# Audible: Don Katz

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2021-11-01
- Length: 1h 15m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz

## Summary

Don Katz, founder of Audible, explains how he pivoted from a successful writing career to launch a digital audiobook platform in 1997, years before the market was ready. He details the early hardware struggles, including the 'Audible Mobile Player' and the 'Otis' MP3 player, and the critical pivot to a subscription model that saved the company after the dot-com bust. Katz also describes the pivotal partnership with Steve Jobs and Apple, which allowed Audible to integrate with the iPod, and the eventual acquisition by Amazon in 2008.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz#t=0) Introduction: Don Katz and the Origin of Audible
- [4:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz#t=246) Don Katz's Background: Journalism, Writing, and Family Influence
- [22:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz#t=1327) The Idea: Liberating Audio from Cassettes via the Internet
- [31:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz#t=1891) Building the First Hardware: The Audible Mobile Player and Manufacturing Hurdles
- [45:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz#t=2711) Going Public, The Dot-Com Bust, and the 'Audible Ready' Pivot
- [55:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz#t=3316) The Apple Partnership: Steve Jobs, the iPod, and the Subscription Model
- [1:02:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz#t=3734) Pivoting to Content, Profitability, and the Amazon Acquisition

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Audible (company)
- Apple (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Rolling Stone (company)
- Electronic Arts (company)
- Flextronics (company)
- Audible Mobile Player (product)
- Otis (product)
- iPod (product)
- Texas Instruments (chip)
- Codex (tool)

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- [The Reluctant Entrepreneur: Mike Konrad's Journey Through Entrepreneurship, Networking and SMTA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-03-14-the-reluctant-entrepreneur-mike-konrads-journey-through-entrepreneurship-network) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [How to Build an Audience for Your Product with Craig Rettew](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2021-06-02-how-to-build-an-audience-for-your-product-with-craig-rettew) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [3: Onward](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-10-28-3-onward) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [134: Kevin Kelly Remains Undefeated](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-06-24-134-kevin-kelly-remains-undefeated) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-11-01-audible-don-katz. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.