For 37signals, flashy ad campaigns and traditional brand promos have never been the way to go. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share why traditional marketing methods like billboards, paid social media posts, and keyword ads don’t give them results. They talk about how meaningful marketing comes from genuine support and real connection.

Key Takeaways

• 00:12 – Why marketing ROI looks different for every business
• 10:35 – Spend your marketing budget on companies and people you believe in
• 17:35 – What kinds of marketing actually does work for 37signals
• 28:02 – How AI is making the authentic human connection stand out

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

Trust is the foundation of any strong company. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, 37signals co-founder and CTO David Heinemeier Hansson joins host Kimberly Rhodes to explore what it really means to build a high-trust organization. David shares how trust shapes the culture and success of a team, even when working remotely.

Key Takeaways

• 00:23 – Trust starts as the default at 37signals
• 05:19 – Empowering employees with reasonable spending freedom
• 11:46 – Why one person’s mistake shouldn’t lead to restrictive policies
• 15:15 – How to cultivate trust in remote workplaces
• 22:10 – Trust and accountability can and should coexist

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

As 37signals gets closer to launching their newest product, Fizzy, Jason Fried joins host Kimberly Rhodes to reflect on the final stretch of development. He shares the trade-offs of setting your own deadlines, the importance of onboarding new customers, and the company's process for marketing a product.

Key Takeaways

• 00:11 – What the “11th hour” looks like before a product launch
• 03:50 – How to weigh deadlines against final release decisions
• 05:44 – The importance of customer onboarding
• 11:18 – A playful touch added to Fizzy’s logo
• 15:30 – Why version 1.0 is just the beginning

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

In their book REWORK, 37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson caution against glorifying nonstop work. In this week's podcast, they tackle a listener's questions related to the chapter Workaholism and dig into employee management including how to measure productivity and how to track progress. They explain why simple conversations often matter more than complex systems.

Key Takeaways

• 00:15 – Judge productivity by paying attention and staying engaged
• 07:50 – Tracking progress doesn’t require complicated systems
• 11:44 – Conversations matter more than systems; don't be a coward
• 15:11 – When work ramps up, handling busier times without burning out

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

Curious how Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson keep their attention where it counts? In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, the 37signals co-founders join host Kimberly Rhodes to talk about the different ways they approach focus. From procrastination that sometimes pays off to meditation and visualization, Jason and David share their tips for finding and maintaining focus. 

Key Takeaways

• 00:44 – What procrastination really tells you
• 05:30 – Traditional and alternative meditation practices
• 13:28 – Breaking through a creative block
• 16:35 – Building a work schedule that makes focus easier

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share more about their business than many founders. In this episode of The REWORK Podcast, they chat with host Kimberly Rhodes about why transparency is important to them. They talk about how sharing openly can double as marketing, the upside of showing work that's still in progress, and why timing matters when deciding what to put out to the public.

Key Takeaways

• 00:13 – Why transparency matters at 37signals
• 03:07 – Everything is marketing
• 09:22 – Letting people follow along while the work is happening
• 12:43 – Knowing when and what to share

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

37signals' co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson revisit how their approach to marketing began with a simple blog. They share why writing with authenticity matters, how patience pays off when building an audience, and why staying true to your own voice is important.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:12 – How 37signals' marketing started organically with a blog
• 02:53 – Authenticity is a must when writing
• 07:02 – Patience is key to growing an audience
• 08:18 – Don’t let algorithms dictate your content
• 13:08 – Make time to write while your ideas are fresh
• 16:21 – Marketing is simply transferring enthusiasm
• 22:22 – Audiences want to see behind the curtain

Links and Resources:

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson sit down with host Kimberly Rhodes to field a fresh round of listener questions. They share perspectives on when coding assistance makes sense, finding a co-founder to compliment your skills, business succession planning, and more.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:17 – When AI coding tools help vs. when they get in the way
• 05:44 – Does start-up success require a co-founder?
• 10:02 – Small business succession planning
• 15:46 – Honing the skill of coming up with new product ideas
• 21:41 – New ideas are often just solving existing problems

Links and Resources:

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

In this episode, 37signals co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about why résumés, job titles, and career timelines take a back seat to what really matters when hiring — your actual work. They share how real-world examples cut through the noise, and open doors for people who may not have a traditional path.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:00 – Episode highlights
• 00:10 – Why final hiring decisions come down to a candidate’s actual work
• 03:50 – The 37Better redesign project
• 07:27 – How real project work reduces the guesswork of hiring
• 14:29 – Why creating work outside your portfolio shows your range and creativity
• 20:02 – Hiring when it hurts

Links and Resources:

• “Years of Evidence” from Jason Fried’s HEY World
• The 37Better Project (archived)
• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X

In this bonus episode of REWORK, 37signals' co-founder and CTO David Heinemeier Hansson shares his exploration into Linux, development of Omarchy, and the company's decision to go all-in.

Key Takeaways:

• 00:43 – David's exploration into Linux and development of Omarchy
• 04:27 – How Omarchy is different, Hyprland, and tiling windows managers
• 11:05 – The joy and excitement in exploring something new
• 13:14 – The recent announcement David shared with the 37signals' team regarding Linux and Omarchy
• 21:20 – Why it's important for the team to be all-in on Omarchy
• 24:14 – Tips for overcoming the challenge of transitioning to Linux
• 28:20 – What this new system means for Omakub
• 30:24 – David's responds a few negative comments on X about the company's decision
• 34:25 – 37signals is releasing a new podcast later this year

Links and Resources:

• The company's internal announcement about moving to Omarchy 
• Record or upload a video question for Jason and David
• Get Basecamp for free at Basecamp.com
• Books by 37signals
• HEY World | HEY
• REWORK podcast merch
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X