Derek Sivers interviews

Writers talking about writing. A community of authors talking about the process and craft, story telling vs raw truth, the business and purpose of writing, and a humble mindset for creators.

Marie Kondo your goals, mistakes are the fountain of youth, Buridan's donkey, suspending judgement, concise writing, your first thought is an obstacle.

Social media, pleasing the algorithm is not worth the price, virtual progress, run the program, no need to struggle, entrepreneur is moot, expire your labels quickly, death as a tool for focus.

No speed limit, creating your own opportunities, adding value, First Follower, Useful Not True, Explorer vs Leader

Creative process, authenticity, vulnerability, feeling untethered from your country of origin, belief, spirituality, interpreting reality.

How to Live and its orchestra metaphor, Asian parent guilt, family dynamics, romantic relationships, loneliness, money and morality of business, shallow vs deep joy from money, everything is figureoutable.

Effectiveness of programming solo, my tech preferences, software philosophy, my people database and productivity tools, writing, social travel, dating, questioning beliefs.

Reframing, choosing new beliefs, balancing self-conviction with others' opinions, consistency vs change, expiring your self-definitions, manufacturing urgency, helping others change.

Minimalism, De-othering, I'm not from here, Heroes, Protecting your inputs, writing as self-exploration, balancing consumption and creation, my life story in four nutshells.

What we learn from travel, Useful Not True, empathy, embracing discomfort, modern China.

Definition of success, philosophy of growth and challenge, whatever scares you go do it, developing rare skills, input vs output, simplicity, journaling.

After 17 years of emailing, we talk about music, CD Baby, living an unusual life, useful not true, and more.

Polish publisher of Anything You Want, about success, opportunity, timing, journaling, neuroplasticity, minimalism, musicians and programmers, Poland.

Journaling, writing, personal agency, life experiments

Generous host on applied generosity as applied to different aspects of my career: business and writing.

Different than most! Ping pong, surfing, waves and trains, asking bold questions, anti-role-models, expanding self-identity, making a habit of philanthropy, what's loyalty?

Happy smart and useful, saying no, making the best of a situation, managing overwhelm, what's enough?, passion and purpose, instilling values in kids.

Why my company succeeded when others failed, how limitations help, how I almost shut down my company, and asking yourself if you'd be doing this without sharing.

Negotiability of Rules, Intrinsic Motivation, Happy Smart Useful, Embracing Change, Pace of Life.

Fun conversation about reframing (of course), creativity, empathy, living a full life, and collaborating instead of just talking.

Great conversation around reframing beliefs and limitations. Cut off at the end but that's OK because we'll probably do a Part 2.

About my books, who they're for, how I write, my non-distracting technology setup.

Fun conversation about Useful Not True as applied to religion!

Choosing an unconventional path, embracing your weirdness, choosing the harder path to build strength and resilience, experimenting, being vulnerable to create deeper connections, the value of conciseness for clarity and memorability, living deliberately.

Fun broad conversation about websites, writing, productivity, critical thinking, advice, Useful Not True, women podcast guests, friction in life, blogging, and complexity.

Having many lives, China, what's home, practicing what you can't yet do, taking the leap, doing what scares you, accumulating evidence.

Audio-only, live on X Spaces, about distractions, fears, travel, and more.

Unlike any other interview I’ve done: we talk just about the immigrant experience, as the host moved from Nigeria to Canada, and I talk about lessons learned moving to a few countries since America.

New Zealand vs Australia, ignoring the news, talking with friends, journaling, and the cone inside the cube.

Great questions about creativity, self-editing, what to release, minimalism, the book everyone should read, generating ideas, and focus.

We started talking Useful Not True beliefs, but ended up talking all about the superpower of journaling!

Great conversation about skepticism, debugging, rebelling against yourself, going against your impulses, questioning.

Group salon about toxic positivity, rootedness, conflicting views, what's useful, distance.

International education expert and I talk about world perspectives, curiosity, prejudice, and a mental sweep.

Wonderful insightful questions about beliefs, money, intensity, motivation, imitation, and changing your mind.

Tennis coach and I talk about beliefs and the power of anti-role-models, performing even when not at your best.

In-person in Auckland.

parenting in New Zealand, music career, minimalism, entrepreneurship, giving back

Useful Not True, reframing, parenting, building meaningful relationships

Useful Not True, writing and editing process, succinctness

changes in perspectives, traveling, living in multicultural environments, generosity in cultures, inhabiting different lifestyles

eclectic life experiences, philosophy of mastery, parenting, education, reframing

childhood upbringing, identity development, impact of memory, perspectives on truth, reframing beliefs and death

mistakes, personal growth, minimalism, investment advice

Useful Not True, reframing perspectives, impact of emotions on beliefs, nature of authenticity, overcoming personal limitations

Useful Not True, business philosophy, handling feedback, entrepreneurial advice

beliefs and mindset, ethical wealth creation, negotiating life perspectives, digital pollution, pursuing passions

Useful Not True, retirement, wealth and happiness, impact of experiences on beliefs

inspiration from early work, balancing multiple interests, writing and creativity, personal growth, psychological routines

parenting, storytelling in parenting, importance of attention, letting kids explore, shifting perspectives on challenges