The Tim Ferriss Show Tim Ferriss

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #485 "Jerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for Success" and episode #39 "Maria Popova on Writing, Workflow, and Workarounds."

Please enjoy!

Sponsors:

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LMNT electrolyte supplement: https://drinklmnt.com/Tim (free LMNT sample pack with any drink mix purchase)

Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)

Timestamps:

[05:16] Notes about this supercombo format.

[06:19] Enter Jerry Seinfeld.

[06:46] Jerry’s writing process for survival in the comedy ecosystem.

[15:43] Lessons Jerry would teach in a writing class and how they relate to his fitness methods.

[15:43] Soliciting creative feedback while preserving pride over doing the work.

[20:33] Routines essential to Jerry’s well-being and their frequency and duration.

[24:50] How nurturing creativity is like parenting, and Jerry’s belief about pain and knowledge.

[26:17] Additional ways Jerry mitigates depressive episodes.

[27:27] A resilience-building failure.

[32:05] The importance of playing the game well.

[33:42] “Survival is the new success.”

[36:12] Jerry’s billboard.

[39:06] Enter Maria Popova.

[39:30] Are you correctly pronouncing names you’ve only read but never heard?

[41:13] What does Maria do?

[41:50] What is Brain Pickings (now The Marginalian)?

[42:31] What percentage of New York Times best sellers are a result of Maria’s coverage?

[47:55] The common denominator that guides Maria’s reading list.

[49:16] The importance of writing for an audience of one.

[52:07] Contending with the temptation to create BuzzFeed-like content.

[59:44] The daily discipline required for Maria’s well-being.

[1:07:10] Maria’s note-taking system.

[1:12:53] Seneca and the time-tested challenge of presence vs. productivity.

[1:16:08] Start-up opportunity? Build a note-taking tool for heavy readers/highlighters.

[1:22:52] About the team behind [The Marginalian].

[1:24:28] Collaborative proofreading and copyediting.

[1:27:21] Self-reliance pathology and how to overcome it.

[1:29:56] Finding a professional personal assistant and learning to delegate.

[1:34:36] Maria’s weightlifting regimen and favorite bodyweight-only exercise.

[1:37:22] Designing content infrastructure to be evergreen.

[1:39:28] Cutting out the commentary contrarians.

[1:46:13] Scheduling social media.

[1:48:25] Coping with email — and sometimes snail mail.

[1:50:31] How to cultivate a personal inner circle and pre-screen book review requests.

[1:54:54] What donation model works best for site revenue?

[2:01:22] Recommended reading from [The Marginalian] and parting thoughts.

*

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss 

Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss

YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss

Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss

Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Ch

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #76 "Rick Rubin on Cultivating World-Class Artists (Jay Z, Johnny Cash, etc.), Losing 100+ Pounds, and Breaking Down the Complex" and episode #479 "Mary Karr — The Master of Memoir on Creative Process and Finding Gifts in the Suffering."

Please enjoy!

Sponsors:

AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://drinkag1.com/tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)

Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra)

LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 1B+ users: https://linkedin.com/tim (post your job for free)

Timestamps:

[05:11] Notes about this supercombo format.

[06:15] Enter Rick Rubin.

[07:58] How Rick lost over 135 pounds in his late 30s.

[16:03] How artists can hurdle the obstacles that hinder their best work.

[19:31] Where to find world-class contemporary music.

[20:24] Approaching music production with a fan’s-eye view.

[22:53] Recommended reading.

[24:22] Helping artists break their creative blocks.

[26:54] Rick’s advice for his younger selves.

[29:06] Why practicing self-kindness isn’t just nice — it’s a necessity.

[32:01] Enter Mary Karr.

[32:25] Growing up in “The Ringworm Belt.”

[34:44] The catalyst for Mary expressing herself and publishing to the world.

[37:47] The role reading played for young Mary.

[40:31] The feeling that inspired Mary’s desire to become a poet at a young age.

[44:27] “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”

[45:17] How Mary, a high school dropout, got into college and became an A student.

[49:13] Mary’s struggle with bringing darkness with her even after leaving her traumatic past.

[53:23] The highly selective process for getting into Mary’s graduate seminar at Syracuse University.

[54:33] The first day of Mary’s class and what it illustrates about processing memoir-building memories.

[1:00:20] The value of a commonplace book and helping others find alternative perspectives.

[1:04:19] The importance and utility of prayer in Mary’s life and sobriety.

[1:17:09] The significance of Ignatian exercises in Mary’s Catholic faith and gratitude practice.

[1:23:10] Obligatory Texas talk about weaponry and hunting.

[1:26:41] The origins of Mary’s unique wordsmithing.

[1:34:24] Mary’s process of rough drafts, revision, and using past memories for storytelling.

[1:42:34] How Mary copes with the pain of dredging up memories through writing.

[1:46:09] Why Mary feels the happiest at 65 and her advice to her younger self about therapy.

[1:49:26] The most and least effective types of therapy for Mary.

[1:53:25] Mary’s solution to fear and getting through uncomfortable times.

[1:58:14] Recognizing the gifts from suffering through difficult times in retrospect.

[2:06:28] Mary’s billboard.

[2:07:35] Parting thoughts.

*

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss 

Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss

YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss

Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss

Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthe

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #107 "The Scariest Navy SEAL Imaginable… And What He Taught Me" and episode #161 "Lessons from War, Tribal Societies, and a Non-Fiction Life (Sebastian Junger)."

Please enjoy!

Sponsors:

Vuori Clothing high-quality performance apparel: https://vuoriclothing.com/tim (20% off your first purchase)

Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://helixsleep.com/tim (20% off all mattress orders and two free pillows)

Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)

Timestamps:

[06:27] Notes about this supercombo format.

[07:30] Enter Jocko Willink.

[07:59] What separates good leaders from mediocre or bad leaders?

[10:01] Identifying good leadership candidates.

[11:46] Teaching the skill of detachment.

[16:58] Jocko’s grueling workout that made platoons “tap out.”

[18:46] Jocko’s morning rituals.

[20:57] People Jocko associates with success.

[23:12] Recommended reading.

[26:57] How does discipline equal freedom?

[31:50] Enter Sebastian Junger.

[32:21] Thomas Paine and Stoic philosophy.

[34:25] The “chainsaw story” and its impact on Sebastian’s writing career.

[38:27] Athleticism and long distance running.

[39:00] Developing a writing style.

[40:46] Sebastian’s attraction to journalism.

[46:22] Sebastian’s writing style and the importance of structure.

[55:51] Commencement speech advice for high school graduates.

[59:09] Sebastian’s inspiration to visit war-torn countries.

[1:01:14] Explanation of “skin walkers.”

[1:05:00] Striving for political correctness in gender.

[1:11:43] The Iroquois’ peace process and its relevance to modern politics.

[1:19:15] Psychiatric effects of war.

[1:22:07] Bringing primitive, war-time cohesion into modern society.

[1:27:28] PTSD, the C-Train, and returning to New York City after war.

[1:32:24] The lonely nature of society.

[1:36:24] PTSD prevalence in elite special forces units vs. support units.

[1:41:30] How to “support the troops.”

[1:47:47] How a Viking helmet started — and stopped — a barfight in Spain.

[1:53:16] Developing male closeness while decreasing violence.

[1:59:05] Veterans becoming victims in society after returning from war.

[2:03:27] Photography/videography habits and Sebastian’s start as a war reporter.

[2:07:45] Tim Hetherington’s story and Sebastian’s decision to stop war reporting.

[2:11:02] Sebastian’s future writing plans.

[2:12:04] One thing anyone can do for a military veteran.

[2:16:14] Who comes to mind when Sebastian hears the word “successful?”

[2:16:46] Defining courage.

[2:16:52] Most gifted books.

[2:17:46] What close friends say Sebastian is exceptionally good at.

[2:18:09] Combining three writers to create the ultimate writer.

[2:18:47] Advice to Sebastian’s younger self.

[2:20:07] Recent purchase with the most positive impact on Sebastian’s life.

[2:22:16] Something Sebastian believes, despite being unable to prove it.

[2:22:23] Disliked habits and common practices of journalists.

[2:23:39] Advice from Sebastian’s 70-year-old self to his current self.

[2:24:48] Knowing when to write a book.

[2:26:53] Sebastian’s billboard.

[2:28:22] Final requests for the audience and parting thoughts.

*

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss 

Ins

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #421 "Dr. Jane Goodall — The Legend, The Lessons, The Hope" and episode #145 "The Interview Master: Cal Fussman and the Power of Listening."

Please enjoy!

Sponsors:

Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)

Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra)

Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://wealthfront.com/tim (Start earning 5.00% APY on your short term cash until you’re ready to invest. And when you open an account today, you can get an extra fifty-dollar bonus with a deposit of five hundred dollars or more.) Terms apply.

Timestamps:

[04:48] Notes about this supercombo format.

[05:51] Enter Dr. Jane Goodall.

[06:19] Connecting with Louis Leakey and becoming his secretary.

[09:43] Gaining acceptance among chimpanzees.

[13:09] Primate personalities, compassion, and the story of Old Man saving Marc Cusano.

[17:34] Observations of chimpanzee compassion and violence, and inferences about human nature.

[19:19] Explaining variance in chimpanzee attitudes toward dominance.

[20:55] Cultivating hope to overcome apathy.

[26:19] Mr. H, Gary Haun, the indomitable human spirit, and overcoming adversity.

[29:37] Dr. Goodall's billboard.

[31:20] Enter Cal Fussman.

[32:56] Quincy Jones' unique book signing practice.

[34:19] Cal's pivotal childhood moment.

[38:55] Deconstructing the skill of asking great questions.

[42:43] Contrasting interview styles from different life stages.

[48:25] University of Missouri Journalism's role in Cal's career.

[52:24] Drinking with Hunter S. Thompson and Johnny Depp.

[55:45] Cal's start in international travel (and my family trip to Iceland).

[1:06:34] How a single question got Cal six months of lodging.

[1:14:45] Common mistakes and lessons learned about the art of asking questions.

[1:23:30] Honing the ability to tell stories.

[1:27:11] A life-changing event at the end of Cal's travels.

[1:31:43] Perfecting the conversational interview.

[1:33:43] Speaking at Summit at Sea.

[1:46:15] What Mikhail Gorbachev taught Cal about the art of the interview.

[1:55:45] Boxing Julio César Chávez.

[2:30:31] Why Alex Banayan and George Foreman define success for Cal.

[2:42:58] Most gifted books.

[2:49:47] Favorite documentaries and movies.

[2:55:37] Cal's billboard.

[2:56:08] Advice to Cal's 30-year-old self.

[2:59:05] Overcoming writer's block with Harry Crews' advice.

[3:18:56] Parting thoughts.

*

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss 

Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss

YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss

Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss

Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, D

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #37 "Tony Robbins on Morning Routines, Peak Performance, and Mastering Money" and #373 "Jerry Colonna — The Coach with the Spider Tattoo."

Please enjoy!

Sponsors:

LMNT electrolyte supplement: https://drinklmnt.com/Tim (free LMNT sample pack with any drink mix purchase)

AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://drinkag1.com/tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)

Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra)

Timestamps:

05:00] Notes about this supercombo format.

[06:03] Enter Tony Robbins.

[06:27] Tony’s daily routines.

[07:28] Cryotherapy.

[10:55] Priming.

[15:04] Tony’s ideal music for meditation.

[16:20] Richard Branson’s first pre-investment questions.

[17:05] What a 50% investment loss actually means.

[17:42] The Paul Tudor Jones 5:1 strategy.

[18:36] How Kyle Bass taught his kids about investing with nickels.

[21:34] What the world’s best investors know for certain.

[24:00] Enter Jerry Colonna.

[24:21] Jerry’s spider tattoo origin story.

[30:03] The 2002 Olympic bid meeting that changed Jerry’s life.

[35:47] Jerry’s suicide attempt at 18 and his psychiatric hospital stay.

[37:06] The difference between responsible and complicit in Jerry’s life in 2002.

[39:55] Three important questions from Jerry’s therapist.

[41:02] Something important Jerry needed to say but didn’t during this time.

[42:39] How Jerry overcame self-doubt and unanswerable questions.

[44:46] Jerry’s path to coaching and three influential books.

[51:46] How much of Jerry’s coaching stemmed from focusing outside himself and healing his younger self.

[53:12] Convincing high-achievers of the importance of self-discovery.

[54:10] Jerry’s first question: “How are you really feeling?”

[57:11] Working with the chronically busy.

[59:40] Examining my handling of busyness, saying “No,” and related difficulties.

[1:09:40] Three basic risks we all try to manage: love, safety, and belonging.

[1:13:06] Tools, books, and approaches for setting boundaries and saying “No.”

[1:14:50] “All beings own their own karma. Their happiness or unhappiness depend upon their actions, not my wishes for them.”

[1:16:11] A boundary tool that acknowledges compassion from a distance.

[1:17:30] The challenge is in the meaning assigned to a situation before applying a tool.

[1:18:11] Dealing with vexing “Newman” personalities in our lives.

[1:22:56] Moving from intellectual agreement to behavioral change.

[1:25:26] Benefits of journaling for personal growth.

[1:27:33] Guilt vs. remorse.

[1:28:12] Marie Ponsot, the crow, and letting the crow speak in the journal.

[1:32:00] Jerry’s bedtimes, mornings, and journaling process.

[1:35:09] Journaling for accepting life’s totality and our inner “multitudes.”

[1:37:14] Tara Brach’s Radical Acceptance.

[1:37:41] Using Marvel’s Hulk and Thor to understand and reconcile parts of oneself.

[1:42:39] A difficult but life-changing decision Jerry made to say “No.”

[1:49:19] Advice for anyone at a similar junction.

[1:51:07] Using journaling and meditation to cope with anxiety and inner turmoil.

[1:54:43] Learning about loving kindness (metta) meditation.

[1:56:49] A new behavior or belief that improved Jerry’s quality of life.

[1:58:36] Jerry’s billboard.

[2:00:55] Parting thoughts.

*

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit ti

This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #361 "Jim Collins — A Rare Interview with a Reclusive Polymath" and #380 "Ed Zschau — The Polymath Professor Who Changed My Life."

Please enjoy!

Sponsors:

Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra)

AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://drinkag1.com/tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)

LMNT electrolyte supplement: https://drinklmnt.com/Tim (free LMNT sample pack with any drink mix purchase)

Timestamps:

[05:00] Notes about this supercombo format.

[06:03] Enter Jim Collins.

[06:28] How Jim’s students influenced his entrepreneurial path.

[10:45] Why Jim carries a three-timer stopwatch.

[12:21] Using a spreadsheet to optimize discipline in service of creativity.

[13:42] Ideal minimum creative hours per year.

[15:19] Avoiding a life-distorting “funk.”

[17:41] Calculating an optimal end point.

[19:27] Patterns discovered using Jim’s time-tracking method.

[20:23] Three crucial components for living the life Jim wants to lead.

[22:18] The bug book and the hedgehog concept.

[30:31] Peter Drucker mic-drop lessons.

[34:39] Enter Ed Zschau.

[34:59] How I convinced Dr. Zschau to let me into his Princeton engineering course.

[37:38] Ed’s background in competitive figure skating and the lessons it taught him.

[41:45] The origin of Ed’s meticulous attention to detail.

[45:31] The benefits of learning by doing through the case method.

[49:21] Ed’s definition of entrepreneurship.

[50:50] The role of optimism in entrepreneurship and life.

[53:30] Ed’s aspirations as a teenager and young adult.

[55:32] What drew Ed to Princeton as an aspiring physics philosopher.

[58:21] How Ed got into teaching and his belief that career planning is overrated.

[1:03:37] How Ed learned to become a good teacher and the influence of extemporaneous speaking.

[1:06:53] Lessons from extemporaneous speaking competitions about preparation and adaptation.

[1:11:04] Ed’s thoughts on focusing for extended periods versus opening himself to opportunities.

[1:13:06] Ed’s decision to run for Congress.

[1:17:57] Advantages of committing to a maximum of three terms in the House of Representatives.

[1:21:29] Ed’s experience and self-reflection after losing his Senate race.

[1:23:40] Ed’s decision process when transitioning from investor to CEO.

[1:26:05] Differentiating between high-impact commitments and peer pressure.

[1:29:41] Comparing Ed’s parenting style to his teaching style.

[1:31:17] Ed’s belief in encouragement over direction and his own upbringing.

[1:34:45] The origin of Ed’s goal to live a life that matters.

[1:37:05] Influential books and recommendations for aspiring entrepreneurs.

[1:42:05] Ed’s current excitement and efforts to make higher education affordable through technology.

[1:48:37] The mantra by which Ed lives his life and his childhood nickname.

[1:50:57] How Ed brings the sound of music to his endeavors.

[1:57:34] Ed’s influence on others to continue his work of changing the world.

[1:59:40] Parting thoughts.

*

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss 

Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss

YouTube: yout