How I Tested That

David J Bland
  • 5.0 (4)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Testing your ideas against reality can be challenging. Not everything will go as planned. It’s about keeping an open mind, having a clear hypothesis and running multiple tests to see if you have enough directional evidence to keep going. This is the How I Tested That Podcast, where David J Bland connects with entrepreneurs and innovators who had the courage to test their ideas with real people, in the market, with sometimes surprising results. Join us as we explore the ups and downs of experimentation… together.

  1. 4D AGO

    Bill Fienup | How I Tested a HardTech Innovation Center

    In this episode I’m joined by Bill Fienup. He’s the co-founder of mHUB, one of the world’s leading hardtech innovation centers, located in Chicago, IL. We explore how he went from building Nerf gun prototypes at MIT to creating a space where thousands of hardware founders can prototype, test, and scale physical products. What started out as a meetup group and a spreadsheet, grew into a full ecosystem with millions of dollars in equipment and billions of dollars in economic impact. Bill shares how to test hardware ideas without burning capital, why most teams over-focus on feasibility instead of desirability, and how to validate what people will actually pay for before you build. If you’re working on physical products, or funding them, this episode is a masterclass in how to test before you invest. Enjoy my conversation with Bill Fienup. Takeaways Start with the problem, not the solution. The biggest risk isn’t building something, it’s solving a problem that customers don’t care enough about to act on. Desirability and willingness to pay matter more than feasibility early. Teams often over-focus on building, but the real uncertainty is whether customers value the solution enough to pay. Test demand before investing in development. Simple experiments like landing pages or fake purchase flows can validate real interest before committing resources. Iterate in spirals, not stages. Move across desirability, feasibility, and viability repeatedly, increasing investment only as uncertainty is reduced. Avoid building the wrong thing the right way. Strong execution can’t fix a fundamentally misaligned product, validation must come before scale. Use competition as validation. Existing solutions signal real demand and confirm the problem is worth solving. Focus on the majority, not edge cases. Designing for the loud minority can increase cost and complexity without improving overall product-market fit. Community can be a powerful starting point. MHub began as a meetup and shared spreadsheet, showing how real user pain can evolve into a scalable ecosystem. Guest Links mHub’s Website: https://www.mhubchicago.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fienup/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    35 min

  2. MAR 18

    Akvile Ignotaite | How I Tested a TikTok Pimple

    Summary In this episode I’m joined by Dr. Akvile Ignotaite, a data scientist and founder building AI-powered skin health technology used by more than 800,000 people around the world. We explore how her team combines data science, health tech, and creative marketing to rethink skincare for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. From building a vast skin care dataset to launching a TikTok influencer pimple called Pimsy that has almost 40k followers, Akvile shares how cultural insights and small tests drive their product strategy. We also get into the challenges of building health technology for younger audiences, how to test ideas across different global markets, and why treating skin as a health problem, changes how you design products and measure success. If you’re interested in experimentation and AI in health you’ll enjoy my chat with Akvile. Takeaways Start small and imperfect to learn faster. The team prioritizes quick MVPs, sometimes built in days, to test ideas before investing heavily in development, branding, or marketing. Customer language and psychology matter. The original millennial-focused “compliance app” failed because it sounded too technical; shifting to Gen Z language, emojis, and storytelling dramatically improved adoption. Meet users where they already are. Channels like TikTok became critical for reaching younger audiences, even though the team initially resisted the platform. Creative experimentation can unlock growth. The “Pimsy” influencer pimple character started as a small test and quickly grew to tens of thousands of followers, proving unconventional ideas can resonate strongly with audiences. Micro-learning can drive high engagement. A simple, quickly built “myths vs. facts” quiz feature created massive engagement and generated valuable behavioral data about user beliefs. User feedback is a competitive advantage. Hiring a developer who criticized the Android experience highlighted the importance of listening closely to real user complaints and improving where customers actually are. Cultural assumptions can mislead founders. Expanding into India revealed how preconceived ideas about markets, healthcare practices, and culture can be wrong, reinforcing the need for curiosity and humility. Structured programs don’t always fit real user behavior. Highly designed 6- or 8-week skincare programs failed because users resisted rigid routines, showing how human behavior often breaks logical product design. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are forming a global digital culture. The app’s success without localization suggests younger generations increasingly share common digital behaviors and language across regions. Guest Links System Akvile: https://systemakvile.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-akvile-ignotaite/Pimsy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@i.am.pimsy If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    36 min

  3. MAR 4

    Jim Morris | How I Test My Teaching Process

    In this episode I’m joined by Jim Morris.  We chat about the wake-up call that pushed him from building first to testing first. Jim and I discuss loyalty programs no one wanted, roadmaps filled with sequenced risk, AI prototypes that hallucinate and the uncomfortable reality that confidence often replaces evidence. We also dig into something deeper: why smart teams ignore data, why leaders fall in love once an idea hits the roadmap, and why testing isn’t about better UX,  it’s about real value. Jim shares how he even tests his own teaching process for students at Berkeley. Because as he puts it: “We can build stuff. But if people don’t use it, we’re just creating product debt.”Enjoy my conversation with Jim Morris. Takeaways Testing is crucial to ensure product effectiveness and user engagement. Data analysis can reveal the true usage of product features. Mindset plays a significant role in how product ideas are perceived and developed. Not all ideas will succeed; testing helps identify the viable ones. User motivation is key to the success of features and programs. Prototyping tools can enhance the testing process but require careful implementation. Learning from failures in testing is essential for growth and improvement. Roadmaps should be flexible to adapt to changing priorities and evidence. It's important to focus on the core value proposition of a product. Continuous experimentation and adaptation are vital in product management. Guest Links Website: https://productdiscoverygroup.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmorrisstanford/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    39 min

  4. FEB 18

    Dan Olsen | How I Test With Vibe Coding

    Summary In this conversation, David J Bland and Dan Olsen discuss the evolution of product management, the impact of vibe coding, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration. They explore the challenges of prototyping, user research, and the role of AI in product development. The discussion emphasizes the need for strong product management fundamentals and the future of product management in a rapidly changing landscape. Takeaways The awareness of product management has significantly increased over the years.Vibe coding allows for rapid prototyping and testing without heavy technical resources.Cross-functional collaboration is essential for successful product development.User research is becoming more valued in product management.Prototyping should focus on learning rather than just building.AI can assist in generating ideas but lacks judgment in prioritization.The pace of innovation in product tools is accelerating rapidly.Understanding customer problems is crucial for product success.Rushing to high fidelity prototypes can lead to missed opportunities in the problem space.Product management fundamentals will be key in differentiating successful products. Guest Links Website: https://dan-olsen.com/ LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danolsen98/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/danolsen Lean Product Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/lean-product/  Vibe Coding Product Brief: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/ Vibe Coding Spectrum: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/ The Lean Product Playbook: https://amzn.to/1EYCUdP If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    55 min

  5. 12/10/2025

    David Sauers | How I Tested Royal Restrooms

    Summary In this episode we interview David Sauers. He’s the founder of Royal Restrooms, a company that’s redefining what a portable restroom can be.  What started with a frustrating moment at a festival turned into David challenging a fundamental assumption: How can we elevate one of the most overlooked parts of any event? He walks us through why weddings became their breakthrough customer segment and how adapting designs for different event types unlocked growth. This isn’t just about restrooms,  it’s about challenging stigma, listening closely to customer signals, and innovating in overlooked spaces.  David explains how they are testing their way into showers, beverage trailers, and beyond. Guest Links LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsauers/ Royal Restrooms: https://royalrestroomsca.com/ Personal Website: https://www.davidsauers.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    28 min

  6. 11/19/2025

    Aurora Winter | How I Tested A Publishing Company

    Summary In this episode we interview Aurora Winter. She’s the founder of Same Page Publishing, an innovative publishing company that helps you launch as a thought leader. Aurora shares her journey from the film industry to becoming a successful author and publisher.  We discuss her early assumptions with helping authors through her 'Spoken Author Method' and her testing of new formats like video books.  The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling in business, problem-solving, and the value of micro-testing. Guest Links LinkedIn Profile: https://linkedin.com/in/AuroraWinter Same Page Publishing: https://samepagepublishing.com/ Turn Words Into Wealth: https://turnwordsintowealth.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    36 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    Scott McLeod | How I Tested A $1B Mattress Company

    Summary In this episode we interview Scott McLeod. Scott is the Chief Brand Officer of Resident, a direct-to-consumer company that designs and sells home furnishings such as mattresses and bedding. They were acquired by Ashley in 2024 for $1 billion. Scott and I chat about his background in design thinking and how it has fueled his passion for experimentation, whether it’s building scrappy MVPs with minimal investment or creating environments where failure is not just accepted, but expected as part of innovation.  He shares how he’s helped scale teams while preserving that test-and-learn mindset, why setting clear success criteria is crucial and how to gracefully let go of ideas that don’t deliver. We also dive into the unique challenges of experimenting with physical products versus digital ones, the role of customer feedback in shaping subjective experiences like comfort, and his optimism for how AI and data-driven decision-making will transform the future of product experimentation. I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with Scott since our days back at Neo together, and I’m confident you’ll learn a lot from our conversation in this episode.  Guest Links LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mescottmcleod/Website: https://www.residenthome.com/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    40 min

  8. 10/22/2025

    JL Heather | How I Tested Corporate Innovation

    In this episode we interview JL Heather. He’s the Manager Partner at Centered. Centered empowers organizations to innovate by fostering a culture of experimentation. JL and I explore the intricacies of innovation, design sprints, and the importance of leadership in fostering a culture of creativity and experimentation. We discuss the challenges of making innovation stick, the role of customer feedback, and the significance of using the right language to engage teams and leaders. JL emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach to problem-solving and the value of involving customers in the design process. Guest Links LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlheather/ Website: https://centered.work/ If your leadership team is about to make a big strategic bet, the real risk usually isn’t the idea, it’s the assumptions behind it that haven’t been surfaced yet. A Decision Sprint is a focused 6–12 week engagement where we extract, map, and test those risks so leaders can make a clear Commit, Correct, or Cut decision before major capital moves. Learn more or apply at precoil.com.

    37 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Testing your ideas against reality can be challenging. Not everything will go as planned. It’s about keeping an open mind, having a clear hypothesis and running multiple tests to see if you have enough directional evidence to keep going. This is the How I Tested That Podcast, where David J Bland connects with entrepreneurs and innovators who had the courage to test their ideas with real people, in the market, with sometimes surprising results. Join us as we explore the ups and downs of experimentation… together.

Information

  • Creator
    David J Bland
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Precoil, LLC
  • Show Website
    How I Tested That

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