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AI and programming is a hot topic, and it feels like Brian⁩ has found that "founder/audience" fit where his interests align with a wave of audience interest. He and Justin discuss their process for making YouTube videos. Justin also asks: "how do we ensure that our worst tendencies don’t bloom" when we're making products? (Founder retreats and masterminds come up). The big topic: Brian's not loving SaaS (anymore).Timestamps:YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's companyBuilder MethodsThe Panel Podcast (@panelpodcast.com) | TikTokDescript: Edit Videos & Podcasts Like a Doc | AI Video EditorDaVinci Resolve | Blackmagic DesignDitheringDaring FireballShawn Blanc: Focus Like a Bosscalf + clover creameryDaniel PinkTallyProfit First - Mike MichalowiczMike Michalowicz – How the author of Profit First stays lean by licensing his ideasApple in ChinaJustin’s BlueSky post on Steve JobsThe Pull FrameworkBowling drawingMarketing help for programmers, software companies, and SaaSChecklist idea for marketing pageProfit first professionals

It's Justin's turn in the hot seat to talk about what he's got in his buckets: which projects make the most money? Which take the most time? Where is he focused on breaking new ground? How does Transistor, The Podcast Standards Projects, and other projects he's got going all fit together? Plus: what kind of grit, desire, and resilience do you need to actually build a company that works?Timestamps:YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeIllustration: Justin's bucketsInstrumental Components - Brian's new productClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's companyBuilder MethodsInstrumental ComponentsHEY – A delightfully fresh take on email + calendar, from 37signalsSuperhuman | The most productive email app ever madeShortwave | DownloadReadwisePodcast Standards Project | Advocating for open podcastingProjectionLab - Modern Financial & Retirement Planning ToolsTiny | We buy wonderful businessesGoing independent (2016 year in review)Here are some other podcasts we likeFor next week: Andrew Wilkinson's tweet about AI

Brian Casel shares a first look at BuilderMethods.com. Brian dig into how he's going to grow an email list from scratch, and we had a great chat about what makes an email newsletter awesome.The bulk of our chat was about honestly assessing the resources, time, and energy Brian is putting into each project, and how much revenue each project is producing. (Check out Justin's diagram here)Timestamps:YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeInstrumental Components - Brian's new productClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's companyBuilder MethodsInstrumental ComponentsAudience OpsJustin’s “Bob Ross” strategy diagramMarketing for DevsCuratedMailbrewA Book ApartWeb framework popularityHitenismAaron Francis NewsletterTangleProduct market fit collapseWhy Justin pivoted businesses in 2018

Brian's walking through the new website and idea he's launching and getting Justin's feedback on what he thinks will work and what could use refining, the struggle of creating video content in 2025, keeping course content fresh, whether another podcast is the best use of time, and whether targeting junior or professional software developers is the best route to go.Timestamps:YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeInstrumental Components - Brian's new productClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's companyAmazon S3MuxHTTP Live StreamingDelivering 15TB of 4K video with Cloudflare R2 for $2.18How About Tomorrow?Cloudflare StreamFFmpegHow Vibe Coding Goes PRObuildermethods.comDescriptScreenFlowTelestream BlogStephen RoblesMostly TechnicalCRUSH Your Backlog With Background Agents in CursorNo, AI Won’t Turn Everyone Into App Developers

Big episode! Brian shares the results of his launch of Instrumental Components (sales numbers, and how he's feeling). He also talks about his next project: helping devs and teams navigate how to use AI in software development and design. This episode was recorded live, with tons of folks joining us in the "panel" chat. Adam Wathan ended up joining us last-minute to talk about how he's changed is mind on AI and coding, and how AI is affecting Tailwind's business.Timestamps:YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeInstrumental Components - Brian's new productClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's companyIntegrate Open AI and Anthropic APIs into your Rails applications (video)Rob Walling's Stair Step approachVercel's new V0 AI toolThorsten Ball's article: How to build an agentMostly Technical | 85: Screencasting.com Launch FailureThe Steve Ballmer Interview: The Complete History and StrategyTaskMaster AI SolutionsClaude Code OverviewAI Video EditorFigma AI CreativityRand Fishkin on Marketing

Justin just got back from a big trip to London UK for the podcast industry conference, and honestly, it's got him thinking about some big thoughts about the podcasting medium. This episode starts out with an honest chat between Brian and Justin: 'How are you feeling about the podcast so far?'Timestamps:YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeThe Podcast ShowInstrumental Components - Brian's new productClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's company

Justin and Brian talk about how Brian's launch for Instrumental Components went. "Some things are way harder now that I'm older." Brian describes some of the technical challenges faced during the launch. There's also a meaty section about how much AI to use in software development (and how Brian uses it). At the end, Justin provides some feedback on Brian's pricing and marketing strategy.Timestamps:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeAaron Francis' tweetAdam WathanHow About Tomorrow?The REWORK PodcastReplitStatamicGravity FormsTailwind UI ComponentsRadical Design CourseInstrumental Components - Brian's new productClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's company

Justin is wrestling with strategic decisions for Transistor after hitting his initial "success goal," while Brian is two weeks away from launching a new Rails components product and grappling with how to reach his target audience.Timestamps:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodePodcast Movement: The World’s Largest Podcasting Community | Events, Resources & More!Justin Jackson – SaaS, bootstrapping, marketingJordan Gal Voice AIMarketing AutomationCustomer EngagementEmail-First OSAI Video EditingAI Code Editor.NET & JavaScript LibrariesInstrumental Products - Brian's companyClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's company

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:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeRosie - AI Call Answering ServiceJordan Gal - Portland, Oregon, rallyon.com | about.mePost Purchase OffersBrian CaselBootstrapped WebWireframing ToolsInstrumental Products - Brian's companyClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's company

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.Timestamps:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeTailwind CSS - Adam's companyTailwind's YouTube channelInstrumental Products - Brian's companyClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productTransistor.fm - Justin's company

Brian Casel hosts a candid conversation with Val Sopi and Christian Genco about the realities of launching new SaaS products in 2025. All three founders are at pivotal moments in their entrepreneurial journeys, wrestling with what products to build next, how to balance consulting work with product development, and finding the elusive "founder-product fit" that makes building a business sustainable and enjoyable. They share their strategies for validating ideas, dealing with competition, and defining what success truly means beyond just revenue targets.The discussion delves into the unique challenges of the current SaaS landscape, from the impact of AI on product development to the importance of building products that genuinely excite you as a founder. Whether you're considering your next product launch or questioning your current direction, this episode offers valuable perspectives from bootstrappers who've been through multiple product cycles and are navigating their next moves.Timestamps:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeInstrumental Products - Brian's companyClarity Flow - Brian's SaaS productBlogMaker.app - Val's current SaaSFileInbox.com - Christian's SaaSCursor - AI coding tool discussed in the episodeRails Components Library – Brian's new projectPaddle - Payment processor Val mentioned for his new productJustin's MicroConf talk on founder-market fit Brett Victor - Human Computing

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:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episode💼 Notion Mastery💪 Try Hard StudiosMarie's YouTube channelAaron's YouTube channelScreencasting.com - Aaron's upcoming projectChatGPT lists Marie as #1 Notion influencer🧰 Instrumental Products🎤 Transistor podcast hosting

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:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 🦋 Links mentioned in this episodeInstrumental ProductsCreator ScienceBalsamiq MockupsTransistor podcast hosting

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:Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube🦋 Reply on BlueskyLinks mentioned in this episode🚀 Laravel🧑‍💻 Laravel is hiring🐙 Livewire🎸 Alpine.js✨ Flux🏗️ Instrumental Rails Components🎙️ Transistor podcast hosting

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 expect3:25 - Is SaaS Getting Harder in 2025?5:16 - Bootstrapped SaaS is past its prime8:32 - "Can you really build a good product with AI?"12:00 - "No-Code is in trouble, AI makes product discovery harder, SaaS goldrush is over."14:17 - What kind of business should you start in 2025?16:34 - AI can't replace the craft and expertise required to launch a good product19:06 - Is it harder to go from Zero to One?20:23 - Marketing predictions - what's going to work this year?27:58 - "Nothing works. Marketing is bullshit." – Tyler King30:43 - People want to interact with real humans (Reddit, podcasts, YouTube)32:14 - Organic search is still big (but AI is sending some traffic)34:20 - How you can win against AI and other competitors: customer support36:33 - A bootstrapper's advantage is that they're small and they care39:27 - Question for the listener: have you had a good customer support experience with AI chatbots?40:27 - Another tactic that might work: get people on the phone!42:07 - Should we all short Tesla stock?45:19 - Our plans for 2025Tell us what you think! 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube🦋 Reply on BlueskyFind us on Bluesky:Colleen Schnettler – @leenyburger.bsky.socialTyler King – @tylerking.appJustin Jackson – @justinjackson.caBrian Castle – @briancasel.comLinks mentioned in the episode:🧰 Instrumental Products🏋️‍♀️ SaaS Marketing Gym📂 Simple File Upload📇 Less Annoying CRM🎙️ Startup to Last Podcast🎤 Transistor podcast hostingSubscribe to The Panel for weekly discussions with smart founders about building better products and better lives:

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- The impact of AI on product development- Open source vs closed source business models- Niche markets vs broad markets- One-time vs recurring revenue models- Age and experience perspectives in techTimestamps:0:00 The story - why we wanted to start this show2:03 Meet your hosts - Justin Jackson & Brian Casel2:45 Topics we'll cover 3:32 The power of different perspectives4:18 We need your help5:05 We'll be doing video and audio🔗 Join our waiting list at https://panelpodcast.com