Building Wired Magazine: Kevin Kelly’s Unconventional Path from College Dropout E139

When Kevin Kelly dropped out of college in the 1970s, it was almost unheard of. Instead of following a traditional path, he chose a life driven by curiosity, freedom, and hands-on learning. That decision led him to hitchhike across Asia, document disappearing cultures, and eventually immerse himself in the early internet. Years later, he co-founded Wired, a magazine that soon became the voice of emerging technology and culture. In this episode, Kevin joins Ilana to share how Wired went from fighting for shelf space to redefining what a tech publication could be. He also explains his unique relationship with time, why he tracks the days he has left, and how creators today can thrive with just 1,000 true fans.

Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and Senior Maverick at Wired, an award-winning magazine he co-founded in 1993. He is also a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review and the author of multiple bestselling books about the future of technology.

In this episode, Ilana and Kevin will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(02:14) Choosing an Unconventional Path to Success

(06:34) The Start of His Adventures in Asia

(10:54) Getting into Writing and Publishing

(14:17) Creating One of the First Hacker Conferences

(20:18) The Grit Behind Wired Magazine’s Success

(30:37) The Dot-Com Bust and Why Wired was Split

(34:17) The Origin and Power of “1,000 True Fans”

(41:18) How a Near-Death Experience Transformed Kevin

(47:10) About His Latest Book,  Colors of Asia

Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and co-founder of the award-winning Wired magazine, and a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review. He is the co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, which champions long-term thinking, and the creator of the Cool Tools website, which has reviewed tools daily for over 20 years. Kevin is also the author of multiple bestselling books on the future of technology, and his latest book, Colors of Asia, captures the culture of all 35 Asian countries through vivid photography.

Connect with Kevin:

Kevin’s Website: https://kk.org 

Kevin’s Twitter: https://x.com/kevin2kelly 

Resources Mentioned:

Kevin’s Book, Colors of Asia: A Visual Journey: https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Asia-Journey-Kevin-Kelly/dp/B0FGJ18PG5 

Leaves of Grass: The Original 1855 Edition by Walt Whitman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1449505716 

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