The most inspiring episodes of The Tim Ferris Show
This article is part of my December 2020 Gratitude series that help me end this year on a more positive and inspiring note.
As someone without an entrepreneurial background, I have had to seek out inspiration and guidance on my journey to self-sufficiency and business success. With the amount of high-quality content added online daily, choosing was not an easy decision. I am just as confused as the next millennial. I struggle with saying no to things, deciding what to work on, finding purpose in life, and fighting perfectionism that often leads to not finishing things…
That is when Tim Ferris comes in. He interviews world-class performers— uncovering their journeys to unprecedented success. I find their insights incredibly valuable as they often address the specific challenges faced by many entrepreneurs. I have chosen The Tim Ferriss Show as my primary source of regular inspiration, as I find the long-form content that digs deeper much more useful than any other general interviews.
I would like to share a list of episodes that have had a significant impact on my thinking and approach to business and life. While it is possible that this is due to my lack of prior exposure to similar concepts, I believe the repetition of these ideas is beneficial for anyone looking for inspiration. As we say in Slovakia: "Repetition is the mother of wisdom".
Just in case you ever find yourself on this corner of the internet: Thank you Tim for inspiring me to become the best version of myself.
Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond (#347)
If you only had a chance to listen to ONE episode, I would recommend this one. I am as proud as it gets that our land gave birth to such mind as Stanislav Grof, world-renowned psychiatrist. I usually send this to everyone curious about exploring states of consciousness and considering trying LSD or holotropic breathwork. Such a beautiful and scientifically described introduction to spirituality to all those that are still confined by logic.
Seth Godin on How to Say “No,” Market Like a Professional, and Win at Life (#343)
By focusing on everything from effective marketing, leadership, entrepreneurship, productivity to copywriting - every episode on the show with Seth has been able to inspire me and change my perspective on spreading ideas. As much as I love his books (19 of which are instant best-sellers), I loved listening to him talk in the most effortless and relatable way.
Tim Ferriss: Testing The "Impossible": 17 Questions That Changed My Life (#206)
Tim interviews the best of the best in everything in the world. At the same time, I consider him to be one of those people. Now and then, he shares an episode where he provides insight into his own life and thinking. This particular episode is also a helpful exercise for anyone who feels stuck, as it offers 17 questions that anyone can (and maybe should) ask themselves.
Maria Popova on Writing, Workflow, and Workarounds (#39)
As an aspiring blogger and a lover of learning and reading, I was beyond inspired listening to Tim picking the brain of one of the most respected writers/bloggers in the world. She shares her process of writing, creating, note-taking and generally the way of living and looking at life.
Dissecting the Success of Malcolm Gladwell (#168)
Malcolm Gladwell is the guy that coined the concept of needing 10 000 hours to become best at something. If that does not sell this episode, I don't know what could. Besides being a brilliant mind, he is also a great researcher and writer. He shares valuable techniques for writing, public speaking and creating in general.
I now realise this list looks like a love letter to all the writers on the show, but since my interest in writing grew this year, it is only understandable that Elizabeth Gilbert made the cut. She is the author of Eat Pray Love, and this episode had me in tears multiple times. Very inspiring woman.
Naval Ravikant on Happiness Hacks and the 5 Chimps Theory (#136)
To be honest, I find Naval a little aggressive in his approach of sharing ideas, but the core is always eye-opening. This episode is like a little behind the scenes for his own podcast that a lot of entrepreneurs find life-changing.
How to Design a Life — Debbie Millman (#214)
I have always feared rejection, whether it is in personal relationships or work. Listening to one of the most acclaimed designers explaining her journey and dealing with different situations was crucial for me. This was one of the first episodes when I understood the importance of vulnerability online and the need to share stories that are hard to hear.
Ramit Sethi — Automating Finances, Negotiating Prenups, Disagreeing with Tim, and More (#371)
The most crucial piece of any content I ever stumbled upon that changed my perception and relationship with money. And I must admit it took a lot of effort and unlearning.
Rick Doblin — The Psychedelic Domino That Tips All Others (#440)
Rick Doblin is a student of formerly mentioned Stanislav Grof and also a founder of Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - MAPS. He explains the history of MDMA and their possible use in assisted psychotherapy and various treatments. It made me change my very strict negative view on drugs that I have due to the history of them of my friends and family.
Dr. Jane Goodall — The Legend, The Lessons, The Hope (#421)
Honestly wonderful encouragement to work for a better world by the woman, best known for her 60-year study that completely transformed our understanding of our closest relative in the animal kingdom - chimpanzees.
Brené Brown — Striving versus Self-Acceptance, Saving Marriages, and More (#409)
Listening to someone that has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy hit hard. Which just proves that these themes are essential to explore for everyone.
Jamie Foxx on Workout Routines, Success Habits, and Untold Hollywood Stories (#124)
Impersonations, skills Jamie learned from his grandmother, acting techniques, personal insights, racism and of course, the story of how he threw a party for Puff Daddy. No wonder it was voted as one of the best episodes on the show.
Dom D'Agostino on Fasting, Ketosis, and the End of Cancer (#117)
If you are still unsure if fasting is for you, this might be a great place to start with research. This episode is also often considered to be one of the best on the show. Maybe because 5 years ago, fasting was not a trend.
Tony Robbins – On Achievement Versus Fulfillment (#178)
If you are often on youtube, you must have seen at least one of Tony Robbins videos. He is the world's most famous performance coach and he knows how to get ideas across. This is the third time he has been on the show, and I highly recommend listening to all three episodes. Even Oprah calls him a superhuman.
Tim Ferris: How to Say No (#282)
This one is specifically important to me. I always struggle with committing to too many things, and then either under-performing or neglecting my own projects. Even though this question gets asked a lot, it is always easy to repeatedly find and listen.
Squarespace, please fix up this unnecessary white space below all Spotify embeds. Whats that about?
Of course, I listen to other podcasts as well. But I would not dare to make a list, as I don’t have a very good overview of what is out there. The things I do recommend often are also Naval (one of the guys from the episodes) and a show called No Such Thing As Fish. It is about 4 presenters finding super random facts each week and then talking about them. If you need a good laugh and feel like you are not totally wasting your time.
The access to information is a big privilege. And I am grateful for living in times when that is possible. Any podcasts I should know about?
