Tony Fadell – iPod Inventor, iPhone Co-Inventor, Nest Founder & Author of Build.

How do you go from a kid in Detroit with a box of tools to building the iPod, co-creating the iPhone, and selling your company Nest to Google for $3.2 billion?In this rare, deeply personal conversation, I sit down with Tony Fadell—legendary builder, investor, and author of Build—to unpack the true mindset behind innovation, the real price of success, and why he walked away from Apple and nine figures to start over.We explore:• Why failure—not success—is the best teacher (and why it took Tony 15 years to succeed)• The behind-the-scenes of building the iPod, iPhone, and Nest—and why they almost didn’t happen• The emotional toll of success, and why he chose to walk away at the peak• Tony’s playbook for rebooting your identity after massive success• How to know which ideas are worth pursuing (and which ones are just noise)• Mentorship, parenting, legacy, and what it means to “die with zero”This episode is part blueprint for bold creation, part cautionary tale, and part soulful reflection on what actually matters once you’ve “made it.”Whether you’re a builder, founder, or simply figuring out your next chapter, this conversation will challenge how you see success, failure, and your own potential.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – 🎙️ Intro: iPod inventor, iPhone co-creator, Nest founder00:01:12 – 💡 From birdhouses to Silicon Valley: Tony’s early tinkering00:04:40 – 💥 Why he left Michigan for a “leap of faith”00:07:55 – 🧠 The problem with our education system and punishing failure00:11:10 – 🛠️ Creating his own world after moving schools 12 times00:13:33 – 🚪 Getting into General Magic—the original iPhone, too early00:17:10 – 🔥 Ego death after $800M failure at age 2500:20:48 – 📉 Why the first two iPods were total failures00:24:10 – 📈 Staying humble when the iPhone finally changed the world00:27:30 – 💼 Walking away from Apple and nine figures00:30:15 – 😩 Burnout, politics, and why he needed to “reboot Tony 4.0”00:33:10 – 🚴 18 months off, soul-searching, and rediscovering purpose00:36:22 – 🌡️ The thermostat idea that stalked him for 10 years (Nest origin)00:40:05 – 🔍 Validating the idea before building: 9-month business blueprint00:44:30 – 🤝 How to pick the right co-founder (like marriage)00:47:45 – 💬 Why mentorship is everything—and how to know when you become the mentor00:51:30 – 🧠 Parenting vs babysitting: giving risk to help others grow00:54:20 – 🧘 Redefining success: from building to mentoring, from earning to giving00:59:45 – 💸 Why Tony (and others in SV) are planning to die with zero01:02:20 – 🧬 Designing a life exit strategy—not just a business one01:04:44 – 📱 Why Apple refused to sell porn—and what values should guide tech01:09:12 – 🤖 What scares Tony about AI & the mindset of young founders01:13:00 – 🔁 Final thoughts on legacy, intention, and using your life force well👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexIkonnPodcast👉 Follow Alex: https://www.instagram.com/alexikonn/👉 Brought to you by: https://link.intelligentchange.com/tools68894b