Audience of One

John Koenig is the author of The New York Times' Best Seller Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a dictionary of made-up words for emotions that we all feel but don't have the words to express. We talk about his book, identity and individuality, contradiction, writing, the human experience, fatherhood, and more. — (00:44) Why use "sorrows"? (02:51) Did he ever expect the dictionary to be what it is now? (05:48) Existential wonderment and loss (08:50) Truth, internal dialogue, and contradiction (14:00) Contradiction of definitions (17:02) Is introspection valuable? Can you know who you are? (20:43) Not focusing on the present (24:18) Self-actualization vs. contentment (30:26) How you perceive people vs. how they really are (35:57) Next book: Sonder (39:03) Does sensitivity make life more difficult? (41:54) Career identity & pigeonholing (44:24) Writing vs. video (47:32) How fatherhood changes work & focus take on his work; finding meaning in community & ritual (51:25) Where does meaning reside? (53:27) Creative process takeaways for kids; self-expression and art (55:15) John's final questions for listeners — John’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/obscuresorrows Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Obscure-Sorrows-John-Koenig/dp/1501153641 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/obscuresorrows Spencer’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R Spencer’s Blog: https://spencerkier.substack.com/

Dylan O’Sullivan and the host discuss writing, discipline vs. inspiration, timelessness, boredom, and inciting a digital renaissance. They touch on technology's influence, lack of original works, and the importance of not lying to yourself. The conversation explores creativity, the subconscious, memes, and timeless stories. They also share their favorite directors and movies, along with book recommendations.

Venture capitalist turned transition coach Steve Schlafman discusses lostness, curiosity, downshifting, and balancing ambition with fatherhood. Topics include personal transformation, intellectualizing emotions, mindfulness practices, and the role of curiosity in growth.

Matt Clifford discusses talent investing, ambition, and AI safety concerns. He explores teaching ambition, failure as a learning tool, and innovative funding models. The conversation delves into the scarcity of talent, scaling taste in talent, and the importance of exceptional individuals in shaping the future.

Joscha Bach, a cognitive scientist and AI researcher, discusses our relationship with reality, self-organizing software, creativity, curiosity, and stages of development. They explore topics such as fear, consciousness, presence, curiosity as uncertainty reduction, combating social norms, animism, natural vs. human-created software, AGI, and limitations of sensory inputs. They also touch on the convergence of global traditions, Buddhism, and building a coherent world together.

In this podcast, Gabe, a writer and coach, and former Marine, talks about topics such as inferiority, art, spirituality, courage, fear, and exposure therapy. They touch on the concept of aligning with The Void, the importance of authentic expression, and the power of representations. They also explore the idea of conditioning and transitioning back to freedom, as well as the role of critical thinking and recognizing quality. Gabe's final question for listeners prompts introspection and self-reflection.

Nathan Baugh, fiction writer and author of the World Builders newsletter, talks about storytelling, world building, fiction, and the internet. They discuss the combination of short form non-fiction and long form fiction, the tradeoffs of traditional publishing vs. self-publishing, favorite opening sentences, Vonnegut's shape of stories, and balancing technology and the internet with deep work.

Billy Oppenheimer, writer and research assistant for Ryan Holiday, Robert Greene, and Rick Rubin, discusses research, naive optimism, working with legendary creatives, boredom, curation, creation, and the importance of putting in the work. They also touch on finding a niche, the evolution of his Six at 6 newsletter, and balancing art with audience feedback. The conversation covers topics like taking the next step, fear of not finding the right stories, working with Rick Rubin, and qualities of a good research and writing assistant.

John Coogan, co-founder of Soylent and Lucy, talks about AI, solving problems, risk-taking, curiosity, techno optimism, YouTube, podcasting, and his next venture. Topics include benevolent AI, wireheading, making something people want, Ozempic for risk taking, satisfying curiosity, techno optimism, capitalism 2.0, YouTube and podcasting, transitioning from video essays to documentaries, and creating high-quality content.

Sasha Chapin, writer and fragrance line co-founder, discusses meditation, awakening, coaching, and writing. They explore the concept of awakening and the role of the ego, emphasizing non-striving and self-acceptance. They also reflect on the impact of coaching, embracing imperfection in publishing, and the art of fragrance. The conversation highlights the importance of curiosity and passion, ultimately leaving listeners with the question of their own uncomfortable aspirations.