This episode is a two-for-one, and that’s because the podcast recently hit its 10-year anniversary and passed one billion downloads. To celebrate, I’ve curated some of the best of the best—some of my favorites—from more than 700 episodes over the last decade. I could not be more excited. The episode features segments from episode #474 “Matthew McConaughey — The Power of ‘No, Thank You,’ Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights” and #327 “Aisha Tyler — How to Use Pain, Comedy, and Practice for Creativity.”
Please enjoy!
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Timestamps:
[04:58] Notes about this supercombo format.
[05:51] Enter Matthew McConaughey.
[06:19] The words forbidden in Matthew’s house growing up.
[08:58] The book that changed the course of Matthew’s life.
[17:27] Matthew’s 10 goals in life (circa 1992).
[22:20] Why take more risks?
[26:04] The evolving purpose of keeping a diary.
[29:48] The art of running downhill.
[33:56] Learning to say “No” to rom-com typecasting.
[47:50] Enter Aisha Tyler.
[48:19] Aisha’s role in The Tim Ferriss Show’s existence.
[49:43] Aisha’s trademark podcast question.
[51:06] Aisha’s unorthodox childhood and family relationships.
[52:06] How did Aisha answer the questions “Whose day is it?” and “What are you going to do?” every morning?
[55:34] From where does Aisha get her general sense of optimism?
[57:25] Following father’s advice and views on regret.
[59:22] Free-range parenting vs. modern overprotection.
[1:03:33] Having a bad day? You’re not special!
[1:05:27] Young Aisha’s career aspirations.
[1:06:52] Why was Aisha miserable at what she thought was her dream job?
[1:08:51] Why did Aisha pick standup comedy to break into show business?
[1:10:08] What it was like to keep a day job and do standup comedy as a hobby.
[1:11:50] Commuting for comedy in San Francisco.
[1:14:03] What made the comedy club bubble of the ’80s burst?
[1:18:11] How did Aisha practice to get better at standup?
[1:19:01] A memorable set Aisha bombed and the gift it gave her.
[1:22:22] Dealing with hecklers Bill Burr and Kenny Moore style.
[1:28:20] Aisha shares some of her own heckler stories.
[1:32:31] Aisha’s academic approach to the math of comedy.
[1:34:43] What’s the Rule of Threes?
[1:35:36] Gauging comic evolution.
[1:36:46] Comedians compared to other artists.
[1:38:04] Changing success metrics and creative traps.
[1:40:41] How fear-based people-pleasing affects creativity.
[1:43:52] If one likes big butts, one cannot lie — even if it might tick someone off.
[1:46:03] Sometimes constructive feedback does make me change my mind.
[1:46:33] Pursuing authentic, meaningful work.
[1:48:32] Comedy’s core beyond humor.
[1:49:04] Expecting failures in creative beginnings.
[1:49:52] Why it doesn’t pay to emulate a master of a craft in their own field.
[1:51:51] Aisha’s transition to filmmaking.
[1:54:47] Aisha believes in personal aggression.
[1:55:28] How Aisha piggybacked resources for her first music video.
[1:56:30] Learning filmmaking through short projects.
[1:58:03] What lessons did Aisha learn from these projects?
[1:59:06] How visiting the sets of Penny Dreadful and Vikings in Ireland led to making AXIS.
[2:00:52] Financing the Ireland trip.
[2:02:35] The email Aisha sent to visit the set of Vikings.
[2:03:18] The impact of fan appreciation.
[2:04:50] Budweiser’s “Whassup” campaign origin.
[2:05:38] Why Aisha made AXIS.
[2:07:06] Resources for aspiring screenwriters and tech investors.
[2:08:06] What is AXIS, and did anyone try to talk Aisha out of making it?
[2:09:53] AXIS production experience and methods.
[2:12:00] The magic, intensity, and clarity of operating on an aggressive deadline.
[2:15:00] Aisha’s current fears and goals.
[2:16:33] One of Aisha’s current struggles.
[2:17:24] “If art imitates life, in order to create art, you have to have a life.”
[2:18:33] As a workaholic, how does Aisha manage to live a life that influences her art?
[2:20:58] How would Aisha’s life be different if she didn’t have exercise as an element?
[2:22:47] What equipment does Aisha use to work out?
[2:23:36] What does a prototypical workout look like for Aisha?
[2:23:53] How does Aisha take her glutathione, and what does it help with?
[2:26:40] Morning routine and exercise timing.
[2:27:40] Aisha works out at home to save transit time. What does she watch when she rows?
[2:29:39] Does Aisha make New Year’s resolutions?
[2:32:17] Aisha likens her first (unwatchable and destroyed) short film to the standup set she bombed.
[2:34:58] When has Aisha been extremely proud of herself?
[2:37:46] How confidence transfers across projects.
[2:39:46] To grow from failure, you have to be aggressive.
[2:40:24] Parting thoughts.
*
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