Above Board

Listen in as Paul announces his retirement, framing it as a positive change rather than an escape. The hosts share their bittersweet feelings about ending a five-year partnership while reflecting on Fathom's evolution from a side project to a thriving business. They delve into the emotional complexities of transitioning ownership and the importance of trust. Paul ponders future possibilities post-retirement, emphasizing a graceful exit without tying his identity to the company. It's a heartfelt celebration of growth, friendship, and new beginnings.

Hosts dive into the decline of Google search, revealing frustrations with irrelevant results and the fumbling of AI in complex tasks. They address how SEO practices are degrading content quality, prioritizing clicks over genuine information. The discussion uncovers the significant influence of search algorithms on public opinions, especially in health and politics. As they explore newer platforms, they stress the dangers of relying too much on technology, warning that critical thinking may be in jeopardy amidst a landscape filled with ads and misleading content.

Jack and Paul discuss what’s new at Fathom Analytics recently, like the ongoing refactor project. This paves the way for great new features, including entry and exit pages. They also give their opinions on the recent drama in the WordPress (WP) community between Automattic and WPEngine.

Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram and a prominent figure in tech, shares insights after his recent arrest in France. He delves into privacy issues, encryption, and the accountability of social media platforms in curbing illicit activities. The conversation touches on the delicate balance between protecting free speech and the potential pitfalls of government censorship. Durov emphasizes the need for open dialogue, especially in an age riddled with misinformation, while exploring the responsibilities of tech companies in fostering safe and diverse discussions.

Things are humming along at Fathom Analytics - we’ve released several new features, have more in the pipeline coming soon, and the redoing of our internal processes is going quite well. Jack and Paul also discuss the Stripe acquisition of LemonSqueezy, the CEO of Paddle stepping down and finally, why Fathom does’t do discounts or sales (ever).

Jack and Paul get into updating the application’s interface design and how that paves the way for new features coming soon. They also discuss why no one should trust Google’s business model (and their penchant for killing off popular products like Universal Analytics), the lengths Fathom goes to to support old analytics data, why you should lean into what works for you (even if it’s not the consensus), why companies should care a lot more about protecting their customers data, why public corporations are incentivized for being sociopaths, and so much more.

The podcast delves into the ethical implications of AI, challenges in software development, and the impact on various industries. It highlights the importance of privacy and data protection in AI technology. AI's ego and its struggle with accuracy are discussed, emphasizing the need for ethical decision-making in its development.

Hosts discuss challenges with big projects, plan to overcome hurdles. Breaking down projects, managing constraints, and structured monthly projects for efficient development. Decisions on version four and project rules to optimize workflow. Importance of incremental feature updates for user experience.

Software developer Jack and designer Paul discuss overcoming analysis paralysis, shifting focus to influencer design work, finding balance in software development, the impact of DNS mistakes, effective decision-making strategies, and embracing incremental progress in development.

Paul and Jack catch up on their podcast, discussing a new marketing site, team dynamics, and the upcoming version 4 of their software. They talk about optimizing website deployment, evolving changelog style, and prioritizing scalability for customer impact