12 best podcasts for small business for entrepreneurs, marketers, and business owners
Table of content
In 2022, the podcast format gained widespread popularity, with 79% of the adult American population being familiar with it. This figure has increased significantly from just 22% in 2006, highlighting the growing interest in podcasts as a form of education and entertainment.
Additionally, in 2021, 82 million people listened to podcasts, and the number is estimated to rise to 255 million by 2027.
This surge in popularity can be attributed to several factors, such as convenience, accessibility, high quality, and the diversity of topics.
The list of 12 podcasts provided below is designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs interested in learning from successful business leaders and industry experts.
Key takeaways
- Small business podcasts provided below offer practical advice and strategies that listeners can apply to their own businesses.
- These podcast hosts are successful entrepreneurs and industry specialists who share their knowledge and experience with listeners or conduct insightful interviews with other successful business leaders.
- Podcasts are a convenient and cost-effective way to learn from industry experts.
- Podcasts are available on several platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
12 best small business podcasts for 2023
Here’s a list of the best small business podcasts divided into categories like business management, marketing, startups, and motivation.
| Category | Podcast | Topics |
| Business management and leadership | 1. TED Business | Leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, marketing |
| 2. HBR IdeaCast | Leadership development, organizational culture, digital transformation | |
| 3. Wisdom From the Top | Strategic planning, talent management, crisis management, leadership | |
| Marketing and sales | 4. Marketplace | The latest news on the economy, business, and finance |
| 5. Marketing School | Marketing insights, strategies, and tactics for small business owners and marketers | |
| 6. Duct Tape Marketing | Digital, content, and social media marketing for small businesses | |
| Startups | 7. StartUp | Stories of starting and building a business |
| 8. How I Built This | Stories of challenges and triumphs from a variety of startups in different industries | |
| 9. This Week in Startups | Experiences and insights on building and scaling businesses from successful entrepreneurs and investors | |
| Motivation and inspiration | 10. Millionaire Interviews | Entrepreneurship, investment, mindset, and motivation |
| 11. Entrepreneurs on Fire | Actionable strategies and inspiration for business growth | |
| 12. Beyond the To-Do List | Productivity and personal development |
Now let’s take a look at each business podcast in more detail.
1. TED Business
| Best episodes: | 1. Why the secret to success is setting the right goals. Venture capitalist John Doerr talks about using objectives and key results (OKRs) as a powerful tool for setting goals and measuring progress. 2. Why the strongest leaders ask for help. Former Danone North America CEO Lorna Davis discusses the importance of seeking help as a leader. 3. The unexpected habits of original thinkers. Adam Grant, organizational psychologist extraordinaire, challenges commonly accepted ideas about what leads to people’s most creative thoughts. |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Hosts: | Modupe Akinola |
| Value for listeners: | Insights and tips on topics like leadership, innovation, and marketing from industry experts |
| Frequency: | Every Monday |
| Episode length | 15–30 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
TED Business is one of the best podcasts for business owners, managers, executives, and anyone interested in the business world. Its guests are successful business leaders and specialists that share ideas and personal stories on a wide range of business-related topics.
After each talk, you get a mini-lesson from the host, Modupe, on how to apply the discussed ideas in your own life.
2. HBR IdeaCast
| Best episodes: | 1. How Jeff Bezos Built One of the World’s Most Valuable Companies. Sunil Gupta, Harvard Business School professor, discusses key strategies and principles that have enabled Amazon to become one of the world’s most successful and innovative companies. 2. Women at Work: Too Shy to Be a Leader. Alice Boyes, a former clinical psychologist, explores how personality traits like sensitivity and thoughtfulness can be an advantage in the workplace and what aspects of these traits can hold women back at work. 3. What Great Coaching Looks Like. Richard Boyatzis, a professor at Case Western Reserve University, talks about how a business or life coach can help professionals focus on values, develop new ideas, and start new businesses. |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate to advanced |
| Hosts: | Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch |
| Value for listeners: | Insights, ideas, and actionable strategies from leading business and management experts |
| Frequency: | Every Tuesday |
| Episode length | 25–30 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts |
HBR IdeaCast is a weekly podcast from the Harvard Business Review. Leading business thinkers and managers provide insights on a variety of topics, starting from day-to-day operations and spanning to broader issues like strategy, innovation, economy, and even climate change.
Overall, the podcast is a great listen for everyone who wants to learn more about the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face today and get tips on how to make a business grow.
3. Wisdom From The Top
| Best episodes: | 1. Lego: Jørgen Vig Knudstorp. Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, the executive chairman and former CEO of the Lego Group, shares his controversial but ultimately successful plan for restoring the company’s profitability. 2. Marvel: Peter Cuneo. Peter Cuneo, a former CEO of Marvel Entertainment, shares his inspiring story of how he became the “turnaround superhero” during times when Marvel was burdened by high-yield debt and had only $3 million in the bank. 3. PayPal: Dan Schulman. Dan Schulman, the president and CEO of PayPal, discusses his leadership approach that prioritizes social justice and employee well-being, which most companies are unwilling to adopt. |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Hosts: | Guy Raz |
| Value for listeners: | Practical tips from guests from various industries and backgrounds on how to become a successful entrepreneur |
| Frequency: | Every Wednesday |
| Episode length | 30–50 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Apple Podcasts |
Even though Wisdom From The Top isn’t necessarily a small business podcast, its target audience includes small business owners, as the show provides valuable lessons and practical advice that can be applied to any-sized business.
The host of the podcast is an experienced journalist who knows how to ask the right questions and elicit thoughtful answers from the guests.
4. Social Media Marketing
| Best episodes: | 1. How to Use Facebook to Build a Community in 2023. Mari Smith, a premier Facebook marketing expert, talks about what types of content can help develop a community on Facebook. 2. TikTok Ad Creative That Delivers Results. Chase Chappell, a founder of a Facebook & TikTok media buying firm, gives advice on how to create TikTok ads that really work. 3. Three Steps to Develop a Personal Brand. Phil Pallen, a leading branding expert, reveals a three-step algorithm for building a powerful personal brand that attracts the right audience. |
| Difficulty: | Beginner to advanced |
| Hosts: | Michael Stelzner |
| Value for listeners: | Insights and strategies for effectively leveraging social media to grow a business or personal brand |
| Frequency: | Every Thursday |
| Episode length | 40–50 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
Michael Stelzner, the founder of the website Social Media Examiner and the host of the podcast, interviews various specialists in digital marketing, covering a wide range of topics related to social media, including advertising, content marketing, the latest small business trends, and tactics.
If your aim is to improve your social media marketing strategy across multiple platforms, like YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter, to attract potential customers, this is a great podcast.
5. Marketing School
| Best episodes: | 1. 7 Unconventional Growth Hacks To 10x Your Growth. Neil and Eric talk about the newest and most effective methods for business growth. 2. One Easy Way To Skyrocket Your Conversions. The hosts talk about conversion rate optimization (CRO) as one of the biggest leverage points in marketing. 3. How Digital Advertising Will Change in 2023 & Beyond. Neil and Eric discuss how new technologies and innovations will impact digital advertising in 2023. |
| Difficulty: | Beginner to advanced |
| Hosts: | Neil Patel and Eric Siu |
| Value for listeners: | Insights and strategies for effectively leveraging social media to grow business or personal brand |
| Frequency: | Daily |
| Episode length | 10–30 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
One of the best business podcast 2023 for marketers and entrepreneurs covers a wide range of marketing topics, including general online marketing strategies, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and social media advertising.
With new episodes released daily, a focus on practical advice, and an engaging and entertaining format, Marketing School has become a valuable resource and a must-listen for anyone who wants to improve their marketing skills and grow their own business.
6. Duct Tape Marketing
| Best episodes: | 1. Making The Most Of Your Time. Oliver Burkeman, author and journalist, shares tips from his book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals on how to improve your present moment by changing the way you think and act. 2. Making Brands More Human. Jacqueline Lieberman, brand and lead strategist, proves that all of the beloved brands are the ones that behave like human beings. 3. How To Improve Your Local Marketing Strategy. Laura Nelson, a marketer and business manager, provides valuable lessons on how to improve your marketing efforts to target a specific local audience. |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Hosts: | John Jantsch |
| Value for listeners: | Business marketing tips, tactics, and resources |
| Frequency: | Wednesdays and Thursdays |
| Episode length | 20–30 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
One of the best podcasts about small business, Duct Tape Marketing, is dedicated to helping listeners develop effective marketing strategies for growth and success. Hosted by John Jantsch, one of America’s top small business marketing experts, it features interviews with authors and entrepreneurs who share their expertise and practical tips.
If you’re a small business owner looking to take your marketing to the next level, the podcast is an essential tool.
7. StartUp
| Best episodes: | 1. Our Company Has Problems. The episode covers the challenges and struggles Gimlet Media faced four years after its launch. 2. Arlan Hamilton 1: Silicon Valley, By Invite Only. Arlan Hamilton, an investor and venture capitalist, talks about “underestimated” founders in Silicon Valley and how she’s planning to get by investing in them. 3. Alex Talks to Award-Winning Chef Edouardo Jordan. Edouardo Jordan, an American chef and restaurateur, talks about winning the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. |
| Difficulty: | Beginner to intermediate |
| Hosts: | Alex Blumberg |
| Value for listeners: | An honest look at what it really takes to start a business |
| Frequency: | Irregular (currently not released) |
| Episode length | 20–30 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Gimletmedia |
A podcast about starting a business, StartUp, is the brainchild of Alex Blumberg, the co-founder of the podcasting company Gimlet Media and a former producer from NPR’s Planet Money and This American Life.
The podcast is organized by seasons instead of stand-alone episodes. For example, the first season concentrates on the story of Gimlet Media — the podcast network that owns StartUp, while the second season discusses a company called Dating Ring.
Episodes provide insights and tips on a wide range of topics related to starting and growing a business, such as fundraising, marketing, product development, and team management. That’s why it’s a must-listen for all startup founders.
8. How I Built This
| Best episodes: | 1. AirBNB: Joe Gebbia. Joe Gebbia, a co-founder of Airbnb, shares how he came up with the idea for the platform and built it into a successful company. 2. Wikipedia: Jimmy Wales. Jimmy Wales, a co-founder of Wikipedia, tells the story of the founding and growth of one of the internet’s most influential and widely used sites. 3. Ben & Jerry’s: Ben Cohen And Jerry Greenfield. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s, one of the top-selling ice cream brands in the world, share their struggles and successes in building their own company. |
| Difficulty: | Beginner to intermediate |
| Hosts: | Guy Raz |
| Value for listeners: | Stories of how successful entrepreneurs built their companies from scratch |
| Frequency: | Mondays and Thursdays |
| Episode length | 40–80 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
The podcast provides a unique opportunity for listeners to learn how globally renowned companies were started and turned into multi-billion dollar enterprises.
For many listeners, this is not just an opportunity to learn insights or tried-and-tested strategies for growing a business. This is also a source of inspiration and motivation.
9. This Week in Startups
| Best episodes: | 1. Satya Patel on the state of VC, flexible investing frameworks & converting to evergreen. Satya Patel, a venture capitalist, discusses the economics of being a self-funded GP and the challenges of running Google today. 2. Startup pitch competition: Jason invests $25K. Jason hosts a pitch competition featuring three startups from the Founder University program. 3. “Minions” record-breaking viral strategy, TikTok algo, reframing semiconductors & energy. Jason and Molly discuss how TikTok and viral marketing set a box office record for Minions. |
| Difficulty: | Advanced |
| Hosts: | Jason Calacanis |
| Value for listeners: | Interviews the world’s greatest founders and innovators |
| Frequency: | Weekdays |
| Episode length | 50–70 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts |
This Week in Startups is a widely popular podcast that started in 2009. It’s created and hosted by American entrepreneur and angel investor Jason Calacanis.
The podcast’s episodes focus on various topics related to startups, technology, and business. They also feature a diverse range of guests, including top founders and investors.
Fortune included the show in their list of the best business podcasts.
10. Millionaire Interviews
| Best episodes: | 1. A Merger & Acquisition Expert shares… How to Create a Successful Exit Path. Touraj Parang, tech entrepreneur and M&A expert, shares strategies for maximizing the value of a business and securing a profitable exit. 2. How a Thousand Dollar Business Grew to a Million Dollar Empire. Steven Kinder, a design entrepreneur, shares his experiences designing award-winning products and environments for other entrepreneurs of small, medium, and Fortune 500 companies. 3. The Secret to Fixing Businesses like Expedia, Rosetta Stone, & PetMeds. Matt Hulett, a technology executive, shares strategies on how struggling businesses can overcome challenges. |
| Difficulty: | Beginner to advanced |
| Hosts: | Austin Peek |
| Value for listeners: | Insights and inspiration for listeners who want to start or grow their own businesses |
| Frequency: | Monthly |
| Episode length | 60–80 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
The podcast focuses on the stories of self-made millionaires from around the world. These are mostly business founders in the product, service, real estate, and tech industries. The guests share insights and experiences on how they achieved success, what habits helped them, and the sacrifices they made.
The podcast is a great resource for entrepreneurs and small business owners as it contains many actionable tips and highlights that success doesn’t occur immediately, but takes time, effort, and money.
11. Entrepreneurs on Fire
| Best episodes: | 1. How to Do a TEDx Talk in the Next 90 Days (even if you aren’t a speaker). Taylor Conroy, a speaker at Harvard, the United Nations, and Disney, shares tips on how to prepare a message, overcome nerves, and deliver a powerful talk. 2. How to Work Less, Make More, and Live The Vacation Effect Lifestyle. Denise Gosnell, a business strategist, talks about freedom as a mindset. 3. The Greatest Wealth Creation Business Model Ever Invented. Jeff Dudan, a serial business builder, explains how franchising allows entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. |
| Difficulty: | Beginner to intermediate |
| Hosts: | John Lee Dumas |
| Value for listeners: | Practical advice, insights, and motivation |
| Frequency: | Daily |
| Episode length | 20–30 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts |
The podcast is considered to be a media empire with over 3,000 episodes and 100 million listens, with over a million listens generated every month.
During each episode, host John Lee Dumas interviews a successful entrepreneur with the purpose of providing listeners with actionable advice and a motivational message.
12. Beyond the To-Do List
| Best episodes: | 1. Jon Kolko on Critiques and Creating a Culture of Creativity. Jon Kolko, the founder of the Austin Center for Design, talks about giving a team the space to produce amazing work. 2. David Shar on Identifying, Preventing, and Dealing with Burnout. David Shar, a speaker, consultant, and trainer, discusses burnout and how to recognize, prevent, and overcome it. 3. Paul Casey on Time Management and Maximizing Every Minute. Paul Casey, a leadership coach, talks about using calendars effectively and blocking out time. |
| Difficulty: | Beginner to intermediate |
| Hosts: | Erik Fisher |
| Value for listeners: | Useful insights and productivity strategies for professional and personal life |
| Frequency: | Every Monday |
| Episode length | 40–50 minutes |
| Listen to at: | Spotify, Apple Podcasts |
The podcast focuses on personal productivity and time management. Host Erik Fisher interviews guests from different professions, including writers, entrepreneurs, and specialists on productivity, to discuss their strategies, habits, and tools to increase productivity.
Topics include goal setting, prioritization, work-life balance, and procrastination, so the podcast is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking tools on how to be more productive.
More business podcasts recommendations
If you want extra credit, consider exploring these other podcasts:
- The Fizzle Show. This is a podcast for creative entrepreneurs and business builders who want to earn a living doing something they love.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts - The Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders. The podcast is produced by the Stanford Technology Ventures Program and features successful entrepreneurs sharing personal experiences.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts - Smart Passive Income. The podcast where its host, Pat Flynn, shares his online business and blogging strategies.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts - So Money. The podcast was named the Best Podcast By The New York Times and is dedicated to sharing inspiring money strategies and stories from financial leaders.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts - The Goal Digger Podcast. The podcast features interviews with industry experts and business owners who share their personal stories and tips for building successful brands.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts
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