Something Ventured -- Silicon Valley Podcast

Neil Cohen -- Silicon Valley CMO and San Francisco State lecturer talks about the etiquette of job searching and of hiring candidates in Silicon Valley.  Silicon Valley's hot job market doesn't keep candidates from making wealth minimizing mistakes -- so Kent and Neil discuss how to get it right. -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom goes behind the scenes in Silicon Valley with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

In this part 2 of 2, Charlie Recksieck continues the conversation on music.  We begin by explaining Mark Zuckerberg and his foray into Wirehog, before Facebook.  Also discussed are how the music business works today -- how new technologies impact how artists get paid, and the implications for promoting and monetizing band tours.  Charlie's band is The Bigfellas, whose music was featured in the 2012 documentary "Don't Change the Subject".   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley insider Kent Lindstrom explores the reality behind the Silicon Valley headlines, as he sits down with the peole who are shaping the way we view the world onlnie.....and beyond.

Charlie Recksieck is an entrepreneur, engineer and musician.  His band is "Leaders in the Clubhouse". Discussed in this episode are the (many) impacts technology has had on music.  From 8-track tapes to Napster.  The episode begins with a brief explanation of Napster and Mark Zuckerberg's brief foray into peer-peer music, before....Facebook.   -- 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 episode 2 of 2 with Preet Anand, we discuss Blue Light, the startup focused on public safety, of which Preet is CEO and Founder.  Topics include -- the process (and game) of fundraising.  Also discussed is the uniqueness of a startup in the public safety space, as well as the ups and downs of being an entrepreeur in Silicon Valley.   -- 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.

Bluelight founder and CEO Preet Anand discusses the ups and downs of his startup in this first of 2 episodes.  In "Something Ventured" fashion the first episode covers -- yes -- housing in Silicon Valley.  Also discussed are Preet's experiences at Zynga, and observations of life in the Bay Area.   -- In the Something Ventured podcast, Silicon Valley Veteran 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.

Internet exec and  San Francisco State professor Neil Cohen talks marketing.  Often misunderstood in Silicon Valley, the marketing role is a key one for almost any successful company of any size.  Also in this episode -- Neil and Kent poke fun at some Silicon  Valley marketing fails -- and those billboards on the 101. -- 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.  

Neil Cohen is a marketing executive and advisor with experience ranging from Sega and Hilton to numerous successful startups.  He is a board member of SF State UCORP and a Mentor to StartupMexico.  In this podcast, Neil and Kent discuss the booming entrepreneurial scene in Mexico City, and contrast it to Silicon Valley -- In the Something Ventured podcast Silicon Valley veteran 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.

On October 30, 2014, Tim Cook -- Apple's CEO -- came out as gay.  He never denied it, but now said  " I haven't acknowledged it publicly, until now". Tim Cook and other gay Silicon Valley executives were discussed in an earlier podcast with executive Vincent Robinson.  Here, we replay that episode. Happy holidays.  Kent Lindstrom.... @kentlind -- 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 changing the way we view the world online and beyond.  

Peter Shanley is an executive at Neo Innovation, and previously worked at Yahoo, Hewlett Packard and Betable.  He discusses "Learn Startup" concepts for big companies. Part 2 of 2.   In the Something Ventued podcast, Silicon Valley Insider Kent Lindstrom explores the relaity behind the Silicon Valley headlines as he sits down with the people who are shaping the way we view the world online and beyond.

Jim Egbert, the Silicon Valley executive for a major financial firm, returns to talk to Kent about the first 25 episodes of Something Ventured.  Silicon Valley topics covered range from Burning Man to the structure of the internet.  Part 2 of 2.   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.

Jim Egbert talks to Kent about the first 25 episodes of "Something Ventured". Issues in Silicon Valley discussed included -- being a gay CEO, sexism, librarians (yep, librarians), racism, hipsters and more. 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 Shanley has worked at large technology companies like Yahoo and Hewlett Packard -- but started in San Francisco running a housing project in San Francisco's most economically challened neighborhood -- the Tenderloin.  In the first part of our conversation with Peter, he talks aobut what drives the housing crunch in San Francisco, and various issues around San Francisos's difficult social problems.   In the Something Ventured podcast Slicon Vallen 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 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.