Steve Jobs: The Fresh Air Interview (1996) | Fresh Air

1996 interview description: Steve Jobs is one of the founders of Apple Computers; and he led the development of the Macintosh computer. In 1985 he founded NeXT Computer. It's mission is to develop customized software for businesses; two of their applications are OPENSTEP and NEXTSTEP. Jobs is also the owner of the computer animation company, Pixar. They've made the first feature-length computer-animated film, "Toy Story," in conjunction with Walt Disney, Inc. Jobs will talk with Terry about the future of computer technology. Jobs has won numerous awards including a National Medal of Technology in 1990.

This episode was first broadcast on February 22, 1996.

“FRESH AIR” from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.

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[Hungry_for_exploration]

This man died way too early. There's no question he would be the most influential person in American society today if he was still alive.

[uToobeD]

Steve Jobs is always very interesting to listen to. He doesn't speak in empty marketing terms, but really speaks like a thinker, and shares his wisdom and experience.

[CookieCurls]

Everything he mentioned and envisioned came true. It’s spooky watching these old interviews. He was right about almost everything. It just took a few decades to get there.

[serialMichael]

17:08 - “One of the things I always tried to coach myself on was not being afraid to fail.
When you have something that doesn’t work out a lot of times people’s reaction is to get very protective about ever wanting to fall on their face again
and I think that’s a big mistake, because you never achieve what you want without falling on your face a few times in the process of getting there… So..
I’ve tried to not be afraid to fail and matter fact I failed quite a bit since leaving Apple”

GOLD

[kevins]

Dude just predicted Google, e-commerce, SmartTVs, and the end of physical media while I was still on the Oregon Trail trying not to die of dysentery.

[RIPLuthenRael]

This was before his best work. Before iTunes, the iPod, apple stores, The iMac, the iPhone, the iPad… this was before he did all that! Truly a genius…

[CoreyChambersLA]

Steve Jobs 100% accurate. Knew where everything was going.

[techtipsuk]

My god this man was insightful. Definitely one of the most influential people of the last century.

[neanda]

"other companies hire people to tell them what to do, we hire people so that they can tell us what to do"
omfg
this is such an amazing interview. i thought i'd heard/watched all his interviews, but this one tops them all. he's so relaxed because he knows you're not talking bs.
there's so much coming out of his mind. i gotta roll a joint now.
thank you to the interviewer, Terry Gross, you're amazing in getting him to really talk his mind.
i'm gonna have to check out your other interviews,
i still can't believe that this was '96, mental

[janentertain]

Kudos to the interviewer. Appropriate, candid, intriguing tone which made Steve speak so fluently. Great interview!

Best OOP definition I've ever heard which I can explain to my 9 year old. Seriously! I'm so humbled realizing so much more to learn.

[TS]

Oh my God! This is so awesome!! The clarity of thought that Jobs has is astounding. He was so right about most of the things that happened way after he gave this interview. Terry Gross, I should add, is one of the best interviewers I’ve ever heard.

[sorcererstone]

This interview is a gem. Gives us a glimpse to the amazing inner thinking & thought processes of Steve Jobs.
BTW, this interview was done in 1996 by the equally amazing interviewer Terry Gross, Steve Jobs return to Apple in the same year too - judging by the content of this interview. This interview was made before Steve returned to Apple. That explained why he refrained to critique too much about Apple.
Hats off to Steve Jobs - a true giant.

[PalakBhansali]

And ppl says he wasn’t technical…I think he was way ahead of his time…we can say that he clearly saw the future and also can say that he invented the future and lived it

[uniquegodwin]

1996? Sounds like something from 10 years ago. Can't believe it's that old.

[frostpages]

18:16 “and the problem at Apple, is that they stopped innovating… and that’s Apple’s problem, is that their differentiation evaporated.”

Boy oh boy does that sum up Apple today.

[LeeJohnston-ow]

I'm always humbled listening to, Steve Jobs. He is pure genius.

[danishafzalkhan]

"We were two teenagers who couldn't afford a computer, so we decided to build one" - Legend 🙌

[NoreenHoltzen]

At 25:00 he talks about the concept of the iPad so ahead of its time and even before returning to Apple, essentially a simplified $300 low price internet access device. Back then screens weren’t ready so he suggested it should connect to the TV but actually he is basically aiming functionally at the iPad already. This matches other references by internal staff at Apple saying that his first goal before the iPhone was the iPad but he wished the phone out first as it suddenly became more urgent.

[skrowe]

Born in africa ghana in the 80s, i had no idea what the intenet was till 2003, didnt learn to code till 2017, information is everything!

[pipp]

What an excellent time capsule. So much you can say about his insights at this time, and to think this was just months before Apple bought NeXT and Steve returned to the helm and saved Apple from near extinction. Edit: Right after I typed this Jobs says, in response to do you think Apple is going to fail, “I think with the appropriate leadership that’s not going to happen…but we’ll have to see.” Amazing.