Podcast · 368 episodes
How I Built This with Guy Raz
by Guy Raz | Wondery · English
Guy Raz interviews the world’s best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. In each episode, founders reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure, and share insights on their eventual success. How I Built This is a master-class on innovation, creativity, leadership and how to navigate challenges of all kinds. New episodes release on Mondays and Thursdays.
Latest episodes
Seventh Generation: Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender. A Partnership that Flourished—until it Failed. (2021)How Seventh Generation (eco-friendly cleaning and household products) was built by partners Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender, and how their relationship collapsed into Alan’s ouster in 1992—followed…28 Sep 2026 · 1 h 31 min
Advice Line with Danny Meyer of Shake ShackAdvice on building enduring business culture and hospitality, plus go-to-market decisions for new consumer brands and scaling operations.24 Sep 2026 · 42 min
Banza: Brian Rudolph. The Chickpea Pasta That Nearly Turned to MushBrian Rudolph builds Bonza, the first chickpea-based pasta brand, from home experiments to large-scale manufacturing, then navigates product failures and a later glyphosate-related PR crisis.21 Sep 2026 · 59 min
All episodes
Seventh Generation: Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender. A Partnership that Flourished—until it Failed. (2021)How Seventh Generation (eco-friendly cleaning and household products) was built by partners Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender, and how their relationship collapsed into Alan’s ouster in 1992—followed…28 Sep 2026 · 1 h 31 min · 36 chapters
Advice Line with Danny Meyer of Shake ShackAdvice on building enduring business culture and hospitality, plus go-to-market decisions for new consumer brands and scaling operations.24 Sep 2026 · 42 min · 19 chapters
Banza: Brian Rudolph. The Chickpea Pasta That Nearly Turned to MushBrian Rudolph builds Bonza, the first chickpea-based pasta brand, from home experiments to large-scale manufacturing, then navigates product failures and a later glyphosate-related PR crisis.21 Sep 2026 · 59 min · 24 chapters
Advice Line with Michelle Wahler of Beyond YogaAdvice Line with Michelle Whaler (Beyond Yoga) answering founder questions on (1) building urgency to convert interest into enrollments for an adult study-abroad business, (2) repairing client…17 Sep 2026 · 41 min · 13 chapters
Thrive Causemetics: Karissa Bodnar. How a Beauty Business Made Millions for a MissionCarissa Bodnar explains how Thrive Causemetics grew from a purpose-driven side project into a $150M beauty business, built around cancer-related dignity and “cause” cosmetics.14 Sep 2026 · 48 min · 20 chapters
Advice Line with Kip Tindell of The Container StoreAdvice Line episode with Kip Tindell (co-founder/former CEO of The Container Store) discussing retail disruption, sustainable growth, and how to build durable brands from viral or niche products.10 Sep 2026 · 39 min · 21 chapters
Bogg Bag: Kim Vaccarella. The $100 Million Business She Almost AbandonedKim Vaccarella’s journey building Bog Bag, a washable EVA beach bag inspired by Crocs—plus the near-collapse after a defective $30,000 China shipment, the pause she took, and the turnaround after…7 Sep 2026 · 1 h 23 min · 40 chapters
Advice Line with Ben Goodwin of OlipopAdvice Line episode with Olipop co-founder Ben Goodwin answering business questions from four callers: (1) Gielish snack brand using organic ghee, (2) Sarah’s Gluten-Free Foods selling fresh,…3 Sep 2026 · 48 min · 23 chapters
Late July Snacks: Nicole Bernard Dawes. Crackers and Cookies were Failing… Tortilla Chips Saved ThemNicole Bernard Dawes explains how Late July (organic crackers and sandwich cookies) struggled to grow, then survived a 2009 financial crisis after her father’s death triggered a loan default.31 Aug 2026 · 1 h 21 min · 32 chapters
Advice Line with Daymond John of FUBUAdvice Line episode of How I Built This with Damon John (FUBU) answering founder questions on pitching, entrepreneurship traits, scaling channels, brand storytelling, and B2B growth.27 Aug 2026 · 43 min · 19 chapters
YETI: Roy and Ryan Seiders. How Two Brothers Turned a $400 Cooler Into a $2 Billion BrandHow brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders built YETI from a $400 “sit/stand” cooler for hunters and fishermen into a $2B+ brand, including the manufacturing pivot from an Australian/Thailand cooler to a…24 Aug 2026 · 1 h 25 min · 37 chapters
Advice Line with Carlton Calvin of RazorAdvice Line episode with Razor founder Carlton Calvin, plus business advice for three callers: a party game creator, a stationery seller shifting off Etsy, and a craft spirits distillery scaling a…20 Aug 2026 · 43 min · 16 chapters
Bobbie: Laura Modi. How a Baby Formula Startup Took Market Share From Two Industry GiantsHow Laura Modi built Bobby, an infant formula startup, to offer “European-style” formula in the U.S.17 Aug 2026 · 1 h 20 min · 28 chapters
Advice Line with Bobbi Brown of Jones Road Beauty (September 2025)Advice Line episode focused on founder stories and practical growth advice, featuring Bobbi Brown (Jones Road) and three callers building consumer brands (topical joint balm, custom phone cases, and…13 Aug 2026 · 48 min · 14 chapters
MadeGood: Salma and Nima Fotovat Lost Their First Business. They Grew Their Next One Into a Snack Giant.How siblings Nima and Salma Fotovat built Made Good, an organic, allergen-free snack brand, after losing their first food business; they scaled from contract manufacturing to a fast-growing snack…10 Aug 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 27 chapters
Advice Line: "Strategy Sessions"Three “Advice Line” segments on scaling and growth: (1) how to add business partners for a multi-unit company, (2) how to generate word-of-mouth for a premium kidswear brand without a marketing…6 Aug 2026 · 46 min · 14 chapters
Serena & Lily: Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter. They Built a $20M Brand—Then One Investor Almost Destroyed ItHow Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter built Serena & Lily from a Mill Valley baby store into a luxury home brand, repeatedly solving cash-flow crises while raising capital—and how one investor’s demands…3 Aug 2026 · 1 h 16 min · 28 chapters
Advice Line with Chris Riccobono of UNTUCKitAdvice on scaling consumer brands using the right go-to-market channels, plus updates on Untuck It’s recent challenges and pivots.30 Jul 2026 · 46 min · 26 chapters
Sweetwater: Chuck Surack. How a Customer Service Strategy Built a Billion Dollar Online Pro Audio and Music Company.Chuck Surack’s path from touring saxophonist and mobile “FBI listening booth” recording setup to founding Sweetwater Sound, and how a customer-service-first strategy (dedicated sales engineers, deep…27 Jul 2026 · 1 h 12 min · 35 chapters
Advice Line with Curt Richardson of OtterBoxAdvice Line episode with OtterBox founder Kurt Richardson answering three entrepreneurs’ scaling/marketing questions: (1) scaling a local game-show events business, (2) reigniting sales for a…23 Jul 2026 · 42 min · 22 chapters
Toast: Aman Narang. How a Long Wait for the Dinner Check Launched a $2 Billion Business.How Toast (restaurant point-of-sale) was launched after a founder’s frustration waiting for dinner checks, and how it evolved into a cloud-based $2B+ business.20 Jul 2026 · 51 min · 17 chapters
Advice Line with Kenneth ColeKenneth Cole discusses what creates a lasting brand (unique narrative/voice, emotional customer connection, selling “again and again”), and the cause-commerce model behind his mental-health platform.16 Jul 2026 · 46 min · 18 chapters
Sun Bum: Tom Rinks. The Secrets of a Master Brand Builder (2023)How Tom Rinks built Sun Bum from design-led branding, including the origin of the Psycho Chihuahua mascot, a major Taco Bell licensing dispute, and how those experiences shaped his later “master…13 Jul 2026 · 1 h 16 min · 35 chapters
Advice Line with Jeni Britton of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (2025)Advice on scaling food/CPG brands without losing quality or control—covering go-to-market, sampling, messaging, and funding strategy.9 Jul 2026 · 49 min · 21 chapters