In this interview, Claire Lew talks about leadership, how to keep your team motivated and the things leaders should avoid. We also talk about the importance of building relationships with your customers and the real reasons why people buy from you. 

Dorm Room Tycoon (DRT)

How to Be an Effective Leader with Claire Lew, Know Your Company

In this interview, Bill Irvine explains what it means to be a stoic. We discuss how to evaluate and pursue worthy goals and how to keep perspective during challenging times. We examine the necessity of failure in the pursuit of greatness and uncover the value of setbacks. 

Stoicism for Startup Founders with Bill Irvine, Wright State University

In this interview, James Freeman reveals what it was like starting Blue Bottle Coffee. He explains the importance of pursuing simplicity and creating an overarching experience. We also talk about building a business that stands for something and what he does to find inspiration. 

How to Create a Company with Soul with James Freeman, Blue Bottle Coffee

In this interview, Keith Rabois explains the importance of hard work and turning your startup into a smooth machine. We discuss management styles, the downfall of remote working and how to go about hiring talented people. 

Why Building a Startup is Hard with Keith Rabois, Khosla Ventures

In this interview, Geoff Donaker explains the details involved in taking a company public, from hiring a CFO through to collaborating with an accounting firm. We examine the job of the COO, the role of experimentation in the shaping of business models and the principles of scaling. We finish with a discussion of his investing strategy. 

How to Take a Company Public with Geoff Donaker, Yelp

In this interview, Michael Sippey explains each stage of his product management process; research, idea validation and product iteration. We discuss the evolution of Medium and how to go about defining one’s vision and strategy. 

The Art of Product Management with Michael Sippey, Medium

In this interview, Cal Newport argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the knowledge economy and that individuals who cultivate their ability to concentrate without distraction will thrive. He provides practical examples to escape the being caught in the frantic blur of e-mail and social media. 

How To Stay Focused with Cal Newport, Author

In this interview, Wade Foster reveals how Zapier started and the way they got their first users. We talk about the best practices of getting customer feedback and where to find your best ideas. We also look at content strategy, the benefit of having a co-founder and managing remote teams. 

How to Get Your First Users with Wade Foster, Zapier

In this interview, Joel Gasgoine explains how to enter a competitive market and the importance of focus. We talk about experimenting with pricing, how pricing impacts churn and the best practices for launching multiple products. We also review his favourite ways to validate business ideas. 

Launching a Profitable Business with Joel Gascoigne, Buffer

In this interview, Des Traynor reveals Intercom’s product strategy and the central role vision formation plays within his company. We discuss prioritisation and the value of saying no to new features. We conclude with a review of the jobs to be done framework and some disruptive technologies that could affect Intercom’s future. 

How to Make Product Decisions with Des Traynor, Intercom

In this interview, Jeff Atwood reveals what led to the success of Stack Overflow and how he managed to beat the incumbents. We discuss the importance of building software iteratively and how to gather the right feedback. We also talk about the vision for his new company Discourse. 

How to Build Communities with Jeff Atwood, Discourse

In this interview, Chris Savage explains how to achieve product-market fit, and the importance of rejecting short term opportunity to build long-term value. We also discuss his principle of profitability over growth and the future of video. 

Building a Company on Your Terms with Chris Savage, Wistia

In this interview, Brian Singerman explains why he doesn't have an investment thesis and why he’s agnostic to both sector and stage. We also discuss business strategy and the importance of finding a unique competitive advantage. 

Why Founders Need a Strategy with Brian Singerman, Founders Fund

In this interview, Charles Hudson explains how seed investing has changed over the years. We talk about his process for raising money, the details of his new fund and the things founders should be cautious of when working with investors. 

How to Raise Money from Investors with Charles Hudson, Precursor Ventures

In this interview, Andy Rachleff explains why big business opportunities are based off inflexion points and why founders shouldn’t pursue the obvious problem-solving ideas. We also discuss how CEOs can best balance personal decision making with the seeking of counsel in order to thrive in times of uncertainty. 

How to Find Product Market Fit with Andy Rachleff, Wealthfront

The podcast show that teaches you how to build a successful startup. Listen to fascinating interviews with industry leaders and learn how they did it. Hosted by William Channer.