The Tim Ferriss Show   /     #803: Craig Mod Returns — Epic Walks in Japan, The Art of Slowness, Digital Detox, Publishing “Impossible” Books, and Choosing Beauty Over Scale

Summary

Craig Mod Returns! Craig is a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo and Kamakura, Japan. He is the author of Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa. He also writes the newsletters Roden and Ridgeline and has contributed to The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired, and more. Sponsors: Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: https://shopify.com/tim (one-dollar-per-month trial period) Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off) Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://HelixSleep.com/Tim (Between 20% and 27% off all mattress orders and two free pillows) Timestamps: 00:00 Molly Joins the Podcast 00:52 Meet Craig Mod 07:46 Living in a Six-Tatami Mat Room 12:24 Golden Gai: Tokyo's Historic Drinking District 17:33 Epic Walks: From Tokyo to Kumano Kodō 18:05 The Influence of John McBride 31:25 The Magic of Polite Japanese 38:38 The New Generation of Japanese-Speaking Foreigners 40:30 Kevin Kelly's Walk 41:08 The Birth of the Photo Book Idea 43:05 The Big Solo Walks Begin 43:56 Launching a Membership Program 44:58 The Nakasendo Walk 50:06 Rules of Walking 01:00:43 Booking Logistics in Japan 01:04:24 The Wired Magazine Essay 01:16:23 Creating CraigStarter: A Kickstarter Alternative 01:17:26 The Success of CraigStarter and Membership Strategy 01:19:50 Membership Community Rules and Goals 01:22:22 The Dangers of Scale in Creative Work 01:26:56 Navigating the Publishing Industry 01:38:37 Promoting Midsize Cities in Japan 01:50:48 Unexpected Cultural Encounter 01:52:50 Economic Benefits of Spotlighted Cities 01:54:46 Exploring Hidden Gems in Japan 01:56:55 Global Walking Adventures 01:59:46 Adoption Journey and Family Reconnection 02:05:27 Reflections on Family and Identity 02:19:46 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Subtitle
Duration
02:28:54
Publishing date
2025-03-27 18:30
Contributors
Enclosures
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/d4192037-471f-45c7-94f3-8076b47c63f2.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIgxNb3ppbGxhBjoGRVQ%3D--4f04cd103bfdd3e94cbbb356ead53321a4d63e94
audio/mpeg

Shownotes

Craig Mod Returns! Craig is a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo and Kamakura, Japan. He is the author of Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa. He also writes the newsletters Roden and Ridgeline and has contributed to The New York TimesThe AtlanticWired, and more.

Sponsors:

Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: https://shopify.com/tim (one-dollar-per-month trial period)

Momentous high-quality supplements: https://livemomentous.com/tim (code TIM for 20% off)

Helix Sleep premium mattresses: https://HelixSleep.com/Tim (Between 20% and 27% off all mattress orders and two free pillows)

Timestamps:

00:00 Molly Joins the Podcast

00:52 Meet Craig Mod

07:46 Living in a Six-Tatami Mat Room

12:24 Golden Gai: Tokyo's Historic Drinking District

17:33 Epic Walks: From Tokyo to Kumano Kodō

18:05 The Influence of John McBride

31:25 The Magic of Polite Japanese

38:38 The New Generation of Japanese-Speaking Foreigners

40:30 Kevin Kelly's Walk

41:08 The Birth of the Photo Book Idea

43:05 The Big Solo Walks Begin

43:56 Launching a Membership Program

44:58 The Nakasendo Walk

50:06 Rules of Walking

01:00:43 Booking Logistics in Japan

01:04:24 The Wired Magazine Essay

01:16:23 Creating CraigStarter: A Kickstarter Alternative

01:17:26 The Success of CraigStarter and Membership Strategy

01:19:50 Membership Community Rules and Goals

01:22:22 The Dangers of Scale in Creative Work

01:26:56 Navigating the Publishing Industry

01:38:37 Promoting Midsize Cities in Japan

01:50:48 Unexpected Cultural Encounter

01:52:50 Economic Benefits of Spotlighted Cities

01:54:46 Exploring Hidden Gems in Japan

01:56:55 Global Walking Adventures

01:59:46 Adoption Journey and Family Reconnection

02:05:27 Reflections on Family and Identity

02:19:46 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

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