#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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