The Journey from Startup to Solo Legal Practice: Tristan Snell's Story

Dan Maccarone interviews Tristan Snell, discussing his experiences in law, technology and politics. They cover Snell's legal battle with Trump University and his video platform startup. Snell describes how his experiences have influenced his approach to politics and legal battles and highlights his transition from high-stakes legal cases to the fast-paced tech startup environment.

Key Takeaways: - Tristan Snell played a pivotal role in the investigation and lawsuit against Trump University, leading to significant legal repercussions for the institution. - His startup, Snakt, aimed to pioneer the social video space and came close to acquisitions by big names like Twitter. - The COVID-19 pandemic played a critical role in determining the future of Snakt, with funding and operations coming to a standstill. - Snell has built a substantial following on social media, leveraging his insights into politics and law while ensuring authenticity and resonance with his audience. - Despite the optics of a traditional legal career, Snell's pursuit of a startup dream illustrates a non-linear path filled with learning, risk-taking, and a balance between professional endeavors and passion projects.

Resources: Tristan Snell's Book: "Taking Down Trump" Tristan's Twitter: @TristanSnell  Join us for a fascinating deep dive into the mind and stories of Tristan Snell by listening to the full episode. With topics ranging from unparalleled legal battles to the thrills of startup life and a strong political stance, this conversation offers insights and lessons applicable well beyond their fields. Stay tuned for more enriching content in upcoming episodes of "Story in a Bottle."

Timestamp Summary 0:00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest, Tristan Snell 0:01:58 Inspiration behind writing the book "Taking Down Trump" 0:05:19 Influence of Roy Cohn and his playbook on Trump's tactics 0:08:56 Increasing willingness to go up against Trump and the hope for justice 0:09:48 Experience of writing the book and finding a publishers 0:13:01 Tristan's approach to writing his book 0:14:00 Tristan's family background and moving around 0:15:34 Influence of growing up near Washington D.C. 0:17:14 Tristan's various nerd interests 0:17:55 Running for student council positions 0:19:26 Attending Princeton University 0:21:28 Considering law school 0:22:11 Motivations for going to law school 0:22:06 Interning at the White House and working on a campaign 0:25:39 Veep comes closer to reality in depicting the White House 0:29:10 Importance of understanding public perception and avoiding the echo chamber 0:30:46 Lessons learned from the corporate law experience 0:33:46 Tristan Snell reflects on his experience at the New York AG's office and the importance of perfectionism in law. 0:35:09 Discussion on the ongoing cases against Trump and the potential outcomes. 0:37:19 Anticipation of upcoming developments in the New York fraud case and the second E. Jean Carroll trial. 0:38:38 Analysis of the immunity issue and potential arguments in the DC case. 0:39:32 Introduction to Tristan Snell's role as an assistant AG in the New York AG's office. 0:40:15 Initial thoughts on the Trump case and the perception of Trump as a con artist. 0:41:46 Tristan Snell's realization of the extent of the harm caused by Trump's actions in the Trump University case. 0:43:11 Discussion on the emotional impact of hearing the victims' stories and the financial losses they suffered. 0:43:53 Introduction to the topic of the Trump mentorship program 0:45:58 Timeline of the investigation and lawsuit 0:46:40 Decision to leave law work and join a startup 0:47:53 Snacked's goal to be a social video platform 0:49:20 Highlights of Snacked's success and achievements 0:50:39 Memorable moments of user engagement on the platform 0:51:50 Product collaboration with YouTube star Philip DeFranco 0:52:21 Challenges of working together in a startup partnership 0:53:24 Struggles and fears as a startup CEO 0:54:16 Joining the startup full-time with limited funding 0:54:59 Challenges of starting a new social platform 0:55:37 Twitter's potential acquisition of the company 0:57:13 Difficulties and worst parts of the startup journey 0:57:33 The decision to start a side legal practice 0:59:29 The benefits of having a side hustle 1:00:47 Transitioning from snack to starting a legal practice 1:01:50 The impact of Covid on snack's closure 1:06:48 Learning from content creators and implementing strategies for success 1:07:21 Viners used to pull down posts that didn't meet their metrics within minutes. 1:07:49 Social media allows for more flexibility and amendability compared to legal filings. 1:08:03 Authenticity is important on social media. 1:09:19 Tristan Snell doesn't get nervous about posting opinionated content. 1:09:33 Comments provide real-time feedback, but Snell avoids reading them.