The James Altucher Show

A Note from James:"Get Better at Anything: 12 Maxims for Mastery." I first met Scott Young nearly ten years ago when he completed all the requirements for a four-year MIT degree in computer science in just 12 months. He's an expert at learning things quickly and recently authored the book "Get Better at Anything: 12 Maxims for Mastery."I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with him, as I'm always interested in learning and mastering new skills. Scott Young excels in this area, and we discuss it thoroughly in this episode.Episode Description:In a vibrant dialogue that traverses the breadth of learning, James Altucher and Scott Young dissect the complexities of acquiring new skills across diverse fields. From Scott's pursuit of an MIT degree in a record-breaking year to effective strategies for mastering anything, this episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to elevate their learning game. James explores the psychological underpinnings and practical applications of learning principles, drawing on ex

A Note from James:"The Year of Living Constitutionally." I mentioned this episode last week during our discussion with AJ Jacobs, but here we delve into his book, "The Year of Living Constitutionally." AJ not only researched and wrote about the Constitution, but he also spent a year living as if it were 1790, adhering to the U.S. Constitution literally. He even carried a musket and applied to be a pirate in Congress, referencing Article One, which grants Congress the power to commission pirates.The book is filled with facts, debates, and information about the newfound powers of the Supreme Court, Congress, and the President, as well as the pros and cons of states' rights versus federal rights. It covers the reasons behind various amendments and the ongoing debates about the Electoral College.AJ not only researched this; he lived it. I discussed his unique method of immersing himself in his subjects on last week's podcast, a method that has proven successful in creating bestsellers. With his humor, talent, and

A Note from James: AJ Jacobs, who has an upcoming book, "The Year of Living Constitutionally", he's a fascinating writer. He basically, instead of just doing research on a topic "Oh, I'm going to do research on the Constitution, I'm going to do research on living healthy, I'm going to do research on the Bible," instead of just researching something and writing a book, which I consider to be boring, he has a completely different way of exploring a topic, and it turns out,and not by accident, it turns out that this is the formula for writing a bestselling, millions-of-copies kind of book.And it's an interesting way to live life. And what I mean is,  A. J. really lives what he's writing about. So when he wrote his, one of his early books, The Year of Living Biblically, he  lived for a year, literally word by word, as the Bible would suggest he lives. For instance, I'll let A. J. describes and we talk about it in this episode, but in "The Year of Living Constitutionally", which is about to come out he lives the l

A Note from James:Learning how to be a good interviewer is crucial in life, not just for reporters or podcasters, but because many life situations resemble interviews. Whether you're applying for a job, hiring someone, or meeting someone new at a party, it's beneficial to gather as much information about them as quickly as possible. Additionally, it's important to leave a good impression if that's your goal. Being a skilled interviewer is therefore essential. I'm grateful for my podcast, which has allowed me to study the techniques of some of the best interviewers. Recently, one of the top interviewers, Polina Pompliano, who writes the newsletter "The Profile," shared her insights. She has profiled many remarkable people and I recommend googling her. Polina has also written a book, "Hidden Genius," and in a recent issue of her newsletter, she didn't profile someone but instead shared the top 10 techniques for becoming a great interviewer, drawing from the best in the field.I found this immensely valuable, so

A Note from James: I want to congratulate my friend Tim Ferriss on the 10th anniversary of his podcast. It is such an excellent podcast. It's one of the few podcasts I regularly listen to and I highly recommend it if you don't already listen to it. He's been a great guy, and a great friend over the years. We don't always keep in touch, but I always count him among my long-distance friends, and congratulations to him on having the 10th anniversary of his podcast.I remember when he was first considering the podcast, he was calling around to other podcasters, including me, and he was doing his Tim Ferriss thing of researching and asking people as many questions as possible. And he thoroughly prepared and instantly became one of the. Top five podcasts out there.So congratulations, Tim. This is the first episode on my podcast where Tim was the guest. It brings back fond memories also from 10 years ago. So here's Tim Ferriss being an amazing guest on my podcast. Episode Description:Tim Ferriss has a life-changing s

A Note from James:"The Algebra of Wealth" is a very good book by Scott Galloway and I had a very good conversation with him about how to create wealth, along with all the mistakes he's ever made. He's started nine companies: two were super successful, and several were pretty successful. He's talked about entrepreneurship so much. He's a really smart guy and these lessons are about building wealth.  I wish I had known them when I was younger. I wish my kids would know them and I want your kids to know them. So pay attention to this conversation I'm about to have with Scott Galloway, Professor G. Episode Description:Today's interview with Scott Galloway focuses on financial security, investment strategies, and the interplay of personal life and professional ambitions. Galloway shares his journey of founding nine companies, the crucial role of location, network, character, and luck in achieving wealth, and the lessons learned from failures. He advocates for investing in low-cost index funds over stock picking or

A Note from James:I particularly want to reverse my aging. I'm not concerned about being able to run a mile or anything like that; I just want to reverse the aging of my brain. I feel there's a definite difference between my brain now and when I was younger. By the way, culturally, we acknowledge that the brain ages. Not only medically, but culturally, you have to adapt to being the wise older person rather than the sharp young person.We had a great conversation with Arthur Brooks about this. He wrote an excellent book, which I can't recommend enough, called "From Strength to Strength." That podcast with Arthur Brooks changed my life in how I view my brain aging. Additionally, several podcasts with David Sinclair about the aging process have also been life-changing.I have used the supplements he recommended and made the lifestyle changes he suggested back in 2019. David has conducted a lot of research in the five years since his book "Lifespan" was released, and I wanted to see what the current state of his r

A Note from James:"In this episode, Tim Collins and I discuss what I believe is a great business idea that could solve the main problems of the world, including student loan debt and possibly even inflation. It's a very interesting concept, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.Additionally, we have a call for participants in this episode. So here we go: the ultimate business idea that solves every problem in the world." Episode Description:In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss a groundbreaking business idea with the potential to solve significant world problems, including student loan debt, debt in general, and possibly inflation. They explore the concept of meme coins, like Dogecoin, and their underlying technology, highlighting their dependency on cultural value while lacking intrinsic utility. The conversation shifts to the innovative use of 'runes' on the Bitcoin blockchain to create more efficient and cost-effective digital currencies. Additionally, they delve into the notion of tokenizing futur

A Note from James:"Okay, two things. One is Tim Collins tells me all about getting pitched the ultimate AI porn business and how AI is going to change the porn industry. From both a business perspective and an AI perspective, I do think it's interesting how every industry is basically going to change. Because then, when we started with this...Tim, who I've worked with for a long time—like 20 years or so—recently I found out he is a writer of horror novels and he's writing a horror graphic novel, but using MidJourney for the graphics part. Now, I've always been fascinated by graphic novels, but I figured I couldn't ever do one because I can't draw or paint or anything. But now, you can use AI to make your own graphic novel.So, Tim describes that. Then we talk about the AI porn industry. That's this episode. Even more fascinating is the next episode, which is more like a mini-episode. I'll describe that one briefly, but we explore the ultimate business model. Don't steal it, or you can steal it if you want, but

Episode Description:Today's episode features part one of a 3-part detailed discussion on the emerging trends of inscriptions and ordinals in the Bitcoin blockchain, positioning them as exciting new forms of collectibles with real historical significance and potential for value appreciation. James is joined by financial advisors Timothy Collins and Benjamin Honig (Co-Founder & CEO at SatRepublic), who bring their expertise on the subject matter, explaining the technical aspects, comparisons to NFTs on Ethereum, and the intrinsic value of certain Satoshi's due to historical transactions or rarities defined by ordinal theory.The episode covers the potential use cases, like digital art and collectibles with immutable provenance, leveraging the security and permanence of Bitcoin's blockchain, far beyond traditional NFTs stored on more volatile platforms. They delve into how ordinals create a new market for Bitcoin enthusiasts to engage actively with their holdings through creative inscriptions and the anticipa

Episode Description:James shares a personal story from his early days as an entrepreneur, focusing on a critical lesson learned during a business pitch involving Tupac Shakur's posthumous album. Initially detailing the misconceptions about entrepreneurship, he narrates his journey from working at HBO while simultaneously running his first company, Reset, which specialized in creating websites, notably in the entertainment sector. A significant opportunity arose with Tupac Shakur's manager and mother planning to release a new album and greatest hits collection, which promised Reset a $90,000 deal. However, due to James’s unfamiliarity with Windows-based PCs, the pitch meeting with the manager went disastrously wrong, leading to the loss of the project. Despite this setback, he lied to his employees about the meeting's outcome to maintain morale. This experience taught him the importance of preparation, reliability, and displaying confidence as a leader. He concludes by reflecting on the broader challenges of e

A Note from James:I am thrilled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of my podcast. Occasionally, I'll feature some timeless episodes as if they're brand new, sharing those that have greatly impacted me. One such figure is Nassim Taleb, whom I consider one of the smartest people on the planet.I've learned so much from Nassim, and I'm not sure he realizes or cares just how influential he's been on me. I was extremely grateful when he agreed to appear on my podcast. There's an interesting backstory to his appearance: he joined my show a few years ago, and we are airing that episode now, though he might not be aware of the whole story.Back in 2002, I was desperate—I was broke, struggling, losing my house, and my family was falling apart. I wrote to 20 influential individuals, including well-known investors and writers like Warren Buffett and Carl Icahn, expressing my desire to meet them. Only three responded.Jim Cramer was one of them. I had sent him ten ideas for articles he could write for TheStreet.com. To my su

A Note from James:I have to say, this next guest has recently become one of my all-time favorite writers, presenting a very different style from what I'm accustomed to. I started reading one of his books, and it turned out to be "Table for Two," which includes some short fiction and a novella titled "Even Hollywood." At the time, I didn't know it was the sequel to his first novel, ""Rules of Civility."He also wrote "A Gentleman in Moscow," one of the best books I've ever read. In fact, by the time this podcast is released, it will have been adapted into a TV series starring Ewan McGregor, which looks amazing. All of his books rank among the best fiction I've ever encountered.I highly recommend "A Gentleman in Moscow," "Table for Two," "Rules of Civility," and "The Lincoln Highway." the latter of which I'm currently reading post-podcast. I hope to speak with Mr. Towles again, as I now have questions about "The Lincoln Highway." He was incredibly open about his writing process, which differs significantly from

A Note from James:Oh my gosh, every time, this is the second time I've talked to Gladys McGarey. Last year she was 102 years old, this year she's 103 years old. She wrote a book, The Well Lived Life: A 102-Year-Old Doctor's Six Secrets to Health and Happiness at Every Age, and it's coming out in paperback.  And every time I read this book, I've read it twice now, and I talk to her, I almost feel like crying, and I don't really know why. It's almost as if she was born with wisdom, but then kept even growing for the next 102 years. Like she drove a Ford Model A car, and now she's talking to me through Zoom on the internet and going on podcasts, writing books. She was a doctor her whole life. She's been all over the world. She's had so many amazing experiences and also has suffered, of course, much loss. I don't think you're going to live to be that age and not have an incredible amount of loss that you have to learn to move past and still be positive and still live every day to its fullest. She had, she was rid

A Note from James:Ryan Estis is potentially the most successful public speaker worldwide. I've known him for about a decade, thanks to our mutual friend Scott Cohen, who has appeared on this podcast several times and is an outstanding entrepreneur.Over the years, Ryan and I have developed a strong friendship, partly due to our connection with Scott. Ryan is an exceptional public speaker, known for his inspirational talks. He possesses a wealth of knowledge in business, sales, and global affairs, speaking at various events worldwide.Recently, he co-authored a book with his brother Chad, an executive with several sports teams, including the Cowboys. The book, titled "Prepare for Impact," features many compelling stories. I particularly recommend the "30 Steps to Success" section, which encourages readers to devise their strategies for success.I was curious to learn how Ryan became a top public speaker, including how he started his career, increased his fees, and gained the confidence to work independently. I al

A Note from James:Yesterday, we talked all about how James Brandolino started a hedge fund, which was a fraud upon the scheme, all the illegal activity, and how he went from civil to criminal.  You could go back and listen to that, but also, dive into some of the details here. But most of all, this one starts with James Brandolino going to jail and what happened afterward.  Episode Description:Today, we conclude our interview with James Brandolino, a former hedge fund manager who turned himself in after running a fraudulent fund. Part Two begins with Brandolino's decision to face the consequences of his actions, including his incarceration and the aftermath of his fraud. He discusses his initial attempts to die by suicide, the moment of turning himself in, and the support he received from his family despite their being victims of his scheme. Brandolino talks about the challenges in maintaining a facade, the mechanics of creating fake audits, and how he was never caught by investors, despite many opportunities

A Note from James:James Bandolino committed serious financial fraud - started a hedge fund which was a Ponzi scheme - went to jail for nine years, and we really dive into the details of his fraud, the psychology of it. What's critical is that not all frauds have the same flavor - all frauds are bad,  don't get me wrong. It is morally bad to be fraudulent. There's a reason why he went to jail. He wanted to go to jail. He tried to kill himself. It's amazing the story of how he failed to do that. But, before I give too much away we're going to discuss in detail the fraud and then tomorrow I'm going to release the story of him going to jail, what happened there, and how he came out the other side.So,  without further ado, let's dive into the details of the fraud that James Brandolino committed. Episode Description:This episode delves into the life of James Brandolino, a former hedge fund manager who crafted a Ponzi scheme leading to significant financial fraud. Brandolino pleaded guilty to mail fraud in August 20

A Note from James:Wiley McGraw, a very interesting guy. He was a soldier for many years. He went to Afghanistan. He went to Iraq. He's been in bloody military engagements, and he's also a kind of unique kind of performance coach who tries to be disruptive in a way that many coaches are afraid to be to help his clients.Improve and upscale their lives. And so we talk about both things. First, I want, I always want to know this, and I've spoken about this with Jocko Willink as well, like, are any wars ever justified? So we kind of talk first about his military experience. And I asked that question and we had a conversation about it.And then we talk more specifically about what he does and how he's built. Uh, I don't want to call him a coach. He doesn't call himself a coach, but basically, he's become a high-performance expert for CEOs, celebrities, athletes, and so on. I'm always curious about that business and industry and how I could perform at a peak level, which I don't often do.And I'm trying to get better,

A Note from James:Dave Asprey was this fat aging tech entrepreneur who realized he was going on a bad path and so he completely changed his life around. He kind of went to the scientific sources and did the research himself and practically started the field of biohacking, of doing experiments on himself with his diet, with the supplements, with the devices he uses. And now it's as if he's 20 years younger than he was 20 years ago.He started Bulletproof Coffee, which I'm sure many of you have heard of, and a new coffee company called Danger Coffee. You've probably listened to him on this podcast. And now he just wrote the book Smarter, Not Harder. I'll describe that in a second.I want to tell a story when Dave asked, but he's been on the podcast a bunch of times when he was on in 20, I think it was 2016, it happened to be coincidentally the first day I was trying standup comedy. So at the end of that episode, it might have even been after we shut down the cameras, at the end of that episode, I asked him, "Dave

A Note from James:Cal Newport has written such great books about how to be more productive, more creative, the titles of the books speak for themselves: 'So Good They Can't Ignore You', 'Deep Work', and this latest one is called 'Slow Productivity'. It's about how you ultimately succeed in getting more productive by going slower and sometimes doing nothing. Cal tells us how and why and we always have an interesting conversation. So here is Cal Newport!Episode Description:This episode explores the nuanced concept of 'Slow Productivity,' as championed by Cal Newport, across an engaging dialogue that sheds light on achieving more by intentionally slowing down. Newport, making his fifth appearance on the podcast, underscores the counterintuitive productivity philosophy through his journey, inspirations from his books like 'Digital Minimalism,' and the pivotal role of mindful work habits. Referencing historical and contemporary figures like Benjamin Franklin and John Grisham, Newport articulates the significance o