The Panel

Justin Jackson & Brian Casel
  • 0.0 (0)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

When it comes to bootstrapping and building software, there's rarely one right answer. We want to dive into the nuance. In every episode, veteran founders Justin Jackson and Brian Casel tackle thorny topics – from pricing and product strategy to work-life balance. No gurus, no easy answers – just real conversations we'd normally have behind closed doors.

  1. Will vibe coding and AI give product people an advantage?

    3 DAYS AGO

    Will vibe coding and AI give product people an advantage?

    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: (01:48) - Vibe coding a marketing tool for Transistor (11:23) - Coding with AI vs designing with AI (18:35) - Is vibe coding a playground or for serious development work? (24:57) - Negativity around AI and building (46:24) - Artists and AI (01:00:36) - Will we ever go back to the social days of Twitter (01:08:34) - What are your Q4 goals? Do you think about end of the year business planning? (01:31:27) - The importance of telling people what you're doing (01:42:53) - The benefits of a long career YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode v0 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

    1h 49m

  2. 26 SEPT

    Business vibes

    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: (00:00) - Intro (00:21) - Justin's been vibe coding again (02:11) - Transistor's company retreat (14:48) - The benefits of hiring a photographer for team retreats (21:56) - Laying out the vision for Transistor (25:23) - An easy way to tell how often you're shipping new features (34:45) - Builder Methods workshop update (41:31) - Selling annual subscriptions (46:40) - The mixture of feelings around launching (48:52) - The struggle of dealing with inbound messages (54:47) - Figuring out how to help teams as well as individuals (57:54) - What do Justin and Jon want next? (01:16:08) - Should we think about our competitors? (01:31:44) - Vibe coding vs AI assistant in the code YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode Justin'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

    1h 40m
  3. Business Dad, digital fatigue, Outro.fm, Builder Methods

    12 SEPT

    Business Dad, digital fatigue, Outro.fm, Builder Methods

    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: (00:06) - The pre-show is the show (00:23) - Quitting Twitter (06:19) - Redesigning his website with AI (07:53) - Deciding on what a channel is for (13:59) - Chasing views and likes (20:58) - What are we up to this week (29:36) - Why subscription and community vs team training and consulting (50:32) - What should the premium content be for day one? (57:08) - What is Outro.fm? (01:15:04) - Who are Outro.fm's competition? (01:21:47) - Selling sponsorships for podcasts as a product (01:25:43) - The bet on how much revenue you'll get from your work (01:43:59) - Step 1: Become famous YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode Ian 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

    1h 57m
  4. Why does the same amount of effort produce wildly different results?

    5 SEPT

    Why does the same amount of effort produce wildly different results?

    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: (00:20) - Preview of what we're going to talk about (02:11) - Builder Methods Pro and AgentOS (03:58) - The importance of human content in an age of algorithmic feeds (25:55) - Connecting with people in real life (33:52) - Zeroing in on Builder Methods revenue (48:25) - Managing an open source project in public (59:22) - The importance of enthusiasm in projects (01:12:21) - Effort and outcome YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode Sam 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

    1h 43m

  5. 16 AUG

    A framework for getting what you want

    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: (00:06) - We're back! (00:59) - Brian's healthcare journey (09:36) - Deep dive into Stripe Sigma and Transistor's history (37:38) - Asking yourself the hard questions about your business (42:12) - The value of taking a win now (57:29) - What does Brian want with BuilderMethods (01:14:35) - Rob Snyder's Pull framework (01:30:48) - Can you do community well without the time commitment? (01:35:17) - Cohort vs courses (01:57:23) - How long is a long podcast episode? YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode Jason 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

    1h 58m

  6. 18 JUL

    Should we be outsourcing customer support to AI chatbots?

    Justin is wondering whether AI customer support is worth it. Brian is navigating the emotional rollercoaster of YouTube. He's wondering whether he should pursue sponsorships as a revenue stream. Brian introduces Agent OS, a new development tool designed to streamline coding processes when working with AI tooling (which got a big reaction during the live stream). Timestamps: (00:33) - Justin's experiment with AI support chat bots (15:20) - Do you want AI writing your responses? (19:06) - Trying to figure out why Brian's latest video didn't work as well (26:35) - How important is it to keep publishing every week? (30:56) - Thinking sponsorship vs products (45:36) - The value of community (56:23) - What is Agent OS? (01:05:00) - Should Agent OS be free? YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode BentoTransistor’s new customer service pageAgent OSAgent OS on GitHubBrian’s YouTubeColin and Samir interview by Jay ClouseColin and SamirJay Clouse’s revenue breakdownWes BosSyntax.fm

    1h 15m

  7. 11 JUL

    I don't love SaaS anymore

    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: (00:06) - Brian's YouTube journey (04:29) - What Brian's hoping BuilderMethods could be (08:26) - What does Brian's YouTube video script look like? (10:59) - Why is AI so bad for YouTube editors? (16:57) - One thing Descript really nails (19:44) - How Steve Jobs ruined his early companies (24:25) - Learning about your blindspots (28:40) - Seeking connection in mastermind groups or conferences (38:00) - How can we make sure we don't follow our worst impulses? (42:23) - Zooming in on our battery: what gives us energy? (53:00) - Getting alignment between what you love and what makes you money (01:00:10) - What might not work for one person, can be a smash hit for another (01:03:20) - What is the paid value of content lead companies? (01:21:07) - There are business models that are difficult YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode Clarity 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

    1h 26m

  8. 4 JUL

    What's in Justin's Buckets?

    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: (01:09) - Why Brian will never join your Slack (04:54) - What email client did Brian switch to? (16:56) - Justin's matrix of boxes (17:58) - What are Justin's boxes? (19:54) - What is the Podcast Standards Project? (28:57) - The benefits of working in the same place together (35:49) - Pushing back on Justin's time allotement (38:48) - What's the work in the investment portfolio? (48:34) - Having the motivation and ability to commit (58:24) - Running your own business + a family changes the calculations (01:01:04) - Getting encouragment from simple projects YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube 🦋 Reply on Bluesky Links mentioned in this episode Illustration: 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

    1h 7m
See All (22)

Trailer

About

When it comes to bootstrapping and building software, there's rarely one right answer. We want to dive into the nuance. In every episode, veteran founders Justin Jackson and Brian Casel tackle thorny topics – from pricing and product strategy to work-life balance. No gurus, no easy answers – just real conversations we'd normally have behind closed doors.

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Jackson & Brian Casel
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Panel Podcast with Justin Jackson and Brian Casel
  • Show Website
    The Panel

You Might Also Like