#129 - Simone Giertz

Y Combinator Startup Podcast

Simone Giertz describes herself as a maker/robotics enthusiast/non-engineer. She’s also known as the Queen of Shitty Robots. She runs a YouTube channel about those robots and is a cohost on Tested with Adam Savage from MythBusters.
You can find her on YouTube and on Twitter @SimoneGiertz.
She also has a Patreon.
The YC podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon.
Y Combinator invests a small amount of money ($150k) in a large number of startups (recently 200), twice a year.
Learn more about YC and apply for funding here: https://www.ycombinator.com/apply/
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Topics

00:00 - Intro
1:41 - "Whatever feeds the ego kills the soul."
4:21 - Maintaining passion for your work
7:16 - Building a sustainable business as a creator
9:01 - Shipping a real product - The Every Day Calendar - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simonegiertz/the-every-day-calendar
18:01 - Being scared to step away
19:31 - Generating ideas
20:46 - Finding out she had a brain tumor, having surgery, and sharing it
26:01 - Returning to work after brain surgery
28:01 - Learnings from taking time off
29:01 - Asking for help
30:31 - Evaluating how she's spending her time
32:16 - Giving herself permission to try other things
34:21 - Challenges as a creator and entrepreneur
36:01 - Not feeling guilty about play and pursuing the things you enjoy
41:01 - Becoming less disciplined in certain areas over time
42:46 - Ali asks - How to get started when dealing with imposters syndrome?
43:06 - beep boop asks - What's your favorite robot?
43:46 - Beste asks - Are there any moments where she is bored and feels like giving up on creating new things?
44:56 - Khawar Shehzad asks - What thing do you wish you knew when you started your career?
46:06 - Olaf Doschke asks - What would have happened if Simone's toothbrush helmet wouldn't have gone viral?
48:36 - Johnathan Nader asks - What is the best version of yourself?