#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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