
What I Know
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.
Latest episodes

Apr 12, 2021 • 52min
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 7min
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 • 42min
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 • 51min
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 • 41min
Jim Collins Part 2: What ELSE Makes Great Companies Tick
Part 2 of Christine Lagorio-Chafkin's conversation with Jim Collins.

Jan 25, 2021 • 53min
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 • 41min
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 • 31min
Year In Review
A look back at some of the best moments of the year on What I Know

Dec 14, 2020 • 50min
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.

Dec 7, 2020 • 56min
Phil Libin: Find a new way to ski
On today's episode, Christine Lagorio-Chafkin talks to Phil Libin, the serial entrepreneur and investor known for co-founding Evernote, about starting what he's learned since starting his fifth company, Mmhmm. They also delve into the ills of the social-media ecosystem, and why Libin says he'll never touch an indirect-funding model again.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.