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
18 snips
Jun 19, 2025 • 40min
Advice Line with Marcia Kilgore of Beauty Pie
Marcia Kilgore, a serial entrepreneur and founder of popular brands like Beauty Pie, shares valuable insights on overcoming entrepreneurial challenges. She addresses pressing questions from founders navigating fears of failure and maintaining customer excitement. Listeners learn about innovative pricing strategies, effective engagement techniques, and the role of failure in building resilience. The conversations emphasize the importance of customer feedback and adapting in a competitive landscape, making it a treasure trove of advice for aspiring business owners.
280 snips
Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 15min
Figma: Dylan Field
Dylan Field, co-founder of Figma, started his journey in design collaboration after dropping out of Brown University to pursue a Thiel Fellowship. He discusses the early challenges of monetizing Figma and the innovative features that revolutionized design workflows. Dylan shares his personal experiences of navigating skepticism, managing a young team, and the transformative moments that shaped his leadership. He reflects on the delicate balance of luck and hard work that led to Figma's notable growth, including its $20 billion acquisition bid from Adobe.
20 snips
Jun 12, 2025 • 47min
Advice Line with Perry Chen of Kickstarter
Perry Chen, co-founder of Kickstarter, lends his expertise to early-stage founders facing critical decisions. Joe Fontana shares his vision for Fry the Coop and how he navigates growth in the competitive food industry. Jesse Hodge grapples with whether to sell his cold plunge business, while Catharine Kerbis seeks strategies for scaling her hot sauce brand without heavy investment. The guests dive into the emotional ups and downs of entrepreneurship, discussing personal aspirations versus business goals, and the importance of community support.
34 snips
Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 27min
Perfect Snacks: Bill and Leigh Keith
Bill Keith and Leigh Keith, co-founders of Perfect Snacks, share their extraordinary journey from a nomadic childhood to building a successful snack empire. They explore the emotional and financial challenges they faced, including product recalls and their father's health decline. The duo recount how a beloved family recipe for peanut butter bars became the foundation for their business. With tales of resilience and creative sales strategies, they highlight the importance of family support and the lessons learned along the way.
4 snips
Jun 5, 2025 • 51min
Advice Line with Mark Ramadan of Sir Kensington's (June 2024)
Mark Ramadan, co-founder and former CEO of Sir Kensington's, shares his journey in disrupting the condiment market. Lucas Manteca discusses how his Taco Shop differentiates itself from giants like Chipotle through community engagement and quality ingredients. Beth Benecke highlights her experience navigating the challenging 'messy middle' of scaling her baby products brand. The trio dives into retail challenges, innovative marketing, and the importance of seeking support while crafting their unique entrepreneurial identities.
58 snips
Jun 2, 2025 • 1h 17min
Tatcha: Vicky Tsai (July 2020)
Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha, shares her inspiring journey from a corporate job to creating a skincare brand rooted in Japanese beauty rituals. After a transformative trip to Japan and an unforgettable encounter with a geisha, she defied skepticism to launch Tatcha from her parents' garage. Vicky discusses the trials of self-funding and launching a unique beauty product in a skeptical market, alongside her emotional growth and the brand's eventual $500 million acquisition by Unilever, showcasing resilience and the power of believing in one’s vision.
18 snips
May 29, 2025 • 47min
Advice Line with Steve Holmes of goba Sports Group
Steve Holmes, Founder of Springfree Trampoline and Goba Sports Group, shares valuable insights for early-stage entrepreneurs tackling unique challenges. He offers guidance on navigating tariffs for manufacturers and emphasizes the importance of identifying core customer segments. Discussions range from creating inclusive activewear to developing year-round strategies for seasonal products like bug repellant. Additionally, Holmes highlights the journey of a Caribbean-inspired chocolate brand, showcasing innovative marketing strategies and the impact of personal resilience in entrepreneurship.
112 snips
May 26, 2025 • 1h 18min
Calm: Alex Tew and Michael Acton Smith
Michael Acton Smith, co-founder of Calm and creator of Moshi Monsters, and Alex Tew, known for the Million Dollar Homepage, share their journey transforming meditation into a thriving app. They discuss overcoming skepticism from investors and the road to securing calm.com. The duo reflects on the rise of community-driven ventures, emphasizing creative marketing and the importance of innovative content. Their lighthearted camaraderie shines through as they highlight the joy and passion behind building a platform that promotes mental well-being.
24 snips
May 22, 2025 • 44min
Advice Line: Scaling Strategies
Andy Atkins, co-owner of Bad Luck Burger Club, shares his thoughts on the potential of a brick-and-mortar expansion from his Nashville food trucks. Tiffany Narbonne, founder of T. Jazelle, discusses her journey in creating inspirational jewelry and her aspirations to partner with larger retailers. Peter Houck, founder of RinkRabbit, evaluates the prospects of international growth for his figure skating accessories, emphasizing the need for a solid domestic foundation. All three guests offer unique insights into navigating business challenges and scaling their brands.
75 snips
May 19, 2025 • 1h 12min
Tecovas: Paul Hedrick
Paul Hedrick, the visionary behind Tecovas, has transformed the cowboy boot industry by filling a market gap for quality boots at accessible prices. With roots in Texas, he undertook a journey to León, Mexico, refining every aspect of his boots. The conversation touches on his remarkable shift from consulting to entrepreneurship, overcoming early challenges in product design, and navigating the complexities of expanding to brick-and-mortar stores. Amidst the chaos of the pandemic, Hedrick shares insights into resilience and the growing allure of Western wear.
