Open source, open heart: Ghost’s John O’Nolan secret (spicy) sauce

Life on Mars - A podcast from MarsBased

Join Àlex Rodríguez Bacardit (CEO @ MarsBased) and John O’Nolan, founder of Ghost, as they delve into the world of independent, values-driven tech businesses. They discuss Ghost’s foundational structure, the role of transparency and bootstrapping in shaping the company, and how these principles impact product development and user loyalty. The conversation also touches on the challenges of competing with heavily funded competitors, the nuances of running a foundation, and the future of newsletter platforms.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a tech enthusiast, this episode offers deep insights into aligning business with core values.
Also, hot takes with hot salsas 🔥

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🎬 You can watch the video of this episode on the Life on Mars podcast website: https://podcast.marsbased.com/

Luvut

1. Open source, open heart: Ghost’s John O’Nolan secret (spicy) sauce (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to Ghost (00:00:12)

3. Discovering Ghost and Its Journey (00:01:13)

4. Bootstrapping vs. Competitors (00:02:42)

5. The Fanatical User Base (00:04:51)

6. Challenges of Being a Foundation (00:07:49)

7. Financial Limitations and Growth (00:11:30)

8. Technical Stack Choices (00:16:27)

9. Handling Technical Debt (00:21:01)

10. The Four-Day Work Week (00:31:01)

11. Transparency and Communication (00:40:26)

12. Personal Mistakes and Lessons (00:46:27)

13. Future Developments in Ghost (00:51:21)

14. Closing Thoughts and Hot Ones Reference (00:53:18)