This time we look back at 2025 — through the voices of the people who shaped it.

From indie plugin developers and AI startups, to UX leads, hardware PMs and R&D heads at companies like Roland, Universal Audio, Safari Audio and d&b audiotechnik — 2025 gave us 15 deep conversations about what it really takes to build audio tools that matter. In this solo episode, Wojciech reflects on: • What builders, designers and founders taught us about careers, workflows and innovation • Recurring themes across companies of all sizes – from Beatport to Pro Sound Effects • The hidden skills and rituals that make audio products succeed (or fail) • Trends in AI, sound design, UX and product culture that emerged from the year • What we’re launching next and how you can be part of it If you're working in or around audio — or building tools for those who do — this wrap-up is for you. Thanks for being with us this year! 🙏

➡️ Join our course AI-Augmented PM

https://aipm.rokanan.com/

Other links

➡️ Join our Discord

https://discord.com/invite/jd6Fgv5XTR

➡️ Sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming events

https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

➡️ Check out our Meetups in Berlin for audio product leaders

https://audioproductjam2.eventbrite.com

About Wavelab Incubator

➡️ https://www.wavelab.io/en/startups-2/

Teresa Torres: Continuous Discovery Habits

➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Continuous-Discovery-Habits-Discover-Products/dp/1736633309

We met again with Dr Tomasz Żernicki. This time we talked about how AI is reshaping product management workflows and what it really means for PM jobs. Is AI going to take over, or will it finally let PMs focus on strategy instead of chasing tickets and status updates?

➡️ Join our course AI-Augmented PM

https://aipm.rokanan.com/

➡️ Join our Discord

https://discord.com/invite/jd6Fgv5XTR

➡️ Sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming event dates

https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

We met Andrew Cresswell, Head of Product Sales at ICEpower A/S.

➡️ Join our Discord:

https://discord.com/invite/jd6Fgv5XTR

➡️ Sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming event dates:

https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content:

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

➡️ How to get from start-up to scale-up

https://organizationalphysics.com/2015/10/15/rethinking-product-management-how-to-get-from-start-up-to-scale-up/

➡️ Audio Product Portfolio Management course

https://rokanan.com/2025/12/17/audio-product-portfolio-management-2/

#audioPM #musictech #proaudio #scaleup #productportfolio

We met with Wolfgang Schulz, Head of Product Management Electronics & Software, d&b audiotechnik.

➡️ Join our Discord

https://discord.com/invite/jd6Fgv5XTR

➡️ Sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming event dates

https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

#audioPM #musictech #proaudio #speakers

➡️ Join our Discord

https://discord.com/invite/jd6Fgv5XTR

➡️ sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming event dates -https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

➡️ Connect with Gösta

https://www.linkedin.com/in/goesta-wellmer/

➡️ Check out our Meetups in Berlin for audio product leaders

https://audioproductjam2.eventbrite.com

We met Brad Swanson, the Head of Product at Pro Sound Effects to talk about the sound design market and products

➡️ sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming event dates

https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

➡️ Join our Discord

https://lnkd.in/dCCFsgyr.

Podcast edited with DynAssist.

In this episode we met Tzipi Schindler, who is grateful to have found a home in the music software industry for the past seven years as a product manager at Native Instruments, starting with Native Access and from there on to the release pipeline. She considers herself a hope-driven product manager and we will hear more about why that is. We have discussed culture, diversity and how to build teams where people feel they belong. Tzipi will also be a speaker at our upcoming Berlin meetup, Audio Product Jam so if you would like to listen more about her experience, you must pop in!

More info here https://lnkd.in/dCbxkX58

Resources from the episode

Books:

• Brown, B. (2010) The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Hazelden.
• Ozenc, K. And Glenn Fajardo (2021) Rituals for Virtual Meetings: Creative Ways to Engage People and Strengthen Relationships. Wiley.
• Shafak, E. (2020) How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division. Profile Books.
• Rosenberg, M.B. (2015) Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life. PuddleDancer Press.

Articles:

• Circles of Influence Retrospective Format: https://www.dianalarsen.com/blog/2010/07/26/circles-and-soup/
• 5 Whys Sprint Retrospective Format: https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/agile-coach-toolkit-1-5-whys

Music:

• Streisand, Barbra. “Avinu Malkeinu”. Higher Ground. Columbia Records. YouTube. 1997.

More links

➡️ sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming event dates

https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

➡️ Read Audio Products Blog

https://rokanan.com/blog/

Podcast edited with DynAssist.

In this episode, we sit down with Silvia Taschner, Head of Wavelab Incubator — a startup program supporting European founders in the Music, Arts, and Media industries.

With deep expertise in music and cultural Management, Silvia brings years of experience in running accelerator programs and leading product development within cultural institutions. She offers a unique perspective at the intersection of creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Together, we explore the current landscape of the creative startup ecosystem — the opportunities and challenges. We also dive into how initiatives like Wavelab empower early-stage ventures to grow.

About Wavelab

➡️ https://www.wavelab.io/en/startups-2/

Join the Wavelab program!

➡️ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPcLlhc9Q1E1jdJsPXpAvqEJMKDGPlZlDoXnMdLauTiCRLQg/viewform

Silvia's Linkedin (for the info about the upcoming startup applications

https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-taschner/

More links

➡️ sign up to our newsletter for audio job openings, articles and upcoming event dates

https://tinyurl.com/ywjxwszr

➡️ Support our podcast and get premium content

https://buymeacoffee.com/audiopodcast

➡️ Read Audio Products Blog (article from Jens from Wavelab)

https://rokanan.com/blog/

https://https://rokanan.com/2025/06/04/how-wavelab-helped-just-4-noise-land-their-first-industry-deal/

➡️ Join our Discord community

https://lnkd.in/dCCFsgyr.

Podcast edited with DynAssist.