Episode

#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
Description
Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity | Brought to you by SuperFat and Four Sigmatic.“Get bored. Just put away all of your things. Maybe go clean up the garage or whatever it is. Right? Through that, you're going to start to think differently. You're going to act slightly differently and your mind might open up to other sources of inspiration, other problems...” — Tony FadellTony Fadell (@tfadell), sometimes called "the father of the iPod," is an active investor and entrepreneur with a 30+ year history of founding companies and designing products that profoundly improve people's lives. As the Principal at Future Shape, a global investment and advisory firm coaching engineers and scientists working on foundational deep technology, he is continuing to help bring technology out of the lab and into our lives. Currently, Future Shape is coaching 200+ startups innovating game-changing technologies.Tony founded Nest Labs, Inc. in 2010 and served as its Chief Executive Officer until his resignation in 2016. He joined Apple Computer Inc. in 2001 and, as the SVP of Apple's iPod division, led the team that created the first 18 generations of the iPod and the first three generations of the iPhone. Tony founded the Mobile Computing Group at Philips Electronics and served as its Chief Technology Officer and Director of Engineering 1995 to 1998, responsible for all aspects of business and product development, including the award-winning Philips Velo and Nino PDAs. From 1998 to 1999, he served as Vice President for Philips Strategy & Venture focused on building out its digital media strategy and investment portfolio. From 1992 to 1995, he served as a Hardware and Software Architect at General Magic, which created the precursor to the iPhone 15 years earlier.Tony has filed more than 300 patents for his work. In May 2016, Time named the Nest Learning Thermostat, the iPod, and the iPhone three of the "50 Most Influential Gadgets of All Time." Tony graduated with a BS degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1991.Please enjoy!This episode is also brought to you by SuperFat Nut Butters. These little beauties are great. I’ve been using them as quick mini-breakfasts and on-the-go fuel for a few months now. They’re 200–300 calories each, depending on which ingredient cocktail you eat (MCT, protein, macadamia, caffeine, etc.); 3–5g of net carbs per pouch; keto- and Paleo-friendly; and easy to throw in a backpack or pocket. The first time I tried SuperFat, I finished the entire box in a few days, so watch your portion control.I suggest ordering the Variety Box and you can try all 5 SuperFat flavors in one box, and it has 2 pouches of each flavor. Get 15% off your order by going to SuperFat.com/tim.This podcast is also brought to you by Four Sigmatic. I reached out to these Finnish entrepreneurs after a very talented acrobat introduced me to one of their products, which blew my mind (in the best way possible). It is mushroom coffee featuring Lion's Mane. It tastes like coffee, but there are only 40 milligrams of caffeine, so it has less than half of what you would find in a regular cup of coffee. I do not get any jitters, acid reflux, or any type of stomach burn. It put me on fire for an entire day, and I only had half of the packet.You can try it right now by going to foursigmatic.com/tim and using the code Tim to get 20 percent off your first order. If you are in the experimental mindset, I do not think you'll be disappointed.***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.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 speaker recommends Four Sigmatic's mushroom elixirs as a quick and easy snack alternative, and offers a discount code for first-time buyers.
00:00 - 04:12 (04:12)
Summary
The speaker recommends Four Sigmatic's mushroom elixirs as a quick and easy snack alternative, and offers a discount code for first-time buyers.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A former employee of General Magic, who worked 80 to 120 hours a week, overdosed on caffeine and aspartame water in his 20s and decided to quit cold turkey.
04:12 - 12:20 (08:07)
Summary
A former employee of General Magic, who worked 80 to 120 hours a week, overdosed on caffeine and aspartame water in his 20s and decided to quit cold turkey.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak discusses how he learned to speak the language of business and marketing over time, with mentorship from Steve Jobs and experience presenting to retailers.
12:20 - 18:03 (05:43)
Summary
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak discusses how he learned to speak the language of business and marketing over time, with mentorship from Steve Jobs and experience presenting to retailers.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on his early entrepreneurial experiences, which include selling chips and software, working in sales and retail, and providing customer support.
18:03 - 25:56 (07:53)
Summary
The speaker reflects on his early entrepreneurial experiences, which include selling chips and software, working in sales and retail, and providing customer support. These experiences provided him with an advantage in his future endeavors.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Andy Hertzfeld discusses the early days of computing and his role in the development of Macintosh.
25:56 - 33:03 (07:07)
Summary
Andy Hertzfeld discusses the early days of computing and his role in the development of Macintosh. He also talks about his new venture, General Magic, and its focus on personal contribution.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast episode, the speaker emphasizes the importance of holistic training for athletes, including the consideration of nutrition, mental abilities, and personal connections.
33:03 - 38:31 (05:28)
Summary
In this podcast episode, the speaker emphasizes the importance of holistic training for athletes, including the consideration of nutrition, mental abilities, and personal connections. The speaker draws from personal experience, having attended 12 schools in 15 years, and emphasizes that making deep connections leads to success in sports and life.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The guest provides advice for new managers who may be good product people but are not prepared for a management role, including recommending competitors if it would be better for the customer and building trust with clients by not selling them inferior products.
38:31 - 42:56 (04:24)
Summary
The guest provides advice for new managers who may be good product people but are not prepared for a management role, including recommending competitors if it would be better for the customer and building trust with clients by not selling them inferior products.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The books "Getting to Yes" and "Come to Peace" are great resources for learning how to find common ground and negotiate like adults instead of resorting to childish complaining, in both personal and political contexts.
42:56 - 46:51 (03:54)
Summary
The books "Getting to Yes" and "Come to Peace" are great resources for learning how to find common ground and negotiate like adults instead of resorting to childish complaining, in both personal and political contexts.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker recalls how the company he worked for would always agree to help him out when he was stuck, so as not to incur his wrath.
46:51 - 56:25 (09:34)
Summary
The speaker recalls how the company he worked for would always agree to help him out when he was stuck, so as not to incur his wrath. He speculates that at Apple, big decisions that were high-risk put the company in a precarious position, but kept going due to early successes.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Having a great story is essential when it comes to product and business development.
56:25 - 1:02:27 (06:01)
Summary
Having a great story is essential when it comes to product and business development. It gives people a sense of purpose and a clear direction towards reaching their goal.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tony Fadell, founder of Nest and known as the "Father of the iPod", talks about the importance of taking breaks in your career and how it can lead to new ideas and opportunities.
1:02:27 - 1:08:48 (06:21)
Summary
Tony Fadell, founder of Nest and known as the "Father of the iPod", talks about the importance of taking breaks in your career and how it can lead to new ideas and opportunities. He advises people to embrace new chapters in their careers every 8 to 10 years instead of fearing change and losing everything.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses how traveling to different places and cultures can be an excellent source of inspiration and education.
1:08:48 - 1:15:27 (06:39)
Summary
The speaker discusses how traveling to different places and cultures can be an excellent source of inspiration and education. Learning about different languages and their impact on culture can be particularly enlightening.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares their experience with recycling and how just because something has the recycling label on it does not mean it actually gets recycled due to the issue with end-of-life plastics which are consuming oil over time.
1:15:27 - 1:21:19 (05:51)
Summary
The speaker shares their experience with recycling and how just because something has the recycling label on it does not mean it actually gets recycled due to the issue with end-of-life plastics which are consuming oil over time.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast discusses sustainable packaging solutions such as boxed water which is biodegradable and other products which come from bio waste and are consumer compostable.
1:21:19 - 1:25:26 (04:06)
Summary
The podcast discusses sustainable packaging solutions such as boxed water which is biodegradable and other products which come from bio waste and are consumer compostable.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The CEO shares the areas he struggles with in business and how he seeks assistance from his team members to augment those areas.
1:25:26 - 1:36:09 (10:42)
Summary
The CEO shares the areas he struggles with in business and how he seeks assistance from his team members to augment those areas.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares his tips for staying fit while traveling, including running in new cities, doing yoga, weight training, and stretching.
1:36:09 - 1:41:38 (05:29)
Summary
The speaker shares his tips for staying fit while traveling, including running in new cities, doing yoga, weight training, and stretching.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The book "In Praise of Shadows" talks about the details of Japan's pre-industrial era, from the materials they used at home to the different lighting scenarios, and how their perspective changed after Western technology entered the picture.
1:41:38 - 1:46:24 (04:45)
Summary
The book "In Praise of Shadows" talks about the details of Japan's pre-industrial era, from the materials they used at home to the different lighting scenarios, and how their perspective changed after Western technology entered the picture.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker talks about some life-changing decisions he made such as meeting his wife and taking the job at Apple.
1:46:24 - 1:53:37 (07:13)
Summary
The speaker talks about some life-changing decisions he made such as meeting his wife and taking the job at Apple. He also recommends the book "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman as a tool to help make both fact-based and opinion-based decisions.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The key to success is pushing hard and staying a beginner, while also staying humble and working with others.
1:53:37 - 2:00:11 (06:34)
Summary
The key to success is pushing hard and staying a beginner, while also staying humble and working with others. Openness to learning and embracing failure are also important factors.
Episode#403: Tony Fadell — On Building the iPod, iPhone, Nest, and a Life of Curiosity
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Super Fat nut butter pouches are a convenient and tasty snack with 200-300 calories per pouch, containing MCT oil, protein, macadamia, caffeine, and only 3-5 grams of net carbs per pouch.
2:00:11 - 2:01:20 (01:08)
Summary
Super Fat nut butter pouches are a convenient and tasty snack with 200-300 calories per pouch, containing MCT oil, protein, macadamia, caffeine, and only 3-5 grams of net carbs per pouch. They are easy to transport and great for keto and paleo diets.