Podcast · Tech & Science

REWORK

A podcast by 37signals about the better way to work and run your business. The REWORK podcast features the co-founders of 37signals (the makers of Basecamp and HEY), Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sharing their unique perspective on business and entrepreneurship along with host…

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 27 min
Latest: 26 Aug 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

26 Aug 2026 · 19 min

One-way Doors

Not every decision deserves a long deliberation. In this episode, co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson look back on 25 years of running 37signals, the handful of decisions that were truly irreversible, and why keeping a loose grip on most business calls has served them better than any spreadsheet ever could. Key Takeaways 00:11 – The single one-way door decision at 37signals05:49 – Why most decisions barely take five minutes to make08:05 – How the sum of right choices matters ...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S2 · E200 · 19 Aug 2026 · 27 min

Competing with giants, the end of SaaS & other listener questions

Fresh listener questions are on the table this week. Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson tackle whether small builders can realistically compete with industry heavyweights, what the AI agent wave actually means for the future of SaaS, and whether mixing your personal social presence with your business is a smart move or a mistake. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Competing in a market dominated by big players04:40 – Is AI really the end of SaaS as we know it?15:52 – When it makes sense to build ver...
S2 · E199 · 12 Aug 2026 · 20 min

Rapid Fire Q&A with Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

No prep, no filters, just questions. Host Kimberly Rhodes puts Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson on the spot with a fresh round of rapid fire questions covering everything from recent reads and AI discoveries to memorable customer service moments and what they've started or stopped doing to make work better. Key Takeaways 00:10 – Recent books worth reading02:13 – Something surprisingly good about AI right now08:36 – A standout customer service experience12:36 – Something started or sto...
S2 · E198 · 5 Aug 2026 · 26 min

We'll do it live

Showing off your product in real time, with real customers, changes everything. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson walk through why 37signals has been hosting live demos and Q&A sessions since the Basecamp 5 launch, what makes the format work, and why being accessible and unafraid of your customers is underrated. Key Takeaways 00:10 – How (and why) 37signals is embracing live sessions with customers07:47 – Why showing beats telling when it comes to your own product1...
S2 · E197 · 29 Jul 2026 · 26 min

What's the worst that could happen?

Many entrepreneurs spend more time worrying about what could go wrong than actually finding out. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson detail how 37signals approaches experimentation, why lowering the stakes on most decisions leads to better ones, and how letting go of outcomes is both a mental discipline and a business strategy. Key Takeaways 00:10 – Where the willingness to just try things comes from02:40 – The freedom that comes with not having to cover your bases befor...
S2 · E196 · 22 Jul 2026 · 15 min

Start Here: Building a better onboarding experience

Getting a new customer through the door is one thing, but making sure they understand how things work is another. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson break down how (and why) 37signals redesigned the onboarding experience with their latest version of Basecamp, why onboarding is one of the easiest things to overlook, and what it looks like when founders stay personally connected to that first impression. Key Takeaways 00:09 – What Basecamp's onboarding looked like before,...
S2 · E195 · 15 Jul 2026 · 22 min

Don't write it down

Customer feedback is valuable, but not all of it deserves a spot on your to-do list. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson revisit a chapter from their book REWORK, sharing how 37signals filters feedback, why roadmaps can do more harm than good, and what happens when companies let fear drive their product decisions. Key Takeaways 00:40 – Why writing down every customer request can work against you03:08 – Handling feedback on the technical and open source side07:37 – Why 37...
S2 · E194 · 1 Jul 2026 · 32 min

AI Challenges in Software Development

AI didn't just speed up the development of Basecamp 5, it changed how it was built. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson break down how much of a role AI played in building their latest product, where it shines, and how 37signals had to adjust its process to keep their code base clean. Key Takeaways 00:11 – How much of a role AI played in building Basecamp 509:55 – Where the intelligence technology truly excels14:42 – The new challenge of saying no when features become easier t...
S2 · E193 · 24 Jun 2026 · 31 min

Launch Details and Decisions

Basecamp 5 is out in the world! In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to talk about some of the details of the launch and the big decisions that went into it. They discuss what went smoothly, what only a live rollout could reveal, and the response from current customers. Key Takeaways 00:34 – How this launch compared to previous Basecamp versions03:50 – Setting (and moving) the launch date06:45 – How the mobile apps equaled a point of no ...
S2 · E192 · 13 May 2026 · 29 min

Clearing the decks for launch

With the launch of Basecamp 5 approaching, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson discuss what happens inside their company when it enters “launch mode.” They talk about temporarily shifting priorities, the difference between routine operations and launch periods, and why putting lower-priority tasks on hold is often necessary to make meaningful progress. Plus, Jason and David share their favorite aspects of the newest version of Basecamp. Key Takeaways 00:00 – Introdu...
S2 · E191 · 8 Apr 2026 · 26 min

Easy to leave

Making it easy for customers to leave might sound like the wrong move, but it's actually a sign of confidence. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about why removing friction, especially on the way out, builds more trust. They get into cancellation flows, keeping customers by choice instead of pressure, and why people are more likely to share their positive experience when you don't make it hard to go. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Leaving should be just as easy as signing up03:2...
S2 · E190 · 1 Apr 2026 · 27 min

Pencils down

Knowing when to stop is harder than it sounds. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about the moment when more work stops helping and starts getting in the way. They share how to recognize when something is done, why chasing perfection can do more harm than good, and how putting the pencil down at the right time leads to better results. Key Takeaways 00:11 – The "pencils down" phase of product development01:24 — Testing by the entire company03:17 — AI Workflow & ...
S2 · E189 · 25 Mar 2026 · 17 min

Bring your AI agents to Basecamp

Opening things up changes how people use your product. In this episode, David Heinemeier Hansson walks through a new feature that makes Basecamp accessible to AI agents through a Command Line Interface (CLI). He shares how this update can lead to entirely new ways of working for those that are technically minded. Key Takeaways 00:10 – Redefining product accessibility03:27 – Opening the door to AI agents10:07 – Starting small and seeing where it leads13:37 – The future for agent accessibility ...
S2 · E188 · 18 Mar 2026 · 25 min

Business beyond profit

Profit matters, but it’s not the whole story. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about building a company around independence instead of endless growth. They reflect on finding the right size for a business, keeping costs low to preserve freedom, and choosing a long, sustainable run over chasing scale at any cost. Key Takeaways 00:10 – Finding your “orbit” when you don’t need to keep pushing for more03:39 – Letting go of the idea that growth has to be endless09:05 ...
S2 · E187 · 11 Mar 2026 · 29 min

Built on Intuition

Not every decision comes from a spreadsheet. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about trusting your instincts when building something new. They share how experience sharpens those instincts over time, and how real products produce the feedback that actually moves things forward. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Letting your gut guide decisions03:54 – Strengthening instincts through real choices05:08 – Sometimes the best move is simply to build it07:49 – Breaking free from ana...
S2 · E186 · 4 Mar 2026 · 28 min

AI Revisited - part 2

Following up on an earlier conversation about AI, this episode shifts to the product side of the discussion. Host Kimberly Rhodes chats with 37signals CEO and co-founder Jason Fried about his daily AI use, what it's helped him do more efficiently, customer expectations, and how he's thinking about AI's role in future product updates. Key Takeaways 00:12 – Putting AI tools to work06:42 – Using AI to reclaim time, not replace thinking12:19 – Where 37signals sees thoughtful implementation fittin...
S2 · E185 · 25 Feb 2026 · 29 min

Talk directly to your customers

Connecting with customers is part of the job. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share why staying close to the people who use your product still matters, even as companies scale. They touch on writing customers directly, keeping the door open after the first reply, and why real conversations beat shouting into the social media void. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Writing customers from a real inbox05:21 – Building real relationships with the people who use your product11:34 – K...
S2 · E184 · 18 Feb 2026 · 30 min

Move fast when you can

Sometimes speed matters more than polish. In this episode, the team shares how a HEY Calendar feature went from idea to shipped in about a day — and what made that possible. It’s a look at when moving quickly helps, when it doesn’t, and how writing clean code gives you room to change your mind later without breaking everything. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Shipping a new feature in roughly a day03:14 – Catching the moment while it's hot08:02 – Shortening the path from idea to implementation12:04 – M...
S2 · E183 · 11 Feb 2026 · 30 min

You've launched... now what?

The confetti’s settled. The product is out in the world. So… what happens next? Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share what the days after a launch actually look like at 37signals. They discuss not letting early numbers steer the ship, making space for rest after the push, and remembering that shipping is just the start, not the finish line. Key Takeaways 00:10 – What happens shortly after launch02:09 – Dialing the team back05:10 – Product touch ups and enhancements06:16 – Returning t...
S2 · E182 · 4 Feb 2026 · 27 min

Product walkthroughs, the next open source product & other listener questions

A fresh batch of listener questions leads this week's conversation. Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk through how they approach product walkthroughs, what's ahead for open code at 37signals, and why a little fun still belongs in serious software. Key Takeaways 00:22 – Recording product walkthroughs without scripts or polish11:45 – Writebook as an open source product15:04 – How the 37signals team uses Basecamp and Fizzy together22:52 – The quiet joy of Easter eggs and playful detai...
S2 · E181 · 28 Jan 2026 · 22 min

Give it a name

Coming up with a product name doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share when in the development process a name is chosen, how several of their products got their names, and why keeping things simple usually wins. They talk about what's worth considering and what's not worth a second thought. Key Takeaways 00:10 – How Fizzy got its name and what it was almost called04:29 – No name ever checks every box10:25 – When an available domain influe...
S2 · E180 · 21 Jan 2026 · 36 min

AI Revisited

AI has moved fast, and so has 37signals’ thinking. This week, host Kimberly Rhodes talks to co-founder and CTO David Heinemeier Hansson about the progress AI has made over the last few months. David shares what’s changed, what’s actually useful now, and why his outlook has grown more optimistic. Key Takeaways 00:11 – How today’s AI feels dramatically more powerful05:05 – David’s real-world experience working with AI agents23:36 – How AI can help non-programmers31:05 – Why the upside of AI out...
S2 · E179 · 14 Jan 2026 · 34 min

Making things that multiply

Good ideas rarely belong in just one place. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how 37signals lets concepts move freely across products, turning one solid idea into many useful ones. They talk about borrowing from the past without getting stuck in it, giving new concepts time to catch on, and keeping space for creativity as products evolve. Key Takeaways 00:11 – Letting strong ideas travel between products02:49 – Giving each product its own design voice07:26 – Bringing b...
S2 · E178 · 7 Jan 2026 · 31 min

Launch day — a little logistics, a lot of luck

Release day always looks smooth from the outside. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot packed into a short window. In this episode, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how 37signals approaches the final stretch of putting a product out into the world, using Fizzy as a recent example. They talk about narrowing features, resisting the urge to hype dates too early, and why steady word of mouth matters more than chasing algorithms. Key Takeaways 00:00 – Introduction00:10 – How Fizzy’s laun...
S2 · E177 · 17 Dec 2025 · 25 min

Open Source Outside the Box

Open source has always played a big role at 37signals. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share why they’re drawn to working in the open, and how that mindset carries into their newest product, Fizzy. Key Takeaways 00:12 – Why open source continues to matter at 37signals05:12 – Sharing work publicly pushes quality higher09:55 – How open source fits into Fizzy’s SaaS setup15:15 – Treating open source as a gift19:41 – Getting direct feedback in unfamiliar but fun ways 22:5...
S2 · E176 · 10 Dec 2025 · 18 min

When is enough, enough?

There’s a moment in every product where you have to stop tweaking and actually launch. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson reflect on how 37signals decides when a product is truly ready for its first release. They share how they think about simplifying, sharpening, and ultimately knowing when it’s time to ship. Key Takeaways 00:12 – Recognizing when a product is ready to meet the world02:55 – Strip things back to the essentials first07:32 – Weighing real-world feedback from ea...
S2 · E175 · 3 Dec 2025 · 35 min

Picking Pricing

How do you land on the right price for a product? This week, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson pull back the curtain on the pricing choices they’ve made over the years, including the options the public never saw. They talk about why chasing giant enterprise deals isn’t for them, and why simple, steady pricing beats clever tricks. Key Takeaways 00:11 – The pricing experiments over the years10:48 – Why 37signals avoids enterprise deals18:05 – How Basecamp’s pricing ...
S2 · E174 · 19 Nov 2025 · 30 min

Out of Office, Together

Twice a year, the entire 37signals team meets up in person. This week, co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about how these gatherings work, what they’re really for, and why the structure is intentionally loose. They share how the mix of optional hangouts and focused work sessions helps their fully remote team reconnect, recharge, and solve problems face-to-face. Key Takeaways 00:14 – How 37signals approaches its twice-a-year meetups01:52 – What’s required and what’s opti...
S2 · E173 · 12 Nov 2025 · 15 min

Soft openings aren't just for restaurants

This week, the team shares a behind-the-scenes look at how they bring in outside beta testers before a product launch. Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how they invite early users into the mix, what they’re looking for, and how it all shapes the final version. It’s a rare peek into the “guests are coming over” phase of building Fizzy. Key Takeaways 00:12 – Inside Fizzy’s early access phase02:28 – Selecting beta testers03:05 – Treating early access as a real-world dry run07:11 – ...
S2 · E172 · 5 Nov 2025 · 23 min

The itch for a new version

In software development, there are updates, and then there are complete overhauls. This week, Jason Fried joins Kimberly Rhodes to talk about how the team decides when it’s time to rebuild from the ground up. They dig into the transition between versions, how customer feedback fits in, and even drop a few hints about what’s coming in Basecamp 5. Key Takeaways 00:10 – A walk through of Basecamp's evolution03:00 – How to recognize when it’s time for a new version05:52 – Pricing considerations11...

About REWORK

REWORK is a English tech & science podcast from 37signals. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: 37signals
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 27 min
Latest episode: 26 Aug 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1264193508
Website: 37signals.com/podcast

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