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
389 snips
Sep 29, 2022 • 57min
HIBT Lab! OpenAI: Sam Altman
Sam Altman, Co-founder and CEO of OpenAI and former president of Y Combinator, dives into the fascinating realm of artificial intelligence. He recounts his journey from a Stanford dropout to a tech leader, discussing AI's rapid advancements in art, medicine, and politics. Altman highlights the mission of OpenAI to ensure equitable access to AI technology and shares insights on the responsible development of AI. He reflects on the dual nature of AI's impact on society, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to mitigate risks while maximizing benefits.
12 snips
Sep 26, 2022 • 1h 20min
HOORAE: Issa Rae
Issa Rae, the creative force behind the HBO series Insecure and founder of HOORAE Media, candidly shares her journey from an aspiring writer to a Hollywood powerhouse. She discusses the struggles of facing rejection, the thrill of creating authentic characters, and the importance of diverse voices in media. Issa also reflects on her transition from creator to entrepreneur, emphasizing the blend of hard work and luck that has shaped her success. Tune in for insights on navigating the complex landscape of creativity and the entertainment industry.
Sep 22, 2022 • 40min
HIBT Lab! Wonder: Marc Lore
Marc Lore, founder of Diapers.com and Jet.com, now leads the innovative food delivery service Wonder, recently valued at $3.5 billion. He discusses his mission to revolutionize food delivery, focusing on how specialized vans prepare meals on demand to ensure quality. Marc shares insights on overcoming entrepreneurial challenges, including inflation and supply chain issues, while emphasizing the importance of passion in building successful businesses. He also teases new ideas and the relentless spirit of entrepreneurship.
21 snips
Sep 19, 2022 • 1h 22min
Bombas: David Heath and Randy Goldberg
David Heath and Randy Goldberg, co-founders of Bombas, share their journey from side hustles to revolutionizing the sock industry. They dive into the surprising demand for socks at homeless shelters that sparked their socially responsible business model. With perseverance, they transformed Bombas into a quarter-billion dollar brand, facing skepticism from investors and navigating the challenges of design and production. Their tale includes a pivotal moment involving Shark Tank that showcased their resilience and dedication to community impact through innovative entrepreneurship.
13 snips
Sep 15, 2022 • 39min
HIBT Lab! SOURCE Global: Cody Friesen
Cody Friesen, the innovative Founder and CEO of SOURCE Global, discusses his groundbreaking solar-powered hydropanels that convert atmospheric vapor into drinking water. He highlights the urgent global water scarcity crisis and the staggering statistics behind it. Cody shares insights into the technology's engineering challenges and its potential to become a renewable, digitized water utility. The conversation explores the impact of these hydropanels in communities like the Navajo Nation and the brighter future they promise for sustainable water access.
30 snips
Sep 12, 2022 • 1h 14min
Rivian: RJ Scaringe
RJ Scaringe, Founder and CEO of Rivian, shares his journey of building an electric vehicle company from the ground up. He discusses the massive challenges he faced entering a competitive industry, the vision behind creating fun and sporty electric trucks, and the pivotal moments that shaped Rivian's path, including a major investment from Amazon. Scaringe highlights overcoming financial hurdles, supply chain issues, and how Rivian's debut at the LA Auto Show propelled them into the spotlight with a mission to redefine the electric vehicle landscape.
Sep 8, 2022 • 46min
HIBT Lab! Malala Fund and Our Place: Shiza Shahid
Shiza Shahid, co-founder of the Malala Fund and Our Place, recounts her transformative journey from corporate life to activism after the tragic shooting of Malala Yousafzai. Shiza shares how her childhood experiences fueled her passion for girls' education and shaped her entrepreneurial spirit. She discusses the challenges of launching a cookware company that merges cultural heritage with social impact, highlighting the significance of cooking as an expression of identity. Her story illustrates the powerful intersection of nonprofit advocacy and for-profit innovation.
7 snips
Sep 5, 2022 • 1h 4min
S'well: Sarah Kauss (2020)
Join Sarah Kauss, founder of S'well, as she shares her remarkable journey from a real estate career to creating a stylish, eco-friendly water bottle after an inspired hike. She reveals the hurdles of overcoming rejection in product sales and the thrill of innovative design that helped her brand achieve $100 million in just six years. Sarah also delves into the challenges of counterfeiting and her brand's commitment to sustainability, highlighting the intersection of personal values and entrepreneurship.
7 snips
Sep 1, 2022 • 1h 7min
HIBT Lab! Bored Ape Yacht Club: Greg Solano and Wylie Aronow
Greg Solano and Wylie Aronow, co-founders of Yuga Labs, share their journey from a Miami bar argument over literature to creating the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT phenomenon. They discuss the explosive growth of the NFT market, the role of community in their project, and their vision of expanding into the metaverse. Greg and Wylie's deep friendship and literary backgrounds add a unique twist to their innovative endeavors, highlighting the power of collaboration in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
11 snips
Aug 29, 2022 • 1h
Men's Wearhouse: George Zimmer (2019)
George Zimmer, founder and former CEO of Men's Wearhouse, shares his remarkable journey from a college graduate to the face of a multi-billion dollar clothing empire. He recounts how a pivotal trip to Asia shaped his vision for affordable men's apparel. Zimmer delves into the challenges of starting his first store in Houston, the impact of his iconic tagline 'I guarantee it,' and the eventual bittersweet departure from the company he built. He also reflects on launching Generation Tux and the emotional hurdles faced along the way.
