Jonathan Hillis: Creating a Decentralised City, Leading Boy Scouts USA, Building for Creators
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Welcome to Episode 24 of the Ben & Tony Podcast, where the world’s most interesting people tell their stories!
Jon Hillis’ goal is to increase the GDP of the creator economy. He is the founder of Creator Cabins, a community of remote cabins for remote workers in the Texas Hill Country near Austin.
Previously, he was the director of product for shoppers at Instacart where he helped millions of people earn money independently online for the first time. Recently, he left Instacart after working there for over 5 years to pursue projects focused on independent online creators full time. He has established capital.community, which provides early stage funding and resources for creators & platforms that help them succeed.
Anthony’s Take:
Jon is on a mission to push forward the creator economy. With Creative Cabins, Creative Coop, and Creative Fellowship, he is absolutely filled with ideas about how people can work together. His ideas are fascinating and provide insight into the future. And if you look at his background, most crazily as the head of the Boy Scouts, you can see he has brought passion, empathy and dedication to every single one of his pursuits!
Ben’s Take:
This was a great conversation, and I particularly enjoyed the discussion in the final third where we spoke to Jonathan’s ambition to build a decentralised city, and the dynamics around that, which is a project he has already kicked off through his work building creator cabins.
What did we talk about?
Being national head of the boy scouts
America’s youth today
Meeting Obama
Scouts for Equality
The role for gendered environments in society
Buying an around the world plane ticket
Building a community for thought provoking ideas
Joining instacart early & building teams there
A full career compressed through joining a startup
The route into product management
The lack of a path as being the path
The history of co-operative living
Creating a decentralised city
Find Jonathan Here: https://twitter.com/JonathanHillis
Find Ben Here: https://twitter.com/mrhartben
Find Anthony Here: https://twitter.com/AnthonyMcG2
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We hope you enjoyed this one & look forward to seeing you next time!
Your friends,
Ben & Tony