In this episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, two AI-generated podcasters break down Sam Robertstad’s latest article on why real product strategy isn’t found in a deck - it’s revealed in the decisions you’re willing to make.

They explore the difference between documentation and direction, unpack the illusion of alignment created by polished presentations, and introduce the 3D Strategy Filter: Desirability, Differentiation, and Durability. You’ll learn why your roadmap is not your strategy, it’s the result of it, and how to lead with focus, not just features.

Whether you're recalibrating your roadmap or aiming to elevate your product practice, this episode offers a practical lens for making better strategic decisions.

In this episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, two AI-generated podcasters break down Sam Robertstad’s latest article on one of the sneakiest forms of product drag: product debt.

Not to be confused with technical debt, product debt builds up when we say “yes” too often. Features get added, stakeholders get appeased, and quick wins take priority over long-term clarity. It starts small, but the weight adds up.

We cover:

• What product debt really is and how it reshapes your roadmap

• The cultural habits that fuel it, like over-accommodation and fuzzy prioritization

• How to spot the signs, from reactive planning to scattered feedback

• Tactical strategies for saying “no” with intention and auditing your roadmap like a budget

Tune in to learn how clarity compounds, and how a few well-placed “no’s” can unlock the momentum your product really needs.

In this episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, two AI-generated podcasters break down Sam Robertstad’s latest article on one of the most costly traps in product discovery: the Validation Gap.

Too often, teams mistake early signals such as compliments, interest, or prototype clicks for real validation. But true validation isn’t what users say. It’s what they’re willing to do.

We cover:

• Why positive feedback doesn’t equal proof

• The 3 stages of the Validation Ladder: Signal, Simulation, and Stakes

• How to design micro-stakes that reveal real user intent

• Common ways teams fall into the Validation Gap, and how to avoid them

If you’ve ever launched — or want to avoid launching — a “validated” feature that flopped, listen closely.

In this episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, two AI-generated podcasters break down Sam Robertstad’s latest article on one of the most misunderstood ideas in product: the MVP.

Too often, “Minimum Viable Product” gets misused as a race to ship—or worse, a license to cut corners. But a real MVP isn’t about speed. It’s about learning fast and reducing risk.

We cover:

• Why MVPs often get bloated, rushed, or written off as disposable

• What a true MVP is: a strategic test to validate assumptions and guide next steps

• Tactical guidance for building lean, insight-driven MVPs

• How to reframe stakeholder pressure and apply a 5-part MVP checklist

If you’ve ever been stuck between “just ship it” and “it’s not ready,” this one’s for you.

Is moving fast the enemy of quality, or the key to unlocking it?

In this deep dive episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, two AI-generated podcasters discuss Sam Robertstad’s article on balancing speed and quality in product development. They explore why pre-launch perfection is a myth, and how smart teams use rapid iteration, validation cycles, A/B testing, and feature flags to learn faster and ship smarter.

You’ll learn why smaller, frequent releases often lead to higher-quality outcomes—and how speed and quality, when done right, aren’t opposites but powerful allies.

In this episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, our AI hosts explore the high-stakes decisions that come after a feature ships. When something you’ve built isn’t delivering, what’s the smartest next move - pivot, persevere, or kill?

You’ll learn:

• Why indecision is the most expensive option
• How to evaluate post-launch performance using user signals, strategic alignment, and opportunity cost
• Tactical frameworks like post-launch RICE, the 3-question retrospective, and opportunity cost mapping
• How to communicate tough calls with confidence, clarity, and empathy

This conversation is your blueprint for moving from reluctant momentum to strategic clarity, and focusing your team on what matters most.

Most product roadmaps don’t drive strategy. They manage releases.

In this episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, our podcasters make the case against traditional feature-based roadmaps - those neat, deadline-driven documents that look great in a slide deck but often fail to move the metrics that matter.

Instead, they introduce a smarter, more adaptable approach: the outcome-driven roadmap.

You’ll learn:

• Why shipping features ≠ delivering value
• The signs your team is stuck in the "Roadmap Rut"
• How to reframe roadmaps around business outcomes, not output
• A playbook for building flexible, impact-focused plans
• Three practical roadmap formats: Now-Next-Later, Objective-Led, and Thematic
• How to handle stakeholder objections without losing strategic clarity

This episode is for product leaders, founders, and PMs who are done with checklists - and ready to build roadmaps that guide decision-making, facilitate learning, and drive real results.

Are you shipping features, or driving real change?

In this episode of The Product Leader’s Playbook, two AI podcasters break down Sam Robertstad’s latest article, “The Output Trap (and How to Escape It).” They explore how product teams fall into the trap of confusing feature delivery with progress, and what it takes to build outcome-driven products instead.

You’ll learn:

• How to recognize the signs of a Feature Factory

• The real difference between outputs and outcomes

• Metrics that actually reflect impact

• Why success must be defined before you build

This episode is packed with insights for PMs, engineers, and product leaders who want to deliver meaningful results, not just ship more stuff.