Something Ventured -- Silicon Valley Podcast

In the second part, Jim Egbert continues the discussion of hwo firms can source talent, beyond a certain set of people in Silicon Valley.  Also included are some sound and not-so-obvious ways to manage an engineering career.

Jim Egbert has been an executive at small and large companies, established ones and startups.  He currently is the Silicon Valley executive for one of hte world's largest payment companies. In this episode he darws on his experience running a software firm from Budapest.  In particular -- the employer's point of view is discussed.  What to do  in a world where new college graduates can command $100,000 salaries and free meals?  The sustainability of the situation, as well as emerging sources of engineering talent are discussed.  Part 1 of 2.

Every summer, Silicon Valley heads to Burning Man.  In a lighthearted look at Burning Man, Kent and Michael White discuss burning man.  The history of burning man is covered (including the 'anarchy' year).  Also discussed is just how rich the attendees are, and the irony of even richer people showing up.   Also covered is Burning Man's "K Street".  Or "Billionaires Row" -- the new Burning Man camp for rich people, that is rich with irony.   The documentary "Spark --  A Burning Man Story" provides source material for the podcast.   -- In Something Ventured, 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.

Kent Lindstrom sits down with Tim Rosenblatt -- who has been coding for 20 years, on the web since 1996.  They discuss various tech issues, including the physical structure of the Internet, and why Silicon Valley is the "Capital City".  Also discussed are the Commodore 64, why Netscape failed, and the concept of "code debt".   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Kent Lindstrom (@kentlind) explores the reality behidn the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Linda Kelly is Editor-in-Chief of the website Astrology.com.  She is also the author of the book "Deadheads:  Stories from Fellow Arists, Friends and Followers of the Grateful Dead".  She came to that book project, after meeting Jerry Garcia while working for Spin magazine. Her journey to becoming an author is discussed, as well as the relationship the Grateful Dead have to the Bay area.     Also discussed -- the popularity of Astrology.com, and how they've carried one of newspapers' most popular features onto the Internet. -- The Something Ventured podcast is released each Tuesday at 9am PST.  In it, 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.

Mike Stutz is a Hollywood director, writer, filmmaker, producer ("showrunner").  In this "Hollywood edition" of Something Ventured, Mike sits down with Kent to discuss how reality TV has evolved.  Also discussed are what is real in reality TV, and what is not.  Comparisons are made to Silicon Valley content companies, and Kent and Mike discuss how society's behavior is impacted by reality TV, consumer websites, video games and...even porn websites. Part 2 of 2 -- Something Ventured is released every Tuesday at 9am PST   In Something Ventured, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines, as he sits down with the people who are changing the way we view the world online....and beyond.  

Mike Stutz is a Hollywood director, writer, filmmaker, producer ("showrunner").  In this "Hollywood edition" of Something Ventured, Mike sits down with Kent to discuss how reality TV has evolved.  Also discussed are what is real in reality TV, and what is not.  Comparisons are made to Silicon Valley content companies, and Kent and Mike discuss how society's behavior is impacted by reality TV, consumer websites, video games and...even porn websites. Part 1 of 2 -- Something Ventured is released every Tuesday at 9am PST   In Something Ventured, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines, as he sits down with the people who are changing the way we view the world online....and beyond.  

CEO Vincent Robinson discusses issues around being gay in Silcon Valley.  Discussed are the contrasts of San Francisco in the 1980s and today, the evolution of the Castro Disctrict and San Francisco's Gay Pride parade.  Also discussed:  Is there a "Gay Mafia" in Silicon Valley?  Why are there so few (none) openly gay Fortune 500 executives?  What forms of discrimination do gay people face in Silicon Valley?  Proposition 8, Mozilla and Twitter are also discussed.   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.    

The second of two parts, Rachel Fairbanks discusses sexism issues women face in Silicon Valley.  Discussed are the recent issues involving Github, Sendgrid, Tinder, and several other companies.  The themes of the movie Frozen are explained for people who don't have young daughters.  Finally, advice on how to help reduce sexism is given   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.

Rachel Fairbanks, software executive, talks about sexism in Silicon Valley.  This is part one of two parts.  This first episode is a bit rough -- detailing some of the things women experience as they navigate Silicon Valley.  The #yesallwomen hashtag is explained and discussed, as well as recent incidents involving Github, Tinder, Snapchat, Sendgrid and more. Stick with this one.  In part 2 #itgetsbetter.   In Something Ventured, 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.

Cindy Aden was Amazon's first librarian, head of the Washington Library Assocation, and is an executive at the world's largest library co-op.   Discussed are -- historical aspects of libraries, the library at Alexandria -- and libraries before the age of the internet.  Also discussed are how libraries have evolved alongside the internet, what drives people to become librarians  and why librarians and libraries still matter even in the age of Google and Amazon.   In the Something Ventured podcast, Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the world onine....and beyond.

Rachel Fairbanks talks with Kent and it does not end well for hipsters.  Rachel is a software executive in Silicon Valley, who lives near hipster ground zero.  Silicon Valley is discussed, with a quick foray into culture.  Rachel briefly talks about being an American woman living in Asia.  When the discussion turns to hipsters -- things get nasty. Note:  No actual hipsters were harmed in the production of this podcast.   -- In "Something Ventured", Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the seasoned veterans and up-and-comers who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

In the 11th Something Ventured episode, Silicon Valley meets Hollywood, and they may not be getting along.  Mike Stutz (Hollywood producer, director, writer and actor) discusses the future of produced television in the age of Youtube.  He contrasts cable television economics with web portal/Youtube economics.  The different worldviews of TV and Internet people are discussed.  Mike also explains his journey to becoming a Hollywood producer/writer/director, and his place in the Hollywood hierarchy.  Warning:  Contains mild name dropping.

In this "Freaky Friday" episode, regular host Kent Lindstrom is interviewed by guest Eric Hall.  Obviously, the subject matter is fascinating.  Discussed are how Kent ended up in Silicon Valley, and why the "Something Ventured" podcast.   In the "Something Ventured" podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the seasoned veterans and up-and-comers who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Vincent Robinson shares his journey from Erie Pennsylvania, through Goldman Sachs and Stanford to Silicon Valley, where he now runs his own company.  Topics include how some African-Americans view startup risk, the power of Goldman Sachs, and the similarities between Silicon Valley and Washington DC.  Also discussed are changes in San Francisco since the 1990s, and why New York continues to obsess about San Francisco.  Also whether Oakland is the next Brooklyn or the next Portland. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the headlines, as he sits down with the seasoned veterans and up-and-comers who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Dolby's Eric Hall sits down with Kent to discuss the joys of working at a big tech company.  The IPO of Dolby and why big companies can be as satisfying as the small ones.  Also covered are SF protestors, the oversupply of product managers in Silicon Valley.  New York's ongoing obsessionw ith San Francisco is also discussed.   In Something Ventured, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the headlines, as he sits down with the seasoned veterans, and the up-and-comers who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Michael White and Kent discuss the TV show Silicon Valley on HBO.  Also, briefly discussed, is the role of technology in baseball. Someting Ventured Podcast -- Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines, as he sits down with the established veterans and up-and-comers who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond. New episodes are posted at noon each Tuesday.

Nick Heyman - Facebook's first ops director -- talks about the early days at Facebook.  Also discussed are what wealth did to Facebook employees, and what Facebook's latest strategic moves are all about. The Something Ventured Podcast is released every Tuesday at noon.  Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines  as he sits down with the established veterans and up and comers who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Kent Lindstrom and Michael White -- very carefully -- discuss sexism in Silicon Valley.  An aricle about Silicon Valley (from the New York based press) covers issues around an inappropriate mobile app, the reactions to it and the implications.  The first in a series of discussions with different people about gender in Silcon Valley.   In "Something Ventured" startup insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with established veterans and up-and-comerrs who are chanign the way we view the world onine and beyond.

Michael White -- Silicon Valley Attorney to corpoate clients -- discusses how to maintain control of your company.  Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg famously has ironclad control of his company, to its great benefit.  Also discussed is "why so much animosity towad lawyers?"