Product For Humans | The Practice of Product IRL!

Christa Hill & Renee Matsalla | Co-Founders of Tacit Edge Product Leadership

Product for Humans is the podcast for leaders building products in the age of AI. Hosted by Christa Hill and Renee Matsalla, co-founders of Tacit Edge, this show explores what it really takes to lead when AI is no longer a feature. It is the environment. Each episode tackles real business challenges through the lens of product thinking, AI strategy, data readiness, and human-centred leadership. Because the question is no longer “How do we ship?” It is “How do we lead responsibly when the tools are evolving faster than our teams?” You will hear: How AI changes the role of product leadersWhere strategy breaks down in the messy middleWhat to automate and what to protectHow to lift the floor of literacy so your organization can raise the ceiling of growth At Tacit Edge, we believe AI is not the strategy. Leadership is. If you are responsible for outcomes, teams, or transformation, this podcast is for you.

  1. FEB 13

    We Built This Mess: AI, Power, and the Human Cost of Moving Fast With Katrina German

    AI is changing everything, but the real crisis is trust, and leaders are not measuring the human cost. In this 2026 episode of Product for Humans, Christa Hill goes deep with Katrina German, one of Canada’s clearest voices on ethical digital leadership. They start with what sparked Katrina’s recent media coverage: AI-enabled harassment and the rise of synthetic sexualized imagery used to silence women online. From there, the conversation zooms out to a bigger question: how did we go from early internet guardrails to today’s “terms of service as consent” reality, and what does that mean for Canadians trying to lead through platform power, misinformation, and fragile digital infrastructure? Then they shift to the human side. Katrina names the thing many leaders feel but cannot articulate: technostress. They talk boundaries, organizational clarity, and why leaders in 2026 have one job above all else: rebuilding trust. They wrap with a fast, fun “Smash or Pass” round on AI self-regulation, unenforced principles, and the myth that we are “too early” to govern. What we coverWhy AI-generated sexualized imagery is being used to silence women online, and why platforms cannot shrug it off as “user responsibility”The media problem: whose voices get airtime, and what it costs when expert women get clipped to one sentenceA practical solution for journalists and experts: Informed Perspectives, a network that helps match media with expert womenRegulation memory loss: what Canadians already regulated well (and why we stopped pushing for the same accountability in social platforms)Platform power vs public interest: why commercial incentives are not the same as societal stewardshipCanada’s opportunity moment: and why “building our own” is back on the tableThe human cost of constant change: technostress, burnout signals, and what leaders are asking people to carryWhat leaders must prioritize in 2026: trust as a strategic pillar, not a brand valueSmash or Pass lightning round: self-regulation, terms of service, “responsible AI” without enforcement, and leadership literacy GuestKatrina German is the Founder and CEO of Ethical Digital. Her work focuses on ethical digital leadership, trust, and helping organizations build human-centered digital strategy with real accountability. https://www.katrinagerman.com/ https://www.ethicaldigital.ca/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinagerman/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation 07:27 The Mess We Built: Regulation and Technology 26:00 The Human Cost of Not Measuring 26:58 Navigating Emotional Responses in a Digital World 28:29 The Importance of Self-Care in Tech 30:19 Understanding Techno Stress and Burnout 32:35 Strategies for Managing Tech Overload 36:49 The Future of AI: Integration or Opt-Out? 39:13 Building Trust in the Age of Technology 44:14 The Role of Ethics in AI Development

    48 min
  2. 06/18/2025

    The Future of Sport: Where Data Meets Grit

    Send us a text In this episode of Product for Humans, we dive into the exhilarating—and urgent—intersection of sport, technology, and AI. Join hosts Christa Hill and Renee Matsalla as they sit down with longtime friend Dr. Taylor McKee from Brock University's Centre for Sport Capacity to explore how data, ethics, and innovation are reshaping the future of sport.  From predictive analytics and injury prevention to safe sport and cultural reform, we unpack:  The opportunities and risks in sport tech adoption  Why nonprofit sport organizations are drowning in sensitive data—and what to do about it  How a product mindset can help teams move from overwhelmed to empowered  The untapped potential of AI to make sport safer, more inclusive, and more equitable  How young professionals can break into sport leadership without a famous last name  Whether you’re a sport executive, a volunteer board member, or a student trying to build a career in sport—this one’s for you.  🧠 Data is already in the game. The question is: are we ready to use it for good?  🔗 Resources, links, and how to connect with Dr. Taylor McKee are in the show notes.  Hosted by: Renee Matsalla & Christa Hill Tacit Edge: Website: tacit-edge.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/tacitedge Instagram: instagram.com/tacit.edge YouTube: youtube.com/@TacitEdge Find Christa Hill on social: Instagram: instagram.com/christa.hill.ai/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christajhill/

    50 min
  3. 05/09/2025

    PFH015:The Antidote to “Discovery Theatre"

    Send us a text Tired of pretending you're doing discovery when really, you're just guessing? In this episode, we step into The Product Experiment Garage with Chantal Botana and Maurice McGinley for a real talk on what discovery actually means — and why it’s so often misunderstood. This isn’t about running a full-blown design sprint on day one. It's about finding the next right step in your product practice — and doing it in a low-stakes environment where you can observe, experiment, and learn. 💡 You’ll hear: Why “Discovery Theatre” is holding your team backHow to challenge assumptions with users, not in a vacuumThe value of practicing product outside your daily workA better way to onboard your team into true discovery habitsProduct is a practice. It’s a team sport. And you don’t need permission to get better at your job — just a garage, some guidance, and a willingness to try. Want to try this for yourself? Sign up for a session here: https://product-garage.eventbrite.com  Want to connect with Chantal and Maurice: https://www.linkedin.com/company/product-evangelist/     https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpath/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbotana/ Hosted by: Renee Matsalla & Christa Hill Tacit Edge: Website: tacit-edge.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/tacitedge Instagram: instagram.com/tacit.edge YouTube: youtube.com/@TacitEdge Find Christa Hill on social: Instagram: instagram.com/christa.hill.ai/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christajhill/

    38 min

About

Product for Humans is the podcast for leaders building products in the age of AI. Hosted by Christa Hill and Renee Matsalla, co-founders of Tacit Edge, this show explores what it really takes to lead when AI is no longer a feature. It is the environment. Each episode tackles real business challenges through the lens of product thinking, AI strategy, data readiness, and human-centred leadership. Because the question is no longer “How do we ship?” It is “How do we lead responsibly when the tools are evolving faster than our teams?” You will hear: How AI changes the role of product leadersWhere strategy breaks down in the messy middleWhat to automate and what to protectHow to lift the floor of literacy so your organization can raise the ceiling of growth At Tacit Edge, we believe AI is not the strategy. Leadership is. If you are responsible for outcomes, teams, or transformation, this podcast is for you.