London Glorfield’s Mission to Unplug the World — and Why Gen Z Is All In

In Season 4, Episode 12 of the Turning Pro Podcast, Ben Sharf sits down with London Glorfield, a former RCA-signed musician turned hardware founder, who’s now leading the charge at Kickback — a retro electronics brand making tech that works perfectly, then gets out of your way.

Kickback’s story didn’t start with a five-year roadmap or a VC fund. It started with a cassette tape, a TikTok that went viral overnight, and 2,000 unexpected orders from young people craving a digital detox.

London opens up about the unexpected trade war that threw his supply chain into chaos, the emotional whiplash of being a creative founder, and the decision to turn his frustration with screen addiction into a bold, culture-driven business. From recording music in his childhood bedroom to running a startup with his sister, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone building at the intersection of creativity and commerce.

Listen to Season 4, Episode 12 of Turning Pro on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. 

10 Takeaways from London Glorfield’s Episode:

1.  Tariffs Can Wreck Your Business Overnight: Kickback’s cost structure jumped 2.5x due to new tariffs on Chinese goods. London didn’t panic. He pivoted and focused on long-term resilience.
   

2. Creative Confidence Starts Young: London began making music at 7 and signed with RCA before he turned 18. That early start gave him thick skin and a sense of ownership that shaped his approach to business.
   

3. Digital Heroin Is Real: After years of dopamine loops from social media validation, London created Kickback as a response to tech burnout. Gen Z is more aware of this than anyone gives them credit for.
   

4. Don’t Reinvent the Tech. Redesign It: Kickback uses commoditized components and layers on cultural design. This lets them move fast, stay lean, and still ship beautiful products.
   

5. Creative Doesn’t Mean Careless: Some people see creatives as dreamers. London disagrees. The best creatives he knows are the most disciplined, obsessive people in the room.
   

6. Build with Your People: Kickback started in his mom’s house with his siblings. Even now, London runs the business with his sister, turning shared values into company culture.
   

7. You Don’t Need a Business Plan. You Need a Viral Idea: Kickback wasn’t supposed to be a company. A cassette-tape side project blew up on TikTok, and suddenly, London was running a real business.
   

8. Hardware Is Brutal. Do It Anyway: Margins are thin, supply chains are fragile, and one missing part can derail everything. But for London, the challenge makes it worth it.
   

9. Culture Wins in Consumer: London pulls more inspiration from Acne Studios and Alo Yoga than Apple. To build community, you need to speak Gen Z’s language, not just ship polished gadgets.

10. It’s Not That Deep, Until It Is: Founding a company is hard, but London’s perspective shifted after losing his dad. His mantra now: focus on what you can control, don’t sweat the rest, and have fun building something that matters.

London Glorfield isn’t just selling nostalgic tech. He’s offering an escape from the noise. In a world of infinite scroll, Kickback is a reminder to slow down, turn off, and tune in. If you’re a founder with a creative streak, or a creator dreaming about building something bigger, this one’s for you.

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