Startups for the Rest of Us — The longest-running podcast for non-venture track startups

Listening to @singlefounder and @robwalling on my daily commute (back in 2008) was what made me feel like bootstrapping my own company was possible. Since then I stair-stepped my way to building a SaaS, first with books and courses, until eventually (10 years later) launching Transistor.fm with Jon. I couldn't have done it without their advice!

We're celebrating our 10 year anniversary this month! If you haven't listened before (or haven't in a while), we've revamped the podcast to include many different show formats you won't hear in other shows focused on building ambitious startups without raising venture capital. I hope you'll give it a listen.

Congrats @robwalling on this amazing journey! I started listening to SFTROU around episode 37, then immediately went back and binge-listened to the ones I had missed. And as much as I have loved these shows, I also really dig the experimentation into new show formats. I remember when I first discovered this show, I just couldn't shut up about it. I'm sure I was absolutely insufferable to family and friends. But it didn't matter. What a relief it was to finally hear that I wasn't alone; other people just like me were trying to build things also! And succeeding! Whoa! Before, I had an inkling that I could start my own thing without VC funding or groveling for loans from the local bank, but folks around me kept telling me it couldn't be done. But this show exposed me to an entirely new mindset: a community of folks who were building livelihoods on their terms, learning and sharing lessons from one another along the way. The whole atmosphere of: "these folks did it, so can you, and here's how..." that is baked into the SFTROU community is visceral at every touchpoint, whether it's just on their show (SFTROU), at their events (MicroConf), or in their community (FounderCafe, and now MicroConf Connect). This is just an amazing thing you've built here, @robwalling and Mike Taber. Keep up the good work. And, thanks!

I'll be honest, I wasn't a big SFTROU listener until about 6 months ago. I've been to two MicroConfs and was a Drip customer for a few years, and used Hittail back in the day. But in the last 6 months this podcast has become a weekly thing for me. I really enjoy the various content types and am very much looking forward to Season 2 of Tiny Seed Tales. Keep it up, Rob!

Startups for the Rest of Us is my list of the top 5 podcasts. Amazing content, I learn from each episode so much! Thank you Mike and Rob!

Congratulations on the 10 year anniversary! Many podcasts don't even make it to ten episodes, so this is a huge achievement. It's been one of the podcasts I listen to every week for years now. Highly recommended!

Wow, congrats on the anniversary. I’ve been listening since the beginning and it’s still one of my favorites. It’s in my podcast list, at the top each week. I’m also really enjoying the new format.

I’ve been listening on and off for years and I prefer the new format, it’s a faster pace without loosing anything! It’s also good to check in with Mike from his technical progress and personal health. The new interview format (almost story mode) is very high quality - a great reboot.

Of the dozens of startup podcasts I listen to, this is probably one of my favourites that I put on during morning walks. Congrats on 10 years and keep up the good work!

Congratulations on the anniversary. This is the only podcast I listen to without fail each week - and you guys have never let me down - it's always there in my podcasts waiting every Tuesday. I recommend this podcast to anyone I meet who is running and kind of software or online business - content is incredible and I love the new formats. Keep up the great work Rob, Mike and team!

If you are looking for a solid crash course / intro into bootstrapped startups / side hustle / Indiehacking, this podcast is the one to get started with. With various episodes that feature guests, you'll get to meet other interesting founders in the space through their interviews and discover other podcasts they produce that might be relevant to your journey. I started with this a few years ago, and now I subscribe to 5-6 others. The level of raw honesty, transparency, emotions, advice is off the charts. For me personally, I felt like this Podcast was speaking directly to me during difficult and trying times over the past year heads down on my own bootstrapped startup. My co-founder and I often shared some episodes that "spoke" to us directly that week and then see how we can apply the advice/learnings to move our business forward Congrats @robwalling ! Here's to another decade!

Great show. I've been listening to Rob and Mike since 2015. Really digging the new experimental formats, too.

Congrats. 👏👏 Been listening for years now and your content and format works so well. A sure recommendation for anyone asking for a startup podcast. Thanks for sharing and putting together great shows. 🙏🙏

I've always enjoyed the podcast. It's one of the few that I listen to regularly. I've been enjoying the shift over the last few months with the new formats as well. Keep up the good work!

Startups for the Rest of Us is one my all time favourite podcasts, right up there with Hardcore History and Waking Up. The recent revamp of the show has been excellent too. It's an NPR-level production now.

Congrats on the 10 year anniversary! Where do you see the next 10 years going with the podcast?

Rob created more than a podcast. It’s an entry into a fantastic community of homebrew entrepreneurs.

This is an amazing podcast! It has helped me a TON with building my business. Thank you Rob and Mike for all of the years of hard work, consistency, and thoughtful information.

Thank you @robwalling for showing up every week and consistently putting out such a great podcast. There's an actionable takeaway from each episode. I look forward to popping in the earbuds on my walk to the gym this afternoon.

My #1 recommended podcast to anybody who is running a business, especially entrepreneurs whether bootstrapped or looking for angel funding. You start out thinking you're building one type of business and things can go any number of directions—this podcast offers such expertise and experience from Rob, Mike, and others that you are sure to find inspiration and insight to help you along the way.