Best Brian Scordato | Tacklebox Podcasts (2025)

1
How to Pick Which (Of Your Many) Ideas to Pursue 23:45

5d ago23:45

23:45

Got a notebook full of startup ideas but no clue which one to build first? In this week’s pen-and-paper episode, we walk through the ERP—Early Rep Potential—Rubric, our simple scoring system that shows you which idea you can run the fastest customer “reps” on. We’ll put Erica (a Tacklebox member juggling “easily twenty ideas”) to the test, scoring …

1
Giving Your Startup an Identity 25:26

25d ago25:26

25:26

Today, we’re talking about startup identity—why you need one, and how it makes every decision you face way easier. We’ll talk swimming and nervous systems, walk through the Decision Equation, and help our good friend Carl figure out which customer to start with for his AI tool that helps adults learn Spanish. Then we’ll wrap with a simple framework…

1
Extreme Quality 26:12

1M ago26:12

26:12

We're Back! Today, we'll talk about Extreme Quality - the best way to create contrast for your startup and the antidote to the average stuff most people are pumping out. We’ll unpack the six key components of identifying a high-leverage customer moment, explore how the Car Guy built a wildly successful business by eliminating hassle, and explain ho…

1
How I'd Start a Startup in 2025 27:03

4M ago27:03

27:03

Today, we'll talk about the four steps I'd take if I needed to start a startup in 2025. We'll also talk about idiots. We begin by embracing the reality that both founders and customers are irrational. Then, we build out steps and a process to address this. We start with a life audit, increase our Luck Surface Area, tackle the unit economics of work…

1
Testing an Idea Live on the Pod, Part Two: AI for Parenting 25:15

4M ago25:15

25:15

Today is episode two of testing an idea (AI for Parenting) live on the pod. We use a second round of interviews to go deep on the actual problem we're solving for parents, pull inspiration from an AI tool in the dementia care space, and end up with a Wedge product that'll use voice notes to reduce the pain of handoffs. We also hit on one of my favo…

1
A Live Idea Test: AI for Parenting 17:50

5M ago17:50

17:50

Today is day one of testing an idea live on the pod. We talk through how to turn a big, broad idea (AI for Parenting) into something actionable, the three questions every startup must answer, and how to balance curiosity with focus. Also, we talk about both my son and trees swaying to Bruno Mars. Tacklebox Granola 00:30 Intro - Testing a Startup Id…

1
Thanksgiving Mailbag: Are all the good ideas taken? What should I do about AI? What single skill should I focus on? 21:25

5M ago21:25

21:25

A special Thanksgiving mailbag episode answering your biggest questions (plus a holiday deal for the dedicated listeners who aren't too busy with pumpkin pie). We tackle the one thing you should actually be doing with AI right now, why competition is often the best thing that could happen to your startup, and the single most important habit every f…

1
Three Ways to Approach Your Startup Like a Pro (Encore) 21:54

5M ago21:54

21:54

Today, we'll dig in on three approaches that separate how pros and amateurs build businesses. We'll talk through how pros leverage existing infrastructure, how they use anti-marketing to build trust with strangers, and how they don't leave luck and serendipity to chance - they orchestrate it. We'll do this with help from stories about Frank Sinatra…

1
How to Engineer Luck 20:23

6M ago20:23

20:23

Most founders hope to get lucky. But luck isn't random - it can (and has to be) engineered. Today we'll break down exactly what luck is and how you can reverse engineer it. We'll help you identify Luck Gatekeepers and build your Luck Budget. You'll never think about entrepreneurial luck the same way again. PARTNER: XLR8 Dev Tacklebox (code Holiday …

1
How to Productize Your Customer's First Step (Encore) 20:56

6M ago20:56

20:56

Today we'll dig in on productizing your customer's first step. This is the best path to building a product that generates revenue immediately so that you've got some runway and flexibility to build. We'll walk through a few examples, including a Family Operating System that came in at 3am last Thanksgiving from a listener. Tacklebox (50% off with c…

1
A Thing That Always Works: The 5-Minute List 19:03

6M ago19:03

19:03

Today, we dive into the Always Work and Never Work Lists to pull out a method that's immeasurably useful for our founders: The 5-Minute List. A system that helps you turn scattered pockets of time into meaningful work - rebranding "Sand" tasks (from the Sand and Stones framework) to "Pebbles." We leverage AI to break intimidating projects down and …

1
Three Types of Problems Worth Your Time to Solve 23:15

6M ago23:15

23:15

Today we talk through the three types of problems that deserve a solution. We start off with a few higher level thoughts about problems and startups - specifically around achievement incentives and how some bad early decisions usually can't be salvaged by good decisions later on. Then we talk through Hole Problems, Teleporter Problems, and Status L…

1
Another Lesson at 40: Three Shortcuts for Getting Started 22:35

6M ago22:35

22:35

Today, we talk through the Silk Sheet Problem - how to do something new and hard when your life is fairly... comfortable. We help a listener get started on their idea - an AI tutor's assistant - with three shortcuts to set their life up in a way that makes it easier to start a startup than to not. We talk through Just-In-Time Prep, Forcing Function…

1
Writing Persuasive Copy That Tests Your Startup Idea 18:05

7M ago18:05

18:05

Today, we talk through how to write compelling copy. We go through a few counterintuitive archetypes you can use to dramatically increase the clarity of your messaging, which will allow you to increase your conversion rate and get more people involved earlier in the process. Copywriting is an idea-testing superpower. Tacklebox Workshops 00:33 When …

1
A Lesson at 40: Happiness and Hard Things 20:28

7M ago20:28

20:28

Today, we're going to talk about one of the best things Brian has learned in 40 years of living. We'll talk through why embracing discomfort is crucial for personal growth and happiness, learn how to generate innovative ideas by adopting a "documentary approach" to life, and find out what Taco Bell has to do with prioritizing your day. Tacklebox Wo…

1
Are You a Freelancer or an Entrepreneur? 24:37

7M ago24:37

24:37

Today, we'll help you think through a deceptively tough question - are you a freelancer or an entrepreneur? Every decision you make needs to nest neatly below this core decision for your business to work, but tons of founders are either trying to do both simultaneously or think they're one when they're really the other. We clarify the difference be…

1
The Exciting Part - Building a Product and The Test (Part 4 of Starting a Startup Live) 25:02

7M ago25:02

25:02

Today is the last episode in our four-part series helping a doctor test a business idea live on the pod. We follow as they execute their Concierge MVP - teaching productivity skills to fellow physicians. We dive into the process for building a product from scratch (with no code or experience), and talk through how to navigate the fears that'll natu…

1
Running a Concierge MVP (Part 3 of Starting a Startup Live On The Pod) 22:02

8M ago22:02

22:02

In part three of testing a startup idea live on the pod, we dive into the Concierge MVP - a crucial step in validating a startup idea by manually solving your customer's problem. We break down the four key ingredients of a Concierge MVP and follow our doctor friend as he builds one for his productivity idea, highlighting both the process and the fe…

1
Starting a Startup Live On The Pod, Part 2 17:34

8M ago17:34

17:34

Today is Part 2 of starting a startup live on the pod. We focus on finding and engaging potential customers through Brute Force Customer Acquisition and dig in on value creation using the Delta 4 framework. The entrepreneur we're helping experiences an epiphany about what his doctor customers truly need, challenging his initial assumptions and forc…

1
Testing a Healthcare Startup Idea Live On The Pod, Part 1 21:49

8M ago21:49

21:49

Today, we'll start a startup live on the pod. A listener wrote in with an idea in the shifting healthcare space and we pursue it over the next few episodes. We start from square one, digging into what's actually valuable about the idea with the 90% Wrong Principle, using the Four Question framework to pull out assumptions, and finally judging the v…

1
How to Spot Promising Startup Ideas (feat. the Hard Startup Myth and the Hassle Premium) 19:30

8M ago19:30

19:30

Today we'll help you find and choose the right startup idea. We'll use a couple of frameworks to help you evaluate startup ideas you've got and find startup ideas other people miss. We talk through the Hard Startup Myth and The Hassle Premium, two mental models that'll make sure your next idea has legs. We'll also evaluate Tinder for Jobs and learn…

1
How to Choose The Right Quest 25:45

9M ago25:45

25:45

Today, we'll talk through how to identify and pursue the big, consequential ideas - what we'll call Quests. We go through how to identify them, how to wrap our arms around them, and what to do when you (inevitably) feel intimidated. We'll do it with a little help from the 90 Yard Mistake, a ghost kitchen idea, and some chronic pain interviews. Ques…

1
How to Find Juicy Problems (ITS Classic) 19:39

9M ago19:39

19:39

Hard problems are the only problems worth your time, but they're not always easy to find. Today, we'll talk about how to root them out. We'll dig in on decisions customers avoid and how to use those decisions to anchor early traction. We'll also talk through one of Brian's favorite current businesses - a guy who buys used cars for you. Byldd Tackle…

1
The Daniel Tiger SOP - How to Regularly Do Hard Stuff 18:40

9M ago18:40

18:40

Today, we'll talk about my favorite item from the Always Work List from a few weeks back - the Daniel Tiger SOP. Entrepreneurship requires you to do uncomfortable stuff constantly. This gets overwhelming and leads to founders sticking with the well-worn, safe path. That leads to startups with no differentiator and no reason to exist. The Daniel Tig…

1
A System to Help You Become Wildly Creative 21:51

9M ago21:51

21:51

Today, we'll help you build a system for creativity. We'll start by defining creativity as an equation to make it more accessible. Then, we'll develop a system that focuses on the inputs of the creativity equation. We talk through the Commonplace Book, Commencement Speeches, a sports writer and the movie Sahara. Then, we get into the weeds on how t…

1
How to Use One-Person Landing Page Tests to Find Your Differentiator (ITS Classic) 26:05

10M ago26:05

26:05

Today, we'll talk through a landing page system that'll help you find a great initial customer - one that can anchor your business. We'll talk through the circle framework, as well as the One Person Landing Page and the Emotion / Logistics / Urgency flow. This will help you identify the right customer to focus your product building efforts on. Tack…

1
How to Not Screw Up Pricing For Your Startup 25:04

10M ago25:04

25:04

Today, we talk about how to price your startup. We touch on the four places to find margin, the Taco Bell pricing strategy, and using price to attract customers. We talk through pricing an AI assistant, basketball lessons, honey, and pilates. After this pod, you'll (hopefully) think about pricing your startup completely differently. Tacklebox Idea …

1
A Podcast Figuring Out Your Value (ITS Classic) 22:15

10M ago22:15

22:15

Today, we'll help you figure out how to find and position your startup idea's value. We'll talk through the Need/Gap/Swap framework, go through a few startups doing the value thing well and poorly, and we'll talk about a Magician on the Upper West Side. Tacklebox How to Make $1,000 Today Idea to Startup Newsletter Idea to Startup Bot 01:25 Intro 02…

1
How to Prioritize as an Idea-Stage Founder (ITS Classic) 23:57

10M ago23:57

23:57

A throwback to the 6th ever episode of Idea to Startup - an episode that’s been listened to thousands of times and has a consumption rate at nearly 100%. Entrepreneurs can do anything, but they can’t do everything. How do you prioritize early on? How do you differentiate? This episode presents a framework that’ll ensure you work on the things that …

1
Things That Always Work and Things That Never Work 21:28

11M ago21:28

21:28

Today, we dig into the Always Work and Never Work Lists - a method that'll help entrepreneurs make good decisions through the constant second guessing and self-doubt that a startup brings. We talk through examples from the lists and apply them to a moment Brian had to deal with recently. We get a little help from Goodfellas and Taylor Swift. Tackle…

1
How to Create Useful Content (for people who don't think they can create content) 21:31

11M ago21:31

21:31

Today, we'll talk about content. Two of the most asked questions we get are "should I create content?" and "if I should... what the heck should I say?" Creating content feels daunting until you realize the best way to create content is to not create content. We go through how to do that, leaning on a few examples and a content generating framework.…

1
A Mouse Pod (How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market) 24:20

11M ago24:20

24:20

One of my favorite episodes in a while. Today, we talk about how you can stand out in a crowded market by looking at an exceptionally successful exterminator. We'll pull out four lessons that make a framework to create contrast between your business and your competitors. We'll talk through Customer Journey Mapping, the Feature Fold, how to take you…

1
A Weekly Prioritization and Audit Framework for Entrepreneurs (ITS Classic) 26:51

11M ago26:51

26:51

One of the most listened to episodes in ITS history with an average consumption rate well over 100%. Today, we go through a Weekly Prioritization and Audit Framework for entrepreneurs. We'll hit on three giant shifts you'll likely need to make - ditching a to do list and moving to your calendar, weekly progress reports, and environment design. We g…

1
Running a Concierge MVP Live (feat. the four-step Concierge MVP framework) 24:17

12M ago24:17

24:17

Today, we'll run through a Concierge MVP example live on the pod. Brian chooses an idea specifically because someone wrote in and said it was "un-Concierageable," which isn't a word but is the reason this podcast exists. We go through the four-part framework that'll help you build a Concierge MVP - The Three Components of Wild Success, Acquiring Cu…

1
How to Start the Business You’re Not Quite Ready to Start 23:30

12M ago23:30

23:30

Today we talk through a system to help you start the business you don't feel ready to start. We do this because that's the only type of business there is. You're never going to feel prepared so you can't let that fear paralyze you. We talk through the three main gaps that keep founders from starting - the Knowledge Gap, the Network Gap, and the Pro…

1
How to Take Yourself Seriously feat. The Entrepreneurship Handbook (ITS Classic) 22:15

12M ago22:15

22:15

Most people's startup approach is haphazard. It's a combination of instincts and reactions and luck or happenstance. People who succeed are far more purposeful. Today, we'll help you take your idea and yourself seriously. We'll build your entrepreneurship handbook - the thing that'll let you make tough decisions at scale. Tacklebox Idea to Startup …

1
A Startup Storytelling Framework for Non-Storytellers 24:31

1y ago24:31

24:31

Today, we'll help all the non-storytellers tell a compelling story about their business. We've got a framework that'll walk you through the ingredients of a compelling story, and a mise en place-inspired approach that'll help you get to story market fit. We've got some rules, some variables, some accelerants, and an example about a service that hel…

1
When to Pivot and When to Stick (aka what to do with all your startup ideas) ITS Classic 23:47

1y ago23:47

23:47

Today, we'll talk about one of the most common hurdles entrepreneurs run into - getting tempted by a new idea a few months into working on their main idea. We lay out a framework to identify the first principles of the new idea fast so you can decide if it's worth a pivot. We also dig in on why the urge to pivot shows up, procrastination, and how t…

1
How to Pick Your Startup's First Customer 33:12

1y ago33:12

33:12

Today, we'll help you pick your startup's first customer segment. This decision dooms a huge percentage of first time entrepreneurs - if you don't understand what the job of your first customer segment is, you'll likely pick a customer incapable of doing it. Your first customer has a unique responsibility that no other customer will have - you need…

1
A System to Do Hard Things (ITS Classic) 23:29

1y ago23:29

23:29

Today, we help you become the type of founder who relishes uncomfortable things that lead to successful startups. There are no real secrets in the startup world - the hard, proactive, uncomfortable work leads to businesses that matter. This work doesn’t happen without a system. Today we help you build that system, using The Costanza Swap, The Three…

1
How to Build the First (Magical) Version Of Your Product This Weekend (ITS Classic) 28:45

1y ago28:45

28:45

Today's classic episode will help you get the first version of your product up and out this weekend. We use a three-part framework to help you focus in on the one core feature you've got to nail that can be built by someone with no technical or product building skills in an afternoon. We also find your customers inertia and ride that wave to make i…

1
A System to Generate Ideas (aka how to let your brain be a brain) 23:31

1y ago23:31

23:31

Today, we talk through a 4-part system to generate ideas - one that'll tap into your brain's natural ability to develop novel solutions rather than just waiting (hoping) inspiration will strike. We'll do it with a little help from a baseball training facility, a corked wine bottle, and an MRI startup. Tacklebox Idea to Startup Newsletter Fermenting…

1
20-ish Minute Skill: The Concierge MVP (ITS Classic) 26:00

1y ago26:00

26:00

Today's classic ITS episode discusses the Concierge MVP, an indispensable tactic early stage entrepreneurs can use to get the feedback of a full product without the money and time required to build one. We go through the 4-step method that'll get you data from customers you can use to raise funding, hire, or recognize the opportunity actually isn't…

1
How to Create a Strategy For Your Startup 22:31

1y ago22:31

22:31

Today, we'll talk about strategy - what good (and bad) strategy looks like for startups, and how most early-stage companies lack any strategy at all. Using a framework from Good Strategy/Bad Strategy, we'll explore the three core elements: diagnosis, guiding policy, and coherent action. We'll examine strategies from a stand-up comedian and GoPro as…

1
How to Build a "Skeptical Startup" - 8k per month in 10 hours per week 21:04

1y ago21:04

21:04

Today, we'll help you tackle the big question for entrepreneurs with startup ideas and jobs - when's it time to quit the job and focus on the startup full-time? You should think about this question the second you start working on an idea, and you should use the Skeptical Startup framework - a goal of $8k per month in 10 hours per week - as a guide.…

1
What if the problem you're solving isn't "painful" or "urgent"? What if it's just something you think people will want? Should you still pursue it? (feat. Linguini) 21:32

1+ y ago21:32

21:32

Today is an ITS classic - an episode that was listened to and shared a ton. It hits on a fundamental question for idea-stage entrepreneurs - what if the problem you're solving isn't an urgent, painful, bleeding neck problem? What if it's just something you think will improve people's lives? Should you still pursue it? How? Tacklebox Idea to Startup…

1
The Magic of One-Sentence Marketing 15:45

1+ y ago15:45

15:45

Today’s episode is for everyone who struggles to summarize their startup in a sentence. We lay out a framework to do this well with help from a sticker on the street, a hedge fund, and a Vietnamese coffee shop. Tacklebox Idea to Startup Newsletter Idea to Startup Bot 00:33 One Sentence Marketing 01:10 Train to NYC 03:04 The best marketing Brian’s s…

1
Designing a System to Actually Prioritize Your Startup This Year 17:10

1+ y ago17:10

17:10

Today, we dive into a practical, resilient system to help you carve out and hold time for your startup amidst the craziness of your life. Most startups fail because the founders lose momentum when predictable life things pop up - you were supposed to work on your startup but your kid was sick or your job gets busy. You need to build a system that a…

1
Seth Godin and Brian Go Through Startup Ideas (ITS Classic) 49:03

1+ y ago49:03

49:03

Seth Godin (!) and Brian go through startup ideas. Seth gives his opinion on how he’d start everything from a pasta truck to an updated CSA program. We dive into risk, emotion, tension and doing things that matter. Seth talks about the distinction between entrepreneurs and freelancers and the danger of thinking you’re one when you’re really the oth…

1
How to Think Bigger (feat. The Problems and Opportunities Method) 22:31

1+ y ago22:31

22:31

Today, we’ll teach you how to avoid sabotaging your startup. Most founders think the best way to build a startup is to mitigate risks - to optimize for worst case scenarios. But the actual way to build a successful startup is to optimize for tasks with the highest ceiling - to do the things that might give you asymmetric gains, if they work. This i…

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Brian Scordato | Tacklebox Podcasts

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