Valleywag
Trouble in podcastland? Robert Scoble, the former Microsoft evangelist who became a star in his own tiny world of tech bloggers, is looking to leave Podtech. However small Scoble's audience, its his dorky tech news show that draws in the stodgy big-tech advertisers upon which cash-strapped Podtech depends. Which makes this rumor particularly ominous for the once-hot company: an informant hears that Scoble, who has hefty mortgage payments on his big new house in Half Moon Bay, has pursued at least three exit options: at Google, a venture firm, and Facebook.
The first — a position at Google under Vic Gundotra, a former colleague of Scoble at Microsoft — fell through because the power blogger didn't meet the search engine's strict employment criteria. The self-styled "alpha geek" never actually completed his degree. (An interrupted Stanford PhD is no obstacle to Google employment, but Scoble's college was San Jose State, where he majored in journalism.)
The second hope, a role at US Venture Partners, one of the investors that pumped $5.5m into Podtech last year, came to nothing because the venture firm is switching its focus on healthcare. Or at least that's what they told Scoble.
And the third, a job at white-hot Facebook, was scotched by Scoble's wife, Maryam, who didn't want hubby to abandon Podtech while she was pregnant. Maryam also works at Podtech, and would have had to face the temper of John Furrier, Podtech's boss, alone.
The comments are open for confirmation, denials, clarification, and general abuse.
Comments
What in the world would Scoble do at Facebook?
This is bullshit. I'm not looking to leave PodTech and have committed to staying there until 2008 at the minimum.
@Scobleizer: Note you didn't deny that you'd been talking to Google, USVP and Facebook. And did you, in fact, take the Facebook consulting position?
I have not talked to Google, nor to USVP, nor to Facebook about taking a job at any one of these companies. Is that clear enough for you?
I am NOT doing consulting for Facebook, either. Don't know where you got that one.
He may be committed to PodTech until 2008, but that doesn't mean he can't leave when the company goes tits up in 2007.
Cagey: PodTech is doing just fine, thank you very much. Nice try, though.
Scoble: But I read it on Valleyway that you aren't.
Damn...
cageyjames: do you believe what you read on Valleywag? Nick Denton has been linkbaiting me now for two months. Well, he finally got his link. :-)
Scoble: I would have thought the "tits up" comment would have been enough for your sarcasm meter.
@Scobleizer: Sorry, but I don't believe you. Too many details, too plausible, too good a source. I can easily believe that you didn't get to formal offers with any of the three companies mentioned, but I bet you sounded them out.
This item doesn't pass the "sniff test". If Google wanted to employ him, they could pay him as a consultant if qualifications were an issue - that's *if*.
Moreover, how reasonable is it to think that an informant would tell you of all *three* potential jobs? That would have to be someone who knew from him, which would make the pool pretty small and probably obvious.
Snarking at A-listers is one thing, but this seems to come under the heading of Just Plain Making Stuff Up.
Translation: Chris Coulter is the source and he's too good to pass up. Translation: I'm not going to admit I'm wrong and my source is a wanker. Someday we should go out for beers.
If you read my blog for the past few weeks you can see how he got those facts and how he "surmised" them based on my answers to his stupid questions. I was playing with him. Now he's playing with you.
Let me make this categorical so you can understand: I have not "sounded out" any job offers with any other company since starting at PodTech.
I think Scoble is hiding behind semantics, call it what you want, but he's always networking.
Scobleizer neglects to mention Christopher Coulter is his best hire at Podtech. [scobleizer.com] was forced to fire Christopher Coulter weeks later [scobleizer.com]
What a bunch if ValleyWank. I don't give a tinker's cuss what the Scoblester's up to. But apparently it's front page news here. I think I'll go to Fakesteve....
Anonymous: Christopher Coulter was not fired and certainly was not fired by me but I'm not able to go more into the circumstances of his leaving.
pimpmyPR: Fake Steve is taking potshots at me too. Interesting that Fake Steve started up right around the same time that Christopher Coulter left PodTech, no?
@Scobleizer: Damn that Christopher Coulter. If it weren't for him I could read the Internets Scoble free. That tears it, I hate him too.
@scobleizer did this story show up on your massive rss radar? Or did a colleague point it out first?
Several people IM'ed me and said "are you really looking for a job?" I was the first at PodTech to see it.
I heard that Johnathan Schwarts invited Scoble to his place for a home cooked meal, but Scoble apparently declined because he couldn't afford the wine.
In an otherwise unrelated post, Nick at Valleywag says that he hears venture firm USVP is going all healthcare.
Here's to the first of far to many obsessive Scoble stories under Owen's long and fruitful reign!
Sigh, "too".
...and general abuse
Scoble, seriously get off my fucking internets you talentless little bitch. I hope your shit is foreclosed on.
that last comment just sealed the deal... Real quality convo we got going on here folks. Way to take it to the next step Alex! ;-)
@Alex: Hey, that last comment was out of line. If you're going to call somebody a talentless little bitch, you'd better have some facts to back up the insult. Next random insult, and you're banned.
Have you ladies put away your hand-bags now? Can we get back to gossiping about something more meaningful like who the heck is FakeSteve?
Valleyrag has just obtained the purity of the National Enquirer and the like by starting this article with one hysterical photo. I only wish I could incorporate it into the Scoble Show.
... it's just too funny!
@Anonymous - Coulter his BEST hire?
BWAHAHAHHAHAHaaaaaaaaaaaa! I needed that. Now I can start my day.
Scoble, ignore this shit. More of the same old lies we've come to expect from Denton. Anyone surprised? He makes shit up, says he has a "good source" and then lets it bubble while moving on to the next target. It's his calling card. You can't believe a thing you read on this site. So yeah, I'm calling you, Denton, a "talentless little bitch" - my facts? I think Valleywag speaks for itself but if you want me to dig up emails from former/current Gawker Media employees I can do that.
Ban me. Please.
Scoble isn't important any way. No talent or understanding about what he writes about.
Does anyone think this Scoble fellas fame trajectory is following that Guy Kawasaki's?
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