Typewriter interview with Chase Jarvis

On photography, rituals, and why you should never play it safe

Oct 08, 2024

∙ Paid

Hey y’all,

Chase Jarvis has interviewed me many times over the years. We had tacos at Mi Madres a few months ago when he was in Austin to do some promotion for his brand new book, Never Play It Safe. Halfway through our lunch I said, “Hey, do you have a typewriter?” and he got a big grin on his face…

What's something surprising you've learned about taking photographs that your average person might not know? Most photographs fail to connect with the viewer because they are too complicated / they have too much going on, Capturing a single subject in a simple story in a single frame is (or ought to be) the goal. But most people don't capture or compose their images with this in mind - and so the results, story, and intended outcome rarely lands. FWIW I do think that visual literary (photo literacy matters!). Because photography is a universal language... Another surprising thing is that photographic competence has very little to do with technology or gear. A photo is a is a single frame: story that simply relies on 3 key elements: composition, connection, and light. If you focus (pun intended)on these 3 things you'll be surprised at how quickly your photography improves.

Describe a perfect day in Seattle. It starts with getting outside and enjoying some coffee and the surrounding natural beauty. People rarely realize that within a short drive you can experience volcanoes, glacial lakes, rainforests and full on desert. After some dose of nature Id dive into some of the cities music scene. KEXP radio is always hosting free live sessions, there are still record stores, and of course nightly shows. Obviously grunge is long gone but theres still some good history remaining of it. The hipHop and electronic scenes are vibrant too. And then the day wouldnt be complete without some amazing food. Seattle's seafood is world class - oysters, crab, salmon are amongst the best in the world, And while you wont find a bunch of Michelin star spots (zero in fact), the city really does casual, vibey, northwest cuisine like nowhere else. Talented chefs are numerous and do great work in fun and relaxed environments.

I'm a big fan of "silly rituals." (I "smoke" a cigarette pencils when I'm writing.) What's the most embarrassing thing you do when you're working? Silly rituals? When I"m working I often listen to the same song or short playlist on repeat for hours. It has to be nauseating for others so i hide this behavior :) I also often take breaks to do pushups or pullups when im grinding on projects because the physicality helps me reset my mentality and return to task with more energy and a refreshed perspective. As for embarrassing, many of my best ideas come early in the morning and i often cant make it all the way through getting dressed to write in my journal or sling them into my computer or phone so i end up sitting around in my underwear or other wise partially dressed on the floor of my closet or in the spare bedroom office for an hour-long flow state...which is always when my wife walks in and gives me a strange look and a weird pause before walking away chuckling.

You're such a great interviewer -- what are your tips for someone who wants to get better at interviewing others? After 15 years hosting my interview-based podcast (ChaseJarvis Live) I"ve learned a bit about the art of an interview. First, 1f is a skill that needs to be developed, And it really pays off to be genuinely interested in the person you are interviewing. The audience and the person being interviewed can usually sense this curiosity and it makes for a more engaging conversation. Second its nice to ask a blend of open ended questions which allows the guest to jump in and gather a little momentum... (and a fun little trick if you want someone to keep talking is to tilt your head a bit sideways, smile gently, and nod your head three times & I promise they will keep talking!; and then lastly be prepared with some very specific questions. For as James Joyce said, "In the particular is contained the universal." Asking generic questions most often yields vague or broad answers. Specific questions lead usually to richer, more meaningful answers. (ie universal)

What do you do for exercise? do you detect any emotional, spiritual, or creative benefits? Exercise is critical for me. Without it! I am half the human, half the artist,: half the friend, husband, or entrepreneur that I am if I'm active. I have found a near 100% correlation between my daily success and fulfillment at life and regular exercise. So I try to keep all of those outputs high. Variety is important to me so I walk daily, do pushups & sirups daily, hit the gym 2x per week or so for strength too. Golf has become a source of joy since the pandemic (good practice directing attention while outside Pickleball is fun albeit cliche but I grew up with a court in my backyard so I'm an OG I guess. I also love to sea kayak up at our beach house in the San Juans. It's peaceful and a good workout /time to ruminate. For me there is an undeniable connection between movement and my emotional, spiritual, and creative

What's your relationship to music? Do you sing or play an instrument? What song are you always in the mood for? I absolutely love music. It's almost always present in my life and I often think of it as a soundtrack of sorts. If you know my work, you'll notice that I have a history of including fav or up-an-comer music in videos or I've hosted and live-streamed a lot of private concerts or album drops with friends like The Lumineers, Macklemore, The Shins, and others who are less well known but that I love. I personally have dabbled in guitar and piano but I'm generally a failed musician - especially; after a short and terrible stint as the lead singer for a punk/metal cover band. T The one song I'm always down for is "all my friends" by LCD Soundsystem. When Im happy it makes me feel even more connected. When Im sad it comforts me and blends youthful disillusion with nostalgia in what also feels timeless somehow.

List your favorite books. (About photography, creativity, or anything else!) I'm generally paralyzed when anyone asks for my 'favorite' of anything. but for purposes of your question I have a few go-tos that I often return to time and again: -The War of Art by S. Pressfield -The Artist's Way by J. Cameron -Steal Like an Artist by A. Kleon (true!) -The Unbearable Lightness of Being by M. Kundera -The Brothers Karamazov by F. Dostoevsky -The Hard Thing About Hard Things by B. Horowitz is a great biz book -The Eyes & The Impossible by D. Eggers is a recent fav fiction read •..and HUMANS by my pal Brandon Stanton of Humans of New Tork is probably my most gifted book of all time. A heart-forward book of pictures and words/long captions that is quick to remind us how we are all connected and vulnerable and brave and all = of it.

Do you have any youth spies? Most of my friends are a bit younger than me so I have some spies built in...but Im reasonably tied into culture as a curiosity and as part of my job as an artist and entreprenuer. I have several older mentors but I'm also attracted to upbeat, positive, youthful energy. I'm a curious person and enjoy many aspects of pop culture but its increasingly difficult to stay connected and plugged in without getting sucked into news, on social media or whatever the daily drama that is highlighted might be. Navigating this balance has been an increasingly delicate endeavor over the past decade. Generally I like to Syphon the best stuff from the youth while relying on proven wisdom from experiences. But it is probably time to recruit some spies before I need them/it is too late!

How do you define the "comfort zone"? Why do you think it's so important for creative people to leave it? The comfort zone is your biological and cultural desire to stay safe... But the big challenge here is that safety is an illusion. It does not exist in nature and yet the pursuit of it leaves us feeling trapped in a life half lived. Im of course not talking about seatbelts & sunscreen here: Or physical or emotional safety. Im talking about the kind that keeps us from our potential. Playing it safe. Come to think of it, this notecard is too small so I wrote an entire book on the topic called Never Play It Safe: a practical guide to freedom, creativity and a life you love. Its about how all the best stuff in life is on the other side of your comfort zone just beyond risk & fear. Please pick up a copy, wherever books are sold :

Thanks, Chase! Never Play It Safe is out today.

Would love to hear from y’all in the comments — tell me what you think, how you’re doing, and who you think I should interview next:

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