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Artwork for Business History

Business History

Pushkin Industries
Thomas Edison
Southwest Airlines
Warren Buffett
Berkshire Hathaway
Airline Industry
War Of the Currents
Louis Le Prince
Henry Ford
Regulatory Capture
Deregulation
World War II
Silicon Valley
Sears
Ford Motor Company
General Motors
Wall Street
Volkswagen
Texas
Invention Factory
Herb Kelleher

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes49Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessHistory

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Artwork for Business History

Latest Episodes

In the late 1800s, a Russian immigrant named Samuel Zemurray spent nearly everything he had on a load of bananas, and turned it into a fortune. But Sam the Banana Man wasn’t just a business titan. He was a puppeteer on the geopolitical stage, bankrol... more

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We're here with a preview of Blockers, a new audiobook from Michael Lewis, the author of Liars Poker, Moneyball, The Big Short and more. In Blockers, Lewis tells the story of a handful of people who dedicated their careers to public service—until the... more

Business History is off this week, so we wanted to keep you entertained with a rerun, in case you missed our Beetle episode the first time around. (You can help us win a Signal Award for this episode by voting here.)

The VW Beetle was the biggest s... more

Wayne Huizenga came from a long line of trash collectors. It was a rough, fragmented, mom-and-pops business which notoriously attracted mobsters. But Huizenga set out to buy his small competitors - to roll them up - to form the biggest waste manageme... more

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Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

What's Your Problem?
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Revisionist History
Revisionist HistoryPushkin Industries

Recent Guests

Tim Harford
Host of Cautionary Tales, guest on this crossover episode
Cautionary Tales
Episode: The DeLorean Saga: Fraud, Drug Deals and Marty McFly's Car
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 the show, co-host on Business History; associated with Pushkin Industries / Business History.
Robert Smith
Co-host; often provides analysis and context; associated with Pushkin Industries / Business History.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 357 ratings
  • Always interesting

    Always fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mykb
    Canada5 days ago
  • Taking AI money

    Update: After nearly a year and so many outcries against AI, it is time to escalate the outrage against the preeminent existential threat mammals have faced in 65 million years—AI. Even the inventor agrees. How much more is this podcast embedded with AI? They have a sponsor that is pushing AI. Do they have the moral turpitude to separate the sponsor from the content? They have NOT addressed this head-on, so I doubt it. I hope I am proven wrong.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    etherdog
    United States5 days ago
  • Informative

    Podcast Addict
    5
    kokella
    5 days ago
  • The best

    Business History has slowly become my favorite podcast. Delightfully nerdy with great chemistry between Jacob and Robert. And I learn a lot to boot

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SoulTracks
    United States11 days ago
  • stop shilling slop

    So tired of the copious chatgpt commercials from Goldstein on all the Pushkin shows. it makes me cringe at his voice now.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Worx2
    United States17 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Critiques note excessive ads and occasional production rough edges, but loyalty remains high.
Listeners praise the educational value and accessible history lessons.
The show's storytelling is engaging and informative, with strong host chemistry.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#203
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#133
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#159
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#183
Australia/Business
Apple Podcasts
#154
Hong Kong/Business
Apple Podcasts
#159
South Africa/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?

History meets business in accessible, story-driven explorations of how firms, markets, and iconic inventions shaped the modern world. Across episodes, two hosts dissect pivotal moments in economics, entrepreneurship, and industry, weaving narrative flair with clear takeaways about strategy, funding, regulation, and innovation. Notable strengths include lively banter, well-researched anecdotes, and a knack for turning complex history into practical lessons for curious listeners and practitioners alike. A recurring edge is the blend of business history with cultural context, making it appealing to both history buffs and professionals seeking fresh perspectives on how organizations succeed—or fail over time.

Where can I find podcast stats for Business History?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Business History. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Business History and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. Against the Rules with Michael Lewis
3. What's Your Problem?
4. Planet Money
5. Revisionist History

How many episodes of Business History are there?

Business History launched a year ago and published 49 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Business History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Business History?

Recent guests on Business History include:

1. Tim Harford
2. Kara Swisher
3. Adam Grant
4. Stacey Banach-Smith
5. 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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