“Billionaires can’t take a week off? What’s the point of having a billion dollars if they have fewer options than I do?”  –Tim Ferriss

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tim discuss common travel fantasies, and the fears that keep people from traveling (5:00); how we can redefine what “wealth” is and live fuller lives (18:00); why keeping a healthy perspective on information intake, technology, and “efficiency” is important, both on the road and in daily life (25:00); the “beginner’s mind,” and tips for writing and creativity (54:00);  the merits of going on foot and “getting lost” on the road, and how this figured into Rolf’s writing classes (1:17:00); notions of “success,” and how to definite the notion of success in a way that enhances one’s way of being in the world (1:37:00); and Rolf’s recommendations for drinks, food, documentaries, books, and poetry (1:50:00);

Tim Ferriss (@tferriss) is a best-selling author and podcaster.

General Links:

• Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf’s summer writing classes)
• Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts (audiobook)
• The Game Camera (short film cowritten by Rolf and Kristen Bush)
• Tim Ferriss on how to create a successful podcast (Deviate episode)
• Arnold Schwarzenegger on The Tim Ferriss Show
• LeBron James on The Tim Ferriss Show
• Cheryl Strayed on The Tim Ferriss Show
• Jerry Seinfeld on The Tim Ferriss Show
• Tortuga (bags design for long-term travel)
• Unbound Merino (travel clothing company)
• AirTreks (round-the-world flight planner)
• BootsnAll (online travel community)

Interview Links:

• Van Life before #VanLife (Deviate episode)
• Man bites dog (aphorism about journalism)
• “War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography” (quote)
• Beginner’s mind (attitude of openness)
• Adaptation (2002 film)
• Anne Lamott (American author)
• Kurt Vonnegut (American author)
• The Hero’s Adventure with Joseph Campbell (podcast remix)
• Flâneur (urban wanderer)
• Situationists (1960s social and artistic movement)
• Psychogeography (exploration strategy)
• Dave Chappelle (comedian)
• John Hughes (filmmaker)
• Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah (American essayist)
• Grizzly Man (2005 documentary film)
• Werner Herzog Reads Curious George (satire)
• Con Air (1997 film)
• Aimee Nezhukumatathil (poet)
• Naomi Shihab Nye (poet)
• Major Jackson (poet)
• Donald Hall (poet)

Books mentioned:

• Walden, by Henry David Thoreau (book)
• The 4-Hour Work Week, by Tim Ferriss (book)
• The Art of Nonfiction, by Ayn Rand (book)
• Writing Tools, by Roy Peter Clark (book)
• To Show and to Tell, by Phillip Lopate (book)
• Screenplay, by Syd Field (book)
• Story, by Robert McKee (book)
• Save the Cat, by Blake Snyder (book)
• A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway (book)
• Leaves of Grass, by Walk Whitman (book)
• Good Hope Road, by Stuart Dischell (poetry)
• Alien vs. Predator, by Michael Robbins (poetry)

The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.