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Podcast Episode

Hat & Tat | S1E4 | Pixar and Ed Catmull

Hat & Tat··16 July 2026·39 min

About this episode

This episode breaks down the fascinating organizational psychology behind Pixar by discussing the career and management philosophies of its co-founder, Ed Catmull. The episode explores how Catmull successfully balanced cutting-edge technology with world-class storytelling while establishing workplace practices that completely stripped away fear and ego from the creative process.TakeawaysWhy Catmull turned down a dream job at Disney to focus entirely on making the first full-length computer-animated film.Pixar’s "Brain Trust" and how it was constructed to create candid feedback in a safe environment. People in power or perceived power should speak last in meetings to encourage new ideas and diverse opinions.Reviewing rough, daily work-in-progress eliminates the paralyzing fear of criticism.ResourcesListen to Ed Catmull on Founders Podcast