• #803: Craig Mod Returns — Epic Walks in Japan, The Art of Slowness, Digital Detox, Publishing “Impossible” Books, and Choosing Beauty Over Scale

  • Mar 27 2025
  • Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins
  • Podcast

#803: Craig Mod Returns — Epic Walks in Japan, The Art of Slowness, Digital Detox, Publishing “Impossible” Books, and Choosing Beauty Over Scale

  • Summary

  • Craig Mod Returns! Craig 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 Molly Joins the Podcast

    00:52 Meet Craig Mod

    07:46 Living in a Six-Tatami Mat Room

    12:24 Golden Gai: Tokyo's Historic Drinking District

    17:33 Epic Walks: From Tokyo to Kumano Kodō

    18:05 The Influence of John McBride

    31:25 The Magic of Polite Japanese

    38:38 The New Generation of Japanese-Speaking Foreigners

    40:30 Kevin Kelly's Walk

    41:08 The Birth of the Photo Book Idea

    43:05 The Big Solo Walks Begin

    43:56 Launching a Membership Program

    44:58 The Nakasendo Walk

    50:06 Rules of Walking

    01:00:43 Booking Logistics in Japan

    01:04:24 The Wired Magazine Essay

    01:16:23 Creating CraigStarter: A Kickstarter Alternative

    01:17:26 The Success of CraigStarter and Membership Strategy

    01:19:50 Membership Community Rules and Goals

    01:22:22 The Dangers of Scale in Creative Work

    01:26:56 Navigating the Publishing Industry

    01:38:37 Promoting Midsize Cities in Japan

    01:50:48 Unexpected Cultural Encounter

    01:52:50 Economic Benefits of Spotlighted Cities

    01:54:46 Exploring Hidden Gems in Japan

    01:56:55 Global Walking Adventures

    01:59:46 Adoption Journey and Family Reconnection

    02:05:27 Reflections on Family and Identity

    02:19:46 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

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