9 top podcasts for startup success and long-term growth

Podcasts are one of the most popular ways to consume content in the 21st century, with over 19 million listeners in the UK alone. Listen on your daily commute, as you clean the house, or even as you work if you’re an A-star multi-tasker, keeping you entertained whilst you live your life.

For first-time entrepreneurs, podcasts are a particularly useful way to gain knowledge of an industry you’re new to, providing you with an endless stream of mentors to help you on your journey. Start listening to our top podcasts for startup success and gain the wisdom of a thousand CEOs!

The Cereal Entrepreneur

With interviews of current thriving startup founders, The Cereal Entrepreneur is Startups Magazine’s own podcast. Our editor, Anton Brisinger, chats with the founders of what we consider to be some of the most innovative, game-changing startups out there right now. Hear fables of failure, stories of success, and learn a little more about how to build your own brand through the advice of industry pros.  

One of our more recent episodes is with Huib van Bockel, the founder of the energy drink Tenzing, and it’s a great place to jump right into the world of successful startups. 

Masters of Scale

Masters of Scale is a really popular podcast amongst new entrepreneurs - and for good reason. They nab some of the most high-profile entrepreneurs in the world for their interviews, with everyone from Mark Zuckerberg to Peter Thiel making appearances. The whole theme of the podcast is to help founders find success in their startups and create businesses that are designed for long-term growth. Learn from the stories of world-class entrepreneurs and gain advice from your business idols, with plenty of useful information to help your startup thrive.

TraderX 

The stock market and trading industry isn’t just important for traders, but for anybody who wants to become a successful entrepreneur. When creating a startup, it’s important you understand how markets work and your company’s place in them, as well as how you can leverage trading to boost your business.

TraderX is an informative, insightful podcast with up-to-date market information that’ll help you get to grips with the trading world. Listen to expert opinions, learn from the trading greats, and get serious about your startup’s future by understanding how market fluctuations might affect your growth.  

Startup Exits

Very few startups ever reach the golden gates of a startup exit, but all hope to get there. Increase your chances of reaching this much-coveted business peak by listening to those who have come before you. With interviews from successful founders who built, ran, and then sold their tech companies in the star-studded world of Silicon Valley, Startup Exits tells stories that no budding entrepreneur should skip.

StartUp Podcast by Gimlet

Though the StartUp Podcast by Gimlet isn’t being produced anymore, it’s still worth exploring their catalogue of past podcasts. With over 10 million downloads since its launch in 2014, it was an incredibly popular show that remains relevant today.

In the series, you’ll meet Matt Leiber and Alex Blumberg, the founders of Gimlet, and hear them talk about their own experiences as entrepreneurs. There are also insightful interviews with other business leaders and a fantastic documentation of the podcast being picked up by Spotify in a $200 million deal. It’s inspirational, motivational, and full of useful, real-world advice.

How I Built This

How I Built This is a fantastic podcast that interviews a wide variety of founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators, with each episode a hive of knowledge and experience. Tales from VICE, WeWork, and Chipotle are just some of what you can expect from this jam-packed show produced by NPR. Gain insight into the first days of some of the (now) biggest companies in the world and uncover how business leaders made their mark in their industries. 

The Anxious Achiever 

The Anxious Achiever is a wonderful podcast that dives into the blended world of business and mental health. From learning how to find success without damaging your well-being to interviews with founders who face mental illnesses, it’s a show that’s full of useful information to keep you afloat during the early startup days and beyond.

Running a company is stressful and can often bring mental health issues to the surface, making this podcast a lifeline for many. Find compassion and empathy, along with research-backed advice to improve your state of mind and first-hand, positive experiences from successful CEOs who used to be where you are right now.

With Mental Health Awareness Week coming up soon, there’s no better time to start focusing on your mental health. A healthy mind paves the way for startup success, so always remember to prioritise your well-being.

The Happy Millionaire

Another fabulous podcast that discusses mental health and startup strategies is The Happy Millionaire. Designed to bring awareness to the struggles of founding a business and create frameworks for focusing on mental health and a flourishing startup at the same time, it’s a must-listen for all budding CEOs. Learn what strategies top entrepreneurs use to stay on top of their mental health and effective tips for helping both you and your business go further.

As around 49% of CEOs experience mental health issues, which is much higher than the global average, these sorts of podcasts are incredibly important. Give them a listen and don’t leave your mental well-being behind as you find success.

The Art of Social Media by SocialPilot

Social media is one of the most lucrative modern marketing tools for startups. Whether you’re on a budget or have money to splurge, it’s a great way to capture the attention of millennial and Gen Z audiences while building your brand image. If you’re a founder who’s new to social media marketing - or even if you’re a bit of a pro but want to brush up on your skills - we highly recommend The Art of Social Media by SocialPilot.

Listen to a range of guest speakers discuss their experiences with social media marketing, share tips, and detail mistakes that you won’t want to make. Learn everything from the basics of a good post to how to analyse the data of your profile and ensure your social media enhances your business marketing model rather than hinders it. 

Final Words

Building a business from the ground up is no easy task, but with tales and guidance from professionals who have been there and done that, you’ll give your startup a much better chance of success. Hopefully, this article has given you plenty of podcast inspiration to get your teeth into. In the meantime, be sure to check out more advice on our website and keep your startup momentum going.