You Don't Need This Podcast

This Season 2 Finale features an extended conversation (2+ hours) between Brad Feld and Ben McDougal, recorded in the wild, LIVE from the mountains of Boulder, Colorado!

We begin with a rewind on Brad's own journey, then shift into entrepreneurship, leadership within startup communities, and venture capital in the first hour. Ben teleports to narrate a break with two writings inspired by Brad, then we dive back in for so much more. The origins of Techstars, technology, mentorship, and philosophy is how we land this milestone moment.

EP100 brews timeless insight for founders and the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Enjoy the full experience, but to make key takeaways easier to share, chapters for this extended experience are highlighted below. Cheers to another remarkable season of You Don't Need This Podcast and let's keep building… together.

Full Episode on YouTube

0:00 - Ben in Boulder

1:30 - Hello Brad Feld

2:30 - Early Experiences

5:15 - Writing First Book

7:00 - Incubator to Accelerator

12:40 - Random Days

29:30 - Startup Communities

36:15 - Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

37:30 - Too Many Referees, Not Enough Boxers

38:15 - Rural Startup Communities

43:30 - Astronomy

45:30 - Positive Sum Games

46:15 - Give First Intrapreneurs

50:45 - J-Curve

52:00 - Venture Capital Timelines

54:00 - Investor Metrics

56:30 - The Measurement Trap

1:01:15 - 5 Why's

1:03:50 - Cliffhangers

1:04:50 - Break ☕ #GiveFirst

1:08:18 - Break ☕ Intrinsic

1:11:50 - Welcome Back

1:12:25 - Founders of Techstars

1:23:00 - Startup Community Partnerships

1:33:20 - Guitar Hero in Times Square

1:38:15 - Bigger Isn't Better

1:41:00 - Sclerotic Thoughts

1:42:00 - Contentment

1:42:50 - BEN BOT

1:44:05 - Digitized Consciousness

1:45:12 - Vibe Coding

1:46:45 - Dinostroids

1:49:40 - Quantified Self

1:54:16 - Biohacking

1:56:30 - AI Notetaking

1:59:55 - Founder's Interest in Philosophy

2:00:50 - The Entrepreneur's Weekly Niche

2:07:10 - Obsession over Passion

2:10:20 - Affinity as an Investor

2:11:35 - Fight to the End

2:11:50 - The Dip -Seth Godin

2:12:20 - Successful Companies Experiment

2:13:15 - Evolution of Work

2:14:30 - Quickfire: Spell Check, Ant Hills, Signal to Raise Capital, Long Run Epiphany, Being Alone, Pinball Wizard, Music, Concerts, and Fine Art

2:24:30 - You Don't Need This Book

2:26:00 - "They can't kill you, and they can't eat you." -Len Fassler

Give First. People like us. Do things like this.

BONUS MATERIALS

https://feld.com

https://foundry.vc

https://techstars.com

Break: #GiveFirst + Intrinsic

http://BradFeld.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

EP14 – Drams of History 🎙️ Tej Dhawan

EP18 – Fourteeners 🎙️🎞️ Jeff Reed

EP29 – Borderless 🎙️ Kerty Levy

EP56 – Caffeinated Manifesto 2 🎙️🎞️

EP99 – Traveled 🎙️🎞️ Trevor Carlson

https://BenMcDougal.com/tag/Brad-Feld

https://BenMcDougal.com/tag/Techstars

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Trevor Carlson visited 50+ countries in 5 years!

He's also a friend, founder, content creator, and below-average salsa dancer. Pack your bag and ride along as we wind through an extended episode with wild stories from around the globe, a narrated break, writing fiction, thoughts on the future of You Don't Need This Podcast, experiential wisdom brewed to keep us building together, and bonus footage where Ben shares what he wants from life.

BONUS MATERIALS

Full Episode on YouTube

https://lostandlore.com

https://FreshFuelMarketing.com

The Climb by Trevor Carlson

Roasted Reflections Break: Serendipitist

http://Traveled.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

EP44 – Do What You Love 🎙️ Scotty Russell

EP56 – Caffeinated Manifesto 2 🎙️ Ben McDougal

EP84 – Base Camp 🎙️ John Kallen

EP94 – Paving Paths 🎙️ Eric Engelmann

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

YDNTP on YouTube

http://BENBOT.ai

Abena Sankofa is an unrelenting author, founder, and fellow podcaster who hosts Black & Privileged in America. This leader celebrates Africana, challenges historical narratives, and advocates for a just world. Together, we share time on a Tuesday by chatting about reading, writing, podcasting, and building a healthy bookshelf.

After another narrated break, we update the "minority" business owner narrative, discuss ways to leverage resources geared just for you, and explore the perceived religious vibes that are more like the constant governance of cultural interactions within business environments and beyond.

BONUS MATERIALS

https://AbenaSankofa.com

Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe

"Iowa Nice" Interrupted | TEDxDesMoines

Roasted Reflections Break: Bookmarks

http://Unrelenting.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

EP33 – Health Equity 🎙️ Corey Dion Lewis

EP59 – Agents of Change 🎙️ Amner Martinez

EP65 – Aromatherapy 🎙️ Kourtney Perry

EP86 – Red Jalapeño 🎙️ Taufeek Shah

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Dan Knoup and Brandon Patterson lead the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines. We break ground by hearing how these two leaders got into residential construction. We then hit on the hands-on nature of entrepreneurs who start (or acquire) a skilled trade or home building business.

After the break, we explore the tech-flavored frontiers of the home building industry, like AI in construction, online tools to enhance collaboration, smart homes, material science, and evolving talent. We then talk about how membership-based organizations can stay vibrant to deliver what's needed now, while staying creative in ways members will appreciate later. We finish the job by discussing residential vs. commercial construction, how teams can build together, ways new founders can break into the home building industry, and fresh ways to keep us all building.

BONUS MATERIALS

https://dsmhba.com

https://iowaskilledtrades.com

https://hbi.org

https://nahb.org

Roasted Reflections Break: Perpectual

http://Break-Ground.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

EP34 – Measured Twice 🎙️ Ryan Glick

EP83 – Prognostication 🎙️ Ehrich Pakala

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

YDNTP on YouTube

http://BENBOT.ai

Jack Chimbetete learned to make others feel charismatic as a young leader in Zimbabwe. After this film maker experienced the Mandela Washington Fellowship, he forged a new path by moving to Iowa. We chat about growing up in Africa, producing content for TV, the African Live Network, tips for migration, and how to sequence storytelling to enhance any adventure.

After a euphoric break, Jack and Ben talk about what's easy to do, but hard to maintain. They discuss being optimistic, while staying realistic and finish with ideas to help anyone build a network when you're new to town.

BONUS MATERIALS

https://jacksshackint.com

https://africalivenetwork.tv

https://onevoicedsm.org

https://cultureall.org

Roasted Reflections Break: Career Nirvana

http://Inverse-Charisma.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

EP37 – Power of Purpose 🎙️ Dwana Bradley

EP63 – Trapping Time 🎙️ Chris Lo

EP67 – Kups From Kenya 🎙️ Laban Njuguna

https://MandelaWashingtonFellowship.org

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

https://BenMcDougal.com/show-up

https://BenMcDougal.com/echos

Tiësto 🪩 New York City

https://BrianTracy.com

YDNTP on YouTube

http://BENBOT.ai

Ben was back at UW Stevens Point, speaking and collaborating inside the UW Stevens Point Center for Entrepreneurship. During his time on campus, Alex Suscha and Haley Densow joined him for another "In The Wild" jam session.

Hear how these two college student founders are building beyond the classroom by embracing the tension of going beyond the status quo. We speak about building a company while balancing school work, how to win pitch contests, and growing up in the connected era. For leaders who build on the timeline of now, this timeless episode is brewed just for you. Enjoy!

BONUS MATERIALS

https://sourcerai.co

https://uwsp.edu/news/haley-densow-dormdash

https://x.com/SentrySchool/status/1896335458461778294

https://x.com/BENovator/status/1894227286326464568

http://Student-Founders.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

http://YouDontNeedThisKeynote.com

http://PlayforcePrinciples.com

EP17 - Schoolhouse Rock 🎙️ Anika Yadav

EP31 - What is School For? 🎙️ Russ Goerend

EP53 – Now & Later 🎙️ Evan Stanislawski + Matt Vollmer

EP54 – Blurring Lines 🎙️ Kevin Neuman + Chris Klesmith

EP69 – Generative Humans 🎙️ Chris Snider

EP81 – Technology Soup 🎙️ Carl Lippert

https://BenMcDougal.com/slide-deck-design

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Eric Engelmann builds stuff. Let's cheers to this leader's early entrepreneurial experiences and the origins of so many projects (see bonus materials) that have paved different paths for fellow founders. We also discuss when teams need to raise financial capital and how to manage a board of advisors, then explore leveraging large clients, finding co-founders in a startup community, and being honest with the end game in mind.

After the break, we hear how Eric wants to be remembered and riff on if everyone has an entrepreneurial spirit. We celebrate co-founders in life, articulate venture studios, deal flow as an investor, the importance of computer science in education, and avoiding burnout within the long-term realm of evolving entrepreneurial ecosystems.

BONUS MATERIALS

https://x.com/ericengelmann

https://geonetric.com

https://newbo.co

https://isaventures.com

https://novyventures.com

http://Paving-Paths.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Roasted Reflections Break: Pain Relievers vs. Vitamins

https://entrefest.com

http://PlayforcePrinciples.com

EP9 – Future of Work 🎙️ Nancy Mwirotsi

EP17 – Schoolhouse Rock 🎙️🎞️ Anika Yadav

EP30 – Exit Ramps 🎙️ Brian Crotty

EP77 – Problem Solving - Gerald Beranek

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

http://BENBOT.ai

Just in time for the NBA Finals!

Sit courtside with Drew Van Meeteren, the President of Business Operations for the Iowa Wolves. The G League connects professional basketball players and leaders to each team in the NBA. EP93 is packed with fast-paced collisions that will leave you wanting OT.

The Minnesota Timberwolves had a remarkable season and Ben occasionally sits courtside at the Iowa Wolves, who also had another howling good minor league season. The entertainment business of sports is BIG, so find your seat, hit the bonus materials below, and get set... tip-off is now!

BONUS MATERIALS

https://iowa.gleague.nba.com

Iowa Wolves 🏀💨 Courtside - https://youtu.be/Hv_lfxh2G78

https://BenMcDougal.com/Hole-in-One

https://x.com/BENovator/status/1722345784941625630

http://Courtside-Perspectives.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Roasted Reflections Break: One & Only

https://now4next.nbaplayerdev.com

https://pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour

EP23 - Make It Rain 🎙️ Adam Viet

EP28 – Let's Get Phygital 🎙️ Sachin Sehgal

EP82 - Base Camp 🎙️ Jon Kallen

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

http://BENBOT.ai

Bill Adamowski is a technologist, founder, and educator who strengthens the web for understanding customers, solving the right problems, and sequencing human-centered design to grow revenue. We explore this catalyst's journey from early interest in AI at Syracuse University, building/exiting his own business, helping large companies scale, shifting into higher education, establishing the ISU Startup Factory, and now inside Drake University (Bulldogs) as the Executive Director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Human-Centered Design.

After the break, have fun hearing how to leverage research discoveries and scientific findings from tech transfer portals inside NASA and R1 universities nationwide. We close by discussing coopetition within a startup community, venture capital, and paving paths to exit in style.

BONUS MATERIALS

https://Drake.edu/zimpleman

https://researchguides.library.syr.edu/AI

http://Revenue-Bulldogs.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Roasted Reflections Break: Import Knowledge

https://technology.nasa.gov

https://warf.org

EP30 – Exit Ramps 🎙️ Brian Crotty

EP31 – What is School For? 🎙️ Russ Goerend

EP69 – Generative Humans 🎙️ Chris Snider

EP81 – Technology Soup 🎙️ Carl Lippert

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

http://BENBOT.ai

Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, Devon Seacrest is a tech founder who helps entrepreneurs surf through early moves that test the desirability, feasibly, and profitability of new ideas.

He visiting Des Moines to lead the discussion at a web3dsm gathering, leveled up with an unplanned pinball lesson, and presenting at 1MC Des Moines the next morning. We then hit the studio to talk about ways a minimum viable product ("MVP") can activate the smallest viable audience and how to support progress with ongoing usability testing.

After a narrated break, Ben and Devon think through digitized consciousness and riff on the entrepreneurial lifestyle. For companies that have technical products, we share how communication patterns help to translate sophisticated concepts in ways that will resonate. These two technologists close by sharing creative ways to find co-founders and encourage us all to enjoy the journey of this magnificent marathon.

BONUS MATERIALS

https://CodeBuddy.com

CodeBuddy Library

https://youtube.com/@CodeBuddyTV

http://Surfing-Early-Moves.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

Roasted Reflections Break: Early Moves

EP21 – Pinball Wizards 🎙️ Ben Sinclair

https://BenMcDougal.com/linear

http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

http://BENBOT.ai