Steph Smith: The Curator of the Internet

This week, I talk with Steph Smith, someone I consider a true curator of the internet. Steph is a writer, podcaster, and currently the host of the A16Z Podcast for the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. She’s built an incredible online presence with her viral articles on remote work, productivity, and more, which have stood the test of time. Steph’s work has led her to opportunities like running the Trends Newsletter for The Hustle and creating projects like Internet Pipes and her podcast, The Shit You Don’t Learn in School. I admire Steph for her ability to expose people to new ideas and possibilities in their careers and lives. In this episode, we discuss her journey, her philosophy on impact, and how she approaches building her unique and impactful career. I think you’ll find her story and insights as inspiring as I did. Let’s get to it!

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro
(03:53) - Building community through shared experiences
(07:16) - Documentary screenings
(11:28) - How exposure to new things shapes your experiences
(15:27) - Balancing specialization and exploration
(18:50) - The nomadic lifestyle and remote work
(22:55) - Personal growth through travel and learning
(29:46) - How Steph’s nomadic lifestyle has changed
(33:48) - How marriage impacts life and work
(42:23) - Settling down and building roots
(45:41) - Pandemic reflections
(49:20) - Multicultural upbringing and identity
(56:06) - What led to Steph’s creative explosion in 2019
(01:03:30) - How to break through the noise
(01:14:52) - How Steph has approached podcasting as a full-time job
(01:27:57) - What makes a great podcast host
(01:37:25) - Untranslatable words: Capturing unique experiences
(01:48:54) - Steph’s beautiful future
(01:51:50) - Who Steph is becoming

Key Takeaways

The Power of Shared Experiences in Building Community: Steph emphasizes that community is most effectively built through shared activities and experiences, rather than passive meetups. By engaging in unique experiences (like rare fruit tastings or hot sauce challenges), people can break down social barriers and form deeper connections.
Adaptability and Exposure to New Skills are Key to Success: Steph highlights how growing up exposed to a variety of skills, from chess to sports, helped her develop a mindset of adaptability. This “jack-of-all-trades” approach has become a core part of her success, allowing her to navigate complex and unfamiliar tasks in her career.
Nomadic Life is Exciting but Community and Routine Become Essential: After years of being fully nomadic, Steph shares that most nomads, including herself, slow down and seek community and routine. Over time, having familiar places and relationships becomes just as valuable as the freedom to travel.
Challenging Traditional Work Structures: Steph questions traditional norms, like the 40-hour workweek, recognizing that many of the ways we live and work are based on outdated models. Her experiences in remote work and travel taught her that life doesn’t have to conform to rigid structures and can be redefined in innovative ways.
The Importance of Resilience and Embracing Discomfort: Whether learning new skills or navigating unexpected challenges, Steph stresses the importance of resilience. She discusses how exposure to discomfort and the ability to persevere through difficulties are essential for personal and professional growth.

Quotes

“I kind of just grew up being thrown into all these things. And I thought that was totally normal, to be the kind of kid who did dance, but also chess and weird sports like curling. I realized as I was older that, oh, it is actually quite nice that there are very few things that feel extremely foreign to me.” ~ Steph Smith

“The hypothesis was, let’s get people to try something new. You’re trying something new, people are tasting something, they’re watching other people react, and they bond over that. They have something to talk about and laugh about. They’ve experienced something together.” ~ Steph Smith

“After a year or so, most nomads slow down because it’s exhausting. They may still travel, but they spend a month in places, and that month becomes three months, and then they find a few places. The number one reason that happens is just community and routine. Having things that you can count on, both people and places.” ~ Steph Smith

“Remote work and just questioning how we work and live has really opened up possibilities for a lot of people, including myself.” ~ Steph Smith

“I had to learn to study and get better and explore a lot and then see what I was good at or what I enjoyed enough to actually go a little deeper where it was a little harder.” ~ Steph Smith

Links