Nov. 18, 2025

Inside the Lab: Trials and Takeaways from a Challenging Quarter with Manuel Weiss

Inside the Lab: Trials and Takeaways from a Challenging Quarter with Manuel Weiss
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In this episode of Retained Trust, host Karl Hughes sits down with his co-founder Manuel Weiss for their quarterly update. They open up about recent challenges and wins across their portfolio, especially the contrasting trajectories of The Podcast Consultant and Draft.dev. From stepping back into the trenches of sales to refining product-market fit and repositioning offerings, Karl and Manuel dissect what’s working, what’s not, and how they’re adapting. They also share their personal reflections on identity, control, and emotional resilience in entrepreneurship—all while balancing travel, family, and a few good books. This episode offers a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the reality of building and sustaining digital service businesses. 

 

Key Points From This Episode: 

 

[00:00:00] The Podcast Consultant continues to run smoothly with minimal founder involvement. 

[00:03:20] A look at acquisition goals and the importance of freeing up time. 

[00:04:54] Outbound sales challenges and shifting focus back to events and inbound. 

[00:06:39] Event-based marketing yields stronger results compared to cold outreach. 

[00:07:31] Karl’s personal milestone: completing a half marathon after years off. 

[00:08:01] Transitioning into the lowlights: Draft.dev’s performance and early market signals. 

[00:09:02] Experimenting with repositioning Draft.dev around AI-driven changes in content. 

[00:11:55] The limitations of traditional salespeople in early-stage repositioning. 

[00:13:14] Shifting product strategy to match a more fear-driven market. 

[00:14:00] Combining fast content delivery with deep, strategic pieces. 

[00:16:08] Designing new offerings based on real client conversations and needs. 

[00:18:49] Split responsibilities between strategy and operations in repositioning. 

[00:20:23] Rediscovering the value of customer interviews and product-market fit. 

[00:22:23] Wrestling with opportunity cost: should time go to other ventures? 

[00:23:34] Draft.dev isn’t starting from zero—past brand equity still has value. 

[00:26:21] Emotional detachment: separating self-worth from business performance. 

[00:28:50] The internal struggle of tying personal value to business outcomes. 

[00:30:21] Finding clarity through mental distance and non-work activities. 

[00:32:48] The importance of outside perspectives, including coaches. 

[00:35:17] Control and trust dynamics when considering mergers or letting go. 

[00:37:33] Learning from a previous successful founder exit. 

[00:38:44] Decision-making under uncertainty vs. analysis paralysis. 

[00:40:01] What the co-founders are looking forward to in the next quarter. 

[00:41:59] Reading roundup: Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, and more. 

[00:44:07] Reflections on AI speculation, WWI history, and long-term market shifts. 

[00:44:50] Final thoughts and gratitude to the listeners. 

 

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