Van Neistat Is The Spirited Man | Rich Roll Podcast

If you're on KZbin, you likely know Casey Neistat. Less understood is his brother & original co-collaborator, Van Neistat-an artist of considerable talent behind the wildly popular "The Spirited Man' channel. This is his wild story. Read more & visit the show notes👉🏾bit.ly/richroll609
✌🏼🌱 - Rich
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FILMED AND EDITED BY BLAKE CURTIS
www.blakecurtis.net/
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:59 - 10 Years Since the Neistat Brothers
00:04:56 - Mentor Artist - Tom Sachs
00:14:20 - The Beginning of Van's Filmmaking
00:17:45 - Sobriety
00:18:05 - Van's Incredible Library of Films
00:21:09 - Van's Origin Story: Storytelling and Love of Analog
00:29:20 - Voicing Change
00:30:19 - The Long Road of Self-Discovery & Sobriety
00:51:04 - The Spirited Man Reckons with KZbin
01:00:52 - The Struggle Of The Spirited Man
01:16:04 - The Spirited Man and Endurance
01:18:51 - What Happened After the Neistat Brothers Ended?
01:27:36 - The Artist Life: The Romance Vs. The Grind
01:34:34 - Finding Sustainability with KZbin
01:39:47 - Humor and Easter Eggs
01:42:08 - The Safdie Brothers and The Diane Fink School
01:47:49 - Mmuseumm
01:54:02 - Living in New York
01:56:32 - Crossing Paths with Werner Herzog
02:08:16 - A Generation of Repair
02:19:33 - Closing Remarks
* * * * *
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Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
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#richroll #richrollpodcast #neistat

[@richroll]

Thanks for watching! To read more about Van & check the show notes go here: bit.ly/richroll609

[@UppiliVentures]

great pod mate loved the chill vibes you guys had here epic :)

[@realestatephotovideoshawns1177]

I know KC didn’t know what was gonna happen. He just was balls to the wall. Look what’s happening now with KZbin they’re demonetizing everybody.

[@itchphoto]

Casey does exuberance and van does introspection - Perfect - I think Casey is like buying lunch and Van is like making lunch, both a great thing because who does not love lunch.

[@TheNewTravel]

Haha nice metaphor 👍

[@vito3608]

Tom Sachs would be like growing your own veggies :p Most youtubers are just mcdonald’s though

[@MOS6510Models]

This sums it up perfectly

[@frank.conway]

Haha I like this. Also - is that the Buachaille Etive Mòr as your profile pic?

[@teekayrezeaumerah]

great. great analogy brother

[@davidguthrie3739]

One of Rich's superpowers is his ability to relate to such a broad spectrum of individuals. These two guys seem to exist on opposite ends of the spectrum yet they authentically connect. Love them both!

[@cchampa17]

i dont think theyre opposites at all. i think maybe their interests dont directly align, but their values and stories and passion for life are nearly one in the same

[@vito3608]

@@cchampa17 Tangent. The word we’re looking for is tangent. Two people who have no business connecting can relate to each other thanks to Van.

[@cchampa17]

@@vito3608 youre right, i reread what i wrote there and what the other person said and i think my interpretation of what they were talking about was flawed. i agree with their thoughts now and feel a little remorse for objectively being like "nah wrong" lol

[@gemlex4293]

Utilizing both shirt pockets, such a Van Neistat move.

[@canadude6401]

AND his trusty Pentel P209 mechanical pencil. It's so cool how he took an amazing pencil and even customized THAT! eraser on the end and black rubber grip. I thought I was the only one who nerded out on making great functional items better.

[@TheNewTravel]

I knew very little of Van's life (apart from being Casey's brother). But this gave me a newfound respect for him as a filmmaker and a human being. Awesome podcast!

[@saravandenheuvel9103]

I LOVE all your conversations Rich. But this one with Van was so precious! Van's humility, open-ness, enthusiasm - I could go one and on. And the vibe between you guys. Pure gold! Oh, and thank you for letting Van riff and not butting in. Seriously. So good!!!

[@anthonygasbarro3586]

Rich and Van - I listened to this podcast when it first aired and am just now re-listening to it. The normalizing of recovery and the explanation of how embracing the rooms of 12 step recovery was just beautiful. Thank you. I embrace recovery and appreciate your vocal support of it for the newcomer who might not know that recovery is possible. Love you both.

[@TedNemeth]

These two have quickly become favorites. VAN! Thank you for saying (at around the 30 minute mark)...just saying ...just how much work it is....to do anything. I love that! Man I agree. I’ve launched my 5th career. And I get overwhelmed at just how talented people are in my new profession. I have to remind myself,...”they” have been doing it for 30 year, etc. Then I’m faced with JUST HOW MUCH WORK there is to do.

[@Dennis-de1ji]

Loved every minuite of this conversation... Always loved listening to grown ups having a conversation, leaving my mind and connecting to this pool of life experiences and a mind matured and beaten by life! What a wonderful fealing

[@AbdallahBotan]

Thank you Rich Roll for having Van as guest. I get a lot of answers why he is phenomenon but I get more answers for myself to many questions I have. Your power listening pushed him to open up as child, as creative, as a spirited man. Thanks to Van for just being a Van we love his relentless work nad his power to push us to work with passion.

[@firstlastfilm]

'Inevitability meets surprise'....man that just leapt out of nowhere and knocked my socks off! What a powerful spiritual journey of a podcast!

[@Womboo369]

So great to see Van - the man behind The Spirited Man (a much needed voice on KZbin). A great chat!! Thanks Rich. x

[@8thLife]

Love it when two of my favorite creators get together for something like this; such a great conversation!

[@angeliekklingen554]

Fell into this getting my to watch list together. So good to be here, a lovely little gift for the day!(listening while working, the neighbours are drilling, and I thought : music on headphones... best idea of the day!)

[@andy_an_outdoors_guy]

so -- when he says he likes the editing and color grading - around 1:01:50 - i was real happy to hear that. Van's editing, narrating and color aesthetic are really well done and make his films that much more engaging and through provoking.

[@tomasr64]

Rich and crew, THank You so much for introducing me to Van. Its nice to know that a man has such a talent to describe a good life. And he tells that doing it for love and the money will come is so true.

[@saintchris5887]

Nice Job -this is the most revealing interview I’ve seen of Van for sure. He’s very open/honest and vulnerable.

[@dic2504]

Can not wait for this one. He is a true artist. The best KZbin creator 🙏❤️

[@LaurenAL777]

This episode needs to be watched versus listened to, Van has such a passionate presence. Great episode.

[@dirks4093]

The world needs more people with Van Neistat's honesty and approach to life. The world would DEFINITELY be a better place. Love ya Van. I bought one of your shirts for no other reason than it was designed by someone original and unique.

[@TimothymakeupsDitzler]

This has been unbelievably inspiring. Van is a genius. Thanks for this Rich!

[@CodyAlushin]

This is a masterclass. So much to dive into and discover from this... THANK YOU

[@thehealthjunkie8996]

Great conversation. Loved this podcast. Thank you Rich 💛🙏👍

[@fantastic40s]

Favourite RRP yet!!! Appreciate the wonderful work that you both do :-)

[@meghanjane]

great interview. I often wondered what the "rub" was when he took off to LA and if there were issues with Casey. ive watched (and rewatched) everything that these guys have put out... thanks for asking all the questions I had

[@ahmedsalafap5898]

Just wow. was waiting for this . Am watching Van regularly from the beginning of his YT channel.

[@perforatedfold]

as an artist i relate so much to what van is saying, yes there are highlights and enjoyable moments but artists creating is like the necessity to breathing, it's not really a choice in way..

[@pepejjgl]

Tnx for sharing this enjoyable interview, always helpful to listen some one who walked that street you want to cross. Good words by Van, and also tnx for sharing your thoughts on life R. Roll, I noted some of your words.

[@vz3_]

I have a studio at 368 and never heard of it referred to as the "Diane Fink" school, love it and loved hearing the stories of the amazing artists who preceded me in this special space.

[@nandoseriedeti]

This is why I love RichRoll, Greetings from Spain

[@EntirelyHonest]

Wow, fantastic discussion between you both. Loved the talk about sobriety....Love the podcast Rich, I think I am going to save up over the next few months for the Voicing Change book! Sending love from Canada

[@veronicafernandezrotundo4966]

Very INSPIRING !!! He has tons more to share and tons more charm in his way to express it than he thinks!!

[@djstarsign]

It’s crazy when watching the old Neistat Brothers episodes how charismatic and funny Van was/is. He seemed to be the driving force of that show but maybe because he just had more presence. And that’s saying a lot since Casey is also very charismatic. I’d always wondered why the brothers stopped working together and now it seems so simple. Van was free to do whatever he wanted. Casey had a son he needed to provide for, so he had different priorities and they didn’t match up. It also seems that Casey is a natural-born workaholic where Van just wants to chill. He really seems to be struggling with the realities of having to make two videos a week 😂. Van is incredibly talented and even if he only makes one video a month, I’d be more than thankful.

[@persistentviolinnoob126]

I love these podcasts. Rich Roll deserves 10M subscribers.

[@lucianolisiotti7746]

Awesome interview, I really appreciate and thank you for having subtitles! I have hearing problems and this is a great solution for it! Thanks again!

[@lucianolisiotti7746]

That moment when he talks about Casey, that love he expresses, that admiration, that vision he has, EXCELLENT!!!!!

[@snowboardtraveler]

How he expressed the amount of work to making KZbin videos and feeling of being in a burning house to produce consistent content is so true.

[@pabis6817]

I love that he has no idea how much people love his films. It is without a doubt the stuff! The very very good stuff

[@dic2504]

Cannot wait for this one! He is an amazing artist! The best KZbin creator 🙏❤️

[@scrips_]

This podcast is gold! Thank you for all the inspiration!

[@samholder196]

I love the Neistat Brothers -- but Van is my man for the future. The well is incredibly deep here.

[@midiami400]

Thanks for your content as well as the heads up regarding Van. The Spirited Man struck a chord with me in a positive way. I like his introspection and perspective. Crucial in helping me navigate my world at the moment.

[@ioan.panaite]

wonderful content and details. Fascinating, greetings from Romania!

[@MyGrowthRings]

I watched this entire interview and was spellbound. From here I searched for and found the SX-70 ad Van mentioned and was transported back to my youth. I was born in ‘65 and I recalled that when I was a teenager I used to tear apart the spent Polaroid cartridges a up-cycle the parts. The one-time-use 6 volt battery was the most valuable part to me as I could reuse it to power stuff I was cobbling together from Radio Shack and from parts scavenged from the multiple TVs, radios and appliances people had given me because they knew I enjoyed tinkering. At some pont Polaroid introduced the first of two POLAPULSE flashlights that used those batteries, but I don’t recall them ever getting much traction. As for me, I went on to having tap five year stint as a clock repairman. Thanks for the memories, guys. Scott

[@wyattgumz]

What was the name of the ad or the makers of the film?

[@enamary1]

This conversation... So Very Good! Thank you!

[@7374757678]

Possibly the best most honest interview/conversation had anywhere ever

[@lolmandood]

I enjoy Van and his videos. They inspire me to keep doing my little projects and keep going.

this is such a great podcast guys, like a rollercoaster, congratulations Rich!

[@juliebaker8400]

Sitting across from the person you are highlighting is what makes your show great.

[@mohammadjafary1300]

wow! I feel like joy of watching this episode is never gonna end it was really good!

[@garethbowler6410]

Gareth Rangan's Videographer here Rich, was so excited when I saw your post about this yesterday!!!! love it!

[@musicisagoodvibe]

my favorite analog necessarities will always be ,,paper and pen" and of course a paper diary which I always tend to finish my way..for the certain year :)

[@davidguthrie3739]

Burden of Dreams, what an astounding document. Brings to mind the not as epically tragic, but still epic, Lost in La Mancha.

[@VinnieVan]

I love love love this so much. I had to use the washroom and had held it for so long and the end came at which time I decided, a little longer, make my comment now and go to the washroom afterwards. I had another minute to think about the 1000 things that were now running around in my head. Im that guy, the guy who read 4 books in my almost 55 years. all of my knowledge is inadvertently there because of the chair time I've invested in watching and listening. I was already subbed to Van and now Im really all in. And I've listened to Roll for several years now and my brain is sharper. I may be a slow starter but I feel a very big change coming on in my life due in part to these guys right here. When you come to a point in your life where you question how did you get to be 55 and still have no idea how you got here and why you're still not quite right with your life, you realize just a little bit why all those little things matter so much. It cost more to fix it but the result is a little part of your life will still be around also its the right thing to do. The idea is amazing, Its not about stuff. We will leave this world with nothing but our memories and all these little ideas that meant so much because we followed through and kept it alive. Thank you guys, Im dry and thoroughly enlightened! Good night.

[@Ryan-ts4iq]

I just love Van’s energy!

[@EarthlingHEX]

I think its great how genuine Van is

[@markkent3363]

1:29:45 Some real talk. Thank you Van Neistat and Rich Roll

[@VanessaDiazNYC]

Coolest GenXers!! You guys make 50 look cool!! Great convo! I am still halfway through but it's really good!

[@wolkenrob]

As always, great listen.

[@mnelson2008]

I love listening to Van...he really is so fascinating and inspired. Oh, and Rothko is infinite.

[@realestatephotovideoshawns1177]

Great interview and great interview E! It’s so much fun when people don’t realize what they were doing, what they had, where they were at. There’s a story of my life. Not really, I don’t really have one. But it was fun!

[@nicobva]

This was amazing!

[@anthonyfox477]

My favorite type of neurotic tortured artist 😂😂😂. Great episode yall.

[@chrisclark5135]

Fantastic. There's only one Van Neistat in the world. He and Casey are the most unique people that I have ever become aware of thus far in my life.

[@kladdha_]

Such a brilliant episode.

[@poulgadving7628]

Thanks. Very inspirational

[@BrutFab]

The purity talk is so beautiful. Touched my soul. 1:32:07

[@j.pauldamico3578]

Great one Rich!

[@JulieThompson062]

Born in 1962. Didn’t know at the time with owning our own business raising 4 kids what a roller coaster of a life we had in front of us. I hi could have predicted the 70’s gas prices or the collapse of the electronics industry in the 80’s or the housing collapse in 2008. My generation have fought invisible wars from the get go.

[@jeffreykursonis6554]

super awesome interview thanks!

[@kingaseltine]

Two years, time for a repeat performance? He’s grown so much and it’d be awesome to hear about the experience from this podcast concluding until now.

[@lickingfrog]

That last part about repairing might be “irrational”. I disagree because you can clearly rationalize it: even if you spend more time and money by repairing stuff you care about. The value of the whole work/journey will be forever attributed to the stuff itself and specially your relationship to it. This fullfil little by little the not so little things in life. This is powerful. (Not saying you should fix obsolete stuff… only the few ones that matters)

[@canadude6401]

I absolutely love Van. The world needs him so bad right now! It's almost like "where the hell you been hidin'!" Look at his body language, he is so confident and looks interviewers right in the eye. Such confidence and passion is truly inspiring. He is the Spirited Man, but also an _Inspiring Man_

[@canadude6401]

LOVE his convo about the typewriter and inability to edit. 25:48 Personally, my computer backspace key is worn out, so it would be cool to have a typewriter...it's like a permanent record of your storytelling. There is no "save" "edit" or "encrypt" Its on paper until the paper burns or gets lost. Love it!

[@rotcaka]

I never thought about this, but perhaps also why I love writing in pen vs pencil ... 🤔 I'm going to embrace the "mistakes" more often now, Liberating, no?

[@shannonferguson4810]

I love the new guest introductions.

[@samoburgess]

Great talk!

[@RichardLalonde]

What a great conversation. I love Van’s films and they seam like he’s the guy to make these type of films. I wrote a short film and I’m figuring out how to make it and I’m writing it as a feature as well, writing is hard for me and I don’t have the discipline to write every day. Im figuring this stuff out slowly as I continue to work a job that I don’t particularly like but it is paying the bills, I get angry a little when I see people making money doing what they love, making films for KZbin. I have to continue to make films but I don’t want to be a “youtuber”. It’s tough man…

[@l3if831]

Loving that chair Van is sitting in

[@AnEm_Fishing]

man .... what a ride. thanks Van ...

[@bretstevens262]

Amazing! Casey is too cool for 'This Running Man'. You get to interview the most awesome people!

[@MatthewBrigham-1]

America needs people like Van and his brother. An intellectual and introspective foothold above the dumbing of our society.

[@anthonydauer]

At the University of Maryland College Park in the early 1990s an Art Philosophy course to compliment the Art History curriculum was added to explore the why. Very interesting course.

[@marcelinasladewska1287]

I love his videos!!

[@dannyderrick]

When Van mentions that listening to smart conversations while working on a task is like his ritalin. I realized that is exactly what was doing at that moment. Hyperfocused on my work while listening to this episode.

[@mullarky]

great. thanks

[@Chukijay]

The cost of repair IF YOU DO IT, is far more worth it. If you’re having somebody else repair it, you’re paying for their ability to diagnose and repair it. It’s still repairing rather than replacing, though, and there’s merit in that just as much.

[@Gautam-so1nb]

Ready

[@Jaughn]

This video is amazing.

[@UppiliVentures]

Love Casey and Van equally great creators totally different but the same - vibe energy :)

[@gebzed]

Good ole MS-DOS commands I still have them all in my head lol. C:\ copy move etc

[@shadowfight3945]

Rich roll deserve 200 million subscribers

[@winstonzeb2842]

Van, please do a video of you mass producing the Kickstarter items!

[@davidguthrie3739]

Yes

[@TheXaminedLife]

1:39 I once heard that Bill Gates said that all programs expand to consume all available memory. 2:19 I grew up being told "don't buy something new if you can mend what you've got."

[@rafsun97]

What a fucking amazing podcast .One I am defiantly gona re watch . Please bring more people like this .

[@Alistair_Spence]

Interesting. Just discovered Van's channel a few weeks ago and have been enjoying the content. Btw Rich, you mention our glasses at the beginning of the episode but didn't mention the brand. Can you share that info? Thanks.

[@mihaelam8339]

Gotta get that free advertising lol I think Rich knows what's up.

[@CraigRidesBikes]

You’re both fascinating, smart, and seem quite nice. Cheers

[@elephantcup]

Take a sip of water each time Van brings someone uip, but can't remember their name. You'll be getting up to pee every few minutes.

[@DamonBowe]

Bring Van back for more!

[@tothejazz4828]

Van's head is incredibly well lit.

[@dougscott188]

I always wondered what happened to Van after the HBO show. It would seem in their relationship he was Woz and Casey was Jobs. Van is the the David Byrne of KZbinrs 😆

[@qwertyback11]

very real unique man!

[@realityos]

"I hate space!", lol!