
Episode 5
3rd Place Books — Seattle — Liz Danzico
Craig Mod in conversation with Liz Danzico at 3rd Place Books in Seattle, chatting for sixty-three minutes on May 13, 2025
Liz Danzico — Vice President of Design at Microsoft and Founding Chair of the MFA Interaction Design Program at SVA in NYC — and Craig discuss his experiences walking Japan. He shares the impact walking has had on his life, including his immersive walks in the Japanese countryside and other parts of the world like the Camino de Santiago. Mod also delves into personal stories, such as his friendship with a childhood friend, Bryan, who was murdered shortly after graduation, and his complex relationship with his estranged father. He touches on the cultural nuances between Japan and other countries, the unexpected media attention he's received in Japan, and his philosophical approach to writing and creativity. The conversation also includes a 'fun' 'speed round' of questions about walking essentials and audience queries about his future writing plans and experiences with vipassana meditation.
Guest Links
Chapters
- 00:00 — Introduction and Opening Remarks
- 00:49 — Reading A Passage from the Book
- 02:49 — The Impact of Walking
- 05:03 — Disconnecting and Creativity
- 08:22 — The First Big Walk
- 12:59 — The SPECIAL PROJECTS Membership Program
- 16:38 — Writing About Bryan
- 22:40 — Burying Craig's Father
- 30:59 — The Walk and Talk Series
- 34:00 — Walking the French Camino
- 35:05 — The Magic of Ancient Structures
- 36:18 — Speed Round: Packing Essentials
- 40:09 — Vipassana Meditation Experience
- 45:53 — Unexpected Media Attention in Japan
- 50:26 — Cultural Reflections and Future Writing
- 55:36 — Final Q&A Session