I dove deep into the SportsCenter of Silicon Valley

Summary

Business Insider’s Julia Hornstein spent a week listening to TBPN (Technology Business Programming Network), a three-hour weekday livestream hosted by former founders John Coogan and Jordi Hays. TBPN blends tech commentary, founder interviews and internet-culture banter, positioning itself as a playful, pro-tech alternative to traditional coverage. The show mixes ESPN-style sports banter with venture-culture chest-thumping: gongs for funding rounds, merch, canned sound effects and guests ranging from Marc Andreessen to Palantir CEO Alex Karp.

The piece describes TBPN’s production (a Hollywood soundstage, sponsors, recurring guests), its audience (young founders, investors and devoted daily listeners), and how it both reflects and helps shape Silicon Valley’s self-image. Hornstein notes TBPN’s live format gives it credibility and immediacy, while its unabashedly pro-capitalist tone and access to execs blur the line between media and industry PR.

Key Points

TBPN is a three-hour live tech livestream hosted by John Coogan and Jordi Hays that airs weekdays and has quickly built a devoted audience.
The show blends sports-broadcast stylings (sound effects, gongs, merch) with venture-capital culture, treating tech drama like spectator sport.
Hosts are industry insiders with startup and investor backgrounds, giving the show strong access to founders and executives.
TBPN’s live format and casual tone create a sense of authenticity and community for listeners, many of whom schedule their day around the show.
The show isn’t journalism in the traditional sense: it’s promotional, pro-capitalist and often functions as a platform for the industry it covers.
TBPN exemplifies a wider shift: tech figures creating their own media channels as mainstream outlets adapt to social and livestream-first news consumption.

Context and Relevance

TBPN sits at the intersection of tech, media and creator culture. As social platforms and livestreams become primary news sources for younger audiences, industry insiders are increasingly developing their own channels to control narratives and build brands. TBPN is both symptom and driver of that trend: it gives Silicon Valley insiders a friendly stage while offering listeners a feeling of membership and real-time access. For anyone tracking how venture capital, startup culture and tech PR are reshaping media, this is a useful case study.

Why should I read this?

Alright, quick sell: if you care about where tech gossip, PR and real-time culture collide — and why a livestream can feel more like a clubhouse than a newsroom — this is a fun, sharp read. Hornstein’s piece saves you the time of living inside TBPN for a week and explains why a three-hour show with a gong matters to anyone watching Silicon Valley’s mood and messaging. It’s short, punchy and gives you the gist without forcing you to sit through the whole broadcast.