Wirecutter: Brian Lam

How I Built This · 10 Oct 2022 · 1h 09m

What this episode covers

Brian Lam, founder of Wirecutter, explains how he launched a product review site in 2011 after leaving his role as editor-in-chief at Gizmodo, where he famously broke the iPhone 4 story. He details the decision to reject the standard blog advertising model in favor of an affiliate revenue structure, allowing the company to grow slowly with a small, remote team. The episode covers the rigorous testing methodology, the strategic acquisition by the New York Times for $30 million, and Lam's reflections on consumerism and craftsmanship.

Mentioned

Companies
Gizmodo, New York Times, The All, Amazon, Wired, Gawker, U.S. Bank
Products
Wirecutter, iPhone 4, Consumer Reports, Maximum PC
Also
Steve Jobs

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Core77 Podcast · 53m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 11 - Marco Perry and Mark Prommel of Pensa (11/12)

    Marco Perry and Mark Prommel, partners at the Brooklyn design firm Pensa, discuss launching the DIWire, a desktop wire bender, via Kickstarter. They explain how the tool emerged from their prototyping needs for furniture models, evolving from an open-source prototype to a polished commercial product. The episode also covers their Street Charge solar charging station, developed in partnership with Goal Zero and AT&T, highlighting their strategy of open-source sharing and rapid field iteration to validate concepts and build brand credibility.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 30m

    10: The Press

    Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss their experience with media coverage, including a Wired profile by David Pierce and the significant sales impact of being featured on John Gruber’s Daring Fireball. They explain how their early Kickstarter campaign for the Glyph influenced platform tropes and discuss the challenges of reaching new audiences for products like Obi. The founders emphasize the importance of building relationships with journalists, understanding their specific tastes, and creating syndicate-worthy content through their blog.

  • Making It · 1h 03m

    Episode 043: Tell us how you really feel, Jimmy..

    Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their journeys to YouTube, recent tool purchases like the Glow Forge and Festool equipment, and the evolving landscape of creator monetization including YouTube Red and PR agency contracts. They share personal anecdotes about building projects, shop injuries, and recommend other creators like Paul Jackman and Dirty Smith.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 49m

    134: Kevin Kelly Remains Undefeated

    Dan Provost, co-founder of Studio Neat, discusses his new custom guitar company, Offkilter Guitars, detailing the transition from hobbyist to small business, including sourcing parts from Warmouth and managing a fragmented manufacturing process. Myke Hurley shares insights from his successful Kickstarter campaign for 'Designed in California,' a historical podcast series with Jason Snell, explaining how pre-selling memberships helped fund ambitious production goals and overcome subscription fatigue.

  • Product Startup · 28m

    159: Build a Community to Sell Your New Product Invention

    Ashley Black, founder of FasciaBlaster, explains how she built an $150 million direct-to-consumer business by leveraging a community of 8 million social media followers. She details her strategy of using paid Facebook ads to reach break-even, then lowering customer acquisition costs through authentic, founder-led content that drives organic engagement. Black emphasizes the importance of self-funding, being 'all-in' without a Plan B, and using the community to validate new product ideas before launch.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by How I Built This. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.