15 Best Business Podcasts to Inspire Your Inner Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs are ambitious people by nature. With long lists of things to do, to read and to see, there isn’t always time to squeeze in one more thing. But with so much interesting content out there, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. Unlike books or TV, however, podcasts are the perfect form of entertainment to consume during idle time, helping you double your productivity. You can listen to podcasts while also commuting, working out or running errands. Plus, there’s no shortage of fantastic business podcasts to listen to. To help inspire your inner entrepreneur, Seek Business Capital spoke with professionals and small business owners to find out which business podcasts are worth a listen. So, grab your phone, open your podcast app and start downloading. Here are the best business podcasts you’ve got to listen to:
1. “How I Built This”
- Host: Guy Raz
“’How I Built This’ is comprised of hour-long interviews with entrepreneurs who run companies you’ve definitely heard of (think: Yelp, Method, Bob’s Red Mill) and the interviews focus on the story of their businesses, from the very beginning,” said Alexis Haselberger, time management and productivity coach and consultant at Alexis Haselberger Coaching and Consulting. “This podcast is very inspiring because you hear the nitty-gritty details of how these businesses got where they are today, and you start to see that no one has it all figured out when they are first getting started. You also start to see how much luck is involved and why it’s so important to seize the opportunities that come your way. I also love that at the end of every episode they have [a] five-minute segment called ‘How You Built That’ that features a business that is just getting off the ground and having a little bit of success.”
2. “Marketing Over Coffee”
- Host: John J. Wall and Christopher S. Penn
“As an entrepreneur as well as a podcaster myself, I have to give a strong recommendation to the ‘Marketing Over Coffee’ podcast,” said Jeremy Goldman, founder of Firebrand Group. “It’s been one of the top marketing technology podcasts for quite some time now, and it is consistently engaging even while discussing more technical or cutting edge topics. I’ve considered new technologies and concepts thanks to this show, and the guest authors they’ve had on have consistently blown me away with their intellect. I couldn’t recommend ‘Marketing Over Coffee’ more.”
3. “Entrepreneurs on Fire”
- Host: John Lee Dumas
“One of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs is John Lee Dumas’ ‘Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast,’” said Amanda Goldman-Petri, co-founder and CEO of branding and PR agency Fame For Good. “John has interviewed over 2,000 of the world’s most successful and most interesting entrepreneurs on this podcast dedicated to helping entrepreneurs find, launch and grow their business ideas. It’s an award-winning show with guests like Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk, Tim Ferriss and more. It’s a great show to kickstart after any slump in your business. If you need motivation and the fearlessness to get up strong for another day, this is the podcast for you. In addition to cultivating a thriving community of other entrepreneurs, this podcast is an awesome learning resource with wonderful online training courses.”
4. “Goal Digger”
- Host: Jenna Kutcher
“I’d absolutely recommend the ‘Goal Digger’ podcast by Jenna Kutcher,” said Kiara Martilla, founder of Kiara Jennifer & Co., a social media and digital public relations agency. “Jenna’s story is amazing; she went from working at Target Corp to becoming a photographer with no formal training and a camera she bought off of Craigslist. Her podcast is extremely helpful because she interviews guests in all sorts of different industries and offers advice that is applicable to many types of business owners looking to build their businesses and learn marketing strategies that actually work in the long term! She is constantly reminding her audience that she is still just a small-town girl who was persistent and followed her dreams into entrepreneurship.”
5. “SEO Podcast: Unknown Secrets of Internet Marketing”
- Hosts: Chris Burres and Matt Bertram
“One business-related podcast that I consistently listen to is ‘SEO Podcast: Unknown Secrets of Internet Marketing’ by eWebResults.com,” said Matthew Ross, co-owner and COO of The Sumber Yard, a mattress review website. “I’ve found this podcast to be extremely helpful as an online-based business owner. I’ve learned countless tips and tricks from the hosts Matt and Chris as well as the guests they bring on. In fact, one of their suggestions led me to make a major change on my website, which has increased traffic by over 8 percent so far. I highly recommend any business owner that operates an online business give it a listen. Even if you don’t operate an online-based business per se, I think most entrepreneurs will find it helpful. You’ll learn how to optimize your website, analyze Google analytics and boost social engagement, which let’s face it, is quite important for any type of business in today’s day and age.”
6. “Small Business War Stories”
- Host: Pablo Fuentes
“This podcast is hosted by Pablo Fuentes, CEO of Proven, who literally hits the road to uncover the stories of small businesses all over the country,” said Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation.com. “He travels from town to town, cross country, to share the stories of how America’s small businesses on and off Main Street first got their start.”
7. “Without Fail”
- Host: Alex Blumberg
“Without Fail interviews prominent folks about the full story of their careers,” Haselberger said. “It dives deep into failures just as much as successes and it shows that failure is not the end. Through the varied careers and lives of the interviewees, you get to see things from a first-hand perspective from people who’ve walked their paths longer than you [have]. You start to see that no one’s career is a straight shot to success. Everyone had setbacks. And they are just that, temporary setbacks. As a new entrepreneur, it’s pretty much all rollercoaster. This podcast lets you get a broader view and see that what feels dire now is only a small part of the picture.”
8. “BossBabe”
- Hosts: Natalie Ellis and Danielle Canty
“A newer podcast with a more recognizable name among women business owners is the BossBabe podcast, created by co-CEOs Natalie Ellis and Danielle Canty of BossBabe,” Martilla said. “This podcast covers so many topics but is really directed at business owners who are determined to be the boss of their entire life … I came across the BossBabe organization (The Societe) after feeling stuck in my business for what felt like forever. I was making a steady income, but I was no longer growing. The Societe has helped me to get back on track with steadily growing my business and the new ‘BossBabe’ podcast has hit me at just the right time as I begin to look into what I want to create as my next stream of income.”
9. “The Zip”
- Host: Megan Hannay
“I listen to dozens of small business marketing podcasts and my favorite one is called ‘The Zip,’” said Zach Hendrix, co-founder of GreenPal, which connects consumers with lawn care providers. “Why is it the best in my opinion? Because so many marketing podcasts cover the same topics, however ‘The Zip’ dives into local search engine optimization and local public relations strategy. How do you get your local dentist office to rank number one on Google? If you are a plumber how do you get the local paper to cover you? The Zip is the only podcast that I have come across that dives into the strategies and interviews practitioners in local search engine optimization and local public relations, and for that reason, it is my favorite because it is the most effective marketing podcast I have found.”
10. “The MFCEO Project with Andy Frisella”
- Host: Andy Frisella
“This podcast changed my life and brought me to a far better understanding of what it takes to succeed in business and in life,” said Ben Fredricks, CEO of Odell Barnes REO, which buys bank-owned and auction properties. “When I first heard Andy; I didn’t like him. It was because I knew his message was exactly what I needed to hear and sometimes, the truth hurts. Andy brings an unapologetic, in-your-face podcast to entrepreneurs that covers mindset, specific strategies to grow your business, and perhaps most importantly, how to instill a winning culture into your business. It’s full of straight-up value and content, and he shares step-by-step how he’s built a nine-figure company. There’s no sales pitch and nothing to buy; it’s just about winning.”
11. “The Ed Mylett Show”
- Host: Ed Mylett
“[It] is one of my favorites because he features interviews with entrepreneurs and influencers that have amazing stories,” said Fredricks. “From war heroes to celebrities who have built huge brands, this podcast delivers amazing content that relates to life and business. Ed also mixes in strategy that entrepreneurs desperately need, [which includes] ways to challenge yourself with intention, goal setting, finding fulfillment and mastering influence. Getting your mindset in the right place is so critical before you jump full-in to becoming an entrepreneur because of the tough times you’ll face. If you want to build your mind into a strong force, make this podcast a regular part of your routine.”
12. “Build Your Network”
- Host: Travis Chappell
“Every episode is filled with real and actionable tips to let entrepreneurs connect and expand their networks,” said Vince Khuu, of East West Ventures. “Networking is a must for everyone. As entrepreneurs, we are always seeking capital or leads. We are usually so busy working in our business and forget how to connect with influencers and people who can help us achieve what we want much sooner. And this show and the guests help us do just that.”
13. “Outback Talks: The Employee Engagement Podcast”
- Host: Yasmine Shemesh
“This podcast is a must-listen for every entrepreneur that wants to find fun and interesting ways to engage their employees,” said Cara Corbett, digital marketing specialist at seoplus+. “After all, a great business is built on the foundation of a solid team that works well together. In this podcast, you will hear a variety of tips, tactics, advice, and even expert guests share their insights on the applications of employee engagement strategies in their own organizations. For instance, they had LinkedIn’s very own Bobby Brenman talk about his recruitment best practices. Entrepreneurs can apply the tactics covered in this podcast at their own organizations to build better corporate teams.”
14. “The SIA Business Podcast”
- Host: Syed Irfan Ajmal
“One of my favorite business podcasts is ‘The SIA Business Podcast’ hosted by Syed Irfan Ajmal, a seasoned digital marketer and a serial entrepreneur who shares his insights on various topics of digital marketing world in this show,” said Hamna Amjad, content marketing executive at Gigworker. “He also invites other entrepreneurs, marketing professionals and PR experts, and shares their success stories and what they’ve learned from their mistakes, which is really inspiring to hear.”
15. “Access to Anyone”
- Hosts: Michael Schein and Michael Roderick
“‘Access to Anyone’ podcast teaches how to build [a] network of people without actually selling them anything,” Alina Trigub, managing partner of SAMO Financial. “As an entrepreneur, it is important for me to have access to people in different fields that are supporting what I do. For instance, folks like attorneys, accountants, brokers, insurance agents, general contractors and so forth. On the other hand, I am building a network of investors. So it is critical for me to keep learning of ways that allow to build partnerships and strategic alliances … [The hosts] concentrate on relationship building, which is absolutely critical in any business.”