"Remote work wasn’t supposed to feel like this."

Back-to-back video calls? Endless scheduling? Team communication that never quite clicks? For most distributed teams, the dream of flexibility has turned into a calendar full of friction.

That’s the problem Katmai set out to solve, and in a recent episode of the Code Story podcast, Katmai CEO and Founder Erik Braund shares how he set about solving it: how the platform was born, what makes it different, and why now is the time to rethink remote collaboration.

Listen to the episode: Code Story – Spotify
Read the feature: Code Story Blog

From Back-to-Back Meetings to Real-Time Flow

In the episode, Erik explains that Katmai didn’t start with a product idea—it started with a frustration.
He and the team were tired of how hard it had become to connect and collaborate in a remote setting.

“We didn’t want to replicate the office—we wanted to rethink what it means to feel present with your team.”

Katmai was built from the ground up to replace disconnectedness and the rigid structure of meetings with something more natural:

• Spontaneous conversations
  
  
• Live leadership availability (OfficeHours)
  
  
• Immersive, branded workspaces 
  

What Makes Katmai Different

During the conversation, Erik highlights what sets Katmai apart from typical collaboration or video conferencing tools:

• No more Zoom fatigue: Instead of scheduling another meeting, teams can simply “drop in” when they need to connect.
  
  
• 3D immersive environments: Katmai creates a shared space where people feel present and connected—not just another floating video tile.
  
  
• Purpose-built for distributed work: Every feature, from OfficeHours to Offsites, is designed to help teams move faster without sacrificing connection.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

• Remote work is broken—and Katmai is building what comes next.
  
  
• Meetings aren’t the problem—over-scheduling is. Katmai replaces 71% of scheduled meetings with more spontaneous, high-trust communication.
  
  
• Presence matters. Video calls alone can’t recreate the energy of real collaboration.
  
  
• Speed wins. Distributed teams don’t need more tools—they need faster, more fluid ways to work together.

Why This Conversation Matters

As more companies shift to hybrid or fully remote work, the cracks in traditional workflows are becoming harder to ignore.
Katmai offers a better way forward—not by replicating the office, but by evolving it.

Whether you're building a global team or just trying to make your next meeting more productive, this episode is a great window into how bold ideas—and better tools—can reshape the way we work.

Listen and Share

This is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of work, remote culture, or building tools that truly support distributed teams.

 🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode
 📖 Read the Code Story feature
🚀 Start your free trial of Katmai