March 19, 2022
19 March 2022
Tucker Max has written four New York Times Best Selling books (three that hit #1), which have sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. He’s credited with being the originator of the literary genre, “fratire,” and is only the fourth writer (along with Malcolm Gladwell, Brené Brown, and Michael Lewis) to have three books on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Seller List at one time.
He co-founded Scribe Media, the premier professional publishing company that has helped people like David Goggins, Tiffany Haddish, and Dan Sullivan publish their books, and was also nominated to the Time Magazine 100 Most Influential List in 2009.
Tucker received his BA from the University of Chicago in 1998, and his JD from Duke Law School in 2001. He currently lives on a ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas, with his wife Veronica and four children.
During our discussion, you'll discover:
-How Tucker developed the skill of writing…07:07
- Know what you want to say
- Authenticity and clarity are key
-Tucker's writing process…09:11
- Deal with the kids, then write in the morning
- Done by noon most of the time
- 3 hours of creativity, max
- Deep Work by Cal Newport
- Need a dedicated space for writing
-Tucker's life post-Scribe Media…13:37
- The Quest of the Simple Life by William Dawson
- Summary on Slow website
- Something real and authentic about working with one's own hands
- Chopping wood increases testosterone; fantastic workout
- Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf
- Sabbath Ramblings: Chop Wood, Carry Water.
-How chopping wood in the yard led to Tucker's “doomer optimism” philosophy…28:53
- Doomer Optimism: What I See Coming, & How I’m Preparing
- Combination of SHTF and an optimistic worldview
- Going into a major period of chaos
- Tucker's calling bullsh*t on the Covid response
-Why tight community is the answer to surviving chaos…46:01
- Media will coalesce around a common narrative (Jan. 6, Russia/Ukraine, etc.)
- Americans live in the safest era & country in the history of the world
- We confuse freedom with sovereignty
- Sovereignty is freedom with responsibility
- Community and sovereignty go hand in hand
- Tight-knit groups are the ones who survive chaos; not lone-wolf existence
- Awareness of resources
- Do you own your water source?
- Do you own your power source?
- Do you grow your own food?
-Practical tips for surviving a SHTF scenario…53:30
- 5 main points:
- Defense
- Water
- Food
- Power
- Community
- Tim Kennedy's Sheepdog Response course (use code BENGREENFIELD to save 10%)
- Podcast with Tim Kennedy:
- Books Concrete Jungle and Prairie Fire by Clay Martin
- The best home defense is a dog
- Greenfield Naturals water filtration system
- Podcast with Jordan Rubin:
- Podcast on sprouting, with Doug Evans:
- Lettuce Grow
- Energy issues will dominate the headlines in the years to come
- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson
- Your entire reality is a radius of 2 miles if the power goes out, fuel is out, etc.
-The importance of raising educated and free-thinking children…1:22:55
- Children must know where the food comes from
- How to look for, get, and prepare food
- Learn how to be a creator, not a passive consumer
-And much more!
Upcoming Events:
- RUNGA – The Gathering (May 12-14, 2022). Register for the event now by clicking here
- Health Optimization Summit! (May 22-29, 2022).
- Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldlife.com/calendar
Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.
Resources from this episode:
– Tucker Max:
- Assholes Finish First
- Mate: Become the Man Women Want
- Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers
- I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell: Unabridged Selections
- YouTube channel
– Podcasts:
- How To Become A “Sheepdog,” Grappling With Weapons, Making Yourself Harder To Kill, Are There Fringe Navy SEAL Smart Drugs & Much More With Tim Kennedy.
- Ducks Vs. Chickens, Yaks Vs. Cows, Eating Locusts, Unique Permaculture Practices, Bible-Based Eating & More With Jordan Rubin.
- How To Tap into the Power of the Planet’s Most Nutritious Foods: Sprouts, Shoots, Microgreens & More With Doug Evans.
– Books:
- Deep Work by Cal Newport
- The Quest of the Simple Life by William Dawson
- Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf
- Concrete Jungle by Clay Martin
- Prairie Fire by Clay Martin
- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson
– Other Resources:
- Greenfield Naturals
- Tim Kennedy's Sheepdog Response Course (use code BENGREENFIELD to save 10%)
- Doomer Optimism: What I See Coming, & How I’m Preparing
- Lettuce Grow
Episode sponsors:
–Seed Daily Synbiotic: A formulation of 24 unique strains, each of which included at their clinically verified dose, to deliver systemic benefits in the body. Save 15% off your first month's subscription when you use discount code BEN15.
–Dry Farm Wines: 100% Happiness Promise: Every bottle is protected by our 100% happiness promise. Any bottle you don’t love, Dry Farm Wines will replace, or refund. Receive an extra bottle in your first box for a penny (because it’s alcohol, it can’t be free).
–Clearlight Saunas: You can be sure that I researched all the saunas before I bought mine and Clearlight was the one that stood out from all the rest because of their EMF and ELF Shielding and their Lifetime Warranty. Mention BEN GREENFIELD and you’ll receive an extra discount on your purchase.
–Kion Sleep: Contains only natural ingredients with long clinical research history behind them that are safe to take every night. There’s no grogginess: You’ll wake up feeling refreshed, recovered, and energized!
Ben,
Thank you for your podcast! You mentioned a whole house wood burning generator, I believe in this or one of your many podcasts. Could you please tell me where you purchased this? My husband and I had never heard of that before and cannot locate one.
Thanks,
Angie
I was referring to this: http://www.offgrid48.com/complete-wood-gasifier-builds.html
Wow I’m so surprised on the pushback to this episode. I personally thought it was a great one and it had lots of insight— how us humans are so not prepared if sh*t REALLY hits the fan. The five main points Tucker covered are so critical. I love the realness of the show and the variety of topics covered. Definitely feeling the Ben Greenfield Life version! I’ve been listening to the podcast for about 6 months now. Every episode is so informative, I always feel I can take something away that I can apply in my daily life. Thanks Ben!
Ben, superb podcast! I don’t think id like to hang out with the Tucker guy for more than a couple days. His mystic was just a bit arrogant for me, but hey at least he is authentic.
I think this one will get some push back due to the nature of it being political and a little bit too real for some folks. That being said I loved it and devoured looking into all the show notes. I think this realm needs to be delved into due to it is immediately effecting us on a personal, mental and spiritual level.
I believe that when I die I will go to heaven and live for eternity with my savior Jesus Christ. Until then though it is my duty to spread his name and further the kingdom. That being said It would be idiotic for me to walk around thinking everything is Mai Tais and yatzhee out here. We need to be thinking of this community concept and the way it could contribute if things go bad with or gov/political system.
It’ll be really hard to bio hack for optimal health without electricity….
I digress before I get too into the weeds. But ill finish on a saying that I always heard growing up in the good ole baptist church that resonates with and extra reverb that I have though of, “God is always at work… But so is Satan.” We are living through some crazy times right now and like it or not we need to be thinking through them.
Prairie Fire by Clay Martin, excellent quick listen!!!!!! get that dude on the podcast!!!
God Bless! Keep doing the Lords work!!
Love your podcast Ben! I only discovered 2 weeks ago! I can’t believe it took me so long but then again things happen for a reason and when one is ready things comes across your path. It was serendipitous. You inspire me on many levels including: spiritually, being a father, being a man, health, fitness, mentally, entrepreneurially and intellectually. I want to thank you from the bottom.
On a practical point, I would love to listen to all your podcasts as I find them fascinating but I also don’t think that I have enough time! I simply follow too many people and my current appetite for knowledge engulfs my time. I’ve settled on on an emphasis on the latest content as it should reflect your latest thinking based on the latest science and the benefit of your experiences. I’m curious if there is something or many things that you may have once believed to be true but have now revised your thinking on? If so, could that be an interesting podcast (not that your content needs any revision – it’s fantastic!)
Anyway, loved your podcast with your mum and I’ll be searching for your podcast with your dad next!
Great podcast. Curious about the wood fuelled generators any sources for those?
Great Podcast!
Respectfully,
I’m very interested In much of what you share Ben.
I buy your Kion products regularly. You provoke genuine curiosity about the other products you suggest and discuss. All part of a solid business model.
I think it’s unfortunate to merge political discussions, highly debatable conspiracy theories, and borderline crackpot opinions with what I’ve come to depend on here are fact/science-based insights. Your author / guest Tucker Max is surely entitled to his opinions, but they diminished your credibility.
Worst interview guest ever (Tucker Max). Have lost some interest in your site.
why?
I couldn’t get through this interview either.
The beginning was already bad, with the jokes about vacation homes and other comments revealing how obsessed about perceived success he really is. (Jokes are usually not just 100% jokes – they say a lot about the first thing that the person’s mind goes to, and that’s often quite revealing.) He came out really insecure and somewhat annoying from the start.
Then he went into an angry rant mode. I prefer listening to intelligent and thoughtful conversation, not whatever this was.
Finally the part about “whatever happened in the election” was where I stopped listening entirely. Politics is annoying enough as it is, but politics combined with baseless conspiracy theories means I don’t have much interest in what else the guest is about to say regarding the world or his own tendency to “speak the truth”.
Perhaps the most hated man in the country losing an election isn’t really all that weird.
This was simply a low quality guest. I’m sure there was at least a little value there, but it just wasn’t worth listening to.
appreciate the honest feedback
So a privileged man lives on a ranch, has a vacation house and has all the resources to provide for his family and seeks to live by other large ranchers in a place where acreage goes for 100k per acre so they can supplement what he doesn’t have and he wants to preach to “everyone” that this is the way to live now to survive in this time of the impending doom? Talk about out of touch. This interview was cringeworthy. Tucker was haughty, self adulating and took great glee in his weapons, his skill with his weapons, his “crazy” amounts of munitions and the very exclusive town he lives in. Thank God you brought the tone down towards the end of the interview. I think even you knew how he came off. I honestly was embarrassed for him.
I agree. I was trying to hang in there and keep an open mind, but turned it off halfway due to the arrogance and generalizations.
I LOVE Ben but I couldn’t get through this interview. Tucker Max sounded like a drunk person on uppers. Rude.