Tom Peters: "If Today Was Your Last Day"
Stayin' Alive in Technology
Tom Peters first burst onto the management and thought leadership scene way back in 1982 with the groundbreaking and massively influential management book he co-authored, In Search of Excellence. His prolific output hasn’t slowed since, and now he’s back with yet another book: Tom Peters’ Compact Guide to Excellence, a collection of quotes he developed in collaboration with iconic designer Nancye Green. Albeit different from his previous releases, this book upholds Tom’s inherent and core belief that treating one another humanely is the best path forward. In this episode,...
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Wagner James Au: "Virtual Reality"
Stayin' Alive in Technology
When Linden Lab’s Second Life debuted in 2003, few anticipated just how much it would popularize the concept of the metaverse. That’s certainly true for James Au, a freelance tech writer who was hired by the company to report on the platform and its users shortly after its launch—by becoming an avatar within the virtual world himself. Listen as he recounts the early days of the platform, how it foreshadowed many of today’s toxic social media issues, and why so many have returned to it during the pan
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Rachel Chalmers: "Three Horses"
Stayin' Alive in Technology
A veteran of Silicon Valley for 25 years, Rachel Chalmers is certainly at home in the world of tech—though her first home is continents away. As the Head of Corporate Services at AlchemistX, the Corporate Services division of Alchemist Accelerator, some of the world’s most innovative companies rely on her insights when charting their paths. Listen as she discusses how enterprises can stay curious, how to fight burnout, and what she means by saying she prefers gardening over strip-mining.
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Shireen Mitchell: "You Can't Stop the Girl" Part 2 of 2
Stayin' Alive in Technology
As a woman of color in tech who was hosting coding workshops for women in the early 90s, Shireen Mitchell is well aware of the issues facing minority women in this industry. Founder of Stop Online Violence Against Women, she fights to protect women from unrelenting sexism and harassment online. In part 2 of our time with Shireen, hear about everything from ineffective social media abuse policies and diversity hiring practices to the marks of true allyship and the prevalence of disinformation.
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Shireen Mitchell: "You Can't Stop the Girl) Part 1 of 2
Stayin' Alive in Technology
Born and raised in 1980s Harlem, Shireen Mitchell is an award-winning woman of color in tech. Her story is filled with overcoming a number of challenges—the same ones she helps other women overcome. And she’s not done. In this first of two episodes, you’ll hear Shireen share candid insights on what women are still facing in tech today, revisit the early days of building BBS boards, and recall stories from her childhood that positioned her to be where she is today.
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Kara Goldin: "I Won't Back Down"
Stayin' Alive in Technology
After leaving a career in tech to focus on being a mom, Hint Water’s Kara Goldin probably didn’t envision starting a new company just a few years later—especially in an industry she had no experience with. But as always, her curiosity and willingness to take risks won out. And it worked. In this episode, Kara recalls her early career adventures in NYC, what prompted her move to Silicon Valley in the 90s, and why being curious and trusting your gut can often be more valuable than straight experience.
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Heidi Williams: “History Repeating”
Stayin' Alive in Technology
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Bob Alberti: Go Your Own Way (Pt. 2)
Stayin' Alive in Technology
While the ability to send data across the earth in seconds has completely changed our civilization, it’s also had some profound consequences that are nowhere near being settled. In this second of two episodes, Bob Alberti continues an enlightening conversation about the progression of the internet he himself had a key role in shaping and where it stands today. Listen as Bob discusses the difficulties of data security and combatting disinformation and closes by offering a helpful bit of career advice.
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Bob Alberti: "Go Your Own Way" - Part 1
Stayin' Alive in Technology
Chat rooms, emails, multiplayer network games, search queries—those all existed in the 1970s. And Bob Alberti was right there in the middle of it all, helping to craft what would become the internet into the version we all use now. In the first of two episodes, hear Bob talk about what computer tech was like during the earliest internet days, and how Minnesota was the original Silicon Valley.
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Jenifer Daniels: “Hustle”
Stayin' Alive in Technology
Lack of diversity and representation has always been an issue in the world of tech and B2B—an issue that led Michigan-based entrepreneur Jenifer Daniels to create Colorstock, a hub for original stock photos featuring people of color. In this episode, Jenifer discusses how she launched Colorstock and how its immediate success eventually created some unforeseen dilemmas down the road. She also offers advice and encouragement to women and people of color entering any industry still struggling with inclusivit
info_outlineHint Water founder and CEO Kara Goldin certainly knows a thing or two about entrepreneurship at this point, but that’s not where she got her start. During the 1990s, Kara was immersed in the world of Silicon Valley, working on products like Steve Job’s 2Market and AOL when it was at its peak. However, by the time the 2000s rolled around, Kara decided it was time to focus on raising her kids.
But her next (and biggest) chapter was just around the corner. After initially noticing a personal need for healthy beverages that weren’t bogged down by sugars and artificial sweeteners, Kara launched Hint Water from her home just a few years later, despite having absolutely zero beverage industry experience.
In our sixth episode of season four, Kara explains what drives her to take the same risks that many others simply choose to avoid. You’ll hear how a simple reply to a letter she sent just out of college emboldened her to move halfway across the country to NYC and will herself into her first position on a whim. You’ll also hear Kara expound on the virtues of remaining curious and how she used the hard lessons learned during the 2008-09 financial crisis to raise additional capital for her company to survive the economic climate triggered by the pandemic.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Hint Water
- Kara’s book Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters
- The Kara Goldin Show
- “It’s important to bring your personal story into the brand identity.”—a profile on Kara from Forbes
- Sliding Doors, the 1998 film with Gwenyth Paltrow
MUSICAL INSPIRATION FOR THIS EPISODE ON SPOTIFY:
“I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Stayin' Alive in Tech is an oral history of Silicon Valley and technology. Melinda Byerley, the host, is a 20-year veteran of Silicon Valley and the founder of Fiddlehead, a digital marketing intelligence firm based in San Francisco.
We really appreciate your reviews, shares on social media, and your recommendations for future guests. And check out our Spotify playlist for all the songs we refer to on our show.