Rick Rubin

Sponsors: Maui Nui, Eight Sleep & Waking Up

Tool: Coherence Breathing, Heart Rate Variability

Treading Water, Podcasts

Tool: Meditation Practices

Sunlight, Skin, Circadian Rhythm

Headphones, Natural Living, Diet

Artificial Intelligence (AI); Childhood; Magic & Mentalists

Tool: Writer’s Block, Creativity, Diary Entries; Deadlines

Sponsor: AG1

Uncertainty; Creativity & Challenges; Sensitivity & Environment

Wrestling, Storytelling; Johnny Cash

Creative Endeavors & Outcome; Surprise in Oneself; Experimentation

Resistance; Business & Art

Sponsor: InsideTracker

Source of Ideas; Internet & Information

Dreams & Interpretation; Unconscious Mind; Motivations, Art & Outcome

Career Advice, Book Writing, Diary Entries, Expressive Writing

Music Industry; Capturing Ideas; Money & Ingenuity

Audience; Innovative Ideas

Alcohol, Confidence, Psychedelics

Creativity, Chaos & Organization; Shocking Experiences

News & False Stories; Playing, Wonder & Childhood

Ramones; Henry Rollins

Daily Routine; Red Light, Circadian Rhythm & “Cheap Photons”

Creativity, Experience vs. Institutions; Work, Stress & Relationships

Book Recommendations; Ancestry & Creativity

Experiencing Music; Developing Albums

Music Videos; Book Interpretation; Current Projects & Documentaries

Podcasting & Conversation

Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, YouTube Feedback, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

- Andrew Huberman is a professor at Stanford School of Medicine and the host of the Huberman Lab Podcast.
- Rick Rubin is a world-renowned music producer and author of the book "'The Creative Act, A Way of Being.'"
- Rick Rubin is answering questions about the creative process on the podcast.
- The discussion focuses on the practical aspects of the creative process and what people should do from waking up to going to sleep.
- The podcast is separate from the speaker's teaching and research roles at Stanford.
- The speaker wants to provide free information about science and science-related tools to the general public.
- The first sponsor is Maui Nui Venison, which offers high-quality protein with a low calorie ratio.
- The second sponsor is Eight Sleep, which makes smart mattress covers that control the temperature of your sleeping environment for better sleep.

- Andrew Huberman is a professor at Stanford School of Medicine and the host of the Huberman Lab Podcast.
- Rick Rubin is a world-renowned music producer and author of the book "'The Creative Act, A Way of Being.'"
- Rick Rubin is answering questions about the creative process on the podcast.
- The discussion focuses on the practical aspects of the creative process and what people should do from waking up to going to sleep.
- This discussion is different from previous interviews with Rick Rubin.

- The podcast is separate from the speaker's teaching and research roles at Stanford.
- The speaker wants to provide free information about science and science-related tools to the general public.
- The first sponsor is Maui Nui Venison, which offers high-quality protein with a low calorie ratio.
- The second sponsor is Eight Sleep, which makes smart mattress covers that control the temperature of your sleeping environment for better sleep.
- The third sponsor is Waking Up, a meditation app that offers various meditation programs and yoga nidra for improved mental health and creativity.

- Rick Rubin is comfortable with uncertainty and the unknown.
- He feels anxiety when starting a new project but doesn't feel pressure to finish until he feels good about it.
- If challenges or personal issues interfere with the work, they are worth discussing.
- Rick Rubin acknowledges the pain and sensitivity that artists often experience and advises them to embrace those emotions to create great work.
- He curates the people around him to be those he wants to have around him.

- The speaker went to a punk rock show and enjoyed the intense and loving atmosphere.
- Wrestling allows the speaker to relax because it is a collaborative performance with no real aggression.
- Wrestling reflects the unpredictability and ambiguity of the real world.
- The popularity of wrestling and UFC suggests a primitive and evolved aspect of human nature.
- The speaker finds wrestling exciting and sees it as an accurate representation of the world.

- The question of whether what one is doing is worth it is reliant on an outcome, but the focus should be on making the best thing possible rather than the outcome itself.
- It is important to avoid putting energy into things that are out of one's control, as it undermines the work being done.
- The process of creating is similar to the scientific method, where one formulates a question, hypothesis, and then explores what is and what isn't.
- Following certain principles, such as tapping into oneself, not thinking about the outcome, and having an open mind, can improve various aspects of life, not just art.
- It is important to have good boundaries and be open to the world in order to enhance the creative process.

- The speaker approaches resistance in other artists on a case-by-case basis, depending on the artist and situation.
- The speaker remains friends with many of the people they have worked with, which is not always the case in producer-artist relationships.
- The speaker prefers to stay out of the financial aspects of their work and focuses on making the best art possible.
- The speaker values discussing art over business and prefers to focus on their purpose of collecting and disseminating health and science information.
- The speaker is praised for their ability to explain complicated scientific ideas in a way that is understandable and caring.

- InsideTracker is a personalized nutrition platform that analyzes data from blood and DNA to help understand the body and reach health goals.
- Regular blood work is important for understanding factors that impact immediate and long-term health.
- InsideTracker provides a personalized platform that shows levels of metabolic factors, lipids, hormones, etc., and gives specific directives for nutrition, behavioral modifications, and supplements to optimize those levels.
- To try InsideTracker, visit insidetracker.com/Huberman for a 20% discount on any plan.

- Rick Rubin loves both WWE and AEW.
- He doesn't abandon ideas or projects, but some ideas take longer to come to fruition.
- He works on multiple projects simultaneously.
- Rick Rubin finds smartphones and the internet to be both a gift and an inhibitor to his creative process.
- He enjoys discovering new music through curated playlists and online radio stations.

- The speaker discusses the importance of recurring dreams and the insights they can provide about one's subconscious and life experiences.
- A mutual friend believes that the unconscious mind is the "supercomputer" of the brain and that it controls more of the dialogue in dreams.
- Dreams are often presented in analogies and visual symbols, tailored to how individuals learn best.
- The unconscious mind and instinct are where great ideas come from, while the conscious and intellectual mind are more focused on outcomes.
- The story of comedian Andrew Dice Clay is used as an example of how understanding one's motivations can shape their creative process and career.

- The speaker is asked for advice to a starting comedian and suggests being true to oneself and not listening to others.
- The speaker mentions working on a book and receiving advice to focus on completing a draft before refining details.
- The speaker discusses their diary entries, which range from one to eight handwritten pages and serve as a way to express frustrations and capture positive experiences.
- The speaker mentions a type of journaling called expressive writing, developed by James Pennebaker, which has shown positive effects on psychology, physiology, and immune system function.
- The speaker expresses admiration for Pennebaker's work and suggests it is as effective as prescription drugs for depression.

- The transcript discusses the negative aspects of the entertainment industry and how to maintain creativity and love for the work.
- The speaker captures ideas by writing them down in their phone.
- They view money as just another form of energy and try not to think about it too much.
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of starting with what you have and being resourceful in order to make things happen.
- They believe that a minimalist approach can often lead to better solutions and retention of material.

- The speaker has never held back from releasing something they like, even if it may not have mainstream appeal.
- They have been told that their ideas won't work every time they try something new.
- The speaker launched a podcast called Tetragrammaton and enjoys the ad reads, which they initially didn't feel comfortable doing.
- The ads in the podcast are clever and transport the speaker to a different time.
- The speaker found a creative solution to the problem of reading ads and now considers them a highlight of the podcast.

- Rick Rubin discusses a breathing exercise for increasing heart rate variability.
- The exercise involves taking deep breaths and following a specific sound pattern.
- Rick Rubin does the exercise with his eyes closed and counts the breaths.
- He aims to do the exercise for at least 10 minutes a day.
- The frequency of doing the exercise depends on his schedule and circumstances.

- The speaker had a negative experience with alcohol during a class experiment.
- The speaker recalls doing blood tests in science class.
- The interviewer asks about the speaker's resistance to peer pressure regarding alcohol and drugs.
- The speaker attributes their resistance to being an only child and knowing their own preferences.
- The speaker expresses curiosity about psychedelics, particularly macrodosilocybin and ibogaine, and mentions their experiences with MDMA in a therapeutic trial.

- The speaker discusses the association between creativity and disorganization.
- They mention that the creative process starts in a free and chaotic place before becoming more controlled.
- The speaker talks about their reaction to hearing the ghetto boys for the first time and how it pushed boundaries in music.
- They express a preference for things that make them feel good rather than things that excite them.
- The speaker discusses how movies can have a lasting impact on their mood.

- The speaker is unsure about where to get reliable news and questions the trustworthiness of the media.
- They have personally experienced false information being published about them.
- The speaker believes that many things written about them and others are not true.
- They value maintaining a childlike wonder and openness to the world.
- The speaker finds beauty in understanding the scientific explanations behind things, but acknowledges the potential limitations of their own perspective.

- The transcript discusses the possibility of the Ramones naming themselves after Paul McCartney's fake last name.
- The speaker is unsure if this story is true, but knows that Paul McCartney used the name Paul Ramone when checking into hotels.
- The transcript also mentions how rumors can become "facts" on the internet.
- The speaker recalls a photograph of Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer, Henry Rollins, and themselves, but does not remember the specific details of the moment captured in the photo.
- The speaker is looking for a high-resolution version of the photograph and is willing to compensate anyone who can find it.

- The speaker's daily routine involves waking up, going out into the sun, and doing some form of physical activity within an hour.
- They avoid work-related activities until around 11 am or later.
- In the evening, they limit exposure to bright artificial light and wear red glasses.
- The speaker finds that avoiding bright light exposure in the evening has benefited their sleep and overall well-being.
- They also discuss the negative effects of cheap, nutrient-depleted calories and blue light photons on health.

- The speaker and Rick have made changes to their health practices based on scientific evidence.
- They believe that low volume weight training with heavy weights is more effective than high volumes.
- The speaker believes that the creative process is separate from academic scholarship and can be beneficial.
- They think that formal education may be obsolete and that learning from mentors and real-world experience is more valuable.
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of honesty and open communication in relationships.

- The speaker recommends Rick's book on the creative act, A Way of Being, as a must-read.
- They also recommend the book Wherever You Go, There You Are, especially the 30th anniversary edition.
- The speaker found the mountain visualization meditation from Wherever You Go, There You Are particularly helpful.
- They discuss the possibility of genetic or ancestral influences on creativity and music.
- The speaker mentions the theory that UFOs may be controlling us, but acknowledges that there are various theories and they haven't looked into it yet.

- The speaker doesn't play music but listens to it with an open mind, looking for unexpected elements.
- The first sound or moment of a piece of music can give a sense of whether it will be good or interesting.
- The speaker avoids listening critically if they are not feeling well or unable to be fully present.
- The length of time it takes to create an album varies, with some albums being made quickly in a weekend and others taking years.
- The process of creating music can be episodic or continuous, and both approaches have their own unique qualities.

- The speaker has appeared in music videos for artists like Eminem, Jay-Z, and Beastie Boys.
- The decision to be in the videos was usually made by the artists themselves.
- The speaker believes that music videos can enhance or limit the interpretation of a song.
- The speaker is currently working on documentary projects and albums with artists like Marcus King and The Gossip.
- The speaker watches documentaries to learn what not to do and enjoys finding new ways to reveal information in the documentary format.

- The podcast host has a unique approach to podcasting that focuses on intimacy and personal conversations.
- The host aims for a natural and casual experience without the sense of performance.
- The guest shares a personal experience of opening up during a conversation with the host, which strengthened their friendship.
- Effective podcasts reflect the love and passion of the host for the conversation topics.
- The guest expresses gratitude for the host's educational impact and the creative works that stem from their wisdom.

- The speaker describes their specific routine of doing coherence breathing and air squats in one location.
- They also mention treading water as part of their routine, which they did while listening to podcasts.
- The speaker mentions that treading water is challenging but can be improved with practice.
- They express gratitude for being able to continue treading water in their new place with a pool.
- The speaker enjoyed listening to podcasts, including "Truly, Tetragrammaton" and "History of Rock Music and 500 Songs."

- Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act, A Way of Being" is recommended
- Viewers are encouraged to subscribe to the YouTube channel and leave a five-star review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
- Comments and suggestions for the podcast can be left on the YouTube comment section
- Supplements discussed on previous episodes can be found at livemomentous.com/huberman
- The Neural Network newsletter, which includes podcast summaries and protocols, can be subscribed to at HubermanLab.com

- The speaker learned transcendental meditation (TM) at the age of 14 and it is their default setting for meditation.
- The meditation practice may evolve from TM into breathing, gratitude practice, or a meta practice.
- The meta practice involves repeating four phrases of loving kindness.
- The speaker learned the meta practice from Jack Kornfield, a Buddhist scholar.
- Meditation has become a part of the speaker's identity and has brought numerous benefits, although they don't always practice it consistently.

- The speaker was walking on the beach listening to a podcast when someone interrupted them to talk about Steve Martin.
- The person they spoke to was a dermatologist who mentioned that he listens to podcasts at night due to insomnia.
- The speaker told the dermatologist that wearing sunglasses during the day can disrupt sleep patterns.
- The dermatologist was surprised by this information, as his practice focuses on protecting people from the sun.
- The speaker believes that getting sunlight signals in the morning and evening, particularly the contrasts between blues and oranges, is important for regulating sleep and wakefulness.

- The speaker stopped using Bluetooth headphones due to experiencing cysts behind their ears.
- They interviewed a neurosurgeon about the electromagnetic radiation from Bluetooth headphones.
- The speaker prefers using headphones with air tubes to minimize electrical exposure.
- They believe in the importance of natural health practices and express frustration with the slow acceptance of certain practices.
- The speaker lost 135 pounds through a high-protein, low-calorie, low-carb diet, which went against mainstream convention at the time.

- The speaker has organized a list of questions for the discussion.
- They are unsure about AI's ability to shape art and prefer the point of view of human artists.
- The speaker enjoyed reading, listening to music, and playing guitar as a child.
- They used to do magic tricks but had to choose between magic and music.
- The speaker is interested in mentalists and finds their performances fascinating.

- Many questions were about writer's block and feeling stuck in the creative process.
- The cause of the block is usually self-judgment or fear of outside judgment.
- Making something for oneself, without expectations or pressure, can help overcome blocks.
- Going for a walk or seeking inspiration from the outside world can spark ideas.
- Deadlines can be helpful at the end of a creative process, but not at the beginning.

- The speaker has been taking AG1 daily since 2012 and is happy that they are sponsoring the podcast.
- AG1 is a vitamin mineral probiotic drink that provides foundational nutrition.
- The speaker tries to get enough vitamins and minerals from whole food sources but often can't, so AG1 helps fill that gap.
- AG1 also contains adaptogens to help with stress and improves focus, energy, and sleep.
- The speaker recommends AG1 as the one supplement to take and offers a special offer for trying it.

Rick Rubin: Protocols to Access Creative Energy and Process