Something Ventured -- Silicon Valley Podcast

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.   -- 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.

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.   -- 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.

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.   -- 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.

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.   -- 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.

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). -- 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.

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.   -- 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.

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. -- 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.

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.

Note:  This is the full episode of Kent's conversation with Shaun:    "Shaun Tai is the Founder and Executive director of Oakland Digital, a non-profit that connects design students to local businesses. Shaun comes to Oakland Digital by way of hip hop, and the film industry.  Not everyone in Silicon Valley works in a tech company.   Kent and Shaun discuss a wide range of topics, including how to connect lower income people to the tech industry, why Oakland hasn't overtaken San Francisco as the most desirable place to live...yet.  And a lot more.  This is the first of a 2 part conversation Find Shaun and Oakland Digital on Twitter at: @odalc   @shaun_tai @OaklandDigital   -- 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.

"Black people and Asian people SHOULD work together in Oakland".  So this one begins..  Shaun Tai is the Founder and Executive director of Oakland Digital, a non-profit that connects design students to local businesses. Shaun comes to Oakland Digital by way of hip hop, and the film industry.  Not everyone in Silicon Valley works in a tech company.   Kent and Shaun discuss a wide range of topics, including how to connect lower income people to the tech industry, why Oakland hasn't overtaken San Francisco as the most desirable place to live...yet.  And a lot more.  This is the first of a 2 part conversation Find Shaun and Oakland Digital on Twitter at: @odalc   @shaun_tai @OaklandDigital   -- 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.

We turn to Oakland.  Shaun Tai is the Founder and Executive director of Oakland Digital, a non-profit that connects design students to local businesses. Shaun comes to Oakland Digital by way of hip hop, and the film industry.  Not everyone in Silicon Valley works in a tech company.   Kent and Shaun discuss a wide range of topics, including how to connect lower income people to the tech industry, why Oakland hasn't overtaken San Francisco as the most desirable place to live...yet.  And a lot more.  This is the first of a 2 part conversation Find Shaun and Oakland Digital on Twitter at: @odalc   @shaun_tai @OaklandDigital   -- 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.

Allison White, Silicon Valley school principal, discusses transgender kids.  This is the full conversation.  Some of the media referenced in this podcast:  1) John Oliver show on transgender; 2) TED Talk "Norman Spack"; 3) NBC Nightly News on Transgender Kids; 4) Rolling Stone Article "About a Girl -- Coy Mathis".    

In part 2 of this conversation with Allison White, Silicon Valley school principal -- we continue the discussion about transgender kids in Silicon Valley.  Some of the referenced elements can be found by:  Search for NBC Nightly news, the Atlantic and John Oliver stories on transgender issues.  Rolling Stone -- search for "Coy Mathis".     -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Kent sits down with Silicon Valley school principal Allison White to discuss transgender kids.  Many in Silicon Valley are only slowly beginning to understand transgender issues in the Valley and how to be supportive.  In this discussion the issues faced by transgender kids and families in Silicon Valley are discussed. Show Notes -- referenced in this podcast: TED Talkhttps://www.ted.com/talks/norman_spack_how_i_help_transgender_teens_become_who_they_want_to_be John Oliverhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmoAX9f6MOc  NBC Nightly News-Transgender Kidshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGPRNbxON8g Rolling Stonehttp://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/about-a-girl-coy-mathis-fight-to-change-change-gender-20131028

Part 2 with Ian McFarland -- technologist, author.  Currently of Pear Therapeutics, also founder of Neo Innovation.  We continue our wide-ranging discussion of everything from bitcoin to the "Series A crunch".   -- 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.

Ian McFarland literally wrote the book -- on the Tomcat server.  He is one of Silicon Valley's great technologists -- from Hotwired, through being an executive and Principal at Pivotal Labs, to his current role as Chairman of Neo Innovation.  We roam widely through topics including (what else?) housing in Silicon Valley, whether Bitcoin matters, and his first computer.   -- 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 viiew the world online -- and beyond.

Entrepreneur Ben Cheung, founder of Genee, details his journey from Southern China to the US, and eventually to Intel and VMware. Ben discusses the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur, as he describes his path to making Genee a success.   Genee is a virtual assistant that coordinates meetings for individuls or groups.  But his story will be a familiar one to most entrepreneurs. -- 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.

In the 2015 "Pridecast", Kent discusses 2 transgender people from the world of technology who you sould know:  Lana Wachowski and Martine Rothblatt.   --  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.

Dan Carucci, M.D., Ph. D. has served in the US Navy -- as head of its malaria program. He has served as director of science for the Foundation for the National Institutes for Health.  He has also spent time with the Gates Foundation, and escorting billionaires around Africa to study various health initiatives.  As wealth is created in Silicon Valley, many turn to funding large scale global health projects (perhaps most notably, Bill Gates).  In this podcast we discuss the effectiveness -- and pitfalls -- of global health programs, and their billionaire funders.   -- In the Something Ventured Podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom goes behind the scenes in Silicon Valley, as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online...and beyond.

Neil Cohen -- CMO and lecturer and San Francisco State University continues the conversation about how -- and how not -- to optimize a career in Silicon Valley. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley Insider Kent Lindstrom goes behind the scenes in Silicon Valley as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online -- and beyond.