The best podcasts for new builders
By Maya · Updated
If you're building your first product, you don't need more inspiration. You need a show that leaves you with one thing to do tomorrow. This is the short list I'd give a friend, grouped by where you are right now: what each podcast is best for, and the action to take after you listen.
I host BuildingNow, so it's on here. I've also said where another show is the better pick.
Y Combinator Startup Podcast
with Y CombinatorBest for: Startup fundamentals when you're starting from zero
Straightforward lessons from the accelerator behind Airbnb and Stripe on talking to users, launching early and finding product-market fit.
Do this after: Talk to three potential users before you spend another week building.
My First Million
with Sam Parr and Shaan PuriBest for: Spotting business ideas and opportunities
Two founders brainstorm markets, business models and trends. Great for training your eye for problems worth solving.
Do this after: List five annoying problems people already pay to solve. Pick one and find out how they solve it today.
Best for: Getting your first customers, from founders a few steps ahead of you
Each week a founder who is making real money explains exactly how they got their first customers: Will Baker's first $1,000 to $2,000 from Reddit replies, Rob Hallam's $3,000 first client from one honest tweet, Nevo David's open source launches on the way to $200K MRR. Every talk becomes written notes and playbooks, so you can act on it without rewatching.
Do this after: Take the free 60-second quiz to find the channel that fits your product, then do day 1 of the 7-day plan it sends you.
Indie Hackers
with Courtland AllenBest for: Bootstrapping a profitable business without investors
Interviews with founders of self-funded, profitable companies who share their real revenue numbers. A big back catalog to dig through.
Do this after: Write down the revenue number you'd need to quit your job, and the price times customers that gets you there.
Startups for the Rest of Us
with Rob WallingBest for: Building a self-funded software company
Hundreds of episodes on the practical side of bootstrapped SaaS: pricing, marketing, hiring and staying sane.
Do this after: Pick one price for your product today, even if it feels too high, and test it on the next person who's interested.
The Bootstrapped Founder
with Arvid KahlBest for: Building in public and serving a niche you understand
Arvid Kahl built and sold a bootstrapped SaaS business, and talks through finding an audience first, then building for it.
Do this after: Find the online community where your customers already talk, and spend a week only reading and helping there.
Lenny's Podcast
with Lenny RachitskyBest for: Product and growth once you have something people use
Conversations with product and growth leaders about building things people want, retention and getting to the next stage.
Do this after: Look at who used your product twice this week, and ask one of them what made them come back.
How to listen like a builder
- 1. Bring one question. Pick the problem you're stuck on before you press play.
- 2. Take one idea. Write down the one thing that changes how you see your situation.
- 3. Do it within 24 hours. Something small and concrete, on your own product.
- 4. Check what happened. Then pick the next episode based on what you learned.
Start with these three talks
Questions
What's the best podcast for new builders?
It depends on where you are. Starting from zero: the Y Combinator Startup Podcast. Looking for an idea: My First Million. Getting your first customers, from founders a few steps ahead: BuildingNow. Bootstrapping without investors: Indie Hackers or Startups for the Rest of Us.
How do you get the most out of business podcasts?
Listen with one question about your own project in mind, write down one idea that changes how you see it, and do one concrete thing within 24 hours. Then check what happened. One action a week beats ten more episodes.
Which podcast should I listen to first?
If you haven't launched yet, start with the Y Combinator Startup Podcast. If you've launched and need customers, start with BuildingNow's talks with Rob Hallam, Nevo David and Roman Lakhnyuk.
Not sure where your first customers will come from?
Answer 5 quick questions and get the one channel to start with, plus a 7-day plan from a founder who did it. Free.
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