The Tim Ferriss Show

This episode is a bit different, and I am in the hot seat. Dan Harris (@danharris) interviewed me for his show, the 10% Happier with Dan Harris podcast, and I thought it was worth sharing here. Dan is a wonderful interviewer, and we got in the zone. He is also the bestselling author of 10% Happier and Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-To Book.
This episode is brought to you by:
Cresset family office services for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs: CressetCapital.com/Tim
AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: DrinkAG1.com/Tim
Wealthfront high-yield cash account: 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.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
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Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.
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Tish Rabe (@tishrabebooks) is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 children's books with more than 11 million copies sold. She has written for Sesame Street, Disney, PBS Kids, Curious George, Clifford, and many more. She now heads her own children's book publishing company, Tish Rabe Books.
This episode is brought to you by:
Circle complete community platform for your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand: Circle.so/Tim
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Timestamps
[00:00:00] Who is Tish Rabe?
[00:00:24] How an opera major became a bestselling children’s author and songwriter.
[00:03:12] Tish’s trashy debut on television treasure Sesame Street.
[00:03:36] Pitching a childhood memory to dead silence — and landing book number one.
[00:07:27] The value of writing a story’s ending first.
[00:09:42] Jim Henson: The kind, gentle giant with a mind of steel.
[00:10:58] Keeping kids and their parents entertained with double-level humor.
[00:11:38] How Tish put her music training to work with Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch.
[00:18:56] From nine-note auditions to signing on with Sesame Street‘s mission to level the kindergarten playing field.
[00:22:48] Churning out children’s books and writing bangers about animal gestation periods and lumber measurement for 3-2-1 Contact.
[00:26:56] The zero-rhyming genius of Joe Raposo’s “Bein’ Green” and why it works.
[00:29:59] Curriculum is king: Focus groups, orange Oscar, and making sure the kids aren’t lost.
[00:32:16] Random House rejected her book, but the late Dr. Seuss took a second look.
[00:37:17] Accepting the Widow Seuss’s challenge to write a book for babies in utero and ending up with a bestseller.
[00:40:39] The secret to perfect rhyme in Dr. Seuss’s paradigm.
[00:44:14] Is rhyming a part of Tish’s DNA, or did she learn it along the way?
[00:48:12] The time Tish transformed a planet from pizza into nickels to make her deadline.
[00:49:45] Has music as a mission preserved Tish’s cognition?
[00:55:10] What does Tish aim to do with the company she started in her 70s?
[01:01:18] Sometimes Apart, Always in My Heart: A military kid’s book born from a POW father’s legacy and a high-five traced on paper.
[01:05:30] Alaska the stuffed dog, financial literacy bunnies, hallucinated seagulls, and 843 acres of Central Park in 24 pages.
[01:12:54] Tish’s campaign to get free books to kids in underserved neighborhoods.
[01:14:02] Advice for aspiring children’s book authors.
[01:15:42] Tish doesn’t get derailed by writer’s block — she prepares for it.
[01:17:24] When Michelle Obama added 16 pages to a book Tish thought would be boring.
[01:19:37] Big Bird in China, 1982: One hand-painted costume, 13 days of rain, zero coffee, and a five-year-old who memorized the wrong script.
[01:23:41] Tish’s billboard.
[01:24:38] Kindness is Caring, Friendship is Sharing and other parting thoughts.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors
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/timferriss
YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss
Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jordan Jonas (@hobojordo) grew up on a farm in Idaho, rode freight trains across the US, spent time in remote Russian villages, fur trapped and travelled for several years with nomads in Siberia, and won Alone Season 6, after being the first contestant to truly thrive in the wilderness and harvest big game. You can learn more about Jordan's axes at JordanJonas.com/Axe.
This episode is brought to you by:
Momentous high-quality creatine for cognitive and muscular support: LiveMomentous.com/Tim
Monarch track, budget, plan, and do more with your money: Monarch.com/Tim
Eight Sleep Pod Cover 5 sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: EightSleep.com/Tim
Cresset family office services for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs: CressetCapital.com/Tim
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TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00:00] Who is Jordan Jonas?
[00:02:20] The Siberian axe gospel: Single bevel, wide eye, and why your Lowe's hatchet is basically a butter knife.
[00:07:16] A Montana downpour baptism.
[00:08:04] Feather sticks and ferro rods.
[00:12:36] A gnarly axe-ident, a quest for an abandoned boot, and frontier convalescense in a tipi.
[00:19:59] First Russian word learned, courtesy of a Moscow airport officer with zero chill.
[00:21:18] Jordan's youthful faith crisis and a Trans-Siberian prayer.
[00:29:16] From building an orphanage to living with the Evenki.
[00:31:29] Experiencing tug-of-war hospitality between ex-con Siberian families.
[00:39:34] Reindeer vs caribou.
[00:45:42] The Gulag Archipelago at 17.
[00:49:36] The homeschooling advantage: Finishing academics by noon, then deep-diving history for fun.
[00:53:50] Campfire psychology for gentlemen.
[00:56:00] Why llamas are more practical than reindeer on Jordan's expeditions in the northern United States.
[01:01:37] How Jordan's grandparents found purpose and built a joyful family after surviving Assyrian genocide.
[01:11:18] Dad's 12-year health collapse and facing death with radical joy.
[01:18:49] Freight train philosophy and evolutionary dopamine alignment.
[01:30:03] Grandma moose rodeo.
[01:33:07] Alone Season 6: The "Super Bowl of survival" just south of the Arctic Circle.
[01:40:38] How Jordan survived 77 days in the woods barely breaking a sweat.
[01:48:21] Harvesting a moose at day 20 via Russian fence-funneling tactics.
[01:56:21] Wolverine vs. man with axe, a tin can alarm, and a wife who likes rustic jewelry.
[02:03:05] The crappy fate of less-than-lucky rabbit feet.
[02:04:59] Fat as a survival bottleneck, and how to experience the wild with Jordan.
[02:09:31] Jordan hopes his upcoming book will help readers build reservoirs of resilience before they're needed.
[02:12:27] The most overlooked part of the Serenity Prayer: "Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace."
[02:14:48] The wilderness as political neutral ground and other parting thoughts.

For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors
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/timferriss
YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss
Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tim McGraw (@thetimmcgraw) is a Grammy Award-winning entertainer, author, and actor who has sold more than 106 million records worldwide, with 49 number-one singles and 19 number-one albums. He is one of the most-played country artists since his debut in 1992, has four New York Times bestselling books, and has acted for both film and television, including the movies Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side and Paramount Network’s Yellowstone. He recently starred alongside his wife Faith Hill and Sam Elliott in Yellowstone’s prequel—the three-time-Emmy-nominated 1883. You can find tickets for his upcoming Pawn Shop Guitar Tour at TimMcGraw.com.
This episode is brought to you by:
Circle complete community platform for your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand: Circle.so/Tim
Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: Shopify.com/tim
AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: DrinkAG1.com/Tim

TIMESTAMPS
[00:00:00] Who is Tim McGraw?
[00:01:51] Two Tims walk into a podcast.
[00:02:56] “The song always has to win.”
[00:05:02] Recording “Live Like You Were Dying” at 2 a.m. with Uncle Hank in a puddle in the corner.
[00:09:22] Sensing when the moment is right.
[00:10:29] The song Nashville hated that Tim heard his first night off the Greyhound.
[00:13:18] The one-two punch that saved Tim from novelty-act purgatory.
[00:15:22] Turning down the CMAs because the song wouldn’t fit the time slot.
[00:20:11] Why you can’t let the audience steer the ship when testing material live.
[00:25:51] Coping with the physical toll of performing for three decades.
[00:34:04] The Four Christmases wake-up call that changed everything.
[00:37:42] What training smarter looks like for Tim.
[00:41:22] When Tim found out his dad was a baseball legend whose picture was already on his wall.
[00:54:53] Important advice for aspiring parents.
[00:55:41] When Tim pawned his high school ring for a $20 guitar.
[00:58:27] Learning guitar from CMT videos and fret diagrams.
[00:59:37] The morning Tim tore up his Marines paperwork and bought a Greyhound ticket to Nashville.
[01:07:20] Nashville as creative accelerant: Tracy Lawrence, Kenny Chesney, and $50 singing competitions.
[01:12:45] Po’boy Don’s crawfish shack: The demo that launched Tim’s career.
[01:15:39] How Faith Hill saved Tim’s life.
[01:18:33] The 7 a.m. bottle of whiskey cry for help.
[01:20:27] Parenthood as selfishness-removal surgery.
[01:24:28] Tim’s “Glory Days” disaster with Bruce Springsteen.
[01:28:30] When Tim’s first album “went wood” — the failure that taught him everything.
[01:33:29] A rodeo monkey no longer: When Tim kicked his record company to the curb.
[01:37:35] Tim’s most important advice for artists.
[01:43:41] Announcing the summer 2026 Pawn Shop Guitar tour with The Chicks.
[01:46:28] If it’s so grueling, why does Tim still tour?
[01:49:50] Tim’s “Humble and Kind” billboard.
[01:50:50] Parting thoughts and a parting gift: “Different” — the new song only on social media.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors
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/timferriss
YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss
Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Tommy Wood (@DrRagnar) is an associate professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington, where his research focuses on brain health across the lifespan. This includes therapies for brain injury in newborns, prevention and treatment of adult brain trauma, and the factors that contribute to long-term cognitive function and cognitive decline. He is the author of the forthcoming book The Stimulated Mind.
This episode is brought to you by:
Circle complete community platform for your community, events, and courses — all under your own brand: https://circle.so/tim ($1,000 off when you demo Circle Plus)
Monarch track, budget, plan, and do more with your money: Monarch.com/Tim (50% off your first year at monarchmoney.com with code TIM)
Eight Sleep Pod Cover 5 sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: EightSleep.com/Tim (use code TIM to get $350 off your very own Pod 5 Ultra.)
Cresset family office services for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs: CressetCapital.com/Tim
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TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00:00] Start
[00:02:30] The cognition conversation commences.
[00:03:11] Why human babies are chubby little brain-fuel tanks.
[00:05:16] Brain injury in newborns: Cooling, caffeine, and coming home.
[00:09:07] Adult concussion protocol: Fever management, ketones, and why you shouldn’t chug Powerade.
[00:18:59] Washington’s 2nd Strongest Man talks omega-3s, methylation, and why your brain needs the whole orchestra.
[00:29:34] Auguste Deter, Alzheimer’s mystery patient, and the 45-70% dementia prevention sweet spot.
[00:39:22] From CGM monitoring to the “use it or lose it” glucose paradox.
[00:55:54] VO2 max training as cardio insurance against dementia.
[01:01:32] Jiu-jitsu, sleds, and the Norwegian torture method (4×4 intervals).
[01:03:37] Lactate training: Forget the finger prick, embrace the misery.
[01:06:40] Announcing The Stimulated Mind: Tommy’s brain-saving book.
[01:07:35] Foundation supplements: Omega-3s, B vitamins, vitamin D, iron, and magnesium.
[01:08:58] Polyphenols, choline, and the case for eating more liver.
[01:10:40] Creatine: Tommy’s 10-gram cognitive stimulant ritual.
[01:11:58] Cheap creatine temptation leads to lavatory lamentation.
[01:14:16] Blood flow restriction training: High lactate, low load, maximum travel convenience.
[01:21:45] Language learning, music, StarCraft, and why your brain needs to fail.
[01:38:04] Sleep anxiety, air pollution, and gum disease: the overlooked dementia risk factors.
[01:45:32] Air purifiers, CO2 levels, and sleep optimization hacks.
[01:51:52] DORAs for sleep quality: when cognitive stimulation isn’t enough.
[01:54:55] The thesis behind The Stimulated Mind: Practical, referenced, and sustainable.
[01:56:32] Kelly and Juliet Starrett’s stamp of approval.
[01:57:44] The beautiful compounding effect of fixing just one thing.
[01:58:59] Who is Dr. Ragnar, and does he make housecalls to Valhalla?
[02:01:06] Tommy’s open invitation for complaints and scientific debates.
[02:02:21] Parting thoughts.
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For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.
For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors
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/timferriss
YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss
Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.