Amor Towles is our modern day F. Scott Fitzgerald. Sure, he’s a critically acclaimed, award-winning novelist (ever heard of “A Gentleman in Moscow”?) but not because he’s cracked the publishing algorithm. Rather than scheming how many books he can sell or how many critics he can impress, his #1 goal is to fulfill his covenant with his reader. “They’ve invested in my art, and I owe it to them.” Towles' work oozes sensory detail and psychological richness. While most writers would describe writing...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Steven Johnson has studied LLM technology for over 35 years. His consensus? Large Language models and human creativity aren’t at odds. They’re at their best when they work in harmony. Johnson has written thirteen books, many of which explore how tools and technologies expand what humans are capable of and transform societies. He created NotebookLM to help writers use AI to supplement their creative process — not to replace their thinking, but to amplify it. In this episode, you’ll learn how to c...
Feb 07, 2024•2 hr 33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris Dixon is the perfect example of how learning in public can catapult you to success. Come learn how he went from writer to owner, and how you can, too. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://cdixon.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdixon Blog: https://cdixon.substack.com/subscribe Book: https://www.amazon.com/Read-Write-Own-Building-Internet/dp/0593731387 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAeFr1JnlHwQ1ex7WlWi-g WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? h...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s the start of 2024 and to celebrate I thought I’d run through some of the best lessons I’ve picked up over the last 12 months. This past year has had over 20 episodes produced so there was a lot to choose from but I ended up settling on 8 insights from some of my favorite conversations both inside and outside of the podcast. Expect to learn how Tim Ferriss sets an extremely high/low quality bar, why Marc Andreessen uses a barbell approach to consume information, Kevin Kelly’s reason to be th...
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tiago grew up reading in Barnes and Noble — up to six hours at a time! Now, his bestselling book, Building a Second Brain, is the perfect combination of his favorite genres: self-development, business, and tech. Come learn how Tiago has helped thousands of people unlock their creative potential. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://fortelabs.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TiagoForte Twitter: https://twitter.com/fortelabs Blog: https://fortelabs.com/blog/ Book: https://www.buildingasecondbrain...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Urban used to hate writing because he thought it was boring. Now, he has 600,000+ newsletter subscribers, 811,000+ Twitter followers, and one of the most unforgettable (and hilarious) writing styles on the Internet. Come learn how to make your writing fun to read and fun to write. SPEAKER LINKS: Website & Newsletter: https://waitbutwhy.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/waitbutwhy Book: https://waitbutwhy.com/whatsourproblem WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of P...
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Ferriss has built one of the most lucrative personal brands on the Internet: 2,000,000 newsletter subscribers, 5 #1 New York Times Bestselling books, and 900 million podcast downloads. Come learn his top writing tactics, routines, and habits! SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://tim.blog/ Newsletter: https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-1/ Books: https://tim.blog/tim-ferriss-books/ Podcast: https://tim.blog/podcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tferriss WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about t...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sahil Bloom once believed working in finance was the only way to make money; then, he started writing online and proved himself wrong. Come learn how he turned Twitter threads into 1 million followers by writing with soul. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://www.sahilbloom.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/SahilBloom Newsletter: https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? Click here: https://take.writeofpassage.school/writing-sprin...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Byrne Hobart has a Substack following of over 50,000 subscribers, consisting of some of the smartest people in Silicon Valley — startup founders, venture capitalists, hedge fund managers, you name it. Come learn how he produces high-density, high-insight ideas so consistently. SPEAKER LINKS: Newsletter: https://www.thediff.co/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ByrneHobart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byrnehobart WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? Clic...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast From making his first dollar online at 12 years-old to raking in $4,000,000 a year, Ali Abdaal is not your average online creator. And his advice on how to “make it” online is not so average, either. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://aliabdaal.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aliabdaal Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliAbdaal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliabdaal Book: https://www.feelgoodproductivity.com WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? Clic...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Come learn how Chamath Palihapitiya, tech billionaire and Silicon Valley icon, breathes life into his ideas — and how you can, too. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://www.socialcapital.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/chamath Annual Letters: https://www.socialcapital.com/annual-letters Newsletter: https://chamath.substack.com/ WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? https://take.writeofpassage.school/writing-sprints PODCAST LINKS: Website: https://writeofpassage...
Nov 29, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Steven Pressfield waded through 27 years of Resistance so you don’t have to — come learn his best practices to creating your best work. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://stevenpressfield.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven_pressfield Books: https://stevenpressfield.com/books/ WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? Click here: https://take.writeofpassage.school/writing-sprints PODCAST LINKS: Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/ Apple:...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Learn how Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, wrote his way to success in the startup world — and how you can, too. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://www.ycombinator.com/people/garry-tan Twitter: https://twitter.com/garrytan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garrytan/ Blog: https://blog.garrytan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GarryTan Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrytan WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? Click here: https://take.writeofpas...
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast When people ask me what good online writing looks like, I point them to Morgan Housel. Why? He takes dry financial concepts and breathes life into them with captivating stories. And he’s been doing it for a decade and a half. Before Morgan wrote “The Psychology of Money” — one of the world’s most popular finance books that’s now sold over 4 million copies — he spent years as a prolific writer. He wrote 2-4 articles a day when he worked at Motley Fool (3,500 in total). Then, he wrote a bunch more...
Nov 06, 2023•2 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Manson’s success as a writer stems from one central idea: “What feels like play?” After his dating blog took off in 2012, Mark started writing about all the things that excited him: psychology, personal development, and “self-help for people who hate self-help.” His breakout book, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,” was the #1 most read nonfiction book worldwide in 2017 (and I swear I saw it on the front table of every airport I went to). Mark was once described as “the local drunk who s...
Nov 01, 2023•2 hr 30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lenny writes one of the top five business newsletters on Substack — which has amassed over 500,000 subscribers. He hosts a podcast that makes him more money than he made in corporate America. And he’s built a raving X audience of over 188,000. No training. No ego. And to top it all off, he writes in one of the most oversaturated markets on the Internet: product management. How does he do it? After his first Substack post went viral, “What Seven Years at Airbnb Taught Me About Building a Business...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Riva Tez is one of the freest writers I know. It’s as if the boundaries of conventional thinking don’t apply to her. She’s allergic to dogma and passionate about questioning the taboos of our time, and her obsessive research gene has given her a knack for stumbling upon forgotten and under-explored ideas. She’s a singular human being. Part of her brilliance is the way she combines her love for Rilke’s poetry with an interest in philosophy, theology, and consciousness. In all three areas, she goe...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sam is a master copywriter and business builder. If there was ever somebody who knows how to turn online writing into cash, Sam is it. In this episode, Sam shows how you can sell at scale and where to find the opportunities in the business of writing. We’ll teach you how to think through headlines, find content for your own writing, and torch the internet with your ideas. Sam started in the early days of email newsletters and he was a master of writing viral content. He tells the story about pla...
Oct 11, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Marc Andreessen deserves a place on the Mount Rushmore of Silicon Valley. His presence in the tech space is unprecedented and he's one of the most prolific investors. The world of online writing is in debt to him. He co-founded Netscape, where he created the first popular web browser. He invented the tweetstorm, and has helped form the internet. He coined the idea “software is eating the world”, which has defined humanity's evolution over the last decade. Marc isn’t just a mad man creator. He’s ...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you create intimacy and connection with readers? While some writers have a way of letting you inside their mind, Ava (@noampomsky) has a way of letting you inside her heart. There's an intimacy about her writing - an honesty, a tenderness, a contemplative-ness, a sense of connection that shows up in her work and it's what makes her unique. Ava sees writing as a distinct form of consciousness. This process of continually excavating your mind to find out what you think and then eventually y...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s hard to capture in words the love and creativity that Derek Sivers brings to his work. He describes himself as a “monomaniac, introvert, and slow thinker.” But those words just reveal his humility. Derek’s work has charmed millions — from his early days as a professional musician and circus performer, to founding CD Baby, writing fan favorites like Anything You Want and taking the stage at TED. In this conversation, Derek shares how he finds his best ideas, why he plans to publish a “posthu...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Kevin Kelly is one of the most important tech writers of the last half century. Kevin started as the publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of Steve Jobs’ favorite publications. After being mentored by Stewart Brand, he started writing books and magazine pieces before cofounding Wired Magazine. He has since become a prolific author - writing one feature article for Wired Magazine every year, and writing numerous bestselling books. The man is full of mysteries. Kevin write...
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lulu Cheng Meservey gives a masterclass on non-boring corporate communications, Korean pop culture, and religious fanaticism. Lulu shares what she’s learned running comms for startups, decoding cultural erogenous zones, and crafting impactful messages in 280 characters or less. Whether you're a writer, a communications professional, or simply curious about the intersection of K-POP and Internet whackos, this podcast is a window into modern communication. Lulu is currently the Executive Vice Pres...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Derek Thompson weaves together ideas from all over the place — economics, public policy, sports, and even pop culture. His writing is a breath of fresh air in a world of cookie cutter Internet content. Where other click-hungry journalists have caved to antagonistic practices, Derek’s writing is cool and charitable. And it’s also poetic. With a background in theater, he draws inspiration from the likes of literature and playwrights. This conversation will appeal to anybody who wants to write more...
Aug 30, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast A master of biographies and a professional speechwriter. If you want to write serious, research-backed non-fiction or build your writing career while working a full-time job, this episode is for you. Website: https://jimmysoni.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimmyasoni Books: The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar Wan...
Aug 23, 2023•2 hr 44 min•Transcript available on Metacast The man started writing online ~15 months ago, and has ascended to 1.5 million Twitter followers. Until now, he's been anonymous. Never showed his face. This is a masterclass in how to write for the Internet, source reading material, and build a writing habit. The Cultural Tutor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/culturaltutor David Perell on Twitter: https://twitter.com/david_perell Want to learn more about the next cohort with Write of Passage? Click here: https://writeofpassage.school/hiw Want t...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the past 20 years, they have run the world’s largest economics blog. This is the story of how they publish every day, generate ideas when they’re stuck, and plan to teach millions of people the basics of supply & demand. Tyler and Alex's newsletter: https://marginalrevolution.com/ Tyler's website: https://tylercowen.com/ Tyler's Twitter: https://twitter.com/tylercowen Alex's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATabarrok Alex's website: https://alextabarrok.com/ Want to learn more about the next coh...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast How I Write brings you conversations with the world’s best writers. Each week, writer David Perell sits down with a writer to explore their creative process and riff on the craft. You’ve read their work. Now this is your chance to see how they create it. New episodes of the How I Write show go live every Wednesday on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.com/DavidPerellChannel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20, 2023•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
