Small Business Tips

Great Podcasts For Small Business Owners

For years now podcasts have slowly made their way into the mainstream. While the public at large may only be familiar with shows like Serial, the truth is that there is a huge selection of podcasts available covering nearly every subject imaginable. Like its ancestor (radio), podcasts are generally meant for entertainment. However, there are now many programs geared towards entrepreneurs that could actually help them in growing their small businesses or startups.

Recently Forbes compiled their list of “The 12 Best Podcasts for Entrepreneurs.” At the top of their list in StartUp — a show hosted by Alex Blumberg of NPR’s Planet Money. Like many popular podcasts including the aforementioned Serial, StartUp is divided into seasons. The program’s first season was about on the creation of Blumberg’s podcast network, Gimlet Media, while the second shifted focus to a dating company founded by two twenty-somethings. Presumably future seasons will continue to share one business’s experiences each season with lots to be learned from each story. While not everything a given company will go through may relate to your small businesses, some of the lessons learned are universal. It also doesn’t hurt that the show is tremendously entertaining and interesting.

For female small business owners, Forbes recommends She Did it Her Way. The show welcomes a different female entrepreneur each week to talk about how they grew their business. Unlike many of the podcasts on the list that focus heavily on tech companies, She Did it Her Way offers a diverse slate of guests covering a number of fields. Although the show is about women specifically, men can of course learn from this program as well.

Another podcast that’s both addictively entertaining as well as educational for entrepreneurs is The Pitch.  As you might expect from the name, The Pitch features startup owners pitching their businesses to investors and includes the honest feedback the entrepreneurs receive in return. While there are obvious comparisons to the hit ABC television show Shark Tank, this podcast is said to forgo the manufactured drama that’s inherent in reality television. Instead small business owners can get a better idea about what strategies work when seeking investments.

Since podcasts can be as niche as they choose to be, some of the shows on Forbes’ list are for very specific audiences. For example, the show Built to Sell is for entrepreneurs interested in selling their companies. Meanwhile the podcast Zen Founder, hosted by a psychologist, focuses on the stress of starting a business and how entrepreneurs can juggle the various aspects of their lives. Lastly Traction is for especially for startups looking to take their very first steps.

While many entrepreneurs like to think they know everything about running a small business, the truth is that many could use some fresh advice and opinions. No matter what type of business you own, you’re likely to find something in these and other business-centric podcasts that you can learn from. With most of these shows producing episodes at least once a week, these shows are also a perfect way to add some variety to your daily commute.

Other Articles by Jonathan Dyer