Good Work with Barrett Brooks Barrett Brooks

Nathan Barry is the Founder and CEO of ConvertKit. In previous careers, Nathan has been a designer, author, and blogger. After learning the power of email marketing, he gave up a successful blogging career to go all-in on ConvertKit. Outside of work, Nathan spends his time playing soccer, woodworking, and chasing after his three boys.
This week, Barrett and Nathan sit down for a candid conversation about the ups and downs of building a $40M company, and what they wish they had done differently. They also dive into their strategies for growing personal brands, the power of clear roles and communication in projects, building strong team relationships, creating a supportive yet high-performance company culture, and much more. 
In this episode:

[00:00] - Intro

[04:20] - Why Barrett left ConvertKit

[15:18] - Building confidence as a leader

[22:59] - "We should have fired more people"

[37:57] - Creating a healthy feedback culture

[44:13] - Strategies for better communication

[58:14] - Designing comp and benefits

[01:07:46] - What we nailed on the growth side (and what we could have done differently)

[01:23:10] - Lessons learned from Barrett's departure

[01:36:20] - Podcasting for the long haul

[01:52:16] - On brand differentiation

[01:55:52] - Who Nathan is becoming


Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

Fil Aronshtein’s journey is one of boundless curiosity, from his childhood dreams of becoming an inventor, architect, and astronaut, to his present-day mission of shaping the future of manufacturing. As the founder of Dirac, a company revolutionizing the manufacturing industry, he faced persistent rejection before finding his breakthrough.
This week, Barrett talks with Fil about his vision for transforming manufacturing processes, and how that fits into a wider vision for a more expansive version of humanity. They dive into the intricacies of launching a new company and overcoming persistent rejection, as well as the larger implications of Fil’s work for industries such as aerospace and defense. They also discuss the importance of personal agency and the power of community, exploring how Fil’s early influences and passion for creating things fuels his vision for a more integrated and self-reliant future.
In this episode:

00:00 - Intro

03:21 - Overcoming rejection

14:52 - Fil's transition to software

19:55 - Why Fil believes nothing is impossible 

24:05 - Fil’s go-to-market strategy

25:58 - The problem Dirac is solving

30:22 - How manufacturing affects everyone

41:48 - Why preserving the ability to manufacture is so critical

49:14 - Emotional vs logical reactions to nuclear energy: empathy, education, and exposure

56:19 - Fil’s early interest in science and engineering

01:09:37 - Fil's role models and inspirations

01:15:51 - The compounding effect of community

01:27:30 - Fil's unbearably beautiful future

01:30:42 - Who Fil is becoming


Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

Polina Marinova Pompliano is the author of “Hiden Genius” and the founder of The Profile, a media organization that studies successful people and companies. Previously, she spent five years at FORTUNE where she covered technology and venture capital. As the author and editor of Term Sheet, FORTUNE’s industry-leading dealmaking newsletter, Polina interviewed the industry’s most influential dealmakers, including Melinda Gates, Steve Schwarzman, Richard Branson, and more.
This week, Barrett talks with Polina about her career as a storyteller, personal growth, and the sacrifices required to pursue one's passion. Polina reflects on immigrating to the US from Bulgaria, her career in journalism, and the influence of marriage and motherhood on her ambitions. Together, they discuss building the resilience required to handle life's challenges, the importance of humanizing stories, and the pursuit of meaningful work. 
In this episode:

00:00 - Intro

02:48 - What it’s like to publish a very personal book

05:43 - How Polina's book impacted her relationships

08:44 - Communication emotion in different languages

13:58 - How Polina’s early experiences have shaped her

23:00 - Polina’s fullest version of herself

25:42 - How becoming a parent changes you

31:24 - The transition from curator to profiler

39:31 - The value in sharing personal stories

49:42 - Polina’s and Barrett’s experiences at UGA

56:08 - Can ambitious people have successful relationships?

01:03:37 - How Polina and her husband remain humble and connected 

01:10:26 - Why resilience is so important

01:21:08 - On dealing with grief

01:26:40 - When success becomes the obstacle

01:31:06 - Making the right career decisions

01:35:02 - Find something and become the best at it

01:39:01 - Polina’s advice to her younger self

01:41:19 - The future Polina is trying to create

01:43:25 - Who Polina is becoming


Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

Matt Mullenweg is co-founder of the open-source publishing platform WordPress, which now powers over 40% of all sites on the web. He is the founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, WPVIP, Day One, Texts, and Pocket Casts. Additionally, Matt runs Audrey Capital, an investment and research company. He has been recognized for his leadership by Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Inc. Magazine, TechCrunch, Fortune, Fast Company, Wired, University Philosophical Society, and Vanity Fair.
Matt is originally from Houston, Texas, where he attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied jazz saxophone. In his spare time, Matt is an avid photographer. He currently splits his time between Houston and San Francisco.
This week, Barrett and Matt dive into a range of topics, from the importance of making informed decisions as a leader to the impact of sabbaticals on personal well-being. Matt shares insights on hiring philosophy, the future of web development, and the significance of human-centered design. He also discusses vulnerability in leadership, his evolving perspectives on technology, including artificial intelligence and decentralized computing, and his commitment to open-source values.
In this episode:

00:00 - Intro

02:24 - Matt’s trip to Antarctica and the importance of unplugging

07:51 - Matt’s “ABCs”

10:33 - Transitioning from a scarcity to an abundance mindset

14:08 - How being a musician has shaped Matt’s view of the world 

18:48 - The value of music as a metaphor for collaboration and synchronization in creative endeavors

26:45 - Why Matt is described as a “learn-it-all”

28:19 - AI and technological evolution

35:07 - Making smart bets on new technologies

40:00 - Why competition is good for you

45:37 - Pace layering and how to optimize for the right things

53:03 - What Matt learned from taking a three-month sabbatical

01:07:11 - Matt’s mission to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging

01:13:37 - Why security is critical in the age of social media

01:16:19 - The Automattic Creed

01:22:57 - Finding new ideas and testing vs implementation

01:26:37 - Four qualities Matt looks for when hiring

01:32:15 - Matt's unbearably beautiful future


Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

Matthew Marshall is the Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of New Story — a nonprofit pioneering solutions to end the global housing crisis. He serves on two nonprofit boards, CNU Atlanta and Citymakers Collective — a nonprofit teaching aspiring citymakers the holistic design principles of resilient, beautiful, and prosperous places. He holds a BBA from the University of Georgia and is a Y Combinator alumni, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper alumni, and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 leader.
This week, Barrett talks with Matthew about his experiences in countries like Haiti, Belize, Ghana, and Peru, and how that led to co-founding a nonprofit focused on the global housing crisis. They discuss New Story’s mission to provide real generational change, and their innovative approach to sustainable housing. They also explore the intricacies of creating a meaningful workplace culture, effective leadership, and how emotional health and authentic connection helps achieve organizational goals. 
In this episode:

[00:00] - Intro

[07:22] - The heart and “why” of New Story

[12:30] - How Matthew and his co-founders decided what mission to pursue

[17:34] - Working with purpose 

[28:40] - Building a culture of innovation and impact at New Story

[50:30] - Practices and habits of a strong organizational culture

[57:07] - The power of praise in an organization

[59:53] - Defining organizational values and culture

[01:03:18] - Building community through shared experiences

[01:10:28] - Navigating difficult conversations with emotional intelligence

[01:16:52] - Growing as a leader and the importance of voice

[01:29:42] - Foundational habits for sustaining performance

[01:34:59] - The significance of roots and community in personal and professional life


Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.

Julia DeWahl is a talented entrepreneur with a fascinating background in startups. Her roles at companies like Opendoor and SpaceX gave her a wealth of experience in growing companies and solving hard problems. She is currently the Co-Founder and President of Antares, which focuses on making and distributing small modular nuclear reactors. She is a passionate advocate for nuclear energy, which she talks about on her podcast, Age of Miracles.
This week, Barrett talks with Julia about her diverse career trajectory, the nuances of transitioning between major roles, the challenges of shifting from software to hardware, and the exciting potential of nuclear energy. They also discuss leading organizations through massive growth, working with polarizing figures, how creative pursuits shape our careers, and the impact of family and friendship on work and life. 
In this episode:

00:00 - Intro

02:14 - Julia's experience traveling after college

08:49 - How Julia’s creative interests fit into her career path

19:25 - Julia's path into startups

25:33 - Choosing the right problems to work on

31:50 - How financial freedom impacts what projects we work on

43:19 - The transition from software to hardware

51:12 - How family and becoming a parent changes your work

01:08:24 - Joining SpaceX

01:14:32 - Leadership lessons from SpaceX, Elon Musk, and Gwynne Shotwell

01:25:58 - What pulled Julia into the world of nuclear energy 

01:32:15 - Why writing in public and launching a podcast is a "Bat Signal"

01:37:03 - Learning more about nuclear

01:42:20 - Launching a nuclear energy startup

01:48:42 - Julia on who she is becoming


Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.
Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.