Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded one billion downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
Sign up for "5-Bullet Friday" (Tim's free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: facebook.com/TimFerriss
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded one billion downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
Sign up for "5-Bullet Friday" (Tim's free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: facebook.com/TimFerriss

![The Random Show! Mortality, AI, Supplements, Rock Climbing, & More
In this edition of The Random Show, Tim Ferriss and Kevin Rose reunite over tequila to talk Zen retreats, learning to rock climb at (almost) 50, mortality and grief, why you should stop saying one day, AI predictions , and much more. Please enjoy!
This episode is brought to you by:
Incogni, which removes your personal data from the web, helping shield you from fraud, scams, and identity theft: https://Incogni.com/Tim (use code TIM at checkout and get 60% off an annual plan)
Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim
New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.75% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”) member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The base APY as of 1/30/26 is representative, can change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss, a non-client, receives compensation from WFB for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of WFB, which creates a conflict of interest. Individual experiences and outcomes will differ. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, not bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.
[00:00] Start.
[00:00] A tequila toast, and getting taxed by alcohol as you age.
[01:56] Toaster at 15: a late-night health scare.
[05:42] Losing Om Malik, and finding out on retreat.
[07:42] Matt Mullenweg, Antarctica, and gratitude.
[09:10] Coming to terms with our limited time on Earth.
[12:39] Five days of silence and the koan Mu.
[13:23] Kevins micro-insight. And a plug for The Way.
[25:42] Rock climbing after 40, and a Yosemite goal.
[27:33] Michael Eckert and finger-strength training.
[28:52] The Nug, Abrahangs, and a travel training kit.
[31:13] Free Solo and climbing with a fear of heights.
[34:54] The Blade Itself, and a friend lost in a plane crash.
[36:19] A2 protein and Pioneer Pastures.
[37:33] Maui Nui venison and the nitrate question.
[40:42] deltaG ketones: what they are and the catch.
[42:35] Ketones, dementia, and verbal fluidity.
[43:26] Pre-grieving a parents decline.
[45:23] Training not to die: the one bike I can stand and the Norwegian 4×4.
[47:52] Something beats nothing: saunas, treadmills, and Duolingo chess.
[49:59] The MM120 anxiety study — and a small-world surprise.
[53:09] Psilocybin, LSD, and dementia case reports.
[58:10] Neutonic toothpicks and Kevins AI-powered home.
[01:02:57] Spooky AI personalization and investment autopsies.
[01:14:28] Values cards, contractual bonds, and dark information.
[01:20:16] 360 reviews and child-rearing.
[01:21:45] Wispr Flow, Shokz, and my recording rig.
[01:26:28] The big three and where AI goes next.
[01:41:21] Let your winners run, and buy the company, not the product.
[01:47:50] Diggs relaunch, 5-Bullet Friday, and parting thoughts.
DISCLAIMER FROM TIM FERRISS: I am not an investment adviser. Nor is Kevin Rose. All opinions are mine alone. Or his. There are risks involved in placing any investment in securities or in Bitcoin or in cryptocurrencies or in anything. None of the information presented herein is intended to form the basis of any offer or recommendation or have any regard to the investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of any specific person, and that includes you, my dear listener or reader. Everything you’re going to hear is for informational entertainment purposes only.
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded one billion downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
Sign up for 5-Bullet Friday (Tims free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tferriss/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timferriss/
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimFerriss/ The Random Show! Mortality, AI, Supplements, Rock Climbing, & More](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JT7QpL4XRtw/mqdefault.jpg)






![Steve Young — From Super Bowl MVP to Managing Billions
Steve Young (@steveyoung) is a Hall of Fame NFL quarterback who played more than 15 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Steve co-founded HGGC, which manages more than $6.9B in capital commitments. He’s also the founder and current chair of the Forever Young Foundation, which supports children’s charities globally. He is the author of QB: My Life Behind the Spiral and The Law of Love.
This episode is brought to you by:
Cresset family office services for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs: https://CressetCapital.com/Tim
AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim
Wealthfront high-yield cash account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim
New clients get 3.25% base APY from program banks + additional 0.65% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”) member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The base APY as of 12/19/25 is representative, can change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss, a non-client, receives compensation from WFB for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of WFB, which creates a conflict of interest. Experiences will vary. Outcomes not guaranteed. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, not bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.
[00:00] Preview.
[00:41] The full circle of Josh Waitzkin.
[04:06] The Stephen Covey plane ride that changed everything.
[10:04] Overcoming victimization: The hole you dig, then jump into.
[12:53] How taking ownership led Steve from rock bottom to NFL MVP in one season.
[17:58] Interceptions and the truest truth about accountability.
[22:41] What separates good from great quarterbacks: Adrenaline alchemy.
[28:08] Alex Honnold and the genetics of not panicking.
[29:06] Learning to actually throw a football at BYU.
[31:56] Recovering from the offensive coordinator who wouldnt coach southpaws.
[34:04] The vulnerability prerequisite.
[40:10] Separation anxiety: Thriving by day, terrified by night.
[45:03] Tears in the Candlestick Park training room.
[49:43] The diagnosis that made the puzzle pieces fit.
[55:47] Dads philosophy: Dream (1%) and Plan (80%).
[58:36] Law school between Super Bowl parades.
[59:55] Trading locker room access for venture capital deals.
[01:06:20] Mourning old identities and heeding Roger Staubachs transition advice: Run.
[01:09:33] Rich Lawson walks out of Morgan Stanley: Ill be the CEO.
[01:17:11] 30 years of partnership: Yin, yang, and existential crises.
[01:21:02] HGGC: The name nobody can pronounce (and why).
[01:23:24] Faith evolution: From Boy Scout theology to something deeper.
[01:28:04] The Law of Love: Bill Walshs secret weapon.
[01:31:20] Divine humanity and the irony of losing self-interest.
[01:42:38] Parting thoughts.
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded one billion downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
Sign up for 5-Bullet Friday (Tims free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tferriss/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timferriss/
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimFerriss/ Steve Young — From Super Bowl MVP to Managing Billions](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LeqvTnLenlM/mqdefault.jpg)
![From Dad’s Basement to Selling Two Companies — 4-Hour Workweek Success Story
Brian Dean is the founder of Backlinko and Exploding Topics, both acquired by Semrush, which itself was recently acquired by Adobe for $1.9 billion. Brians story starts exactly where a lot of great stories start: broke, directionless, and eating canned beef stew in his dads basement during the 2008 financial crisis. He picked up a copy of The 4-Hour Workweek and took action. As is nearly always the case, his path wasn’t a straight line, but a series of winding turns, all fed by experiments. His journey includes failures, two successful exits, and a hard-won answer to the question most people never think to ask: what do you actually do with your freedom once you have it?
This episode is brought to you by:
Incogni, which automatically removes your personal data from the web, helping shield you from fraud, scams, and identity theft: https://incogni.com/tim (use code TIM at checkout and get 60% off an annual plan)
Fin powerful AI Agent for all your customer service: https://fin.ai/tim
***
Find Brian on LinkedIn & YouTube:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianEdean/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@BrianDean
https://backlinko.com/
https://explodingtopics.com/
The 4-Hour Workweek:
https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357/?tag=offsitoftimfe-20
[00:00] Preview.
[00:32] From PhD pipettes to Dads basement to Jerry Springer.
[02:19] The 4-Hour Workweek finds its dream reader—marginal notes and all.
[03:48] A first product flops, free traffic beckons, plus SEO.
[05:26] The 200-domain AdSense empire (featuring two bald men hawking shampoo sites).
[07:36] Dreamlining: From escape the basement to 3k a month in Thailand.
[09:19] When Googles Panda update slapped the internet (and Brians empire).
[10:27] Scared straight: Black hat to white hat via a hostel in Spain.
[13:01] Backlinko is born.
[15:00] The 200 ranking factors post: 25 hours of patent-digging, a million visitors.
[17:22] New rule: One post a month, 10x better than anything out there.
[18:16] Semrush comes knocking—Brian ignores the email.
[19:14] Legal Sea Foods: Taking celebratory shots while wondering where the contract is.
[20:50] Due diligence hell: Hunting down ghosted freelancers and the contractor commandments.
[24:51] SEC market-close rules vs. Brians 10 p.m. bedtime.
[25:46] Post-acquisition: Hopping from one treadmill to the next.
[29:56] Backlinko on autopilot, boredom on full blast, and the chapter everyone skips.
[31:25] Exploding Topics: The paid newsletter mistake vs. the obvious SaaS play.
[34:30] Data-driven content and the ChatGPT user stats flywheel.
[36:54] Noah Kagans advice: Double down on what works—then 10x down.
[38:24] Ready, Fire, Aim—the litmus test for would-be founders.
[40:06] Startup costs: $500 for Backlinko vs. $90k to acquire Exploding Topics.
[43:42] How love and a Craigslist apartment scam in Berlin landed Brian in Portugal.
[45:02] Geoarbitrage still works—just dont trust the 2007 pricing.
[46:40] Post-exit stress: Oura Ring at 2x baseline and the Algarve hard reset.
[48:37] Why founders who launch within a year of selling usually regret it.
[49:49] Tennis as the ultimate void-filler: Fun, fitness, community, and fresh air in one sport.
[51:10] The paradox of choice after exit: Structure, identity, and vertigo.
[53:15] Parting thoughts.
Tim Ferriss is one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage tech investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. He is also the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers: The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Body, The 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors. The Observer and other media have named him “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded one billion downloads and been selected for “Best of Apple Podcasts” three years running.
Sign up for 5-Bullet Friday (Tims free weekly email newsletter): https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-yt/
Follow the Tim Ferriss Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/
Visit the Tim Ferriss Blog: https://tim.blog/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tferriss/
Follow Tim Ferriss on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timferriss/
Like Tim Ferriss on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimFerriss/ From Dad’s Basement to Selling Two Companies — 4-Hour Workweek Success Story](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LlDzqK6MnOA/mqdefault.jpg)
