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Tim Ferriss

Phil Keoghan — The Magic of Bucket Lists and Amazing Races (#242)

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“We celebrate success, but I think we should also just celebrate giving it a go.”

– Phil Keoghan

Phil Keoghan (@PhilKeoghan) has worked in television for almost thirty years on more than a thousand program episodes in more than a hundred countries. His work has earned him numerous awards, including ten prime-time Emmys. He is perhaps best known as the co-executive producer and host of CBS series The Amazing Race, currently in its twenty-ninth season.

But there is much, much more to Phil’s story, including unbelievable bucket lists, near-death experiences, and more. As just one example…

In 2013, he decided to retrace the 1928 Tour de France riding an original vintage bicycle, with no gears, to tell the forgotten underdog story of the first English-speaking team to take on the toughest sporting event on earth.

This experience was captured and turned into the brand-new film Le Ride, a gorgeous documentary and the first to be shot on a Sony F55 camera in 4K, which is equivalent to Super 35mm film.

There are many takeaways from this conversation, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

#242: Phil Keoghan — The Magic of Bucket Lists and Amazing Races

Want to hear another episode on positive mindset? In this episode, we explore meditation and mindfulness with Chase Jarvis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Harris, and Rainn Wilson (stream below or right-click here to download):

#201: The Tim Ferriss Radio Hour: Meditation, Mindset, and Mastery

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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 Phil Keoghan:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Show Notes

  • Phil shares his Milli Vanilli dreadlock-twirling story. [06:03]
  • Phil tells us about having a panic attack while diving a shipwreck at a hundred and twenty feet — and how this charted the course for a life of adventure. [11:50]
  • What was Phil’s self-talk when returning to the wreck (and in the moment of facing similar fears)? [24:05]
  • Applying the concept of deliberate practice to optimism and surrounding oneself with people who work to make anything possible. [26:01]
  • Cultivating optimism in others (especially one’s children) and the benefits of removing “I can’t” from the family vocabulary. [28:59]
  • How does Phil always say yes to spending time with his daughter — even when he’s got a deadline looming? [31:21]
  • A simple but effective way to start your own bucket list. [33:26]
  • What Tim Urban of “Wait But Why” taught me about the limited time we really have with our parents (and children). [34:43]
  • The importance of word choice on thought (and how we can positively modify our everyday vocabulary). [36:11]
  • On Aussie-Kiwi rivalry across the Tasman Sea (and a couple of good sheep jokes). [44:49]
  • Low expectations vs. high expectations. [50:00]
  • Favorite failures. [53:09]
  • The two kinds of bucket lists. [58:23]
  • How did Phil get involved in American television — and eventually The Amazing Race — in spite of concerns about his New Zealand accent? [1:00:50]
  • How long does it take to shoot a season of The Amazing Race? [1:03:33]
  • What are the most common mistakes that novice TV hosts make? [1:05:23]
  • Phil shares the story of his brilliant grandfather. [1:08:23]
  • Respect your elders. [1:12:01]
  • How did Phil’s latest documentary, Le Ride, come about? [1:13:19]
  • How long was the 1928 Tour de France course? [1:18:05]
  • Why Harry Watson should be in the Sporting Hall of Fame (and what Phil is doing to memorialize him in his hometown). [1:20:01]
  • What a standing desk did for Phil. [1:21:54]
  • We talk general gear, travel recording equipment, Phil’s experience shooting the first documentary ever on a Sony F55 4K camera, and how sometimes a smartphone does the job in a pinch. [1:22:14]
  • A purchase of less than a hundred dollars that had the most positive impact on Phil’s life. [1:26:27]
  • What are Phil’s journaling habits? [1:27:58]
  • Parting thoughts. [1:30:36]

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