What do Anthropic, Facebook, Pinterest and Stripe all have in common?
Everett Katigbak has played a foundational creative role at some of the most iconic brands in technology. His film work documents the stories of seminal figures who have shaped culture, such as his documentary projects on Stewart Brand and Luis Valdez.
In this in-depth conversation at his beautiful San Francisco home, Everett describes the “golden thread” that weaves through his non-linear career path, the importance of humanizing infrastructure, and why he believes your side hustle is actually your “true form.”
As of this recording, Everett has set out on his own to develop an independent creative practice. After years behind the camera, tech’s “brand guru” steps out in front of it.
00:00 Intro: “Your side hustle is your true form”
03:01 Making Facebook Feel Human
05:04 Getting Hired Because You Don’t Fit
08:10 Why San Francisco? Place Before Job
11:33 Analog Research Lab origins & mantras
13:35 Propaganda, Self-Talk, and Shaping Company Culture
16:32 Designing for Engagement vs. Meaning
17:18 Living in Contradictions: Anachronist Meets Futurist
19:27 How to Pick the Right Company (A Nose for What’s Next)
21:03 Expansion vs. Mastery: A Different Kind of Career Path
24:00 Going Independent
26:24 Inside Cursor as a “Cultural Sleuth”
28:49 Stories of Unseen Figures: Luis Valdez, Stewart Brand
32:00 Closing: Advice for Future Pioneers
S2:E6 Everett Katigbak: Indie Streak
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