The Panel

Justin Jackson & Brian Casel•panelpodcast.com

When it comes to bootstrapping and building software, there's rarely one right answer. We want to dive into the nuance. In every episode, veteran founders Justin Jackson and Brian Casel bring together a panel of sharp minds from the indie tech world to tackle thorny topics – from pricing and product strategy to work-life balance. No gurus, no easy answers – just real conversations we'd normally have behind closed doors.

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Episodes

Back from London UK – so much to talk about

Justin and Brian check in on The Panel podcast format, discussing the challenges of booking guests and brainstorming a potential live show where the audience serves as the panel. Justin shares insights from The Podcast Show conference in London, highlighting major industry shifts like YouTube's growing dominance in podcast consumption across all age groups and the potential threat this poses to traditional hosting companies like Transistor. They explore opportunities in the open ecosystem, influencer marketing, and potential new features for Transistor.

May 30, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 10

Brian's launch – how did it go?

Justin and Brian discuss Brian's launch of Instrumental Components, highlighting technical challenges, AI usage, and marketing strategies. Brian shares his experience of launching as a solo developer, the role of AI in his workflow, and his thoughts on community feedback. Justin offers insights on pricing, positioning, and leveraging user stories to drive adoption.

May 16, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 9

"I hit my initial goal for my business – what's next?"

Justin and Brian discuss strategic decisions for their businesses, including exploring new products, addressing market threats, and leveraging AI. They share their personal experiences, marketing insights, and the challenges of balancing CEO responsibilities with product development. They also delve into community engagement and optimizing for search engines.

May 09, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 8

"Waiting for the Dam to Break" - Jordan Gal's bet on voice AI

Jordan Gal is breaking the mold with his new startup Rosie . He's targeting non-technical small business owners using consumer-style marketing rather than the B2B approaches most SaaS use. He talks about the opportunities and risks with AI-based startups, and how he's waiting for the "dam to break." Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (03:42) - Using what I want to listen to to guide what I create (12:10) - The advantage of finding your audience (16:26) - What kinds of experiments have you run lately? (...

Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 7

Figuring out what to do next (Adam Wathan)

Adam Wathan sat down with Justin and Brian to talk about the challenge of staying motivated with your own business, even when you've "made it." However successful you think a well-known product or founder might be, the truth is everyone's dealing with stresses and challenges and things that don't work and figuring out what to do next. That's what this episode is about. The discussion also touches on the potential of video content and YouTube as a way of getting in motion and regaining motivation...

Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 6

How do you find Founder-Product Fit?

Brian Casel hosts Val Sopi and Christian Genco to discuss the realities of launching SaaS products in 2025. They share strategies for validating ideas, dealing with competition, and defining success beyond revenue. The conversation explores the impact of AI on product development and the importance of founder-product fit for sustainability and enjoyment.

Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 5

Is doing YouTube a good business?

Marie Poulin and Aaron Francis join us to discuss the realities of building creator-driven businesses. We talked a lot about YouTube (they describe how each got traction there) and their current video making process. They also challenged conventional wisdom about sticking to one niche. For them, pivoting between projects keeps them fresh and prevents burnout, even when the traditional wisdom is to "just focus." Chapters: (00:06) - Introduction (03:23) - What is happening in Marie Poulin's world?...

Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 4

Should you still build in public? Peldi (Balsamiq) and Jay Clouse (Creator Science)

Peldi is the founder of Balsamiq and pioneered transparent business building in 2007. In this episode, he came to the Panel looking advice on "build in public." We invited Jay Clouse , of Creator Science , on to share his wisdom. Jay had tons of practical suggestions for SaaS founders looking to build community and build in public in an authentic way. Chapters: (00:08) - Introduction of The Panel (04:24) - Why is Peldi interested in build in public in 2025? (09:32) - Build in public has become b...

Feb 21, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 3

The business of open source - Caleb Porzio (Livewire) and Taylor Otwell (Laravel)

Is web development still a good career choice in 2025? What's the future of open source? Justin and Brian dive deep with Taylor Otwell (Laravel) and Caleb Porzio (Livewire, Alpine.js, Flux) about the state of web dev, building a business on open source, and the anxiety of managing competition. Chapters: (03:31) - Should people still pursue web development as a career? (11:04) - Are we still excited about the web? Why is Laravel growing? (16:27) - How big are your customers? (25:23) - How interes...

Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 2

SaaS predictions for 2025 – Colleen Schnettler and Tyler King

Is bootstrapping a SaaS dead in 2025? How will AI affect software development as an industry? What's working when it comes to marketing? Justin Jackson ( Transistor.fm ) and Brian Casel ( Instrumental Products ) are joined by Colleen Schnettler ( SaaS Marketing Gym ) and Tyler King ( Less Annoying CRM ) to debate our predictions for the new year. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - What to expect 3:25 - Is SaaS Getting Harder in 2025? 5:16 - Bootstrapped SaaS is past its prime 8:32 - "Can you really build a good p...

Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1

The Panel – smart founders discuss the realities of building a business

When it comes to bootstrapping and building software, there's rarely one correct answer. The secret to building better products, profitable companies, and a better life is knowing how to find the best answer for you . That’s the purpose of The Panel podcast. Join hosts Justin ( Transistor.fm ) and Brian Casel ( Instrumental Products ) in each episode as they bring together a panel of founders, software developers, and friends to discuss hot topics like: - What's really working in SaaS marketing ...

Jan 10, 2025•7 min•Ep. 1

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