In light of his estate's launch of the new $3.1 billion Fund for Science and Technology, we revisit a classic 2011 interview with the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to explore the "Idea Man" mindset that continues to shape his legacy. The conversation reveals the personal motivations behind his "big bet" philanthropy, his candid thoughts on his partnership with Bill Gates, and his passion for everything from brain science to jamming with rock stars.

Related stories and links: 
Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s final act: New $3.1B foundation bets big on science and tech
In an age of billionaire backlash, Paul Allen’s lasting legacy stands out in Seattle

With GeekWire's Todd Bishop and Kurt Schlosser.

In light of his estate's launch of the new $3.1 billion Fund for Science and Technology, we revisit a classic 2011 interview with the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to explore the "Idea Man" mindset that continues to shape his legacy. The conversation reveals the personal motivations behind his "big bet" philanthropy, his candid thoughts on his partnership with Bill Gates, and his passion for everything from brain science to jamming with rock stars.
Related stories and links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/microsoft-co-founder-paul-allens-final-act-new-3-1b-foundation-bets-big-on-science-and-tech/">Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen&rsquo;s final act: New $3.1B foundation bets big on science and tech</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/in-an-age-of-billionaire-backlash-paul-allens-lasting-legacy-stands-out-in-seattle/">In an age of billionaire backlash, Paul Allen&rsquo;s lasting legacy stands out in Seattle</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire's Todd Bishop and Kurt Schlosser.

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 Idea Man's Last Big Idea: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in his own words

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:
SpaceX is churning out 70 Starlink satellites a week in Redmond, and other tidbits from its IPO filing
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.

AI is not your strategy: Author and business advisor Brian Evergreen explains why vision comes first

This week: As the Musk v. OpenAI trial heads to the jury, we dig into what Microsoft's internal board memos and executive testimony revealed about the origins of the company's massive bet on AI, and why this case matters beyond the billionaire drama. Plus, Howard Schultz, a former Washington governor, and the tech community weigh in on whether Seattle is squandering its edge as an innovation capital. And Todd owes John and the United Kingdom an apology.

RELATED STORIES AND LINKS
Microsoft's CTO testifies about email at the heart of Elon Musk's allegations against the tech giant
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's stake in Helion Energy draws scrutiny in Musk trial and on Capitol Hill
'Strong, strong no': New filing reveals who Microsoft favored — and opposed — for OpenAI's board
Musk v. Altman: Satya Nadella was worried about Microsoft being 'the next IBM' in OpenAI deal
Are we on a Road to Nowhere? Seattle's growth masks deeper anxieties about its future
Microsoft's multi-agent AI system tops Anthropic's Mythos on cybersecurity benchmark
Seattle Turns Hostile to the Great Businesses It Made (Wall Street Journal, by Howard Schultz)
Association of Washington Business 2026 Spring Summit (TVW, featuring former Gov. Chris Gregoire and former AG Rob McKenna)

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook

This week: As the Musk v. OpenAI trial heads to the jury, we dig into what Microsoft's internal board memos and executive testimony revealed about the origins of the company's massive bet on AI, and why this case matters beyond the billionaire drama. Plus, Howard Schultz, a former Washington governor, and the tech community weigh in on whether Seattle is squandering its edge as an innovation capital. And Todd owes John and the United Kingdom an apology.
RELATED STORIES AND LINKS
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsofts-cto-testifies-about-email-at-the-heart-of-elon-musks-allegations-against-tech-giant/">Microsoft's CTO testifies about email at the heart of Elon Musk's allegations against the tech giant</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/openai-ceo-sam-altmans-stake-in-helion-energy-draws-scrutiny-in-musk-trial-and-on-capitol-hill/">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's stake in Helion Energy draws scrutiny in Musk trial and on Capitol Hill</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/strong-strong-no-new-filings-reveal-who-microsoft-favored-and-opposed-for-openais-board/">'Strong, strong no': New filing reveals who Microsoft favored &mdash; and opposed &mdash; for OpenAI's board</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/musk-v-altman-satya-nadella-was-worried-about-microsoft-being-the-next-ibm-in-openai-deal/">Musk v. Altman: Satya Nadella was worried about Microsoft being 'the next IBM' in OpenAI deal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/are-we-on-a-road-to-nowhere-seattles-growth-masks-deeper-anxieties-about-its-future/">Are we on a Road to Nowhere? Seattle's growth masks deeper anxieties about its future</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsofts-multi-agent-ai-system-tops-anthropics-mythos-on-cybersecurity-benchmark/">Microsoft's multi-agent AI system tops Anthropic's Mythos on cybersecurity benchmark</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/seattle-turns-hostile-to-the-great-businesses-it-made-ea82b65c">Seattle Turns Hostile to the Great Businesses It Made</a> (Wall Street Journal, by Howard Schultz)</li>
<li><a href="https://tvw.org/video/association-of-washington-business-2026-spring-summit-2026051024/?eventID=2026051024">Association of Washington Business 2026 Spring Summit</a> (TVW, featuring former Gov. Chris Gregoire and former AG Rob McKenna)</li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook

The Idea Man's Last Big Idea: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in his own words

In 1 playlist(s)

GeekWire

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips