

The James Altucher Show
James Altucher
James Altucher interviews the world's leading peak performers in every area of life. But instead of giving you the typical success story, James digs deeper to find the "Choose Yourself" story - these are the moments we relate to... when someone rises up from personal struggle to reinvent themselves. The James Altucher Show brings you into the lives of peak-performers: billionaires, best-selling authors, rappers, astronauts, athletes, comedians, actors, and the world champions in every field, all who forged their own paths, found financial freedom and harnessed the power to create more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 29, 2015 • 1h 31min
Ep. 87 - Tim Larkin: Necessary Violence
Tim Larkin talks with James today about pro-victim rights and personal safety.
As a former military intelligence instructor who helped America's elite Navy Seals develop their hand-to-hand combat techniques, Tim has spent two decades learning about violence.
He tells James the story of how he got accepted to the Navy Seals program.
He exposed their problem and offered them a solution...
This is an episode like no other we've brought you.
Listen today. You'll be amazed by Tim's stories. I was.
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 27, 2015 • 50min
Ep. 86 - Seth Godin: It's Your Turn, Now What?
Seth tells James that he had to write his new book What To Do When It's Your Turn because he had no choice.
It's about what's holding you back, that voice in your head that pushes you to be mediocre or pushes you to hide.
"It pushes us to dig deep inside so we can do better work and impact the things we care about."
They talk about the industrial age and how it changed everything.
"We invented public school to train children to sit still long enough to work in a factory."
But now that we're in the postindustrial age, it's all leftover and everything has changed.
They talk about why it's so important get out of your comfort zone. Seth tells James about when he realized that he was hiding from the big projects.
How he was just playing it safe.
Through a fortunate meeting, he realized that by speaking his truth, standing for something instead of just trying to fit in, is what gets you noticed.
They transition into a great discussion about writing every day. Constantly putting yourself out there is critically important.
Dance with your fear.
And read more books.
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 25, 2015 • 28min
AA Ep. 195 - Jayson Gaignard: Uncommon Commonalities
Building connections and building relationships are how you bring real value to the world around you.
Jayson Gaignard is a super-connector. He's two degrees of separation from anyone you want to meet.
Broke and $250,000 in debt, Jayson thought about an idea that nobody else was doing after getting a free ticket to hear Seth Godin speak, connecting entrepreneurs over an intimate dinner.
He paid for this himself by going even further into debt with no expectations of ever making money on these. Mastermind Dinners launched and Jayson's new venture was off and running.
Entrepreneurship often takes an unyielding belief in yourself, and Jayson definitely believes.
Listen today to hear the story of someone who bet everything he had on an idea.
His new book, Mastermind Dinners Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers and Linchpins is a fantastic read and he hosts a podcast, Mastermind Talks you really need to subscribe to.
Ask a question at Askaltucher.com.
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 22, 2015 • 1h 7min
Ep. 85 - David Levien: I Just Have To
James and David Levien talk about the art and the science of writing books and screenplays, producing and directing movies, plus making this your full-time career.
Eventually he teamed up with his longtime best friend Brian Koppelman (Episode 59) but the road to success was tough.
Like most screenwriters, he moved to Hollywood to launch his career. He started as an assistant to a talent agent hoping to get the contacts in place when he had his script ready.
But over the couple of years he was there, he read thousands of scripts which left him very little time to work on his own. He made contacts but they didn't see him as a screenwriter.
His dream just wasn't happening...
He was stuck, so he just quit and for the next six years he was just another obscure writer living in N.Y.
He and Brian finally reunited and decided they'd join forces to try writing a screenplay together. They had no idea what they were going to write about but they just kept at it.
As luck would have it, Brian was invited to The Mayfair Club for a game of poker. He immediately called David and said, "This place was amazing. We can make the movie about this."
And they did...
Rounders was picked up, made into the movie, and David's career took off.
But success never slowed him down. He knew he had more to give.
Listen here as he talks about how he wrote City of The Sunwhile he commuted every day on the train.
Plus, he tells James about his new book Signature Kill.
Listen today... It's a great conversation
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 20, 2015 • 50min
Ep. 84 - Ben Mezrich: The Art and Science of Being a Successful Author
James and Ben Mezrich dig deep into the art and science of writing books as a full-time career.
His parents gave him two years to make a go at it, but secretly he gave himself five.
As Ben tells James, he never wanted to do anything else. After college, he locked himself in his apartment and wrote nine novels. He got rejection letter after rejection letter, about 190 in all.
Eventually he found an agent and finally sold his first book, then his second and his third.
But as he says...
Nobody was reading them, until he finally got his break.
Ben has now authored fifteen best-selling books. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal - debuted at #4 on the New York Times list.
The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network - written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher - and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for eight Oscars, winning three.
They also talk about his new book, Q.
"The real information superhighway isn't in your computer it's in the sewer system."
Q is the story of a regular cop, Benjamin Grady, who suddenly finds himself on the front line of an unyielding, terrifying epidemic. His job is simple- to quarantine the Probables- those most likely to be carrying a deadly disease. But Grady quickly learns that no amount of training, no amount of lectures from the experts at the CDC or the military infectious disease specialists can prepared him for a society on the verge of losing the war to a microscopic, unrelenting scourge.
Plus, He breaks a secret on the show today and tells James about his next book.
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 17, 2015 • 26min
AA Ep. 191 - Claudia Azula: Become an Idea Machine
How do you transform your life?
The answer is simple. Come up with 10 ideas a day. Every day. It doesn't matter if they are good or bad; the point is to exercise your idea muscle, to make it sweat.
Today James talks with Claudia about her brand new book,Become an Idea Machine: Because Ideas Are the Currency of the 21st Century.
People say ideas are cheap and execution is everything, but that is NOT true. Execution is a consequence, a subset of good, brilliant idea. And good ideas require daily work.
As Claudia explains, coming up with 10 ideas a day is very important.
Ideas may be easy if you are only coming up with one or two, but if you try to produce more than three, you will feel a burn, scratch your head, and you will be sweating and working hard. There is a turning point when you reach idea number six for the day, when you still have four to go, and your mind muscle is getting a workout. By the time you list those last ideas to make it to ten, you will see for yourself what "sweating the idea muscle" means.
When you practice every day your life will transform...
Life changes for the better when we become the source of positive, insightful, and helpful ideas.
Challenge yourself to try it for 180 days and see your life transform, in magical ways, in front of your very eyes.
When you exercise your idea muscle every day, you become an idea machine, you are unstoppable
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 15, 2015 • 34min
Ep. 83 - Simon Rich: Man Crush
James has a man crush and he admits it on today's podcast.
Simon Rich again joins James today for a very special episode. Simon's new TV show, Man Seeking Woman, debuted last night on FXX.
Man Seeking Woman follows Josh Greenberg (a stand-in of sorts for Rich himself, played by the excellent Jay Baruchel) as he navigates a fantastical nightmare world of millennial dating.
When Simon was last on James show, (episode 52) they talked about an inside look at his writing technique and routines... his very own daily practice. There is an art to Simon's writing and you can feel his passion while listening to him talk about his work.
On today's show they dive deep into his new TV sitcom, what a day is like creating a TV show, his biggest fears, and how he finds his inspiration.
James asks Simon how you can get found. Simon says, just make something great.
Don't try to write it to get a TV job, just make it great. Whether it's a 10-minute standup comedy routine or a short play you perform with your friends.
Whatever it is, get it up on YouTube...
No matter what happens, whether the show is picked up for another season or not, and of course Simon says he hopes it is. "It's been the best year of my life." He has a huge list of other projects he is currently working on.
Listen in today. You'll be glad you did.
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 13, 2015 • 37min
Ep. 82 - Amanda "F'ing" Palmer: Lead With The Truth
Talk about choosing yourself, Amanda Palmer has always blazed a path that pushes the boundaries of what most of us would be comfortable with.
Her latest project is a book called The Art of Asking, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help that explores the fear most of us experience.
Why is it so hard to ask for something from those who are closest to you?
Amanda tells James that it's those who are so close to us that are the ones who can hurt us where it really counts, down deep. Yet, you have to accept the fear and lead with the truth.
Amanda and James also dig deep into the problem many of us have, how do you charge for your art, and how much is it really worth?
People value things they purchase.
If you believe in your art, then don't be afraid to ask.
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 12, 2015 • 14min
AA Ep. 186 - Credit Card Debt
"I lost my job and I've piled up a huge amount of credit card debt. I just got a new job but I'm only making $11/hr. What should I do?"
James says - Stop making any payments on your credit cards you can't afford to pay.
I know this goes against what everyone else is telling you but James explains today why this individual shouldn't pay.
He can't...
Get prepared for the calls and the harassment but don't worry.
Listen here today as James explains why.
If you have a question that you would like to ask James, you can either:
Ask a question at Askaltucher.com.
E-mail it to James@stansberryradio.com.
Or, text James at 203-512-2161.
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 8, 2015 • 50min
Ep. 81 - Astro & Danielle Teller: Sacred Cows
Today James goes through therapy. As a father of two young children, he felt he was going to ruin his kids by going through a divorce.
He felt he was a loser, believing that divorce is a personal failure and that married people are better than divorced people.
Astro and Danielle call this The Holy Cow.
In their book, Sacred Cows, and on today's podcast they talk about the promise we all make when we get married.
"I'll love you forever"
We make this unreasonable promise to each other, yet we can't know how we're going to feel in the future.
No one can know.
This is a fascinating interview as they dive into the effects on the children, the social norms of today, and the reasons people get married in the first place.
Invest in yourself and listen here today.
I promise you, you won't be disappointed
------------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
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.