Episode
#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
1:56:05
Published: Tue Mar 22 2016
Description
Ever since episode #2 of the podcast, you’ve been asking for more Josh Waitzkin, so here it is! This is an in-depth jam session, and you can definitely listen to this one independently. Josh Waitzkin was the basis for the book and movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. Considered a chess prodigy, he has perfected learning strategies that can be applied to anything, including his other loves of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (he’s a black belt under phenom Marcelo Garcia) and Tai Chi push hands (he’s a world champion). These days, he spends his time coaching the world’s top performers, whether Mark Messier, Cal Ripken Jr., or high-profile investors. I initially met Josh through his incredible book, The Art of Learning, which I loved so much that I helped produce the audiobook (download here at Audible). If you're interested in implementing programs designed by Josh in your classroom, go to theartoflearningproject.org and find out if the program is a good fit for you. This episode is DEEP, in the best way possible. Just like last time, Josh will blow your mind. Enjoy! Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by MeUndies. Have you ever wanted to be as powerful as a mullet-wearing ninja from the 1980’s, or as sleek as a black panther in the Amazon? Of course you have, and that’s where MeUndies comes in. I’ve spent the last 2-3 weeks wearing underwear from these guys 24/7, and they are the most comfortable and colorful underwear I’ve ever owned. Their materials are 2x softer than cotton, as evaluated using the Kawabata method. Check out MeUndies.com/Tim to see my current faves (some are awesomely ridiculous) and, while you’re at it, don’t miss lots of hot ladies wearing MeUndies. 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
In this episode, Tim Ferriss mentions his ability to run at a high altitude and refers to himself as a cybernetic organism.
00:00 - 00:57 (00:57)
Summary
In this episode, Tim Ferriss mentions his ability to run at a high altitude and refers to himself as a cybernetic organism. The episode is sponsored by Tim Ferriss' Five Bullet Friday email newsletter, which features five bullet points of cool things he's found during the week.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim interviews world-class performers from various fields and deconstructs their routines, habits and thought processes to provide practical patterns that can be applied in daily life.
00:57 - 06:26 (05:29)
Summary
In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tim interviews world-class performers from various fields and deconstructs their routines, habits and thought processes to provide practical patterns that can be applied in daily life. The show also features an ad from Athletic Greens, offering a special deal for Tim's listeners.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A personal story of how a free diver ignored the warnings on the Wim Hof site and was saved by the method's ability to send blood to their brain and heart during a potentially dangerous situation.
06:26 - 14:06 (07:40)
Summary
A personal story of how a free diver ignored the warnings on the Wim Hof site and was saved by the method's ability to send blood to their brain and heart during a potentially dangerous situation.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
This podcast talks about the importance of being able to regulate your internal state to navigate the subtleties of life such as opportunity, danger or cognitive biases as a chess player, investor or anyone else.
14:06 - 21:25 (07:18)
Summary
This podcast talks about the importance of being able to regulate your internal state to navigate the subtleties of life such as opportunity, danger or cognitive biases as a chess player, investor or anyone else.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The integration of cognitive biases into the intuitive process of high-level thinkers can lead to the subtle rejection of plausible positions and the stretching of evaluations beyond reach.
21:25 - 25:15 (03:50)
Summary
The integration of cognitive biases into the intuitive process of high-level thinkers can lead to the subtle rejection of plausible positions and the stretching of evaluations beyond reach. In a competitive state, it is important to distinguish the objective truth of a position from the subjective understanding of the chess player's mind.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Starting your day with 10 to 20 minutes of meditation can help improve focus and manage stress, and building a consistent habit begins with finding a controlled and stress-free environment.
25:17 - 33:18 (08:01)
Summary
Starting your day with 10 to 20 minutes of meditation can help improve focus and manage stress, and building a consistent habit begins with finding a controlled and stress-free environment.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Building training programs for mental performers requires understanding and embracing their eccentricities and unique qualities.
33:18 - 38:04 (04:46)
Summary
Building training programs for mental performers requires understanding and embracing their eccentricities and unique qualities. It takes significant time and observation to truly know someone and create a personalized program for their success.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on their experiences of playing chess and card games in loud environments and observes mistakes that parents make by not being open to weather and not being deeply attuned to their children's unobstructed self-expression in their early years.
38:04 - 42:09 (04:04)
Summary
The speaker reflects on their experiences of playing chess and card games in loud environments and observes mistakes that parents make by not being open to weather and not being deeply attuned to their children's unobstructed self-expression in their early years.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
This episode discusses how one can develop a language for solving puzzles through metaphors and using pain as a tool for growth.
42:09 - 46:29 (04:19)
Summary
This episode discusses how one can develop a language for solving puzzles through metaphors and using pain as a tool for growth.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The concept of growth mindset involves the understanding that the path to mastery involves incremental growth.
46:29 - 49:58 (03:29)
Summary
The concept of growth mindset involves the understanding that the path to mastery involves incremental growth. It is important to cultivate this mindset, especially when parenting children.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The concept of internal versus external locus of control and how it relates to investing in investment vehicles.
49:58 - 52:20 (02:21)
Summary
The concept of internal versus external locus of control and how it relates to investing in investment vehicles.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The importance of trusting an artist's intuition, even if it is subtle, should not be dismissed due to external pressures and awareness.
52:20 - 56:23 (04:03)
Summary
The importance of trusting an artist's intuition, even if it is subtle, should not be dismissed due to external pressures and awareness.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The pupils in Marcelo's school learn much faster by putting themselves in the line as a way of life, leaving behind their egos.
56:23 - 1:01:29 (05:05)
Summary
The pupils in Marcelo's school learn much faster by putting themselves in the line as a way of life, leaving behind their egos. The school has inculcated an environment where the students don't fear losing their reputation, leading to the emergence of world class competitors, and they train under excellent instructors like John Stava.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Focusing on the small moments and manifestations of good qualities is key to creating a way of life centered around those principles.
1:01:29 - 1:04:49 (03:19)
Summary
Focusing on the small moments and manifestations of good qualities is key to creating a way of life centered around those principles.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast discusses the importance of qualitative training over quantitative training, emphasizing that people tend to learn best from their own experiences rather than from others' experiences.
1:04:49 - 1:10:00 (05:10)
Summary
The podcast discusses the importance of qualitative training over quantitative training, emphasizing that people tend to learn best from their own experiences rather than from others' experiences. Examples of qualitative training, such as in jiu-jitsu fighting or being a present parent, are explored.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The importance of experiencing and living through multiple market cycles in order to gain the wisdom needed to navigate through the ups and downs of a bull or bear market.
1:10:00 - 1:15:32 (05:31)
Summary
The importance of experiencing and living through multiple market cycles in order to gain the wisdom needed to navigate through the ups and downs of a bull or bear market.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Investing in a bear market can be a traumatic experience for those who have only seen bull markets.
1:15:32 - 1:21:02 (05:30)
Summary
Investing in a bear market can be a traumatic experience for those who have only seen bull markets. By practicing meditation and intense training, one can become attuned to the subtle changes in themselves and the market, leading to a better understanding of market cycles.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The decisions involved in big wave surfing involve finely tuned, intuitive processes that can be the difference between life and death, and coaches and trainers must be able to navigate that terrain as well.
1:21:03 - 1:25:36 (04:33)
Summary
The decisions involved in big wave surfing involve finely tuned, intuitive processes that can be the difference between life and death, and coaches and trainers must be able to navigate that terrain as well. Embracing scarcity and essentialism can be a powerful tool in achieving success in any area of life.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
By reflecting on the most important question, journaling, and systematically opening the channel between the conscious and unconscious mind, we can train ourselves to ask the right questions and know where to look in the creative process.
1:25:36 - 1:34:03 (08:26)
Summary
By reflecting on the most important question, journaling, and systematically opening the channel between the conscious and unconscious mind, we can train ourselves to ask the right questions and know where to look in the creative process. Embracing the principle of scarcity by focusing on the most important question and avoiding overloading ourselves with too many tasks can lead to more productive and successful outcomes.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In paddle surfing, the "race to the bottom" refers to the trend of constantly dropping in board size for maneuverability.
1:34:03 - 1:40:53 (06:50)
Summary
In paddle surfing, the "race to the bottom" refers to the trend of constantly dropping in board size for maneuverability. Similarly, in trading, some traders prioritize tweaking their strategies rather than focusing on their fundamentals.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The most important work with children is helping them love learning and bring out the essence of who they are in the learning process.
1:40:53 - 1:44:54 (04:00)
Summary
The most important work with children is helping them love learning and bring out the essence of who they are in the learning process. This can be achieved by incorporating principles of learning into different subjects and discovering thematic interconnectedness, which can help children develop a love for learning.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker advocates for principles-based education that involves cultivating presence and collaboration within an open-minded school system.
1:44:54 - 1:52:04 (07:10)
Summary
The speaker advocates for principles-based education that involves cultivating presence and collaboration within an open-minded school system. This type of education would allow for a cohesive and immersive learning experience across multiple disciplines.
Episode#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Five Bullet Friday is a short weekly newsletter from Tim Ferriss where he shares his favorite new discoveries, articles, books, gadgets, and more.
1:52:04 - 1:55:53 (03:49)
Summary
Five Bullet Friday is a short weekly newsletter from Tim Ferriss where he shares his favorite new discoveries, articles, books, gadgets, and more. It's a quick and easy way to get a dose of inspiration and fun before the weekend.