Shows
The Product PorchWhat if You’re Wrong? A PM’s Guide to AssumptionsEver wonder why people in your company speak in absolutes, when they’re really just guessing?In this episode, Todd and Ryan tackle one of product management’s sneakiest challenges: assumptions dressed up as facts. You’ll learn how to spot them, test them, and decide which ones are worth your time. They also share practical tips for how to push back on overconfidence without becoming the office buzzkill. You’ll get tools like hypothesis framing, assumption matrices, and yes, even a visual analogy of TAM, SAM, and SOM eating pie.You might think you're just mak...2025-07-2242 minThe Product PorchWorking With Sales: Turn Tension into TrustWhy is it so hard for product and sales to get along?In this episode, Todd Blaquiere and Ryan Cantwell dig into one of the most persistent pain points in product management: why the product-sales relationship so often breaks down, and what we can do to fix it. Using role-play, real stories, and a few uncomfortable truths, they unpack how deal fit and product-market fit pull in different directions. Then they explore how to navigate those tensions without becoming the "chief no officer."You’ll walk away with practical ways to respond to sales requests, bu...2025-07-0844 minThe Product PorchThe Product Management Rules You Can’t BreakEver feel like you're following frameworks, but still not sure if you're actually doing product management?In this episode, Todd Blaquiere, Joe Ghali, and Ryan Cantwell lay out their personal tier lists to define what makes product management real. They debate which principles are fundamental laws - those you can’t break without breaking product - and which are just flexible preferences shaped by context.From "outcomes over outputs" to stakeholder management, the conversation challenges conventional wisdom and surfaces surprising disagreements. It’s a candid look at what separates core product truths from passing trends.2025-06-2443 minThe Product PorchImposter Syndrome in Product Management: Why It Hits So HardWhy does imposter syndrome hit product managers so hard, and what can we do about it?In this episode, Todd Blaquiere and Ryan Cantwell dig into why imposter syndrome shows up so often in product management. From vague job descriptions to being accountable without real authority, they unpack what makes this role especially prone to self-doubt.We share personal stories, talk through common patterns like the imposter cycle, and ask the bigger question: is this about us, or the environments we’re working in?We also cover what managers can do to support th...2025-06-1039 minThe Product PorchThis One Tool Will Save You and Other Product MythsEver feel like you’re doing everything “right” in product management—and still not seeing results?From Agile to OKRs to product-led growth, there’s no shortage of shiny techniques promising success. But what happens when these so-called solutions fall flat?In this episode, we dive into the myth of silver bullet solutions—those magic product techniques that are supposed to fix everything overnight. We break down which tactics get overhyped, why they often fail, and how you can avoid the common mistakes that come with chasing the latest framework.If you’ve ever suffered...2025-05-2744 minThe Product PorchHow Likability Can (and Can’t) Move Your CareerDoes being likable actually help Product Managers get ahead—or just distract from what really matters?In this episode, we dig into the balance between likability and results in product management. Do you really need to be liked to succeed? Or is trust and respect what really drives your career forward? Todd, Ryan, and Joe unpack how likability plays out in real product work—and why understanding this dynamic can transform how you manage stakeholders and grow your career.You’ll leave with practical ways to build trust, earn respect, and avoid the common pitfalls that h...2025-05-1332 minThe Product PorchRebelling Against Copy CultureEver feel like your product is slowly becoming just another version of the competition?In this episode, we talk about the pressures product managers and product leaders face when stakeholders push for feature parity and price wars. Joe Ghali, Ryan Cantwell, and Todd Blaquiere share real-world stories and practical strategies for resisting copycat requests, protecting your product strategy, and staying true to your customer value proposition.We’ll break down how to spot early signs of commoditization, how to align sales and product teams, and how strong market positioning—and a little courage—can set you ap...2025-04-2940 minThe Product PorchTwo Roles One Job The PM and PMM DilemmaShould Product Managers and Product Marketing Managers be separate roles or one? In this episode of The Product Porch, we break down their key differences, where they overlap, and how organizations define their responsibilities.We share real-world examples—including how Airbnb structures these roles—and tackle big questions like: Who owns the buying journey? Where should PMMs report? And how does role clarity drive product success? With fun analogies and practical insights, this episode will help you collaborate more effectively and navigate this ongoing debate.[2:00] The Big QuestionShould we have two separate roles—the Pr...2025-02-0444 minThe Product PorchBattling Product-Market DriftIs your product losing traction or failing to grow? You might be experiencing product-market drift—the silent killer of product success. In this episode, we are joined by David Nash, who helps us spot the warning signs and shows you how to realign with customer needs, market trends, and evolving technologies. Learn how to stay ahead of the drift with actionable strategies that ensure your product remains relevant and continues to deliver value. Don’t let your hard work go to waste—listen in and discover how to keep your product healthy, adaptable, and ready for growth.Show L...2024-12-1039 minThe Product PorchNavigating Product Team CulturesAre you unsure how your Product Manager responsibilities fit into your team’s dynamics? Struggling to define your Product Manager job or wondering what it takes to thrive in your role? In this episode, we label different product team culture types, explore their anti-patterns, and discuss the types of people who perform best in each environment. Along the way, we break down the Product Manager definition within these settings and highlight essential skills for Product Managers to succeed. Think of this episode as part career guide, part group therapy—it’s packed with insights to help you navigate team dynami...2024-11-2645 minThe Product PorchClarifying Unclear Product Manager Requests1:42 - Meet Jeff and his big question for product managers: "How can we ensure we have the right understanding from our leaders?"4:30 - Ryan emphasizes the importance of focusing on outcomes over outputs to clarify product manager responsibilities.7:35 - Todd jokes about where their "outputs over outcomes" tattoo should go.9:20 - Ryan urges product managers to seek clarity when they don’t understand the "why" behind a request.10:30 - Todd shares a story from his LA Times days on asking for clarification from his boss.15:12 - The group discusses ho...2024-11-1241 minThe Product PorchUnderstanding Your PM SpikesEpisode Description1:00- Meet Nils Davis2:47- Nils reminds us that Product Managers are really “Unicorns” in the workforce7:00- Nils shares his favorite phrase as a Product Manager “Your obvious is your art”8:47- Nils shares the pros/cons of understanding your “spike”10:03- We discuss how it's difficult to share our superpower with the people that surround us12:08- Nils shares the different ways we can discover our PM spike/superpower15:45- Todd shares the struggle with asking for feedback to identify your PM spike/sup...2024-10-2944 minThe Product PorchExecuting Product Solutions2:15 What are the Product Management trends everyone is talking about4:30- Todd asks the question: Are we focusing on the problem at the expense of the solution? 7:00- Joe explains why he believes we have over-indexed on some of the common PM themes10:05- We are getting paid to deliver- reality check for all PMs11:45- Ryan tells how this is a struggle for Type A personalities 13:16- Todd walks us through his approach to move to execution (from high-level concepts to delivery)14:21- Joe’s shares an u...2024-10-1544 minThe Product PorchLayoffs in Product Management1:22 The fellas discuss their favorite Ken phrase1:44- Ken tells us what it means to be a product management truth teller5:16- What can we do as product managers to become more valuable?8:35- One of the first steps- What goal are you trying to achieve and how can I help you get there?10:30- Ken tells us why you should spend 20 min a week interviewing a customer12:55: Todd outlines why experimentation is critical for a product manager16:45- The team discuss the product management anti-patterns we...2024-10-0143 minThe Product PorchThe Product Manager as a Player-Coach1:22- Joe explains why the role of Product Player Coach role is a cop-out2:51- Todd uses data to say how it can work and leverages his love of the NBA to demonstrates why5:34- We discuss what success looks like for a Product Manager Player Coach 10:02- Ryan walks us through how we resolved the challenges associated with this hybrid role13:32- Todd walks us through the disadvantages of the hybrid PM/Coach role16:03- Joe emphatically tells us why Product Managers must be successful at relationships- Product M...2024-09-1748 minThe Product PorchTransforming Product Setbacks Into Success1:30 Ryan ponders what product failure means?3:37 The true definition of failure is identified6:33 Todd speaks to the categories of product failure9:33 Todd assumes the role of therapist and tells Ryan and Joe they didn’t fail 12:13- We discuss how we turn failure into a learning opportunity15:06- Joe discusses the most underrated product management skill19:08- We bring back the Jobs to be done framework when dealing with our co-workers22:25- Todd shares a tip on how manage friction with a co-workers (brilliant)2...2024-09-0353 minThe Product PorchProduct Management Jargon Draft1:07 – Joe kicks off the discussion on useless product management terms.1:49 – We start the PM Jargon Draft, with Todd winning the #1 pick.3:04 – Todd and Ryan’s #1 pick: "CEO of the Product."4:23 – Joe’s #1 pick: "Customer Centric" (he’s salty he couldn’t trade for the #1 pick).6:07 – Todd discusses how every healthcare company is "patient-first" – shouldn’t we all be patient-first in healthcare?7:14 – Ryan questions "Productize" – is it a verb? A new word in the English dictionary? The big draft controversy.9:41 – Todd adds "Gathering Requirements" to his hit list of terrible PM terms. We suggest "Gathering Insights" as a bet...2024-08-2147 minThe Product PorchSilly Product Management Terms Draft1:07 – Joe kicks off the discussion on useless product management terms.1:49 – We start the PM Jargon Draft, with Todd winning the #1 pick.3:04 – Todd and Ryan’s #1 pick: "CEO of the Product" – no surprise, Mel Kiper agrees.4:23 – Joe’s #1 pick: "Customer Centric" (he’s salty he couldn’t trade for the #1 pick).6:07 – Todd discusses how every healthcare company is "patient-first" – shouldn’t we all be patient-first in healthcare?7:14 – Ryan questions "Productize" – is it a verb? A new word in the English dictionary? The big draft controversy.9:41 – Todd adds "Gathering Requirements" to his hit list of terrible PM terms. We suggest...2024-08-2047 min
The Product PorchProduct Principles In Real LifeRyan tells us how he leveraged PM principles recently for his mulch project ( 0:45)Joe shows us how Ryan applied the Jobs to Done framework to Ryan’s approach (3:00)We discuss how often we apply PM Principles creep into our life (5:00)Todd discusses how Problem Framing can be applied in real-world scenarios (12:00)Joe gives us a review of the Broadway Show “Heart of Rock and Roll” (20:00)Ryan walks us through dot voting techniques for family (21:00)Todd experiments with Tiny Acts of Discovery (23:50) Ryan applies iteration techniques when filling up the dishwasher (26:40)Todd discusses success metrics and his neighbor's lawn (31:00)We talk about w...2024-08-0642 minThe Product PorchRebranding the Product Manager TitleProduct Champions: a new title for PMs (1:00)Airbnb gets rid of product manager title (3:45)Chief No Officer / Head of No / Innovation Sponge / Walking Roadblock / Killer of Dreams, (5:55)Superman, Smokey the Bear and Lil Smokies, and User Psychologists (12:15)Group Therapist, Anger Manager, and The Negotiator (15:20)Outcome Architect and Director of Opinions (19:00)Aladdin and Product Genie wishing rules (22:30)Provlemologist and Innovation Specialists (27:15)The Fortune Teller, Product Facilier, and Product Gambler (29:45)Napalm Artist, sports cliches, and The Joker (33:40)Value Broker, Risk Mitigator, and Zookeeper (37:40)We discuss whether or not the PM title needs a rebrand (39:00)Which PM titles are our favorites (41:00)Why the...2024-07-2350 minThe Product PorchHow Much Does Industry Experience MatterRyan emphatically explains why you don’t need experience for a PM job (2:11)Joe shares why it isn’t a black/white answer (4:20)The danger in over-indexing to hiring for experience (8:30)The value of mentorships to overcome a lack of industry experience (18:00)Ryan walks us through the beginners mindset as a product leader (23:00)Find fit for the role - don’t rely on the experience - how long does it take to be great at product discovery (28:00)Ryan tell us why he hates the term “fail fast” (31:00)The similarities between baseball and product management (35:10)A teaser on an upcoming product management...2024-07-1049 minThe Product PorchThe Dark Side of Product ManagementRyan’s story - struggle with plastic bags - being environmentally responsible (:58)Jobs to be Done is a PM’s superpower (5:00)Using the empathy superpower for evil (6:00)Using the storytelling for evil (8:14)Navigating Righteous Path of Product Management (13:20)Using the planning superpower for evil (17:00)Avoiding stakeholders that get in your way (20:15)Why shouldn't we pursue the dark side of product management (22:00)How do you know when your employees are looking for impact but doing it in a self serving way - how to stop it from happening (27:00)Balance between short and long term product decisions (31:30)Todd’s talks about how the Ni...2024-07-0942 minThe Product PorchThe Product Porch TrailerOn The Product Porch, every topic is a product topic. Dive into casual conversations on product management and career growth, woven with pop culture and real-life insights. Each episode offers actionable takeaways as the hosts tackle pressing questions and challenges in the product field. Settle in with Joe Ghali, Ryan Cantwell, and Todd Blaquiere!Help keep the Product Porch lights on by giving at
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Join our email list and never miss an episode at theproductporch.com2024-07-0402 min