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AMA: Josh Long, Patternist, Designer, Writer and Founder of Simplecast.

7 years ago from , Founder of Simplecast

Hi, I'm Josh.

I'm currently living in New York City building a company called Simplecast. It's the easiest way to publish your podcasts.

I grew up in a small business and building things has always been a passion of mine. I have a degree in Philosophy and more education from life experience than might be considered healthy.

When it comes to design, creating products or building your ideas into a viable business, I've seen it all - good, bad, ups, downs, triumphs and lessons.

I've helped raise nearly $3M is sponsorships for my friend's projects as well as my own. In 2003, I started my own school called Patterns to help artists create better ways of sustaining their work and their art. I've also written four self-published books and co-hosted a podcast called Happy Monday.

Recently, I've been working closely with Apple, exploring VC funding versus bootstrapping, and navigating the complexities of building a product that solves the fragmented process of publishing podcasts.

In the background, I've been spending countless hours studying philosophy, metaphysics and the human condition in order to relaunch the new evolution of Patterns.

I've always had a weird talent for pattern recognition and getting to the essence of things. I'm hoping I can use these to help you do whatever it is that you feel convicted to do.

I will begin answering your questions at 12pm EST on Wednesday, June 8th.

I can only promise my own experience here, but fire away!

16 comments

  • Mark FinnMark Finn, almost 7 years ago

    Why do you and Sam Soffes no longer get along?

    Also, what kind of stuff have you been doing with Apple?

    7 points
    • Josh Long, almost 7 years ago

      I have nothing against Sam. That was two and a half years ago.

      As far as Apple goes, we've been working closely with them to determine what is best for podcast hosts. We were fortunate enough to get featured here: https://itunespartner.apple.com/en/podcasts/partnersearch and to have a great working relationship with them. I've been there to Cupertino multiple times now and the future of podcasting is looking bright.

      2 points
  • Art VandelayArt Vandelay, 7 years ago

    What happened with Execute and the collateral material? Feel like I never received the book that was supposed to come with it.

    6 points
    • Josh Long, almost 7 years ago

      This project was a great success in that it captured what it is truly like to develop for iOS and from one of the best in the business. Unfortunately, the very end of the project became one of my biggest failures. Those close to me know that I've carried that burden with me every since and it's the reason I decided to give away everything I had created previously. It's been a tough lesson and I spent tons of money and time trying to fix it, but I failed.

      2 points
  • Jonas GothJonas Goth, almost 7 years ago

    If you could only recommend one book that wasn't your own, which one would it be?

    1 point
  • Thomas Michael SemmlerThomas Michael Semmler, 7 years ago

    I listened to every episode of The Happy Monday Podcast and I am truly sad that it isn't coming back anymore, the last episode aired in July 2014. Any plans to bring it back?

    I also just wanted to say that listening to your interview on the unmistakeable creative actually did change my life, because it reminded me of a very important lesson, so thank you for that. :D

    1 point
    • Josh Long, almost 7 years ago

      Thank you for your kind words, Thomas. I would love to hear more about what changed in your life and if there is anything else I can do to help you. Happy Monday is one of my favorite projects I've ever done. Thank you for honoring us with so much of your time to listen in. No one can say for sure that it's never coming back. Sarah is the best in the business and every show was an honor.

      1 point
  • Dominic SebastianDominic Sebastian, 7 years ago (edited 7 years ago )

    Hey Josh, thanks for doing this AMA.

    I'm really interested in Patterns. I saw this on the twitter feed and would love to know a bit more about the process if possible? Like how you arrive at these patterns, what's meant by modelling here, and if there is a plan to put any of these online?

    Thanks!

    1 point
    • Josh Long, almost 7 years ago

      Hi Dominic!

      The process is a bit hard to describe here, but it essentially breaks down who you are as an individual, what you want to accomplish and how that compares to the patterns of those you admire most. It's an objective way to extract everything you're thinking and everything that you want to accomplish - into a framework that you can act on and improve.

      The work and studying I've been doing lately is designed around making this process more efficient and giving people the tools they need to become self-aware and to make decisions based on understanding their own personal modes of operation.

      There are plans to do this online and offline. Stay tuned!

      1 point
  • Adam Morgan, almost 7 years ago (edited almost 7 years ago )

    Is there any possibility of purchasing a Simpcast podcast page without using Simplecast to host my podcast? (I would pay for this)

    I like the sites but I don't want to go through the hassle of moving everything from Libsyn and the one time I asked on /r/podcasts Simplecast was met with a huge "do not use" reply.

    0 points
  • Jonas GothJonas Goth, almost 7 years ago

    Would you say that your knowledge and studies in Philosophy helped you to grow as a designer and entrepreneur? If yes, how impactful?

    0 points
    • Josh Long, almost 7 years ago

      Hi Jonas! Most people I meet question my decision to get a degree in Philosophy. Today, people have a hard time understanding its value. It was one of the key decisions in my life. I use philosophy every day.

      When you ask me how impactful it was, I have to say it was the most impactful thing I've done. Philosophy is all about questioning every assumption and detail in order to strip away variables to find the essence of things. Ideas, products, businesses, communication, relationships and the environments we create all contain unnecessary elements and noise.

      To study philosophy is to study the art of becoming a better human (and thinker), and that my friend, is at the core of everything we do.

      1 point