Timothy Ferriss's Blog, page 97

How a Famous Computer Hacker Optimizes Online Dating, Opens Locked Cars, and Hijacks Drones

Hacker Samy Kamkar in “The Dating Game”

Samy Kamkar is one of the most innovative and notorious computer hackers in the United States. He’s also a well-known whistleblower. If you want to learn how Samy hacks everything from online dating to car alarms, this episode is for you.

He is best known for creating the fastest spreading virus of all time, a MySpace worm named “Samy.” He got raided by the United States Secret Service for that one. More recently, he’s created SkyJack, a custom drone that hacks into any nearby drones, allowing him (or any operator) to control a swarm of devices; and Evercookie, which appeared in top-secret NSA documents revealed by Edward Snowden. He also discovered illicit mobile phone tracking by Apple iPhone, Google Android and Microsoft Windows Phone mobile devices.

His research and findings led to a series of class-action lawsuits against these companies and a privacy hearing on Capitol Hill.

To see Samy help me hack my online dating, click here for the “Dating Game” episode of my new TV show.

But to get us started, here is an epic, wine-fueled conversation with Samy about all things hacking-related…

Listen to this episode on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.

As a bonus, here are other podcast episodes from experts who appear in The Tim Ferriss Experiment: Josh Waitzkin (Chess Prodigy + Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), Neil Strauss (The Game), and Ed Cooke (Memory Champion).

Don’t miss Samy’s site, his outstanding YouTube channel, and his Twitter.

This podcast is brought to you by Mizzen + Main. Mizzen + Main makes the only “dress” shirts I now travel with — fancy enough for important dinners but made from athletic, sweat-wicking material. No more ironing, no more steaming, no more hassle. Click here for the exact shirts I wear most often.

This episode 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.

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What precautions have you taken to protect yourself in a digital world? Please share in the comments here.

Last, if you haven’t yet seen The Tim Ferriss Experiment, please check it out!  It’s currently the #1 TV show season on iTunes and Apple TV, beating out Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, and Mad Men (!).  See what the buzz is about.

Enjoy!

FINALLY — Tim Ferriss TV is here, plus Arnold Schwarzenegger and The Glitch Mob

I cannot put into words how excited I am to write this post. Perhaps it’s because I’ve had 3 glasses of wine, or perhaps it’s the glee of F bombs below.

But no.

It’s because I have a huge TV announcement, an opportunity to get a personalized video from Arnold Schwarzenegger (seriously), and much more.

Short and sweet — I FINALLY got digital rights to my TV show, The Tim Ferriss Experiment. It’s about how to conquer fear in any skill and 10x your learning speed. Think of it as Mythbusters meets Jason Bourne. Filmed and edited by the Emmy award-winning team behind Anthony Bourdain (Zero Point Zero).

It took eons of negotiating and lawyering, but I got digital rights for you guys, at long last.

This is my most important project of the last three years. It literally took blood, sweat, and tears. You’ll see my horrible injuries when you watch the show. In the parkour episode alone, I tore both ACLs, 6 of my 8 total quadriceps muscles (both legs), my rotator cuff muscles, and all the flexors in one forearm.

If you’ve gotten any value from me over the years, could you please buy the season pass for this fuckin’ show? :) Click here to get 13 episodes for next to nothing. It’s cinematic, insane, and won’t disappoint. Here is all the craziness, including a free preview. In a nutshell:

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, professional poker, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, parkour, languages, etc.–in just one week each.

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.”

I’m too tired to hide my Long Island pedigree, so… please just buy this season pass here. You’ll fucking love it.

A few things to sweeten the pot…

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Glitch Mob Craziness

I don’t half-ass launches. I go whole ass. Perhaps even 110% ass. So here’s the deal:

I want EVERYONE to see this show. I’m super proud of it, and your support means the world to me. 2nd place is 1st loser in my mind, so I’m going all out.

To the person who promotes the show best (details below), I’m giving away two priceless prizes, both from icons:

1) You’ll get a personalized motivational video from the Terminator, the man who killed the Predator (for God’s sake, people!) — Arnold Schwarzenegger. If you want to slay dragons and become superhuman, Arnie can motivate you like no one else. He’ll record a video to psyche you to greatness.

2) You’ll get a custom “anthem” from one of the biggest electronic music groups in the world — The Glitch Mob! Band members Boreta and Ooah will create ~30 seconds of awesomeness, a worldwide original just for you. Use it to get amped to do incredible things. Listen to it every morning, listen to it when you need to kick ass, listen to it before workouts or whenever you need extra juice. No one can buy this.

Are you fucking kidding me? No, I am not. The above two are real.

And you can feel good about promoting and buying the show, as 25% of all launch week profits for the TV show go to After-School All-Stars, which supports after-school programs for at-risk youth who need mentors. They do amazing work, and I recognize how a few mentors steered me from disaster early in my life. I want everyone to have that opportunity.

So… how do you win these bonzo garbanzo bonuses?

1) Promote the hell out of The Tim Ferriss Experiment this week, driving clicks to the iTunes page: itunes.com/timferriss  Here’s one step to get you started.

2) Leave a comment on this post telling me what you did (including anything quantifiable), no later than this Sunday, May 3rd 2015, at 10pm PT. Comments must be submitted by 10pm PT. It’s OK if they’re in moderation and don’t appear live before 10pm. Note: You must include “#TFX” at the TOP of your comment to be considered! This is an IQ test on following directions.

3) By May 10th, I and my panel of magic elves will select the winner: he or she who describes in their comment how they drove the most downloads/listens. If you drive people to buy season passes, you get major bonus points.

4) That’s it! Remember: Deadline is 10pm PT on May 3rd. No extensions and no excuses.

5) Of course, void where prohibited, no purchase required, you must be over 21, no minotaurs, etc.

But That’s Not All… (Cue Rotisserie Chicken)

If you simply buy the season pass, you can get a bunch of awesome stuff. Put another way, if you spend $14.99 USD, you get more than $200 in bonuses.  Here are the deets:

Important note #1: This only applies to people within the United States, or in US territories. Alas, I could only get rights for the US, so this is only available to residents of the US and US territories for now.  The network wouldn’t give me international rights, but I spent a small fortune trying.  I’ll keep trying.

Important note #2: Most of these prizes will be delivered by May 10th. You’ll receive confirmation and a remind about all of this, but when you purchase and submit proof of purchase, please be patient.

1) If you buy the full season pass of the Tim Ferriss Experiment, you will receive all of the below prizes.

2) When you purchase the full season (remember, single episodes don’t count), you’ll be sent goodies including:

CreativeLive: A $50 free credit + course from Neil Strauss on the creative process

CreativeLive is an online learning platform that broadcasts live, high-definition classes to more than 2 million students in 200 countries. The classes are amazing. Teachers include Pulitzer Prize winners, business luminaries, and more.  Neil Strauss, author of The Game, was one of my teachers for the “Dating Game” episode of The Tim Ferriss Experiment.

90-day free trial + a $200 coupon for WebinarJam

If you run any type of online business, WebinarJam Studio is a vital tool for entrepreneurs, which allows you to reach an unlimited number of people. The service is turnkey in terms of creating better conversions, allowing you to upload to YouTube, and integrate with your email list.

The Tim Ferriss Show Transcripts

It’s taken a long time, but I finally have transcripts from my “Best of iTunes 2014″ podcast. Not just that, but I’ve put them together into a pretty e-book PDF of 600+ pages. These are never-before-released transcripts of 25 of the most popular episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show, including episodes featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Triple H, Jon Favreau and more.

Scribd: 2 free months of subscription

Scribd is your passport to a reader’s paradise, with more than one million e-books, audiobooks, and comics, including New York Times bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winners, and reader favorites across every genre. Scribd is available in nearly every country and in more than 80 languages via iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Nook tablets, and the web.

ChefSteps: Free high-def cooking classes (don’t ignore this)

This was an invaluable resource for me when I was writing and research The 4-Hour Chef. ChefSteps is a James Beard Award–winning team of chefs, filmmakers, designers, writers, and scientists on a mission to help people cook smarter. ChefSteps.com and its companion app are designed to inspire creativity in the kitchen through high-quality interactive content, classes, tools, and resources that will inspire and educate cooks at any skill level.

HOW TO GET THESE BONUSES:

Purchase the season pass from iTunes. Be sure to take a screenshot of your email receipt OR “Purchased” page (you’ll need this for step 2) To take a screenshot, press ALT+PRINT_SCREEN on Windows or COMMAND+SHIFT+4 on Mac
Visit https://4hb.wufoo.com/forms/k1gnz9mu1t89sn3/
Fill out this form and upload a screenshot of your purchase
You’ll receive the transcripts from The Tim Ferriss Show soon thereafter, and then prizes will follow before or on May 10th.

And that’s the whole story!

Still wondering what I’m talking about?  Here you go.

I hope you love watching it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Much love and high fives from California,

Timbo

How to Defy Gravity on Earth (And Win $2,000+ Worth of Prizes)

Unless you’ve been to outer space, the next few minutes are worth your time.

Below are the details of The Zero-G Giveaway. My goal is simple: I want to you to have one of the coolest experiences on the planet. Namely, floating like an astronaut, experiencing weightlessness, and grinning ear-to-ear for a week afterward.

I’m not selling anything and no purchase necessary. Just thought it’d be cool, and I have some big news coming next week, so this is a warm-up. I’m limbering up my Internet joints for action.

All that said, you have less than 48 hours, so please keep reading.

My approach to blogging is simple: share what excites me most. It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive, free, or really cheap (like this).

Whether or not you win, I want to you to think of new possibilities.

For the Zero-G giveaway, I teamed up with Huckberry because they offer so many things I love. Sometimes it feels like I’m shopping in my own closet.

ACHTUNG! This is about getting people–a lot of people–excited. I want to you to dream big, and I want you to encourage others to do the same.

That’s why the more you spread the word on social media, the more likely you are to win.

If you want to enter, simply click here. It takes five seconds. After you sign up, you’ll be given the chance to spread the word to your friends. That’s it.

I hope you enjoy these prizes as much as I do.

Grand Prize (1 winner) 

The Zero-G experience — the only commercial opportunity on Earth (well, at 35,000 feet!) for individuals to experience true weightlessness without going to space. I’ve done it, and it’ll blow your mind.
If you want: A one-hour phone call with me about anything or everything: startups, publishing, podcasting, investing, tango…when I say anything, I really mean anything.
Some of my favorite new gear:

GORUCK GR1 backpack
James Brand Chapter knife
Suunto Ambit 3
Exo protein bars
LSTN headphones

Second Prize (3 winners)

Personalized and signed copies of The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body
Some of my favorite new gear (links above): GORUCK GR1 backpack, James Brand Chapter knife, Suunto Ambit 3 GPS watch, Exo protein bars, LSTN headphones
Soma sustainable glass water filter
Quarterly.co box of my favorite obsessions

If you’re not familiar with all the above prizes, here are few thoughts on why I chose to include them.

Exo Protein Bars: These are the only bars I currently eat. Clean protein, paleo-friendly, no soy and made of crickets. The amino acid profile is killer, a former 3-Michelin star chef makes them delicious, and it’s minimally-processed compared to almost every other form of protein bar. No garbage, no fillers. CrossFitters and other athletes gobble these things up. Journalists have been surprised I eat these, as there is a bit of natural sugar, but they don’t spike glucose for me or media friends who’ve tested them.

Soma: In its simplest form, it’s a high-end competitor to Brita water filters. It combines Apple-inspired design (sleek glass carafe) with a subscription service that delivers the world’s first compostable water filter to your door.  I have three at home.

LSTN Headphones: So cool that they had to be included. These wood-rich headphones immediately get double takes, and they have everything you need—a microphone for calls and voice recording, and passive-noise isolation feature to highlight your tunes and keep out the rest of the world. These bad boys are consistently ranked as good or better than headphones 2-3x the price.

In Conclusion

Jump on it! The giveaway ends in less than 48 hours.

To sign up, simply click here. And don’t forget: every time you share the page, your likelihood of winning increases.

What else would you like to experience before you die? What’s on your personal bucket list?

Good luck and pura vida :)

Triple H on Pre-Fight Rituals, Injury Avoidance, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

“His way of telling you that you did something wrong was hitting you in the head with a phone book in a shopping bag.”

– Triple H (Paul Levesque) on learning from Killer Kowalski [10:05]

“Why would I be wound up? I’m either ready, or I’m not. Worrying about it right now ain’t gonna change a damn thing.” 

– Floyd Mayweather, Jr. just before a fight, as recalled by Paul Levesque [34:20]

Paul Levesque, more popularly known as Triple H (@TripleH), is a 13-time World Heavyweight Champion in World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE). Not only that, he is also the Executive Vice President of talent, live-events, and creative at the WWE.

In this episode we explore everything, including the teachings of Killer Kowalski, how he avoids and repairs injuries (even if on the road 200+ days of the year), pre-game rituals, and habits developed with the support of trainer Joe DeFranco, The Undertaker, and even boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr..

This podcast is not limited to athletic performance. We dig deep into Triple H’s inspirations, and how he manages his responsibilities as a husband and father of three daughters.

[Also, if you missed it, I’m giving away a once-in-a-lifetime zero-gravity flight! If you’ve ever wanted to float like a astronaut, this is your chance. Click here for details.]

Enjoy!

Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.

Have you heard my previous blockbuster episode with Tony Robbins? — Triple H listened to this episode while preparing for our interview. In my episode with Tony, he shares his bizarre morning rituals, thoughts on punching Barack Obama, and how to master the game of money (stream below or download by right-clicking here for part 1 and right-clicking here for part 2):

This podcast is sponsored by LSTN Headphones. LSTN Headphones are gorgeous headphones made of real exotic, reclaimed wood. Proceeds from each purchase help a deaf or auditory-impaired person hear for the first time through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Check out the headphones that I love and travel with here: LSTNHeadphones.com/Tim. On that page, you can get a $50 discount.

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.  Special offer: For the month of April only, you can get an additional $30 off. Give it a test run and share your results!

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received for injury prevention or repair? Please share (or read) in the comments.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

Enjoy!

Selected Links from the Episode

Watch The Wrestler, which partially inspired me to chase down this episode
Learn more about the WWE and the WWE Network
Here are a bunch of warm-up drills that Paul’s trainer, Joe DeFranco, taught me for The 4-Hour Body.
Learn more about the International Sports Hall of Fame
Connect with Triple H on Twitter

Show Notes

How Paul Levesque answers the question, “What do you do?” [05:10]
Common misconceptions of Triple H and the WWE [6:30]
Important lessons learned while training with Killer Kowalski [9:40]
Emotional story telling: the critical factor behind each WWE event [12:45]
Why a regimented daily workout schedule is critical for longevity as an athlete [16:25]
Training as mediation [21:55]
Pre-game rituals with the help of Joe DeFranco, The Undertaker, and Floyd Mayweather [23:05]
Learn about Triple H’s models of success [35:10]
Insights on fatherhood [40:55]
Describing the first 60-90 minutes of every day [43:25]
Triple H’s current role in the WWE and his responsibilities as Executive Vice President [47:45]
Rapid fire questions:


Most played band/song [52:39]
If you could only do 1 or 2 exercise movements for the rest of your life what would they be? [53:00]
Advice for your 20-year old self [53:40]


The story of meeting Tony Robbins [55:15]

People Mentioned

Killer Kowalski
The Undertaker
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Ric Flair
Stephanie McMahon
Vince McMahon
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Dave Palumbo
Tony Robbins

Hit Filmmaker Jon Favreau’s Techniques and Routines

“The laughter doesn’t last if there is no story. Story is king. You think it’s about the laughs, but, really, it’s about investing in the story and being drawn in.”

– Jon Favreau [58:55]

Jon Favreau is a man of many talents. He burst onto the acting scene with his role in Rudy.

He established himself as a writer with the iconic cult hit Swingers, in which he starred.

Then, Favreau made his feature film directorial debut with Made, which he also wrote and produced. Other directing credits include Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Cowboys & Aliens, Elf, Zathura, and Chef, which he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in.

Lots of commas! This man does everything.

Most recently, he appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street as an actor, and he’s currently directing a live-action film with groundbreaking technology that will blow your mind — an adaptation of Disney’s Jungle Book, set to be released on April 15, 2016.

This episode goes deep into everything —

– How did he get started?

– What role did Dungeons and Dragons play?

– What made Swingers unique, and how was Elf an inflection point?

– What are the creative (and control) choices he made Chef and why?

– What are his writing techniques, routines, and tools?

– And much, much more.

If you create anything, Jon is a prime example of reinvention, doing it all, and doing it well.  Enjoy the lessons!

Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download it as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.

Want to hear another podcast with a world-class comedian and actor? — Listen to my conversations with Bryan Callen. In his episode, we discuss improving creativity, optimal performance, eating Corgis, and more (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! 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: What is the best advice on creativity you’ve ever received or read? Please share in the comments and check out other responses.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

Enjoy!

Selected Links from the Episode

Learn more about Final Draft, Jon Favreau’s preferred screenwriting software
Explore The Harold Improv Game, which Jon credits with helping him write the Swingers screenplay in two weeks
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Watch Bill Moyer’s interview with Joseph Campbell, titled The Power of Myth
Learn more about The Story Seminar by Robert McKee
A great book on storytelling and screenwriting: Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Jon’s suggested resource for screenwriters: The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez
Mead composition notebooks — Jon’s preferred writing medium
Watch the trailer for Eat, Drink, Man, Woman
Visiting San Francisco? Come see Walt Disney’s rigs and prototypes at the Disney Family Museum
It Would Be So Nice If You Weren’t Here by Charles Grodin
Connect with Jon Favreau:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Show Notes

Jon’s go to albums and bands while growing up [4:30]
On growing up in the Bronx [6:40]
Deciding to dedicate himself to entertainment [10:40]
On dropping out of college [13:30]
The spark that led Jon to cross the country on a motorcycle and lessons learned [17:50]
Deconstructing Dungeons and Dragons shame and how the game inspires filmmaking [22:50]
Jon’s process for learning to sculpt quickly and efficiently [28:30]
Important themes and lessons from the creation of Chef [31:50]
The ingredients Jon Favreau is focused on, plus the value of family/friend cooking experiences [35:25]
About George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch [38:45]
The process Jon used to write Swingers and Chef [45:20]
On being a writer for hire [51:50]
Jon’s meditation practice and how the practice inspired Chef [1:04:15]
Making, selling and distributing movies [1:10:55]
Rapid fire questions:


Who is the first person and director who comes to mind when you think of the word, “successful”? [1:23:20]
Most gifted book? [1:27:30]
Advice to your 30-year old self? [1:28:20]

People and Places Mentioned

Billy Joel
Led Zeppelin
Skywalker Ranch
Vince Vaughn
Bill Gates
Martin Scorsese
Coen brothers
James Cameron
Walt Disney

How to Earn Your Freedom…And A Motorcycle Ride Across China?

This post shares two short essays that have had a profound impact on my life.

They explore “lifestyle,” world travel, practical philosophies, and much more.

Disclaimer: These might make you quit your job… even if you’re the boss. I’m not kidding, as I’ve seen it happen. If it comes to pass, you’ll thank me later.

To see the movies I rave about in this episode, click here.

For the two free protein bars I mention, click here.

Here’s the audio. I hope you enjoy it. Stream below, or you can right-click here to save as an MP3.

For more from the amazing Rolf Potts, don’t miss our two-hour conversation about everything imaginable. It’s easily one of my favorite podcasts I’ve done. Click here to listen.

Enjoy!

Tim

Inside the Mind of Glenn Beck, You Find…Walt Disney and Orson Welles?

“When I turned 30, I knew my life was at a crossroads. It was either over, or I was going to restart.”

– Glenn Beck [9:10]

The goal of my blog and podcast is to push you outside of your comfort zone and force you to question assumptions.

This is why I invite divergent thinkers and world-class performers who often disagree. I might interview Tony Robbins and then Matt Mullenweg. Or I might have a long chat with Sam Harris, PhD, and later invite a seemingly opposite guest like…

Glenn Beck.

This interview is a wild ride, and it happened — oddly enough — thanks to a late-night sauna session. I was catching up with an old friend, who is mixed-race, a Brown University grad, and liberal in almost every sense of the word. I casually asked him, “If you could pick one person to be on the podcast, who would it be?”

“Glenn Beck,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation. “His story is FASCINATING.”

He described how Glenn hit rock bottom and restarted his life in his 30’s, well past the point most people think it possible. Fast forward to 2014, Forbes named him to their annual Celebrity 100 Power List and pegged his earnings at $90 million for that year. This placed him ahead of people like Mark Burnett, Jimmy Fallon, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Will Smith. Glenn’s platforms — including radio, tv, digital (TheBlaze.com), publishing, etc. — get somewhere between 30 and 50 million unique visitors per month.

This interview is neither a “gotcha” interview nor a softball interview. I ask some tough questions (e.g. “If you were reborn as a disabled gay woman in a poor family, what political system would you want in place?”), but my primary goal is to pull out routines, habits, books, etc. that you can use. This show is about actionable insight, not argument for argument’s sake.

First and foremost, this is a story of entrepreneurship, and whether you love Glenn, hate Glenn, or have never heard his name, there is a lot to learn from him.

After listening to this (no tirades before, please), I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download it as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.

At one point in this episode, we discuss billionaire Peter Thiel, who was previously on the podcast. Here is Peter and my experimental “conversation.” We delve into his principles of entrepreneurship, building massive companies, value creation, and competition, among other things (stream below or right-click here to download):

This podcast is 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..

This episode is also sponsored by The Tim Ferriss Book Club. In my book club, I highlight amazing books that I love. The most recent addition is We Learn Nothing by Tim Kreider. You can find all of the books at audible.com/timsbooks or here.

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: For you, what were the most valuable takeaways from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

Enjoy!

Selected Links from the Episode

The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Book of Virtues by William Bennett
Winners Never Cheat by John Huntsman
Learn more about the parable of the good Samaritan
The Garden Cities of Tomorrow by Sir Ebenezer George Howard

Show Notes

The story of Glenn Beck’s sole class at Yale [8:15]
Facing the dark periods, and how bedtime stories helped him identify his alcoholism [17:10]
How to avoid the temptations of the past [20:22]
On common misconceptions [32:15]
Suggestions for finding common ground during debates [37:45]
Glenn Beck’s most often gifted book [41:30]
Why Glenn has made the decision to be less divisive [45:30]
Advice for becoming great on radio (or in audio) [49:00]
“What controversial thing do you believe that few people agree with you on?” [53:30]
What to focus on when building a fast-growing company [1:03:00]
Why he sometimes asks people “How is your soul?” [1:15:05]
Morning routines and habits [1:17:50]
What makes Glenn Beck effective as the center of a $90-million+ organization [1:22:45]
“Who’s the first person to come to mind when you think ‘successful?'” [1:26:50]
Glenn Beck’s fascination with Orson Welles and the story of Citizen Kane [1:28:05]
On Walt Disney [1:34:25]
Glenn Beck’s advice to his 30-year old self [1:38:25]

Podcast Listener Questions (Submitted via My Facebook Page)

Matt Brand – “If you were to be theoretically reborn as a disabled gay woman in a poor family, what political system would you want in place?” [1:43:05]

Alex Kirby – “What are some of the things we can do to ‘rebrand’ capitalism and encourage entrepreneurship here (in the US) and abroad?” [1:39:35]

[Name sadly inaudible] – “If you were to leave people with one piece of advice, or a question they could ask themselves, what would that be?” [1:44:35]

People Mentioned

Steve Jobs
Carl Sagan
Thomas Jefferson
John Dominic Crossan
James Doty
Penn Jillette
Bono
Julie Taymor
Aleksandr Dugin
Betsy Morgan
Billy Graham
Orson Welles
Walt Disney

Lazy: A Manifesto

“Tim Kreider’s writing is heartbreaking, brutal and hilarious—usually at the same time. He can do in a few pages what I need several hours of screen time and tens of millions to accomplish. And he does it better. Come to think of it, I’d rather not do a blurb. I am beginning to feel bad about myself.”

– Judd Apatow

This post might change your life.

It contains a short audio essay titled “Lazy: A Manifesto.”  I plan on listening to it every Monday morning.

We Learn Nothing by Tim Kreider, a dazzling collection of humor and insight, is the newest book in the Tim Ferriss Book Club. I loved this book so much that I reached out to Tim and we produced the audiobook together. “Lazy: A Manifesto” is one small chapter.

If you want to stop feeling rushed, this might be the medicine you need.

If you want to burst into hysterical laughter in airports and freak out everyone (as I did), look no further.If you want to say “That’s exactly how I feel, but I’ve never had the words to express it!” this book delivers.  There’s a chapter for everyone.

Click here to download the brand-new audiobook of We Learn Nothing.

Here is the sample essay, “Lazy: A Manifesto” (right-click here to download, or stream below):

More on Tim from a Pulitzer Prize winner:

“Tim Kreider may be the most subversive soul in America and his subversions—by turns public and intimate, political and cultural—are just what our weary, mixed-up nation needs. The essays in We Learn Nothing are for anybody who believes it’s high time for some answers, damn it.”

– Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls

Of course, Tim is a phenomenal cartoonist, and I wouldn’t want you to miss the artwork, so I pow-wowed with his agent, who kindly provided a ton of his cartoons for sharing with you. You can download a treasure trove (about 150MB) by clicking here.

Enjoy! Don’t miss this one.

Click here to download the audiobook (which we produced)

Click here to get the print or Kindle edition

Curious which other five books are in the Tim Ferriss Book Club? Here’s the full collection.

Amanda Palmer on How to Fight, Meditate, and Make Good Art

“Work with the man when the man can help you make your art…”

- Amanda Palmer

“When in doubt, remember: At the end of the day, you get to do whatever the fuck you want.”

- Amanda Palmer

My guest this episode is Amanda Palmer, who first came to prominence as one half of the internationally acclaimed punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls.

Many of you have no doubt seen her surprise hit TED presentation, “The Art of Asking,” which has been viewed more than 6 million times. But her story goes much deeper, and, in this conversation, we delve into her routines, habits, creative process, relationships, business models, and more.

Her new book is aptly titled The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help.  I finished 50% and fundamentally upgraded my life in an afternoon of asking for help.  It’s one hell of a read.

Amanda is also widely known as “The Social Media Queen of Rock-N-Roll” for her intimate engagement with fans via her blog, Tumblr, and Twitter (1,000,000+ followers), and has been at the vanguard of using both “direct-to-fan” and “pay what you want” (patronage) business models to build and run her business. In May of 2012, she made international news when she raised nearly $1.2 million pre-selling her new album, Theatre is Evil, which went on to debut in the Billboard Top 10 when it was released in late 2012.

We get into it all, including war stories, cursing, and meditation techniques. It’s a fun ride. 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 world-class musician? — Listen to my conversations with Justin Boreta of the Glitch Mob or Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. In the fomer, we discuss his meditation practice, morning routines, and creative process (stream below or right-click here to download):

This podcast is 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: Have you ever overcome the fear of asking for help? Please share stories or examples in the comments!

Scroll below for links and show notes…

Selected Links from the Episode

The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help
Dropping Ashes on the Buddha by Zen Master Seung Sahn
Only Don’t Know also by Zen Master Seung Sahn
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Unfamiliar with Amanda Palmer’s music? She made this for you.
Connect with Amanda on Twitter

Show Notes

The origin story behind the alias Amanda Fucking Palmer [4:40]
On the creative process behind The Art of Asking [7:40]
Simplification and honing in art and life [19:10]
Lessons learned as The 8-foot Bride [25:10]
What separates a good living statue from a great living statue [30:40]
Advice for effective use of eye contact [33:25]
Amanda Palmer’s meditation techniques [42:25]
Most gifted books [49:50]
Who is the first person you think of when you think of “successful” [55:50]
Common misconceptions about Amanda Palmer [1:02:10]
Why the Amanda Palmer fan base is so dedicated [1:09:40]
Lessons learned from the rebellion against Roadrunner Records [1:17:25]
If Amanda had to choose one online tool, which would it be and why? [1:25:40]
The dynamics of having two creatives in one household [1:26:55]
Rapid-fire questions: Drinks in Boston and advice for her 20-year old self [1:34:10]
Thoughts on flying solo or working with “the man” [1:37:25]

People Mentioned

John McPhee
Marina Abramović
Neil Gaiman

The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide – Risks, Micro-Dosing, Ibogaine, and More

I’m not high in this picture, despite my appearance.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT USE ANY DRUGS OR SUBSTANCES WITHOUT CONSULTING A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

JAMES FADIMAN, Ph.D., did his undergraduate work at Harvard and his graduate work at Stanford, doing research with the Harvard Group, the West Coast Research Group in Menlo Park, and Ken Kesey. He is the author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide.

Called “America’s wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use,” Jim Fadiman has been involved with psychedelic research since the 1960s. In this episode, we discuss the immediate and long-term effects of psychedelics when used for spiritual purposes (high dose), therapeutic purposes (moderate dose), and problem-solving purposes (low dose). Fadiman outlines best practices for safe “entheogenic” voyages learned through his more than 40 years of experience–from the benefits of having a sensitive guide during a session (and how to be one) to the importance of the setting and pre-session intention. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

We also discuss new uses for LSD and other psychedelics, including extremely low doses for improved cognitive function. Cautioning that psychedelics are not for everyone, he dispels the myths and misperceptions about psychedelics, which are commonly circulated in textbooks. Fadiman explain how — in his opinion — psychedelics, used properly, can lead not only to healing but also to scientific breakthroughs and spiritual epiphanies.

Listen to this episode on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”.

Plus, a bonus you might have missed — Sam Harris, PhD, on meditation, neuroscience, and psychedelics (stream below or right-click here to download):

This episode is 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.

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: If you couldn’t use drugs and wanted to experience some of the benefits discussed in this episode, what tools might you use? Please share and explore answers in the comments here.

Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, could you please leave a short review here? I read them, and they keep me going. Thanks!

SHOW NOTES — I ran out of time on these show notes, but I’m happy to promote your Twitter or Facebook page to 1-2M people on this blog (with a link) if you’re the first person to leave good show notes below (including links) in the comments! “Good” show notes include links to all the people and main subjects mentioned, at a minimum; Wikipedia links are great. I reserve the right to go to the 2nd or 3rd person if websites/pages are too sketchy for me to promote.

Here’s a start: The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide

Thanks for listening!