No founder should be all-consumed with work, and that is why Head of Bloomberg Beta Roy Bahat is no longer a founder. This week Roy joins Gina Trapani and Michael Shane to discuss how workplace boundaries are becoming normalized and why providing VC support in a company’s irrational phase excites him more than a later, safer bet. He also stresses the importance of language in a large and diverse workforce and questions whether metaphors and analogies are useful or alienating. Links: Roy Bahat on...
Apr 05, 2022•42 min•Ep. 326
From polar expeditions to Twitter’s Longform team, Tony Haile knows how to lead — and when to step back. Former CEO of Chartbeat and Scroll, Tony is now Senior Director of Product at Twitter. This week, he joins Gina and Paul to share wisdom on managing the managers, knowing your weaknesses, and successfully integrating a team after being acquired by a bigger player. Links: Tony Haile on Twitter Chartbeat Scroll On Grand Strategy - John Lewis Gaddis Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey? - Willi...
Mar 29, 2022•41 min•Ep. 325
How do you build a bridge between climate science and culture? This week, Alison Smart, Executive Director of Probable Futures, and Peter Croce, Lead Product Manager at Postlight, join Paul and Rich to talk about how to create accessible resources for understanding climate change. What tools has Probable Futures created to tackle this? How do they collaborate with clients that want to make a positive difference? And, what is the price tag for climate change? Links: Probable Futures Postlight’s w...
Mar 22, 2022•39 min•Ep. 324
Recently, Gina Trapani shared this question on Twitter: What are good metaphors for running a company that aren’t about sports or war? To her surprise, her Twitter mentions exploded. This week, she and Chris LoSacco share some of their favorite responses. They also draw parallels between playing in a band and running a business and share why running a company can be like tending a garden. Links: Gina Trapani Twitter Peloton’s New CEO on the Tough Road Ahead - The New York Times See Privacy Polic...
Mar 15, 2022•21 min•Ep. 323
Gina Trapani, Chris LoSacco, and Michael Shane got together on Twitter Space to chat about how people with big ideas — but less authority — can get buy-in and budget for future tech projects. What kind of storytelling will be the most persuasive to get your project going? What will motivate your boss to support the change? In the live event, Chris, Gina, and Michael answer these questions and share strategies to talk to execs to get them to recognize the value of your idea. See Privacy Policy at...
Mar 01, 2022•36 min•Ep. 321
TypeScript is now one of the top five programming languages, but what is it exactly? And why has everyone adopted it in recent years? This week, Paul and Rich sit down with Orta Therox, a former engineer on TypeScript at Microsoft. He breaks down what makes up a type system, how to migrate to Typescript, and why it could be considered “CTO Optimized.” Links: Orta Therox Orta Therox Twitter Typescriptlang.org Why the World Is Adopting TypeScript See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...
Mar 01, 2022•30 min•Ep. 322
As Director of Product Design at HBO Max, Michael McWatters knows a thing or two about welcoming people to a service. This week, Michael joins Paul and Rich to share why onboarding should be happening along every step of a user’s journey, not only as part of marketing. He draws parallels between online onboarding and in-store experiences and explains why you shouldn’t be training during onboarding — show, don’t tell. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice a...
Feb 22, 2022•35 min•Ep. 320
In 2021, Postlight grew from a small-ish agency to a team of over 100 people. This week, Gina and Chris share how they helped scale Postlight since taking on their new roles. From establishing a senior leadership team, choosing better internal tools, and sending out employee surveys, they break down how to empower your team to help everyone (company included) grow. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Feb 15, 2022•22 min•Ep. 319
So much of product management is about getting to launch, but what (and how) you learn when the product is live is when the data story begins. This week, Paul and Rich chat with data enthusiast — and Postlight’s Senior Product Manager — Reed Whitmont. Reed shares what goes into a solid analytics setup, what your funnel should look like, and how to use your data’s story to refine an even better product. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...
Feb 08, 2022•36 min•Ep. 318
How do you find new leaders? Is it better to promote from within or hire from outside? Do former practitioners make better leaders? As Postlight’s CEO and President, Gina Trapani and Chris LoSacco ask themselves these questions daily. This week, Gina and Chris share their thoughts on how to spot leadership qualities and empower new leaders. Links: How to Build for the Handoff - Gina Trapani See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy...
Feb 01, 2022•28 min•Ep. 317
A little while back, Paul and Rich did an episode on the promises of Web3 — but there’s still more to be said. This week, they chat with internet pioneer Michael Sippey to get more clarity on what Web3 entails. Michael explains the three main components that make up Web3 (think DeFi, NFTs, and DAOs) and shares why he’s so excited about its possibilities. Links: Michael Sippey Tim O’Reilly - What is Web 2.0 Nexus Mutual Nouns Project Friends With Benefits See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...
Jan 25, 2022•43 min•Ep. 316
This week Paul and Rich send us a message from the future in the year 2058. A lot has happened since 2022 (like Paul Ford becoming the President of the United States of America). Paul and Rich report on the state of the world, from vaccines to climate to the state of software, and share what we could have done differently. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jan 18, 2022•20 min•Ep. 315
We look at our phones now more than ever, which means we spend a lot of time looking at app icons — some even become seared into our minds. So, what makes an app icon worthy? This week, Chappell Ellison and Nathan Burge chat with Jim Nielsen and Michael Flarup, who wrote an entire book dedicated to showcasing the power of app icon design. Jim and Michael share the history of app icons, their impact on your brand, and why they wanted to write a book on the topic. Links: Jim Nielsen Twitter Michae...
Jan 11, 2022•43 min•Ep. 314
The world of software and technology has never been so employed. From product designers to product managers to engineers, the need for finding new talent abounds. But what about retaining existing talent? Postlight’s dear friend and returning guest, Tim Meaney, joins Rich and Paul to offer his tips for making your best talent want to stay. Links: Tim Meaney Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Jan 04, 2022•34 min•Ep. 313
Six months ago, Gina Trapani and Chris LoSacco took over as CEO and President of Postlight, respectively. This week, they join Paul and Rich to discuss their new roles, the leadership transition, and why Gina thought it might never happen. Chris and Gina also share their vision for Postlight’s future and what they’ll tackle first. Here’s to a new year and new opportunities! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i...
Dec 21, 2021•37 min•Ep. 312
Will Web3 help decentralize the web and give us more privacy, or will it fall into the same old traps? This week, Gina Trapani joins Paul and Rich to dissect Web3 and its many utopian promises. Are they right to be critical of it, or is their point of view out-of-touch? Probably — but there’s still a lot to discuss. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Dec 14, 2021•29 min•Ep. 311
What is Web3, and why should we care about it? Will it be the digital revolution that brings the internet back to its decentralized and democratic roots? This week, internet expert (and Postlight CEO) Gina Trapani joins Rich and Paul to chat about their experiences with different iterations of the web and break down how it ended up so siloed, control-driven, and centralized. Will Web3 save us? Stay tuned. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://ar...
Dec 07, 2021•26 min•Ep. 310
Paul and Rich are proud New Yorkers through and through, but sometimes they can't help but feel jealous that California kicked NYC to the curb when it comes to tech and Silicon Valley. This week, they unpack how that happened and try to figure out what it is about California that sparks innovation. They also speculate what the next technological revolution will look like and discuss whether or not we're on the cusp of a crypto explosion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...
Nov 30, 2021•37 min•Ep. 309
It’s no secret that the past two years have shaped the ways we work with others. We have a growing constellation of tools at our disposal that all orbit around our sun: Slack. But why does it still feel like none of those tools talk to one another? This week, Rich and Paul chat about that disconnect and how it affects the way we work. They also envision a more streamlined future for tools and a better way to communicate. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...
Nov 23, 2021•38 min•Ep. 308
It’s been a few weeks since Zuckerberg’s video broke the internet, but does anyone actually know what the metaverse is? This week Paul and Rich chat with journalist Choire Sicha to figure it out. Will it be a radical new way to live in the future, or did Facebook only need a new story to tell? Together, they predict what digital platforms will look like in 20 years and what such changes will mean for all of us. Links: Choire Sicha Twitter Zuckerberg Pivots to Creators and Renames Facebook Meta -...
Nov 16, 2021•39 min•Ep. 307
Tom Watson and Stefan Borsje are avid photographers and creators of the new photography app, Glass. This week they join Paul Ford and Michael Shane, Postlight’s Head of Digital Strategy, to talk about developing the app for their fellow photographers. They also share why they chose community funding over venture capital, highlight the importance of transparency with your users, and discuss defining product success when growth isn’t the primary focus. Links: Glass Are.na Ravelry Metafilter Nolt S...
Nov 09, 2021•38 min•Ep. 306
Clay Shirky is a man of many talents — author, educator, and now Vice Provost of Educational Technologies at the New York University. This week, Clay joins Paul and Rich to discuss his role in procuring tech for a large educational institution and shares how the pandemic made us more aware than ever of ed tech's shortcomings. He also breaks down the dangers of optimizing for stability instead of flexibility. Could low-code solutions be the answer for universities? Clay thinks so, but it’s not al...
Nov 02, 2021•38 min•Ep. 305
What's a Product Discovery Coach? This week Teresa Torres joins Paul and Rich to break down the mystique of her job title and the important work behind it. They discuss all things product development, and Teresa shares how unearthing product assumptions can help you achieve a better final outcome. Teresa also explains why you should expect your ideas to fail — and use that failure to your advantage. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...
Oct 26, 2021•33 min•Ep. 304
As an actor and communications coach, Bill Smartt knows how to speak to the room — both in person and online. Bill has been working with Postlight for years, and this week, he joins Paul and Rich with tips on how to communicate effectively and give that presentation you’re nervous about. He breaks down how to structure your deck, shares how to make eye contact on a video call, and discusses the importance of rehearsing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic...
Oct 19, 2021•32 min•Ep. 303
Paul Ford may have coined the term “content strategist” but he’s certainly not the only expert in it. This week Paul and Rich are joined by Postlight’s Associate Director of Digital Strategy, Chappell Ellison, to discuss the three pillars of content strategy. She also discusses the difference between editorial and technical content strategists, shares her journey in finding the role, and explains why content strategy work will only continue to grow. Links: Chappell Ellison Chappell Ellison Twitt...
Oct 12, 2021•39 min•Ep. 301
On October 4th, 2021, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were all down for most of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Paul and Rich recorded this week’s episode to discuss the outage and the ongoing allegations against Facebook. They also draw parallels between regulating Facebook and regulating the tobacco industry and share their hypotheses on how Facebook got to the point of overlooking the safety of its users. Links: Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic For Teen Girls See Privacy Policy at https://art19....
Oct 06, 2021•35 min•Ep. 302
It’s the 300th episode of the Postlight Podcast! To celebrate, Paul and Rich talk with Steph Colbourn, founder and CEO of editaudio and producer of the podcast since early days. Steph gives the inside scoop on how the podcast gets made, what makes a great one, and the latest developments in the podcast production industry. She also shares Rich and Paul’s best (worst?) bloopers from the cutting room floor. Links: editaudio Steph Colbourn - Twitter Ali Sirois - LinkedIn Izotope NowThis Kids Podcas...
Sep 28, 2021•39 min•Ep. 300
So, you’ve agreed on what you’ll deliver and signed the contract, but then a stakeholder asks for one more thing. And one more thing. Change is bound to happen when you’re shipping software — how do you keep your project on track? In part three of the Catalyst Live! event series, Paul and Rich share tips on managing change from the get-go and explain when it’s okay to say no. As always, they top it all off by answering listener questions. Links: Catalyst Whitepaper You Can’t Fix a Relationship W...
Sep 21, 2021•44 min•Ep. 299
Both Rich and Vicky didn’t start off in software, so how did they end up there? This week Rich is joined by Postlight’s Head of Product Management, Vicky Volvovski, to talk about their professional paths. They discuss what drives them and share tips on how to get that next role you have your eye on. Hint: Don’t be afraid to show your work in progress. Links: Vicky Volvovski A Remote Success Story - Postlight Podcast Postlight Careers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California...
Sep 14, 2021•30 min•Ep. 298
Acronyms can feel cheesy, but they sure are effective — in the world of software and beyond. This week Paul and Rich discuss the value of naming your initiatives and urge you to embrace the inevitable acronym that will follow. They chat about how strong naming can help teams internalize processes and rally around projects. They also discuss how the power of naming has been a powerful communication tool of the pandemic. Links: QORE Tuskegee Study - CDC See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/priv...
Sep 07, 2021•30 min•Ep. 297
