Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of World-Class Performers
Tim Ferriss
Tools of Titans is a short-form podcast series from Tim Ferriss, one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and an early-stage investor/advisor in Uber, Facebook, Twitter, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ other companies. The show highlights short life advice from the best in the world. The Observer and other media have named Tim “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of his long-form podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has exceeded 500 million downloads and been selected multiple times for “Best of Apple Podcasts.”
Episodes
Mentioned books
21 snips
Jul 9, 2020 • 16min
BJ Miller
Palliative care physician BJ Miller reflects on living well in the face of death, drawing on years spent alongside patients and families. He recounts surviving a devastating electrocution that cost him three limbs, and explores what it means to listen deeply, let go, and find beauty in life’s impermanence.
7 snips
Jul 7, 2020 • 11min
Coach Christopher Sommer
Coach Christopher Sommer explores gymnastics-based strength and mobility training, why steady practice beats rushing, and the surprising plateaus that can precede progress. He also recalls a beginner seminar where powerful athletes discovered just how unprepared their bodies were for basic floor work and stretching.
15 snips
Jul 2, 2020 • 24min
Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers shares stories from his unusual path, from musician and circus clown to founder of CD Baby, the indie music powerhouse he sold for $22 million. The conversation ranges from bold yes-or-no rules and simple business models to escaping busyness, slowing down on bike rides, and treating life as a series of experiments.
9 snips
Jun 19, 2020 • 14min
Maria Popova
Writer Maria Popova shares her book-reading and note-taking routines, from long-form reading during gym workouts to capturing ideas as she goes. The conversation turns to Seneca on life’s brevity, finding purpose, and the pressure to answer everyone. It also explores advice worth questioning and the value of writing for a single reader.
11 snips
Jun 17, 2020 • 19min
Jocko Willink
From commanding an elite Navy SEAL unit to building a leadership company, Jocko Willink’s story moves between war, business, and everyday life. The conversation explores discipline, extreme ownership, humility, and the value of stepping back to see a situation clearly, with detours into dark literature, strong leaders, and Jocko’s unusual approach to caffeine.
30 snips
Jun 11, 2020 • 14min
Chris Sacca
Venture investor Chris Sacca reflects on backing tech companies including Twitter, Uber, Instagram, and Kickstarter. The conversation ranges from the difference between investing on offence and defence to empathy, embracing your quirks, and overcoming a lifelong fear of swimming.
12 snips
Jun 9, 2020 • 30min
Robert Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez recounts how a shoestring test film became a Sundance-winning breakthrough, and how tight budgets can spark cinematic invention. He discusses taking unconventional routes into filmmaking, learning through failure, keeping a daily archive of ideas, and trusting creativity to emerge once you begin.
9 snips
Jun 6, 2020 • 14min
Whitney Cummings
Comedian Whitney Cummings talks about intensive therapy, learning to challenge negative thoughts, and how people-pleasing can hold back creativity. She and Tim Ferriss discuss the vulnerability behind stand-up, getting comfortable onstage, and what horses can teach us about relationships and business. Cummings also names the comedians she admires most.
46 snips
Jun 4, 2020 • 17min
Naval Ravikant
Naval Ravikant reflects on honesty, fear, desire, and the choices we face when life isn’t working: change it, accept it, or leave. He discusses the people we surround ourselves with, learning as a lifelong skill, and the limits of short-term thinking. Along the way, he shares a surprisingly practical favorite purchase: a tabletop griddle.
15 snips
Jun 2, 2020 • 27min
Introduction ("Listen to This First — How to Use This Book")
A guide to exploring the habits, routines, and tactics of standout performers across health, wealth, and wisdom. Discover how questions, bite-sized rules, and selective reading shape the book, alongside playful spirit-animal illustrations and stories from a wide-ranging lineup of achievers.
