Google's Storyteller Walked Out with Claire Stapleton

EPISODE 78 Claire Stapleton spent twelve years at Google and YouTube writing the company's story, from ghostwriting for Larry Page to running YouTube's social media, before she co-organized the 2018 Google Walkout, when 20,000 employees walked out over how the company handled sexual harassment. Kevin and Jason, who started at Google a year before Claire, talk with her about her new memoir, Don't Be Evil. They cover what happens when a company that sells meaning as a perk discovers that meaning is expensive, how Google+ got tied to everyone's bonus, why YouTube's marketing org ended up marketing to its own executives, and why tech workers who once petitioned and walked out have gone quiet. Claire also shares a story that didn't make the book, describes the subway ride home after leaving, explains what it was like to read talking points written about herself, and tells us why she still calls Google a "low key greatest company." CHAPTERS 00:00 – Cold open 00:41 – Is culture load-bearing or just marketing? 04:07 – Selling meaning as a perk 05:42 – Ghostwriting Larry Page and the cure-death era 08:35 – Google+ and the corporate bonus 10:29 – When the story cracked: Creative Lab 13:18 – YouTube and the brand vulnerability briefing 15:54 – Was advertising the real mission all along? 18:10 – Marketing to executives instead of the public 21:31 – Maven, the walkout, and why workers went quiet 25:21 – Would she organize the walkout again? 28:08 – The subway ride home 32:06 – Where to find Claire and Don't Be Evil 33:13 – The Founder Mode Five LINKS Connect with Claire Stapleton Don't Be Evil • Tech Support • LinkedIn • X/Twitter • Instagram Stay Connected with Founder Mode Subscribe to our newsletter Connect with Kevin LinkedIn • X/Twitter Connect with Jason LinkedIn • X/Twitter