The Important Thing: Recent Episodes
Michael Lopp
The Important Thing with Michael (“Rands”) Lopp and Lyle Troxell. Let’s spend a few minutes of your life listening and learning about an Important Thing.
One hundred episodes. For this occasion, years in the coming, Lyle and Rands talk about the thing itself — the nuts and bolts of the podcast, including how the robots now do an alarming amount of the work, what a hundred episodes taught us, and why we use the "The One About…" naming convention.
🎁: the show has a home at importantthing.show. Deep-link a favorite or just scroll through a hundred episodes of history.
Stuff that came up:
- Riverside, where this show has been recorded since the We Are Netflix days
- Rands Leadership Slack, now staffed by a helpful jobs robot named Floyd
- Planetfall, the Infocom classic Floyd is named after
- Friends, the homage hiding in plain sight in every episode title
- Marco Arment, listening since at least Rands' fiftieth birthday
Related Important Things episodes:
- EP 56: The One About the Month of Podcasting
- EP 51: The One About Names... Again
- EP 98: The One About The Joy of Bots
- EP 18: The One About Sugar — Lyle's favorite, as heard on-air
- EP 78: The One About Sandwiches — the other favorite
- EP 96: The One About ARC Raiders — the first episode the robots dressed up
In our 99th episode, Rands is back on the Pro Leisure Circuit — infinite time, a suspicious amount of Arc Raiders, and no wind in the sails — and we wrestle with what actually motivates a person when the engine of work goes quiet.
The usual suspects:
- Arc Raiders, absorbing ten-hour days like it's a job
- Rands Leadership Slack — 35,000 leaders, 7,000 a week
- Daring Fireball, John Gruber's one-person media entity
- Ray Kroc, who started McDonald's in his fifties
- CalArts, where Lyle's daughter learned she didn't want to animate for a living
- UC Santa Cruz, Lyle's decade in the state of California
Related Important Things episodes:
- EP 25: The One About the Pro Leisure Circuit
- EP 96: The One About ARC Raiders
In our 98th episode, we list the things we've been building with our robots and figure out who we're really yelling at when it all goes wrong.
Mentioned, referenced, or obsessed over:
- Planetfall, the Infocom game that gave Floyd his name
- Rands Leadership Slack
- Managing Humans
- Railway
- Supabase
- Bear
- Ghostty
- Cory Doctorow on centaurs and reverse-centaurs
Related Important Things episodes:
- EP 73: The One About Robots
- EP 83: The One About Your AI Tools
In our 97th episode, we talk about how much more we learn in person and why the last 10% of anything is the most important part.
Things we mentioned:
- Rands Leadership Slack
- South by Southwest
- Jony Ive & Patrick Collison at Stripe Sessions
Related Important Things episodes:
- EP 73: The One About Robots
In our 96th episode, Rands goes deep (perhaps too deep) on ARC Raiders, an extraction shooter where trust is the real currency.
Mentioned, referenced, or obsessed over:
- ARC Raiders
- The Last of Us (HBO)
- Pokemon Go
- Sea of Thieves
- World of Warcraft
- Acquired Podcast
Related Important Things episodes:
- EP 25: The One About the Pro Leisure Circuit
- EP 2: The One About Destiny
- EP 55: The One About Destiny 2
In our 95th episode, we again talk about the value of exercise. Lyle paddles an outrigger, Rands used to play hockey, but now he bikes, and we compare peak heart rates. It's a thriller.
In our 94th episode, we talk about when Rands goes unhinged and why that is cathartic. Then, we talk about the plight of enterprise software users and why they are so unfortunate.
In our 93rd episode, we wonder aloud about free will, children, and what makes a good ice hockey team.
In our 92nd episode, we talk about the ongoing battle with productivity tool swirl. Again.
In our 91st episode, we talked about Founder Mode long after everyone else had moved on.
In our 90th epsiode, we walk through all the benefits of improving our exercise strategy.
In our 89th episode, we talk about the wires that bring us the bits. And then Derrick the editor time travels.
In our 88th episode and WAY AFTER the book was published, Lyle and I talk about the Software Developer's Career Handbook. Yes, this book was published a year ago.
In our 87th episode, we talk about world-building, but we mostly talk about shows that we love with a minimal amount of spoiler alerts.
In our 86th episode, we talk timepieces (again), and then we somehow segue to bees. Brace for it.
In our 83rd episode, we revisit the various use cases we've discovered with our favorite AI tools.
In our 82nd episode, we talk watches I mean horology I mean chronophiles or maybe timepieces.
In our 81st episode, we BING talk about the BONG important BONG BONG topic of BING BING BING notifications and DING DING DING notifications sounds.
In our 79th episode, we talk about situations with software that might destroy your weekend.
In our 76th episode, we freestyle a list of the seven types of managers on the planet. There are more, but here are seven.
In our 75th episode, we’re talking shoes. Only 25 episodes left… and we’re talking shoes. Ok.
In our 74th episode, I swear we are only talking about one Important Thing, but I may be AI hallucinating.
Everyone has AI fever in our 73rd episode where — and you better get used to it — we are talking about those robots again.
Speed round episode. Things we’ve been watching that you must not miss. You’re welcome.
In our 71st episode, we talk about robots again, and then we follow with a Mastodon chaser.
In our 70th episode, the topic is mediation, not meditation, but mediation. Yeah, I had to look it up, too.
In our 69th episode, the topic is zombies in the context of The Last of Us and the entire zombie genre. BraaAAaaaaaaaaiAAains. Only 30 episodes left people.
In our 68th episode, Lopp and Lyle discuss Lyle’s performance in a horror movie as well as the role of the producer in different industries.
In our 67th episode, the topic is Performance Reviews and how you build yourself by building others. Oh yeah, we talked about ChatGPT, too.
In our 66th episode, the topic is Mastodon and how quickly and efficiently it has replaced our Twitter use cases.
In our 65th episode, the topic is bags and how much optionality you require of your bag.
In our 64th episode, we discuss proactive things you can do when the sky is falling. Also, we drink wine.
Our 61st episode discusses privacy on the Internet: why we need more education, how much your data is worth, and what parts of privacy need to change.
In our 59th episode, we discuss why when you need to use the mice, there is a good chance you are failing.
Our 58th episode discusses the importance of numbers and their value in remembering things. It's better than it reads.
Our 58th episode discusses the importance of numbers and their value in remembering things. It's better than it reads.
In our 55th episode, we return to familiar territory with special guest John Siracusa. The topic? Destiny 2 and why many, many years again, we continue to play every single day.
Interested in our Destiny Slack? Figure out how to mail me, and I'll send you an invite.
In our 54th episode, we revisit the familiar theme of productivity and how we swear... this time... we figured it out!
In our 53rd episode, we revisit the prior 52 episodes and talk about what we've learned.
In our 52nd episode, we discuss the question, "Can you effectively manage people doing jobs you don't understand?"
In our 48th episode, we review the rich landscape of awesome media we're currently consuming. Totally no spoilers. We swear.
In our 46th episode, we get stuck in a place of talking about doing things. Seems like a good episode to land at the beginning of the year.
Welcome back. In our 46th episode, we're talking about the new shelves in the cave. They're big. Like huge. It's so good to be talking with you all again.
SECRET EPISODE. 45 episodes in and we're talking the Mandalorian. Seismic charges? We have them. Bobo's Boom Stick? Yup. Lopp and Lyle talking about the most important things.
In our 44th episode, we walk through the first chapters of Lopp's 3rd book. Learning to deal with endless meetings, understanding The Situation™, and learning that people often just want to be seen. Spend 45 minutes with Lyle and Lopp talking about important things.
In our 43rd episode, we recommend shows you just gotta binge this holiday season during our end times. (Recorded November 2020)
Our much delayed 42nd episode, which was recorded pre-Pandemic, we giggle a bit because we have not been giggling enough. In this episode, we discuss why Rands names his bikes and cars, which results in some helpful therapy. Also, stickers are discussed. (Recorded in February 2020)
In our 41st episode, we continue the discussion regarding how to write a book. Start with a clever name, find a publisher... and then write a lot. That's about it. Ok, it's harder than that. (Recorded on February 24th, 2020)
In our 40th episode, we are talking about the practice of networking. Who does it, why they do it, and the very expected and random value that sometimes emerges from it. (Recorded on February 24th, 2020)
In the 39th episode, recorded in a pre-COVID world, we talk about love letters, the challenges of speaking, and the timely pause. (Recorded on February 24th, 2020.)
In the 38th, we lighten it up a bit. Not a lot. A bit. Finding solace in very strange times. Finding comfort while the world appears to be shutting down. Ok, it's a little lighter than that. Recorded on March 18th, 2020.
In our 37th episode, it's a bit dark. Lyle and Lopp talk about the current state of the world. Not much laughing. Hoping that hearing you are not alone might help... it helped us. Recorded on March 18th, 2020.
In our 36th episode, we're back at Disneyland. Lyle explains why he is a far better Dad, we talk about how to build a proper lightsaber, and we laugh... because we need a little laughing right now.
In our 35th episode, Lopp is listening to country and no one is clear why. Eric Church and Mira Goto feature. Also, the Star Wars Rewatch Grade... and more country.
In our 34th episode, we discuss the value created by Executive Assistants, explain what a Chief of Staff does, how to build teams, why calendars are hard, and why Lopp keeps rewriting the book.
In our 33rd episode, we're talking names. Domain names, nick names, and... inheritances. Wait, what? That can't be right. Aren't we talking about names?
In our 32nd episode, Lyle and Lopp go tactical on 1:1s. A bevy of small tips and tricks are discussed along with deep religion on the value of continuous feedback and the practice of finding joy in meetings.
In our 31st episode, Lyle and Lopp discuss who does what in a well-run meeting. Roles and responsibilities, the value of feedback, and remember that meetings aren't punishment, but a useful tool in the hands of responsible humans.
30 episodes! Whoa. We're still talking about management. In this third part, we talk about what managers do all day, which probably more than you think.
In our 29th episode, we walk through the perils and challenges of starting a new gig, how to change a culture, and formative stories.
In our 28th episode, Lyle's Lopp visit continues and we learn about various judgment errors in our lives and the resulting lessons. Happy New Year.
In our 27th episode, Lyle visits Lopp's house and we talk mountain living, dowsing, and various Christmas updates. Happy Merry.
Secret episode. In our 26th episode, we briefly talk about the trials and tribulations of Christmas trees.
25 episodes in. In this episode, we briefly talk about Lopp's founding of the Pro Leisure Circuit and how stress is hard to measure and different than worrying.
In our 24th episode, we talk Disney. The new Star Wars Experience, flying the Millenium Falcon, Disney+, the Mandalorian, space blacksmithing, and those jerk Stormtroopers.
23rd episode. A short one about the joys of chainsaws, poison oak problems, why madrones are weird, and how there is always a system.
In our 22nd episode, we update you on all the things: Lyle's job status, superheroes, books, iPads, avocados, and beets. It's a bit of a beautiful yard sale.
The long-awaited 21st episode. Lyle is still thinking about becoming a manager. Lopp (still) has thoughts. We discuss what kind of leader you might be, how not to be overwhelmed, the sounds of modems, and why anger shouldn't feel like progress
The mighty 20th episode. Lyle's thinking about becoming a manager and Lopp has thoughts. It's a job with infinite variables, strange feedback loops, and endless decisions. Also, it'll take three years minimum to become competent.
Nineteen episodes people! Lyle and Lopp walk through their thoughts on 2019's WWDC. We also take a trip down memory lane to discuss the Apple II+, BBSes, and spinning cursors. Trippy.
In our eighteenth episode, I can't stop giggling about my problems with sugar. Lyle deftly navigates us through all the sugar vectors, proper movie candy protocol, the perils of cinnamon, and why candy corns... are the best.
In our seventeenth episode, we walk through the process of Rands writing his third book. We cover all aspects, familiar and strange, of the writing process, including editing, design covers, and figuring out who'll write the foreword.
In our sixteenth episode, we nerd it up on Avengers: Endgame. Topics include Rands not shutting up during the movie, the best moment, the trials of time travel, and why Captain America is just... the best.
In our fifteenth episode, we go deep on feedback. We learn where Rands' feedback religion came from, we walk through a couple of specific feedback scenario, and we discuss why you should be investing in a feedback culture - right now
Lyle returns from and talks about Japan in our fourteenth episode. Subways, signage, robots, and great food are among our topics. Back in the states, we talk about the Rands Biking Protocol and Rands Eating Protocol.
Lucky 13th episode! Lyle and I talk Flow and Flow's companion Anti-Flow. Also covered, writing, breaking Flow, a bit about Bear the App, and trying to understand from where Flow flows. Bikes, too!
In our 12th episode, we start talking feedback. Using feedback on our podcast as a jumping off point, we consider the topics of giving proper attribution, the art of arguing about empty boxes, and the fact the Rands is a control freak.
In our eleventh episode, we dissect "You Only Live Once", we talk about paying for BETA software, and the value of building things with your hands.
We're double digits! 10 episodes. Nailed it. In this episode, we talk about the perils of travel as an introvert, we examine each other's travel bags, and we learn that Rands is a control freak.
In our ninth episode, we discuss the idea of Manager READMEs, vulnerability in the workspace, how Toyota empower its humans, and how much Rands detests drama.
In this episode, we talk about process being documented culture. How do we keep all the plates spinning? Who are good plate spinners? Why are there plates in the first place? This and more is answered in this episode of The Important Thing.
In this episode, we introduce you to my co-host Lyle – pre-eminent listener, longtime radio host, and fellow mountain resident. We also spend time talking logos and introversion… and then we finish with a strong Spider-Man chaser.
In our latest and greatest episode, we talk about the craft of communication. After a brief introduction, we talking about Werewolf, lying, death in D&D, and the art of yolo'ing it.
Don't tell anyone. We're still producing episodes. In this brief episode, Lyle and Lopp talk pens and typography and how they help us say what we need to say.
In our surprisingly quick to arrive fourth episode, we briefly giggle about the clickity-clack of a mechanical keyboard and then talk about a time at Apple where it was critical to understanding the why.
In the second episode, I am excited to be joined by my fellow Guardian John Siracusa to discuss the video game Destiny. Proudest moments, total time wasted, and the reality of the Hunter handicap – it’s all there.
- Destiny overview
- Siracusa’s typical sniping performance
- What is a skinner box?
- And what is a Gjallarhorn?
- The Crota’s End Theme
Two years later, we're back with the Important Thing. Lyle and Lopp talk information consumption. Notification purges, marking all as read, and figuring out how to catch the most important information are just a few of the tips and tricks we discuss.
- Interview with Ernie Cline
- Feedly
- Geekspeak Weather Episode
- Song Exploder
- West Wing Weekly
- Rands Feed List (OPML)
I’m just delighted to kickoff the first episode with Tiff Arment where The Important Thing is pens. In this first episode, we talk pen origin stories, we dive deep on fountain pens, and, uh, we talk video games, too.