In the Season 3 premiere of Practical Product Management, hosts Leah Farmer and Marilyn McDonald ditch the traditional PM reading list and get personal — sharing the books outside of product management that have most shaped their careers, their leadership, and how they show up as humans at work.

From Brené Brown's case for vulnerability and clear communication, to Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication and the surprisingly violent language baked into everyday tech culture, to Susan Cain's exploration of introversion and what it means to make space for quieter voices — the conversation covers a remarkable amount of ground. They also dig into perfectionism as a superpower, the concept of who deserves a seat at your personal board table, what it means to truly reject feedback you don't believe is true, and why the four short agreements in Don Miguel Ruiz's classic might be the most practical PM framework nobody talks about.

Season 3 promises more of the same: honest, human, practical conversations about the craft — with some interesting guests already on the way.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. The best PM reading list isn't a PM reading list. Books about communication, vulnerability, introversion, and human behaviour do more to shape great product leaders than most frameworks ever will. The craft is fundamentally human work — and the reading should reflect that.

2. Clarity is kindness — and sloppy language is a leadership risk. Whether it's Brené Brown's argument against the feedback "shit sandwich," Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication, or Jefferson Fisher's practical conversational strategies — the throughline is the same: words matter enormously, especially under pressure. Intentional language builds trust; careless language erodes it.

3. Your perfectionism might be a superpower in disguise. Katherine Morgan Schafler's The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control reframes perfectionism not as something to fix, but something to direct. For PMs who spend more time being wrong than right — and doing the job well means you do — learning to aim toward the North Star without freezing is a genuinely useful skill.

4. Not everyone earns a seat at your table — and your company definitely doesn't. You are the CEO of your own life, and that means being intentional about who gets to influence your identity and decisions. Managers, companies, and randos don't automatically get a seat. The people at your table should know you, have your long-term wellbeing at heart, and carry no agenda.

In the Season 2 finale of Practical Product Management, Leah and Marilyn close the year with an honest and deeply human conversation. They revisit the idea of being the CEO of your own life, choosing who gets a seat at your personal board table, and why your job doesn’t deserve a vote in your identity. They explore the hard parts of product leadership and reflect on the importance of having a strong spine as a team. They also share the joyful, real-life practices that keep them grounded, from baking to moon rituals to community building, ending the season with a hopeful reminder: if your life doesn’t feel the way you want it to, you get to choose again.

Key Takeaways

1. You Are the CEO of Your Life - You choose who gets a seat on your personal board of directors...and your job, your boss, and your company don’t get a vote. The people who guide you should care about your joy, humanity, and long-term well-being, not your output. 

2. Courage + Clarity Are Non-Negotiable - Whether it’s prioritization, layoffs, financial decisions, or leadership accountability, most organizational pain stems from avoiding the hard conversations. Teams need spine, honesty, and transparency to make real progress. 

3. Humanity vs Frameworks - No org chart, process, or framework can fix a team that’s running on fear. Creativity and problem-solving only happen when people feel safe, trusted, and able to tell the truth. Product is fundamentally human work and leaders must “human” before anything else.

In this second Best Of episode, Leah and Marilyn revisit Episodes 11–20 — a set of conversations that explored burnout as data, the importance of communication, and the courage it takes to build meaningful products. Featuring guests like Charity, Sunny, Greg, Ryan, Steve, and Ali, this collection highlights the deeply human side of product work. It’s a reminder that great product leadership comes from curiosity, clarity, and the willingness to challenge old patterns.

Key Takeaways

1. Burnout Is Data, Not Drama

When energy fades or creativity dips, it’s not failure — it’s a signal worth paying attention to.

2. People Build Software — Communication Is the Real Glue

Most product challenges stem from communication breakdowns, not technical ones. Trust and clarity are foundational.

3. Curiosity + Courage > Predictability + Roadmaps

Experimentation, iteration, and informed risk-taking are essential — not chaotic — parts of modern product craft.

In this special Best Of episode, Leah and Marilyn look back at the first ten episodes of Season 2 — a lively mix of conversations that capture the depth, humor, and humanity of product work. From fractional leadership and accessibility to GovTech, AI, and personal growth, these highlights reveal just how dynamic the product world has become.

Featuring guests like Peter Collingridge, Mike Paciello, Rob Monroe, Sam Zebarjadi, Jen Bloom, and more, this compilation explores the edges of product practice — where leadership meets curiosity, where bureaucracy becomes a design challenge, and where learning never stops.

As they wrap up this half of the season, Leah and Marilyn reflect on the themes that have stayed with them: focus over frenzy, context over theory, and the courage to do less but do it better.

Key Takeaways

1. Context is EverythingProduct theory only matters when it meets reality. Success comes from understanding your environment — and adapting accordingly.
2. Focus Over FrenzyIn an AI-driven world, clarity beats speed. Being essential in the moments that matter is more powerful than doing more, faster.
3. Practice Like You PlayLeadership is a daily practice. Show up, even when it’s messy. Repetition builds confidence and muscle memory for when it counts.
4. Do Less, BetterImpact matters more than activity. Prioritize the work that truly moves your product — and your people — forward.

In this episode of Practical Product Management, hosts Leah Farmer and Marilyn McDonald sit down with Sunny Lee, Experience Design Director at EA’s Full Circle Studio, to explore the intersection of design, empathy, and play.

Sunny’s career spans from building AAA games at EA Sports to shaping purpose-driven experiences in health tech — and back again to lead design for Skate, EA’s newly relaunched open-world game. She shares how thoughtful design can empower players, foster inclusion, and build real human connection in digital spaces.

The conversation moves from the craft of experience design to the ethics of monetization, from diversity in game culture to the importance of making failure fun. Whether you’re building software or skate parks, this episode is a reminder that great design — like great leadership — is about creating spaces where people feel seen, confident, and free to explore.

Key Takeaways

1. Design Is More Than Pixels — It’s About Human Connection. Great design balances usability, emotion, and purpose. Sunny emphasizes that creating for humans means understanding both what they say and how they actually behave.

2. Make Failure Fun - From learning new tricks in Skate to building new products, progress comes through iteration. Embrace experimentation and treat failure as part of play, not proof of defeat.

3. Diversity Makes Better Products — and Communities. “Games look like the people who make them.” Diverse creators lead to richer, more inclusive experiences. Representation isn’t just ethical — it’s essential for designing products that truly connect.

In this episode of Practical Product Management, hosts Leah Farmer and Marilyn McDonald are joined by Steve Brieloff, a seasoned product leader from Expedia Group, for a conversation about what truly defines great product management.

Steve shares insights from his years leading teams across Expedia’s product suite, highlighting how getting the fundamentals right—from crafting precise problem statements to choosing meaningful success metrics—sets the foundation for success. The trio dives deep into the importance of language, the evolution of confidence and conviction in product decisions, and how bravery shows up at every level of a PM’s career.

From building trust through vulnerability to balancing open debate with decisive action, this episode explores how mastering the basics and leading with courage can transform teams, culture, and products alike.

Key Takeaways

1. Master the Fundamentals — and the Words You Choose Matter. Great product work starts with writing a precise problem statement and choosing the right success metrics. One misplaced word can send a team in the wrong direction.

2. Bravery is a Core Product Skill. Whether it’s voicing dissent, standing behind a decision, or leading culture change, bravery shows up at every level of product work — from junior PMs to execs.

3. Build Trust Through Vulnerability and Debate. Encourage disagreement, listen deeply, and be transparent — but also know when the debate is over. Leadership is about hearing others, making the call, and moving forward together.

In this episode of Practical Product Management, Leah and Marilyn sit down with Ali Rakhimov, Senior Product Leader, fintech founder, and author of Make Pigs Fly. Ali shares his unconventional path into product management as a self-taught immigrant, the lessons learned from scaling fintech for underserved schools, and leading $10M+ initiatives at Macy’s and T-Mobile.

The conversation ranges from the value of asking “stupid” questions in technical meetings, to translating empathy into reliable systems, to the balance between directness and tact in communication. Ali also draws parallels between raising four kids and managing teams—emphasizing adaptability, humility, and listening as core product skills.

Key Takeaways

1. Curiosity over credibility: Asking the “stupid” questions is often how you uncover blind spots, learn fast, and earn trust.
2. Empathy into action: Observing real users and solving their core problems matters more than shipping flashy features.
3. Adaptability is leadership: Whether managing teams or parenting, effective product leaders flex their style to the audience and context.

In this episode of Practical Product Management, hosts Leah Farmer and Marilyn McDonald welcome back returning guests Alesha Cronie and Geno White for a candid conversation about iteration. Together, they unpack why iteration is more than a process—it’s a mindset centered on learning, courage, and embracing discomfort.

The discussion explores the “courage gap” that often holds organizations back, the tension between incentives and innovation, and why MVPs so often miss the mark. The group also debates the evolving balance of product and engineering roles in the age of AI, and the importance of curiosity in solving real customer problems. It’s a lively and unfiltered look at what it truly means to “fuck around and find out” in product development.

Key Takeaways

1. Iteration is about learning, not perfection – moving fast matters less than learning fast, and that requires comfort with uncertainty.
2. Courage and trust are critical – organizations often get stuck not because the data isn’t there, but because leaders lack the courage to pivot or empower teams.
3. MVPs are often meaningless – reframing them as learning vehicles (or prototypes) keeps teams focused on outcomes instead of excuses.

In this episode, Leah and Marilyn sit down with Mike Maynard, Chairman at Napier B2B PR & Marketing, to unpack why B2B is far from boring. Mike shares why complex buying committees make B2B uniquely challenging, how synthetic personas can help but never replace real conversations, and why respect for the problem (not just the proposed solution) is essential. Along the way, they dig into the pitfalls of surveys, the role of product-led growth in long development cycles, and what it takes to move products from “nerds” to “norms.”

Key Takeaways

1. B2B decisions are complex and committee-driven — success means understanding multiple perspectives (engineers, CEOs, finance, InfoSec) and tailoring your approach accordingly.
2. Surveys often mislead — synthetic personas and data can support you, but nothing replaces real conversations with customers in context.
3. Respect the problem, not just the solution — product managers must look beyond what customers ask for, uncover the root issue, and bring all stakeholders’ voices into the room.

In this candid conversation, hosts Leah and Marilyn talk with product leader Charity about ambition, burnout, and the elusive art of slowing down. From unexpected career starts to the relentless pursuit of the next goal, they explore how high-achievers push themselves (sometimes too far) and what it takes to recognize when it’s time to rest. The episode offers a mix of personal stories, leadership insights, and practical reflections on sustaining both success and well-being.

3 Key Takeaways

• Ambition can be double-edged. The same drive that fuels achievement can also lead to exhaustion if left unchecked.
• Rest rarely happens by accident. True downtime often requires intentional boundaries and self-awareness — and sometimes the courage to walk away.
• Leaders set the tone. Your energy impacts your team; burnout in leadership can ripple outward in ways you might not realize until later.