Reflecting on 1000 episodes with McConaughey.

The podcast celebrates its 1000th episode and seven-year journey, reflecting on the immense effort, evolution, and personal growth involved in building a global platform from humble beginnings.

• 1000 episodes and a billion views mark seven years of continuous growth and effort.

• The podcast evolved from a personal project to a global platform, adapting to changing interests.

• Authenticity, hard work, and audience connection are core to the show's sustained success.

The podcast commemorates its milestone 1000th episode, highlighting the significant commitment and hard work spanning seven and a half years, which has resulted in over a billion views. The host reflects on the show's evolution from a personal growth vehicle to a massive platform, emphasizing the continuous adaptation of content interests and the profound impact of the audience. The celebration includes a special setup at Stray Vista with Matthew McConaughey, underscoring the monumental nature of this achievement.

The Journey to 1000 Episodes

• 00:01:17 Achieving 1000 episodes represents seven years of relentless hard work in an industry that lacks clear stopping points for reflection, unlike film releases. The host expresses the immense effort required to create such a consistent output, often underestimated by the audience, with behind-the-scenes production involving extensive planning and countless hours of work. From its inception in a Newcastle office filmed on an iPhone with a single Blue Yeti mic, the podcast has grown substantially, now celebrating a billion views.

• 00:03:44 The podcast's growth signifies that the majority of its audience are recent discoverers, often unaware of the platform's extensive history and the host's personal dedication to every aspect of content creation. For the first 400-500 episodes, the host independently handled all titles, thumbnails, clips, timestamps, edits, and individual ad reads. This sustained effort over five years, releasing content daily, highlights the 'blood, sweat, and tears' invested, contrasting with the common phenomenon of 'podfading' where most podcasts fail to surpass seven episodes.

• 00:06:11 The podcast's enduring success stems from its ability to adapt and change course, much like a rocket shedding fuel stages at different altitudes, allowing the project to mold with the host's evolving interests. What started as a personal growth vehicle, influenced by figures like Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan, became an accidental career, driven by the desire to explore specific niches. The show thrives when the host taps into genuine curiosity and personal challenges, ensuring authentic engagement that fosters better, rather than just faster, growth.

• 00:09:29 Recalling three standout moments, the host mentions a special weekend featuring interviews with Joe Rogan and Naval Ravikant, with Naval expressing a long-held desire to be on the show. Another memorable instance involved Rory Sutherland's interview being interrupted by a British gas technician fixing a boiler, showcasing unexpected authenticity. Finally, Peterson's second appearance, recorded at the Alamo in San Antonio on the day the host moved to America, encapsulates a pivotal moment of personal and professional transition, highlighting the extraordinary experiences the podcast has facilitated.