As a startup founder, I know how hard it is to launch and grow a business. There are so many challenges, risks, and uncertainties that you have to face every day. You must learn new skills, solve problems, make decisions, and deal with stress and pressure.
That’s why I always look for ways to improve myself and my business. One of the best ways to do this is to listen to business podcasts, such as marketing and startup podcasts.
Startup podcasts are audio shows that cover topics related to entrepreneurship, innovation, and business growth. They feature interviews, stories, insights, and advice from successful founders, investors, experts, and influencers.
In this post, I’ll share the top six startup podcasts I listen to regularly and recommend to anyone looking for actionable insights to get their business off the ground.
What is a startup podcast?
A startup podcast is a type of podcast that focuses on topics related to starting, running, and growing a business. Similar to most podcasts, startup podcasts typically follow an episodic format, with creators releasing episodes at regular intervals, such as weekly or monthly.
A startup podcast can cover a variety of topics, such as:
- How to raise funding, manage your finances, and so on.
- How to validate and test your product or service.
- How to find and attract your target audience.
- How to come up with a business idea.
- How to market and sell your offer.
- How to build a newsletter for your target audience
A startup podcast can also come in different formats, such as:
- Interviews, where the host interviews a guest who shares their story, insights, and advice on a specific topic or aspect of entrepreneurship. Listening to interviews with founders is a great way to find the motivation to move forward when you’re feeling stuck.
- Reviews, where the host reviews a product, a service, a book, a tool, or a resource that’s relevant or useful for startups and entrepreneurs.
- Stories, where the host narrates or plays a recorded story of a founder or a startup that illustrates a lesson, a challenge, or a success.
- Advice, where the host answers questions from listeners or provides useful tips and strategies.
- Insights, where the host shares their perspective, opinion, or analysis on a topic or a trend.
Why listen to startup podcasts?
Join the 44% of business leaders in the know who prioritize podcasts. Listening to startup podcasts can have many benefits for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, such as:
- Entertainment: Finally, listening to startup podcasts can also be a fun and enjoyable experience. You can listen to them while driving, working out, cooking, or other activities. You can laugh, cry, or get excited with the host and the guests.
You can also discover new things, perspectives, and ideas that spark your curiosity and creativity.
- Motivation: Startup podcasts often offer advice and feedback from experts and mentors who can guide and support you. You can also connect with other listeners and join a community of like-minded people who can encourage you. Connections like these can go a long way in keeping you motivated during tough times.
- Education: All good podcasts leave a lesson. I can’t honestly remember listening to any startup podcast without learning at least one new thing about business, marketing, sales, finance, management, leadership, or something else.
- Inspiration: Listening to startup podcasts can inspire you to pursue your passion, follow your dreams, and take action.
How to choose the best startup podcast to listen to
There are hundreds of startup podcasts out there, and it can be overwhelming and confusing to choose the best one for you. To help you narrow down your options and find the perfect podcast for your needs and interests, here are some tips and criteria that you can use:
#1 Topic
The first thing to consider is the topic of the podcast. What are you interested in learning or hearing about? What challenges or problems are you facing or want to solve? What goals or outcomes do you want to achieve or improve? Choose a podcast that covers a relevant and valuable topic for you and your business.
#2 Quality
The best topic is worthless without proper execution, so look for podcasts that offer high-quality research, pungent interview questions, and thoughtful analysis. Also, ask yourself if the content is original, credible, and useful.
How good is the audio quality? All aspects of quality are important when you’re planning to commit 30–60 minutes or longer. You can assess quality by listening to some of the previous editions or by checking out user reviews.
#3 Format
The next thing to consider is the format of the podcast. How do you like to consume content? Do you prefer interviews, stories, insights, advice, or reviews? Do you like long or short episodes? Do you like solo or co-hosted shows? Choose a podcast that matches your preferred format and style.
Top 6 startup podcasts of 2024
Now that you know what a startup podcast is, why you should care, and how to choose the best one for you, it’s time to introduce you to the top six startup podcasts of 2024:
#1 My First Million
My First Million is one of my favorite podcasts. It’s hosted by Sam Parr, founder of The Hustle, one of the most popular newsletters and communities for entrepreneurs, and Shaan Puri, the founder of The Milk Road, a daily crypto newsletter.
In each episode, they brainstorm and discuss various business ideas, opportunities, and trends that can make you a million dollars or more. They also interview successful founders, investors, and operators who share their stories and insights into how they started and grew their businesses.
| Apple Podcast Rating: | 4.8 out of 2.2K ratings |
| Number of episodes: | 582 |
| Recent episode: | $250M Founder Reveals How The Rich Avoid Taxes (Legally) |
#2 Equity by TechCrunch
Equity by TechCrunch is a podcast produced by TechCrunch, a popular media outlet covering the latest news and stories in the tech industry. In each episode, the TechCrunch team and guests discuss the most important and interesting topics and trends in the tech and startup world, such as funding, acquisitions, IPOs, unicorns, and more.
Equity by TechCrunch is a podcast that gives you an insider’s perspective and analysis on the tech and startup scene.
| Apple Podcast Rating: | 4.2 out of 316 ratings |
| Number of episodes: | 600 |
| Recent episode: | The other side of AI hype |
#3 The Game with Alex Hormozi
The Game with Alex Hormozi is a podcast hosted by Alex Hormozi, who founded Gym Launch, a company that helps gym owners grow their businesses. In each episode, Alex shares his insights, strategies, and tactics for building a profitable and scalable business without sacrificing health, happiness, or relationships.
Alex also interviews other successful entrepreneurs, such as Russell Brunson, Grant Cardone, and Tom Bilyeu, who share their white-hat secrets and lessons on how to play and win the game of business.
| Apple Podcast Rating: | 4.9 out of 3.3K ratings |
| Number of episodes: | 664 |
| Recent episode: | The Path to Success: Delivering on Promises with Lewis Howes Pt. 2 |
#4 The Tim Ferriss Show
The Tim Ferriss Show is a podcast hosted by Tim Ferriss, the author of The 4-Hour Workweek, Tools of Titans, and Tribe of Mentors. In each episode, Tim interviews world-class performers from various fields, such as business, sports, arts, science, and more.
Tim deconstructs their habits, routines, and mindsets and extracts the tactics, tools, and tips you can apply to your life and work. The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the world’s most popular and influential podcasts, with over 600 million downloads and thousands of rave reviews.
| Apple Podcast Rating: | 4.6 out of 15.3K ratings |
| Number of episodes: | 719 |
| Recent episode: | Performance Coach Andy Galpin — Rebooting Tim’s Sleep, Nutrition, Supplements, and Training for 2024 |
#5 She Did It Her Way
She Did It Her Way is a podcast hosted by Amanda Boleyn, the founder, and CEO of She Did It Her Way, a platform that helps women entrepreneurs start and grow their own businesses. In each episode, Amanda interviews a female entrepreneur who’s done it her way, such as Alli Webb of Drybar, Sophia Amoruso of Girlboss, and Jen Sincero of You Are a Badass. They share their stories, journeys, struggles, and achievements. They also share their insights, advice, and tips on how to start and grow a business that aligns with your vision, values, and goals.
She Did It Her Way is a podcast that empowers and inspires women to pursue their passion and purpose. Still, it’s a source of learning and profound business insights for everyone looking for a hand getting their business off the ground.
| Apple Podcast Rating: | 4.9 out of 169 ratings |
| Number of episodes: | 489 |
| Recent episode: | Freelancer to Full-Time Entrepreneur with Emily Mills |
#6 The GaryVee Audio Experience
The GaryVee Audio Experience is a podcast hosted by Gary Vaynerchuk, the founder and CEO of VaynerMedia, a digital agency that works with some of the world’s biggest brands. Gary is an admirable guy. He saw the value in NFTs early on and created an entire brand, Vee Friends, around the idea of adding utility to NFTs.
In each episode, Gary shares his thoughts, opinions, and advice on various entrepreneurship-related topics, such as marketing, social media, personal branding, and more. Gary also answers questions from his audience, interviews guests, and documents his daily life and work. The GaryVee Audio Experience is a raw and authentic podcast that showcases Gary’s passion, energy, and charisma.
| Apple Podcast Rating: | 4.9 out of 1.9K ratings |
| Number of episodes: | 2,000 |
| Recent episode: | How To Take Risks The Right Way |
Runner-up startup podcasts
The above are my favorite startup podcasts, but there are a couple more that deserve an honorary mention:
StartUp Podcast, the OG
While startup podcasts are a separate category of podcasts, there are a couple of podcasts that take things literally. For example, the StartUp podcast by Gimlet Media was an old podcast that stopped publishing episodes in 2020, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gimlet Media is an award-winning podcasting company.
Alex Blumberg and Lisa Chow, who made excellent contributions to the startup community, hosted StartUp. However, it sometimes cast too wide a net, interviewing everything from entrepreneurs to members of the USPS pro cycling team, such as whistleblower Jonathan Vaughters, to country music stars like Shane McAnally and actors like Zach Braff.
It has even featured voting rights activist Desmond Meade and others. That said, it’s still an excellent resource for early-stage founders.
The Startup Podcast (TSP) Podcast
Another podcast with a similar name is The Startup Podcast, or TSP, hosted by Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad. This podcast is still running. Chris and Yaniv work together to guide listeners through the unique mindset of Silicon Valley and other tech startups.
Other startup podcasts
Other startup podcasts that deserve a quick mention are the Masters of Scale, Product Market Fit podcast, Business Wars, Marketer of the Month, Atlanta Startup Podcast (which has featured underrepresented founders like Collab Capital and Startup Runway), and How I Built This.
These are all excellent options for discovering valuable insights into how some of the biggest names in multiple industries successfully navigate the startup ecosystem.
Use your time wisely by listening to startup podcasts
You’ll find hundreds of startup podcasts online. I’ve found that while the bulk of the information most offer is standard and sometimes common knowledge for most business owners, the unique insights and experiences founders share on each podcast vary wildly.
So, if you feel overwhelmed by so many options, don’t worry. Just choose whichever you find more interesting and start listening. If you only get one valuable insight per day, in a year, you’ll have learned more than some people learn with a career education.
