

Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth
Lenny Rachitsky
Interviews with world-class product leaders and growth experts to uncover concrete, actionable, and tactical advice to help you build, launch, and grow your own product.
Episodes
Mentioned books

1,107 snips
Aug 9, 2025 • 1h 36min
Inside ChatGPT: The fastest growing product in history | Nick Turley (Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI)
Nick Turley, Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI, shares fascinating insights from his journey in creating the fastest-growing product in history. He discusses the 10-day sprint that launched ChatGPT, the strategic pricing survey conducted in Discord, and why the team chose to ship unpolished features. Turley reveals how retention metrics ‘smile’ over time and how TikTok comments became an invaluable user research tool. He emphasizes balancing speed and quality in AI development and the impact of ChatGPT on SEO and product discovery.

803 snips
Aug 3, 2025 • 1h 20min
Brian Chesky's secret mentor who died 9 times, started the Burning Man board, and built the world's first midlife wisdom school | Chip Conley (founder of MEA)
Chip Conley, founder of Joie de Vivre hotels and the Modern Elder Academy, shares his journey of joining Airbnb at 52, becoming a mentor in a youth-driven culture. He discusses the 'mentor and intern' mindset, blending teaching with curiosity. Chip reveals how AI may benefit older workers and emphasizes that midlife can be a time of renewed purpose. He shares techniques for managing anxiety and offers insights on why our 40s and 50s can be the happiest years. His experiences highlight the power of intergenerational collaboration in the tech landscape.

2,641 snips
Jul 31, 2025 • 1h 29min
He saved OpenAI, invented the “Like” button, and built Google Maps: Bret Taylor on the future of careers, coding, agents, and more
Bret Taylor, co-founder and CEO of Sierra, has a storied tech career including roles as CTO of Meta and co-CEO of Salesforce. He shares how a critical product review almost derailed his Google career, leading to the creation of Google Maps. Taylor discusses transformative AI agents poised to replace traditional SaaS products, innovative outcome-based pricing models, and lessons from early career missteps. He also reflects on the importance of coding skills in an AI-driven future and the vital question he learned from Sheryl Sandberg that maximizes daily impact.

1,393 snips
Jul 27, 2025 • 1h 12min
Pricing your AI product: Lessons from 400+ companies and 50 unicorns | Madhavan Ramanujam
Madhavan Ramanujam, a pricing and monetization expert, shares his insights from advising over 250 companies, including unicorns. He discusses why AI companies can capture much higher value than traditional SaaS models. Madhavan introduces a 2x2 framework for optimal pricing and highlights negotiation strategies that maximized a founder's deal size. He also emphasizes reframing Proof of Concepts to create business cases and stresses that monetization must be prioritized from the start. His insights reveal crucial strategies for sustainable growth in AI.

3,807 snips
Jul 20, 2025 • 1h 15min
Anthropic co-founder on quitting OpenAI, AGI predictions, $100M talent wars, 20% unemployment, and the nightmare scenarios keeping him up at night | Ben Mann
Ben Mann, co-founder of Anthropic and former GPT-3 architect at OpenAI, dives into the world of AI's rapid growth and ethical dilemmas. He reveals the challenges of attracting top talent amid fierce competition, spotlighting Meta's staggering offers. Ben predicts that AGI may emerge as soon as 2027-2028, but warns of a looming 20% unemployment rate. He shares his concerns over AI's existential threats and why a focus on safety and human alignment is crucial, while also teaching his kids alternative skills instead of traditional academics.

3,015 snips
Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 35min
The AI-native startup: 5 products, 7-figure revenue, 100% AI-written code | Dan Shipper (co-founder/CEO of Every)
Dan Shipper, co-founder and CEO of Every, discusses the revolutionary impact of AI on startups. He believes AI can reshore American jobs while stressing the importance of an AI operations lead for business efficiency. Shipper reveals how his team leverages AI tools like Claude and Codex, showcasing their unique roles in content creation and productivity. He emphasizes that generalists will thrive in an AI-first world, urging companies to adopt an AI-centric approach and continuously upskill their teams.

959 snips
Jul 13, 2025 • 1h 42min
Rapidly test and validate any startup idea with the 2-day Foundation Sprint (from the creators of the Design Sprint) | Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky (Character Capital)
Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky, co-creators of the Design Sprint and co-founders of Character Capital, share their expertise in this conversation about the Foundation Sprint. They discuss the importance of validating startup ideas quickly, outlining a two-day process that replaces months of work. Key topics include the 2x2 differentiation framework, essential questions founders must address, and the ‘note and vote’ technique for avoiding groupthink. Their insights on product differentiation and strategic decision-making pave the way for startup success in a competitive landscape.

1,288 snips
Jul 6, 2025 • 1h 32min
Solo founder, $80M exit, 6 months: The Base44 bootstrapped startup success story | Maor Shlomo
Maor Shlomo, the solo founder of Base44, an AI-powered app builder, shares his remarkable journey from bootstrapping to an $80 million acquisition by Wix in just six months. He discusses his growth playbook that attracted over 400,000 users without traditional marketing. Discover how he structured his code for AI efficiency, tripled user activation by removing a feature, and leveraged LinkedIn for organic growth. Maor also reflects on navigating personal challenges during geopolitical events while deciding between independence and acquisition.

2,582 snips
Jul 3, 2025 • 1h 28min
I’ve run 75+ businesses. Here’s why you’re probably chasing the wrong idea. | Andrew Wilkinson (co‑founder of Tiny)
Andrew Wilkinson, co-founder of Tiny, shares his journey from teenage barista to billionaire entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of spotting high-margin niche opportunities and emphasizes starting small to build confidence. The conversation highlights his efficient use of AI tools that act as personal assistants, alongside his thoughts on the future of work. Wilkinson openly addresses the link between mental health and happiness, advocating for discussions around ADHD and medication. He even recounts a memorable encounter with Steve Jobs, offering unique entrepreneurial insights.

1,030 snips
Jun 29, 2025 • 1h 23min
Naming expert shares the process behind creating billion-dollar brand names like Azure, Vercel, Windsurf, Sonos, Blackberry, and Impossible Burger | David Placek (Lexicon Branding)
David Placek, founder of Lexicon Branding, shares insights from over 40 years of creating memorable brand names like Sonos and Azure. He discusses a unique three-step process that can give companies an edge beyond marketing budgets. Discover why Microsoft once deemed Azure a “dumb name” and how polarizing opinions signal the right choice. Learn about the psychological vibes of letters, the diamond framework for naming, and why the relevance of domain names is changing in the AI era.