Podcasts encourage multitasking, allowing you to listen while washing the dishes, walking the dog, or while waiting for your kid in the carpool line. If you’re looking to expand your business, learn from top international experts, or start taking charge of your work and life in a more fulfilling way, business podcasts can help you get started. The thing that many people love most about podcasts is the intimacy of listening to someone repeatedly through speakers. You begin to feel a deep connection with the host, and if you listen to business podcasts enough, you might even want to start one of your own. They won’t do the hard work for you, but they might give you the motivation and insight you need to succeed.
Best Quick Take: The Indicator
From the team that brought you the beloved Planet Money podcast, this show aims to explain topics in the news in less time than it takes you to eat your breakfast and drink your first cup of coffee in the morning. The hosts pick an indicator, such as something in a recent jobs report or a statistic from a recent study, and bring in exciting experts, everyday people, and case studies from around the world to help explain how the chosen indicator fits into the larger global economic story. Common topics include unemployment and job availability, political factors that impact local and national economies, and how trade policy will impact everyday Americans.
Best for Women: The BizChix
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Designed for women
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Regular weekly schedule
If you’re a female entrepreneur feeling like you need guidance and community on your rise to the top, this is the show for you. In addition to the solid business advice you’ll find in the other shows on this list, this podcast provides advice tailored specifically to the challenges women face in today’s workplace. The host of the show is career coach Natalie Eckdahl, who has three children and runs a large community for female entrepreneurs. As such, she’s an expert at figuring out how to outsource different home and career tasks to maximize their efficiency as well as helping individuals craft a growth-oriented mindset that will serve them well for generations to come.
Best for Minority Businessmen and Women: Brown Ambition
This weekly podcast is hosted by two superstar financial reporters, Mandi Woodruff and Tiffany Aliche. While both specialize in helping individuals craft workable personal budgets, the show also focuses on building financial freedom, balancing your own life and career, and taking charge of your work and time. The hosts are not afraid to take political stances on issues that impact communities of color, and their tone is both candid and compelling. Recent topics include how to ask for a raise, revamping your personal brand and tackling credit card debt.
Best for Mindset: The Mind Your Business Podcast
Believing in what you are doing, overcoming putting yourself out there, and being consistent when times get tough can be overwhelming for any entrepreneur. The Mind Your Business Podcast by James Wedmore will help you take your business mindset to the next level. Wedmore makes you think in a whole new way, so you stop telling yourself “false stories” and you switch to genuinely believing that you are capable and deserving of success. He offers weekly motivation to keep your business headed in the right direction with frequent interviews and captivating storytelling. He is exceptionally relatable and empowers his listeners to take massive action as a digital CEO.
Best Interview Show: Entrepreneurs On Fire
Are you ready to light a fire under your career? If you like extremes, you will love this podcast. John Lee Dumas interviews successful entrepreneurs—celebrity names like Tim Ferriss and Tony Robbins as well as lesser-known individuals—and delivers it in a format designed to give you something you can do on each and every episode, seven days a week. Dumas asks excellent questions that get at the heart of each guest’s journey. The show has recorded more than 3,000 episodes, so you will never run out of content. Episodes include how to build a seven-figure business from just an idea, methods for increasing your overall productivity, and how to best leverage Facebook ads.
Best Inside Look: How I Built This
Ever wonder how Bobbi Brown built her cosmetics empire, how Drybar became synonymous with sleek hair, or how Honest Tea got started? In this excellent NPR offering, Guy Raz covers the stories of profitable, unique, and interesting companies like only a journalist can. He interviews the founders of famous companies and also gives in-depth treatments to the stories of their brands and what sets them apart.
Each episode averages less than an hour, so it’s easy to make this podcast part of your weekly routine and is appealing to a wide audience. Raz has a prolific journalism career, having worked in some of the world’s most conflict-ridden regions; I’d imagine that interviewing friendly entrepreneurs is a welcome break for him, and that listening will be a delightful break from your daily grind.
Best from the Ivy League: HBR IdeaCast
If you’ve ever read a Harvard Business Review article, you probably already know that the Crimson style is buttoned-up, no-nonsense, expert-led, and results-driven—but what more could you want out of a business podcast? These short episodes, often between 20 and 30 minutes, highlight the concepts that major companies around the world are thinking about and using to increase their competitive advantage and productivity.
While HBR’s research and most of its articles are tucked behind a paywall, listening to this podcast is completely free. Superstar guests include Google’s Eric Schmidt and former US President Bill Clinton. Recent topics include how to manage someone who enjoys talking to their coworkers a little too much, challenges that minorities face at work, and unconventional ways of thinking that can help individuals and companies stand out.
Best Practical Tips: The $100 MBA
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Brief episodes, about 15 minutes
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Available across multiple platforms
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Offers a blog and resources
Omar Zenhom used to attend the prestigious Wharton School of Business before he dropped out to create the $100 MBA community. Frustrated by an education system that did not prioritize the needs of students, he sought to change the discourse. This show has 125,000 daily listeners and covers a wide array of practical topics without any of the boring (or what others might find interesting but non-essential) stories behind them. Omar has a ton of social proof to confirm the effectiveness of his podcast with more than 1,000 five-star reviews. Fans love how compact the episodes are, with most being less than 15 minutes. Zenhom teaches everything you need to know about building a business—how to invest in your business, how to set your rates, email list growth strategies, and a seemingly endless list of other topics.
What Is a Business Podcast?
Business podcasts are dedicated to business-related topics. Typically there will be one or two podcast hosts, who may sometimes invite guests to speak on a topic of expertise. An advantage of podcasts, like audiobooks, is that you can listen to them while doing other things, such as exercising, commuting, or housework.
A business podcast could be set up in any number of ways. Some offer short tidbits of information and cover trending business topics in the news. Others offer guides on how to start or grow your business, or they may contain motivational content. Some business podcasts are focused on specific audiences, such as women or minorities, while others might be geared toward entrepreneurs in general.
Why Should I Listen to a Business Podcast?
Business podcasts can serve multiple functions. Listening can be a way to use time productively during commutes to and from work, and the subject matter can be beneficial in many ways. Depending on the type of work you do, there is likely a podcast that covers issues and topics you’ll find helpful.
Business podcasts can also serve as entertainment through storytelling, and they can be interesting background noise while performing tasks at work.
Do Podcasts Cost Money to Listen To?
Podcasts are typically free, though some may contain ads or sponsors to help cover costs. As well, hosts may use their podcasts as a platform for selling their own books, software, or other products. Some podcasts require a subscription.
Are Podcasts Widely Available?
Listeners can play and subscribe to podcasts through multiple mobile apps or directly on websites. Apple’s iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, and more can be used to stream podcasts. You can find specific podcasts by browsing your podcast streaming app or by searching the internet or social media.
How We Chose the Best Business Podcasts
To make our selections, we reviewed the top business podcasts. We chose these as our best business podcasts because they cover a variety of business-related topics and cater to different interests. We also based our decision on who these podcasts are right for, which business topics they cover, what takeaways they offer, and more.