TruthWorks

How do you take a free language app and turn it into a multi billion juggernaut that users are literally addicted to?In this episode of TruthWorks, Jessica and Patty sit down with Cem Kansu, the Chief Product Officer at Duolingo. Cem has spent nearly a decade architecting the product strategy that grew Duolingo from a struggling startup into the world’s #1 education app.This isn’t just a conversation about "product-market fit." It’s a raw look at the operational culture required to run thousands of A/B tests a year without losing your soul. Cem pulls back the curtain on Duolingo’s famous "unhinged" marketing, the reality of managing a "freemium" model that actually makes money, and why they decided to make their AI mascot, Lily, a depressed teenager.Key topics discussed include:The "Mini-CEO" Mindset: Why Duolingo empowers product managers to run their own P&Ls and how that changes the culture of accountability.Monetization vs. Mission: The hard conversations and trade-offs involved in making money while keeping the core product free for millions.The Truth About Gamification: How to use streaks, leaderboards, and "passive-aggressive" notifications to drive retention without burning out your team (or your users).Hiring for Taste: Why data is critical, but product intuition is what actually builds a brand people love.Navigating the AI Shift: How Duolingo is integrating GenAI to teach effectively, not just efficiently.Whether you are scaling a product team or trying to build a culture that embraces experimentation, Cem offers a transparent look at the machinery behind the owl.

In this episode of Truthworks, Jessica sits down with Guillaume Moubeche, the founder and CEO of Lempire and the creator of Lemlist. Known for building one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world, Guillaume joins the show to unpack the operational and strategic realities of scaling a business from an idea to a global enterprise.Moving beyond financial headlines, this conversation explores the practical mechanics of growth. Guillaume shares his unique approach to B2B sales, the power of community-led growth, and how modern founders can leverage personal branding to drive tangible business results.Key topics discussed include:The "Community-First" Strategy: How to build a loyal user base that acts as your marketing team.Redefining B2B Outreach: Why traditional sales tactics are failing and how to personalize at scale.Operational Excellence: The challenges of managing a rapidly growing team and maintaining company culture.Founder Evolution: Transitioning from a hands-on builder to a strategic CEO.Whether you are an early-stage founder or a seasoned executive, this episode offers a transparent look at what it takes to build a sustainable, high-growth technology company in today’s market.

Is it possible to reverse aging simply by changing your mind? In this episode of Truth Works, we sit down with Dr. Ellen Langer, the legendary Harvard psychologist known as the "Mother of Mindfulness."Dr. Langer challenges everything we think we know about the mind-body connection. She breaks down her groundbreaking "Counterclockwise" study, where elderly men reversed signs of aging by living as if they were in their younger years, and the famous "Chambermaid" study, which proved that simply believing your work is exercise can lead to weight loss and lower blood pressure.If you feel stressed, burned out, or stuck on autopilot, this conversation will change how you view your health, your work, and your potential.In this episode, we cover:Mindfulness vs. Mindlessness: Why "active noticing" is the key to health and vitality.The Illusion of Absolutes: Dr. Langer explains why 1+1 doesn't always equal 2 and how context changes everything.Reversing Aging: Inside the famous study where participants improved their hearing, vision, and strength just by changing their environment.The Placebo Effect in Daily Life: How hotel maids lost weight just by being told their job counted as exercise.Managing Stress: Why prediction is an illusion and how to stop creating tragedy out of inconvenience.About the Guest: Dr. Ellen Langer is a professor of psychology at Harvard University and the author of multiple best-selling books, including The Mindful Body. She has spent 45 years researching the effects of mindfulness on health, business, and competence.About Truth Works: Hosted by Jessica Neal and Patty McCord, Truth Works digs into the nitty-gritty of leadership and work. We’re here to redefine rules to work for us, not against us.

We spend 90,000 hours of our lives at work—so why do we let one bad boss ruin it all?In this episode of TruthWorks, I sit down with Eric Charran, Microsoft Chief Architect and author of the explosive new book Have You Ever Had a Boss That…? Eric isn't just a tech veteran; he’s a screenwriter and leadership expert who has mapped out the hidden "DNA" of dysfunctional workplaces.We dig deep into the uncomfortable reality of modern leadership. Eric reveals the 9 Boss Archetypes that secretly govern your office (are you working for a "Firefighter" or an "Attack Sub"?), and we debate the difference between a "hard" culture and a "toxic" one.As the former CHRO of Netflix, I thought I had seen it all—but Eric’s psychological breakdown of why bad bosses exist (and why we keep hiring them) completely shifted my perspective. If you feel stuck, undervalued, or burnt out, this conversation is the manual you didn't know you needed.TOPICS DISCUSSED:The "Attack Sub": How to spot the boss who sinks you from the shadows.Netflix vs. Microsoft: Comparing the "Keeper Test" to Eric's "Dysfunctional Archetypes."The "Firefighter" Trap: Why your boss creates crises just to save the day.Managing Up: The exact scripts to use when your leader is the problem.The AI Boss: Will algorithms eventually replace middle management?

Jeff Seibert — CEO & Co-Founder of Digits, and the product builder behind Crashlytics (acquired by Twitter, used by nearly every major mobile app) — joins Jessica Neal on Truth Works for an honest breakdown of what it really takes to build world-changing products.From early startup chaos to shipping tools that feel "invisible" and magical, Jeff shares the frameworks that shaped his thinking — and why finance needs an AI-native reinvention.In this episode, we explore:• The origin story of Crashlytics & lessons from hyper-scale• The transition from Fabric → Digits and designing for clarity• Why accounting is broken — and what AI can fix• Product simplicity vs. complexity: the discipline behind it• Leadership under pressure, momentum, burnout, and team trust• How founders should think about automation, decision-making & AI tools• What he wishes he knew earlierA rare look inside the mind of a founder who repeatedly builds systems that billions rely on — and why his next bet might reshape how business finances run.