The Product Porch
On The Product Porch, every topic is a product topic. Dive into casual conversations on product management and career growth, woven with pop culture and real-life insights. Each episode offers actionable takeaways as the hosts tackle pressing questions and challenges in the product field. Settle in with Joe Ghali, Ryan Cantwell, and Todd Blaquiere!
Episodes
Ever feel like you’re doing everything “right” in product management—and still not seeing results?
From Agile to OKRs to product-led growth, there’s no shortage of shiny techniques promising success. But what happens when these so-called solutions fall flat?
In this episode, we dive into the myth of silver bullet solutions—those magic product techniques that are supposed to fix everything overnight. We break down which tactics get ov...
Does being likable actually help Product Managers get ahead—or just distract from what really matters?
In this episode, we dig into the balance between likability and results in product management. Do you really need to be liked to succeed? Or is trust and respect what really drives your career forward? Todd, Ryan, and Joe unpack how likability plays out in real product work—and why understanding this dynamic can transform how you m...
Ever feel like your product is slowly becoming just another version of the competition?
In this episode, we talk about the pressures product managers and product leaders face when stakeholders push for feature parity and price wars. Joe Ghali, Ryan Cantwell, and Todd Blaquiere share real-world stories and practical strategies for resisting copycat requests, protecting your product strategy, and staying true to your customer value pr...
What should you actually do when AI shows up in your job?
In this episode, we take a grounded look at how product managers can respond when a new era of technology—like AI—starts shifting expectations. Drawing lessons from the past (like the rise of email and automation), we unpack what’s really happening to productivity, why it feels like workloads are increasing, and how to tell whether you’re falling behind or just caught in the ...
Ever wonder how to tell if a product leader is actually good—or just good in interviews? In this episode, we talk through what strong product leadership really looks like, how to spot warning signs, and what to do if you’re not getting the support you need. We also cover the questions you should be asking when you're interviewing for a new role and how to make the most of a good leader when you have one.
If you’re thinking about you...
Every product manager hears it: “Go talk to users.” But what if you don’t know how to find them? In this episode of The Product Porch, hosts Todd Blaquiere, Joe Ghali, and Ryan Cantwell tackle the challenge of getting in front of the right users for discovery—without relying on guesswork.
We explore real-world strategies for identifying and connecting with users, whether you’re working in B2B or B2C. How do you leverage customer suc...
AI is transforming product management, but where does it actually fit in your workflow? In this episode of The Product Porch, Zac Hays, Chief Product Officer at Luxury Presence, shares how his team used AI-powered prototyping to cut their design sprint time in half and generate 12 prototypes in a single day.
Ryan, Todd, and Joe dig into what worked, what didn’t, and how AI is changing the product playbook. You’ll learn practical way...
Are soft skills the secret weapon of great product managers? In this episode of The Product Porch, hosts Todd Blaquiere and Joe Ghali welcome special guest Claudia Saleh, Lead Product Manager at The Walt Disney Company, to break down the essential soft skills every PM needs—and why they matter.
We explore real-world insights—including how soft skills shape leadership at Disney—and tackle big questions like: Can emotional intelligenc...
Should Product Managers and Product Marketing Managers be separate roles or one? In this episode of The Product Porch, we break down their key differences, where they overlap, and how organizations define their responsibilities.
We share real-world examples—including how Airbnb structures these roles—and tackle big questions like: Who owns the buying journey? Where should PMMs report? And how does role clarity drive product success?...
Are you struggling to navigate the overlap between Product Management and User Experience roles?
In this episode of The Product Porch, we dig into the common friction between PMs and UX Teams, starting with a question from a listener about role clarity. We explore where the two roles typically overlap—like discovery—and discuss how both contribute unique value to solving problems. You’ll hear about prioritization techniques like the...
Are you worried about how AI might impact your career in product management?
Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. Join us for this special episode of The Product Porch, where we welcome special guest Dean Peters and dive into the AI trends every product manager needs to know. We’ll explore how AI is transforming the role of product managers, from decision-making and prioritization to stakeholder collaboration and strategic planning.
...
Is your experience with annual performance reviews anxiety-inducing? Stop sweating, and join us for this episode of The Product Porch, where we discuss strategies product managers need to ace their annual performance reviews. From framing your accomplishments to overcoming common review pitfalls, we’ll show you how to turn your review into an opportunity for recognition and growth. You’ll leave with practical tips to effectively co...
Is your product losing traction or failing to grow? You might be experiencing product-market drift—the silent killer of product success. In this episode, we are joined by David Nash, who helps us spot the warning signs and shows you how to realign with customer needs, market trends, and evolving technologies. Learn how to stay ahead of the drift with actionable strategies that ensure your product remains relevant and continues to d...
Are you unsure how your Product Manager responsibilities fit into your team’s dynamics? Struggling to define your Product Manager job or wondering what it takes to thrive in your role? In this episode, we label different product team culture types, explore their anti-patterns, and discuss the types of people who perform best in each environment. Along the way, we break down the Product Manager definition within these settings and h...
1:42 - Meet Jeff and his big question for product managers: "How can we ensure we have the right understanding from our leaders?"
4:30 - Ryan emphasizes the importance of focusing on outcomes over outputs to clarify product manager responsibilities.
7:35 - Todd jokes about where their "outputs over outcomes" tattoo should go.
9:20 - Ryan urges product managers to seek clarity when they don’t understand the "why" behind a request.
10:30...
Episode Description
1:00- Meet Nils Davis
2:47- Nils reminds us that Product Managers are really “Unicorns” in the workforce
7:00- Nils shares his favorite phrase as a Product Manager “Your obvious is your art”
8:47- Nils shares the pros/cons of understanding your “spike”
10:03- We discuss how it's difficult to share our superpower with the people that surround us
12:08- Nils shares the different ways we can discover our PM spike/superpo...
2:15 What are the Product Management trends everyone is talking about
4:30- Todd asks the question: Are we focusing on the problem at the expense of the solution?
7:00- Joe explains why he believes we have over-indexed on some of the common PM themes
10:05- We are getting paid to deliver- reality check for all PMs
11:45- Ryan tells how this is a struggle for Type A personalities
13:16- Todd walks us through his approach to move to exe...
1:22 The fellas discuss their favorite Ken phrase
1:44- Ken tells us what it means to be a product management truth teller
5:16- What can we do as product managers to become more valuable?
8:35- One of the first steps- What goal are you trying to achieve and how can I help you get there?
10:30- Ken tells us why you should spend 20 min a week interviewing a customer
12:55: Todd outlines why experimentation is critical for a product manag...
1:22- Joe explains why the role of Product Player Coach role is a cop-out
2:51- Todd uses data to say how it can work and leverages his love of the NBA to demonstrates why
5:34- We discuss what success looks like for a Product Manager Player Coach
10:02- Ryan walks us through how we resolved the challenges associated with this hybrid role
13:32- Todd walks us through the disadvantages of the hybrid PM/Coach role
16:03- Joe emphatically...
1:30 Ryan ponders what product failure means?
3:37 The true definition of failure is identified
6:33 Todd speaks to the categories of product failure
9:33 Todd assumes the role of therapist and tells Ryan and Joe they didn’t fail
12:13- We discuss how we turn failure into a learning opportunity
15:06- Joe discusses the most underrated product management skill
19:08- We bring back the Jobs to be done framework when dealing with our co-wo...
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