Expert Author Community - by Kelly Irving
Writers talking about writing. A community of authors talking about the process and craft, story telling vs raw truth, the business and purpose of writing, and a humble mindset for creators.
Writers talking about writing. A community of authors talking about the process and craft, story telling vs raw truth, the business and purpose of writing, and a humble mindset for creators.
Marie Kondo your goals, mistakes are the fountain of youth, Buridan's donkey, suspending judgement, concise writing, your first thought is an obstacle.
Social media, pleasing the algorithm is not worth the price, virtual progress, run the program, no need to struggle, entrepreneur is moot, expire your labels quickly, death as a tool for focus.
No speed limit, creating your own opportunities, adding value, First Follower, Useful Not True, Explorer vs Leader
Creative process, authenticity, vulnerability, feeling untethered from your country of origin, belief, spirituality, interpreting reality.
How to Live and its orchestra metaphor, Asian parent guilt, family dynamics, romantic relationships, loneliness, money and morality of business, shallow vs deep joy from money, everything is figureoutable.
Effectiveness of programming solo, my tech preferences, software philosophy, my people database and productivity tools, writing, social travel, dating, questioning beliefs.
Reframing, choosing new beliefs, balancing self-conviction with others' opinions, consistency vs change, expiring your self-definitions, manufacturing urgency, helping others change.
Minimalism, De-othering, I'm not from here, Heroes, Protecting your inputs, writing as self-exploration, balancing consumption and creation, my life story in four nutshells.
What we learn from travel, Useful Not True, empathy, embracing discomfort, modern China.
Definition of success, philosophy of growth and challenge, whatever scares you go do it, developing rare skills, input vs output, simplicity, journaling.
After 17 years of emailing, we talk about music, CD Baby, living an unusual life, useful not true, and more.
Polish publisher of Anything You Want, about success, opportunity, timing, journaling, neuroplasticity, minimalism, musicians and programmers, Poland.
Journaling, writing, personal agency, life experiments
Generous host on applied generosity as applied to different aspects of my career: business and writing.
Different than most! Ping pong, surfing, waves and trains, asking bold questions, anti-role-models, expanding self-identity, making a habit of philanthropy, what's loyalty?
Happy smart and useful, saying no, making the best of a situation, managing overwhelm, what's enough?, passion and purpose, instilling values in kids.
Why my company succeeded when others failed, how limitations help, how I almost shut down my company, and asking yourself if you'd be doing this without sharing.
Negotiability of Rules, Intrinsic Motivation, Happy Smart Useful, Embracing Change, Pace of Life.
Fun conversation about reframing (of course), creativity, empathy, living a full life, and collaborating instead of just talking.
Great conversation around reframing beliefs and limitations. Cut off at the end but that's OK because we'll probably do a Part 2.
About my books, who they're for, how I write, my non-distracting technology setup.
Fun conversation about Useful Not True as applied to religion!
Choosing an unconventional path, embracing your weirdness, choosing the harder path to build strength and resilience, experimenting, being vulnerable to create deeper connections, the value of conciseness for clarity and memorability, living deliberately.
Fun broad conversation about websites, writing, productivity, critical thinking, advice, Useful Not True, women podcast guests, friction in life, blogging, and complexity.
Having many lives, China, what's home, practicing what you can't yet do, taking the leap, doing what scares you, accumulating evidence.
Audio-only, live on X Spaces, about distractions, fears, travel, and more.
Unlike any other interview I’ve done: we talk just about the immigrant experience, as the host moved from Nigeria to Canada, and I talk about lessons learned moving to a few countries since America.
New Zealand vs Australia, ignoring the news, talking with friends, journaling, and the cone inside the cube.
Great questions about creativity, self-editing, what to release, minimalism, the book everyone should read, generating ideas, and focus.
We started talking Useful Not True beliefs, but ended up talking all about the superpower of journaling!
Great conversation about skepticism, debugging, rebelling against yourself, going against your impulses, questioning.
Group salon about toxic positivity, rootedness, conflicting views, what's useful, distance.
International education expert and I talk about world perspectives, curiosity, prejudice, and a mental sweep.
Wonderful insightful questions about beliefs, money, intensity, motivation, imitation, and changing your mind.
Tennis coach and I talk about beliefs and the power of anti-role-models, performing even when not at your best.
In-person in Auckland.
parenting in New Zealand, music career, minimalism, entrepreneurship, giving back
Useful Not True, reframing, parenting, building meaningful relationships
Useful Not True, writing and editing process, succinctness
changes in perspectives, traveling, living in multicultural environments, generosity in cultures, inhabiting different lifestyles
eclectic life experiences, philosophy of mastery, parenting, education, reframing
childhood upbringing, identity development, impact of memory, perspectives on truth, reframing beliefs and death
mistakes, personal growth, minimalism, investment advice
Useful Not True, reframing perspectives, impact of emotions on beliefs, nature of authenticity, overcoming personal limitations
Useful Not True, business philosophy, handling feedback, entrepreneurial advice
beliefs and mindset, ethical wealth creation, negotiating life perspectives, digital pollution, pursuing passions
Useful Not True, retirement, wealth and happiness, impact of experiences on beliefs
inspiration from early work, balancing multiple interests, writing and creativity, personal growth, psychological routines
parenting, storytelling in parenting, importance of attention, letting kids explore, shifting perspectives on challenges
“Useful Not True”, decision-making frameworks, beliefs, pragmatism and skepticism, impact of emotions on decisions
usefulness of beliefs, luck and money, death
independence versus business responsibilities, happiness, challenges of creativity, finding purpose, nostalgia
creativity and exploration, personal growth and choices, importance of questioning assumptions, altruism and rationality in giving
achievement vs. serenity, simplicity and consumerism, immersive vs. tourist travel, the purpose of purpose
philosophy of clothing, parenting, importance of belief systems
entrepreneurial journey, influence of music, philosophy on success
entrepreneurship, CD Baby’s success, focus and obsession, philosophy of usefulness
life choices, relocations, philosophy of happiness, minimalism and simplicity, investing strategies, importance of reframing perspectives
useful beliefs, writing, personal growth, overcoming prejudices
musician resources, marketing strategies, networking tips, money management in music
journaling vs. writing, blogging, short vs. long writing, storytelling techniques
book draft feedback, Wellington, perspectives and reframing, beliefs and actions
power of questions, reframing, identity, influence of culture on questioning, journaling for self-reflection
book release timeline, reframing beliefs, science vs. truth, usefulness of beliefs, relationship between belief and action
meaning of life, reframing situations, lucid dreaming metaphor, useful vs. true beliefs, parenting
name origin, work as product design, “How to Live” insights, writing process
time zones, travel experiences, parenting, digital independence, online privacy, writing style, self-expression
writing and note-taking techniques, philosophy of travel, relationship with money, entrepreneurial experiences, parenting
New York City memories, gentrification and its impacts, journaling, beliefs as tools
musical creativity, exploring life philosophies, parenting
reflection, becoming a musician, freedom, success, journaling, solitude, parenting, financial independence, embracing unconventional life choices
entrepreneurial journey, being of service, personal branding, belief systems, writing process
writing process for “Useful Not True” pragmatism vs. nihilism, impact of upbringing on success, decentralization and social media absence
musical career, self-help, concepts of truth, nature, worldview, mastery
importance of perspective, life transitions and changes, success and money
book development, Useful Not True, media and reality, belief systems and perspectives, self-marketing, audience engagement
gratitude, relationships, website development, beliefs
philanthropy, customer care, defining success
belief adoption, personal responsibility, empowerment mindset, importance of disconnection, journaling benefits
deep vs. shallow happiness, storytelling, journaling, emotional processing, flow state, parenting, creativity in business
jobs, professional pests, circus, career failures and successes, investment banking, dating
artist performance motivation, career changes after pandemic, self-publishing and ownership, “How to Live”, overcoming information overload
moving abroad, philosophy of values, selling my company, timeless teachings
career changes, writing process, philosophical beliefs and perspectives
subjectivity of truth, beliefs vs perspectives, objective vs conditional truth, personal accountability, perspective-taking in conflicts
cultural differences in values, truth vs beliefs
learning and growth, dissatisfaction as a motivator, art and creativity, perspectives and reframing, tech independence and self-reliance
CD Baby success, useful beliefs, writing process, parenting
problem-solving, questioning norms, execution over ideas, exploring perspectives and beliefs
lifestyle inspiration, parenting challenges, cultural norms and individuality, decision-making, commitment, exploration
parenting and family dynamics, philanthropy and charitable giving, the nature of happiness
importance of location, parenting in nature, writing, entrepreneurship, culture
resistance in meaningful work, multitasking, fear as energy, useful not true beliefs, exploration of personal growth
childhood curiosity, identity and reinvention, negotiation and power, parenting, personal growth and exploration
intentional living, overcoming autopilot, storytelling and communication, distraction and focus
childhood influences, luck and opportunity, inspiration and creativity, spiritual beliefs and questioning
beliefs about family, writing as a craft, friendship, creative process in book writing
self-identity, journaling, entrepreneurship
failure, entrepreneurship, company culture, creative thinking, separating art from the artist
New Zealand, philosophy of exploration, skepticism, parenting
conflicting ideas, independence vs. commitment, navigating uncertainty, wisdom in daily life
mastery, writing process, impact of quotes, beliefs exploration, personal utopia in business
choices for freedom, role models and influence, deep vs shallow happiness, self-reflection and values
parenting, confidence in sharing work, reflection and idea generation
monomaniacal philosophy, pursuing fears, goals and actions, personal interests and values, self-improvement
self-awareness, enthusiasm, balancing business and personal values, service to customers, India insights
minimalism, satisficing, fame and success, mentorship, learning, decision making, beliefs
CD Baby sale to charity, parenting, personal values and success, living in New Zealand
exploration, decision making strategies, parenting, travel with kids, satisficing vs. maximizing
sustainability leadership, personal exploration vs leadership, environmental impact of technology, open source philosophy, deep vs shallow happy
unconventional life choices, technology and automation, music and nostalgia, community and individuality, advice on facing fears
creative entrepreneurs, specialization in business, minimalism in design and coding, effective communication, niche marketing, decentralization of websites
self-identity, personal growth, unconventional life paths, travel and its impact, parenting, career reinvention
Ruby programming, simplicity in programming, PostgreSQL functions, OpenBSD usage, personal CRM system
customer-focused business, generosity in business, avoiding external funding, content creation
lessons from the circus, business philosophy and values, importance of customer service
writing books, personal motivation, life philosophy, starting a movement
journaling, minimalism, financial philosophy, long-term thinking, productivity, disconnecting from technology, book recommendations
philosophy vs self-help, framing life experiences, starting with no money, saying yes vs no, journaling and reflection
entrepreneurship, parenting, creativity and writing, first follower
living simply and freely, minimalism and simplification, personal values and non-negotiables, financial independence, lifestyle choices
living abroad, cultural immersion, travel experiences, food and cultural differences
circus experience, musicians tip jar, creative business strategies, importance of gratitude, /now page
creativity in writing, personal storytelling, pricing model for books, engaging user experience
shifting from consumer to creator mindset, self-investment, long-term thinking, reinvention, taking action, nuanced and agile approaches to life
entrepreneurship, writing process, pragmatism, travel and cultural immersion
storytelling techniques, entrepreneurship insights, introversion strengths, creative writing process, alternative medicine beliefs
authority, authorship, conflicting life philosophies, choosing useful beliefs, questioning assumptions and norms
creativity and problem-solving, book writing process, charitable giving and philanthropy, independent music industry
“How to Live”, pursuing extremes, cognitive behavioral therapy, achieving goals, parenting, individualism vs. collectivism, file backups, digital minimalism, useful not true beliefs
wisdom preservation, posthumous autobiography, craft of writing and simplification, book publishing and distribution, mastery and practice in writing
single focus, conflicting philosophies in “How to Live”, balancing stability and novelty, lessons from professional musicians
music industry changes, touring musician challenges, Prince’s influence, music consumption habits
attracting intelligent audiences, resisting social media temptation, life as a paradox
self-publishing, intrinsic motivation, travel, cultural immersion, marketing, self-actualization, book selling model, reflection, journaling
moving for good, New Zealand experiences, breaking the rules, solitary socialite, daydreaming
importance of focus, decision-making, life after success, finding purpose, influence of books
How to Live, career strategies, networking, decision-making principles, portfolio career development
my early musician days, creative process, getting unstuck, music industry changes, handling criticism, transition to writing and public speaking
Anki, Vim, Calibre, Vibram Furoshiki shoes, Kensington trackball, Berkey, StudioBricks, OED, Great Courses, uBlock Origin, general-purpose computers
independent publishing, AI in creative writing, decentralization in publishing, personal growth through writing
success strategies for entrepreneurs, importance of customer service, beliefs, “How to Live”
heavy metal guitarists, writing process, minimalist style, social media rage, book distribution
career transitions, finding passion and purpose, learning opportunities, writing process, stoicism
public versus private life, writing as a primary focus, balance in life decisions, seeking help and community
starting with the end in mind, constraints and creativity, scaling a business, delegation versus abdication, work-life balance
personalized email outreach, power of open-ended questions, charitable trust for company sale, self-publishing vs traditional publishing
Fun conversation with one of my favorite people. My last interview for a while. On friendship, writing, music, goals, and more.
Local vs. global, why we travel, singing the counter melody, freedom, expired identities.
Fun questions. Ideas versus execution, why business is about being generous, amplifying your niche, my one wish for everyone on the Internet.
Big fun questions. Five types of thinking and how to improve them, achieving success and motivation, deliberate daydreaming.
On education, parenting, and encouraging focus
Why music can’t speak for itself, never underestimate the power of imitating a great song, why I love the underrated, behind the scenes heroes in music.
Music, CD Baby, my past, etc.
Wonderful conversation with lots of music references. Why your favorite things are magic spells, Hendrix is like Darwin, and you should remove the marketing from your website.
Education and learning. Why being smart is a choice, the qualities of a great teacher, how I learn, focus, tech independence, my future projects.
Fun conversation. Reading, what makes a great book, the definition of a philosopher, how to get rich, being meta-considerate.
Why I don’t like holidays, How to Live, how constraints give you more freedom
Being prepared for the worst, why I like email, writing, being succinct
A guided pause, living life as a series of grand experiments, asking yourself questions, possible futures, and the Muppets
Women in tech, parenting + learning, procrastination, goals, and tech independence.
relationship building, career opportunities, networking strategies
How to say “no,” the importance of reflection, joy
reading, mental models, living a meaningful life and the biggest mistake I ever made
Dealing with criticism, how quantity leads to quality, separating decisions from the outcomes, why I don’t believe in failure.
Fitness, consumerism, creative travel, how to live, school, hot-and-cold, discipline, and the importance of nature.
On balance, viewpoints, play, formative times, screen time, focus, curiosity, self-expansion
Leadership, excellence, journaling for your future self, how I make better decisions
making a shift in your life, goals, a specific plan to only do what makes you happy, being rich
48 rapid-fire questions about dating, Singapore, value, and life
How to be wealthy at $500/month, focus time vs making time, and what's enough.
Timeless marketing strategies for artists: Launch before you’re ready, let people see you improve, keep in touch with hundreds of people, remember that marketing is the last extension of your art
The most I’ve ever talked about parenting publicly. Fun conversation.
Caring about the things no one else cares about, solitude, why I enjoy changing my mind, knowing when to quit, why no one invites me to parties
A travel alternative, being creative, making money, serving others, finding the opposite point of view
my top three books
Great interview with smart questions. How to make the difficult things fun, my thoughts on money, failure, finding your mission
Tips on connecting with people through email.
How to maintain flow and keep your momentum, How to Live, time and schedules
Centered around a topic I really care about: focus and distraction. Tips for eliminating distractions, monk mode, when playing hooky is a good thing, why we should commit to a problem but not the solution, building willpower and discipline, deliberate consumption
Why I respond to every email, ignoring the daily and looking at the big picture instead, why difficult times are great catalysts for personal reinvention.
Smart conversation. Why minimalism is considerate, how to make your website future-proof, how to stop procrastinating, achieving excellence, why truth isn’t succinct, why I’m self-publishing
Success, radical honesty, doing the things that scare you, why I love changing my mind
Changing identities, tea, thinking through things slowly, why you shouldn’t be attached to plans
Fun conversation about music. Creative ways to pursue your music career, developing an alter ego, mastering distraction, how the only wrong choice is to do nothing, faking it as an introvert, mentors.
Really fun conversation. Lots of topics I rarely talk about. Building your values, learning and growth, How to Live and my directives, leaving a legacy through what you create, being a life explorer, minimalism
Private call to an association of professional speakers. Tips for giving a good talk, building an audience, keeping people surprised, being social as an introvert, sharing one idea at a time, how inspiration meets us halfway
The difference between what you want now and what you want most, letting go of goals, getting things done, why I’m never busy, when to focus and when to explore
Making music and the creative process. Really fun conversation.
Our competitive advantage over AI, minimalism, why you should think like a geologist with technology, and more
How goals shape our actions, accidental success, work as a public service, Sethlings, and listening to your audience.
Different approaches to curiosity, self-reliance, becoming a world citizen, seeing things from a different point of view
Great conversation on letting go of goals, developing laser focus for the most impact, finding a different angle on perseverance, questioning your own answers
Introversion, world travel, and being “cloud free” : tech independent
Beliefs expire. Add value to others. Understand what works for you. You don’t need more. Operating at a different pace, and more. Fun talk. Gary Bertwistle and Darren “Robbo” Robertson
Living abroad, Stoicism, why you should write your own autobiography
on slow thinking, how actions reveal your true values, goal-letting vs. goal-setting
Music: creative process, motivation, originality, and smart career building.
subtracting to add value, unlearning, play as work, shallow happy vs. deep happy, doing what you want most
First interview in over three years. About being an introvert in the music industry, finding balance as a creative, the benefits of a stage name, and conferences.
minimalism
My last interview for a long time. About faults, disappearing, money, favors, passion, goals, and much more.
Podcast about success on your own terms, deliberate change, set points, writing, expertise, and much more
Great dense talk with Jonathan Levi about… many things. See his site for a table of contents.
31 minutes about the definition of success, unpopular beliefs, and more
Two hour conversation on developing confidence, finding happiness, and saying no to millions.
Great talk with Peter Awad about job security, internalizing books, making memories, being global not local, parenting, expectations
Finding your voice, breaking bad habits, and thriving.
Great conversation about how weird I am, being useful, time management, and more.
Tech, programming, and creativity with Jeff Meyerson
Never stop learning
what’s important for you, a life you love, staying positive, with Joel Boggess
How to find your unfair advantage, self-education, being selfless, and what to do. Good conversation with Jon Nastor.
Talking with John Warrillow about how I started and sold CD Baby
Why passion is overrated, plasticity, career capital, culture, and more.
Mark Hermann and I talk music, how to be useful to others, changing the music business, and more.
Great conversation with Srini Rao about moving, introversion, programming, personal development, money, sharing what you've learned, and when to say no.
Talking with Faheem Moosa about starting, building, and selling a business.
People-pleasing and obstacles.
Networking, saying yes, what a business really is, how musicians can thrive now, finding your core.
With Travis Bell, that Bucket List guy
Turning Observations Into Action
The Tao of Business and how to live it, as well as how to design a life philosophy with deep meaning.
talk with Michael Sliwinski about my recipe for a happy life, giving and taking
business lessons learned
being retired, settling in, helping people, what to expect
Tom Libelt and Till Carlos ask questions about self-employment for their documentary film
Talk with Natalie Sisson about outsourcing, lifestyle, comfort zone, where to live, and more.
Talking with Bob Baker about what to do early in your career, fame, fortune, failure, marketing, and the international life.
Good conversation with William Channer about Wood Egg, employees, networking, focus, learning.
On “changing your operating system” - my metaphor for making deep changes in my life.
Scott and I talk about courage, introversion, the circus, people, 4-Hour Work Week, and life. R.I.P., Scott.
The cutting edge of conscious business, with Ewan Townhead
conversation with Ben Dean, just telling my story
Great 50-minute conversation about a variety of things.
Talk with Gail Lynne Goodwin about my book “Anything You Want”
How/when to sell your company, and other business/marketing things.
30-minute audio interview mostly about my book. Great questions.
35-minute video interview about business, self-belief, and other good stuff. Great rapport.
One commenter said, “A great interview that became a fantastic interview in the last 20 minutes.”
Do whatever the hell makes you happy! A 30-minute audio interview about business plans, freedom and happiness.
Fun hour-long interview where we talk about business intuition, story-telling, and more.
A great review of my book, followed by a great interview about minimalism in business.
My friend and the CEO of my book, “Anything You Want”! Fun 50-minute video interview about the book and related things.
Why being a good follower might be more important than being a good leader, learning from the best, and the value of experiential learning versus theory.
Talk with Justin Vincent and Jason Roberts about running CD Baby remotely, programming myself, stories, transparency, and minimalism.
Must see. Watch the video. Maybe my funniest interview. We have a great irreverent banter.
Matthew Niederberger in Rotterdam Netherlands asks me about selling CD Baby, being nomadic, and the dancing guy
business talk about automating then selling my company, and what to do afterwards
Capitalism with Heart and The Tao of Business
just some post-CD Baby questions
video interview about promoting and marketing your music
with Alex Shalman about success and focus
after selling CD Baby, thoughts on selling process, and what's after
while running CD Baby, thoughts on beginnings and operations
My first interview. A cable TV show some time in 1998, shortly after I started CD Baby. Thanks to Vito Petroccitto for finding this.