#804: Robert Rodriguez, The Wizard of Cinema Returns — The "Fear-Forward" Way of Life, How to Overcome Self-Doubt, Learning to Love Limitations, and Counter-Intuitive Parenting That Works

Robert Rodriguez is a film director,
screenwriter, producer, cinematographer, editor, and composer.
Rodriguez has written, produced, directed, and edited a series of
successful films including El Mariachi, Desperado, From Dusk Till
Dawn, the Spy Kids franchise, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Frank
Miller’s Sin City, and many more. Robert recently launched
Brass Knuckle Films, an investable action film
slate.


This episode is brought to you by:


Cresset prestigious family office
for CEOs, founders, and
entrepreneurs: https://cressetcapital.com/tim (book
a call today)


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.)


Wealthfront high-yield cash
account: https://Wealthfront.com/Tim (Start
earning 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) from program banks on
your short-term cash until you’re ready to invest. And when new
clients open an account, they can get an extra fifty-dollar
bonus with a deposit of five hundred dollars or more.)
Terms & Conditions apply. The APY on cash deposits as of
09/26/25 is representative, subject to change, and requires no
minimum. Tim Ferriss receives cash compensation from
Wealthfront Brokerage LLC for advertising and holds a
non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of
Wealthfront Brokerage. See full disclosures here.


*


Timestamps:


[00:00:00] Start.


[00:08:19] Recounting what’s happened in the 10 years since
Robert’s last appearance on the show.


[00:11:23] The freedom of limitations.


[00:14:08] Fruit-bearing “failures.”


[00:16:09] How Robert stumbled onto his own brand of
counterintuitive parenting.


[00:18:42] How fan investing for Brass Knuckle Films works.


[00:23:59] How to effectively pitch a movie idea.


[00:26:55] The time to start your art is now. Aim high.


[00:33:00] The value of learning by doing.


[00:43:31] The power of labels to elevate or diminish our
ambitions.


[00:47:51] Why lack of access is a myth.


[00:49:08] No human doubts — when not knowing is half the battle.


[00:54:25] Fear forward past the confines of the comfort zone.


[00:59:02] Interactions with the enigmatic Rick Rubin.


[01:01:53] Harnessing the creative spirit: action first,
inspiration second.


[01:07:00] Living is reliving: why Robert wants you to start
journaling.


[01:15:38] “Don’t just parent. Partner.”


[01:22:47] In defense of what some call nepotism.


[01:28:27] Why the double R naming scheme in the Rodriguez
household?


[01:30:04] Tribe talk.


[01:33:38] Robert’s favorite exercise-related life hack: the rock
walk.


[01:36:15] Parting thoughts.


*


For show notes and past guests
on The Tim Ferriss Show,
please
visit tim.blog/podcast.


For deals from sponsors of The Tim
Ferriss Show, please
visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors


Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday)
at tim.blog/friday.


For transcripts of episodes, go
to tim.blog/transcripts.


Discover Tim’s
books: tim.blog/books.


Follow Tim:


Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss 


Instagram: instagram.com/timferriss


YouTube: youtube.com/timferriss


Facebook: facebook.com/timferriss 


LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California
Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.