15 Essential Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

Starting a company is downright difficult and anyone that has done it before will tell you that is an understatement. What they also might mention is in our day and age, Founders don't have to jump off the proverbial cliff head first without a parachute anymore.

The world of podcasting has opened a door into the minds and experiences of many thought leaders and seasoned Founders that offer a "tell-all" experience into their startup-building journey. It's like getting first-hand mentorship without paying a dime, and with the number of entrepreneur podcasts increasing in recent years, there's no shortage of information to take advantage of.

For startup founders embarking on the entrepreneurial journey for the first time, or even for the serial entrepreneur, we've compiled a list of various entrepreneur podcasts that can support you in whatever stage your startup may be in. For quick reference, here is a list of 15 of the best business podcasts entrepreneurs need to be listening to TODAY (and we will share more details of each podcast description below).

15 Podcasts for Entrepreneurs

1. Startup Therapy

2. Financial Feminist

3. The Tim Ferriss show

4. How I Built This with Guy Raz

5. Masters of Scale

6. Entrepreneurs on Fire

7. Business Wars

8. This Week in Startups

9. Startup Stories - Mixergy

10. StartUp

11. Daily Mind Medicine

12. Smart Passive Income

13. HBR IdeaCast

14. She Did It Her Way

15. Global Studio Marketing Podcast

Feel free to explore them on their title alone (some are more self explanatory than others) or continue on this riveting journey with us to the depths of business podcasts for entrepreneurs. We will include suggestions of who should be listening and other helpful description of each podcast, so you can explore knowing exactly what you're looking for.

15 Best Podcasts for Entrepreneurs to Listen to Today

1. Startup Therapy

If you're a startup Founder, look no further. Hosted by CEO and Founder of the Startups.com accelerator, Wil Schroter with co-host (and co-founder!) Ryan Rutan, these guys know exactly what you're going through because they've been there, and failed that — making this a truly authentic podcast for Founders for startups.

With decades of experience to share, these Founders get down to the gritty parts of being a Founder and share valuable insights into every aspect of running a startup.

Recommended if you're a/an:

Startup Founder (at any stage)

Small Business Owner

2. Financial Feminist

This business podcast has been rising in popularity this year much thanks to social media reach and the drive for young female entrepreneurs to become financially stable on their own. Host Tori Dunlap interviews successful entrepreneurs that are, you guessed it, female, and opens the conversation for women across the globe to "fight the patriarchy" by reaching financial freedom as a woman in this world.

Recommended if you're a/an:

Female entrepreneur

Business owner

3. The Tim Ferriss Show

Tim Ferriss is basically a household name for many types of entrepreneurs, so of course, he made it on our list of business podcasts. Known as the author of “The 4-Hour Work Week,” Tim's podcast The Tim Ferriss Show has become one of the most downloaded apple podcasts of all time.

It's not just about startup content, though. Ferriss interviews experts in a number of industries and explores a variety of subjects, from entrepreneurship to plant medicine.

Recommended if you're a/an:

Aspiring entrepreneur

Startup enthusiasts

4. How I Built This with Guy Raz

How I Built This is an American podcast about "innovators, entrepreneurs, idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built" produced by NPR. This interview-based podcast hosts an all-star lineup of influential entrepreneurs. Guests talk about their journey and share tons of noteworthy advice.

Recommended if you're a/an:

People with big ideas

Eager listeners

5. Masters of Scale

Reid Hoffman (co-founder of LinkedIn) hosts this business podcast, where he connects with successful entrepreneurs and business leaders to share the stories and tips that helped them grow from startups into big brands.

Reid and his guests discuss everything around entrepreneurship, from leadership to fundraising (and everything in between). This includes tapping into the failures and setbacks they had along the way as well.

Recommend for:

Aspiring entrepreneurs

Startup Founders

6. Entrepreneurs on Fire

John Lee Dumas hosts this award-winning business podcast, where he interviews successful people to inspire the online community of entrepreneurs on their journey.

This podcast aims to provide business tips to listeners with their own business, using inspiration and strategies to create the life your dreams.

Dumas has interviewed a multitude of entrepreneurs, including past guests such as Neil Patel, Gary Vaynerchuk, Barbara Corcoran, Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, and many more.

Recommend for:

Founders with an online business

Aspiring entrepreneurs

7. Business Wars

Veteran radio journalist, David Brown hosts this podcast that dives into some of the most intense corporate rivalries and the business strategies of how the leaders and/or investors involved of success stories that drove their companies to the new heights... or financial turmoil.

We've all heard of the classic brand rivalries like Coke vs Pepsi and iPhone vs BlackBerry, etc. — with David Brown’s amazing storytelling skills, listeners will stay hooked and asking for more. But it’s not just for entertainment factor — Business Wars is a captivating podcast that shares many lessons and cautionary tales for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Recommended for:

Creative entrepreneurs

Startup investors

8. This Week in Startups

This web series interviews experts from a variety of backgrounds that predominantly focus on the tech industry. Hosted by Jason Calacanis, the show uses humor to dive into some interesting topics. Not solely for tech companies, this podcast is an entertaining way to stay ahead of startup news, get inspiration from others’ successes, and receive actionable tips to keep a startup thriving.

Recommend for:

Tech entrepreneurs

Silicon valley founders

9. Startup Stories — Mixergy

The Mixergy community is like having access to a university curriculum on entrepreneurship, taught by the best of the best. Startup Stories is an entrepreneur podcast that features relevant topics and answers questions that Founders and other business owners may have.

Host Andrew Warner has his own compelling story about starting his education business and podcast, but the majority of interviews produced on the show are from lesser-known companies, which is a plus because they are fresh and haven't been shared around the internet countless times.

Recommended for:

Aspiring entrepreneurs

Founders of their own company

10. StartUp

A podcast from Gimlet Media co-hosted by Alex Blumberg and Lisa Chow, StartUp shares raw business stories about what it's truly like starting a business.

Each podcast episode reveals the real lives of struggling founders — with business tips from how to write a business plan to how to handle conflict at the workplace. Alex and Lisa’s guests discuss real entrepreneurial obstacles and problems rarely mentioned in the business world.

As of 2015, StartUp reached one million listeners per month, though, they haven't posted since August 2020. Though, it's still worth a listen as the advice remains accurate for budding entrepreneurs.

Recommended for:

Founders wanting to raise money

E-commerce stars

11. Daily Mind Medicine

Entrepreneur Taylor Welch hosts this daily podcast for anyone needing help getting out of their own way. The self-explanatory tagline "The Mind is the most powerful tool in your arsenal. This podcast is a daily supplement for you to invest into your thinking" invites the listener to unwind and reset their brain every single day.

With each episode ranging from 2min-5min — makes this entrepreneur podcast a perfect fit for business owners with a busy schedule who understand keeping a PMA (positive mental attitude) is essential to running a successful business.

Recommended for:

Entrepreneurs of all stages

Personal development

12. Smart Passive Income Podcast

Six-time award-winning podcast Smart Passive Income (SPI) is one of the best entrepreneur podcasts out there. Not like other first-person storytelling podcasts for entrepreneurs, SPI is more of an online community built to help you reach your goals more efficiently!

The general vibe of the podcast is always relaxed, so listeners will get a boost of positive energy simply by listening to each episode.

Host and fellow entrepreneur Pat Flynn built this podcast so everyone can learn something new and implement those lessons for the long-haul. Past guests include experts such as Tim Ferriss and the Garyvee Audio Experience that are all for spilling the tea on entrepreneurial tips, so don't skip out on the older episodes!

Recommended if you:

Have your own business

Appreciate community in company culture

13. HBR IdeaCast

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) weekly podcast features the thought leaders in business and management. Hosts Alison Beard and Curt Nickish explore topics driving sales, management issues, killing deals, burnout, networking, and family businesses.

It's a 30-minute podcast that comes from one of the most esteemed universities and hosts leading authors and entrepreneurial pioneers in business.

Recommended for

Family business

Blogging strategies

14. She Did It Her Way

Women thriving in the business world is something we all should celebrate. Host Amanda Boleyn is a self-made entrepreneur and is sharing her story as a way of encouraging and helping fellow women entrepreneurs achieve the same levels of success as she!

This weekly one-of-a-kind entrepreneur podcast is focused on empowering women with questions that are thought-provoking, and each episode is delivered with contagious energy. Notably, Forbes awarded this show as one of the 12 best podcasts for entrepreneurs.

Recommend for:

Online business/Online businesses

Females seeking smart passive income

15. Global Studio Marketing Podcast

Teaching entrepreneurs how to THINK like seasoned marketing pros, the Global Studio Marketing Podcasts for entrepreneurs rounds out our list in the best way possible. Host Michael K. Reynolds the founder of Global Studio, has more than 25 years of experience in accelerating the success of organizations across the globe (hence, the name of the podcast!).

"In this podcast, you will develop the single most critical skill in business. — the Marketing Mindset." The description claims. And while there are countless marketing podcasts on temporary tactics, tips, and tricks, the Global Studio Marketing Podcast claims this podcast will actually transform you into a marketing master.

Recommended for:

Entrepreneurs with their own businesses

Tech execs needing marketing help

Summary

There is no shortage of entrepreneur podcasts out there. For founders from silicon valley to brand new entrepreneurs in the midwest, anyone can find not just one, but multiple helpful business podcasts to utilize on a daily basis. Besides attending keynote speeches, these podcasts are like a front seat to listen to compelling stories from a best-selling author, a serial entrepreneur, or just a Founder that wants to spill it all in hopes of helping others find financial freedom and/or build a successful business.

We hope this list of the 15 best podcasts for entrepreneurs gets you started on the right track. Let us know which one is your favorite, and if we've missed one you absolutely love, please share in the comment section for others to take advantage of.