{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Standing in the Fire","home_page_url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm","feed_url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/json","description":"Dive into the fire with Kris, Garrett and John — three owners of Fireside.fm who know what it’s like to stand in the flames of entrepreneurship. In 'Standing in the Fire,' we tackle everything from the latest trends in podcasting to the realities of running a SaaS business. No scripts, no filters — just real talk about what it takes to keep the fire burning. Join us as we explore the triumphs, struggles, and surprising lessons learned along the way.","_fireside":{"subtitle":"Real Talk for Founders in the Heat of SaaS Growth.","pubdate":"2025-03-21T10:00:00.000-04:00","explicit":false,"copyright":"2025 by Very Good Software, LLC","owner":"Very Good Software","image":"https://media24.fireside.fm/file/fireside-images-2024/podcasts/images/c/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/cover.jpg?v=2"},"items":[{"id":"6b2a706c-dcd9-421b-8a15-53ec242e953c","title":"Stop drowning in tasks, start buying back your time","url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/stop-drowning-in-tasks","content_text":"What if you could focus only on what truly moves the needle? \n\nJohn and Kris dig into Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell and explore how founders can delegate smarter, systemize better, and scale faster.\n\nKey Takeaways:\n\n\nYou can always get more money, but you can never get more time.\nOutsource tasks that drain your energy and time.\nCreating playbooks can streamline delegation and training.\nHiring should focus on finding the right fit through practical projects.\nEnergy and enthusiasm are contagious in leadership.\nSetting clear metrics helps track progress and success.\nDelegation is essential for scaling your business effectively.\nSystems are more important than goals for achieving success.\nCelebrating small wins can motivate teams and individuals.\nUnderstanding when a task is done is crucial for productivity.\n\n\n\n“You don’t hire to grow your business. You hire to buy back your time.”\n\n\nThis episode is for founders drowning in tasks, solopreneurs hitting a ceiling, and anyone looking to escape the endless work treadmill.\n\nChallenge: Can you delegate one task this week? Let us know!Links:Buy Back Your Time by Dan MartellAtomic Habits by James ClearNotion (for documenting playbooks)Loom (for recording processes)Screen Studio (for high-quality video tutorials)ScreenFlow (for high-quality video tutorials)Toggl (for time tracking \u0026amp; delegation auditing)Andy Warhol’s Studio (The Factory) ","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eWhat if you could focus only on what truly moves the needle? \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJohn and Kris dig into Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell and explore how founders can delegate smarter, systemize better, and scale faster.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Takeaways:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou can always get more money, but you can never get more time.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOutsource tasks that drain your energy and time.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreating playbooks can streamline delegation and training.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHiring should focus on finding the right fit through practical projects.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnergy and enthusiasm are contagious in leadership.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSetting clear metrics helps track progress and success.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDelegation is essential for scaling your business effectively.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSystems are more important than goals for achieving success.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCelebrating small wins can motivate teams and individuals.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderstanding when a task is done is crucial for productivity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“You don’t hire to grow your business. You hire to buy back your time.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/blockquote\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis episode is for founders drowning in tasks, solopreneurs hitting a ceiling, and anyone looking to escape the endless work treadmill.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChallenge\u003c/strong\u003e: Can you delegate one task this week? Let us know!\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTc1\"\u003eBuy Back Your Time by Dan Martell\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Atomic Habits by James Clear\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTc2\"\u003eAtomic Habits by James Clear\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Notion (for documenting playbooks)\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTc3\"\u003eNotion (for documenting playbooks)\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Loom (for recording processes)\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTc4\"\u003eLoom (for recording processes)\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Screen Studio (for high-quality video tutorials)\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTgy\"\u003eScreen Studio (for high-quality video tutorials)\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"ScreenFlow (for high-quality video tutorials)\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTc5\"\u003eScreenFlow (for high-quality video tutorials)\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Toggl (for time tracking \u0026amp; delegation auditing)\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTgw\"\u003eToggl (for time tracking \u0026amp; delegation auditing)\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Andy Warhol’s Studio (The Factory) \" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc1MTgx\"\u003eAndy Warhol’s Studio (The Factory) \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"In this episode, John and Kris dive into the lessons from the book Buy Back Your Time. They discuss why founders should focus on outsourcing, the power of playbooks, and how small changes can reclaim massive amounts of time. ","date_published":"2025-03-21T10:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://op3.dev/e/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/6b2a706c-dcd9-421b-8a15-53ec242e953c.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":23359407,"duration_in_seconds":2836}]},{"id":"e30f6704-fd8b-46ed-99c3-469b6dda7e81","title":"6: The Art of Sharing Knowledge in Teams","url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/6","content_text":"How does a growing SaaS company keep track of important knowledge? From server setups to customer success playbooks, every company builds a wealth of internal information—but too often, that knowledge is scattered, siloed, or locked away in someone’s head.\n\nIn this episode, John, Kris, and Garrett explore how to document and share company knowledge effectively. They discuss real-world challenges, like merging Rails apps and ensuring critical infrastructure knowledge isn’t lost, as well as how to balance text-based documentation with video walkthroughs. \n\nTakeaways:\n\n\nCompany knowledge management is crucial for team efficiency.\nIdentifying challenges in knowledge sharing helps improve processes.\nTechnical documentation should be thorough and accessible.\nCentralizing information can streamline communication.\nChoosing the right tools is essential for effective documentation.\nVideo can enhance knowledge transfer but should be concise.\nDocumentation needs to be regularly updated to remain relevant.\nAI has the potential to automate documentation processes.\nCreating a culture of knowledge sharing is important.\nFeedback from users can guide improvements in knowledge management.\n\n\nKey Quotes:\n\n\"If you document nothing, the only knowledge management system you have is luck.\"\n\n\"Slack is great for quick answers but terrible for long-term knowledge storage.\"\n\n\"Your team should always know where to look before they have to ask.\"\n\n\"Documentation is a moving target.\"Links:NotionGoogle DocsDropboxGitHub WikisLoomScreenFlowScreen StudioBuy Back Your TimednsimpleObsidian","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eHow does a growing SaaS company keep track of important knowledge? From server setups to customer success playbooks, every company builds a wealth of internal information—but too often, that knowledge is scattered, siloed, or locked away in someone’s head.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this episode, John, Kris, and Garrett explore how to document and share company knowledge effectively. They discuss real-world challenges, like merging Rails apps and ensuring critical infrastructure knowledge isn’t lost, as well as how to balance text-based documentation with video walkthroughs. \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTakeaways:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompany knowledge management is crucial for team efficiency.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdentifying challenges in knowledge sharing helps improve processes.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTechnical documentation should be thorough and accessible.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCentralizing information can streamline communication.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoosing the right tools is essential for effective documentation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVideo can enhance knowledge transfer but should be concise.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDocumentation needs to be regularly updated to remain relevant.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAI has the potential to automate documentation processes.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreating a culture of knowledge sharing is important.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeedback from users can guide improvements in knowledge management.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Quotes:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;If you document nothing, the only knowledge management system you have is luck.\u0026quot;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;Slack is great for quick answers but terrible for long-term knowledge storage.\u0026quot;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;Your team should always know where to look before they have to ask.\u0026quot;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;Documentation is a moving target.\u0026quot;\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Notion\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODEy\"\u003eNotion\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Google Docs\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODEz\"\u003eGoogle Docs\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Dropbox\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODE0\"\u003eDropbox\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"GitHub Wikis\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODE1\"\u003eGitHub Wikis\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Loom\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODE2\"\u003eLoom\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"ScreenFlow\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODE3\"\u003eScreenFlow\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Screen Studio\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODE4\"\u003eScreen Studio\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Buy Back Your Time\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODE5\"\u003eBuy Back Your Time\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"dnsimple\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODIw\"\u003ednsimple\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Obsidian\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTc0ODIx\"\u003eObsidian\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"John, Kris, and Garrett dive into the challenge of capturing, organizing, and sharing company knowledge. From technical documentation to internal playbooks and video walkthroughs, they explore the best ways to ensure critical information doesn’t get lost.","date_published":"2025-03-10T13:15:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://op3.dev/e/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/e30f6704-fd8b-46ed-99c3-469b6dda7e81.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":14180847,"duration_in_seconds":1689}]},{"id":"707097f3-9c15-4533-93c4-74eebc3d7d4f","title":"5: Tech Wins \u0026 Hiring Woes: How to Communicate, Celebrate, and Find the Right People","url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/5","content_text":"Celebrating tech wins in a way that resonates with customers can be tricky—so how should SaaS companies do it? John, Kris, and Garrett break down how they approach communicating improvements, from backend optimizations to feature rollouts. They debate whether customers care about upgrades like Rails 6 and share ideas on writing updates that connect with both technical and non-technical users.\n\nThe conversation then shifts to hiring—how to evaluate developers, why trade-offs are crucial in the interview process, and the unique challenges of hiring remote vs. local talent. John shares insights from his GitHub hiring experience, Kris talks about building teams for different projects, and Garrett explores the psychology behind finding people who truly align with company culture.\n\nThe episode wraps up with wins of the week, including major Fireside updates, basketball coaching victories, and a heated discussion about Notre Dame football.\n\nKey Quotes\n\n\"If you don't celebrate, it can feel like nothing is happening—even when big things are.\"\n\"Customers don't care about Rails upgrades, they care about how fast and smooth their experience is.\"\n\"Hiring is as much about culture fit as it is about technical ability.\"\n\nTakeaways\n\n\nCelebrating tech wins authentically is crucial for customer engagement.\nCustomers care more about stability and bug fixes than technical upgrades.\nEffective communication of tech improvements can enhance customer trust.\nHiring processes differ significantly between startups and larger companies.\nCultural fit is essential when hiring, especially in remote teams.\nTechnical evaluations should focus on problem-solving and trade-offs.\nBuilding a positive company culture requires intentional effort and understanding.\nNon-technical founders can benefit from involving technical friends in hiring.\nCelebrating small wins can boost team morale and motivation.\nUnderstanding employee motivations is key to fostering a supportive work environment.\nLinks:Fireside.fmRiverside.fmRuby on RailsPostgresqlRedisThis Episode on Youtube","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eCelebrating tech wins in a way that resonates with customers can be tricky—so how should SaaS companies do it? John, Kris, and Garrett break down how they approach communicating improvements, from backend optimizations to feature rollouts. They debate whether customers care about upgrades like Rails 6 and share ideas on writing updates that connect with both technical and non-technical users.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe conversation then shifts to \u003cstrong\u003ehiring\u003c/strong\u003e—how to evaluate developers, why trade-offs are crucial in the interview process, and the unique challenges of hiring remote vs. local talent. John shares insights from his GitHub hiring experience, Kris talks about building teams for different projects, and Garrett explores the psychology behind finding people who truly align with company culture.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe episode wraps up with wins of the week, including major Fireside updates, basketball coaching victories, and a heated discussion about Notre Dame football.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey Quotes\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;If you don\u0026#39;t celebrate, it can feel like nothing is happening—even when big things are.\u0026quot;\u003cbr\u003e\n\u0026quot;Customers don\u0026#39;t care about Rails upgrades, they care about how fast and smooth their experience is.\u0026quot;\u003cbr\u003e\n\u0026quot;Hiring is as much about culture fit as it is about technical ability.\u0026quot;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTakeaways\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCelebrating tech wins authentically is crucial for customer engagement.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustomers care more about stability and bug fixes than technical upgrades.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEffective communication of tech improvements can enhance customer trust.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHiring processes differ significantly between startups and larger companies.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultural fit is essential when hiring, especially in remote teams.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTechnical evaluations should focus on problem-solving and trade-offs.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilding a positive company culture requires intentional effort and understanding.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNon-technical founders can benefit from involving technical friends in hiring.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCelebrating small wins can boost team morale and motivation.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderstanding employee motivations is key to fostering a supportive work environment.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Fireside.fm\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTczNjg0\"\u003eFireside.fm\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Riverside.fm\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTczNjg1\"\u003eRiverside.fm\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Ruby on Rails\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTczNjg2\"\u003eRuby on Rails\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Postgresql\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTczNjg3\"\u003ePostgresql\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Redis\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTczNjg4\"\u003eRedis\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"This Episode on Youtube\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTczNjg5\"\u003eThis Episode on Youtube\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"In this episode, John, Kris, and Garrett dive into the challenge of celebrating technical wins in a way that customers actually care about. They discuss strategies for communicating backend improvements, striking the right balance between technical and non-technical messaging, and how to keep customers engaged. Later, they shift gears to hiring, sharing their experiences with evaluating talent, the pitfalls of remote hiring, and the importance of culture in a growing team.","date_published":"2025-02-05T15:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://op3.dev/e/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/707097f3-9c15-4533-93c4-74eebc3d7d4f.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":20448618,"duration_in_seconds":2472}]},{"id":"39c89f3c-604a-4256-8044-8d05580c00d2","title":"4: Black Friday Reflections and New Year Opportunities","url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/4","content_text":"This episode tackles the highs and lows of Black Friday marketing and its relevance to SaaS businesses like Fireside. John, Kris, and Garrett discuss how customer-centric timing could outperform traditional holiday discounts, with ideas ranging from New Year podcasting pushes to conference-aligned offers.\n\nThe trio also delves into the backend challenges of modernizing software, balancing Rails upgrades with visible customer improvements, and finding psychological triggers to help customers start and sustain new initiatives. They share insights on turning performance boosts into happy customers and why community-building could hold the key to podcasting success.\n\nKey Quotes\n\n“What if instead of discounts, we focused on lowering the risk for customers to try podcasting?” - Garrett\n\n“You don't have to go crazy and work a ton. You can you can achieve great success by turning a few levers. But sometimes it just takes a lot of work to figure out what those levers are.” - John\n\n\"I'm just thinking about swag, but that's a discussion from another day.\" - Kris \n\n\"I feel like that's the thing with SaaS in general. I'm sure some people have gone viral, new product just hit the sweet spot, nailed it, they knew exactly what they're doing, had a bunch of experience. But, on the other hand, every other SaaS app I've been involved in, it is nothing but just slow and steady constant improvements that are customer centric. And eventually at some point you've removed enough of the friction in onboarding, registration, daily usage, whatever it is, you know, either it combats churn a little bit or it increases registrations. And then, you look back three years later and you're like, it got there. But without that immediate reward all the time, it's definitely challenging to keep the faith.\" - GarrettLinks:Fireside — The one, the only. Speaker DeckStripeShop | The most amazing way to shop onlineRiverside — Podcast \u0026amp; Video Software | Free Recording \u0026amp; EditingRuby on Rails — A web-app framework that includes everything needed to create database-backed web applications according to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern.Ruby  — Programming LanguageHoneybadger — Application Monitoring \u0026amp; Error Tracking for Developers.AppSignal — Application Monitoring for Ruby on Rails, Elixir, Node.js \u0026amp; PythonMailjet — Email Delivery Service for Marketing \u0026amp; Developer TeamsMatzLiminal — A place for calm, long-form discussionsFireside Discover Page — We talked about the performance improvements to this page and the algorithm. Fireside.fm Blog — Now up and running. New articles coming soon!","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eThis episode tackles the highs and lows of Black Friday marketing and its relevance to SaaS businesses like Fireside. John, Kris, and Garrett discuss how customer-centric timing could outperform traditional holiday discounts, with ideas ranging from New Year podcasting pushes to conference-aligned offers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe trio also delves into the backend challenges of modernizing software, balancing Rails upgrades with visible customer improvements, and finding psychological triggers to help customers start and sustain new initiatives. They share insights on turning performance boosts into happy customers and why community-building could hold the key to podcasting success.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eKey Quotes\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“What if instead of discounts, we focused on lowering the risk for customers to try podcasting?” - Garrett\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“You don\u0026#39;t have to go crazy and work a ton. You can you can achieve great success by turning a few levers. But sometimes it just takes a lot of work to figure out what those levers are.” - John\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;I\u0026#39;m just thinking about swag, but that\u0026#39;s a discussion from another day.\u0026quot; - Kris \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026quot;I feel like that\u0026#39;s the thing with SaaS in general. I\u0026#39;m sure some people have gone viral, new product just hit the sweet spot, nailed it, they knew exactly what they\u0026#39;re doing, had a bunch of experience. But, on the other hand, every other SaaS app I\u0026#39;ve been involved in, it is nothing but just slow and steady constant improvements that are customer centric. And eventually at some point you\u0026#39;ve removed enough of the friction in onboarding, registration, daily usage, whatever it is, you know, either it combats churn a little bit or it increases registrations. And then, you look back three years later and you\u0026#39;re like, it got there. But without that immediate reward all the time, it\u0026#39;s definitely challenging to keep the faith.\u0026quot; - Garrett\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Fireside\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODgw\"\u003eFireside\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; The one, the only. \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Speaker Deck\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODkz\"\u003eSpeaker Deck\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Stripe\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODgx\"\u003eStripe\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Shop | The most amazing way to shop online\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODgy\"\u003eShop | The most amazing way to shop online\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Riverside\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODgz\"\u003eRiverside\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Podcast \u0026 Video Software | Free Recording \u0026 Editing\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Ruby on Rails — A web-app framework that includes everything needed to create database-backed web applications according to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern.\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODg0\"\u003eRuby on Rails — A web-app framework that includes everything needed to create database-backed web applications according to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Ruby \" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODg1\"\u003eRuby \u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Programming Language\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Honeybadger\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODg2\"\u003eHoneybadger\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Application Monitoring \u0026 Error Tracking for Developers.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"AppSignal\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODg3\"\u003eAppSignal\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Application Monitoring for Ruby on Rails, Elixir, Node.js \u0026 Python\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Mailjet\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODg4\"\u003eMailjet\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Email Delivery Service for Marketing \u0026 Developer Teams\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Matz\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODg5\"\u003eMatz\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Liminal\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODkw\"\u003eLiminal\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; A place for calm, long-form discussions\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Fireside Discover Page\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODkx\"\u003eFireside Discover Page\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; We talked about the performance improvements to this page and the algorithm. \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Fireside.fm Blog\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyODky\"\u003eFireside.fm Blog\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Now up and running. New articles coming soon!\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"John, Kris, and Garrett reflect on Black Friday campaigns and explore how SaaS businesses can better align promotions with customer needs. They also dive into backend improvements, strategic priorities for Fireside, and the psychology behind motivating customers to start and sustain new projects.","date_published":"2025-01-09T16:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://op3.dev/e/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/39c89f3c-604a-4256-8044-8d05580c00d2.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":21359822,"duration_in_seconds":2669}]},{"id":"4be4f95f-67d6-478d-aed5-78da36dcfce3","title":"3: Mastering Prioritization in SaaS","url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/3","content_text":"The art of prioritization takes center stage in Episode #3 of “Standing in the Fire.” John, Kris, and Garrett explore how they balance the demands of running multiple SaaS companies, tackling technical debt, strategizing marketing efforts, and avoiding burnout. From Rails upgrades to marketing plans and hard-stop productivity hacks, this conversation reveals how founders navigate the chaos to move their businesses forward. Tune in for relatable stories, practical tips, and a touch of humor about the realities of entrepreneurship.\n\n\nPrioritization is a constant challenge for founders.\nBalancing multiple projects requires clear focus and boundaries.\nCustomer satisfaction is tied to visible improvements.\nSetting specific goals can help guide daily tasks.\nRest and downtime are essential for sustained productivity.\nPlanning ahead can significantly boost daily productivity.\nIt's important to recognize the value of small wins.\nManaging a backlog is a necessary part of software development.\nEffective communication within the team is crucial for progress.\nCreating a loyal customer base should be a top priority.\nLinks:FiresideFlipper CloudBox OutBlueskyDHH — John mentions DHH's latest push for compression of complexity.Jesse Itzler — Kris mentions Jesse's year end planning.Very Good Software Company — The owner of fireside.fm.South Bend Watch Company - A piece of history on your wristory. — John's old pocket watch to wrist watch conversions. Speaker Deck — Kris' app for sharing presentations online that John sometimes works on.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eThe art of prioritization takes center stage in Episode #3 of “Standing in the Fire.” John, Kris, and Garrett explore how they balance the demands of running multiple SaaS companies, tackling technical debt, strategizing marketing efforts, and avoiding burnout. From Rails upgrades to marketing plans and hard-stop productivity hacks, this conversation reveals how founders navigate the chaos to move their businesses forward. Tune in for relatable stories, practical tips, and a touch of humor about the realities of entrepreneurship.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrioritization is a constant challenge for founders.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBalancing multiple projects requires clear focus and boundaries.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustomer satisfaction is tied to visible improvements.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSetting specific goals can help guide daily tasks.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRest and downtime are essential for sustained productivity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanning ahead can significantly boost daily productivity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt\u0026#39;s important to recognize the value of small wins.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManaging a backlog is a necessary part of software development.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEffective communication within the team is crucial for progress.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreating a loyal customer base should be a top priority.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Fireside\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzgz\"\u003eFireside\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Flipper Cloud\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzg0\"\u003eFlipper Cloud\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Box Out\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzg1\"\u003eBox Out\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Bluesky\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzg3\"\u003eBluesky\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"DHH\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzg4\"\u003eDHH\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; John mentions DHH's latest push for compression of complexity.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Jesse Itzler\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzg5\"\u003eJesse Itzler\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Kris mentions Jesse's year end planning.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Very Good Software Company\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzkw\"\u003eVery Good Software Company\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; The owner of fireside.fm.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"South Bend Watch Company - A piece of history on your wristory.\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzkx\"\u003eSouth Bend Watch Company - A piece of history on your wristory.\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; John's old pocket watch to wrist watch conversions. \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Speaker Deck\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMzky\"\u003eSpeaker Deck\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Kris' app for sharing presentations online that John sometimes works on.\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"In this episode, John, Kris, and Garrett dive into the challenges of prioritization in SaaS entrepreneurship. They share their personal experiences managing multiple businesses, navigating technical upgrades, juggling marketing, and staying productive without burning out.","date_published":"2024-12-24T08:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://op3.dev/e/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/4be4f95f-67d6-478d-aed5-78da36dcfce3.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":18313555,"duration_in_seconds":2205}]},{"id":"ba2dfcc5-509a-4802-a15a-66e28ff0de6f","title":"2: Making Podcasting Less of a Pain","url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/2","content_text":"The Standing in the Fire crew — John Nunemaker, Garrett Dimon, and Kristopher Priemer — returns with Episode #2, where they discuss:\n\n\nCustomer feedback on integrating video and YouTube for podcasts.\nThe friction points in podcast production, from editing to publishing.\nIdeas for simplifying workflows with tools, automation, and potential Fireside.fm features.\nTheir recent development wins, including performance improvements and platform upgrades.\n\n\nWhether you’re a podcaster or just curious about the behind-the-scenes of building a SaaS app, this episode offers  insights into problem-solving, customer experience, and the future of podcasting.Links:Riverside: HD Podcast \u0026amp; Video Software | Free Recording \u0026amp; EditingGarrett's Starting \u0026amp; Sustaining PodcastJohn's fireside performance workRuby on Rails — Web framework Fireside is built onFireside Blog — Features, News, and Insights for Podcasters. Kris mentioned this near the end.Continuous integration - Wikipedia — Garrett mentioned this and how he wishes it existed for podcasting.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eThe Standing in the Fire crew — John Nunemaker, Garrett Dimon, and Kristopher Priemer — returns with Episode #2, where they discuss:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustomer feedback on integrating video and YouTube for podcasts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe friction points in podcast production, from editing to publishing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIdeas for simplifying workflows with tools, automation, and potential Fireside.fm features.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTheir recent development wins, including performance improvements and platform upgrades.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you’re a podcaster or just curious about the behind-the-scenes of building a SaaS app, this episode offers  insights into problem-solving, customer experience, and the future of podcasting.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Riverside: HD Podcast \u0026amp; Video Software | Free Recording \u0026amp; Editing\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMTQ5\"\u003eRiverside: HD Podcast \u0026amp; Video Software | Free Recording \u0026amp; Editing\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Garrett\u0026#39;s Starting \u0026amp; Sustaining Podcast\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMTUw\"\u003eGarrett\u0026#39;s Starting \u0026amp; Sustaining Podcast\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"John\u0026#39;s fireside performance work\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMTUx\"\u003eJohn\u0026#39;s fireside performance work\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Ruby on Rails\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMTUy\"\u003eRuby on Rails\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Web framework Fireside is built on\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Fireside Blog\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMTUz\"\u003eFireside Blog\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Features, News, and Insights for Podcasters. Kris mentioned this near the end.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Continuous integration - Wikipedia\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcyMTU0\"\u003eContinuous integration - Wikipedia\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Garrett mentioned this and how he wishes it existed for podcasting.\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"The team discusses challenges in podcast production, including editing friction, YouTube integration, and customer feedback. They share ideas for simplifying workflows and highlight recent improvements to Fireside.fm, making podcasting more accessible and efficient.","date_published":"2024-12-17T08:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://op3.dev/e/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/ba2dfcc5-509a-4802-a15a-66e28ff0de6f.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":12711700,"duration_in_seconds":1505}]},{"id":"2140097e-80fb-4a6c-926f-f6136c48afea","title":"1: Drinking Our Own Champagne","url":"https://standinginthefire.fireside.fm/1","content_text":"Welcome to the first episode of Standing in the Fire, where John Nunemaker, Garrett Dimon, and Kristopher Priemer share their journey as the new owners of Fireside.fm. This podcast isn’t just about running a SaaS business—it’s about living the Fireside experience as podcast hosts and users.\n\nIn this episode, we:\n\nIntroduce the team and their backgrounds in software, marketing, and entrepreneurship.\nExplore the challenges and excitement of owning and improving a podcast hosting platform.\nDiscuss the importance of drinking your own champagne (aka eating your own dog food) and connecting with customers.\n\nShare our vision for Fireside.fm, from better analytics to fostering a podcaster community.\nJoin us as we navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, building great software, and helping podcasters thrive.Links:John NunemakerKristopher PriemerGarrett DimonSifter — The SaaS app that Garrett founded, ran for many years and eventually sold.Fireside.fm — Our podcast host!Homepage — What we used to record and edit this episode so we could get going quick. My First Million Podcast — Good example of fun intros and outros in podcasts. Tecmo Super Bowl - Wikipedia — One of John's favorite Nintendo games. He talked about how he is a stats addict and use to track all the stats for this game and tecmo basketball. FounderQuest — John mentioned this podcast as a cool intro style where they just start talking.Ruby on Rails — The web framework fireside.fm is written in that John and Garrett have extensive experience in.","content_html":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the first episode of Standing in the Fire, where John Nunemaker, Garrett Dimon, and Kristopher Priemer share their journey as the new owners of Fireside.fm. This podcast isn’t just about running a SaaS business—it’s about living the Fireside experience as podcast hosts and users.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this episode, we:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduce the team and their backgrounds in software, marketing, and entrepreneurship.\u003cbr\u003e\nExplore the challenges and excitement of owning and improving a podcast hosting platform.\u003cbr\u003e\nDiscuss the importance of drinking your own champagne (aka eating your own dog food) and connecting with customers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShare our vision for Fireside.fm, from better analytics to fostering a podcaster community.\u003cbr\u003e\nJoin us as we navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, building great software, and helping podcasters thrive.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLinks:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"John Nunemaker\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTA1\"\u003eJohn Nunemaker\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Kristopher Priemer\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTA3\"\u003eKristopher Priemer\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Garrett Dimon\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTA2\"\u003eGarrett Dimon\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Sifter\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTA4\"\u003eSifter\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; The SaaS app that Garrett founded, ran for many years and eventually sold.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Fireside.fm\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTA5\"\u003eFireside.fm\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Our podcast host!\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Homepage\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTEw\"\u003eHomepage\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; What we used to record and edit this episode so we could get going quick. \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"My First Million Podcast\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTEx\"\u003eMy First Million Podcast\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; Good example of fun intros and outros in podcasts. \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Tecmo Super Bowl - Wikipedia\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTEy\"\u003eTecmo Super Bowl - Wikipedia\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; One of John's favorite Nintendo games. He talked about how he is a stats addict and use to track all the stats for this game and tecmo basketball. \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"FounderQuest\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTEz\"\u003eFounderQuest\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; John mentioned this podcast as a cool intro style where they just start talking.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca title=\"Ruby on Rails\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https://click.fireside.fm/e/MTcxMTE0\"\u003eRuby on Rails\u003c/a\u003e \u0026mdash; The web framework fireside.fm is written in that John and Garrett have extensive experience in.\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","summary":"In this debut episode of Standing in the Fire, hosts John Nunemaker, Garrett Dimon, and Kristopher Priemer introduce themselves and share their vision for Fireside.fm, a podcast hosting and analytics platform. They discuss their motivations for launching the podcast, their backgrounds in SaaS development, marketing, and consulting, and the unique journey of transitioning from consulting to running a SaaS business. ","date_published":"2024-11-09T08:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://op3.dev/e/aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/c9b954c7-1299-4109-89e9-cc7f4d382e43/2140097e-80fb-4a6c-926f-f6136c48afea.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":16094926,"duration_in_seconds":1928}]}]}