Insights from Dr. Matthew Walker, Adam Grant/Atul Gawande, Diana Chapman, and Rich Roll/David Goggins (#630)

Insights from Dr. Matthew Walker, Adam Grant/Atul Gawande, Diana Chapman, and Rich Roll/David Goggins (#630)

Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it is usually my job to deconstruct world-class performers to tease out the routines, habits, et cetera that you can apply to your own life. 

This episode is something different. It’s an experimental format that I’m super excited about, and it’s back by popular demand.

This is an episode that scratches an itch I’ve had for years. I am not always able to listen to every great podcast episode out there, even when they are by some of my closest friends. The answer to my predicament was to ask them to send me a top segment from their podcast that I could listen to and—more importantly—also share with you, my dear listeners. 

My team edited them together, and here we are! This episode is a compilation of 15-to-30–minute clips from some of the best podcasters—and also best interviewees—in the world and certainly some of my favorites.

At the beginning of each clip, you will hear an intro from the host and where to find their work and podcast. I’ll also share one or two of my favorite clips from episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show.

You can view this episode as a buffet, and I strongly suggest that you check out the shows included. If you like my podcast, you will very likely enjoy the featured shows in this episode.

And before you go: Do you like this format? Please let me know on Twitter at @tferriss and also mention @TeamTimFerriss.

Please enjoy!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Musicor on your favorite podcast platform.

Brought to you by Athletic Greens all-in-one nutritional supplement, Pique premium pu’er tea crystals, and Shopify global commerce platform providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business

The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

#630: Insights from Dr. Matthew Walker, Adam Grant/Atul Gawande, Diana Chapman, and Rich Roll/David Goggins


This episode is brought to you by PiqueI first learned about Pique through my friends Dr. Peter Attia and Kevin Rose, and now Pique’s fermented pu’er tea crystals have become my daily go-to. I often kickstart my mornings with their Pu’er Green Tea and Pu’er Black Tea, and I alternate between the two. This rare type of naturally fermented tea is more concentrated in polyphenol antioxidants than any other tea—it supports focus and mental clarity, healthy digestion, metabolism, and a healthy immune system. Their crystals are cold extracted, using only wild-harvested leaves from 250-year-old tea trees. Plus, they triple toxin screen for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic mold—contaminants commonly found in tea. I also use the crystals for iced tea, which saves a ton of time and hassle. 

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This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could use only one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is usually AG1 by Athletic Greens, my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body in 2010 and did not get paid to do so. I do my best with nutrient-dense meals, of course, but AG further covers my bases with vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced micronutrients that support gut health and the immune system. 

Right now, Athletic Greens is offering you their Vitamin D Liquid Formula free with your first subscription purchase—a vital nutrient for a strong immune system and strong bones. Visit AthleticGreens.com/Tim to claim this special offer today and receive the free Vitamin D Liquid Formula (and five free travel packs) with your first subscription purchase! That’s up to a one-year supply of Vitamin D as added value when you try their delicious and comprehensive all-in-one daily greens product.


This episode is brought to you by ShopifyShopify is one of my favorite platforms and one of my favorite companies. Shopify is designed for anyone to sell anywhere, giving entrepreneurs the resources once reserved for big business. In no time flat, you can have a great-looking online store that brings your ideas to life, and you can have the tools to manage your day-to-day and drive sales. No coding or design experience required.

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Want to hear the previous Insights episode? Listen here for nuggets of wisdom from Tara Brach, Ryan Holiday, Maria Popova, and Cal Newport about the meaning of radical acceptance, how to disentangle from self-judgment, 12 questions that will change your life, how sleep quality affects the quality of everything else you do, reading and taking notes at the gym, three properties crucial to any effective time management system, and much more.

#626: Insights from Tara Brach, Ryan Holiday, Maria Popova, and Cal Newport

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SCROLL BELOW FOR LINKS AND SHOW NOTES…

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Connect with Matt Walker:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Connect with Adam Grant:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Adam Grant’s Past Appearances on The Tim Ferriss Show podcast:

Connect with Atul Gawande:

Website | Twitter

Connect with the Conscious Leadership Group:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Diana Chapman’s Appearance on The Tim Ferriss Show podcast:

Connect with Rich Roll:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Rich Roll’s Appearance on The Tim Ferriss Show podcast:

Connect with David Goggins:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

SHOW NOTES

  • [07:10] Who is Matt Walker?
  • [07:39] Drowsiness is the sincerest form of flattery here.
  • [09:01] Alcohol and sleep.
  • [16:58] Caffeine and sleep.
  • [25:25] Who are Adam Grant and Atul Gawande?
  • [26:24] “Just say yes until you’re 40, and after 40, just say no.”
  • [30:17] Avoiding burnout during the “say yes” phase.
  • [31:57] Worst advice Atul has gotten.
  • [32:36] Why should everyone (including a busy surgeon) have a coach?
  • [36:22] Receiving and reacting to feedback.
  • [39:17] The culture of an organization is the worst behavior you tolerate.
  • [42:30] Who is Diana Chapman?
  • [42:58] The Drama Triangle.
  • [49:25] Body intelligence.
  • [51:56] A walkthrough for getting in tune with your whole-body yes (or no).
  • [1:00:28] Who are Rich Roll and David Goggins?
  • [1:03:56] Why haven’t you done that thing you’ve been talking about for years?
  • [1:04:43] Why your flimsy excuses don’t matter to David.
  • [1:08:27] The Accountability Mirror.
  • [1:11:05] Participation trophies.
  • [1:12:00] How do you overcome what’s really holding you back?

PEOPLE MENTIONED

The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than 900 million downloads. It has been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it’s been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.