While in Vancouver on tour, Ryan Holiday met up with one of his favorite authors, John Vaillant, to discuss how destruction and crisis can fuel creativity and change. They talk about the lessons wildfires and other natural disasters teach us, not just about nature but about resilience, adaptation, and the stories we tell to make sense of disruption. John shares what it was like to be nominated for a Pulitzer, how success and recognition can be both motivating and distracting, and why embracing uncertainty is key to any creative process.

Follow John on Instagram @johnvaillant_.

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Rising from Ashes | John Vaillant on Building Resiliency From Destruction

The Daily Stoic