If you could see product management through a CEO’s eyes, would it change the way you lead? In this episode of the Product Porch, Todd Blaquiere and Joe Ghali sit down with Ben Clarke, former CEO of BetterRX, to explore what executive leaders look for in top-tier product managers.

Ben shares his journey from KPMG to Amazon to leading BetterRX through a product-led transformation. He opens up about why product management is the beating heart of an organization, how product managers can build trust and alignment with executives, and what it means to truly put the product team in a position to drive growth.

Whether you’re looking to build credibility at the leadership table or just trying to speak the CEO’s language, this conversation is packed with insight you can use right away.

Listen now to understand how executives think, and how to make your work matter to them. So pull up a chair, we can’t wait to see on the porch!

Introduction and Opening Remarks
[00:00] Episode intro – Joe and Todd introduce the discussion on seeing product management through a CEO’s eyes while welcoming guest, Ben Clarke, former CEO of BetterRX.
[00:25] CEO mindset – Ben explains that a CEO’s main job is growth and why PMs need to understand that.

Evolution of Product Management at BetterRx
[01:31] Early challenges – Ben shares how BetterRx operated without formal product management in its early days.
[02:38] Building a function – Ben describes the shift toward a data-driven, product-led organization.
[04:37] Failing fast – Ben talks about learning to iterate quickly and embed experimentation into culture.

Becoming a Product-Led Company
[05:42] Cultural shift – Ben reflects on the company value “there’s always a better way” and how it encouraged innovation.
[08:06] Product first – Ben outlines how product decisions guided marketing, sales, and customer experience.
[10:01] Reinforcing mindset – Todd recalls how daily routines and metrics kept the product-led culture strong.

Hiring and Leadership Lessons
[10:56] Finding leaders – Ben explains what he looked for when hiring the first VP of Product.
[12:52] Performance and values – Ben highlights why consistent results and cultural fit mattered most.
[15:11] Product drives growth – Ben positions product as central to strategy and revenue creation.

Building Executive Trust
[16:41] Expert alignment – Ben shares why CEOs rely on leaders who are experts in their domains.
[19:10] Healthy pushback – Ben encourages PMs to challenge decisions respectfully to find better answers.
[22:20] Trust through transparency – Ben advises staying open, sharing progress, and communicating results.
[23:34] Stay ahead – Ben urges PMs to anticipate needs and bring ideas before they’re asked.

Emotional Jobs to Be Done
[28:00] Understanding the CEO – Ben explains that CEOs want partners who help them grow the business.
[28:45] Speaking the language – Todd connects this to communicating strategy and aligning priorities effectively.

Key Takeaways and Closing Reflections
[30:30] Acting like a leader – Joe reminds PMs to propose solutions and lead with confidence.
[32:10] Building trust – Ben emphasizes that mutual respect and open dialogue make work faster and more rewarding.
[33:27] Final thoughts – Todd and Joe close by encouraging PMs to view their work through the CEO’s perspective.

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Ever find yourself wondering if great product ideas really start with a problem… or if sometimes the solution shows up first and you just have to make sense of it? In this episode, Ryan and Joe dig into the messy middle of product discovery, where ideas aren’t magic and where PMs are constantly juggling customer discovery, internal requests, and the pressure to move fast.

They share examples like Juicero and Google Glass, explore what actually makes an idea worth validating, and unpack how product managers can avoid falling in love with a solution too early. You’ll hear what to do when stakeholders hand you fully baked ideas, how to test assumptions quickly, and why continuous discovery matters no matter where the idea came from.

If you’re tired of playing referee between problem-first and solution-first thinking, pull up a chair on the porch and let this conversation help you figure out your next move, spark a better debate with your team, or rethink how you approach your own backlog.

Introduction and Opening Remarks
[00:00] Episode intro – Sets up the core debate around where great product ideas begin.
[00:24] Framing the question – Introduces the tension between problem-first and solution-first thinking.

Caffeine and Product Camp Insights
[00:40] Problem-space reminder – Highlights why products fail when teams skip understanding the real problem.
[01:17] Jumping to solutions – Explains risks of moving too quickly into solution mode without customer insight.

The Chicken or the Egg Debate
[02:38] Origin of ideas – Argues that ideas form from observing frustration or unmet needs.
[03:17] Two development paths – Defines problem-first vs. solution-first approaches.
[05:14] Juicero example – Shows how solutions fail when they don’t solve a meaningful problem.
[06:19] Desire-driven products – Notes that some successful products satisfy wants, not problems.

Advice for Product Managers
[07:52] Testing assumptions – Encourages validating ideas instead of committing too early.
[11:07] Avoid solution bias – Emphasizes staying curious before investing in any one idea.
[13:04] Share context early – Recommends involving cross-functional partners throughout discovery.
[13:45] Balanced backlogs – Suggests mixing new ideas with solution requests that need validation.

Product Lifecycle and Strategy
[14:47] Start with problems – Advises beginning net-new work with discovery to reduce risk.
[19:57] Competing in growth – Warns against copying competitors without understanding customer needs.
[25:48] Responding to shifts – Describes adapting to market changes through broader exploration.
[27:34] Spotting signals – Highlights listening for emerging customer and market cues.
[29:38] Embracing ambiguity – Explains why navigating the messy middle matters more than choosing a side.
[30:09] Balancing inputs – Reinforces that both problems and solutions can be valid starting points.

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Every product manager knows the feeling: standing in front of a slide deck that’s full of facts but empty of feeling. You’ve got the data, the details, the deadlines — yet somehow, your message still misses the mark. The roadmap reads right, but no one’s moved by it.

That’s where your journey begins.

You’ve been the quiet architect — building, balancing, and bridging ideas — but now it’s time to become the storyteller. The one who doesn’t just ship features, but shapes futures. The one who can make people care.

This episode is your call to adventure. Todd and Ryan are the porch-side mentors who hand you the torch — the tools and tales to help you turn dry updates into vivid narratives. You’ll learn how to trade metrics for meaning, and roadmaps for revelations.

Through story frameworks, laughter, and lived experience, they show you how to move hearts before you move numbers. Because great products don’t just solve problems — they tell stories people believe in.

By the end, you’ll start to see it: every backlog is a plotline, every sprint is a scene, and every user is a character waiting for you to lead them to something better.

Your product isn't just a plan. It’s a journey. And you’re the hero holding the pen.
So pull up a chair on the porch. This is where your next great story begins.

Chapter 1: The Monsters Inc. Story

• [00:00] A playful start — monsters, laughter, and why stories stick.
• [00:41] The theme: storytelling as a must-have product skill.

Chapter 2: The Prince Story

• [02:00] A lesson in audience — the wrong story at the wrong time.
• [03:21] How a good story can turn insight into impact.

Chapter 3: Facts vs. Stories

• [05:16] Turning facts into meaning and connection.
• [07:00] Why adults still learn best through story.

Chapter 4: Storytelling for Product Managers

• [07:51] Using stories to motivate without authority.
• [08:40] Real use cases: vision, empathy, and change management.

Chapter 5: Empathy and Emotion

• [12:00] How stories build connection across teams.
• [13:14] Storytelling isn’t a soft skill—it’s a learnable craft.

Chapter 6: Storytelling Frameworks

• [17:04] The Hero’s Journey and the “three Cs.”
• [25:23] The “What Is vs. What Could Be” structure.
• [27:00] The Story Spine and other storytelling models.

Chapter 7: Practice and Presence

• [31:00] The difference between designing and delivering a story.
• [33:00] Practice, pacing, and reading the room.
• [35:41] Enthusiasm is contagious—model the energy you want.

Chapter 8: Go Tell Stories

• [38:23] Pick a framework and start small.
• [39:53] The only way to learn storytelling is by doing it.
• [40:08] Closing reminder: stories are fun—enjoy the process.

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Ever been caught between wanting to show your boss you’ve got it handled and realizing later you probably should have checked in sooner? In this episode, the Porch crew dives into the often-overlooked skill of managing up.

Joe, Ryan, and Todd share stories about times they got it wrong, what they learned from it, and how managing up is not about politics. It is about clarity, trust, and communication. They unpack how to balance initiative with alignment, how to navigate difficult managers (and their managers), and why humility might be the most underrated leadership skill of all.

If you want to build better relationships with leadership or make your boss look good without feeling like a sellout, we can’t wait for you to join the conversation on the porch.

Introduction and Opening Remarks
[00:00] Humility and grit – The crew opens with humor and sets the stage for the theme of managing up.

Why Managing Up Matters
[01:56] Joe’s early career lesson – A failed project teaches him that not engaging leadership can erode trust.
[03:00] Defining “managing up” – It’s more than updates; it’s about aligning expectations and maintaining visibility.

Common Missteps
[07:19] The “yes person” trap – Blindly following direction without alignment leads to frustration and missed goals.
[09:00] Balancing confidence and humility – How to ask for feedback without seeming weak.

How to Manage Up Effectively
[10:30] Communication rules – Ask questions instead of making assumptions.
[11:30] Bottom-line-up-front approach – How to check alignment and communicate clearly with your boss.
[12:30] One-on-ones done right – Use them to look forward, not backward.
[13:36] Write things down – Use documentation to confirm goals, deadlines, and assumptions.

Dealing with Difficult Managers
[15:00] When your boss isn’t great – How to set expectations and coach upward.
[17:30] Push for clarity – Encourage managers to align on goals and outcomes even when they don’t naturally do it.

Managing Up Across the Organization
[20:26] Beyond your boss – Managing up means managing across departments and leadership tiers.
[22:49] “Make your boss the hero” – How supporting leadership can help your own career.

Recovering from Mistakes
[25:31] How to rebuild trust – Admit errors early and commit to doing better.
[26:41] Humility and grit – Why these two traits matter more than almost anything else.

Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts
[27:30] Align expectations to avoid frustration.
[36:08] Final reflections – Managing up as an essential skill for every product professional.

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What does product-market fit actually look like in the real world?

Everyone’s heard it. A leader slaps the table and says, “Go get product market fit.” But what does that even mean?

In this episode, Ryan and Joe sit down with Shardul Mehta, founder of Street Smart Product Manager, to unpack one of the most overused yet misunderstood phrases in product management. They dig into what PMF actually looks like in practice, how to validate real problems worth solving, and why it’s not a one-time milestone but an ongoing process of alignment.

Shardul brings three decades of experience across startups, enterprises, and everything in between. He shares grounded, no-fluff advice for PMs trying to prove traction without falling for vanity metrics or corporate buzzwords.

If you’ve ever been told to “get PMF” without an explanation, join us on the porch for a discussion about what product market fit really means, how to recognize it when you see it, and how to build it without the buzzwords.

Follow Shardul at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shardulmehta/
Subscribe to Shardul's Newsletter at: https://streetsmartproductmanager.com/

Intro: The Product Porch Opens
[00:00] Porch banter and setup – Ryan and Joe introduce Shardul Mehta and tee up the topic of PMF.
[00:01:30] Meet Shardul Mehta – Shardul’s background, career highlights, and his “Product Jedi” reputation set the stage.

Chapter 1: The Myth of Product Market Fit
[00:03:00] Defining the problem – Shardul explains why “go get PMF” is one of the least helpful phrases in product.
[00:05:15] The illusion of metrics – Why chasing a single magic number never proves real market traction.
[00:07:00] PMF as alignment – Reframes PMF as a continuous process, not a one-time milestone.

Chapter 2: Testing for Real Demand
[00:10:30] Validation over vision – How to replace assumptions with small, testable experiments.
[00:13:45] The demo test – Why showing a clickable prototype can reveal whether customers actually understand and want it.
[00:16:00] The only real proof – Early commitments, prepayments, or budget allocation beat any engagement metric.

Chapter 3: The Leadership Disconnect
[00:19:30] The PMF pressure cooker – Leaders demand traction without defining what it means.
[00:22:00] Bridging the gap – How PMs can align stakeholders by translating validation into business outcomes.
[00:25:30] Documenting assumptions – Using hypothesis-driven roadmaps to protect PMs from arbitrary goals.

Chapter 4: Internal PMF and the Non-SaaS World
[00:29:00] Inside the enterprise – How to measure “fit” when your customers are internal teams.
[00:32:15] Currency beyond dollars – Using adoption, efficiency, and reallocated budget as signs of success.

Chapter 5: Lessons from the Street Smart Product Manager
[00:36:00] Shardul’s Street Smart rules – Simplicity, storytelling, and listening to signals over vanity metrics.
[00:38:45] Improv and product – How improv training sharpens curiosity, communication, and decision-making in product work.

Outro: Wrapping Up the Porch Talk
[00:42:00] Final reflections – Why PMF is a journey of constant learning and recalibration.
[00:43:30] Porch close – Ryan and Joe reflect on takeaways and invite listeners to subscribe and share their own PMF stories.

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Preparing for a product management interview can feel like trying to read minds—what exactly are they looking for? In this episode, Todd Blaquiere, Joe Ghali, and Ryan Cantwell break down how to position yourself as the clear top candidate by understanding what interviewers are really evaluating: Do you want the job? Do they want to work with you? And can you actually do the job?

The team shares practical tips on how to show genuine interest, build rapport through authentic conversation, and demonstrate your product thinking with clarity and confidence. They also explore how to approach common interview formats—like product sense and behavioral questions—so you can highlight your strengths without over-rehearsing.

Whether you’re chasing your next PM role or just want to sharpen your interview game, this episode will help you prepare with purpose and present yourself like the professional they can’t wait to hire.

_If your next interview is around the corner—or even just on your mind—pull up a chair on the porch and let’s talk about how to show them you’re ready for the job._

Introduction: Setting the Stage
[00:00] Welcome – Todd, Joe, and Ryan introduce the topic and purpose of the episode.
[02:15] Why it matters – Understanding what interviewers are really evaluating.

The Three Core Questions
[05:10] Do you want the job? – Showing genuine interest through curiosity and prep.
[09:40] Do they want to work with you? – Building rapport and positive energy.
[14:55] Can you do the job? – Demonstrating capability through clear examples.

Preparing Like a Pro
[20:25] Practice smart – Rehearse without sounding scripted.
[25:10] Product sense – What good product thinking looks like.
[30:35] Behavioral questions – Turning stories into proof points.

Common Mistakes and Lessons Learned
[36:00] Pitfalls – Avoid over-talking, vague answers, and low energy.
[41:20] Mindset shift – Treat interviews as conversations, not tests.

Wrap-Up and Key Takeaways
[46:30] Final tips – Each host shares one key takeaway.
[49:00] Closing – Encouragement to prepare intentionally and show authenticity.

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Why are so many companies putting technology and cost savings ahead of the human experience? In this episode of The Product Porch, hosts Ryan Cantwell, Joe Ghali, and Todd Blaquiere dig into what’s really happening with customer service, and why product managers can’t afford to ignore it.

They share personal stories of declining experiences and pockets of excellence, and explore how product managers can turn customer experience into a true competitive advantage. From using AI in customer support to working more closely with frontline teams, the conversation is packed with practical advice you can apply right away.

If you’re a product manager who wants to stop the slide, build trust with customers, and make service a differentiator for your product, pull up a chair on the porch and let’s talk about how better experiences can drive real product impact.

Decline in Customer Experience
[00:55] UPS story – Example of declining customer service.
[02:29] "We’re done" – Awkward interaction highlights lack of engagement.
[04:43] Cost-cutting trend – Companies automate to reduce human interaction.
[05:11] Data check – Forester study shows lowest-ever customer experience index.

Good vs. Bad Customer Service Experiences
[03:06] Southwest story – Example of excellent customer service building loyalty.
[06:55] Pendulum swing – Service quality will rebound as customers push back.
[07:30] Loyalty matters – Positive service drives retention and repeat business.

The Role of Product Managers in Customer Experience
[09:34] Whole product ownership – PMs own the journey from sales to support.
[10:30] Practical tips – Empower sales, onboarding, and support with better tools and training.
[13:30] Continuous discovery – PMs should shadow and meet with support regularly.
[14:57] AI opportunity – AI frees time for deeper customer discovery.

Defining Good Customer Experience in SaaS
[24:29] SaaS example – Frictionless onboarding creates a smooth experience.
[26:21] Anticipating needs – Effective FAQs and proactive support add value.
[27:19] Using ChatGPT – AI troubleshooting often outperforms official docs.

Conclusion and Closing Remarks
[29:30] Key takeaways – Service as a differentiator, not an afterthought.
[30:17] "CX is information" – Customer experience is about enabling with the right info.
[31:00] Service as a frontline driver – Customer service is the product’s real face.
[32:00] Closing – Reflections on empathy, trust, and support as core to product impact.

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Ever wonder if product management is really different in hardware versus software? In this episode, hosts Ryan Cantwell and Joe Ghali dig into the nuances — and the common ground — between these two worlds.

From myths about MVPs and iteration to the very real challenges of supply chains, tooling, and long development cycles, they unpack what makes hardware product management unique. At the same time, they highlight the transferable practices both sides can borrow, from prototyping and discovery to stakeholder management and risk planning.

Along the way, Ryan and Joe explore what hardware PMs can learn from software’s iterative mindset, and what software PMs can gain from hardware’s rigor and discipline. The conversation is full of practical insights, surprising perspectives, and a reminder that product managers of all stripes have more in common than they think.

Whether you’re in hardware, software, or somewhere in between, pull up a chair on the porch and discover how learning across disciplines can make you a stronger product leader.

Introduction and Fun Fact
[00:00] Welcome – Intro and setup for the discussion.
[00:07] Proctor & Gamble – Launches a new product every 4.5 days.
[00:25] Framing – Are hardware and software PM really that different?

Exploring Product Management Differences
[01:08] Skepticism – Hardware PMs often dismiss software-driven advice.
[02:13] Defining hardware – Physical, tangible products with weight and substance.
[03:30] Software bias – Most frameworks assume code, not compliance-heavy products.

Understanding Hardware and Software Products
[04:11] Value delivery – Hardware, software, and services deliver value differently.
[05:20] Culture divide – Hardware PMs often roll eyes at “software-first” frameworks.
[06:00] Org influence – Structures drive differences as much as product type.

Agile and Product Management in Hardware
[06:20] Agile ≠ product – Agile is process, not product management.
[06:54] MVP myths – MVP isn’t “crippled” or deficient.
[08:11] Hardware MVPs – Often demos, prototypes, or Wizard of Oz tests.
[09:27] Tools differ – Core mindset stays the same.

Learning from Each Other
[09:46] Prototyping – Shared practice across hardware and software.
[11:23] Customer rigor – Hardware PMs rely on deep customer input before investment.
[13:10] Planning – Hardware forces stronger upfront planning.
[17:36] Market analysis – Software PMs excel at continuous scanning.
[19:00] Cross-learning – Both sides benefit from borrowing practices.

Myths and Realities in Product Management
[19:17] Myth-busting – Testing assumptions about iteration and risk.
[19:36] Iteration speed – Hardware iteration slower, riskier than software.
[21:45] Technical depth – Hardware PMs often need stronger engineering knowledge.
[23:30] Reality check – Iteration exists in hardware, just looks different.

Conclusion and Takeaways
[23:59] Shared lessons – Each domain has practices worth adopting.
[28:40] Perspective – Don’t dismiss techniques from “the other side.”
[32:34] Closing – Hardware and software PMs aren’t that different.
[34:41] Call to action – Go make product friends across domains.

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