Podcast
Greatness
Hosted by Jonathan Watts · EN
Learn from history’s greatest.
Each week, Jonathan Watts dives into the lives and moments of the world's most extraordinary people, uncovering timeless lessons and unforgettable stories.
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
156. Marcus Aurelius
2w ago00:50:27Tap to summarizeDiving into the life of the last great Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and his own personal notes to himself.-----SourcesThe Lives of the Stoics - Ryan HolidayMarcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor - Donald RobertsonMeditations - Marcus Aurelius-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →155. History Dump: Henry Ford, Richard Feynman, and Chris Hadfield
3w ago00:39:49Tap to summarizeDoing a new little mini-series called a "History Dump" where I offer stories, ideas, and things I've found interesting from books, documentaries, and anything I've researched recently.This episode focuses on three individuals: Richard Feynman, Henry Ford, and Chris Hadfield. -----SourcesMy Life and Work - Henry FordAn Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth - Chris HadfieldSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →154. Howard Schultz and The Rise of Starbucks
Apr 3000:55:45Tap to summarizeDiving into the early years of Howard Schultz and his unusual path to building Starbucks."I can't give you any secret recipe for success, any foolproof plan for making it in the world of business. But my own experience suggests that it is possible to start from nothing and achieve even beyond your dreams."-----Sources - Pour Your Heart Into It - Howard Schultz-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →153. The Mental Battle of Rory McIlroy
Apr 1900:30:56Tap to summarizeDiving into the emotional ride of Rory McIlroy and his journey to winning the Masters.“You’re trying to overcome all of history. These memories. All these different things that are going through your head while you’re playing that golf course, and trying to win this massive tournament…And that’s one of the hurdles I have found so hard to overcome. You have to get over the demons that you have on that course.” - Rory McIlroy-----Sources: Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →152. Jerry Seinfeld
Apr 1100:41:02Tap to summarizeDiving into the working ways and creative process of comedian Jerry Seinfeld-----“Your blessing in life is when you find the torture you’re comfortable with.”- Jerry Seinfeld -----SourcesIs This Anything? - Jerry Seinfeld#485: Jerry Seinfeld — A Comedy Legend’s Systems, Routines, and Methods for SuccessJerry Seinfeld Intends to Die Standing Up Life's Work -----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →151. Advice from the Wisest People on Earth
Apr 300:38:29Tap to summarizeDr. Karl Pillemer interviewed a thousand elderly individuals with one common goal: what can we learn from them on how to live better?Today's episode dives into those lessons and insights. -----Sources: 30 Lesssons for Living-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →150. The Remarkable Rise of Maria Sharapova
Mar 3100:50:45Tap to summarizeDiving into the inspiring story of Maria Sharapova and her rise to becoming one of the greatest tennis players ever.-----SourcesUnstoppable, My Life So Far - Maria Sharapova-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →149. The Making of Three Great Men - Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Johnson
Mar 2600:54:29Tap to summarizeDiving into the key moments and experinces that made Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson.-----SourcesLeadership - Dorris Kearns-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more on our website:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →148. The Creative Mind of Twyla Tharp
Mar 1701:04:00Tap to summarizeDiving into the dance choreogrpaher Tywla Tharp and her great ideas and thoughts on the creative process.-----"A creative life has the nourishing power we normally associate with food, love, and faith." - Twyla TharpeSourcesThe Creative Habit - Twyla Tharp-----2:55 - Preparing to do the work"In order to be creative you have to know how to prepare to be creative."8:32 - What's in it for you?9:45 - Solitude as an indicator"Solitude is an unavoidable part of creativity. Self-reliance is a happy by-product."11:30 - Finding your "Creative DNA."14:02 - The power of imitaiton and emulation16:05 - A short practice from Austin Kleon16:35 - The process of finding good ideas21:30 - Some practices for idea generation25:25 - Submerge yourself with the masters28:25 - Banish obligation30:05 - Create your own "box."33:30 - Creativity is a skill39:00 - Ruts and grooves46:40 - A way to keep momentum and grooves alive48:10 - Get an A in failure51:05 - Common themes of failure53:15 - 128 ballets to get to mastery 54:35 - Build a bubble "When I look back on my best work, it was inevitably created in what I call the Bubble. I eliminated every distraction, sacrificed almost everything that gave me pleasure, placed myself in a single-minded isolation chamber, and structured my life so that everything was not only feeding the work but subordinated to it. It is not a particularly sociable way to operate. It's actively antisocial. On the other hand, it is procreative."1:01:00 - The power of a creative life-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more here:Chasegreatness.net
Transcribe →147. Alex Honnold - Climbing Legend
Mar 1000:31:43Tap to summarizeDiving into the greatest living climber, Alex Honnold.-----SourcesFree Solo DocumentaryLearning to Live with Fear - Alex HonnoldThe Greatest Climber AliveHow Alex Honnold Faces Fear-----6:30 - Risk versus consequence 9:05 - Dealing with fear11:02 - How to overcome fear + Viewing things as a skill"What's your hack to overcome fear? You just get really freaking scared over and over for so long. And eventually it's not that scary anymore.”12:25 - Are your fears founded?13:45 - Alex and the 10,000 rule 15:05 - Fear and hunger analogy 15:50 - The importance of death in Alex's life and career20:05 - El Cap and an analogy for life21:42 - The work is the reward25:40 - His success in a single line26:12 - Advice for others26:20 - The chase is the dream-----Check out my books below:Daily Greatness: Short Stories and Essays on the Act of Becoming Chasing Greatness 2nd Edition - Timeless Stories on the Pursuit of ExcellenceStay connected and check out more here:Chasegreatness.net
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