In Episode 040 of the #kilnroadtrip, created and produced by The Swell Pod, hosts Spencer McKeown and Josh Taylor interview John Cho, a seasoned startup strategist and advisor, at Kiln Provo. As they traverse five states to interview 100 innovative minds, John Cho contributes his valuable perspective on the intricacies of building a startup. He delves into the challenges of creating something novel and the importance of questioning conventional wisdom, offering listeners a glimpse into the strategic thinking that drives successful entrepreneurial ventures.

Check out today’s episode and every other installment of the Kiln.Roadtrip by listening, watching, and subscribing to the podcast here - https://linktr.ee/theswellpod

Location: Kiln. Provo

The Kiln Road Trip: Uncovering Deep Truths with 100 Pleasantly Rebellious Humans. 10 days. 5 States. 3,580 Miles.100 Interviews! Daily episodes starting on March 5, Monday to Friday, for the next 100 days, followed by a short documentary and a book about the journey.

Thank you to the partners and sponsors who made the kiln.roadtrip possible: KILN, MOTERRA, TORUS

And thank you to the crew who helped us document and share the journey: DENISSE LEON, TY COTTLE, NATHAN CLARK, FINDLAY MCKEOWN

Timestamps:

The Kiln Road Trip (00:00:03) Introduction to the podcast episode and the purpose of the journey.

John Cho's Background (00:00:54) John Cho's upbringing, education, and experience in startups.

John Cho's Journey and Career (00:01:23) John Cho's experiences in the startup world, including building and selling startups during the pandemic.

Falling in Love with Startups (00:02:46) John Cho's insights into his passion for startups and the influence of thought leaders in the entrepreneurship space.

Transition to Silicon Valley (00:03:53) John Cho's decision to move to Silicon Valley and his journey into the startup culture.

Challenges and Decision-Making (00:05:29) John Cho's courage and intuition in making career decisions and taking a leap of faith into the startup world.

Consulting and Future Plans (00:06:23) John Cho's consulting work, taking time off, and his focus on the Utah startup community.

Strategic Consulting (00:09:53) John Cho's approach to strategy, focusing on adaptability and system thinking within businesses.

Manifestation and Optimism (00:15:02) John Cho's perspective on manifestation, optimism, and the active role in creating opportunities.

Market Validation and Entrepreneurship (00:17:10) The importance of market validation and learning from entrepreneurial experiences.

Creating a Movement (00:18:46) John Cho's insights on understanding the community, treating business as a scientific experiment, and the importance of resilience in creating a movement or something new.

Promotion and Networking (00:19:43) John Cho discusses his availability to help and promote, seeking feedback on the Utah ecosystem.

Tags:

#SwellPod, #KilnRoadTrip, #Kiln, #MotorraCamperVans, #podcast, #interview, #innovation, #resilience, #communitybuilding, #passion, #purpose, #community, #diversity, #collaboration, #thoughtleadership, #100interviews, #entrepreneur, #CEO, #leadership