The Daily Stoic Stop Waiting To Be Chosen | Adam Skolnick
Adam Skolnick, a writer known for his work with David Goggins and his new novel American Tiger, shares his journey through self-doubt and creativity. He discusses the inspiration behind his novel, touching on underreported stories and unique experiences that shaped his writing. Adam also highlights the importance of seizing opportunities rather than waiting for validation. A fascinating conversation unfolds about the motivations behind extreme pursuits and the impact of environmental activism, making for an engaging and insightful listen.
01:16:01
Hidden Hand Of Power
- Power often works behind the scenes, not by public denunciation.
- Effective leaders move outcomes without grandstanding or naming opponents.
Build Skill By Saying Yes
- Say yes to varied writing gigs to get reps and improve fast.
- Treat every small assignment as practice rather than waiting to be chosen.
Underreported Stories As Opportunity
- Waiting to be picked leaves you outside the room while obscure stories become your entry.
- Find underreported subjects; they are your most reliable path in.
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Intro
00:00 • 5min
How Adam's Tiger Novel Began
04:38 • 3min
Freediving, Back Pain, and Pools
07:46 • 2min
Public Works, Memory, and Civic Projects
10:13 • 6min
Power, Politics, and Robert Moses
16:10 • 4min
Environmental Activism and Tree Planting
20:20 • 3min
History Repeats and Timeless Lessons
23:46 • 5min
Ad break
28:26 • 3min
Why Obscure Stories Matter
31:21 • 2min
Say Yes: Turning Any Assignment Into Practice
32:55 • 6min
Handwriting, Notebooks, and Writing Process
38:42 • 4min
Recording Audiobooks Changes the Text
42:23 • 3min
Ad break
45:21 • 4min
Meeting Elizabeth Gilbert and Early Travel Writing
49:29 • 3min
Attraction to Edge-Seeking People
52:11 • 6min
Why People Chase Ultra Limits
58:37 • 4min
Power Over Self vs. External Validation
01:02:59 • 1min
Struggles Publishing the Novel
01:04:10 • 6min
Deciding Not to Wait to Be Chosen
01:09:50 • 3min
Writing About Ambition and Self-Awareness
01:12:51 • 7min
Tigers, Private Zoos, and the True Story
01:19:50 • 5min
Outro
01:25:05 • 10sec
#43426
Passage to Juneau
A Sea and Its Meanings
Jonathan Raban
Passage to Juneau chronicles Jonathan Raban's solo voyage by small boat down the Inside Passage from Seattle to Juneau, intertwining sharp observations of the Pacific Northwest landscape and its indigenous history with explorations of Captain George Vancouver's 18th-century expedition and Raban's own introspections.
Praised for its exact prose and unaffected poetry, the book exemplifies Raban's hybrid style that mixes travelogue, memoir, historical anecdote, and literary criticism to examine human geography and displacement.
#59760
Stern Men
Elizabeth Gilbert
Stern Men is a novel written by Elizabeth Gilbert, published in 2000.
The story is set on Fort Niles Island, a remote island off the coast of Maine, and revolves around the lives of the island's inhabitants, particularly the stern men who work as lobster fishermen.
The novel explores themes of community, tradition, and the challenges faced by the islanders in a changing world.
Through vivid descriptions and colorful characters, Gilbert captures the essence of life on a small island and the struggles of its residents.
#2163
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
Never Finished
David Goggins
In 'Never Finished,' David Goggins takes readers inside his 'Mental Lab,' where he developed the philosophy, psychology, and strategies that enabled him to push past his perceived limits.
The book is a raw, revealing, and unflinching memoir that provides stories and lessons to help readers climb from adversity to achieve previously unattainable goals.
Goggins emphasizes the importance of resilience, self-doubt, and continuous self-improvement, drawing from his experiences as a Navy SEAL and endurance athlete.
The book is not just a self-help guide but a wake-up call to challenge oneself and strive for greatness.
#6038
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
One breath
Adam Skolnick
#169
• Mentioned in 115 episodes
Can't Hurt Me
Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds
David Goggins
In 'Can't Hurt Me,' David Goggins shares his astonishing life story, from a childhood marred by poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse to becoming a U.S.
Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes.
The book reveals Goggins' philosophy, known as the '40% Rule,' which suggests that most people only tap into 40% of their capabilities.
He provides a wealth of practical strategies and principles for personal development, emphasizing self-discipline, accountability, and the necessity of embracing discomfort to unlock personal transformation.
Goggins' story and advice serve as a blueprint for readers to push past their perceived limits, confront their fears, and unleash their full potential.
#62799
The hidden-hand presidency
Eisenhower as leader
Fred I. Greenstein
#58222
Badlands
a novel
Robert Kroetsch
#150
• Mentioned in 124 episodes
The Power Broker
Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
Robert Caro
This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time.
It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks.
The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected.
It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power.
The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics.
#16894
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
American Tiger
COMING DECEMBER 2, 2025 Sign up here for preorder and event information
and for a chance to win one of ten signed copies.
Adam Skolnick
#1170
• Mentioned in 30 episodes
Working
people talk about what they do all day and how they feel about what they do
Studs Terkel
In 'Working,' Studs Terkel conducts in-depth interviews with people from diverse occupations, ranging from gravediggers to studio heads.
The book provides a snapshot of American working life in the early 1970s, highlighting the emotional and physical aspects of work.
It explores themes of job satisfaction, the search for meaning, and the impact of work on individuals' lives.
The interviews are edited to preserve the voices and stories of the subjects, offering a powerful and original perspective on work and its significance in human experience.
#30718
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Florida
Lauren Groff
In *Florida*, Lauren Groff presents a collection of short stories that span characters, towns, decades, and even centuries, with Florida serving as the gravitational center.
The stories navigate a world that is both domestic and wild, where the hazards of the natural world coexist with emotional and psychological threats.
Groff's writing captures the essence of Florida's landscape, climate, history, and state of mind, often juxtaposing the beauty of the environment with the complexities and struggles of human life.
The collection includes stories about a resourceful pair of abandoned sisters, a lonely boy grown up, a restless childless couple, and a recurring character—a steely and conflicted wife and mother.
With her precise and affecting prose, Groff explores themes of loneliness, rage, family, and the human experience.
#3
• Mentioned in 954 episodes
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature.
Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
#3777
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The tiger
A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
John Vaillant
John Vaillant's "The Tiger" is a gripping narrative non-fiction account of a man-eating tiger in the Russian Far East.
The story follows the tiger's deadly rampage and the desperate efforts of villagers and hunters to track and kill it.
Vaillant masterfully blends environmental themes with a suspenseful narrative, exploring the complex relationship between humans and wildlife.
The book delves into the cultural significance of the tiger in Siberian society and the impact of human encroachment on its habitat.
"The Tiger" is a powerful exploration of survival, vengeance, and the delicate balance between humans and the natural world.
From writing with David Goggins to working alongside Rich Roll, Adam Skolnick’s success didn’t make imposter syndrome disappear. In this episode, Adam opens up to Ryan about his path as a writer, the years of underreported stories and side gigs, how self-doubt still shows up, and the unbelievable true story that inspired his new novel American Tiger.
Adam Skolnick has written about travel, adventure sports, human rights and the environment for outlets like The New York Times, Outside, Lonely Planet, ESPN, BBC, and Men’s Health. He is best known as the ghostwriter and audiobook narrator for David Goggins memoirs Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished. He is also the author of One Breath - Freediving, Death and the Quest to Shatter Human Limits and now his debut novel, American Tiger, is officially out.
Check out Adam’s new novel American Tiger and follow him on Instagram @AdamSkolnick
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