Problem Solvers

Jason bought a really old rock—and it sparked a fascination with the Neolithic era. In this episode, he’s joined by Dr. John Shea, archaeologist and stone tool expert, for a conversation about the original problem-solvers. They explore how communication became humanity’s superpower, why the stone ax was the first handheld all-purpose tool (and how it’s surprisingly similar to a smartphone), and th...

Every business needs to find product-market fit — and AI can help. How? In this episode, Harvard Business School professor and entrepreneur Jeff Bussgang (author of  The Experimental Machine: Finding Product-Market Fit in the Age of AI ) walks us through the process. It’s a free consulting session with everything included: step-by-step directions, real examples, and the names of the LLMs you need...

This is episode 400 of Problem Solvers, and I've learned a few important things about how to evolve a product! In this episode, I share why you might be WRONG about what makes your product special — and how to keep refining with your audience in mind.

It's a simple philosophy. But what does it take to actually achieve? We talk to Jesse Cole, owner of the baseball team Savannah Bananas, about the idea that transformed his business—and how it can work in any industry.

Here's a strategy for talking people down, and even turning people's anger to your advantage. And I have the emails to prove it!

Donald Miller literally wrote the book on brand storytelling: It's called Building A StoryBrand , and it sold 1 million copies. He's just released an updated version. On this podcast, Don explains how to communicate your brand's value in a simple story. After that, I invite a few entrepreneurs to tell him about their brands — and he comes up with stories for them! It'll change the way you think ab...

Want to pitch yourself with confidence? Want to become better at sales, or just selling yourself? You must learn to be shameless. That's the advice from Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of the new book Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It. In this episode, she teaches you how and why to embrace shamelessness.

Angie Hicks has been the face of Angie’s List (now called Angi) for decades. It’s not a role she wanted, but she knows how important it is — and how to play it perfectly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to get your product onto store shelves? Listen to this. Matt Adelmann used to be a buyer at Target, where he was responsible for placing products on shelves. Here are the three mistakes that founders always get wrong about retail — and how you can set yourself up for success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2006, a debate raged inside of Nintendo: Do they bundle their new Wii console with the game Wii Sports, or sell the game separately? Reggie Fils- Aimé was president of North America at the time, and he argued yes — because even though it meant giving up revenue upfront, it would lead to more Wii sales later. Here, he explains the battle and how he won it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Entrepreneurs love telling stories of perseverance. But that can be misleading. "In order to succeed, you're going to have to quit the things that aren't worth pursuing," says Annie Duke, author of the book " Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away ". On this episode, she explains why we should see quitting as a virtue — and how to know when it's time to walk away. Learn more about your ad ch...

One night, Holden Forrest drew a wild idea on the back of his daughter's math homework: What if he could lower a house into the ground, as a way to escape oncoming wildfires? He couldn't shake this idea, so he started researching whether it's possible — and now, years later, he has a company called HiberTec , multiple patents, groundbreaking technology, and is raising money to build his first prot...

There are three types of skills, Jen Kem says: The ability to visualize, strategize, or mobilize. Everyone has these skills in different combinations — and when you can assemble a team with the right mix of combinations, you've built something unstoppable. On this episode, Kem (author of the new book "Unicorn Team") explains how it works, how to identify which combination of types you are, and how...

Money isn't the only definition of wealth. So is time. That's one of the central ideas in Sahil Bloom's new book " The 5 Types of Wealth " — and on this episode, he explains how to become wealthy in time. He offers strategic ways to reallocate your time, how to prioritize what matters, and how to stop feeling like you never have enough of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Founders accidentally create a lot of confusion — because we talk too much! We pitch too many products, tell a too-complex story, and don't often get to the point fast enough. Today, business coach Steve Sims teaches you how to be brief and powerful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant reflects on his first year as the boss, and talks about how to build an incredible brand. It comes down this formula, he says: math + magic. We spoke because Taco Bell is #1 on the 2025 Entrepreneur magazine Franchise 500, which is out now at entrepreneur.com/franchise500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This will sound crazy: When you only focus on your core skillset, your growth slows. Instead, you need to add what Jonathan Goodman calls "leapfrog skills" — a list of five other skills (including writing and human psychology) that will accelerate your growth. Goodman is a hugely successful serial entrepreneur and author of the new book The Obvious Choice. In this episode, he explains how to find...

Why do great companies make bad products? The answer is confirmation bias, and a lack of true connection with your customer. Phyl Terry is a pioneer in the field of consumer experience, and shares an important methodology — which helped Facebook in its earliest days! Today, Phyl also helps people who are searching for jobs through the program Never Search Alone . Learn more about your ad choices....

Should you curse at work? There isn't much cursing on Problem Solvers, but over on Jason's other podcast Help Wanted , it happens a little more often... and a listener complained! Today, Jason and his Help Wanted cohost discuss when it's appropriate for professionals to curse — and how how to calibrate the trade-off between raw personality and professionalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Morgan is engaged to Jack. Jack didn't include Morgan in a business deal, but she feels *strongly* that he should have. Now she's mad. What should they do? In this episode from Jason's other podcast, called Help Wanted , Jason and his cohost Nicole Lapin help this couple through a rocky moment — and talk about what happens when finances get personal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

With a new presidential administration, entrepreneurs are expecting a lot of tax changes — but what are they? And how can they prepare? In this episode, hear from two professionals at CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), a top-10 U.S. accounting and professional services firm. They share the biggest questions that entrepreneurs are asking, and their guidance for how to prepare for big changes now.  This...

When something's wrong, we often make a mistake: We try to treat the symptom of the problem without understanding what the REAL problem is. Today I offer a helpful problem-solving framework. You'll learn to diagnose your problems, identify the right "one-word problem," and then come up with a solution that actually works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Musicians are the overlooked influencers. That's what Jesse Kirshbaum of Nue Agency says. He creates partnerships between the largest brands and musicians, and says that all entrepreneurs, of any size, should consider working with musicians too. They're cultural influencers full of authenticity, have loyal followings, and aren't getting the kind of brand deals that traditional "influencers" do. So...

Codie Sanchez started by buying a little laundromat. Now she has a portfolio of small local businesses that drive tens of millions in annual revenue, and developed a playbook for anyone looking to buy small businesses and build serious wealth. Her new book is called Main Street Millionaire , and in this episode, she explains how and why small biz is such a great buying opportunity. Learn more abou...

Notion is changing the way people communicate and collaborate. Cofounder and CEO Ivan Zhao has an unusual philosophy about how to do it — which anyone can follow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices