Drugs, Chess, and Rock & Roll | Brian Lawlor

The James Altucher Show

A Note from James:

Drugs, chess, and rock and roll—Brian Lawlor has seen it all. I didn’t include the sex part because I don’t know, but he's been to jail. We talk all about that: how, why, when. But I was concerned—how did he survive? Interestingly, part of the way he survived was through chess.

Brian's story is riveting and valuable, touching on survival in general. We played a bunch of games. I’m not including the games in the podcast, but he surprised me with his skill. We’ll do a video on that later. But for now, here’s Brian Lawlor.

###Episode Description:

In this episode of "The James Altucher Show", James sits down with Brian Lawlor, a man who transformed his life from being a drug addict in and out of jail to becoming a successful composer and teacher. Brian shares his remarkable journey of overcoming addiction, finding solace in chess, and building a career in music against all odds. This episode is a powerful testament to the human spirit's resilience and the transformative power of passion and discipline.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Brian used chess as a tool for mental stability and personal growth.
• The impact of music on Brian's rehabilitation and how he built a career from it.
• Insights into the challenges and stigmas faced by former inmates trying to reintegrate into society.
• The importance of self-reinvention and finding new pathways to success.
• Practical advice for anyone struggling with addiction or looking to make a significant life change.

Chapters:

• 01:44 Brian's Jail Experience
• 02:42 Surviving Jail Through Chess and Ping Pong
• 04:00 The Reality of Jail Life
• 07:16 The Ping Pong Incident
• 18:52 Struggles with Addiction
• 28:32 Rebuilding Life After Jail
• 39:04 Exploring Musical Diversity
• 39:49 Classical Influences in Modern Music
• 41:07 Pop Music Production Insights
• 43:20 Favorite Bands and Musical Influences
• 44:28 Chess Journey and Early Experiences
• 46:51 Chess and Music: A Unique Intersection
• 51:56 Sound Sensitivity and Chess Commentary
• 55:04 Chess Tournaments and Personal Stories
• 01:06:02 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Additional Resources:

• Brian Lawlor’s Music Studio
• Book: “How to Reassess Your Chess” by Jeremy Silman
• Book: “My 60 Memorable Games” by Bobby Fischer
  Keywords: addiction recovery, peak performance, chess, music, rehabilitation, Brian Lawlor, James Altucher, resilience, reinvention.

------------

• What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!
• Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!

------------

• Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!
• My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!
• Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.
• I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com

------------

Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts:

• Apple Podcasts
• iHeart Radio
• Spotify

Follow me on social media:

• YouTube
• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn