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
Sep 3, 2020 • 23min
How I Built Resilience: Luke Holden and Ben Conniff of Luke's Lobster
Luke Holden and Ben Conniff, the co-founders of Luke's Lobster, share their journey through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. They candidly discuss the tough decisions they faced, including laying off staff and closing restaurants. This dynamic duo highlights their swift pivot to e-commerce and their commitment to supporting local fishermen. They also explore the evolving seafood market, emphasizing innovation and collaboration as key to sustainability in these turbulent times.
Aug 31, 2020 • 44min
Chilewich: Sandy Chilewich
Sandy Chilewich, a designer renowned for her innovative woven vinyl products, shares her entrepreneurial journey from a fun shoe experiment with a friend in 1978 to launching the successful Hue brand. She delves into the challenges and triumphs of building her eponymous business, emphasizing creativity and perseverance. Listeners will enjoy her anecdotes about debuting colorful placemats at an international show and the importance of vision in navigating the complexities of business partnerships and product design.
Aug 29, 2020 • 28min
How I Built Resilience: Niraj Shah and Steve Conine of Wayfair
Niraj Shah and Steve Conine, co-founders of Wayfair, share their remarkable journey through the pandemic, showcasing how they spiked sales by 84% despite the challenges. They discuss the importance of resilience, adapting to market shifts, and the need for effective communication, especially during difficult moments like layoffs and employee protests. The duo also highlights their commitment to sustainability and supporting entrepreneurs, while tackling the impact of misinformation in today's digital landscape.
Aug 27, 2020 • 21min
How I Built Resilience: Ajay Prakash and James Joun of Rinse
Ajay Prakash and James Joun, co-founders of Rinse, share insights on revolutionizing laundry with their tech-driven app. They dive into how they adapted their business during the pandemic, maintaining steady operations despite challenges in the dry cleaning segment. The duo discusses their innovative partnerships, strategies for sustaining service, and their pivot to producing reusable masks. They also emphasize the importance of shared values in their co-founding journey, highlighting how these principles shaped their resilience in the face of adversity.
Aug 24, 2020 • 41min
Wayfair: Niraj Shah & Steve Conine (2018)
Niraj Shah and Steve Conine, co-founders of Wayfair, share their inspiring journey from college roommates to e-commerce pioneers. They discuss how an unforeseen trend in online furniture shopping led them to launch over 250 websites. From their ups and downs in earlier ventures to pivoting after the 9/11 attacks, their resilience shines through. They also reveal unique online marketing strategies and the evolution of their brand, ultimately transforming the retail landscape with Wayfair's expansive catalogue of over 14 million items.
15 snips
Aug 17, 2020 • 1h 5min
Zocdoc: Oliver Kharraz
Oliver Kharraz, co-founder of Zocdoc, shares his journey from doctor to entrepreneur, driven by the desire to simplify healthcare access. He recounts overcoming the infamous chicken-and-egg dilemma of connecting patients with doctors while also convincing healthcare providers to adopt their platform. The conversation dives into the challenges of shifting business models, the impact of COVID-19 on telehealth, and the pivotal moments that defined Zocdoc's success. Kharraz emphasizes the blend of resilience, adaptability, and a touch of luck in building a thriving startup.
Aug 15, 2020 • 20min
How I Built Resilience: Samantha Bee of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Samantha Bee, host and creator of 'Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,' takes a candid look at navigating the world of comedy and production during the pandemic. From her backyard studio, she shares the innovative adaptations her team made for remote work, including DIY tools and virtual meetings. The discussion touches on the emotional challenges of creating comedy in uncertain times while fostering gratitude. Bee also reflects on how podcasting allows for deeper connections than television, shedding light on work-life balance in a rapidly changing environment.
20 snips
Aug 13, 2020 • 23min
How I Built Resilience: Brian Chesky of Airbnb
Brian Chesky, the CEO and co-founder of Airbnb, shares his journey of navigating the turbulent times brought on by the pandemic. He reveals how Airbnb faced an 80% drop in business and executed compassionate layoffs. Chesky highlights the shift towards nature-centric travel, emphasizing the changing desires of travelers seeking unique, personalized experiences. He reflects on the importance of resilience, connection, and core values in driving the company forward during challenging times, showcasing innovative strategies for recovery and adaptation.
Aug 10, 2020 • 1h 11min
Briogeo: Nancy Twine
Nancy Twine, Founder and CEO of Briogeo, transitioned from a finance career at Goldman Sachs to create a natural hair care line after a personal tragedy. She shares her journey of transforming grief into creativity and resilience while developing products for all hair textures. Twine faced hurdles in securing investment, particularly as an African American entrepreneur, but ultimately persevered, landing Briogeo in Sephora. Her story emphasizes the power of family influence and the importance of pursuing passion in the beauty industry.
Aug 8, 2020 • 20min
How I Built Resilience: Jessie Woolley-Wilson of DreamBox
Jessie Woolley-Wilson, CEO of DreamBox, shares insights from her journey leading an online math platform for K-8 students. She discusses the surge in users during the pandemic and the operational challenges that arose, emphasizing the need for transparent leadership. Jessie highlights the importance of equity in education technology and the philosophies behind her approach to leadership, particularly the concept of 'benevolent friction.' Her perspective on navigating the complexities of reopening schools and the shift towards blended learning is both timely and inspiring.
