When youre not traveling youre based out of San Francisco, is that right?
Yeah, thats where the mail comes, for the last 15 years.
I started in Baltimore, and a lot of places in between, you know.
You go where the work is.
If you had to choose one word to describe how you work, what would it be?
I would say with great respect to curiosity.
Are you an iPhone person or Android person, or what?
What kind of phone do you use?
Im a late adopter, in most things, but at the moment Im still enjoying my iPhone 5.
But Im told the 6s is waitingwith enhanced resolution, a better camera, etcetera etcetera.
Do you also use an Apple computer?
I do, Ive got awhat do they call itI guess its a Pro.
The trick is does it fit on the table that folds down on the airplane.
Or I hope CNN pays for that.
The size of the table isalways the same.
Apple should consider that next time.
Its really thatagain being a late adopter Im relatively new to the whole Bluetooth thing.
And when youre not traveling, what kind of workspace do you have?
Do you have an office or just work from home?
Or sit in airports I imagine.
Sometimes its the bed.
I dont have a traditional office and really havent for a long time.
I also steal desks a lot.
When Im at CNN right now, you know theres cubicles all over the place.
I grab phonesright now I have no idea whose phone this is.
I dial out from strangers phones constantly.
Its kind of a Native American philosophy Ive embraced with respect to this kind of work.
I think its meant to be leased or put out on permanent loan.
So thats what Im all about: permanent loan.
Thats a good idea, its only tricky when you need a tuxedo or something.
Actually, the tuxedo is a great example.
Its one of the most traditional rentals.
you could still rent a tux.
I dont know why anybody would buy a tux.
Oh yeah, of course.
I have three tuxes at homenone of them fit properly.
All of them need to be cleaned and I dont feel like cleaning any of them.
Looking back I would have been better off having rented a tux for every time I ever needed one.
The truth is, Id say the same thing about a car.
Id be better off with a rental car.
Id be better off renting food, honestly.
And I guess in a sense we do, right?
I mean nobody really owns food.
You borrow it for a while and then you get rid of it.
Thats the way the world is.
Thats the way it works.
Yeah you chew it, you swallow, it and out it goes.
We dont really own anything, Andy, now that I think about it.
Thats true.
But I like this rental philosophy.
But also with respect to time-saving short cuts, I cant recommend enoughsimply forgetting.
Blowing off the appointment.
But then I thought Im just gonna call him and tell him Im not calling him.
And thats really the world were in, Andy.
Just constantly trying to just everyone which means youre always going to disappoint somebody a little.
And thats what you do in this hectic life in which we find ourselves technically bound and otherwise committed.
Yeah, definitely for sure.
I still use Post-it notes; when Im at home theyre on my refrigerator.
Of course!
Its the simplest thing in the world.
By the way, you know theres asuper sticky Post-it notethat they sell?
Which I much prefer.
Tell me more about that.
Where can I get them and why are they extra sticky?
And thats me reminding myself to do a thing.
But thats only for the really super important stuff.
Well thats my tip for you: find the super sticky version.
Ive made a note.
Actually Im writing this on a Post-it note right now with normal sticky stuff on the back.
Maybe like a pocket knife or something like that.
I used to have a pocket knife.
I dont travel with it any more obviously, because they kept confiscating them.
But If youre gonna have one tool Id go with the Leatherman.
And I just think its cooler than the Swiss Army knife.
Although the Swiss Army Knife has a magnifying glass, which more and more lately I find I need.
To read the Post-it notes?
No its not the Post-it notes, its the restaurants.
Its the menus in the restaurants.
I just cant read anything on them anymore.
So its not an ideal solution but its something.
A little bit of both.
So, you know, you have to kind of keeping moving forward even when you want to stop.
Thats just an old freelance mentality but it really never goes away.
Yeah definitely.
Being a freelancer is a very difficult thing for anyone.
You know where the word comes from?
Back in the old days, a freelancer was a free lance.
A knight without a lord.
Oh thats interesting.Ill have to fact check thatbut thats pretty interesting.
You fact check it, youll see.
Freelancers: they eat what they kill.
What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else?
Is there any secret thing youre really good at?
Well, I dont really have a lot of skill, to be honest with you.
I havent mastered anything in the traditional sense.
Im average or a little above average at almost everything but not great at anything.
And so the faster I can get somebody to be comfortable with me, the easier my life is.
Unlike most traditional hosts who are experts on TV, Im more of a guest.
And so thats my special talent, Im a good guest.
Typically that seems to make people comfortable.
A surrogate, I think is the right word, or even like an avatar.
That reminds me of something I was thinking about.
Its kind of a very privileged delusion.
Ayn Rand talked about it: the muddy boots architect.
The person who could use their brain as well as their hands.
And thats the real fun of being an engineer; I think its one of the great jobs.
To be able to go to South America and build a bridge, yknow?
Its kind of an epic thing to do.
Do you listen to anything while you work?
When you have to sit down and write something, do you prefer music of silence?
This Spotify thing I just got?
I havent figured out how to work it yet.
Its more fun when you find it by accident.
What have you found recently?
Okay then.
But the orchestrations are really good and I like a mix of new and old.
Check it out, youll like it.
Actually I dont know if youll like it at all but you probably havent heard it before.
Im sure its interesting regardless.
Are you currently reading anythingany novels or magazines you always go to?
Right now Im going through the Jack Reacher series, which is written byLee Child.
Hejust came out with a new one; hes got about a dozen or so.
Im a big fan of the continuing character.
I also recommend a series byGeorge MacDonald Frasercalled theFlashman Papers, which is justgreathistorical fiction.
I like Russo a lot and then theres just a giant stack of stuff.
I used to read every daynow I read once a week if Im lucky.
And how do you recharge when youre not working?
What do you do to get yourself away from work?
Whatever it is I havent done it successfully in a long time.
But you read once a week.
Yeah but you know what, Im reading on a plane.
Im reading now when I know I should be doing something else.
And thats a good thing.
You know, I really dont fantasize anymore about seeing the world or traveling all over.
Ive been lucky to have done a fair amount of that.
Im more about sitting still.
Whats your sleep routine like?
Are you a night owl or an early riser?
I used to be a total night owl, and I kind of still am.
Because you only get one first sip a day and then itswhatever.
Either Plimpton, orStuds Terkel, orCharles Kuralt, or maybePaul Harvey.
These guys are all dead and they all left a big gap.
Whats the best advice youve ever received?
Well, thats tricky.
Youve got two basic categories, with respect to advice.
And it hit a guy named Chuddy Baker right in the face unfortunately.
He was two feet on the other side of me.
Knocked his teeth out, but it just as easily could have knocked my head off.
And I took it, and Im glad I did.
And that advice is be wary of all earnestness.
Both salient points I think.
Is there anything else you might like to say to our readers and your fans and viewers?
Its hard to be authentic.
We try and do it on the show by not doing a second take.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?
