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Tim FerrissThe Random Show with Tim Ferriss & Kevin Rose | Episode 27 | Tim Ferriss
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CHAPTERS
- 0:06 – 3:16
Welcome and the Teas on the Table
Kevin and Tim open the show, explain its random format, and talk about the ginger-turmeric and Stress Less teas. They also look at a Heath Ceramics mug.
- •The Random Show covers random things the hosts run into between episodes
- •Kevin likes the affordable Reishi tea and has met its founder
- •Tim mixes ginger-turmeric tea with pu-erh to offset its barnyard smell
- •The Heath mug was a gift from Em and Rob of Forage
- 3:16 – 7:36
Kevin Leaves Google Ventures for His Startup
Kevin explains why he stepped down from Google Ventures to work full time on a new startup. He describes his plan to run many experiments and kill the ones that aren't working.
- •Splitting time between investing and building left him stressed and unfocused
- •He raised $5 million and has a five-person team
- •Watchville is doing well while Tiny is probably getting killed
- •He wants to avoid sticking with one idea until the money runs out
- •Three years at Google Ventures gave him a reset after Dig
- 7:36 – 11:37
Tim's Return to Writing and Possible New Books
Tim talks about working on his own craft, and says the podcast has pushed him to improve his research and writing. He describes gathering material for a 4-Hour Workweek book of success stories and the value of vulnerability in his writing.
- •Working on your own projects is more gratifying than only helping portfolio companies
- •Tim hired a researcher from Inside the Actor's Studio to review his podcast transcripts
- •He is collecting success stories at 4hourworkweek.com/success for a possible 4-Hour Workweek book
- •He aims for uncomfortable vulnerability in his posts, which tend to be his best received
- 11:37 – 18:52
A Private Membership Idea and Its Pricing Dilemma
Kevin floats a small private group where he could share rants and talk with dedicated fans. They discuss whether a membership makes sense, including Quarterly boxes as an example, and Tim recounts a failed paid-membership trial where a low price brought lots of complaints.
- •Kevin wants a structured conversation with a few hundred loyal followers for a few dollars a month
- •Tim says some of his audience warns against being lumped in with internet marketers
- •Kevin compares it to a band's members-only area, with most content staying free
- •Tim refunded his $5–$10 monthly membership after about two weeks
- •Both struggle to find a price that attracts diehards without being cost prohibitive
- 18:52 – 23:44
Apps for Keeping Track of Contacts
Kevin describes Contactually and RelateIQ, which remind him to follow up with business contacts through email. Tim asks about finding friends in a city he's visiting, and Kevin points him to the Human address book app.
- •Contactually uses buckets and day counts to ping you when to reach out
- •RelateIQ plugs into Gmail with follow-up reminders and read receipts
- •Human shows which friends are nearby
- •Human syncs contact updates between friends who use it
- 23:44 – 28:33
Burner Phone Numbers and Online Underground Markets
Tim explains Burner, which creates throwaway phone numbers, and the talk turns to what can be bought on underground markets. They discuss how the Silk Road founder was caught in a San Francisco library.
- •Burner makes temporary numbers for calling and texting, useful for eBay or online dating
- •Burner can still be traced and complies with government requests
- •Kevin asks whether Tim could buy a nuclear weapon online, and Tim says it would be very hard
- •Kevin recounts the staged fight at the library to grab the Silk Road founder's open laptop
- •Tim mentions the book McMafia about organized crime
- 28:33 – 31:38
Tim's Podcasting Mics and Recording Setup
Tim shows the Yellowtec iXm all-in-one mic and explains his different recording setups for in-person and remote interviews. Kevin asks about wireless, mic heads, and Skype reliability.
- •The iXm levels audio itself and records to a card, but costs $600–$1,000
- •For in-person interviews like Arnold Schwarzenegger he used an H4n recorder and cheap stage mics
- •He prefers Skype with eCall Recorder and two cheap USB mics
- •Of about 40 Skype interviews, he has had only two issues, usually from syncing apps like Dropbox
- 31:38 – 38:21
Kevin's Record Player and Favorite Albums
Kevin explains why he bought a record player: it forces him to get up and listen to whole albums. Tim talks about album composition and tactile experience, and they wander into Disco Disco Duck and a debate about Donald Duck and Nazi propaganda.
- •Flipping records breaks up the workday and gets Kevin away from email
- •Albums are played all the way through rather than skipped
- •Tim compares album sides to the order of chapters or scenes in a screenplay
- •Kevin bought an unopened Thriller for $50 on Amazon
- •A tangent follows about Donald Duck propaganda videos
- 38:21 – 39:30
Kevin's Walking Treadmill Desk
Kevin recommends the walking treadmill desk he loves and describes how he uses it for work. He covers its price and features.
- •He works at two miles per hour for about two hours a day
- •He tracks steps with a Fitbit and racks up about 15,000 steps
- •His treadmill cost $1,500 on Amazon, and others range from $700 to $4,000
- •It syncs with his phone over Bluetooth
- 39:30 – 43:49
Kevin's New Year's Resolution: Tracking Drinks
Kevin explains his plan to track his drinks first and then reduce them, and shares his spreadsheet numbers. Tim teases him about last month's totals and an earlier bet.
- •Step one is tracking drinks and step two is reducing them
- •Last month he had 8 good days, 6 neutral days, and 17 bad days
- •A Napa trip and travel to Germany and Switzerland made last month difficult
- •His goal is to average a little under two drinks a day
- •Tim brings up an unpaid $1,000 DonorsChoose bet
- 43:49 – 47:16
Language Flashcards and American Dream U
Tim shows his Vis-Ed and International Phonetic Alphabet flashcards and explains his upcoming trip to Monterey. He describes American Dream U, a nonprofit for veterans, and the language institute there, and they swap bits of Arabic.
- •Vis-Ed flashcards often include sample sentences, and Tim has them for about 12 languages
- •The International Phonetic Alphabet helps describe pronunciation
- •American Dream U helps veterans move into civilian life through education and entrepreneurship resources
- •Tim will sit in on an Arabic class in Monterey
- •He is most interested in Levantine Arabic
- 47:16 – 49:31
The Silver Cord Graphic Novel by Kevin Kelly
Tim shows The Silver Cord, a graphic novel sent by his friend Kevin Kelly about a war between humans, angels, and robots. He explains why Kelly and the fan-funded project interest him.
- •The art and printing are very good
- •Kevin Kelly was the founding editor of Wired and is a precise technology futurist
- •The book was funded entirely by fans who wanted to read it
- •Tim expects technological and philosophical questions about artificial intelligence
- 49:31 – 52:54
Quarterly Boxes and Closing Call for Feedback
Kevin and Tim discuss their Quarterly subscription boxes and how manufacturers supply goods at or below cost. Tim shows the Lobo graphic novel as a custom print run, and the hosts close by asking for feedback on a possible subscription offering.
- •Kevin's $100 box held about $140 worth of items by Amazon pricing
- •Manufacturers often give products at or below cost to reach influential audiences
- •Larger subscriber counts allow customized items like Tim's Lobo print run with original artwork
- •Tim is reopening his box to people who missed the holiday run
- •Listeners can respond with #randomshow, @tferriss, or @kevinrose
