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Artwork for How I Built This

How I Built This with Guy Raz

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

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 weeklyEpisodes875Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for How I Built This

Latest Episodes

Today’s callers: Mercedes in Utah tries to find harmony between quality and speed as she scales her concert attire brand for musicians. Then Danny in Colorado grapples with the tradeoffs of growing his sustainable and functional coffee brand. And Riy... more

Stories about starting a business are almost always full of drama. They’re about ambition, loss, triumph, catastrophe, resilience. And they’re also full of life lessons – which is why Guy Raz launched How I Built This 10 years ago: He wanted to host ... more

CEO and co-founder of Boll & Branch, Scott Tannen joins Ring founder Jamie Siminoff and Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Jamie and Guy talk about how creating repeat customers often comes from cre... more

With its eco-friendly paper towels, diapers, and cleansers, Seventh Generation was one of the first—and most successful—green household brands to hit the market. But in the early 1990s, its two founders had a bitter falling out.

Alan Newman and Jeff... 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

Scott Tannen
Co-founder, Boll & Branch
Boll & Branch
Episode: Advice Line with Scott Tannen of Boll & Branch and Jamie Siminoff of Ring (2025)
Alan Newman
Co-founder of Seventh Generation; later founded Magic Hat Brewing
Seventh Generation (past) / Magic Hat Brewing
Episode: Seventh Generation: Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender. A Partnership that Flourished—until it Failed. (2021)
Jade Taylor
Co-founder of Angel Oak Smokehouse
Angel Oak Smokehouse
Episode: Advice Line with Danny Meyer of Shake Shack
Janell Bass
Co-founder of Ponyboy Slings
Ponyboy Slings
Episode: Advice Line with Danny Meyer of Shake Shack
Brian Rudolph
Co-founder of Banza, pasta innovator
Banza
Episode: Banza: Brian Rudolph. The Chickpea Pasta That Nearly Turned to Mush
Karissa Bodnar
Founder, Thrive Cosmetics
Thrive Cosmetics
Episode: Thrive Causemetics: Karissa Bodnar. How a Beauty Business Made Millions for a Mission
Kaitlin Keo
Founder and CEO of Kaomi Sleep
Kaomi Sleep
Episode: Advice Line with Kip Tindell of The Container Store
Kip Tindell
Co-founder and former CEO of The Container Store
The Container Store
Episode: Advice Line with Kip Tindell of The Container Store
Juliette Bruce
Founder and creator of CoolaWand
CoolaWand
Episode: Advice Line with Kip Tindell of The Container Store

Host

Guy Raz
Host of the show with a focus on entrepreneurship, branding, and growth stories.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 42.8k ratings
  • No longer great

    Too predictable with AI slop click bait titles and excessive ads . Much better options are available now.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Chemist-1
    United Statesa month ago
  • Inspirational and thought-provoking

    Guy knows how to interview people to get the real story but also keep it entertaining. I love the content and the style.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GoldenGal007
    United Statesa month ago
  • My favorite podcast

    My husband and I each own our own businesses. Love this podcast. I don’t think I’ve missed an episode ever! Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sisuskier
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love it

    I have listened to ever episode in order 10000/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ljws25
    United States2 months ago
  • Sun Bum/ Tom Rinks

    Great Story!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sholkey
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests bring a mix of founder stories and actionable branding/tactical advice.
The host asks thoughtful questions and surfaces practical lessons for founders.
Listener feedback often highlights high production value and in-depth industry insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#32
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#34
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#30
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#60
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#45
Australia/Business
Apple Podcasts
#62
France/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Advice Line with Scott Tannen of Boll & Branch and Jamie Siminoff of Ring (2025)
Q: What should Melita consider when deciding bootstrap vs. taking on investors?
Bootstrap to preserve control, but if growth requires capital, structure the deal so you maintain as much control as possible and align with investors on growth milestones.
Advice Line with Michelle Wahler of Beyond Yoga
Q: What should a re-engagement plan look like after initial missteps with clients?
Start with an apology, explain what changed, prove with improved delivery, and re-enter with a small project to regain trust.
Advice Line with Michelle Wahler of Beyond Yoga
Q: How should the business handle follow-ups after calls to convert inquiries into bookings?
Tips include sending a reading list or sample syllabus, providing a clear value proposition, and following up with a structured sales path.
Advice Line with Michelle Wahler of Beyond Yoga
Q: What is your question for us?
The caller Carrie asks for advice on creating urgency to convert interest into enrollment for Elective Study Abroad programs.
Thrive Causemetics: Karissa Bodnar. How a Beauty Business Made Millions for a Mission
Q: And it's a friend of yours, a woman named Christy Lamond. Tell me, who's Christy? What's the story?
Christy was a lifelong friend whose battle with cancer inspired Bodnar to ensure Thrive Cosmetics would help women facing similar challenges. Christy's passing became the catalyst for turning a passion for beauty into a mission to give back and support cancer patients, shaping the brand's purpose from the outset.

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 How I Built This

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

A show that profiles iconic founders and brand builders, focusing on the gritty realities of turning ideas into enduring businesses. Episodes often center on branding, growth strategies, product development, fundraising, partnerships, and leadership under pressure, with guests spanning consumer goods, fashion, tech, hospitality, and education-technology spaces. Notable angles include how founders navigate cash flow, go-to-market tactics, and governance while maintaining a distinctive brand voice. The format blends practical coaching, founder stories, and real-world examples, offering listeners tangible lessons to apply to their own ventures. A standout strength is the mix of veteran entrepreneurs and breakout founders, delivering actionable... more

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Which podcasts are similar to How I Built This?

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

1. Acquired
2. Masters of Scale
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. Planet Money
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of How I Built This are there?

How I Built This launched 10 years ago and published 875 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on How I Built This?

Recent guests on How I Built This include:

1. Scott Tannen
2. Alan Newman
3. Jade Taylor
4. Janell Bass
5. Brian Rudolph
6. Karissa Bodnar
7. Kaitlin Keo
8. Kip Tindell

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