11: The Time In-Between
Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat discuss the psychological and logistical challenges of the 'time in-between'—the period after product decisions are made but before launch. They share specific pain points from past launches like the Cosmonaut and Neat Ice Kit, highlighting the frustration of long manufacturing lead times, ocean freight delays, and the anxiety of competitors beating them to market. Mike Curley contrasts this with his podcasting business, discussing pre-announcements, sponsorship cycles, and the difficulty of refining audio quality under pressure.