The Way of Product with Caden Damiano

Michael Scully reviewed all 1,000 applications personally when he posted a product manager role last August. Every. Single. One. That same obsessive attention to overlooked details drove him from coding in his dorm room to leading product at Summer, a public benefit corporation tackling America's $1.8 trillion student loan crisis. In our conversation, Michael discovered something shocking: The maj...

Human-centered design, for all its merits, sometimes fails to consider what comes after the launch, after the product leaves our hands. We need a systemic approach: design that asks not only what people need now, but what the world will require in five, ten, or fifty years. It is a question of stewardship. As we rush to integrate AI and other technologies, are we thinking beyond the next quarter,...

“The data leads you. It does not tell you exactly where to go, but it offers suggestions about the direction to take your product. My business partner and I had a suspicion that we were prioritizing the wrong features. Instead of asking customers directly for feedback, we observed their behavior and used that data to inform our product decisions. Historically, product managers have wanted product...

Hey Listener! Communities are more than just support forums; If deployed correctly, they can be a fantastic channel for product teams to sift signal from the noise. In the latest episode of Way of Product, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jake McKee , a seasoned community expert with over 20 years of experience working with companies like Apple, Lego, and clients such as Southwest Airlines and...

Hey Listener! Today's guest is Steven Puri, CEO of The Sukha Company, which develops one of the most popular productivity and focus apps, Sukha. Connect with Steven on Linkedin. Listen now on Apple and Spotify . Steven has a diverse background in both the film and tech industries. As a former senior executive at major motion picture studios and a tech entrepreneur who has raised venture capital fo...

Hey Listener! Today’s guest is  Thomas Payet , one of the co-founders of  MeiliSearch , an open-source AI-enhanced Search API that is plug-and-play and can be deployed in just a matter of minutes. Smart presets let you start searching through your data with zero configuration. Thomas explained how focusing on simplicity and accessibility in their search API aligns with their mission to empower dev...

Hey Listener! Today’s podcast guest is Marcelo Calbucci , the author of "The PRFAQ Framework." Listen now on Apple and Spotify Like many product people, I've read "Working Backwards," "The Everything Store," and even attempted to write strategy narratives using the Press Release-Frequently Asked Questions (PRFAQ) Framework to capture lightning in a bottle like Amazon without much success. Before t...

Today’s guest is John Tarnoff, a former film studio executive turned executive and career transition coach. Transitioning from a corporate film executive to a career coach, John has spent over a decade sharing insights and strategies to help individuals better uniquely position themselves, curate their messaging, and land roles tailored to their unique skills and strengths. He also helps individua...

Hey Listener! AI isn't going to take your job, people using AI will take your job. That's because disruptive technology redefines a task and workflow; it doesn't replace the responsibility behind the task in the first place. Adapting and upskilling is how you stay relevant when people are looking for folks to manage and design their products. In this episode, I discussed agentic AI with Anshul Gup...

Hey Listener! In this episode, we’re hanging out with Sagar Batchu, the guy behind Speakeasy , who’s doing groundbreaking stuff in the world of APIs and AI. Sagar’s journey from physics to tech is packed with insights into how we can all use APIs and AI to make life a little easier for product teams. Connect with Sagar on Linkedin. Listen now on Apple and Spotify With his background in developer t...

Hey Listener! In the latest episode of Way of Product, I had the pleasure of chatting with Rob Walling, a serial SaaS entrepreneur, author, and SaaS investor at  Tinyseed . Rob spends most of his time teaching people how to build million-dollar startups without venture capital. He also helps SaaS founders build incredible businesses. Rob has started six companies, written five books, Invested in 2...

Hey Listener! If you’re serious about mastering the art of product pricing in the B2B SaaS realm, buckle up—this interview is filled with knowledge you can't afford to miss. (Pretty good pricing, dad joke, huh?)In this episode, I chat with Bill Wilson , Pricing Coach and founder of Pace Pricing . Wilson has over 25 years of software expertise and specializes in pricing strategy and tactics for his...

Hey Listener! Most businesses think innovation is budget-bound. But it's not. In this episode, I talk about how to stay ahead of the curve with AI with Michael Todasco .At PayPal, he led a product innovation practice, exploring cutting-edge technologies long before they became mainstream. Recently, he's turned his focus to AI, becoming a key voice in the space through writing and advising. Connect...

Hey Listener! How does an AI-powered business make money? What do they do differently? In this episode, Elizabeth Samara-Rubio from SiMa.ai , gives us a practical guide to the “Business of AI” and the implications of integrating AI into real-world processes like manufacturing and agriculture. Her experience spans significant roles, including leading over 20 AI services at AWS and pioneering effort...

Hey Listener,In this interview with Anuj Jhunjhunwala , Director of Product at Merge , we discussed how it’s easier than ever to develop API integrations between dozens of enterprise systems and how you can create a better API strategy for your products. Connect with Anuj on Linkedin. Listen now on Apple and Spotify . Modern API strategies for enterprise SAAS It's easier to take the time and money...

More than ever, we expect more from our technology. With self-driving cars from Tesla, AutoPay, and AutoSaving, as well as same-day shipments and grocery delivery, we expect our technology to think for us, not the other way around. Historically, large legacy companies have failed to make this a priority, thinking that traditional operational models and hand-holding SOPs are enough to retain the bu...

Hey listener! I just dropped a podcast episode with Dean Phillips, Head of Product Strategy at ClickUp. I enjoyed this guest so much I added a second hour of time to talk shop on product strategy. Connect with Dean on LinkedIn In this episode, we want to discuss Dean's notable journey from indy wordpress developer to leading product strategy at ClickUp and explore his unique, tailored fit role at...

Hey Listener, Here's the latest interview with Brendan Fortune, Director of Product Management at Customer.io. Connect with Brendan on Linkedin. Listen now on Apple and Spotify . In it, he shares his journey and insights into building effective product management teams and when it’s time to hire the first product manager. Brendan's Approach to Product Management: Brendan Fortune emphasizes the nec...

Hey everyone, I recently had a fantastic conversation with Tammy Alvarez (LinkedIn) on the podcast, and she really got me thinking about how we approach our careers. She is also the author of “Escaping the Career Trap,” a guide to taking charge of your career and getting excited about Monday mornings again. Get it on Amazon Listen now on Apple and Spotify . Tammy has been through the corporate gri...

Hey Listener, I'm excited to share my latest conversation with Trevor Nielsen, the design mind behind the popular Chrome plugin for LinkedIn: Kleo . Listen now on Apple and Spotify .Trevor's journey from a traditional nine-to-five job to successful self-employment is inspiring. This episode dives deep into the nuances of personal branding on LinkedIn, designing a fractional design career, and bein...

I recently spoke with Jason Monberg (LinkedIn Here) , a seasoned tech entrepreneur and product leader. Our discussion covered a lot of ground, from navigating the tech industry to evolving roles in product management and the importance of continuous learning. Listen now on Apple and Spotify . Here’s what really stood out to me: Actionable Takeaways Table of Contents ✅ Rethinking Product Managemen...

My chat with Seamus MacIsaac , VP of Product @ HelcimThis episode will be a goldmine of insights for those interested in the intricacies of digital transformation, product management, and navigating the complexities of various industries. Listen now on Apple and Spotify . Seamus MacIsaac offers a wealth of experience. Having transitioned from a small-town upbringing in Nova Scotia to spearheading...

Hey Listener, I’m thrilled to share my latest interview with Adam Nash, the Co-Founder and CEO of Daffy, a fintech company dedicated to making charitable giving more accessible and impactful. * Adam’s Linkedin * Donate $25 to any cause of you choosing using this link Adam has a full-stack background in managing, designing, and engineering products, having held key roles at companies such as Dropbo...

Hey Listener, Today, I introduce you to Taha Ebrahimi, the author and illustrator of the book "Street Trees of Seattle, an Illustrated Walking Guide." Taha's journey from Director at Tableau Public to an accidental author is filled with insights about curiosity, the power of storytelling, and the intersection of technology and nature. Chapters 00:00 The Value of Curiosity and Exploration 01:12 Int...

Hello listeners! This episode features Bryan Ferris, CEO of Goldfish Code. This episode explores the intersection of technology, strategy, and the essence of building communities within products. Bryan brings a wealth of experience from his tech strategy consulting firm and shares his unique approach to building scalable and engaging products. In this episode, he credits much of Goldfish’s success...