#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 (craigmod.com) is a writer, photographer, and walker living in Tokyo and Kamakura, Japan. He is the author of Things Become Other Things (amazon.com/Things-Become-Other-Walking-Memoir/…) and Kissa by Kissa (shop.specialprojects.jp/products/kissa-by-kiss…). He also writes the newsletters Roden (craigmod.com/roden) and Ridgeline (craigmod.com/roden) 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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