How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz | Wondery
Guy Raz interviews the world’s best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. In each episode, founders reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure, and share insights on their eventual success. How I Built This is a master-class on innovation, creativity, leadership and how to navigate challenges of all kinds.New episodes release on Mondays and Thursdays. Listen to How I Built This on the Wondery App or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/how-i-built-this now. Get your How I Built This merch at WonderyShop.com/HowIBuiltThis.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 47min
Advice Line with Chet Pipkin of Belkin International
Chet Pipkin, the founder and former CEO of Belkin International, shares invaluable insights on entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of solving real consumer problems as a path to success. His conversation with Meredith Hudson, founder of Sideline Bags, dives into inventory planning strategies for her fast-selling backpack organizers. Chet advises on the power of building trust with suppliers and discusses grassroots strategies to grow B2B sales, reminding entrepreneurs to embrace limitations and stay true to their vision.
38 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 51min
Backroads: Tom Hale. How a desk worker became a trailblazer in active travel
Tom Hale, the visionary Founder and CEO of Backroads, started his active-travel company in 1979 with a simple idea born from frustration at his desk job. He shares the story of his first trip in Death Valley with just four guests and how he grew the company without outside capital. Tom reveals how he navigated crises like 9/11 and COVID-19 while ensuring quality experiences. Discover the ingenious 'collect early, pay late' strategy that fueled growth, and how Backroads evolved to offer diverse travel options, steering clear of crowded Instagram spots.
9 snips
Nov 6, 2025 • 50min
Advice Line with Tariq Farid of Edible Arrangements
Tariq Farid, founder of Edible Arrangements and seasoned entrepreneur, joins to lend his expertise to early-stage founders. He shares insights on how to make Filipino banana ketchup mainstream and debates the impact of brand names like 'cruise' for sustainable ventures. Tariq also discusses scaling personalized services without losing the brand's soul and reflects on his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of customer feedback and long-term vision.
70 snips
Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 8min
Babylist: Natalie Gordon. How a new mom used nap time to build a $500M business.
Natalie Gordon, founder and CEO of BabyList, shares her journey from software engineer to building a $500M parenting platform. She cleverly designed a universal baby registry to simplify the overwhelming shopping experience. Balancing motherhood, she created an MVP during nap times, leveraged early affiliate marketing, and pivoted to e-commerce. Natalie also highlights the challenges of hiring, learning to manage as a CEO, and how BabyList expanded into health services for new families. This conversation is a relatable masterclass in entrepreneurial grit and innovation.
14 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 44min
Advice Line with Niraj Shah of Wayfair
Niraj Shah, co-founder and CEO of Wayfair, returns to share invaluable advice with aspiring entrepreneurs. He discusses how Wayfair began with hundreds of niche websites and now plans to open large-format stores to enhance customer experience. He gives practical insights to Valerie on effective consumer education for her dehydrated chicken stock, to Bree on navigating investment for her mineral sunscreen, and to Tess on deciding when to fully commit to her solo women travelers' app. Niraj emphasizes embracing the non-linear journey of entrepreneurship.
49 snips
Oct 27, 2025 • 1h 12min
Nuts.com: Jeff Braverman. From Corner Store to Snacktime Powerhouse
Jeff Braverman, a third-generation family-business leader, shares his journey of transforming his grandfather's peanut shop into the massive e-commerce brand Nuts.com. He discusses the pivotal moment he left his finance job to embrace the internet, leading to a 10x increase in sales through a Google AdWords campaign. The tale includes a viral protest where fans sent 40,000 pounds of peanuts and the humorous impact of a rap jingle. Jeff also reflects on navigating challenges during the COVID crisis while keeping the business family-owned and thriving.
30 snips
Oct 23, 2025 • 51min
Advice Line with John Zimmer of Lyft
John Zimmer, co-founder of Lyft, shares his insights after stepping away from the company. He discusses his new venture, Yes And, aimed at creating consumer businesses with positive impacts. Early-stage founders call in, seeking advice like inventory financing for Terri Levy’s Ruckstar brand and scaling strategies for Alan’s Shower Spa. Kobe Goodwin of Slow Coco opens up about achieving work-life balance and sustainable practices in his craft chocolate company. John emphasizes the value of mental health and enjoying the entrepreneurial journey.
142 snips
Oct 20, 2025 • 1h 34min
Magnolia: Chip & Joanna Gaines. From House Flipping to Household Name
Chip Gaines, co-founder of Magnolia and former pro baseball hopeful, shares how a failed athletic dream led to entrepreneurship. Joanna Gaines, designer and author, opens up about her Korean-American upbringing and how a toxic internship shifted her into retail. Together, they reveal their pivot from a successful TV show to building a thriving lifestyle brand, overcoming near bankruptcy after the 2008 crash, and transforming their hometown into a tourist hotspot. Their journey highlights the power of faith, resilience, and authentic storytelling.
18 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 55min
Advice Line with Stacy Madison of Stacy’s Pita Chips
In this insightful discussion, Stacy Madison, the founder of Stacy's Pita Chips, shares her journey from food cart to snack empire. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing when to pivot in business. Alex Hildebrandt learns how to position his Suyo Pisco brand effectively in the market, while Stephanie Stuckey seeks advice on revitalizing her family's legacy candy business. They dive into brand identity, customer engagement, and the balance between heritage and modern marketing strategies, filled with practical advice for every entrepreneur.
86 snips
Oct 13, 2025 • 1h 13min
Faherty Brand: Alex and Mike Faherty. How Jersey Shore + Manhattan Chic grew to 80 stores.
Identical twins Alex and Mike Faherty, founders of the surf-inspired Faherty Brand, share their journey from mobile pop-ups to 80 stores. They discuss their unique all-channel strategy, combining wholesale, retail, and e-commerce, which defied investor skepticism. With backgrounds in fashion and finance, they reveal the importance of long-term preparation and factory partnerships. Their hands-on approach and a focus on family dynamics have been key to their resilience, while creative designs like the Legend Sweater Shirt highlight their commitment to quality.
