Podcasts have yet to really catch on in South Africa. Podcasts, however, just like books, can be a wonderful resource for entrepreneurs. From interviews with some of the world’s most successful startup founders, to new and innovative startups to business ideas and strategies that work, there are plenty of podcasts to learn from.
Below are some of our favourite podcasts to kickstart your year of podcasting.
1. StartUp
About the podcast: A show about the human side of starting and running a business, co-hosted by Alex Blumberg and Lisa Chow. Each season they follow a different startup and chronicle what it’s really like to start a business.
Start with this episode: Listen to the podcast founder and host, Alex Blumberg, pitch his business (a podcasting network) to an investor for the first time. The result is intimate and sometimes nerve wrecking look at the tough early days of starting a business. .
2. How I Built This
About the show: How I Built This is a podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built.
Start with this episode: Airbnb co-founder, Joe Gebbia, talks about the origins of their home sharing startup. Hear how they came up with the idea, the early challenges and adopters, and how they now have more rooms than the biggest hotel chain in the world.
3. The Entrepreneurs
About the show: Monocle, a British publication covering international affairs, business, culture and design, each week their radio channel Monocle 24 broadcasts an exploration of entrepreneurs, companies and ideas in global business.
Start with this episode: Not all apps are created equal – no where is this more evident that the story of, Velocity, an app that offers a curated selection of the world’s best dining experiences, picked by local insiders. The all-in-one platform is aimed at the jet-set crowd and lets users discover, reserve and pay for meals around the world. Listen to co-founder Alex Macdonald share the company’s story and vision.
4. Foundr Podcast
About the podcast: Australian entrepreneur and founder of the entrepreneurship magazine Foundr, Nathan Chan hosts the Foundr Podcast which features interviews with some of the world’s leading business minds including Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, Marie Forleo, Michelle Phan, Tim Ferriss, among others.
Start with this episode: Want to know more about the business model that inspired the likes of Uber and Airbnb? This is the story of Couchsurfing which launched in 2003. Couchsurfing was then a revolutionary concept. Instead of spending money at hotels and backpacker hostels, travelers were offered a choice to stay in the homes of hospitable locals free of charge.
American founder Casey Fenton tells the story of Couchsurfing and talks about being a pioneer in the shared economy. In this interview you’ll learn: How to go through the hardships of starting your own business, how to figure out which tasks to delegate and which tasks you need to prioritize as a leader, tips on creating and maintaining a massive and engaged community, how to build an international reputation that people trust, and the most powerful drivers that’ll get you to scale your business.
- See also: What’s Your Brand Story?
5. Ted Radio Hour
About the podcast: Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage, each show is centered on a common theme – such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, power shifts, or inexplicable connections.
Start with this episode: This episode explores the concept of leadership asking if leadership is only reserved for the extraordinary few. In this hour, TED speakers share ideas about what it takes to forge a new path.