Product managers are in an exciting position – we’re constantly looking for new ways to deliver value to our customers in ways that move key metrics and are viable to the business. This involves collaborating with so many stakeholders throughout the organization, including our direct product teams, support teams, and executive leadership. While there can be rewarding moments through all this, there are also a lot of challenging moments, and in those times it’s important to have somewhere we can go for advice. Product management podcasts are one of the most convenient sources we can turn to for any type of advice we’re seeking, and there are many podcast options to suit your needs.
How can product managers benefit from good product management podcasts?
Whether you’re looking for inspiration to help guide your next design sprint, tactics for influencing senior leadership, or consolation when your new product launch didn’t go quite as planned, product management podcasts are a reliable medium to help guide you along. They offer the opportunity to learn from other product managers who have found themselves in similar situations on the path to building great products. You’ll learn new ways of approaching what you’re facing and, perhaps more importantly, discover you’re not alone in this exciting but challenging profession.
21 best product management podcasts in 2021
Rocketship.fm
Produced in partnership with Product Collective, the Rocketship.fm podcast is currently in its 10th season, which focuses on the theme of Workplace Confessions. One of these confessions will resonate with nearly every product manager: imposter syndrome.
What do we like about this podcast?
This podcast is great for product managers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders alike, covering topics from growth to funding to productivity. Hear about the product journeys of Amazon Echo and Tesla, product failures from Google+ and eBay, and dive into the 10 dysfunctions of product management.
Who is the host
Michael Sacca and Mike Belsito
Frequency
Multiple episodes per week.
Where to listen
100 PM
Suzanne Abate has set out to interview 100 product managers, resulting in a wide range of conversation topics. With 61 interviews down, we can expect many more to come.
What do we like about this podcast?
Suzanne’s guests come from companies of all sizes, from B2C to SaaS, so you’ll get a glimpse at how product management can differ at different organizations as they grow. Topics include the art of user story writing, how to build a healthy relationship with engineers, and tactics for building a marketplace.
Who is the host
Suzanne Abate
Frequency
This April saw the first episode in 3 years, so hopefully the weekly cadence returns soon.
Where to listen
https://www.100productmanagers.com/interviews
The Design Better Podcast
Hosted by two leaders of Design Education at InVision, the podcast is aimed at designers, but a lot of it is highly valuable for product managers.
What do we like about this podcast?
Each season centers around a unique theme, such as tips for navigating your career, building a product-led organization, and improving collaboration between product, design, and engineering. The conversations aren’t limited to design leaders – you’ll also hear from individuals like NASA’s Steve Rader, actor John Cleese, and Marty Cagan of the Silicon Valley Product Group.
Who is the host
Aarron Walter and Eli Woolery
Frequency
Weekly, with some interruptions.
Where to listen
https://www.designbetter.co/podcast
Fearless Product Leadership
Hope Gurion is the founder of Fearless Products LLC, through which she coaches product leaders. Her podcast serves as an extension of this mission, providing insights for product leaders to guide their teams and their product strategy.
What do we like about this podcast?
The episodes are centered around a specific focus, like how to hire the right product managers or how to say no to the CEO. These topics are then discussed by a round table of experienced product leaders, so you’ll get to hear different viewpoints in each episode.
Who is the host
Hope Gurion
Frequency
No regular cadence. So far it’s evened out to 11 or 12 episodes per year, and is still going strong.
Where to listen
https://fearless-product.com/fearless-product-leadership-podcast
HBR Ideacast
In this weekly podcast, Alison Beard & Curt Nickisch interview business thought leaders, including executives, organizational psychologists, leadership coaches, and professors.
What do we like about this podcast?
This show is a great way to sharpen your business acumen, a critical component of the product manager toolkit. Recent episodes that are great for product managers include how to stop overthinking things, leading with authenticity, and how to encourage imagination.
Who is the host
Alison Beard & Curt Nickisch
Frequency
Weekly
Where to listen
https://hbr.org/2018/01/podcast-ideacast
How I Built This
In this wildly popular NPR podcast, Guy Raz sits down with entrepreneurs to learn how they took their business from zero to massive success.
What do we like about this podcast?
Guy Raz has a knack for driving his guests’ narratives along, pursuing the most insightful moments of the conversation. Check out thrilling conversations about companies like Bumble, Spanx, and Lyft, told through their founders’ own words.
Who is the host
Guy Raz
Frequency
Weekly
Where to listen
https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this
Intercom on Product
If there’s one thing that’s clear from their numerous books, it’s that Intercom knows product, so it’s no surprise that this podcast follows suit.
What do we like about this podcast?
Unlike most of the podcasts on this list, there’s no guest interview format. Each episode is a conversation between the co-founder and SVP of Product at Intercom. Hear these two thought leaders share insights on accelerating your strategy after COVID-19, how marketing can help scale products, and more.
Who is the host
Des Traynor and Paul Adams
Frequency
Every few months
Where to listen
https://www.intercom.com/blog/podcasts
Jobs-to-be-Done Radio
Bob Moesta and Chris Spiek are some of the leading pioneers of Jobs-to-be-Done, and this podcast shares insights on how to best implement the practice in your work.
What do we like about this podcast?
Jobs-to-be-Done seems to be growing in popularity among product managers, and for good reason: it’s an incredibly effective way to ensure you’re building the right thing. This podcast hones in on critical parts of the methodology, such as using the practice for end-to-end product delivery, and includes guests like Des Traynor of Intercom.
Who is the host
Bob Moesta & Chris Spiek
Frequency
Very infrequent; No new episodes since 2019.
Where to listen
https://jobstobedone.org/topics/radio/
LeadingAgile SoundNotes
We had to throw in a couple engineering podcasts, because this is a critical partnership in the product development lifecycle. In this podcast, Dave Prior sits down with various guests to discuss the ins and outs of agile concepts.
What do we like about this podcast?
As a product manager in an agile organization, it’s crucial to be well-versed in agile practices to ensure effective collaboration with your team. Learn from the experts on topics spanning from sprint planning to more advanced conversations, like the physics of agility and using impact maps to build the right thing.
Who is the host
Dave Prior
Frequency
At least one per month, sometimes more.
Where to listen
https://soundnotes.leadingagile.com/
Masters of Scale
Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, sits down with entrepreneurs and business leaders to discuss their experiences in scaling a business, and their lessons learned along the way.
What do we like about this podcast?
The creative editing makes for enthralling storytelling, with Reid’s interjections honing in on the most important takeaways throughout. Hear the lessons learned in scaling companies from Airbnb to Beyond Meat to Fiat Chrysler.
Who is the host
Reid Hoffman
Frequency
Multiple episodes per week, counting the Masters of Scale: Rapid Response series hosted by Bob Safian.
Where to listen
Product Coalition
Another podcast built on PM-to-PM interviews, Jay Stansell sits down with product managers from varying backgrounds for some enlightening conversations directly related to our discipline.
What do we like about this podcast?
There’s a lot of diversity in the topics, including day-to-day tactics, product leadership, and career development. One highlight is when Jay gets philosophical with Rushika Kumar as they talk about Consequentialism and Zen in Product.
Who is the host
Jay Stansell
Frequency
No new episodes since August 2020; Weekly prior to that.
Where to listen
https://podcast.productcoalition.com/
The Product Marketing Experts
A list of podcasts for PMs isn’t complete without some focus on one of our most crucial partners: product marketing. Join Jeffrey Vocell of Iterable as he interviews a different product marketer each week.
What do we like about this podcast?
Similarly to the design and engineering podcasts in this list, The Product Marketing Experts podcast gives a glimpse into the world of product marketing. Enhance your collaboration and your product’s success by getting a deeper understanding of strategies for pricing, positioning, and launching successful products.
Who is the host
Jeffrey Vocell
Frequency
Weekly
Where to listen
https://podcasts.sharebird.com/episodes
Product Mastery Now
Product Mastery Now, formerly known as The Everyday Innovator, brings in product professionals, business leaders, and more to share their thoughts on innovation and product management.
What do we like about this podcast?
As its former name suggests, there’s a healthy amount of episodes related to innovation. The focus doesn’t stop there, so you’ll also find great conversations such as how to start preparing now for the transition from product management to senior leadership.
Who is the host
Chad McAllister
Frequency
Weekly
Where to listen
https://productmasterynow.com/tei/
Product Talk
Coming from the Products That Count platform, this podcast hosts product leaders across different industries as they talk about their experiences and lessons learned.
What do we like about this podcast?
The variance in the types of products discussed is impressive. Discover how some of the latest cutting edge products are coming to market, such as the expanding role of technology in Broadway storytelling, and the growing area of digital mental health therapy.
Who is the host
Hosts change with each episode.
Frequency
Weekly
Where to listen
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/product-talk/id1038890550
Product to Product
Roadmunk wasn’t satisfied enough with building a product roadmap platform for PMs, they wanted to go a step further with (in their own words) a “product management podcast for / by product people”.
What do we like about this podcast?
This podcast also follows the “theme per season” approach, with some traditional product management focuses (turning feedback into features) and some more unique themes (product buzzwords you hate to love and love to hate). Tune in for enlightening conversations with PMs, designers, marketers, and engineers from companies like Intercom and Buzzfeed.
Who is the host
Rotating hosts from Roadmunk.
Frequency
Every other week
Where to listen
https://roadmunk.com/product-to-product-podcast
Scrum Master Toolbox
Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches are interviewed about the things they’re doing to excel at their craft. Get an inside look to identify how to become a better product partner to them.
What do we like about this podcast?
There’s a new episode every weekday and most fall under 15 minutes, so it’s perfect for a lunch or coffee break. If you can’t listen every day, at least set some time aside on Fridays when they focus on the best and worst of Product Owners from their perspectives.
Who is the host
Vasco Duarte
Frequency
Every weekday
Where to listen
https://scrum-master-toolbox.org/
This Is Product Management
This long-running show brings in product people, CEOs, CTOs, and more for a deep dive on the wide range of focus areas that product managers find themselves up against. Great for new and experienced PMs alike.
What do we like about this podcast?
With 278 episodes and counting, you’re sure to find an episode that’s applicable to something you’re currently facing. Learn how to optimize conversion rates from the Optimizely VP of Product, or how to foster internal collaboration from the CTO – Energy at Google.
Who is the host
Anuurag Verma (formerly Mike Fishbein)
Frequency
Every other week
Where to listen
https://tipm.feedbackloop.com/
This Week In Startups
Angel investor Jason Calacanis covers some of the latest topics in tech amidst interviewing successful founder, investors, and more.
What do we like about this podcast?
It’s a news show and interview show wrapped into one! Many episodes cover tech and startup news, such as the Bitcoin crackdown in China, before moving to the interviews. An easy way to stay up to date on the industry and get relevant tips on scaling a tech company.
Who is the host
Jason Calacanis
Frequency
Multiple episodes per week
Where to listen
https://thisweekinstartups.com/
This Week In Tech
Tech experts sit down for a roundtable discussion about the latest news in tech, including the innovations, policies, and more happening throughout the week.
What do we like about this podcast?
If the previous podcast left you wanting more tech news, you’ve come to the right place. The episodes clock in at 2+ hours, but the conversations are highly valuable to stay on top of the industry trends you should be aware of. Pop it on while you’re cooking dinner or if you find yourself back to a long commute.
Who is the host
Leo Laporte
Frequency
Weekly
Where to listen
https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech
The Tim Ferriss Show
Let’s face it – product management can be demanding, time-consuming, and stressful. The Tim Ferriss Show is a great source for new tools to manage your day-to-day, enhance your growth, and maintain a healthy mindset.
What do we like about this podcast?
Tim interviews an impressive list of people who are all masters of their craft, and extracts insights from them about how they do it. Get tips for overcoming self-sabotage, remembering anything, and navigating difficult conversations. You’ll also find great recommendations for your reading list or exercise and mindfulness routines.
Who is the host
Tim Ferriss
Frequency
Weekly
Where to listen
UI Breakfast
One more design-focused podcast because, let’s face it, we’d be lost without our designers. Just like with our engineering and marketing partners, we should constantly strive to be better partners with design.
What do we like about this podcast?
Topics include the latest in user experience and design trends (thought-based interfaces) and best practices (designing for accessibility). Don’t miss the episode “Your Personal Design Style”, because we can all do with a little more authenticity.
Who is the host
Jane Portman
Frequency
Every 1-2 weeks
Where to listen
https://uibreakfast.com/category/podcast/
Final points about podcasts for product managers
There’s clearly no shortage of great podcast content out there for product managers, and no shortage of qualified individuals to learn from. The podcasts we’ve shared here present product management topics that can be impactful for product managers at any stage of their career – from the brand new APM to the veteran product leader. What we all have in common is that we’re in this together, and these podcasts are a great example of that.
