Big Questions with Cal Fussman

The Japanese guru and best-selling author shows Cal how to unclutter his life – from determining which items to discard and which ones to keep . . . all the way down to the proper way to fold socks. Cal learns to focus on removing anything in his life that doesn’t spark joy. And this podcast will do the same for you. Marie’s takeaways are a great way to see 2020 clearly.

The professor gives Cal a tour of the sacred space at UCLA where the first Internet message was sent in 1969. There’s no better tour guide. Leonard was there when it happened. The computer scientist talks about the development of the Internet in a way that humanizes it for Cal. He also touches on subjects like the lack of privacy, and what the Internet will mean to our future, making the podcast essential listening for everybody.

Cal looks back on what he learned from Big Questions last year as a way to improve in 2020. Clips include takeaways from: Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why Larry King, the CNN talk show host who celebrated his 86th birthday after overcoming severe health problems Amy Morin, best-selling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do The takeaways are a great way for everyone to think about approaching the new year, and they also lead Cal to an unexpected place.

Cal looks at a favorite moment in 2019, and discovers much under the surface of a video that went viral. It’s set at an event that Alex was speaking at thrown by Dutch Bros. Coffee for its baristas. Just before Alex spoke, one of the baristas, Amanda Sanchez, found out that a college grant had just been taken away from her. She was despondent, and got on line to ask Alex what to do. The conversation between Amanda, Alex and Cal, shows exactly why footage of the moment went viral.

The best-selling author tells Cal how he transformed from writer of the New York Times bestsellers I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell and Assholes Finish First to a dad playing Candyland with his kids. That, in itself, is quite a story. But that’s not all. He’s also founded a publishing company called Scribe to help people write their books. This also has Cal very curious. Many takeaways on the state of the publishing industry and personal growth from a master raconteur.

Cal looks back at some of the best nuggets of wisdom he’s received from women on Big Questions over the last two years, and passes them on to you. A holiday gift for every day of the week. Here are the moments we're including in today's episode. You can share these gifts with the people you care about by sending them an AirrQuote link. Anyone can click on the link and instantly listen to that particular moment. The first is from Bruce Lee’s daughter. Gift from Shannon Lee: Break with Tradition The second is from the president of Aston Martin Gift from Laura Schwab: Learning, from the Ground Up The third is from the author of Confidence Creator Gift from Heather Monahan: Negotiation Skill The fourth is from the CEO of Soul Cycle Gift from Melanie Whelan: Mentorship The fifth is from the singer of Fight Song Gift from Rachel Platten: Music, Courage, and Vulnerability  The sixth is from the amazing long-distance swimmer Gift from Diana Nyad: Resolve And the seventh is from a woman trying to save the oceans Gift from Daniela Fernandez:  Million Dollar Dream  You can sample these gifts by clicking these links from Airr. And if you like the idea behind AirrQuotes and want to create and share your own for free, go to https://www.airr.io/cal Plus, you can use Airr's technology to tweet your favorite Big Questions moments @calfussman for a chance to win your own Sportiqe apparel. Enjoy the takeaways!

Listeners of Big Questions who first heard Cal tell stories on Tim Ferriss’s podcast often reach out to Cal and ask him to tell more stories. Cal’s Santa Suit story goes back almost a quarter of a century and is timed perfectly to the season. There’s plenty of laughs and merriment, along with a takeaway that if you wait out a string of bad luck, there will be prosperous days ahead.

Cal sits with his pal after a party thrown by the Friars Club commemorated a birthday that many thought Larry might not be around to celebrate. For many months, Larry battled a series of major illnesses that nearly took his life. But Larry’s indomitable will kept him going. Now he’s out of the hospital, and working again. A look back at an extraordinary evening becomes Cal’s most memorable podcast.

Cal catches up with his pal, Gator Halpern, months after 200-mile-an-hour winds and a 25-foot tidal wave by the name of Hurricane Dorian whipped into The Bahamas and destroyed the coral farm Gator established to save the reefs that protect the shores. Part of the reason we’re seeing this storm damage year after year is the weakening of our barrier reefs – which Gator is fighting to fend off. He’s developed a technology to grow coral 50 times faster than it would ordinarily, and he can put it through boot camp so that it will survive as the temperature of the oceans rise. This is the story of ferocious destruction and an unyielding spirit that fights on to heal the planet. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give thanks for that spirit.

Cal sits with his old pal, Tom Junod, after they see a preview of the upcoming movie about the children’s television host that stars Tom Hanks. A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood is based on the Esquire Magazine cover story that Junod wrote in 1998, and Junod’s friendship with Mr. Rogers in the years that followed. While the film creates a tortured relationship between Junod and his dad to advance the plot, there was actually tremendous tension in Tom’s life as a writer for Esquire when the story was published that was not known even to his closest friends. Cal was startled, at times, during this talk with his friend of three decades – a conversation that will allow everyone to see the upcoming movie in a new light.