What I Know
Inc. Magazine
The greatest businesses weren’t born from moments of genius. They emerged after years of discovery--and often after years of failure. What I Know from Inc. magazine takes you inside the messy, painful, and--every so often--transcendent journey of starting a company. Through candid interviews, Inc. senior writer Christine Lagorio-Chafkin draws out the real grit and true lessons behind innovative companies and remarkable brands.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 26, 2021 • 36min
Melissa Bernstein: Existential Fear and Entrepreneurship
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin interviews Melissa Bernstein, the co-founder of $500 million toy company Melissa & Doug and the author of a new book about mental health, LifeLines, about her own journey to building a company while suffering from depression.
Apr 12, 2021 • 50min
Obé Fitness: Adapting Under Pressure
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin talks with Ashley Mills and Mark Mullett, the founders of Obé Fitness, about how the former adversaries founded their company--and how when the pandemic hit they reacted with creativity, sending the company into a period of wild growth.
13 snips
Mar 29, 2021 • 1h 5min
Matthew Inman and Elan Lee: Invite Everyone to The Party
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin talks to Matthew Inman and Elan Lee--founders of Exploding Kittens--about how they founded their company, when to give up on a potentially good idea, and the $1 million dollar meow.
Mar 8, 2021 • 40min
Courtney Newell: Go Extra
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin interviews the founder of Crowned Marketing and Communications about how she turned $500 in pageant winnings into a thriving company that advises big brands on inclusive marketing. She’s also an expert on Gen Z, who has researched their consumption habits for her book FutureProof: The Blueprint for Building a Brand Gen Z and Millennials Love.
Feb 22, 2021 • 49min
Jack Dangermond: Being Interesting is Overrated
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin talks to Jack Dangermond, co-founder of ESRI, about starting his business with little over $1000 in personal savings and turning that into a billion dollar, privately held business.
Feb 8, 2021 • 39min
Jim Collins Part 2: What ELSE Makes Great Companies Tick
Part 2 of Christine Lagorio-Chafkin's conversation with Jim Collins.
Jan 25, 2021 • 51min
Jim Collins: What Makes Great Companies Tick
Jim Collins, author of best selling books Good to Great and Built To Last, discusses his three decades of research and writing about what makes strong, lasting companies. Topics explored include the speaker's fascination with great companies, personal journey and finding mentors, lessons from successful leaders, hiring the right people, and nurturing communities within companies.
Jan 18, 2021 • 39min
Eric Kinariwala: Connect Your Head and Your Heart
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin talks to Eric Kinariwala--founder and CEO of Capsule--about disrupting the prescription drug industry.
Jan 4, 2021 • 29min
Year In Review
A look back at some of the best moments of the year on What I Know
Dec 14, 2020 • 48min
Blake Mycoskie: It’s More Fun To Start a Movement Than Run a Company
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin speaks with Blake Mycoskie, the serial entrepreneur best known for founding Toms Shoes, about the inspiration behind Toms' giving model, plus his mental-health struggles and the revelation that led to his new company, Madefor.
