Podcast Notes Playlist: Latest Episodes

"A true creator knows that you follow the thing to where it's going, not to where you think it ought to go."

— Adam Savage

Adam Savage (TW: @donttrythis IG: @therealadamsavage FB: therealadamsavage) has spent his life gathering skills that allow him to take what's in his brain and make it real. He's built everything from ancient Buddhas and futuristic weapons to fine-art sculptures and dancing vegetables.

The son of a filmmaker/painter and a psychotherapist, Adam's previous positions include projectionist, animator, graphic designer, carpenter, interior and stage designer, toy designer, welder, and scenic painter. And he's worked with every material and in every medium he could fathom—metal, paper, glass, plastic, rubber, foam, plaster, pneumatics, hydraulics, animatronics, neon, glassblowing, moldmaking, and injection molding, to name just a few.

In 1993, Adam began concentrating his career on the special-effects industry, honing his skills through more than 100 television commercials and a dozen feature films, including Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Galaxy Quest, and the Matrix sequels. 

A decade later, Adam was chosen, along with Jamie Hyneman, to host MythBusters, which premiered on Discovery Channel in January 2003. 14 years; 1,015 myths; 2,950 experiments; eight Emmy nominations; and 83 miles of duct tape later, that version of the series ended in March 2016.

Today, Adam hosts and executive produces MythBusters Jr., as well as a brand-new series, Savage Builds, which premieres on Science Channel in June 2019. He also stars in and produces content for Tested.com, including behind-the-scenes dives into multiple blockbuster films (including Alien Covenant, Mortal Combat, and Blade Runner).

In addition, after a lifetime of hunting for the perfect bag, Adam launched Savage Industries and began manufacturing his own, along with MAFIA BAGS. Made in the United States and constructed primarily from recycled sailcloth, every bag is not only durable and lightweight but unique, as well. The current line (available at AdamSavage.com) includes two sizes of the EDC ("Everyday Carry") and pouches, with more product both available on the site and on the way.

Finally, in 2019 Adam wrote his first book, Every Tool's a Hammer, which is, in Adam's words, "...a chronicle of my life as a maker. It's an exploration of making and of my own productive obsessions, but it's also a permission slip of sorts from me to you. Permission to grab hold of the things you're interested in, that fascinate you, and to dive deeper into them to see where they lead you."

This episode of the Tim Ferriss Show is brought to you by Theo Chocolate, which is the first organic and fair-trade chocolate company in North America. The folks there reached out to me because they spotted some neatly stacked bars of their dark chocolate coconut in a recent Instagram photo of my fridge (see it here).

This is a brand that does everything from scratch, and the difference shows. It's why Theo is one of my favorite chocolates. It offers tons of different bars, little snacks like coconut bites, and also imaginative creations like a cinnamon horchata bar, beer and scotch chocolates, and its signature s'mores bite -- The Big Daddy. My personal favorite: Salted Almond Butter Cups, which are ridiculous.

Theo is helping drive its industry forward by working with communities in the Congo and Peru to make the economics of the cocoa trade fair for farmers, and by using sustainable farming practices. Whether you want to feel better about where you buy your goodies or you just want a really unique and delicious gift for yourself or someone else, they're available in Whole Foods and other grocery stores across the U.S. For listeners of this podcast, Theo is offering 15% off your online purchase at TheoChocolate.com. Use code Tim15, or visit TheoChocolate.com/Tim for more details.

This podcast is also brought to you 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.

As a listener of The Tim Ferriss Show, you'll get a free 20-count travel pack (valued at $79) with your first order at AthleticGreens.com/tim.

If outsourcing a task will cost less than your hourly rate, outsource it.

Keith Rabois is a tech entrepreneur and investor who has played key roles at PayPal, LinkedIn and Square. He is a contrarian and his views on almost everything are contrary to what is conventionally held wisdom. I find that we can learn the most from contrarians as they have already undergone the cognitive dissonance necessary to find truth. Why you should listen to this episode

Everything we've discussed so far has been setting you up to apply judgment.

Podcast Notes Key Takeaways

• It’s critical to set aside the the time to walk around a problem in a three-dimensional way
  • You might ask yourself:
    • What does this problem look like for me?
    • What does it look like to other people?
    • What does it look like through different lenses?
• “You don’t need to have more cognitive horsepower than other people to make better decisions, you just have to think through a wider variety of situations and circumstances”
  • Think:
    • What are the extent of the possible outcomes?
    • Where am I likely to end up on a probabilistic basis?
    • And are there outcomes I want to avoid?
      • If you can avoid all the bad outcomes, you’re more likely to obtain a preferable outcome
• Mental models describe the way the world works – they shape how we think, how we understand, and how we form beliefs
  • It’s important to develop a wide variety of mental models – this allows you to think about problems through different lenses
• Important Mental Models:
  • The map is not the territory
    • Like in online dating – the map (someone’s profile) doesn’t match the overall person 
  • First principles thinking
    • This model is all about breaking things down to their core, asking “Why?” until you get to a concrete answer that can’t be broken down further
  • Try to apply concepts outside the domains in which they’re presented
  • Understanding base rates
    • Our view is often clouded by ego, which makes us think we can beat the statistics
  • Taking advantage of compound interest
• The best podcast interviews are the result of a totally open-ended conversation with no time limit
• The internet facilitates the hardening of our own beliefs
  • Why? – We tend to only expose ourselves to people who have the same opinions as us

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org



Subscribe to the Knowledge Project Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Shane Parrish about some of the mental models that should guide our thinking and behavior.

You can support the Making Sense Podcast and receive subscriber-only content at samharris.org/subscribe.

Podcast Notes Key Takeaways

• As we go about life, we often revert to negotiation strategies which proved to be effective for us as children
• “We assume persuasion is about talking, but actually the most persuasive strategy you could take is to listen well”
• There are MANY problems with email as a communication medium
  • Related: A HUGE mistake many of us make – writing back right away to an email that angered us, rather than taking the time to pause, reflect, and respond in an appropriate manner
• “Your first negotiation is really with yourself”
  • In a difficult conversation, you have to shift your thinking away from being focused on what you’re right about, to trying to understand the other person’s point of view (even if you know they’re wrong)
• In difficult conversations, it’s effective to state the emotions you’re feeling
  • This is different than being emotional (expressing frustration, rather than just stating you’re frustrated)
• Anger is often a secondary feeling
  • Meaning – initially what we feel is something else (like hurt)
• An important conversation skill – the ability to listen for the feelings beneath what your conversation partner is saying
• “It’s not just that people have difficult conversations in their relationships, those conversations are the relationships”
  • If you handle them well – the relationship thrives
  • If you handle them poorly – the relationship starts to deteriorate
• Instead of aiming to resolve conflict through conversation, aim to understand
  • This lowers the stakes – “Not figuring out a solution isn’t failing. Failing is not learning anything new about the other person.”

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org



Subscribe to the Knowledge Project Podcast

Sheila Heen, two time NY Times best selling author, consultant, and lecturer at Harvard Law School, makes the tough talks easier by breaking down the three layers that make up every difficult conversation

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For comprehensive show notes on this episode, including a full edited transcript, go to https://fs.blog/podcast/

Is your brain hungry for more? Don't miss out! Sign up for our weekly "Brain Food" at https://fs.blog/newsletter/

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Podcast Notes Key Takeaways

• It’s not if we can reverse the aging process, but when
  • When it comes down to it, aging is just another disease
• Obesity, smoking, and a lack of exercise all accelerate the aging process
• Today the oldest living people reach 115-120 years of age, but why should life stop there?
• David’s most important piece of advice to fight aging – Eat less!
• David’s second best piece of advice – Exercise!

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org



Subscribe to the Modern Wisdom Podcast

David Sinclair is a Professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and co-Director of the Paul Glenn Centre for the Biological Mechanisms of Ageing.

Today we hear from a scientist at the cutting edge of longevity research as Professor Sinclair gives us a fascinating insight into the world of anti-ageing.

Expect to learn how and why we age, why stabilising the epigenetic landscape may enable a human to live for 1000 years, exactly what tactics Professor Sinclair is using himself to try and extend his life and how fasting, Sirtuins and NAD can be used to promote health and reduce diseases.

Extra Stuff:

David’s New Book - http://lifespanbook.com/

Follow David on Twitter - https://twitter.com/davidasinclair

Inside Tracker - https://www.insidetracker.com

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Get in touch. Join the discussion with me and other like minded listeners in the episode comments on the MW YouTube Channel or message me...

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ModernWisdomPodcast

Email: [email protected] 

Casey Neistat, Legendary Vlogger & Founder of 368, shares journey from leaving home at 15 to leading YouTube’s creative pioneers, the evolution of social media & continued quest for authenticity, challenges of success, cultivating gratitude, & starting a new community for artistic collaboration

In this podcast, we talk quirky Japanese destinations, building a massive online following, the power of psychedelics, influencer culture, and Trey’s new book, "Under the Influence - How To Fake Your Way Into Getting Rich on Instagram." Trey Ratcliff is an artist, writer, thinker, creative, and “a warm-hearted old-school gentleman explorer with really cool toys.”

The continuum from day laborer to real estate tech company applies more and more specific knowledge, accountability and leverage.