What can SaaS founders learn from how Buffer builds, tests, and ships product ideas?
In this episode with Amanda Marochko, Staff Product Manager at Buffer (and ex-Shopify), we dive deep into how small, thoughtful teams can build great products faster—without burning out or losing quality.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

- How Buffer shifted from enterprise-style pricing to a simpler, usage-based model—and why it made them more profitable.
- What “iteration is key” really means in practice (and why you should stop over-polishing V1s).
- How to build in public, gather feedback early, and turn your users into collaborators.
- Why some features deserve to be “slow and polished,” while others should be “fast and scrappy.”
- How Buffer uses habits, streaks, and small wins to keep users engaged.

Steal these quick wins 💡

- Ship small, polished versions early—then improve them through feedback, not guesswork.
- Add a simple beta label to manage expectations and learn faster.
- Build a group of power users (Discord, Slack, or even Facebook) to test new features before launch.
- Make customer research part of your weekly routine, not a one-off project.
- Celebrate small releases publicly—momentum builds trust.

Chapters

00:00 Reconnecting and Career Paths

03:26 Buffer's Strategic Shift: From Enterprise to PLG

06:26 Transforming Pricing Strategies at Buffer

09:29 Navigating Pricing Changes: Insights and Experiences

12:26 The Power of Free Plans in SaaS

15:16 Building Habits: The Role of Gamification

18:16 Iterative Development: Learning from Feedback

21:25 Building in Public: Trust and Community Engagement

24:21 Balancing MVPs and Core Functionality

27:20 The Importance of User Experience in Product Development

33:46 Understanding User Experience Through Feedback

35:14 Continuous User Research Practices

38:11 Engaging with Customers for Insights

42:19 The Importance of Customer Empathy

46:59 Balancing Fast and Slow Product Development

57:32 The Role of Transparency in Product Management

Ever wondered what “great design” looks like in a cleaning business?
This conversation with Stephanie Pipkin, founder of Serene Clean, shows how design thinking can transform any industry — even one as hands-on as cleaning.

We dive into how she built a $1.4 million cleaning business that runs remotely, and how she uses taste, empathy, and intentional design to create delight for both customers and employees.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How working with customers during design sprints can 10× your product decisions.
• What “taste” really means in business — and why it’s about intentionality, not aesthetics.
• How to turn ordinary customer experiences into delightful ones (yes, even with mops and checklists).
• Why delighting your team is as important as delighting your customers.
• The one SaaS onboarding process that completely changed how Stephanie runs her own company.

Steal these quick wins 💡 

• Invite a real customer into your next design or strategy session — you’ll get clarity and speed you can’t find in a survey.
• Focus on show, don’t tell: let your brand’s actions and details speak louder than words.
• Add one small “unexpected moment” for your users — a thank-you note, a scent, or a tiny surprise that makes them smile. 

Remember: delight doesn’t require budget, just thoughtfulness.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Serene Clean and ZenMaid 
03:40 The Retreat Experience and Collaboration

06:17 Designing with Customer Feedback

09:22 The SOS Feature Development

12:21 Insights from Design Calls

15:22 The Impact of Design on Business

18:31 Understanding Product Development and Customer Needs

21:17 The Role of Taste in Business Branding

33:38 Show, Don't Tell: The Essence of Branding

37:18 Understanding the Customer: Empathy in Business

40:41 Delighting Customers: The Unexpected Touches

49:38 The UX of Employees: Internal Customer Experience

55:35 Favorite Tools: The Role of SaaS in Business

01:05:28 Personal Touch: How Small Details Matter

In this episode Jim Zarkadas and Chris Silvestri delve into the intersection of copywriting and design, exploring how taste, authenticity, and user experience shape effective communication. They discuss the importance of understanding the voice of the customer and how to leverage it in copywriting, as well as the role of AI in enhancing the creative process. The conversation emphasizes the need for a unique perspective in copy and the practical steps to gather and utilize customer insights for better messaging. In this conversation, Chris Silvestri and Jim Zarkadas delve into the importance of customer feedback in product positioning, the innovative use of synthetic research in B2B contexts, and common pitfalls in SaaS copywriting. They explore practical applications of synthetic research, emphasizing its potential to enhance user experience and marketing strategies. The discussion also highlights the significance of aligning messaging across teams to foster growth and effectively communicate value propositions to target audiences.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
02:28 Taste in Copywriting
08:35 Defining Taste in Copywriting
09:47 Authenticity in Copywriting
15:34 Voice of Customer (VOC) Research
41:05 Synthetic Research and AI in Copywriting
50:57 Common Mistakes in SaaS Copywriting
01:00:39 Favorite SaaS Tools and Recommendations