Tributes and memories have been pouring in from longtime friends and colleagues of Cranium creator Richard Tait since the Seattle entrepreneur's death on July 25 the age of 58 from complications due to COVID-19.

A passionate and visionary entrepreneur known for being tough, Tait had a generous spirit, effusive personality, and rare ability to connect with people he encountered.

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we're listening back to a conversation that Tait recorded with Fuel Talent CEO and founder Shauna Swerland in 2018 for her podcast, What Fuels You. It's inspiring, insightful, and bittersweet, and we're grateful to Shauna for allowing us to share it with you here.

Read our earlier coverage for more on Tait's life and career, and memories from friends and colleagues.

Tributes and memories have been pouring in from longtime friends and colleagues of Cranium creator Richard Tait since the Seattle entrepreneur's <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2022/richard-tait-1964-2022-cranium-inventor-and-serial-entrepreneur-was-the-ultimate-dreamer/">death on July 25 the age of 58</a> from complications due to COVID-19.
A passionate and visionary entrepreneur known for being tough, Tait had a generous spirit, effusive personality, and rare ability to connect with people he encountered.
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we're listening back to a conversation that Tait recorded with Fuel Talent CEO and founder Shauna Swerland in 2018 for her podcast, <a href="https://www.fueltalent.com/podcast">What Fuels You</a>. It's inspiring, insightful, and bittersweet, and we're grateful to Shauna for allowing us to share it with you here.
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2022/richard-tait-1964-2022-cranium-inventor-and-serial-entrepreneur-was-the-ultimate-dreamer/">Read our earlier coverage</a> for more on Tait's life and career, and memories from friends and colleagues.

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

GeekWire

The pioneering spirit and joyful life of late 'Cranium' creator Richard Tait

On this special episode, Eric Ries, author of the 2011 bestseller "The Lean Startup," discusses his new book, "Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great."

Ries explains why he's redefining profit as the maximization of human flourishing, reveals his role advising Anthropic's founders on their corporate structure, and makes the case that the era of shareholder primacy is already over. He also discusses the fall of Whole Foods, the Musk v. OpenAI trial, and why he believes mission-controlled companies dramatically outperform.

GeekWire's Todd Bishop recorded this conversation with Ries after interviewing him on stage at Seattle Flow Startup Day on May 15. 

On this special episode, Eric Ries, author of the 2011 bestseller "The Lean Startup," discusses his new book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Incorruptible-Good-Companies-Great-Stay/dp/B0FWZZBPZB">Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great.</a>"
Ries explains why he's redefining profit as the maximization of human flourishing, reveals his role advising Anthropic's founders on their corporate structure, and makes the case that the era of shareholder primacy is already over. He also discusses the fall of Whole Foods, the Musk v. OpenAI trial, and why he believes mission-controlled companies dramatically outperform.
GeekWire's Todd Bishop recorded this conversation with Ries after <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/lean-startup-author-reveals-his-one-regret-about-his-bestselling-book-and-how-his-new-one-fixes-it/">interviewing him on stage</a> at Seattle Flow Startup Day on May 15.&nbsp;

'Lean Startup' author Eric Ries calls for a shift to 'mission primacy' in new book 'Incorruptible'

This week on a supersized Memorial Day Weekend edition of the GeekWire Podcast: A massive IPO filing from SpaceX includes new details about Elon Musk's Starlink business and its satellite factory in Redmond. Jeff Bezos talks about wealth, inequality and eventually tech in an hour-long CNBC appearance. John goes to World Cup ticketing hell and turns to ChatGPT and Gemini when FIFA's support falls short. And a special Sam Altman/Seattle startup edition of GeekWire Trivia.

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.

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From the archives:SpaceX founder Elon Musk reveals new $10B 'Space Internet' plan at private Seattle event 
CNBC: Jeff Bezos blasts New York City school spending: It doesn’t get better outcomes
Jeff Bezos describes his $38B startup Prometheus for the first time: ‘Nothing to do with robotics’
Expedia at 30, the inside story: Online travel giant navigates its third tech disruption
Seattle, we've got an image problem
The view from Bellevue: Seattle has the foundation for future growth — if it can fix its taxes
Former Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has a new gig — startup CEO
Why this Seattle-area startup is putting its name on the front of an English Premier League soccer team
CEO of Paul Allen’s $3.1B science and tech fund steps down less than a year after launch
Award-winning Business Journal photographer Anthony Bolante dies at 58
'Soma' Somasegar, 1966-2026: Microsoft and Madrona leader was a champion of developers and startups

This week on a supersized Memorial Day Weekend edition of the GeekWire Podcast: A massive IPO filing from SpaceX includes new details about Elon Musk's Starlink business and its satellite factory in Redmond. Jeff Bezos talks about wealth, inequality and eventually tech in an hour-long CNBC appearance. John goes to World Cup ticketing hell and turns to ChatGPT and Gemini when FIFA's support falls short. And a special Sam Altman/Seattle startup edition of GeekWire Trivia.
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook.
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/spacex-is-churning-out-70-starlink-satellites-a-week-in-redmond-and-other-tidbits-from-its-ipo-filing/">SpaceX is churning out 70 Starlink satellites a week in Redmond, and other tidbits from its IPO filing</a></li>
<li>From the archives: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2015/photos-spacex-founder-elon-musk-unveils-new-10b-space-internet-plan-private-seattle-event/">SpaceX founder Elon Musk reveals new $10B 'Space Internet' plan at private Seattle event&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>CNBC: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/05/21/jeff-bezos-blasts-nycs-school-spending-it-doesnt-get-better-outcomes.html">Jeff Bezos blasts New York City school spending: It doesn&rsquo;t get better outcomes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/jeff-bezos-describes-his-38b-startup-prometheus-for-the-first-time-nothing-to-do-with-robotics/">Jeff Bezos describes his $38B startup Prometheus for the first time: &lsquo;Nothing to do with robotics&rsquo;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/expedia-at-30-the-inside-story-online-travel-giant-navigates-its-third-tech-disruption/">Expedia at 30, the inside story: Online travel giant navigates its third tech disruption</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/seattle-weve-got-an-image-problem/">Seattle, we've got an image problem</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/the-view-from-bellevue-seattle-has-the-foundation-for-future-growth-if-it-can-fix-its-taxes/">The view from Bellevue: Seattle has the foundation for future growth &mdash; if it can fix its taxes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/former-seattle-mayor-bruce-harrell-has-a-new-gig-startup-ceo/">Former Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has a new gig &mdash; startup CEO</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/why-this-seattle-area-startup-is-putting-its-name-on-the-front-of-an-english-premier-league-soccer-team/">Why this Seattle-area startup is putting its name on the front of an English Premier League soccer team</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/ceo-of-paul-allens-3-1b-science-and-tech-fund-stepping-down-less-than-a-year-after-launch/">CEO of Paul Allen&rsquo;s $3.1B science and tech fund steps down less than a year after launch</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2026/05/21/anthony-bolante-photographer-obituary.html">Award-winning Business Journal photographer Anthony Bolante dies at 58</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/s-soma-somasegar-1966-2026-microsoft-and-madrona-leader-was-a-champion-of-developers-and-startups/">'Soma' Somasegar, 1966-2026: Microsoft and Madrona leader was a champion of developers and startups</a></li>
</ul>

SpaceX IPO filing reveals Starlink's impact, Bezos sounds off on CNBC, and Gemini owes John a beer

Brian Evergreen worked in AI at Microsoft from 2016 to 2023, including a role helping Fortune 500 executives develop their AI strategies. He kept seeing the same pattern: most of those projects were failing. He set out to figure out why, and the answer became his book, Autonomous Transformation. In this live recording for GeekWire's Agents of Transformation series, presented by Accenture, Evergreen explains what companies keep getting wrong, and why vision matters more than technology.

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

<a href="https://brianevergreen.com/">Brian Evergreen</a> worked in AI at Microsoft from 2016 to 2023, including a role helping Fortune 500 executives develop their AI strategies. He kept seeing the same pattern: most of those projects were failing. He set out to figure out why, and the answer became his book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Autonomous-Transformation-Creating-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1119985293">Autonomous Transformation</a>. In this live recording for GeekWire's <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/special-coverage/agents-of-transformation/">Agents of Transformation series</a>, presented by <a href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en/services/data-ai">Accenture</a>, Evergreen explains what companies keep getting wrong, and why vision matters more than technology.
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

The pioneering spirit and joyful life of late 'Cranium' creator Richard Tait

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