Seven Best Startup Podcasts

From a beginner to an industry expert, everyone can learn new things from listening to or reading what successful entrepreneurs have to say. It gives insight into their way of thinking and gives new perspectives that help you get out of a rut when you’re stuck. That’s why podcasts are a great source of inspiration, and you can listen to them when you’re taking a break or even doing a mundane task. These are the top seven podcasts we recommend for startups.

My First Million

When starting a business, it’s extremely important to have a business mindset. See opportunities that no one has seen before. Find the gap in the market. That’s why My First Million is a great podcast. Sam Parr and Shaan Puri brainstorm different business ideas for current trends and analyze them. They dissect how other founders started their businesses, and what made them successful, in a conversational way, to feel less intimidated. It's great to get ideas flowing and give you an insight into how successful founders think.

The Exit - Presented By Flippa

The Exit tells the story of how entrepreneurs bought and sold their businesses. Each episode features a different entrepreneur who tells their story. Guests span from different fields and different deal sizes. It offers real-world examples of when to acquire a business and how to decide if and when to exit. This podcast is for companies that are building with the intention of selling, as well as individuals who are interested in acquisitions.

How I Built This

How I Built This is one of the most popular and well-respected entrepreneurship podcasts. It’s hosted by Guy Raz, who gives more polished and narrative-style interviews with its guests. The episode focuses on the origin story of a major company or band. From its original idea to the big corporation that it is today. In the podcast, the founder tells the story of the early challenges, the critical momentum, and the breakthroughs. How I Built This is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand what it truly takes to turn a simple idea into an iconic brand, with realistic expectations.

Lenny’s Podcast

When you have an idea for a product that you want to sell, it’s important to know how to do it and who you’re targeting with it. Lenny’s Podcast is one of the most respected podcasts for product development. Each episode lasts approximately 1.5 hours and features interviews with leaders and executives from a variety of industries. It focuses on real takeaways, instead of abstract ideas that might not leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Y Combinator Startup Podcast

Y Combinator Startup Podcast is the official podcast of the world’s most prestigious startup accelerator that launched companies like Airbnb, Reddit, and DoorDash. Instead of a single host, it features YC’s partners who give valuable advice and share their stories. It goes into the more technical and strategic aspects of building a startup, which is a great source of information for inspiring entrepreneurs.

Indie Bites Podcast

When you don’t have the time to listen to a long podcast, this is for you. Indie Bites features short, bite-sized conversations with founders from the Indie Hackers community who have started small, profitable, and bootstrapped businesses. They share their thought process when they come up with new business ideas, find the right customers, and gain income. It's a great podcast when you’re on the go and want to stay inspired.

Acquired Podcast

Acquired is one of the most thoroughly researched business podcasts in the world, hosted by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal. They tell the stories of famous companies and what strategies they used to become successful. Each episode feels like a conversation between two friends, which gives it a casual atmosphere without being pretentious. At first, the podcast was just about acquisitions, but over time it expanded far beyond that and into full deep-dives on the world's greatest businesses.