Most startups don’t have a feature problem, they have a growth problem caused by patterns that quietly stall momentum.

In this episode of The Product Huddle, Anamarija and Jeff break down the three silent killers of startup growth they keep seeing across companies: shipping without direction, using AI as a shortcut instead of solving real problems, and product teams not owning the revenue story.

If your team is moving fast but results aren’t improving, this conversation will help you diagnose what’s really going on and where strong product leadership makes the difference.

Saying “no” is one of the hardest parts of being a product manager, not because PMs lack confidence, but because every no has consequences.

In this episode of The Product Huddle, Anamarija and Jeff break down how to say no without actually using the word “no”, not as a political trick, but as a core product leadership skill in complex organizations.

We talk about:

• Why “just be more direct” is bad advice for most PMs

• The hidden costs every no carries in real organizations

• Three practical ways to say no without shutting people down

• How to turn requests into productive prioritization conversations

• The difference between being strategic and being conflict-avoidant

• When a clear, direct no is actually the most respectful move

This episode is about judgment, relationships, and making better decisions, without committing to the wrong things or burning trust.

🎙️ The Product Huddle, Real PMs. Real conversations. Real takeaways.

Product managers are great at planning roadmaps, setting OKRs, and running retros — but when it comes to closing out their own year, most just wing it.

In this special year-end episode of The Product Huddle, Ana and Jeff talk about how PMs can intentionally reflect on the year that’s ending and plan the next one using the same strategic thinking they apply to products — without turning life into productivity theater.

We talk about:

• Why PMs often feel empty after a “successful” year

• How corporate goal-setting can actually hurt personal goals

• A simple, honest way to review your year

• Why themes matter more than long lists of goals

• Common mistakes PMs make when planning personal growth

• How product frameworks like retros and North Stars apply to life

• What to do this week to close the year intentionally

This episode isn’t about doing more.
It’s about being more intentional.

🎙️ The Product Huddle — Real PMs. Real conversations. Real takeaways.

Every PM says they prioritize based on data - until politics walk in.

In this episode of The Product Huddle, Anamarija and Jeff break down what really happens when stakeholders, founders, and investors all want their thing shipped first.
Forget frameworks - this is the human side of prioritization: pressure, negotiation, and saying no without losing trust.

You’ll learn:

• The question every PM should start with: “What are we optimizing for?”

• The art of saying no (without actually saying it)

• How to pre-align before meetings - so decisions don’t explode live

• Why timestamping your backlog can save your sanity

• How to handle founders’ 3 AM ideas and investors who think they’re your product owners

• When “we promised it to a customer” is a real issue, and when it’s just sales pressure

Prioritization isn’t a spreadsheet problem. It’s a negotiation problem.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-product-huddle

Everyone loves to say “fail fast.” But in real product work, “failing fast” often means failing sloppy - breaking trust, wasting time, and learning nothing.

In this episode of Product Huddle, Anamarija and Jeff Callan break down why the fail-fast mantra is overrated and what great product leaders do instead: fail productively.

What we cover:

• Why “fail fast” often kills trust inside teams

• The difference between cheap learning vs. expensive failure

• Jeff’s 5-step framework to turn failure into momentum

• How to build a culture where failure = feedback, not blame

• When failure crosses the line - and how to recover trust

Real talk. No clichés. Just practical strategies you can use whether you’re a PM, Head of Product, or founder navigating messy product decisions.

What’s your most valuable failure story? Share it with us on here or on LinkedIn - we might feature it in a future episode.

New episodes every month.

Follow Product Huddle for honest conversations about product leadership, growth, and strategy.

Available ond Apple Podcasts.

Those first 90 days can make or break you as a Product Manager.

In this episode of Product Huddle, Anamarija and Jeff Callan share the no-fluff 30/60/90 framework that sets new PMs up for real impact - not burnout. Based on Anamarija’s viral LinkedIn post, we break down what actually matters when you step into a new product role.

What we cover:

• Why “observe, don’t overperform” is your superpower in the first 30 days

• How to ask smart questions (and why timing matters more than the question)

• The most common over-promise traps and how to avoid them

• Taking ownership without biting off more than you can chew

• How to earn the right to say “no” and spend org capital wisely

• Managing a product vs. driving impact

Whether you’re a new PM, a senior joining a new org, or leading a product team, this episode gives you a clear structure to build trust and momentum fast.

Got your own 90-day war story? Share it with us on LinkedIn - we might feature it in a future episode.

New episodes every month.

Follow Product Huddle for honest conversations about product leadership, strategy, and growth.

Feel free to follow us on Apple Podcasts as well.

Everyone talks about frameworks. No one talks about the moments that make you question everything.

In this first episode of Product Huddle, hosts Anamarija and Jeff Callan pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to work in product - the awkward moments, the invisible work, and the pressure to just figure it out.

What we cover:

• Why no one prepares you for the real PM job

• Managing conflict without setting the place on fire

• Roadmaps, MVPs, and other misunderstood buzzwords

• Handling CEO feature requests without losing your soul

• How to stay calm, strategic, and human in the chaos

Whether you're a PM, aspiring PM, or leading a product team, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone, and the mess is part of the job.

Follow the conversation on LinkedIn - and tell us what no one told you when you started in product.

New episodes monthly.
Follow to get practical, honest conversations about product leadership, strategy, and growth.

You can find us on Apple Podcasts as well.