The Origin of Dragonsteel - Intentionally Blank Ep. 149

Рет қаралды 38,269

Күн бұрын

Brandon Sanderson and special guest Emily Sanderson sit down and talk about the origins of their company "Dragonsteel" and the story of how it became what it is today.
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CHAPTERS
(0:00) - Livestream Persona's
(1:10) - The Start of Dragonsteel
(2:28) - "Why We Do This"
(5:39) - The First Entrepreneur Step
(8:43) - The First Employee
(9:43) - Brandon Hires an Assistant
(12:17) - The Company's Early Tales
(14:54) - The Next Big Step
(19:01) - Era 2 of Dragonsteel
(22:41) - Growing Era 2 of Dragonsteel
(24:56) - Future Proofing Writing Books
(28:22) - The Challange of Early Company Growth
(31:17) - The Big Kickstarter
(32:40) - The Current Era of Dragonsteel
(34:27) - That's Dragonsteel!

Пікірлер: 182

@andrewgarlach1011 2 ай бұрын

Emily: I hope we never get to the size of Google. Brandon: Evil little laugh 😂😂😂

@gizzardgizzard3583 2 ай бұрын

I don't think they will get to google size, because if they did they'd have to be completely immoral. In order to be a billionaire or run a billionaire company you have to be evil and I don't think brandon is thankfully.

@andrewberenson5717 2 ай бұрын

Emily is the real life Navani. When Emily was describing that she likes to know the inner workings of things, I immediately thought of Navani.

@boogz2381 2 ай бұрын

“IDK how to do this, find somebody who does and ask lots of questions.” Navani.

@FirstOfTheMagi 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely agree lol Navani has to be based off of her at least subconsciously

@thomaslee4482 2 ай бұрын

He said in a recent stream she was.

@elisabethm9655 2 ай бұрын

This history lesson is fascinating. As the mom of one of your earliest employees, I’m incredibly grateful for the existence of Dragonsteel. Thank you for just doing this so well and being so open about who and what you are. You’ve not only manifested your own dreams but enabled so many others to fulfill their own creative dreams and also support a family.You might not have known ‘what’ you were doing, but your fundamental integrity and talent has fueled an incredible organization. Thank you❤ Also, you guys are just plain real …and nice, too.😊

@Shawnbob82 2 ай бұрын

Love this so much

@joeybelasco 2 ай бұрын

Aww I love this

@kristobin8451 2 ай бұрын

"How's that Dan"- Brandon "Excuse me?"- Ben

@steverestless9202 2 ай бұрын

Glitter Era Brandon looks like he is just DARING an Allomancer to attack him.

@willowpackerthestoryteller135 Ай бұрын

Actually, does glitter have metals in it? I thought it was plastic. That chain on the other hand...

@bibliophilecb 2 ай бұрын

Hearing from Emily is always such a treat! She has such an engaging way of talking about things and it’s so interesting hearing her perspective.

@thetrashman1905 2 ай бұрын

I know I'm late to the party, but Emily has the PERFECT voice for Navani.

@julide27 2 ай бұрын

Emily is just such a lovely human being! So fun to hear her side of everything. 🥳

@quasibrodo923 2 ай бұрын

As someone who's suffered from depression in the past, I really feel for Dan. I wish him the best.

@inkthinker 2 ай бұрын

2008! But yep, right at the bleeding leading edge of Stormlight. 2020 was when I started doing full-time stuff. Best job ever. ;)

@kaysterae 2 ай бұрын

Hi Emily!! Good to see you! Hope you feel better soon, Dan!!!

@DisneyBatchman 2 ай бұрын

Very cool to kind of 'meet' Emily in depth, and to hear some of the thought process going on. And to hear the story of how this all came together. And to see a place where both sides realize it can't/couldn't happen without the other side, too. Yes, Brandon is the visionary, and the one who creates the worlds, but Emily provides the support that allows it to happen. It's like Disney wouldn't have happened without Walt creating things ... but it also wouldn't have happened without Roy managing to provide the financing. An amazing group of people, all the way around!

@smartestprimate5213 2 ай бұрын

Emily: I normally don't look like this. Brandon: *giggle* It's working for him.

@Kritigri 2 ай бұрын

I really appreciate this podcast episode! It's wild to hear just how this chaotic whirlwind was tempered into Dragonsteel. Sounds like it's been SO much work.

@MattViklund 2 ай бұрын

Love this. Brando, the phantom cubical caught me. I should have been quicker... maybe if I had a wonderful eternal companion like you, I'd have found the strength to do so. Emily, you are the reason Brandon is successful. Never forget that.

@dawesome_sauce 2 ай бұрын

I'd love to see photos from early Dragonsteel days as a start up.

@TheErkTube 2 ай бұрын

We love you Dan

@ericeilersen 2 ай бұрын

This was WONDERFUL! Emily is such a gem, and learning about the history of the company was absolutely fascinating. I don't always have time to fit in the podcasts, but this was fantastic.

@valeskaarnesen1295 2 ай бұрын

I own a very small business (just me). I also sometimes look around and wonder where the grown ups are! 😂

@alexanderloeb 2 ай бұрын

Google: Don’t be evil. Vin: I'm not a good or a bad person, I'm just here to kill things.

@ceinwenchandler4716 2 ай бұрын

Oooh, that's perfect :)

@mlouis7 2 ай бұрын

No one starts off evil. Its when the bank occult gives you an option if you want bank funds anymore when you reach the occult levels. It's a business social credit bank occult system . They all use the same symbols and numbers everywhere to pledge alleigence. You must do these things to keep the bank funds .

@jamesradcliffe6103 Ай бұрын

This is really useful. Thanks for sharing so openly.

@AuroraSchmidt 2 ай бұрын

I loved this video so much! It’s amazing to hear how much work by Emily and other goes into everything! And how visionary the whole company is!

@melissanormandeau5436 2 ай бұрын

This is my favorite so far, those two are cool to watch as a supportive team. I loved hearing about the origins of the company. You guys created something special and fans thank you for all the unique products and stories. Cheers from Idaho!

@Avid_Reader 2 ай бұрын

An origin story for the ages! Thank you for this. I could watch this type of video all day long.

@Thrawn90 Ай бұрын

Just realized I basically live within a 10 minute drive of them and have been walking by the DragonSteel warehouse on my evening walks for the past 3 years. Never really realized just how "local" this whole operation was to me. Bought the leatherbound collection and was curious where it would be shipping from. Could literally just grab a bag and walk over to the warehouse to pick them up lol. (Won't of course, that's not how it works)

@TheRealGravyTrain 2 ай бұрын

Thanks B&E$

@SunRayz3r Ай бұрын

Emily and Brandon are so cute together! Their blend of responsibility, communication, humor, and just interactiveness is something that I and think others aspire to. What an amazing pair! 😊❤

@obviousalias132 2 ай бұрын

Brandon’s vision after he sold his first leatherbound: UNITE THEM

@jaime6400 2 ай бұрын

This was SO FASCINATING. Thank you so much for sharing!

@AngelaCSpears Ай бұрын

Emily is just charming and both your voices are pleasant to listen to.

@user-hg4lw9ol4g 2 ай бұрын

💙Emily! It's so cool to have her on the podcast. 💙

@Owlfury 2 ай бұрын

This is the best episode. Love seeing you two together!

@Donnerjkks 2 ай бұрын

the genesis of the kathy x adam rivalry revealed!

@porterwayman8643 2 ай бұрын

Week 21 of persistently asking for an intentionally blank episode on marching band!!

@Lightspren 2 ай бұрын

I second this!

@cogigo 2 ай бұрын

That was perfect. Loved every second of it. Cheers to the next 5 years and beyond.

@palmtree3017 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing. It was really cool to get a behind the scenes look at how the company has grown

@bryceharriet9209 2 ай бұрын

*rumbling bumblebee voice* “Ta’Veren”

@lisabonnet1794 2 ай бұрын

For. Real.

@michosadventures 2 ай бұрын

This was a great podcast, I love hearing about the business side of successful people. A lot of insights and inspiration in this episode.

@mahalleinir_WoT 2 ай бұрын

Finally bought my warbreaker leatherbound last night! Super excited to get it.

@bigappa9359 2 ай бұрын

Anyone else think Emily would be phenomenal at doing voiceover work for some Brandon's characters?? Her voice is so crisp and confident and grounded!

@Jevaughn 2 ай бұрын

True! Probably not worth the time for what she's worth per hour to the company, but she could totally do a reading at a convention.

@shwah.holmslice Ай бұрын

Man, that was a great episode. Loved that.

@susannahlewis8464 2 ай бұрын

This is really fascinating to me to hear how such companies evolve. I'm an author, podcaster, and TTRPG developer, and I'm planning on forming an LLC with my team sometime soon. I've already started delegating with hiring an editor for the shows. I'm always looking for ways to make the businesses run smoother for me.

@dylanhalifaux 2 ай бұрын

You both are incredible! Thank you so much to you and your team for bringing all of us so much joy and entertainment!

@EliasMheart Күн бұрын

I love how over time the clothes just seem normal, until it suddenly flashes again xD

@amysadler3038 2 ай бұрын

I have loved watching your fandom and your business grow! I've been a fan since around 2010 and I love your brain and all the team members I've seen and interacted with on streams and other avenues over the years. Thank you all! ❤

@jacobmcdavid64 Ай бұрын

Beautiful

@vanessahardy2632 2 ай бұрын

I found this video so encouraging. Thank you for publishing! 💜

@mrbailie1 2 ай бұрын

I enjoyed this video so much, thank you for sharing!!

@mattygstax4584 2 ай бұрын

I've watched all except 1 or 2 episodes. I love you all!

@ellery0909 2 ай бұрын

Great conversation, thank you

@mikeshaffer4912 26 күн бұрын

Wow. This was all fascinating. I saw some of it from the outside, so it's interesting to see where this all has taken you since that Borders signing in 07.

@hartefbrown1 2 ай бұрын

I don't usually sit and listen to these, ever. But this was probably the best listening sit down. Thanks, Brandon, for bringing back Robert Jordan's story. Starting reading #1 EW book in 1997 thinking I can handle this, only to find out there was another 6 to read, still thinking I can handle this. Oh, ya. another 8 to go. I read all of them 3 times over. You're the best. Thanks. :buying one of your books now. "Sunlit Man"

@jaystiles7343 2 ай бұрын

The story starting at 24:56 hit me hard. This is a wonderful episode and adds so much context that I didn't know I needed.

@samanthaa.6055 2 ай бұрын

I didn't know they hired Matt Hatch. Super cool!

@Rhedak 2 ай бұрын

Very interesting, thank you for this podcast

@nielsenja Ай бұрын

love this, so incredibly charming

@sundaycomicssection 2 ай бұрын

Wonderful episode.

@brokenredflag 2 ай бұрын

Two nerd cuple make a nerd company to make lots of nerds happy❤ glad brandom remains humble. Thank you emely for your bravery and sorry we woried you or made you tierd. 😢 not everywone can do what you guys did. Keep the formula going. Dont go so big that your not able to chew properly. Love yal.😊

@tannerprince9730 2 ай бұрын

This was a really cool episode

@thebooklion 2 ай бұрын

Why is Brandon signing Mistborn pages!? I need to know before I buy unsigned leatherbounds!

@dylanbeazer2506 2 ай бұрын

I believe those are pages for Bands of Mourning, the next book that will get a leatherbound treatment.

@watcherofwatchers 2 ай бұрын

I decided that I only buy signed Leatherbounds. It limits my collection, but I am okay with that! I just buy when they are available.

@danielbaker1190 2 ай бұрын

All the leatherbounds will be available signed sometime this year, as WoK and RoW where during kickstarter. You just have to be ready to buy them, because they will go quick. My guess is at Dragonsteel Convention. They may stop selling signed copies online and only make them available for special events.

@putomacuto 2 ай бұрын

@@dylanbeazer2506 When he was signing those, it said "Bands of Mourning" on the page he was signing, not Mistborn

@A.Campbell 2 ай бұрын

Very inspiring

@DominickvdHoff 2 ай бұрын

cool to hear a bit about the business side and the history!

@DominickvdHoff 2 ай бұрын

Ever thought about animation? :D

@elisabethm9655 2 ай бұрын

@@DominickvdHoff - Well they already have experienced talent on board to manage a project like that🤫🤭

@garrettmunyer3017 2 ай бұрын

This is so interesting! It would be so cool to be part of your team over at Dragonsteel. Maybe when I retire from the military in a few year I'll apply to work in the HR department... 🤔 😅

@gavinsmith9871 2 ай бұрын

I wonder if Dragonsteel will ever publish books by other authors.

@tadious9415 2 ай бұрын

They've come close with collaborations. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually got to publishing for others though I don't know if that's the plan.

@gavinsmith9871 2 ай бұрын

@@tadious9415 Maybe in a few decades after Brandon passes.

@tadious9415 2 ай бұрын

@@gavinsmith9871 maybe. But there are a few other people within the company who have talked about writing their own books on the side. If dragonsteel would do that with anyone it would probably be one of them. Like Adam or Isaac.

@ericdculver 2 ай бұрын

Only Brandon knows...

@jaclynroth1440 2 ай бұрын

I volunteer as tribute 😊

@rmsgrey 2 ай бұрын

I like to think that, somewhere at Amazon, sometime in the next decade or so, an executive's assistant will dig up this video to prove to their boss that they did this to themselves - that when they set out to teach a publisher a lesson, someone learned a lesson all right, but not the one Amazon wanted them to...

@yomanyo327 2 ай бұрын

IMO, every popular author should do what Brandon does, the author's job is to write for as much of their "work time" as possible, all those other details should be handed over to others(preferably aspiring authors(who get paid for their work, no exploitation of the eager))

@tonkabeanicecream5698 Ай бұрын

Most of those popular authors still don't earn that much money.

@yomanyo327 Ай бұрын

@@tonkabeanicecream5698 True, but Brandon didn't start with 50 people, he started with one family member who was part time. He earns as much as he does not only because of his writing, but also because of his system for marketing, merch, and everything else.

@henryeowens 2 ай бұрын

Super interesting. Thanks for the inside scoop like this. 👍

@drummerguy438 2 ай бұрын

I don't know if you'll see this, but I'm hoping you can impart some wisdom. I am an aspiring author, working on book number 4 and I just found out I have my first child on the way. When you were working around newborns, how did you manage the time to write and be a father?

@ama_goto 2 ай бұрын

I could envision a movie about this sometime in the future

@SkyLowercut 2 ай бұрын

Video thumbnail should use Emily! Love the history, thanks BE-Swifties

@titans1fan93 2 ай бұрын

I love to get Emily on the podcast more! She absolutely great. Especially on topics Dan does not like. (Still little salty they never talk about the rest of live action one piece since Dan didn’t like it lol)

@grahamguy4656 2 ай бұрын

Found that very interesting thanks for the history vid will you ever consider flux leather books

@danf6975 2 ай бұрын

I am happy with the series as it is, and I am glad I got it in its current form, but after listening to dragon steel I believe that book would have been worthy of publishing, and I would have definitely wanted to read the series in its older form Even without all of the changes and maturation

@Omnicrola Ай бұрын

Dear Brandon, Please write a short story about the Phantom Cubicle that chases you. Signed, A Cubicle Dweller

@airbendnerd 2 ай бұрын

Can we get Mrs. Sanderson in on the KZfaq thumbnail for this video?

@hiltrud2001 2 ай бұрын

Dan get well soon ❣️

@L1ghtweaver 2 ай бұрын

Dan looks a lot different today! Can't put my finger on it... new haircut?

@hiltrud2001 2 ай бұрын

😂🤣

@Treggify 2 ай бұрын

2nd and Charles has a lot of those discounted books with the black marks!

@user-km9zn7oy4i 2 ай бұрын

This 5 year plan sounds like it might be interesting - if my reading between the lines is correct

@strydyrhellzrydyr1345 24 күн бұрын

Tbats what we would LOVEEEE to hear... Is the stuff around when you guys started being a you guys.. lol Like her as a wife .. hiw did she take it.. was she confused and overly worried... Hiw did she handle it.. and then making a home together.. then kids.. Blah blah blah.. For some reason.. they very very much interest me as a couple... They just ssem different.. and awesome. And im SUREEE we could use some ADVICE about relationships.. about make and female interaction.. and etc

@obviousalias132 2 ай бұрын

The Arcanist Graphic Novels in-house!!!

@ladyethyme 2 ай бұрын

Be well Dan.

@fiachnaodonnell7895 2 ай бұрын

You're both looking really healthy recently

@phoenixtrite5068 2 ай бұрын

The glitter on Brandon's face makes him look like Seven of Nine

@detleftibax 2 ай бұрын

What would be a great idea is to show on the video a number counter of the books you sign, so fans who purchase your signed preorders can see it when you sign their book (with the unique code)!

@robbybevard8034 2 ай бұрын

That seems like it would be an insane amount of extra work for the production team. Particularly since he pulls from the piles at random.

@talemaster4431 2 ай бұрын

Looks like you hit the Liberace estate sale.

@hikinginidaho 2 ай бұрын

So did it become clear that the 631 was the announcement of the 5th secret project?

@ElijahStormblessed 2 ай бұрын

Yep

@mailemarriott 2 ай бұрын

So when do we get Sanderland?

@hiltrud2001 2 ай бұрын

You didn't say anything about where in all this are Matt and Taylor Hatch? I really would like to know

@egwenealvereiscool7726 2 ай бұрын

And here I thought it would be a podcast about the book lol

@emptybottleofwit 2 ай бұрын

Why the extra charges on the Backit?

@focusrelax8838 2 ай бұрын

8:46 What year was this? When he bought the 2000 books for 1 dollar.

@randomdude4505 2 ай бұрын

How long until Dragonsteel becomes a full blown publishing company?

@SirKn1ght47 2 ай бұрын

Is there a reason for the "631" on the back of Brandon's hand?

@rutgerniemeijer 2 ай бұрын

This video was pre-recorded. The fifth secret project was announced in video 631, and they hinted at it showing that number quite a few times.

@Psylento 2 ай бұрын

I'm more of a dragonglass dude myself, but any kind of Obsidian will suffice i suppose

@captainironside3773 2 ай бұрын

Would someone be able to explain how Brandon was legally able to sell his remainders on his website? I'm just confused because I thought they still belonged to Tor, even though Brandon put his signature on them. I'm an aspiring author myself and just want to make sure I understand the legality of this, since owning my own works and starting my own company is also a goal of mine.

@aeonarin 2 ай бұрын

He bought them from Tor.

@robbybevard8034 2 ай бұрын

Brandon just outright bought the copies they weren't selling, then sold them. Same as any bookstore or secondhand place. He had an advantage that he could sign them to thus push them up to full price, but its the same as any place buying stock to sell.

@DadBodSwagGod 2 ай бұрын

I prefer B-Swift and E-Harmony

@millersj 2 ай бұрын

I'm out of the loop, what does 631 on Brandon's hand mean?

@rutgerniemeijer 2 ай бұрын

It was for video 631 on the channel that happened a month ago and had to do with the Kickstarter for Stormlight archive and Secret project 5. The number was hinted at for months, this video was pre-recorded, so it was possibly just done as a small nod to that.