#879: How to Reinvent Yourself and Make Bold Moves — Decisive Stories from Matthew McConaughey, Steve Young, Samin Nosrat, and More

This is a special compilation devoted to reinvention: how to shed an identity that no longer fits, decide on a new chapter, navigate uncertainty, and commit to what’s next.

This episode is brought to you by:

• Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business
• Momentous high-quality creatine for cognitive and muscular support

In this episode:

• Matthew McConaughey explains why he stopped making romantic comedies, turned down $15 million, and waited nearly two years for Hollywood to see him differently.
• Steve Young talks about losing the identity that had defined him and the advice another legendary quarterback gave him.
• Lori Gottlieb explains how listening to a quiet inner voice led her from Hollywood to medicine, then to journalism, and finally to psychotherapy.
• Suleika Jaouad describes rebuilding her life after cancer when going back to her old life was no longer possible.
• Samin Nosrat on walking away from a wildly successful food business that was making her miserable, and making room for the writing career that ultimately became Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
• Martine Rothblatt tells the remarkable story of teaching herself biology and starting a pharmaceutical company to save her daughter’s life.
• Finally, Debbie Millman gives you a simple exercise for imagining—and creating—the life you truly want.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro from Tim

01:43 Matthew McConaughey

14:35 Steve Young

17:16 Lori Gottlieb

24:38 Suleika Jaouad

36:47 Samin Nosrat

45:04 Martine Rothblatt

56:51 Debbie Millman

Short bios:

Matthew McConaughey is an Academy Award-winning actor—whose career spans 40+ feature films—a cofounder of the Just Keep Livin’ foundation, and the bestselling author of Greenlights.

Steve Young is a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and co-founder and chairman of private-equity firm HGGC.

Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist, the New York Times “Ask the Therapist” advice columnist, and the bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.

Suleika Jaouad is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, artist, and bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms and The Book of Alchemy.

Samin Nosrat is the James Beard Award–winning author of the New York Times bestseller Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat—also the title of her acclaimed Netflix series.

Dr. Martine Rothblatt is the founder, chairperson, and CEO of United Therapeutics—a biotechnology company she started to save the life of one of her daughters—and a pioneer of satellite radio.

Debbie Millman is one of the most influential designers working today, according to Graphic Design USA, an author, an educator, and the host of the pioneering podcast Design Matters, now celebrating its 21st year.

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