Best Daring Fireball / John Gruber Podcasts (2025)

1
Buying vs. Building: Scaling Beyond a Single App — Josh Peleg, BlueThrone 1:07:30

Play Pause

3h ago1:07:30

1:07:30

On the podcast I talk with Josh about red flags that tank app valuations, why subscription-only apps are leaving money on the table, and how bootstrapped founders are cashing out for millions in months, not years. Top Takeaways: 🎯 Build to sell, but build smart Flipping an app in under a year is still possible, but the skill that matters most now i…

1
What Subscription Apps Can Learn About Monetization From Gaming — Mathias Gredal Nørvig, Subway Surfers 48:31

14d ago48:31

48:31

On the podcast we talk with Mathias about running Subway Surfers' marketing machine on salaries, not ad spend, leaving money on the table to protect player experience, and why more apps should try rewarded ads, season passes, and other tactics from gaming. Top Takeaways: 🎨 Viral flywheels can out-perform massive paid campaigns Relying on salaries i…

1
431: ‘Iconic Pig Lipstick’, With John Moltz 1:13:04

14d ago1:13:04

1:13:04

John Moltz returns to the show to talk about the iPhone 17 lineup: the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 17, and the no-number iPhone Air. Not one word about baseball, but some Star Wars talk may or may not have snuck in. Sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code talkshow. Sentry: A real-time erro…

1
Value-Driven Growth: LinkedIn's Billion-Dollar Subscription Strategy — Ora Levit, LinkedIn 47:07

28d ago47:07

47:07

On the podcast we talk with Ora about LinkedIn’s value-driven growth philosophy, how they personalize experiences and plan offerings based on user intent, and the complexity of running over a thousand experiments a year. Top Takeaways: 🌱 Growth follows value The surest path to long-term growth is adding features and benefits that genuinely help peo…

1
The Post-Attribution Playbook for Growth — Eric Seufert, Mobile Dev Memo 54:40

1M ago54:40

54:40

On the podcast I talk with Eric about how measurement dysfunction paralyzes growth, why diversifying channels for the sake of diversification actually hurts performance, and the futility of trying to interpret why ads win. Top Takeaways: 📊 Broken measurement kills growth The biggest pitfall isn’t creative or channel choice—it’s disorganized measure…

1
430: ‘Ersatz PopSocket’, With Andru Edwards 2:18:29

1M ago2:18:29

2:18:29

Special guest Andru Edwards joins the show. Topics include Google’s Pixel 10 event and the Pixel 10 family of devices, AI’s effect on computational photography, foldable phones, and some speculation on Apple’s September 9 “Awe Dropping” event. Sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code talkshow. Se…

1
429: ‘Weird Turtle Fake Out’, With Matthew Panzarino 2:13:44

2M ago2:13:44

2:13:44

Matthew Panzarino returns to the show. Topics include 007 logo creator Joe Caroff’s death at 103, Google’s weird “Made by Google” event hosted by Jimmy Fallon, the UK supposedly dropping its demand for an iCloud encryption backdoor, and Apple’s workaround for the Apple Watch blood oxygen sensor patent stalemate. Sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% …

1
Signal Engineering: Strategic Data Filtering for Better Ad Performance — Thomas Petit, Independent Consultant 1:33:02

2M ago1:33:02

1:33:02

On the podcast I talk with Thomas about using signal engineering to optimize ad spend, how AI is changing creative testing, and why most people should avoid app2web… for now. Top Takeaways: 🧠 The biggest AI opportunity in ads is smarter analysis, not faster production AI is now good enough to produce ad-quality video and variants at scale — but tha…

1
Optimizing Funnels, Pricing, and Retention at Zumba — Nicole Page & Lucy Levy, Zumba 48:23

2M ago48:23

48:23

On the podcast I talk with Lucy and Nicole about how customer-driven iteration led Zumba from VHS tapes in 2001 to launching an app in 2024, their app2web experiments that boosted LTV by 17%, and how they are able to charge for content when countless Zumba classes are available for free on YouTube. Top Takeaways: 🗣️ Listening has driven 24 years of…

1
428: ‘Michigan-Starred Fine Dining’, With Louie Mantia 3:05:39

3M ago3:05:39

3:05:39

Special guest Louie Mantia joins the show to talk about Liquid Glass, the various OS 26 updates, and the worrisome state of Apple’s UI design overall. Also: sandwiches. Sponsored by: Quip: A supercharged clipboard manager and text expander for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Notion: The best AI tool for work, with your notes, docs, and projects in one space…

1
427: ‘The Shift-2 Crowd’, With Jason Snell 2:12:15

3M ago2:12:15

2:12:15

Jason Snell returns to the show to talk about the early PC platform rivalries of the 1980s, iOS 26 leaks (and Apple suing YouTuber Jon Prosser), the various Apple OS 26 public betas and the state of Liquid Glass, and more. (Where by “more” I mean a little baseball and keyboard nerdery.) Sponsored by: Factor: Healthy eating, made easy. Get 50% off p…

1
The Past, Present, and Future of Building on Apple — John Gruber, Daring Fireball 2:17:11

3M ago2:17:11

2:17:11

On the podcast I talk with John about the fascinating 40-year history of Apple’s developer relations, how almost going bankrupt in the 1990s shaped today’s control-focused approach, and why we might need an ‘App Store 3.0’ reset. Top Takeaways: 🕹️ The 1980s: Apple’s developer DNA was born Apple’s earliest wins came from nurturing third-party develo…

1
Turning a Side Project into a Six-Figure Subscription Business – Eric Duffett, Shot Pattern 45:26

3M ago45:26

45:26

On the podcast we talk with Eric about his journey from a failed first app to success with his second, the advantage of building for problems people are already talking about, and why he turned down a lucrative acquisition offer to keep building. Top Takeaways: 🔍 Demand-first discipline wins Testing for willingness to pay before writing a line of c…

1
426: ‘The Cutting Edge Latest Supermodel’, With David Smith 2:12:15

4M ago2:12:15

2:12:15

Special guest David Smith returns to the show for a developer's perspective look at WWDC 2025. Sponsored by: TRMNL: A hackable e-ink display. Save $15 with code GRUBER. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code talkshow. Transcripts: Unofficial but surprisingly good. Links: Michael Flarup's mockup for a MacOS 2…

1
425: ‘Through the Wall Like Kool-Aid Man’, With Chance Miller 1:44:02

4M ago1:44:02

1:44:02

Chance Miller returns to the show to discuss the news and announcements from WWDC 2025. Sponsored by: Factor: Healthy eating, made easy. Get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box with code talkshow50off. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code talkshow. BetterHelp: Give online therapy a try at BetterHe…

1
WWDC 2025: What Subscription Apps Need to Know 1:12:35

4M ago1:12:35

1:12:35

On the podcast, I talk with Charlie about why Liquid Glass represents a big opportunity for new and existing apps, Apple’s new on-device AI models and their practical limitations, and why the improved App Store Analytics complement rather than replace third-party tools like Appfigures and RevenueCat. Top Takeaways: 🫧 A style refresh is a growth hac…

1
424: ‘Live From WWDC 2025’, With Joanna Stern and Nilay Patel 2:06:04

4M ago2:06:04

2:06:04

Recorded in front of a live audience at The California Theatre in San Jose Tuesday evening, special guests Joanna Stern and Nilay Patel join me to discuss Apple’s announcements at WWDC 2025. Video: This show is available to watch in 4K video on YouTube. 3D video with spatial audio: Exclusively in Sandwich Vision's Theater on Vision Pro, available o…

1
Building Apps Faster: How AI and React Native are Changing the Game – Charlie Cheever, Expo 1:04:36

4M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

On the podcast we talk with Charlie about why React Native has become the default for VC-funded apps, how AI is accelerating development cycles, and why speed of iteration matters more than programming language. Top Takeaways: ⚡ Instant iteration cycles unlock agility React Native and Expo supercharge development by collapsing long build times into…

1
423: ‘Sewing Machine Repair Shop’, With Patrick McGee 1:32:42

5M ago1:32:42

1:32:42

Patrick McGee joins the show to discuss his must-read new book, Apple in China -- one of the best books about Apple anyone has ever written. Sponsored by: Factor: Healthy eating, made easy. Get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. Notion: Your notes, docs, and projects in one space. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a websit…

1
What Reading.com Learned Testing Prices and Funnels — Tim Dikun, Teaching.com 44:09

5M ago44:09

44:09

On the podcast I talk with Tim about the importance of trust in web2app funnels, replacing free trials with money-back guarantees, and how they’ve found success with contractors after struggling with in-house marketing hires. Top Takeaways: 🔁 Replace trials with trust to attract high-intent users A 30-day money-back guarantee can outperform traditi…

1
422: ‘A Monkey on a Rock’, With Stephen Hackett 2:14:46

5M ago2:14:46

2:14:46

Stephen Hackett, proprietor of 512 Pixels and co-founder of Relay (purveyor of many fine podcasts), joins the show. Topics include: IO (or if you will, io), the new joint venture of OpenAI and Jony Ive’s LoveFrom; the sheer fantasy of “Made in America” iPhones; and Fortnite’s return to the US App Store. Sponsored by: WorkOS: The modern identity pla…

1
Freemium Done Right: Lessons From a Multi-Billion-Dollar App — Chris Hulls, Life360 56:31

5M ago56:31

56:31

On the podcast we talk with Chris about how to do freemium the right way, drafting a customer “Bill of Rights” to guide product decisions, and why blindly following A/B test results can lead to short-term gains but undermine your business long-term. Top Takeaways: 🧮 Data has limits Short-term data can lie. When every experiment looks like a win in …

1
Boost Conversion and Retention with Jobs to Be Done — Daphne Tideman, Growth Advisor 1:07:00

6M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

On the podcast, I talk with Daphne about why skipping user interviews is costing you growth, how to bring your product’s ‘aha moment’ forward into your marketing, and why your assumptions about why people use your app might be wrong. Top Takeaways: 🎯 Your app is a means to an end Users don’t care about how many features you have — they care about a…

1
421: ‘The Ratchet of Flippancy’, With Craig Mod 1:53:11

6M ago1:53:11

1:53:11

Craig Mod returns to the show to discuss his splendid new book, Things Become Other Things. Other topics include creating with AI tools (including programming), social media permanence vs. ephemerality, and more. Sponsored by: Dekáf Coffee Roasters: You won’t believe it’s decaf. That’s the point. 30% off with code: DF. Squarespace: Make your next m…

1
420: ‘The Best Hatched Plan’, With Glenn Fleishman 2:08:24

6M ago2:08:24

2:08:24

Special guest Glenn Fleishman returns to the show for episode 420 on 4/20, but everyone’s sober, I swear. Topics include Trump’s dumb tariffs and Glenn’s smart new edition of his book Six Centuries of Type & Printing. Sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Use code talkshow for 10% off your first order. Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-us…

1
The Subscription Growth Formula: Churn Math, Retention Wins, and Smart Product Bets — Dan Layfield, Subscription Index 53:37

6M ago53:37

53:37

On the podcast, I talk with Dan about estimating the ROI of product changes before building them, calculating your subscription app's growth ceiling, and why you shouldn’t make assumptions about what is and isn’t working in other apps. Top Takeaways: 💸 ROI-first thinking helps teams prioritize what actually moves the needle Every project has a cost…

1
Fueling Growth with AI and Viral Product Features — Ajay Mehta, Portola 56:41

7M ago56:41

56:41

On the podcast, I talk with Ajay about the fresh opportunities AI is creating for app developers, how they built a cost-effective TikTok growth engine, and why being forced to monetize helped improve their product decisions. Top Takeaways: 🤖 New tech, new apps – AI isn’t just making apps smarter. It’s enabling new categories entirely. Apps built ar…

1
419: ‘Podcasting Technology Cadence’, With MG Siegler 2:28:58

7M ago2:28:58

2:28:58

MG Siegler returns to the show to talk about the drama surrounding Siri and Apple Intelligence. Sponsored by: WorkOS: The modern identity platform for B2B SaaS — free up to 1 million monthly active users. Check out their latest features from Launch Week. BetterHelp: Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp and get on your way to being your best self…

1
The 2025 State of Subscription Apps Report 49:11

7M ago49:11

49:11

On the podcast we discuss how AI is changing both what apps do and how they’re built, the relationship between price and retention, and why React Native apps monetize better than native. Check out RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps 2025 report here: https://revenuecat.com/report Top Takeaways: 📊 AI apps: Higher revenue per user, but differenti…

1
How to Build More Successful Paywalls — Sylvain Gauchet 15:33

7M ago15:33

15:33

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: top strategies for paywall optimization, how storytelling during onboarding impacts conversions, and why framing the user journey leading to the paywall is more critical than the paywall itself. Top Takeaways: 🔐 Your paywall is…

1
How to Optimize User Acquisition Across Major Ad Channels — Shane Ly, AppsFlyer 17:33

7M ago17:33

17:33

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: The state of major acquisition channels in 2025, how improved measurement is boosting confidence in ad spend, and why Reddit might be your next top-performing user acquisition channel. Top Takeaways: 📡 Signal recovery is improv…

1
How to Maximize Web Subscriptions for Sustainable Growth — Lucas Lovell, Paddle 20:44

7M ago20:44

20:44

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: maximizing success with web subscriptions, how payment flexibility creates better user experiences, and why making cancellations difficult can do more harm than good. Top Takeaways: 💳Web subscriptions aren’t just a cost-saving …

1
How to Unlock Revenue Growth on Google Play — Tammy Taw, Google 16:20

7M ago16:20

16:20

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: diversifying revenue beyond subscriptions, what Google Play’s data reveals about buyer behavior, and why lower price points can actually increase total revenue. 📈Expand beyond subscriptions to capture new buyers Many users in e…

1
How to Succeed on iOS vs. Android — Matt Rouif, Photoroom 15:23

7M ago15:23

15:23

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: why some apps see 30 times higher revenue on iOS versus Android, the challenges of running a business on multiple platforms, and why you should consider offering a free Android device to employees. 📱 Android expands global reac…

1
How to Use Segmentation to Maximize LTV — Greg Stewart, Ladder 17:47

7M ago17:47

17:47

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: why optimizing for user success drives more revenue than conversion hacks, how to maximize the impact of annual plans, and why relying too heavily on discounts is a trap. Top Takeaways 🏋️‍♂️Segment early to acquire the right us…

1
418: ‘Putting a Stink on the Letter X’, With Craig Hockenberry 2:42:03

7M ago2:42:03

2:42:03

Craig Hockenberry returns to the show. Topics include Apple’s new hardware this week — M3 iPad Airs, A16 regular iPads, M4 MacBook Airs, and the M4 Max and surprising M3 Ultra Mac Studios. And we go deep on The Iconfactory’s years-in-the-making new app, Tapestry — a universal timeline for the Internet. Exclusively sponsored by: Google Gemini: Chat …

1
How to Re-Engage Churned Users — Caroline Walthall, Quizlet 17:32

7M ago17:32

17:32

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: the power of cancellation surveys, how social proof can re-engage churned users, and why making it easier to cancel might actually boost retention. Top Takeaways: 📦Deliver personalized value through lifecycle marketing Reconnec…

1
How to Increase Monetization with Targeted Upsells — Brandon Gador, onX Maps 16:12

7M ago16:12

16:12

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: how onX Maps tailors freemium and trial strategies to different user needs, the role of user education in driving upgrades, and why experimenting with features and tiers is essential for subscription growth. Top Takeaways: 🔎Edu…

1
How to Time Reactivation Campaigns for Maximum Impact — Jackson Shuttleworth, Duolingo 15:53

7M ago15:53

15:53

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: Keeping users engaged through habit-forming experiences, Duolingo’s approach to reactivating churned users, and why building daily habits is the foundation for long-term retention success. Top Takeaways: 🏎️ Act fast - most user…

1
How to Turn Gamification Into a Retention Powerhouse — Anton Derlyatka, Sweatcoin 51:09

7M ago51:09

51:09

On the podcast, I talk with Anton about building sustainable viral growth loops at scale, how to effectively gamify user incentives, and why emotional connections drive more value than economic ones. Top Takeaways: 🚀 Building sustainable virality through strategic growth loops Sweatcoin’s explosive growth didn’t happen by chance. Anton detailed how…

1
How to Maximize Revenue with Regional Pricing — Dmitry Gurski, Flo 15:56

8M ago15:56

15:56

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: why the Big Mac Index falls short for app pricing, how Flo Health’s regional pricing strategy drives profitable user acquisition in emerging markets, and the importance of aligning pricing with long-term user retention for sust…

1
How to Optimize Trial-to-Paid Conversions — Rachel Chukura, The Weather Company 18:10

8M ago18:10

18:10

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: balancing freemium and premium experiences, how The Weather Company uses AI to predict subscriber behavior, and why focusing on user value rather than monetization is the key to subscription success. Top Takeaways 🎯Target high-…

1
417: ‘Nothing Is Possible’, With Paul Kafasis 2:00:43

8M ago2:00:43

2:00:43

Special guest: Paul Kafasis. Special topics: Siri/Super Bowl nonsense, “Gulf of Mexico/America” nonsense, the iPhone 16e gets announced, and a veritable Bond villain buys the rights to the James Bond movie franchise. Sponsored by: Listen Later: Turn articles into podcasts and listen on the go, with AI-powered narration. Unofficial but surprisingly …

1
The Right (and Wrong) Way to Grow with Google App Campaigns — Ashley Black, Candid Consulting 1:03:01

8M ago1:03:01

1:03:01

On the podcast I talk with Ashley about what makes Google App Campaigns so effective for growth, proven optimization strategies, and why lower CPMs can sometimes be a warning sign rather than a win. Top Takeaways: 📈 Google App Campaigns: Big reach, but fewer levers to pull Google’s ad platform delivers massive scale - search, YouTube, the Play Stor…

1
Level Up Your App Marketing: Measurement, Brand-Building, and Taking Risks — Sherina Khalidi, Deezer 47:57

8M ago47:57

47:57

On the podcast I talk with Sherina about why performance marketing eventually hits a ceiling, how to think about measure brand marketing, and why sometimes ignoring A/B test results leads to better outcomes. Top Takeaways: 📈Freemium can’t feel cheap Deezer once took a hardline approach to converting free users – limiting features to push them towar…

1
Bootstrapping a Subscription App to 5M MAU and 2X+ Revenue Growth — Bruno Virlet, Genius Scan 1:03:09

9M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

On the podcast we talk with Bruno about putting customers ahead of metrics, why there’s still massive opportunity to build successful apps today, and how a server crash turned into an accidentally successful A/B test. Top Takeaways: 📈 The app ecosystem still holds massive opportunities Developers often assume the app market is saturated, but it con…

1
Making Web2App Work: From Basic Landing Pages to Complex Sales Funnels — Nathan Hudson, Perceptycs 1:11:05

9M ago1:11:05

1:11:05

On the podcast we talk with Nathan about the strategic opportunity of web2app, how and when to use web2app, and why one app found success using webinars in their web2app funnel. Top Takeaways: 🔑 Web-to-app opens up opportunities for small apps Smaller apps can use web-to-app strategies to improve cash flow, gain better attribution data, and test ac…

1
416: ‘A Professional Internet User’, With Vlad Prelovac 2:32:38

10M ago2:32:38

2:32:38

Kagi founder and CEO Vlad Prelovac joins the show to talk about the business of web search, the thinking behind Kagi’s own amazing search engine, and their upstart WebKit-based browser Orion. Sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Use code talkshow for 10% off your first order. Memberful: Monetize your passion with membership. Start your f…

1
Using Subscription App Benchmarks to Make Better Growth Decisions — Phil Carter, Elemental Growth 57:35

10M ago57:35

57:35

On the podcast we talk with Phil about how to effectively use benchmarks to aid decision making, the limitations of benchmarks, and why even the best companies aren’t top quartile in every single metric. Top Takeaways: 📏 Benchmarks are a starting point, not a roadmap Treat benchmarks as directional indicators to uncover growth opportunities and pri…

1
Why Most Apps Hit a Revenue Ceiling (and How to Plan for It) — Patrick Falzon, The App Shop 1:13:13

10M ago1:13:13

1:13:13

On the podcast: estimating the revenue potential of an app, crafting an exit strategy, and why LTV is such a terrible metric. Top Takeaways: 🎯 Finding the right market fit – Not all apps have billion-dollar potential, and chasing massive markets often means competing with big players. Instead, focus on markets where your app has room to stand out. …