Episode
#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
2:45:16
Published: Thu Mar 08 2018
Description
Joe Gebbia (@jgebbia) is a designer, entrepreneur, and global explorer. He is the co-founder and CPO of Airbnb, which has changed the way the world travels and how people connect in more than 190 countries.In this wide-ranging and hilarious interview, Joe delivers the details on his path to Airbnb, and he shares the decisions, hardship, failures, and successes that prepared him for Airbnb.Enjoy!This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. As a listener of The Tim Ferriss Show, you’ll get 30 percent off your first order at AthleticGreens.com/Tim.This episode is also brought to you by LegalZoom. I’ve used this service for many of my businesses, as have quite a few of the icons on this podcast — such as Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg of WordPress fame.LegalZoom is a reliable resource that more than a million people have already trusted for everything from setting up wills, proper trademark searches, forming LLCs, setting up non-profits, or finding simple cease-and-desist letter templates.LegalZoom is not a law firm, but it does have a network of independent attorneys available in most states who can give you advice on the best way to get started, provide contract reviews, and otherwise help you run your business with complete transparency and up-front pricing. Check out LegalZoom.com and enter promo code TIM at checkout today for special savings and see how the fine folks there can make life easier for you and your business.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the form at tim.blog/sponsor.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
The transcript contains a mix of unrelated phrases including a line about running at high altitude, being a cybernetic organism, and promoting the speaker's free weekly newsletter.
00:00 - 01:11 (01:11)
Summary
The transcript contains a mix of unrelated phrases including a line about running at high altitude, being a cybernetic organism, and promoting the speaker's free weekly newsletter.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The Tim Ferriss Show is hosted by best-selling author Tim Ferriss and aims to deconstruct world-class performers and their success strategies.
01:11 - 06:15 (05:04)
Summary
The Tim Ferriss Show is hosted by best-selling author Tim Ferriss and aims to deconstruct world-class performers and their success strategies. This episode features a special offer from Athletic Greens for a vitamin D supplement and travel packs with your first subscription purchase.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Students were so interested in drawings that they asked their parents for extra lunch money, causing confusion for parents.
06:15 - 08:53 (02:38)
Summary
Students were so interested in drawings that they asked their parents for extra lunch money, causing confusion for parents.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on the influence of their hardworking and ambitious entrepreneurial parents, who forged their own path and often introduced new product ideas to their business.
08:53 - 14:23 (05:30)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the influence of their hardworking and ambitious entrepreneurial parents, who forged their own path and often introduced new product ideas to their business.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker expresses gratitude for their parents' support of their various interests throughout childhood, including music lessons, art supplies, and creating the senior year t-shirt in high school.
14:23 - 18:56 (04:33)
Summary
The speaker expresses gratitude for their parents' support of their various interests throughout childhood, including music lessons, art supplies, and creating the senior year t-shirt in high school.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The guest talks about how they were recognized for their talent in art throughout all levels of their schooling and how a conversation with their art teacher in high school led them to pursue a career in art after attending the Governor's Honors Program in Georgia.
18:56 - 23:20 (04:24)
Summary
The guest talks about how they were recognized for their talent in art throughout all levels of their schooling and how a conversation with their art teacher in high school led them to pursue a career in art after attending the Governor's Honors Program in Georgia.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker recounts how a senior prank at his high school influenced his decision to attend the same college.
23:20 - 26:53 (03:33)
Summary
The speaker recounts how a senior prank at his high school influenced his decision to attend the same college.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares their experience of hacking into the intercom system of the largest high school in the state of Georgia using a simple technique of plugging in a cordless phone and a desk phone into the same line and running a cord of another phone somewhere else in the closet.
26:53 - 31:52 (04:59)
Summary
The speaker shares their experience of hacking into the intercom system of the largest high school in the state of Georgia using a simple technique of plugging in a cordless phone and a desk phone into the same line and running a cord of another phone somewhere else in the closet.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker describes their attempt to record music from their phone to a tape player and the challenges they faced in getting the right volume and distance.
31:52 - 36:49 (04:57)
Summary
The speaker describes their attempt to record music from their phone to a tape player and the challenges they faced in getting the right volume and distance.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A person walking past a series of classroom and administrative offices describes seeing teachers who have lost control of their class and students climbing on furniture.
36:49 - 39:47 (02:58)
Summary
A person walking past a series of classroom and administrative offices describes seeing teachers who have lost control of their class and students climbing on furniture.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A conversation about negotiating manual labor chores where one of the parties gets angry.
39:47 - 43:07 (03:20)
Summary
A conversation about negotiating manual labor chores where one of the parties gets angry.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker receives a call from a producer interested in the speaker's story of a super glue prank in high school, which coincides with an MTV show about high school pranks.
43:07 - 47:51 (04:44)
Summary
The speaker receives a call from a producer interested in the speaker's story of a super glue prank in high school, which coincides with an MTV show about high school pranks.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares about working as a ball boy in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks as his high school job and recounts a story that he avoided hearing before the recording.
47:51 - 50:59 (03:08)
Summary
The speaker shares about working as a ball boy in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks as his high school job and recounts a story that he avoided hearing before the recording.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A former ball boy for the Chicago Bulls shares his experiences serving the likes of Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman, from wiping the sweat off the floor to hearing expletives like he'd never heard before, and more.
50:59 - 55:39 (04:40)
Summary
A former ball boy for the Chicago Bulls shares his experiences serving the likes of Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman, from wiping the sweat off the floor to hearing expletives like he'd never heard before, and more.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A player recalls a funny moment during an NBA game where he had to dry up a Gatorade spill on Phil Jackson's leg before getting back on the court.
55:39 - 59:52 (04:13)
Summary
A player recalls a funny moment during an NBA game where he had to dry up a Gatorade spill on Phil Jackson's leg before getting back on the court.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Students are required to choose a three-dimensional artist and replicate one of their creations for a chess set project throughout the semester, which will not only be a grade but also a major factor towards failing the course for those who don't complete it.
59:52 - 1:06:50 (06:58)
Summary
Students are required to choose a three-dimensional artist and replicate one of their creations for a chess set project throughout the semester, which will not only be a grade but also a major factor towards failing the course for those who don't complete it.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares his experience of assembling chairs for his presentation after facing a seemingly impossible task, and how it gave him the confidence to face other challenges.
1:06:50 - 1:10:46 (03:56)
Summary
The speaker shares his experience of assembling chairs for his presentation after facing a seemingly impossible task, and how it gave him the confidence to face other challenges. He received high marks for his project and learned that success can be achieved on one's own terms.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The guest speaker shares how playing multiple sports growing up helped him hone his goal-setting skills and push his limits, leading to his collapse at the finish line in races.
1:10:46 - 1:17:11 (06:25)
Summary
The guest speaker shares how playing multiple sports growing up helped him hone his goal-setting skills and push his limits, leading to his collapse at the finish line in races.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The basketball coach advised Joey to play with people who are better than him if he wants to improve his skills.
1:17:11 - 1:20:27 (03:16)
Summary
The basketball coach advised Joey to play with people who are better than him if he wants to improve his skills. However, improving physical training can also expand one's capabilities.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A group of art school students create a streetball league and decide to make a season out of it, playing against other teams and working to improve their skills.
1:20:27 - 1:23:17 (02:49)
Summary
A group of art school students create a streetball league and decide to make a season out of it, playing against other teams and working to improve their skills.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The story of the first and only juggling team in college, the challenges they faced, and how they managed to establish a team that drew attention from everyone, even those from other universities.
1:23:17 - 1:26:41 (03:23)
Summary
The story of the first and only juggling team in college, the challenges they faced, and how they managed to establish a team that drew attention from everyone, even those from other universities.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The Soft Crit Buns Seat Cushion is a comfortable and portable solution for those who spend long hours sitting on hard surfaces in art studios, as it provides a soft cushion to the seat and is easy to carry around.
1:26:41 - 1:31:07 (04:26)
Summary
The Soft Crit Buns Seat Cushion is a comfortable and portable solution for those who spend long hours sitting on hard surfaces in art studios, as it provides a soft cushion to the seat and is easy to carry around.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker tells the story of trying to make a pool float company but faced many challenges along the way including the long production time.
1:31:07 - 1:33:54 (02:47)
Summary
The speaker tells the story of trying to make a pool float company but faced many challenges along the way including the long production time.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A designer shares his experience of using crit buns to help figure out how to turn his product idea into a tangible product, despite not having a job like his classmates at NASA and big design firms.
1:33:54 - 1:40:10 (06:15)
Summary
A designer shares his experience of using crit buns to help figure out how to turn his product idea into a tangible product, despite not having a job like his classmates at NASA and big design firms.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on the surreal feeling of having their product sold at MoMA store, something they once thought was unattainable.
1:40:10 - 1:46:06 (05:56)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the surreal feeling of having their product sold at MoMA store, something they once thought was unattainable.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The guest came up with a design for selling her wares at design fairs, upon which she connected with the popular design blog Design Boom and was invited to sell her products at a design week event.
1:46:06 - 1:50:04 (03:58)
Summary
The guest came up with a design for selling her wares at design fairs, upon which she connected with the popular design blog Design Boom and was invited to sell her products at a design week event.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A vendor reminisces about selling their last pair of crit buns at the end of a day, and the struggles of lugging around giant cardboard boxes filled with the heavy and awkward pastry.
1:50:04 - 1:55:42 (05:38)
Summary
A vendor reminisces about selling their last pair of crit buns at the end of a day, and the struggles of lugging around giant cardboard boxes filled with the heavy and awkward pastry.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on their experience with pitching pet toys and their realization about the impact of these products on the environment.
1:55:42 - 2:00:20 (04:38)
Summary
The speaker reflects on their experience with pitching pet toys and their realization about the impact of these products on the environment.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Two classmates in the design industry saw a need for sustainable materials and created a website to fill the gap.
2:00:20 - 2:05:44 (05:24)
Summary
Two classmates in the design industry saw a need for sustainable materials and created a website to fill the gap. They wanted to feel good about the products they were creating and found a solution through their own platform.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The Green Box was a physical magazine that offered subscribers a variety of materials to build their own design library.
2:05:44 - 2:10:29 (04:45)
Summary
The Green Box was a physical magazine that offered subscribers a variety of materials to build their own design library. Created by a designer who left her comfortable job to start a company, this startup allowed designers to have access to the latest and greatest materials for their projects.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The co-founder of Allbirds, Tim Brown, recounts the story of how he met his future partner, Brian Chesky, over a slice of pizza at RISD, and how they both founded the billion-dollar sustainable shoe company.
2:10:29 - 2:16:12 (05:43)
Summary
The co-founder of Allbirds, Tim Brown, recounts the story of how he met his future partner, Brian Chesky, over a slice of pizza at RISD, and how they both founded the billion-dollar sustainable shoe company.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The founders of a popular accommodation booking site talk about how the idea came to be, with people in conversations getting fired up when discussing sharing their homes with strangers.
2:16:12 - 2:23:13 (07:01)
Summary
The founders of a popular accommodation booking site talk about how the idea came to be, with people in conversations getting fired up when discussing sharing their homes with strangers. This has now become a popular trend for travelers seeking a local experience.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast discusses the benefits of offline connections, and how tech companies like Foursquare and Twitter found success by bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds.
2:23:13 - 2:26:16 (03:03)
Summary
The podcast discusses the benefits of offline connections, and how tech companies like Foursquare and Twitter found success by bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds. The host initially thought the concept was a joke, but the guest argues that the internet can be used to bring people together in person.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A Denver blogger's story of residents opening their homes to fellow Obama supporters became a regional story and even attracted international press attention, after initially gaining traction within the city's local blogging community.
2:26:16 - 2:32:54 (06:37)
Summary
A Denver blogger's story of residents opening their homes to fellow Obama supporters became a regional story and even attracted international press attention, after initially gaining traction within the city's local blogging community.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The idea of "If you build it, they will come" in entrepreneurship is not entirely true.
2:32:54 - 2:40:27 (07:33)
Summary
The idea of "If you build it, they will come" in entrepreneurship is not entirely true. Spotting opportunities, coming up with original solutions, and putting ideas into practice, regardless of their size, can lead to success. Failure is inevitable, but reframing it as learning and continuing to move forward is key.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast episode mentions that LegalZoom is a longtime sponsor and has helped many businesses and individuals with their legal needs, including estate planning.
2:40:27 - 2:43:48 (03:21)
Summary
The podcast episode mentions that LegalZoom is a longtime sponsor and has helped many businesses and individuals with their legal needs, including estate planning.
Episode#301: Joe Gebbia – Co-Founder of Airbnb
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss recommends having nutritional insurance as the first step towards health and fitness, and Athletic Greens is the product he chooses to fulfill that need.
2:43:48 - 2:45:04 (01:16)
Summary
Tim Ferriss recommends having nutritional insurance as the first step towards health and fitness, and Athletic Greens is the product he chooses to fulfill that need. It covers all nutritional requirements, making sure that a person gets all the necessary nutrients even when their diet and exercise routine gets interrupted.