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Worklog with Shawn Hickman

Worklog with Shawn Hickman

By: Shawn Hickman
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About this listen

 Building an indie app business is a journey full of challenges, insights, and lessons learned. Worklog is a behind-the-scenes look at my experience designing, developing, and growing Sofa, an iOS app that helps you be more intentional with your downtime. I’m Shawn Hickman—a designer, developer, and indie app creator—sharing my process, what I’m working on, and the hard (and fun) parts of running a solo business. Whether it’s app development, YouTube, marketing, or unexpected lessons along the way, Worklog is an open journal of everything that goes into turning an idea into a sustainable indie business. If you’re an indie maker, aspiring developer, or just curious about the process, tune in—and don’t hesitate to reach out! 👋 https://www.shawnhickman.me/worklog-podcast/© 2025 Astrio, LLC Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The Day Nintendo Crashed Sofa's Podcast Player Launch

    The Day Nintendo Crashed Sofa's Podcast Player Launch
    Apr 12 2025

    In this episode of Worklog, I talk about the launch of Sofa's new podcast player. Specifically, the marketing work I did before the launch, how the launch day/week went, and what I've been working on after the launch.


    📺 Watch on YouTube


    Chapters

    0:00 Intro

    0:46 Small Talk

    1:05 CommunityKit

    5:58 Framous

    8:03 Camera Talk

    15:32 Not Just a Goof

    17:30 Podcast Player Launch

    19:48 Making Videos

    21:45 Website Updates

    25:01 Podcast Ecosystem

    29:45 Podcast Button Builder

    35:07 Dealing with Bugs

    36:33 API Server

    38:11 Launch Day/Week

    43:34 Post Launch

    50:06 What's Next

    55:30 Outro


    Things Mentioned

    • CommunityKit
    • Framous: Screenshot Frames
    • Watch Not Just a Goof
    • The 5 Best Things in Sofa’s New Podcast Player
    • A Full Walkthrough of Sofa’s New Podcast Player
    • Sofa Podcast Player
    • Subscribe to Worklog with Shawn Hickman
    • Podcast Button Builder
    • Installer Newsletter
    • Indie App Spotlight: 'Sofa' keeps you organized during your downtime
    • Sofa Gains Podcast Playback
    • Sofa Roadmap


    Links

    • Sofa's Website
    • Download Sofa from the App Store
    • Worklog Podcast Website
    • Shawn's Blog
    • Notion and spreadsheet templates


    Follow Me

    • YouTube
    • Threads
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky


    Share Feedback

    Have feedback? Send me an email:

    hey@shawnhickman.me

    • (00:00) - Intro
    • (00:46) - Small Talk
    • (01:05) - CommunityKit
    • (05:58) - Framous
    • (08:03) - Camera Talk
    • (15:32) - Not Just a Goof
    • (17:30) - Podcast Player Launch
    • (19:48) - Making Videos
    • (21:45) - Website Updates
    • (25:01) - Podcast Ecosystem
    • (29:45) - Podcast Button Builder
    • (35:07) - Dealing with Bugs
    • (36:33) - API Server
    • (38:11) - Launch Day/Week
    • (43:34) - Post Launch
    • (50:06) - What's Next
    • (55:30) - Outro
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • The Final Push: App Launch, Marketing Prep, and iOS 19 Rumors

    The Final Push: App Launch, Marketing Prep, and iOS 19 Rumors
    Mar 21 2025

    In this episode of Worklog, I chat about some exciting Apple rumors for iOS 19, dig into the home stretch of launching my new podcast player (including solving tricky audio issues with ChatGPT Deep Research), and share behind-the-scenes marketing prep, from creating landing pages to capturing relatable photos of podcast listening in everyday life.


    📺 Watch on YouTube


    Chapters

    0:00 Intro

    2:15 iOS 19 Rumors

    7:59 Airpods 4

    9:28 DJI Action 5 Pro

    11:58 Severance

    12:23 What I’ve been working on

    31:11 Marketing prep

    39:39 Outro


    Things Mentioned

    • iOS 19 to Have Some of the 'Biggest' Design Changes in iPhone's History
    • Someday, by Spike Jonze | AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
    • Osmo Action 5 Pro - Be All In - DJI


    Links

    • Sofa's Website
    • Download Sofa from the App Store
    • Worklog Podcast Website
    • Shawn's Blog
    • Notion and spreadsheet templates


    Follow Me

    • YouTube
    • Threads
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky


    Share Feedback

    Have feedback? Send me an email:

    hey@shawnhickman.me

    • (00:00) - Intro
    • (02:15) - iOS 19 Rumors
    • (07:59) - Airpods 4
    • (09:28) - DJI Action 5 Pro
    • (11:58) - Severance
    • (12:23) - What I’ve been working on
    • (31:11) - Marketing prep
    • (39:39) - Outro
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • Deadlines, Launch Mode, and Knowing When to Ship

    Deadlines, Launch Mode, and Knowing When to Ship
    Mar 11 2025

    In this episode of Worklog, I introduce my new podcast, where I share the journey of building Sofa, an app designed to help you be intentional with your downtime. I talk about why I'm branching into podcasts—both to better understand the podcasting experience I'm building into Sofa and to give listeners another way to enjoy my content. I also share updates on recent Sofa developments like CarPlay, Widgets, Shortcuts, and performance improvements. Lastly, I dive into "Launch Mode," explaining my strategy around deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and managing my workload leading up to a launch.


    📺 Watch on YouTube


    Chapters

    0:00 Intro

    1:24 Small talk

    7:34 Worklog Podcast

    21:19 What I’ve been working on

    40:30 Launch Mode

    58:48 Outro


    Links

    • Sofa's Website
    • Download Sofa from the App Store
    • Worklog Podcast Website
    • Shawn's Blog
    • Notion and spreadsheet templates


    Follow Me

    • YouTube
    • Threads
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky


    Share Feedback

    Have feedback? Send me an email:

    hey@shawnhickman.me

    • (00:00) - Intro
    • (01:24) - Small Talk
    • (07:34) - Worklog Podcast
    • (21:19) - What I’ve been working on
    • (40:30) - Launch Mode
    • (58:48) - Outro
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr

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