Rephonic
Artwork for Business History

Business History

Pushkin Industries
Thomas Edison
Southwest Airlines
Warren Buffett
Louis Le Prince
War Of the Currents
Airline Industry
Henry Ford
Regulatory Capture
Deregulation
Berkshire Hathaway
World War II
Sears
Silicon Valley
Ford Motor Company
Invention Factory
Texas
Herb Kelleher
Nikola Tesla
1970s
Alternating Current

It’s the history of business. How did Hitler’s favorite car become synonymous with hippies? What got Thomas Edison tangled up with the electric chair? Did someone murder the guy who invented the movies? Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small and find out what you can learn from those who founded them.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes33Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryBusiness

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Artwork for Business History

Latest Episodes

Shopping used to be adversarial. Shoppers and store owners would bargain and haggle over prices. What one person got for $1, the next guy bought for £1.25. And there were no returns. It was unfair and stressful - and made shoppers distrustful that th... more

Why have so many tiny start-ups come from nowhere to take down huge established corporations? Is it because the incumbents were dumb? Harvard Business School professor Clayton M Christensen decided to explore these David versus Goliath battles - and ... more

At a time when women couldn't vote or freely enter the workplace, Ida Tarbell took on the richest man in America and triumphed. Ida grew up in the Pennsylvania oil fields of the 1870s, and saw how John D Rockefeller and his company Standard Oil bough... more

Benjamin Franklin had a full life - he was a scientist, statesman, and a Founding Father. But we're looking at the huge impact he had as a writer of best-selling business books. Franklin first picked up the pen as a poor, downtrodden teenager to writ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kara Swisher
Journalist and tech commentator
New York Magazine / Recode (as applicable)
Episode: The Business of Staying Young and Living Forever (with Kara Swisher)
Adam Grant
Organizational psychologist, Wharton professor
The Wharton School
Episode: From SNAFU with Ed Helms: Adam Grant and The OG Ponzi Scheme
Stacey Banach-Smith
Host of Everybody's Business (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
Episode: Betting on Taylor Swift or Who'll Be Made Pope: The Past and Present of Prediction Markets
Max Chavkin
Host of Everybody's Business (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
Episode: Betting on Taylor Swift or Who'll Be Made Pope: The Past and Present of Prediction Markets

Hosts

Jacob Goldstein
Host of Business History
Robert Smith
Co-host of the show

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 148 ratings
  • Good show, tons of ads

    The content of the show is great but make sure you have a free hand available while listening to skip all of the ads. Hearing the same ad three times in one podcast gets old quick.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CKCKCK19
    United States18 days ago
  • Love the pod, just one thing

    I am a new listener and love the content and the hosts. Please, please, please stop saying “right” after every other sentence.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    PitterPatter208
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great content, a little unpolished

    I’m only a few episodes in and really like the stories. Great info. Production is too casual for my taste. Goofy segues and far too many uses of the word “like”. My pet peeve. Maybe a little more scripting or editing. Too many ads but I’ll subscribe if the episodes get a little more polished.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jòoooooohhhhhhn
    United Statesa month ago
  • Just Business

    about a 3rd of the show feels like ads. the episodes arent that long so its feeling pretty egregious

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Deadza
    United States2 months ago
  • so good

    Smart, tight, and fun. I learn something and feel like I’m hanging out with two friends. This show is excellent

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Histlover482
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Love the chemistry and storytelling between hosts—keeps history entertaining and insightful.
The episodes mix depth with approachable narration, great for learning without feeling dense.
A few listeners note strong production and well-chosen guests that add credibility.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#149
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#55
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#182
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#105
Australia/Business
Apple Podcasts
#40
New Zealand/Business
Apple Podcasts
#60
Ireland/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From SNAFU with Ed Helms: Adam Grant and The OG Ponzi Scheme
Q: What red flags should people watch for in potential scams?
Look for inconsistencies in the story, the presence of excessive charm, misaligned incentives, and the way the promoter handles risk and accountability, which together tend to reveal manipulation and a lack of sustainable business practice.
From SNAFU with Ed Helms: Adam Grant and The OG Ponzi Scheme
Q: How do you define organizational psychology and its practical applications?
Grant explains that organizational psychology studies how people behave at work and that the practical takeaway is improving work environments by understanding motivation, leadership, and decision-making to reduce errors and improve teamwork.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Business History

What is Business History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-forward show that blends narrative storytelling with in-depth exploration of how businesses, industries, and iconic brands shaped the economy. Across episodes, listeners encounter long-form stories—from the rise of global brands and insurance markets to transformative management practices and tech-driven industry shifts—told through engaging banter between the hosts and a mix of expert guests. The format prioritizes clear takeaways, memorable anecdotes, and historical context that reveals why certain business decisions mattered and how they still resonate today. Interesting throughlines include the evolution of corporate power, the mechanisms of risk and finance, and the social dynamics that propelled innovation. The show is likel... more

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How many listeners does Business History get?

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What are the audience demographics for Business History?

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How many subscribers and views does Business History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Business History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Business History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Business History:

1. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
2. Planet Money
3. What's Your Problem?
4. Against the Rules with Michael Lewis
5. The Indicator from Planet Money

How many episodes of Business History are there?

Business History launched 9 months ago and published 33 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Business History?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Business History?

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What guests have appeared on Business History?

Recent guests on Business History include:

1. Kara Swisher
2. Adam Grant
3. Stacey Banach-Smith
4. Max Chavkin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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