Behind the Craft

Latest Episodes:

This Vision Playbook Will Change YouTube and Your Life | Ebi Atawodi Feb 16, 2025

Show notes

My guest today is Ebi Atawodi.

Ebi is the Director of Product for YouTube Studio, the home for 65M creators (including me). Ebi gave me an inside look at crafting Studio’s vision and how to define yourself beyond your job title. Ebi’s super inspiring, and you'll love our chat.

This episode is brought to you by Vanta — Join over 9,000 global companies like Atlassian, Quora, and Factory who use Vanta to manage risk and prove security in real time. Get $1000 off at vanta.com/peter

Timestamps:

(00:00) If I took away your job title, who are you?

(03:44) Defining the vision for YouTube Studio

(07:30) Tell me what's painful, not what you shipped

(11:18) Transforming a vision into strategic themes

(21:24) What most people don't realize about platform PMs

(28:59) Balancing the needs of big and small creators

(33:23) Why the little moments really matter for creators

(38:01) Why Ebi took time off to make a short film

(43:50) I'm a storyteller, and nobody can take that away

Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/this-vision-playbook-will-change-youtube-product

Where to find Ebi Atawodi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebiatawodi/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6vQTfTejyY

📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

This AI Tool Lets You Build Apps Faster Than Googling | Amjad Mosad (Replit) Feb 09, 2025

Show notes

My guest today is Amjad Mosad, CEO and founder of Replit.Amjad is the CEO of Replit, an AI coding platform with 34M users that’s making it possible for anyone to build an app in 60 seconds from their phone. In our chat, Amjad shared how you can learn to code with AI and gave me a live demo of Replit’s AI agent. We also discussed the skills that will still matter in AI. This episode is brought to you by Vanta — Join over 9,000 global companies like Atlassian, Quora, and Factory who use Vanta to manage risk and prove security in real-time. Get $1000 off at vanta.com/peter. Timestamps:(00:00) Two paths to tech job security in the AI era

(06:36) The best way to learn to code with AI

(07:41) Building a nutrition tracking app with Replit

(14:07) How to avoid getting stuck on bugs with AI

(18:30) 5 tips to get the most out of AI coding agents

(22:10) Why everyone should build personal software

(24:00) What makes Replit's AI approach different

(27:41) Why traditional roadmaps are dead

(30:40) How Replit uses AI internally to build faster

(34:00) Build an app in 60 seconds from your phone

(36:14) Career advice for tech folks to become AI nativeGet the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/this-ai-tool-lets-you-build-apps-faster-than-googlingWhere to find Amjad:

X: https://x.com/amasad

Website: https://replit.com/📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

The #1 Hack to Build Apps With AI Without Getting Stuck | Colin Matthews Feb 02, 2025

Show notes

My guest today is Colin Matthews. Colin is a rockstar instructor who teaches a popular AI Prototyping for PMs course on building AI apps without coding skills. In our interview, Colin shared how to pick the right AI prototyping tool, what you should do before asking AI to code, and how to build a habit-tracking app step by step in just 20 minutes.

Brought to you by:

Vanta— Automate compliance and scale your security program. Get $1,000 off.

Timestamps: (00:00) Do this before asking AI to code (01:13) How to pick the right AI prototyping tool (05:50) Choosing AI tools for client, server, and database (10:49) Building a habit-tracking app step by step(14:02) Always start with the data model (22:08) Top mistakes to avoid with AI prototyping (27:14) Should you still learn to be technical with AI? (32:13) Avoiding the 70% problem and getting stuck on bugs (33:59) How to learn to code through AI prototyping Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-number-one-hack-to-build-with-ai-without-getting-stuck Where to find Colin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmatthews-pm/

Get $100 off Colin's prototyping course: https://maven.com/tech-for-product/ai-prototyping-for-product-managers?promoCode=peter100 📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

Inside Suno, the AI Music App You Won't Be Able to Stop Listening To | Mikey Shulman (Suno) Jan 26, 2025

Show notes

My guest today is Mikey Shulman. Mikey is the CEO and co-founder of Suno, the best AI music app available. I’ve had so much fun using it to make songs with my kids. In our chat, Mikey shares how music LLMs work, how Suno builds AI products, and the good and bad futures of music with AI. Timestamps: (00:00) The good and bad futures of AI in music

(03:41) How Suno's music AI actually works

(07:31) Building for personalization without losing humanity

(10:34) Turning text into actual songs

(14:06) Product iteration in uncharted territory

(20:37) Core principles for building AI products

(25:06) How streaming changed everything

(31:35) What's next for AI music in 2025

(32:51) Navigating product management in AI

Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/inside-suno-the-ai-music-app-you-wont-stop-listening-to-product Where to find Mikey: X: https://x.com/MikeyShulmanWebsite: https://suno.ai/ 📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

The 5 Hidden Rules Behind Successful AI Products | Chris Pedregal (Granola) Jan 19, 2025

Show notes

My guest today is Chris Pettigrew. Chris is the co-founder and CEO of Granola, an AI meeting notes app that has become indispensable to me. Granola has 70%+ weekly user retention, almost unheard of for consumer AI. In our interview, Chris shared five hard-won rules for building AI products that users love and explained why AI will fix meetings.

Timestamps:

(00:00) The #1 mistake you can make when building AI products

(01:35) The difference between big tech PM and startup founder

(06:22) Why Chris decided to use AI to solve meetings

(09:26) Don't solve problems that won't be problems soon

(12:44) How can you predict what LLMs can do in the future

(19:09) Why context is king for great AI products

(23:56) How to give your AI product a soul

(28:43) When to listen to user feedback and when to trust your gut(31:39) Closing advice for people who want to build AI apps Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-hidden-rules-behind-successful-ai-products-chris-pedregal Where to find Chris:

Website: https://www.granola.ai/

X: https://x.com/cjpedregal

📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

The AI Skill That Will Define Your PM Career in 2025 | Aman Khan (Arize) Jan 12, 2025

Show notes

My guest today is Aman Khan.

Aman is the Director of Product at Arize AI. Last year, we both heard the Chief Product Officers of OpenAI and Anthropic share that AI evaluations will be the most important skill for PMs in 2025. Aman gave me a crash course on how to build this critical skill in our interview.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Evals force you to get into your user's shoes

(03:42) 5 skills to build right now to become a great AI PM

(07:43) How curiosity leads to better AI products

(10:20) You can build AI without the job title

(17:00) A deep dive into why AI evals are so important

(24:53) Example of running evals for an AI customer support agent

(31:32) When humans need to be in the loop for evals

(35:46) How to get better at writing evals right now

(39:39) My personal prompt and eval for transcripts

(44:23) Catching the AI wave is alot like surfing

Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/the-ai-skill-that-will-define-your-pm-career-aman-khan

Where to find Aman:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanberkeley/

Arize: https://arize.com/

📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

This is What Top 1% PMs Do Differently | Amit Fulay (VP Microsoft) Jan 05, 2025

Show notes

My guest today is Amit Fulay.

Amit is a product VP at Microsoft who previously spent 15 years building products like News Feed (Meta) and Google Meet (Google). In our interview, he reveals the three types of product leaders, how to build trust at each career stage, and what AI means for PMs. He also teaches a popular on leveling up from PM to influential product leader (get $100 off with this link).

Timestamps:

(00:00) The secret to building trust

(01:43) 3 distinct types of product leaders

(03:29) How to influence each type of leader

(09:29) Will AI kill traditional product management?

(16:02) How to build trust in each stage of your career

(20:16) Sunsetting your own without losing trust

(25:31) Speaking the truth to your management chain

(28:55) Inside how Satya Nadella fixed Microsoft

(32:41) What Amit wished he knew when he started as a PM

Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/top-1-percent-product-leaders-do-this-amit-fulay Where to find Amit:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afulay/

Course: https://maven.com/amitfulay/toppmleader 📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

Make 2025 Your Best Year Yet With This Ritual | Katia Verresen Dec 29, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is Katia Verresen. Katia is one of Silicon Valley's most sought-after leadership coaches. Her clients include Fidji Simo (CEO of Instacart), Kate Rouch (CMO of OpenAI), Deb Liu (CEO of Ancestry), who all rave about how she transformed their careers. In our chat, Katia shared her proven techniques to help you achieve your goals in the new year. Timestamps: (00:00) How to stop doubting yourself (01:54) The year-in-review ritual top CEOs swear by (06:11) I thought I had a horrible year until I realized this (10:13) Why it's so important to celebrate your wins(15:40) Coaching clients from managers to CEOs (17:57) The power of unlocking your "kind observer" (21:35) How to use emotions to shape your reality (30:18) Imagination is a superpower most leaders don't use (41:18) 3 daily practices to unlock abundant energy Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/make-2025-your-best-year-yet-katia-verresen Where to find Katia: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katia-verresen/ Website: https://www.kvaleadership.com/ 📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

This Will Make You Rethink Your Product and Career in 2025 | Sachin Rekhi (Notejoy) Dec 22, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is Sachin Rekhi.

Sachin scaled LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator to $200M ARR and 500 employees. He then left it all behind to start Notejoy; a team notes app. I had a great chat with him about finding market fit for your product and career in 2025 and how to design work to suit your life, not vice versa.

Timestamps: (00:00) I got my dream PM job then realized I didn’t want it (02:19) The MVP is dead (08:02) Execution is NOT the only thing that matters (09:40) A proven loop to achieve product-market fit (14:18) Better ways to validate your product than MVPs (20:01) How to even measure product-market fit (26:03) Why Sachin opted out of the path to VP (29:16) Aligning your career with your zone of genius (36:18) I saw the small team trend coming (40:38) Use explore-exploit to find your dream career (44:01) Closing tips to design your life with purpose

Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/rethink-your-pm-career-in-2025-sachin-rekhi Where to find Sachin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachinrekhi/ Website: https://www.sachinrekhi.com/ 📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

How to Survive and Thrive as a Busy Working Parent | Deb Liu (CEO Ancestry) Dec 15, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is Deb Liu. Deb is the CEO of Ancestry, former VP at Meta, and writer of Perspectives. But for our interview, I wanted to talk to Deb about a more personal topic: How to survive and thrive as a busy working parent with your spouse, aging parents, and kids. In our interview, Deb shared her best advice on building a 60-60 relationship with your spouse, raising resilient kids, caring for aging parents, and dealing with grief. Timestamps: (00:00) How to stop parenting through guilt

(01:19) Building a 60-60 relationship with your spouse

(03:05) Choosing your marriage swim lanes

(05:41) A simple ritual for authentic family conversations

(09:51) Why the world isn't set up for two working parents

(12:24) How to solve stressful mornings

(17:29) The sandwich generation and dealing with grief

(21:38) How to build your modern village

(27:49) Raising resilient kids as a busy parent

(35:19) Closing words of advice for balancing career and family Get the takeaways: https://creatoreconomy.so/p/how-to-survive-and-thrive-as-a-busy-working-parent Where to find Deb:

Newsletter: https://debliu.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahliu/ 📌 Subscribe to this channel – more interviews coming soon!

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