Josh Waitzkin, a former child chess prodigy, world champion martial arts competitor, and author, shares his insights on mastering diverse skills. He reflects on overcoming fears and the interconnectedness of learning in various disciplines. Josh discusses the psychological impact of competition and the importance of resilience after failure. He emphasizes balancing focus and relaxation for creativity, while also exploring decision-making, emotional dynamics, and the role of authentic experiences in personal growth. Prepare to be inspired by his captivating approach to life and learning!

Josh Waitzkin, a retired chess champion and martial artist, shares his journey through high-stakes competition and personal growth. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability in facing life's challenges, be it in martial arts or chess. The discussion reveals insights into the thrill of e-foiling and the respect required in extreme sports like free diving. Waitzkin contrasts the evocations of mentorship in chess with the pressures of fame, all while exploring the evolution of training through technology and the deep lessons learned from embracing discomfort.

Josh Waitzkin, a chess prodigy turned martial arts expert and author, shares his mastery of learning strategies. He discusses the importance of 'slack' for creativity and personal growth, emphasizing how empty space nurtures learning. Waitzkin dives into flow states, mindfulness in investing, and cultivating resilience through unique parenting philosophies. He also advocates for a growth mindset, interconnected learning, and how consistent meditation can transform lives. This engaging conversation offers profound insights for anyone looking to enhance their performance and well-being.

Joshua Waitzkin, a former chess prodigy and martial arts expert, shares insights from his journey to mastery in both disciplines. He discusses merging strategies from chess and Tai Chi, emphasizing the importance of personal expression and kinesthetic intelligence. The conversation also dives into cognitive biases and how mindfulness enhances decision-making. Waitzkin highlights morning rituals for deeper family connections and reflects on literary influences shaping his creativity. He believes in learning from practitioners and embracing adversity to foster growth.

In a vibrant conversation, Anne Lamott, a bestselling author known for her profound insights on life and spirituality, and Josh Waitzkin, a chess champion and martial artist, explore the intricacies of creativity and personal growth. Lamott delves into overcoming one's inner critic and the importance of radical self-care, while Waitzkin shares transformative experiences in high-pressure environments. They emphasize embracing imperfection, cultivating mindfulness, and the significance of individuality in both learning and parenting, inspiring listeners to reflect on their own journeys.

In this captivating conversation, Josh Waitzkin, an eight-time US National Chess Champion and author of The Art of Learning, shares his insights on mastering the learning process. He discusses innovative methods to condense extensive learning into short periods, drawing parallels between chess and martial arts. Waitzkin explores unconscious learning through structured practice, the role of biomarkers for peak performance, and the transformative power of music in motivation. His reflections emphasize the need for stillness, community, and deliberate training in achieving excellence.

Josh Waitzkin, an accomplished author and champion in chess and martial arts, dives into the art of learning and mastery. He shares insights on embracing a beginner's mindset while exploring new disciplines like paddle surfing and foil boarding. The conversation highlights the importance of feedback loops in performance and how personal experiences shape our values. Waitzkin also discusses the power of empathy in coaching and the significance of resilience through learning to fall safely. His reflections are as profound as they are inspiring.

This is a special episode of The Tim Ferriss Show. The audio is from a live conversation with not one, not two, but three guests: Josh Waitzkin, Ramit Sethi, and Adam Robinson. Josh Waitzkin is an endlessly fascinating person who gets mentioned a lot on this show for good reason. For the uninitiated, Josh was the basis for the book and movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. He's perfected the techniques that made him into a chess prodigy and a jiu-jitsu black belt, and he shared them in his book The Art of Learning. Ramit Sethi (@ramit) is a personal finance guru who has built a huge company from his blog. He's the best-selling author of I Will Teach You to be Rich. Adam Robinson is the trusted outside global macro advisor to the heads of some of the world's largest hedge funds and family offices. He's written a best-seller on test preparation, developed artificial intelligence text analysis, been recognized as a chess master, and he's hilarious. I hope you enjoy this special edition of the podcast. Show notes and links for this episode can be found at www.fourhourworkweek.com/podcast. This podcast is brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring chaga. It tastes like coffee, but there are only 40 milligrams of caffeine, so it has less than half of what you would find in a regular cup of coffee. I do not get any jitters, acid reflux, or any type of stomach burn. It put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet. People are always asking me what I use for cognitive enhancement right now, this is the answer. You can try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/tim and using the code Tim to get 20 percent off your first order. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you'll be disappointed. This podcast is also brought to you by Audible. I have used Audible for years, and I love audiobooks. I have two to recommend: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Vagabonding by Rolf Potts All you need to do to get your free 30-day Audible trial is go to Audible.com/Tim. Choose one of the above books, or choose any of the endless options they offer. That could be a book, a newspaper, a magazine, or even a class. It's that easy. Go to Audible.com/Tim and get started today. Enjoy. ***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/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast 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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest Josh Waitzkin, a multi-talented champion, discusses flow states, creativity, training, and peak performance mindsets in various disciplines like chess, martial arts, and foiling. Conversation touches on the impact of social media on consciousness, the importance of honesty in sharing gear details in foiling, and the balance needed in integrating technology like AI in areas such as chess and science.

Josh Waitzkin, an eight-time national chess champion and author of "The Art of Learning," dives into the depths of mastering skills and personal growth. He discusses the transformative power of questioning assumptions and how ‘gating questions’ can enhance critical thinking. The conversation touches on balancing personal quirks with performance excellence and the journey of embracing strengths alongside weaknesses. Josh also reflects on introspection in martial arts, highlighting the necessity of understanding deeper principles as we navigate uncertain futures.