The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

Brad Pederson: How Toys, Failure, and Startup Santa Taught Him to Fail Forward

July 19, 2026·1h 2m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Toy entrepreneur Brad Pederson shares how building multiple toy companies and going through three bankruptcies taught him that struggles forge character. From launching a styrofoam glider as a kid to getting thrown into special loans by his bank, Brad unpacks why pride comes before the fall, how he learned to become antifragile rather than just resilient, and why courage is the cardinal virtue that makes creative ideas matter. He discusses the three roles of a CEO, the importance of play for adults, and how his book Startup Santa captures the lessons of failing forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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