David Senra: Why Founders Rule the World

04/13/23 • 66 min

1 Listener

Today’s guest is David Senra, ex-founder host of Founders podcast – one of my favourite podcasts where each week, David devours a biography of a founder and shares his favourite lessons with the world, whether it’s Charlie Munger, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Kobe Bryant, The Wright Brothers, Lucille Ball, Jay Z, Enzo Ferrari and many more!

But David has a really interesting story himself and one we dive into today. We talk about his tough childhood and how his escape came through his obsession with books because it was within those pages where he found the role models he wanted and needed to inspire him on his way.

We also discuss some key themes between the founders and innovators whose stories David has shared in the almost 300 episodes now from a self-styled delusion which helps them to ignore the naysayers and dream the impossible to the obsession which comes with a laser focus on what matters.

There are lots of great stories and anecdotes as you can imagine from David but there are also some great lessons that he has learned about success on his personal journey and why he wants to build something he’s younger self would be proud of.

Here is my conversation with David Senra.

Enjoy!

David's podcast Founders podcast / Twitter

Danielle Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

Mentioned in this episode:

Tim Urban post that David mentions in this episode Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think

My episode with Jimmy Soni here

Here is my conversation with David Senra.

Enjoy!

David's podcast Founders podcast / Twitter

Danielle Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

Mentioned in this episode:

Tim Urban post that David mentions in this episode Taming the Mammoth: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think

My episode with Jimmy Soni here

Previous Episode

Kevin Kelly: The Evergreen Optimist

This episode with Wired Founding Editor Kevin Kelly is one of my favourite episodes!

His joie de vivre is infectious and I learned so much from his inspiring story and his fantastic new book Excellent Advice For Living which we talk about in this episode from which I know you will get a lot from too.

But stepping back in time, Kelly was publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Review from 1984-1990 before he joined Wired in 1993 as its Founding Executive Editor alongside Louis Rossetto who we mention in this episode and Jane Metcalfe who I interviewed in Series 5, episode 40 (listen here). Kevin has also written some incredibly popular books including the New York times bestseller The Inevitable , Out of Control, which he wrote in 1992 and immediately became required reading on set of The Matrix film The Silver Cord, a graphic novel about robots and angels, What Technology Wants, a robust theory of technology, and Vanishing Asia, his 50-year project to photograph the disappearing cultures of Asia. Kevin is also co-chair of The Long Now Foundation with Stewart Brand.

Kevin is a living legend and the 400+ pieces of advice from his latest book have already become part of my son’s bedtime routine – that’s how good they are.

So without further ado, you’re listening Danielle Newnham Podcast where I interview tech founders and innovators to learn the inspiring, human story behind their work and this is my interview with Kevin Kelly.

Kevin on Twitter / Website / The Long Now Foundation

Pre-order Kevin's latest book, Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier, here.

Danielle Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

From this episode, Kevin's interview on This American Life here.

Episode image credit: Christopher Michel

Next Episode

Hana Walker-Brown: ADHD, Brain Injury and Living by Values

Today’s guest is Hana Walker Brown – Audio Documentary and Podcast Creator, a Composer, author and Creative Director.

In this really open conversation, Hana discusses how ADHD has informed her career, the impact an adult diagnosis had on her life and we dig deep into her work researching CTE which if I say it right is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - a progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries including concussions and repeated blows to the head.

As you might imagine this is common with various athletes from rugby players to footballers and boxers but what you might not realise is how rarely it’s discussed or accepted, how hard it is to diagnose (unless the brains of sportspeople are donated post death) and how CTE and associated ailments such as dementia are affecting younger and younger players.

Our conversation centres Hana’s book - A Delicate Game - which is out now in paperback but the story behind Hana’s journey with CTE started on a BMX track back in 2016 where she learned of the suicide of legendary BMX’er David Mirra and why it was most likely caused by CTE.

Hana is a storyteller and an innovator, pushing the boundary of what she believes she can do and what she feels compelled to do, all whilst bringing stories of importance and heartbreak, in equal measure, to the masses so that we too can learn the plight of her protagonists.

I learned a lot from Hana and I know you will too.

Enjoy!

Hana on Twitter / Instagram / Website

Buy Hana's book A Delicate Game: Brain Injury, Sport and Sacrifice here.

Danielle Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter

Image of Hana: Liz Seabrook