Better Than B-School

Joe Wells
  • 5.0 (4)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Timeless wisdom for investors and entrepreneurs. We study the topics you didn't cover in business school—everything from deception to power, disasters to public works projects, and more—to build our mental maps, improve our judgment, and increase our effectiveness as business builders and capital allocators. Each season is an in-depth study of a specific topic, and each episode covers a different book within that topic. Our goal each season is to answer big questions, uncover common trends, and build a database of actionable insights we can apply immediately in our businesses.

Episodes

  1. 05/09/2024

    S1E7: Billion Dollar Whale - The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World

    What I learned from reading Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope. --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Saul Teaches Jesse Money Laundering

    1h 23m

  2. 03/14/2024

    S1E6: The Smartest Guys in the Room - The Enron Story Part II

    What I learned from reading The Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. This is Part II of a two part series on Enron. --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Too Much, Too Soon, Too Fast by Morgan Housel

    1h 12m

  3. 03/07/2024

    S1E5: The Smartest Guys in the Room - The Enron Story Part I

    What I learned from reading The Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. This is Part I of a two part series on Enron. --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Degrees of Confidence by Morgan Housel

    1h 10m

  4. 01/04/2024

    S1E4: In Vino Duplicitas - The Rise and Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire

    What I learned from reading In Vino Duplicitas: The Rise and Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire by Peter Hellman.  --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Degrees of Confidence by Morgan Housel

    58 min

  5. 12/15/2023

    S1E3: Going Infinite - The Rise and Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried & FTX

    What I learned from reading Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis. --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Natural Maniacs by Morgan HouselSam Bankman-Fried didn’t ask where the $8 billion went by Elizabeth LopattoLet’s enjoy this FTX bankruptcy filing together by Elizabeth Lopatto

    1h 2m

  6. 12/08/2023

    S1E2: Bad Blood - Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

    What I learned from reading Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou. --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Degrees of Confidence by Morgan HouselThe Dropout - I didn't mention this in the show, but it's a great miniseries about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos.

    1h 3m

  7. 12/01/2023

    S1E1: The Wizard of Lies - Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust

    What I learned from reading The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust by Diana Henriques. --- Resources mentioned in the episode: Ed Thorp Spotting Bernie Madoff - Tim Ferriss clip

    1h 29m

  8. 11/23/2023

    Season 1 Trailer - Fraud & Financial Crime

    In Season 1, we're studying fraud and financial crime. We'll be covering some of the most famous frauds in history, like Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, Sam Bankman Fried and FTX, Enron, and more. Throughout the season, I'll be trying to answer a few major questions, including: How do fraudsters win trust? How do otherwise intelligent people get deceived?How can you best guard yourself against fraud as an investor and entrepreneur?What are some common red flags that warrant further scrutiny?These are the books we'll be studying in Season 1: The Wizard of Lies by Diana HenriquezBad Blood by John CarreyrouGoing Infinite by Michael LewisIn Vino Duplicitas by Peter HellmanThe Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLean and Peter ElkindBillion Dollar Whale by Bradley Hope and Tom WrightMoney Men by Dan McCrumDead in the Water by Matthew Campbell and Kit ChellelThe Cult of We by Eliot Brown and Maureen FarrellA Disposition to Be Rich by Geoffrey WardEmpire of Deception by Dean Jobb

    3 min

  9. 11/20/2023

    Better Than B-School Trailer

    Better Than B-School is the podcast where we discuss the books that will make you a better investor and entrepreneur. Every season covers a specific topic—everything from fraud to political power, disasters to public works projects— and each episode covers a different book within that topic. Our goal each season is to answer big questions, uncover common trends, and build a database of actionable insights we can apply immediately in our businesses.  By studying these books, we'll chart our mental maps, improve our judgment, and increase our effectiveness as business builders and capital allocators. Be sure to subscribe the podcast so you don't miss an episode, and I'd love if you leave a 5-star review while you're here!

    4 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Timeless wisdom for investors and entrepreneurs. We study the topics you didn't cover in business school—everything from deception to power, disasters to public works projects, and more—to build our mental maps, improve our judgment, and increase our effectiveness as business builders and capital allocators. Each season is an in-depth study of a specific topic, and each episode covers a different book within that topic. Our goal each season is to answer big questions, uncover common trends, and build a database of actionable insights we can apply immediately in our businesses.

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Wells
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Joe Wells