Go to the Source - All Things Product Podcast with Teresa Torres & Petra Wille

Listen to this episode on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

In this episode of All Things Product, Petra Wille and Teresa Torres unpack one of their favorite guiding principles: "Go find the source." With the rise of social media hot takes and oversimplified content, it’s easy to misunderstand product frameworks and best practices. Petra and Teresa share real-life examples—from OKRs to Opportunity Solution Trees—to show why it's so important to dig deeper, trace ideas back to credible origins, and seek out diverse perspectives.

Whether you're tired of shallow takes on LinkedIn or just want to sharpen your product thinking, this episode will help you build a more thoughtful, informed, and intentional product practice.

Topics Covered:

Why “go find the source” is a crucial product mindset
The danger of relying on second- or third-hand takes
Real examples: OKRs, Jobs to Be Done, North Star Metric, Opportunity Solution Trees
How to identify reputable sources—and red flags to watch for
Tips for curating your own learning journey (books, blogs, podcasts)
How social media can distort ideas (even when people have good intentions)

Key Takeaways:

Primary > Secondary: Always seek out original thinkers or practitioners, not just content repackagers.
Go deeper than LinkedIn tiles: Good frameworks get diluted when simplified for social media. Go back to the original articles, books, or talks.
Read with range: Challenge yourself to find three different sources—especially with diverse backgrounds or perspectives.
Don’t trust content without citations: Like in academia, a lack of references is a red flag.
Practitioner voices matter: Look for people sharing what they’re actually doing, not just what “should” be done.

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