How I Built This with Guy Raz Wondery
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- Business
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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 on Mondays and Thursdays for free. Listen 1-week early and to all episodes ad-free with Wondery+ or Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.
Get your How I Built This merch at WonderyShop.com/HowIBuiltThis
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MGA Entertainment: Isaac Larian
Isaac Larian moved from Iran to Los Angeles at age 17 with just a few hundred dollars, and went on to build one of the biggest toy companies in the world. Along the way, he took on Barbie with a wildly successful line of punky dolls called Bratz — a success that touched off an epic legal battle with Mattel. Today, at age 70, Isaac is still the CEO of MGA Entertainment, and says he still has the fighter’s instinct that he learned in the slums of Tehran.
This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.
It was edited by Neva Grant with research assistance and fact-checking from Carla Esteves and Zazil Davis-Vazquez.
Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Robert Rodriguez.
You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com. -
Achieving greater things with Adam Grant
“Growth is not about the genius you possess—it’s about the character you develop.”
That’s what organizational psychologist and podcast host Adam Grant believes, and he offers a new framework on how we can elevate ourselves and others in his latest book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.
This week on How I Built This Lab, insights on what great entrepreneurs have in common and the steps anyone can take to develop these skills. Plus, redesigning workplace systems to foster greater collaboration, and cultivating untapped potential in the generations to come.
This episode was researched and produced by Carla Esteves, with music by Ramtin Arablouei.
It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.
You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com. -
Weee!: Larry Liu
If you told 19-year-old Larry Liu that his hobby re-selling used electronics “for fun” would someday help him build a multi-billion-dollar company, he probably would have laughed. He was an electrical engineering student in Shanghai at the time. His goals were to land a corporate job and go to grad school in the U.S. He did both, starting with a job at Intel. But his passion for e-commerce stayed with him through his MBA and other corporate jobs. And when he moved to Northern California, Larry noticed other Chinese immigrants using WeChat to source what they needed locally - even organizing in groups to buy familiar foods and products. Larry immediately saw this as a business opportunity. And in under ten years, after facing down bankruptcy and re-orienting his business, Larry grew his e-commerce platform Weee! into a company now valued at over $4 billion.
This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.
It was edited by Andrea Bruce with research help from Katherine Sypher.
Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Josh Newell.
You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
AI that can be your second brain with Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri of Humane
Imran Chaudhri and his wife Bethany Bongiorno are responsible for bringing some of the most widely-used screened products to market—like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
And while these devices have connected humans like never before, Imran and Bethany couldn’t help but wonder about the downsides of spending so much time tethered to screens. After leaving Apple, they eventually brought a new tool to life; something screenless...
This week on How I Built This Lab, Imran and Bethany’s wearable pin capable of being your personal assistant. Plus, how they believe that AI can be regulated without stifling innovation.
This episode was produced by J.C. Howard with music by Ramtin Arablouei.
It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Kerry Thompson.
You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
Primal Kitchen: Mark Sisson
Mark Sisson made a big bet on mayonnaise, and won: four years after launching his Paleo-friendly condiment company Primal Kitchen, he sold it for $200 million. He succeeded partly because he drew lessons from his previous failures and accomplishments - as a marathon runner, Ironman triathlete and coach, frozen yogurt proprietor, sports supplement founder, TV show host, and Paleo book author. But Mark’s biggest business came at an age when most people contemplate retirement. He developed a recipe for avocado-oil based mayonnaise, then added ketchups and other condiments. After Primal Kitchen was sold to Kraft Heinz Corporation in 2019, Mark launched a totally new business: minimalist shoes.
This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.
It was edited by Neva Grant with research help from Melia Agudelo.
Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Maggie Luthar.
You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
Supercharging Lithium-Ion Batteries with Gene Berdichevsky of Sila Nanotechnologies
Gene Berdichevsky and his team have been working for over a decade to solve a major problem: Lithium-ion batteries are not getting any better. They power our cell phones and laptops and nearly every other modern, rechargeable device—and at this point have reached their energy-storing limit.
This week on How I Built This Lab, Gene discusses a new approach that could eventually make lithium-ion batteries 40% more efficient, unlocking a future where electric vehicles and other battery-powered products are cheaper, recharge faster and last longer on a single charge.
This episode was researched and produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei.
It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.
You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Customer Reviews
AMASSING!!!!!!
Easily one of the best podcasts ever
Great Podcast.
HIBT has become the go to for entrepreneurs whom need that well needed inspiration and jet fuel I appreciate what the team have created that I pay it forward.
I hope you truly know your changing lives and help moulding a network of self believers, whom on many days do not believe.
I wish you all God Speed for 2023 and may it be greater than you can fathom.
Blessings
Art
Video Comment’s
The Future of written comments.
Easy listening
My new favourite podcast, Guy is great and there is lots to learn from some of the worlds most interesting people