Best Ycombinator Podcasts (2024)

1
Mastering Internal Partnerships: The Hidden Skill of Great Product Managers 40:11

1d ago40:11

40:11

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 thei…

1
The Findaway Journey: From Startup to Spotify Acquisition 57:41

8d ago57:41

57:41

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 v…

1
Superhuman's AI Revolution: How Superhuman Transformed Email with Artificial Intelligence 43:01

15d ago43:01

43:01

In this captivating episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito sits down with Rahul Vohra, founder and CEO of Superhuman, to explore the company's groundbreaking journey into AI-powered email. Vohra shares insights on how Superhuman recognized the potential of AI early on and made the bold decision to pivot their entire product strategy. He detail…

1
Never Search Alone: Mastering your Product Job Hunt in 2024 42:00

22d ago42:00

42:00

In this episode of Rocketship.fm, host Mike Belsito dives deep into the challenging world of tech job hunting with Phyl Terry, author of "Never Search Alone: The Job Seeker's Playbook." With nearly half of US tech workers looking for new roles in 2024, this timely discussion offers invaluable insights for navigating the current job market. Phyl sha…

1
Mastering Stakeholder Management as a Product Manager / Product Leader 46:23

29d ago46:23

46:23

In this insightful episode of Rocketship.fm, host Mike Belsito sits down with Bruce McCarthy and Melissa Appel, co-authors of "Aligned: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders." The conversation delves into the often challenging world of stakeholder management, offering practical advice for product managers and leaders looking to navigate comple…

1
From Meta to Founder: Navigating Product Management Across Tech Landscapes 42:19

1M ago42:19

42:19

In this episode, host Mike Belsito sits down with Elliott Poppel, a product leader who's experienced both sides of the tech world - from managing products at Meta (formerly Facebook) to founding his own startup, General Collaboration. Elliott shares his journey, highlighting the stark contrasts in resources, decision-making processes, and product d…

1
Pay Once, Own Forever: How Jason Fried and 37 Signals is Challenging SaaS with the 'Once' Model 50:44

1M ago50:44

50:44

In this eye-opening episode, Mike Belsito sits down with Jason Fried, CEO of 37 Signals, to discuss their revolutionary "Once" family of products. Fried explains how 37 Signals is challenging the dominant SaaS model by reviving the concept of paying once to own software forever. The conversation includes the (re-)launch of Campfire, a group chat to…

1
The Great CrowdStrike Crash of 2024: Lessons from a Digital Disaster 31:05

2M ago31:05

31:05

In this episode of Rocketship.FM, we dive deep into one of the most monumental tech failures in recent history - the CrowdStrike glitch that brought the world to a standstill. From grounded flights to disrupted emergency services, we explore how a single software update caused chaos on a global scale, affecting millions of people and businesses wor…

1
The Art of Influencing Without Authority (And Wisdom from Ancient Eastern Sages) 44:52

2M ago44:52

44:52

In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito talks through the crucial skill of leading without authority with guest Jocelyn Davis, author of The Art of Quiet Influence. Drawing from ancient Eastern wisdom and modern leadership research, Davis offers invaluable insights for product managers and leaders who must guide teams and influence stak…

1
Move Fast and Build AI -- The AI Story of Amplitude As Told By Its CPO 43:09

2M ago43:09

43:09

In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito explores the rapid evolution of AI in product development through an engaging conversation with Francois, the Chief Product Officer of Amplitude. Francois shares insights into Amplitude's journey of integrating AI features into their analytics suite, including the challenges and unexpected learnin…

1
Proactively Advancing Your Product Management Career 45:40

2M ago45:40

45:40

In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito dives into essential career advice for product managers, featuring insights from Jackie Bavaro, co-author of "Cracking the PM Interview" and "Cracking the PM Career." The episode explores strategies for advancing in your product management career, including the importance of finding a balance betw…

1
The 2024 Summer Edition of Shopify - A Brand New Product Launch 39:33

3M ago39:33

39:33

In this episode of Rocketship.FM, host Mike Belsito takes listeners behind the scenes of Shopify's latest product launch. Featuring an exclusive interview with Glen Coates, Shopify's VP of Product, the episode explores the company's innovative approach to introducing new features and products through their biannual "Editions" events. Coates shares …

1
Getting Started with Jobs-to-be-Done: Understanding the Lingo, Interviewing Customers, and more 40:24

3M ago40:24

40:24

In this episode, Mike Belsito sits down with Bob Moesta, one of the early pioneers of the Jobs to Be Done framework, to dive deep into what Jobs to Be Done is all about. Bob shares his wealth of knowledge on how to truly understand your customers by looking at the world through their eyes and examining the progress they are trying to make in their …

1
Timeless Advice for Product Managers Working in Tech 36:08

3M ago36:08

36:08

In this episode, longtime former Google product leader and current Executive Coach to Product Leaders, Ken Norton, shares his wisdom and insights, offering guidance that is essential for anyone working in tech product management. From navigating the early stages of your journey to making strategic decisions that will shape your professional path, K…

1
The Origin Story of DoWhatWorks and its SaaS Experimentation Engine 41:12

3M ago41:12

41:12

In this episode, we hear the origin story of DoWhatWorks from it's Co-Founder and CEO, Andres Glusman. The conversation unravels the journey from initial struggles to pivotal moments of success, illustrating how the founders' commitment to experimentation and customer feedback led to a groundbreaking product. Discover how DoWhatWorks transitioned f…

1
The Inside Story: TurboTax PersonalPro's Initial Failure 25:07

5M ago25:07

25:07

In November 2014, Brian Crofts prepared for a crucial meeting with two top-level executives at Intuit. One was CeCe Morken, his boss, overseeing Intuit’s Professional Tax (ProTax) business—a $422 million enterprise selling tax preparation software to accountants. The other was Sasan Goodarzi, in charge of Intuit’s $1.8 billion TurboTax division, pr…

1
Building Pendo: The Early Struggles & Eventual Strategy for Success 45:15

5M ago45:15

45:15

You will be treated to the fascinating beginnings of Pendo, a product experience platform company now valued at over two and a half billion dollars. We'll highlight Pendo's growth from an initial sponsor to a prominent supporter of product conferences. Todd Olson, Pendo's CEO, joins to recount his journey prior to Pendo at Rally Software and the su…

1
Product Market Fit: A Deep Dive 33:47

5M ago33:47

33:47

In this episode of Rocketship.fm, hosts Michael Sacca and Mike Belsito take listeners through an in-depth examination of the pivotal business concept known as product market fit. They begin by acknowledging that, despite frequently using the term, they haven't fully dissected its meaning in previous episodes. They outline the importance of product …

1
TikTok on the Chopping Block: The TikTok Controversy in the United States 30:36

5M ago30:36

30:36

Are you keeping up with the TikTok saga? The tides are shifting yet again, and this time the app faces a significant crossroad in the United States. Join us on the latest episode of Rocketship.fm as we delve into the complexities surrounding TikTok's potential ban and what it could mean for the tech industry and beyond. This podcast is brought to y…

1
The Sprig Journey to Product Market Fit plus Tech Industry Insights 30:41

6M ago30:41

30:41

In this episode, Michael Sacca and Michael Belsito drop some major news before diving into the latest developments in the AI space. They discuss the tempered expectations surrounding generative AI and its impact on tech giants and consumers alike. Amidst the AI hype, companies are cautious about investing in new AI services due to high costs and qu…

1
Looking back on our 2023 Predictions 32:55

6M ago32:55

32:55

In this episode, join us as we revisit the predictions made last year and assess their impact on the tech landscape. The forecast of an impending recession, particularly hitting the tech sector first, has proven true, with notable companies facing multiple rounds of layoffs. The unsettling trend of stocks rising amidst job cuts continues to raise e…

1
From Concept to Market: The PMF Journey of Dagster 31:17

7M ago31:17

31:17

On todays episdoe we discuss Dagster, a data orchestration platform developed by Dagster Labs, founded by Nick Schrock in 2018. Schrock, known for co-founding GraphQL, envisioned Dagster as a solution to the challenges of managing complex data pipelines reliably and at scale. The discussion centers on exploring Dagster's history, particularly focus…

1
Beyond Sight: Unpacking the Apple Vision Pro 32:36

7M ago32:36

32:36

Mike Belsito and Michael Sacca reflect on the common occurrence in the consumer tech industry where new competitor products emerge to overshadow original popular products, citing examples like the iPhone overtaking the Blackberry and Facebook surpassing MySpace. They discuss the rarity of a new competitor product being priced significantly higher t…

1
Streamlining Workflows: The Asana Automation Journey 30:49

7M ago30:49

30:49

Today, hosts Michael Sacca and Mike Belsito dive into the intricacies of a product that has sparked both admiration and frustration among its users: Asana. As they unpack Asana's evolution, they explore its inception by co-founders Justin Rosenstein and Dustin Moskovitz, with Dustin's departure from Facebook marking the genesis of a vision for mode…

1
Biden's Robo Call + The best of CES 29:48

8M ago29:48

29:48

Tune in to the latest episode of Rocketship.FM as hosts Mike Belsito and Michael Sacca dive into the exciting world of tech products and innovations. In this episode, they explore recent developments from the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and discuss the latest trends shaping the tech landscape. From deepfake robocalls impersonating politica…

1
The Story Behind Andrew Wilkinson's Flow App 46:20

8M ago46:20

46:20

The podcast episode discusses Andrew Wilkinson's entrepreneurial journey, particularly focusing on his founding of the company Flow, a task tracking and productivity app for teams and small businesses. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by Flow as a bootstrapped business in a competitive market dominated by venture-backed giants like…

1
📰 Invision, Pitch & CPTO's + 👩🏼‍💻 Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Product Operations with Melissa Perri and Denise Tilles 45:31

8M ago45:31

45:31

In the first episode of 2024, hosts Mike Belsito and Michael Sacca kick off the new year with a fresh format. Introducing a segment on Product News and featuring insightful interviews, they dive into the evolving realm of Product Operations. With a special focus on the recently published book "Product Operations: How Successful Companies Build Prod…

1
Stop that A/B Test (and do this instead) 22:09

9M ago22:09

22:09

Today we talk with Ben Foster the Chief Product Officer at GoCanvas and former product manager at Ebay. Ben is a wealth of Product knowledge and experience and today we discuss the topic of A/B testing and how he's evolved his focus to be vision driven so that he doesn't miss the big opportunities to solve customer problems. This was a hard learned…

1
Playing Cards to Super Mario: The Evolution of Nintendo 20:00

9M ago20:00

20:00

The history of Nintendo traces back to 1889, when it was founded to produce handmade hanafuda. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (任天堂株式会社, Nintendō kabushikigaisha) is a Japanese multinational consumer electronics company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It eventually became one of the most prominent figures in today's video game industry, being the world's largest…

1
Gimlet Unplugged: A Deep Dive into the World's Premier Podcast Powerhouse 31:17

9M ago31:17

31:17

From his first awkward pitch to investor Chris Sacca, to their acquisition by Spotify, Alex Blumburg has built one of the most influential companies working in Podcasts today. The company was founded in 2014 by Alex Blumberg and Matthew Lieber, who serve as the company's CEO and president respectively. In February 2019, Spotify announced it had ent…

1
From Playdates to Pixels: Debunking the Phone for Kids Debate 35:26

9M ago35:26

35:26

Mike's in a bit of a predicament. His 10-year-old son is asking for a phone. But like many parents, Mike isn't sure when the right time is to get his kid his first phone. On this episode, we weigh the positives and negatives of getting a phone, and look at how parents can be proactive in handling their children's phone use. This podcast is brought …

1
Ink vs. Algorithm: The Writer Strike Dilemma 26:04

11M ago26:04

26:04

Join us as we explore the intricate relationship between human authors and AI content generation. We'll navigate the complexities of this debate at the heart of the writer's strike. Is AI an innovation to embrace or a challenge to confront? What does it mean for the future of literature, journalism, and storytelling? This podcast is brought to you …

1
e/acc: Can a meme pave the way to a utopian society? 18:48

11M ago18:48

18:48

Effective Accelerationism, abbreviated as e/acc, represents a collection of ideas and practices geared towards maximizing the likelihood of reaching the technocapital singularity. This movement aims to create an environment where emergent consciousness can thrive. Influential figures in the tech industry, such as Marc Andreessen, have shown their s…

1
Bloomfilter: Raising capital in a downturn 32:57

11M ago32:57

32:57

Bloomfilter is a process intelligence platform for software development. Their whole mission is built on the belief that businesses rely on software development to solve problems and deliver a better user experience. However, software development projects are notorious for missing deadlines and budget estimates. There’s some research that even show…

1
How tech products are funding North Korea's nuclear missile programs 17:18

12M ago17:18

17:18

We delve into the shadowy world of cybercrime and international geopolitics as we unravel the Lazarus Project, a covert operation that has sent shockwaves through the tech industry. Join us in linking a series of high-profile hacks to North Korea's clandestine nuclear weapons program. Unveiling the unsettling symbiosis between the world of technolo…

1
Zoom Zombies No More: Surviving the Commuteocalypse 32:58

12M ago32:58

32:58

In this episode, we explore the highly anticipated return to the office and the ongoing debate about productivity. Is the office the ultimate productivity booster, or have remote work's newfound freedoms improved our efficiency? Join us as we dissect the pros and cons of each work environment and hear from individuals who've made the choice. Whethe…

1
Why Most Product Launches Fail 31:42

1y ago31:42

31:42

Numerous factors can cause new products to fail. The biggest problem we’ve encountered is a lack of preparation: Companies are so focused on designing and manufacturing new products that they postpone the hard work of getting ready to market them until too late in the game. Today we'll discuss 3 of the key reasons products fail along with case stud…

1
Will Robots Take Over The World? 26:20

1y ago26:20

26:20

We delve into the world of humanoid robots, highlighting their journey from past disappointments to their current state of development. We'll discuss recent advancements in their mobility and capabilities, including their use in Disney's live shows. We also raise questions about the societal impact of these robots and tease an upcoming segment and …

1
Protocol Harmony: The Evolution of Instant Messaging from AIM to XMPP and Beyond 23:44

1y ago23:44

23:44

Dive into the fascinating world of instant messaging as we explore its evolution from the iconic AIM to the revolutionary XMPP protocol. Uncover the challenges faced by AOL in enforcing open standards and the rise of decentralized networks. Join us on this captivating journey through the history of instant messaging, where innovation, legal battles…

1
The Complicated Rise of Sports Betting Apps 28:16

1y ago28:16

28:16

Sports betting apps have proliferated in the last year or two ever since it started to become legal across the United States. Today, we'll look into how these sports betting apps have come to such dominance, what the rise in sports betting means to sports leagues themselves, and the ethics behind making gambling so accessible. This podcast is broug…

1
The Blurred Lines between Jay-Z and your favorite LLM 23:06

1y ago23:06

23:06

Open AI is buying up the rights to AP’s full catalog. But this move has been over 100 years in the making. Today we explore the history of the music industry's attempts to regulate and legislate an artist's right to be paid for their work as an attempt to understand what may happen in the near future with your favorite LLM’s. This podcast is brough…

1
Love The Problem 28:40

1y ago28:40

28:40

In this week's episode we change things up and take a look back at a conversation with Ash Maurya. What does it truly mean to 'love the problem, not the solution' and are we all prone to innovator's bias? As we dig deep through early product and podcast stories - the answers may surprise you. This podcast is brought to you by: Miro: Go to Miro.com/…

1
XXX - Musk's Magnum Opus 22:09

1y ago22:09

22:09

In light of Twitter's recent rebrand to X, we dive into the history of Elon Musk's fascination with X branding. We trace X through Musk's history at PayPal, with his goal to create a "financial superstore," all the way to his current ambitions. This podcast is brought to you by: Miro: Go to Miro.com/podcast and get your first three Miro boards free…

1
Is Threads the Twitter Killer? Or Is Threads Dying? 32:04

1y ago32:04

32:04

Meta is trying to offer a competitor to Twitter called Threads and it's grown at record-setting pace. But how is Threads as a product? Can it really unseat Twitter or is it just another clone with no staying power? In this episode, we'll break down the ins and outs of the new app and predict the future of the social networking platform. This podcas…

1
Building the future of fintech + Behinds the scenes at Figma with Adam Nash 30:44

1y ago30:44

30:44

In this episode of Rocketship.fm, we delve into the extraordinary career of Adam Nash, the CEO and co-founder of Daffy, a groundbreaking fintech platform focused on charitable giving. As a renowned serial angel investor, advisor, and board member in over 100 companies, including Acorns, Gusto, Figma, and Opendoor, Adam has been at the forefront of …

1
Musk vs Zuckerberg 26:00

1y ago26:00

26:00

By now, you may have heard that Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are planning to hit the ring for a fight for the ages. Today, we'll break down the history of the two, why they're fighting, where the fight may take place, and who wins in a fight like this. This podcast is brought to you by: Shopify: Start selling on Shopify today. Go to Shopify.com/Ro…

1
Does AI Have a PR Problem? with Otto Pohl 22:41

1y ago22:41

22:41

Join us on this thought-provoking podcast episode as we delve into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI) and explore the burning question: Does AI have a PR problem? In today's fast-paced technological landscape, AI finds itself at the center of a colossal public relations conundrum. The allure and apprehension surrounding this tran…

1
Apple's "One More Thing" 29:01

1y ago29:01

29:01

Steve Jobs made Apple famous for having "one more thing," a big surprise at the end of product announcements, like the iPod Touch and FaceTime. And now, Apple is back with yet another buried lede: Apple Vision Pro. Today, we'll look at Apple Vision Pro and learn what it’s all about and whether it changes the game for the metaverse. Plus, we'll take…

1
The People vs OpenAI 22:33

1y ago22:33

22:33

OpenAI is on their way to court, and while to some it may have seemed a matter of time until AI opened up new legal questions, the topics of the lawsuits OpenAI is involved in are pretty surprising. Today, we'll walk through three cases involving OpenAI, including a defamation suit, a suit regarding the redistribution of code, and the story of a la…

1
The humble beginnings of YCombinator 38:03

1+ y ago38:03

38:03

Since its founding in 2005, YCombinator has helped startups like Airbnb, Coinbase, DoorDash, and many others find success. Today, we'll trace the accelerator's history from its humble beginnings in Cambridge, Massachusetts all the way to where they are currently under new leader Garry Tan. This podcast is brought to you by: Shopify: Start selling o…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Ycombinator Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide