After more than a decade of stories, insights, and interviews from the world of tech, this is the final episode of Rocketship.FM… at least for now. In part one, host Mike Belsito opens up about the decision to hit pause on the show. Following the acquisition of Product Collective and diving deep into new responsibilities at Pendo and Mind the Product, time has become a rare commodity. And the little free time that is available? That’s now reserved for what matters most — family. Plus, let’s face...
Mar 28, 2025•39 min
You know the name. You’ve probably heard the iconic 16-bit theme. But what you might not know is that legendary football coach and broadcaster John Madden was more than just the face of a video game — he was its soul. In this special re-telling of one of our favorite Rocketship.FM stories, we revisit the incredible product journey of Madden NFL Football . From a fateful Amtrak ride in 1984 to a billion-dollar franchise played across generations, Madden’s insistence on realism and deep understand...
Mar 22, 2025•25 min
In early 2022, the hype around NFTs was at its peak, and Mike Belsito found himself caught up in the frenzy—so much so that he and a lifelong friend decided to go all-in on a historic digital collectible: a 1-of-1 NFT of the legendary 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card. With a max bid of $60,000, they were ready to make a play, but the auction didn’t quite go as planned. In this re-released episode, Mike recounts the excitement, the nostalgia, and the financial risks of the NFT gold rush. From...
Mar 13, 2025•34 min•Season 18Ep. 10
Failure isn’t just a headline—it’s deeply personal. In this special re-release of one of our most powerful episodes, we explore the emotional toll of failure and how product leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives can navigate its aftermath. From the wisdom of Will Smith’s "fail forward" philosophy to the hard-hitting insights of startup coach Jerry Colonna, this episode dives into what failure really means and how it shapes those who experience it. Host Mike Belsito gets personal, sharing his own...
Mar 06, 2025•25 min•Season 18Ep. 9
In early February 2025, Meta slashed 5% of its workforce—about 3,600 people—calling it a purge of “low performers” to sharpen up for an “intense” year ahead. Mark Zuckerberg says it’s about raising the bar, but some of those cut are clapping back with receipts: glowing performance reviews that don’t match the “bottom 5%” label. From leaked memos to public pushback on LinkedIn, this episode unpacks the disconnect—did Meta really target the weak links, or is this a headcount trim in disguise? Host...
Feb 27, 2025•24 min•Season 18Ep. 9
Elon Musk and Sam Altman—once allies in the quest for AI advancement—are now at the center of one of the biggest tech rivalries of our time. From co-founding OpenAI together in 2015 to Musk’s eventual departure and criticism of OpenAI’s shift toward a for-profit model, the tension between these two Silicon Valley titans has only escalated. In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we explore the origins of their partnership, the philosophical divide that drove them apart, and the latest in their ongoing...
Feb 20, 2025•34 min•Season 18Ep. 8
January 25, 2025, may go down as a pivotal moment in the AI race. Chinese AI company DeepSeek launched its latest model—one that rivals OpenAI and Anthropic but at a fraction of the cost. Investors panicked, Nvidia lost nearly $600 billion in value overnight, and industry leaders like Marc Andreessen called it "AI’s Sputnik moment." But is it really? In this episode, we explore DeepSeek’s rise, its impact on the AI landscape, and whether the U.S. is truly at risk of falling behind in the AI arms...
Feb 13, 2025•29 min•Season 18Ep. 7
OpenAI is pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence yet again. In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we break down what Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil revealed about OpenAI’s roadmap for 2025 and beyond—including the latest AI model, O1, which is already outperforming previous versions in coding, math, and reasoning. But that’s just the beginning. We also explore OpenAI’s move into AI-powered agents designed to streamline everyday tasks, and the company’s rumored return to humanoid robotic...
Feb 06, 2025•30 min•Season 18Ep. 6
In this episode of Rocketship.FM , we dive into one of the boldest AI initiatives ever announced: Project Stargate. Backed by tech giants like OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and MGX, this $500 billion venture is set to transform AI infrastructure in the United States. With President Trump championing the project from day one of his presidency, it’s being framed as a move to secure America’s leadership in artificial intelligence. But the stakes are massive—so is the controversy. While figures like Lar...
Jan 30, 2025•30 min•Season 18Ep. 5
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito dives into the story that’s shaking up the tech world: the TikTok ban in the United States. With a new year, a new administration, and growing geopolitical tensions, TikTok finds itself at the center of a national security debate. From bipartisan concerns over data privacy and Chinese ownership to the Supreme Court’s decisive ruling and President Trump’s potential role in TikTok’s future, this story has it all—politics, culture, and the fate of...
Jan 23, 2025•31 min•Season 18Ep. 4
Meta is making waves in 2025 with a decision that’s turning heads across the tech world. Mark Zuckerberg announced the end of traditional content moderation at Meta, replacing fact-checkers with a Community Notes-style system where users take the reins. Borrowing a page from Elon Musk’s playbook at X, this shift puts the responsibility for identifying misinformation squarely on Meta’s users. But is this a step toward democratizing the internet or a dangerous move away from accountability? In thi...
Jan 16, 2025•31 min•Season 18Ep. 3
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito sits down with Nesrine Changuel, a seasoned product manager with an impressive track record at Spotify, Skype, and Google, to explore the transformative power of emotional connection in product design. Nesrine’s upcoming book, Delight , introduces the concept of the Delight Grid framework—a practical tool to help product teams prioritize features that not only solve problems but also resonate deeply with users. Through her research and real-wor...
Jan 09, 2025•33 min•Season 18Ep. 2
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we look ahead to the pivotal trends set to shape the tech world in 2025. From the continued evolution of AI in redefining how we interact with the web to a predicted rebound in tech jobs, we explore what these changes mean for product managers, technologists, and businesses alike. With social media consolidating around a few dominant platforms and the growing push for child safety in AI chatbots, this year promises both innovation and challenges that will redefi...
Jan 02, 2025•25 min•Season 18Ep. 1
From groundbreaking innovations to industry-shaking controversies, 2024 was a year that kept us on our toes in tech. In this episode of Rocketship.FM , we uncover six defining stories that shaped the landscape for product managers, tech leaders, and innovators alike. Whether you're leading a product team or simply keeping an eye on the ever-changing world of technology, these stories will give you the context you need to stay ahead. Join us as we explore how these pivotal moments unfolded and th...
Dec 26, 2024•32 min•Season 17Ep. 42
In this episode, Melika Hope, Director of Product at Spotify, shares her candid journey of navigating this leap and provides actionable insights for aspiring leaders. Drawing from her 15+ years of experience, managing teams across continents, Melika introduces her "4 Ds" framework: Decide, Declare, Demonstrate, and Deliver, to help you become one of the exceptional few who excel in people management. Whether you're contemplating your first leadership role or looking to refine your management sty...
Dec 19, 2024•29 min•Season 17Ep. 41
In this episode of Rocketship.FM , we flip the script as Mike Belsito, Co-Founder of Product Collective, takes the guest seat to share his journey from entrepreneur to product leader. Interviewed by his longtime co-host Michael Sacca, Mike dives into the foundational skills every product manager needs, the importance of customer empathy, and how evolving tools like AI are reshaping the role. He also reflects on his early uncertainties and how building community and continuous learning helped him...
Dec 12, 2024•30 min•Season 17Ep. 37
What does it mean to lead with impact in a world of uncertainty, ambiguity, and endless best practices? In this compelling episode of Rocketship.FM, we explore how product teams can directly tie their work to measurable business success, ensuring alignment with company goals while resisting the low-impact work that often derails progress. Drawing from the soon-to-be-released book Impact First Product Teams , our guest shares actionable insights on setting meaningful team goals, keeping impact at...
Dec 05, 2024•31 min•Season 17Ep. 36
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, world-renowned positioning and marketing expert April Dunford joins us to share her insights on crafting sales pitches that close deals and win markets. Drawing from her book Sales Pitch , April dives into the art of creating a compelling narrative that helps your customers confidently choose your product over competitors—and the dreaded "do nothing." In this recording of her keynote talk from INDUSTRY: The Product Conference in 2023, April breaks down her prove...
Nov 29, 2024•33 min•Season 17Ep. 35
In this episode of Rocketship.FM , we tackle one of the most critical and overlooked elements of the product marketing mix: pricing. Joining us is Bill Wilson, Founder and CEO of Pace Pricing, a SaaS pricing expert with a background as a founder and product leader. Bill shares insights into how pricing has evolved, the common pitfalls companies face, and why leveraging data is key to getting it right. We also explore the psychological effects of pricing on buyers, the challenges of pricing AI pr...
Nov 21, 2024•38 min•Season 17Ep. 34
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive into the world of Product Operations with Jenny Wanger, an expert in product ops coaching for product leaders. Together, we unpack the foundations of Product Operations, exploring how it enables product teams to focus on what truly matters — building great products. Jenny shares insights on implementing product ops practices effectively, even for teams without a dedicated product ops function. From understanding the four pillars of product ops to establi...
Nov 14, 2024•39 min•Season 17Ep. 33
In this special episode of Rocketship.FM, we welcome back the podcast’s original founder, Michael Sacca, for a unique and insightful conversation. Recently appointed as CEO of Leadpages, Michael brings with him a wealth of experience from his years as a product executive across early-stage startups. Now, he faces the challenge of leading an established, well-known company through a period of growth and innovation. This episode explores Michael's approach to his new role, his vision for the futur...
Nov 07, 2024•32 min•Season 17Ep. 32
In this episode of Rocketship.FM , host Mike Belsito sits down with Katie Trauth Taylor, Founder and CEO of Narratize, to explore the journey behind creating an AI-driven platform that's empowering enterprises to communicate complex ideas faster and more effectively. Katie shares the frustrations that led her to launch Narratize and how her personal background as an innovator influenced the development of the platform. We dive into the hurdles she faced in the early days, how she secured enterpr...
Oct 31, 2024•37 min•Season 17Ep. 31
In this episode, Mike Belsito sits down with Dan Blumberg, founder of Modern Product Minds and former product leader at The New York Times, LinkedIn, and Citi, to explore how product discovery works in traditional enterprises. While we often hear stories from cutting-edge tech startups, most product managers work at "normal" companies dealing with legacy systems, regulatory constraints, and established brand expectations. Dan shares practical insights on running effective discovery programs in t...
Oct 24, 2024•39 min•Season 17Ep. 30
In this revealing episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito pulls back the curtain on a significant milestone: Product Collective's acquisition by Pendo. Mike shares the origin story of Product Collective, from its humble beginnings as a passion project to its growth into a cornerstone of the product community. He candidly discusses the challenges of running a bootstrapped company and the exciting possibilities that come with joining forces with a larger entity like Pendo. The episode features...
Oct 17, 2024•39 min•Season 17Ep. 29
In the fast-paced world of tech startups, product leadership is crucial—but when is the right time to bring on a full-time Chief Product Officer? This episode of Rocketship.FM explores the emerging role of the fractional CPO, a game-changing solution for early-stage companies seeking experienced product leadership without the full-time commitment or cost. Join host Mike Belsito as he sits down with Nick McEvily, a seasoned fractional CPO, to discuss the benefits of this flexible approach to prod...
Oct 10, 2024•28 min•Season 17Ep. 28
In this unique episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito explores the cutting-edge intersection of AI and product management. The show kicks off with an introduction to Google's Notebook LM, a groundbreaking AI research assistant. Then, in a twist, we present an AI-generated summary of the most recent edition of INDUSTRY: The Product Conference, showcasing key takeaways on team structures, customer focus, AI integration, and essential human skills in product development. This episode offers a ...
Oct 03, 2024•36 min•Season 17Ep. 27
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito dives into the common mistakes product managers and leaders make when developing product strategies. Featuring expert insights from Roman Pichler, a renowned product management coach and author, the episode uncovers critical pitfalls to avoid and best practices to embrace in crafting effective product strategies. From the importance of aligning with overall business goals to the necessity of evidence-based decision-making, Roman shares his weal...
Sep 26, 2024•35 min•Season 17Ep. 29
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive deep into the world of evidence-based product development with Connor Joyce, author of "Bridging Intention to Impact." Connor challenges the common assumption that high usage metrics automatically equate to product success. Instead, he introduces a comprehensive framework for measuring genuine impact on user outcomes and business goals. Connor shares insights from his experience at Microsoft and various startups, explaining how product teams can move bey...
Sep 19, 2024•41 min•Season 17Ep. 28
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive into an often overlooked but crucial aspect of product management: working effectively with internal partners and stakeholders. Join host Mike Belsito as he interviews John Haggerty, a seasoned product leader and coach, who shares insights on how product managers can build stronger relationships within their organizations. Learn why treating internal collaboration like a product itself can lead to better outcomes, and discover practical strategies for: C...
Sep 12, 2024•37 min•Season 17Ep. 27
In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive deep into the inspiring story of Findaway, a Cleveland-based tech company that went from a small startup to a $123 million acquisition by Spotify. Host Mike Belsito, one of Findaway's early employees, sits down with Mitch Kroll, co-founder and longtime CEO, to discuss the company's 18-year journey through various phases of growth and innovation. Kroll shares valuable insights on entrepreneurship, product evolution, and building a successful tech company ...
Sep 05, 2024•55 min•Season 17Ep. 26
