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The Tim Ferriss Show
#652: Famed Explorer Wade Davis — How to Become the Architect of Your Life, The Divine Leaf of Immortality, Rites of Passage, Voodoo Demystified, Optimism as the Purpose of Life, How to Be a Prolific Writer, Psychedelics, Monetizing the Creativity of Your Life, and More
Jan 27, 2023
02:34:28
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Quick takeaways
- The importance of activism in anthropology and amplifying the voices of indigenous communities.
- The significance of botanical exploration as a means to forge connections with indigenous cultures.
- Understanding the complex interplay between sorcery, culture, and zombification in Haiti.
- The impact of mentors in shaping one's life trajectory and discovering true passions.
- Embracing optimism, courage, and monetizing passions for a fulfilling life.
Deep dives
The Quest for Zombie Poison: Exploring Haitian Sorcery
David Maybury-Lewis, an anthropologist and humanist, was the undergraduate tutor for Wade Davis and instilled in him the belief that activism is an integral part of anthropology. He co-founded Cultural Survival with his wife, Pia, and emphasized the importance of amplifying the voices and concerns of indigenous communities. Davis also mentions his association with Professor Schultes, a renowned botanist who inspired him to pursue botanical exploration as a means to understand culture. Davis shares his experiences in Haiti, where he conducted research on the Haitian zombie phenomenon. He encountered a psychopharmacologist, Dr. Klein, who was fascinated by zombies and sought to find the natural poison used to induce a state of apparent death. Davis delves into the search for zombie poison, which led him to analyze various plants and understanding the role of TTX (turtotoxin) and datura in the process. He explains the cultural significance of zombification in Haiti, and highlights the distinction between being a zombie and becoming a zombie. Davis concludes by reflecting on the moral obligation of anthropologists to tell the stories and support the struggles of indigenous communities.
Lessons from Influential Mentors: David Maybury-Lewis and Richard Schultes
David Maybury-Lewis, an anthropologist and humanist, played a pivotal role in Wade Davis' academic journey. As Davis' undergraduate tutor, Maybury-Lewis instilled the belief that activism forms an essential part of anthropology. Davis also acknowledges the influence of Professor Richard Schultes, a renowned botanist with whom he worked closely. While Schultes focused on botany and plant exploration, he emphasized the importance of experiential learning and the integration of research with cultural immersion. Both mentors shaped Davis' perspective on the role of an anthropologist in advocating for indigenous communities and understanding their cultures through direct engagement and embracing interdisciplinary approaches.
Botanical Exploration and Cultural Understanding
Wade Davis shares his passion for botanical exploration as a means to understand and bridge cultures. He explains how studying plants and their uses in different societies helped him forge connections with indigenous communities. Davis highlights that studying plants provides a pathway to cultural understanding, as immersing oneself in local practices and knowledge fosters meaningful dialogue and collaboration. Davis emphasizes the importance of engaging with the expertise and perspectives of indigenous peoples while exploring their cultural and ecological contexts. This approach ensures respect for traditional knowledge and facilitates the preservation of diverse cultures and ecosystems.
The Interplay Between Sorcery, Culture, and Psychological Realities
Wade Davis recounts his journey into the world of Haitian sorcery and the exploration of zombie phenomena. He explains the complex interplay between sorcery, culture, and psychological realities. Davis delves into the role of various substances such as TTX and datura in inducing a state of apparent death and subsequently shaping the experience of becoming a zombie. He dispels common misconceptions about zombies and highlights how zombification serves as a form of social sanction within the traditional Haitian culture. Davis underscores the importance of understanding the perspectives and beliefs of local communities when studying culturally significant practices that may seem extraordinary from an outsider's perspective.
The Power of Mentors in Shaping Lives
The podcast episode explores the profound impact that mentors can have on shaping a person's life trajectory. The speaker reflects on the importance of having mentors, highlighting how influential individuals like David and Schultes played a crucial role in guiding and shaping his career. Through personal anecdotes and experiences, the speaker highlights the value of being open to learning from various mentors, regardless of their background or expertise. The overarching message stresses the significance of mentorship in helping individuals discover their true passions and become architects of their own lives.
Optimism, Courage, and Embracing Life's Challenges
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of optimism and courage in navigating life's challenges. The speaker discusses the transformative power of having a positive outlook and highlights the incredible societal and personal progress that has been made over the years. The message resonates with young people, encouraging them to approach life with patience, authenticity, and a willingness to embrace opportunities for personal growth. The speaker shares personal stories and advice for living a fulfilling life, challenging young listeners to nurture their creativity, embrace their uniqueness, and find ways to monetize their passions.
The Role of Rites of Passage in Shaping Identity
The podcast episode delves into the significance of rites of passage, particularly for young males. The speaker explains the importance of engaging in physical labor and enduring shared experiences that forge bonds and foster personal growth. Drawing on examples from indigenous cultures, the episode highlights how rites of passage and challenging ordeals can help individuals develop courage, resilience, and a sense of responsibility towards their communities. The speaker emphasizes the need for modern society to create opportunities for young people to embark on similar journeys, fostering character development, a sense of belonging, and an appreciation for community values.
Psychedelics and the Evolution of Consciousness
The podcast episode delves into the mysterious and transformative experiences associated with psychedelics. The speaker reflects on their personal encounters with different entheogens and the profound insights and perspectives they can offer. While acknowledging the potential benefits of psychedelics, the speaker also emphasizes the importance of set and setting, suggesting that these substances may be more suitable for specific stages of life or personal circumstances. The episode explores the role of psychedelics in expanding consciousness, fostering empathy, and generating a deeper appreciation for the natural world and our place within it.
Writing Process and Research
The speaker discusses his writing process and the importance of thorough research. He explains that he creates work points, which are notes on various themes and topics that he extracts from his extensive research. He then organizes these work points into a manageable set of sources, which serve as the foundation for his writing. By immersing himself in the research and distilling the information, he unveils the outline and structure of his books. He also emphasizes the importance of capturing 'wow points' or mind-blowing facts and stories that will captivate readers.
Learning to Write and Craft
The speaker reflects on his journey of learning to write well. He attributes part of his writing skills to his early education, where he had to memorize English grammar rules. He also reveals that poetry and books by various authors served as inspiration for his writing style. The speaker emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the rhythm, cadence, and lyrical qualities of writing. He shares that he takes great care in sculpting each sentence and paragraph, creating a flow that engages the reader. He concludes by encouraging aspiring writers to practice reading and studying the works of their favorite authors to enhance their own writing skills.
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Wade Davis (@wadedavisofficial, daviswade.com) is Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia. Between 2000 and 2013, he served as Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. Named by the NGS as one of the Explorers for the Millennium, he has been described as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet, and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity.”
An ethnographer, writer, photographer, and filmmaker, Wade holds degrees in anthropology and biology and a PhD in ethnobotany, all from Harvard University. Mostly through the Harvard Botanical Museum, he spent over three years in the Amazon and Andes as a plant explorer, living among 15 indigenous groups while making some 6000 botanical collections. His work later took him to Haiti to investigate folk preparations implicated in the creation of zombies, an assignment that led to his writing The Serpent and the Rainbow, an international bestseller, later released by Universal as a motion picture. In recent years, his work has taken him to East Africa, Borneo, Nepal, Peru, Polynesia, Tibet, Mali, Benin, Togo, New Guinea, Australia, Colombia, Vanuatu, Mongolia, and the high Arctic of Nunavut and Greenland.
Wade is the author of 375 scientific and popular articles and 23 books including One River, The Wayfinders, Into the Silence, and Magdalena. His photographs have been widely exhibited and have appeared in 37 books and 130 magazines, including National Geographic, Time, Geo, People, Men’s Journal, and Outside. He was curator of “The Lost Amazon: The Photographic Journey of Richard Evans Schultes,” first exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. In 2012 he served as guest curator of “No Strangers: Ancient Wisdom in the Modern World,” at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. He was curator of “Everest: Ascent to Glory,” Bowers Museum, February 12–August 28, 2022. National Geographic has published two collections of his photography: Light at the Edge of the World (2001) and Wade Davis: Photographs (2018).
His 40 film credits include Light at the Edge of the World, an eight-hour documentary series written and produced for National Geographic. His most recent film, El Sendero de la Anaconda, a 90-minute feature documentary shot in the Northwest Amazon, is available on Netflix.
A professional speaker for 30 years, Wade has lectured at over 200 universities and 250 corporations and professional associations. In 2009 he delivered the CBC Massey Lectures. He has spoken from the main stage at TED five times, and his three posted talks have been viewed by 8 million. His books have appeared in 22 languages and sold approximately one million copies.
Wade, one of 20 Honorary Members of the Explorers Club, is Honorary Vice President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and recipient of 12 honorary degrees. He has been awarded the 2009 Gold Medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the 2011 Explorers Medal, the 2012 David Fairchild Medal for botanical exploration, the 2015 Centennial Medal of Harvard University, the 2017 Roy Chapman Andrews Society’s Distinguished Explorer Award, the 2017 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration, and the 2018 Mungo Park Medal from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. In 2016, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2018 he became an Honorary Citizen of Colombia.
Please enjoy!
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[06:34] The Wayfinders.
[17:01] The Earth’s caretakers of Northern Colombia.
[25:31] Coca and mambe.
[34:17] Zombies, mysterious elixirs, and a sorcerer pimp.
[49:35] The social implications of zombification and dangers of datura.
[57:57] David Maybury-Lewis, Richard Evans Schultes, and living exploration.
[1:02:13] Why helping young people is a top priority for Wade.
[1:07:43] Pessimism is an indulgence. Choose optimism.
[1:13:10] Rites of passage.
[1:17:26] The night Wade had to light himself on fire.
[1:20:37] The scar Wade doesn’t regret.
[1:23:41] Raising kids to be better citizens of the world.
[1:31:02] Wade’s own hero’s journey.
[1:34:19] Ayahuasca origin stories and uses alternative to healing.
[1:47:34] The real tragedy of coca.
[1:50:29] Dosed dogs, provocative gardens, and the cosmology of bitter manioc.
[1:53:41] What psychedelics gave Wade earlier in life vs. later on.
[2:06:34] How did Wade teach himself to write well?
[2:18:50] Work points and outlining the course of a book.
[2:28:26] Parting thoughts.
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