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
May 5, 2022 • 34min
HIBT Lab! Blogilates: Cassey Ho
Cassey Ho, the dynamic founder of Blogilates and Popflex, shares her inspiring journey from an immigrant background to becoming a fitness icon with over 6 million YouTube subscribers. She discusses the risks she took to follow her passion in a world that prioritized financial security over dreams. Cassey reveals how she built her brand through free content and community engagement, and reflects on the financial realities of the digital fitness industry. Lastly, she emphasizes her vision for creating a legacy that empowers women beyond her personal influence.
56 snips
May 2, 2022 • 1h 20min
Strava: Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath
Mark Gainey and Michael Horvath, the dynamic co-founders of Strava, embark on their entrepreneurial journey from college friends to fitness innovators. They share fascinating tales of launching their original idea in the '90s, only to pivot to a successful IPO before finally launching Strava in 2008. With humor, they discuss the rocky start of their clunky prototype and the key role of community in their success. Their commitment to user privacy, leadership styles, and the evolution of the app showcase how hard work and serendipity paved the way for their global fitness platform.
Apr 28, 2022 • 31min
HIBT Lab! Armbrust American: Lloyd Armbrust
Lloyd Armbrust, a former ad sales professional, shares his incredible journey from newspaper operations to launching a surgical mask manufacturing business during the pandemic. He discusses the urgent need that sparked this pivot and the rapid decision-making that enabled him to scale operations within six weeks. Lloyd highlights the challenges of securing FDA approval, sourcing materials, and adapting to consumer needs. He also explores the hurdles and opportunities in American manufacturing, including his company's transition from masks to air filters.
15 snips
Apr 25, 2022 • 1h 23min
Raising Cane's: Todd Graves
Todd Graves, Founder and CEO of Raising Cane's, shares his journey from an aspiring restaurateur to leading a multi-billion dollar chicken finger empire. He discusses the struggles of securing funding, including braving two tough jobs to finance his dream. Todd emphasizes sticking to core values despite pressures to diversify the menu. He also reflects on the importance of quality ingredients and how inspiration from In-N-Out Burger shaped his vision. With over 600 locations, he reveals secrets behind their success and the iconic cane sauce recipe.
Apr 21, 2022 • 29min
HIBT Lab! WeWork: Miguel McKelvey
Miguel McKelvey, co-founder of WeWork, shares a candid look back at the company's meteoric rise and subsequent fall from the $47 billion valuation. He discusses leadership dynamics with co-founder Adam Neumann and the challenges they faced during aggressive expansion. McKelvey reflects on personal growth after leaving WeWork, emphasizing his journey through therapy and new social ventures aimed at supporting entrepreneurs of color. His insights reveal the complexities of building a billion-dollar business and the lessons learned from failure.
Apr 18, 2022 • 1h 11min
Zola: Shan-Lyn Ma
Shan-Lyn Ma, Co-founder and CEO of Zola, reflects on her early entrepreneurial spirit sparked by childhood competitions and experiences at Yahoo and Gilt Groupe. She discusses the challenges of convincing investors of the need for a modern wedding registry and shares the humorous origins of Zola’s name. Ma highlights her journey through the pandemic, emphasizing resilience in adapting to the wedding industry's shifts and the personal growth that stemmed from her struggles, including a transformative recovery experience.
5 snips
Apr 14, 2022 • 37min
HIBT Lab! Colin and Samir: Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry
Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry, co-creators of the YouTube channel "Colin and Samir," delve into the creator economy's evolution. They share their 10-year journey of transforming from lacrosse enthusiasts into successful storytellers on digital platforms. Insights on monetizing online content and engaging audience communities highlight the challenges and opportunities in today's rapidly-changing landscape. They also discuss the unique advantages of YouTube compared to TikTok, emphasizing deeper creator-audience connections.
11 snips
Apr 11, 2022 • 1h 18min
Florentine Films: Ken Burns
Ken Burns, an acclaimed documentarian renowned for his unique storytelling style, shares his journey from aspiring filmmaker to pioneer of American history documentaries. He discusses how personal loss shaped his passion for storytelling and the creation of innovative techniques like the Ken Burns Effect. Ken reveals the challenges of running Florentine Films, including fundraising and protecting his creative vision. He also reflects on the emotional depth of his works and the significance of personal history in shaping impactful narratives.
Apr 4, 2022 • 1h 7min
Bonobos: Andy Dunn (2019)
Andy Dunn, Co-founder of Bonobos, shares his journey from business school roommate to launching a successful men's clothing brand. He discusses the innovative approach to addressing fit issues with stylish pants, and the emotional rollercoaster of navigating co-founder dynamics and personal challenges, including mental health struggles. Andy emphasizes resilience through crises, culminating in Bonobos' acquisition by Walmart for $310 million. He reflects on the interplay of success, luck, and the importance of supportive relationships in entrepreneurship.
Mar 28, 2022 • 1h 7min
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Home Furnishings: Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams
Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, co-founders of the acclaimed home furnishings brand, share their remarkable journey from a small furniture startup to a $300 million enterprise. They reflect on the challenges of navigating identity as a gay couple in a conservative society while building their business. The duo discusses pivotal moments, serendipitous encounters, and the balance of creativity with business acumen that fueled their success. Personal stories of self-acceptance and advocacy for social justice enrich their narrative, highlighting the transformative power of design and entrepreneurship.
