Josh Waitzkin, Ramit Sethi, and Adam Robinson.
Josh Waitzkin is an endlessly fascinating person who gets mentioned a lot on this show for good reason. For the uninitiated, Josh was the basis for the book and movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. He’s perfected the techniques that made him into a chess prodigy and a jiu-jitsu black belt, and he shared them in his book The Art of Learning.
Ramit Sethi (@ramit) is a personal finance guru who has built a huge company from his blog. He’s the best-selling author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich.
Adam Robinson is the trusted outside global macro advisor to the heads of some of the world’s largest hedge funds and family offices. He’s written a best-seller on test preparation, developed artificial intelligence text analysis, been recognized as a chess master, and he’s hilarious.
I hope you enjoy this special edition of the podcast.
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 Josh Waitzkin? — In this episode, we discuss The Art of Learning, what separates elite performers, and strategies for peak productivity (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 Audible. I have used Audible for years, and I love audiobooks. I have two to recommend:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
All you need to do to get your free 30-day Audible trial is go to 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 Josh:
Website | The Art of Learning Project
Connect with Ramit:
Connect with Adam:
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss
The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance by Josh Waitzkin
I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
What Smart Students Know: Maximum Grades. Optimum Learning. Minimum Time. by Adam Robinson
The Mask
Josh uses Evernote to help him slice through complexity.
Adam’s method of meditation is heart rate variability training.
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
The Essential Rumi, New Expanded Edition by Jalal al-Din Rumi, Coleman Barks, and John Moyne
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker
Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger by Charles T. Munger
Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene M. Schwartz
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu
The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture by Vimalakirti
Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger
The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al Ries and Laura Ries
Show Notes
Introductions. [07:06]
Why Josh has a snaggletooth. [10:35]
Adam gives us three things he’s learned this year that he considers the keys to success. [11:42]
Ramit explains the importance of relationships. [14:40]
What would Ramit like to improve upon in the new year? [16:32]
What makes a good leader? [17:09]
Josh has surprisingly close calls with death more often than most, which makes him especially grateful for life as the new year approaches. [19:28]
Focusing on “the most important question.” [21:29]
Josh shares his process for overnight digestion of a problem he’s working on and slicing through its complexity. [23:14]
Adam talks about daily routines. [27:05]
What makes Adam good at a seemingly unrelated number of skill sets? [32:50]
How does Adam avoid falling into constructs? [39:57]
The best question ever. [41:12]
Decisions Ramit wishes he had made earlier. [43:20]
Why Ramit loves interacting with haters and belligerent people on the Internet — and how he recommends dealing with them. [47:54]
Josh on dealing with haters in person. [53:43]
Why Josh generally eschews publicity. [58:05]
On influential thinkers and books gifted most often. [1:02:23]
Ramit on how it’s easy to mistake good advice for bad when it’s received at the wrong time. [1:14:02]
Adam talks about flying matadors and character development. [1:17:41]
Josh on making the transition from competitive fighter to receptive nurturer. [1:19:58]
We talk bad (but common) advice. [1:22:14]
How much of the self is discovery vs. creation? [1:24:01]
Ramit talks about the good advice he recently received that “blew up” his whole life. [1:26:06]
Adam on finding what’s undiscovered among the common. [1:28:00]
People Mentioned
Bobby Fischer
Marcelo Garcia
Astro Teller
Reid Hoffman
Ernest Hemingway
Donald Trump
Sam Zell
Plato
John Katzman
Joe Bloggs
Janet Yellen
Robert Rodriguez
Chris Sacca
Robert Cialdini
Fred Waitzkin
Rumi
Gavin de Becker
Charlie Munger
Lao Tzu
Jack Kerouac
Robert Pirsig
Robert A. E. Thurman
Gia-Fu Feng
Jane English
Sebastian Junger
Juan Belmonte
Heston Blumenthal
Chris Young
Nick Gray
December 16, 2016
The Random Show Threesome — Tim Ferriss, Kevin Rose, and Matt Mullenweg
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“Goal setting isn’t enough.”
My first live podcast in New York City was recorded at the 92nd Street Y to a sold-out crowd of about 900 people.
This episode comes from The Random Show segment of the evening when I took the stage with Kevin Rose and Matt Mullenweg.
Kevin Rose (@KevinRose) has been my partner in crime for many things. He’s one of the best stock pickers in the startup world, the co-founder of Digg and Milk, a general partner at Google Ventures, and CEO of Hodinkee.
Matt Mullenweg (@photomatt) is most associated with a tool that powers more than 25% of the entire Web: WordPress. He’s also the CEO of Automattic, which is a multi-billion dollar, fully distributed startup.
We talk about lots of things — including setting goals and New Year’s resolutions. I hope you 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 The Random Show? — Listen to this earlier conversation with Kevin Rose. In this episode, we discuss saunas and cold treatment, as well as dating and fitness apps (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Rhone Apparel. Dozens — maybe even hundreds of you — have asked me: “What shirts are you wearing in your recent YouTube videos?” They’re a very specific set of shirts from Rhone. I’m packing for a trip for seven to ten days, and I would say half of what I’m going to pack is from Rhone. These are the most comfortable shirts (and Rhone stocks way more than shirts) that I have ever worn — at least for active wear. But you can even sneak them into a business casual event or dinner if you’re a Long Island kid like me.
Rhone has minimal branding, so you don’t feel like you’re walking around with some sort of billboard on your chest. They come with pure, melted-down silver in the fabric — anti-odor technology so you don’t smell like a musk ox halfway through the day. I love Rhone’s shirts, pants, and shorts, and I’ve been wearing them pretty much every day for the past few weeks. Luckily, there’s no risk in trying them out: free shipping and a 100-day return policy should help you decide if they’re worth it. Plus, listeners get an exclusive 15% off for using the code TIM at checkout and a special holiday bonus. Find ’em at rhone.com/tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service, led by technologists from places like Apple and world-famous investors. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. In fact, some of my good investor friends in Silicon Valley have millions of their own money in Wealthfront. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it’s all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams.
Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes two to five minutes, and they’ll show you for free exactly the portfolio they’d put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Or, as I would, you can set it and forget it. Well worth a few minutes: wealthfront.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 Kevin Rose:
Connect with Matt Mullenweg:
Twitter | Blog | Facebook | Spotify
92nd Street Y — “Where the most celebrated writers and discerning readers have gathered since 1939.”
Drinking Casa Dragones from Dixie cups is fancy.
Dr. Peter Attia on Life-Extension, Drinking Jet Fuel, Ultra-Endurance, Human Foie Gras, and More
Why Was Michael Jackson Sleeping in a Hyperbaric Chamber Such a Big Deal?
Dom D’Agostino on Disease Prevention, Cancer, and Living Longer
Precision Xtra NFR Blood Glucose Monitoring System
What is Wim Hof breathing?
“The Iceman,” Wim Hof
Total Immersion: How I Learned to Swim Effortlessly in 10 Days and You Can Too
Koya Bound — Eight Days on the Kumano Kodo with Craig Mod and Dan Rubin
What is Glamping?
Kevin Rose really is an Eagle Scout
How to Plan for the Laugavegur Trek in Iceland by Lindsay, Frugal Frolicker
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Headspace and Calm are two meditation apps Kevin recommends.
Rebirth: A Fable of Love, Forgiveness, and Following Your Heart by Kamal Ravikant
Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett
On Being with Krista Tippett
Show Notes
What’s our favorite sipping tequila? [9:00]
Kevin talks about fasting, and what he’s doing to cope with the aging process. [10:41]
Matt’s end-of-year goals and looking toward the future. [18:55]
“Do you ever Wim Hof in public?” [22:05]
Why you might reconsider the urge to get a personal cryotherapy chamber. [26:43]
My 2017 resolution for Matt. [29:26]
Matt’s 2017 resolution for Kevin. [30:21]
Kevin’s resolution for me. [33:14]
What is most frustrating and inspiring about the women in our lives? [35:46]
Matt talks about coping with the stages of grief. [42:34]
Kevin talks about the women in his life. [44:36]
Goal setting isn’t enough. I talk about fear setting. [47:33]
Kevin gives us some movie and meditation recommendations. [50:10]
Matt gives me a 2017 resolution and offers a few book recommendations. [52:17]
People Mentioned
Peter Attia
Valter Longo
Rhonda Patrick
Michael Jackson
Dominic D’Agostino
Wim Hof
Darya Rose
Vincent van Gogh
Chris Ashenden
Dan Rubin
Craig Mod
Kamal Ravikant
Krista Tippett
December 14, 2016
How to Develop Mental Toughness: Lessons From 8 Titans
Amelia Boone, the world’s most decorated obstacle racer, after jumping through fire.
“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”
― Archilochus
Mental toughness can take many forms: resilience against attack, calmness in the face of uncertainty, persistence through pain, or focus amidst chaos.
Below are eight lessons from eight of the toughest human beings I know.
All are taken from the hundreds of tips and tactics in Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers.
#1 – IF YOU WANT TO BE TOUGHER, BE TOUGHER.
(Jocko Willink, former Navy SEAL Commander)
“If you want to be tougher mentally, it is simple: Be tougher. Don’t meditate on it.”
TIM: These words of Jocko’s helped one listener—a drug addict—get sober after many failed attempts. The simple logic struck a chord: “Being tougher” was, more than anything, a decision to be tougher. It’s possible to immediately “be tougher,” starting with your next decision. Have trouble saying “no” to dessert? Be tougher. Make that your starting decision. Feeling winded? Take the stairs anyway. Ditto. It doesn’t matter how small or big you start. If you want to be tougher, be tougher.
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#2. I WASN’T THERE TO COMPETE. I WAS THERE TO WIN.
(Arnold Schwarzenegger)
TIM: In my interview with Arnold, I brought up a photo of him at age 19, just before he won his first big competition, Junior Mr. Europe. I asked, “Your face was so confident compared to every other competitor. Where did that confidence come from?” He replied:
“My confidence came from my vision. . . . I am a big believer that if you have a very clear vision of where you want to go, then the rest of it is much easier. Because you always know why you are training 5 hours a day, you always know why you are pushing and going through the pain barrier, and why you have to eat more, and why you have to struggle more, and why you have to be more disciplined… I felt that I could win it, and that was what I was there for. I wasn’t there to compete. I was there to win.”
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#3 – PUSH BEYOND, SHARE PRIVATION, TACKLE FEAR.
(4-Star General Stanley McChrystal)
TIM: The following from Gen. McChyrstal was in response to “What are three tests or practices from the military that civilians could use to help develop mental toughness?”:
“The first is to push yourself harder than you believe you’re capable of. You’ll find new depth inside yourself. The second is to put yourself in groups who share difficulties, discomfort. We used to call it ‘shared privation.’ [Definition of privation: a state in which things essential for human well-being such as food and warmth are scarce or lacking.] You’ll find that when you have been through that kind of difficult environment, you feel more strongly about that which you’re committed to. And finally, create some fear and make individuals overcome it.”
#4 – PUT FEAR IN LINE.
(Caroline Paul, luger, firefighter, and more)
TIM: In the 1990s, Caroline illegally climbed the Golden Gate Bridge, rising to ~760 feet on thin cables. She’d mentioned “putting fear in line” to me, and I asked her to dig into the specifics.
“I am not against fear. I think fear is definitely important. It’s there to keep us safe. But I do feel like some people give it too much priority. It’s one of the many things that we use to assess a situation. I am pro-bravery. That’s my paradigm.
Fear is just one of many things that are going on. For instance, when we climbed the bridge, which was five of us deciding we wanted to walk up that cable in the middle of the night. Please don’t do that, but we did. Talk about fear—you’re walking on a cable where you have to put one foot in front of the other until you’re basically as high as a 70-story building with nothing below you and . . . two thin wires on either side.
It’s just a walk, technically. Really, nothing’s going to happen unless some earthquake or catastrophic gust of wind hits. You’re going to be fine as long as you keep your mental state intact. In those situations, I look at all the emotions I’m feeling, which are anticipation, exhilaration, focus, confidence, fun, and fear. Then I take fear and say, ‘Well, how much priority am I going to give this? I really want to do this.’ I put it where it belongs. It’s like brick laying or making a stone wall. You fit the pieces together.”
#5 – IS THAT A DREAM OR A GOAL?
(Paul Levesque/Triple H, WWE superstar and executive)
“[Evander Holyfield] said that his coach at one point told him, something like his very first day, ‘You could be the next Muhammad Ali. Do you wanna do that?’ Evander said he had to ask his mom. He went home, he came back and said, ‘I wanna do that.’ The coach said, ‘Okay. Is that a dream or a goal? Because there’s a difference.’ “I’d never heard it said that way, but it stuck with me. So much so that I’ve said it to my kid now: ‘Is that a dream, or a goal? Because a dream is something you fantasize about that will probably never happen. A goal is something you set a plan for, work toward, and achieve. I always looked at my stuff that way. The people who were successful models to me were people who had structured goals and then put a plan in place to get to those things. I think that’s what impressed me about Arnold [Schwarzenegger]. It’s what impressed me about my father-in-law [Vince McMahon].”
#6 – PAIN TOLERANCE CAN BE THE FORCE MULTIPLIER
(Amelia Boone, 3x World’s Toughest Mudder champion)
“I’m not the strongest. I’m not the fastest. But I’m really good at suffering.”
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#7 – WHO DO YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WHEN YOUR EGO FEELS THREATENED?
(Josh Waitzkin, chess prodigy, push hands world champion, first black belt under BJJ phenom Marcelo Garcia)
Back in the world of combat sports and Brazilian jiu-jitsu:
“It’s very interesting to observe who the top competitors pick out when they’re five rounds into the sparring sessions and they’re completely gassed. The ones who are on the steepest growth curve look for the hardest guy there—the one who might beat them up—while others look for someone they can take a break on.”
#8 – THE MAGIC OF THE SINGLE DECISION
(Christopher Sommer, former men’s gymnastics national team coach)
TIM: We all get frustrated. I am particularly prone to frustration when I see little or no progress after several weeks of practicing something new. Despite Coach Sommer’s regular reminders about connective-tissue adaptations taking 200 to 210 days, after a few weeks of flailing with “straddle L extensions,” I was at my wits’ end. Even after the third workout, I had renamed them “frog spaz” in my workout journal because that’s what I resembled while doing them: a frog being electrocuted.
Each week, I sent Coach Sommer videos of my workouts via Dropbox. In my accompanying notes at one point, I expressed how discouraging it was to make zero tangible progress with this exercise. Below is his email response, which I immediately saved to Evernote to review often.
It’s all great, but I’ve bolded my favorite part.
“Dealing with the temporary frustration of not making progress is an integral part of the path towards excellence. In fact, it is essential and something that every single elite athlete has had to learn to deal with. If the pursuit of excellence was easy, everyone would do it. In fact, this impatience in dealing with frustration is the primary reason that most people fail to achieve their goals. Unreasonable expectations time-wise, resulting in unnecessary frustration, due to a perceived feeling of failure. Achieving the extraordinary is not a linear process.
The secret is to show up, do the work, and go home.
A blue collar work ethic married to indomitable will. It is literally that simple. Nothing interferes. Nothing can sway you from your purpose. Once the decision is made, simply refuse to budge.
Refuse to compromise.
And accept that quality long-term results require quality long-term focus. No emotion. No drama. No beating yourself up over small bumps in the road. Learn to enjoy and appreciate the process. This is especially important because you are going to spend far more time on the actual journey than with those all too brief moments of triumph at the end.
Certainly celebrate the moments of triumph when they occur. More importantly, learn from defeats when they happen. In fact, if you are not encountering defeat on a fairly regular basis, you are not trying hard enough. And absolutely refuse to accept less than your best.
Throw out a timeline. It will take what it takes.
If the commitment is to a long-term goal and not to a series of smaller intermediate goals, then only one decision needs to be made and adhered to. Clear, simple, straightforward. Much easier to maintain than having to make small decision after small decision to stay the course when dealing with each step along the way. This provides far too many opportunities to inadvertently drift from your chosen goal. The single decision is one of the most powerful tools in the toolbox.”
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The above is a small sample of hundreds of tips in Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers. Check it out!
Tools of Titans is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Books-A-Million, iBooks, Indiebound, Indigo, and more.
