Neil Gaiman and Debbie Millman (#750)

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 #366 “Neil Gaiman — The Interview I’ve Waited 20 Years to Do” and episode #214 “How to Design a Life — Debbie Millman.”

Please enjoy!

Bios of guests may be found at tim.blog/combo.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, or on your favorite podcast platform.

This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 1B+ users, Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating, and AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement.

Transcript for the full Neil Gaiman episode | Transcript for the full Debbie Millman episode | Transcripts for all episodes

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#750: Neil Gaiman and Debbie Millman

This episode is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs. Whether you are looking to hire now for a critical role or thinking about needs that you may have in the future, LinkedIn Jobs can help. Using LinkedIn’s active community of more than 1 billion professionals worldwide, LinkedIn Jobs can help you find and hire the right person faster. When your business is ready to make that next hire, find the right person with LinkedIn Jobs. And now, you can post a job for free. Just visit LinkedIn.com/Tim.

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This episode is brought to you by AG1! I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. Right now, get a FREE Welcome Kit, including Vitamin D3+K2 and AG1 Travel Packs, when you first subscribe. Visit DrinkAG1.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive your 1-year supply of Vitamin D—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones!

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SHOW NOTES

[05:11] Notes about this supercombo format.
[06:14] Enter Neil Gaiman.
[06:44] What Ian Fleming taught Neil about writing — even when he doesn’t want to.
[09:56] Neil’s biggest rule for writing.
[12:41] Neil’s process for writing first drafts.
[14:30] What Neil aims to accomplish with his second drafts.
[14:40] Something Neil noticed when he first started writing and editing with the use of computers.
[17:27] Notebooks Neil prefers for writing first drafts.
[21:56] Fountain pens Neil has known and loved.
[22:57] How Neil’s default writing time has changed over the years.
[24:56] The value of the Groundhog Day routine.
[26:24] Today’s methods may not be tomorrow’s.
[27:53] Lessons learned from Terry Pratchett.
[29:22] Parting thoughts and gratitude.
[31:21] Enter Debbie Millman.
[31:45] How Debbie describes her diverse background to new acquaintances.
[33:38] A childhood drawing predicting Debbie’s future.
[37:54] Debbie’s unintentional path to becoming a designer.
[45:41] Overcoming initial rejection.
[50:04] Debbie’s advice to her college self after that first major rejection.
[54:25] Empathy vs. feeling slighted by those who reject us.
[59:28] Manhattan’s influence on Debbie’s pursuit of happiness and career.
[1:06:42] Debbie’s abuse history and its impact on her self-sufficiency and charitable work.
[1:12:41] Coping with abuse aftermath and feelings of isolation.
[1:18:40] Debbie’s experience being called a “corporate clown” and “she-devil.”
[1:37:00] From lowest point to godmother: a transformative journey.
[1:37:38] The world-changing potential of brochures.
[1:43:14] The Design Matters podcast: origins and evolution over 12 years.
[1:46:46] Milton Glaser’s impact on design and Debbie’s life.
[1:52:16] The “10-Year Plan for a Remarkable Life” exercise.
[1:57:51] The nature of hard decisions.
[2:07:07] Recommended Design Matters episodes for design novices.
[2:07:55] Parting thoughts.

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Connect with Neil Gaiman:

Connect with Debbie Millman:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Design Matters Podcast

PEOPLE MENTIONED

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Timur Dorofeyev

1 year ago

Neil Gaiman mistook the author. Not Ian Fleming but Roald Dahl is author of both short stories: “Lamb to the Slaughter” and “Parson’s Pleasure”.

Admin

Paul

Reply to Timur Dorofeyev

Hi, Timur. Thanks for you comment and the opportunity to clarify. Neil is only saying here that Fleming offered plot points to Dahl. Fleming and Dahl met while supporting the British war effort during WWII and became friends who inspired each other. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl

Best,

Team Tim Ferriss

Tim, the other Tim

Not this ep. but the last Five bullet… animals, primates self-medicating… been reported for over 10 plus years.

Animals that self-medicate | PNAS
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1419966111

Active self-treatment of a facial wound with a biologically active plant by a male Sumatran orangutan | Scientific Reports
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-58988-7

… can give so wider insights.