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
Jul 14, 2022 • 39min
HIBT Lab! The Financial Diet: Chelsea Fagan
Chelsea Fagan, Founder and CEO of The Financial Diet, shares her inspiring journey from credit card debt to building a successful personal finance business. She discusses the importance of financial education for young people and how her blog evolved into a multimedia platform. Fagan emphasizes employee satisfaction, innovative pay structures, and the need for transparency in business. The conversation highlights empowering women's financial literacy and the ethical responsibilities of content creators in maintaining trust with their audience.
13 snips
Jul 11, 2022 • 1h 15min
TaskRabbit: Leah Solivan
Leah Solivan, founder of TaskRabbit, shares her inspiring journey from IBM engineer to entrepreneur. She recounts how a snowy night led to the idea of an on-demand errand service. Leah discusses the importance of technology convergence in launching TaskRabbit and the challenges of securing funding. Highlights include her marketing tactics, the company's rebranding, and the transition to a new booking system. Now in venture capital, Leah reflects on her connection to TaskRabbit and her life after her divorce.
7 snips
Jul 7, 2022 • 47min
HIBT Lab! BlocPower: Donnel Baird
Donnel Baird, founder of BlocPower, is on a mission to modernize buildings and transition low-income communities to clean energy. He shares his childhood experiences of energy inefficiency in Brooklyn, including the dangers of heating homes with gas ovens. Baird discusses innovative strategies his company employs to electrify these neighborhoods, creating safer, sustainable environments while also hiring local talent. He emphasizes the importance of partnerships and federal investment to make green energy accessible and affordable for all.
Jul 4, 2022 • 1h 9min
Happy Family Organics: Shazi Visram (2020)
Shazi Visram, the dynamic founder of Happy Family Organics, shares her inspiring journey from a business school idea sparked by a friend's struggles with feeding her twins to creating a multimillion-dollar organic baby food empire. She discusses the challenges of entering a competitive market dominated by giants, the innovative shift from jars to pouches, and the emotional rollercoaster of securing funding while staying true to her vision. Shazi's story highlights resilience, creativity, and the importance of addressing consumer needs in the world of baby nutrition.
13 snips
Jun 30, 2022 • 38min
HIBT Lab! Climeworks: Jan Wurzbacher
Jan Wurzbacher, co-founder and CEO of Climeworks, leads the charge in carbon capture technology. He shares his journey from a mechanical engineer in Hamburg to building the world's largest direct air capture facility. Jan dives into scaling challenges and the financial needs to make carbon capture viable. He discusses the Orca plant in Iceland, showcasing its innovative use of geothermal energy. Wurzbacher also emphasizes the potential of major corporations in offsetting carbon and the optimistic belief in technology's role to reverse climate change.
4 snips
Jun 27, 2022 • 1h 12min
The Tonight Show & Electric Hot Dog: Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon, a comedian, actor, and beloved television host of "The Tonight Show," shares his entrepreneurial journey beyond comedy. He discusses how ordinary experiences can spark innovative ideas, like creating unique products such as all-day pajamas. Fallon reflects on his path from performing for family to a pivotal audition for Saturday Night Live, celebrating the triumphs and rejections. He also dives into the challenges of leading a late-night show and the creative adaptations made during the pandemic, including engaging segments that highlight children's inventive spirits.
6 snips
Jun 23, 2022 • 43min
HIBT Lab! The Sorry Girls: Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright
Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright, co-founders of The Sorry Girls, transitioned from film students to YouTube DIY sensations, amassing over 2 million subscribers. They discuss their creative evolution, starting with memorable projects like a Halloween costume video. The duo shares insights on navigating brand deals while maintaining authenticity and values. They also explore the monetization of their channel, balancing quality and sustainability in their products, and reflect on their mission to create meaningful content amidst the ever-changing digital landscape.
23 snips
Jun 20, 2022 • 58min
Affirm: Max Levchin (Part 2 of 2)
Max Levchin, an entrepreneur and fintech pioneer known for co-founding PayPal and launching Affirm, shares his journey of rediscovery after leaving PayPal. He candidly discusses the struggles he faced in finding purpose post-success and the motivation behind creating solutions for credit challenges. Maximizing innovation, he highlights the transformative power of Buy Now, Pay Later services over traditional models, democratizing access to credit. Levchin also reflects on the balance of luck and hard work in navigating the evolving financial landscape.
14 snips
Jun 16, 2022 • 34min
HIBT Lab! Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company: Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban, the dynamic owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a serial entrepreneur, dives into his latest venture, the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, aimed at revolutionizing the pharmaceutical landscape. He discusses the mission to lower drug prices and enhance accessibility. The conversation also touches on his intriguing experiences with NFTs and the role of trust and collaboration in business. Cuban shares insights into navigating the complexities of drug pricing and the challenges of establishing affordable healthcare solutions.
31 snips
Jun 13, 2022 • 1h 28min
PayPal: Max Levchin (Part 1 of 2)
Max Levchin, co-founder of PayPal and Affirm, shares his fascinating journey from Soviet Ukraine to Silicon Valley. He discusses transforming a simple idea into PayPal, the fierce competition in the tech landscape, and the emotional upheaval of witnessing Elon Musk's ousting as CEO. Levchin reveals the startup challenges they faced, such as fundraising and user adoption, while navigating the dynamic culture of the 'PayPal Mafia.' The conversation delves into the origins of his entrepreneurial spirit and the pivotal moments that shaped the future of online payments.
