Ricky asked that someone transcribe the following conversation from his Season 2: Episode 6 podcast with Karl Pilkington and Steven Merchant:

(S)teve: The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with One Step. Maybe this is why people are at the start line, spectating at the Common Wealth Games?

(K)arl: I've never understood why in Olympics and stuff like that--if you're gonna watch, don't stand at the start line. Go to the end so you see the winner. But because of that saying, it actually makes sense, dunnit? It's like, every step starts with a step or whatever.

(R)icky: Say again (disbelieving)?

K: Every race. You know, you've got to start with a step.

R: Yeah?

K: So, uhm. Uh.

R: Who am I talking to now, you or your brain?

K: Well, I was thinking of that a bit, so I think I was in a bit more control.

R: And what have you come up with?

K: Just, if you want to stay at the start line--do.

R: What does that mean?

K: I'm just saying, I wouldn't watch a race, right?

R: Is this you or your brain I'm talking now?

K: This is me.

R: Okay. Are you going to bring the brain into it?

K: I don't know. Let's just see what happens.

R: Okay.

K: All I'm saying is--if I was to watch a race, I wouldn't hang about the start line.

R: But you just said you would.

K: What? Did I?

R: Yeah, you said that's the place to stand because every race starts with a step.

K: No, but I wouldn't normally.

R: Right.

S: The brain definitely hasn't been used yet.

R: Is this you or your brain talking right now?

K: I'm just saying about me. If I was on holiday and Suzanne said there was a race going on down the road. I'd go, well let's keep going down the road and stand at the finish line. But according to Lao Tzu, I'd say, Well hang on a minute. Every race starts with a single step; how many people are at the start line. Is there more room there? She goes, yeah let's go there then because it's less busy.

R: And what would you see there then?

K: I'd see people starting the race but I wouldn't be that impressed with them because I'd go well I don't know if any of these are any good.

R: So, would you start at the start or the end then?

K: If it was down to me, I'd just probably stay at the finish line.

R: Okay, so you wouldn't want to see the first step then. So what do you think of Lao Tzu now then?

K: Uh, it's…I wrote down three of his [sayings]. That one isn't me favorite. It's the third. I preferred the leading people from behind.

R: Okay, what would you do to lead someone now then?

K: Uh, well if you're behind, you don't have to take responsibility, do you? You can go, well I didn't send you--you went there.

R: That's not really leading them, is it?

K: Yeah, because I've made 'em think. They go, "Oh, I've just walked into a big hole." I go oh you should've been looking where you were going. I haven't led them in that hole. But they've learned a lesson--they won't go in the hole again.

R: [Uproarious laughter that drowns out all other sound and high pitch voice] That was one of the greatest conversations I've ever been part of. That was incredible. Never mind Aristotle and Socrates. That was incredible that. Um, if someone's out there, could they make a transcript of that because I think that in a thousand year's time that will be amazing. That was incredible Karl.

S: And not once was the brain used.

R: [Uproarious laughter again]

Thanks to Ricky for creating one of the funniest things that has ever come out of my iPod. I will be a lifetime fan of everything he does...and I'll probably even buy the stupid book coming out about the World of Karl Pilkington.

Free love on the free love freeway, baby!

LINKS:
Ricky Gervais Dot Com

TAGS:
Ricky Gervais, Ricky Gervais Podcast, Steven Merchant, Karl Pilkington, Philosophy, Lao Tzu