The Cost of Happiness: Tony Hsieh

Imperative Entertainment and Vespucci

Billionaire Zappos founder and tech CEO Tony Hsieh was obsessed with happiness and helping people achieve it. After running “the world’s happiest company” for two decades, Hsieh created his experimental community — The Downtown Project — dedicated to pursuing happiness. But what do Tony's life and death reveal about Silicon Valley’s obsession with re-imagining how society functions? "A gripping tale" - The Guardian The Cost Of Happiness is reported and hosted by Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. It is produced by Charlie Towler. Cover art and design by Jeana Sullivan. The story editor is Meara Sharma, and Thomas Curry is the managing producer. Scoring and sound-design by Charlie Brandon-King. For Imperative Entertainment, the executive producer is Jason Hoch, and for Vespucci, the executive producers are Daniel Turcan, Johnny Galvin, and Matt Willis.

Last refreshed: July 7th, 2025 at 1:07 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

BONUS — Q&A with Dan Lyons

Nastaran chats with Dan Lyons, best-selling author and screenwriter for HBO's Silicon Valley, about the Tony Hsieh story and the highs and lows of tech company culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 23, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 8

No Dogs in the Dog Park | Chapter 7

What remains of Tony’s utopian, llama-shaped vision for a neighbourhood? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 16, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Alone In Utah | Chapter 6

Once again, Tony finds himself at the center of a toxic culture characterized by suspicion and silence. Except this time, there’s no escape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 09, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Business Is Business | Chapter 5

The feverish excitement around The Downtown Project begins to give way to frustration, confusion, and disappointment. Tony's utopian vision is concealing something toxic. And it isn’t just businesses and investors at stake. All of a sudden, so are people’s lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 02, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Baby God Man King | Chapter 4

When you talk about investing millions in a neglected city, buying up old buildings, funding small businesses and startups, and creating the happiest community on earth, people listen. So it’s no surprise that word quickly spreads about Tony Hsieh’s grand plans and the pilgrimages to Vegas begin. But will Tony’s utopia prevail? Or will the qualities that once made him beloved come back to bite him? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 26, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 4

The Company Town | Chapter 3

Flush with cash from his sale of Zappos to Amazon, Tony Hsieh is writing big checks. He has some 350 million dollars to invest — and just a year into this bold experiment in social engineering, his efforts to transform downtown Vegas into the happiest place on earth seem to be well underway. Did his vision for a tech utopia really work wonders on this city? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 19, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Early To The Party | Chapter 2

In July 2009, a man sells a company for $1.2 billion dollars — a company he’s spent the past decade building, and one that has revolutionized how we buy things on the internet. At just 35 years old, he’s instantly among the world’s richest people. But he sees himself as so much more than a business mogul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 12, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 2

What Happens In Vegas | Chapter 1

Josh thought he’d found a tech utopia — but then reality hit. This is a story about one man’s quest to transform a city, and the world, through his particular vision of happiness. It’s about the people who were seduced by that vision. And the people who were left behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 05, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Teaser: The Cost of Happiness - Series Premieres December 5

Nov 08, 2022•4 min

Hosted on Megaphone by Spotify

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android