The James Altucher Show

To be the best in the world at something requires a lot of skill, some talent, and a lot of hard work. In this episode, James sits down with Grand Master Avetik Grigoryan, the founder of ChessMood.com, to explore the importance of mindset in achieving peak performance at work. Avetik shares his experience as a professional chess player and coach, poker player, and entrepreneur, highlighting the role that mindset plays in achieving success on and off the board.As the founder of ChessMood.com, Avetik is committed to helping others master their mindset and unlock their full potential. [Side note: Chess Mood is incredible. It's hundreds of hours of videos and it really helps, no matter what your level is. Today also happens to be Chess Mood’s fifth year anniversary and they're unlocking all their courses for free.]Whether you're a professional athlete, a CEO, or someone looking to improve your performance at work, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for mastering your mindset and unlocking yo

"If you're connected, there's always hope, there's always a solution. If you feel disconnected, man…it's all on you!"In this episode of the podcast, James Altucher sits down with Cal Fussman to discuss the need for human contact and social connectivity in a world that has been forever changed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cal shares his personal experience of the daily breakfast group he was a part of for many years with his friend and confidant Larry King, where the motto was "Seize the Day".As the world begins to slowly emerge from the pandemic, Cal and James explore the ways in which our relationships with others have been impacted and the importance of re-establishing these connections. They discuss the value of in-person interactions, the benefits of having a strong support network, and the need for human touch and connection - even if it's giving yourself a daily high-five in the bathroom mirror.Whether it's rekindling old friendships, joining a new community, or simply taking the time to reach out to someo

Everybody is lying about the economy and I can't stand it anymore. Listen as I break down what people are misrepresenting, what is actually going on, and how I'm personally investing during this time.One stock that I own a good amount of is  Wrap Technologies, which I've owned for years (as a co-founder). I plan on owning it for hopefully 10 more years, so I don't care if people will buy it or not. Here's why I'm talking about this: I don't particularly care about what happens in the economy when I plan my investments. When I invest, I'm long-term and I'm looking for "moonshots" - exponentially growing industries that have the potential to take $1 and turn it into $100s.This interview originally appeared on Phil Stutts' Undefeated Marketing Podcast. Listen on to hear why people are lying about the economy - whether it's the Federal Reserve, the media, or economists - and what they're missing.Phillip Stutts' WebsiteThe Undefeated Marketing PodcastWRAP | Safer Policing Outcomes | BolaWrap® & Wrap Reality™ -

This interview blew my mind. I'm not going to inject stem cells into my penis, but I'm going to do everything else Ben Greenfield suggests. Human hacker - and New York Times bestselling author - Ben Greenfield joins the show as he shares the secrets from his book Boundless: Upgrade Your Brain, Optimize Your Body & Defy Aging. I have interviewed dozens of people on this topic; however, this episode and book sum them all up and then go 10x deeper! Ben explores cutting-edge science and strategies for optimizing every aspect of human performance, from physical fitness and longevity to cognitive function, emotional intelligence, and sexual performance. This episode will be enlightening whether you're a seasoned biohacker or just looking to improve your health and wellness. Get ready to learn how you can hack your own biology and unlock your boundless potential with Ben Greenfield. Visit Ben's WebsiteView All of Ben's BooksBen on TwitterBen's YouTube ChannelBen on Instagram------------Visit Notepd.com to read o

Sara Blakely is a self-made billionaire. She’s the founder and creator of Spanx. I interviewed her in January 2017 - over 800 episodes ago! - but all of her advice (learned directly from DOING) is still impacting me today. I had to re-listen. And I hope you do too...Some people are inspirations for life. Sara is one of those people.Sara Blakely is weird. I wish I could think the way she does. I want to be weird like her.“I look at any object and try to think of any use it has other than what people had planned for it.”And then she acts on it. She sees a pair of pantyhose, cuts off the feet (why not?), and creates a multi-billion dollar company, Spanx.She sees her 9-month pregnant belly and paints a basketball on it. And then inspires hundreds of other women to do the same. Creates a book out of it, The Belly Art Project, and donates the proceeds to charity.“All my life I was taught how to deal with failure,” she told me. “My dad would ask us at the dinner table every night: how did you fail today?” HOW DID YO

“Terrorists have moms,” he said.Jeffrey Schilling was kidnapped in the Philippines and held hostage for 7 and a half months. The terrorists said they were torturing him.But Chris Voss didn’t fall for it.Chris is a former FBI hostage negotiator and the author of Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It.“Find a way to mention his mother’s concern for him,” Chris’ boss said.“I remember thinking, ‘That’s the dumbest idea I ever heard. A terrorist is going to care about this guys mother?’”“But my boss had great insight. And I didn’t see any downside to it. So in the middle of the negotiation I said, ‘Ya know Jeff’s mom is really worried about him.’”“What happened next?” I asked.“This murderous, sociopathic terrorist said, ‘His mother knows about this? You tell his mother he’s OK.’”Months later, Jeffrey came home.Some hostage negotiation tactics won’t work in business or with your wife.But these 5 tactics will…1. Use the “hand-cuff method”:Use this line when someone yells at you: “I ca

Today, we're joined by the one and only Raymond Baker, author of the eye-opening book Invisible Trillions: How Financial Secrecy is in periling Capitalism and Democracy, and the Way to Renew our Broken System. That's a lot in the subtitle, but it's also a massive topic that's often swept under the rug because - as Raymond details - essentially every large corporation engages in the tax-dodging practices he details in depth in today's conversation. Raymond talks about the interweaving between capitalism and democracy, whether it's a good thing across the world, and the international ramifications. The examples Raymond provides in the book and in the actual experiences and situations he recounts on today's episode are very serious, and it really does involve trillions of dollars. You won't want to miss this fascinating conversation filled with surprising revelations and thought-provoking insights. Join us as we explore the world of "Invisible Trillions" with Raymond Baker!------------Visit Notepd.com to read ou

Brett Johnson committed tax fraud and credit card fraud from a desk inside the FBI offices for almost a year before going on a cross-country crime spree, stealing $600,000 in four months, making the US Most Wanted list, going to Disney World, getting sent to prison AND THEN ESCAPING! But let's back up…In today's episode of The James Altucher Show, we sit down with Brett Johnson, a man who has lived a double life. Once the leader of ShadowCrew & Counterfeit Library - precursors to the modern dark web - he's now a sought-after cybersecurity expert and consultant, using his insider knowledge of the criminal underworld to help organizations defend themselves against cyber threats.Brett takes us on a wild ride through his upbringing at the hands of manipulative criminal parents, his rise through the burgeoning world of cybercrime and social engineering beginning with mid-'90s eBay fraud, and how his yearning for love and acceptance concluded with his arrest by federal law enforcement.Instead of continuing down

James sits down with legendary journalist Cal Fussman to discuss the life and career of the iconic Larry King. Cal, who knew Larry for over 30 years, shares personal anecdotes and insights into the man behind the microphone.Cal and James begin by discussing Larry's early days in radio, where he got his start as a disc jockey in Florida. From there, they delve into the story of how Larry landed his first national television gig on the Mutual Broadcasting System's "The Larry King Show." Cal describes Larry as a masterful interviewer, who had a unique ability to make his guests feel comfortable and open up to him.The conversation then turns to Larry's time at CNN, where he hosted "Larry King Live" for 25 years. Cal talks about the significance of the show, and how it helped to establish CNN as a major player in the world of cable news. He also shares some of his favorite moments from the show, including interviews with world leaders and celebrities.James and Cal also discuss Larry's impact on the media industry,

When Elon Musk tweets a one-character reply to your article and 2.3 million people view it, you've hit viral gold.That's what happened with Trung Phan's article about the worst tech predictions ever on the Sat Post substack; a retrospective look at some of the most inaccurate predictions in the technology industry. Some of the predictions discussed include the belief that the internet would be a passing fad, that smartphones would never catch on, and that social media would never be profitable. Trung also reflects on the reasons WHY these predictions were so far off the mark and the impact that these inaccuracies had on the industry. In today's episode, James and Trung discuss the predictors' motivations behind their statements, James talks about how his past predictions have affected his current life, and the two give some of their current predictions for the hotly debated topics of cryptocurrencies and AI. SatPost by Trung Phan | SubstackTrung Phan (@TrungTPhan) / TwitterBearly.ai | The world's best Ai at y

In this episode, James sits down with Mike Baker - a former CIA agent and author of the bestselling book Company Rules. With years of experience in covert operations and leadership, Mike shares his unique insights on strategy, corporate culture, and the importance of breaking the rules. Whether you're a startup founder or a seasoned CEO, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to gain a competitive edge.The book offers a candid look at the challenges and successes of the CIA, and how these can be applied to the corporate world. It also covers the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and risk-taking, as well as the need to adapt to changing circumstances. Tune in as James and Mike delve deep into the inner workings of the CIA and the lessons that can be applied to the business world. Don't miss out on this exciting and informative conversation.Get the audiobook, narrated by the author: Company Rules by Mike Baker - Audiobook | ScribdThis episode was also brought to you by Wondrium!  https:/

Is it possible to time the crypto market? I  talked to Tascha from @TashaLabs, one of the smartest people I know in the crypto space. You definitely have to check out her website, Tasha Labs, and sign up for her newsletter.  We talk in great detail, not only about how you value a cryptocurrency, not only how you can time the crypto market, but about what really are some of the future use cases of crypto that will lead to ultimately a billion users, and why this is not just a fad.Back in 1999, 2000, and 2001, everyone was still saying the internet was a fad. Well, it wasn't. Crypto's going to follow the same path and Tasha has the details.Tascha (@TaschaLabs) / TwitterTascha Labs - YouTubeTascha Labs - FREEDOM | CREATIVITY | WEALTH | CONSCIOUSNESS------------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 Pr

Uri Levine was frustrated by traffic jams on his commute and found validation that the problem was widespread. His solution was to co-found Waze, the crowd-sourced GPS navigation platform which became a major competitor to Google Maps before being acquired by Google for $1.4 billion.But Uri's new book,  Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs is not the story of Waze. It's not one story about entrepreneurship. It's completely an A-to-Z handbook for entrepreneurs with so many specific sections, like:How to do a demo,How to build a slide deckHow to make an effective presentationHow do you evaluate a term sheet?What metrics do you use to measure the growth of your company?How do you manage investors, fire people, and hire people?What deal terms need to be negotiated for the exit?This is such a valuable guide, it really is, and today's conversation builds upon these principles. Listen on as Uri & James discuss all of these topics and more, including:Waze built its maps us

Steven Pressfield's newest book, Govt Cheese a memoir, must jump to the top of your reading list.  Both gut-wrenching and laugh-out-loud funny, his brutally honest story is a compelling page-turner. Steven's writing career spans many genres and formats, but it almost never materialized. From US Marine to advertising copywriter, schoolteacher, tractor-trailer driver, bartender, oilfield roustabout, mental hospital attendant, migrant fruit-picker, and hack screenwriter, his debut novel - The Legend of Bagger Vance - was 30 years in the making before it was published (later to become a major motion picture). Never content with one format, his non-fiction book The War of Art has now sold over a million copies globally & his historical fiction novel Gates of Fire is on the required reading list at West Point.James and Steven touch upon all manner of concepts & credos during today's conversation, among them:What role does advertising play in an author's toolkit? (00:06:10)After writing 3 unpublished novels

Think of this as a step-by-step guide to building literally your own real estate empire! Roy “Rolly” Weaver did his first real estate transaction fresh out of college with ZERO dollars to his name and, leveraging his earnings, built a portfolio including an apartment building, a hotel, and resort-town cabins which continue to earn him hundreds of thousands of dollars in passive income annually!Listen on hear to Rolly describe his business ascent using other people's money and stick around for the details on his ongoing "chess match to the death" with James!https://www.instagram.com/rollyweaver/------------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 jamesaltucher.com/podcast.------------Thank you so much for list

Alex Banayan's story would have made a perfect chapter in Skip the Line: A college student hacks his way onto a game show, uses his wit to win the showcase, sells the prizes, and uses the proceeds to fund his business ambitions!Alex's bestselling book The Third Door takes readers on an unprecedented adventure—from hacking Warren Buffett’s shareholders' meeting to chasing Larry King through a grocery store to celebrating in a nightclub with Lady Gaga—as Alex Banayan travels from icon to icon, decoding their success.James and Alex discuss the journey (including the crushing failures along the way), how their strategies and circles have overlapped, and what the next chapter of Alex's journey holds in store.This episode was also brought to you by Wondrium! https://Wondrium.com/james------------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

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder, joins The James Altucher Show to discuss technology and how different systems handle disorder. As humans evolve, technology is constantly being upgraded and replaced with new concepts and ideas. Today, we use technology in almost every aspect of our lives, but do we really understand the advantages and disadvantages of constantly being computerized?In Nassim's book The Black Swan, he highlighted for readers the unusual and unpredictable events that underlie almost everything about our world.  Now with his book Antifragile, readers are presented with why we should embrace these uncertainties. The ideas and concepts that Nassim presents today for our listeners are beyond anything you have heard before. Nassim and James talk about several ways that disorder in your life will actually make you stronger. As Nassim tells James in the interview, "If you don't have variability in your life, you are not human." The key is to take these shock

Gabriella Rosen Kellerman, M.D., has served as chief product officer and chief innovation officer at BetterUp, founding CEO of LifeLink, and an advisor to healthcare, coaching, and behavior change technology companies. Martin Seligman, Ph.D. is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, director of the Positive Psychology Center, and former president of the American Psychological Association. Together, they join James today to discuss their new book, Tomorrowmind.Tomorrowmind tackles the challenges of thriving in our modern world of work with a 70,000-year-old brain. How can we not only survive but flourish amidst the never-ending cycles of change and unprecedented uncertainty that threatens to drown us daily?Drawing from their original research, Kellerman and Seligman outline five critical skills that today’s professionals need to develop to achieve their potential. They offer guidance for organizational leaders looking to arm their workforce with the capabilities that will future-proof their firm’s succ

Jon Morrow might be the most successful copywriter on the web, and he's definitely the best indexed on the web. Jon (the owner of Smart Blogger) and James take today's 80 minutes to unravel the current market conditions for getting paid to write content, how to learn to do it, and how rapidly the market is going to shift over the next 5 years.In Jon's words, "The future of AI isn't to replace all writers, I think it's going to replace the word processor. Instead of going into Google Docs or Microsoft Word, you're going to go to an AI prompt and you're going to have a writing assistant who you will feed at your novel ideas and it will express them in super interesting ways that you can then choose from to publish on the web."The pair also discuss:Search-driven content vs. social media-driven contentWhat are content briefs and who are content strategists?Domain authority vs. topical authorityCopywriting vs. content writingAI-assisted SEO keyword generationHow to get paid to write from home with no prior experie

"If you listen to only one podcast this year, this has to be the one." That's what James wrote after interviewing Peter Thiel in 2014 and, to begin 2023, we've remastered this classic episode for a new audience to experience. To one degree, this time-capsule episode immediately dates itself: Discussion about whether Uber can grow outside of San Francisco; Facebook was the most important social media company; talk of "new banking systems" doesn't revolve around cryptocurrencies and DFi.  Make it past the surface, however, and this episode provides 75 minutes of thoughtful and robust discourse around the principles which have made billions and created billionaires.Among the many lessons in today's episode:Capitalism and competition are antonyms. A capitalist to someone who's in the business of accumulating capital. Great companies do something unique, and because of this unique thing they have monopoly-like pricing power and can create value for all consumers.A company should start when they have a technology t