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    Technology

    Podcast Awesome

    On Podcast Awesome we talk to members of the Font Awesome team about icons, design, tech, business, and of course, nerdery.

    🎙️ Podcast Awesome is your all-access pass into the creative engine behind Font Awesome — the web’s favorite icon toolkit. Join host Matt Johnson and the Font Awesome crew (and friends) for deep dives into icon design, front-end engineering, software development, healthy business culture, and a whole lot of lovingly-rendered nerdery.

    From technical explorations of our open-source tooling, chats with web builders, icon designers, and content creators, with the occasional gleeful rants about early internet meme culture, we bring you stories and strategies from the trenches of building modern web software — with a healthy dose of 80s references and tech dad jokes.

    🎧 Perfect for:

    • Icon design and content-first thinking
    • Creative process and collaborative design
    • Work-life balance in tech
    • Remote team culture and async collaboration
    • Internet history, meme archaeology, and other nerd ephemera

    🧠 Come for the design wisdom, stay for the deep meme cuts and beautifully crafted icons.

    Advertise

    Copyright: © 2023 Podcast Awesome

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    Working Genius in Teams with Dave and Travis Apr 23, 2024
    Show notes

    Episode Summary:

    In this episode we chat with Font Awesome founders, Travis Chase and Dave Gandy. We delve into the intricacies of team dynamics and working relationships within the Font Awesome team. Using Patrick Lencioni's 6 Types of Working Genius framework, the episode dissects the leadership styles, strengths, weaknesses, and the collaborative fabric that help make Font Awesome successful.


    Dave and Travis talk about how they navigate through frustrations in the workplace and strategies they've learned to capitalize on each other's strengths. Various aspects of the framework are highlighted, illustrating real-life examples where certain geniuses shine within the team's projects.


    Key Takeaways:

    • Long-standing relationships between team members can lead to a deep understanding of each other's working styles and a healthier team environment.
    • The Working Genius framework can be particularly useful in identifying and playing to the strengths of team members in various project phases.
    • The 'Wonder' and 'Invention' geniuses play a pivotal role in the creative process, while 'Discernment' ensures ideas are viable.
    • Understanding and accommodating for 'Working Frustrations' is crucial in team settings to avoid conflict and help productivity.
    • Diversity in team geniuses is important not only to cover all areas of project development but also to foster unique perspectives to find solutions.

    Notable Quotes:

    • "One of the creators of WuFU was one of our mentors in YC, was in that interview. And I just remember there was a point in which they started not only talking about business, but design in business, and how design business and how a company grows, how important it is. And it was just like two wonder bombs going off." - Travis
    • "The differences between people are how in our own deficiencies, that's how they get covered over. We work with other people that have those as geniuses instead of frustrations, and that's how we all together work better together." - Dave
    • "There's an infinite amount you don't know, and that's not the daily assumption and how you act, then the world is a very weird place around what we don't know." - Travis
    • "We are amazingly good at fooling ourselves, especially around our own capabilities, our own importance, and our own intelligence." - Dave

    Show Notes:

    • The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
    • Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
    • The 6 Types of Working Genius

    Timestamp
    0:00:08 | Introduction to the podcast and discussion of working dynamics
    0:01:29 | Reflecting on working with Dave during the YC interview
    0:04:31 | Travis's working frustrations with Dave's wonder
    0:08:25 | Dave's working frustration with "E" (Enablement)
    0:09:23 | Importance of having all 6 working geniuses on a leadership team
    0:10:30 | Travis emphasizes the importance of not avoiding frustrations.
    0:11:35 | Dave asks about discernment and its importance.
    0:11:44 | Travis explains the working competencies of the team members.
    0:12:30 | Dave discusses Lindsay's unique perspective as a designer.
    0:13:32 | Travis and Dave discuss the critical role of discernment in design.
    0:14:32 | Travis and Dave talk about Brian's genius in scriptwriting.
    0:16:22 | Travis emphasizes the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives.
    0:18:02 | Dave highlights the benefits of teamwork and listening to each other.

    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    What the Eff is the "FACU"? Apr 16, 2024
    Show notes

    Maybe you've heard the news? The team at Font Awesome has recently rebranded Shoelace as "Web Awesome!" To celebrate the occasion, we launched a Kickstarter. And we couldn't kick off a rebrand without a new video.
    Check it out!

    If you've been around these parts for very long, you know Font Awesome has a history of creating zany content, such as the Font Awesome 5 Kickstarter video from 2017. And for the Web Awesome video, we collaborated with the creative studio Knox Avenue once again.

    The Font Awesome promo videos have been a real source of pride for our team. They're not only a great marketing tool but the videos give us a chance to showcase the personality of the brand.

    As always, the actors involved in creating these videos were great to work with. We were fortunate to get several of the characters you know and love — Rob, Milton and Albert — along with a few fresh faces too!
    All of the actors and the whole Knox Avenue team were great to work with as always and the actors and crew members went above and beyond to helped bring the vision of the scripts to life.
    Check out the video version of this podcast on the Kickstarter page!

    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    Free Code, Future Sustainability Apr 02, 2024
    Show notes

    In this episode we chat with Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy about the journey of finding a sustainable business model while staying true to the open source model. We discuss the origin of Font Awesome, the power of open source software, and the concept of "actualized open source." Dave shares insights into the success of Font Awesome and their approach to monetizing the project while continuing to provide value to the open source community. They also discuss the launch of their new project, Web Awesome, and their Kickstarter campaign. Tune in to learn more about the intersection of open source and business.
    Key Takeaways:

    • Font Awesome started as a solution to personal challenges with icons in web development and quickly turned into a global standard.
    • The importance of Retina displays in driving the success of vector-based iconography, especially for Font Awesome.
    • Balancing a profitable business model with the ethos of open source has resulted in continued improvement and distribution of free software.
    • Actualized open source is not just about sustaining a project but enabling it to become everything it can be.
    • Font Awesome maintains a commitment to not selling user data and providing a transparent business model based on value exchange.

    Notable Quotes:

    • "Never let your morals get in the way of doing the right thing."
    • "Can we build a company full of people that can actually trust each other?"
    • "Can the company and the open-source project be actualized? Can they be self-actualized?"
    • "Software has this crazy thing about it that's different from the real world. The real world there is a natural scarcity... But with software, whatever we can provide in software, we can copy and distribute for almost free."
    • "What if we could be a place where people could become more of who they were made to be, right, of what they know is good about them?"

    Timestamp
    0:01:23 | The origin of Font Awesome as a solution to icon frustrations
    0:03:00 | Explanation of Retina displays and the significance for graphics
    0:04:04 | Font Awesome's advantage of using vector graphics for scalable icons
    0:06:00 | Decision to make Font Awesome an open source project
    0:08:32 | Font Awesome's rapid growth and the importance of GitHub for distribution
    0:09:19 | Realization of Font Awesome's potential and decision to seek funding
    0:10:23 | Building Font Awesome as a company instead of relying on external funding
    0:11:18 | Dave's preference to avoid fundraising and maintain control over the project
    0:11:58 | Open source software should not be begging for money
    0:13:15 | The challenge is to build a product that people will pay for
    0:14:57 | Font Awesome found a way to make payroll & sustain open source
    0:15:22 | Being a pro subscriber is similar to donating to open source
    0:17:10 | Transparency and trust are important in the business model
    0:20:15 | The goal is to achieve self-actualization in open source
    0:23:23 | Company's mission is to fulfill employees in life and workplace
    0:28:09 | Launching the web awesome Kickstarter for Shoelace (web awesome)
    0:30:10 | The goal is to grow open source exponentially and provide more value
    0:31:33 | Motivation should come from what's good enough about us, not what's not what's lacking.

    Show Notes:

    • https://fontawesome.com
    • Font Awesome YouTube channel
    • The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
    • Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions


    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    The Art of Teamwork and the Working Genius Framework Mar 26, 2024
    Show notes

    Episode Description
    Have you ever wondered which unique genius you bring to the table at work? In this podcast we chat with Jory Raphael, Rob Madole, and Lindsay Miller, as we dissect Patrick Lencioni's "6 Types of Working Genius" framework. It's not just about identifying whether you're a genius of enablement or invention; it's recognizing how these strengths play out in the real world. We all share tales of energy spikes and drains, revealing how a deep understanding of our working styles help level up our professional experiences and collaborations.

    Team chemistry is magical, isn't it? This episode peels back the curtain on the alchemy of team dynamics, celebrating moments when our diverse strengths lead to shared success. You'll hear about Travis, our team's unsung hero, whose knack for Galvanizing brings out the best in us, and how these discoveries about ourselves and each other can turn routine tasks into triumphs. It's about more than just completing projects; it's the shared victory dance when each team member's genius shines, transforming challenges into achievements.

    We wrap up with a candid look at the ebbs and flows of creating a Figma plugin, where trust and adaptability are the heroes of our story. It's a testament to the power of balancing skill with empathy and understanding that the journey toward success is rarely a straight line.
    --------------------------
    Highlights:
    0:01:54 - Exploring Working Geniuses and Competencies (80 Seconds)

    0:04:53 - Working Genius (57 Seconds)

    0:15:20 - Utilizing Working Geniuses in Leadership (66 Seconds)

    0:21:30 - Navigating Project Workflow and Decision Making (98 Seconds)

    0:24:42 - GDPR Cookie Consent Development Setback (96 Seconds)

    -------------------------
    Show notes:

    • Check out last season's episode on Working Genius
    • The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
    • Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
    • The 6 Types of Working Genius


    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    Demystifying Y Combinator Mar 12, 2024
    Show notes

    Episode Summary:

    In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we dive deep into the story of Font Awesome founders Dave Gandy and Travis Chase, as they reminisce about their remarkable journey through Y Combinator, the prestigious tech accelerator. The conversation offers listeners an exclusive look into the world of startups, challenges, and triumphs that come with being a part of such an intensive program.


    Dave and Travis recount the rigorous application process, their moment of acceptance, and the invaluable lessons learned during their time at YC. This episode demystifies the accelerator experience and provides real-world advice to aspiring YC entrepreneurs.


    Their tale is peppered with anecdotes, humor and hard-fought wisdom, drawing parallels from the TV series "Silicon Valley." Listeners will leave with a better understanding of what it takes to step into the ring of tech accelerators and come out with a clear direction.


    Key Takeaways:

    • Y Combinator's rigorous selection process emphasizes the potential of the founders rather than just the product idea.
    • The importance of preparation for the YC interview, including potential questions and understanding the background and interests of the partners.
    • Building and nurturing relationships is key to both business and personal development.

    Notable Quotes:

    • "All a startup is is something that's a lie that people believed long enough that it became the truth." - Dave
    • "If you live your life doing what you think is right and working, when you see those chances arise, then there isn't really anything to regret." - Dave
    • "The most recent round of YC just wrapped […] they had 20,000 applications and they accepted 1.4%." - Dave

    Timestamp
    0:02:15 | Importance of thinking big in startups
    0:04:43 | Y Combinator as a business trade school
    0:05:08 | Focus and community at Y Combinator
    0:09:37 | Y Combinator's selection process and emphasis on team
    0:10:41 | Y Combinator believes in betting on the right people, not just the idea.
    0:11:46 | VCs advise each other to bet on people, but it doesn't always work in practice.
    0:12:14 | YC focuses on betting on the people, even without a specific idea.
    0:13:17 | The importance of leaving everything on the table during the YC interview.
    0:16:07 | Craft a strong answer for how the you can become a billion-dollar company.
    0:19:44 | YC educates startups on the venture capital business model.
    0:22:24 | Feeling confident after the second interview
    0:25:44 | Receiving the call that they got into Y Combinator
    0:29:20 | Considering fundraising options: Kickstarter or venture capital
    0:29:48 | Y Combinator provides guidance on raising money and crafting pitches.
    0:33:43 | Decision to stay self-sufficient and profitable rather than raising series A.
    0:36:13 | Preparation and research are key for a successful YC application.
    0:40:27 | Identifying character through sacrifice and hard choices
    0:41:16 | The extensive interview process at Y Combinator
    0:42:02 | Building relationships with mentors and colleagues
    0:42:24 | Advice for entrepreneurs: listen to customers and build something they want
    0:43:18 | The core value of developing relationships with good people
    Show Notes:

    • The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
    • Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
    • Y Combinator

    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    Pressure to Empowerment: Lessons From MIT Feb 27, 2024
    Show notes

    About the Guest:

    Dave Gandy is Font Awesome's Founder and an MIT alumnus who hails from Carl Junction, Missouri, and reflects on his experience transitioning from a small-town environment to the competitive halls of MIT. With a background rooted in both art and technology, Dave specialized in human-centric product design and has a strong belief in the interplay between creativity, empathy, and engineering. Detailing his educational journey, he conveys a profound understanding of personal growth through adversity, emphasizing how integral unique talents are to individual success.


    Episode Summary:

    In this profound discussion, Dave Gandy delves into the multifaceted experience of attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), providing a unique perspective that intertwines struggle, growth, and the eventual recognition of one's strengths. The conversation unveils the cultural nuances of MIT, the infamous acronym 'IHTFP', and the myriad emotions associated with the academic pressure cooker that is this renowned institution.


    Dave candidly shares his journey from a small town to the rigorous academic world of MIT, including the realities of cultural shift and academic preparedness. He discusses the intensity of the coursework, MIT's famous hacking culture, and the pivotal moments that led to self-discovery and personal growth. Filled with engaging anecdotes, Dave also illustrates the communal encounters and extracurricular exploits that colored his time at the institute.


    Key Takeaways:

    • The acronym 'IHTFP' at MIT can stand for both 'I Hate This F***ing Place' and 'I Have Truly Found Paradise', reflecting the duality of the MIT experience.
    • MIT pushes students to their limits, uncovering their limitations and potential, a crucial part of personal development that Dave attests can come with "good, healthy pain."
    • Dave's unique combination of interests in art, technology, and human-centric design became his niche, setting him apart and allowing him to excel in areas beyond traditional academics.
    • Experiences such as "roof and tunnel hacking" not only serve as a rite of passage but enforce creative problem-solving and ethical boundary-pushing among students.
    • MIT's competitive atmosphere can induce significant stress and emotional upheaval, highlighting the importance of a solid personal identity and a supportive community.

    Notable Quotes:

    • "Any real significant personal growth will not be had in life without a good bit of healthy kind of pain."
    • "A company is really nothing more than a lie that people believe long enough until it becomes the truth."
    • "The real challenge in life, a lot of times is, yeah, but what can I do about it? What are the solutions?"

    Timestamp
    0:02:14 | MIT experiences involve pain and questioning if it's worth it.
    0:05:10 | A teacher's encouragement made Dave consider MIT.
    0:08:07 | MIT experiences include dangerous and fun activities.
    0:11:31 | Hacking in relation to roof and tunnel hacking
    0:15:44 | The practical problem-solving skills gained from hacking
    0:19:52 | Dave reflects on discovering his own strengths and finding his sweet spot
    0:22:26 | Dave reflects on his experience at MIT and how it shaped him
    0:23:22 | The negative outcomes of being driven by emptiness
    0:26:39 | Embrace the right kind of pain for growth
    0:30:01 | Don't climb someone else's ladder of success
    0:32:07 | Dave reflects on their personal growth and values during their time at MIT
    0:34:07 | The brutal workload at MIT.

    Show Notes:
    The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
    Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions


    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    Bridging the Gap: How Devs and Designers Can Work Better Together Feb 15, 2024
    Show notes

    Designers + Developers: How Font Awesome Bridges the Creative-Tech Divide

    In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we dive deep into the sometimes-harmonious, sometimes-hilariously-clashing worlds of design and development. Host Matt Johnson sits down with Cory LaViska (creator of Shoelace) and Font Awesome’s very own Jory Raphael and Noah Jacobus to unpack the nuanced dynamics between developers and designers. From figma files to file formats, these pros explore how collaboration, communication, and culture shape better digital products—and friendlier Slack channels.

    Whether you’ve ever been handed an impossible mockup or spent hours coding around a whimsical curve, this episode gives you the real talk (and real laughs) about bridging the gap between right-brainers and left-brainers. Spoiler: empathy is the secret weapon. 🧠💥

    💡 What We Cover in This Episode

    • 💬 Why communication is key—and how to make it less awkward
    • 🧪 The designer-developer pairing method we swear by
    • 🎨 How design systems like Shoelace create common ground
    • 🍰 Why working in “vertical slices” beats serving sheet cake
    • 🛠️ Figma, code pens, and using design tools in weird-but-brilliant ways
    • 🎭 Killing ego culture to create safe spaces for learning

    ⏱️ Timestamps

    • [00:01:08] Devs & Designers: The classic tension explained
    • [00:02:18] Communication: The MVP of collaboration
    • [00:04:34] Design/dev balance in Font Awesome’s DNA
    • [00:06:21] Why mutual understanding beats “just trust me”
    • [00:10:56] Vertical slices vs. horizontal disasters
    • [00:13:11] Shoelace as a sandbox for team creativity
    • [00:18:47] The value of shared design vocabulary
    • [00:20:59] Being design-led vs. adding polish last
    • [00:22:57] Breaking down silos, and why size matters (in teams!)
    • [00:27:12] Creating a safe space for “stupid” questions

    🗣️ Notable Quotes

    "Communication is key. I think that's number one." — Cory LaViska
    A simple truth that sets the tone for the whole discussion.
    "Designers ask for the impossible a lot more than might be necessary." — Jory Raphael
    Said with love—and a deep understanding of pixel-perfect pain.
    "We always have a dev and a designer paired together on a project." — Jory Raphael
    A peek into the Font Awesome philosophy: build together, from the start.
    "Shoelace provides a common ground for both designers and developers to work from." — Cory LaViska
    The power of a shared design language, distilled.


    "Not wanting to appear in your eyes stupid... is such a great way to not learn anything." — Cory LaViska
    Wisdom bomb incoming. Vulnerability FTW.


    "You end up with a sheet cake that doesn’t have any frosting on it." — Jory Raphael
    An extremely delicious metaphor for bad workflows.


    "Good culture means it’s safe to ask the 'stupid' questions." — Cory LaViska
    The unsung hero of productivity: psychological safety.


    🔗 Links & Resources

    • Font Awesome Website
    • Shoelace: A forward-thinking web component library
    • Font Awesome YouTube Channel
    • Figma Plugin for Font Awesome
    • Theme music by Ronnie Martin
    • Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions

    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    Font Awesome's 2023 Year in Review Jan 30, 2024
    Show notes

    Sharp Edges, Big Wins & One Legendary PDF Mix-Up

    In this season-opening episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome’s own Jory Raphael and Rob Madole to reminisce about the many wins (and one epic PDF blunder) from 2023. From launching Font Awesome Sharp to unveiling a Figma plugin and improving the release process, the team breaks down everything they built — and the lessons they learned. Plus, they tease some exciting projects coming in 2024 (spoiler: Shoelace might be getting a glow-up), and there's even talk of sketch comedy and icon wizardry... and farts. Yep, farts.

    🎙️ What We Cover in This Episode:

    • 🔪 The sharp, edgy arrival of Font Awesome Sharp
    • 🎧 The story behind launching Podcast Awesome
    • 📺 Font Awesome’s YouTube channel and promo screencasts
    • 🥾 Integrating with Shoelace (and teasing secret video projects)
    • 🛠️ Big upgrades to Font Awesome Kits, subsetting and CSS-only kits
    • 🧰 Release process automation: from pain to power tools
    • 🧪 The Great PDF Mix-Up of 2023 and how fast fixes saved the day
    • 🔌 Launch of a slick new Figma plugin
    • 🎉 13,000 podcast downloads and what’s coming next for Season 2

    ⏱️ Timestamps:

    • 0:00:29 – New Year, old Macs, and 2023 kickoff
    • 0:04:00 – Launching Podcast Awesome and the DIY podcast hustle
    • 0:07:36 – 🎉 Font Awesome Sharp and other 2023 releases
    • 0:08:52 – Shoelace partnership and top-secret filming
    • 0:10:26 – Behind-the-scenes at Figma Config
    • 0:12:22 – Major upgrades to Kits (subsetting, CSS-only, downloads)
    • 0:15:04 – Streamlined icon release process and automation
    • 0:17:50 – 🎯 The accidental "File PDF → File PNG" snafu
    • 0:20:38 – Launch of the Figma plugin + Kit integration
    • 0:22:50 – The Snuggle that COVID stole (sad trombone)
    • 0:27:02 – Future collabs with Shoelace + Podcast Awesome S2 plans
    • 0:29:21 – Behind the Icon series and fun with Poo Storm
    • 0:30:39 – 🧠 Y Combinator experiences, Pro benefits, and icon wizardry
    • 0:31:13 – Reusable shapes a.k.a. F.A.R.T.S and stage-worthy sound effects
    • 0:32:16 – Thanks for 13,000 downloads!

    💬 Noteworthy Quotes:

    “It was one of those features we've wanted for years. Subsetting Kits finally makes Font Awesome faster and more flexible for everyone.” – Rob Madole
    “Font Awesome Sharp brings a whole new look. Edgy, clean, and totally sharp.” – Jory Raphael
    “Let that be a lesson, folks. Test early and often… especially before a Snuggle.” – Matt Johnson


    🔗 Links & Resources:

    • Font Awesome Website
    • Font Awesome YouTube Channel
    • Font Awesome Figma Plugin
    • Theme song by Ronnie Martin
    • Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions

    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    Why We Use "Shape Up" for Project Management Nov 07, 2023
    Show notes

    Why Font Awesome Uses Shape Up: Ditching Backlogs and Shipping Better Software

    In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome co-founder Travis Chase for a deep dive into the project management philosophy that keeps the FA ship sailing smoothly — Shape Up, the brainchild of 37signals (makers of Basecamp). If you're tired of bloated backlogs, eternal sprints, or shipping stress, this one’s for you.

    They contrast Shape Up with traditional methodologies like Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, and Kanban, and unpack how Font Awesome’s flavor of Shape Up—built around six-week splits and two-week cooldowns — helps them actually ship meaningful features without burning out. They also talk about the power of constraints, creative freedom, and why abandoning some work is not a failure —it's strategy.

    🤓 What We Cover in This Episode

    • 🧠 Why Shape Up beats the backlog bloat
    • 🛠️ The downside of building everything all at once
    • 📦 How six-week splits & two-week cooldowns keep FA productive
    • 🚀 Space Awesome and other cool-down creations
    • 🔮 How creative constraints unlock innovation
    • 💡 Tools like Haunt Forge & Icon Wizard born from autonomy
    • 📚 37signals’ books that shaped Font Awesome's ethos

    ⏱️ Timestamps

    • [00:00:09] Shape Up Method and How Font Awesome Uses It
    • [00:02:41] Traditional Waterfall and Agile Methodologies
    • [00:04:22] Agile and Kanban Methods in the Real World
    • [00:07:51] Product Development Lifecycle with Shape Up
    • [00:09:15] Six-Week Splits and Two-Week Cooldowns
    • [00:11:18] Side Projects like “Space Awesome”
    • [00:12:39] Shape Up Workflow Breakdown
    • [00:15:39] Project Management Meets Business Philosophy
    • [00:19:16] 40-Hour Work Weeks & Whole-Person Thinking
    • [00:20:51] Autonomy & Creative Flow at Work
    • [00:22:39] Behind the Scenes of Haunt Forge
    • [00:23:56] Icon Wizard + the Magic of Constraints
    • [00:27:35] Iterative Dev à la Basecamp
    • [00:29:41] Wrapping Up: Software and Project Management Insights

    🔗 Links & Resources

    • 📘 Shape Up (Book)
    • 📗 Always Be Shipping (and On Time for Dinner): Why We Use Shape Up
    • 🧠 It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work
    • ⚙️ Haunt Forge Font Engine
    • 🧙‍♂️ Icon Wizard
    • 🎵 The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
    • 🎧 Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions

    🔖 Noteworthy Quotes

    "One of the surprising things and sort of a takeaway I took from reading Shape Up is that it's okay — It might even be expected that certain work gets abandoned and that shipping really is the highest priority and that backlogs kill productivity. And that kind of goes along with the philosophy, too, of work, that you have to have constraints and limits to actually allow creativity to flow. And you can't do everything. So you do have to have constraints. You do have to be able to say no. "

    "Dave and I take a lot of inspiration from the books that 37Signals put out like Rework and It Doesn't Have to be Crazy at Work. And trying to maybe do business differently, do our own spin on it, see what works for us based on all the places we've worked. And kind of how we would try to change things."

    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


    Exploring Patrick Lencioni's 6 Types of Working Genius with Font Awesome Founder Dave Gandy Oct 24, 2023
    Show notes

    Working Genius at Font Awesome: Dave Gandy on Building Stronger, Happier Teams

    In this illuminating episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy to unpack the magic behind Patrick Lencioni’s “Six Types of Working Genius.” It's a deep dive into the power of knowing your work style, building better teams, and unlocking peak productivity—without all the corporate gobbledygook. Dave explains how Font Awesome embraced the Working Genius framework, why it matters, and how it's shaping everything from meetings to morale. If you're a startup nerd or workplace culture aficionado, this one’s for you.

    🤓 What We Cover in This Episode

    • 🧠 What are the Six Types of Working Genius (WIDGET!) and why they matter
    • 🌍 Why remote work success hinges on IRL relationships
    • 🛠️ How organizational health is a competitive edge
    • 💥 The difference between work that energizes vs. drains you
    • 👥 Why understanding how others work might be your secret weapon
    • 🎯 The practical impact of knowing your team’s working geniuses
    • 🔧 How better meetings = more efficiency, less money torching

    🕰️ Timestamps

    • [00:06:19] Six types of working genius
    • [00:09:53] Remote work relationships
    • [00:16:57] Wonder and innovation
    • [00:19:12] Taking the time for work
    • [00:23:09] Importance of being a domain expert
    • [00:24:55] Tenacity in the workplace
    • [00:27:58] Ideation process and meetings
    • [00:30:43] Working geniuses and efficiency
    • [00:33:59] Organizational health and satisfaction

    🔥 Best Quotes

    “Font Awesome is a company of nerds who like people. Not machines —people.” — Dave Gandy“


    "Working genius isn’t about skills. It’s about energy — what lights you up and what drains you.” — Dave Gandy


    "Just because you’re not a domain expert doesn’t mean you're better at managing. That’s a warm blanket of nonsense.” — Dave Gandy


    "Understanding how work gets done is the first step to actually changing reality.” — Dave Gandy


    🔗 Links & Resources

    • The Six Types of Working Genius
    • The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
    • Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions

    Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!


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