Behind the Business with Michelle Toh cover art
Podcast · 23 episodes

Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

by Michelle Toh · English

Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning video podcast hosted by CNN and FORTUNE alum Michelle Toh that explores the decisions and philosophies behind some of today's most influential leaders. Its new season features the leaders of Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Samsung, Canva, Revolve, Peloton, Poppi and Away. The show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — avoiding fluff and performative praise, while also keeping it fun! The show aims to be journalistically rigorous and visually compelling, with each episode ending with a rapid-fire round and connecting guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, our guests get into it all. New episodes Thursdays.

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How to stand out in the attention economy: Samsung US CMO takes 3 Pressing QuestionsHow Samsung’s U.S. CMO Allison Stransky says brands can stand out in the “attention economy” by prioritizing human storytelling, using AI as a tool (not a shortcut), and balancing digital…30 Sep 2026 · 41 min · 19 chapters
'Proud of where I'm at': Jeremy Lin on life after the NBA, reinvention and redefining successJeremy Lin discusses life after the NBA, reinvention, redefining success, and building community through a basketball training camp for college athletes.24 Sep 2026 · 1 h 7 min · 25 chapters
'Everyone had a black luggage': How Away shook up the travel industryAway CEO Jessica Schinazi explains how the luggage brand reshaped travel, what she prioritized after joining in late 2024, and how Away plans to grow through resilience, product innovation,…10 Sep 2026 · 56 min · 24 chapters
Peloton’s push into gyms: CEO Peter Stern’s big betPeloton CEO Peter Stern explains Peloton’s “refounding” strategy—expanding from in-home bikes into a connected wellness ecosystem, using AI (Peloton IQ) for personalization, and pushing into…3 Sep 2026 · 50 min · 25 chapters
Canva's 'biggest shift': AI, design and the future of workCanva’s evolution from a simple online design tool into a global platform, and how Canva AI 2.0 (design model + agentic orchestration) is meant to reshape workflows and the future of work, while…27 Aug 2026 · 49 min · 19 chapters
How to travel for less: The Points Guy takes 3 Pressing QuestionsHow to travel for less using points/miles, credit-card strategy, and smarter booking amid rising airfare, fees, and airline “de-bundling.”6 Aug 2026 · 53 min · 18 chapters
Poppi to PepsiCo: Building a $2B soda brand the industry couldn't ignoreAllison Ellsworth, co-founder of Poppy, recounts building the prebiotic soda brand from a kitchen experiment to a challenger brand acquired by PepsiCo for about $1.95–$2B, emphasizing ingredient…23 Jul 2026 · 56 min · 23 chapters
Beyond EVs: Rivian founder & CEO RJ Scaringe on AI, robotics and the next big betRivian founder/CEO RJ Scaringe discusses Rivian’s origin story, fundraising, product strategy (R1T/R1S then R2/R3), supply-chain/manufacturing complexity, EV policy context, and why Rivian is betting…14 Jul 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 20 chapters
Inside global black markets: Emmy-winning investigative journalist Mariana van ZellerThe episode introduces Mariana van Zeller’s podcast The Hidden Third and her 20+ years investigating “black and gray markets” (estimated 30–35% of the global economy), arguing that these illegal…2 Jul 2026 · 55 min · 18 chapters
IPO parade? 3 pressing questions on global markets with the NYSE“Three Pressing Questions” with Chris Taylor of the NYSE on what’s driving global stock markets, whether the U.S. IPO market could be a “banner year,” and what makes companies truly listing-ready.25 Jun 2026 · 35 min · 16 chapters
From near-failure to global giant: Airbnb's co-founder on how it all almost never happenedAirbnb’s near-collapse and growth, from the “airbed and breakfast” origin to surviving investor rejection, scaling during the 2008 DNC, winning Y Combinator, fending off European clones (Wimdu/Rocket…18 Jun 2026 · 1 h 8 min · 27 chapters
Introducing Behind the Business Season 2Season 2 launch of Behind the Business, promising “thoughtful conversations” with major consumer and business leaders, plus new “3 Pressing Questions” episodes on current news.17 Jun 2026 · 1 min · 1 chapter
IM8 CEO on building the 'world's fastest-growing supplements brand' backed by David BeckhamDanny Yeung, co-founder/CEO of Prenetics (parent of IMA8), discusses building IMA8 into a “world’s fastest-growing supplements brand” backed by David Beckham, plus Prenetics’ COVID PCR testing…29 Dec 2025 · 1 h 5 min · 34 chapters
Future of luxury travel? This company wants you to feel like you're always flying privateThe future of luxury travel in the U.S., via PS (formerly Private Suite), which runs private airport terminals for commercial flyers—positioned as “feel like you’re flying private” hospitality that…10 Dec 2025 · 55 min · 21 chapters
NBC News anchor Vicky Nguyen: From Vietnamese refugee to TODAY ShowVicky Nguyen’s journey from Vietnamese “boat baby” refugee to Emmy-winning NBC News chief consumer investigative correspondent and TODAY Show anchor, plus her approach to investigative journalism,…4 Dec 2025 · 1 h · 19 chapters
20X growth in five years: How Factor pushed healthy eating beyond broccoliAdam Park, CEO of Factor US (acquired by HelloFresh in 2020), explains Factor’s 20X growth in five years, how it scales fresh ready-to-eat meals with 100+ rotating options, and why “serve the…20 Nov 2025 · 57 min · 23 chapters
LARQ: From reinventing the water bottle to being acquired by BRITAJustin Wang, co-founder/CEO of LARQ, discusses building the self-cleaning water bottle brand, raising capital (Kickstarter, VC, Shark Tank), scaling retail distribution, surviving…14 Nov 2025 · 1 h 3 min · 28 chapters
'Not just hand sanitizer': How Touchland built an $880 million brandTouchland’s transformation of hand sanitizer into a beauty-forward, sensorial “on-the-go” brand, and how founder Andrea Lisbona built it into a fast-growing $100M business later acquired for up to…12 Nov 2025 · 1 h 8 min · 32 chapters
Future of flying? JetZero CEO takes on Airbus and Boeing with jet that aims to cut emissions in halfTom O’Leary, Jet Zero CEO, explains the Z4 blended wing body aircraft aimed at cutting fuel burn and emissions by up to 50% versus today’s commercial jets, targeting the “middle of the market”…31 Oct 2025 · 47 min · 20 chapters
Coffee Meets Bagel co-founder on building the 'anti-Tinder' and turning down Mark CubanArum Kang, co-founder/CEO of Coffee Meets Bagel, explains how the dating app became an “anti-Tinder” by sending one curated match per day, how she built the company with her sisters, and how…23 Oct 2025 · 1 h 14 min · 25 chapters
'Your Rich BFF' Vivian Tu's top money tips: How she made $7M a year by 31Vivian Tu, founder/CEO of Your Rich BFF, explains how she built a creator-led personal finance business, why “debt is a tool,” and how to talk about money without shame.16 Oct 2025 · 1 h · 30 chapters
Warby Parker's leap: From affordable glasses to AI game-changerWarby Parker’s origin and growth—bootstrapping a direct-to-consumer eyewear brand, scaling via Home Try-On, expanding into physical stores, and partnering with Google on AI-powered Android XR glasses.9 Oct 2025 · 54 min · 25 chapters
Introducing Behind the BusinessIntroductory episode of “Behind the Business,” a show by Michelle Toh about the people behind consumer brands, category creators, and disruptors—covering how they balance work and life, what…2 Oct 2025 · 2 min · 1 chapter