Topic: Think New Ideas

5 chapters across the catalog

Nerdballs
Episode 1905 • • 1:17:03 - 1:22:35

1905: Nerdballs

Adam Curry’s Dot-Com Era Success and Ask Jeeves Investment

Adam Curry recounts his financial history during the late 90s and early 2000s, including a $50,000 seed investment in Ask Jeeves that briefly ballooned to $65 million. He describes "burning money in the air" by flying helicopters and building a data center in Amsterdam. Despite the eventual market crash, Curry expresses no regrets about his "punk rock" approach to the dot-com era and his subsequent transition into podcasting.

Dumb Meat
Episode 1145 • • 20:20 - 31:16

1145: Dumb Meat

Digital Advertising History and Brand Safety Sensitivities

A detailed history of digital advertising reveals the extreme sensitivities of major brands regarding their online presence. Anecdotes include Budweiser's strict requirements for MTV Spring Break and AT&T's concerns over logo color accuracy on early monitors. The narrative illustrates how "controlled controversy" is acceptable to advertisers, while unknown risks lead to immediate demands to "close the website down."

Exodus of Misery
Episode 886 • • 1:24:05 - 1:28:54

886: Exodus of Misery

Wikipedia Inaccuracies, Barbara Walters on The View

John Dvorak points out a significant error on his Wikipedia page regarding the number of employees at his former company, Think New Ideas. The conversation shifts to Barbara Walters, who reportedly feels that the current state of "The View" is ruining her legacy. The hosts argue that the Constitution is a "living document" only when it suits political agendas, such as updating it for social media.

Kill Bill
Episode 47 • • 53:45 - 56:09

47: Kill Bill

Personal Experiences, Lehman Brothers IPO

A host recounts a personal experience from the pre-dot-com era when their company, Think New Ideas, was courted by Lehman Brothers for an IPO. The story describes the bureaucratic and risk-averse nature of the investment bank. Ultimately, the company chose a different firm for their $12 million raise, avoiding a deal with Lehman.