#802: Craig Mod — The Real Japan, Cheap Apartments in Tokyo, Productive Side Quests, Creative Retreats, Buying Future Freedom, and Being Possessed by Spirits

Craig Mod is a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo and Kamakura, Japan. He is the author of Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa . He also writes the newsletters Roden and Ridgeline and has contributed to The New York Times , The Atlantic , Wired , and more. Sponsors: David Protein Bars 28g of protein, 150 calories, and 0g of sugar : https://davidprotein.com/tim (Buy 4 cartons, get the 5th free.) AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D (and 5 free AG1 travel packs) with your first subscription purchase.) Eight Sleep’s Pod 4 Ultra sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: https://eightsleep.com/tim (save $350 on the Pod 4 Ultra) Timestamps: [00:00:00] Start. [00:06:49] What would make this a worthwhile conversation? [00:09:14] How Craig and I first met. [00:11:06] Growing up in a post-industrial Connecticut town. [00:13:10] The kindness of a tech-savvy stranger. [00:14:02] IRC, ANSI art scene, and making connections in the Internet’s early days. [00:15:48] From adoption to exploring hometown escape options. [00:18:28] Driving cross-country to a Silicon Valley internship. [00:20:05] Pursuing the desire to live abroad. [00:22:14] Attending Waseda University in Japan at age 19. [00:23:34] Seduced by the Ivy League: A momentary return to the States for a UPenn education. [00:24:52] Craig’s advice for adults who want to pick up the Japanese language. [00:29:04] Bizarre homestay experiences. [00:41:04] How Craig wound up back in Japan to work in publishing. [00:42:55] Developing design sensibilities at UPenn with Sharka Hyland and Joshua Mosley. [00:47:30] Craig’s color blindness and its influence on his design aesthetic. [00:49:54] Without a time machine, Craig lives vicariously through his daughter’s opportunities. [00:51:36] Struggling with spirits of sauce and the supernatural . [00:56:02] A Tibetan dream reader and lost love. [00:59:53] Craig’s journey to self-worth: Running, charging more for work, and building confidence. [01:01:51] The transformative experience of climbing to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. [01:04:40] Writing a camera review that went viral and paid rent for two years. [01:10:33] The article that changed Craig’s life. [01:16:39] The enduring power of physical books in the digital age. [01:21:06] How being adopted prepared Craig for life as an outsider no matter where he hangs his hat. [01:25:25] Craig’s time at Flipboard. [01:29:24] Writing in hotel rooms on weekends. [01:30:14] Meeting Kevin Kelly and landing a MacDowell writing residency. [01:32:51] Bridges burned and discoveries made at MacDowell. [01:40:16] Justifying a round two. [01:41:17] Craig’s advice for aspiring creatives. [01:45:12] Books Craig has reread multiple times. [01:49:43] The story behind Craig’s new book, Things Become Other Things. [02:01:47] Craig’s Special Projects membership program. [02:04:08] In praise of unexpected corners. [02:06:25] Lessons learned from the Sally Mann documentary. [02:07:34] Parting thoughts and a preview of round two (coming later this week). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .