Matt Smith: Rethinking College with “The Preparation”

A Note from James There’s always been debate about whether college is worth it. But what if there’s a better alternative—one that actually prepares you to become the person you want to be? My good friend Matt Smith just wrote a book with Doug Casey called The Preparation. It’s not theory—he’s been putting his own son through it as a real-world experiment. Instead of college, Maxim has spent the past two years learning skills like EMT training, firefighting, building houses, working cattle, and even launching a business. This is a practical roadmap for turning those years of 18–22 into a hero’s journey. I loved this conversation, and I’m sending the book to all of my kids. Episode Description James talks with entrepreneur and writer Matt Smith about his new book The Preparation, co-authored with Doug Casey. The book lays out a four-year alternative to college built around “cycles”—three-month intensive experiences designed to build practical skills, personal codes, and real-world wisdom. From earning an EMT license to fighting wildfires, training in Muay Thai, or running a small business, these cycles are designed to help young people become independent, capable, and resilient. James and Matt discuss why the traditional college path often fails, how to build a personal code of values, and why the future belongs to “expert generalists” who know how to learn across disciplines. What You’ll LearnWhy “be, do, have” is a more powerful framework for life than chasing possessions or credentials.How creating a personal code builds self-respect and identity.Why intergenerational relationships matter more than peer validation.How cycles of hands-on learning—from EMT work to entrepreneurship—prepare young people better than a classroom ever could.Why becoming an expert generalist is the best hedge against a future dominated by AI and automation. Timestamped Chapters[00:00] A Note from James: College vs. alternatives[01:00] Introducing Matt Smith and The Preparation[03:00] Origins of the book and Doug Casey’s vision[05:00] Writing the book for his son Maxim[06:00] Why homeschooling replaced high school[07:00] “Be, Do, Have” explained[09:00] Stacking cycles vs. stacking skills[10:00] Why the book focuses on young men (and how women can adapt it)[11:00] How to build your own cycle[13:00] Why traditional education fails to prepare people for real skills[14:00] Establishing a personal code[16:00] Examples of personal rules for self-respect[18:00] Practicing courage and choosing virtues[20:00] Skills Maxim has gained so far—EMT, chess, horses, firefighting[22:00] Adventures with Doug Casey and small-country nation building[24:00] Maxim’s cycles: EMT work, ranch apprenticeship, wildfire EMT[27:00] Structure, resistance, and learning by doing[28:00] Shelter Institute and learning to build a house[29:00] Entrepreneurship cycle: precision agriculture with drones[31:00] Lessons from entrepreneurship[32:00] Muay Thai training in Thailand[33:00] Cooking school in Florence[34:00] Travel with purpose vs. aimless wandering[36:00] James on biographies and meaningful decisions[37:00] Preparing for AI and the future of work[39:00] Why being an “expert generalist” matters[41:00] Learning how to learn across environments[42:00] The problem with peer-only education[44:00] Intergenerational relationships as mentorship[45:00] What comes after the preparation[47:00] Why the program can work for adults too[49:00] Rethinking retirement as another cycle of preparation[56:00] Matt’s personal growth through writing and learning new skills[58:00] Designing The Preparation as a beautiful, interactive book[59:00] Closing thoughts and sending the book to the next generation Additional ResourcesMatt Smith & Doug Casey — The PreparationDoug Casey’s Take (Podcast): YouTube ChannelDoug Casey’s Official Site: internationalman.comThe Shelter Institute (Learn to Build a House): shelterinstitute.comMuay Thai Training in Thailand (Example School): Santai Muay Thai GymFlorence Cooking School Example: Apicius International School of HospitalityStripe Press (Books mentioned by Matt): stripe.pressDoug Casey’s Classic Book — Crisis Investing: Amazon See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.