The Tim Ferriss Show

#82: Sam Kass on Trials by Fire and Cooking for The Obamas

Jun 17, 2015

Sam Kass, a former private chef for the Obamas and nutrition policy innovator, shares his remarkable journey from aspiring baseball player to culinary expert. He discusses his creative culinary adventures, favorite cooking tricks, and his experiences in high-pressure kitchens. Kass highlights the importance of sustainable agriculture, advocating for organic practices and soil health. The conversation explores his breakfast rituals, food preferences, and the significance of fostering a deeper awareness of nutrition and cooking in our lives.

01:38:01

Episode guests

Sam Kass

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Sam Kass transitioned from a potential career in baseball to becoming the Obamas' private chef, illustrating unexpected career changes driven by passion.

As the executive director of the Let's Move campaign, Kass focused on reducing childhood obesity through innovative public-private partnerships for healthier communities.

Kass highlights the critical link between sustainable agricultural practices and food systems, advocating for better consumer engagement to influence health and policy.

Deep dives

The Multifaceted Career of Sam Kass

Sam Kass has had a diverse career that includes being a professional baseball player, private chef for the Obamas, and a senior policy advisor for nutrition at the White House. He served as the executive director of the Let's Move campaign, aiming to reduce childhood obesity through public-private partnerships. Kass's upbringing in an educational family greatly influenced his passion for teaching about food and nutrition. His experiences in various roles have equipped him with unique insights into the intersection of food, health, and public policy.

Intro

4min

Culinary Passions and Morning Rituals

4min

From Baseball Dreams to Culinary Adventures

19min

The Art of Cooking with Induction Burners and Essential Spices

2min

Culinary Reflections and Seasonal Joys

14min

Bees, Soil Health, and Sustainable Agriculture

14min

Redefining Success: Impact vs. Contentment

3min

Cultivating Awareness Through Media and Routine

10min

Elevating Home Cooking: Practical Tips and Techniques

19min

10.

Cultivating the Palate and Purpose

12min

Sam Kass almost became a pro baseball player. Instead, he pivoted a history major into becoming the private chef for the Obamas in the White House. He then broke into national nutrition policy and was named #11 on Fast Company magazine's 2011 list of "100 Most Creative People" for his work, which focused on establishing private-sector partnerships to reduce childhood obesity to just 5% by 2030. His story is amazing, his career turns are unexpected, and his trials by fire are hilarious. In this conversation, we talk about: - Baseball and the art of fielding - His odd leap to the culinary world and his escapades in Austria - How he met the Obamas - His favorite books, routines, and breakfast eggs - Simple cooking tricks and common mistakes - Nutrition, top-soil depletion, and organic food - Why he doesn’t like black pepper - And much, much more... Show notes (links, resources, books, etc.) for this episode can be found at fourhourworkweek.com/podcast And...please visit the sponsors for this episode! I've used them both. Mizzen + Main makes the only “dress” shirts I now travel with — fancy enough for important dinners but made from athletic, sweat-wicking material. No more ironing, no more steaming, no more hassle. Click here to see the exact shirts I wear most often. 99Designs is the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body, which hit #1 New York Times. Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run…

***

If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!

For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.

Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.

For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.

Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.

Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.

Follow Tim:

Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss

Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss

Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss

YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss

Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.