John Darnielle is the founder & songwriter of The Mountain Goats, as well as the author of three excellent novels and the 33 1/3 series book about Black Sabbath's classic "Master Of Reality" album. We talk about how he got started in both music & writing, how he managed to stick with music for years despite not really making any money, the decision to pursue music full time, the responsibility he feels to the other members of The Mountain Goats and support staff, and balancing writing with touring. 

John's (tongue-in-cheek) question for Tim: we're in for four years of markets responding to things posted on social media by political actors. what long positions will give the highest yields in such a volatile environment?

Key takeaways:

1. John  reflects on his early life and the development of his musical career. He mentions how creating music often started as a hobby before becoming more serious.
2. He talks about his shift from making music to writing novels, stressing the importance of doing something that feels true to oneself.
3. John shares insights about balancing art creation with financial pressures.
4. He recounts the financial struggles of his early career and how those experiences shaped his commitment to his creative work.
5. John emphasizes the importance of maintaining integrity in both his music and writing, and that financial success should never be prioritized over artistic satisfaction.

Links:
The Mountain Goats
John's page at MacMillan Publishers

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