Tony Fadell: iPhone, iPod, Nest, Steve Jobs, Design, and Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #294

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

June 15, 2022

Duration

2h 46m

Channel

Lex Fridman Podcast

Watch on YouTube

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📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Tony Fadell is an engineer and designer, co-creator of the iPod, iPhone, Nest Thermostat, and author of the new book Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

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EPISODE LINKS: Tony's Twitter: https://twitter.com/tfadell Tony's Website: https://tonyfadell.com Build (book): https://amzn.to/3xSReee Story (book): https://amzn.to/3Olzqhv PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:18 - Memories 8:14 - Apple II 16:52 - First business 20:56 - iPod 44:58 - Ideas 49:10 - Marketing 59:27 - PR and Comms 1:09:07 - Design 1:14:04 - Experts 1:20:06 - Steve Jobs 2:03:45 - Jony Ive 2:10:56 - Nest 2:21:14 - Advice for young people 2:25:31 - Startup 2:30:27 - Money 2:35:34 - Work-Life Balance 2:38:12 - Darkest moment 2:43:50 - Meaning of life SOCIAL:

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🎤 SPEAKERS

• Tony Fadell

  guest

• Lex Fridman

  host

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, featuring Tony Fadell and Lex Fridman, Tony Fadell: iPhone, iPod, Nest, Steve Jobs, Design, and Engineering | Lex Fridman Podcast #294 explores tony Fadell on building revolutionary products, teams, and personal resilience Tony Fadell retraces his journey from falling in love with early computers to co-creating the iPod, iPhone, and Nest, unpacking how great products, teams, and stories are built. He describes the technical and emotional realities behind Apple’s iconic devices, including opinion-driven decisions with Steve Jobs and the importance of pain-killing products that deliver emotional “superpowers.” Fadell explains why design is everyone’s job, how to align engineering, product, and marketing around a shared “press release,” and why leadership must balance bold vision with empathy. He also reflects on failure (General Magic), the Nest acquisition, mentors, work–life boundaries, and what it means for your “soul” to live on through the people you’ve helped grow.

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