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
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.
179 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.
42 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 54min
Advice Line with Michael Dubin of Dollar Shave Club
Michael Dubin, founder of Dollar Shave Club and an emerging screenwriter, shares insights on marketing and brand building. He addresses guerrilla marketing techniques for a unique cheese startup and strategies to engage mobile mini golf employees. Bria Fleming from Incidental Wildland also seeks advice on scaling custom firefighter uniforms, leading to discussions on manufacturing partnerships and fundraising tactics. Dubin emphasizes the importance of authenticity in today's marketing landscape and offers wisdom on maintaining personal balance as a founder.
107 snips
Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 6min
Pressbox and Tide Cleaners: Vijen Patel. The $1.99 Gamble That Built a National Brand
Vijen Patel, co-founder of Pressbox (now Tide Cleaners), shares his journey from private equity to launching a locker-based dry-cleaning service. He discusses how a $1.99 price point exposed a gap in the market, leading to a scalable business model. Vijen highlights the importance of unit economics, their low-tech approach, and how they achieved a 98% customer retention goal. After selling to Procter & Gamble, he founded The 81 Collection, investing in 'boring' businesses that power the economy.
65 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 49min
Advice Line with Tony Xu of Doordash
Tony Xu, Co-founder and CEO of DoorDash, shares his insights on navigating entrepreneurship and expanding a business. He discusses DoorDash's ambitious growth into grocery and retail markets, as well as international ventures. Xu addresses callers' questions, advising on when to expand product lines and the complexities of fundraising. He emphasizes the importance of understanding product-market fit and educating consumers on quality. His lessons on managing stress and trusting your instincts make this an invaluable listen for budding entrepreneurs.
152 snips
Sep 29, 2025 • 1h 5min
Craigslist: Craig Newmark — The Forrest Gump of the Internet
In this chat, Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist, shares how he unintentionally launched one of the internet's biggest platforms simply to connect friends through local events. He emphasizes the value of simplicity and community over conventional marketing. Craig talks about rejecting banner ads and opting for minimal monetization, along with his journey from a quirky mailing list to a global service. Plus, he reflects on his philanthropic efforts, attributing his success to being at the right place at the right time, earning him the title 'Forrest Gump of the Internet'.
