We talk to the guy who knows Silicon Valley’s darkest secrets
About This Episode
Investigative journalist and author Nick Bilton joins the podcast to discuss his deep-dive research into the darker origins of Silicon Valley companies like Twitter and the Silk Road. He shares behind-the-scenes stories of Steve Jobs, Jack Dorsey, and Jeff Bezos, while explaining how founders use storytelling to create 'reality distortion fields.'
Episode Description
Show Notes
- 0:00Intro
- 7:03Inside a criminal mind
- 12:57Getting people to open up
- 20:49The real story behind Twitter
- 29:40The auras of Trump, Bezos, Musk
- 33:13Becoming a journalist
- 37:24Steve Jobs' reality distortion field
- 43:16Who has it all in Silicon Valley?
- 49:43Being a professional asshole
- 57:56Nick's next story
- 1:03:38Storytelling
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Key Takeaways
Master storytelling by incorporating sensory details—specifically smells and sounds—to make non-fiction narratives feel as visceral and immersive as novels.
A company's narrative is often more valuable than the product itself; founders like Jack Dorsey succeed by carefully crafting a personal mythos that obscures messy realities.
Practice lateral thinking by studying structures in unrelated disciplines, such as using music theory's 'question and answer' notes or murder mystery pacing, to improve business communication.