Alan Alda: Actor, Director, Author, Communications guru

Some interesting insights from this episode:

• The only kind of formal training Alan had was improvisation which is equally valuable in real life as it is in acting. If you're able to connect with another person, things happen between you that would never happen otherwise. 
• "You have to get your brain so devoted to what you're doing and to how you understand what you're doing that the rest of your body comes along with it."
• In regards to acting, "it's hard stuff but I'm ecstatic and I love it. There's a wonderful feeling of flying when it goes well."
• "If we all thought a little bit more like scientists, we might make better decisions."
• "The most impressive scientists attack their own ideas before anybody else can."
• External awards like an Emmy aren't nearly as motivating to him as the internal reward to getting better at his craft.
• "Rather that strive for excellence, it's better to strive for pretty damn good."