Improve Your Knowledge and Liven Your Commute with these Seven Great Business Podcasts

The popularity of podcasts has exploded over the last few years. What started out as a medium mainly used by amateur bloggers has grown into a phenomenon that has resulted in the recording of over 29 million individual episodes.

Business is an especially well-populated podcast niche. There are many great podcasts available from both independent creators and industry heavyweights like Bloomberg and the BBC. The shows cover pretty much every business topic out there, from the latest theories in management and investing, to interviews with some of the foremost minds in the industry.

In this article, we’ve chosen seven of our favourite business podcasts and listed why each one is worth a listen.

The Bottom Line

“The Bottom Line” is a BBC podcast in which host Evan Davis discusses issues relating to the business world. It’s a magazine-style podcast, and each episode features different guests offering their points of view on the subject at hand.

Recent highlights include episodes that explore the similarities between commerce and crime and whether the investment industry is based on luck or judgement. Its an intriguing section of topics and each podcast goes into just enough detail to be useful, without boring you with the finer details.

Episodes are around 30 minutes, meaning they get straight to the point and are easy to fit into your day. Put one on at the start of your commute, and it’s likely you’ll be finished before you arrive at work.

If you enjoy “The Bottom Line” you can also check out other business podcasts from the BBC that include Business Daily, Business Matters, The Disrupters, and The Tech Tent.  

Eat Sleep Work Repeat

“Eat Sleep Work Repeat” differentiates itself from other business podcasts by focusing on happiness and work culture. Episodes feature tips and theories about work culture and how to create a happier, more enjoyable working environment at your company.

Each episode features input from experts and insights gained from the latest scientific research. There is little fluff in the podcast.

Recent episodes include those exploring ideas such as whether laughter is the root of good culture and an inside look at the working culture of Amazon warehouses.

The Pitch

“The Pitch” is the perfect podcast for fans of TV shows like Dragon’s Den. Each episode follows a set of entrepreneurs as they try to sell their idea to potential investors. The pitches featured in the podcast are real, meaning it is an interesting look behind the scenes at a high-pressure business situation.

Beyond this, it is also a good way to see the types of ideas startups are working on and what investors are putting their money into.

While most episodes of “The Pitch” focus on the pitching process, there are also follow up podcasts that look at how companies featured in previous episodes are currently performing.

Harvard Business Review Idea Cast

“IdeaCast” is a weekly podcast from the Harvard Business Review that explores topics related to management and business. Each episode features an expert in their field discussing the latest theories.

The knowledge brought by these experts and the clout of the Harvard Business Review means the podcast can go into detail on the topics it discusses. This makes it perfect for those looking to upgrade their business knowledge.

Some of the most recent articles include those on how robots and AI are changing job training, how to thrive as a working parent, and improving your critical thinking at work; it’s an informative listen. 

Business Wars

In the “Business Wars” podcast, host David Brown tells the stories of some of history’s biggest business rivalries and those involved. The show looks at how the competition amongst companies pushed these people towards success or, in some cases, ruin.

The host’s enthusiasm for the subject matter, as well as the focus on the personal relationships of those involved in the stories, makes the podcast an interesting listen as does the fact that the stories mostly relate to brands that are household names.

Rivalries recently explored by the company include Gibson vs Fender, Netflix vs Blockbuster, and Marvel vs DC.

Bloomberg Masters in Business

Bloomberg’s “Master in Business” podcast focuses mostly on finance and investing. In each episode, host Barry Ritholtz invites a giant in the world of finance and investing to share their expertise. Previous guests have included professors, chief investment officers, researchers, and journalists.

Bloomberg releases the podcast every week, and the series goes back to 2014, meaning there are a ton of episodes available to get stuck into. Recent topics discussed on the podcast include asset management, robo-advisors, and real-estate investment.

NPR’s How I Built This

In “How I Built This”, host Guy Raz looks at the stories behind how some of the world’s most well-known companies were built. It looks at the motivation of the founders, as well as all the hiccups and successes they had along the way. Each episode is an hour-long and focuses on a single company.

The podcast features a wide variety of businesses across many industries. Recent episodes include the story of Dyson, Shopify, and BOOMCHICKAPOP — a kettle corn business that recently sold for a reported $250 million. The podcast is great for those looking for inspiration for building their own company as well as those simply looking to be entertained for an hour.

Wrapping Up The above podcasts represent a selection of the best business podcasts available. Best of all, they are all available for free on your regular podcast apps. Just click on the links in the article to check them out.