The Tim Ferriss Show
#94: Tara Brach on Meditation and Overcoming FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

Tara Brach (@TaraBrach) is a PhD in clinical psychology and one of the leading teachers of Buddhist thinking and meditation in the Western world.

She is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community in Washington, D.C. and her lectures are downloaded hundreds of thousands of times each month.

I was first introduced to Tara's work by another guest on this podcast, Maria Popova. Soon thereafter, a friend and neuroscience PhD recommended her book, Radical Acceptance, as life-changing. It exceeded all expectations.

It’s my hope that this tactical conversation offers you techniques for addressing loneliness, anger, self-hatred, the “trance of unworthiness,” and much more. Tara’s had a measurable impact on my life, and I wish the same for you.

For those who know my fondness for Stoic philosophy, I think Tara’s work is a fantastic compliment to Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and the other favorites.

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This podcast is brought to you by Vimeo Pro, which is the ideal video hosting platform for entrepreneurs. In fact, a bunch of my start-ups are already using Vimeo ProWealthFront uses it to explain how WealthFront works. TaskRabbit uses it to tell the company’s story. There are many other names who you would recognize among their customers (AirBnB, Etsy, etc.) Why do they use it? Vimeo Pro provides enterprise level video hosting for a fraction of the usual cost. Features include:

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  • Up to 20 GB of video storage every week
  • Unlimited plays and views
  • A fully customizable video player, which can include your company logo, custom outro, and more

You get all this for just $199 per year (that’s only $17 per/mo.) There are no complicated bandwidth calculations or hidden fees. Try it risk-free for 30 days. Just go to Vimeo.com/business to check it out. If you like it, you can use the promo code “Tim” to get 25% off. This is a special discount just for you guys.

Enjoy!

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Tara_Bach.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:50am EDT

#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming

Jane McGonigal (@avantgame), PhD, is a senior researcher at the Institute for the Future and the author of The New York Times bestseller Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Her work has been featured in The Economist, Wired, and The New York Times. She has been called one of the "top ten innovators to watch" by BusinessWeek and one of the "100 most creative people in business” by Fast Company. Her TED talks on games have been viewed more than ten million times.

In this conversation, we dig into everything from recovering from head trauma to how you can use Candy Crush Saga to lose weight. Not enough? How about using Tetris to prevent PTSD, or using Call of Duty to increase empathy?

Her latest book is SuperBetter, which offers a revolutionary (science-based) approach for getting stronger, happier, and more resilient. I’ve been testing it, and it works.  Not only am I feeling better, but I’m having more fun.

As adults, we often lose track of play. My hope is that this episode will help you to reclaim it.  It’s not frivolous; it can help you get a lot more done with less stress.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Examples of real world problems that are solved with games or by gamers 
  • How Jane climbed herself out of the hole of suicidal thoughts 
  • Action steps for using gaming lessons and applying them to real life 
  • How to build a quest into your life 
  • The health effects of Candy Crush Saga 
  • On the use of psychedelics to simulate traumatic experiences 
  • And much more...

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. Get 50% off your order at Athletic Greens.com/Tim

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 BodyHere are some of the impressive results.  Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade.  Give it a test run...

Enjoy!

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Jane_McGonigal.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:18am EDT

#92: Maria Popova on Being Interesting, Creating More Time in a Day, And How to Start A Successful Blog

Maria Popova (@brainpicker) has written for amazing outlets like The Atlantic and The New York Times, but I find her most amazing project to be BrainPickings.org.

Founded in 2006 as a weekly email to seven friends, BrainPickings now gets more than 5 million readers per month (!). I read very few blogs regularly, but BrainPickings is one of the few that makes the cut. It’s a treasure trove.

Maria is massively successful, and her output is staggering. None of it’s accidental, and she’s great at teaching what she’s learned.

This episode answers the top-10 most popular questions you all had for Maria, including:

  • The single attribute that leads to greatness in any given field
  • Required reading and habits for anyone in public office
  • How Henry David Thoreau was the first to talk about the dangers of sitting
  • Why we must stop calling our work, "content"

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This podcast is brought to you by Vimeo Pro, which is ideal for entrepreneurs. In fact, a bunch of my start-ups are already using Vimeo ProWealthFront uses it to explain how it develops personalized investment portfolios. TaskRabbit uses it to tell the company's story. Twitter uses it to showcase Periscope. Why are they using it instead of other options out there? Vimeo Pro provides enterprise level video hosting that typically costs thousands of dollars for a tiny fraction of the cost. Features include:

  • Gorgeous high-quality playback with no ads
  • Up to 20 GB of video storage every week
  • Unlimited plays and views
  • A fully customizable video player, which can include your company logo, custom outro, and more

You get all this for just $199 per year (that's only $17 per/mo.) There are no complicated bandwith calculations or hidden fees. Just go to Vimeo.com/business to check it out. If you like it, you can use the promo code "Tim" to get 25% off. This is the deepest discount you will find anywhere for Vimeo Pro.

This podcast is also brought to you by Mizzen + Main. These are 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. Don't forget to use the code “TIM” at checkout.

Enjoy!

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Maria_Popova_QnA.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:16pm EDT

#91: Charles Poliquin on Strength Training, Shredding Body Fat, and Increasing Testosterone and Sex Drive

Charles Poliquin (@strengthsensei) is one of the best known strength coaches in the world. He has trained elite athletes from nearly 20 different sports, including Olympic gold medalists, NFL All-Pro’s, NHL All-Stars and Stanley Cup champions, and IFBB bodybuilding champions. His clients include long-jump gold medalist Dwight Phillips, NHL MVP Chris Pronger, and MLB batting champion Edgar Martinez, among many others.

Poliquin is currently teaching advanced hypertrophy, nutrition, and strength seminars alongside one of my favorite athletes, Olympic weightlifting icon and medalist Dimitry Klokov.

Poliquin has authored more than 600 articles on strength training, and his work has been translated into 12 different languages. He has written 8 books, including his latest, "Arm Size and Strength: The Ultimate Guide." Find much more about Poliquin and his latest at  strengthsensei.com.

In this episode we cover every strength trainng and fat loss topic you've ever thought about, including...

  • Thoughts on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) 
  • Exploring the use of Deca-Durabolin to support joint repair 
  • Thoughts on the pre-workout warmup 
  • Most common post-workout mistakes
  • Commonly neglected ways to decrease body fat 
  • Thoughts on achieving maximal strength on a plant-based diet 
  • And much, much more

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is your all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in the The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. Get 50% off your order at https://www.AthleticGreens.com/Tim

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 BodyHere are some of the impressive resultsClick this link and get a free $99 upgrade: http://www.99designs.com/tim. Give it a test run.

Enjoy!

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Charles_Poliquin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:27pm EDT

Dr. Peter Diamandis (@PeterDiamandis) has been named one of “The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” by Fortune Magazine. His accomplishments are far too many to list, but here are a few:

Peter is Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. He is also the Co-Founder (along with Craig Venter and Bob Hariri) of Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI); and the Co-Founder of Planetary Resources, a company designing spacecrafts to mine asteroids for precious materials (seriously). His latest book, Bold, has endorsements from Bill Clinton, Eric Schmidt, and Ray Kurzweil.

Peter knows how to think and play big, and he can show you how to do the same.

This episode features the top-10 most popular questions you wanted Peter to answer, including:

  • How do we disrupt the education system?
  • What does the future of healthcare look like?
  • When should you start building your billion-dollar business?
  • Will technology destroy all the jobs?

This podcast is brought to you by LegalZoom. Matt Mullenweg (CEO of Automattic – now worth more than a billion dollars) first incorporated his company on LegalZoom. LegalZoom, which I’ve used myself, can help you with almost anything legal, including setting up a will, doing a proper trademark search, forming an LLC, setting up a non-profit, or finding simple cease-and-desist letter templates. LegalZoom is not a law firm, but they do have a network of independent attorneys available in most states. They can provide contract review and help you run your business. Use the code “Tim” at checkout to get $10 off your next order. Take a gander at everything you can get for a fraction of what you’d expect — LegalZoom.com

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 BodyHere are some of the impressive resultsClick this link and get a free $99 upgrade.  Give it a test run.

Enjoy! 

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Peter_Diamandis_QnA_LegalZoom_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:48am EDT

Laird Hamilton (@LairdLife) is widely considered the greatest big wave surfer of all-time and an innovator in board sports. He’s the creator of tow-in surfing, and largely responsible for the rebirth of stand-up paddle boarding.

Hamilton starred in multiple surfing films and was the centerpiece of Riding Giants, a documentary about big wave surfing. A contributing editor for Men’s Journal, he has been featured on Oprah, Charlie Rose, 60 Minutes, and The Ellen Degeneres Show. Laird was also the featured expert in the surfing episode of The Tim Ferriss Experiment.

Laird is known for using his healthy lifestyle to raise money for charities including, Race Across America, Pipeline for a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis, Rain Catcher, and Muscular Dystrophy.

Gabrielle Reece (@GabbyReece) has been named one of the “20 Most Influential Women Sports,” and is best known her success in volleyball, modeling, and for a starring role as a trainer on The Biggest Loser.

A volleyball champion, Elle magazine called Reece, “One of the five most beautiful women in the world.” Reece used her crossover success to become the first female athlete to ever design a shoe for Nike.

Brian MacKenzie (@iamunscared) is the founder of CrossFit Endurance and the author of the New York Times best-selling book Unbreakable Runner. 

MacKenzie created controversy by suggesting a counterintuitive approach to distance running, which challenges high-mileage runs, high-carb diets, and incorporates intense strength training to conquer everything from 5K runs to ultra marathons. He was also prominently featured in The Four-Hour Body where he showed how you could prepare for a marathon in record time.  

MacKenzie has been featured in Runner’s WorldMen’s Journal, ESPN, Outside, and the Economist.

In this episode we cover a lot of ground, including: 

  • Challenging your beliefs and physicality with underwater weightlifting, elevation masks, and exercise efficiency 
  • Laird Hamilton's potent magic yellow energy elixir 
  • The characteristics linked to success 
  • How to cultivate a thriving relationship: Training, Confidants and Value Systems 
  • Laird's formula for invention in sports 
  • Advice for an older, perhaps beat up, athlete seeking to get back to high-level performance 
  • Laird Hamilton's mantra of "training for life" [1:08:39]

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is your all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in the The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so.  Get 50% off your order at https://www.AthleticGreens.com/Tim

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 BodyHere are some of the impressive results.  Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade: http://www.99designs.com/tim  Give it a test run.

Enjoy!

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Laird_Hamilton_and_Co.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:44am EDT

"Push yourself harder than you think you're capable of. You'll find new depth inside yourself."
- Stanley McChrystal

 

Stanley McChrystal (@StanMcChrystal) retired from the U.S. Army as a four-star general after more than 34 years of service. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates described McChrystal as “perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I ever met.”

From 2003 to 2008, McChrystal served as Commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), where he was credited with the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The follow-up questions are really fun. In this particular episode, he answers questions such as:

  • If he could put a billboard anywhere and write anything on it, where would it be and what would it say?
  • What are three tests/practices from the military that civilians could use to help develop mental toughness?
  • What are his favorite documentaries or movies? Why?
  • What $100 or less purchase has most positively impacted his life in the last twelve months and why?

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This episode is brought to you by Audible which I have used for years. I love audiobooks. I have two to recommend right off the bat:

  1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - Perhaps my favorite audiobook of all time.
  2. Vagabonding by Rolf Potts - This book had a huge impact on my life and formed the basis for a lot of what has become The 4-Hour Workweek

To get your free audiobook and a free 30-day trial, go to Audible.com/Tim. You can choose from the two audiobooks listed above or from 180,000+ audio programs. They offer audiobooks, magazines, newspapers and even classes. It's that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and grab your free audiobook.

It's that easy. Enjoy!

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Stanley_McChrystal_QnA.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:44pm EDT

Sam Harris is a neuroscience Ph.D. and the author of the bestselling books, The End of FaithThe Moral LandscapeFree WillLying, and Waking Up. His work has been discussed in The New York TimesTimeScientific AmericanNatureNewsweek,Rolling Stone, and many other journals.

In this episode we discuss:

-Five books he thinks everyone should read

-Why have he stopped doing public debates

-Morning rituals and meditation

-The one tip for better brain health outside meditation or exercise

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This podcast is brought to you by MeUndiesHave 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 LegalZoom. Matt Mullenweg (CEO of Automattic – now worth more than a billion dollars) first incorporated his company on LegalZoom.  LegalZoom, which I’ve used myself, can help you with almost anything legal, including setting up a will, doing a proper trademark search, forming an LLC, setting up a non-profit, or finding simple cease-and-desist letter templates. LegalZoom is not a law firm, but they do have a network of independent attorneys available in most states. They can give you advice on the best way to get started, provide contract review, and otherwise help you run your business. Use the code “Tim” at checkout to get $10 off your next order. Take a gander at everything you can get for a fraction of what you’d expect — LegalZoom.com

Enjoy!

 

Direct download: Tim_Ferriss_Show_-_Sam_Harris_QnA.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:39pm EDT

Stanley McChrystal (@StanMcChrystal)  retired from the U.S. Army as a four-star general after more than 34 years of service. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates described McChrystal as "perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat I ever met."

From 2003 to 2008, McChrystal served as Commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), where he was credited with the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

His last assignment was as the commander of all American and coalition forces in Afghanistan. He is currently a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and the co-founder of CrossLead, a leadership consulting firm.

In this episode, we discuss everything imaginable, including:

- Why he eats only one meal per day
- His exact exercise routines
- Tactical and psychological lessons of combat
- Self-talk used before and after difficult missions
- The value and development of mental toughness
- Favorite books, documentaries, etc.
- And much, much more

Chris Fussell (@FussellChris), who also joins the conversation, is a former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, former Aide-de-Camp for General McChrystal, and a current senior executive at CrossLead.

Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is your all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in the The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so.  Get 50% off your order at https://www.AthleticGreens.com/Tim

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 BodyHere are some of the impressive results.  Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade: http://www.99designs.com/tim  Give it a test run.

Enjoy!

Direct download: TFS_M4_Stanley.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:29am EDT

By popular demand, this episode features Kelly Starrett.  He’s trained CrossFit athletes for more than 130,000 hours (!) and his clients include Olympic gold medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world record holders in Olympic lifting and powerlifting, Crossfit Games medalists, professional ballet dancers, and elite military personnel.

In this episode, we cover:
- The 80/20 of mobility and the movements you need today
- How Kelly fixed himself as an athlete
- Kelly's picks for easy-to-add mobility movements
- And much more...

Even if you have zero interest in "mobility," this conversation invites you inside the mind of one of the world’s top coaches.  Kelly discusses habits, strategies, and thinking that can be applied to nearly everything.

Please also check this out -- Kelly and I are joining forces to build the first standing desk-only elementary school in the world.  We're almost there. Please click through and help!  

This episode is also brought to you by Audible.com/tim. Be sure to check out some of my favorite audiobooks, including The Graveyard Book and Vagabonding.

Direct download: Kstarr_Standing_Desk_TFS.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:09pm EDT

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