A Note from James:Drugs, chess, and rock and roll-Brian Lawlor has seen it all. I didn't include the sex part because I don't know, but he's been to jail. We talk all about that: how, why, when. But I was concerned-how did he survive? Interestingly, part of the way he survived was through chess.Brian's story is riveting and valuable, touching on survival in general. We played a bunch of games. I'm not including the games in the podcast, but he surprised me with his skill. We'll do a video on that later. But for now, here's Brian Lawlor.###Episode Description:In this episode of "The James Altucher Show", James sits down with Brian Lawlor, a man who transformed his life from being a drug addict in and out of jail to becoming a successful composer and teacher. Brian shares his remarkable journey of overcoming addiction, finding solace in chess, and building a career in music against all odds. This episode is a powerful testament to the human spirit's resilience and the transformative power of passion and discipline.What You'll Learn:How Brian used chess as a tool for mental stability and personal growth.The impact of music on Brian's rehabilitation and how he built a career from it.Insights into the challenges and stigmas faced by former inmates trying to reintegrate into society.The importance of self-reinvention and finding new pathways to success.Practical advice for anyone struggling with addiction or looking to make a significant life change.Chapters:01:44 Brian's Jail Experience02:42 Surviving Jail Through Chess and Ping Pong04:00 The Reality of Jail Life07:16 The Ping Pong Incident18:52 Struggles with Addiction28:32 Rebuilding Life After Jail39:04 Exploring Musical Diversity39:49 Classical Influences in Modern Music41:07 Pop Music Production Insights43:20 Favorite Bands and Musical Influences44:28 Chess Journey and Early Experiences46:51 Chess and Music: A Unique Intersection51:56 Sound Sensitivity and Chess Commentary55:04 Chess Tournaments and Personal Stories01:06:02 Concluding Thoughts and ReflectionsAdditional Resources:Brian Lawlor's Music StudioBook: "How to Reassess Your Chess" by Jeremy SilmanBook: "My 60 Memorable Games" by Bobby FischerKeywords: addiction recovery, peak performance, chess, music, rehabilitation, Brian Lawlor, James Altucher, resilience, reinvention. ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn