Open Ended

#36: 'Your'n (Your Own),' with guests Justin Romano and Matt Harris of Backspace

Episode Summary

This week, Cher and James speak with Justin and Matt of Backspace about starting a startup business, staying positive against adversity and microagressions, and finding confidence within. In Open Mic, they debate about sharing mediums, designers learning to code, and lifestyle businesses. Lastly, everyone discussing their affection for the Star Wars, bionic joints, cartoons, and two really beautiful, black musicians.

Episode Notes

This week, Cher and James speak with Justin and Matt of Backspace about starting a startup business, staying positive against adversity and microagressions, and finding confidence within. In Open Mic, they debate about sharing mediums, designers learning to code, and lifestyle businesses. Lastly, everyone discussing their affection for the Star Wars, bionic joints, cartoons, and two really beautiful, black musicians.

We are sponsored this week by:

Field Notes Brand. USA made memo books & other products, including seasonal limited-editions. Visit fieldnotesbrand.com or 400 North May, in Chicago.

If you'd like to sponsor a future episode, visit openended.fm/sponsor.

We also have announcements like:

Help us reach our new fundraising goal for 2015-2016! We have our eyes on a portable recorder so we can start doing more on-site interviews, continue to pay our guests, and make this podcast sustainable. Give us a hand with a one-time donation at openended.fm/donate, and becoming a member starting at $1 a month, at patreon.com/openended.

We are introducing "Open Up", from our Live show, into a weekly segment! Head over to ask.fm/openended to receive our excellent advice!

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References made during our conversation

Justin Romero, CEO of Backspace

Matt Harris, CTO of Backspace

Backspace, a way to be yourself without a digital trace

SnapChat, keeping all your internet escapades hostage

Poke, that old version of Yo, but way creepier

Slingshot, comparing things and yourself to others

Riff, a video collab with Facebook that didn't take off

1871, a startup incubator in Chicago, making things happen

Angel Investors, investing in the person, not just the business

Neal Sales-Griffin, CEO of The Starter League

Kanye, calling out folks on Twitter, sending out the subtweet of the year, thus far

Open Mic is BACK:

Cher vs Backspace: Best Share: Photo vs Video"

James vs Backspace: Should designers learn to code?

Open Ended vs Backspace: Lifestyle vs Startup businesses

You know we couldn't forget about Open Call:

Justin: Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

Matt: Shocks for your knees, so you can be bionic!; and Code Name: Kids Next Door

James: Kanye West new, "Real Friends", making me feel nostalgic for mixtape Ye

Cher: Tunde Olaniran, a Flint, MI native musician, who is pretty magical

Episode 36 couldn't have been created without the following folks:

The Chicago Podcast Cooperative. Like this show? You might like Making New Friends. Each week Pat invites new and old friends into a studio where anything can happen. Former guests include murderers, ghosts, milk men, centaurs, and that nice fella’ who lives down the street.

Our Patreon supporters: Caty, Amy, Stewart, Classy, Jennifer, Joelle, Will, "Michael", and Revision Path podcast.

If you have any recommendations for show topics, contact us!

Script written by Cher and James.

Music by U+1F60C.

Until next time, keep things Open Ended.