The Power of a Good Question: Kate Terentieva on Curiosity, Founder Fit, and Building Off the Record

This episode is about the question that could change everything.

I sit down with Kate Terentieva, the founder of Off the Record, a conversation card game that’s become a cult favorite among creatives, teams, and founders alike. But this isn’t a story about going viral or scaling fast. It’s a story about building something rooted in real connection—and trusting your gut, even when it goes against every playbook.

Kate didn’t plan to launch a product. She was working behind the scenes as a creative director, helping founders tell better stories. But in asking them thoughtful questions, she accidentally unlocked a bigger insight: people are craving more honest, layered conversations—in their work, relationships, and communities.

So she turned the 450 questions in her Notes app into a product. And then turned that product into a movement.

In this episode, you’re going to learn:

• Why conversation is a crucial founder skill—and how to get better at it
• The benefits of ditching digital virality in favor of in-person feedback
• The loneliness epidemic and what it’s costing us
• How to know if you’re the right founder for what you’re building
• How to show you care about your customers—not just talk about it

Kate also shares her counterintuitive go-to-market strategy (spoiler: it started with $11.5k worth of free product and 400 DMs). We talk about slowing down, trusting what feels light, and letting the business evolve based on real-world traction—not hype.

As founders, you’ll be networking all the time so I highly recommend getting yourself a pack of Off the Record. Kate was kind enough to share a special discount code for Mimir listeners. So be sure to listen all the way through to grab the code—and check the episode description for a direct link.

This episode is for the founder who’s questioning the blueprint. Who’s not trying to copy someone else’s path. Who just wants to build something meaningful, even if it takes a little longer.

Because sometimes, one really good question can change everything.

Get Off The Record: playofftherecord.com/MIMIR10

Connect with Kate: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katarinaterentieva LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateterentieva/

Off The Record: https://www.instagram.com/playofftherecord/