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Artwork for How I Built This

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Guy Raz | Wondery
Entrepreneurship
Airbnb
E-Commerce
Covid-19
Business Growth
Amazon
Nike
Unilever
Social Media Marketing
Tatcha
California
Small Business
American Express
Procter & Gamble
Bombas
Travel
Walmart
Franchising
Norma Kamali
Crumbl Cookies

Guy Raz interviews the world’s best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. In each episode, founders reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure, and share insights on their eventual success. How I Built This is a master-class on innovation, creativity, leadership and how to navigate challenges of all kinds.

New episodes release on Mondays and Thursdays.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes852Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for How I Built This

Latest Episodes

After waiting too long to pay his restaurant bill, Aman Narang thought there had to be a better way. His first idea—a mobile payment app—flopped.

But that failure revealed a much bigger opportunity.

Restaurants were struggling with outdated softwar... more

Today’s callers: Matt from New York City unpacks the stigma working against his line of foot wellness products. Then Emefa in Toronto seeks a direct relationship with customers of her fashion brand in the wake of a key retailer going out of business.... more

Tom Rinks got his start in the commission-only "shark tank" of midwestern furniture sales. That’s where he learned what makes customers buy. Decades later, those instincts helped him grow a joke of a side hustle into a $400 million success.

In 2009,... more

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams founder Jeni Britton joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, how Jeni’s newest venture Floura is tackling one of America’s largest dietary needs—fiber.

First, we meet J... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Krishna Kaliannan
Founder of Catalina Crunch
Catalina Crunch
Episode: Catalina Crunch: Krishna Kaliannan. From Homemade Keto Cocoa Puffs to Breakfast Aisle Breakthrough
Ronnen Harary
Co-founder of Spin Master, former co-CEO, later chairman
Spin Master
Episode: Advice Line with Ronnen Harary of Spin Master/PAW Patrol
Ann Williams
Founder of Yearly Co., a fine jewelry brand specializing in solid 14k gold bangles
Yearly Co.
Episode: Advice Line with Ronnen Harary of Spin Master/PAW Patrol
Felix Colon
Owner of Island Bee Company and Island Bee products
Island Bee Company
Episode: Advice Line with Ronnen Harary of Spin Master/PAW Patrol
Matt Smith
Owner of Wandering Soul Beer and Hidden Path Brew
Wandering Soul Beer / Hidden Path Brew
Episode: Advice Line with Ronnen Harary of Spin Master/PAW Patrol
Stephen Starr
Founder of Starr Restaurants, restaurateur and designer
Starr Restaurants
Episode: STARR Restaurants: Stephen Starr. How a Non-Foodie Built Thriving Restaurants on Gut Instinct
Andrew Graff
Caller from Laguna Beach, soil product innovator
Self-initiated project
Episode: Advice Line with Shazi Visram of Happy Family Organics
Shazi Visram
Founder of Happy Family Organics and Healthy Baby
Happy Family Organics / Healthy Baby
Episode: Advice Line with Shazi Visram of Happy Family Organics
Maxine Clark
Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Episode: Build-A-Bear: Maxine Clark. A Former Shoe Executive Launches a Stuffed Animal Empire

Host

Guy Raz
Host known for interviewing founders; long-running series focused on founder journeys, branding, and growth.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 42.7k ratings
  • I play wow in the world instead are you the host of wow in the world

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pokémon cards Acess
    Australia19 days ago
  • Amazing

    You should totally do a Lego, Nintendo or Sony episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Book reader 97
    Canadaa month ago
  • Can’t believe YOBEE my favorite products was on!

    I heard Dr. Ruchi speak once before and was hooked to her story. I immediately bought the Yobee scalp mask and cream. I use all the products every day and so does my whole family! She is AMAZING and Yobee is even better. Loved hearing her story again! You are an inspiration Dr. Ruchi!!!

    Audible
    5
    John Maxwell
    United Statesa month ago
  • Something I would like to listen to but too badly executed to enjoy

    1. Host interrupts the speaker way too much.

    2. Why is there music playing and stopping throughout? It’s just distracting.

    3. Why do I need to be reminded at regular intervals what the podcast I’m listening to is called and what the hosts name is?

    For the love of God, take a page out of Chris Williamson’s book and learn how to host a podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    No to G-side
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Hi I’m listening to to wow in the world 🌎

    Super good and I’m only 10 years old🤪😜😝

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Harry prince I am not
    Canada2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is praised for thoughtful questions and deep-dive interviews with diverse industries.
Guests and host are seen as well-researched and credible, offering real-world insights for startups and marketers.
Some listeners feel the format relies too heavily on advertising or promotional content in certain episodes.
Listeners appreciate the breadth of founder stories and practical takeaways on branding and growth.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#30
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#47
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#19
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#50
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#16
France/Business
Apple Podcasts
#31
Italy/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Advice Line with Ronnen Harary of Spin Master/PAW Patrol
Q: What channels should Island Bee Company pursue to scale, and how should they balance B2B vs direct-to-consumer?
Ronnen suggests starting with B2B partnerships (corporate gifting, luxury hotels, weddings) to build a foundation and then consider gradual expansion into social channels, while the other speaker encourages leveraging social platforms like TikTok Shop but warns of potential operational chaos if demand surges too quickly.
Advice Line with Ronnen Harary of Spin Master/PAW Patrol
Q: What is your question for us?
The caller asks how to adapt pricing and marketing strategies given dramatic increases in material costs, with the goal of serving long-time customers while maintaining profitability.
Advice Line with Tim Ferriss (August 2025)
Q: If you had to focus on venues or the DTC side for Lauryn, which would you choose and why?
Tim suggested prioritizing wholesale for a period to build a durable revenue stream and brand partnerships, while maintaining a lean, test-driven approach to the other channel.
Advice Line with Susan Griffin-Black of EO Products
Q: What is a practical way to grow a Barbados-based coffee brand internationally from a small island?
Agree on a staged expansion strategy: maximize Caribbean island distribution first to prove concept, then target selective regional grocers and eventually major markets like the US and UK, offering a strong island-brand story and consistent quality to drive demand.
Advice Line with Susan Griffin-Black of EO Products
Q: How should Peter approach expanding South African wine into other markets beyond California?
The panel advises a focused, regional rollout—start in Chicago and other major culturally aligned markets, train distributors and sales teams, and use storytelling around quality and heritage to move premium wines into Michelin-level restaurants and specialty stores.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About How I Built This

What is How I Built This about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on founder-led storytelling, examining how iconic brands were created and scaled through persistence, experimentation, and smart go-to-market decisions. Episodes frequently explore branding, distribution, partnerships, and operational bets across consumer goods, tech, retail, and services, with real-world examples from franchising to DTC and marketplace strategies. A notable strength is the mix of deep, candid journeys from well-known entrepreneurs and actionable takeaways on building and sustaining growth, brand purpose, and customer experience. Listeners can expect practical lessons on storytelling, product positioning, and navigating capital and partnerships, often illustrated with diverse industry case studies.

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How many subscribers and views does How I Built This have?

To see how many followers or subscribers How I Built This 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 How I Built This?

These podcasts share a similar audience with How I Built This:

1. Freakonomics Radio
2. Masters of Scale
3. My First Million
4. Planet Money
5. Founders

How many episodes of How I Built This are there?

How I Built This launched 10 years ago and published 852 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 How I Built This?

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 How I Built This?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for How I Built This from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on How I Built This?

Recent guests on How I Built This include:

1. Krishna Kaliannan
2. Ronnen Harary
3. Ann Williams
4. Felix Colon
5. Matt Smith
6. Stephen Starr
7. Andrew Graff
8. Shazi Visram

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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