Today’s episode is… a little strange.

As the title suggests, I dissected an octopus.

But don’t worry — no nine-brained, three-hearted, blue-blooded sea creatures were harmed in the making of this podcast 🐙.

Instead, I brought back a dear friend and Curiosity Island citizen, Perry Knoppert — aka “Dr. Octopus” — the founder of the Octopus Movement, a global network of non-linear thinkers solving the world’s most unsolvable problems.

So what does it mean to “dissect” an octopus?

In this episode, I take Perry through my brand-new process called Find Your Four in 4,000 — where in just 4,000 seconds (about an hour), I use my curiosity + a custom GPT to help someone uncover the tiny slice of what they do (their 4%) that creates the majority of their impact and joy.

And the results were wild.

Perry walked away with so much clarity that he even turned the insights into a manifesto for his life’s work.

Here’s why this matters for you:

By listening in, you’re not just hearing an inspiring story from someone who’s making a big impact…

You’ll also see exactly how this process works in real time — and then mirror it for yourself.

Normally, this is something I only guide people through inside my Curiosity Island community… but for this episode, I wanted to pull back the curtain and make it more accessible.

Paired with the free workbook I created for you, my intention is that you’ll be able to apply the same framework to your own life — and start building in alignment with your 4%.

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today's guest, Perry Knoppert

Brandon introduces a special return guest: Perry Knoppert, also known as Dr. Octopus, founder of the Octopus Movement. Brandon sets the stage for a deep exploration of Perry’s 4% through a unique and immersive “Find Your 4 in 4000” session using AI, GPT, and real-time curiosity.

02:27 - Who is Dr. Octopus?

Brandon reads Perry’s full bio, detailing Perry’s transformation from homelessness to leading the Octopus Movement—a global network of nonlinear thinkers solving the world’s most unsolvable problems.

04:24 - Understanding the 4% Concept

Brandon introduces the “Find Your Four” concept and shares a free downloadable PDF guide to help listeners identify the 4% of their activities that yield 64% of their results, based on fractal applications of the 80/20 rule.

07:05 - What is “Find Your 4 in 4000”?

Brandon explains how he uses GPT, real-time transcription, and curiosity to identify someone’s 4% within 4000 seconds. This episode is a live demo with Perry as the subject.

09:39 - A Journey to Childhood: Perry’s Yellow Room & Grandmother

Perry vividly describes his first room with yellow walls and shares a heartfelt story of his grandmother—a WWII resistance member who taught him selflessness through humble, quiet courage.

15:01 - Building Weird with LEGO

Perry describes his chaotic, unplanned Lego building as a child. He reflects on the joy of creation without attachment and how “weird” was a recurring theme in his thinking and expression.

17:17 - Embracing “Weird” as a Compliment

Perry shares how he embraced his unique way of seeing and building things, which contrasted with others. To him, “weird” is a celebration of originality and difference.

21:34 - From LEGO to Life: Creativity as Flow

Perry discusses the emotional experience of starting from scratch and the energy of creating something new—an experience he describes as magical and inherently fulfilling.

23:06 - Becoming a Taxi Driver in China to Learn Culture

Perry recounts how an “impossible” idea—becoming a taxi driver in Beijing—led to the creation of a TV show concept that garnered attention from CNN and major media outlets.

27:13 - Reactions in the Taxi: Culture Clash & Humor

From a Chinese woman running away from his cab to pranking a Belgian police officer with a Chinese driver's license, Perry highlights his fearless attitude and ability to laugh at absurdity.

33:07 - Why People React to Him Strongly

Perry recalls a conversation with his psychiatrist who diagnosed him as “fearless.” This fearlessness often provokes strong reactions from others—something he’s come to understand and accept.

36:54 - Challenging Norms to Build the Octopus Movement

Perry explains how he started the Octopus Movement without structure or rules, proving wrong those who said it was impossible, and shares his philosophy about the limitations of thought.

43:17 - A Life-Changing Book and Rediscovering Creativity

Perry shares how reading "I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was" by Barbara Sher during a post-homeless period helped him realize the limiting beliefs he held, particularly around creativity and self-worth.

46:56 - Dreaming the Impossible: The Octopus Factory

Perry shares his dream of building Octopus Factories worldwide—creative hubs inspired by Andy Warhol’s Factory, where nonlinear thinkers gather, collaborate, and create without limits.

51:37 - Why the Octopus? The Power of Adaptability

Among many traits, Perry is most inspired by the octopus’ adaptability. He draws parallels between this and his life, especially during times of intense transformation and reinvention.

53:59 - The Gift of Homelessness: Seeing Through Perceptions

Perry reveals that homelessness taught him the difference between how others perceive you and who you really are. This powerful realization continues to guide how he views himself and others.

58:35 - You Are the Whiteboard

Perry shares a profound insight: that our identity is often constructed through the lens of others. True understanding comes from recognizing the empty whiteboard within, free from labels.

01:07:11 - Perry Defines His Current 4%

Brandon asks Perry to articulate his current understanding of his 4%. Perry describes himself as a “movement expert on nonlinear thinking,” emphasizing his role in creating spaces where thought, movement, and transformation collide.

01:09:24 - GPT-Generated Synthesis of Perry’s 4%

Brandon shares GPT’s synthesis of Perry’s 20%: “A playground of fearless curiosity, connection and creation,” outlining the specific conditions where Perry thrives—unstructured environments, communities that embrace weirdness, and freedom from judgment.

Links & Resources:

📥 Free Workbook: How to Build a Life in Alignment With Your 4% — A free downloadable workbook to discover your 4%, as mentioned by Brandon in the episode.

🌐 The Octopus Movement — Perry’s global community of nonlinear thinkers.