by Spencer Kier
Exploring my curiosity through conversations with leading thinkers and builders. We talk about philosophy, learning, tech, parenting, entrepreneurship, health, and more. Follow Spencer on Twitter (twitter.com/SP1NS1R) and Substack (spencerkier.substack.com)
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/14/2023
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June 13, 2024
<p>John Koenig is the author of The New York Times' Best Seller <em>Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows</em>, a dictionary of made-up words for emotions that we all feel but don't have the words to express. We talk about his book, identity and individuality, contradiction, writing, the human experience, fatherhood, and more.</p> <p>—</p> <p>(00:44) Why use "sorrows"?</p> <p>(02:51) Did he ever expect the dictionary to be what it is now?</p> <p>(05:48) Existential wonderment and loss</p> <p>(08:50) Truth, internal dialogue, and contradiction</p> <p>(14:00) Contradiction of definitions</p> <p>(17:02) Is introspection valuable? Can you know who you are?</p> <p>(20:43) Not focusing on the present</p> <p>(24:18) Self-actualization vs. contentment</p> <p>(30:26) How you perceive people vs. how they really are</p> <p>(35:57) Next book: Sonder</p> <p>(39:03) Does sensitivity make life more difficult?</p> <p>(41:54) Career identity & pigeonholing</p> <p>(44:24) Writing vs. video</p> <p>(47:32) How fatherhood changes work & focus take on his work; finding meaning in community & ritual</p> <p>(51:25) Where does meaning reside?</p> <p>(53:27) Creative process takeaways for kids; self-expression and art</p> <p>(55:15) John's final questions for listeners</p> <p>—</p> <p>John’s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/obscuresorrows">https://twitter.com/obscuresorrows</a></p> <p>Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows (Amazon): <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Obscure-Sorrows-John-Koenig/dp/1501153641">https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Obscure-Sorrows-John-Koenig/dp/1501153641</a></p> <p>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/obscuresorrows">https://www.youtube.com/c/obscuresorrows</a></p> <p>Spencer’s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R">https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R</a></p> <p>Spencer’s Blog: <a href="https://spencerkier.substack.com/">https://spencerkier.substack.com/</a></p>
March 21, 2024
<p>Dylan O’Sullivan is a curator, editor, and writer at O'Shaughnessy Ventures and Essayful. Dylan and I talk about writing, taste, discipline vs. inspiration, timelessness vs ephemerality, boredom and solitude vs. the internet, inciting a digital renaissance, not lying to yourself, and more.</p> <p>—</p> <p>(00:45) Curating & editing vs. writing</p> <p>(05:39) Fear of never writing quality work or living up to your idols</p> <p>(08:32) Discipline vs. inspiration</p> <p>(15:49) Balancing technology & ephemerality with the timeless</p> <p>(17:44) Solitude, getting better at the craft, and having a "normal" life</p> <p>(21:09) Boredom</p> <p>(26:32) Short attention & the effect on art & mediums</p> <p>(29:54) Lack of original works & risk taking</p> <p>(36:43) Digital renaissance; timeless stories & works</p> <p>(44:15) What is timeless & what will become timeless</p> <p>(48:17) Creativity & the subconscious</p> <p>(52:08) Long form writing vs memes</p> <p>(55:00) Above all, don't lie to yourself</p> <p>(01:00:29) Books he’d have in his bookstore window</p> <p>(01:03:38) Three favorite directors & their three movies</p> <p>(01:05:34) Final question for listeners</p> <p>—</p> <p>Dylan’s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanoA4">https://twitter.com/DylanoA4</a></p> <p>Essayful: <a href="https://www.essayful.co/">https://www.essayful.co/</a></p> <p>O'Shaughnessy Ventures: <a href="https://www.osv.llc/">https://www.osv.llc/</a></p> <p>Spencer’s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R">https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R</a></p> <p>Spencer’s Blog: <a href="https://spencerkier.substack.com">https://spencerkier.substack.com</a></p>
March 15, 2024
<p>Steve Schlafman is a venture capitalist turned transition coach. We talk about lostness, transformation, curiosity, mindfulness practices, his new Downshift program, being a husband and father, and more.</p> <p>—</p> <p>(00:59) Lostness, navigating liminal identity space, personal transformations</p> <p>(18:31) Head and heart, mind and body; intellectualizing emotions & feelings</p> <p>(25:52) The role of curiosity; people, world, self</p> <p>(29:52) Using practices as a means to an end</p> <p>(34:21) Is downshifting antithetical to the history of humanity (advancement)?</p> <p>(41:32) When to upshift</p> <p>(46:27) Stillness & silence</p> <p>(52:43) Renewal, rediscovery, experimentation</p> <p>(57:39) Spouse support during transformations</p> <p>(01:02:35) Balancing ambition & being a father</p> <p>(01:06:54) Final question for listeners: what stops you from being at your best</p> <p>—</p> <p>Steve’s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/schlaf">https://twitter.com/schlaf</a></p> <p>Personal Site: <a href="https://www.schlaf.co/">https://www.schlaf.co/</a></p> <p>Downshift: <a href="https://www.downshift.me/">https://www.downshift.me/</a></p> <p>Spencer’s Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R">https://twitter.com/SP1NS1R</a></p> <p>Spencer’s Blog: <a href="https://spencerkier.substack.com">https://spencerkier.substack.com</a></p>
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Exploring my curiosity through conversations with leading thinkers and builders.
We talk about philosophy, learning, tech, parenting, entrepreneurship, health, and more.
Follow Spencer on Twitter (twitter.com/SP1NS1R) and Substack (spencerkier.substack.com)
This podcast updates weekly.
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