iPod & iPhone Inventor, Tony Fadell: Why Saying No Was Steve Jobs' Biggest Skill episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 22 MIN

iPod & iPhone Inventor, Tony Fadell: Why Saying No Was Steve Jobs' Biggest Skill

from Giant Ideas · host Giant Ventures

Today, we're joined by Tony Fadell, the inventor of the iPod and co-inventor of the iPhone. Tony is the founder of Nest (the smart thermostat acquired by Google) and the New York Times best-selling author of Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.In this second episode, Tommy Stadlen talks to Tony about his years working alongside Steve Jobs and what he's learned about building a career, why he thinks saying "no" is the most underrated skill in product, and why giving credit away is the thing most leaders get wrong.He speaks about:what Steve Jobs was truly great at, and the one thing he was bad atthe two types of assholes, and how to tell ego from missionwhy giving credit to your team is the most joyful part of leadinghustling his way into General Magic with seven months of letters and cold callschasing heroes instead of brands early in your careerwhy the best mentors (like Bill Campbell) know people, not techthe General Magic crash at 25 that taught him to stay groundedBuilding 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 18, 2026

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Today, we're joined by Tony Fadell, the inventor of the iPod and co-inventor of the iPhone. Tony is the founder of Nest (the smart thermostat acquired by Google) and the New York Times best-selling author of Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making. In this second episode, Tommy Stadlen talks to Tony about his years working alongside Steve Jobs and what he's learned about building a career, why he thinks saying "no" is the most underrated skill in product, and why giving credi...

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iPod & iPhone Inventor, Tony Fadell: Why Saying No Was Steve Jobs' Biggest Skill

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