Something Ventured -- Silicon Valley Podcast
#63 Sarah Marie CEO of Spec.fm 2 of 2

Sarah Marie is an entrepreneur, executive and co-founder of Spec.fm podcast network and its CEO.  After a break last week for the US election (spoiler alert, it did not go as expected) we return to more positive territory.  Sarah continues her conversation about the path to Silicon Valley (which in her case did not involve Harvard or Stanford), the struggle to build a path in Silicon Valley, and the early success of her Spec podcast network.

Direct download: 63_Sarah_Marie_CEO_of_Spec.fm_2_of_2.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:11pm EDT

Something Ventured Election Special with Joe Garofoli, Senior Political writer for the SF chronicle.  We cover the national election -- why everyone missed the rise of Trump, and what people are feeling in Pittsburgh.  Also covered are California ballot measures (marijuana legalization in particular).  We finish with a discussion of Bay Area measures, and San Francisco housing in particular.

Direct download: 62_joe_garofoli_election_podcast_2016.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:21pm EDT

#61 Sarah Marie of Spec Network (1 of 2) -- The Entrepreneur's Journey

Sarah Marie is co-founder and CEO of the fast-growing podcast network Spec Network (Spec.fm).  Sarah's entrepreneurial journey brought her to Silicon Valley from Minnesota, and involved an early stint at a bakery.  This is not your "Stanford/Facebook/XYZ VC" -- it's far more interesting.  

Spec Network has become a leading design and developer podcast network, with podcasts such as "Design Details", "Immutable" and "Runtime", among others.

Also discussed are the sometime challenges of navigating the streets of San Francisco -- and PC Games.  

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom Explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

Direct download: 61_sarah_marie__1_of_2.m4a
Category:Technology -- posted at: 5:49pm EDT

#60 Chaos Monkeys' Antonio Garcia-Martinez 2 of 2

Chaos Monkeys' author Antonio Garcia-Martinez -- part 2 of 2.  In which he discusses Y-combinator, the inner workings of Facebook and much more.  Particularly interesting -- what happened when some (but not all) people at Facebook realized they were rich?  

 

The book Chaos Monkeys (on iTunes here https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/chaos-monkeys/id1071356667?mt=11)  was recently described by Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times as:

 

"Incisive.... The most fun business book I have read this year.... Clearly there will be people who hate this book — which is probably one of the things that makes it such a great read.”

Direct download: 60_antonio_garcia_martinez_2_of_2_Oct_2016.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

#59 Chaos Monkeys Author Antonio Garcia-Martinez 1/2

Antonio Garcia-Martinez' "Chaos Monkeys" (Harper) was an instant New York Times bestseller.  Andrew Ross Sorkin in the New York Times said  "Incisive -- the most fun business book I've read this year.  Clearly there will be people who hate this book -- which is probably one of the things that make it such a great read".

In this episode, Antonio covers a range of Silicon Valley topics - including some heroics from Y-combinator's Sam Altman.  Sam has since been in the news for supporting Donald Trump supporter and Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel.

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the word online...and beyond.

 

Direct download: 59_Antonio_Garcia-Martinez_12.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

#58 -- Sexism in Silicon Valley with Rachel Fairbanks

We pre-empt podcasts planned with Antonio Garcia Martinez and Sarah Marie of Spec Network, because Donald Trump made us.  (don't worry -- we'll get to Antonio and Sarah Marie shortly)  Without repeating the things Mr. Trump said about sexual assault and sexual harassment -- we're reminded that sexism, in all of its forms, is wrong.  In this previously aired, but always timely podcast, Rachel Fairbanks covers a theme that has come up many times on Something Ventured:  harassment and assault in Silicon Valley are more prevalent than many think.  Hey, this ain't Harry Stebbings 20 Minute VC!

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online....and beyond.

Direct download: 58_Rachel_Fairbanks_Sexism_Replay.m4a
Category:Technology -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

#57 Microsoft Bought his Company!

Donald Trump would hate this podcast.  The story of an immigrant from China.  Ben Cheung built an AI company (pay attention, Westworld fans).  He discussed it in a previous podcast, when we talked about the struggle of the entrepreneur.  Just a few months after that, Microsoft came calling and bought his company.  Ben discusses the process of being approached and negotiating with Microsoft after Microsoft exec Qui Lu took an interest in Genee.  He also talks about what it's like working at Microsoft and -- for a Silicon Valley podcast -- has positive things to say about Microsoft! (Take that, TWIT).

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond!

Direct download: 57_Microsoft_Bought_his_Startup.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

#56 Microsoft Acquires AI tool Genee

In this replay, we revisit our interview with Benjamin Cheung, the entrepreneur behind Genee.  This provides a glimpse of the entrepreneur at work -- a fascinating exploration now that we know the outcome:  He eventually sells his company to Microsoft!

 

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In the Something Ventured Podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Direct download: 56_Benjamin_Cheung_of_Genee_sells.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm EDT

#55 Burning Man with Michael White Replay

Every year Silicon Valley marches off to the desert for several days of....well, probably NSFW activity.  For those who remain -- Silicon Valley becomes a place where parking is easy, and there is a seat at the bar.

 

In this podcast, Kent and Michael White discuss the history of  Burning Man.

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley Headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Direct download: 55_Burning_Man_Replay.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:45pm EDT

#54 Peter Berger 2 of 2

Part 2 of Kent's conversation with Peter Berger -- CEO of Contact IQ and former Director of Strategic Development at Tagged.  Peter is also the organizer of the Silicon Valley Semantic Technology Group.

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Direct download: 54_Peter_Berger_2_of_2.m4a
Category:Technology -- posted at: 4:17pm EDT

#53 -- Peter Berger Part 1 of 2 -- The Entrepreneur's Journey

Peter Berger is the CEO of Contact IQ.  He's an entrepreneur who was formerly the Director of Strategic Development at Tagged.  He is the Organizer of the Silicon Valley Semantic Technology Group, which has over 1000 members.  His path to being CEO of Contact IQ -- well, it probably wasn't what you imagine, and it's certainly more interesting.  In this discussion we cover a range of issues in Silicon Valley, and Peter's path to his current success.

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online -- and beyond.

Direct download: 53_Peter_Berger_--_the_Entrepreneurs_Journey.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 2:33pm EDT

#52 Racism, Jackie Robinson and the Number 42

After explaining April 15th and #42 to enough people, I decided to make it into a quick podcast.  Racism being a frequent topic of this podcast, Michael White joins us to explain the significance of April 15th and the #42.  On April 14, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American player (since the 1880s) to play professional baseball in the "Major" leagues.  Also discussed are the Negro leagues, and the 5 best baseball movies of all time.

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online....and beyond.

Direct download: 52_Jackie_Robinson_Racism_and_the_Number_42.m4a
Category:Technology -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT

#51 Jonathan Abrams Part 2 of 2

In part 2, Kent Lindstrom continues his talk with Jonathan Abrams -- founder of Friendster, Nuzzel, Founders Den (with a few others), as well as Socializr and Hotlinks.  He is on the board of Girls in Tech.  In this continued conversation, some of the evils of VC firms are discussed.  Also discussed are sexism in Silicon Valley (a serious topic) and TV shows, and Sci Fi books (not a serious topic).

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Direct download: 51_Jonathan_Abrams_2_of_2.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

#50 Jonathan Abrams talks Silicon Valley

Jonathan Abrams founded Friendster -- the first social network, whose patent on social networking is now owned by Facebook.  He also founded Hotlinks, Socializr, and Founders Den.  He is currently CEO of social news site Nuzzel, which he also founded.

Jonathan has also invested in many seed stage startups, and sits on the board of Girls in Tech.

Jonathan has a unique perspective on Silicon Valley -- and in this podcast, he shares it.

 

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines, as he sit-down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

Direct download: 50_abrams_march_2016_part_1_of_2.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

#49 Michael White -- Why Silicon Valley will rule Sports 2 of 2

Part 2 of 2 of Kent's conversation with Michael White, wherein he discusses his thesis of why Silicon Valley's unique economics and culture will lead to the Bay Area dominating professional sports.

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In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Direct download: 49_Michael_White_Sports_in_Silicon_Valley_2_of_2.m4a
Category:Technology -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

#48 Silicon Valley Sports with Michael White

Fan favorite Michael White discusses his theory:  That Basketball (The Warriors), Baseball (The San Francisco Giants) and Hockey (the San Jose Sharks) will dominate professional sports, due to unique characteristics of Silicon Valley.  Part 1 of 2.

Direct download: michael_white_SV_Sports_part_1a_of_2a.m4a
Category:Technology -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

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