• 32 minutes 3 seconds
    AI Challenges in Software Development

    AI didn't just speed up the development of Basecamp 5, it changed how it was built. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson break down how much of a role AI played in building their latest product, where it shines, and how 37signals had to adjust its process to keep their code base clean.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:11 – How much of a role AI played in building Basecamp 5
    • 09:55 – Where the intelligence technology truly excels
    • 14:42 – The new challenge of saying no when features become easier to build
    • 16:19 – Why a leaner product roadmap still matters
    • 18:32 – Staying "easy to use" while competitors focus on AI features
    • 20:44 – Why AI deserves both the hype and the skepticism
    • 25:12 – Token spend, productivity, and staying profitable

    Links and Resources

    1 July 2026, 8:00 am
  • 31 minutes 22 seconds
    Launch Details and Decisions

    Basecamp 5 is out in the world! In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to talk about some of the details of the launch and the big decisions that went into it. They discuss what went smoothly, what only a live rollout could reveal, and the response from current customers.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:34 – How this launch compared to previous Basecamp versions
    • 03:50 – Setting (and moving) the launch date
    • 06:45 – How the mobile apps equaled a point of no return
    • 13:07 – Going live is when things get real
    • 16:31 – The decision to move all customers to Basecamp 5 at once
    • 19:52 – Handling the customers who push back hardest
    • 21:11 – How a great support team makes or breaks a major product transition

    Links and Resources

    24 June 2026, 8:00 am
  • 28 minutes 43 seconds
    Clearing the decks for launch

    With the launch of Basecamp 5 approaching, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss what happens inside their company when it enters “launch mode.” They talk about temporarily shifting priorities, the difference between routine operations and launch periods, and why putting lower-priority tasks on hold is often necessary to make meaningful progress. Plus, Jason and David share their favorite aspects of the newest version of Basecamp.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:00 – Introduction
    • 00:10 – Pausing processes and the power of “not now”
    • 03:41 – Moving quickly and deciding to just build it
    • 08:38 – Pressing pause on routines to stay focused on the goal
    • 11:20 – Staying flexible while working through the chaos
    • 13:54 – What life after launch will look like
    • 20:54 – Jason and David share their favorite Basecamp 5 updates

    Links and Resources

    13 May 2026, 8:00 am
  • 25 minutes 38 seconds
    Easy to leave

    Making it easy for customers to leave might sound like the wrong move, but it's actually a sign of confidence. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about why removing friction, especially on the way out, builds more trust. They get into cancellation flows, keeping customers by choice instead of pressure, and why people are more likely to share their positive experience when you don't make it hard to go.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:11 – Leaving should be just as easy as signing up
    • 03:23 – Offering a pause instead of forcing a full cancellation
    • 11:00 – Simplifying the buying experience from the start
    • 14:07 – How transparency builds long-term loyalty
    • 17:05 – Creating experiences that make people want to come back

    Links and Resources

    8 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 26 minutes 39 seconds
    Pencils down

    Knowing when to stop is harder than it sounds. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about the moment when more work stops helping and starts getting in the way. They share how to recognize when something is done, why chasing perfection can do more harm than good, and how putting the pencil down at the right time leads to better results.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:11 – The "pencils down" phase of product development
    • 01:24 — Testing by the entire company
    • 03:17 — AI Workflow & vibe coding
    • 09:58 — Speed vs durability
    • 15:08 — Refinement & cutting features
    • 18:08 — Full launch strategy
    • 20:00 — “Give It Five Minutes” Mindset

    Links and Resources

    1 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 17 minutes 10 seconds
    Bring your AI agents to Basecamp

    Opening things up changes how people use your product. In this episode, David Heinemeier Hansson walks through a new feature that makes Basecamp accessible to AI agents through a Command Line Interface (CLI). He shares how this update can lead to entirely new ways of working for those that are technically minded.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:10 – Redefining product accessibility
    • 03:27 – Opening the door to AI agents
    • 10:07 – Starting small and seeing where it leads
    • 13:37 – The future for agent accessibility with other 37signals products

    Links and Resources

    25 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 24 minutes 31 seconds
    Business beyond profit

    Profit matters, but it’s not the whole story. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about building a company around independence instead of endless growth. They reflect on finding the right size for a business, keeping costs low to preserve freedom, and choosing a long, sustainable run over chasing scale at any cost.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:10 – Finding your “orbit” when you don’t need to keep pushing for more
    • 03:39 – Letting go of the idea that growth has to be endless
    • 09:05 – Choosing independence instead of outside pressure
    • 17:48 – Keeping costs low so you have room to try things your way
    • 19:57 – Why steady can beat getting bigger

    Links and Resources

    18 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 29 minutes 10 seconds
    Built on Intuition

    Not every decision comes from a spreadsheet. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about trusting your instincts when building something new. They share how experience sharpens those instincts over time, and how real products produce the feedback that actually moves things forward.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:11 – Letting your gut guide decisions
    • 03:54 – Strengthening instincts through real choices
    • 05:08 – Sometimes the best move is simply to build it
    • 07:49 – Breaking free from analysis paralysis
    • 15:02 – Real products bring real feedback
    • 17:11 – Learning to trust your own judgment
    • 18:26 – Welcoming feedback instead of fearing it

    Links and Resources

    11 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 28 minutes 1 second
    AI Revisited - part 2

    Following up on an earlier conversation about AI, this episode shifts to the product side of the discussion. Host Kimberly Rhodes chats with 37signals CEO and co-founder Jason Fried about his daily AI use, what it's helped him do more efficiently, customer expectations, and how he's thinking about AI's role in future product updates.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:12 – Putting AI tools to work
    • 06:42 – Using AI to reclaim time, not replace thinking
    • 12:19 – Where 37signals sees thoughtful implementation fitting in
    • 17:16 – Why rushing adoption can backfire
    • 18:25 – The ongoing debate from the customer perspective
    • 21:45 – Why workforce changes aren’t always tied to automation
    • 25:40 – Human interaction still matters

    Links and Resources

    4 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 29 minutes 24 seconds
    Talk directly to your customers

    Connecting with customers is part of the job. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share why staying close to the people who use your product still matters, even as companies scale. They touch on writing customers directly, keeping the door open after the first reply, and why real conversations beat shouting into the social media void.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:11 – Writing customers from a real inbox
    • 05:21 – Building real relationships with the people who use your product
    • 11:34 – Keeping the line open after the first exchange
    • 14:07 – Why email still feels more personal than sliding into DMs
    • 19:29 – Getting to know who your customers actually are
    • 21:55 – Why real human connection is still the point

    Links and Resources

    25 February 2026, 9:00 am
  • 30 minutes 2 seconds
    Move fast when you can

    Sometimes speed matters more than polish. In this episode, the team shares how a HEY Calendar feature went from idea to shipped in about a day — and what made that possible. It’s a look at when moving quickly helps, when it doesn’t, and how writing clean code gives you room to change your mind later without breaking everything.

    Key Takeaways

    • 00:11 – Shipping a new feature in roughly a day
    • 03:14 – Catching the moment while it's hot
    • 08:02 – Shortening the path from idea to implementation
    • 12:04 – Making change easier with clean, thoughtful code
    • 19:42 – Designing things that hold up and are easy to fix
    • 22:51 – Building for the future

    Links and Resources

    18 February 2026, 9:00 am
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