Be Where Your Feet Are, New Ideas, and Rivian First Look | Feeding Frenzy 29
On this edition, worth listening is a podcast with ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter. Worth reading an article on how we generate new ideas. Worth watching is the first look at Rivian's new EV truck, the R1T.
Worth Listening
Courtney Dauwalter on Mindset Secrets from the World's Best Ultrarunner | Rich Roll Podcast
In my most recent podcast with Alec Eickert, he brought up this podcast and the pain cave, which we closed our conversation on. I wanted to get inside the headspace of Courtney a bit more. I think one thing that may surprise people is how at the moment, she is even though she's considered the best. Courtney doesn't have a strict diet or supplements, but she is locked into the moment. They say it a couple of times during the conversation, "be where your feet are." I think if anything is her secret sauce, that may be it. Think about it this way; maybe she is so good because she isn't too far forward or backward in time, only making sure the next few moments are handled.
Worth Reading
Texas Is the Future of America | The New York Times
The title of the article is what got me, in a somewhat clickbait fashion. But what kept me reading was the content had me pleasantly surprised. For many, Texas can be seen as a conservative and business enclave, but this article adds nuance to the growth Texas has seen since 2010. That growth is not as one-sided as you may assume. The people who are now calling Texas home are urbanizing it, yet it seems that policymakers haven't clued to what these new groups of voters want. The other aspect is that this tremendous growth could serve as a blueprint for other states to follow. Only time will tell, and one can only hope Texas doesn't become a victim of too much growth too quickly.
The Myth and Magic of Generating New Ideas | The New Yorker
I'll start the discussion of this piece with a quote:
"For me, the quest for a breakthrough often requires getting myself into literal motion; one small step for Poincaré but a whole sequence of steps for me. I'll take a long hike, during which my mind has nothing to worry about except putting one foot in front of the other, or I'll go for a long drive, so that my primary focus is on the road. Maybe it's the endorphins, or maybe it's refocussing my attention on some other activity which enables a new idea. Perhaps it is the momentary feeling of being untethered that gives the mind free rein—the space to have a good idea."
This is not the first discussion of Eureka moments; I've asked guests how they recenter themselves when they drift or find themselves stuck even in my podcasts. Some have said going to the gym, running, or taking a shower all help get back into the headspace. Right before I work on these, I typically work out or play a game called Satisfactory. I find the act of either being physical like riding or running or light problem solving like a puzzle game calms the usual chatter so you can tap into the idea-generating aspects that lay beneath the surface.
Worth Watching
Let Things Rot | FFungi
I recently listened to Giuliana Furci on the Tim Ferriss show and came across this show. I appreciated her descriptions of the fungi's purpose and what we are learning from them. I think, in this case, having a visual aid helps drive the point home.
The Worlds first *REAL* Electric Truck! | JerryRigEverything
After entering the world of fungi, I hop back to technology in the form of the EV Truck from Rivian. Seeing photos of this truck a few years back, I thought the front-end headlight was a bit silly but now seeing the vehicle in action is not as weird as I had thought. The EV space has started heating up for the truck crown, with Rivian, Ford, Tesla, and Hummer entering the race. Time will tell if Rivian as the startup will capture a market share or if an established brand like Ford can make the F-150 attractive enough to make the switch to EV.