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Episode

#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
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2:15:08
Published: Wed Aug 31 2016
Description

Cal (@calfussman) is a New York Times bestselling author and a writer-at-large for Esquire magazine, where he is best known for being a primary writer of the "What I Learned" feature. The Austin Chronicle has described Cal's interviewing skills as "peerless." He has transformed oral history into an art form, conducting probing interviews with the icons who've shaped the last 50 years of world history: Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Jack Welch, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen, Dr. Dre, Quincy Jones, Woody Allen, Barbara Walters, Pelé, Yao Ming, Serena Williams, John Wooden, Muhammad Ali, and countless others. When I asked listeners for questions to present to Cal during this return appearance, about 70 percent of you replied with some version of: "He is my favorite storyteller of all time. Please just let him talk for another four hours!" I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I never get tired of talking to Cal. He's so good at what he does. He's such a nice guy. And he's such an incredible storyteller. Here you have it -- enjoy! This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring chaga. It tastes like coffee, but there are only 40 milligrams of caffeine, so it has less than half of what you would find in a regular cup of coffee. I do not get any jitters, acid reflux, or any type of stomach burn. It put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet. People are always asking me what I use for cognitive enhancement -- right now, this is the answer. You can try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/tim and using the code "Tim" to get 20 percent off your first order. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you'll be disappointed. This podcast is also brought to you by Wealthfront. Wealthfront is a massively disruptive (in a good way) set-it-and-forget-it investing service led by technologists from places like Apple. It has exploded in popularity in the last two years and now has more than $2.5B under management. Why? Because you can get services previously limited to the ultra-wealthy and only pay pennies on the dollar for them, and it's all through smarter software instead of retail locations and bloated sales teams. Check out wealthfront.com/tim, take their risk assessment quiz, which only takes 2-5 minutes, and they'll show you -- for free -- exactly the portfolio they'd put you in. If you want to just take their advice and do it yourself, you can. Well worth a few minutes to explore: wealthfront.com/tim.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chapters
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00:00 - 00:58 (00:58)
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Fitness
Summary

The episode features various topics such as high altitude training, asking the opposite of the question, the benefits of exercise, and more. Additionally, Tim Ferriss mentions his email newsletter called "Five Bullet Friday" which he claims to be super simple and not clog up inboxes.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
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Get a free vitamin D supplement and five travel packs with your first subscription purchase of Athletic Greens' all in one formula.
00:58 - 04:15 (03:17)
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Athletic Greens
Summary

Get a free vitamin D supplement and five travel packs with your first subscription purchase of Athletic Greens' all in one formula. It is an easy way to get a lot of nutrition when whole foods aren't readily available, especially from travel packets.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss interviews Cal Fussman, writer at large for Esquire magazine and New York Times bestselling author, to discuss his experience traveling the world, swimming with 18 foot tiger sharks, and rolling with mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
04:15 - 08:30 (04:15)
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Cal Fussman
Summary

Tim Ferriss interviews Cal Fussman, writer at large for Esquire magazine and New York Times bestselling author, to discuss his experience traveling the world, swimming with 18 foot tiger sharks, and rolling with mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Muhammad Ali wasn't allowed to sit with white people in some restaurants, even after winning a medal for his country.
08:30 - 16:50 (08:20)
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Muhammad Ali
Summary

Muhammad Ali wasn't allowed to sit with white people in some restaurants, even after winning a medal for his country. The story highlights the racial discrimination that existed in the 60s.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The author recounts his personal experiences with legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, including a surreal moment at the 1996 Olympics and an encounter with Ali's wife, Lonnie.
16:50 - 25:26 (08:36)
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Muhammad Ali
Summary

The author recounts his personal experiences with legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, including a surreal moment at the 1996 Olympics and an encounter with Ali's wife, Lonnie.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Ali's corner man Drew "Bundini" Brown coined the iconic phrase "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," which became synonymous with Muhammad Ali's fighting style.
25:26 - 31:40 (06:14)
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Boxing
Summary

Ali's corner man Drew "Bundini" Brown coined the iconic phrase "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," which became synonymous with Muhammad Ali's fighting style.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker tells a humorous story about Muhammad Ali and Smoke and Joe's boxing techniques, ending with a surprising twist involving ice cream.
31:40 - 39:17 (07:37)
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Boxing
Summary

The speaker tells a humorous story about Muhammad Ali and Smoke and Joe's boxing techniques, ending with a surprising twist involving ice cream.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The lack of heroes is not the reason for the absence of heroism in younger generations.
39:17 - 47:13 (07:56)
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Millennial Generation
Summary

The lack of heroes is not the reason for the absence of heroism in younger generations. Exploring the potential of Elon Musk as an inspiring figure, the podcast highlights the importance of upbringing in instilling heroic values.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses the significance of identifying heroes and rulers in human history, as it provides a sense of direction for our evolution.
47:13 - 55:36 (08:23)
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Human Evolution
Summary

The speaker discusses the significance of identifying heroes and rulers in human history, as it provides a sense of direction for our evolution. He suggests that perhaps our current lack of heroes only represents a temporary lull in a broader evolutionary cycle.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Joining a samba school in Brazil allows people to participate in the Carnival and dance in the Samba Parade in front of huge crowds, despite the dangerous streets in the area.
55:36 - 59:20 (03:44)
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Brazil
Summary

Joining a samba school in Brazil allows people to participate in the Carnival and dance in the Samba Parade in front of huge crowds, despite the dangerous streets in the area. The experience offers a chance to see the beautiful women adorned in spangles and feathers.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast host describes walking across a bridge with actor Ralph Macchio while being watched by groups of young men, leading to a very tense situation.
59:20 - 1:07:24 (08:04)
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Entertainment
Summary

The podcast host describes walking across a bridge with actor Ralph Macchio while being watched by groups of young men, leading to a very tense situation.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Ted Allen, the well-known TV food personality, threw his arm in the crowd during an event, and it drifted away until it hit someone, demonstrating his innate talent for throwing.
1:07:24 - 1:13:54 (06:30)
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Ted Allen
Summary

Ted Allen, the well-known TV food personality, threw his arm in the crowd during an event, and it drifted away until it hit someone, demonstrating his innate talent for throwing. This incident is a significant memory for the speaker as it reminds him of this momentous occasion and the subsequent experiences he had afterward.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares their experience of feeling nervous and under pressure while preparing for a big interview with a well-known manager, despite having met many famous people before.
1:13:54 - 1:18:05 (04:11)
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Interview Preparation
Summary

The speaker shares their experience of feeling nervous and under pressure while preparing for a big interview with a well-known manager, despite having met many famous people before.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The interviewer describes his approach to making the interviewee feel comfortable by creating a home-like atmosphere, including being offered a scotch by a hospitable host.
1:18:05 - 1:23:17 (05:12)
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Interviewing
Summary

The interviewer describes his approach to making the interviewee feel comfortable by creating a home-like atmosphere, including being offered a scotch by a hospitable host.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Larry King's approach to interviews involves having a casual conversation rather than going in with an intense or combative attitude, which allows him to ask questions from a fresh perspective without any prior information or bias.
1:23:17 - 1:28:42 (05:25)
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Interviewing techniques
Summary

Larry King's approach to interviews involves having a casual conversation rather than going in with an intense or combative attitude, which allows him to ask questions from a fresh perspective without any prior information or bias.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares a story about pretending to have met a famous actor and then not knowing who the actor was when he met him in person.
1:28:42 - 1:33:02 (04:20)
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Humor
Summary

The speaker shares a story about pretending to have met a famous actor and then not knowing who the actor was when he met him in person.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
A Hollywood actor made inappropriate comments during an interview, including questioning why they chose him for the cover of Esquire instead of Megan Fox, and suggesting the interviewer use his personal bathroom.
1:33:02 - 1:38:26 (05:24)
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Hollywood
Summary

A Hollywood actor made inappropriate comments during an interview, including questioning why they chose him for the cover of Esquire instead of Megan Fox, and suggesting the interviewer use his personal bathroom.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast episode discusses the different approaches to conducting interviews, specifically comparing Barbara Walters' scripted questions to James Lipton's organic conversation style.
1:38:26 - 1:47:52 (09:26)
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Interviewing
Summary

This podcast episode discusses the different approaches to conducting interviews, specifically comparing Barbara Walters' scripted questions to James Lipton's organic conversation style.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Larry prepares for an interview with Frank Sinatra, knowing he must make the most of their limited time together.
1:47:52 - 1:57:44 (09:52)
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Radio Interviews
Summary

Larry prepares for an interview with Frank Sinatra, knowing he must make the most of their limited time together. Later, Larry discusses having guests on his show who have a scandalous past.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The right questions can remove the symptoms of an interview, like the pad of paper and flashing lights, leading to a more natural conversation and deeper insights.
1:57:44 - 2:02:32 (04:48)
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Interviewing
Summary

The right questions can remove the symptoms of an interview, like the pad of paper and flashing lights, leading to a more natural conversation and deeper insights. This approach can help interviewers get people to open up about things they wouldn't normally share.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The art of interviewing involves creating a comfortable and natural environment for the interviewee to open up and share intimate details.
2:02:32 - 2:06:37 (04:05)
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Interviewing
Summary

The art of interviewing involves creating a comfortable and natural environment for the interviewee to open up and share intimate details. This approach can lead to more revealing and impactful conversations.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Learn how to improve your company's hiring process to ensure that you're bringing in the best candidates possible.
2:06:37 - 2:12:45 (06:08)
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Employee Hiring
Summary

Learn how to improve your company's hiring process to ensure that you're bringing in the best candidates possible. This can lead to a more productive, positive work environment and ultimately help your business succeed.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Sign up for the Four Hour Work Week newsletter to receive a weekly email with fun and interesting discoveries, as well as productivity tips from the podcast host.
2:12:45 - 2:15:05 (02:20)
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Productivity
Summary

Sign up for the Four Hour Work Week newsletter to receive a weekly email with fun and interesting discoveries, as well as productivity tips from the podcast host.

Episode
#183: Cal Fussman: The Master Storyteller Returns
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show