We sit down with Troy Hunt, the creator of Have I Been Pwned (HIBP), to discuss the evolution of cybersecurity over the last 12 years. We explore whether AI is truly changing the nature of data breaches, why the banking industry is still stuck with insecure SMS, and the fascinating story of how HIBP remains a lean, bootstrapped team of three people despite handling billions of queries.
Troy also opens up about the 2019 acquisition process that almost changed everything and why he is ultimately glad the deal fell through.

Support the show

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

How do you find employees who care as much as the founders? And in an AI-driven world, should you stick to traditional SEO or pivot to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)?

In this episode of Building MarsBased, CEO Alex Rodriguez Bacardit answers two deep-dive questions from the agency community. We explore the "Champion" profile, why former freelancers and entrepreneurs are the secret to delegation, and how MarsBased hit 30 people in 2025 by restructuring their leadership.

We also discuss the marketing strategy behind their new spin-off, GPT apps. Alex explains why they are using paid ads for the first time in 12 years and how to optimize your content so AI bots recommend your brand.

Support the show

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

In this fifth episode of Building MarsBased, Àlex Rodriguez Bacardit reflects on nearly 12 years of operating as a remote-first company since 2014. Inspired by the 37signals philosophy, MarsBased was designed as a "hard remote" entity to optimize for productivity over mere presence, a model that forced the founders to defend their professional authority without a physical office during the early years.

To maintain human connection in a distributed team, the company established rituals like Martian Days, quarterly in-person meetings, and Martian Tapas, where team members showcase new skills or tools. A key principle in avoiding "second-class citizens" is ensuring that no major company decisions are made during informal hangouts in Barcelona, keeping the playing field level for everyone regardless of their location.

The MarsBased hiring strategy specifically filters for seniors, former entrepreneurs, or freelancers who are exceptional written communicators, as remote environments can feel isolating or "hostile" for those who lack experience in self-management. This professional maturity is supported by a streamlined tech stack, evolving from Basecamp to Linear, and a culture of 100% trust from day one, rather than a system of surveillance.

While remoteness brings challenges like the "loneliness slump" around month 12, the company remains 95% faithful to its original 2014 vision. By treating employees like adults and prioritizing quality over quantity, MarsBased continues to thrive as an independent, bootstrapped lifestyle business.

Support the show

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