Feb 8, 2019
Mark interviews James Fell, the author of The Holy Shit
Moment: How Lasting Change Can Happen in An
Instant about his new book.
This episode comes with a special offer. If you comment on the
show at www.starkreflections.ca
(Episode 60) in the first week, your name will be entered into a
random draw for winning a copy of the book. The choice of the
format (Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook) will be decided by the
winner. (Please note this podcast is airing Feb 8, 2019)
Prior to the interview, Mark shares a bit of a personal update,
which includes mention of his trip to Superstars Writing Seminars
this week as well as a brief word about the episode's corporate
sponsor, Findaway Voices . . .
. . . you can learn more at
starkreflections.ca/Findaway.
In their conversation, Mark and James talk about:
- The approach James takes when it comes to merging research,
attitude and humor in the different articles and columns he
writes
- Where and when the submit matter of an article seems to
naturally call for profanity
- How a cold call (and not following the "standard advice" on the
matter) led to a role as a bi-weekly columnist for the La
Times
- The dopamine rush that comes with the recognition of
progress
- The length of time and the amount of work it takes to make it
as a writer
- James' first book, Lose it Right, which sold only to a
publisher in Canada (Random House Canada)
- The decision to write a book within the system of the markets
that went beyond fitness and weight loss while maintaining a
consistent moral code
- How there are plenty of self-help books out there that are
absolute crap
- Being goal and motivation oriented
- Early positive feedback already received on the book and the
personal revelations shared from early and beta readers
- How the book idea came to James in the middle of a long bike
ride
- The concept of System 1 and System 2 from Thinking Fast and
Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Malcolm Gladwell as an example of an author who drilled down in
a narrow and focused way into a specific subject within common
knowlege, including reference to science and insightful
anecdotes
- The concept of making this a "how to" book about making
insights/epiphanies happen
- The outreach for personal stories and the series of interviews
with field experts on the topic
- How running is a creative process for James
- The two important elements: 1) The open-ness to the belief that
this (a transformative event) can happen 2) Analysis followed by
distraction
- Giving yourself the opportunity for an ephiphany to arrive
after first setting the stage by asking questions
- The importance of being comfortable turning distractions
completely off and engaging with nature for arriving at these types
of scenarios (looking out the window rather than reading or
listening to music)
- What "shower thoughts" are and why they are important
- The great value of a "walk in nature"
- The wave of emotion that comes when "the answer" arrives
- How we struggle with making "baby steps" because we are not
inspired - more likely we felt like it was something we "had to
do"
- The challenging process of recording the audiobook, which was
different than any of the radio or speaking experience James has
had
- Recording the audiobook in a music studio that was most often
used for "death metal"
- The four seven-hour days of recording the book and how
exhausting the experience was
After the interview Mark reflects on how writers can often
experience revelations or sudden insights related to the characters
in the books and stories they are writing. He also comments on the
Thoreau-like perspective Fell shares, about the importance of
walking in nature.
Links of Interest:
James Fell, MA, MBA, is a motivation, health, and fitness writer
for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago
Tribune. He has written extensively for Chatelaine
and AskMen.com, and authored pieces in TIME Magazine, the
Guardian, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and many
other publications. He has a massive and highly engaged following
on Facebook and Twitter, and his blog, Body For Wife, has millions
of visitors a year. He is also the author of Lose It
Right. He lives in Calgary, AB.
The music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and
produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0