You Don't Need This Podcast

Ben McDougal
  • 4.9 (47)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

If you're a remarkable student, entrepreneur, intrapreneur, or community builder thirsty enough to make a ruckus, welcome to innovative energy brewed to keep you building.

  1. 07/23/2025

    Brad Feld

    This Season 2 Finale features an extended conversation (2+ hours) between Brad Feld and Ben McDougal, recorded in the wild, LIVE from the mountains of Boulder, Colorado! We begin with a rewind on Brad's own journey, then shift into entrepreneurship, leadership within startup communities, and venture capital in the first hour. Ben teleports to narrate a break with two writings inspired by Brad, then we dive back in for so much more. The origins of Techstars, technology, mentorship, and philosophy is how we land this milestone moment. EP100 brews timeless insight for founders and the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Enjoy the full experience, but to make key takeaways easier to share, chapters for this extended experience are highlighted below. Cheers to another remarkable season of You Don't Need This Podcast and let's keep building… together. Full Episode on YouTube 0:00 - Ben in Boulder 1:30 - Hello Brad Feld 2:30 - Early Experiences 5:15 - Writing First Book 7:00 - Incubator to Accelerator 12:40 - Random Days 29:30 - Startup Communities 36:15 - Entrepreneurial Ecosystems 37:30 - Too Many Referees, Not Enough Boxers 38:15 - Rural Startup Communities 43:30 - Astronomy 45:30 - Positive Sum Games 46:15 - Give First Intrapreneurs 50:45 - J-Curve 52:00 - Venture Capital Timelines 54:00 - Investor Metrics 56:30 - The Measurement Trap 1:01:15 - 5 Why's 1:03:50 - Cliffhangers 1:04:50 - Break ☕ #GiveFirst 1:08:18 - Break ☕ Intrinsic 1:11:50 - Welcome Back 1:12:25 - Founders of Techstars 1:23:00 - Startup Community Partnerships 1:33:20 - Guitar Hero in Times Square 1:38:15 - Bigger Isn't Better 1:41:00 - Sclerotic Thoughts 1:42:00 - Contentment 1:42:50 - BEN BOT 1:44:05 - Digitized Consciousness 1:45:12 - Vibe Coding 1:46:45 - Dinostroids 1:49:40 - Quantified Self 1:54:16 - Biohacking 1:56:30 - AI Notetaking 1:59:55 - Founder's Interest in Philosophy 2:00:50 - The Entrepreneur's Weekly Niche 2:07:10 - Obsession over Passion 2:10:20 - Affinity as an Investor 2:11:35 - Fight to the End 2:11:50 - The Dip -Seth Godin 2:12:20 - Successful Companies Experiment 2:13:15 - Evolution of Work 2:14:30 - Quickfire: Spell Check, Ant Hills, Signal to Raise Capital, Long Run Epiphany, Being Alone, Pinball Wizard, Music, Concerts, and Fine Art 2:24:30 - You Don't Need This Book 2:26:00 - "They can't kill you, and they can't eat you." -Len Fassler   Give First. People like us. Do things like this. BONUS MATERIALS https://feld.com https://foundry.vc https://techstars.com Break: #GiveFirst + Intrinsic http://BradFeld.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com EP14 – Drams of History 🎙️ Tej Dhawan EP18 – Fourteeners 🎙️🎞️ Jeff Reed EP29 – Borderless 🎙️ Kerty Levy EP56 – Caffeinated Manifesto 2 🎙️🎞️ EP99 – Traveled 🎙️🎞️ Trevor Carlson https://BenMcDougal.com/tag/Brad-Feld https://BenMcDougal.com/tag/Techstars http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

    2h 29m

  2. 07/16/2025

    Traveled

    Trevor Carlson visited 50+ countries in 5 years! He's also a friend, founder, content creator, and below-average salsa dancer. Pack your bag and ride along as we wind through an extended episode with wild stories from around the globe, a narrated break, writing fiction, thoughts on the future of You Don't Need This Podcast, experiential wisdom brewed to keep us building together, and bonus footage where Ben shares what he wants from life. BONUS MATERIALS Full Episode on YouTube https://lostandlore.com https://FreshFuelMarketing.com The Climb by Trevor Carlson Roasted Reflections Break: Serendipitist http://Traveled.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com EP44 – Do What You Love 🎙️ Scotty Russell EP56 – Caffeinated Manifesto 2 🎙️ Ben McDougal EP84 – Base Camp 🎙️ John Kallen EP94 – Paving Paths 🎙️ Eric Engelmann http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com YDNTP on YouTube http://BENBOT.ai

    1h 28m

  3. 07/09/2025

    Unrelenting

    Abena Sankofa is an unrelenting author, founder, and fellow podcaster who hosts Black & Privileged in America. This leader celebrates Africana, challenges historical narratives, and advocates for a just world. Together, we share time on a Tuesday by chatting about reading, writing, podcasting, and building a healthy bookshelf. After another narrated break, we update the "minority" business owner narrative, discuss ways to leverage resources geared just for you, and explore the perceived religious vibes that are more like the constant governance of cultural interactions within business environments and beyond. BONUS MATERIALS https://AbenaSankofa.com Omari's Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe "Iowa Nice" Interrupted | TEDxDesMoines Roasted Reflections Break: Bookmarks http://Unrelenting.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com EP33 – Health Equity 🎙️ Corey Dion Lewis EP59 – Agents of Change 🎙️ Amner Martinez EP65 – Aromatherapy 🎙️ Kourtney Perry EP86 – Red Jalapeño 🎙️ Taufeek Shah http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

    46 min

  4. 07/02/2025

    Break Ground

    Dan Knoup and Brandon Patterson lead the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines. We break ground by hearing how these two leaders got into residential construction. We then hit on the hands-on nature of entrepreneurs who start (or acquire) a skilled trade or home building business. After the break, we explore the tech-flavored frontiers of the home building industry, like AI in construction, online tools to enhance collaboration, smart homes, material science, and evolving talent. We then talk about how membership-based organizations can stay vibrant to deliver what's needed now, while staying creative in ways members will appreciate later. We finish the job by discussing residential vs. commercial construction, how teams can build together, ways new founders can break into the home building industry, and fresh ways to keep us all building. BONUS MATERIALS https://dsmhba.com https://iowaskilledtrades.com https://hbi.org https://nahb.org Roasted Reflections Break: Perpectual http://Break-Ground.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com EP34 – Measured Twice 🎙️ Ryan Glick EP83 – Prognostication 🎙️ Ehrich Pakala http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com YDNTP on YouTube http://BENBOT.ai

    56 min

  5. 06/25/2025

    Inverse Charisma

    Jack Chimbetete learned to make others feel charismatic as a young leader in Zimbabwe. After this film maker experienced the Mandela Washington Fellowship, he forged a new path by moving to Iowa. We chat about growing up in Africa, producing content for TV, the African Live Network, tips for migration, and how to sequence storytelling to enhance any adventure. After a euphoric break, Jack and Ben talk about what's easy to do, but hard to maintain. They discuss being optimistic, while staying realistic and finish with ideas to help anyone build a network when you're new to town. BONUS MATERIALS https://jacksshackint.com https://africalivenetwork.tv https://onevoicedsm.org https://cultureall.org Roasted Reflections Break: Career Nirvana http://Inverse-Charisma.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com EP37 – Power of Purpose 🎙️ Dwana Bradley EP63 – Trapping Time 🎙️ Chris Lo EP67 – Kups From Kenya 🎙️ Laban Njuguna https://MandelaWashingtonFellowship.org http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com https://BenMcDougal.com/show-up https://BenMcDougal.com/echos Tiësto 🪩 New York City https://BrianTracy.com YDNTP on YouTube http://BENBOT.ai

    47 min

  6. 06/18/2025

    Student Founders

    Ben was back at UW Stevens Point, speaking and collaborating inside the UW Stevens Point Center for Entrepreneurship. During his time on campus, Alex Suscha and Haley Densow joined him for another "In The Wild" jam session. Hear how these two college student founders are building beyond the classroom by embracing the tension of going beyond the status quo. We speak about building a company while balancing school work, how to win pitch contests, and growing up in the connected era. For leaders who build on the timeline of now, this timeless episode is brewed just for you. Enjoy! BONUS MATERIALS https://sourcerai.co https://uwsp.edu/news/haley-densow-dormdash https://x.com/SentrySchool/status/1896335458461778294 https://x.com/BENovator/status/1894227286326464568 http://Student-Founders.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com http://YouDontNeedThisKeynote.com http://PlayforcePrinciples.com EP17 - Schoolhouse Rock 🎙️ Anika Yadav EP31 - What is School For? 🎙️ Russ Goerend EP53 – Now & Later 🎙️ Evan Stanislawski + Matt Vollmer EP54 –  Blurring Lines 🎙️ Kevin Neuman + Chris Klesmith EP69 –  Generative Humans 🎙️ Chris Snider EP81 – Technology Soup 🎙️ Carl Lippert https://BenMcDougal.com/slide-deck-design http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com

    51 min

  7. 06/11/2025

    Paving Paths

    Eric Engelmann builds stuff. Let's cheers to this leader's early entrepreneurial experiences and the origins of so many projects (see bonus materials) that have paved different paths for fellow founders. We also discuss when teams need to raise financial capital and how to manage a board of advisors, then explore leveraging large clients, finding co-founders in a startup community, and being honest with the end game in mind. After the break, we hear how Eric wants to be remembered and riff on if everyone has an entrepreneurial spirit. We celebrate co-founders in life, articulate venture studios, deal flow as an investor, the importance of computer science in education, and avoiding burnout within the long-term realm of evolving entrepreneurial ecosystems. BONUS MATERIALS https://x.com/ericengelmann https://geonetric.com https://newbo.co https://isaventures.com https://novyventures.com http://Paving-Paths.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com Roasted Reflections Break: Pain Relievers vs. Vitamins https://entrefest.com http://PlayforcePrinciples.com EP9 – Future of Work 🎙️ Nancy Mwirotsi EP17 – Schoolhouse Rock 🎙️🎞️ Anika Yadav EP30 – Exit Ramps 🎙️ Brian Crotty EP77 – Problem Solving - Gerald Beranek http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com http://BENBOT.ai

    44 min

  8. 06/04/2025

    Courtside Perspectives

    Just in time for the NBA Finals! Sit courtside with Drew Van Meeteren, the President of Business Operations for the Iowa Wolves. The G League connects professional basketball players and leaders to each team in the NBA. EP93 is packed with fast-paced collisions that will leave you wanting OT. The Minnesota Timberwolves had a remarkable season and Ben occasionally sits courtside at the Iowa Wolves, who also had another howling good minor league season. The entertainment business of sports is BIG, so find your seat, hit the bonus materials below, and get set... tip-off is now! BONUS MATERIALS https://iowa.gleague.nba.com Iowa Wolves 🏀💨 Courtside - https://youtu.be/Hv_lfxh2G78 https://BenMcDougal.com/Hole-in-One https://x.com/BENovator/status/1722345784941625630 http://Courtside-Perspectives.YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com Roasted Reflections Break: One & Only https://now4next.nbaplayerdev.com https://pgatour.com/korn-ferry-tour EP23 - Make It Rain 🎙️ Adam Viet EP28 – Let's Get Phygital 🎙️ Sachin Sehgal EP82 - Base Camp 🎙️ Jon Kallen http://YouDontNeedThisPodcast.com http://BENBOT.ai

    45 min
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4.9
out of 5
47 Ratings

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If you're a remarkable student, entrepreneur, intrapreneur, or community builder thirsty enough to make a ruckus, welcome to innovative energy brewed to keep you building.

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