Podcast · 60 episodes
Bold Names
by The Wall Street Journal · English
WSJ’s Bold Names brings you conversations with the leaders of the bold-named companies featured in the pages of The Wall Street Journal. Hosts Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims speak to CEOs and business leaders in interviews that challenge conventional wisdom and take you inside the decisions being made in the C-suite and beyond.
Latest episodes
McDonald's CEO on Going Viral, the Big Arch and the Fast-Food Value WarMcDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski discusses how his “Big Arch” burger promo went viral, how brands should respond to social media, and McDonald’s strategy to win a “fast-food value war” with both…10 Apr 2026 · 25 min
Roses, Revenue, and Retention: Hinge’s Strategy for a $1 Billion YearJackie Jantos, new CEO of Hinge, explains how the dating app aims to be “designed to be deleted” by driving intentional users from in-app interaction to real-world dates, while scaling to about $1B…3 Apr 2026 · 27 min
The Five Step 'Algorithm' Driving Tesla’s SuccessJon McNeill, former president of Tesla, explains the “five-step algorithm” he says became Tesla’s operating system for problem-solving and innovation, plus lessons from the Model 3 production rollout…27 Mar 2026 · 27 min
All episodes
McDonald's CEO on Going Viral, the Big Arch and the Fast-Food Value WarMcDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski discusses how his “Big Arch” burger promo went viral, how brands should respond to social media, and McDonald’s strategy to win a “fast-food value war” with both…10 Apr 2026 · 25 min · 10 chapters
Roses, Revenue, and Retention: Hinge’s Strategy for a $1 Billion YearJackie Jantos, new CEO of Hinge, explains how the dating app aims to be “designed to be deleted” by driving intentional users from in-app interaction to real-world dates, while scaling to about $1B…3 Apr 2026 · 27 min · 11 chapters
The Five Step 'Algorithm' Driving Tesla’s SuccessJon McNeill, former president of Tesla, explains the “five-step algorithm” he says became Tesla’s operating system for problem-solving and innovation, plus lessons from the Model 3 production rollout…27 Mar 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
Southwest’s $1 Billion Pivot: CEO Bob Jordan on Bag Fees And Other ChangesSouthwest Airlines’ “$1 billion pivot” under CEO Bob Jordan, focusing on the shift from open seating to assigned seats, new fare tiering, and adding bag fees while claiming Southwest will keep its…20 Mar 2026 · 26 min · 9 chapters
The SEAL Turned CEO: Brandon Tseng on the AI-Powered Future of WarBrandon Tseng, co-founder of Shield AI, explains how AI pilots and autonomous drones are changing future warfare—especially when GPS and communications are jammed—plus Shield AI’s role in Ukraine,…13 Mar 2026 · 29 min · 10 chapters
The AI Agent in Your Pocket: Qualcomm’s CEO on the Future of MobileQualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon discusses how AI will change mobile computing and the “AI agent in your pocket,” shifting interaction from apps to natural language/intent, plus the hardware implications…6 Mar 2026 · 25 min · 9 chapters
Can Zillow’s 'Super App' Fix a Broken Housing Market?Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman discusses 2026 housing affordability, arguing the core problem is housing availability (about 5 million fewer homes built since 2008) plus elevated mortgage rates, and…27 Feb 2026 · 26 min · 9 chapters
Why Cigna’s CEO Is Confident We Can Fix American HealthcareDavid Cordani, CEO of Cigna, argues the U.S. can fix healthcare by investing in prevention and “whole person” care, shifting from volume-based to outcome-based spending, improving access (especially…20 Feb 2026 · 23 min · 15 chapters
Encore: Can IBM Beat Microsoft and Google in the Quantum Computing Race?IBM’s CEO Arvind Krishna discusses why IBM believes quantum computing can solve problems normal computers can’t, how IBM is building toward commercialization, and how that bet fits alongside IBM’s…13 Feb 2026 · 33 min · 13 chapters
‘We Sell Scarcity:’ How Lamborghini Continues to Stay So CoolLamborghini’s strategy to stay relevant and premium despite limited production (~10,000 cars/year), using “scarcity,” plug-in hybrids for performance and CO2 goals, and navigating 2025 pricing…6 Feb 2026 · 23 min · 13 chapters
How SAP's CEO Is Remaking the European Tech Giant For The Age Of AIIn this episode of *Bold Names*, SAP CEO Christian Klein discusses the transformative journey he initiated when he took over the company in 2020.30 Jan 2026 · 26 min · 12 chapters
How Athletic Brewing Sells Beer for a Post-Alcohol GenerationIn this episode of Bold Names, hosts Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims interview Bill Shufelt, the co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing, a pioneer in the non-alcoholic beer industry.23 Jan 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters
How Corning Is Using Trump’s Tariffs To Its AdvantageTim Higgins and Christopher Mims16 Jan 2026 · 30 min · 8 chapters
Affirm’s Max Levchin: Why ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Beats Credit CardsAffirm’s Max Levchin: Why ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Beats Credit Cards9 Jan 2026 · 27 min · 11 chapters
Even More Bold Names in 2026Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims2 Jan 2026 · 2 min · 1 chapter
Encore: This CEO Says Humanoid Robots Are The "Space Race" of Our TimeIn this episode of the Bold Names podcast, hosts Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims revisit a conversation with Jeff Cardenas, CEO and co-founder of Apptronik, a company focused on developing humanoid…26 Dec 2025 · 33 min
SPECIAL WSJ’s Take On the Week: How This Fed Hawk Views the Economy, Inflation, AI and JobsSPECIAL WSJ’s Take On the Week: How This Fed Hawk Views the Economy, Inflation, AI, and Jobs23 Dec 2025 · 40 min
The Boldest Ideas of 2025 — And What’s in Store for 2026WSJ’s Bold Names features conversations with leaders of bold-named companies, exploring unconventional wisdom in the C-suite.19 Dec 2025 · 24 min
Inside PlayStation's Plans to Lead a $200 Billion IndustryTim Higgins and Christopher Mims12 Dec 2025 · 26 min
McLaren CEO Zak Brown On F1 And Business Strategy At 200 Miles Per HourMcLaren CEO Zak Brown On F1 And Business Strategy At 200 Miles Per Hour5 Dec 2025 · 31 min
SPECIAL WSJ Tech Live: The Man Leading Trump’s AI Charge Against China (The Journal Podcast)In this episode of *Bold Names*, recorded live at WSJ’s Tech Live, host Jessica Mendoza interviews Michael Kratsios, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.28 Nov 2025 · 23 min
Biden’s Antitrust Architect on How Big Tech Threatens U.S. ProsperityTim Higgins and Christopher Mims21 Nov 2025 · 36 min
The World’s Tech Giants Are Running Out of Power. This CEO Plans to Deliver.In this episode, Scott Strazik, the CEO of GE Vernova, discusses the increasing electricity demand driven by technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence and data center expansions.14 Nov 2025 · 31 min
How Uber Plans to Win the Self-Driving Car RaceIn this episode of *Bold Names*, hosts Tim Higgins and Christopher Mims interview Sachin Kansal, Uber's Chief Product Officer.7 Nov 2025 · 31 min