REWORK

37signals

A podcast by 37signals about the better way to work and run your business. The REWORK podcast features the co-founders of 37signals (the makers of Basecamp and HEY), Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sharing their unique perspective on business and entrepreneurship along with host Kimberly Rhodes.

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20 episodes
Updated Wednesday
Explicit

Episodes20

Newest first

Wednesday · 25 min
What's the worst that could happen?
Many entrepreneurs spend more time worrying about what could go wrong than actually finding out. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson detail how 37signals approaches experimentation, why lowering the stakes on most decisions leads to better ones, and how letting go of outcomes is both a mental discipline and a business strategy. Key Takeaways 00:10 – Where the willingness to just try things comes from 02:40 – The freedom that comes with not having to cover your bases before every decision 08:51 – Nobody can predict how customers will react 13:04 – How long do you give something before moving on? 18:01 – Things don't always pan out 21:29 – Anything you build can roll forward into the next product idea Links and Resources Jeff Bezos explains one-way door decisions and two-way door decisions Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
July 22 · 15 min
Start Here: Building a better onboarding experience
Getting a new customer through the door is one thing, but making sure they understand how things work is another. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson break down how (and why) 37signals redesigned the onboarding experience with their latest version of Basecamp, why onboarding is one of the easiest things to overlook, and what it looks like when founders stay personally connected to that first impression. Key Takeaways 00:09 – What Basecamp's onboarding looked like before, and what changed with Basecamp 5 04:01 – Why onboarding is one of the hardest things to get right 08:33 – Why the people who built it are best suited to showcase it to customers 11:07 – Using onboarding to introduce who you are, not just what you built Links and Resources Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
July 15 · 22 min
Don't write it down
Customer feedback is valuable, but not all of it deserves a spot on your to-do list. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson revisit a chapter from their book REWORK, sharing how 37signals filters feedback, why roadmaps can do more harm than good, and what happens when companies let fear drive their product decisions. Key Takeaways 00:40 – Why writing down every customer request can work against you 03:08 – Handling feedback on the technical and open source side 07:37 – Why 37signals doesn't really use time specific roadmaps 09:54 – How vague promises set customers up for disappointment 13:33 – Avoiding promised feature regret 16:10 – Don't let the fear of losing customers steer your decisions 19:29 – Resisting the pressure to just "do something” Links and Resources Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
July 1 · 32 min
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 AI Agents welcome in Basecamp Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
June 24 · 31 min
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 See where Basecamp is being used right now – basecamp.com/live If Your Product Is Great, It Doesn't Need to Be Good by Paul Buchheit Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
May 13 · 28 min
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 Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
April 8 · 25 min
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 Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
April 1 · 26 min
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 Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
March 25 · 17 min
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 Bring your own AI agents to Basecamp — https://basecamp.com/agents Record a video question for the podcast Watch The REWORK podcast on YouTube Basecamp is the no-nonsense project management system. Sign up for free at Basecamp.com HEY is a fresh take on email. Sign up for a 30-day free trial at HEY.com Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Sign up for free at fizzy.do Books by 37signals Jason Fried on X David Heinemeier Hansson on X
March 18 · 24 min
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 Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
March 11 · 29 min
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 Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
March 4 · 28 min
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 The owner's word weighs a ton by Jason Fried on Signal v. Noise Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
February 25 · 29 min
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 Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
February 18 · 30 min
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 "Building HEY Calendar's Year View" from Michelle Harjani's HEY World Maintenance of Everything (Part One) by Stewart Brand Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
February 11 · 29 min
You've launched... now what?
The confetti’s settled. The product is out in the world. So… what happens next? Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share what the days after a launch actually look like at 37signals. They discuss not letting early numbers steer the ship, making space for rest after the push, and remembering that shipping is just the start, not the finish line. Key Takeaways 00:10 – What happens shortly after launch 02:09 – Dialing the team back 05:10 – Product touch ups and enhancements 06:16 – Returning to a familiar work rhythm 07:16 – Balancing the product push with real breaks 10:39 – Not letting early signups call the shots 20:32 – Sticking with what works for your team 22:00 – Putting the product ahead of quick money moves 27:26 – Why launch buzz doesn’t last forever Links and Resources The Great Falls of Boeing, Intel, and Apple from David Heinemeier Hansson's HEY World Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
February 4 · 26 min
Product walkthroughs, the next open source product & other listener questions
A fresh batch of listener questions leads this week's conversation. Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk through how they approach product walkthroughs, what's ahead for open code at 37signals, and why a little fun still belongs in serious software. Key Takeaways 00:22 – Recording product walkthroughs without scripts or polish 11:45 – Writebook as an open source product 15:04 – How the 37signals team uses Basecamp and Fizzy together 22:52 – The quiet joy of Easter eggs and playful details in software Links and Resources Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
January 28 · 22 min
Give it a name
Coming up with a product name doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share when in the development process a name is chosen, how several of their products got their names, and why keeping things simple usually wins. They talk about what's worth considering and what's not worth a second thought. Key Takeaways 00:10 – How Fizzy got its name and what it was almost called 04:29 – No name ever checks every box 10:25 – When an available domain influences the choice 13:18 – The legal realities 17:26 – What’s behind the name Omarchy (and how do you actually say it?) 20:12 – Good names work by making an easy connection Links and Resources Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
January 21 · 35 min
AI Revisited
AI has moved fast, and so has 37signals’ thinking. This week, host Kimberly Rhodes talks to co-founder and CTO David Heinemeier Hansson about the progress AI has made over the last few months. David shares what’s changed, what’s actually useful now, and why his outlook has grown more optimistic. Key Takeaways 00:11 – How today’s AI feels dramatically more powerful 05:05 – David’s real-world experience working with AI agents 23:36 – How AI can help non-programmers 31:05 – Why the upside of AI outweighs the potential risks Links and Resources Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
January 14 · 33 min
Making things that multiply
Good ideas rarely belong in just one place. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how 37signals lets concepts move freely across products, turning one solid idea into many useful ones. They talk about borrowing from the past without getting stuck in it, giving new concepts time to catch on, and keeping space for creativity as products evolve. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Letting strong ideas travel between products 02:49 – Giving each product its own design voice 07:26 – Bringing back old features when it makes sense 12:03 – Avoiding nostalgia just for the sake of it 17:55 – Using real-world use to guide product improvements 22:10 – Keeping your creative process flexible 23:57 – Leaving space for fun in the design 31:13 – Designing around feel instead of rules Links and Resources Newcity Design magazine Segura Inc. (Carlos Segura’s Design Firm) Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com Books by 37signals HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X
January 7 · 31 min
Launch day — a little logistics, a lot of luck
Release day always looks smooth from the outside. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot packed into a short window. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how 37signals approaches the final stretch of putting a product out into the world, using Fizzy as a recent example. They talk about narrowing features, resisting the urge to hype dates too early, and why steady word of mouth matters more than chasing algorithms. Key Takeaways 00:00 – Introduction 00:10 – How Fizzy’s launch came together 02:17 – Choosing what really needs to ship in V1 08:51 – The downside of announcing dates too far ahead 12:33 – How algorithms have reshaped marketing 23:37 – Building buzz through word of mouth 30:00 – It all comes down to building a solid product Links and Resources Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do Record a video question for the podcast Books by 37signals Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com HEY World | HEY The REWORK podcast The Rework Podcast on YouTube The 37signals Dev Blog 37signals on YouTube @37signals on X