8 Brilliant Podcasts to Inspire Entrepreneurs

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things to do when I’m on a long drive, on a run, or working around the house is listen to podcasts. There are so many quality programs out there these days that it’s impossible to find time to listen to them all.

For me, I enjoy listening to the podcasts that motivate me to “level up” and push myself. I want to hear stories that inspire me and advice that flips the switch in my brain. So, without further ado, here is a list of eight leadership and business podcasts that range a gamut of styles and topics that I believe achieve one primary goal: inspiring the entrepreneur in you!

podcastsforentrepreneurs-bingeworthypodcasts-businesspodcasts.jpg

8 Binge-Worthy Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

Business Wars by Wondery

Netflix versus Blockbuster. Nike versus Adidas. Marvel versus DC. Business Wars covers the stories of the most notorious iconic corporate rivalries of the modern world. From boardrooms to courtrooms, this podcast takes a look at the ideas, innovations, races, and battles between our biggest business rivals—and what drives their leaders to win.

You Are Not So Smart

You Are Not So Smart is all about re-evaluating why we think the way we think. David McRaney, host, started the podcast after discovering concepts like confirmation bias and self-enhancing fallacies after spending too much time reading and watching news without skepticism and, in his words, feeling, “like a smartypants.” When he discovered his own shortcomings in critical thinking, the revelation that he was biased made him feel stupid.

The podcast focuses on psychology and opening up the mind to our flawed perceptions and reasoning, exposing delusion, and teaching us how we can do much, much better in all areas of life.

The Pitch by Gimlet

If you have the true spirit of an entrepreneur, this podcast is for you. Each episode covers an entrepreneur with a pitch going through the gauntlet with investors putting it all on the line. This is the real experience with a look behind closed doors—the tough questions, the critical moments, all to see if they can acquire the money they need to make it all happen.

How I Built This by NPR

This is how some of the world’s best-known companies came to be, from the ground-up. From cosmetics empires to stock photo emporiums, these are the faces and stories behind the businesses we know, love, and admire. For anyone who dreams of owning a successful business, these insights are invaluable.

American Innovators by Wondery

Technological breakthroughs are moving at a faster pace seemingly than ever before. When we look back at the last 100 years, we see just how far we’ve come. Nuclear energy. DNA. Smartphones. 3-D printing. Siri and artificial intelligence. American Innovators looks at the advent of some of the most incredible inventions of our age—how they came to be and how they’ve changed our world.

The School of Greatness

This self-development podcast is one of the best around, featuring topics ranging from managing anxiety and stress and mastering your speaking skills, to answering the questions of what a well-lived life really is. It’s not so much about achieving wealth and earning money but about achieving a life that you love—and that’s something I can really get behind. And did I mention host Lewis Howes has managed to snag interviews with figures like Kobe Bryant, Tony Robbins, Tony Hawk, Elizabeth Smart, and more?

Loose Threads

Loose Threads is a fascinating podcast that explores the modern consumer’s world and economic climate through the eyes of up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Each episode interviews an entrepreneur as they discuss their story and how they are adapting to the changing trends in technology and consumer interests. Ultimately, through their stories, it helps us all stay ahead of the curve!

The Knowledge Project Podcast with Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project is about living deliberately. It aims to take the experiences and models of successful individuals to helps us expand how we think and do life so that we can experience life and work in more meaningful and productive ways. Like the You Are Not So Smart podcast, this program is great for rethinking how and why you do the things that you do, expanding your mind, and learning new approaches to your work and your life.

What podcasts do you love to listen to? Share your recommendations with me in the comments.