Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 88
March 2, 2016
The World’s Most Famous Performance-Enhancement Chemist
“The thing about the government is that they can accuse you of something, ruin your life, you can be completely innocent and you don’t get compensated.” – Patrick Arnold
At the behest of my astute legal counsel, here is a legal disclaimer for this episode:
First, I am not recommending, endorsing, or supporting any of the substances or compounds (especially illegal) discussed or described in the interview. I am interviewing Patrick Arnold as a journalist seeking additional information regarding matters of public interest and concern.
Second, I have removed some of the names of athletes who are alleged to have used performance enhancing drugs. I recognize that this seems excessive, but even if athletes have been publicly banned for drug usage, unless the ban relates to the specific substance and time period referenced in the podcast, I can be sued for defamation for repeating or publicizing these stories.
With all that said, here we go…
If you liked my episode with Dom D’Agostino, Ph.D., you might love this one.
Patrick Arnold, widely considered “the father of prohormones,” is an organic chemist known for introducing androstenedione (remember Mark McGwire?), 1-Androstenediol (marketed as “1-AD”), and methylhexanamine into the dietary supplement market.
He also created the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone, best known as THG and “the clear.” THG, along with two other anabolic steroids that Patrick manufactured (best known: norboletone), were not banned at the time of their creation. They were hard-to-detect drugs at the heart of the BALCO professional sports doping scandal, which thrust Barry Bonds and others into the spotlight. BALCO distributed these worldwide to world-class athletes in a wide variety of sports, ranging from track and field to professional baseball and football.
Recently, Patrick has been innovating in the legal world of ketone supplementation, including breakthroughs in performance and taste with products like KetoForce and KetoCaNa, which were highlighted during my podcast with Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D.
If you’d like to meet the (in)famous Patrick Arnold in person, you can find him at The Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio from March 3-6, 2016 at Booth 328.
Otherwise, you can check out his current concoctions for athletes here and here.
In this science-dense conversation, we cover a ton, mostly related to better performance through chemistry. We also discuss Patrick’s biggest successes and mistakes, his path to science, ursolic acid and other clever creations, exogenous ketone supplementation for sports, as well as nonsense in the media about anabolics (e.g., current Delta-2 scandal).
Short on time? Listen to this segment on how an internet chat forum led to one of the biggest scandals in sports history.
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 related to enhanced human performance from another chemist? — Listen to my conversation with Dom D’Agostino, Ph.D. In this episode, we discuss fasting, ketosis, and the end of cancer (stream below or right-click here to download):
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What is your philosophy on the use of performance enhancing chemicals? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about gynecomastia (AKA – bitch tits)
Check out the Arnold Classic
Check out FitCon
Learn more about 6-OXO
Learn more about tetrahydrogestrinone (THG)
Check out the Merck Index, a compilation of natural compounds
Watch the documentary Bigger Stronger Faster
My ketone measurement tool – Precision Xtra Blood Glucose and Ketone Monitoring System
Breathalyzer ketone measurement tool – The Ketonix Device
Check out KetoCaNa, Prototype Nutrition’s exogenous ketone product
Learn more about Ian Danney (Note: Danney-Ball), Optimum EFX and Amino Matrix
Learn more about Metformin
Jack Kennedy by Chris Matthews
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
To purchase Patrick Arnold products visit:
Prototype Nutrition (Facebook) | E-Pharm (Facebook)
Learn more from Patrick Arnold:
KetoSports.com (Facebook) | PatrickArnoldBlog.com
Show Notes
How Patrick Arnold developed a passion for bodybuilding, chemistry, and anabolic steroids [5:12]
How Patrick started making his own chemical concoctions [9:31]
How Patrick decided to create designer steroids [13:31]
Patrick’s concept of prohormones [17:57]
Describing the progression from androstenediol to 4-androstenediol (4-AD) to 1-androstenediol (1-AD) [22:07]
Elaborating on Patrick’s “learning experience” with methadone derivatives [29:57]
How Patrick weaned himself off methadone [34:42]
Other athletic enhancement drugs, which have high abuse potential [39:12]
The biggest waste of money for athletes and competitors in terms of supplements [44:49]
The compounds Patrick created that he is most proud of [47:45]
The story of when DEA came after Patrick Arnold’s company [55:12]
How Patrick came in contact with Victor Conte [58:32]
Distinguishing between anabolic and androgenic steroids [1:10:05]
How tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) came about and why it was so weird [1:16:39]
Drugs that should not be used with anabolic agents [1:22:56]
What is ursolic acid and when will it become available again? [1:25:42]
If IGF-1 production is increased from ursolic acid products, at what point is cancer risk elevated? [1:32:31]
Thoughts on quickly learning rudimentary organic chemistry [1:33:57]
Patrick’s yohimbe experiment [1:36:21]
When will we be able to measure our own BHB levels without blood? [1:40:41]
How Patrick was introduced to the world of exogenous ketones [1:45:07]
What are the most interesting applications of exogenous ketones? [1:51:27]
Who should be wary of consuming exogenous ketones or KetoCaNa [1:55:37]
Personal attributes that have been important to his success with making new chemicals [1:56:47]
When do the best ideas come to you? [1:59:05]
Typical morning routines [2:00:12]
Patrick Arnold’s workout drink and routine [2:01:12]
Thoughts on longevity and expanding lifespan [2:03:37]
When you think of the word successful, who is the first person who comes to mind and why? [2:05:58]
Most gifted books [2:06:50]
The most common misconceptions about Patrick Arnold [2:08:12]
Advice for your thirty-year-old self [2:10:30]
Patrick Arnold’s comments on Delta-2 [2:12:37]
Performance enhancing drugs and therapies which we will be hearing about in the next few years [2:16:52]
Thoughts on selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS) [2:19:31]
Particular molecules that are exceptionally beautiful [2:23:44]
People Mentioned
Dan Duchaine
Victor Conte
Don Catlin
Bill Gates
February 28, 2016
How to Achieve Self-Ownership
“Greatness develops only at long intervals.” – Seneca
This is another special episode of the podcast, featuring one of my favorite letters from Seneca. It’s not long, but its impact is far greater than the duration. Before you listen, I want you to think about this philosophy from Fight Club:
“The things you own end up owning you.”
Understanding this mindset will help you to explore the practical philosophies found in this episode. Please enjoy Letter 42, On Values, by Seneca the Younger.
If you only have 60 seconds, listening to this clip could increase your happiness by changing your relationship with your possessions.
If you find this letter useful, you can pick up the whole collection at the Tao of Seneca.
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 segment of The Tao of Seneca? — Listen to How to Practice Poverty and Reduce Fear. In this episode, I dig deeper into the value of stoicism and examining unfounded fears and untested assumptions (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is 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.
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. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. 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. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: How did this episode influence the way you think about loss and gain? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Show Notes
Start of Letter 42 – On Values [5:14]
On becoming a “good man” [5:21]
How to identify and manage “cruel men” [7:37]
On the true costs of purchases and/or things which appear free [8:39]
Re-thinking personal gain and loss [10:03]
February 24, 2016
Kaskade and Sekou Andrews: The Musician and the Poet
Photo credit: Jason DeFillippo
This episode is a special double header. It features one interview and one performance.
First up is Kaskade (@Kaskade), widely considered one of the Founding Fathers of Progressive House Music. He’s been voted “America’s Best DJ” twice by DJ Times, headlined Coachella 4 times, and been nominated for a Grammy 5 times.
If you want to hear a cool behind-the-scenes story about how he created the hit song 4 am, check out this 2-minute clip.
Next, you’ll hear Sekou Andrews (@SekouAndrews), the most impressive poetic voice I’ve ever heard. I first saw him perform at TED, where he blew my mind. Sekou is a schoolteacher turned 2x National Poetry Slam champion. He has presented privately for Barack Obama, Bono, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, as well as for many Fortune 500 companies. If you ever have the chance to hear him live or hire him, take it.
Or, just spend a minute and learn about the “soul selfie.”
Photo credit: Jason DeFillippo
Each one of these takes a few minutes to get warmed up, so be patient. There are gems in both. Among other things…
Kaskade covers his first breaks, making his own luck, formative musical influences, and we dig into his notetaking process, and the origins of one of his biggest hits.
Sekou will inspire you to be inspired by your story. Do you want to change your narrative, your internal dialogue, to be more successful? Do you need to get back on the horse, or have an effective pep talk in your back pocket?
This might be the recording you listen to over and over again. There is a lot of practical philosophy embedded in and between the lines, so listen to it all.
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 mega-successful performer? — Listen to my conversation with Jamie Foxx. In this episode, we discuss his workout routines, untold Hollywood stories, and he shares many of his best impressions. (Stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years and I love audio books. 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 between more than 180,000 audio programs. 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!
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 are your thoughts on my first live episode of the podcast? Would you like me to do more of these? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Om Records in San Francisco
Club Manhattan in Salt Lake City (closed)
Soulstice
The Cure
King King in Los Angeles
Kaskade – 4 AM
Kaskade Radio on Spotify
Daft Punk – Homework
Daft Punk – Discovery
Kraftwerk
Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath by Ted Koppel
Coachella
Electric Zoo in New York
Kaskade Redux EP
Connect with Kaskade:
Connect with Sekou Andrews:
Show Notes
Kaskade on his first big break [05:52]
When Kaskade realized he could make a living from music [06:55]
Kaskade describes what it was like to move from a thriving music scene in Chicago to Utah. [08:26]
How Kaskade started making his own music [09:47]
Recommendations for someone getting started in dance music today [12:09]
Kaskade’s songwriting influences [16:40]
What rituals or self-care Kaskade uses to keep from getting run down on long tours [18:12]
Kaskade’s parenting style. [19:52]
Kaskade’s on taking notes. (And how they got him in trouble on tour.) [21:32]
Kaskade tells a behind-the-scenes story of his song 4 AM. [23:51]
Kaskade’s recommendations for a new listener to dance music. [26:17]
Kaskade talks about how most music — even rock n’ roll — is electronic these days. [27:42]
Most gifted books [28:43]
What Kaskade believes is the most underappreciated festival. [29:22]
The first person who comes to mind when Kaskade thinks of the word “successful.” [30:11]
What Kaskade’s billboard would say (and where it would be). [30:42]
Sekou Andrews shows how to take a “soul selfie.” [32:22]
Do you live what you love and love incorrigibly? Do you sleep well, but go to bed horribly? [36:05]
Sekou talks about the science of miracles and the mathematics of purpose. [37:35]
“I am not perfect. I’m perfect like I am.” [38:01]
Sekou on celebration. [38:41]
Sekou’s perfect day. [39:36]
How Sekou stays positive in the face of adversity. [41:00]
Sekou’s most powerful lessons. [41:29]
Sekou on paper-cutting despair “one positive affirmation at a time.” [44:12]
Where Sekou finds his inspiration. [46:18]
People Mentioned
Sting
Morrissey
Robert Smith
Naomi Raddon (Kaskade’s wife)
February 18, 2016
Shaun White and the Magic of “Who Cares?”
Photo: Jason DeFillippo
“My parents never really told me I couldn’t do anything.” – Shaun White
This particular episode comes from a fun event — my first live podcast at the iconic Troubadour in L.A. It sold out through my newsletter in 30 minutes, so thanks to all of you who came. If you haven’t signed up for the email newsletter, you should check it out. It’s free. Just go to fourhourworkweek.com/friday.
There were quite a few amazing guests at the event, and we’re going to divide them up into a few episodes.
Shaun White (@ShaunWhite) is our first — a professional snowboarder and skateboarder. Among his formidable feats of strength:
He’s a 2x Olympic Gold medalist.
He holds the X Games record for gold medals at 15, as well as the highest overall medal count at 24.
Shaun has earned the number two spot on BusinessWeek’s list of the 100 most powerful and marketable athletes.
And — ACH-TUNG! — for those near L.A. or willing to travel, Shaun is hosting an incredible event called Air + Style. Think of it as X Games meets Coachella, where you can listen to world-famous bands and then see jumps off of a 16-story ramp (no joke), among other excitement. Check it out at airandstyle.com. For 20% off general or VIP admission, you can use code “TimFerriss.” I get no cut, and I’ve already bought four tickets for myself and friends. The code is only good until midnight PT on February 19th (Friday).
If you only have a couple of minutes, listen here to discover who Shaun considered one of his biggest mentors and the lessons he learned.
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 from a world-class athlete? You will probably enjoy my podcast with Triple H. In this episode, we discuss pre-fight rituals, injury avoidance, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is 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.
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. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. 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. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Based on Shaun’s two-goal philosophy, what two goals would you set for yourself? How would they help with your life or business? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Tetralogy of Fallot (Shaun’s heart condition)
Encinitas YMCA
Birdhouse Skateboards
X Games
charity: water
Burton Snowboards
Shaun White’s Business Is Red Hot at Fast Company
IMG
2006 Winter Olympics (Torino, Italy)
Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
Toyota Big Air
2010 Winter Olympics (Vancouver, Canada)
Rolling Stone Magazine (March 18th, 2010) Featuring Shaun White
Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook by F.L. Fowler
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Bear Mountain’s Snow Summit
AC/DC – Back in Black
Led Zeppelin – Communication Breakdown
The Black Keys – Howlin’ For You
Ozzfest
The Most Unholy Jacket Ever
Metallica – Master of Puppets
Bad Things (Shaun’s band)
Lollapalooza
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Phantogram
Air + Style
Coachella
Mayor B’s Instagram (Shaun’s dog)
Connect with Shaun White:
Air + Style | GO90 | Website | Twitter | Instagram
Show Notes
Shaun’s heart defect that made the life of a world-class athlete unlikely. [06:27]
Shaun talks about the first time he met Tony Hawk. [08:09]
Shaun discusses his family background. [14:59]
How did Shaun’s parents keep him grounded when he started getting attention from sponsors like Burton at age seven? [16:26]
How has Shaun managed to maintain creative control and avoid the pitfall of bad decisions that often plague athletes? [18:47]
Shaun talks about some of his career mentors. [21:28]
What opportunities is Shaun glad he said no to? [23:45]
What advice would current-day Shaun give to his 2006 Winter Olympics self in Torino (when he won his first gold medal)? [26:54]
Shaun describes picture day at school with two black eyes. [27:58]
Shaun explains his lifelong admiration for Andre Agassi and lessons he’s learned from the tennis great. [33:07]
Shaun sets two goals every season: something serious and something funny. [40:29]
What is Shaun’s internal dialogue when he’s competing? [44:07]
Most gifted books. [47:24]
Was growing up in Southern California a disadvantage for an aspiring snowboarder? [48:41]
Shaun tells us how his physical training differs now from when he was younger. [50:39]
Shaun’s superstitions and what he does before competitions. [55:30]
What was so unholy about Burton’s White Collection? [58:52]
How did Shaun get involved with music? [01:01:51]
Shaun tells us about inheriting the Air + Style event. [01:10:15]
Who is the first person who comes to mind when Shaun thinks of the word “successful?” [01:14:40]
Who does Shaun rely on to tell him when he’s wrong? [01:15:28]
When does Shaun tend to come up with new tricks? [01:16:39]
Are there any historical figures Shaun wishes he could meet? [01:17:25]
What would be on Shaun’s non-advertisement billboard? [01:17:41]
People Mentioned
Tony Hawk
Mike McGill
Yoda
David Blaine
Mark Ervin
Cathy White (Shaun’s mom)
Roger White (Shaun’s dad)
Jesse White (Shaun’s brother)
Bob Burnquist
Neil Gaiman
Andre Agassi
Steffi Graf
Paul Levesque (aka Triple H)
Floyd Mayweather
Seven Days in Hell
Andy Samberg
Kit Harington
Bjorn Borg
John McEnroe
Jake Burton
Jared Leto
Ozzy Osbourne
Kendrick Lamar
Donald Duck
Shaun White: The Most Unholy Snowboarder Ever
Photo: Jason DeFillippo
“My parents never really told me I couldn’t do anything.” – Shaun White
This particular episode comes from a fun event — my first live podcast at the iconic Troubadour in L.A. It sold out through my newsletter in 30 minutes, so thanks to all of you who came. If you haven’t signed up for the email newsletter, you should check it out. It’s free. Just go to fourhourworkweek.com/friday.
There were quite a few amazing guests at the event, and we’re going to divide them up into a few episodes.
Shaun White (@ShaunWhite) is our first — a professional snowboarder and skateboarder. Among his formidable feats of strength:
He’s a 2x Olympic Gold medalist.
He holds the X Games record for gold medals at 15, as well as the highest overall medal count at 24.
Shaun has earned the number two spot on BusinessWeek’s list of the 100 most powerful and marketable athletes.
And — ACH-TUNG! — for those near L.A. or willing to travel, Shaun is hosting an incredible event called Air + Style. Think of it as X Games meets Coachella, where you can listen to world-famous bands and then see jumps off of a 16-story ramp (no joke), among other excitement. Check it out at airandstyle.com. For 20% off general or VIP admission, you can use code “TimFerriss.” I get no cut, and I’ve already bought four tickets for myself and friends. The code is only good until midnight PT on February 19th (Friday).
If you only have a couple of minutes, listen here to discover who Shaun considered one of his biggest mentors and the lessons he learned.
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 from a world-class athlete? You will probably enjoy my podcast with Triple H. In this episode, we discuss pre-fight rituals, injury avoidance, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is 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.
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. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. 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. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Based on Shaun’s two-goal philosophy, what two goals would you set for yourself? How would they help with your life or business? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Tetralogy of Fallot (Shaun’s heart condition)
Encinitas YMCA
Birdhouse Skateboards
X Games
charity: water
Burton Snowboards
Shaun White’s Business Is Red Hot at Fast Company
IMG
2006 Winter Olympics (Torino, Italy)
Sandman by Neil Gaiman
Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi
Toyota Big Air
2010 Winter Olympics (Vancouver, Canada)
Rolling Stone Magazine (March 18th, 2010) Featuring Shaun White
Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook by F.L. Fowler
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Bear Mountain’s Snow Summit
AC/DC – Back in Black
Led Zeppelin – Communication Breakdown
The Black Keys – Howlin’ For You
Ozzfest
The Most Unholy Jacket Ever
Metallica – Master of Puppets
Bad Things (Shaun’s band)
Lollapalooza
Thirty Seconds to Mars
Phantogram
Air + Style
Coachella
Mayor B’s Instagram (Shaun’s dog)
Connect with Shaun White:
Air + Style | GO90 | Website | Twitter | Instagram
Show Notes
Shaun’s heart defect that made the life of a world-class athlete unlikely. [06:27]
Shaun talks about the first time he met Tony Hawk. [08:09]
Shaun discusses his family background. [14:59]
How did Shaun’s parents keep him grounded when he started getting attention from sponsors like Burton at age seven? [16:26]
How has Shaun managed to maintain creative control and avoid the pitfall of bad decisions that often plague athletes? [18:47]
Shaun talks about some of his career mentors. [21:28]
What opportunities is Shaun glad he said no to? [23:45]
What advice would current-day Shaun give to his 2006 Winter Olympics self in Torino (when he won his first gold medal)? [26:54]
Shaun describes picture day at school with two black eyes. [27:58]
Shaun explains his lifelong admiration for Andre Agassi and lessons he’s learned from the tennis great. [33:07]
Shaun sets two goals every season: something serious and something funny. [40:29]
What is Shaun’s internal dialogue when he’s competing? [44:07]
Most gifted books. [47:24]
Was growing up in Southern California a disadvantage for an aspiring snowboarder? [48:41]
Shaun tells us how his physical training differs now from when he was younger. [50:39]
Shaun’s superstitions and what he does before competitions. [55:30]
What was so unholy about Burton’s White Collection? [58:52]
How did Shaun get involved with music? [01:01:51]
Shaun tells us about inheriting the Air + Style event. [01:10:15]
Who is the first person who comes to mind when Shaun thinks of the word “successful?” [01:14:40]
Who does Shaun rely on to tell him when he’s wrong? [01:15:28]
When does Shaun tend to come up with new tricks? [01:16:39]
Are there any historical figures Shaun wishes he could meet? [01:17:25]
What would be on Shaun’s non-advertisement billboard? [01:17:41]
People Mentioned
Tony Hawk
Mike McGill
Yoda
David Blaine
Mark Ervin
Cathy White (Shaun’s mom)
Roger White (Shaun’s dad)
Jesse White (Shaun’s brother)
Bob Burnquist
Neil Gaiman
Andre Agassi
Steffi Graf
Paul Levesque (aka Triple H)
Floyd Mayweather
Seven Days in Hell
Andy Samberg
Kit Harington
Bjorn Borg
John McEnroe
Jake Burton
Jared Leto
Ozzy Osbourne
Kendrick Lamar
Donald Duck
February 16, 2016
Meet “Scorpion,” The Real-Life Santa Claus
“I believe that peace means that one person has the biggest stick. I build those sticks.” – Walter O’Brien
UPDATE: This episode ended up sparking a lot of controversy. Many skeptics asked pointed questions about Walter’s background, claims, and credentials (often pointing to pages like this or this). This is the first time I’ve run into such an issue with the podcast, so it took me some time to figure out how to respond.
Here is my post-game analysis, as well as Walter’s response.
I struggled with whether or not to take down this episode and blog post entirely. In the end, I decided it was more instructive to leave the below original up (with this new preface) and add an audio note to the beginning of the podcast (coming soon).
I’m hoping it will help us all improve, especially yours truly. Thank you for all of your feedback.
Walter O’Brien (AKA “Scorpion”) (@walterobrienscs) is the founder of Scorpion Computer Services and ConciergeUp.com, a for-hire global think tank that provides intelligence-on-demand as a concierge service. The tag line for the latter is, “for any funded need.”
Need to defend against chemical warfare?
Move an entire manufacturing operation over a weekend?
Save a loved one from a deceitful spouse?
Thread the needle on a thorny legal issue?
Become a pop star in a foreign country?
When Walter and his team of 2,000+ distributed geniuses say “any funded need,” they mean it literally.
Born in Ireland, Walter was diagnosed as a child prodigy with an IQ of 197. He became an Irish national coding champion and competed in the Olympics in informatics.
Fast forward to today, he and Scorpion get paid to fix every imaginable problem for billionaires, startups, governments, Fortune 500 companies, and people like you and me. On the large side, it ranges from mitigating risk on $1.9 trillion of investments to inventing artificial intelligence engines to protect United States war fighters in Afghanistan.
Walter is also the executive producer of the hit CBS TV show Scorpion, inspired by his life, which has reached more than 26 million television viewers.
I was introduced to Walter well before the show, and we go deep in this conversation, with lots of amazing and also hilarious examples of problem solving.
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 from a world-class computer scientist? — Listen to my conversation with Luis von Ahn, the founder and CEO of DuoLingo. In this episode, we discuss learning languages, building companies, and changing the world (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. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. 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. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by Boll & Branch. There is a lot of nonsense in the bedding business. For instance, did you know thread-count is not a good measurement of quality? It’s a total myth. The “Made in Italy” label? It isn’t something you should necessarily pay extra for because it generally means it’s just finished in Italy and woven in places like China.
The general industry mark-up for bedding is 700 to 800 percent at most retailers. Boll & Branch creates incredibly high-quality bedding. They are the same sheets you’ll find at my home in San Francisco.
The best part? You can try anything you order at home for 30 days. If you don’t love it, send it back and get a full refund. Go to Boll & Branch and use promo code “TIM” for 20% off your entire order. Whether sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, or anything else. Shipping is always free.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What is a problem you would like to have ConciergeUp solve for you? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about ConciergeUp
Learn more about the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
Learn more about HTC VIVE
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson and Jonathan Davis
Glimpses of Heaven, Visions of Hell by Barrie Sherman and Phillip Judkins
Learn more about Teslasuit or tactile feedback suits
Learn more about ScenGen
Watch the TV show based on Scorpion
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green
The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Into the Heart of the Mind by Frank Rose
Show Notes
How Walter O’Brien began his relationship with NASA [8:15]
How Scorpion came to be [13:20]
The Emotional Quotient vs. Intellectual Quotient phenomenon [15:05]
The origin story of the name Scorpion and current status of the company [16:40]
The largest project Scorpion Computer Sciences has worked on [20:05]
How Scorpion implements “any funded need” solutions [20:42]
The “Gold Digger” story [23:07]
The current state of head transplants and why it may be of interest [30:00]
Why Walter O’Brien has never tried alcohol [38:28]
How Walter O’Brien cultivated a higher EQ [43:25]
Thoughts on developing the skill of rational thinking [45:30]
Meditative practices [53:10]
On virtual reality [57:15]
What is ScenGen? [1:04:20]
Are high IQ intellectuals more susceptible to emotional highs and lows? [1:12:47]
Cognitive patterns in people with high IQ [1:14:54]
How the TV show Scorpion came to be [1:16:45]
When you think of the word successful who is the first person who comes to mind and why? [1:30:22]
How Walter O’Brien gets out of a funk [1:32:09]
Most gifted books [1:33:20]
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively affected your life? [1:34:40]
Advice to Walter O’Brien’s 30-year-old-self [1:37:45]
On the challenge of sleeping [1:39:35]
Particular morning routines [1:41:35]
Thoughts on New Year’s resolutions, goal setting and completing the to-do list [1:42:30]
Historical figures that Walter O’Brien identifies with the most [1:43:50]
If you could put one billboard anywhere, with anything on it, where would it be and what would it say? [1:45:00]
Final words and asks of the audience [1:48:10]
People Mentioned
Scooter Braun
Bill Gates
Winston Churchill
Meet “Scorpion,” The Real-Life Santa Claus with an IQ of 197
“I believe that peace means that one person has the biggest stick. I build those sticks.” – Walter O’Brien
This episode might make your head explode… in the best way possible.
Walter O’Brien (AKA “Scorpion”) (@walterobrienscs) is the founder of Scorpion Computer Services and ConciergeUp.com, a for-hire global think tank that provides intelligence-on-demand as a concierge service. The tag line for the latter is, “for any funded need.”
Need to defend against chemical warfare?
Move an entire manufacturing operation over a weekend?
Save a loved one from a deceitful spouse?
Thread the needle on a thorny legal issue?
Become a pop star in a foreign country?
When Walter and his team of 2,000+ distributed geniuses say “any funded need,” they mean it literally.
Born in Ireland, Walter was diagnosed as a child prodigy with an IQ of 197. He became an Irish national coding champion and competed in the Olympics in informatics.
Fast forward to today, he and Scorpion get paid to fix every imaginable problem for billionaires, startups, governments, Fortune 500 companies, and people like you and me. On the large side, it ranges from mitigating risk on $1.9 trillion of investments to inventing artificial intelligence engines to protect United States war fighters in Afghanistan.
Walter is also the executive producer of the hit CBS TV show Scorpion, inspired by his life, which has reached more than 26 million television viewers.
I was introduced to Walter well before the show, and we go deep in this conversation, with lots of amazing and also hilarious examples of problem solving.
If you only have a few minutes, listen to this mind-blowing segment on head transplants. (Yes, head transplants.)
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 from a world-class computer scientist? — Listen to my conversation with Luis von Ahn, the founder and CEO of DuoLingo. In this episode, we discuss learning languages, building companies, and changing the world (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. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. 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. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.
This podcast is also brought to you by Boll & Branch. There is a lot of nonsense in the bedding business. For instance, did you know thread-count is not a good measurement of quality? It’s a total myth. The “Made in Italy” label? It isn’t something you should necessarily pay extra for because it generally means it’s just finished in Italy and woven in places like China.
The general industry mark-up for bedding is 700 to 800 percent at most retailers. Boll & Branch creates incredibly high-quality bedding. They are the same sheets you’ll find at my home in San Francisco.
The best part? You can try anything you order at home for 30 days. If you don’t love it, send it back and get a full refund. Go to Boll & Branch and use promo code “TIM” for 20% off your entire order. Whether sheets, towels, blankets, duvet covers, or anything else. Shipping is always free.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What is a problem you would like to have ConciergeUp solve for you? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about ConciergeUp
Learn more about the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
Learn more about HTC VIVE
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson and Jonathan Davis
Glimpses of Heaven, Visions of Hell by Barrie Sherman and Phillip Judkins
Learn more about Teslasuit or tactile feedback suits
Learn more about ScenGen
Watch the TV show based on Scorpion
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green
The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Into the Heart of the Mind by Frank Rose
Show Notes
How Walter O’Brien began his relationship with NASA [8:15]
How Scorpion came to be [13:20]
The Emotional Quotient vs. Intellectual Quotient phenomenon [15:05]
The origin story of the name Scorpion and current status of the company [16:40]
The largest project Scorpion Computer Sciences has worked on [20:05]
How Scorpion implements “any funded need” solutions [20:42]
The “Gold Digger” story [23:07]
The current state of head transplants and why it may be of interest [30:00]
Why Walter O’Brien has never tried alcohol [38:28]
How Walter O’Brien cultivated a higher EQ [43:25]
Thoughts on developing the skill of rational thinking [45:30]
Meditative practices [53:10]
On virtual reality [57:15]
What is ScenGen? [1:04:20]
Are high IQ intellectuals more susceptible to emotional highs and lows? [1:12:47]
Cognitive patterns in people with high IQ [1:14:54]
How the TV show Scorpion came to be [1:16:45]
When you think of the word successful who is the first person who comes to mind and why? [1:30:22]
How Walter O’Brien gets out of a funk [1:32:09]
Most gifted books [1:33:20]
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively affected your life? [1:34:40]
Advice to Walter O’Brien’s 30-year-old-self [1:37:45]
On the challenge of sleeping [1:39:35]
Particular morning routines [1:41:35]
Thoughts on New Year’s resolutions, goal setting and completing the to-do list [1:42:30]
Historical figures that Walter O’Brien identifies with the most [1:43:50]
If you could put one billboard anywhere, with anything on it, where would it be and what would it say? [1:45:00]
Final words and asks of the audience [1:48:10]
People Mentioned
Scooter Braun
Bill Gates
Winston Churchill
February 10, 2016
How Seth Godin Manages His Life — Rules, Principles, and Obsessions
(Photo: Brian Bloom)
“We can’t out-obedience the competition.” – Seth Godin
I expected this episode to be amazing, and Seth 10x’d expectations. He’s incredible.
Seth Godin (@thisissethsblog) is the author of 17 bestselling books that have been translated into more than 35 languages. He writes about the way ideas spread, marketing, strategic quitting, leadership, and — most of all — challenging the status quo in all areas. His books include Linchpin, Tribes, The Dip, Purple Cow, and What to Do When it’s Your Turn (and it’s Always Your Turn).
Seth has founded several companies, including Yoyodyne and Squidoo. His blog (which you can find by typing “Seth” into Google) is one of the most popular in the world. In 2013, Godin was inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame. Recently, Godin turned the book publishing world on its ear by launching a series of four books via Kickstarter. The campaign reached its goal in just three hours and became the most successful book project in Kickstarter history.
In this episode, we cover dozens of topics and stories, including some he’s never discussed publicly before. Here’s a small sample:
A list of the audiobooks he listens to repeatedly, some once per month
His morning routine, breakfast, dietary habits, and email processing
Meditative practices
Why he’s fixated on and mastered coffee and vodka, despite the fact that he consumes neither
Suggestions for going from “wantrepreneur” to entrepreneur
How to determine if you’re better off a “freelancer” or “entrepreneur,” and the differences in his mind
Why he has the most impressive cookbook collection our mutual chef friends have ever seen
His rules for saying “no” to opportunities, how he thinks about public speaking, etc.
His recipe for honey oatmeal vodka, and his favorite chocolates in the world
Thoughts on improving how parents educate their children
General philosophies and guidelines he uses for life management
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 related to leadership and marketing? — Listen to my conversation with Derek Sivers. In my conversation with Seth Godin, he mentions that this was his favorite episode. “I love Derek,” were his exact words. In this podcast, Derek discusses developing confidence, finding happiness, and saying “no” to millions (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years and I love audio books. I have 2 to recommend:
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
All you need to do to get your free audiobook and a free 30-day trial is go to Audible.com/tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose between more than 180,000 audio programs. 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!
This podcast is 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 advice from Seth did you find most helpful? More importantly, how will you apply it to your life? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Learn more about the high-end audio community – Audiogon
What to Do When it’s Your Turn (and it’s Always Your Turn) by Seth Godin
First, ten – A simple theory on how to discern between a good and bad business idea
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Make Good Art – The commencement speech by Neil Gaiman
Read books by Cory Doctorow
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
Goal Setting, How to Stay Motivated, and Secrets of Closing the Sale by Zig Ziglar
The Pema Chodron Audio Collection by Pema Chodron
Leap First by Seth Godin
The Art of Possibility byRosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander (Get it on Audio)
Just Kids by Patti Smith (Get it on Audio) [Note: “The single best Audiobook ever recorded.” – Seth Godin]
Debt by David Graeber (Get it on Audio)
Get crazy about chocolate – Rogue Chocolatier, Askinosie and Cacao Hunters
Learn more about Seth’s altMBA
Replay by Ken Grimwood
Learn more about Josh Pais’s Committed Impulse acting lessons
Visiting New York? Check out, By the Way Bakery
Show Notes
How Seth Godin prepares coffee and vodka [5:05]
The story behind the most impressive cookbook collection [9:37]
Seth’s most recommended cookbooks and methods [11:32]
On railing against various industrial complexes [15:07]
How Seth Godin consumes media [18:07]
Seth Godin’s rules for speaking engagements and why he developed them [20:42]
How to navigate big transitions in life [28:07]
On the decision to publish a daily blog [31:24]
Seth Godin’s writing process [33:07]
Seth Godin’s top business decisions [38:44]
Discerning between good and bad ideas [42:44]
Determining if you should not become an entrepreneur [48:30]
How Seth Godin processes email [51:44]
The philosophy of categorically saying ‘no’ to specific distractions [57:32]
Why everyone should blog every day [1:01:42]
The opportunities Seth Godin is happy he said ‘no’ to [1:04:49]
The story of money [1:06:38]
When you hear the word successful, who is the first person that comes to mind and why? [1:09:49]
Things that Seth Godin has changed his mind about [1:10:40]
Things that Seth Godin believes that most people would find crazy [1:11:52]
Most gifted books [1:12:24]
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted Seth’s life [1:24:34]
Seth Godin’s eating habits and morning rituals [1:30:34]
The value of having an office [1:32:37]
What would Seth do to educate children [1:34:22]
Suggested practices for overwhelmed parents [1:37:34]
Seth Godin’s current projects [1:38:52]
Who helps tell Seth Godin when he is wrong [1:43:32]
What advice would you give to your 30-year-old self [1:45:49]
How Seth Godin gets over periods of discomfort [1:47:29]
Seth Godin’s meditation process [1:49:47]
If you could put one billboard anywhere, with anything on it, where would it be and what would it say? [1:53:01]
Seth Godin on commencement speeches [1:53:02]
Asks or requests of you, the listener [1:54:58]
Talking about the almond cookies [1:56:38]
People Mentioned
Marco Arment
Chris Schlesinger
Zig Ziglar
Chip Conley
Steven Pressfield
Rick Rubin
Neil Gaiman
Bill Gross
Jacqueline Novogratz
Susan Piver
Jay Levinson
February 2, 2016
How to Practice Poverty and Reduce Fear
“Establish business relations with poverty.”
– Seneca
These 10-15 minutes are gold. I revisit this letter of Seneca at least once a quarter, and I hope you find this episode equally powerful.
The careful listener will find an extremely practical blueprint (and exercises) for optimizing performance in high-stress situations.
If you only have 60 seconds for one highlight, pay particular attention to this passage.
If you enjoy the teachings, I highly recommend listening to more of Seneca’s letters. All of my favorites can be found in The Tao of Seneca: Practical Letters from a Stoic Master. For more audiobooks I love, take a look at audible.com/timsbooks.
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download both as MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another segment of The Tao of Seneca and dig deeper into stoicism? — Listen to On Groundless Fears. In this episode, I dig deeper into the value of stoicism and examining unfounded fears and untested assumptions (stream below or right-click here to download):
This episode is brought to you by Headspace, the world’s most popular meditation app (more than 4,000,000 users). It’s used in more than 150 countries, and many of my closest friends swear by it. Try Headspace’s free Take10 program — 10 minutes of guided meditation a day for 10 days. It’s like a warm bath for your mind. Meditation doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive, and it’s had a huge impact on my life. Try Headspace for free for a few days and see what I mean.
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. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. 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. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: How has listening to Seneca’s teachings changed or improved your life? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Show Notes
On keeping holiday without extravagance [8:02]
Testing the constancy of one’s mind [10:05]
The benefits of finding pleasure in scanty fair [13:22]
Ungoverned anger begets madness [15:20]
February 1, 2016
The Music a World-Class DJ Uses to Fall Asleep
I get asked about nighttime rituals a lot.
Though I always ask high-profile podcast guests about their morning routines, the evening wind down can get neglected.
So, what to do if you have trouble falling asleep? Or, like nearly all males in my family, you have severe onset insomnia? The morning might be a breeze, while the darkness is a nightmare.
I thought it’d be fun to look at a real-world example, sent to me via text by Justin Boreta, best known as “Boreta” of The Glitch Mob, one of the world’s biggest electronic bands. Their music has been featured in movies like Sin City II, Edge of Tomorrow, Captain America, and Spiderman.
Below is what he SMS’d me after listening to my 5 Tools I Use for Faster and Better Sleep (Thanks for permission to share, Justin!):
Ahoy, Cap’n Ferriss :) I just heard your sleep podcast and wanted to share a great little routine I’ve been doing.
An incredible composer named Max Richter created this 8-hour album that is designed to help you fall asleep. http://time.com/4022816/max-richter-sleep/
There is a shortened version that I listen to on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7tP7WLxusDpTi1gf1JFsrT
I put it on very quietly as I am starting my bedtime routine, so it usually ends 15-20 minutes after I’m asleep. Or I will use the Sonos sleep timer, if I’m at home.
It started to have this Pavlovian knockout effect after a while if I use it every day, like a lullaby.
Alternatively, if that’s too much melody, there’s an artist called Mute Button that has high-quality, long-field recordings. The gentle rain sounds + sleep timer are fantastic. I find it great to drown out hotel sounds when traveling. https://open.spotify.com/artist/53gtZjk5vhB6CxRUEbnPet
If you find these tips useful, don’t miss my longer interview with Justin, which is full of detailed tactics for life and business.
Questions for you all — Would you like me to describe more nighttime routines of top performers? And what nighttime routines or tools have you found most helpful in your own life?
Please let me know in the comments below. Thanks!
Sweet dreams,
Tim
