Episode

#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
listen on Spotify
1:42:49
Published: Mon Oct 19 2020
Description

Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights | Brought to you by Wealthfront automated investing, Helix Sleep mattresses, and Magic Spoon cerealMatthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) is a Texas native and one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men. A chance meeting in Austin with casting director and producer Don Phillips led him to director Richard Linklater, who launched the actor's career in the cult classic Dazed and Confused. Since then, he has won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club, appeared in more than 40 feature films that have grossed more than $1 billion, and has become a producer, director, and philanthropist with his Just Keep Livin' Foundation—all the while sticking to his Texas roots and "jk livin'" philosophy.McConaughey also serves as creative director for Wild Turkey and has co-created his own bourbon, Longbranch. He serves as Minister of Culture/M.O.C. for the University of Texas Athletic Department and the Austin FC Soccer Club, where he is part owner. McConaughey will launch his first book, Greenlights, on October 20, 2020.He currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife Camilla and their three kids while he is a professor at the University of Texas in Austin.Please enjoy!This episode is brought to you by Wealthfront! Wealthfront pioneered the automated investing movement, sometimes referred to as ‘robo-advising,’ and they currently oversee $20 billion of assets for their clients. It takes about three minutes to sign up, and then Wealthfront will build you a globally diversified portfolio of ETFs based on your risk appetite and manage it for you at an incredibly low cost. Smart investing should not feel like a rollercoaster ride. Let the professionals do the work for you. Go to Wealthfront.com/Tim and open a Wealthfront account today, and you’ll get your first $5,000 managed for free, for life. Wealthfront will automate your investments for the long term. Get started today at Wealthfront.com/Tim.*This podcast episode is also brought to you by Helix Sleep! Helix was selected as the #1 best overall mattress pick of 2020 by GQ magazine, Wired, Apartment Therapy, and many others. With Helix, there’s a specific mattress for each and every body’s unique taste. 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, to my dear listeners, Helix is offering up to 200 dollars off all mattress orders plus two free pillows at HelixSleep.com/Tim.*This episode is also brought to you by Magic Spoon Cereal! Magic Spoon is a brand-new cereal that is low carb, high protein, and zero sugar. It tastes just like your favorite sugary cereal. Each serving has 12g of protein, 3g of net carbs, 0g of sugar, and only 110 calories. It’s also gluten free, grain free, keto friendly, soy free, and GMO free. And it’s delicious! It comes in your favorite, traditional cereal flavors like Cocoa, Frosted, and Blueberry.Magic Spoon cereal has received a lot of attention since launching last year. Time magazine included it in their list of Best Inventions of 2019, and Forbes called it “the future of cereal.” My listeners—that’s you—get free shipping and a 100% happiness guarantee when you visit MagicSpoon.com/Tim and use code 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.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 deconstructs Matthew McConaughey, one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men.
00:00 - 02:10 (02:10)
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Matthew McConaughey
Summary

In this episode, Tim Ferriss deconstructs Matthew McConaughey, one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men. They talk about the importance of good sleep and the impact it has on performance, as well as McConaughey's career, life lessons learned, and philanthropic endeavors.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker mentions Magic Spoon, a gluten-free cereal, and Athletic Greens, a dietary supplement, while promoting special offers for listeners to purchase these products.
02:10 - 10:09 (07:59)
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Advertisement
Summary

The speaker mentions Magic Spoon, a gluten-free cereal, and Athletic Greens, a dietary supplement, while promoting special offers for listeners to purchase these products.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
This episode tells the story of a family that started in the pipe and coupling business but branched out to the oil and beauty industries, including a potential lawsuit and door-to-door sales of "oil of mink" product.
10:09 - 15:00 (04:50)
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Oil, Beauty
Summary

This episode tells the story of a family that started in the pipe and coupling business but branched out to the oil and beauty industries, including a potential lawsuit and door-to-door sales of "oil of mink" product.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses how his struggles with acne impacted his confidence and how overcoming negative self-talk can help improve one's sense of self-worth.
15:02 - 21:39 (06:37)
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Self-esteem
Summary

The speaker discusses how his struggles with acne impacted his confidence and how overcoming negative self-talk can help improve one's sense of self-worth.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Matthew McConaughey discusses the inspiration behind his new memoir "Green Lights" and how a friend's suggestion helped him gain the confidence to pursue storytelling.
21:39 - 25:33 (03:54)
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Matthew McConaughey
Summary

Matthew McConaughey discusses the inspiration behind his new memoir "Green Lights" and how a friend's suggestion helped him gain the confidence to pursue storytelling. He also reflects on his own path to becoming a reader and writer.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker recounts a memory of finding a book that felt like their secret and reading it obsessively, even to the point of driving back and forth to retrieve it.
25:33 - 32:08 (06:34)
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Books
Summary

The speaker recounts a memory of finding a book that felt like their secret and reading it obsessively, even to the point of driving back and forth to retrieve it.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The ultimate human is the egotistical utilitarian where the decision one makes for oneself can be the most selfless decision for the greater good.
32:08 - 37:21 (05:13)
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Philosophy
Summary

The ultimate human is the egotistical utilitarian where the decision one makes for oneself can be the most selfless decision for the greater good.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses how after his father passed away, he became more willing to take risks and let go of his reverence for certain things in life, leading to opportunities in his career.
37:21 - 42:59 (05:37)
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Risk-taking
Summary

The speaker discusses how after his father passed away, he became more willing to take risks and let go of his reverence for certain things in life, leading to opportunities in his career.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
By keeping a record of his successes and failures, Matthew McConaughey was able to identify patterns that helped him stay motivated during difficult times and understand other people's perspectives.
42:59 - 49:25 (06:26)
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Self-improvement
Summary

By keeping a record of his successes and failures, Matthew McConaughey was able to identify patterns that helped him stay motivated during difficult times and understand other people's perspectives.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on his need to make certain changes in his behavior, including spending less time outside and not singing out loud.
49:25 - 55:09 (05:43)
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Self-Reflection
Summary

The speaker reflects on his need to make certain changes in his behavior, including spending less time outside and not singing out loud.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The need to choose the right harder challenge and overcome obstacles is a wise engagement, and sometimes the road less taken can be a dirt road.
55:09 - 1:01:00 (05:50)
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Personal Growth
Summary

The need to choose the right harder challenge and overcome obstacles is a wise engagement, and sometimes the road less taken can be a dirt road.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses the benefits of talking to oneself during periods of solitude and how focusing on discomfort can lead to personal growth.
1:01:00 - 1:05:14 (04:14)
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Self-Care
Summary

The speaker discusses the benefits of talking to oneself during periods of solitude and how focusing on discomfort can lead to personal growth.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker advises against tripping oneself and doing a proverbial face plant as one races towards a goal or tries to prove a point.
1:05:14 - 1:08:34 (03:20)
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Motivation
Summary

The speaker advises against tripping oneself and doing a proverbial face plant as one races towards a goal or tries to prove a point. Instead, one must work hard to achieve the goal.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Matthew McConaughey explains how he chose to prioritize his life over work and stopped accepting roles that he didn't feel passionate about.
1:08:34 - 1:13:18 (04:44)
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Entertainment
Summary

Matthew McConaughey explains how he chose to prioritize his life over work and stopped accepting roles that he didn't feel passionate about.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The value of a script can depend on how much one is willing to pay for it, but sometimes, a higher price can lead to a higher quality product.
1:13:18 - 1:18:32 (05:13)
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Entertainment
Summary

The value of a script can depend on how much one is willing to pay for it, but sometimes, a higher price can lead to a higher quality product. The emotional toll of being in the entertainment industry, including self-doubt, is also discussed.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The death of someone or a big family crisis can bring a sense of necessary purpose and sober you up, making everything else seem less important.
1:18:32 - 1:24:37 (06:05)
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Family Crisis
Summary

The death of someone or a big family crisis can bring a sense of necessary purpose and sober you up, making everything else seem less important. The speaker shares his experience of going through a family crisis that required all of his attention and time.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, Kobe Bryant deconstructs how he handles moments of success and failure, and manages to stay in control even under pressure.
1:24:37 - 1:30:21 (05:43)
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Kobe Bryant
Summary

In this podcast, Kobe Bryant deconstructs how he handles moments of success and failure, and manages to stay in control even under pressure. He addresses a common misconception about his work ethic, and speaks about not having to raise his voice as a means of control at home.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker talks about the benefits of having values such as kindness, accountability, and humor.
1:30:21 - 1:40:36 (10:14)
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Personal Growth
Summary

The speaker talks about the benefits of having values such as kindness, accountability, and humor. Additionally, he promotes a product called cocoa, which now has two new limited edition flavors: honey nut and peanut butter.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Get up to $200 off all mattress orders and two free pillows at helixsleep.com/tim.
1:40:36 - 1:42:35 (01:59)
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Helix Sleep
Summary

Get up to $200 off all mattress orders and two free pillows at helixsleep.com/tim. Take their two-minute sleep quiz to get matched with the perfect mattress for you.

Episode
#474: Matthew McConaughey — The Power of “No, Thank You,” Key Life Lessons, 30+ Years of Diary Notes, and The Art of Catching Greenlights
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show