Business Wars
Audible
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
12 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.
46 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.
7 snips
Sep 28, 2026 • 5min
Listen Now: My Mom’s Murder
For 30 years, Lauren Malloy believed her mother died of natural causes. Then a stranger’s message shattered that story, revealing a murder hidden behind family silence. As Lauren retraces Lori’s life through old photographs, unexpected friendships, and conflicting accounts, she confronts unsettling questions about who knew the truth and why it stayed buried.
42 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.
28 snips
Sep 17, 2026 • 36min
Roomba: Hitting the Wall | The New Space Race | 3
Christopher Mims, a Wall Street Journal technology journalist and author, explores Roomba’s collapse, connected-device security, and how outsourcing reshaped manufacturing. He examines humanoid robots, why laundry is such a demanding test, and AI’s role in physical automation. The conversation expands to China’s open AI models, rare-earth supply chains, Shenzhen’s factories, and the emerging U.S.-China race in robotics and artificial intelligence.
22 snips
Sep 16, 2026 • 48min
Roomba: Hitting the Wall | The Moat | 2
Roomba once ruled robotic vacuums, but a wave of cheaper, smarter Chinese rivals changes the game. iRobot turns to patents, premium pricing, software, and smart-home ambitions to defend its moat. A pandemic sales boom gives way to mounting losses, while a proposed Amazon rescue runs into regulators, leaving the pioneer fighting for survival.
63 snips
Sep 9, 2026 • 48min
Roomba: Hitting the Wall | Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control | 1
MIT researchers turn insect-inspired robotics into a scrappy startup, surviving on military contracts, robotic dolls, and bold experiments. Then a tiny floor sweeper becomes the Roomba, charming cats, consumers, and even Pepsi viewers. But after a blockbuster launch and IPO, founder clashes, lost creativity, and cheaper rivals threaten iRobot’s future.
41 snips
Sep 2, 2026 • 44min
The Sweetener Wars | Sweet Goes Sour | 2
Sweet’N Low’s reign is threatened by rival sweeteners, internal fraud, and a dramatic federal raid. Aspartame faces renewed health controversy as Splenda arrives with bold branding and “made from sugar” claims, sparking lawsuits and a marketing showdown. Meanwhile, stevia emerges as a natural challenger in the turbulent artificial sweetener market.
35 snips
Aug 26, 2026 • 46min
The Sweetener Wars | Attack of the Cancer Rats | 1
A dramatic look at how artificial sweeteners rose and nearly fell after cancer scares. Fast corporate pivots, emergency retooling, and political lobbying fight regulatory bans. Power plays bring in big names to salvage aspartame and reshape the diet soda market. Scandals and fraud threaten family firms as brands battle for market dominance.
34 snips
Aug 20, 2026 • 39min
Warby Parker vs Luxottica | A Modern Lens | 3
Max Chafkin, Bloomberg Businessweek reporter and author of The Contrarian, who profiled Warby Parker early on. He discusses Warby Parker’s rise with home try-ons and its pivot into carefully designed brick-and-mortar stores. Conversations cover why physical retail became a strategic moat, how branding positioned Warby against Luxottica, and what that rivalry reveals about modern e-commerce and retail.
