Q&A with Tim — New Religions, AI Companions, Longevity Levers, Resurrecting “Forgotten” Languages, Stress-Testing Cherished Beliefs, Tactics for Writer’s Block, Low-Back Pain, and Much More (#704)

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Hello, boys and girls, ladies and germs. This is Tim Ferriss. Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is usually my job to sit down with world-class performers of all different types to tease out the habits, routines, favorite books, and so on that you can apply and test in your own life. 

This time, we have a slightly different format. I’m the guest, and you asked the questions. 

I recently sat down with subscribers to my email newsletter for a fun and live Q&A on YouTube.

To join these exclusive Q&A sessions in the future, it’s simple. Just sign up at  tim.blog/friday . 

Every Friday, you will receive my free 5-Bullet Friday newsletter—a short email of five bullet points. It’s one of the most popular newsletters in the world.

Each newsletter describes the five coolest things I’ve found or explored that week, often including books, gadgets, tech workarounds, tricks from experts, strange experiments, and weird stuff from all over the world. My subscribers have seen many, many things at the edges before they’ve gone mainstream. 

In this episode, I answer questions on resurrecting “forgotten” languages, dog training, writer’s block, reducing alcohol intake, AI companions, training the “good enough” muscle, low-back pain, the importance of weight training and muscle mass, travel recommendations for Japan, managing fear of death and the descent to death, breaking negative self-talk, and much, much more. 

Please enjoy! 

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the Q&A on YouTube here.

Brought to you by  Eight Sleep’s Pod Cover  sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating;  Cometeer  delicious hyper-fresh, flash-frozen coffee; and  AG1  all-in-one nutritional supplement.

The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

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This episode is brought to you by Cometeer! Cometeer is hyper-fresh, expertly brewed, flash-frozen coffee that produces an incredibly delicious cup. Cometeer lets you prepare your coffee with no mess, no machines, no burning, and no bitterness. Cometeer sources high-quality beans from the country’s top roasters. The coffee is brewed using proprietary technology to pull out more flavor compounds and antioxidants. It’s then flash-frozen at minus 321 degrees Fahrenheit to lock in that incredible flavor and freshness of the specialty brew. Simply add hot water and you’ve got a game-changing cup of coffee. It’s easily customizable in seconds for iced coffees, lattes, espresso martinis, and more.

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This episode is brought to you by AG1! I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG1 further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. 

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Want to hear my last Q&A? Listen to the episode here, in which I answered questions about newsletters I read every day, how to launch a successful nonprofit, outcompeting in a saturated market, notable contributions during my days as a tech company advisor, cosmic insignificance therapy, metaverse musings, recent spiritual shifts, required reading for someone in need of self-love, and much more.

#628: Q&A with Tim — Revisiting 15+ Years of PR and Marketing Lessons, Time Dilation for Deep Relaxation, The Art of Setting Ultra-High Prices, The Low-Information Diet, Studying Animal Communication, My 3-Day Fasting Protocol, Tools for Handling Adversity, Selling to the Affluent, My Current Coffee and Alcohol Rules, Risk Mitigation, and Much More

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODEWhat Is Your Carbon Footprint? | The Nature ConservancyPut Oil Back Underground | Charm IndustrialAn Anti-GHG 501c3 | TerrasetSo You Want to Be a Neuroscientist? | Harvard Brain Science InitiativeHow to Become a Marine Biologist | Conservation CareersHow to Become a Comic Book Artist | The Art Career ProjectDerek Sivers — The Joys of an Un-Optimized Life, Finding Paths Less Traveled, Creating Tech Independence (and Risks of the Cloud), Taking Giant Leaps, and Picking the Right “Game of Life” | The Tim Ferriss Show #668The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss | AmazonOccam’s Protocol4-Hour Body: Occam’s Protocol and the Minimum Effective Dose | Social Media University, Global (SMUG)The Slow-Carb Diet One-Pager | Tim FerrissMasterpieces of Fantasy Art by Dian Hanson | AmazonFan Ho’s Street Photography: What Hong Kong Looked Like 60 Years Ago | Public DeliveryThe Conscious Leadership GroupThe 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Warner Klemp | AmazonDon’t Let Perfection Be the Enemy of Productivity | Harvard Business Review“I Think That Saying ‘Good Enough’ is a Superpower.” -Derek Sivers | Tim Ferriss, TwitterLogitech BRIO Ultra HD Webcam | AmazonMacBook Pro | AppleAudio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone | AmazonTools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss | AmazonFasting vs. Slow-Carb Diet, Top $150 Purchases, Balancing Productivity and Relaxation, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #213Imposter Syndrome: Why You May Feel Like a Fraud | Verywell MindAizuchi | WikipediaDefinition of Backcountry Skiing, Slackcountry, Sidecountry, and Off Piste | The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog10 Reasons to Finally Give Backcountry Skiing a Try | goEastSkis | DPS SkisHow I Built a #1-Ranked Podcast With 60M+ Downloads | Tim Ferriss1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly | The TechniumCreative or Cool Excuses to Not Drink | r/TheGirlSurvivalGuideDr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap (Baby, Unscented) | AmazonCheck Your Sunscreens! More Recalls Due to Benzene | The Legal ExaminerNordic Naturals ProOmega 650 EPA/450 DHA | AmazonEasy Strength: How to Get a Lot Stronger Than Your Competition-And Dominate in Your Sport by Dan John | AmazonThe DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics by Dennis O’Neil | AmazonTiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg | AmazonAtomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear | AmazonHow to Read the Good Books | The New YorkerThe 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss | Amazon12 Rules for Learning Foreign Languages in Record Time — The Only Post You’ll Ever Need | Tim FerrissDie Hard | Prime VideoOne Piece Wiki | FandomDon’t Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor | AmazonDog Tips and Training | Tim FerrissThe Most Important Skill to Teach Your Dog | Tim FerrissHow to Keep Your Dog Occupied | Tim FerrissDog Breakfast Tips with Molly | Tim FerrissDog Tricks: Command, Safety, and Vanity | Tim FerrissSusan Garrett — Master Dog (and Human) Trainer | The Tim Ferriss Show #200How to Lose 100 Pounds on The Slow-Carb Diet — Real Pics and Stories | Tim FerrissThe Healthiest Red Meat on the Planet | Maui Nui VenisonNutrient Density Study | Van Vliet LabJake Muise — The Relentless Pursuit of Innovation, Quality, and Meaning | The Tim Ferriss Show #678Mark Zuckerberg: First Interview in the Metaverse | Lex Fridman Podcast #398The AI Companion Who Cares | ReplikaAn ‘Epidemic’ of Loneliness Threatens Health of Americans, Surgeon General Says | Smithsonian MagazineDr. Vivek Murthy — Former Surgeon General on Combating COVID-19, Loneliness, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #417Charted: The Rapid Decline of Global Birth Rates | Visual CapitalistThe Sunk Cost Fallacy | The Decision LabWhat the Luddites Really Fought Against | Smithsonian MagazineThe Turing Test | Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyGoogle’s AI Passed the Turing Test — And Showed How It’s Broken | The Washington PostInokashira-koen Park and Ghibli Museum | Truly TokyoStores | LawsonSpirited Away (English Language) | Prime VideoBar Gen Yamamoto | InstagramWe Visit a Hidden Bar in Niseko | Steven & DiepBar Gyu+ | InstagramNikko Toshogu Shrine Autumn Grand Festival | Nikko Official GuideSamurai Archery: Yabusame in Nikko (Japanese Horseback Archery) | Ronin DaveQuestBridgeSupport a Classroom. Build a Future. | DonorsChooseFree Online Courses, Lessons, & Practice | Khan AcademyAccelerating Kids’ Education | MentavaArthur C. Brooks — How to Be Happy, Reverse Bucket Lists, The Four False Idols, Muscular Philosophies, Practical Inoculation Against the Darkness, and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #692Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace | AmazonAdding Weight Lifting to Workouts May Boost Longevity | Harvard HealthPeter Attia: Strength Training for Health Is a Key to Longevity | Shortform BooksOutlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia | AmazonA Guide to the Biggest Thing Missing From Your Fitness Routine: Zone 2 Training | The Art of ManlinessCoach Chris Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training | The Tim Ferriss Show #158Coach Chris Sommer — The Secrets of Gymnastic Strength Training, Part Two: Home Equipment, Weighted Stretches, and Muscle-Ups | The Tim Ferriss Show #180How to Design a Life — Debbie Millman | The Tim Ferriss Show #214My Healing Journey After Childhood Abuse (Includes Extensive Resource List) | The Tim Ferriss Show #464Intermittent Fasting: What Is It, and How Does It Work? | Johns Hopkins MedicineThe Five-Minute Journal | AmazonHow 30 Grams of Protein at Breakfast Can Help You Lose Weight | HealthlineSome Practical Thoughts on Suicide | Tim FerrissWhat is Stoicism? | Daily StoicStoicism Resources and Recommendations | Tim FerrissThe Harvard Classics: Plato, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius | AmazonHistory of Memento Mori | Daily StoicPsychedelics May Lessen Fear of Death and Dying, Similar to Feelings Reported by Those Who’ve Had Near Death Experiences | Johns Hopkins MedicineTranscendental MeditationLogically, After You Die Will Be Like Before You Were Born | Fact or Myth?What If We Treated Death Like Birth? | Modern LossDr. Shirley Sahrmann — A Legendary PT Does a Deep Dive on Tim’s Low-Back Issues, Teaches How to Unlearn Painful Patterns, Talks About Movement as Medicine (or Poison), and More | The Tim Ferriss Show #685Fisher Traction | AmazonVyper 3 High-Intensity Vibrating Foam Roller | AmazonHerman Miller Classic Aeron Chair | AmazonHealing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection by John Sarno | AmazonMind Over Back Pain: A Radically New Approach to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Back Pain by John Sarno | AmazonThe Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain by John Sarno |AmazonPilates: What It Is and Health Benefits | Cleveland ClinicA Prophet (Un prophète) | Prime VideoOn Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft by Stephen King | AmazonA Fictional World Built for These Chaotic Times | The Legend of CØCKPUNCHBird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott | AmazonThe Tao of Seneca: Letters from a Stoic Master (aka The Moral Letters to Lucilius) | Tim FerrissThe Science of Gratitude & How to Build a Gratitude Practice | Huberman Lab Podcast #47Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) | Cleveland ClinicThe Work | Byron KatieKia Kaha | WikipediaSHOW NOTES[07:10] How I’m reducing my carbon footprint.[08:37] Parallel reality career choices.[09:11] Life optimization (and deoptimization).[11:40] Fan Ho: An impressive personality.[12:15] The value of personal coaching.[14:41] Working on the “good enough” muscle.[16:10] My current video/audio tech specs.[16:58] The impact studying overseas has had on my success.[17:54] Is a part three with Todd McFarlane imminent?[18:05] If it were written or revised today, what would I add to The 4-Hour Body?[18:44] Cultivating the rustic country vibe of my living space.[20:04] Have I ever experienced imposter syndrome while interviewing a guest?[22:50] Why is there a washing machine in my kitchen?[23:02] This winter’s skiing plans.[23:33] If I started podcasting today, what would I do differently?[25:33] Cutting back on booze.[26:46] Skin care.[29:44] Social activities that deliver maximum happiness.[31:30] Yet-uninterviewed guests I’d like to have on.[32:05] Foiling the friction of fabricating fiction.[35:43] Gleaning meaning from holy scriptures.[36:26] As a polyglot, how do I maintain fluency in languages I’ve learned?[41:05] Training puppies, dolphins, chickens, and kids: The power of positive reinforcement.[45:24] Batch cooking and the slow-carb diet.[46:57] Digital emotional surrogacy’s impact on the loneliness epidemic.[50:43] When reliance on the digital diminishes human deftness.[52:22] Travel recommendations for Japan.[55:28] The future of education: Talent sourcing and accelerated learning.[57:08] The future of religion(s).[1:00:05] The importance of weight training for longevity.[1:03:48] Improving interview skills and asking the right questions.[1:08:54] How I kickstart my metabolic machinery in the morning.[1:11:56] Managing fear of death with Stoicism and transcendent experiences.[1:15:20] Managing back pain: Exercises, techniques, and tools.[1:19:47] A pronouncement for Pilates poo-pooers.[1:20:32] Relationship advice may be dispensed at a later date.[1:21:26] Rewatching favorite movies.[1:21:53] Books that were better after a reread.[1:22:51] Breaking negative self-talk: Gratitude practice and dialectical behavioral therapy.[1:23:44] Parting thoughts.PEOPLE MENTIONEDDian HansonMolly FerrissFan HoJim DethmerDustin MoskovitzTodd McFarlaneMobyArnold SchwarzeneggerJamie FoxxEd CatmullJoe RoganChris HardwickMarc MaronRyan ReynoldsDan JohnPavel TsatsoulineDennis O’NeilBJ FoggJames ClearKaren PryorMark ZuckerbergLex FridmanTaylor SwiftHayao MiyazakiGen YamamotoHisashi Watanabe and Ioanna MorelliArthur C. BrooksPeter AttiaDebbie MillmanPlatoEpictetusMarcus AureliusSeneca the YoungerNaval RavikantShirley SahrmannStephen KingAnne LamottByron Katie

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