#804: Robert Rodriguez, The Wizard of Cinema Returns — The "Fear-Forward" Way of Life, How to Overcome Self-Doubt, Learning to Love Limitations, and Counter-Intuitive Parenting That Works

The Tim Ferriss Show

Robert Rodriguez is a film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor, and composer. Rodriguez has written, produced, directed, and edited a series of successful films including El Mariachi, Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, the Spy Kids franchise, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Frank Miller’s Sin City, and many more. Robert recently launched Brass Knuckle Films, an investable action film slate.

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Start.

[00:08:19] Recounting what’s happened in the 10 years since Robert’s last appearance on the show.

[00:11:23] The freedom of limitations.

[00:14:08] Fruit-bearing “failures.”

[00:16:09] How Robert stumbled onto his own brand of counterintuitive parenting.

[00:18:42] How fan investing for Brass Knuckle Films works.

[00:23:59] How to effectively pitch a movie idea.

[00:26:55] The time to start your art is now. Aim high.

[00:33:00] The value of learning by doing.

[00:43:31] The power of labels to elevate or diminish our ambitions.

[00:47:51] Why lack of access is a myth.

[00:49:08] No human doubts — when not knowing is half the battle.

[00:54:25] Fear forward past the confines of the comfort zone.

[00:59:02] Interactions with the enigmatic Rick Rubin.

[01:01:53] Harnessing the creative spirit: action first, inspiration second.

[01:07:00] Living is reliving: why Robert wants you to start journaling.

[01:15:38] “Don’t just parent. Partner.”

[01:22:47] In defense of what some call nepotism.

[01:28:27] Why the double R naming scheme in the Rodriguez household?

[01:30:04] Tribe talk.

[01:33:38] Robert’s favorite exercise-related life hack: the rock walk.

[01:36:15] Parting thoughts.

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