Being an entrepreneur or starting a business is an exciting thing, but it can be overwhelming. Before tapping into the business journey, it requires proper knowledge and skills to full-fledged conquer the business world. Like any other requirement, listening to podcasts is a wise thing to demonstrate a popular entrepreneur’s journey of failure and milestones. The article rigorously looked for the best 8 podcasts to explore before beginning this journey.
How I Built This
How I Built This, Hosted by Guy Raz, dives into the stories of the most successful entrepreneurs, idealists and innovators in the world. Ever since its launch in September 2016, Raz has invited a variety of business founders from different industries like tech, food, fashion and entertainment, where they share how they built their companies from the ground up (covering more than 200 successful entrepreneurs). From failures to triumphs, each episode uncovers the personal challenges and achievements behind well-known companies, including Patagonia, Airbnb and Spanx.
If you are a beginner thinking about starting your own journey of business, do not think twice about listening to How I Built This to receive more than just inspiration. It could offer practical lessons on resilience, creativity and solving problems. You will benefit from hearing about the hurdles these industry leaders witness and finding solutions they made to tackle them.
Hosts: Guy Raz
Website: https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this
New episode release: Weekly
Duration: 40 to 60 minutes
Demographic type: beginner to intermediate
Subjects addressed: entrepreneurial journeys, company founding stories, innovation.
The $100 MBA Show
If you are the person looking for actionable and concise business advice, The $100 MBA Show, hosted by Omar Zenhom, could be right for you, as it delivers just that. This show is more akin to a business school class, unlike traditional interview-based podcasts. Each episode is short, around 10 to 15 minutes and covers topics from different ranges. Marketing and sales strategies to productivity tips and leadership principles.
Zenhom’s approach makes this podcast a perfect fit for entrepreneurs who need quick and digestible lessons. His focus is on practical, no-nonsense advice to help new business owners grow their ventures without getting lost in any kind of jargon.
Hosts: Omar Zenhom
Website: https://open.spotify.com/show/6J5A3P56iEea67CcY2Egjn
New episode release: Daily
Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
Demographic types: Beginner to intermediate
Subjects addressed: Marketing sales, productivity, business strategies and leadership.
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss is widely known for his best-selling book, The 4-Hour Workweek, but his podcast is also influential. The Tim Ferriss Show features interviews with the best performers, from entrepreneurs to athletes and scientists. He dissects their habits, routines and initiatives for success in long-form conversations, running for about 2 hours.
For new entrepreneurs, this podcast is inevitable because Ferriss asks questions that focus on the granular details of guests, their routines and problem-solving techniques. You, too, can learn how high achievers optimise their time and deal with failure to apply to your own business.
Hosts: Tim Ferriss
Website: https://tim.blog/podcast/
New episode release: Bi-weekly
Duration: 1 to 2 hours
Demographic type: Intermediate to advanced
Subjects addressed: Personal growth, productivity, success habits, and entrepreneurship.
Masters of Scale
Masters of Scale is hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and it is dedicated to revealing how startups grow into global giants. Hoffman, who has scaled several businesses, brings top Chief executive Officers (CEOs) and founders from Facebook, Google and Airbnb to share their scaling strategies along the issues they witnessed along the way.
What sets this podcast apart is the host’s focus on how to grow a business’s sustainability while being innovative. The podcast is useful for entrepreneurs who have already started their businesses and are looking for ways to grow. But, early-stage entrepreneurs can learn about long-term planning and scalability.
Hosts: Reid Hoffman
Website: https://open.spotify.com/show/1bJRgaFZHuzifad4IAApFR
New episode release: Weekly
Running time: 30 to 45 minutes
Demographic type: intermediate to advanced
Subjects addressed: scaling startups, innovation and growth strategies.
Business Breakdowns
The podcast Business Breakdowns takes a deep look at specific companies and analyses how they operate. The focus is on financial business models. Colossus hosts the show, and each episode focuses on breaking down the inner workings of a business, including Tesla, McDonald’s and Shopify.
It is an excellent resource for entrepreneurs looking to understand the mechanics of benching successful businesses. Each episode is like a case study that offers insights into how companies are structured and how they make money, as well as how they adapt to changing marketing conditions.
Hosts: Colossus (Patrick O’Shaughnessy and others)
Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-breakdowns/id1559120677
New episode release: Weekly
Running time: 45 to 60 minutes
Demographic type: Intermediate to advanced
Subjects addressed: business models, financial, operational and case studies.
Business Wars
Business Wars categorises podcasts that offer something different from other business podcasts. It dramatises the fierce rivalries between competing enterprises. This podcast, hosted by David Brown, dives into the iconic business battels, including Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi, Netflix vs. Blockbuster and Nike vs. Adidas. The show pays attention to the completion and highlights the decisions and missteps that led to one company’s triumph and the decline of the other. Such insights can help entrepreneurs understand business competition and adapt based on the market.
Hosts: David Brown
Website: https://wondery.com/shows/business-wars/
New episode release: Weekly
Running time: 30 to 40 minutes
Demographic type: Beginners to intermediate
Subjects addressed: business competition, innovation and corporate rivalries.
HBR IdeaCast
HBR IdeaCast is produced by Harvard Business Review and covers a range of business topics, from leadership and management to sustainability. The show features interviews with leading thinkers and executives who offer research-backed insights into business trends. Podcasts from HBR IdeaCast can offer a strong foundation for entrepreneurs to address challenges and thrive in opportunities.
Hosts: Alison Beard, Curt Nickisch
Website: https://hbr.org/2018/01/podcast-ideacast
New episode release: Weekly
Running time: 20 to 30 minutes
Demographic type: Intermediate to admired
Subjects addressed: leadership, management, innovation, sustainability and business theory.
The GaryVee Audio Experience
GaryVee, or Gary Vaynerchuk, is a serial entrepreneur and internet personality who brings his energetic style to The GaryVee Audio Experience. This podcast presents a blend of keynote speeches, interviews and candid business advice for hustlers and go-getters who want to take their business to the next level.
Hosts: Gary Vaynerchuk
Website: https://garyvaynerchuk.com/podcast/
New episode release: Daily
Running time: 15 to 60 minutes
Demographic type: Beginner to intermediate
Subjects addressed: Social media marketing, entrepreneurship, motivation, business growth and personal branding.
FAQ
What type of entrepreneurs can benefit from these podcasts?
These podcasts cater to both beginner and experienced entrepreneurs, offering lessons on starting, scaling, and sustaining a business.
Are these podcasts available free?
Yes, all the mentioned podcasts are available free on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and their respective websites.
How long are the episodes typically?
The length varies from short 10-minute episodes to long-form 2-hour conversations, allowing flexibility based on the listener’s time.
What are the main topics covered in these podcasts?
Topics range from entrepreneurship, leadership, scaling strategies, productivity tips, to financial breakdowns of companies.
Can I gain practical business advice from these podcasts?
Yes, many episodes provide actionable insights, lessons, and strategies directly applicable to running or starting a business.
Which podcast should I listen to if I have limited time?
The $100 MBA Show” is ideal for quick, digestible lessons with episodes lasting around 10-15 minutes.
Are these podcasts suitable for early-stage entrepreneurs?
Yes, podcasts like “How I Built This” and “Masters of Scale” offer valuable insights for entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey.
Do these podcasts cover failures and challenges?
Absolutely, many episodes dive into the personal struggles and failures that entrepreneurs faced on their journey to success.
