Technologist, serial entrepreneur, world-class investor, self-experimenter, and all-around wild and crazy guy Kevin Rose (@KevinRose), rejoins me for another episode of “The Random Show.” In this one we discuss Japanese whisky, domestic speakeasies, wooden saddles, the rebooting power of Anthony de Mello’s Awareness, poetry, the art of surrender and letting go, mushroom cultivation in the Pacific Northwest, fasting, learning to say no, and much more!
You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.
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Want to hear another episode of The Random Show? — Listen to this 2017 conversation with Kevin Rose in which we discuss traveling in Japan on the cheap, love and marriage, beauty and absurdity, and urine drinking. (Stream below or right-click here to download):
QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
- Connect with Kevin Rose:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
- Past Episodes of The Random Show
- Past Drunk Dialing Episodes
- Bar Gen
- The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss
- Tribeca Restaurant Brushstroke Will Close, Following Chef David Bouley’s Departure, Grub Street
- Shou Sugi Ban: The Modern Home Designer’s Obsession, Manomin Resawn Timbers
- The Twilight Zone
- Ichiro’s Malt Card Series — The Colored Joker, Dekanta
- Ichiro’s Malt Card Series — Six of Hearts, Dekanta
- Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon
- Hibiki 30 Year Old Whisky, Dekanta
- The Birth of SakÈ Documentary
- Cafe De L’ambre: Legendary, Tokyo Coffee
- The 4 Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat Loss, Incredible Sex and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss
- Trial by Fire TV Debut, Tim Ferriss
- Founder Institute
- Why Japan’s Streets Are Spotless, World Economic Forum
- An Admirable Culture of Shame, The New York Times
- 34 Essential Things to Know Before You Visit China, Y Travel Blog
- Subtle Giveaways That Show You’re an American Tourist Abroad, Thrillist
- 10 Montreal Stereotypes You Don’t Want To Admit Are True, MTL Blog
- Things Tourists Should Beware of in Japan, Wander Wisdom
- The Goonies
- SeaWorld
- The Benefits of Forest Bathing, Time
- Physiological Effects of Touching Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis Obtusa), Journal of Wood Science
- An Ode To Japan’s Undiscovered, Aromatic Hiba Wood, T Magazine Singapore
- Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li
- Shinrin-Yoku: The Medicine of Being in the Forest
- Peter Mallouk — Exploring the Worlds of Investing, Assets, and Quality of Life, The Tim Ferriss Show #356
- Awareness by Anthony de Mello
- Waking Up with Sam Harris
- How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan
- The Gift: Poems by Hafiz, the Great Sufi Master by Hafiz and Daniel Ladinsky
- Powell’s Books | The World’s Largest Independent Bookstore
- Jour
- The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself Sponsored The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer
- Michael Singer’s Courses, Sounds True
- Why Latter-Day Saints Don’t Drink Alcohol, Tea, and Coffee? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Oak Meditation and Breathing Exercises
- DRAM Apothecary Sparkling Water
- Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
- True Ventures
- How to Grow Mushrooms Outside with the Log Inoculation Process, Fungially
- 9 Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Plus Side Effects), Healthline
- Paul Stamets — How Mushrooms Can Save You and (Perhaps) the World, The Tim Ferriss Show #340
- Zero Fasting Tracker
- Dr. Peter Attia on Life-Extension, Drinking Jet Fuel, Ultra-Endurance, Human Foie Gras, and More, The Tim Ferriss Show #50
- The Longevity Diet: Discover the New Science Behind Stem Cell Activation and Regeneration to Slow Aging, Fight Disease, and Optimize Weight by Valter Longo
- Valter Longo — How Fasting Improves Chemotherapy — From the Early Mice Studies to Humans, Fast Life Hacks
- Could Intermittent Fasting Be the Answer to Reducing Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk? DAM. MAD. About Breast Cancer.
- Ganache Recipe & Video, Martha Stewart
- Ruby Jewel
- Remember the Hilarious Horror of GeoCities with This Website, Gizmodo
- Automattic
- The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss
- John Muir Misquoted, Sierra Club
- Pulp Fiction
- The World’s Largest Psychedelic Research Center, The Tim Ferriss Show #385
- The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation
- TOMS
- The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
- Trip of Compassion
- Tim Ferriss, the Man Who Put His Money Behind Psychedelic Medicine, The New York Times
- 5-Bullet Friday
SHOW NOTES
- Coming at you from Kevin’s tailor-made speakeasy in Portland, musing over the fact that the time between the first Random Show and this one is literally a dog’s age. [03:38]
- What are we drinking tonight? [10:02]
- Why is Japanese whiskey Kevin used to buy in a Tokyo train station just a few years ago so expensive and hard to find today? [13:18]
- What would-be entrepreneurs who want to make themselves recession-proof might learn from artisan-level Japanese sake brewers and aged coffee connoisseurs specializing in 45-minute pour overs. [14:51]
- Why wooden Japanese saddles give me so much joy. [18:09]
- Japan as an art exhibit or zoo of pocket obsessions. [23:36]
- I’ve raved about Japan plenty of times on this show and will surely rave again. But what does Kevin find particularly appealing about Japan? [24:20]
- The best and worst places we’ve traveled are sometimes the same, but attempting to speak the local language usually has predictably good or bad results depending on where you are. [27:28]
- Kevin talks about his love for forest bathing. [31:20]
- Making Kevin (and perhaps you, gentle listener) aware of the book Awareness by Anthony de Mello and the powerful rebooting effect it has on me in times of mental disharmony. [35:23]
- On Pollan, poetry, Powell’s, and other pages we’ve been perusing. [39:52]
- Kevin’s takeaways about surrender and social programming from a course by The Untethered Soul author Michael Singer. [43:54]
- We agree that Sam Harris probably has the best paid meditation app, but you should check out Kevin’s Oak app if you want something simple and free to get started. [50:49]
- Can this sparkling water Kevin’s been raving about really change your world? What’s so special about it? [51:53]
- Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, Kevin’s found a different, deeper approach to work that better matches the pace of his newly realized, mushroom-cultivating lifestyle. [55:17]
- Kevin does a lot of fasting, but don’t worry — because Portland beers help him slow down considerably. We discuss his Zero fasting app, the differences between some of the better-known methods of fasting, and what the science is telling us about fasting’s miraculous effect on cancer patients. [57:27]
- No discussion about fasting would be complete if it didn’t wrap up with teary-eyed reminiscence over the Ruby Jewel ice cream we mercilessly devoured last night. [1:02:47]
- How I said no to saying no and aim to roll out a positive from this double negative. [1:04:23]
- Congratulations to the entire team at Johns Hopkins for the successful launch of the world’s largest psychedelic research center and the non-anonymous donors who made it possible. [1:17:43]
- What will this allow the researchers at Johns Hopkins to do that wasn’t possible before? [1:21:43]
- How has a high-dose psilocybin guided session directly helped Kevin? [1:25:27]
- How might someone who wants to help extend the funding for this research best target their donation? [1:26:35]
- Parting thoughts. [1:29:31]
PEOPLE MENTIONED
- Toaster
- Adeo Ressi
- Tony Conrad
- Michael Jordan
- Peter Mallouk
- Anthony de Mello
- Sam Harris
- Michael Pollan
- Hafiz
- Mary Oliver
- Daniel Ladinsky
- Michael Singer
- Matthew Walker
- Peter Attia
- Valter Longo
- Mike Maser
- Matt Mullenweg
- Josh Waitzkin
- Leo Tolstoy
- John Muir
- Harvey Keitel
- Blake Mycoskie
- Craig Nurnberg
- Darya Rose
- Benedict Carey
- Alan Burdick
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
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Thanks again for another fascinating episode.
Is there a list anywhere of podcasts that you have been on (other than your own?). I see that Jocko has interviewed you for his podcast and I am sure you have been on others. A list of these would be great for those of us interested…
All the best and good luck with the new book and the your future goals.
Thanks for everything you do Tim, you changed my life.
How do you choose which podcast to appear on, please? In other words, how many weekly plays shall I gather before I can invite you to my podcast? 🙂
YEAHHHH! Finally another Kevin Rose Interview! I love when you two guys are together – please please more of it like in the “good old days”
it did feel kinda 2011ish, didn’t it ? 🙂 with 99design as sponsor and everything 😀
It was probably Gen Yamamoto?
Any recommendations for transcribing your podcast? I like to listen to some in full, but others I’d rather scan for content
Transcripts are typically released within two weeks of the podcast air date and can be found by clicking on “The Tim Ferriss Show Transcripts” under “Topics” in the right sidebar.
—Moderator
This show was one of the best, I have heard. You two covered a lot of significant topics. Great info…🙏
why no video? was expecting a youtube video 🙁
The podcast was nice. The fasting info was what I was looking for.
In the 4HB (four hour body) you write about the MED (minimum effective dose) but love Japan because they go further. It’s a little hypocritical.
Brian, what you’re saying makes sense and the same time there’s a difference between appreciating a monk for what he does and wanting to become one yourself.
Google Lens!! I’m giving that a try! I’ll follow up with my experience.
Thank You
Rob Anderson
As mentioned in one of your recent podcasts by Nick Norris (also a colleague with Peter Attia), Dr. Kirk Parsley is an expert on sleep, hormone optimization, and performance. Our team would love to send you the Sleep Remedy product to try if you have a team member that can respond by email with a shipping address. Kirk would be an incredible future guest in the field of regenerative medicine as an MD, ex Navy SEAL, and entrepreneur.
I like most of your podcasts. Some I just cannot relay to. Your book helped me retire at age 35, debt free with modest passive income for the rest of my life. That was my goal.
Now what? Do you have a book for that?
I am not desperate just curious if I missed something.
Thank you in advance.
See Chapter 15, Filling the Void, from The 4-Hour Workweek.
—Moderator
I LOVE these shows with Kevin, excellent conversations. However, I counted Kevin used the word “like” and “dude” over 100 times each which can be annoying rapidly if it sustains for long. I’m old. Fuck me..
Way overdue and so worth the wait! I remember all the details about fasting. Where can I find more about women doing it?
My favorite part was about Tim’s book that he never published. Reminds me of a book called “Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with D.H. Lawrence” by Geoff Dyer who set out to write a biography about D.H. Lawrence — and it’s a book how he could not write this biography. He thought his life’s calling was to write this biography, and it turned out his calling was to try to write the biography — fail miserably and write about that. The lesson: Just by throwing yourself into things, even if it doesn’t work out — what comes out of it can be magical.
Sad the new book won’t be coming out, but so excited for the new website!
Thank you.
Been waiting for a Random Show for TOO long.
On Video . . . ?
Great episode/conversation. Looking forward to the site and posts updates.
Hi –
I really enjoy the content you provide. You touch upon subjects that many people struggle with and you explain clearly and matter of fact.
In this PodCast you mentioned that when job hunting it’s important to choose win-win projects, where the focus is on the skills you develop and the people that you work with. You also mentioned that it’s a good idea to be an expert on 2-3 different fields, which make you unique and flexible for the future.
I want to change careers and I’ve been stuck in a rut for some time, and those items really spoke with me. I would love to get a deeper understanding of how to apply them in the real world – how to find 2/3 fields, what to look for when interviewing people, how to decide on what skill set to develop etc. Is there a PodCast or book that you can point me to?
Thank You,
Anna
Hey Tim,
I just wanted to let you know that I heard someone cured their lime disease. Their name is holistically thriving on instagram. I’m just a fan that is thankful and wanted to pass along this tidbit.
– Conner
Hey Tim, what do you think about this: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mendel_Kaelen/publication/266027961_LSD_enhances_suggestibility_in_healthy_volunteers/links/542a85370cf29bbc1267a591/LSD-enhances-suggestibility-in-healthy-volunteers.pdf
I enjoyed it all, the sheer randomness was funny to listen to on my commute.
I also took the plunge last weekend, spent the money and contacted 99designs to make my business real. Two days later I land my first client and need a formal proposal. I’m still working full-time so for 24hrs I try to put it together in a fog of sleep deprivation. I then remember Tim’s wise words of thinking like the New Rich and I’ve signed up with GetFriday and passed it to them to figure out.
Thank you Tim, I’m on my way!
I just found the Racoon Hurling video on Toasters twitter feed.
Six years on, and still one of the funniest videos on Utube……..
oooh…that’s my problem…it’s very hard for me to say NO…
Wonderfully random, as ever. And, regarding meditation, I had to add a plus one to the comments on Sam Harris app, Waking Up. I am on a near 100-day streak, and this is the first meditation teacher and approach that has me itching to pull in each day. That feeling of “chore” is broken…
There is an audiobook version of the book Awareness from 1986. One version is available from archive dot org [https://archive.org/details/Awareness_AnthonyDeMello_WayToLove_Audiobook]
Tim — I started a slow-carb regimen this weekend and as I’m fighting through the initial ketosis — and — looking — forward — to — cheat — day. What can I say, my wife bought chocolate cake for me and didn’t know I started the diet. Anyway, I’m on my routine and listening to the podcast during a run, when you tell Kevin (and the rest of us) that you no longer take cheat days? No more bear claws on Saturday morning? Tell us it isn’t true!
Enjoying Anthony DeMello’s Awareness Tim. Thanks for sharing that. I like that it is actually DeMello himself recorded from what sounds like a live retreat. I did find it on Audible. Plan on checking out the other books mentioned in this podcast.
Hit play on the episode as I left work and had a bit of a surreal moment as I’m on the Keikyu line headed home and you and Kevin were in my ears discussing what you love about Japan.
Genuinely enjoy your work.
Nice interview!
Montreal, You will immediately be judged based on what language you start speaking in. FALSE. No judgment , we are trying to help. Quebecer are used to his bilingual Montreal. / We complain, A LOT. In the summer it’s too hot, and in the winter it’s too cold. FALSE. Yes we like to speak about meteo, weather. It is our way to start a conversation!
You & Kevin should do a holiday gift guide. I’ve already ordered DRAM bitters. There’s something poetic about saying no to a book about saying no.
Love the new meditation app suggestion – Sam Harris. I was using Uncle Rush’s app until it disappeared. Ready to invest on my mindset.
Following your Forest Bathing comments – I thought you would like to know that we are now studying “nature prescriptions” in a few clinical trials. I would love to share some of our findings?