The James Altucher Show

Today, we have an incredibly exciting guest, Nat Eliason, author of the riveting book Crypto Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance. Tons of people have made millions, maybe even tens of millions, in the various crypto crazes of 2013, 2018, 2021, and now. In his book, Nat tells his own adventure of making a ton of money, losing a ton of money, making a ton of money again, and how it all ended up by creating his own tokens or currencies for a game and NFTs. You'll hear him talk all about it on the podcast. We'll discuss not only his story but also the future of crypto. Here it is; a great conversation.

In this episode, James Altucher sits down with Nat Eliason, the author of Crypto Confidential. Nat shares his personal journey through the highs and lows of the crypto world, providing unique insights into the wild and often unpredictable world of cryptocurrency. From making and losing millions to creating his own tokens for games and NFTs, Nat's story is both cautionary and inspiring. They explore the evolving landscape of crypto, the impact of decentralized finance, and the future potential of blockchain technology. This episode is packed with real-life lessons and insider knowledge that you won't find anywhere else.

1. The dynamics of making and losing millions in the crypto world.
2. How to create and launch your own cryptocurrency tokens.
3. The future of decentralized finance and blockchain technology.
4. The psychological and financial challenges faced by crypto investors.
5. Insights into the evolving trends and opportunities in the crypto market.

• 01:33 Nat Eliason's Crypto Journey Begins 
• 02:07 The FOMO Effect and Early Crypto Experiences 
• 03:21 The Rise of Bitcoin and Automated Investments 
• 05:36 The World of Crypto Farming 08:13 The Evolution of Crypto Trends 
• 09:42 Gaming and NFTs: A New Frontier 
• 14:41 Tokenization and Real-World Applications 
• 26:30 The Wild West of Crypto and Regulation 
• 29:38 Learning Solidity and Building in Crypto 
• 42:29 The Token Payment Dilemma
• 43:18 Unexpected Wealth from Token Launch 
• 44:22 The NFT and Gaming Boom 
• 47:28 Liquidity Issues and Market Realities 
• 49:17 Public Wallet Scrutiny 55:21 Johnny's NFT Success Story 
• 59:08 The Writing Journey
•  01:07:44 Future of Crypto and AI Coins 
• 01:12:25 Potential of Crypto in Payments
• 01:16:39 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

• Nat Eliason's Book: Crypto Confidential
• OpenZeppelin: Ethereum Development Framework
• Coinbase: Cryptocurrency Exchange
• Uniswap: Decentralized Trading Protocol
• Blake Crouch's Dark Matter

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Drugs, chess, and rock and roll—Brian Lawlor has seen it all. I didn’t include the sex part because I don’t know, but he's been to jail. We talk all about that: how, why, when. But I was concerned—how did he survive? Interestingly, part of the way he survived was through chess.

Brian's story is riveting and valuable, touching on survival in general. We played a bunch of games. I’m not including the games in the podcast, but he surprised me with his skill. We’ll do a video on that later. But for now, here’s Brian Lawlor.

###Episode Description:

In this episode of "The James Altucher Show", James sits down with Brian Lawlor, a man who transformed his life from being a drug addict in and out of jail to becoming a successful composer and teacher. Brian shares his remarkable journey of overcoming addiction, finding solace in chess, and building a career in music against all odds. This episode is a powerful testament to the human spirit's resilience and the transformative power of passion and discipline.

• How Brian used chess as a tool for mental stability and personal growth.
• The impact of music on Brian's rehabilitation and how he built a career from it.
• Insights into the challenges and stigmas faced by former inmates trying to reintegrate into society.
• The importance of self-reinvention and finding new pathways to success.
• Practical advice for anyone struggling with addiction or looking to make a significant life change.

• 01:44 Brian's Jail Experience
• 02:42 Surviving Jail Through Chess and Ping Pong
• 04:00 The Reality of Jail Life
• 07:16 The Ping Pong Incident
• 18:52 Struggles with Addiction
• 28:32 Rebuilding Life After Jail
• 39:04 Exploring Musical Diversity
• 39:49 Classical Influences in Modern Music
• 41:07 Pop Music Production Insights
• 43:20 Favorite Bands and Musical Influences
• 44:28 Chess Journey and Early Experiences
• 46:51 Chess and Music: A Unique Intersection
• 51:56 Sound Sensitivity and Chess Commentary
• 55:04 Chess Tournaments and Personal Stories
• 01:06:02 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

• Brian Lawlor’s Music Studio
• Book: “How to Reassess Your Chess” by Jeremy Silman
• Book: “My 60 Memorable Games” by Bobby Fischer
  Keywords: addiction recovery, peak performance, chess, music, rehabilitation, Brian Lawlor, James Altucher, resilience, reinvention.

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• What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!
• Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!

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• Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!
• My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!
• Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.
• I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com

------------

Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts: 

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Charlie Hoehn has quietly become the go-to expert on self-publishing your book. Charlie has worked with some of the best authors out there, like Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, David Goggins, Ramit Sethi, and Cody Sanchez. Charlie has touched every part of the book-making process—from coming up with the right idea to marketing the book in the most efficient and high-quality way.

I've been writing books for over 20 years, and in this one-hour podcast, Charlie gave me so many new ideas I had never thought of before. This is a must-listen for anyone thinking about writing a book. Share it with your friends who are authors or aspiring authors, and be sure to check out Charlie's site, charliehoehn.com, where you can subscribe to his newsletter and all his self-publishing tips. This is important stuff to listen to.

In this episode, James Altucher sits down with Charlie Hoehn, the self-publishing maestro who has helped best-selling authors like Tim Ferriss and Seth Godin bring their book ideas to life. Charlie shares his unique approach to self-publishing, offering insights that go beyond the traditional publishing route. He discusses the power of crafting compelling book titles, the importance of building a personal brand through your writing, and how to market your book effectively without a massive budget. Whether you're an established author or just starting, Charlie's strategies will help you rethink the entire book creation process and achieve self-publishing success.

• How to effectively self-publish a book and the advantages over traditional publishing.
• The art of crafting compelling book titles that attract readers.
• Strategies for marketing your book on a budget.
• The importance of building a personal brand through your writing.
• How to use personal stories and experiences to create a powerful and relatable narrative.

• [00:01:30] Introduction to Charlie Hoehn: The Self-Publishing Expert
• [00:02:47] Catching Up: Life Updates and Personal Challenges
• [00:05:21] The Quest: Rediscovering Chess Mastery
• [00:10:12] The Power of Play: Transforming Anxiety into Joy
• [00:20:35] The Art of Book Marketing: Testing Titles and Strategies
• [00:31:00] Navigating Criticism and Resilience
• [00:43:06] The Benefits and Challenges of Self-Publishing
• [00:58:25] Starting Your Book Journey
• [01:10:33] Structuring and Drafting Your Book
• [01:18:15] Writing for Your Former Self
• [01:23:50] Building a Tribe Through Your Book
• [01:32:40] Finding Your Unique Voice
• [01:40:17] The Power of Personal Experience
• [01:50:30] Additional Resources for Aspiring Authors

• Charlie Hoehn’s Website
• James' "How to Write and Publish a Book in 30 Days" Course
• HelpThisBook.com
• INeedABookCover.com
• Tim Ferriss's Books
• Seth Godin’s Blog
• David Goggins's Book "Can't Hurt Me"
• Ramit Sethi’s “I Will Teach You to Be Rich”

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• What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!
• Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!

------------

• Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!
• My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!
• Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.
• I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com

------------

Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts: 

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Follow me on social media:

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Imagine you are dying or you're about to die. Let's say you were hit by a car, you're bleeding out, you're on the way to the hospital but you just have this sense that you're not going to live, and you see visions of someone you knew in the past, maybe a mother or a father, and they're saying, "Don't worry, we're here for you." Come down this light at the end of a tunnel. Does that change your experience of life if you then survive? Well, we're going to hear from Sebastian Junger, who wrote "In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife." And if you don't know who Sebastian is, he's written many books about being a war reporter, his experiences in war zones, and other intense situations. But this is perhaps his most intense book that I've read, where he's not talking about deaths on the battlefield or in a war zone, but his own experience of dying and what happened to him during that experience. It really makes you think. And I've been thinking about it a lot for personal reasons this past week. I hope everybody enjoys it. If you do, please retweet it, share it with your friends, and subscribe to the podcast so all the good little algorithms work for me. Thanks so much, and here is Sebastian.

In this compelling episode, James Altucher converses with Sebastian Junger, acclaimed author and war reporter, about his harrowing near-death experience and his exploration of the afterlife in his latest book, "In My Time of Dying." Junger shares the profound and mystifying moments he faced at the brink of death, challenging his atheistic beliefs and scientific understanding. This episode isn't just about a personal encounter with mortality but dives into the larger implications of consciousness, the mysteries of the human mind, and what it means to truly live after facing death.

• The profound impact of near-death experiences on one's worldview and beliefs.
• The intersection of scientific rationalism and mystical experiences.
• Insights into the psychological and emotional aftermath of surviving a near-death experience.
• Theories about consciousness and the potential for an afterlife from both scientific and experiential perspectives.
• Practical lessons on living a more appreciative and meaningful life after a brush with death.

• 00:01:30 - Introduction: Sebastian Junger's Near-Death Experience
• 00:04:41 - The Moment of Crisis: Abdominal Hemorrhage and Medical Intervention
• 00:09:00 - Encountering the Void and Seeing His Father
• 00:14:22 - The Medical Miracle: Innovative Interventional Radiology
• 00:24:26 - Rational Explanations vs. Mystical Experiences
• 00:31:30 - Unexplained Phenomena: Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness
• 00:41:29 - Personal and Philosophical Reflections on Life and Death
• 00:52:30 - The Aftermath: Dealing with Anxiety and Fear
• 00:56:35 - Finding Meaning and Appreciation in Life Post-Trauma
• 01:02:15 - Writing About the Experience: Structuring the Narrative
• 01:05:28 - Final Thoughts and Takeaways

• Sebastian Junger's Official Website
• In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife
• Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger
• War by Sebastian Junger
• Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness by Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner
• Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the True Nature of the Universe by Robert Lanza

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• What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!
• Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!

------------

• Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!
• My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!
• Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.
• I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com

------------

Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts: 

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Follow me on social media:

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A Note from James:

Today, we have a fascinating story of resilience, transformation, and triumph. Imagine being the second-best player in the world in your field, only to see your ranking plummet over the years. Hikaru Nakamura experienced just that in the world of chess. Once the number two player globally, he saw his ranking drop below the top 20. But Hikaru didn't let this define him. During the pandemic, he started streaming chess online, building a massive audience and diversifying his interests. And remarkably, he climbed back to number two in the world. How did he do it? What changes in mindset and strategy led to this incredible comeback? We'll cover all this and more in our discussion today. This conversation is not just for chess enthusiasts but for anyone looking to succeed and find balance in life. So, here is Hikaru Nakamura."

Episode Description:

In this episode of The James Altucher Show, James talks with Hikaru Nakamura about his extraordinary journey in the world of chess. Hikaru shares the ups and downs of his career, detailing how he went from being the second-best chess player in the world to falling out of the top 20. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hikaru pivoted to streaming chess online, which not only revitalized his career but also brought him back to the top echelons of the chess world. This episode delves into the mindset shifts, strategies, and the role of diversification in achieving success and maintaining mental well-being. Hikaru's story is a testament to resilience and adaptability, offering insights that are valuable for anyone aiming to excel in their field.

What You’ll Learn:

1. The psychological challenges of being a top-ranked chess player and how to overcome them.
2. How diversifying interests and income streams can alleviate career pressures.
3. The impact of streaming and online presence on professional success.
4. The importance of maintaining a balanced mindset in competitive environments.
5. Strategies for turning setbacks into comebacks in any career.

Chapters:

00:00 The Rise and Fall of Hikaru Nakamura
01:10 Hikaru's Streaming Journey Begins
01:51 Return to Competitive Chess
02:24 The Psychology of Chess
05:23 The Impact of Computers on Chess
10:57 Hikaru's Career Challenges
24:14 The Turning Point: Streaming and the Pandemic
35:57 Transitioning to Live Streaming
36:17 Changing Perceptions of Chess Players
37:21 Cultural Significance of Chess
38:02 Making Chess More Accessible
38:48 Strategic Decisions in Content Creation
41:37 Engaging the Audience
44:10 Pandemic and the Rise of Chess Streaming
47:17 Building a Streaming Business
55:26 Diversifying Income and Investments
01:06:49 Maintaining Chess Skills
01:10:45 Unexpected Opening Strategy
01:11:13 The Power of Unpredictability
01:11:47 Evolving Chess Study Methods
01:13:20 Memory and Age in Chess
01:14:22 Generational Gaps in Chess
01:16:07 Impact of the Chess Boom
01:18:02 Emotional Moments in Chess
01:22:45 Future Aspirations Beyond Chess
01:24:02 Dealing with Online Trolls
01:26:01 Breaking Chess Rules with Computers
01:29:55 Challenges of Modern Chess
01:39:39 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Additional Resources:

• Hikaru Nakamura’s Twitch Channel
• Hikaru Nakamura’s YouTube Channel
• The Lex Fridman Podcast with Hikaru Nakamura
• “The Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix
• International Chess Federation (FIDE)

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding how to navigate the ups and downs of a professional career, leveraging new opportunities, and achieving personal growth. Tune in to hear Hikaru’s inspiring story and gain insights that could transform your approach to success.

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• What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!
• Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!

------------

• Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!
• My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!
• Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.
• I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com

------------

Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts: 

• Apple Podcasts
• iHeart Radio
• Spotify

Follow me on social media:

• YouTube
• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn