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 10, 2020 • 26min
How I Built Resilience: Pokimane
Pokimane, a leading female streamer on Twitch, shares her journey from a chemical engineering student to a successful content creator with over 20 million followers. She discusses the balance between academics and her passion for gaming, the intricacies of building a community, and monetization strategies through brand collaborations. Pokimane also addresses the unique challenges women face in the streaming landscape, offering advice for resilience and emotional well-being. With aspirations for future projects, she emphasizes the importance of adaptability in this ever-evolving industry.
Sep 7, 2020 • 1h 11min
Rad Power Bikes: Mike Radenbaugh
Mike Radenbaugh, Founder and CEO of Rad Power Bikes, turned his not-so-fun bike commute into a booming e-bike empire. From his early days of rigging a battery to his mount bike, he shares the trials and triumphs of launching the largest e-bike brand in the U.S. The podcast dives into the challenges of scaling production, the importance of community feedback, and his journey from a college entrepreneur to a leader in sustainable transportation. With the pandemic igniting interest in e-bikes, Mike’s story is both inspiring and entertaining.
Sep 5, 2020 • 19min
How I Built Resilience: Sandra Oh Lin of KiwiCo
Sandra Oh Lin, the founder and CEO of KiwiCo, discusses her incredible journey in creating a subscription box service that ignites children's creativity through hands-on science and arts projects. She shares how the pandemic created an unexpected surge in demand, prompting innovative adaptations. Oh Lin emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in education, showcasing efforts to support diverse learners. Highlights also include the launch of Camp KiwiCo, a virtual learning platform, and insights into the evolving roles of parents and educators in today's landscape.
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.
