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In this episode about Wren, Jeff and Mike talk about the size of a ton of carbon dioxide, climate anxiety, and how you can start making a difference today. Episode 110: Wren, Explained [00:40] Mike’s passion and sustainability filibuster [1:30] MIT Technology Review - What is a ton of carbon dioxide? Hint - it’s a cube full of telephone poles that weighs as much as a great white shark. [4:00] The IPCC, avoiding 1.5 degrees celsius warming, and how carbon dioxide/greenhouse gas emissions overfilling the earth’s atmosphere are analogous to a bathtub overflowing with water. [5:00] Carbon Mitigation vs. Carbon Removal vs. Carbon Capture. Also - what do we do with all of this carbon that we capture? [6:45] What is Wren? Hint: your “All in One Climate Subscription” [7:30] What’s the average carbon footprint in the US? Wren’s carbon footprint calculator. [8:15] How do you choose how much carbon to offset? What about changing your behaviors like eating less meat or driving less? [10:30] Not all carbon credits are made equal; for example forest preservation to carbon removal efforts like Climeworks. John Oliver’s expose on the pitfalls behind Carbon Capture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p8zAbFKpW0 [13:00] Scientific American published a study that in general, the more you earn - the higher your individual carbon footprint [14:00] What’s the benefit for customers for paying for a service like this? For customers like Mike, they’re deeply passionate about this space, much of the benefit is realized in feeling like you’re ‘doing your part’ vs. the Tragedy of the commons problem. [16:30] What will it take for real changes to occur? [19:30] What is Wren’s business model? Wren indexes highly on transparency and brings a portfolio approach to your subscription dollars. [22:00] Some of Wren’s portfolio projects include Biochar in California, Mineral weathering in Scotland, and tech enabled rainforest protection. [24:00] The History of Wren - and how the team was initially focused on HR software before heading to Y Combinator [27:15] Wren’s target customers are likely climate conscious people that want to spend money to see climate action implemented. Also Climate Anxiety is real. [30:00] Other competitors in the space are great - like Zopeful, but no climate solution is a bad solution - we need all hands on deck. [31:20] ProdEx scores: Mike 4.9 stars and Jeff 4.3 out of 5; if you’re interested in Wren - check out www.wren.co/join/mikealcazaren to get your first month free. [32:30] Season 2 is coming next year! Let us know who you’d like to hear us interview on the podcast!

In this episode about Dscout, Jeff and Mike talk about male body shaving, market research in pop culture like Mad Men, and getting paid to be a research participant. Episode 109: Dscout, Explained [00:20] Researching baby strollers and Instagram ads [01:40] Mike’s first Boston job typing up market research results for male bodying shaving [03:20] What is Dscout? (hint: two-sided marketplace for market research) [05:10] Dscout’s recruit tool and fine-tuning your target audience. Is your mom really a good candidate? [06:52] Jeff’s experience using Dscout & being a ‘baseball card’ researchers can choose from [09:30] Dscout’s business model - taking a small percentage from transactions, and different tiers for different customer needs [11:30] History of Dscout & the debate of the century: Is Chicago a burgeoning tech hub? Or is it just a market research hub? [14:30] h/t to Dscout’s Product Marketing team - ProdEx loves seeing easy to read/share/understand case studies from real customers. [15:30] Who is Dscout for? Mad Men and the genesis of Market Research [17:15] Dscout competitors, Mike & Jeff’s experience in their day jobs looking for customer insights via market research [22:20] ProdEx scores: Mike 4 stars and Jeff 4.6 out of 5 - a new Jeff high!!! [23:30] Season 2 is coming next year! Let us know who you’d like to hear us interview on the podcast!

In this episode about BeReal, Jeff and Mike talk about bringing back MySpace features, Casey Neistat’s Beme experiment, and Gen Z’s future social media platforms. Episode 108: BeReal, Explained [01:20] BeReal is french - so how do actually pronounce the name? [02:15] What is BeReal (hint: daily un-curated photos!) [03:41] Mike’s first share is of us podcasting! [04:32] BeReal’s business model (hint: it’s eyeballs!) and how US advertising is close to a zero-sum game [06:59] YouTuber Casey Neistat’s Beme social media experiment and Mike’s fanboying of Casey [10:00] The History of BeReal and staying power compared to ClubHouse [14:30] Trends in gen z, is there an anti-aesthetic for Social Media? H/T to @buffalobills social media [15:30] Who is BeReal for - rejecting perfection, and chasing the high for perfect lighting, 100s of photos, and ‘influencer’ culture. Plus the mental health toll. [16:40] The Q4 2022 fall of social media market caps and how @homedepot is now more valuable (or similarly valued) as Meta/Facebook [18:20] What will be Gen Z’s social media platform of choice? [21:30] Mike pressuring his parents to buy nerf guns [23:20] ProdEx scores: Mike 3.8 stars and Jeff 3.95 out of 5 [25:30] Season 2 is coming next year! Let us know who you’d like to hear us interview on the podcast!

In this episode about Tile, Jeff and Mike talk about losing credit cards, Bluetooth’s connection to a Nordic King, and Amazon’s just walk out technology. Episode 107: Tile, Explained [00:45] The weird things Jeff & Mike lost, and why it sucks to lose a credit card [1:05] What is tile? And how do you not lose things ever again, even that pesky remote in your couch [3:30] QR codes with the COVID come back and Alaska Railroad checking luggage [5:00] Quick tangent on Bluetooth and how Bluetooth got it’s name from a long lost Nordic king [6:30] What is Tile’s business model (hint: it’s widgets!)? Who do they partner with (hint: Big companies like HP!) [10:40] The history of Tile, IPA or IPX?, and the Life 360 acquisition [13:40] Casey Neistat and the stolen car - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l30V426-_S4 [15:00] Who is Tile for? And the book “Trillions” [17:00] What is Maytag trying to charge me a subscription? [21:00] Amazon Go - Just Walk out technology (it feels like you’re stealing!?) [24:00] Tile’s competition and Mike & Jeff scores: 3.7 out of 5 for both

In this episode about Gumroad, Jeff and Mike talk about learning ukulele, the growing creator economy, and reflections from a start-up founder. [00:45] What is Gumroad and how does it work? Gumroad "makes it easy to earn your first dollar online by selling digital products, memberships and more" [2:16] Ukulele courses and Fix This Build That [5:33] Is Gumroad a potential acquisition target or feature copy for the Chief Twit, Elon Musk, at Twitter? [6:50] How Gumroad makes money with simple fees to creators [10:30] History of Gumroad [14:02] Who is Gumroad for? [15:34] Jess Encamp, Parks & Rec, and Jonny Karate [17:00] Gumroad’s competitors [18:00] Mike and Jeff Scores, 4.05 and 4.1 out of 5, respectively and @shl’s “Reflecting on my failure to build a billion dollar company

In this episode about Nuro, Jeff and Mike talk about robots, last mile delivery, and pedestrian airbags at 45mph. [0:20] Terminator and American robots [0:42] What is Nuro? Toaster-on-wheels? [2:19] Dominoes Pizza Delivery; Coke vs. Pepsi; blind taste tests; and Jeff’s Atlanta cred on the line [3:57] Trolley Car Problem, Nuro’s external pedestrian airbag, and 45 MPH robot [6:40] Nuro’s specifications, powering with renewable energy, and 100 miles of range [9:06] A geography test for Jeff, last mile delivery, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) [12:30] What is Nuro’s Business Model? [13:15] Nuro’s fleet includes Toyota Priuses and Nuro’s partnerships with Dominoes and Kroger’s [15:30] Nuro’s History, valuation, and venture financing [17:01] Who is Nuro for? How are they positioning themselves? [19:30] Mike grumpily puts on his pants instead of ordering Uber Eats [21:03] Nuro: “on-demand autonomous vehicle delivery is potentially 3 million new jobs” and their California training partnership [23:32] Who are Nuro’s competitors? [24:30] Our thoughts: Jeff and Mike Score: 4.4/5 [28:33] Bonus Mike thought on Blizzard’s StarCraft [2:37 PM] Nuro description

In this episode about Plex, Jeff and Mike talk about archiving family photos, today's streaming hell, and at-home 'cloud' computing. [1:01] - 600lb life and trashy TV [1:22] - What is Plex? [2:41] - What is a NAS (Network Attached Server)? [3:52] - Looking at your (wedding) photos virtually. [4:45] - ScmhOffice, Season 1, Episode 2? Plex + Artwork [5:33] - What is Plex’s Business Model? [6:28] - History of Plex [10:46] - Who is Plex for? [11:31] - Today’s streaming Hell and state-by-state legality of ripping your DVDs + PublicDomainmovies.net [12:55] - Who are the competitors? [14:30] - Our thoughts and ratings. Mike: 4.8/5; Jeff 4.3/5

In this episode about Telegram, Jeff and Mike talk about Russian social media, a group of nomad engineers, and secure messaging apps.

In this episode about Husqvarna, Jeff and Mike talk about haircuts, GPS, and lawnmower soundtracks.

In this episode about Udemy, Jeff and Mike talk about passive income, edutainment, and the academy of you.

In this episode about Classpass, Jeff and Mike talk about pilates, Costco's handshake deal with 24 hour fitness, and building a fitness plan for you.

In this episode about Microsoft Surfaces, Jeff and Mike talk about rugged laptops, accidental marketing, and why the NFL was a more appealing marketing channel than the classroom.

In this episode about Faire, Jeff and Mike talk about cat mugs, fake NFL jerseys, and the wholesale business.

In this episode about Kayak, Jeff and Mike talk about price prediction, travel conglomerates, and finding deals.

In this episode about NFL Redzone, Jeff and Mike talk about Scott Hanson, fantasy football, and non-stop commercial-free action.

In this episode about Allbirds, Jeff and Mike talk about wide feet, sustainability, and the New Zealand fauna.

In this episode about Uber Eats, Jeff and Mike talk about ghost 'chickens', Arbys, and food delivery to space.

In this episode about Notion, Jeff and Mike talk about one-tool-to-rule-them-all, caricatures, and bus ads.

In this episode about Instagram, Jeff and Mike talk about failed check-in apps, dog IG profiles, and a billion-dollar acquisition that saved Facebook.

In this episode about Chamberlain MyQ, Jeff and Mike talk IoTs, letting people into your garage, and Amazon's continued dominance.