Cal Fussman Interviews Tim Ferriss | The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast)

A product from Four Sigmatic that Tim Ferriss uses to help him sleep, noting its calming effects, and a custom stevia-free version was created for him.

An exercise product mentioned as an example of the infomercial products that Tim Ferriss studied.

A type of tea mentioned by Tim Ferriss, suggesting that if one likes Puer, they would enjoy the taste of the reishi elixir.

A book by John McPhee about his writing process, recommended for those interested in non-fiction writing.

A book by John McPhee about a single tennis match, cited as an example of his gripping non-fiction writing, even on seemingly mundane topics.

A hugely successful book series co-created by Jack Canfield, indicating Canfield's expertise in publishing and appeal.

Tim Ferriss's first book, which was born out of his travel experiences, notes on business systems, and a reformulated class on lifestyle design. It was rejected by many publishers before being picked up.

Tim Ferriss's later book, a compilation of profiles and playbooks from 130 successful individuals answering refined questions about their secrets to success.

Tim Ferriss's alma mater, where he studied East Asian Studies and took classes with John McPhee and Ed Zschau.

A kickboxing gym in San Francisco where Tim Ferriss stayed to save money during his job interviews, which he described as being in a bad area.

An example of a large organization that Truesun Networks would sell its expensive data storage systems to.

An imprint within Random House that eventually acquired 'The 4-Hour Workweek' after 27 rejections from other publishers. Tim Ferriss admired their willingness to take a chance.

A magazine where Cal Fussman was a senior writer for the 'What I Learned' column.

A storage area networking company in which Ed Zschau had invested, and where Tim Ferriss later got his first tech sales job after persistent effort.

A company Tim Ferriss invested in later in life, considering it one of his best investments because he understood its 'sandbox' well.

A company Tim Ferriss invested in later in life, considering it one of his best investments because he understood its 'sandbox' well.

Tim Ferriss's first ever investment, made with the help of his dad, stemming from his interest in animation as a comic book artist.

A major publishing house, which Crown Publishing Group was an imprint of during the publication of 'The 4-Hour Workweek.'

An example of a large company that Truesun Networks would sell its expensive data storage systems to.

A company Tim Ferriss invested in later in life, considering it one of his best investments because he understood its 'sandbox' well.

A company known for their mushroom coffee and reishi mushroom elixir, which Tim Ferriss uses for sleep.

A company founded by a Princeton schoolmate of Tim Ferriss that sold for hundreds of millions of dollars, inspiring Ferriss to enter the tech world.

A sweetener that Tim Ferriss avoids, which led to Four Sigmatic creating a custom reishi elixir without it.

An organic extract that is an ingredient in the Four Sigmatic Reishi Elixir.

An organic extract that is an ingredient in the Four Sigmatic Reishi Elixir.

Tim Ferriss's mentor and professor of high-tech entrepreneurship at Princeton, whose class had a huge impact on Ferriss's life and entrepreneurial journey.

A world-class performer mentioned as an example of the guests featured on The Tim Ferriss Show.

A public figure that Cal Fussman has interviewed, noted for his significance.

An action film star from the 1980s, admired for his physique, influencing Tim Ferriss's early interest in physical development and nutrition.

A Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer for The New Yorker and Tim Ferriss's non-fiction writing professor at Princeton, whom Ferriss considers a 'god' of the craft.

Co-creator of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul,' who became a friend of Tim Ferriss and encouraged him to write 'The 4-Hour Workweek,' making introductions to agents.

A world-class athlete featured as a 'mentor' in Tim Ferriss's book 'Tribe of Mentors.'

A writer and intellectual whose profile is included in Tim Ferriss's 'Tribe of Mentors' book.

The interviewer and host of 'Big Questions with Cal Fussman,' who has transformed oral history into an art form and interviewed many notable figures, including Tim Ferriss.

A public figure that Cal Fussman has interviewed, mentioned as an example of the calibre of people Fussman speaks with.

A public figure that Cal Fussman has interviewed, cited as an example of Fussman's high-profile subjects.

An American inventor and marketing personality, famous for his infomercials, who fascinated young Tim Ferriss and sparked his interest in persuasion and selling.

A comic book penciler idolized by Tim Ferriss, who later learned that Lee had also attended Princeton and had the same graphics editor job at 'The Princeton Tiger.'

The 'decider' at Crown Publishing Group who ultimately approved the acquisition of 'The 4-Hour Workweek' after Tim Ferriss's passionate final pitch.

A world-class athlete featured as a 'mentor' in Tim Ferriss's book 'Tribe of Mentors.'

An action film star from the 1980s, admired for his physique, influencing Tim Ferriss's early interest in physical development and nutrition.

A motivational speaker and self-help author whose infomercials fascinated young Tim Ferriss because he wasn't selling a physical product.

A martial arts legend mentioned by Tim Ferriss as an idol and someone he aspired to be like while working his first job.

Tim Ferriss's agent, who moved from editor/publisher to agent and ultimately signed Ferriss for 'The 4-Hour Workweek,' guiding him through the publishing process.

An editor and talent scout at Crown Publishing Group who was contacted by Steve Hanselman and set up Tim Ferriss's crucial meeting with Steve Ross.

A legendary wrestling coach, referred to as the 'McPhee equivalent in wrestling,' whom Tim Ferriss interviewed for 'Tribe of Mentors' due to his personal admiration.

The city in the Bay Area where Truesun Networks was based, where Tim Ferriss flew for his job interview.

A neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Tim Ferriss was living when he reformulated his business class into 'lifestyle design' and started writing down ideas for 'The 4-Hour Workweek' due to insomnia.

The animated film by Pixar that was coming out when Tim Ferriss made his first investment in the company.

A platform used by Tim Ferriss to inexpensively test different titles and subtitles for 'The 4-Hour Workweek' by bidding on search terms and tracking click-through rates.

Tim Ferriss's email newsletter which shares five short bullet points of cool things he's found each week, including apps, books, and gadgets. It's also how he's met 25% of his podcast guests.