The James Altucher Show
James Altucher interviews the world's leading peak performers in every area of life. Instead of giving typical success stories, he digs deeper to find the 'Choose Yourself' story—moments when someone rises from personal struggle to reinvent themselves. The show features billionaires, best-selling authors, rappers, astronauts, athletes, comedians, actors, and world champions who forged their own paths to financial freedom and more meaningful lives.
Episodes
Carlos Gutierrez: ADHD Diagnosed at 65, Career Lessons
Struggle is part of the price you pay, he says, and his own worst stretch came right after he took the top job.A Note from James:Carlos Gutierrez was diagnosed with ADHD at 65.Sixty-five.By then, he had already run Kellogg. He had already served in George W. Bush’s Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce.And only then did someone explain the procrastination, the disorganization, and those stretc
David Rubenstein: Why Owners Care About Winning, Not Money
He admits he was so bad at firing people at Carlyle that he sometimes promoted them instead by mistake...A Note from James:On this show, I’m usually the one asking the questions.But near the end of this conversation, David Rubenstein turned it around on me.He asked why I care whether the Mets win.And I didn’t really have an answer.I said, “I guess when I was a kid, it felt like I was winn
![The Art of a Great Question with Cal Fussman [From the Archive]](https://content.production.cdn.art19.com/images/34/a7/46/11/34a74611-c0da-4a44-a715-4ccb112a1d8f/c3513d8cddd4964783e1bce38371b4fb8c71e6c742d348637b90ce97ebe7b7b14d61a2b1851e37b7e4ff22c9a9b1b7515c002298a4f73bad9a8e34bef76bd848.jpeg)
The Art of a Great Question with Cal Fussman [From the Archive]
Episode Description:Before Cal Fussman interviewed Muhammad Ali, Mikhail Gorbachev, Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and hundreds of other extraordinary people, he spent nearly a decade traveling the world without much of a plan.He would get on buses without knowing where they were going. He had little money, so he often needed to strike up a conversation with a st
Bill O'Reilly on Brokering a Secret Hostage Release Deal
Two weeks after one phone call, four hostages walked free from Gaza...A Note from James:After the election, before Trump was sworn in for his second term, Biden’s national security team needed to reach the president-elect about the hostages in Gaza.According to Bill O’Reilly, they couldn’t get through.So who did they call?Bill O’Reilly.Bill says he set up the conversation, moderated it, a
Annie Duke on Why We Judge Decisions by Results, Not Logic [From the Archive]
Episode Description:A good outcome does not necessarily mean you made a good decision.And a bad outcome does not necessarily mean you made a bad one.That distinction is at the heart of James’s conversation with Annie Duke, former professional poker player and author of Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts.Poker gave Annie an unusually intense labora
The Friendliest Store in the Mall | Ron Johnson Built the Apple Store
Ron Johnson built the Apple Store as Apple's SVP of Retail, and is the author of Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius.A Note from James:I love the Apple Store.I can walk into one without needing anything and still want to stay. I like looking at the products. I like touching everything. I like the space. I like the feeling.I remember buying one of my first iPods at the Apple
Jon Morrow: The Man Who Changed the Rules [From the Archive]
Episode Description:Jon Morrow’s story begins with a diagnosis that was supposed to be a death sentence.Born with spinal muscular atrophy, Jon was diagnosed at six months old. Doctors told his mother he would likely die by age two. Instead, she fought for him. She fought to keep him alive. She fought to get him into public school. She fought through pneumonia, broken ribs, hospital visits
Carlo Rovelli: Nothing Exists Alone
A Note from James:Carlo Rovelli is one of the smartest people I know. He is a theoretical physicist and the author of a lot of great books, including Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, The Order of Time, Helgoland, White Holes, and now On the Equality of All Things: Lessons on Physics and Philosophy.He has been on the show before, and at the end of this conversation I told him I felt like he
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Becoming Kareem, the Skyhook, and the Search for a Self [From the Archive]
Episode Description:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joins James for a From the Archive conversation about basketball, identity, mentorship, faith, writing, civil rights, and his book Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court.The episode begins with basketball. James asks Kareem how the game has changed since his playing days, and Kareem explains the shift toward the three-point shot, the rule
How You Get Rich Isn't How You Stay Rich: 300 Years of Proof | Joseph Moore
A Note from James:In 1790, one of the easiest ways to get rich in America was the old-fashioned way: marry someone rich.George Washington did pretty well that way. Benjamin Franklin, meanwhile, was so deep in debt that he offered to marry a woman if her parents would mortgage their house to pay off his printing press debt. When they said no, he married someone else who had money.And back
Seth Godin: The Smallest Viable Audience and the Work That Might Not Work [From the Archive]
Episode Description:This is a From the Archive episode with Seth Godin.Seth Godin returns to the show for a conversation about making work that matters in a world obsessed with hits, rankings, followers, algorithms, and approval.James opens by talking about Seth’s long body of work: Purple Cow, Linchpin, Graceful, thousands of blog posts, and Seth’s then-new podcast Akimbo. Seth explains
Arianna Huffington: The Sleep Revolution, Microsteps, and the Joy of Being Awake [From the Archive]
Episode Description:This is a From the Archive episode with Arianna Huffington.Arianna Huffington returns to the show for a conversation about sleep, success, reinvention, and the cultural delusion that burnout is the price of achievement.James begins by asking practical sleep questions: Is nine hours too much? Can sleep be split into two four-hour blocks? Arianna explains that for most p
Nancy Cartwright: Bart Simpson, Fellini, and Finding the Artist Inside [From the Archive]
Episode Description:Nancy Cartwright is best known as the voice of Bart Simpson. But in this archive conversation, James is interested in the artist behind the voice.Nancy joins the show to talk about In Search of Fellini, the film she co-wrote with Peter Kjenaas based on her own trip to Italy in the 1980s. At the time, Nancy was already working as an actress and voiceover performer, but
Mike Massimino: Why Failure Couldn't Keep this Astronaut from Outer Space [From the Archive]
Episode Description:Mike Massimino’s path to space was not a straight line. It was a long series of obstacles, failures, second attempts, and decisions not to quit.In this From the Archive conversation, James talks with Mike about his memoir Spaceman, his two shuttle missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope, his career at NASA, his work at Columbia, and the deeper lessons behind bec
Ray Dalio: Principles, Failure, and the Formula for a Successful Life [From the Archive]
Episode Description:This is a From the Archive episode with Ray Dalio. Ray Dalio built Bridgewater Associates into one of the most influential investment firms in the world. But in this archive conversation, James is less interested in the headline version of success and more interested in the painful turning point that made Ray rethink everything.At 34, Ray’s business nearly failed. He h
Perfect Is Boring: Tyra Banks and Carolyn London [From the Archive]
Episode Description:This From the Archive episode features Tyra Banks and her mother, Carolyn London, in a conversation about beauty, business, motherhood, reinvention, and the power of not trying to be perfect.There is no “A Note from James” section for this episode.James begins by explaining why America’s Next Top Model mattered to him as a father. He watched the show with his daughters
Dan Harris: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics [From the Archive]
Episode Description:This is a From the Archive episode with Dan Harris.Dan Harris returns to the show for a wide-ranging conversation about meditation without the incense, jargon, or grandiose promises.James begins with Dan’s story: his work at ABC News, his public panic attack, his substance abuse, his reporting from war zones, and the recovery path that led him to meditation. Dan’s firs
Steven Pressfield: The Hero’s Journey, Resistance, and Becoming the Artist You’re Meant to Be [From the Archive]
Episode Description:This is a From the Archive episode with one of my favorite guests: Steven Pressfield.Steven Pressfield has spent his career writing about war, creativity, discipline, storytelling, and the inner battle every artist faces. In this archive conversation, James and Steven explore how stories work—and why the same structures that power novels and movies also show up in real
Charles Duhigg Lost 45 Lbs on a GLP-1 | Why Food Noise Vanishes
A Note from James:I’m doing a big experiment in my life.I recently started taking a GLP-1—tirzepatide, one of the so-called weight-loss drugs. But I didn’t start taking it specifically for weight loss. I had some blood work done for the first time in a long time, and there was a small indication that I might be pre-diabetic. My doctor suggested trying tirzepatide, and I wanted to understa
From the Archive: Garry Kasparov on Deep Blue, Fear, and the Future of AI
A Note from James:I’ve done several hundred podcasts, but if people asked me who were the one or two people I most wanted to have on the show, Garry Kasparov would be at the top of the list. He was World Chess Champion for twenty years, and I’ve followed his career since the early ’80s.His book, Deep Thinking, tells the story of his matches against Deep Blue, but it’s really about what ma
Frank Miller on Push the Wall, Batman, and Having No Plan B
A Note from James:This is a very special episode for me.There have only been a few times in the history of this podcast when I’ve had the chance to sit down with one of my heroes. This is one of those times.Frank Miller is one of the most important storytellers of my life. When I first picked up Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in 1986, it completely changed what I thought comics could be.
Dr. David Sinclair: The First Human Trial of an Age-Reversal Therapy
A Note from James:I’ve been obsessed with anti-aging and longevity science for a long time. I’ve had many longevity researchers on the podcast, but this episode feels different because something we’ve been discussing for years has now moved into human trials.David Sinclair first came on the show in 2019, when his book Lifespan was published. He’s a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical
How to Find Sure Things on Kalshi | Prediction Markets #1
Episode Description:Prediction markets allow people to trade contracts tied to real-world events—from elections and weather to rocket launches, airport traffic, awards, and the words a public figure might use during a speech.But James argues that having an opinion isn’t enough. Betting on your favorite team, preferred candidate, or a vague feeling about what might happen is speculation wi
Zynga Founder Mark Pincus: Why All New Fails + How to Copy to Millions
A Note from James:Mark Pincus is one of the true OGs of the internet. You probably know him as the founder of Zynga, the company behind FarmVille, Zynga Poker, and Words With Friends. Zynga was eventually acquired by Take-Two in a transaction valued at approximately $12.7 billion. Before Zynga, Mark started Tribe, one of the first social networks—before MySpace and Facebook. He has spent
From the Archive: The 7 Techniques to Influence Anyone of Anything | Robert Cialdini
A Note from James:If I could tell my children to read one post of mine, it would be this post.Influence is how they will navigate a world of uncertainty.Robert Cialdini is the most influential person in the world. And by that I mean, he wrote the book Influence, which sold 3 million copies and defines the six critical aspects of all influence.Now he has a new book, Pre-Suasion, going 10x
From the Archive: Your Money Blueprint: Why You Keep Earning and Losing the Same Amount | T. Harv Eker
Episode Description:In this episode from the early days of The James Altucher Show, James sits down with T. Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, to examine why earning money, keeping money, and feeling secure about money are three very different skills.Harv recounts cycling through 14 jobs and 12 businesses before building a successful chain of fitness stores—and then los
The Viral Chess Cheating Scandal with Anal Beads: Ben Mezrich Reveals the Full Story
A Note from James:Oh my gosh, one of my favorite guests ever: Ben Mezrich.Ben wrote Bringing Down the House, which became the movie 21. He wrote The Accidental Billionaires, which became The Social Network. And now his latest page-turner, Checkmate, is about one of the most explosive scandals in modern sports: the Hans Niemann chess cheating controversy that took over the world.You rememb
Opus Dei: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church | Gareth Gore
A Note from James:Have you ever read The Da Vinci Code?That book was definitely a page-turner. Before I read it, I had never really heard of Opus Dei. And after today’s conversation with Gareth Gore, you might wish you had never heard of Opus Dei either.In The Da Vinci Code, Opus Dei is a mysterious organization tied to the Catholic Church, secret history, and global power. But today’s gu
Navy SEAL Dad Reveals How to Raise Confident Kids After Divorce | Brandon Webb
A Note from James:Today on the show, I have a very special guest and a good friend of mine, Brandon Webb.Brandon has been on the show many times before. He’s a former Navy SEAL, and he also ran the Navy SEAL sniper school that trained some of the best snipers in the world, including the sniper the movie American Sniper was based on. He’s written a ton of books about the military, leadersh
David Epstein: Why Constraints Make You More Creative (Not Freedom)
A Note from James:Today on The James Altucher Show, I’m excited to welcome back one of my favorite guests, David Epstein.David is the bestselling author of Range, which completely changed how I think about my own jack-of-all-trades life. In his new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, David flips the usual idea of creativity on its head. We’re always told that creativity
Israel & US Just Wiped Out Iran’s Leadership – What Happens Next? with Brandon Webb
A Note from James:What is actually going on in Iran?I have Brandon Webb on the show today. He’s a former Navy SEAL, he’s written a ton of books about the military and life in the military, then he wrote a murder mystery series set in the military, and now he has a parenting book out.Brandon also runs SOFREP.com, a major military intelligence news site. He came on for a quick episode to an
Jamie Siminoff: From Shark Tank Rejection to $1 Billion Ring Sale to Amazon
A Note from James:Imagine going on Shark Tank in front of Mark Cuban, Mr. Wonderful, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, and the rest of the Sharks. You’re offering 10% of your business for $700,000, which values the company at $7 million. They all say no. Then, a few years later, Amazon buys your company for a billion dollars.That's gotta feel really good, and that's the experience of our nex
Mental Strength in the Moment with Amy Morin
Episode Description:James talks with psychotherapist and bestselling author Amy Morin about practical mental strength—the kind you need in the moment, not just in theory. Amy’s earlier books focused on what mentally strong people don’t do. Her new book, The Mental Strength Playbook, turns that work into 50 fast, usable tools for anxiety, stress, worry, conflict, focus, and resilience.The
Peter Diamandis Warns of the Emotional Pandemic — The 5 Forks That Will Split Humanity
A Note from James:People are so afraid of AI, and I get it. They’re afraid of how it will affect jobs. They’re afraid of bias, manipulation, or even worst-case scenarios like AI turning on humans.That’s why I love talking to Peter Diamandis.He wrote Abundance, came on the podcast 10 years ago, and now he’s back with his new book, We Are as Gods. He also runs the Moonshots podcast and the
From the Archive: Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You with Cal Newport
Episode Description:In this From the Archive episode, James talks with Cal Newport about a simple but uncomfortable idea: most people are working hard on the wrong things.Newport breaks down the difference between deep work—focused, cognitively demanding effort that produces rare and valuable output—and shallow work, which fills time but doesn’t move the needle. In a world engineered to f
How to Start a Private Jet Charter Business With No Money | Kolin Jones of Amalfi Jets
Notes from James:I wish I had been Kolin Jones when I was 18 years old.When Colin was 19, during COVID, he set up his own private jet brokerage out of a college dorm room. No investors. No jets. No connections. Just a GoDaddy website, an email address, and an obsessive willingness to send 2,500 cold emails a day.Amalfi Jets is on track to do $120 million in revenue this year. And he still
From the Archive: Yuval Noah Harari on The Story Behind Everything
Episode DescriptionIn this From the Archive conversation, James talks with Yuval Noah Harari about the idea underneath Sapiens and Homo Deus: humans did not come to dominate the planet because they were the strongest animals, but because they learned to cooperate at scale through shared stories—religion, money, nations, and eventually data. The discussion moves from early human history to
She Was Brainwashed. Then She Left Iran. Now She Has an $18M Portfolio | Kiana Danial, The Invest Diva
A Note from James:What is going on in Iran? And once this war is over, what happens to investing? Is the world coming down? I’m bringing on the Invest Diva, Kiana Danial, to talk about both. She wrote Triple Compounding For Dummies, and we’ll get into that, too.She’s Iranian, and she has a perspective on what’s happening that I think matters. My gut, based on the force of history, is that
Thinking Sideways: Chess, AI, and Smarter Decisions with Jen Shahade
A Note from JamesOne of my favorite people in the world is back on the podcast: Jen Shahade. She’s been on the show before. She’s a great chess player, a great poker player, a two-time U.S. Women’s Chess Champion, and the author of the new book Thinking Sideways, about how lessons from chess can help with decision-making.As a chess player myself, I can say these techniques really do work.
From Wakanda to Jamaica: Dr. Sheena Howard on Black Panther, Abduction at 19, Abuse, and Owning Your Creative Destiny
A Note from James:This is why I love doing podcasts—talking to people like Dr. Sheena Howard, author of Why Wakanda Matters. Wakanda is the country where Black Panther is from, and Sheena has written extensively about comics, including work on Black Panther itself.We talk about comics, race, and storytelling. I asked a question I was almost afraid to ask—whether the Black Panther movie wa
The Skills School Never Taught You - Train Your Brain with Jim Kwik
Episode DescriptionThis archival conversation with Jim Kwik moves beyond memory tricks and into something more fundamental: how we think, learn, and make decisions.Jim breaks down why most people forget nearly everything they read, why repeating the same mistakes isn’t always about logic, and how modern life is quietly degrading attention and memory. He explains how the brain filters info
How to Improve Memory & Delay Alzheimer's with Nelson Dellis
A Note from James:I talked to Nelson Dellis, who’s a six-time USA Memory Champion and has broken multiple Guinness World Records. His book, Everyday Genius, makes a pretty bold claim—that with some practice and the right techniques, you can dramatically improve how your brain works.We didn’t just talk about memory. We got into everything: mental math, focus, cold reading, even some techni
From the Archive: Lori Gottlieb — What Your Therapist Is Really Thinking
A Note from James:I’ve been in therapy for more than three decades.Different therapists. Different kinds of therapy. Different crises.And one question has always fascinated me: What is the therapist actually thinking while I’m sitting there talking?Are they bored? Are they judging me? Are they secretly Googling me?My guest today, Lori Gottlieb, knows the answer—because she’s both sides of
Fab 5 Freddy: How Hip-Hop Was Born
A Note from James:In the Blondie song “Rapture,” which was the number-one song in 1981, Debbie Harry has this famous line: “Fab Five Freddy told me everybody’s fly.”So the question is—who is Fab Five Freddy?This guy is one of the central figures in the birth of hip-hop culture. Not just rap music, but the whole ecosystem: graffiti, breakdancing, fashion, DJ culture, art, film—everything t
From the Archive: Tony Hawk: Mastery, Failure, and the Trick That Changed Skateboarding
A Note from James:Tony Hawk is one of the greatest athletes of all time—but what fascinates me most isn’t just the tricks.It’s the mindset.Tony didn’t just become the best skateboarder in the world. He built an entire ecosystem around what he loved: competitions, companies, tours, sponsorships, and one of the most successful video game franchises ever created.What’s interesting is that no
Crypto's Quantum Challenges & Optical as the True Quantum-Class Winner – Martin Shkreli
A Note from James:In the last episode, we talked about whether Martin Shkreli really deserves the label “most hated man in America.” My conclusion was no, and I hope you came to the same conclusion after hearing his perspective.In this episode, we shift gears completely. We talk about Bitcoin, crypto, AI, energy, optical computing, and what the future of technology might actually look lik
Martin Shkreli: From Most Hated Man to Optical Computing Visionary – Curiosity & Defiance
A Note from James:Is he the most hated man in America? I don’t think so.Martin Shkreli was notorious for various reasons that you’ll hear about in this episode—there are some crazy stories—but I’ve come to know Martin over the past few months as both a friend and business partner.Let’s just hear his stories and explanations. I think you’ll agree with me that this is one of the smartest pe
Keeping the Spark Alive – Long-Term & Aging (a/k/a How to Maintain Great Sex) | Dr. Nicole McNichols Part 3
A Note from James:In the first two episodes with Dr. Nicole McNichols, we talked about chemistry, communication, anatomy, and the science of pleasure. This final episode is really about something deeper—how relationships evolve over time and what actually keeps desire alive.Because the truth is, long-term relationships don’t stay exciting automatically. They require intention. They requir
The Science & Mechanics of Pleasure (a/k/a How to Have Great Sex) | Dr. Nicole McNichols Pt. 2
A Note from James:In the first episode with Dr. Nicole McNichols, we talked about chemistry, myths, and why communication matters more than performance. This episode goes deeper—into biology, anatomy, dopamine, desire, and the mechanics of pleasure.There are a lot of myths around sex. Some are cultural. Some are Hollywood. Some come from bad science. And some just come from silence.This c
From the Archive: Ramit Sethi on Building a Rich Life, Dream Jobs & Online Businesses
Episode Description:This archival conversation with Ramit Sethi is a masterclass in systems thinking, behavioral psychology, and building a “rich life” on your own terms.Long before online courses were mainstream, Ramit was quietly building scalable systems—automating money, testing business ideas rigorously, and rejecting conventional wisdom around careers, housing, and passion. In this
What is Great Sex: Myths About Sex, and What Separates Good Sex and Bad Sex! | Dr. Nicole McNichols
A Note from James:This might be the most useful episode I’ve ever done. Not that the others weren’t useful—they were—but this one goes above and beyond. It was also awkward for me, and honestly a little embarrassing, to ask some of these questions. I asked them anyway, and I’m glad I did, because the answers were excellent.This episode is with Dr. Nicole McNichols, who just released her b
From the Archive: Jocko Willink | Discipline Equals Freedom
Episode Description:This was one of those interviews where James thought he was talking about leadership—and realized halfway through that he was really talking about responsibility.Jocko Willink doesn’t use buzzwords. He doesn’t soften the message. He talks about ego, blame, and why most problems—at work and in life—don’t come from bad systems but from leaders who won’t take ownership.Wh
From the Archive: David Goggins - Embrace the Suck
Episode Description:This was one of the most intense conversations James ever recorded.This archive conversation captures David Goggins at the moment Can’t Hurt Me was launching — before the mythology around him fully formed. What makes this episode powerful is how grounded it is. He’s not selling inspiration. He’s explaining the mechanics of suffering, discipline, and self-reinvention in
From the Archive: Tim Ferriss on Possibility, Mentors, and the DISS Learning Framework
Episode Description:This second installment of “From the Archive” returns to James’s early, unfiltered conversation with Tim Ferriss. They unpack how to market by creating newsworthy moments (including a frigid book-launch fiasco turned lesson), how to learn anything using Tim’s DISS framework (Deconstruction, Selection, Sequencing, Stakes), and why “possibility is negotiable” when you se
Is Mind-Reading AI Coming Soon? My First Real AI Nervous Moment
A Note from James:Data is oil. Data is the gold of this AI revolution. Imagine you have an AI that has all of everybody’s thoughts also—so it’s not just learning on tweets and texts, it’s learning on the 60,000 or so thoughts that 8 billion people think each day around the world. This sounds like amazing science fiction and magic and everything that one could ever have dreamed of… or it c
Scott Adams: The Advice I Still Think About
A Note from James:You know, I’ve known Scott Adams for probably 12 or 13 years. He was one of the first guests on this podcast, and he’s the creator of Dilbert, which was my favorite cartoon strip for decades. But then, starting around 2013, he started writing about his life, his opinions, his approach to life, and what made him a success. The first book he did in this genre was How to Fa
From the Archive: Sara Blakely on Fear, Failure, and the First Big Win
Episode Description:To launch our “From the Archive” series, James revisits his candid talk with Sara Blakely about turning fear into fuel, reframing failure, and selling a simple product with language and grit. You’ll hear the bathroom demo that won Neiman Marcus, the three-part courage engine she still uses, and how to protect the thinking time that sparks real ideas. What You’ll L
Why Peter Thiel’s Founder Rules Keep Paying Off
A Note from James:One of my favorite conversations on this show was with Peter Thiel. Yes—PayPal, Facebook, Palantir, and a dozen other hits. I first ran this episode years ago, and the advice still holds up. The same stories, the same frameworks—and the same challenge to think from first principles. Here’s Peter Thiel, one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. Episode Descri
“If You’re Still Trying to Be Rational Now, You’re Crazy:” Comedian Tim Dillon on Being Informed vs. Being Ignorant
A Note from James:Tim Dillon is crazy—in the best way. Not “institution” crazy. Crazy smart. Years ago he told me things about Epstein, hustle culture, and how the world really works that felt outlandish then and obvious now. He’s quirky, honest, and usually right about what to pay attention to. Also, he’s flat-out funny. Let’s bring Tim back and see how much of that old conversation stil
How to Challenge Moon Landing Hoax Theories: Insights from Brian Keating
James brings back astrophysicist Brian Keating for a practical takedown of moon-landing conspiracy claims—and a wider lesson in how to reason when everyone has a microphone. From the Van Allen belts to “the flag waving,” Keating separates physics from folklore, explains what evidence actually looks like (hello, laser retroreflectors), and gives a playbook for engaging friends who’ve gone
Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly: Why Gen Z Might Be the Most Talented Generation in History
Today, we're sharing the recent episode of the Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly. James Altucher joins the show to break down why the 10,000-hour rule is a myth, how to cheat your way into the top 1%, why obsession matters more than talent, and how AI is now the greatest mentor of all time.From entrepreneurship and failure… to mental health, chess mastery, comedy, and why losing m
How AI Will Change Hollywood Forever: Tye Sheridan & Nikola Todorovic on AI, VFX, and the Future of Filmmaking
A Note from James:Tye Sheridan is one of my favorite actors. You might know him as Cyclops in the X-Men movies (Apocalypse, etc.) or as the lead in Ready Player One—which is not only a great movie but also one of my favorite sci-fi books. One of his first films was Mud with Matthew McConaughey.What I didn’t realize: since 2016, while still acting, Tye has also been a serious AI entreprene
AI That Helps, Schools That Don’t, and How Not to Go Crazy with Prof. Brian Keating
Episode Description:James sits down with astrophysicist Brian Keating for a candid, useful tour through three hot zones: how to think about AI (and where it actually helps), what’s broken in higher ed and admissions right now, and why outsourcing your mood to politics is a losing strategy. You’ll hear first-hand stories (from UC San Diego classrooms to New York City politics), specific wa
Kent Heckenlively on Catastrophic Disclosure: UFO Whistleblowers, Government Spin, and James’s 85% Rule
A Note from James:Are UFOs real or not? For 80 years there have been credible whistleblowers saying the government recovered craft—and even bodies. That’s why I wanted Kent Heckenlively on, the author of Catastrophic Disclosure: The Deep State, Aliens, and the Truth. I’m not here to decide for you. I want to hear the best evidence, ask the obvious questions, and have you help me figure ou
Wisdom Takes Work: Ryan Holiday on What AI Can’t Teach You
A Note from James:Wisdom Takes Work is Ryan Holiday’s fourth book exploring the Stoic virtues, and this time he’s taking on the big one — wisdom. His earlier books on courage, temperance, and justice were all great conversations, but this one hit me personally. I’ve often thought I had wisdom, only to realize later that I didn’t — or at least not as much as I thought.Ryan’s writing blends
Jeff Pearlman on Tupac Shakur: The Myths, the Music, and the Man Behind the Legend
A Note from JamesTupac Shakur—one of the greatest rap artists ever—was shot and killed almost two decades ago. What else is there left to say about him? What new things can be said?Well, Jeff Pearlman’s new book, Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur, takes on that challenge. In our conversation, we talk about what Jeff uncovered in his research, why he wanted to write ano
Former FBI Agent, Eric O’Neill on Spies, Lies, and the Cyber Wars We’re Already Losing
A Note from JamesOh my gosh—I was scared after this one. In this episode, I learned about what’s really on the dark web… and the even scarier stuff on what’s called the deep web.Eric O’Neill—who, by the way, is the former FBI agent who brought down Robert Hanssen, the biggest double agent in U.S. history—joined me for this conversation. Hanssen was the FBI’s top analyst on the Soviet Unio
I Know that She Knows that I Know that She Knows: Steven Pinker on the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life
A Note from JamesI first got really impressed with Steven Pinker when he wrote The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. He basically shows that over the past 10,000 years, every single century has been less violent than the one before it. You might think, “That can’t include the 20th century,” right? We had World War I, World War II, atomic bombs, the flu pandemic of 19
Obsession, Secrets, and Sleight of Hand: Inside the Hidden World of Modern Magicians with Ian Frisch
A Note from JamesI’ve always loved books where a journalist gets so deep into a subculture that they become part of it. Magic Is Dead by Ian Frisch is one of those. He starts out covering a secret society of magicians—“The 52,” named for the cards in a deck—and ends up becoming one of them.It reminded me of other favorites like Word Freak (Scrabble), The Game (pickup artists), and Moonwal
Morgan Housel on The Art of Spending Money and Why Independence Is the Real Luxury
A Note from JamesI’m such a fan of this guy. I loved The Psychology of Money — it felt like he was writing directly about me. I’ve made a lot of money, lost it all, made it again, lost it again. Over and over. And Morgan gets it.His new book, The Art of Spending Money, hits even deeper. It’s not just about being rich; it’s about freedom, simplicity, and contentment — the real returns of l
Confronting Evil with Bill O’Reilly
A Note from James: Bill O’Reilly’s new book, Confronting Evil, is both a history lesson and a warning. It’s a study of the most destructive figures in human history—from Hitler, Stalin, and Mao to Genghis Khan, Caligula, and even modern evildoers like Putin and the cartels.When I first picked it up, I thought it would be about the past. But after reading it, I realized it’s really about r
Built for Growth with Miesha Tate: James Altucher on Ideas, Obsession, and Fulfillment
A Note from JamesMiesha Tate is one of my favorite people in the world. She’s an incredible athlete—the ultimate fighting champion of the planet at one point—but more than that, she’s someone who’s turned struggle, discipline, and excellence into wisdom.I was honored when she asked me to be on her podcast, Built for Growth. We talked about surviving turbulence in life, doing hard things,
Dark Squares: Danny Rensch on Chess, Cults, and Finding Purpose
A Note from JamesThis might be the most insane chess story I’ve ever heard—not even really a chess story, but a cult story. It’s wild, intense, and ultimately inspiring. Danny Rensch grew up in a cult in Arizona. At just 10 years old, the cult leader noticed his chess ability, took him away from his parents, and he wouldn’t see his mother again for a decade.I first heard Danny’s story whe
Finding Connection in a Divided World with 'Super Communicator' Charles Duhigg
A Note from JamesI’m really concerned about the level of discourse in this country. It’s almost a cliché to say that now, but especially after the Charlie Kirk assassination, the division feels overwhelming. I even got invited to speak at the Oxford Union—the most prestigious debate society in the world—but ultimately declined because I didn’t like how the whole situation was being handle
Inside the Cartel: The Longest Undercover FBI Operation with Martin Suarez and Ian Frisch
A Note from JamesThis is a crazy story. Martin Suarez holds the record for the longest continuous undercover assignment in FBI history. He went undercover as a cartel drug lord—smuggling billions of dollars’ worth of cocaine while posing as “Manny.” At one point, the story even starts with a gun to his head, convinced his cover was blown.The book Inside the Cartel: A True Crime Tale of Es
[Bonus] Brian Keating on Humility, Chutzpah, and the Arrow of Time
Episode DescriptionRight after wrapping up their main conversation, James and Brian hit record again for a bonus session. What came out is an unfiltered talk on humility, arrogance, and the strange mix of traits needed to achieve great things. From the wisdom of the Talmud to the Dunning–Kruger effect, they explore why even Nobel Prize winners wrestle with imposter syndrome.James shares h
How to Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner with Prof. Brian Keating
Episode DescriptionJames sits down once again with cosmologist Brian Keating—longtime friend of the show and author of Into the Impossible: Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner. In this candid conversation, they challenge each other’s views on focus, curiosity, and the trade-offs of staying in your lane. Brian shares behind-the-scenes lessons from interviewing Nobel Prize winners, the thinking
From Deep Blue to Bittensor — Why Subnets Are the Next Internet Boom
A Note from JamesI’ve been on and off writing. From 2004 to 2021, I wrote one to two books a year, without fail. Since then, nothing. But I’ve been working on an idea: obsession. When I’m not obsessed, I can’t do much—sometimes not even the basics. But when I am obsessed, I can turn that energy into real outcomes: a business, a book, a skill, sometimes success, sometimes failure.This epis
Rick Harrison: The Pawn Business, Hidden Histories, and the Best Model in Banking
A Note from JamesThe man, the myth, the legend—Rick Harrison. You know him as the star of Pawn Stars, the reality show based on the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. The show has been running for over 21 seasons, and Rick himself has become the godfather of the pawn business.I even joined Rick and Chumlee on their own podcast, Pawn After Dark, which was a blast. On this episode, R
From Zero to World-Class: Tristan de Montebello on the Art of Public Speaking
A Note from JamesI’m honored to have today’s guest: Tristan de Montebello, a finalist in the World Championship of Public Speaking. He also co-founded UltraSpeaking (ultraspeaking.com/james), where he teaches techniques to improve communication through games and real-world practice. We even played some of those games during this episode, and they surprised me with how much they revealed a
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