Worklog with Shawn Hickman

• The Final Push: App Launch, Marketing Prep, and iOS 19 Rumors

  In this episode of Worklog, I chat about some exciting Apple rumors for iOS 19, dig into the home stretch of launching my new podcast player (including solving tricky audio issues with ChatGPT Deep Research), and share behind-the-scenes marketing prep, from creating landing pages to capturing relatable photos of podcast listening in everyday life.📺 Watch on YouTubeChapters0:00 Intro2:15 iOS 19 Rumors7:59 Airpods 49:28 DJI Action 5 Pro11:58 Severance12:23 What I’ve been working on31:11 Marketing prep39:39 OutroThings MentionediOS 19 to Have Some of the 'Biggest' Design Changes in iPhone's HistorySomeday, by Spike Jonze | AirPods 4 with Active Noise CancellationOsmo Action 5 Pro - Be All In - DJILinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow MeYouTubeThreadsInstagramBlueskyShare FeedbackHave feedback? Send me an email:[email protected] (00:00) - Intro (02:15) - iOS 19 Rumors (07:59) - Airpods 4 (09:28) - DJI Action 5 Pro (11:58) - Severance (12:23) - What I’ve been working on (31:11) - Marketing prep (39:39) - Outro

  --------  

  40:26
• Deadlines, Launch Mode, and Knowing When to Ship

  In this episode of Worklog, I introduce my new podcast, where I share the journey of building Sofa, an app designed to help you be intentional with your downtime. I talk about why I'm branching into podcasts—both to better understand the podcasting experience I'm building into Sofa and to give listeners another way to enjoy my content. I also share updates on recent Sofa developments like CarPlay, Widgets, Shortcuts, and performance improvements. Lastly, I dive into "Launch Mode," explaining my strategy around deadlines, prioritizing tasks, and managing my workload leading up to a launch.📺 Watch on YouTubeChapters0:00 Intro1:24 Small talk7:34 Worklog Podcast21:19 What I’ve been working on40:30 Launch Mode58:48 OutroLinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow MeYouTubeThreadsInstagramBlueskyShare FeedbackHave feedback? Send me an email:[email protected] (00:00) - Intro (01:24) - Small Talk (07:34) - Worklog Podcast (21:19) - What I’ve been working on (40:30) - Launch Mode (58:48) - Outro

  --------  

  59:42
• When to Remove Features from Your App

  In this conversation, Shawn Hickman discusses the often-overlooked aspect of app development: the removal of features. He emphasizes that sometimes it's more beneficial to remove features rather than continuously add new ones. Through personal experiences and examples, he outlines the reasons for feature removal, including when features aren't working as expected, are broken, or when the product has evolved. He also shares best practices for effectively communicating these changes to users and managing feedback.ChaptersLinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow MeYouTubeThreadsInstagramBlueskyShare FeedbackHave feedback? Send me an email:[email protected]

  --------  

  26:28
• Should You Offer a Free Trial? Here’s Why I Said “No” for My App

  In this video, I’m sharing why I don’t offer a free trial for my app, Sofa.When I first launched the Super Sofa subscription, I struggled with decisions around pricing and whether or not to offer a free trial. Most advice said, “You should offer a free trial because that’s what everyone does.” But that never sat right with me.Now, after a few years of running a subscription app without a free trial, I’ve gained clarity on why I don’t do it — and why Sofa’s freemium model works better without one.I’m not against free trials! They can work great for certain products. But for Sofa, it doesn’t make sense. In this video, I’ll walk through my thought process and explain why.📺 Watch on YouTubeChapters(00:00) - Intro (00:15) - A little context (02:05) - Camera car mount (03:11) - In the car (03:45) - Purpose of free trials (05:16) - Sofa is a freemium product (09:02) - What I've learned about Sofa (13:09) - Some advice LinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow MeYouTubeThreadsInstagramBlueskyShare FeedbackHave feedback? Send me an email:[email protected]

  --------  

  15:02
• Making an App Is Easy (Well, at First!)

  In this video, I dive into the realities of building an app: why starting is the easy (and fun) part, and why the real challenge lies in growing and maintaining it over time.I’ll talk about the excitement of launching a new project, the hurdles you’ll face when life gets busy or progress feels slow, and how setting the right expectations can make all the difference. I’ll share tips on building sustainable systems, celebrating small wins, and staying motivated when you hit technical, emotional, or mental roadblocks.Whether you’re creating your first app or struggling to keep going, this video is here to remind you to enjoy the process and keep moving forward.📺 Watch on YouTubeChapters(00:00) - Intro (00:32) - Starting is easy (03:19) - Setting expectations (04:20) - Patience (05:17) - Work nights (08:26) - You're going to hit walls (09:45) - Celebrate the wins (12:05) - Supportive people (13:31) - Have fun (14:52) - Outro LinksSofa's WebsiteDownload Sofa from the App StoreWorklog Podcast WebsiteShawn's BlogNotion and spreadsheet templatesFollow MeYouTubeThreadsInstagramBlueskyShare FeedbackHave feedback? Send me an email:[email protected]

  --------  

  15:34

More Technology podcasts

Trending Technology podcasts

About Worklog with Shawn Hickman