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@zachpogrob

@zachpogrob

Obsession beats discipline - go all-in on your craft until you either die or get reborn.

Back to Takes

Podcasts are for learning phases; music is for building phases. Zero podcasts = building year.

Spiciness
prediction

The Reasoning

Podcasts engage analytical mind, which competes with creative production. Music provides emotional fuel without cognitive load. The switch from podcasts to music-only correlates with actual output.

What Needs to Be True

  • Podcast listening genuinely interferes with creative output
  • Music enhances rather than distracts from work
  • The correlation between media consumption and output is causal

Counterargument

Podcasts can provide relevant insights during building. Different content types serve different work phases even within a day.

What Would Change This View

Personal experience of high output periods where podcasts were also consumed heavily.

Implications for Builders

Track correlation between media consumption and output

Try 30-day podcast fast when building is stalled

Let music be the only audio input and observe changes

Example Application

Notice you have not shipped in months. Also notice you are listening to 3 hours of podcasts daily. Cut podcasts entirely, switch to music only. Shipping resumes.