Justin Jackson

What happened to you in Mexico? Justin is back from his co-founder retreat with Jon on Holbox Island. He gets vulnerable about the drift that naturally happens in a remote co-founder relationship, the big conversations they'd been avoiding, and the realization that alignment isn't a one-time thing (it requires constant investment!). Jordan and Brian weigh in on co-founder dynamics, decision-making in a 50/50 partnership, and why strategy has to belong to a key decision maker. The conversation then spills into the "Mexican standoff" happening on teams as AI reshapes who does what and whether that's something to fear (or lean into).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 episode:Holbox IslandPhotos from co-founder retreatArticle: The five stages of losing our craftArticle: Will Claude Code ruin our team?Jack Dorsey lays off 931 workersPolsia - this weird AI driven SaaS making $2m! (You give it an idea, provide a budget/credit card, and it autonomously launches the business) More on Ben Cera, founder of PolsiaThe Amazing Money Machine book cover

We make 2 big announcements about changes to The Panel. Then we debate whether there's a founder branding advantage and how AI will affect small software teams in 2026.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 episode:Bootstrapped WebMarketing for DevelopersA Mexican standoff Happening in AIThe five stages of losing our craftJustin is the co-founder of Transistor.fmBrian is the founder of Builder MethodsJordan is the co-founder of Rosie

Important: we're no longer livestreaming on Justin's personal YouTube channel. Make sure you're subscribed to ​The Panel's channel​ to get notified when we go live:Subscribe to The Panel YouTube here -->Join us FRIDAY (tomorrow, Feb 20) at 11 AM Pacific (2 pm EST) for a surprise announcement:https://www.youtube.com/live/sxASjnzAYkwWe'll be announcing:- A new ███████ ██████ ████- And a brand new ████ ███████- New livestream/recording time: Friday, 11 am Pacific- Livestreams will now be streamed from ​The Panel YT channel​, not Justin's personal channel

Brian and Justin jump off Matt Shumer's "Something Big is Happening" article to ask questions like is something big happening in AI that even regular folks need to be preparing for? Is this the most important year of your work as a software developer? Should you be getting your financial house in order to prepare for what's about to hit us all?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 episode:Justin's snowboard adventure in Revelstoke"Something Big is Happening" – The viral Matt Shumer article (76M views)Matt Shumer's blogMatt Shumer's company (HyperWrite)"Tool Shaped Objects" – The response to Shumer's postJustin's new RSS feedBuilder Methods video library (Claude Code course)Moneyball: "Adapt or die" clipJustin's post on XSLT going away

Come meet the crew of AI agents Brian has working for him, Justin's building fake apps to experiment and find out what he wants for real apps, and why don't we feel like we can relax now that we're doing ok?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 episode:OpenClaw (Clawdbot)Brian’s crew of AI agents that live on his Mac MiniOpenClaw popularity on GitHub over timeDemo of Justin’s video hosting appThe story of how Freshbooks created a fake company to launch a new version of their productCaleb Porzio - Everything I feel about AI right nowJeffrey Way - I'm doneAdam Wathan - ui.sh

Jordan Gal joins The Panel to get some thoughts out about how software development feels like it's shifted since the holiday break, the lowering cost of making a mistake, how his team has to get ready for the new AI first workflow, marketing in the age of AI, and what happens to funding startups when anyone can build the app?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 episode:✨ Rose AI👤 Jordan Gal🛠️ Langdock AI🐦 Adam Wathan & Tailwind Sponsors💡 DHH on AI Agents🔨 Builder Methods (Build with AI)🎙️ Transistor.fm (podcast hosting)

Now that the holiday break is over, how are we feeling about 2026? We're talking about the new ideas we have to build or work on, as well as predictions for 2026 in AI, building, normal tech usage, and social media.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 episode:Marketing for DevelopersGhost CMSTechnical knowledge to build an appAcquired 10th anniversaryAcquired sponsorship ratesAdam's morning walk episodeAdam's tweetBrian's Claude Code courseClaude Skills / Design World

We're looking back at what our thoughts were about 2025, and scheming ideas and plans for 2026. How do you hand over decision making in your business in an AI world? How does remote work first affect junior developers? And do you panic when sales slow down? Adjust? Rethink everything?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 episode:Bootstrapped Web | 2025 recap & 2026 outlookDesign OSAdam WathanChris Enns / 🍋TupleTaylor OtwellObsidian EveryONCE Lars LofgrenMarketing for Developers

Justin shares his thoughts on competition crushing his business, Brian contemplates open sourcing an idea for front end AI tooling, and when should you run with a new idea vs knowing when to drop it.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 episodeAdam’s morning walk podcastBrian’s personal siteBrian’s DesignOS announcement37signals FizzyNathan Barry “Leave some value on the table”Tailwind CSS InsidersRework podcast “picking a price”

Brian and Justin discuss the recent launch of Filterhawk, which Brian built to replace Gmail's built-in filters. They also talk about SaaS marketing strategies (which channels still work?). Justin shares some initial numbers from the Black Friday sale.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 episodeFilterHawk – Take Control of Your Gmail InboxInertia.jsshadcn/uiClaudeCursorGoogle GeminisuperwhisperWispr FlowImproving frontend design through Skills | ClaudeHatchbox.ioForgeRewardfulStripe SigmaPanic – NovaGoogle AntigravityFrom AI skeptic to UNFAIR advantage – YouTubeHow remote work changed my lifePodscan.fm

Brian and Justin are joined by a surprise guest: Nadav Keyson, founder of Riverside. We had an impromptu conversation about how Riverside launched (and found traction), the impact of funding (vs bootstrapping), how Navad thinks about competition, and whether he thinks having investors leads to more stress.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 episodeRiverside's original Product Hunt launchRob Snyder blog post: The Physics of StartupsBrian's new app: FilterHawkBrian's tweet

AI dev is changing rapidly, and... AI dev is rapidly changing how we build websites and apps. Brian and Justin wrestle with this new reality and discuss the different phases of a startup, how indies can cultivate brand loyalty, and when you should maybe do the opposite of what everyone else is doing.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 episodePanel Animated introHillchartsCheeky Pint interview with Anthropic founderDerek Sivers articleHumanoid robotOpenAI acquires app that watches youDuer JeansPlain English podcast

Justin spoke to a grade 12 class about entrepreneurship, and was surprised by what he learned about teenagers.Brian has thoughts on the impact of Agent OS v2.1 and struggles with the support burden of open-source software. They talk about “Wealth is the freedom from having to monetize every idea." Also: Johnny Ive and Rivian founder RJ Scaringe's product design processes.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 episodeSunoSuno intro song for The PanelJustin’s high school talkAgent OSBuilder Methods Pro DiscordTweet: “Wealth is the freedom from having to monetize every idea”Survey: How does Basecamp get new customers?Cheeky Pint podcast interview with Rivian founder

Aaron Francis joins The Panel this week to talk about entrepreneurship, programming, and parenting. We chatted about how personal experiences shape our business journeys, the evolution of programming tools, and the importance of identifying market signals for success. 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 episodeMostly TechnicalAaron FrancisIan LandsmanDancing Without A Partner – Signal v. NoisePaper – design, share, shipNewsletter - Aaron FrancisPhil Vischer - WikipediaThePrimeagen - YouTube

Justin is impressed with V0's ability to build working prototypes quickly. We've also got Sora 2 thoughts. And... what should we teach our kids when AI makes everything easy? Brian launches Agent OS v2. Could either of us survive without the internet for more than a day?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 episodeSora by ChatGPT0xFramer on XCheeky Pint: Des Traynor on Intercom (transcript at 35m15s)Mind the Game PodcastTony Dinh: Oct 2025 Updates - Code, Money, and TravelTypingMind - LLM Frontend Chat UIAgent OS - AI Coding Agents SystemSpec-Driven Development WorkshopMostly Technical: Vision QuestJustin Jackson: 2017 Year in ReviewAlex Duggleby on AI and Junior Developers

Justin Jackson and Brian Casel discuss the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, particularly in the context of AI's impact on product development, creativity, and the job market. They explore the importance of having a clear vision when using AI tools, the challenges faced by junior developers, and the enduring need for human connection in art and media. The discussion also touches on the future of work, the role of AI in enhancing productivity, and the implications for artists and creators in a rapidly changing environment.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 episodev0 by VercelDribbble BalsamiqBig Tech Told Kids to Code. The Jobs Didn’t Follow. - The New York TimesAaron Francis on XThe Last Days Of Social MediaStratechery by Ben ThompsonDitheringAgent OS

Justin vibe-coded an app 5 minutes before recording this episode. Justin and the Transistor team just got back from Banff for their annual company retreat. How do these retreats actually work? What are they good for? Brian has some pretty good signups for Builder Methods Pro memberships! (How can he keep that momentum going?) He's also juggling Agent OS customer support.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 episodeJustin's vibe-code app: Segments – Podcast recording timerJustin's app demo videoTown of CanmoreChris Enns: podcast editorBuild Your SaaS | An update from Justin and JonWhat's Next? with Brian CaselClaude Code | ClaudeFast and reliable end-to-end testing for modern web apps | Playwright

We're joined by Ian Landsman, from the Mostly Technical podcast, joins us to chat about Outro.fm and Helpspot. We talk digital fatigue, the challenges of maintaining an online presence, the importance of building a community around shared interests, finding the right audience, and balancing personal goals with business objectives. As Brian⁩ prepares to launch Builder Methods Pro, we debate the value of community feedback and the potential for unforeseen opportunities in creating content online. Ian talks with us about the development of Outro.fm as an all-in-one solution for podcasters, the importance of building a membership community, the production side of podcasting tools, and the challenges faced in the podcasting market. Also: the difference between one-time sale products (courses) and SaaS.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 episodeIan LandsmanA Smart BearBuilder Methods | Training for AI-first software developersOutro.fmMostly Technical Member Site | OutroThe Podcast Website Builder | PodpageLuma · Delightful Events Start HereThe Changelog podcastSyntax - Web Development PodcastHelp desk software for effortless email support

Brian is wondering: how do you manage a popular open source project? Justin went to Toronto and introduced his son to Adam Wathan, Wes Bos, Steve Schoger, and Caleb Porzio. Why does the same amount of effort produce wildly different results? And... is everyone getting tired of all this copycat content that's optimized for algorithms? 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 episodeSam Sulek YouTube ChannelBuilder Methods WorkshopJustin’s Toronto HangoutMarketing is a Transfer of EnthusiasmAgent OS GitHub ProjectOpen Source Contribution Guidelines (Litestream)37signals Book Royalties RevenueEffort vs Outcome Blog Post1,000 True FansOmarchy 2.0Wes BosDownie - YouTube Video Downloader for macOS

Justin's been using Stripe Sigma to learn a lot more about the history of revenue at Transistor. He had a phone call with Jason Cohen about how to get what you want out of your business. And Brian talks through the same frameworks to figure out what might work best for Builder Methods including exploration of courses, cohorts, community, and more.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 episodeJason Cohen: About the authorMostly TechnicalChartMogul | CRM & Subscription Analytics built for B2B SaaS growthMessage from PaddleKit: Email-First Operating System for Creators (formerly ConvertKit)Build Your SaaS | The “charge more” debateAverage Podcast Downloads: Podcast Measurement and GrowthFinding FulfillmentAgent OS | A free open-source system to train smart AI coding agentsThe PULL framework - by Rob SnyderJay Clouse - Creator ScienceLearn Laravel | LaracastsWes BosLearn Ruby on Rails | GoRails