Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 96
June 9, 2015
Learn How to Triple Your Reading Speed in 5 Minutes (Seriously) [VIDEO]
This short (
No voodoo, no pseudoscience — just two tricks for optimizing eye movement.
Some of you learn better with text, and some of you learn better with video. As one commenter who watched the above video put it:
“Tim, thanks so much for this video. I read your blog post about this like four times without being able to get it. With a video, it’s much easier.”
Have fun, and I’d love to hear your results in the comments.
If you enjoy this, you might also like my posts on rapid language learning, or my interview with champion memory competitor, Ed Cooke. You can stream the latter below:
May 30, 2015
Chris Sacca on Being Different and Making Billions
Goofing around with Sacca and his afro.
“Fuck it… I’m just not going to play this traditionally anymore.”
– Chris Sacca
Chris Sacca was recently the cover story of the “Midas Issue” of Forbes Magazine.
The reason: He is a newly-minted billionaire and the proprietor of what will likely be the most successful venture capital fund in history: LOWERCASE I of LOWERCASE Capital.
He’s an early-stage investor in companies like Twitter, Uber, Airbnb, Dropbox, Instagram, Kickstarter, and many more.
In this interview, we discuss unfair advantages, how Chris chooses founders and investments, stories of missed opportunities, the styles that differentiate Wall Street from Silicon Valley investors, and how keg parties can liberate law students from the tyranny of class (Chris completed law school without attending any classes).
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
This episode mentions the incredible Matt Mullenweg. Matt, who’s also been on this podcast, was a lead developer behind WordPress, which runs about 23% of the Internet. You can listen to our booze-infused conversation here, in which we discuss polyphasic sleep, tequila, and building billion-dollar companies like his current gig (stream below or right-click here to download):
This podcast is brought to you by MeUndies. Have you ever wanted to be as powerful as a mullet-wearing ninja from the 1980’s, or as sleek as a black panther in the Amazon? Of course you have, and that’s where MeUndies comes in. I’ve spent the last 2-3 weeks wearing underwear from these guys 24/7, and they are the most comfortable and colorful underwear I’ve ever owned. Their materials are 2x softer than cotton, as evaluated using the Kawabata method. Check out MeUndies.com/Tim to see my current faves (some are awesomely ridiculous) and, while you’re at it, don’t miss lots of hot ladies wearing MeUndies.
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run..
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What’s the best investment advice you ever received? Or worst? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
A partial list of Chris Sacca’s investments.
Want to skip an MBA program? Check out Feld Thoughts
Not Fade Away: A Short Life Well Lived by Laurence Shames and Peter Barton
Watch Chris Sacca’s commencement speech to University of Minnesota
I Seem to be a Verb by Buckminster Fuller
The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert by Richard Betts, Wendy MacNaughton and Crystal English Sacca
Follow Chris on Twitter – @Sacca
Show Notes
What is Chris Sacca best known for? [6:10]
Total Immersion swimming and how to invest like Chris Sacca [8:40]
Pieces of advice given to Chris Sacca on early-stage investing [11:55]
What disqualifies startup founders in Sacca’s mind [16:05]
Travis Kalanick and Nintendo Wii Tennis [18:55]
Traits of founders for whom success, at massive scale, is predestined [22:00]
The whales that got away: GoPro, Snapchat, and more [27:40]
On letting the negative case dominate one’s analysis for whether to invest or not [29:55]
Differences between venture capitalists and private equity [35:15]
Books for investing and cultivating emotional intelligence [41:00]
Thoughts on modeling what it is to be successful [49:30]
What Chris Sacca’s parents did when he was a kid [53:50]
What Sacca looks for when hiring [58:25]
What historical figure Sacca most identifies with? [1:01:15]
Early collecting habits [1:04:25]
The story of the prophetic notebook [1:10:10]
The two differentiators that shifted the nature of Sacca’s business [1:19:10]
Advice to founders or would-be entrepreneurs [1:27:40]
Most readily quoted movie [1:31:10]
People Mentioned
Mike Maples Jr.
Josh Kopelman
Tony Conrad
Hans Swildens
Kevin Systrom
Evan Williams
Patrick Collison
John Collison
Travis Kalanick
Nick Woodman
Brad Feld
John Doerr
Michael Moritz
Brian Sacca
Buckminster Fuller
May 28, 2015
How to Build a Large Audience From Scratch (And More)
Sometimes, going weird allows you to go big. (Photo: My weird Instagram)
In this episode, I answer questions submitted by you all.
50% of this episode is spent explaining how I’d build an audience from scratch, if I had to start over today. The other ~10 questions/topics are listed below.
Do you like or dislike this type of episode? Please let me know in the comments, and I’ll do more or fewer based on that.
For the movie recommendations I mention (shorts, documentaries, etc.), click here to see the growing list.
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
If you enjoy the above Q&A episode, you might also like this episode, where I answer the question: “What would you add to The 4-Hour Workweek for 2015?”
Other questions I answer in this episode:
If you’re the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with, who are those 5 people for you?
Based on the self-experiments you conducted in your books, are there any habits you continue to implement on a daily basis?
What is the most important question you ask yourself everyday?
If you could make one new thing mandatory in the nationwide high school curriculum, what would it be?
Bruce Lee said “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” What methods do you practice to maintain focus and follow through to achieve your goals rather than getting side tracked, distracted, or discouraged?
With all the misleading information on health out there, what are the best/most reliable resources?
What are your top 10 natural supplements that you’ve found most helpful?
What are the things you’ve done to become a better writer?
What are your guilty pleasures for those times when your brain needs a rest?
What would you go back and tell your younger self?
Again, here are my answers.
###
For previous episodes of the podcast, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rick Rubin, Jon Favreau, and others, click here.
May 25, 2015
The Morning Cocktail I Drink Instead Of Coffee
Try this morning tea cocktail instead of coffee. It’s rocket fuel for the brain.
I started experimenting with fat-plus-stimulant beverages in 1998 and 1999 while on the Cyclical Ketogenic Diet (CKD). For the above tea blend, I now add turmeric and ginger to the aged pu-erh, usually Rishi brand.
The above video was shot while filming the parkour episode of The Tim Ferriss Experiment TV show. We filmed 13 episodes back-to-back and I needed a morning pick-me-up that could be prepared quickly but sustain me for hours.
The tea prep might seem reminiscent of Bulletproof Coffee, and it is. They serve similar purposes. For this reason, I jokingly referred to the cocktail as “Titanium Tea” with the production crew.
Alas, BP coffee looks like a delicious frappuccino, and my concoction looks like diabetic horse urine.
Here’s why I still drink TT Horse Urine nearly every day:
I’m a caffeine “fast metabolizer” according to genetic test results from 23andMe, Navigenics (since acquired), and personal experience. If I drink a cup of black coffee, I feel like a superhero for 30 minutes, then need two cups to get back to baseline. But…
When I use a blend of — say — green tea and fermented black tea, I’m combining slightly different pharmacokinetics and biological half-lives, so respective peak plasma (blood) concentrations of stimulants and other compounds are staggered. Instead of one single high point and then a rapid descent into fatigue, I have multiple high points. Rather than feeling amazing for 30 minutes and then fatigued, I can feel 20% more effective for 3-4 hours.
This can be extended further if I include a tea like yerba mate (I like Cruz de Malta), which includes three xanthine alkaloids. For our purposes, you can think of these three xanthines as “stimulants”: good old caffeine (by weight, often
NOTE: The most extended effect is only achieved if you sip the yerba using traditional technique. The gourd is my constant companion — plus one glass of Malbec — for 10pm-4am jam sessions when on book deadline. Just as coca-leaf teas don’t = cocaine, which doesn’t = crack, the form and speed of administration matters. For the nerds, this is why powdered “good” foods (e.g. bean flour) aren’t always compliant with the slow-carb diet.
If I rely on theobromine and/or theophylline as my uppers, instead of primarily caffeine, I can quit stimulants cold turkey without caffeine-withdrawal headaches. This can be a massive competitive and health advantage, as you can cycle off of stimulants to minimize tolerance development.
But — I’m not a doctor and don’t play one on the Internet! As always, the dose makes the poison. Excessive theophylline and theobromine have plenty of adverse effects, particularly when consumed with fat like coconut oil (i.e. “dose dumping“). So speak to your doc first if you have any medical conditions, m’kay? This is an N=1 article.
I still drink coffee on occasion, especially if empty handed in the middle of nowhere. It’s a hell of a lot easier to find coffee and butter than pu-erh tea and coconut oil. Definitely 10x better than straight black coffee, and kudos to Dave Asprey for taking it mainstream. It’s now ubiquitous, and that’s no small feat. Many of the top performers I know drink BP coffee, including legendary producer Rick Rubin.
For more quick-tip videos like the above, click here.
For 13 full-length episodes shot by an Emmy award-winning team, click here or on the image below.
May 20, 2015
Is It Time to Kill Sacred Cows In Your Relationship?
[Preface: Would you like to sponsor The Tim Ferriss Show, the #1 business podcast on iTunes and one of the iTunes “Best of 2014″? Click here for details.]
Dr. Astro Teller is a computer scientist and entrepreneur who currently oversees Google[x], Google’s moonshot factory. Dr. Danielle Teller is a physician specializing in intensive care and lung medicine; she has trained doctors and run research programs at Harvard University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Together, they are the authors of Sacred Cows.
In this conversation — my first podcast with a couple — we cover a lot of my usual questions (favorite books, routines, philosophies of living, etc.) but focus on something I haven’t personally figured out: relationships.
It’s important to note that the Tellers are not “for” marriage but, rather, “for” the freedom to decide how to live most honestly and happily, whether as part of a couple or as a single person.
Combining the rigor that has established them as leaders in their respective fields, Astro and Danielle walk me through how they think about relationships, and how they survive and thrive as two driven people.
Sidenote: Want to see me tackle dating experiments, struggle with live “cold approaches,” and optimize online dating with a computer hacker? Be sure to watch my “Dating Game” episode of The Tim Ferriss Experiment here.
Enjoy the podcast below!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
This podcast is sponsored by LSTN Headphones. LSTN Headphones are gorgeous headphones that I use. They’re made of real exotic, reclaimed wood. Proceeds from each purchase help a hearing-impaired person hear for the first time through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Here are some of the headphones I wear and travel with: LSTNHeadphones.com/Tim. On that page, use the code “TIM” to get $50 off orders of $99 or more!
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for the 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run and share your results!
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Are you pursuing monogamy? Why or why not? Have you figured out other rules that work for you and your partner? Please (seriously, please) let me know in the comments! I expect this thread will have some great suggestions.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review here. It keeps me going…
Subscribe to The Tim Ferriss Show on iTunes.
Non-iTunes RSS feed
Selected Links from the Episode
Sacred Cows by Astro and Danielle Teller
Watch Astro and Danielle’s TEDxBoston Talk
Learn about Google’s desire to provide internet access to everyone on earth – Project Loon
Why My Husband Will Always Come Before My Kids (Amber Doty)
Wrath of the Khans I – Hardcore History by Dan Carlin (Hear our interview here)
Danielle recommends Google Play for “…as much music as our kids want”
What If? by Randall Munroe
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
by Patrick Rothfuss
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Oscar and Lucinda by Oscar Carey
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
American Parenting is Killing the American Marriage by Astro and Danielle Teller
Learn more About Astro and Danielle
Get the Book on Amazon | Google Play | AstroTeller.net| SacredCowstheBook.com | TEDxBoston
Recipe for a Monogamy Cocktail
3 Parts Rosemary-Infused Vodka
2 Parts Vanilla-Infused Cognac
1 Part Lemon Juice
Show Notes
A little bit about the work of Astro and Danielle [6:30]
Thoughts on the usefulness of a long-term plan [11:30]
Deconstructing how Astro and Danielle approach challenges and plans [12:35]
Exploring the “soulmate” concept of one true love [15:50]
Differentiating between true love and society’s view of marriage and divorce [19:30]
New ways of seeing marriage and creating space from social pressure [22:45]
Why Astro and Danielle decided to get married for a second time [28:44]
Thoughts on fear factors [31:00]
The reasons for getting married in authentically happy couples [34:20]
The most common mistakes type-A men make in large relationship decisions [36:20]
How Danielle and Astro first met [39:35]
Exploring my own fears of losing at the game of marriage [41:45]
How Danielle and Astro view conflict resolution in their marriage [46:30]
Family rituals of Astro and Danielle [50:35]
How Astro and Danielle think about managing spouse and children relationships [55:35]
The worst advice for “significant other” relationships [56:50]
Do you know single people older than 40 who are authentically happy? [59:55]
The most impactful $100 for Danielle and Astro [1:08:50]
Favorite/most-gifted books [1:13:35]
Who is the first person who comes to mind when you think “successful”? [1:19:30]
If you could ask anyone from all of history 100 questions about anything who would you choose? [1:22:05]
Ways in which medical/scientific training has helped with family relationships [1:23:15]
How Astro Teller thinks about death and how to live life intensely every single day [1:31:30]
How Danielle Teller measures the success of a day [1:40:15]
People Mentioned
George Clooney
Plato
How Type-A Personalities Can Survive and Thrive in Relationships
Dr. Astro Teller is a computer scientist and entrepreneur who currently oversees Google[x], Google’s moonshot factory. Dr. Danielle Teller is a physician specializing in intensive care and lung medicine; she has trained doctors and run research programs at Harvard University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Together, they are the authors of Sacred Cows.
In this conversation — my first podcast with a couple — we cover a lot of my usual questions (favorite books, routines, philosophies of living, etc.) but focus on something I haven’t personally figured out: relationships.
It’s important to note that the Tellers are not “for” marriage but, rather, “for” the freedom to decide how to live most honestly and happily, whether as part of a couple or as a single person.
Combining the rigor that has established them as leaders in their respective fields, Astro and Danielle walk me through how they think about relationships, and how they survive and thrive as two driven people.
Sidenote: Want to see me tackle dating experiments, struggle with live “cold approaches,” and optimize online dating with a computer hacker? Be sure to watch my “Dating Game” episode of The Tim Ferriss Experiment here.
Enjoy the podcast below!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
This podcast is sponsored by LSTN Headphones. LSTN Headphones are gorgeous headphones that I use. They’re made of real exotic, reclaimed wood. Proceeds from each purchase help a hearing-impaired person hear for the first time through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Here are some of the headphones I wear and travel with: LSTNHeadphones.com/Tim. On that page, use the code “TIM” to get $50 off orders of $99 or more!
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for the 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run and share your results!
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Are you pursuing monogamy? Why or why not? Have you figured out other rules that work for you and your partner? Please (seriously, please) let me know in the comments! I expect this thread will have some great suggestions.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, please leave a short review here. It keeps me going…
Subscribe to The Tim Ferriss Show on iTunes.
Non-iTunes RSS feed
Selected Links from the Episode
Sacred Cows by Astro and Danielle Teller
Watch Astro and Danielle’s TEDxBoston Talk
Learn about Google’s desire to provide internet access to everyone on earth – Project Loon
Why My Husband Will Always Come Before My Kids (Amber Doty)
Wrath of the Khans I – Hardcore History by Dan Carlin (Hear our interview here)
Danielle recommends Google Play for “…as much music as our kids want”
What If? by Randall Munroe
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
by Patrick Rothfuss
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Oscar and Lucinda by Oscar Carey
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake
Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
American Parenting is Killing the American Marriage by Astro and Danielle Teller
Learn more About Astro and Danielle
Get the Book on Amazon | Google Play | AstroTeller.net| SacredCowstheBook.com | TEDxBoston
Recipe for a Monogamy Cocktail
3 Parts Rosemary-Infused Vodka
2 Parts Vanilla-Infused Cognac
1 Part Lemon Juice
Show Notes
A little bit about the work of Astro and Danielle [6:30]
Thoughts on the usefulness of a long-term plan [11:30]
Deconstructing how Astro and Danielle approach challenges and plans [12:35]
Exploring the “soulmate” concept of one true love [15:50]
Differentiating between true love and society’s view of marriage and divorce [19:30]
New ways of seeing marriage and creating space from social pressure [22:45]
Why Astro and Danielle decided to get married for a second time [28:44]
Thoughts on fear factors [31:00]
The reasons for getting married in authentically happy couples [34:20]
The most common mistakes type-A men make in large relationship decisions [36:20]
How Danielle and Astro first met [39:35]
Exploring my own fears of losing at the game of marriage [41:45]
How Danielle and Astro view conflict resolution in their marriage [46:30]
Family rituals of Astro and Danielle [50:35]
How Astro and Danielle think about managing spouse and children relationships [55:35]
The worst advice for “significant other” relationships [56:50]
Do you know single people older than 40 who are authentically happy? [59:55]
The most impactful $100 for Danielle and Astro [1:08:50]
Favorite/most-gifted books [1:13:35]
Who is the first person who comes to mind when you think “successful”? [1:19:30]
If you could ask anyone from all of history 100 questions about anything who would you choose? [1:22:05]
Ways in which medical/scientific training has helped with family relationships [1:23:15]
How Astro Teller thinks about death and how to live life intensely every single day [1:31:30]
How Danielle Teller measures the success of a day [1:40:15]
People Mentioned
George Clooney
Plato
May 18, 2015
How to Make Lock Picks Out of Common Household Items
This short video might blow your mind.
Using household items like paper clips or toothbrushes, you can easily defeat 70-80% of the padlocks out in the world.
The teacher is Kevin Reeve of OnPoint Tactical. Kevin has trained and consulted for the FBI, Secret Service, SWAT, and elite military units like Marine Force Recon, SEAL Team 6, etc.
He was also my teacher for the “Urban Escape and Evasion” episode of The Tim Ferriss Experiment, which is currently the #1 non-fiction TV show across all of iTunes.
In that episode, Kevin teaches me (and therefore you):
How to escape common restraints like zip ties and handcuffs.
How to “borrow” cars in emergency situations.
Effective evasion tactics for urban environments (e.g. parking garages, fast appearance changes, etc.).
And much more…
I get restrained, hooded, thrown in a trunk, and subjected to other abuse. My (least) favorite part was getting stun gunned while temporarily blinded. Surprise, Ferriss!
If you’ve ever fantasized about being Jason Bourne — or simply being ready for anything — the entire episode is full of effective and easy-to-learn techniques.
I suggest getting the “Season Pass” for $14.99 or so, which gets you all 13 episodes for ~40% off, plus hours of bonus footage. Many of you have said that the bonus footage alone is worth more than the $15.
MORE ON THE TV SHOW
Bestselling author Tim Ferriss (“The world’s best human guinea pig.” – Newsweek) pushes himself to the breaking point, attempting to learn notoriously punishing skills–surfing, parkour, professional poker, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, online dating (Ha!), learning languages, etc.—in just one week each. Filmed and edited by the same team behind Anthony Bourdain’s hit shows (Zero Point Zero).
In every episode of The Tim Ferriss Experiment, Ferriss partners with the world’s best and most unorthodox teachers (Laird Hamilton, Marcelo Garcia, Stewart Copeland, etc.), who train him for a final gauntlet. Shocking breakthroughs, injuries, epiphanies, and disasters ensue. In cases where he succeeds, Tim shows you how to replicate his results. The mantra of the show is “you don’t need to be superhuman to get superhuman results…you just need a better toolkit.”
Enjoy!
May 15, 2015
Rick Rubin on Cultivating World-Class Artists (Jay Z, Johnny Cash, etc.), Losing 100+ Pounds, and Breaking Down The Complex
Our conversation took place in a barrel sauna like this.
“It’s [about] getting closer to the source and not being distracted by any nonsense…”
– Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin has been called “the most important [music] producer of the last 20 years” by MTV.
Rick is also revered as something of a Zen master, and he is as deep as he is soft-spoken. He rarely grants interviews, and one condition of doing this one was the setting: his hyper-heated barrel sauna at home.
In this episode, we delve into how Rick helps artists (e.g. Jay Z, Shakira, Johnny Cash, etc.) produce their best work. Not only that, we also discuss Rick’s step-by-step experience losing 135+ pounds. He describes underwater weightlifting stories, training with Laird Hamilton, testing different diets, and much more.
Rick’s resume includes everyone from Johnny Cash to Jay Z. His metal artists include groups like Black Sabbath, Slayer, System of a Down, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, and Linkin Park. He’s worked with pop artists like Shakira, Adele, Sheryl Crow, Lana Del Rey, and Lady Gaga. He’s also been credited with helping to popularize hip hop with artists like LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Eminem, Jay Z, and Kanye West. And that’s just a small sample.
This conversation teaches a cohesive lesson in breaking down complex skills with deep and subtle problem solving.
The sauna caused the microphones to burn our hands and us to nearly pass out. DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME, folks! I think it adds a hilarious element to the whole thing, but it’s not without risks.
[Last but not least, if you haven’t seen my new TV show, which is #1 on iTunes as I write this, please check out The Tim Ferriss Experiment! There are 13 episodes, including ones with surfer Laird Hamilton and “top 10 drummer of all-time” Stewart Copeland.]
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download it as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Interested in learning more about world-class musicians? — Check out my interview with Amanda Palmer who left her record label and raised more than $2 million via crowd funding. (stream episode below or right-click here to download):
Also, don’t miss Justin Boreta of The Glitch Mob, one of the biggest electronic groups on the planet. In my conversation with Justin, we play their never-before-heard draft versions of their songs and then explore what it takes for Justin to move that draft through 300+ versions to a final version which will knock your socks off (stream below or right-click here to download):
This episode is sponsored by Onnit. I have used Onnit products for years. If you look in my kitchen or in my garage you will find Alpha BRAIN, chewable melatonin (for resetting my clock while traveling), kettlebells, maces, battle ropes, and steel clubs. It sounds like a torture chamber, and it basically is. A torture chamber for self-improvement! Ah, the lovely pain. To see a list of my favorite pills, potions, and heavy tools, click here.
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Rick Rubin cites “heart work” as critical for creatives. What is the balance of heart work and head work in your creation process? 50/50? 70/30? How did you realize what works best for you? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Slow Burn by Stu Mittleman
Get the app that helped Rubin count calories, MyFitnessPal
Explore world-class music lists like those Rolling Stone and/or Mojo
Tao Te Ching translation by Stephen Mitchell
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Learn more about the documentary 20,000 Days on Earth
Learn more about the Wim Hof Breathing Technique
Show Notes
The story of how Rick Rubin lost 135-145 pounds [7:50]
Sleep Tools: A process for rebuilding your circadian rhythm for the first time [10:50]
What does Rick Rubin “do”? [22:45]
Transitioning into a career of record producing [23:35]
On letting music be discovered vs. manufactured [24:30]
What gets in the way of artists producing their best work [26:05]
Recommendations for contemporary music [30:55]
How Rick Rubin learned that music was something he could do as a career [34:00]
Hip-hop to heavy metal and how to approach music with appreciation [38:05]
Working with artists in different genres: LL Cool J to Slayer [40:15]
Meditation and managing disruption [42:40]
Who comes to mind when Rubin thinks of the word “successful” [46:50]
Lessons learned from time spent with Don Wildman [49:45]
Most gifted books and favorite documentaries [51:35]
Managing the experience of overwhelm [54:30]
About Rick Rubin’s cameo for 99 Problems and Jay Z’s creative process [56:50]
On being introduced to the sauna/ice-bath combination [1:00:10]
Underwater weight training and lessons from Laird Hamilton [1:02:15]
Other exercises: Hyperbaric oxygen and the Wim Hof method [1:08:35]
How Rubin uses small tasks to help others [1:10:05]
Advice for his 20-year old and 30-year old self [1:13:10]
People Mentioned
Stu Mittleman
Mo Ostin
Dr. Heber at UCLA
Black Sabbath
Reign in Blood
Slayer
LL Cool J
Don Wildman
Laird Hamilton
Jay Z
Chris Chelios
Rick Rubin on Losing 135+ Pounds, Working With World-Class Artists (Jay Z, Johnny Cash, etc.), and Breaking Down The Complex
Our conversation took place in a barrel sauna like this.
“It’s [about] getting closer to the source and not being distracted by any nonsense…”
– Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin has been called “the most important [music] producer of the last 20 years” by MTV.
Rick is also revered as something of a Zen master, and he is as deep as he is soft-spoken. He rarely grants interviews, and one condition of doing this one was the setting: his hyper-heated barrel sauna at home.
In this episode, we delve into how Rick helps artists (e.g. Jay Z, Shakira, Johnny Cash, etc.) produce their best work. Not only that, we also discuss Rick’s step-by-step experience losing 135+ pounds. He describes underwater weightlifting stories, training with Laird Hamilton, testing different diets, and much more.
Rick’s resume includes everyone from Johnny Cash to Jay Z. His metal artists include groups like Black Sabbath, Slayer, System of a Down, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, and Linkin Park. He’s worked with pop artists like Shakira, Adele, Sheryl Crow, Lana Del Rey, and Lady Gaga. He’s also been credited with helping to popularize hip hop with artists like LL Cool J, The Beastie Boys, Eminem, Jay Z, and Kanye West. And that’s just a small sample.
This conversation teaches a cohesive lesson in breaking down complex skills with deep and subtle problem solving.
The sauna caused the microphones to burn our hands and us to nearly pass out. DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME, folks! I think it adds a hilarious element to the whole thing, but it’s not without risks.
[Last but not least, if you haven’t seen my new TV show, which is #1 on iTunes as I write this, please check out The Tim Ferriss Experiment! There are 13 episodes, including ones with surfer Laird Hamilton and “top 10 drummer of all-time” Stewart Copeland.]
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download it as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.
Interested in learning more about world-class musicians? — Check out my interview with Amanda Palmer who left her record label and raised more than $2 million via crowd funding. (stream episode below or right-click here to download):
Also, don’t miss Justin Boreta of The Glitch Mob, one of the biggest electronic groups on the planet. In my conversation with Justin, we play their never-before-heard draft versions of their songs and then explore what it takes for Justin to move that draft through 300+ versions to a final version which will knock your socks off (stream below or right-click here to download):
This episode is sponsored by Onnit. I have used Onnit products for years. If you look in my kitchen or in my garage you will find Alpha BRAIN, chewable melatonin (for resetting my clock while traveling), kettlebells, maces, battle ropes, and steel clubs. It sounds like a torture chamber, and it basically is. A torture chamber for self-improvement! Ah, the lovely pain. To see a list of my favorite pills, potions, and heavy tools, click here.
This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: Rick Rubin cites “heart work” as critical for creatives. What is the balance of heart work and head work in your creation process? 50/50? 70/30? How did you realize what works best for you? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Slow Burn by Stu Mittleman
Get the app that helped Rubin count calories, MyFitnessPal
Explore world-class music lists like those Rolling Stone and/or Mojo
Tao Te Ching translation by Stephen Mitchell
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Learn more about the documentary 20,000 Days on Earth
Learn more about the Wim Hof Breathing Technique
Show Notes
The story of how Rick Rubin lost 135-145 pounds [7:50]
Sleep Tools: A process for rebuilding your circadian rhythm for the first time [10:50]
What does Rick Rubin “do”? [22:45]
Transitioning into a career of record producing [23:35]
On letting music be discovered vs. manufactured [24:30]
What gets in the way of artists producing their best work [26:05]
Recommendations for contemporary music [30:55]
How Rick Rubin learned that music was something he could do as a career [34:00]
Hip-hop to heavy metal and how to approach music with appreciation [38:05]
Working with artists in different genres: LL Cool J to Slayer [40:15]
Meditation and managing disruption [42:40]
Who comes to mind when Rubin thinks of the word “successful” [46:50]
Lessons learned from time spent with Don Wildman [49:45]
Most gifted books and favorite documentaries [51:35]
Managing the experience of overwhelm [54:30]
About Rick Rubin’s cameo for 99 Problems and Jay Z’s creative process [56:50]
On being introduced to the sauna/ice-bath combination [1:00:10]
Underwater weight training and lessons from Laird Hamilton [1:02:15]
Other exercises: Hyperbaric oxygen and the Wim Hof method [1:08:35]
How Rubin uses small tasks to help others [1:10:05]
Advice for his 20-year old and 30-year old self [1:13:10]
People Mentioned
Stu Mittleman
Mo Ostin
Dr. Heber at UCLA
Black Sabbath
Reign in Blood
Slayer
LL Cool J
Don Wildman
Laird Hamilton
Jay Z
Chris Chelios
May 10, 2015
How Beginners Can (Sometimes) Beat Pros at Poker
In this post, I’ll show you how Phil Gordon trained me in 5 days to have a fighting chance against pro poker players. Here’s the video teaser.
Before we filmed the experience for The Tim Ferriss Experiment (currently the #1 TV Season on iTunes), I had never played a hand of poker.
Phil’s crash course purposefully did not cover all the bases. It couldn’t. We didn’t have the time.
Instead, his program (and this post) will show how a gambling idiot (me) can magnify strengths and cover weaknesses to an absurd degree…at least for a few hours in order to win real cash.
Let’s be clear: I am not a good poker player, and perhaps you aren’t either. But that doesn’t mean you can’t win.
If you understand a few principles and follow them religiously, Lady Luck (and strategic aggression) might smile upon you. Especially if you learn how to leverage “short-stack strategy” or “heads-up play,” both of which I’ll explain.
This post has three parts:
– My video explanation – This is the actual video I sent to TV post-production. I sent similar videos for all 13 episodes (parkour, the dating game, building a business, etc.) right after we finished each week. This is nuts and bolts of how Phil helped me pull off miracles.
– My real notes from my notebook – These are PDFs of the notes I explain in the aforementioned video. For a novice or intermediate, they are only really useful once you’ve watched the video.
– Phil’s one-page cheatsheet – ‘Nuff said.
– The full TV episode (preview and links)
BONUS: In the comments, explain the best tip you’ve ever received for any game or sport. Phil will pick his favorite comment, and you’ll get a one-hour poker coaching lesson with Phil via Skype. Comments must be submitted by 5pm PT on Friday, May 22nd 2015.
Let’s get started on the how-to…
The Video Explanation – The Real Nuts and Bolts
I mention “VO” a few times, which stands for “voice over.” To see more of the notebook text, you can expand to full screen.
My Poker Notes (Plus Some “Escape and Evasion” Notes)
How to Play Poker – The Tim Ferriss Experiment by tferriss
Phil’s Cheatsheet
Poker Cheatsheet – From Pro Phil Gordon by tferriss
The TV Episode
Here’s the full episode (and 12 others) — check it out! If you found any of the above interesting, I think you’ll love it.
