In short
Introduction to a new podcast, Business History, mixing business history lessons with both great and destructive companies.
Key claims
The hosts frame a “brilliant business model” from ancient Rome—starting a private fire brigade that buys burning houses at increasing discounts, escalating pressure until owners sell. They position the show as covering “mavericks,” “robber barons,” and overlooked darker moments in business. Notable examples mentioned: Southwest Airlines’ entry strategy using cheap seats and free whiskey; Thomas Edison and the electric chair.
Guests
No guests in this transcript—hosts are Robert Smith and Jacob Goldstein. Backgrounds: Smith is a former Planet Money co-host who later pursued an MBA; Goldstein is also a former Planet Money co-host who wrote Money, the true story of a made-up thing.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOIntroduction of Hosts and Podcast Concept
0:30 to 1:49
Meet the hosts and discover the premise of the Business History podcast.
“And part of the way he got so rich was by starting a private fire brigade.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Thank you.
0:30One of the richest men in Rome. And part of the way he got so rich was by starting a private fire brigade. Okay. A brilliant business model. What they would do is, when your house was on fire, they would come to your house and they would say, we'll buy your house off you right now at a discount. And then if you said no, they'd say, okay, we'll let it keep burning. Oh, the discount just got bigger. Do you want to sell it now? Yes. Yes, it's genius. It's a genius story about history, of course, but also about business. You should tell the people who we are and what our new show is. I'm Robert Smith, and this is Jacob Goldstein.
1:11We used to host a show called Planet Money together, and then you went off to write a book. Money, the true story of a made-up thing. And Robert, you went off to get an MBA. Master of Business Administration. And now we're back making this new podcast about the best ideas and people and businesses in history. and some of the worst people, horrible ideas, and destructive companies in the history of business. First episode, how Southwest Airlines used cheap seats and free whiskey to fight its way into the airline business. The most Texas story ever. There's a lot of mavericks in that story. We're going to have mavericks on the show.
1:46We're going to have plenty of robber barons. So many robber barons. And you know what? They're not all bad. And we'll talk about some of the classic great moments of famous business geniuses, along with some of the darker moments that often get overlooked, like Thomas Edison and the electric chair. We struggled to come up with a name, decided to call it Business History. You know why? Why? Because it's a show about the history of business. Available all the places that anyone has ever got their podcast. You probably have it now. It's in your phone. You can also listen ad-free with a Pushkin Plus subscription.
2:18Sign up on the Business History show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm slash plus.
From the publisher
Was the world's most lovable car originally made just to please Hitler? And what links Thomas Edison and the electric chair? From Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith of Planet Money fame comes Business History, a new show uncovering amazing stories from the history of business.
From sandals to suits, Business History brings to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in the annals of commerce and finance. We’ll explain why some company stocks soar, while other business ideas crash, and share the valuable lessons.
Starting November 5, listen to Business History wherever you get podcasts and get it ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription - sign up on Business History Apple Podcasts show page or at pushkin.fm/plus
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
