37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson are back to talk about the ins and outs of offering a product for free. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , they break down why they decided to reintroduce a free Basecamp plan, how offering free access can actually drive sales, and balancing analytics with instincts. Key Takeaways: 00:45 – The original philosophy behind Basecamp’s free plan 03:14 – Going beyond the free trial 07:36 – Tracking analytics without getting lost...
Mar 05, 2025•21 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast There are no full-time managers at 37signals, but that doesn't mean the company is void of mentorship. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , host Kimberly Rhodes chats with Principal Programmer Jeffrey Hardy as he breaks down the company’s focus on peer-to-peer mentorship. They discuss hiring practices that allow for less management and what mentorship looks like amongst the team. Key Takeaways: 00:42 – Meet Jeffrey Hardy, Principal Programmer 02:09 – The evolution of 37signals' mana...
Feb 12, 2025•25 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast Does blogging still matter in tech? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , host Kimberly Rhodes chats with 37signals' Principal Programmer Jorge Manrubia about why blogging is very much alive. They dig into the history of the 37signals developers blog, the company's process for contributions, and the added benefits this communication tool provides. Key Takeaways: 00:50 – Meet Jorge 01:03 – The history of the 37signals developers blog 02:25 – The process — who contributes and how topic...
Feb 05, 2025•15 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast There is a way to bring your customers together in a meaningful way. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , host Kimberly Rhodes welcomes 37signals' Support Team members Merissa Dawson and Ashley Bowe to discuss how the Basecamp Community came to life. They describe how they've connected with Basecamp customers and how they've connected customers with each other. They also offer a few tips for anyone looking to start their own community of customers and company enthusiasts. Key T...
Jan 29, 2025•19 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast Customer support is more than just a department — it’s a core feature of any great product. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , Kimberly Rhodes chats with Chase Clemons, Head of Customer Support at 37signals, about the company's view of support as a product feature. They discuss 37signals' approach to helping customers, the value of ongoing training, and how AI can fit into support strategy without sacrificing the personal connection. Key Takeaways: 00:37 – Chase Clemons, Head of S...
Jan 22, 2025•21 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast Wondering when it’s the right time to grow your team? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson chat about their “hire when it hurts” approach as described in their book REWORK . They cover why you shouldn’t rush into bringing someone on board, how to know when there's a critical business need, and how to seize the moment when the right people show up. Key Takeaways: 00:38 – Try tackling projects with the team you already ha...
Jan 15, 2025•20 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast How does 37signals decide when software is ready to ship? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss the company's Seven Shipping Principles . They dive into when a product update is good enough to ship and the importance of making updates to solve actual problems. Key Takeaways: 00:11 – We only ship good work. 03:36 – The problem with MVPs 04:41 – We ship when we're confident. 10:08 – We own the issues after we ship....
Jan 08, 2025•23 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode (originally aired February 1, 2022), 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with Shaun Hildner to discuss the consequences of building a business solely with the intention to sell. They share their perspective on building a business for the long haul versus for an exit. Key Takeaways: 00:46 – Building a company to sell can encourage mediocre output 07:14 – Taking shortcuts is a reflection of one's character 09:41 – Why it's better to ha...
Dec 24, 2024•19 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast Bigger isn't always better. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share the drawbacks of chasing high-profile, enterprise deals. The two founders explain why they prefer their business model that's built around serving smaller clients. Key Takeaways: 00:35 – The biggest clients can quickly become the biggest burden and the biggest risk 07:10 – The hidden costs of “whale-sized” clients 12:35 – Things to consider when defi...
Dec 18, 2024•23 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast As the year winds down, 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson join host Kimberly Rhodes to talk about the company's end-of-year routine. They explain their process for the last few weeks of the year that aren't part of a formal six-week cycle, and they share what they gain from this transitional period of "wandering." Key Takeaways: 00:43 – The informal end of year process 05:24 – Self-directed work, bug fixes, and tying up loose ends 08:22 – Using t...
Dec 11, 2024•19 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast Before introducing a new product feature, it’s essential to first understand the problem you're trying to fix. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share a recent experience designing a new feature in HEY. During the process, the team pivoted and changed direction, resulting in a better design. Key Takeaways: 00:44 – The original product design plan and what changed along the way 02:31 – The difference between specifying the...
Dec 04, 2024•22 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast Remaining profitable in business is a simple equation — sales revenue exceeding operating costs. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast , 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson explain why controlling costs should be a bigger focus than what your competition is doing. They share some simple strategies for analyzing costs and share why operating without a formal office space might be worth considering. Key Takeaways: 00:37 – Why you should stop worrying about what everyone...
Nov 27, 2024•30 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast Every week, we invite listeners to send in their questions for 37signals’ co-founders, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. In this episode, they tackle a fresh set of asks, covering topics from managing multiple product lines, the company’s bonus structure, and their thoughts on incorporating AI into their tools. Key Takeaways: 00:37 – How 37signals' looks at AI and using AI while exiting the cloud 03:47 – How to prioritize work when managing multiple product lines 11:33 – Deciding wh...
Nov 20, 2024•26 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to business, it’s important to consider not only what customers would gain by using your product or service, but also what they're giving up. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, chat about understanding your customer's needs and motivations. They highlight that your competition isn't always who you think it is, and they discuss ways to position your product to address the customer's actual ch...
Nov 13, 2024•29 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast Ever filled out a customer survey? For this conversation, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, share their approach to gathering customer feedback. They discuss the timing and frequency of feedback requests, the power of open-ended questions, and how to transform customer language into effective marketing. Key Takeaways: 00:37 - A single open-ended question can reveal a wealth of valuable insights 05:51 - Listen for the language customers use in their feedback for ...
Nov 06, 2024•18 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share their approach to product design, explaining why the first version of a product (V1) is always built for the company's internal use case. They discuss responding to user feedback and the importance of actively using their own products to uncover issues. They also dive into the challenges they've faced when building software for someone else's needs vs. their own...
Oct 30, 2024•33 min•Ep 129•Transcript available on Metacast 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share insights from their write-up, The 37signals Guide to Internal Communication . They discuss effective communication strategies within the company and with the public, offering practical advice to consider when conveying messages. Key Takeaways: 00:41 - The backstory of how the guide was created 02:39 - The write up serves as both an internal reminder and a practical manual for how communication is handled at 37signals 06:36 - W...
Oct 23, 2024•27 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast In their book REWORK, 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson write about the power of saying no. This week on the podcast, they revisit that idea, diving into the hidden costs of saying yes and the burden of commitments that often come with it. They also discuss how saying no preserves simplicity and helps maintain focus. Key Takeaways: 00:45 – Saying yes often comes with regret 03:00 – Yes feels good until it’s time to fulfill the commitment 07:58 – Adding features to p...
Oct 16, 2024•33 min•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast Twice a year, 37signals brings the entire team together for a company meet-up. In this week’s episode of The REWORK Podcast , co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson reflect on how these meet-ups began and how they've evolved over time. They also discuss how they prepare for the meet-ups and the importance of the venue selection. Key Takeaways: 00:50 - Jason shares the early history of 37signals' meet-ups 02:18 - Why in-person conferences build deeper connections than onli...
Oct 09, 2024•23 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast 37signals’ co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson explore the many benefits of having full control over their business. They talk about the importance of taking measured profits and running an efficient operation, which allows freedom to create without constraints. This approach gives them room for trial and error and plenty of flexibility for expanded opportunities. Key Takeaways: 00:41 - The launch of Writebook confirmed 37signals' achievement of optionality 03:19 - Ideas an...
Oct 02, 2024•20 min•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast It's been reported that up to 75% of the population has a fear of public speaking . This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, recount some of their previous speaking engagements and share a few tips for building the skill. They discuss the styles of successful speakers and their thoughts on being over prepared. Key Takeaways: 00:47 - Jason recalls his first speaking gig 02:30 - David shares his preferred style of delivering a talk 06:48 - Preparing for t...
Sep 25, 2024•21 min•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast 37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss their unique approach of operating without full-time managers. They reflect on the company's experience with full-time managers and share why they've moved to a flatter organization. Key Takeaways: 00:54 - The before and after of 37signals' experience with full-time managers 08:34 - The founders thoughts on being directly involved in the business 10:36 - Why the company's management hierarchy works b...
Sep 18, 2024•26 min•Ep 123•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, examine why it's advantageous to keep things simple — in both products and business. They challenge the idea that complex or bespoke tools are the best way to go and lean into not overcomplicating things. Key Takeaways: 00:34 - The power of keeping things simple 10:55 - Why small businesses don't need to act like big businesses 12:04 - The beauty of embracing what you don’t know when starting something new 1...
Sep 11, 2024•25 min•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast 37signals works in 6-week cycles, which begin with a Kickoff and wrap up with a Heartbeat. In this week’s REWORK podcast, co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson break down the purpose and benefits of the Kickoff and Heartbeat documents and share tips for implementing this process across an organization. Key Takeaways 00:40 - When 37signals started using Kickoffs and Heartbeats 02:13 - Details of the Kickoff write-up process 07:34 - How much input Jason and David have in the Kickoff...
Sep 04, 2024•25 min•Ep 121•Transcript available on Metacast This week on the REWORK podcast, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson answer another round listener questions. Jason and David talk about the ups and downs of their long-running business partnership and friendship, tackle a critical question about Basecamp, and share their thoughts on starting a new company. Plus, they reveal the inspiration behind their Campfire software. Key Takeaways 00:34 – How Jason and David's partnership has stood the test of time 09:21 – A ...
Aug 28, 2024•32 min•Ep 120•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, co-founders of 37signals, return from a summer hiatus to answer a new set of listener questions. They dive into topics like the role of A.I. in writing and their updated thoughts on staying Facebook-free. REWORK host, Kimberly Rhodes also gets in a question of her own. Key Takeaways 00:38 - Emphasizing the importance of using your own voice in writing rather than relying on AI 05:50 - Discussing how targeted advertising can be beneficial...
Aug 21, 2024•24 min•Ep 119•Transcript available on Metacast In their book REWORK, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson write about the benefits of building products and services that you use yourself. "The easiest, most straightforward way to create a great product or service is to make something you want to use." In this episode, originally aired November 2, 2021, Jason and David sit down with Shaun Hildner to discuss creating products that scratch your own itch. Key Takeaways 00:43 – The origins of Basecamp and how it fulfilled an interna...
Jul 17, 2024•30 min•Ep 118•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Rework podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with Eron Nicholson from 37signals' operations team. He shares insight on his role and the department's various functions. The conversation covers details on the ops team structure, system reliability, global expansion projects and more. Key Takeaways 00:38 - Meet Eron 02:17 - The structure of the “ops” team 05:15 - On-call coverage and schedule 08:40 - Managing data center outages 13:25 - Balancing project cycles with s...
Jul 10, 2024•20 min•Ep 117•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Andrea LaRowe, Head of People Operations at 37signals, joins host Kimberly Rhodes to answer questions about the company's HR practices. They discuss the company's management structure and performance evaluations and what the company looks for when hiring. Andrea also shares what's involved in the All Hands meeting and tips for planning a company meet-up. Key Takeaways: 00:42 - Meet Andrea 02:19 - 37signals' managerial structure and one-on-one process 06:15 - ...
Jul 03, 2024•24 min•Ep 116•Transcript available on Metacast In this podcast episode, Kimberly Rhodes talks with Jason Fried, CEO and co-founder of 37signals, about the process of naming products. He discusses practical considerations like domain availability, trademarks, and logo design. Key Takeaways: 00:28 - The process of naming a product 03:05 - Researching domain names and trademarks 07:14 - The style of a product name 10:04 - The journey from the working title to the official title 13:11 - Designing and updating branding logos 20:48 - Gathering inp...
Jun 26, 2024•24 min•Ep 115•Transcript available on Metacast 
