meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The James Altucher Show

Stoicism with Ryan Holiday - Part 1

The James Altucher Show

James Altucher

Society & Culture, Talk Radio, Writer, Philosophy, Comedy, Chess, How To, Entrepreneurship, Jay, James, The James Altucher Show, Altucher, Author, Jay Yow, Education, Jay The Engineer, Business, James Altucher

4.6 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 26 July 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

A Note from James:

Ryan Holiday is one of the few writers I consider a peer—not just because of the work he’s done, but because of the choices he's made along the way. We’ve both published a lot of books. We've both dealt with audiences, platforms, and the weight of having a “point of view” in a world that increasingly wants you to pick a side. This episode wasn’t meant to be a debate or an interview. It was just two people trying to make sense of the tension between creativity and truth, honesty and influence, and why sometimes the best thing you can say is nothing at all.


Episode Description:

In this candid and far-ranging conversation, James Altucher sits down with bestselling author Ryan Holiday to talk about the changing nature of creativity, writing, podcasting, and personal ethics in a polarized media landscape.

They discuss the illusion of having to weigh in on every issue, the danger of algorithmic thinking, and how to stay true to your voice without becoming a prisoner to your audience. Whether you're a writer, a creator, or just trying to think more clearly in chaotic times, this episode offers real insight into the forces shaping our thinking—and how to resist them.


What You’ll Learn:

  • Why sharing too early can kill creative momentum
  • How social media shifted from expression to algorithm worship
  • Why long-form podcasts might be bad for your brain
  • How writing differs from other art forms in its tension and permanence
  • The tradeoffs between artistic freedom, platform growth, and audience expectations


Timestamped Chapters:

  • [00:00] Writing Without Talking About It
  • [01:00] Why Book Ideas Need Time in the Dark
  • [02:00] Creative Compulsion vs. Discipline
  • [03:00] Stand-Up, Dopamine, and Daily Feedback
  • [05:00] Point of View in a Binary World
  • [06:00] Silence, Ethics, and Speaking Up
  • [07:00] Noise as a Form of Violence
  • [09:00] Political vs. Philosophical Disagreements
  • [10:00] Social Media’s Shift to Opinion Farming
  • [11:00] The Algorithm as Audience Puppet Master
  • [12:00] When the Audience Has You
  • [13:00] Podcasting’s Algorithm Problem
  • [14:00] Are Podcasts Dangerous?
  • [16:00] Podcasting vs. Books: Tension and Craft
  • [18:00] The Rise of the Longform Grifter
  • [20:00] RFK Jr., Bad Ideas, and No Fact Checks
  • [22:00] Why Audiobooks Outperform Podcasts
  • [23:00] Can the Medium Save Us?
  • [25:00] When Podcasts Work (And When They Don’t)
  • [27:00] Music and the Emotional Power of Simplicity
  • [29:00] Songs vs. Culture War Commentary
  • [30:00] Great Lyrics, Great Feelings
  • [32:00] Bono, Stoicism, and Making You Feel Seen
  • [34:00] The Parasocial Magic of Fame
  • [35:00] Acting, Politics, and Emotional Truth
  • [37:00] Writing as the Hardest Artform
  • [39:00] Why Great Writing Still Matters


Additional Resources:


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Make this summer's adventures more extraordinary with Audible.

0:04.5

While you're lounging by the pool, tending the garden or road-tripping to your favorite destinations,

0:11.2

dive into atmosphere, the captivating new release from Taylor Jenkins Reid.

0:16.7

This Good Morning America Book Club pick launches readers into the fascinating world of 1980s NASA,

0:23.7

where one woman's astronomical dreams collide with unexpected love.

0:28.9

With over a million titles to explore from beach reads to gripping thrillers,

0:34.8

Audible transforms summer downtime into an adventure.

0:39.3

Remember, there's more to imagine when you listen.

0:43.8

Start your perfect summer companion with a 30-day free trial

0:47.6

and get your first audiobook free at audible.com slash wonder why UK.

0:54.7

At Matalan, the one you've been waiting for is here.

0:58.7

The big sale is now even bigger, with up to 70% off in the final reductions.

1:04.8

It's your chance to save big across women's men's, kids and home.

1:09.3

Shop in store now or online at matelan dot co dot uk season

1:14.1

c's apply today on the james altiger show it wasn't until i was like midway through it that i figured

1:22.8

it out that it was about ego i nailed that so i i usually like just don't talk about it until it's, like, well underway, and it exists.

1:31.8

You can't write a book for the sake of writing a book.

1:33.5

That's how bad books are in.

1:34.9

One of the traps of our time is that you have to have an opinion on every issue.

1:39.3

I think people have to get along before they can have any sway on someone's opinions.

1:44.5

Who's actually benefiting from you?

1:46.2

Well, yeah, who has the audience, right?

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from James Altucher, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of James Altucher and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.