Tim Ferriss

November 20, 2024

Q&A with Tim — What’s Next for Me, Asking Better Questions, Career Reinvention in The Age of AI, Practices for Joy, Getting Unstuck, and More (#778)

Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is usually my job to sit down with world-class performers of all different types to tease out the habits, routines, favorite books, and so on that you can apply and test in your own life.

This time, we have a slightly different format, and I’m the guest!

As some of you know, I tested a “fan-supported model” in 2019, but I ended up returning to ads by request. That’s a long story, and you can read more about it at tim.blog/podcastexperiment. I recently sat down on Zoom with some of the supporters, which is the episode you are about to hear.

I answer questions on how I’ve changed my mind around parenthood, what’s next for me and how I am thinking about next steps, how I find joy, how to live with urgency, my advice for career reinvention in the age of AI, avoiding complacency and ruts, and much, much more.

Please enjoy!

This episode is brought to you by Ramp easy-to-use corporate cards, bill payments, accounting, and more; Helix Sleep premium mattresses; and AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement.

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. You can watch the episode on YouTube here.

The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

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#778: Q&A with Tim — What’s Next for Me, Asking Better Questions, Career Reinvention in The Age of AI, Practices for Joy, Getting Unstuck, and More (#778)

This episode is brought to you by Ramp! Ramp is corporate card- and spend-management software designed to help you save time and put money back in your pocket. Ramp has already saved more than 25,000 customers—including other podcast sponsors like Shopify and Eight Sleep—more than 10 million hours and more than $1 billion through better financial management of their corporate spending. Businesses that use Ramp save an average of 5% on total card spending and related expenses in the first year. And now, you can get $250 when you join Ramp. Just go to ramp.com/Tim.

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. And right now, when you first subscribe to AG1, you’ll get an AG1 Welcome Kit, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, a Morning Person hat, AND you’ll get to try each new flavor of AG1 and their new sleep supplement, AGZ. That’s $126 in free gifts for new subscribers! Visit DrinkAG1.com/Tim to claim this special offer today

This episode is brought to you by Helix Sleep! Helix was selected as the best overall mattress of 2025 by Forbes and Wired magazines and best in category by Good Housekeeping, GQ, and many others. With Helix, there’s a specific mattress to meet each and every body’s unique comfort needs. Just take their quiz—only two minutes to complete—that matches your body type and sleep preferences to the perfect mattress for you. They have a 10-year warranty, and you get to try it out for a hundred nights, risk-free. They’ll even pick it up from you if you don’t love it. And now, Helix is offering 20% off all mattress orders at HelixSleep.com/Tim.

Want to hear my last Q&A? Have a listen here, where I discuss reinvention, optimization, intriguing investments, modern dating, personal heresies, taking a barbell distribution approach to life, cheap but choice art, making room for the irrational, workout routines for older parents, music I like, and much more.

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

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

SHOW NOTES

[00:05:09] Q&A format and ground rules.
[00:05:35] My shift in perspective on parenting and fatherhood.
[00:08:14] New creative directions: games, comics, animation.
[00:10:30] Identity diversification.
[00:18:01] Simple pleasures: outdoor activities, meditation, archery.
[00:23:21] Using AI to keep questioning fresh and relevant.
[00:27:12] Breaking through periods of feeling unsuccessful.
[00:35:25] Exploring the fringes and growing personally over the past decade.
[00:44:52] Longevity protocols and handling grief.
[00:53:41] Coping with the loss of a pet.
[00:55:00] Ecstatic creativity à la Rick Rubin and CØCKPUNCH.
[01:03:37] Physiological awareness and self-regulation.
[01:08:48] Finding career relevance in an AI-transformed landscape.
[01:16:48] Parting thoughts.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

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Anthony

1 year ago

Tim, sitting can still be productive and myofascial release is only a small piece of the puzzle. We all need some dynamic variability in our sitting surface, and not the “squishy” kind. Your back will thank you. Check out Core-Tex Sit.

Eeva Halla

1 year ago

Hey Tim,
I’m a huge fan, been for years and I thank you for so many amazing podcast episodes, many which I have listened to more than once! I am a student of spirituality and loved loved loved your talks with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, they really pushed me into the right direction. My husband introduced me to Tolle about 15 years ago and I listen to the books over and over, currently I also have Anthony De Mello in the mix, he has added so much to my practice. I probably know Awareness by heart pretty much, but still every time I listen I get so much out of it.

Just a quick note on this one, I was so curious to hear your interest in illustration, my dad was a cartoonist, he was quite recognized in Finland where I am from, he had a weekly cartoon in the biggest newspaper for some time and he published 3 books, one of which won the cartoon book of the year here in Belgium (where I now live) in the 80’s. He’s work is influenced by Sempe who he admired, not sure if you’re familiar with his work.. take a look if not.

I know I’m biast, but my dad was quite brilliant on how he looked at things and his work is not for the lazy as all pictures have a point, but sometimes not a very obvious one and I have to say, to this day, I do not get all of them even myself, he has passed away long time ago, so too late to ask now haha. He did not use words and he thought a picture should explain itself and be simple. Given the thought provoking pictures he drew, he always thought they’d be useful in hospitals for example to help recovery of people who cannot read yet, but to provide rehab through humor and realization.

My sister keeps an insta page for his works, ansu cartoons it is called if you want to take a look, no need to follow, I am not trying to get anything from this, I just wanted to reach out as I think you do amazing work and it has been a privilege to be able to follow your story and I admire how much you have shared of yourself, it must not have been easy. I also listen to a lot of Brene Brown and Esther Perel, our hometown lady haha as we live in Antwerp, Belgium, they are such inspiring ladies and also doing amazing work in their fields, sharing is something not natural for me, so here is another field of study I am embarking.

Very grateful for all the amazing resources you people provide! Truly life changing!

I wish you all the best!!
Kind Regards,
Eeva

Becky

1 year ago

Really enjoyed this, as usual. I’m about to introduce my teen to the CØCKPUNCH podcast and am so excited. Thank you to you and your team for all you do!! I don’t have the socials so thought I’d throw an interview suggestion here: I’d really, really love to hear you and Cindy Gallop (of makelovenotporn) have a conversation. She’s a total bad ass, and that combined with your interview wizardry would result in a chat that I’m sure would be incredible.

Last edited 1 year ago by Becky

Peter

10 months ago

Hi Tim,

I’ve been a longtime listener of your podcast, always soaking in the wisdom, but never quite brave enough to reach out—until now. I just finished your episode, “Q&A with Tim — What’s Next for Me, Asking Better Questions, Career Reinvention in The Age of AI, Practices for Joy, Getting Unstuck, and More,” and something clicked.

You’ve often talked about reaching out to people, making bold asks, and here I am, finally following that advice. I’d love to know:

What are the top 3 habits or behaviors that have had the biggest impact on your life?

And even more specifically:

• When and how did you start doing them?

• How have they evolved over the years?

I’d be thrilled to hear your thoughts—or even just a nugget of insight if time is tight. Thanks for all the work you do to inspire, challenge, and occasionally kick us into action. This message is living proof.

Best,

Peter (a fellow question-asker, finally asking)