Business Wars
Audible Original
Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live. Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, innovators, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Against the Odds and American History Tellers.Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 4, 2026 • 42min
Big Beef: The War on Your Wallet | A Bloody Business | 1
Ranchers take on IBP, the world’s biggest beef processor, accusing it of squeezing producers while driving up prices. The fight exposes a century of meatpacking monopolies, Reagan-era deregulation, automated slaughterhouses, boxed beef, and a meat trade entangled with New York organized crime. As the Big Three gain control, 30,000 ranchers unite for a historic lawsuit.
12 snips
Oct 28, 2026 • 51min
Indian Motorcycle vs Harley-Davidson | Indian Summer | 2
Harley-Davidson’s credit crisis exposes cracks in its legendary brand just as Polaris resurrects Indian Motorcycle. Indian courts loyal Harley riders with the new Chief and Scout, while Harley fights back with Project Rushmore and a push toward premium models. Tariffs, political backlash, production struggles, and an aging rider base turn this classic rivalry into a battle for the future of American motorcycling.
7 snips
Oct 26, 2026 • 7min
Listen Now— Over My Dead Body: Operation Sideswipe
An 18-wheeler driver recounts a baffling highway collision involving fleeing passengers, suspicious injuries, and a driver who seems far too calm. As similar crashes pile up along I-10, investigators uncover a disturbing connection to personal injury lawyer Vanessa Mota, a former Hollywood stuntwoman. Staged accidents, courtroom manipulation, betrayal, and murder collide in a dangerous New Orleans scheme.
40 snips
Oct 21, 2026 • 45min
Indian Motorcycle vs Harley-Davidson | Roadkill | 1
Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson’s rivalry stretches from pioneering innovation to corporate collapse. As Harley battles near-bankruptcy and reinvents itself, a parade of entrepreneurs attempts to resurrect Indian, amid lawsuits, financial chaos, and difficult engineering choices. Polaris turns away from Indian before building Victory, then later reconsiders the legendary brand as Harley faces fresh vulnerabilities.
22 snips
Oct 15, 2026 • 37min
Buffalo Wild Wings vs Wingstop | Spice Off | 3
Sam Oches, editor-in-chief of Nation’s Restaurant News and host of Take-Away with Sam Oches, dives into the Buffalo Wild Wings versus Wingstop rivalry. He joins a certified wing taste test, explores how delivery and social media fueled the category, and examines takeout, franchising, sauce innovation, sports-bar culture, and Inspire Brands’ potential IPO.
29 snips
Oct 14, 2026 • 37min
Buffalo Wild Wings vs Wingstop | Chicken Fight | 2
Buffalo Wild Wings’ sports-bar empire stumbles as diners shift toward takeout, sparking a fierce proxy battle over its future. Meanwhile, Wingstop races past 1,000 locations with a powerful franchise model. Boardroom upheaval, rising chicken costs, discounted wings, and a surprise acquisition reshape the rivalry as both brands fight for dominance.
14 snips
Oct 12, 2026 • 9min
Listen Now: Audible True Crime – Ghost Story
A skeptical man recalls bizarre happenings in his teenage bedroom, from moving objects to sudden cold spots. Years later, neighbors describe seeing a faceless woman in that same room. Then he uncovers a chilling family connection: his wife’s great-grandmother was murdered next door by two gunshots to the face. A haunting, a murder mystery, and a deeply unsettling family secret collide.
43 snips
Oct 7, 2026 • 48min
Buffalo Wild Wings vs Wingstop | Winging It | 1
Two restaurant upstarts take very different paths to wing supremacy. Buffalo Wild Wings builds a lively sports-bar experience, while Wingstop hones a streamlined, wing-first takeout model. Their rivalry spans rapid expansion, financial turmoil, leadership shakeups, public markets, volatile chicken prices, and a battle to adapt as diners increasingly choose convenience.
57 snips
Sep 30, 2026 • 52min
FanDuel vs DraftKings | Open The Gates | 2
After sports betting is legalized nationwide, FanDuel and DraftKings race to dominate the booming mobile market. Celebrity campaigns, casino alliances, public listings, stadium deals, and lavish promotions fuel an all-out battle. Behind the flashy growth, aggressive tactics target vulnerable bettors, while player scandals, harassment, and prop bets raise troubling questions about sports integrity.
52 snips
Sep 23, 2026 • 47min
FanDuel vs DraftKings | The Enemy of My Enemy | 1
A clever legal loophole turns fantasy sports into a billion-dollar betting boom. FanDuel and DraftKings battle through massive funding rounds, league deals and an unforgettable $750 million advertising blitz. An employee data leak brings investigations, while mounting pressure pushes the rivals to lobby together and secretly pursue a merger, only to face regulators who see a near-monopoly.
