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Catalyst

Catalyst

538 episodes — Page 7 of 11

Ep 238Wins Along the Way: The 6 Mistakes You’re Making With Your Product — Part 1

Keeping your timeline super flexible may sound like a good idea when developing software, after all software is always changing, but Chris LoSacco is here to tell you why that’s a mistake. This week we dig into the 6 common mistakes people make in product development. In Part 1 we go over the first two mistakes, being vague with your timelines and waiting too long to ship. Chris gives some solutions to these common problems and walks you through some tips for structuring a better product release. Links: Chris LoSacco - Twitter Postlight - MTASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 14, 202025 min

Ep 237Tools of Persuasion: On Perfecting the Slide Deck

When presenting to a client, you may feel inclined to load your pitch deck with information, but overwhelming your audience with information may actually be working against you. This week Rich & Gina give some tips on putting together an effective and persuasive deck. We talk about the importance of simplicity and storytelling and discuss our different methods of rehearsing the pitch. Links: Lifehacker Google Slides - Presentation with Speaker NotesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 9, 202026 min

Ep 236QORE: On Postlight’s Secret Recipe For Project Management

We hate to introduce yet another acronym, but this one is worth paying attention to. This week we introduce QORE, Postlight’s method of evaluating the main components of any projects. We breakdown the 4 letters of the acronym, quality, opportunity, risk and efficiency and show you how keeping track of these can help you produce something you and your clients will be proud of. Use QORE and prosper friends! Links: Postlight LabsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 7, 202024 min

Ep 234Finding the Right Fit: On Hiring Managers and Building Trust

When your company is growing quickly there comes a time when you need to give up some control and hire new leaders and managers. This week we discuss introducing new managers to your company and finding the right fit for your team. We also reluctantly acknowledge that off-site meetings in the woods can actually be beneficial. Links: BlinkistSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 2, 202027 min

Ep 234Digital Capitalism: Tech That Gets Rid of Tech

Big tech continues to dominate the markets. How can their competitors stay alive while keeping up with the speed of innovation? Paul & Rich discuss the double-edged sword of how to find efficiencies. How can we shift away from machine learning that often misses the mark? Start empowering & trusting your people and give them what they need to build tools to find those insights for you. Links Airtable Postlight Case Studies Goldman Sans FontSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 30, 202025 min

Ep 233Moving Things Along: On Why Workflow is so Hard

Workflow is a seemingly simple process, you assign tasks and move a project down a pipeline. So why then is workflow still so difficult to manage? This week Paul & Rich talk about different workflow tools and how none of them seem quite right for the challenges we are facing today. We discuss the tools that are out there today and the need for better alternatives. Links: Postlight - Black Lives Matter Airtable Trello Todoist PipefySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 25, 202021 min

Ep 232Communications Decency: On Facebook & Twitter...Again

Do social media companies have a responsibility to monitor what people say on their platforms? This week Paul and Rich discuss why Facebook & Twitter should be changing their policies in response to unrest and poor leadership. We discuss the laws that let these companies off the hook and Rich gives us an interesting lesson in free-speech law. Links: Our Routers, Ourselves - Paul Ford for The New YorkerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 23, 202028 min

Ep 231Textmoji: A New Project From Postlight Labs

Ever wish you could create a custom Slack emoji to send to your co-workers? Well look no further than Textmoji, a new web app from Postlight Labs. It’s simple and easy to use and allows you to make text emoji for Slack and Discord for any occasion. Textmoji creator and software engineer Preston Richey joins us to talk about how and why he wanted to create this app and teaches Paul and Rich about a new developer framework. Links: Postlight Labs Textmoji.app Svelte framework Pixi Dash for SlackSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 18, 202026 min

Ep 230A New Improved Postlight: On Rebranding at Postlight and Beyond

How do you know when it’s time to rebrand? Last week we launched a new brand and want to tell you all about it. But we also want to share some broader lessons about when and why rebranding is necessary. We share what we’ve learned over the years about growing a company and evolving a brand to better suit what the company can do, not what it’s already done. We hope you like our new look! Links: Postlight Postlight Case Study: Goldman Sachs Postlight Case Study: MTASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 16, 202027 min

Ep 229Automating Human Behavior: The Social Contract of Bad Apps

Artificial intelligence is all about automating human behavior — and that includes bad behavior. How can technologists write software that helps rather than harms? Paul and Rich discuss the rise of apps that encode shady approaches like loan sharking into automated tools, and whether social pressures may eventually right those wrongs — or if that change will come too late. Links: Rest of World "This lending app publicly shames you when you’re late on loan payments - Morris Kiruga" Lenny Telemarketing See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 11, 202022 min

Ep 228Delivery of the Skies: With Star Simpson, CEO of ThereCraft

When was the first time you became aware of the air? As the CEO of a drone transportation company, Star Simpson thinks about flight everyday. She joins the podcast to talk about her startup, ThereCraft, which uses drones to deliver lifesaving supplies to first responders and improves last-mile delivery to remote locations. She reveals a few secrets about engineering her flying vehicles of the future, and discusses what’s to come for drone technology. Links: Star Simpson ThereCraft.com Otherlab Circuit Classics ThereCraft - Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 9, 202033 min

Ep 227Visual Math: Paul and Gina on Account From Postlight Labs

Postlight loves playing with code — and sometimes that play helps people be more productive. Paul and Gina introduce Account, a new open-source Labs project from Postlight that renders interactive math equations as text stories. Paul discusses the importance of creating data representations that people can explore, and thanks to Account, Gina is converted from an old-school coder to a React fan. Links: Account Tinysheet Soulver Tangle.io Idyll RFP Builder Whimsical Reveal Lifehacker Postlight Labs See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 4, 202036 min

Ep 226Risks vs. Rules: Why it's Important to Differentiate

It seems natural to implement rules to reduce risk. But when dealing with fluid processes like software development, can rigidity and fear of unknown variables actually hold you back? Paul and Rich discuss what’s at stake when leaders confuse rules with risk mitigation. We draw parallels between a good pilot, a good lawyer, and good software development — and as a bonus, Paul tells you how you can earn a promotion using only four words. Links: Sarbanes-OxleySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 2, 202025 min

Ep 225Reactive Sales: Building New Client Relationships in the Time of COVID

When you can’t invite a prospective client into the office, how do you hold their attention and show them you’re actively listening? Charisma and eye contact don’t make the same impact over Zoom. Paul and Rich explain an adaptive sales approach that uses digital tools and tactics to demonstrate value. Behold our new Reactive Sales technique. Links: Sitecore Adobe Experience Manager Pendo The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation Reveal.js Whimsical Miro MuralSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 28, 202032 min

Ep 224How Design Makes the World: With Author and Designer Scott Berkun

Good design often goes unnoticed, but not for Scott Berkun. In his new book, How Design Makes the World, Scott delves into how both good and bad design affect our daily lives. On this episode, Scott lays out the big questions you must ask about your users: Who do you design for, and why? And how do you avoid unintended harm when designing products? Links: Scott Berkun How Design Makes The World Scott Berkun TwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 26, 202035 min

Ep 222Stability vs. Scalability: Why Structural Change is So Hard

The modern global economy has been built on relatively stable markets, so what happens now that stability is no longer a constant? Paul and Rich ask the big questions about our economic systems: Why is it so difficult to coordinate at scale? What is the best way to optimize a supply chain? And how can we meet everyone’s needs? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 21, 202022 min

Ep 222Building Prince of Persia: With Video Game Great Jordan Mechner

Creating a sensation: Jordan Mechner built his first video game in high school, sourcing info from books (there was no internet); a few years later, he concocted the hit game Prince of Persia in his dorm room. On the podcast, Jordan shares an inside look into his new book and chronicles the time he spent building a genre-defining game: his creative process, inspiration for his work, and insights about building games then vs. now. Links: Atari 400 Timex Sinclair Doom Karateka Jordan Mechner Stripe Press The Making of the Prince of Persia - Jordan Mechner Apple II Breakout Asteroids Broderbund Software Apple Galaxian Choplifter Danny Gorlin Minecraft Templar Comic BookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 19, 202031 min

Ep 221Big Red Button: Dealing With Unreasonable Asks

Shared Crisis: When a stressed client comes to you with an urgent request, it's hard not to panic. The tight deadlines may seem daunting but there are ways to mitigate the crisis. Paul and Rich share their insights on how to lessen stress, limit expectations, and simplify processes to get a product shipped quickly. Some pro tips: take a breath, create a sense of shared responsibility, reduce risk, and don’t forget to sleep! Links: McKinsey Airtable Squarespace Wix Booz Allen Zoho Writer SAP See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 14, 202028 min

Ep 220Inside Facebook: With Writer and Journalist Steven Levy

Apologize later: Renowned tech journalist and writer Steven Levy chats about his new book, Facebook: The Inside Story, which peers behind the scenes at the biggest social media monolith of our day. Levy breaks down how he convinced Facebook to give him inside access, what was happening there during the 2016 election, and why Mark Zuckerberg loves Caesar Augustus so much. Caution, books spoilers ahead! Links: Steven Levy Hackers - Steven Levy The Perfect Thing - Steven Levy Backchannel - WIRED Sandra Upson - WIRED The Devastating Decline of a Brilliant Young Coder - WIRED Facebook: The Inside Story - Steven Levy Carlyle Group In The Plex: How Google Thinks, Works and Shapes Our Lives - Steven Levy The Social Network - IMDB Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell Insanely Great: The Life and Times of Macintosh, the Computer that Changes Everything - Steven Levy See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 12, 202035 min

Ep 219Is it Time to Build? Part 2: How to Get What We Need in a Marketplace Society

Paul and Rich have a follow up discussion about Marc Andreessen’s newest article and ask the important question: How can we connect and empower people to create crucial tools for society when the industry has become so transactional? Are we able to create necessary social momentum when there’s no money involved? Paul puts out a plea for Postlight to create a software development kit for education at a platform level. It remains to be seen if VCs are ready to shift their focus to do the same. (Perhaps that’s an idea for Marc Andreessen to think about!) Links ‘It’s Time To Build’ by Marc Andreessen Marc Andreessen Andreessen Horowitz React Bell Labs Xerox Parc Khan Academy The Last Dance Class Dojo Google Classroom See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 7, 202021 min

Ep 218Is it Time to Build?: On Marc Andreessen’s Viral Article

There’s a reason to expect criticism: Paul and Rich dig into the newest article from VC Marc Andreessen. In it, Andreessen exhorts Americans to innovate and blames our lack of preparation for the pandemic on a lack of desire to do so. We reflect on the current state of America and how apparent the holes in our social governance have become since COVID-19 (especially the education system). Is there a world where VC and startups can help us improve these old systems? Has social policy towards more privatization led us towards the wrong things being optimized? We look to other innovations that have come from crises and ask: How can you install that startup-style motivation outside of commercial profit? (Spoiler: Marc Andreessen doesn’t have the answer!) Links: “It’s Time to Build” by Marc Andreessen Andreesen Horowitz Marc Andreesen José Andrés José Andrés Wants To Feed The World Through The Pandemic See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 5, 202026 min

Ep 217Knock-On Effects: With Parse.ly’s Andrew Montalenti and Sachin Kamdar

Brand Safety: Parse.ly founders Andrew Montalenti and Sachin Kamdar chat about their analytics platform and share the content trends they are following during the global pandemic. They discuss how publishers and media outlets are being impacted by COVID-19, and the myriad ways that advertising and brand safety are changing. They also share how to give clarity to clients in a time of uncertainty: with the insights of analytics. Links: Andrew Montalenti Sachin Kumdar - Twitter Parse.ly Facebook Netflix NPR Gannett Lee Enterprises Berkshire Hathaway Parse.ly Content Conversions Vox The Atlantic The New York Times Toyota Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 30, 202025 min

Ep 216Structuring Communications: How to Keep Your Team Aligned and Accountable

Scripted Interactions: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul, Rich, and Gina chat about ways to keep your team focused and on track when working remotely. How do you create urgency to make sure things get done? How can you keep people focused during remote calls? They discuss the need for clear communication and accountability, and share some tools to help structure meetings and interactions in a digital-first work world. Links: Gina Trapani Cheer on Netflix Tiger King on Netflix Campfire Navigator Second LifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 28, 202031 min

Ep 215Resilience and Probability: Tim Meaney on Dealing with Change Post-COVID

This isn’t remote, this is pandemic: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with friend and client Tim Meaney about when things could return to normal and if they should return to normal. We reflect on some of the positive changes that have come from this pandemic, like more time with family and getting rid of inefficiencies. We also talk about the importance of resilience and of course, the hit documentary series Tiger King. Links: Coronavirus chic: Top sales up, bottom down at Walmart - Global News Tim Meaney - SageSure The Evolution of Software - Track Changes Podcast Zoom Facetime Kind Bar Andrew Cuomo - Wikipedia Tiger King - Netflix Smart Home: 10 Tips for Working Remotely - Track Changes Podcast Google cancels its infamous April Fools’ jokes this year - The Verge See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 23, 202028 min

Ep 214Contact Tracing: The New Apple-Google Collaboration

Excelsior: In this episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich discuss the new Apple-Google contact tracing app aimed at tracking the spread of COVID. We explain what contact tracing is and how the app works. We chat about the potential difficulties of onboarding these types of apps and whether the app will be able to help the most vulnerable. We also discuss how we can best combine technology with good old fashioned testing. Links: Dyson Andrew Cuomo Video, B-Roll, Audio, & Rush Transcript - Governor Cuomo Returns Ventilators Apple Google What is contact tracing? - The Verge Papa Johns Steve Jobs Eric Schmidt Zoom Amazon Facebook Google Home Amazon Alexa Nest Wemo Motorola CNN Clay Shirky - Twitter CVS Walgreens Trump tweets prompt speculation he could fire Fausi - The Guardian WhatsAppSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 21, 202028 min

Ep 213Paul and Rich on Shifting Priorities in a Pandemic

Priorities as a leader: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to discuss how the pandemic is impacting business and mental health. Priorities are changing, so what comes first? In juggling health, family, and work, it’s important to give employees space and empathy. But work can be a welcome distraction from the news and rising COVID-19 numbers. Links: Yeti Nano Screen Time Linux Windows 8 Windows 10 HP Pavilion Candy Crush Chrome Zoom Remember Jade Helm 15, the controversial military exercise? It’s over - The Washington Post See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 14, 202020 min

Ep 212Pay to Win: Paul, Rich and Jeremy Mack on the World of Video Games in 2020

The Grind: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with Postlight’s Head of Engineering Jeremy Mack about all things video games. Jeremy teaches us about current video game trends. We learn about loot boxes, battle passes, pay-to-win games and the controversy surrounding these types of monetization. We also get some great indie game recommendations and chat about the future of gaming. Warning for anyone playing the game Journey, this episode contains some spoilers. Links: PlayStation 4 Jeremy Mack - Twitter Atari Nintendo Ultima Online World Of Warcraft Super Mario Brothers Civilization Age of Empire SimCity PlayStation 4 Pro FIFA EA Activision Ubisoft Call of Duty NBA Playgrounds 2 NBA Jam Stardew Valley Harvest Moon Dead Cells Steam Nintendo Switch Journey Wii U Twitch Black Desert Online Fortnite Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life 2 Oculus QuestSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 7, 202030 min

Ep 211Shared Goals: Paul, Rich and Gina on Statements of Work

Specify like a caveman: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich are joined by Gina Trapani, a managing partner at Postlight, to talk about statements of work (SOWs). We chat about Postlight’s unique SOW process. We talk about why we base our approach on trust and relationships rather than just time and money. We also talk about managing risk, what to do when someone oversteps their original demands and Paul gives some tips on how to make the SOW writing process easier. Hint: write like a caveman. Links: Gina Trapani React Native Org Mode Google Analytics Facebook Twitter Github LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 31, 202034 min

Ep 210Diving Deep and Enjoying Life: A Conversation with InVision’s Mike Davidson

Craft and Quality: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with Vice President of Partnerships and Community at InVision, Mike Davidson. We chat about everything from tomato seeds, to shower heads to how to lead a remote team and the ups and downs of remote work. Mike shows us that the one thing these all have in common is they can help simplify your life to help you dig deeper into the things you love. Links: Typescript Sketch Figma Mike Davidson InVision Twitter NBC News Newsvine ESPN Clark Valberg - InVision Whole Foods Slate Magazine This Is the Perfect Tomato - Slate Klee Lab Research - University of Florida Kohler FlipSide Showerhead Wirecutter Dribbble SimpleBits Educated by Tara Westover Duane Reade Screen Time Cold Turkey App Slack Mac MultiFinder OmmWriter Roberta’s Pizza Dough - New York Times Li Ziqi - Youtube BKLYN Larder Mike Davidson Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 24, 202038 min

Ep 209Smart Home: 10 Tips for Working Remotely

Work from home: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich chat with Postlight’s head of engineering Jeremy Mack about ways to improve your remote work setup. From basic tips like getting dressed in the morning and using wired headphones to tips on how to navigate remote meetings, Jeremy shares the best practices he’s developed after 6 years of working remotely. He also gives us some examples of non-verbal cues to show others that you’re busy and ways to unwind after a day working from home. Links: Jeremy Mack - Twitter IFTTT Google Apps Shush Google Meet Zoom AirPods Rust Programming Language Apple TV Screensavers Slow TV - Bustle What You Need to Know About Treadmill Desks - Forbes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 17, 202026 min

Ep 208What Comes First, Brand or Product?: Paul and Rich on Doing Brand First

Big thoughts: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to discuss how branding impacts product design. We chat about how branding is critical when designing products, and how helpful it is when the brand comes first. Of course, that’s not always the case. We talk about the challenges of developing brand and product simultaneously and ways to deal with the complexities that come with this type of agile development. Nike Craftsman Ford F-150 Michael Bierut Jessica Helfand - Twitter A Conversation with Michael Bierut and Jessica Helfand, Part 1 A Conversation with Michael Bierut and Jessica Helfand, Part 2 Pentagram Wordpress National Geographic Vogue Economist Adam Smith IRS Asana Monday.com Basecamp Infospace Salesforce Peppa Pig Do the Brand First - Paul Ford Careers at Postlight PostlightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 10, 202024 min

Ep 207What Motivates People?: Paul, Rich and Gina on Leadership

There’s no secret knowledge: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich are joined by Postlight managing partner Gina Trapani to do a follow up on our previous episode about intranets. Gina explains why she was annoyed that we didn't know we had an intranet. From there we discuss why management and employees often need different tools and talk about what makes a good leader. Protip: a good leader is someone who knows how to limit stress, not spread it. Links: Gina Trapani The Private Network: Paul and Rich on Intranets Basecamp Slack Google Drive Clockwise Paper Away Warby Parker Emotional Baggage - The Verge The Verge Gawker Lifehacker Postlight - Twitter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 3, 202033 min

Ep 206Politics For Your Eyes: A Conversation with Yello’s Hunter Schwarz

Campaign Design: On this week’s episode of Track Changes Paul and Rich chat with political reporter Hunter Schwarz about political design trends. He breaks down the forms of visual design he’s seeing in political campaigns today and gives us an overview of the evolution of political design. He also tells us about how the Obama campaign in 2008 changed political visual branding and about the rise of grassroots political design. Links: Tiny Month Tiffany’s Harry Winston Mike Bloomberg Hunter Schwarz - Twitter CNN Washington Post Yello Joe Biden Tom Steyer Why Tom Steyer Wears a Tartan Tie The rise of the single-letter political logo - Washington Post Pete Buttigieg Shepard Fairey Obama “Hope” Poster Bloomberg spent millions of dollars on 2020 campaign ads - CNN Facebook Ad library Google Transparency Report Beto O'Rourke Twitter Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Twitter Stacey Abrams Twitter Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Warren Merchandise The Strokes Bring the Bernie Sanders Revolution to New Hampshire - Rolling Stone 25-foot inflatable balloon of Warrens dog Bailey makes campaign appearance - The Hill Robyn Grace Kanner Amy Klobuchar Bernie Sanders See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 25, 202031 min

Ep 205The Anti-RFP: Paul and Rich on the RFP Process

People want to be heard: This week on Track Changes, Paul and Rich bring on their design team to talk about The Design Elephants -- Poslight’s quarterly event dedicated to tackling difficult issues within design. From there we go onto discuss one of the main ways agencies find their clients, the RFP. Paul and Rich share their thoughts on the process as a whole and how they prefer a more genuine and empathetic approach to sales. Links Eventbrite - The Design Elephants Aimée Reed - website Nora Vanni - website Nora Vanni - Twitter PendoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 18, 202034 min

Ep 204Manage Your Tasks: An Interview with Doist Founder Amir Salihefendic

Keep it simple: There are a million different to-do apps, what makes one stand out? This week on Track Changes Paul and Rich chat with Doist founder Amir Salihefendic. He tells us about how he grew Todoist from a side project he would work on in his dorm room to an app that now reaches 20 million people. He also tells us about his struggle with venture capitalists and about the importance of persistence and simplicity. Links: Hello, World! - Wikipedia Todoist Amir Salihefendic - Twitter Wunderlist Any.do Lifehacker Digg Plurk Subtraction Blog Doist Twist Instagram Vim Bear Slack Dropbox Zoom Superhuman Dash for SlackSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 11, 202025 min

Ep 203Constructive Productivity: 5 Tools To Help You Work Better

Action Items: On this week’s episode of Track Changes Paul and Rich sit down and share their top 5 tools that keep them productive. We chat about our favorite to-do apps, calorie counting apps and about apps that will make your meetings more productive. From simple tools to complex tools, we share our secrets for staying sane and productive at work. Whimsical OmniGraffle Visio Navigator Bloomberg - What is Code? by Paul Ford Basecamp Emacs Org mode FatSecret CalorieKing Google Fit Todoist Tinysheet by Postlight Python 4 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Feb 4, 202023 min

Ep 202Meta Computers and Passive Billing: Paul and Rich on various things

Control your data: This week on Track Changes Paul and Rich sit down to chat about storage and subscriptions. We talk about Paul’s new network attached storage setup and why we consider it to be the third wave of computing. We also talk about ongoing and annoying online software subscriptions and Rich gives us some good tips on how to remember to cancel those subscriptions before your free months run out. Links: Basecamp SeaGate Ironwolf Pro QNap Thunderbolt 4 drive Nas CommonCrawl Flickr Google Take-out OneDrive SiteCore Pi-hole Spotify Typing Club Stripe Truebill Trim SubscriptMe Bobby Subby TrackMySubs Mint Plaid Yodlee Abacus See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 28, 202027 min

Ep 201The Private Network: Paul and Rich on Intranets

Tools to manage your tools: This week on Track Changes Paul and Rich discuss the best way to keep track of company communications and tools. Our verdict, an Intranet. We lay out what an Intranet actually is, what it should and could look like and why it’s so important in an age of using too many apps at once. We also make a pact to build a functional intranet in the next six months. Wish us luck! Trello Basecamp Github TriNet Pingboard Slack Abacus Airtable Dropbox Paper Whimsical Jira Pipedrive Greenhouse Dash for Slack Google Drive Zapier Chartbeat Adobe After Effects Sketch Apple Numbers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 21, 202030 min

Ep 200The 2020 Sh*tshow: Paul and Rich on what needs to change in the coming year

Still in reactive mode: On this week’s episode of Track Changes we continue off from last week to talk about broad trends in information technology in 2020. This week we dig into the more unsettling trends, like foreign interference in elections, a need for better and more proactive laws that govern internet use and cloud service confusion. We also chat about the return of bundled content creation and break down an unprecedented year in information technology. Ivanka Trump’s Appearance at CES Tech Show Draws Criticism - Time CES 2020 The Libertarian Logic of Peter Thiel - Wired Google Cloud HP Cloud - Wikipedia Tata Communications - Cloud Solutions Hulu Netflix Disney+ Roku Apple TVSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 14, 202027 min

Ep 199Top Trends of 2020

The year to come: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to discuss some of the top trends to look for in 2020. From codeless platforms to Product Led Growth we chat about some of the biggest trends in tech right now. We share our thoughts on new products and discuss whether some of these trends should actually be trends. We also talk about the craziness that could be 2020. Gina Trepani Lifehacker Jobs to be Done Hasura GraphQL PostGraphile MySQL PostgreSQL Elixir Erlang Ruby Yap.Chat Firefox Pi-hole Gatsby AWS Netlify Notion Airtable Filemaker Glitch Salesforce See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 7, 202027 min

Ep 198User Friendly: A History

Friction is introspection: How did the iPhone come to feel like an intuitive thing to use? This week on Track Changes Paul and Rich sit down with UX designer Cliff Kuang and co-founder of Dalberg Design Robert Fabricant to talk about their new book User Friendly: How the hidden rules of design are changing the way we live, work and play. We discuss the history of the concept and how it’s become something that we demand yet often take for granted. We also chat about the greater paradigm shift that led to the popularity of user experience design and about why we should maybe start to question the view that ease equals progress. Links: User Friendly - Penguin Books Dalberg Design Frog Design Paul Rand - Wikipedia Carbon Design System Plex - Google Fonts Three Mile Island Raymond Loewy - Wikipedia Ideo Marvin Minski - Wikipedia Doug Englebart - Wikipedia Health Kit - Apple The Softbank Effect: How 100 Billion Left Workers in a Hole - New York Times SoftbankSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 17, 201933 min

Ep 197Messy App Ecosystems: Paul and Rich on app stores

Catering to the masses: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to discuss the mess that is app stores. We chat about how the race to produce more and more content and why trying to cater to as wide an audience as possible is making for frustrating user experience. We also discuss our dreams of getting rid of in-app micro-purchases and the need for better app reviews. Links: Apple Arcade Google Play Pass Monument Valley Cut the Rope Netflix The Verge iCloud Apple TV Pages Numbers The Morning Show Candy Crush Nintendo Life Death Stranding The Wirecutter Sago Mini Khan Academy KidsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 10, 201924 min

Ep 196How to Get Hired: Paul and Rich on good interviewing practices

Answer the question: On this week's episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich share some interview advice they've learned after conducting hundreds of job interviews. We give some straight-forward tips on what to do in job interviews. We chat about the importance of listening, keeping your answers concise and being able to have a conversation with your interviewer. We also talk about what you shouldn’t do. For starters, don’t act like you don’t want the job. Links: Careers at PostlightSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 3, 201926 min

Ep 194Promoting Digital at the Met: What does it take to be the CDO at The Metropolitan Museum of Art?

Facilitating a digital mindset: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to chat about the current job description for the Chief Digital Officer at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We go over the demands of the job and talk about the many complexities that come with being a CDO at such a large and political organization. We also talk about why it can be difficult joining a new organization and why you might have to accept that people will hate you for a while. Sadly it’s part of the job sometimes. Links: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Job Posting for Met CDO - LinkedIn Met Gala 2020 - Vogue Ralph Lauren Documentary - HBO See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 26, 201926 min

Ep 193Accountability Tools: Paul and Rich on how they stay on track

Accountability is friction: On this week’s episode of Track Changes Paul and Rich sit down to chat about different types of accountability software. Whether it’s a CRM, a to-do list or an app, we discuss what works best for staying on track and getting things done. We talk about the importance of empathy and support and why tactics based on fear never work in the long run. We also discuss why some software is moving away from adding accountability into its workflows despite it’s importance. Links: Sony Aibo Clippy Pipedrive Dash for Slack Postlight Labs Mirror Peloton Mother by The Police Sydney Cummings - YoutubeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 19, 201926 min

Ep 193Monetizing Your Brand: An interview with New York Times journalist Taylor Lorenz

The new entertainment system: On this week’s episode of Track Changes Paul is flying solo without Rich. He is joined by New York Times writer Taylor Lorenz. Taylor answers all of Paul’s questions about influencers, including how they actually monetize their brand in such a crowded online market. Taylor addresses stereotypes about influencers being vapid and shallow and shows us just how hard influencers work. LINKS New York Times - Taylor Lorenz Tumblr Tyler Oakley - Youtube Hannah Hart - Youtube Vine Instagram Lilly Singh - Wikipedia Noah Centineo - Wikipedia Tik Tok Patreon Rosanna Pansino - Youtube United Talent Agency WME Community Forget DMs. Celebrities Want You To Text Them - New York Times Discord The Rise and Fall of the Jeremy Renner App, Which Was a Real Thing - New York Times Kim Kardashian: Hollywood Taylor Swift’s mobile app, The Swift Life, is the latest celebrity app to shutter - TechCrunch The Instagram Aesthetic is Over - The Atlantic Teens Are Being Bullied ‘Constantly’ on Instagram - The Atlantic Pewdiepie - Youtube Taylor Lorenz - Twitter Taylor Lorenz - Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 12, 201929 min

Ep 191Layers of Dirt: Paul and Rich on feature driven development

Software is like people: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down to discuss software baggage. We chat about how a simple software idea can morph into layers and layers of product features and about how implementing use-cases can lead to confusing and bloated software. We also share our many HR software gripes. Links: Recruitment Software Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis - Fortune Business Insights Scala JQuery Jira SAP Basecamp Slack Dash for Slack - Postlight See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 5, 201931 min

Ep 190Product-Led Growth: A conversation with Variance’s Noah Brier and James Gross

Removing Friction: On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich sit down with Noah Brier and James Gross ahead of a Postlight event to talk about the new trend that is taking enterprise software by storm, product-led growth. We discuss why the shift to PLG is as big as a transition for enterprise as the switch from on-premise to cloud software and how this move to more user-centric products removes friction from all levels of product implementation. Links: Salesforce Lattice Pingboard Google Sheets Google Docs Abacus Dropbox Google drive Invision Figma Sketch SAP Slack Percolate Variance Zoom Datadog Oracle Concur Mailchimp Notion Product Led Growth Index - OpenView Partners Amplitude Pendo Atlasian Jira ZohoSuite See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 29, 201928 min

Ep 190How to Make Sales and Influence People: Paul and Rich on how to sell software

Listen, don’t tell: Having trouble convincing your boss to invest in new software? On this week’s episode of Track Changes, Paul and Rich teach you everything you need to know about selling software services. We chat about changing the narrative to be about selling growth instead of products, and give some great sales tactics. Paul also shares some interesting car purchasing tips he learned from his brother. Links: Sarbanes Oxley - Wikipedia Chevy Blazer CarMax Google Analytics J.P. Morgan Amnesty International NodeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 22, 201926 min

Ep 189Going Codeless: Is this the way of the future?

Adjust the quirks: On this week’s episode of Track Changes we ask the question, “is programming becoming obsolete?”. As user-friendly visual interfaces continue to get more and more popular, we discuss why programming remains so important to tackle complex tasks and long-term software challenges. Paul and Rich also come up with a new, nicer, way to talk about bugs. In this week’s Hello Postlight segment, we hear from product manager Jorge Mir Alvarez, who tells us how he went from a Track Changes listener to a Postlight employee.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 15, 201932 min