#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.

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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).

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