Benedict Townsend

If I was operating at a $500 million annual loss, I'd probably make a few changes, you know, maybe buy fewer coffees and avocados. But tech giants like these are used to tying value to social and cultural dominance. It's just that every so often the small fact that they don't make any money and in fact lose enormous amounts of money can kind of rear its ugly head. But we'll get back to that later.

If I was operating at a $500 million annual loss, I'd probably make a few changes, you know, maybe buy fewer coffees and avocados. But tech giants like these are used to tying value to social and cultural dominance. It's just that every so often the small fact that they don't make any money and in fact lose enormous amounts of money can kind of rear its ugly head. But we'll get back to that later.

Of course, not every tech company was facing the same struggle. I mean, in the first quarter of 2015, Facebook made $500 million because Facebook, unlike Vine or Twitter, had worked out a way to get ads in front of eyes in a way that actually made money. That's also why Instagram, Facebook's own adopted child, was allowed to roam even more freely than Vine was.

Of course, not every tech company was facing the same struggle. I mean, in the first quarter of 2015, Facebook made $500 million because Facebook, unlike Vine or Twitter, had worked out a way to get ads in front of eyes in a way that actually made money. That's also why Instagram, Facebook's own adopted child, was allowed to roam even more freely than Vine was.

But none of this, of course, would be Russ's concern for much longer.

But none of this, of course, would be Russ's concern for much longer.

continue working on vine that other idea that russ was exploring turned into a phenomenon that was known as hq trivia remember that i used to play that every day i really did russ founded it along with colin kroll and it grew to 2.5 million players at its peak but that's for another podcast With the founders all gone, Vine needed a new team.

continue working on vine that other idea that russ was exploring turned into a phenomenon that was known as hq trivia remember that i used to play that every day i really did russ founded it along with colin kroll and it grew to 2.5 million players at its peak but that's for another podcast With the founders all gone, Vine needed a new team.

Now, remember Rich from episode one, the New Jersey designer who'd been super excited when Vine first launched? Well, as luck would have it, by 2015, he'd banked himself a job at Vine.

Now, remember Rich from episode one, the New Jersey designer who'd been super excited when Vine first launched? Well, as luck would have it, by 2015, he'd banked himself a job at Vine.

Rich started out as a regular designer and was later promoted to head of design. And you don't need to know much about tech to know that that is a positive upgrade.

Rich started out as a regular designer and was later promoted to head of design. And you don't need to know much about tech to know that that is a positive upgrade.

On that fateful day. And we've got good news. Enter Karen Spencer, the missing piece of our puzzle, the key to unlocking the mystery of who really killed Vi. We'll hear from her right after this. And we're back. And Mary has big news.

On that fateful day. And we've got good news. Enter Karen Spencer, the missing piece of our puzzle, the key to unlocking the mystery of who really killed Vi. We'll hear from her right after this. And we're back. And Mary has big news.

Like, the Viners love her, and I can see why. She really lived up to the sunny reputation. Now, obviously, me and you are chomping at the bit to ask her about the meeting at Vine Street, and we kind of thought that would be the meat of the conversation. Wasn't even ready for all the stuff she was about to unpack about the situation she walked into at Vine. Once again, thank you for your time.

Like, the Viners love her, and I can see why. She really lived up to the sunny reputation. Now, obviously, me and you are chomping at the bit to ask her about the meeting at Vine Street, and we kind of thought that would be the meat of the conversation. Wasn't even ready for all the stuff she was about to unpack about the situation she walked into at Vine. Once again, thank you for your time.

I bet, Nick, by the way, usually when I talk to tech people, they're in some very industrial corner office. You're in the jungles of Costa Rica right now.

I bet, Nick, by the way, usually when I talk to tech people, they're in some very industrial corner office. You're in the jungles of Costa Rica right now.

With a background so lush and green, it genuinely looks AI-generated. Karen in the Costa Rican jungle, a wide-brimmed hat over pigtails.

With a background so lush and green, it genuinely looks AI-generated. Karen in the Costa Rican jungle, a wide-brimmed hat over pigtails.