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
50 snips
Feb 12, 2024 • 1h 12min
Magic Spoon & Exo: Gabi Lewis and Greg Sewitz
Gabi Lewis and Greg Sewitz, co-founders of innovative food brands Magic Spoon and Exo, dive into their unusual entrepreneurial journey. They initially tackled the challenge of promoting cricket protein bars but found greater success in developing a low-sugar breakfast cereal that captures nostalgic flavors. The duo shares their strategies on branding, consumer acceptance, and the complexities of launching health-conscious products. With anecdotes from their evolution, they highlight the vital lessons in timing and collaboration that shaped their thriving cereal brand.
9 snips
Feb 8, 2024 • 27min
Building a decarbonization army with Shashank Samala of Heirloom
Shashank Samala, Co-founder and CEO of Heirloom, dives into the world of carbon capture technology. He shares his inspiring shift from electronics to climate entrepreneurship. The discussion reveals Heirloom's groundbreaking methods using limestone for cost-effective carbon removal. Shashank highlights the need for scalable solutions and seeks to reach an ambitious target of $100 per ton for carbon capture. With facilities sprouting, including in California and Louisiana, Heirloom aims to play a vital role in the global decarbonization effort.
59 snips
Feb 5, 2024 • 1h 12min
Parachute Home: Ariel Kaye
Ariel Kaye, founder of Parachute Home, shares her inspiring journey of turning a frustration with conventional bedding shopping into a thriving direct-to-consumer luxury brand. She discusses the challenges of launching her business, from navigating manufacturing hurdles to securing funding as a solo entrepreneur. Ariel also reflects on her transformative experiences in European textile factories and the importance of authentic marketing strategies. Ultimately, she emphasizes the blend of innovation and customer feedback that drives her growing home goods empire.
85 snips
Feb 1, 2024 • 42min
3D printing a housing revolution with Jason Ballard of ICON
Jason Ballard, Co-founder and CEO of ICON, talks about his company’s mission to revolutionize housing using 3D printing technology. He discusses how this innovation can create affordable, disaster-resilient homes while addressing urban housing crises and homelessness. Ballard reflects on the challenges and triumphs of developing a prototype in Mexico and the potential for extraterrestrial applications. His visionary ideas highlight the urgent need for new construction methods to meet global housing demands.
30 snips
Jan 29, 2024 • 1h 31min
Drunk Elephant: Tiffany Masterson
Tiffany Masterson, founder of Drunk Elephant and former stay-at-home mom, shares her extraordinary entrepreneurial journey. Starting at 40 with no skincare experience, she defied skeptics and launched a brand that sold for $845 million. The conversation dives into her strategic decisions, from targeting Sephora to avoiding harmful ingredients. Tiffany also emphasizes balancing family life with business, highlighting the emotional and financial risks she navigated. Her inspiring story showcases resilience and the power of believing in one’s vision.
14 snips
Jan 25, 2024 • 38min
Brewing creativity with Jim Koch of Boston Beer Company
In this enlightening chat, Jim Koch, the founder of the Boston Beer Company and creator of Samuel Adams, takes us through his innovative journey in the craft beer industry. He discusses how the company adapts to changing consumer habits, exploring new categories like hard seltzer and non-alcoholic options. Jim shares behind-the-scenes stories of both their biggest successes and flops. He emphasizes the power of experimentation, from nitrogenated beers to creative fermentation techniques, keeping Boston Beer at the forefront of the beverage landscape.
180 snips
Jan 22, 2024 • 1h 19min
Liquid Death: Mike Cessario
Mike Cessario, founder and CEO of Liquid Death, shares his journey from advertising executive to creator of a viral water brand that disrupts the saturated beverage market. He discusses the clever branding strategy of packaging water in aluminum cans, reminiscent of beer, which appeals to a diverse audience. Cessario explores the initial skepticism he faced in securing funding and co-packers, and how humor and creativity in marketing helped propel Liquid Death to over $100 million in annual revenue, redefining the beverage industry.
10 snips
Jan 18, 2024 • 32min
Doing the bees’ work with Thai Sade of BloomX
Thai Sade, co-founder and CEO of BloomX, dives into the urgent issue of dwindling bee populations and how his company's technology seeks to replicate natural pollination. He shares stories from his upbringing on a kibbutz, highlighting the intersection of childhood experiences and agricultural innovation. The conversation touches on advanced techniques like mechanical electrostatic systems for improving avocado yields, and emphasizes the balance between technology and nature in sustainable farming practices.
Jan 15, 2024 • 1h 13min
Primary: Christina Carbonell and Galyn Bernard
Christina Carbonell and Galyn Bernard, co-founders of Primary, share their journey in creating a groundbreaking children's clothing line focused on simplicity and gender neutrality. They discuss their initial struggles with branding and fundraising, navigating the challenges of the crowded apparel market. The duo emphasizes their commitment to timeless styles and affordability, and how customer feedback shaped their marketing strategy. With annual sales surpassing $50 million, they reflect on the delicate balance between hard work, luck, and their unconventional approach to kids' fashion.
Jan 11, 2024 • 51min
Designing shoes for women's feet with Wes and Allyson Felix of Saysh (2023)
In this discussion, Allyson Felix, the most decorated American track and field athlete, teams up with her brother Wes Felix to share their entrepreneurial journey with Saysh. They reveal the conflicts she faced with Nike over maternal protections and their leap into creating women's footwear designed for comfort and style. The siblings discuss the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career, and how their experiences shaped their commitment to empowering women in athletics through innovative design.
