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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
Covid-19
Unilever
Social Media Marketing
Tatcha
Small Business
Nike
Procter & Gamble
Bombas
Travel
American Express
Walmart
Franchising
Norma Kamali
Crumbl Cookies
Spinbrush

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 weeklyEpisodes864Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for How I Built This

Latest Episodes

Nicole Bernard Dawes spent much of her childhood hanging out in her dad’s potato chip factory on Cape Cod.

She liked his kettle-cooked chips a lot more than the flavorless snacks in her mom’s health food store. But when she started her own business,... more

Today’s callers: Cristopher from Chicago wants to expand his family’s salsa brand from farmers markets into retail. Next, Darcy in Australia considers adapting his protein bar brand’s messaging to reach beyond his core enthusiasts. Finally, Seema in ... more

Roy and Ryan were avid outdoorsmen who wanted a cooler that wouldn’t break.

So they built one themselves.

The result was YETI: a high-end cooler that early retailers thought nobody would buy. But serious outdoorsmen did—and eventually YETI escaped... more

Today’s callers: Shawn from Saskatchewan weighs whether brand-building or licensing is best for his card-based party game. Then Shirin in Texas wants to differentiate her graphic stationery in a crowded Etsy marketplace. And Mark from New Jersey work... more

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Recent Guests

Ryan Seiders
Co-founder of YETI, distributor-turned-CEO role partner
YETI
Episode: YETI: Roy and Ryan Seiders. How Two Brothers Turned a $400 Cooler Into a $2 Billion Brand
Roy Seiders
Co-founder of YETI, outdoorsman and designer
YETI
Episode: YETI: Roy and Ryan Seiders. How Two Brothers Turned a $400 Cooler Into a $2 Billion Brand
Laura Modi
Co-founder of Bobbie infant formula
Bobbie
Episode: Bobbie: Laura Modi. How a Baby Formula Startup Took Market Share From Two Industry Giants
Bobbi Brown
Founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Jones Road Beauty
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics / Jones Road Beauty
Episode: Advice Line with Bobbi Brown of Jones Road Beauty (September 2025)
Salma Fotovat
Co-founder of MadeGood, operations and procurement lead
MadeGood/Riverside Foods
Episode: MadeGood: Salma and Nima Fotovat Lost Their First Business. They Grew Their Next One Into a Snack Giant.
Nima Fotovat
Co-founder of MadeGood, younger generation leader
MadeGood/Riverside Foods
Episode: MadeGood: Salma and Nima Fotovat Lost Their First Business. They Grew Their Next One Into a Snack Giant.
Sandy Dininger
Founder of Brain Buffs
Brain Buffs
Episode: Advice Line: "Strategy Sessions"
Jeffrey Hollender
Co-founder of Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation
Episode: Advice Line: "Strategy Sessions"
Sarah LaFleur
Founder of MM LaFleur
MM LaFleur
Episode: Advice Line: "Strategy Sessions"

Host

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

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 42.7k ratings
  • Sun Bum/ Tom Rinks

    Great Story!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sholkey
    United States2 months ago
  • So inspiring and deep conversations, show of quality

    This is my favorite podcast, the contents are pure dry treasures, without any waste of time. Guy is so insightful, the questions he asks are right to the point, exactly what we want to know from those famous great entrepreneurs. I can’t speak highly enough of this show, you can immediately tell this is a show of quality.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    curry2727
    United States2 months ago
  • I play wow in the world instead are you the host of wow in the world

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pokémon cards Acess
    Australia2 months ago
  • Amazing

    You should totally do a Lego, Nintendo or Sony episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Book reader 97
    Canada2 months 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 States2 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
#26
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#48
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#22
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#34
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#40
Australia/Business
Apple Podcasts
#44
Italy/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

YETI: Roy and Ryan Seiders. How Two Brothers Turned a $400 Cooler Into a $2 Billion Brand
Q: How did you decide to move from distributing others' coolers to creating your own brand?
The move came from recognizing durability flaws in existing coolers and aligning with a trusted supplier to prototype a superior, rugged design. They iterated in the Philippines and then pursued a US-based production path to own the molds and control quality.
Advice Line with Carlton Calvin of Razor
Q: What should Shawn do to grow Youlogy beyond a Kickstarter and small local sales?
Focus on validating demand with a few units, consider licensing or publishing as a path, but prioritize proof of traction (sales volume, retailers asking to carry it) and selectively build out sales channels (trade shows, reps) while staying lean on SKUs.
MadeGood: Salma and Nima Fotovat Lost Their First Business. They Grew Their Next One Into a Snack Giant.
Q: How did you decide to pivot from co-packing to building your own brand and manufacturing capability?
We recognized the value of owning our supply chain and the long-term control over quality, safety, and allergen-free claims, so we invested in a vertically integrated facility while continuing to leverage contract manufacturing to fund the brand in the early stages.
Bobbie: Laura Modi. How a Baby Formula Startup Took Market Share From Two Industry Giants
Q: How did Laura decide to enter the infant formula business while pregnant?
She identified a market opportunity after researching formula ingredients, realized US standards lagged Europe, and chose to pursue a mission-driven venture, initially building a team and supporting her idea with pilots before seeking funding.
Advice Line with Chris Riccobono of UNTUCKit
Q: What should Adrian focus on to turn Eras Shorts into a mainstream brand instead of a niche product for volleyball players?
Define a scalable target audience, test a few channels that align with that audience (including non-traditional ones like volleyball-specific media or regional partnerships), and balance product development with a clear marketing strategy and potential fundraising to accelerate growth.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

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?

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1. Masters of Scale
2. Planet Money
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. The Daily
5. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

How many episodes of How I Built This are there?

How I Built This launched 10 years ago and published 864 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. Ryan Seiders
2. Roy Seiders
3. Laura Modi
4. Bobbi Brown
5. Salma Fotovat
6. Nima Fotovat
7. Sandy Dininger
8. Jeffrey Hollender

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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