Meet the Hosts Behind TBPN: John Coogan and Jordi Hays

Behind every great show are the people who make it happen. TBPN (Technology Brothers Podcast Network) wouldn't exist without the vision, expertise, and chemistry of its two hosts: John Coogan and Jordi Hays. This is their complete story—from their individual backgrounds to building Silicon Valley's most influential daily tech show.

John Coogan: From Soylent to Silicon Valley Media

Early Life and Education

John Coogan didn't follow the traditional Silicon Valley path. His journey to becoming a TBPN host involved diverse experiences that would later inform his unique perspective on tech.

The Soylent Years: Learning Startup Life

Coogan's first major Silicon Valley experience came at Soylent, the controversial meal replacement startup that challenged conventional thinking about food and nutrition.

At Soylent, Coogan learned:

• Startup Fundamentals: Building a product from scratch, iterating based on user feedback
• Handling Controversy: Soylent faced constant criticism; managing public perception became crucial
• Scaling Operations: Growing from a crowdfunded project to a real company
• Team Dynamics: Working in a high-pressure, fast-growth environment
• Consumer Product Challenges: Manufacturing, distribution, regulatory compliance

This hands-on operating experience gave Coogan insights that most tech commentators lack—he's actually been inside a scaling startup during the chaotic growth phase.

Founders Fund: The VC Perspective

After Soylent, Coogan joined Founders Fund, Peter Thiel's legendary venture capital firm known for contrarian investments in companies like Facebook, SpaceX, and Palantir.

At Founders Fund, Coogan gained:

• Investment Perspective: How VCs evaluate startups and make funding decisions
• Portfolio Strategy: Why certain companies get backed and others don't
• Network Access: Connections to founders, investors, and operators across tech
• Contrarian Thinking: Founders Fund's philosophy of supporting bold, unpopular ideas
• Due Diligence Skills: Analyzing businesses, markets, and founding teams

This VC experience complemented his operating background perfectly—Coogan now understood both sides of the founder-investor relationship.

Building a YouTube Following

Before TBPN, John Coogan built a substantial YouTube following creating in-depth videos analyzing:

• Business Models: How companies actually make money
• Tech Companies: Deep dives into major platforms and startups
• Economic Trends: Macro factors affecting technology
• Startup Strategy: Lessons from successful and failed companies

This content creation experience taught Coogan:

• Communication Skills: Explaining complex topics engagingly
• Audience Building: What content resonates with tech-savvy viewers
• Media Production: Video editing, storytelling, pacing
• Community Management: Engaging with followers and building loyalty

Why Coogan Was Perfect for TBPN

John Coogan's unique combination of experiences made him ideally suited to co-create TBPN:

• Operating Experience: Knows what it's like to build a startup
• Investing Insights: Understands how VCs think and operate
• Media Skills: Proven ability to create engaging content
• Network: Connections across Silicon Valley for guest booking
• Credibility: Not just a commentator—actually been in the arena

Jordi Hays: The Perfect Co-Host

Tech Industry Background

Jordi Hays brings his own deep Silicon Valley experience to TBPN. While less publicly documented than Coogan's journey, Hays' tech industry knowledge and connections are evident in every episode.

What Makes Hays Special

Jordi Hays' contribution to TBPN goes beyond just tech knowledge:

• Dynamic Energy: Brings enthusiasm and energy that balances Coogan's analytical approach
• Different Perspective: Often approaches topics from angles Coogan doesn't, creating richer discussion
• Interview Skills: Asks questions that get guests to open up
• Culture Understanding: Deep grasp of Silicon Valley social dynamics
• Quick Wit: Keeps the show entertaining with timely humor

The Hays-Coogan Chemistry

What makes Hays invaluable to TBPN isn't any single quality—it's the chemistry he creates with Coogan. The best co-host pairings aren't just two experts; they're two people who:

• Genuinely Like Each Other: The friendship comes through
• Disagree Productively: Different views without animosity
• Play Off Each Other: Natural comedic timing
• Share Values: Agreement on what matters even when tactics differ
• Complement Strengths: Each excels where the other is weaker

How TBPN Was Born

October 2024: The Launch

In October 2024, John Coogan and Jordi Hays launched what would become TBPN. The timing was perfect—tech media was stale, traditional podcasts felt out of touch, and there was hunger for authentic voices.

The Vision: ESPN of Tech

From the beginning, Coogan and Hays had a clear vision: treat tech like sports. Instead of dry reporting or breathless hype, they would analyze tech news with the energy and insight of sports commentators.

This meant:

• Daily Coverage: Like SportsCenter, not a weekly magazine
• Analysis Over Reporting: The "why" and "what it means," not just "what happened"
• Personality-Driven: Hosts as stars, not invisible narrators
• Entertainment Value: Informative AND fun to watch
• Community Building: Fans, not just viewers

The Daily Format Decision

One of the boldest decisions Coogan and Hays made was committing to a daily format. Most podcasts struggle with weekly production—they committed to 3 hours of live content every weekday.

This decision was risky but genius:

• Habit Formation: Daily shows become part of viewers' routines
• Real-Time Relevance: Break and analyze news as it happens
• Deeper Engagement: More touchpoints create stronger community bonds
• Comprehensive Coverage: Can't cover everything in one weekly hour
• Competitive Moat: Hard for others to replicate daily commitment

The TBPN Hosting Style

Authentic and Unfiltered

Coogan and Hays don't read scripts or follow PR talking points. Their authenticity is TBPN's secret weapon:

• Real Opinions: Say what they actually think, not what's safe
• Admit Uncertainty: "I don't know" when they don't know
• Acknowledge Mistakes: Correct errors from previous shows
• Show Personality: Let their actual selves come through

Insider Knowledge Meets Entertainment

The magic of TBPN is that Coogan and Hays have actually worked in startups and VC. They know what they're talking about—but they also know how to make it entertaining.

They balance:

• Depth: Real insights vs. surface-level commentary
• Accessibility: Experts can follow, but so can newcomers
• Seriousness: Important topics treated seriously
• Humor: Silicon Valley's self-seriousness mocked when appropriate

Respectful Irreverence

Coogan and Hays have mastered the art of respectful irreverence:

• Respect Guests: Let them speak, don't interrupt rudely
• Challenge Ideas: Push back on questionable claims
• Mock Pretension: Call out Silicon Valley nonsense
• Stay Curious: Genuine interest in learning from guests

Building TBPN's Success

Guest Booking Strategy

One of Coogan and Hays' greatest achievements is the caliber of guests they've booked:

• Marc Andreessen: Legendary VC rarely does media
• Alex Karp: Palantir CEO known for selective appearances
• Sam Altman: OpenAI CEO during the most crucial time in AI
• Mark Zuckerberg: Meta CEO choosing TBPN for authentic discussion

They landed these guests because:

• Industry Respect: Coogan and Hays have credibility
• Smart Questions: Guests know they'll have good conversations
• Right Audience: Reaching exactly who matters in tech
• No Gotcha: Guests trust they won't be ambushed

From Zero to Tens of Thousands

In less than a year, Coogan and Hays grew TBPN from zero to tens of thousands of daily viewers. This growth came from:

• Consistent Quality: Every episode delivers value
• Word of Mouth: Viewers tell friends and colleagues
• Social Sharing: Clips go viral on X and LinkedIn
• Network Effects: Being on TBPN becomes status symbol
• Community Engagement: Viewers feel personally invested

Revenue Success

Under Coogan and Hays' leadership, TBPN is projected to generate $5 million in revenue for 2025, proving their business model works through:

• Sponsorships: Premium brands want access to their audience
• Memberships: Fans willing to pay for exclusive content
• Merchandise: TBPN hoodies, caps, and apparel sell strong
• Events: Speaking fees and live show opportunities

What Makes Their Partnership Work

Complementary Strengths

Coogan and Hays each bring different strengths:

• Analytical vs. Energetic: Balance depth with entertainment
• Different Networks: Access to different circles of Silicon Valley
• Varied Expertise: Cover more ground together than alone
• Distinct Perspectives: Approach topics from different angles

Shared Vision and Values

Despite different styles, they share core values:

• Quality Over Quantity: Won't sacrifice standards for growth
• Community First: Serve viewers, not advertisers
• Authenticity: Stay true to themselves and their views
• Long-Term Thinking: Building something lasting, not chasing trends

Genuine Friendship

The most important factor in their partnership: they genuinely like and respect each other. This comes through in:

• Natural Banter: Can't fake this chemistry
• Supportive Dynamics: Build each other up
• Comfortable Silence: Don't need to fill every second
• Shared Humor: Inside jokes and callbacks

The Impact of TBPN

Changing Tech Media

Coogan and Hays have changed how people consume tech news:

• Daily Livestreams: Others now copying the format
• Operator-Hosted: More founders and VCs starting shows
• Entertainment Focus: Can't be boring and win anymore
• Community Building: Audiences over pageviews

Creating Community

Beyond the show itself, Coogan and Hays have built genuine community:

• Viewer Connections: Fans meet each other through the show
• Career Impact: People get jobs through TBPN connections
• Company Formation: Co-founders meet in the community
• Investment Deals: VCs and founders connect via TBPN

Influencing Outcomes

Being featured on TBPN now affects real outcomes:

• Startup Credibility: Fundraising easier after appearances
• Product Launches: TBPN coverage drives users
• Hiring: Talent wants to join companies discussed on show
• Industry Trends: Topics they cover become hot

Support John Coogan and Jordi Hays

Watch Regularly

The best way to support the hosts is watching TBPN regularly and engaging with content. Viewership metrics help attract sponsors and guests.

Buy TBPN Merchandise

Purchase official TBPN merch to directly support Coogan, Hays, and their team:

• TBPN Hoodies: The founder uniform
• TBPN Caps: Instant recognition
• TBPN T-Shirts: Daily wear
• TBPN Accessories: Stickers, mugs, and more

Spread the Word

Help grow TBPN by sharing episodes and clips. The show benefits from word-of-mouth more than anything else.

The Future for Coogan and Hays

Continued Growth

With strong momentum, Coogan and Hays are positioned for continued success:

• Larger Audience: Growing viewership daily
• Higher-Profile Guests: Access to tech's biggest names
• Greater Influence: Shaping tech discourse
• New Formats: Exploring additional content types

Long-Term Vision

Coogan and Hays are building TBPN for the long term:

• Sustainable Business: Not dependent on a single revenue source
• Quality Standards: Won't sacrifice to chase growth
• Team Building: Hiring to support ambitious plans
• Platform Expansion: Exploring new ways to reach audience

Conclusion: The Hosts Behind the Movement

John Coogan and Jordi Hays have built something special with TBPN. They've combined Coogan's unique background in startups, VC, and media with Hays' tech expertise and dynamic energy to create daily must-watch content for Silicon Valley.

More than just hosts, they've become trusted voices in tech—people whose opinions matter, whose shows influence decisions, and whose community creates real connections.

Whether you're a founder seeking insights, an engineer following the industry, or a tech enthusiast learning about innovation, Coogan and Hays deliver daily value through TBPN.

Tune in weekdays 11 AM - 2 PM PST and experience the show that John Coogan and Jordi Hays have built into Silicon Valley's most influential daily tech media!

Support the hosts: Shop official TBPN merchandise and wear your Technology Brothers pride.