Pod Force

A Matter of Ambition

REWORK
08 May 2024

In this episode of Rework, host Kimberly Rhodes alongside 37signals co-founders, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, talk about the company's renewed sense of ambition and excitement for upcoming projects. They highlight the importance of keeping things fresh, while emphasizing the balance between ambition and practicality.Key Takeaways:00:41 - The source...

#348 The Financial Genius Behind A Century of Wall Street Scandals: Ivar Kreuger

Founders
07 May 2024

What I learned from reading The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, The Financial Genius Behind a Century of Wall Street Scandals by Frank Partnoy. ----Relationships run the world: Build relationships at Founders events----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for FoundersYou can read, reread, and search all my notes and highlights...

How We Work: Summer Fridays

REWORK
01 May 2024

In this episode, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with 37signals' cofounders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about the company's Summer Fridays policy, which grants employees a four-day workweek from May to September. While the perk encourages work-life balance and a feeling of seasonality, there are drawbacks to consider, like reduced...

#347 How Walt Disney Built His Greatest Creation: Disneyland

Founders
29 Apr 2024

What I learned from reading Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World by Richard Snow. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for FoundersYou can read, reread, and search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the...

A Spin-off Story

REWORK
24 Apr 2024

In the podcast, REWORK host Kimberly Rhodes talks with 37signals co-founders, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, about their journey spinning off products. They stress the value of keeping contracts simple and how once the handover is done, it's best to take a hands-off approach and let the new team...

#346 How Walt Disney Built Himself

Founders
22 Apr 2024

What I learned from rereading Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders You can read, reread, and search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. You can also ask SAGE any question...

Microsoft

Acquired
21 Apr 2024

Microsoft. After nearly a decade of Acquired episodes, we are finally ready to tackle the most valuable company ever created. The company that put a computer on every desk and in every home. The company that invented the software business model. The company that so thoroughly and completely dominated every...

Disagree and Commit

REWORK
17 Apr 2024

"Consensus is cozy, but broad agreement is not our aim. The right decision is. Which is why we take the time to think, debate, persuade, listen and reconsider and then, someone, decides. If you disagree, that’s fine, but once the decision is made, it’s time to commit and support it...

#345 George Lucas

Founders
12 Apr 2024

What I learned from rereading George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones.----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for FoundersYou can read, reread, and search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. You can also ask SAGE any question and SAGE will...

Strangers at a Cocktail Party

REWORK
10 Apr 2024

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the co-founders of 37signals, dive into their book REWORK and discuss the essay “Strangers at a Cocktail Party” with Rework host, Kimberly Rhodes. From their experience, hiring too many people at once can throw off the balance and continuity of a company's culture. They...

Strangers at a Cocktail Party (the downside of hiring too many people at once)

REWORK
10 Apr 2024

Steven Spielberg

Founders
04 Apr 2024

What I learned from reading Steven Spielberg: A Biography by Joseph McBride. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for FoundersYou can read, reread, and search all my notes and highlights from every book I've ever read for the podcast. You can also ask SAGE any question and SAGE will read...

The Wrong Time for Real Time

REWORK
03 Apr 2024

This episode of REWORK delves into an essay from the book "It Doesn't Have To Be Crazy At Work," co-authored by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, advocating for the use of asynchronous communication for work projects. During the discussion, they explore the downside of chat and suggest it be...

#344 Quentin Tarantino

Founders
30 Mar 2024

What I learned from reading Cinema Speculation by Quentin Tarantino. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for FoundersSome questions other subscribers asked SAGE: I need some unique ideas on how to find new customers. What advice do you have for me?What are some strategies that Cornelius Vanderbilt used against his...

More Than a Month of Once

REWORK
27 Mar 2024

In this episode of REWORK, host Kimberly Rhodes sits down with the co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, to provide an update on their latest product — Campfire, under the Once umbrella — just about one month after its initial launch. Once introduces a new software paradigm...

#343 The Eternal Pursuit of Unhappiness: David Ogilvy

Founders
24 Mar 2024

What I learned from reading Eternal Pursuit of Unhappiness: Being Very Good Is No Good,You Have to Be Very, Very, Very, Very, Very Good by David Ogilvy and Ogivly & Mather. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders at Founders NotesSome questions other subscribers asked SAGE: I need some...

How We Work: Finding the Right Team

REWORK
20 Mar 2024

37signals is hiring! However, the traditional resume and formal education credentials don’t rank as high as you might think in their hiring process.In this episode of The Rework Podcast, host Kimberly Rhodes chats with co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson about reviewing potential job candidates. You’ll hear...

#342 The Lessons of History (Will & Ariel Durant)

Founders
18 Mar 2024

What I learned from reading The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders at Founders Notes----Follow Founders Podcast on YouTube ----(1:00) This is a 100 page biography of the human species(1:00) The Story of Civilization by Will and Ariel Durant (Full...

Renaissance Technologies

Acquired
17 Mar 2024

Renaissance Technologies is the best performing investment firm of all time. And yet no one at RenTec would consider themselves an “investor”, at least in any traditional sense of the word. It’d rather be more accurate to call them scientists — scientists who’ve discovered a system of math, computers and...

A New Take on Platform Preferences

REWORK
13 Mar 2024

David Heinemeier Hansson recently revealed that he's making the switch from Apple to Android and trading in his Mac for a PC. In this week's episode, cofounders of 37signals Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss the shift in direction, the events that led to the change of platform, and...

#341 Cornelius Vanderbilt (Tycoon's War)

Founders
11 Mar 2024

What I learned from rereading Tycoon's War: How Cornelius Vanderbilt Invaded a Country to Overthrow America's Most Famous Military Adventurer by Stephen Dando-Collins. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders at Founders Notes----Follow Founders Podcast on YouTube ----(0:01) Vanderbilt was only interested in two things: making money and winning(3:00)...

Rapid Fire with Jason & David

REWORK
06 Mar 2024

Kimberly is switching things up this week and taking a more casual approach with the co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, asking them a series of rapid fire questions. Jason, for example, reveals the book that granted them permission to forge their unique path, while David shares...

#340 Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

Founders
01 Mar 2024

What I learned from reading Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable by Tim Grover and Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness by Tim Grover. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders at Founders Notes----Follow Founders Podcast on YouTube ----(3:00) What I am giving you is insight into the...

Press Releases Are Spam

REWORK
28 Feb 2024

Kimberly sits down with Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson to discuss a chapter from REWORK titled “Press Releases Are Spam,” explaining why traditional press releases don't work well for their product launches. The conversation touches on the shift from formal press releases to direct-to-consumer approaches in today’s media scene....

Jay Z's Autobiography

Founders
25 Feb 2024

What I learned from reading Decoded by Jay Z. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders at Founders Notes----(1:39) I would practice from the time I woke in the morning until I went to sleep(2:10) Even back then I though I was the best.(2:57) Bourdain: The Definitive Oral...

Keep Calm and Delete the Tweet

REWORK
21 Feb 2024

Join host Kimberly in this episode for a candid chat with Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. Diving into a recent social media controversy, they discuss the decision-making process and lessons learned. The conversation covers the challenges of public communication, navigating social media, and the importance of thinking before reacting....

#339 Joseph Duveen: Robber Baron Art Dealer

Founders
20 Feb 2024

What I learned from reading The Days of Duveen by S.N. Behrman. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----Founders merch available at the Founders shop----Patrick and I are looking for partners. If you are building B2B products get in touch...

Hermès

Acquired
19 Feb 2024

In luxury, there’s Hermès… and there’s everyone else. Stewarded by one French family over six generations, Hermès sells the absolute pinnacle of the French luxury dream. Loyal clients will wait years simply for the opportunity to buy one of the company’s flagship Birkin or Kelly bags. Unlike every other luxury...

The Myth of the Overnight Sensation

REWORK
14 Feb 2024

This week, join your host Kimberly Rhodes along with the co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, as they celebrate Basecamp's 20th and 37signals' upcoming 25th anniversaries. The excitement extends to the success of their book REWORK, which recently surpassed a million copies sold worldwide.They delve especially into...

#338 Monty Moncrief Texas Oil Billionaire

Founders
13 Feb 2024

What I learned from reading Wildcatters: A Story of Texans, Oil, and Money by Sally Helgesen.----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----Founders merch available at the Founders shop----Vesto shows you all of your company's finances in one view. Schedule...

It's All a Judgment Call

REWORK
07 Feb 2024

Chances are, you've heard Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson stress the vital role of trusting your instincts in business.This week, host Kimberly Rhodes takes a deeper dive into the heart of human decision-making with the co-founders of 37signals—exploring how the interplay of intuition and accumulated experiences becomes your compass...

#337 Napoleon's Maxims and Strategy

Founders
05 Feb 2024

What I learned from reading Roots of Strategy by Thomas R. Phillips and Napoleon and Modern War by Napoleon and Col. Lanza. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----Come and build in-person relationships at the Founders Only conference----(0:01) Napoleon fought...

#336 How To Lose A Few Billion Dollars: Samuel Insull

Founders
01 Feb 2024

What I learned from reading Insull: The Rise and Fall of A Billionaire Utility Tycoon by Forrest McDonald. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----Come and build in-person relationships at the Founders Only conference----(0:01) Insull had been in the electric...

Readying for Launch

REWORK
31 Jan 2024

Product launches can be a delicate dance between anticipation and anxiety.Today on "Rework", Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to explore the intricacies of knowing when a product is ready for launch. Listen in to learn the art of patience with the "Give It Five...

REWORK Live!

REWORK
24 Jan 2024

In this special YouTube live episode, co-founders of 37signals, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, join host Kimberly Rhodes to field live questions from listeners.Listen in as Jason and David answer questions about topics such as the recent launch of the HEY Calendar. They also share updates on the release...

#335 How To Make A Few Billion Dollars: Brad Jacobs

Founders
23 Jan 2024

What I learned from reading How To Make A Few Billion Dollars by Brad Jacobs. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----Come and build in-person relationships at the Founders Only conference----(0:01) I'm what's called a moneymaker. I've started five companies...

Novo Nordisk (Ozempic)

Acquired
21 Jan 2024

Last year Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, overtook LVMH to become Europe’s most valuable company. And the pull for Acquired to finally tackle healthcare (18% of US GDP!) became too strong for us to resist. While we didn’t know much about Novo Nordisk before diving...

User Testing, Stoic Philosophy, and Other Listener Questions

REWORK
17 Jan 2024

In this episode of Rework, the spotlight is on listener questions. Listen in as Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share their insights on a range of topics — from 37signals' approach to user testing and the impact of Stoic philosophy on their business principles, to discussions on profits and...

#334 Oprah

Founders
16 Jan 2024

What I learned from reading the transcripts of Young Oprah on Her Life and Career and Oprah on Career, Life and Leadership. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----Come and build in-person relationships at the Founders Only conference----(1:00) Oprah fired...

This again, Apple?

REWORK
09 Jan 2024

Getting an app into Apple's app store without giving up 30% of profits is something the team at 37signals battled back in 2020 when it launched the HEY email service. What they didn't expect would be to have some of the same challenges in 2024 with the HEY Calendar app.Listen...

#333 Red Bull's Billionaire Maniac Founder: Dietrich Mateschitz

Founders
08 Jan 2024

What I learned from reading The Red Bull Story by Wolfgang Fürweger and Red Bull's Billionaire Maniac by Duff McDonald. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----Come and build in-person relationships at the Founders Only conference----(1:30) "In literal financial terms,...

How We Work: Fewer Meetings, More Check-Ins

REWORK
03 Jan 2024

Today, we're diving into a question that has piqued the curiosity of many of our listeners and clients: How exactly does 37signals keep track of all the moving pieces in a fully remote company with team members spread throughout the world?The answer lies in our use of Automatic Check-ins, a...

#332 Jesus

Founders
24 Dec 2023

What I learned from reading Jesus: A Biography from a Believer by Paul Johnson. ----Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders by investing in a subscription to Founders Notes----(3:00) Churchill by Paul Johnson. (Founders #225) Socrates: A Man for Our Times by Paul Johnson. (Founders #252)Mozart: A Life by Paul...

Holiday Special 2023

Acquired
17 Dec 2023

Ben has some big news. Actually, double big news! On what has become a holiday tradition here at Acquired, we cozy up to the fire to do our annual review of the show “in public”. We reflect on what can only be described as an absolutely mind-blowing 2023 (LVMH! Jensen!...

Visa

Acquired
26 Nov 2023

To paraphrase Visa founder Dee Hock, how many of you know Visa? Great, all of you. Now, how many of you know how it started? Or, for that matter, who started it? Who runs and governs it? Where is it headquartered? What’s its business model?For the 11th largest market cap...

Charlie Munger

Acquired
29 Oct 2023

We sit down with the legendary Charlie Munger in the only dedicated longform podcast interview that he has done in his 99 years on Earth. We’ve gotten to have some special conversations on Acquired over the years, but this one truly takes the cake. Over dinner at his Los Angeles...

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang

Acquired
15 Oct 2023

We finally sit down with the man himself: Nvidia Cofounder & CEO Jensen Huang. After three parts and seven+ hours of covering the company, we thought we knew everything but — unsurprisingly — Jensen knows more. A couple teasers: we learned that the company’s initial motivation to enter the datacenter...

Nvidia Part III: The Dawn of the AI Era (2022-2023)

Acquired
05 Sep 2023

It’s a(nother) new era for Nvidia.We thought we’d closed the Acquired book on Nvidia back in April 2022. The story was all wrapped up: Jensen & crew had set out on an amazing journey to accelerate the world’s computing workloads. Along the way they’d discovered a wondrous opportunity (machine learning...

Costco

Acquired
20 Aug 2023

Costco is not only Charlie Munger’s favorite company of all time (plus he’s on the board, natch), it’s an absolutely fascinating study in how seemingly opposite characteristics can combine to create incredible company value. For instance: Costco has the cheapest prices of any major retailer in America — and also...

Nike

Acquired
24 Jul 2023

Nike — it’s perhaps the most iconic and most prolific brand of the modern era. On any given day, swooshes adorn the feet of more people on earth than any other footwear company — by a long shot.If you read Shoe Dog or watched Air, you may think you know...