Here are the best podcasts I listened to this month. If you’re looking for my top recommendation, scroll to the very bottom.
Show: How I Built This
Episode: Glossier – Emily Weiss (Live Episode!)
How I Built this is always a great listen for anyone interested in how businesses get built from day one. Weiss created Glossier after recognizing a problem with the beauty industry – most brands made their products for retailers, not for people. Brands were concerned with filling the needs that stores wanted, and this created an opportunity.
After taking an internship at Teen Vogue (a position offered to her through her babysitting gig as a teenager), Weiss started a beauty blog. Into The Gloss is now a household name, and she’s created products and a direct to consumer distribution network that’s grown into a huge business.
She’s managed to grow Glossier into 180+ employees, and the company has been valued at close to $400 million in just 4 years since launching. If you’ve ever found yourself trying to find an audience for your product or service, this episode is required listening.
Her advice for someone listening to the podcast with their own idea:
Just do it. Be curious and be courageous. Starting is like going on a date: it’s either a good date, or it’s a good story.
Listen here:
Show: Business Wars
Episode: Netflix vs Blockbuster: Season One
First off, if you don’t know the production company behind Business Wars, you should get to know them. Wonderly is a podcast production company that’s putting out some of the best content on the web. This is the first series I’ve ever highlighted from Wonderly, but there will be more to follow.
Like most of their shows, Business Wars is a great premise. It examines the most famous battles that have played out in the business world, like Nike vs. Adidas, Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi, and their first season: Netflix vs. Blockbuster.
The production value is fantastic – you’ll feel like you’re right in the boardroom with Reed Hastings as he makes some of the biggest decisions of his career.
Listen here:
Show: Hidden Brain
Episode: Close Enough
Hidden Brain is a great show. The host, Shankar Vedantam, uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.
This episode explores the dangers and delights of living vicariously. If you’ve ever gone down the YouTube rabbit hole of how to videos, read copious articles on “how to wake up early”, or watched the Kardashians on repeat, you’re going to enjoy this episode. It’s all about active vs. passive participation in life.
Listen here:
Show: One Plus One
Episode: Lennon and McCartney – Eyeball to Eyeball
This is a brand new series from Wonderly. They’re doing seasons on the best duos in music, sports, film, etc. Season One is on John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with a new episode releasing every Tuesday and Thursday. So far it’s been great. A really clever theme for a podcast.
Show: Planet Money
Episode: Our Valentine’s 2019
The staff at Planet Money talks about all the things they fell in love with over the last year. There’s the Fyre Festival documentaries, an ad campaign from the Bank of Jamaica, and a bunch of other cool stuff.
Show: The Daily
Episode: Why Controlling 5G Could Mean Controlling The World
This has been big news here in Vancouver (which the show gets into). Huawei is a Chinese company leading the 5G race, and the USA isn’t happy about it. This episode is a great rundown for anyone unfamiliar with the issue.
Show: How I Built This
Episode: Southwest Airlines – Remembering Herb Kelleher
I’m really getting into How I Built This. They have so many interviews with amazing people, and this one didn’t disappoint. Herb Kelleher is a business legend. He’s full of amazing stories and offers a unique perspective. There are so many gems in this episode. This is probably the best podcast I listened to this month.
Happy listening! Need more podcast recommendations? Here’s what I loved in January 2019.