Podcast Summary
Embracing pain and learning from it: True happiness comes from within and personal growth, not from external achievements or validation.
That pain and learning go hand in hand, and happiness is not a product but a byproduct. Mike Posner, a singer-songwriter, record producer, and poet, shared his insights on art, happiness, and finding purpose. He discussed the importance of embracing pain and learning from it, as well as the misconception that happiness comes from external achievements. Mike also spoke about his experiences with loss and how they shaped his perspective on life. Throughout the conversation, they played music and explored the creative process behind songwriting. Mike's journey illustrates that true happiness comes from within and that we should focus on personal growth rather than external validation.
Artists draw inspiration from the world around them and their personal experiences: Staying true to priorities and goals is crucial, even when faced with exciting opportunities
Creativity often stems from a place of inspiration or desire, with the artist serving as a vessel for the ideas to flow through. This was expressed by the musician in the conversation, who shared that their thoughts and ideas often come from observing the world around them or from a deep-seated need or pain. They also mentioned feeling both a strong sense of ownership and detachment from their creative output, as if they were merely recording or repeating the thoughts that came to them. The artist's career took off with the release of their hit song "Ibiza," but even before that, they had experienced success with their first hit "Cooler Than Me," which they wrote and recorded in their dorm room while in college. Despite the early offers and opportunities that came their way, the artist prioritized their studies and finished their finals before heading to New York to meet with Jay-Z. This anecdote highlights the importance of staying true to one's priorities and goals, even in the face of exciting opportunities.
Lessons from falling from grace in the music industry: Success in music, or any industry, is unpredictable. Honesty and good partnerships help, but there's no guaranteed formula.
Success in the music industry, or any industry for that matter, is unpredictable. Despite putting out a hit song, an artist's career trajectory can still go up and down. Honesty in songwriting and good partnerships can contribute to a song's success, but there's no guaranteed formula. The speaker in this story learned this lesson the hard way when he had a meeting with Jay-Z and received a record deal offer, only to experience a series of ups and downs in his career. Ultimately, he found inspiration in writing about the experience of falling from grace and the unexpected opportunities that came with it.
The Emotional Journey of an Artist: Artists face emotional challenges, but they must keep creating and sharing their work despite setbacks or lack of public resonance.
Creating art and connecting with an audience can be a challenging and emotional journey for artists. Even those who have achieved success and recognition may face periods of depression or feelings of insignificance when their work isn't resonating with the public. The artist's role is to keep creating and putting themselves out there, even when it feels like no one is listening. The struggle is real, but it's part of the process. The artist must not avert their eyes from the truth and the emotions that drive their art, even if it's painful. The world may not always agree, but the artist's job is to keep creating and sharing their stories, one song or album at a time.
Artists connecting us to life's beauty and ugliness: Bob Dylan, Taylor Goldsmith, and Connor Oberst are authentic artists whose deep and meaningful lyrics leave an indelible mark on music. Despite fame, it's crucial for artists to stay true to themselves and continue evolving, as their art is a transformative process.
Authentic artists connect us to both the beautiful and the ugly aspects of life. According to the speaker, Bob Dylan is a prime example of such an artist, whose talent and unique voice have left an indelible mark on music. In our current generation, Taylor Goldsmith and Connor Oberst are two artists who also stand out for their deep and meaningful lyrics. However, even as artists gain success, it can become harder for people to see them as multi-dimensional beings rather than just the art they produce. The speaker shares how his hit song "A Pill in Ibiza" has shaped people's perceptions of him, and the importance of staying true to oneself and continuing to evolve as an artist. Ultimately, art is a transformative process, and it's essential to use it to create beauty rather than more suffering in the world.
Finding joy and hope through art and facing reality of death: Art can bring joy and hope, facing death can inspire us to live a good life and appreciate the present
Art, even in its sadder forms, can bring joy and hope to people, allowing them to experience positive moments despite difficult or painful circumstances. Additionally, facing the reality of death can serve as a reminder to live a good life, fostering gratitude for what we have and inspiring us to pursue our passions and goals. My father's teachings, including the importance of health and happiness, have resonated with me more deeply since his passing, emphasizing the value of living in the present and being content with what we have. By keeping death on our shoulders, we can be motivated to make the most of our time and appreciate the people and experiences in our lives.
Finding happiness within: True happiness comes from within, not external circumstances like fame or wealth. Staying present in the moment is essential for long-term happiness.
True happiness comes from within and not from external circumstances, such as fame, wealth, or relationships. The speaker shares his personal experience of realizing this lesson after achieving great success in his music career, only to have his father diagnosed with a serious illness. He reflects on how his father's contentment and happiness despite his own struggles inspired him to reevaluate his perspective on happiness. The speaker also acknowledges that external circumstances, like success and fame, are fleeting and that true happiness comes from within and staying present in the moment.
Avicii's Influence and Passing: The loss of a mentor and father figure due to mental health struggles highlights the importance of addressing mental health issues and the profound impact they can have on one's life and career.
The passing of the father figure and mentor, Avicii, in 2017, marked a significant turning point in the speaker's life. They spent 10 months with him before his death and wrote many songs together. Avicii's struggle with anxiety and the pressure of his career led him to use alcohol and drugs to cope. Despite his apparent improvement and sobriety during their last meeting, his death was a shock to the speaker. This experience made the speaker reflect on the importance of addressing mental health issues and the impact of losing a close figure. The speaker also shared that Avicii had a profound influence on his music career and left behind a posthumous album with unreleased songs.
The importance of finding inner peace: Find inner peace through personal growth and self-care, prioritize self-discovery, and maintain balance and consistency to share happiness with the world.
The passing of a friend served as a reminder of the impermanence of life and the importance of finding peace within oneself in order to share it with others. The speaker emphasized the need to prioritize personal growth and self-care, even amidst a busy career, in order to maintain inner peace and authenticity. This journey of self-discovery and growth is the highest goal, allowing the individual to give the gift of their happiness and peace to the world. The biggest challenge in achieving this is maintaining balance and consistency, especially during periods of high activity and external demands. The speaker emphasized the importance of setting clear boundaries and making self-care a non-negotiable priority.
The power of being present and fully engaged in life: Practicing presence and deep listening can lead to meaningful connections and experiences of beauty and growth.
Being fully present and aware in our daily lives, including our interactions with others and nature, can lead to profound experiences of connection and beauty. The speaker shares their personal practice of trying to quiet their mind and be fully present, which they've found to be challenging, especially when it comes to interacting with people and their own thoughts. They also discuss the importance of deep listening and compassionate communication in creating meaningful connections with others. Through this practice, the speaker has discovered that the narratives and judgments we create in our minds can prevent us from truly experiencing the world and other people. The speaker's song lyrics reflect the challenges and complexities of life, but also the potential for beauty and growth, even in the face of hardship.
Sharing the love for music and memories: Music connects people, evokes emotions, and transcends time, making it a universal language for unity and hope.
Music has the power to connect people and evoke emotions, even after a long break. The conversation between the two individuals revolved around their shared love for Joni Mitchell and their attempts to sing her songs together. They reminisced about their musical journeys and the songs that had shaped their lives. Despite some rustiness and forgetfulness, they managed to enjoy the experience and appreciate each other's talents. If they could only sing one more song to the world, they would choose a message of unity and hope, encouraging people to come together and make a positive impact. Music, in its essence, is a universal language that transcends time and brings people closer.
None but ourselves can free our mind: To create meaningful art, do inner work, let go of mental slavery, acknowledge impermanence, and express oneself creatively.
We all have the potential to create meaningful and impactful art, but it requires introspection, self-reflection, and inner work. The speaker shares that his favorite song is "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley, and the line "None but ourselves can free our mind" resonates deeply with him. He believes that to write a great song or create anything of value, one must do the inner work and let go of mental slavery to concepts and ideas. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging impermanence and making peace with it, as well as expressing oneself creatively. He encourages everyone to reflect on their own three truths or lessons to share with the world, as if they were their last words. The speaker expresses admiration for Mike's childlike spirit and creativity, and encourages everyone to take time to reflect and express themselves artistically.
Connect with Mike Posner on various platforms: Mike Posner values presence and greatness in actions, encourages fans to engage with him, and releases new album 'Candy Rain' on January 11, 2023
Mike Posner encourages his fans to connect with him through various platforms like Spotify, Instagram, and iTunes. His new album, "Candy Rain," which he considers his best work yet, will be released on January 11, 2023. Fans can listen to his music on these platforms and follow him on Instagram for updates on tour dates and new releases. Posner values presence and greatness not based on external accomplishments but on being fully present in one's actions. He shares his music and poetry to inspire consciousness and raise the spirit. His definition of greatness is about being present in one's actions, whether one is making a lot of money or doing nothing. Posner's music, including the song "Her fuel on my shirt," reflects this philosophy and invites listeners to reflect on their own presence and consciousness in their daily lives.
Navigating the Middle Ground: It's okay to feel stuck and take time to build your ship, appreciate people and make good choices to find balance in conflicting desires.
Life can often leave us feeling stuck between different stages or expectations. We may feel too young to settle down or too old to be carefree. We may desire fame but fear loneliness. These conflicting desires can make it difficult to become the person we want to be while staying true to ourselves. It's essential to remember that it's okay to feel stuck and to take the time we need to build our ship as it sells. We must appreciate the people around us and continue to make good choices, even when it feels challenging. Ultimately, we must learn to navigate the middle ground and find a balance that works for us.
