"We Had to Kill the Ipod To Save Apple" - iPod & iPhone Inventor, Tony Fadell episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 11, 2026 · 37 MIN

"We Had to Kill the Ipod To Save Apple" - iPod & iPhone Inventor, Tony Fadell

from Giant Ideas

Today, we're joined by Tony Fadell, inventor of the iPod, co-inventor of the iPhone, and founder of Nest, acquired by Google. He's also the New York Times bestselling author of Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making, and has invested in over 100 companies working across AI, surgery, textiles, and drug discovery.Tommy Stadlen talks to Tony about why Apple was so close to collapse when it bet on the iPod, why no single AI device will replace the smartphone, and the two-year internal standoff with Steve Jobs that a Wall Street Journal reviewer ended without knowing...He also speaks about:Why Apple had less than 1% market share and $500M in debt when they gambled on the iPod"Stay beginner": why great product teams design as if they've never seen the product before"Virus of doubt": the Nest approach to making people notice what they'd stopped seeingWhy the iPhone was really three devices you already owned, merged into oneGeneral Magic: building the iPhone concept 15 years too early (and what that tells you about timing)Why companies (and people) only change when they're close to dyingWhy no single AI device will replace your phone...Building a purpose driven company? Read more about Giant Ventures at www.Giant.vc.Music credits: Bubble King written and produced by Cameron McLain and Stevan Cablayan aka Vector_XING.Please note: The content of this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making any investment decisions.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 11, 2026

Embed this episode

Today, we're joined by Tony Fadell, inventor of the iPod, co-inventor of the iPhone, and founder of Nest, acquired by Google. He's also the New York Times bestselling author of Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making, and has invested in over 100 companies working across AI, surgery, textiles, and drug discovery. Tommy Stadlen talks to Tony about why Apple was so close to collapse when it bet on the iPod, why no single AI device will replace the smartphone, and the two-year i...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

"We Had to Kill the Ipod To Save Apple" - iPod & iPhone Inventor, Tony Fadell

0:00 37:16

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Giant Ideas?

This episode is 37 minutes long.

When was this Giant Ideas episode published?

This episode was published on June 11, 2026.

Can I download this Giant Ideas episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!