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Heidi Roizen: From VC To SkinnySongs Writer And Record Producer

Thursday, January 10th, 2008 – running time 09:55
Can a VC maven help you lose weight? Heidi Roizen is betting she can with SkinnySongs.com, an album of songs about weight loss that aren't corny, and a website that works outside of the music industry.

This episode is hosted by Joyce Kim and guest-host Liz Gannes; Om Malik has suffered a heart attack and will be taking some time off to heal.

Heidi Roizen's latest venture is very timely in light of Om's heart attack: the cigars, fine foods and lack of exercise have taken their toll.

Heidi's made a 180 career shift, from tech VC, to songwriter and producer of an album called "Skinny Songs" designed to provide people with motivation to lose weight and get in shape.

Her VC roots are showing, tho, she produced the album outside the music industry... 'cause that's the best way to make money off of your own music.

Show Om that we are all thinking of him!

Please send him well wishes in the form of comments to this posting!

Highlights
health And well being ( 6:16, 6:16 ) weight loss ( 4:38, 4:38 ) heart attack ( 9:09, 9:09 ) Macintosh software ( 2:15, 2:15 ) health And well being ( 6:16, 6:16 ) weight loss ( 4:38, 4:38 ) heart attack ( 9:09, 9:09 ) Macintosh software ( 2:15, 2:15 )

Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )

" Hello welcome to GigaOM show I'm Joyce -- and I don't live in filling in for a mallet today. And his -- you know home is unable to join us today due to recent turn of events the -- gains who's been with us before and is the editor of new TV we'll be sitting with us for this episode. So -- why she gets a little bit of an update on on home."

" Had a hard. On December 28 he's doing a lot better but. He did have quite a few nasty habit. Me tearing me way to much copied -- too much work that out to -- he's had a good wake up call it's committed to living a healthier life but we need to get a little bit of time off to recover."

" So who's really going to have to have this year's resolutions it this year but will be helping him out and giving him our support. Over the next episodes are going to be having few other members of the -- on -- joining us here for the injuries in the shows. And we've also decide to do is switch up a bit and go without health themed episode in light of a user's eye -- guest today is -- risen who has a former -- a long time that an attack. Recently link on -- and -- interest in the health and a health care and lifestyle industry. She's now CEO and founder asking songs dot com and went back at her testimony. --"

" Hello welcome back and am excited to announce that we have tidy -- and here with us today. Great timing and very timely issue here. -- Heidi is had a very very long instinct her and Silicon Valley to want to toss up a little bit about that and then we'll -- continues endeavor which. It's on everybody's mind these days I'd. Spent most of my -- careers in technology. For a lot of it being an entrepreneur. Started a company called -- makers in the software arena. And mostly known for Macintosh software clip -- right now some things back in the early days of them and and then I went -- the dark side and beat him venture capitalist for about ten years. And last summer decided to. 180 degree creation. And enter the music industry which must be crazy but I was really passionate about the idea and so here right now let's talk rusting signs so -- songs. New Year's resolution time -- and we at home who's now has helped on the -- helpful that about -- came up with this idea sure. I think like a lot of people I have one of those moments of truth. Like -- where something happens and you're facing. Bad number on the scale or you're facing a milestone birthday -- event of some sort. And you just how that -- saying I'm not live like this anymore and my health is important for me I'm turning fifty in. Just a few weeks now and back when it was months away and I got on the scale hit all time high I have been monitoring -- got to change my lifestyle. And I thought there's gotta be -- empowerment music about losing weight getting in shape because frankly in at least. My demographic my age group we talk about that a whole lot psychotic people I talked about it they must be thinking about it and providing motivational music. Once for sure I couldn't find any thing I found you know work out compilations. Which is like how many times cumulus into the rocky theme song and you know yet there's a lot of new hip hop capital that the lyrics -- never meaningful. To that to the purpose. And that was really my motivation I thought well if I can't find this kind of music I'm -- write it myself you -- articles in the US the song and -- out there doing selling at Amazon Yahoo! Amazon and iTunes and snow -- and -- off and it's self funded. Now funded yep I self funded it originally because I wasn't sure it was -- ago. -- point one and point two issue is with my business hat on that bit. Only way to of the music industry right now he. -- actually make and make money off of it is to control as much of the economics as possible it's definitely an industry under growing undergoing tremendous changes we know. That means there's an opportunity to to do things what's been interesting is given my -- my whole life up till now has been live in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the -- And get a lot of business plans from people who have. Health and fitness product. Weight loss products that have a technology to them the opportunity to use community and technology. To help us build. Communities around our goals and to be accountable to other people is actually a really interesting movement for -- fitness and is there anything for me here particularly I think -- number of sites that are that are that are. Forming around user needs and what are some good ones -- there's one that I've been looking at called spark people which is a really interesting site it's a combination of you know daily -- community blogging on an opportunity. To talk about specific areas. Fitness there's another one called real age which is unconnected to the use -- a very big thing you know huge huge site and they sent out daily tips -- really interesting tips you know. These kind of things I think the opportunity to both. Ought to find community find other people better experience in the same things that your experiencing. And house of accountability and get some tips because. It's one mean to wake up one handset like to lose weight but then you need to know how how to do that what's important to do. What's not that important -- we all know it diet exercise and I'm sorry to say. The music is important because it's motivation but at the end of the day. I mean if I had to do with us this any -- and you lose weight I would say. Unfortunately after that exercise will be another made some subliminal messages as -- found that well that's promoted the idea is that there's a lot of the work out too. My music is music to listen to in the car of the -- actually go to the gym. So much for coming in talking to us about actually that our viewers can carts with what's going on here at the GigaOM show and and what you're doing -- asking -- really make health. And well being planned for issue because. God and serving technology were all little lackadaisical yeah well it's -- unfortunately technology were all you know it's a young industry. And believe me the warranties do you ran out as you approach fifty. And it's an industry where we believe we can just power through everything and unfortunately. No matter how much of a type a you are. When you end up in the hospital your body tends to react just like every other. Mere mortal and so -- be taken care because you know due to -- when you have to remember we are mortal -- your -- yes all of that much and we're looking forward to seeing your next album hopefully forgot thank you. And -- read back with some viewer feedback and more support that you all -- in town."

" And -- think you'd need three women on a technology show. Now are gonna go to -- been outpouring of comments and emails and voice messages and everything that ovitz received over the last few days -- and and we're gonna read you just a sampling from the thousand plus comments that are left on Quito dot com out on the announcement about -- target."

" I stars Angela Reverend -- and tell us. -- Delegates will do without you best wishes for a full and speedy recovery sorry about the cigars that you can get just as good of a -- of doing nearly you know. Angela I don't know Jackson -- at -- mom is -- instructors so we're going to Michigan town and she's a haven't during a mixture on -- in his downward dog down okay."

" And then year old right then five which is down -- IBO at bigger starting about the near future -- best for the new year I look forward to your account when you're."

" And then the right thing to say. Speaking easy recovery to you tofu with enough seasoning is actually quite an apple I think club will be here as long that takes."

" And we would have for brandy from FaceBook add she -- you are over there are staying. -- I think you all my best places for speedy recovery might have a knack for making my job really difficult I have the utmost respect Rea thanks for keeping up on it and -- eagerly await your next post I'd be stuck all the aspirin."

" with as much as zones and running in the basement and a kind of like an -- on the -- in Iraq. It is not them. And then on to finish that we have can't ask a ninja. -- to stay home now I almost feel guilty about stealing your name tag at the new TV conference almost get better and since your mom humor smoking. Thank you everybody for writing in as you as you can always send us emails and information -- You don't that revision3.com. And you have additional comments that you want to sentence and malicious home."

" Those can go to yeah we're keeping this repository of content aren't on your original announcement about -- heart attack which is on GigaOM dot com called the heart to heart with ego -- They can also reach us through all the normal means McClelland and under that -- the trajectory doesn't do. -- it anywhere else keeping busy with comments and I think that's about -- and active in the next few we."

" Thanks survey support and will be back next week."

" go home show."

" Hello welcome to GigaOM show I'm Joyce -- and I don't live in filling in for a mallet today. And his -- you know home is unable to join us today due to recent turn of events the -- gains who's been with us before and is the editor of new TV we'll be sitting with us for this episode. So -- why she gets a little bit of an update on on home."

" Had a hard. On December 28 he's doing a lot better but. He did have quite a few nasty habit. Me tearing me way to much copied -- too much work that out to -- he's had a good wake up call it's committed to living a healthier life but we need to get a little bit of time off to recover."

" So who's really going to have to have this year's resolutions it this year but will be helping him out and giving him our support. Over the next episodes are going to be having few other members of the -- on -- joining us here for the injuries in the shows. And we've also decide to do is switch up a bit and go without health themed episode in light of a user's eye -- guest today is -- risen who has a former -- a long time that an attack. Recently link on -- and -- interest in the health and a health care and lifestyle industry. She's now CEO and founder asking songs dot com and went back at her testimony. --"

" Hello welcome back and am excited to announce that we have tidy -- and here with us today. Great timing and very timely issue here. -- Heidi is had a very very long instinct her and Silicon Valley to want to toss up a little bit about that and then we'll -- continues endeavor which. It's on everybody's mind these days I'd. Spent most of my -- careers in technology. For a lot of it being an entrepreneur. Started a company called -- makers in the software arena. And mostly known for Macintosh software clip -- right now some things back in the early days of them and and then I went -- the dark side and beat him venture capitalist for about ten years. And last summer decided to. 180 degree creation. And enter the music industry which must be crazy but I was really passionate about the idea and so here right now let's talk rusting signs so -- songs. New Year's resolution time -- and we at home who's now has helped on the -- helpful that about -- came up with this idea sure. I think like a lot of people I have one of those moments of truth. Like -- where something happens and you're facing. Bad number on the scale or you're facing a milestone birthday -- event of some sort. And you just how that -- saying I'm not live like this anymore and my health is important for me I'm turning fifty in. Just a few weeks now and back when it was months away and I got on the scale hit all time high I have been monitoring -- got to change my lifestyle. And I thought there's gotta be -- empowerment music about losing weight getting in shape because frankly in at least. My demographic my age group we talk about that a whole lot psychotic people I talked about it they must be thinking about it and providing motivational music. Once for sure I couldn't find any thing I found you know work out compilations. Which is like how many times cumulus into the rocky theme song and you know yet there's a lot of new hip hop capital that the lyrics -- never meaningful. To that to the purpose. And that was really my motivation I thought well if I can't find this kind of music I'm -- write it myself you -- articles in the US the song and -- out there doing selling at Amazon Yahoo! Amazon and iTunes and snow -- and -- off and it's self funded. Now funded yep I self funded it originally because I wasn't sure it was -- ago. -- point one and point two issue is with my business hat on that bit. Only way to of the music industry right now he. -- actually make and make money off of it is to control as much of the economics as possible it's definitely an industry under growing undergoing tremendous changes we know. That means there's an opportunity to to do things what's been interesting is given my -- my whole life up till now has been live in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the -- And get a lot of business plans from people who have. Health and fitness product. Weight loss products that have a technology to them the opportunity to use community and technology. To help us build. Communities around our goals and to be accountable to other people is actually a really interesting movement for -- fitness and is there anything for me here particularly I think -- number of sites that are that are that are. Forming around user needs and what are some good ones -- there's one that I've been looking at called spark people which is a really interesting site it's a combination of you know daily -- community blogging on an opportunity. To talk about specific areas. Fitness there's another one called real age which is unconnected to the use -- a very big thing you know huge huge site and they sent out daily tips -- really interesting tips you know. These kind of things I think the opportunity to both. Ought to find community find other people better experience in the same things that your experiencing. And house of accountability and get some tips because. It's one mean to wake up one handset like to lose weight but then you need to know how how to do that what's important to do. What's not that important -- we all know it diet exercise and I'm sorry to say. The music is important because it's motivation but at the end of the day. I mean if I had to do with us this any -- and you lose weight I would say. Unfortunately after that exercise will be another made some subliminal messages as -- found that well that's promoted the idea is that there's a lot of the work out too. My music is music to listen to in the car of the -- actually go to the gym. So much for coming in talking to us about actually that our viewers can carts with what's going on here at the GigaOM show and and what you're doing -- asking -- really make health. And well being planned for issue because. God and serving technology were all little lackadaisical yeah well it's -- unfortunately technology were all you know it's a young industry. And believe me the warranties do you ran out as you approach fifty. And it's an industry where we believe we can just power through everything and unfortunately. No matter how much of a type a you are. When you end up in the hospital your body tends to react just like every other. Mere mortal and so -- be taken care because you know due to -- when you have to remember we are mortal -- your -- yes all of that much and we're looking forward to seeing your next album hopefully forgot thank you. And -- read back with some viewer feedback and more support that you all -- in town."

" And -- think you'd need three women on a technology show. Now are gonna go to -- been outpouring of comments and emails and voice messages and everything that ovitz received over the last few days -- and and we're gonna read you just a sampling from the thousand plus comments that are left on Quito dot com out on the announcement about -- target."

" I stars Angela Reverend -- and tell us. -- Delegates will do without you best wishes for a full and speedy recovery sorry about the cigars that you can get just as good of a -- of doing nearly you know. Angela I don't know Jackson -- at -- mom is -- instructors so we're going to Michigan town and she's a haven't during a mixture on -- in his downward dog down okay."

" And then year old right then five which is down -- IBO at bigger starting about the near future -- best for the new year I look forward to your account when you're."

" And then the right thing to say. Speaking easy recovery to you tofu with enough seasoning is actually quite an apple I think club will be here as long that takes."

" And we would have for brandy from FaceBook add she -- you are over there are staying. -- I think you all my best places for speedy recovery might have a knack for making my job really difficult I have the utmost respect Rea thanks for keeping up on it and -- eagerly await your next post I'd be stuck all the aspirin."

" with as much as zones and running in the basement and a kind of like an -- on the -- in Iraq. It is not them. And then on to finish that we have can't ask a ninja. -- to stay home now I almost feel guilty about stealing your name tag at the new TV conference almost get better and since your mom humor smoking. Thank you everybody for writing in as you as you can always send us emails and information -- You don't that revision3.com. And you have additional comments that you want to sentence and malicious home."

" Those can go to yeah we're keeping this repository of content aren't on your original announcement about -- heart attack which is on GigaOM dot com called the heart to heart with ego -- They can also reach us through all the normal means McClelland and under that -- the trajectory doesn't do. -- it anywhere else keeping busy with comments and I think that's about -- and active in the next few we."

" Thanks survey support and will be back next week."

" go home show."

chuckles

Started discussion: January 10, 2008 @ 4:04pm GMT

Episode 24: Discussion

Well known technology entrepreneur and venture capitalist Heidi Roizen joins Joyce Kim and guest-host Liz Gannes.

narco
about 1 year ago
Here's to a quick recovery, dude.
scienceking
about 1 year ago
Sorry to hear the bad news, Om. Wishing you the best in recovering and setting things straight.
uteck
about 1 year ago
Sorry to hear about Om, but this is show business and the show must go on, and this one didn't.
Let's talk about 'skinny music' and not even play a sample. I mean, come on! Is the music as bad the interview was? You could have looked into other health websites like WebMD or something that seems more apt to health then selling some crappy mp3's.
View all 3 comments