

The Panel
Justin Jackson & Brian Casel
When it comes to bootstrapping and building software, there's rarely one right answer. We want to dive into the nuance. In every episode, veteran founders Justin Jackson and Brian Casel tackle thorny topics – from pricing and product strategy to work-life balance. No gurus, no easy answers – just real conversations we'd normally have behind closed doors.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 31, 2025 • 1h 25min
Maybe, do the opposite
 AI dev is changing rapidly, and... AI dev is rapidly changing how we build websites and apps. Brian and Justin wrestle with this new reality and discuss the different phases of a startup, how indies can cultivate brand loyalty, and when you should maybe do the opposite of what everyone else is doing.Timestamps:(00:00) - What does Justin do all day?
(00:14) - Welcome to The Panel
(04:05) - The phases of startups
(20:04) - AI coding might be moving away from spec driven development
(27:52) - The future of products is shifting regularly
(31:46) - Building a website dynamically with AI
(46:41) - How much brand loyalty do we have in the age of AI?
(01:13:45) - Singing the counter melody
YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube
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Links mentioned in this episodePanel Animated introHillchartsCheeky Pint interview with Anthropic founderDerek Sivers articleHumanoid robotOpenAI acquires app that watches youDuer JeansPlain English podcast 

Oct 24, 2025 • 2min
Bonus: "The Chat" theme song
 During the last live recording, Justin made a quick song for the folks who show up every week in the livestream chat.Dedicated to our regular "chat crew:" Zack, Dave Giunta, Emmett, Pascal, Ryan, Beau and more!LyricsVerse 1:They're typing fast when the stream goes liveZack and Emmett keeping vibes aliveTechnical issues? They don't careBeau's reloading but they're all still thereChorus:Chat room warriors, showing up on timePascal's dropping wisdom, Michael's speaking his mindFrom AgentOS to Rails debatesThese are the people who won't wait!Verse 2:Justin's laughing when the servers crashRyan's asking questions, making comments flashDave's talking marketing, attribution's toughPritch upgraded, saying that's enough!Chorus:Chat room warriors, showing up on timeInside jokes and asymmetric climbsFrom normy business to the tech eliteThese are the voices that can't be beat!Bridge:They guard their privacy but share their thoughtsCommunity guidelines, lessons taughtBelievers and creators side by sideIn the Panel's chat, there's nothing to hide!Final Chorus:Chat room warriors, every single weekPascal and Helen, everyone uniqueFrom bluegrass covers to the iron triangleThese are the people in the Panelangle!Outro:Yeah! The Panel Podcast crowd!Typing their hearts out, screaming loud!(Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!)Made with Suno 

Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 20min
Going Back to Grade 12
 Justin spoke to a grade 12 class about entrepreneurship, and was surprised by what he learned about teenagers.Brian has thoughts on the impact of Agent OS v2.1 and struggles with the support burden of open-source software. They talk about “Wealth is the freedom from having to monetize every idea." Also: Johnny Ive and Rivian founder RJ Scaringe's product design processes.Timestamps:(00:00) - Now It's Time for The Panel
(01:30) - AI music creation
(05:45) - Segments update
(06:39) - Casel or Castle or ?
(07:55) - Justin's visit to a grade 12 entrepreneur class
(18:14) - What kinds of questions did the kids ask?
(23:31) - Projects that generate unwanted jobs
(40:25) - The relief of wealth DHH tweet
(56:19) - Jonny Ive and caring about design
(01:05:14) - Cheeky Pint podcast interview with Rivian founder
YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube
🦋 Reply on Bluesky
Links mentioned in this episodeSunoSuno intro song for The PanelJustin’s high school talkAgent OSBuilder Methods Pro DiscordTweet: “Wealth is the freedom from having to monetize every idea”Survey: How does Basecamp get new customers?Cheeky Pint podcast interview with Rivian founder 

10 snips
Oct 18, 2025 • 1h 41min
Double duty with Aaron Francis
 Aaron Francis, an entrepreneur and educator behind Database School, shares insights on entrepreneurship and programming. He highlights how personal experiences influence business journeys and discusses the evolution of coding tools. The conversation dives into teaching kids programming with AI, striking a balance between design and code, and recognizing market success signals. Francis also emphasizes the importance of taking risks early, advising students to start simple service businesses and leverage their networks for growth. 

Oct 10, 2025 • 1h 35min
Surviving on the internet
 Discover how quickly prototypes can be built with V0 while exploring the implications of AI on creativity. The hosts discuss whether kids are becoming overly dependent on AI and how content authenticity is being challenged. They dive into the launch of AgentOS v2 and discuss the rapid growth of AI-driven startups. Finally, ponder the daunting question: could anyone really survive a weekend without the internet? 

13 snips
Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 49min
Will vibe coding and AI give product people an advantage?
 Dive into the intersection of AI and entrepreneurship as Justin and Brian tackle vibe coding's role in product development. They explore the challenges that junior developers face and the enduring need for human creativity in art. The duo debates whether AI will replace artists and reflects on the lost community feel of early social media. They also discuss the future of work, emphasizing the importance of clear goals and connections in a rapidly evolving landscape. 

18 snips
Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 40min
Business vibes
 Justin vibe-codes a new app just before recording, proving creativity can strike at any moment. The team discusses their recent retreat in Banff, where they prioritize relationship-building over deep work. Insights from hands-on UX testing reveal valuable user experience tweaks. Brian shares his journey with Builder Methods Pro, highlighting early membership excitement and challenges. They also ponder the balance of competition, teamwork, and AI adoption, all while navigating the emotional rollercoaster of product launches. 

Sep 12, 2025 • 1h 57min
Business Dad, digital fatigue, Outro.fm, Builder Methods
 We're joined by Ian Landsman, from the Mostly Technical podcast, joins us to chat about Outro.fm and Helpspot. We talk digital fatigue, the challenges of maintaining an online presence, the importance of building a community around shared interests, finding the right audience, and balancing personal goals with business objectives. As Brian prepares to launch Builder Methods Pro, we debate the value of community feedback and the potential for unforeseen opportunities in creating content online. Ian talks with us about the development of Outro.fm as an all-in-one solution for podcasters, the importance of building a membership community, the production side of podcasting tools, and the challenges faced in the podcasting market. Also: the difference between one-time sale products (courses) and SaaS.Timestamps:(00:06) - The pre-show is the show
(00:23) - Quitting Twitter
(06:19) - Redesigning his website with AI
(07:53) - Deciding on what a channel is for
(13:59) - Chasing views and likes
(20:58) - What are we up to this week
(29:36) - Why subscription and community vs team training and consulting
(50:32) - What should the premium content be for day one?
(57:08) - What is Outro.fm?
(01:15:04) - Who are Outro.fm's competition?
(01:21:47) - Selling sponsorships for podcasts as a product
(01:25:43) - The bet on how much revenue you'll get from your work
(01:43:59) - Step 1: Become famous
YOU ARE THE PANEL – send us your thoughts 🗣️🎤 Send us an audio or video message📧 Email us: panelpodcastshow@gmail.com📺 Leave a comment on YouTube
🦋 Reply on Bluesky
Links mentioned in this episodeIan LandsmanA Smart BearBuilder Methods | Training for AI-first software developersOutro.fmMostly Technical Member Site | OutroThe Podcast Website Builder | PodpageLuma · Delightful Events Start HereThe Changelog podcastSyntax - Web Development PodcastHelp desk software for effortless email support 

23 snips
Sep 5, 2025 • 1h 43min
Why does the same amount of effort produce wildly different results?
 Discover the complexities of managing popular open-source projects and the quest for authenticity in a world dominated by algorithms. Hear about firsthand experiences connecting with industry leaders and personal anecdotes from a recent trip to Toronto. The speakers delve into the relationship between effort and outcome, exploring why different endeavors yield varied results. They also emphasize the importance of genuine enthusiasm in audience engagement and the challenges of sustaining excitement in bootstrapped projects. 

Aug 16, 2025 • 1h 58min
A framework for getting what you want
 The hosts dive deep into Justin's use of Stripe Sigma to analyze Transistor's revenue trends. They discuss valuable insights gained from a key conversation about business growth and fulfillment. Brian explores monetization strategies for Builder Methods, weighing the merits of courses versus community cohorts. Another highlight is the importance of self-reflection in achieving personal and professional goals, alongside creative fulfillment. The shifting dynamics of post-COVID business and innovative approaches to community engagement add further intrigue to their conversation. 


