How do you create a product that people don’t even know they want?

Before Steve Jobs made Apple famous for the iPod, he was inspired by another visionary: Akio Morita, the co-founder of SONY.

Morita turned a small Japanese startup into a global powerhouse and, along the way, wrote the playbook for designing revolutionary products.

At the heart of the story is the SONY Walkman – a deceptively simple idea that forever changed how the world listens to music.

In this episode of Project Blueprint, we explore how SONY combined creative technology, product design, and marketing to create one of the most influential consumer products ever made.

What You’ll Learn:

• The origins of SONY and Akio Morita’s vision to rebuild Japan through technology
• How breakthrough products are conceived, designed, and launched
• The marketing secrets behind SONY’s global rise and how you can use them to share your own ideas

Chapters:

(00:00:00) - Introduction

(00:02:48) - WWII

(00:17:12) - Founding

(00:29:42) - Tape Recorder

(00:46:11) - Selling to America

(01:06:45) - The Walkman

(01:31:15) - Launch

Links:

• Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode
• Sources
• Get email updates every time a new episode is released–plus bonus material
• Follow us on X
• Contact Us
• History of Headphones

We tell the stories of legendary projects and the leaders behind them.

Links:

• Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode
• Sources
• Get email updates every time a new episode is released–plus bonus material
• Follow us on X
• Contact Us

How do you accomplish a project that’s part art, part technology?

When Toy Story first debuted in 1995, it changed filmmaking forever. For the first time, a movie had been made entirely with computer animation. The film became the highest-grossing release of the year in the U.S., inspired one of the most successful franchises in cinema, and launched Pixar’s unprecedented run of seven consecutive box office hits.

On the surface, Toy Story looked like an overnight success–but it was actually the culmination of 25 years of work from three visionaries: Ed Catmull, John Lasseter, and Steve Jobs.

In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover the origins of Pixar and the making of Toy Story. It’s a story of  Silicon Valley innovation, Hollywood storytelling, and one man's decades-long journey to change how movies are made.

What You’ll Learn:

• The unique relationship between art and technology
• How ambitious creative projects actually get accomplished
• How you can become a better leader by removing barriers to creativity

Chapters:

(00:00:00) - Introduction

(00:01:21) - Ed Catmull

(00:29:49) - John Lasseter

(00:50:35) - Steve Jobs

(01:07:27) - Pixar

(01:18:58) - Disney Partnership

(01:32:04) - Black Friday

(01:47:35) - Toy Story

(01:58:18) - Epilogue

(02:04:46) - Analysis

Links:

• Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode
• Sources
• Get email updates every time a new episode is released–plus bonus material
• Follow us on X
• Contact Us
• The Road to Point Reyes
• Black Friday Reel

What does it take to build the biggest airplane the world has ever seen—an aircraft two and a half times larger than any plane at the time?

When the Boeing 747 debuted in 1970, it changed air travel forever. With double the capacity of earlier jets, it slashed ticket prices and democratized global travel. But behind the triumph is a story of near-disaster: a company on the edge of bankruptcy and an engineering team crippled by corporate bureaucracy.

In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover how Boeing built the “Queen of the Skies.” It’s a story of groundbreaking engineering, corporate politics, and one man’s lifelong quest to build the plane everyone said was impossible. Along the way, you’ll learn how this legendary project almost broke Boeing… but instead made aviation history.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Joe Sutter and “the Incredibles” designed the world’s first jumbo jet under crushing time pressure
• Why Boeing built the largest factory in the world
• How the 747 reshaped global culture, making long-haul travel affordable to millions

Links:

• Quick Survey–tell us what you think of the show or share suggestions for the next episode
• Sources
• Get email updates every time a new episode is released–plus bonus material
• Follow us on X
• Contact Us

How did a company that failed three times in the commercial airliner business build the plane that defined the jet age?

By the time the 707 took flight in 1958, it had cut transatlantic ticket prices by 59%. And, for the first time in history, more people crossed the Atlantic by plane than by ship.

In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover how Boeing reinvented itself after WWII, outmaneuvered its rival Douglas, and launched the jet age. It’s a story of bold engineering, corporate rivalry, secret research labs, and the struggle to change a company’s culture. Along the way, you’ll hear leadership lessons from legendary Boeing president Bill Allen, the man who bet the company on the 707.

What You’ll Learn:

• How a lawyer-turned-executive pivoted Boeing from military contracts to commercial aviation
• How a tax loophole helped kickstart the jet age
• When to listen to customers vs when to build something no one’s asked for

0:00:00 — Introduction

0:03:14 — Boeing prior to the Jet Age

0:32:30 — The -80 Prototype

1:21:29 — Battle with Douglas

1:52:46 — Analysis

Links:

• -80 Barrel Roll Video
• Sources
• Get email updates every time a new episode is released - plus bonus material that didn’t make it into the show
• Send us feedback or suggestions for the next episode
• Follow us on X

How was the world’s tallest building constructed in just 1 year and 45 days?

When the Empire State Building opened on May 1st, 1931 it stood as the tallest building in the world. It would hold that record for an unprecedented 40 years. Built ahead of schedule and under budget, it remains today an icon of American ambition.

In this episode of Project Blueprint, discover how an unlikely partnership between an automobile magnate and a New York politician created an architectural icon. This is a story of Art Deco design, ruthless competition, and a construction battle waged at breakneck speed. Join us as we trace how the world’s most famous skyscraper went from bold idea to enduring legend.

What You’ll Learn:

• How a failed presidential bid kickstarted the 20th century’s greatest construction project
• The inspiration behind the building’s Art Deco design
• Why logistics made the difference between success and failure
• How a record-breaking project can finish on time and under budget

0:00:00 — Introduction

0:03:48 — Boom of the 20s

0:11:50 — An Unlikely Partnership

0:29:51 — The Site

0:42:48 — The Architects

1:12:26 — The Competition

1:31:01 — The Builders

1:58:53 — Construction

2:29:48 — Legacy

2:43:17 — Analysis

Links:

• Construction Footage
• Interviews with the Builders
• Sources
• Get email updates every time a new episode is released - plus bonus material that didn’t make it into the show
• Send us feedback or suggestions for the next episode
• Follow us on X