The Tim Ferriss Show

#775: Jon Batiste — The Quest for Originality, How to Get Unstuck, His Favorite Mantras, and Strategies for Living a Creative Life

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Episode notes

Jon Batiste (@jonbatiste) is a five-time Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and composer. His eighth studio album, Beethoven Blues, is set for a November 15th release.

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction 

[06:46] Is the secret to long life embracing the mundane?

[09:28] The gift of mistakes.

[10:21] Why did Jon wait until he was 10 to speak?

[12:51] How music and performance entered the picture.

[13:36] An early exercise in winning over the room.

[15:08] Choosing the personal facets that art expresses.

[16:57] From a disappointing grade school performance to the Grammys.

[21:44] Cultivating suspense and shifting modes of creative expression.

[27:24] When perspective drives motivation more than stakes.

[32:14] Spiritual practice and grounding mantras.

[40:29] Surrender, acceptance, and growth through health challenges.

[43:37] The fuzzy line between blessing and curse.

[46:40] Growing up bullied as the "least talented" in a musical family.

[52:50] Jon's visionary mother guided him toward piano.

[55:23] Parental support for Jon's relocation to New York City.

[56:15] Serious setbacks that almost made Jon quit Juilliard and music altogether.

[01:00:37] Jon's advice to a younger musician enduring a similar path of hardships.

[01:03:11] How Jon owns what comes his way rather than allowing it to overwhelm him.

[01:07:30] Cultivating generosity without being drained.

[01:09:32] Jon's billboard is invisible — but with deep posts.

[01:11:47] My rough draft of five deep handfuls.

[01:18:21] Jon's answer in musical improv.

[01:25:42] Jon's upcoming album: Beethoven Blues (with bonus blues tutorial).

[01:39:09] Taking the hypotenuse to catharsis and other Parting thoughts.

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