For the entrepreneurs, dreamers, and innovators
NPR’s Guy Raz interviews innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists on the movements they built. I started off by listening to the conversations with the founders of some of my favorite brands such as Rent the Runway and Starbucks, but each episode truly leaves me feeling so inspired and motivated. We typically only see big wins in the headlines— Airbnb going public, Ring getting acquired by Amazon, or Peloton experiencing record sales — but we never hear about the hardships that every single entrepreneur and company had to overcome to get to where they are today. When the founders of Airbnb pitched their idea to venture capitalists, 25 of 75 investors responded to their email, 10 agreed to meet over coffee, and ultimately 0 invested. The co-founders ended up selling politically-themed cereal in order to pay back $30K in credit card debt… that’s just the beginning of one episode. This podcast is so relevant to entrepreneurs going through hardships, young adults looking to feel inspired, and anyone who wants to learn more about some of the most impactful societal changes and modern movements. Here are some of my favorite episodes you can start off with: Airbnb, Rent the Runway, Starbucks, Spanx, Kendra Scott, Impossible Foods, DoorDash
This Robinhood podcast is the only podcast I listen to every single day. Nick and Jack break down the top 3 business stories of the day in 15 minutes. They make things so easy to understand, and so enjoyable to learn about. They are hilarious and conversational, so it feels like I’m talking to two of my good friends from college. The recent Best of 2020 episode covered the top 3 stories of 2020, including why investors consider Tesla to be a ‘young avocado tree.’
Land of the Giants is a fascinating podcast on how the tech giants have impacted the world in various ways. Season 1 covers Amazon, and Season 2 covers Netflix. This was the first time I ever “binge-listened” to an entire podcast in two days. In Season 2 about Netflix, you’ll hear from its founders, top executives, competitors, and critics, covering everything from its early battle with Blockbuster, its disruption of Hollywood, and the upcoming streaming wars. Netflix went from mailing customers DVDs to transforming the entire entertainment industry, and the way this series goes through the ups and downs of the Netflix journey is so entertaining and informative. Both seasons of Land of the Giants have been extremely thought-provoking, and I’m hoping to see more seasons to come on the rest of the tech giants!
Favorite episodes: Who Really Killed Blockbuster Video?, World War Stream, and Netflix vs. Hollywood
Check out my Bookshlf for more of my favorite podcast episodes, and let me know what your favorite pods are!
