#495: David Rubenstein, Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group, on Lessons Learned, Jeff Bezos, Raising Billions of Dollars, Advising Presidents, and Sprinting to the End

This episode is part of a new experiment called Meditation Monday. The teacher, Henry Shukman, has been on my podcast twice before. He is one of only a few dozen masters in the world authorized to teach Sanbo Zen, and now, he’ll be your teacher.In addition to my long-form interviews each week, every Monday I’ll bring you a short 10-minute or so meditation, which will help you for the rest of the week. Over this four-episode series, you’ll develop a Zen toolkit to help you find greater calm, peace, and effectiveness in your daily life.Henry’s app, The Way, has changed my life since I first started using it. Unlike other meditation apps, where you’re overwhelmed with a thousand choices, The Way is a clear step-by-step training program guided entirely by Henry. Through a logical progression, you’ll develop real skills that stick with you.I’ve been using it daily, often twice a day, and it’s lowered my anxiety more than I thought possible.As a listener of my podcast, you can get 30 free sessions by visiting https://thewayapp.com/tim and downloading the app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Jan 12min

Aaron Stupple (@astupple) is the author of The Sovereign Child: How a Forgotten Philosophy Can Liberate Kids and Their Parents. Naval Ravikant (@naval) is the co-founder of AngelList. He has invested in more than 100 companies, including many mega-successes, such as Twitter, Uber, Notion, Opendoor, Postmates, and Wish.Stick around after the end of our three-person conversation to listen to an exclusive bonus segment that Naval and Aaron recorded with extra practical tips, as well as incremental, day-to-day experiments you can test and apply. It’s super tactical, so you won’t want to miss it. It begins at 02:17:01.Sponsors:Sundays for Dogs ultra-high-quality dog food: https://sundaysfordogs.com/tim (save 50% on your first order) Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic broad spectrum 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic: https://Seed.com/Tim (Use code 25TIM for 25% off your first month's supply)ShipStation shipping software: https://www.shipstation.com/tim (60-day free trial!)Timestamps:[00:00] Coming up in this episode [08:40] Who is Aaron, and what makes him qualified to dispense parenting advice?[13:44] Taking Children Seriously (TCS) and The Sovereign Child philosophies.[17:49] The David Deutsch influence on these tenets.[22:57] Supporting evidence and long-term case studies.[27:17] Ways Naval and Aaron have incorporated these philosophies into their own parenting.[31:13] How rules work while parenting for freedom-maximizing.[37:42] Why building knowledge beats coercion.[43:41] Non-negotiables.[46:35] Is this method of parenting only accessible to the educated elite?[50:05] Handling sibling conflict.[54:41] How do freedom-maximized kids adapt to an adulthood of endless societal rules?[58:55] When kids present counter-accountability.[01:00:41] One tool does not fix all.[01:03:52] Putting mistakes to good use.[01:08:00] Homeschooling, unschooling, and socialization challenges.[01:15:56] Building resilience.[01:20:23] Coping with food and drink cravings.[01:25:54] Avoiding the terminology of confirmation bias.[01:31:37] Sports.[01:35:09] Organically cultivating interests.[01:38:11] The pros and cons of traditional schooling.[01:47:24] Parental disagreements and avoiding hypocrisy.[01:57:18] Four categories of harm that come from rules.[02:00:38] The benefits of optional constraints.[02:05:32] Body Electric.[02:07:03] Things you should know before visiting the emergency room.[02:13:18] A hierarchy of knowledge and lessons learned from this conversation.[02:17:19] Tactics for addressing sibling (and spousal) conflict.[02:19:47] Tactics to foster learning.[02:22:54] The best baby (and adult) sitter.[02:26:07] Parenting into the teen years.[02:27:54] Tactics for forming good sleep habits.[02:31:20] Tactics for encouraging good eating habits.[02:37:34] Tactics for freedom-maximizing.[02:42:56] Tactics for minimizing screen and social media obsession.[02:55:29] Too cool for rules.[03:00:14] All information is subject to challenge.[03:03:10] Happiness and creativity cannot be forced.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Jan 3h 11min

This episode is a new experiment called Meditation Monday. The teacher, Henry Shukman, has been on my podcast twice before. He is one of only a few dozen masters in the world authorized to teach Sanbo Zen, and now, he’ll be your teacher.In addition to my long-form interviews each week, every Monday I’ll bring you a short 10-minute or so meditation, which will help you for the rest of the week.Over this four-episode series, you’ll develop a Zen toolkit to help you find greater calm, peace, and effectiveness in your daily life.Henry’s app, The Way, has changed my life since I first started using it. Unlike other meditation apps, where you’re overwhelmed with a thousand choices, The Way is a clear step-by-step training program guided entirely by Henry. Through a logical progression, you’ll develop real skills that stick with you.I’ve been using it daily, often twice a day, and it’s lowered my anxiety more than I thought possible.As a listener of my podcast, you can get 30 free sessions by visiting https://thewayapp.com/tim and downloading the app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

13 Jan 15min

Greg McKeown is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most. 200,000 people receive his weekly 1-Minute Wednesday newsletter, and he recently released The Essentialism Planner: A 90-Day Guide to Accomplishing More by Doing Less. Sponsors:Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra)Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim (Start earning 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) from program banks on your short-term cash until you’re ready to invest. And when new clients open an account, they can get an extra fifty-dollar bonus with a deposit of five hundred dollars or more.) Terms & Conditions apply. The APY on cash deposits as of 09/26/25 is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage LLC for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of Wealthfront Brokerage. See full disclosures here.*Timestamps:[00:00] Who is Greg McKeown? [05:12] Handling destabilizing events and personal turmoil.[10:47] Writing as therapy and “screaming onto the page.”[13:35] Using Morning Pages and AI tools for personal reflection.[17:52] Carl Rogers and the power of deep listening.[20:33] Reviewing the core concepts of Essentialism and Effortless.[24:54] Temporal landmarks and the fresh start effect.[29:25] Personal quarterly offsites and the importance of direction over speed.[31:13] The three essential questions for quarterly reviews.[34:16] Making essential tasks effortless — practical examples and strategies.[37:03] The law of inverse prioritization — why important things don’t get done.[38:45] Strategies for making tasks simpler — the microburst concept.[44:37] The courage to be rubbish.[47:09] Pre-mortems and anticipating obstacles.[52:37] Michael Phelps’ preparation and routine.[01:07:31] The 1-2-3 method and defining what “done” looks like.[01:15:19] Meaning over productivity, and making vs. managing.[01:23:14] Radical gratitude and finding meaning in suffering.[01:36:43] Parting thoughts on deep connection and listening.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

8 Jan 1h 48min

This time, we have a very special episode I recorded with my close friend Kevin Rose. We cover 2025 predictions, AI, Bitcoin, aliens, fitness goals, and much, much more. Please enjoy!Sponsors:Ramp easy-to-use corporate cards, bill payments, accounting, and more: https://Ramp.com/tim (Get $250 when you join Ramp) Our Place's Titanium Always Pan® Pro using nonstick technology that’s coating-free and made without PFAS, otherwise known as “Forever Chemicals”: https://fromourplace.com/tim (Shop their Holiday Sale today!) Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: https://shopify.com/tim (one-dollar-per-month trial period)Timestamps:[00:00] Start [04:49] Aloha and happy holidays![07:35] Contemplating the societal impact of reality-bending AI.[16:10] Meathead vs. holistic fitness.[25:43] My current fitness priorities.[28:00] The pros and cons of training to failure.[37:09] Back pain causes and stem cell relief.[42:17] Protein's role in my regimen.[43:20] LICUS (Low-Intensity Continuous Ultrasound Therapies).[45:50] Early adoption leads to mainstream affordability.[48:12] Inexpensive injury avoidance/reversal.[50:45] Apps for tracking and planning finances.[58:17] Bitcoin and other investment projections.[59:03] AI mobile device predictions.[01:06:07] AI's place in the future of music creation.[01:06:49] We're not saying it's aliens, but...[01:18:31] David Bars, Maui Nui Venison, and ethical wild meat harvesting.[01:27:29] Alternative field trips considered.[01:28:32] From a simmering seven or eight to a chill two.[01:30:40] Aversion-defusing meditation — this is The Way.[01:37:48] Retreat![01:38:32] Making time for friendship bonding.[01:43:50] NOBNOM complete. System reset.[01:46:43] The benefits of taking a break from alcohol.[01:49:08] A few reading recommendations.[01:53:34] Parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2 Jan 1h 59min

Dr. Becky Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Good Inside, a parenting movement that overturns a lot of conventional, modern parenting practices to empower parents to become sturdy, confident leaders and raise sturdy, confident kids. She is the author of the bestselling book Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, a chart-topping podcast, a TED talk with nearly 4 million views on the power of repair, and an upcoming children’s book, That’s My Truck! A Good Inside Story About Hitting.Sponsors:GiveWell.org charity research and effective giving: https://givewell.org (If you’ve never used GiveWell to donate, you can have your donation matched up to one hundred dollars before the end of the year or as long as matching funds last. To claim your match, go to https://givewell.org and pick PODCAST and enter The Tim Ferriss Show at checkout.)AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim (Start earning 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) from program banks on your short-term cash until you’re ready to invest. And when new clients open an account, they can get an extra fifty-dollar bonus with a deposit of five hundred dollars or more.) Terms & Conditions apply. The APY on cash deposits as of 09/26/25 is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage LLC for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of Wealthfront Brokerage. See full disclosures here.Timestamps:[00:00] Who is Dr. Becky Kennedy? [06:49] The power of repair.[09:44] “It’s never your fault when I yell at you.”[13:49] What does it mean to be a “good” parent?[15:26] Activating curiosity over judgment.[18:27] Alternatives to saying “Good job” as a confidence builder.[23:16] Making kids happy vs. building capability.[26:44] A pilot metaphor for sturdy leadership.[31:56] Role confusion.[34:30] Defining boundaries.[38:44] How parenting becomes a two-way mirror for growth.[43:46] The MGI (Most Generous Interpretation) approach.[46:29] Biggest challenges in parenting.[50:29] Recommended reading for someone with kids in their life.[55:49] Advisable prerequisites for singles who aim to build a family.[59:55] Setting boundaries with grandparents and dealing with different parenting styles.[01:05:18] Handling frustration when a child is pushing your buttons.[01:13:35] Lessons learned from working with eating disorders.[01:17:03] Managing troublemaker behavior.[01:21:14] Bad influence intervention.[01:26:28] Cultivating resilience in “deeply feeling” kids (DFKs).[01:32:35] The trials and errors that birthed Good Inside.[01:36:30] “Our words are not our wishes. Our words are our fears.”[01:43:44] Billboard messages and mantras.[01:51:37] Fan-favorite scripts on saying no, boundaries, and repair.[01:54:52] The tennis court metaphor for boundaries.[01:59:22] Resources and parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Dec 20242h 11min

This time around, we have a bit of a different format, featuring the book that started it all, The 4-Hour Workweek, which was published in 2007. It’s crazy to think that the 20th anniversary is around the corner. Readers and listeners often ask me what I would change or update, but in my mind, an equally interesting question is: what wouldn’t I change? What stands the test of time and hasn’t lost any potency? This episode features three chapters from the audiobook of The 4-Hour Workweek that are time-tested. They represent tools and frameworks that have changed my life and that I still use today.The 4-Hour Workweek: Expanded and Updated is written by Timothy Ferriss and narrated by Ray Porter. The audiobook, produced and copyrighted by Blackstone Publishing, is available wherever audiobooks are sold. You can find it on Audible, Apple, Google, Spotify, Downpour.com, or wherever you get your favorite audiobooks.Sponsors:Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic broad spectrum 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic: https://Seed.com/Tim (Use code 25TIM for 25% off your first month's supply)Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://HelixSleep.com/Tim (20% off all mattress orders and two free pillows)AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)Timestamps:[00:00] Intro (D is for definition).[05:43] Beating the game, not playing the game.[10:11] Challenging the status quo vs. being stupid.[11:48] Retirement is worst-case-scenario insurance.[13:40] Interest and energy are cyclical.[15:06] Less is not laziness.[16:24] The timing is never right.[17:24] Ask for forgiveness, not permission.[18:01] Emphasize strengths, don’t fix weaknesses.[18:57] Things in excess become their opposite.[20:02] Money alone is not the solution.[21:24] Relative income is more important than absolute income.[24:13] Distress is bad, eustress is good.[25:59] Questions and actions.[27:45] Dodging bullets: fear-setting and escaping paralysis.[32:51] The power of pessimism: defining the nightmare.[36:59] Conquering fear = defining fear.[39:55] Uncovering fear disguised as optimism.[42:00] Someone call the Maître d'.[45:02] Questions and actions.[49:45] System reset: Being unreasonable and unambiguous.[53:13] Doing the unrealistic is easier than doing the realistic.[55:41] What do you want? A better question, first of all.[57:41] Adult-onset ADD: adventure deficit disorder.[59:44] The fat man in the red BMW convertible.[01:01:21] Correcting course: get unrealistic.[01:02:28] How to get George Bush or the CEO of Google on the phone.[01:08:41] Questions and actions and dreamlining calculations.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Dec 20241h 24min

Danny Hillis is an inventor, scientist, author, and engineer. While completing his doctorate at MIT, he pioneered the parallel computers that are the basis for the processors used for AI and most high-performance computer chips. He is now a founding partner with Applied Invention, working on new ideas in cybersecurity, medicine, and agriculture.Kevin Kelly is the founding executive editor of WIRED magazine, the former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review, and a bestselling author of books on technology and culture, including Excellent Advice for Living. Subscribe to Kevin’s newsletter, Recomendo, at recomendo.com.Sponsors:Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save between $400 and $600 on the Pod 4 Ultra)AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.)*Timestamps:[00:00] Who are Danny Hillis and Kevin Kelly? ​​[07:56] How Danny and Kevin first met through Stewart Brand.[09:58] The funniest person who ever opened Danny’s interview box of unusual objects.[14:01] Danny’s transition to Disney as a Disney Fellow and Vice President of Imagineering.[19:12] The contrast between engineering and artistic approaches to problem-solving.[28:56] The development of parallel computing and founding Thinking Machines.[37:15] The three criteria by which projects are chosen at Applied Invention.[40:36] Zero-trust packet routing (ZPR) and the future of cybersecurity.[46:46] Learning by “hanging out” with experts like Seymour Papert, Marvin Minsky, and Richard Feynman.[59:20] Danny’s work in biotechnology and cancer research with David Agus.[01:07:44] Staying sustainable with systems-oriented thinking in agriculture — as nature intended.[01:16:10] Danny’s superpower.[01:17:48] Homeschooling, education on the move, and the influence of Mrs. Wilner.[01:22:00] The failure of Thinking Machines and other regrets/surprises.[01:26:00] The “Entanglement” that blurs natural and technological boundaries.[01:30:54] The current state of AI versus true intelligence.[01:34:34] How AI may help humanity better understand its place on the intelligence spectrum.[01:39:42] What the future looks like to a short-term pessimist/long-term optimist.[01:50:50] The cone of silence we never heard from again.[01:53:10] Debugging dementia and other diseases.[01:58:05] The MRI alternative Danny’s tackling.[02:00:51] We don’t we have a freezer version of the consumer microwave oven?[02:01:23] Danny’s place in pinch-to-zoom iPhone innovation history.[02:04:51] The pros and cons of patents for inventors and society.[02:08:01] Inventors Danny finds inspiring.[02:10:04] Danny’s cause-and-effect heresy.[02:14:47] Quantum computing and its implications.[02:18:34] The scientific pursuit of understanding consciousness.[02:23:00] The question Danny asks himself before investing time in a project.[02:25:26] Danny’s 10,000-year billboard.[02:29:49] Parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, Margaret Atwood, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Dr. Gabor Maté, Anne Lamott, Sarah Silverman, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Dec 20242h 36min