If the thought of networking makes you want to hide behind your laptop, this conversation is for you. Metsy Rose and J Schuh continue their conversation with Brian Sullivan, Executive Director of Big Design, about community building, professional connection, and why product, design, research, and strategy professionals need to get out of their bubbles. Brian shares practical advice for introverts, explains why community should be built before a crisis, and explores how authentic networking creates stronger careers, better problem-solving, and more resilient teams. For anyone navigating modern digital work, this episode is a warm reminder that your network is not just about opportunity. It is about connection. Pull up a chair and join the conversation.

Product and design teams talk a lot about empathy for users, but what about empathy for each other? J and Metsy explore the moments that first taught them empathy mattered more than skill, then connect those lessons to the daily partnership between product and design. They unpack the hidden pressures both roles carry, why playbooks are often “always in progress,” and how curiosity, positive energy, and small systems can build trust. The result: better collaboration, better outcomes, and less burnout.

J Schuh and Metsy Rose talk with Kirsten Rourke about the myth of the “unicorn” professional and why the most valuable skills in the age of AI are deeply human ones. From stagecraft and teaching to managing creative teams and building trust with clients, the conversation explores how designers, product leaders, and creators can adapt—and thrive—in a rapidly changing world.

What happens when projects go sideways, clients are furious, and the plan falls apart? In this episode, J Schuh and Metsy Rose welcome Kirsten Rourke, founder of Rourke Training, to talk about the realities of working in product, design, and consulting. Through stories of firefighting failed projects, navigating corporate silos, and learning to say “no” to unrealistic expectations, the conversation reveals the hidden skillset behind great work: trust, empathy, and authentic communication.

What does it really mean to be a “unicorn” in design and product? In this episode, Metsy and J question the pressure to be exceptional at everything and explore healthier ways to think about growth, mastery, and collaboration. They argue that real expertise is built through experience, failure, and teamwork -- not titles.

Product managers and designers don’t control the pace of AI, but they do control how thoughtfully it’s applied. This episode examines what leaders can influence, how to avoid reactive decision-making, and why empathy remains the strongest differentiator in an AI-driven market.

In this episode, Metsy and J unpack what AI fluency really means—and what it doesn’t. They explore the pressure to become an “AI unicorn,” why mastery isn’t the goal, and how human judgment and problem-solving remain your greatest advantage.