Noah Kagan Presents

My Calling Isn't Software Deals 29.06.2026 17min

A listener sent me a message saying I'd lost my spark. That I didn't sound inspired anymore. Honestly... it made me stop and think. In this episode, I unpack why he was partly right. My calling isn't software deals anymore. It's building businesses, solving problems, and showing up for the people who count on me. I also share one AI workflow that's completely changed how I lead AppSumo, why we overreacted to the AI boom, and what happens when you stop chasing every shiny new thing and get back to your core. If you've ever wondered whether you've outgrown your work, this one's for you. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: • Why your calling can evolve without losing your purpose • How to course-correct when you realize you've drifted too far from your core • Why honest feedback (even from AI) can make you a better leader Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month. Links & resources mentioned: • Claude (Noah's AI assistant) : https://claude.ai • AppSumo : https://appsumo.com • TidyCal : https://tidycal.com • SendFox : https://sendfox.com • Meeting Coach : (Noah's internal AI meeting feedback tool) (coming soon) • Million Dollar Weekend : https://milliondollarweekend.com • Follow Noah on X : https://twitter.com/noahkagan P.S. Here's Claudes feedback on this very episode as it was happening in realtime: The strongest thing in this episode is the thing you didn't plan to talk about. Marcin's note ("you don't sound inspired, you don't want to run AppSumo, you're in the best season of your life") is the whole episode, and your answer to it is genuinely good. The problem is you never say it cleanly. The cleanest version is buried in the middle: software deals isn't your calling, but business is your calling and the company is your responsibility, and the spark didn't die, it matured into follow-through. That's the episode. Right now it's a needle in 20 minutes of riffing instead of the spine the whole thing hangs on. You bury your two best business lessons. The refund/Plus-customer admission is the most useful leadership moment in the episode and you glide past it: "I made decisions on the best info I had, but I didn't check back on the outcomes and improve them, and we course-corrected too slow." That's a clean, repeatable lesson any operator can steal. Same with the over-adjustment arc (we thought SaaS was dying and vibe coding would kill us, so we over-corrected, and now we're walking it back to the core). Both are stronger than the abstract "discoverability / velocity / treat best customers better" framing, which stays high-level. Lead with the admissions, not the framework. The Claude feedback loop is your most shareable practical drop and you undersell it with the $9.99 joke. Transcript-into-Claude-for-feedback, the Eamon skill, Meeting Coach running live during meetings, the reframe that a CEO sets the scorecards instead of solving the problems in the room. That's the segment people will text you about. Give it room. What's working: the vulnerability lands, the floor-sleeping callback is great, and "it's okay to quit stuff and it's okay to continue stuff, the point is recognizing the behavior and whether it's aligned" is your most quotable line. "Calm is cool" and "building up" are good repeatable phrases. What's hurting it: it meanders and has three or four false endings ("yeah that's it," "damn that was the good stuff"). The BYOLM/BYOK bit at the end feels tacked on, half a thought you ran out of runway for. And the "I won't share company secrets" then sharing them is a touch coy. Either share or don't. One structural fix for next time: you open with the listener critique by accident. Open with it on purpose. The episode is "someone told me I lost my spark, here's my honest answer." Frame it that way in the first 60 seconds and the whole thing tightens.

Distracted... Again! 31.05.2026 13min

This month I've been thinking a lot about distractions and how easy it is to spend time on things that feel productive while avoiding the one thing that actually matters. I've been getting distracted by stocks and NBA bets, using AI as a weirdly effective therapist after an argument with my wife, and finally the big focus reset we're making at AppSumo. If you've been feeling scattered, stuck, or like you're busy but not really moving forward… this one's for you. 🎧 In this episode, you'll learn: Why Distractions usually reveal the real problem. What a clear plan feels like under stress. How you can kickstart your mid-year reset. Links & resources mentioned: • AppSumo https://appsumo.com• TidyCal https://tidycal.com• SendFox https://sendfox.com• FormRobin https://formrobin.com• Follow Noah on X https://twitter.com/noahkagan • My book Million Dollar Weekend https://milliondollarweekend.com

We Lost 50%… Now What? 29.04.2026 23min

I'm feeding my baby while recording this… she's spilling milk, I'm spilling AppSumo updates. Everybody wins. So we've gone from 140 people down to around 40. Revenue has dropped hard. And for the first time in 16 years, staying in business actually feels uncertain. So this episode is about what we're doing now. What's working, what's not, and how we're getting things back on track. I talk about why we're focusing on just 30 great deals instead of hundreds, what AI is actually good for… and where it's total BS. And how I'm thinking about rebuilding the team in a way that actually works long term. Also sharing a mindset nugget I just heard and loved from an incredibly talented cyclist: 'when it's hard, that's when you're strong'. Turns out that applies to parenting… and business. You'll like this one if things feel messy right now and you're trying to figure out your next move. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: What to do when your business gets cut in half How to rebuild a team after layoffs and uncertainty Why hard moments are where you level up Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

Is This A.I. Slop? 30.03.2026 12min

We were spending $56K/year on AI tools at AppSumo. A dozen subscriptions, nobody sharing anything. So we killed all of it and put the entire company on one Claude plan. Let's go. This episode I break down exactly how we rolled out AI to every single teammate in 3 weeks, why the tool itself wasn't the secret (the shared platform we built on top was), and the wild stuff that happened when non-technical people started building their own automations. From our deal of the day going from 25 minutes to 60 seconds, to our payroll specialist who'd never opened terminal building skills in her first week. In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: How we saved $32K/year by killing every AI subscription and going all-in on one platform — and the exact 3-day rollout we used to get full adoption The real use cases that are changing how AppSumo operates — deal cards in 60 seconds, BD running everything from one screen, and our CMO shipping 6 AI skills in a single week Why the Slack channel #ai_daily became our secret weapon and how horizontal learning (not top-down training) is what actually drives AI adoption Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. My book Million Dollar Weekend breaks down how to start a business in simple steps you can do in one weekend. I also send brutally honest emails about business and life. Join 350k people reading them at noahkagan.com.

Baby #2 26.02.2026 19min

I just turned 44, and we just had our second daughter. Double girl dad. Let's go. This episode is a mix of life lessons, AI experiments, and some questionable investing decisions. I talk about what having a second kid taught me, why self-belief matters way more when revenue is down, and how getting older has made me care less about awards and more about meaning. I also tested OpenClaw, gave it real access to my life, and asked it to tell me what to say on this podcast. It lied. Then it admitted it lied. Which honestly felt very human. In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: What becoming a dad (again) is teaching me about fear, confidence, and second reps Why picking the right partner and calling your parents might be the highest ROI decisions of your life How to ignore hype cycles, invest in boring things, and zag when everyone else zigs Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. My book Million Dollar Weekend breaks down how to start a business in simple steps you can do in one weekend. I also send brutally honest emails about business and life. Join 350k people reading them at noahkagan.com.

Standards Matter 27.01.2026 13min

I just had lunch with someone who sold a billion-dollar company. What stuck with me wasn't the money, it was how seriously he took standards. Not just in his work but through his entire life. This month I talk about what standards really mean, why they're just values in action, and how raising them creates clarity instead of chaos. This is about doing better work, even when things feel messy, and coming out stronger on the other side. In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: How to set real standards instead of vague values How to rebuild trust when customers check out Why higher standards actually make decisions easier Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. My book Million Dollar Weekend breaks down how to start a business in simple steps you can do in one weekend. I also send brutally honest emails about business and life. Join 350k people reading them at noahkagan.com.

Leading in 2026 31.12.2025 37min

It's New Year's Eve, and I've been taking stock of everything 2025 threw my way and what I want 2026 to look like. There were plenty of ups and downs, but what didn't work has forced me to rethink how I lead. In this episode, I talk honestly about what's changing at AppSumo, what I've learned by getting closer to the work again, and why leadership right now looks very different than it did. In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: Setting goals that actually change your behavior Going easier on yourself when things don't work out Resetting direction when you've drifted Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start something without overthinking it. I break the process down into simple steps you can actually do in a weekend. I also send emails with my unfiltered thoughts on business, money, and life. People seem to like them. You can sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k+ readers getting the good stuff each month.

AppSumo Horizon 01.12.2025 25min

Today, I'm giving you part three of the AppSumo saga. Black Friday was rough, targets got missed, and the team felt it. But I zoomed out and the signals actually looked way better than expected. Refunds are dropping, deal quality is rising, customer sentiment is improving, and we're finally stabilizing the business after a horrible year. So in this episode I break down our simple three part plan to see out 2025, and talk about bundles, new partner offerings, the future of software, and how leadership really works when the scoreboard looks ugly. It's honestly the most exciting I've felt about AppSumo's horizon in a long time. In this conversation you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: How to course-correct when your Black Friday deal flops hard What I do when customers stop clicking How to avoid repeating the same mistakes next quarter Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

AppSumo Is at War 22.10.2025 18min

The past few months at AppSumo have been brutal. People are voting with their wallets and return buyers are down 40%. We lost some of the trust we spent years building and drifted from what made us great. But the fire in my belly is back and I'm going to war for what we do best. I'm turning the battleship back towards curating high-quality tools that people actually love and I'm taking you inside the war room. In this episode, I share what's working, what's not and what I'm learning. If you've ever run a company or have just gone through a tough season, you'll love this one In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: Why simplicity and focus is the best strategy when things get messy. How direct conversations with customers and partners can rebuild trust Why curating truly great products (not just more of them) is key to winning back customers Enjoy these 3 things plus plenty of spicy behind-the-scenes stories along the way. My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

I'm back as AppSumo CEO 30.09.2025 12min

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. After a year of paternity leave, I'm back as CEO at AppSumo… and holy moly, it's been challenging. In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes of stepping back into my company, where we've gone wrong in my absence, and what I'm doing to fix it. From running a "listening tour" across the company, to rethinking our deal standards, this is me working in real time to bring AppSumo back stronger than ever. It's been exhausting but humbling. If you've ever faced chaos in your own business, I think you'll get a lot out of this one. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: • How getting clear on "who owns what" keeps teams from drowning • Why true leadership beats management every time • Why making a call (even if it's not the right one) is always better than sitting on the fence Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

Craftsmanship Is Sexy 29.08.2025 20min

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. As summer wraps up and I pack for Austin, I've been reflecting on my time in Europe. One book I stumbled across in Portugal hit the mood perfectly and got me thinking about craftsmanship, curiosity, and what it really takes to build something you're proud of. It's Always Summer on the Inside is the biography of Jack O'Neill, the surf pioneer who turned freezing San Francisco waves into a global wetsuit empire. His story is a sharp reminder that the best businesses are born from solving real problems and obsessing over quality. I also did my first bookstore event and spoke at a local high school. Both reminded me that deep down most of us already know the answers to our big questions. The real challenge is showing up, putting in the reps, and creating work that lasts. In this episode, you'll hear 3 BIG things: • Why craftsmanship and quality always beat shortcuts • How to stop waiting for permission and act on your intuition • Why success hides in the boring, unglamorous repetitions Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

The $2000 Night Room 31.07.2025 19min

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. So this summer was a wild sweaty mess. After a pretty uncomfortable RV trip with my wife and one-year-old across France, I booked one night at a $2,000 luxury resort in Bordeaux, and it blew my mind! I'm not usually a baller-hotel guy (Bonjour Best Western, merci beaucoup), but this place nailed every little detail. In this episode, I break down the customer experience lessons and how you can apply them to your own business. No matter what you sell, there's always a way to go that extra mile for your customers. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: How small, low cost touches can leave a big impact and wow your customers. Why consistency builds trust and long-term loyalty. How to turn around those unexpected complications should they arise in your business. Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

I'm scared for my daughter's future (but also hopeful) 18.06.2025 25min

While watching my 10-month-old daughter sleep on the baby monitor, I found myself feeling something I didn't expect: fear. Not for me, but for her. The world feels messy right now… divided, chaotic, and moving fast. But instead of letting it get me down, I'm focusing on what I can control. This episode is all about how I'm staying hopeful, making small changes, and how each one of us can choose to build a better future, regardless of global conflict, politics or A.I. layoffs. 3 Takeaways: Staying curious is one of the most powerful ways to move forward Making even a rough plan brings clarity when life feels directionless Filtering the noise protects your peace Like this episode? Hit the follow button and leave a review

Pat Flynn Got Fired. Then Built a 3 Billion-View Pokémon Brand 20.05.2025 55min

Pat Flynn went from getting laid off in 2008... to building a seven-figure YouTube business, selling out Pokémon conventions, and leading a legacy entrepreneurship brand (Smart Passive Income). In this episode, we talk about reinvention, raising kids, chasing relevance, and how he built Deep Pocket Monster into a viral brand with 3 billion+ views. You'll love this one if you've ever pivoted careers, tried to balance family with ambition, or just want to geek out on business and storytelling. 🎧 Enjoy! In this episode, you'll learn: • Why Pat says "count uploads, not likes" • How getting laid off changed everything • The difference between "just-in-time" vs. "just-in-case" learning • What he's saying *no* to (even if it could go viral) • Why storytelling and speed-learning are the future's top skills • Pat's exact business breakdown: SPI, YouTube, events, and more • How he handles jealousy and stays relevant • The surprising truth about parenting, pressure, and hot tubs Links & resources mentioned: • Pat's book: *Lean Learning* – https://leanlearningbook.com • Deep Pocket Monster (YouTube) – https://www.youtube.com/@DeepPocketMonster • Smart Passive Income – https://www.smartpassiveincome.com • Follow Pat on Twitter → @PatFlynn – https://twitter.com/patflynn • My book → Million Dollar Weekend – https://milliondollarweekend.com Like this episode? Hit the follow button and leave a review

April Musings 2025 23.04.2025 17min

BreezeDoc is the simple way to sign documents digitally. Pay just $9 once, and get it forever (no expensive subscriptions here). Today I'm riffing on what's been on my mind this April; from using AI to save on my taxes to pulling weeds, both literally and metaphorically, plus some book reviews and me generally musing on what makes a great life.. So If you want to hear more about how I'm using ChatGPT to get ahead financially, why saying "no" has become my superpower, and what Ryanair can teach you about sticking to your business model, this ones for you!. You're gonna learn What a good gardener has in common with a good entrepreneur How AI can save you time and money right now before everyone else catches up. Why you need to find your line for saying no to 80% of everything. Enjoy these things and a bunch more ear nuggets along the way. Did you check out last week's monster episode, about all I've learned 15 Years Of AppSumo. It was an absolute banger. That episode 374 wherever you get your podcasts. Spotify & iTunes

15 Years Of AppSumo 26.03.2025 30min

AppSumo is celebrating its birthday. 15 years old! Hurrah! I started the company with $50 and a dream of never working a real job again. Today, it's a $100m business that's helped thousands of entrepreneurs and creators make millions. My book Million Dollar Weekend is also a year old and was just released in Spanish. It's for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. Today I'm reflecting on the biggest lessons from my business journey and sharing 14 tips that will help your business grow to the next level. 3 Takeaways: How Tracking scorecards and key metrics will move you closer to your goals Why starting is easy but showing up every day and staying in the game is the real challenge. Would you bet your life on your business, do you really believe in it? That's conviction baby! Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. What's going on in your Business? Hit me up on noahkagan.com I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

Hey Sam Parr 24.02.2025 48min

BreezeDoc is the simple way to sign documents digitally. Pay just $9 once, and get it forever (no expensive subscriptions here). In this episode, I've got one of my best friends, the entrepreneur blueprint, the serial success master and my favorite podcaster Sam Parr to come back on the show. We talk about ambition, confidence, the reality of building a billion-dollar business and what it's like to hang around with billionaires. Also we discuss his latest projects and how becoming a dad has reshaped his perspective on success. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: Why the most successful people in the room aren't always the smartest, What are the best and worse things about billionaires. How to set up a business in 24 hours and make 1 million dollars without a website. Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. If you dug this episode, you can go back and check out one of our many other episodes with Sam on how content creators become successful. You can find that in episode 292 of this feed. Check him out on Instagram & Twitter @thesamparr and be sure to check out all what he's doing in all of these many internet places. Try Rosedale - website for self improvement. Join Hampton - website high wealth networking and business growth. Copy That - website for helping writers create better copy. Sams List - website for finding quality accountants. My First Million - Podcast. MoneyWise - Podcast. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every week.

I Bought Crypto 23.01.2025 22min

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. Sparked by a rare snowy morning in Austin, Texas, I just got done making snow angels and realized it's been a while since I've shared what's on my mind. No threads. No ads. Just raw thoughts, like the early days of blogging. I just got fired by my financial advisor and decided to experiment with some crypto, so today I'm going to share some reflections on money, experiments, parenting, and life,.. So if you want to learn about simplifying your finances with the trickle of everyday parenting advice, this one's for you. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: When's the best time to experiment or be disciplined. How to Simplify your finances for reduced stress. How tiny, consistent efforts compound into big wins over time. Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every week. Ps. I'm looking for an assistant. Someone proactive, insanely detailed, and reliable. Basically, someone who's better than AI. If you know someone, DM me on Twitter @NoahKagan. I'll pay you $1,000 if your referral gets hired.

9 Lessons from 2024 + My Goals for 2025 28.12.2024 22min

My book Million Dollar Weekend is for aspiring entrepreneurs who dream of starting their own business. I break down the process of starting into simple steps that you can do in just one weekend. Today I'm reflecting on what an insane year 2024 has been. So much has changed and I wanted to take stock as we head into 2025! In this episode, I'm sharing my 9 key lessons from the year and the exciting plans shaping the year ahead. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: Why the blame game gets you nowhere in life. What it means to reduce the amount of tabs you have open in your life. How building strong, meaningful relationships is still your super power. Enjoy these 3 things plus many nuggets along the way. How was your 2024? What's your goals for 2025? Hit me up on noahkagan.com I have also been sharing emails on my brutally honest advice on a variety of topics. People have been loving it. Sign up at noahkagan.com and join 350k other people who get juicy insights every month.

A book, a baby, and a billionaire 27.11.2024 20min

We're giving away $100,000 for AppSumo's Black Friday Giveaway. This week, as my baby sleeps and makes cute noises beside me, I'm sharing parenting lessons I've applied to running my business. I'm also sharing a brilliant new business model I recently discovered that can be adapted to countless industries. Also my takeaways from an awesome book you have to read! Whether you're absorbed in family life, plotting your genius business idea, or looking to see a return on your investments, there's something in this episode for you. In this conversation, you'll enjoy 3 BIG things: Why parenting forces you to clarify your priorities. The genius behind scalable business models like Baselang—and how you can adapt them. Key lessons from Kochland on reinvesting, tracking ROI, and leveraging your strengths. All these plus a bunch more ear nuggets along the way. Check out Baselang and go learn some Spanish. Your first week is just $1, so there's no better time to begin. You have to read this book Kochland by Christopher Leonard. It's the story of how three brothers—David, Charles, and Bill Koch—transformed a small Kansas-based oil company into Koch Industries (a $125+ billion empire and 2nd largest privately-owned company in the world).