GROW by Good Combinator

From copilot to autonomous: place your system on the continuum of autonomy.In Lesson 3.5 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A map for choosing the right autonomy level for a given workflow.What you'll take away- The continuum- Copilot mode- Supervised autonomyChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:30) The continuum(7:01) Copilot mode(10:32) Supervised autonomy(14:02) Full autonomy(17:33) Choosing the level(21:04) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_5Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.5Season/Episode: 3/5Runtime: 24:35Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.5/3.5 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.5/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

The thin front-end touchpoints that make an agent usable, not just callable.In Lesson 3.4 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. The minimum front-end surface that turns a capable agent into an adopted one.What you'll take away- Usable vs. callable- The thin client- Surfacing stateChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(6:01) Usable vs. callable(12:03) The thin client(18:04) Surfacing state(24:06) Human handoff points(30:07) Keeping it thin(36:09) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_4Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.4Season/Episode: 3/4Runtime: 42:11Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.4/3.4 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.4/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Stand up a production FastAPI backend for an agent service.In Lesson 3.3 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A working FastAPI backend pattern you can extend into a real service.What you'll take away- Why FastAPI- Project layout- Routing and validationChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(6:00) Why FastAPI(12:00) Project layout(18:00) Routing and validation(24:01) Auth and middleware(30:01) Deploy notes(36:01) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_3Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.3Season/Episode: 3/3Runtime: 42:02Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.3/3.3 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.3/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Design APIs an agent can actually call: contracts, idempotency, and error surfaces.In Lesson 3.2 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. API design rules that make your service safe for an autonomous caller.What you'll take away- Designing for an agent caller- Contracts- IdempotencyChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(5:16) Designing for an agent caller(10:32) Contracts(15:49) Idempotency(21:05) Error surfaces(26:22) Versioning(31:38) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_2Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.2Season/Episode: 3/2Runtime: 36:55Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.2/3.2 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Capstone; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.2/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

The Python discipline that separates a notebook hack from production agent code.In Lesson 3.1 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. The production-Python habits that keep agent code maintainable under change.What you'll take away- Notebook vs. production- Structure and typing- Errors and retriesChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(5:16) Notebook vs. production(10:32) Structure and typing(15:49) Errors and retries(21:05) Testing the seams(26:22) Packaging for deploy(31:38) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_1Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.1Season/Episode: 3/1Runtime: 36:55Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.1/3.1 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.1/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Live discovery sim: walk out with a Pyramid memo, a Boundaries Map, and a spec sketch.In Lesson 2.9 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. The Three-Artifact Doctrine, demonstrated end to end on a live discovery simulation.What you'll take away- The simulation setup- Discovery in real time- The Pyramid memoChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(5:48) The simulation setup(11:36) Discovery in real time(17:24) The Pyramid memo(23:12) The Boundaries Map(29:00) The Three-Artifact Doctrine(34:48) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_9Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.9Season/Episode: 2/9Runtime: 40:36Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.9/2.9 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Capstone; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.9/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Automate vs. human judgment: LoA, HITL/HOTL/HOOTL, and reading deferral signals.In Lesson 2.8 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. A decision frame for what to automate, what to gate, and what to leave to a human.What you'll take away- Levels of Autonomy- HITL / HOTL / HOOTL- Deferral signalsChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(7:54) Levels of Autonomy(15:49) HITL / HOTL / HOOTL(23:43) Deferral signals(31:38) Drawing the boundary(39:32) Worked boundary map(47:27) The artifact & what to do MondayMentioned and cited- NIST AI RMF 1.0 (2023)Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_8Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.8Season/Episode: 2/8Runtime: 55:22Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.8/2.8 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.8/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Quantify the Cost of Inaction and wield the Scope Knife against gold-plating.In Lesson 2.7 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. A way to size the real cost of doing nothing and a kill-criterion that stops scope creep.What you'll take away- Cost of Inaction- Sizing the status quo- The Scope KnifeChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(4:44) Cost of Inaction(9:28) Sizing the status quo(14:12) The Scope Knife(18:56) Anti-gold-plating(23:40) The kill-criterion(28:24) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_7Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.7Season/Episode: 2/7Runtime: 33:09Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.7/2.7 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.7/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Name the System of Record before you build: the canonical-write and silence tests.In Lesson 2.6 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. Two tests that tell you which system is authoritative — before you wire anything to it.What you'll take away- Record vs. Reference- The canonical-write test- The silence testChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:08) Record vs. Reference(6:17) The canonical-write test(9:26) The silence test(12:35) Naming the SoR(15:44) Why it matters for agents(18:53) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_6Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.6Season/Episode: 2/6Runtime: 22:02Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.6/2.6 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.6/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Translate business language into Jira-ready specs: user stories, AC, DoD, INVEST.In Lesson 2.5 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. A translation method that turns a sponsor's words into specs engineers can build.What you'll take away- The translation gap- User stories- Acceptance criteriaChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:20) The translation gap(6:41) User stories(10:02) Acceptance criteria(13:22) Definition of Done(16:43) The INVEST test(20:04) The artifact & what to do MondayMentioned and cited- INVEST criteria (Bill Wake)Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_5Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.5Season/Episode: 2/5Runtime: 23:25Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.5/2.5 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.5/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Answer first: structure any exec memo with SCQA and the Pyramid Principle.In Lesson 2.4 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. An answer-first memo structure executives can absorb in minutes.What you'll take away- Answer-first thinking- SCQA setup- Building the pyramidChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(6:08) Answer-first thinking(12:17) SCQA setup(18:26) Building the pyramid(24:34) Grouping and ordering(30:43) A memo, rebuilt(36:52) The artifact & what to do MondayMentioned and cited- Minto, The Pyramid PrincipleStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_4Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.4Season/Episode: 2/4Runtime: 43:01Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.4/2.4 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.4/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Break a vague AI strategy into MECE pieces: three levels, twelve leaves, no overlaps.In Lesson 2.3 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. A MECE decomposition you can run on any fuzzy strategy ask.What you'll take away- What MECE means- The three-level rule- The max-twelve-leaves ruleChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(7:40) What MECE means(15:21) The three-level rule(23:01) The max-twelve-leaves rule(30:42) Testing for overlap(38:22) Worked example(46:03) The artifact & what to do MondayMentioned and cited- Minto, The Pyramid PrincipleStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_3Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.3Season/Episode: 2/3Runtime: 53:44Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.3/2.3 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.3/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Run the 5-Whys ladder on a real claims-denial case and find the problem under the problem.In Lesson 2.2 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. A repeatable discovery-call structure that gets to root cause instead of the stated symptom.What you'll take away- The stated problem- The 5-Whys ladder- BlueRidge claims-denial caseChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(5:39) The stated problem(11:18) The 5-Whys ladder(16:57) BlueRidge claims-denial case(22:36) Root cause vs. symptom(28:15) What to write down(33:54) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_2Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.2Season/Episode: 2/2Runtime: 39:34Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.2/2.2 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.2/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

Why 77% of AI agent pilots die from non-technical causes — and the Soft Stack.In Lesson 2.1 of GROW Course 2 (Discovery & Communication), Doug Liles works through it with you. The five Soft Stack disciplines, framed as engineering work rather than 'people skills.'What you'll take away- Why pilots really die- The five disciplines- Stakeholder CartographyChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(7:14) Why pilots really die(14:28) The five disciplines(21:42) Stakeholder Cartography(28:56) The trust model(36:10) The Meridian Trust case(43:24) The artifact & what to do MondayMentioned and cited- Mayer, Davis & Schoorman trust model (1995)- Mendelow's Power-Interest MatrixStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_2_1Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Access and launch statusThis is paid GROW Skills Library implementation content.Keep this Spotify episode as a draft until Spotify Subscriptions or approved Open Access is configured.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 2 - Discovery & CommunicationLesson: 2.1Season/Episode: 2/1Runtime: 50:39Access label: paid-subscription-onlySource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-2/2.1/2.1 Deep Dive Audio.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Discovery & Communication; Career stage=Junior FDE; Skill level=Foundations; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=CommunicateCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, subscription_started, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-2/lesson-2.1/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)

The three capabilities — engineer, consultant, product owner — that define an FDE.In Lesson 1.2 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: the Trinity model and an honest self-assessment of where your edges and gaps are.What you'll take awayThe Trinity modelEngineer edgeConsultant edgeChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(7:00) The Trinity model(14:00) Engineer edge(21:01) Consultant edge(28:01) Product-owner edge(35:02) Reading your own gaps(42:02) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities

Land, Expand, Scale, Embed: the loop that turns one pilot into an owned account.In Lesson 1.3 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: the four-stage loop and the signal that tells you it is time to move to the next stage.What you'll take awayThe four stagesLandExpandChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(7:12) The four stages(14:24) Land(21:37) Expand(28:49) Scale(36:01) Embed(43:14) Stage-transition signals(50:26) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities

From signed pilot to Day-2 ownership: the full FDE implementation lifecycle.In Lesson 1.4 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: the end-to-end lifecycle map so you always know which phase you are actually in.What you'll take awayThe lifecycle mapPilotBuildChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(5:40) The lifecycle map(11:20) Pilot(17:00) Build(22:40) Adopt(28:20) Day-2 ownership(34:00) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities

Pick the one workflow worth automating first — and ignore the rest.In Lesson 1.6 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: a selection test for the first workflow so you do not boil the ocean.What you'll take awayWhy narrow winsThe selection testSaying no to the restChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(6:26) Why narrow wins(12:53) The selection test(19:19) Saying no to the rest(25:46) Sequencing what's next(32:12) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities

The personal operating system an FDE runs to stay senior at speed.In Lesson 1.7 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: a working set of habits and tooling that keeps you senior as the work accelerates.What you'll take awayWhy a personal OSCapture and contextTooling and routingChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(6:13) Why a personal OS(12:27) Capture and context(18:40) Tooling and routing(24:54) Staying senior at speed(31:07) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities

Put Foundations together: position yourself as an FDE in one artifact.In Lesson 1.8 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: a single positioning artifact that proves you understand the role end to end.What you'll take awayThe capstone briefSynthesizing the TrinityYour positioning artifactChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(7:00) The capstone brief(14:01) Synthesizing the Trinity(21:02) Your positioning artifact(28:02) Self-scoring the result(35:03) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities

Why the best FDEs act like founders inside someone else's company.In Lesson 1.5 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: the ownership posture that separates an FDE from a staff-aug contractor.What you'll take awayOwner vs. contractorThe founder postureOwning the outcomeChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(7:38) Owner vs. contractor(15:17) The founder posture(22:56) Owning the outcome(30:35) Where ownership ends(38:14) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities

Why the collapsing cost of intelligence rewrites who builds — and what an FDE actually is.In Lesson 1.1 of GROW Course 1 (Forward Deployed Engineer Foundations), Doug Liles works through it with you: a clear definition of the Forward Deployed Engineer role and the economic shift that created it.What you'll take awayThe cost-of-intelligence shiftWhat a Forward Deployed Engineer isWhy the role exists nowChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(4:21) The cost-of-intelligence shift(8:42) What a Forward Deployed Engineer is(13:03) Why the role exists now(17:24) Where you fit on the track(21:45) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free): fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessonsAudio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.ConnectFree FDE library: fde.goodcombinator.aiPaid library and ecosystem: goodcombinator.com/growPodcast: AI for Good — Transforming Communities