Vik Muniz — The Art of Perception (EP.294)
Infinite Loops
What if the invention that truly made us human wasn’t the wheel, language, or even agriculture — but art? In this episode of Infinite Loops, we sit down with internationally renowned artist Vik Muniz to explore a radical and deeply human idea: that art — the ability to represent the world — may be humanity’s most important invention after fire. Born in São Paulo and now collected by major museums around the world, Muniz reflects on his own life journey — from growing up in a Brazilian favela to redefining what art can be — and explains why the artwork is only ever half complete....
info_outline
Marc Dennis — Painting the Punchline (EP.293)
Infinite Loops
Artist Marc Dennis joins Jim O'Shaughnessy to explore the intersection of hyper-realism, humor, and the "meta-narrative." Marc shares his incredible non-linear journey—from accidentally starting a forest fire at age seven to becoming a tenured professor and eventually betting it all to become a full-time artist with no plan B. They discuss why the "key to failure" is trying to please everyone, how humor acts as a survival mechanism, and the crucial difference between perception and reality. Marc also offers a masterclass on intention, explaining why he plants hidden stories within his...
info_outline
Ariel Meyerowitz — Navigating the Art World (EP. 292)
Infinite Loops
Professional art advisor Ariel Meyerowitz joins Jim O'Shaughnessy to demystify the complex world of art. Ariel provides an essential guide for aspiring collectors, explaining where to begin, how to develop your eye, and why buying what you love is the most important first step. They explore the inner workings of galleries, auctions, and art fairs, contrasting the emotional value of art with the often-fickle investment market. Ariel also shares her philosophy on patronage, the psychology of collecting, and the profound, stress-reducing impact of living with art. This conversation is a perfect...
info_outline
Adam Moskowitz — The Way of the Cheesemonger (EP.291)
Infinite Loops
is the King of Cheese—but his path to the throne was anything but straight. In this delicious episode of Infinite Loops, Adam shares his wild journey from a failed rap career and a battle with addiction to becoming one of the most influential figures in cheese and the host of . Whether you are a foodie, a creator battling gatekeepers, or just someone who loves a good comeback story, this episode will remind you to bet on yourself—and maybe eat some better cheese while you’re at it. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and...
info_outline
Todd Rose — Escaping the Trap of the Standard Path (EP.290)
Infinite Loops
From a 0.9 GPA in rural Utah to the faculty of Harvard, Todd Rose’s life is a testament to the idea that the "standard path" is a myth. In this return appearance on Infinite Loops, Todd opens up about the gritty, unvarnished reality of his origin story—a journey that includes ten minimum wage jobs, a stint administering enemas for a living, and the life-changing intervention of a department secretary named Marilyn Diamond. We dive deep into the "Dark Horse" mindset and why the pursuit of fulfillment, rather than the pursuit of excellence, is actually the most reliable driver of success....
info_outline
George Mack — The Game of Life (Infinite Loops CLASSICS)
Infinite Loops
Hello everyone, Jim here. We're taking a brief break from new episodes to spotlight a golden oldie from the Infinite Loops archive. This conversation from December 2023 remains one of my favorites. Fresh episodes return next week, but first, enjoy this conversation with the inimitable George Mack. _________________ Writer, marketer, entrepreneur, and master of mental models, George Mack returns to discuss the top 0.1% of ideas he’s ever come across, from treating life as a video game to spotting high-agency individuals. Important Links: (Rick and Morty) Show Notes: Treating Life...
info_outline
Michael Perry — Improbable Mentors and the Art of Midwestern Storytelling (EP. 289)
Infinite Loops
What happens when a shy farm kid from rural Wisconsin who never dreamed of being a writer becomes one of America's most beloved storytellers? Michael Perry joins Infinite Loops to share his remarkable journey from cleaning calf pens to pitching scripts at Universal Studios, all while maintaining his day job as a volunteer firefighter and EMT in his hometown. This conversation is a masterclass in authentic storytelling, practical wisdom, and the power of staying true to your roots while navigating an industry that often values credentials over character. Perry shares unforgettable stories about...
info_outline
Kenneth Stanley — The Trap of the Objective (EP.288)
Infinite Loops
Ken Stanley – AI researcher and author of "Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned" – joins me to explore why ambitious objectives can blind us to the stepping stones that make breakthroughs possible. Ken is the inventor of the novelty search algorithm and co-creator of Picbreeder, a crowdsourced evolutionary art experiment that has led to important insights about our objective-obsessed culture. This conversation covers everything from why vacuum tubes had to come before computers, how the path you take to success matters more than the success itself, the "fractured entangled representation"...
info_outline
Elle Griffin — Rethinking Ownership and the Future of Work (EP. 287)
Infinite Loops
Writer, editor, and founder of The Elysian, Elle Griffin joins me on Infinite Loops to discuss her vision for participatory capitalism, a world where ownership, reputation, and creativity are shared more broadly across society. We explore the evolution of capitalism from the industrial era to the networked age, how broad-based ownership could rebuild the middle class, why optimism is revolutionary, and how storytelling shapes our collective imagination. We also discuss how reputation is becoming a new form of capital and how writers can become architects of meaning in a world reshaped by AI...
info_outline
Jay Yang — The Power of Permissionless Action (EP. 286)
Infinite Loops
What if the biggest barrier between you and your dreams isn't talent, connections, or luck— but simply the belief that you need permission to act? Jay Yang joins Infinite Loops to challenge one of the most limiting assumptions of our time: that opportunities must be handed to us rather than created by us. At just 16, Jay cold-emailed the CEO of Beehiiv with a concrete plan that led to an internship. At 17, he sent Noah Kagan a 19-page audit of his email funnel with ready-to-ship assets, ultimately becoming head of content and helping put "Million Dollar Weekend" on the New York Times...
info_outline“Most people don’t want to acknowledge the uncomfortable truth that distraction is always an unhealthy escape from reality.”
My latest guest, Nir Eyal, writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. Nir previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford.
In our conversation, Nir gives it to us straight. Distraction is killing us, and stopping us from reaching our full potential. In a world that is constantly conspiring to keep us distracted, Nir provides an alternative: we can take back control. We can regain our agency.
All of these ideas are presented in his book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life (co-authored with Julie Li). This book is a clear guide to understanding the psychology behind our impulses and is chock-full of great anecdotes and peer-reviewed studies to help you better manage your time, and your life.
Nir’s framework is not only interesting, it is practical, so I suggest you check out our Substack, where you’ll find the episode transcript and some actionable takeaways. I also encourage you to buy Nir’s excellent book and start applying his strategies to your own life.
I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!
Important Links:
- Nir’s personal blog
- Nir’s LinkedIn
- Nir’s Twitter
- Nir’s YouTube channel
- Nir’s Habit Tracking Tool
- Nir’s Schedule Maker Tool
Show Notes:
- What Being Indistractable Is All About
- Etymology of the Word Distraction
- The Strong Pull of Internal Triggers
- The Tyranny of the To-Do List
- The Difference Between High Performers and Low Performers
- The Dangers of Labelling Ourselves
- Using the Psychology of Identity
- Using Self-Determination Theory to Diagnose Distraction
- The Perils of Snowplow Parenting
- Believe the Good Science
- Nir as Emperor of the World
Books / Articles Mentioned:
- Indistractable; by Nir Eyal (+ bonus content)
- Nir’s articles on Timeboxing, Values, FOMO and Wage slavery
- Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life; by Peter Gray