The James Altucher Show
James Altucher interviews the world's leading peak performers in every area of life. But instead of giving you the typical success story, James digs deeper to find the "Choose Yourself" story - these are the moments we relate to... when someone rises up from personal struggle to reinvent themselves. The James Altucher Show brings you into the lives of peak-performers: billionaires, best-selling authors, rappers, astronauts, athletes, comedians, actors, and the world champions in every field, all who forged their own paths, found financial freedom and harnessed the power to create more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
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Is Mind-Reading AI Coming Soon? My First Real AI Nervous Moment
<p>A Note from James:</p><p>Data is oil. Data is the gold of this AI revolution. Imagine you have an AI that has all of everybody’s thoughts also—so it’s not just learning on tweets and texts, it’s learning on the 60,000 or so thoughts that 8 billion people think each day around the world. </p><p>This sounds like amazing science fiction and magic and everything that one could ever have dreamed of… or it could be the end of the world. </p><p><br></p><p>Episode Description:</p><p>In this solo episode, James breaks dow...
Scott Adams: The Advice I Still Think About
<p>A Note from James:</p><p>You know, I’ve known Scott Adams for probably 12 or 13 years. He was one of the first guests on this podcast, and he’s the creator of Dilbert, which was my favorite cartoon strip for decades. But then, starting around 2013, he started writing about his life, his opinions, his approach to life, and what made him a success. The first book he did in this genre was How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big. He also wrote another book that was very influential, called Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Wher...
From the Archive: Sara Blakely on Fear, Failure, and the First Big Win
<p>Episode Description:</p><p>To launch our “From the Archive” series, James revisits his candid talk with Sara Blakely about turning fear into fuel, reframing failure, and selling a simple product with language and grit. You’ll hear the bathroom demo that won Neiman Marcus, the three-part courage engine she still uses, and how to protect the thinking time that sparks real ideas. </p><p><br></p><p>What You’ll Learn:</p>A usable framework for courage: how gratitude, mortality, and mission help you act when you’re anxious. Cold-call tactics that open doors: lead with humanity, humor, and a clear...
Why Peter Thiel’s Founder Rules Keep Paying Off
<p>A Note from James:</p><p>One of my favorite conversations on this show was with Peter Thiel. Yes—PayPal, Facebook, Palantir, and a dozen other hits. I first ran this episode years ago, and the advice still holds up. The same stories, the same frameworks—and the same challenge to think from first principles. Here’s Peter Thiel, one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. </p><p><br></p><p>Episode Description:</p><p>In this redux, James pressure-tests the core ideas from Peter Thiel’s Zero to One—why competition is for losers, how real monopolies...
“If You’re Still Trying to Be Rational Now, You’re Crazy:” Comedian Tim Dillon on Being Informed vs. Being Ignorant
<p>A Note from James:</p><p>Tim Dillon is crazy—in the best way. Not “institution” crazy. Crazy smart. Years ago he told me things about Epstein, hustle culture, and how the world really works that felt outlandish then and obvious now. He’s quirky, honest, and usually right about what to pay attention to. Also, he’s flat-out funny. Let’s bring Tim back and see how much of that old conversation still hits today.</p><p><br></p><p>Episode Description:</p><p>This redux revisits James’s conversation with comedian Tim Dillon on narratives, media incentives, and why “it’s...
Moon Hoaxes, Real Physics: Brian Keating on Evidence, Lasers, and the Van Allen Belts
<p>James brings back astrophysicist Brian Keating for a practical takedown of moon-landing conspiracy claims—and a wider lesson in how to reason when everyone has a microphone. From the Van Allen belts to “the flag waving,” Keating separates physics from folklore, explains what evidence actually looks like (hello, laser retroreflectors), and gives a playbook for engaging friends who’ve gone down the rabbit hole—without losing your mind.</p><p><br></p><p>MAKE SURE TO WATCH: Brian Keating's Video Debunking the Moon Landing Conspiracy Theory</p><p><br></p><p>What You’ll Learn:</p>A simple framework for arguing...
Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly: Why Gen Z Might Be the Most Talented Generation in History
<p>Today, we're sharing the recent episode of the Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly. James Altucher joins the show to break down why the 10,000-hour rule is a myth, how to cheat your way into the top 1%, why obsession matters more than talent, and how AI is now the greatest mentor of all time.</p><p><br></p><p>From entrepreneurship and failure… to mental health, chess mastery, comedy, and why losing millions hurts more than being broke — this episode goes deep.</p><p>If you're chasing mastery, reinvention, or clarity in your career… this is the one.</p><p><...
Make the $100M Look for $10M: Tye Sheridan & Nikola Todorovic on AI, VFX, and the Future of Filmmaking
<p>A Note from James:</p><p>Tye Sheridan is one of my favorite actors. You might know him as Cyclops in the X-Men movies (Apocalypse, etc.) or as the lead in Ready Player One—which is not only a great movie but also one of my favorite sci-fi books. One of his first films was Mud with Matthew McConaughey.</p><p>What I didn’t realize: since 2016, while still acting, Tye has also been a serious AI entrepreneur. He and Nikola Todorovic co-founded a VFX company—Wonder Studio—that built AI tools to make visual effects more accessible.</p><p>I want...
AI That Helps, Schools That Don’t, and How Not to Go Crazy with Prof. Brian Keating
<p>Episode Description:</p><p>James sits down with astrophysicist Brian Keating for a candid, useful tour through three hot zones: how to think about AI (and where it actually helps), what’s broken in higher ed and admissions right now, and why outsourcing your mood to politics is a losing strategy. You’ll hear first-hand stories (from UC San Diego classrooms to New York City politics), specific ways James and Brian really use AI daily, and a simple framework for protecting your attention and happiness—even when everything feels polarized.</p><p><br></p><p>What You’ll Learn:</p>A prac...
Kent Heckenlively on Catastrophic Disclosure: UFO Whistleblowers, Government Spin, and James’s 85% Rule
<p>A Note from James:</p><p>Are UFOs real or not? For 80 years there have been credible whistleblowers saying the government recovered craft—and even bodies. That’s why I wanted Kent Heckenlively on, the author of Catastrophic Disclosure: The Deep State, Aliens, and the Truth. I’m not here to decide for you. I want to hear the best evidence, ask the obvious questions, and have you help me figure out if we actually got closer to the truth. Let’s find out together. </p><p><br></p><p>Episode Description:</p><p>n this episode, James sits down wit...
