Beyond Productivity: Tiago Forte's Journey of Growth and Transformation
Thu Jan 29 2026
This week, I talk with Tiago Forte about far more than productivity systems or note-taking. This one is about what happens after success—when the systems that once fueled your growth start working against you. We talk about burnout, anger, embodiment, and how listening to the body can become a doorway to deeper clarity and determination. Tiago shares the personal journey that shaped Building a Second Brain, why he made the difficult decision to wind down a wildly successful business, and what he’s learned by redesigning his life around alignment rather than optimization. We also explore the changing value of audience, community, and creativity in the age of AI, and why real connection—both locally and globally—matters more than ever. This conversation is about the inner work required to build a life, not just a career, that actually fits. Let’s get to it!
In this episode:
(00:00) - Intro
(00:54) - Tiago on " highly fit, middle-aged dads"
(03:29) – Moving beyond intellect into emotional and somatic awareness
(05:37) – How physical pain forced Tiago to listen differently
(08:46) – The books, thinkers, and experiences that reshaped Tiago's understanding of healing
(13:43) – What changed when Tiago learned to express anger instead of repressing it
(17:03) – How a healing system unexpectedly became Building a Second Brain
(20:57) – Knowing when success no longer fits
(24:27) – Facing the “now what?” phase after shutting down a successful business
(28:46) – Why audience size doesn’t mean what it used to
(30:32) – Balancing lived fulfillment with the need to stay profitable
(32:29) – The psychological transition that comes with midlife
(34:41) – How Tiago is organizing work in this next chapter
(37:20) – The decision that led Tiago and his family from LA to Mexico
(42:11) – How changing environments reshaped Tiago's family relationships
(45:22) – Rediscovering cultural identity through place and presence
(47:39) – Why where you live may matter more than the goals you set
(54:33) – Holding joy and slowness alongside AI-driven productivity
(01:00:15) – Using AI as leverage without losing meaning or direction
(01:05:08) – What AI is revealing about the future of “good work”
(01:07:31) – Creating in a world where value is rapidly shifting
(01:10:53) – How AI is changing the way Tiago writes—and edits—his next book
(01:15:34) – Navigating local and global communities at the same time
(01:18:48) – Creating spaces for real connection and intimacy
(01:21:17) – The deeper principles behind Tiago’s masterminds
(01:23:46) – The loneliness that sparked a desire to bring people together
(01:26:09) – The practices that consistently create the deepest bonds
(01:30:10) – How Tiago is working to make the future more beautiful
(01:31:45) – Who Tiago is becoming
Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.
More
This week, I talk with Tiago Forte about far more than productivity systems or note-taking. This one is about what happens after success—when the systems that once fueled your growth start working against you. We talk about burnout, anger, embodiment, and how listening to the body can become a doorway to deeper clarity and determination. Tiago shares the personal journey that shaped Building a Second Brain, why he made the difficult decision to wind down a wildly successful business, and what he’s learned by redesigning his life around alignment rather than optimization. We also explore the changing value of audience, community, and creativity in the age of AI, and why real connection—both locally and globally—matters more than ever. This conversation is about the inner work required to build a life, not just a career, that actually fits. Let’s get to it! In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (00:54) - Tiago on " highly fit, middle-aged dads" (03:29) – Moving beyond intellect into emotional and somatic awareness (05:37) – How physical pain forced Tiago to listen differently (08:46) – The books, thinkers, and experiences that reshaped Tiago's understanding of healing (13:43) – What changed when Tiago learned to express anger instead of repressing it (17:03) – How a healing system unexpectedly became Building a Second Brain (20:57) – Knowing when success no longer fits (24:27) – Facing the “now what?” phase after shutting down a successful business (28:46) – Why audience size doesn’t mean what it used to (30:32) – Balancing lived fulfillment with the need to stay profitable (32:29) – The psychological transition that comes with midlife (34:41) – How Tiago is organizing work in this next chapter (37:20) – The decision that led Tiago and his family from LA to Mexico (42:11) – How changing environments reshaped Tiago's family relationships (45:22) – Rediscovering cultural identity through place and presence (47:39) – Why where you live may matter more than the goals you set (54:33) – Holding joy and slowness alongside AI-driven productivity (01:00:15) – Using AI as leverage without losing meaning or direction (01:05:08) – What AI is revealing about the future of “good work” (01:07:31) – Creating in a world where value is rapidly shifting (01:10:53) – How AI is changing the way Tiago writes—and edits—his next book (01:15:34) – Navigating local and global communities at the same time (01:18:48) – Creating spaces for real connection and intimacy (01:21:17) – The deeper principles behind Tiago’s masterminds (01:23:46) – The loneliness that sparked a desire to bring people together (01:26:09) – The practices that consistently create the deepest bonds (01:30:10) – How Tiago is working to make the future more beautiful (01:31:45) – Who Tiago is becoming Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.