30+ business leaders share their favorite business podcasts for entrepreneurs and the biggest lessons learned. Discover which shows top performers listen to.

Wondering which business podcasts are actually worth your time? I reached out to 30+ successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business leaders with one simple question: “What is your favorite podcast for business owners, and why?” As a bonus, I asked them to share the biggest business lesson they learned from their go-to show. 

Their responses reveal not just the most popular podcasts among high performers, but the specific insights that helped shape their business success. From mindset shifts to tactical strategies, here’s what the pros are listening to and learning from.

The Most Recommended Business Podcasts by Real Entrepreneurs

I’m not going to make you read all the quotes to get to the list of the top business podcasts. I can’t stand when articles do that just to keep you on the page! 😭

Of course, I would love it if you read some if not all of the responses that were shared. 😉

Still, a promise is a promise🤣 So, here’s the top podcasts that showed up throughout all of the responses I received:

• The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett

• How I Built This with Guy Raz

• The Tim Ferriss Show

• The Game by Alex Hormozi

• Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman

• Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn

• Entrepreneurs on Fire with John Lee Dumas

• Business Made Simple with Donald Miller

• My First Million by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri

• 20VC with Harry Stebbings

• Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

• The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish

• HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review

• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

• The Home Service Expert with Tommy Mello

• Founders by David Senra

• The Bottom Line on BBC Radio 4

Now, if you want to learn more about the amazing folks that responded, why they chose these shows, keep reading. The insights below are pretty fascinating in my opinion!

Samantha Stuart, Co-Founder, Magic City Pest Control

One podcast that’s had a real impact on me is Founders by David Senra. It’s not your typical startup advice show, it’s a deep look into the biographies of historical entrepreneurs. What I love is how it strips away the shiny, modern veneer and shows you the gritty, obsessive consistency that built enduring businesses. It’s helped me zoom out and think long-term, especially in moments when I’m caught up in the chaos of day-to-day fires.

The biggest lesson I took from Founders is the idea that focus is a competitive advantage. There was an episode on Nike’s Phil Knight that stuck with me. He relentlessly protected the core mission of the company, even when everyone around him wanted to pursue new and shiny categories. It made me reevaluate a few side initiatives we had going and double down on the thing we do best. That single mental shift saved us months of distraction and probably kept us from diluting the brand.

Ranger Kielak, Holistic Success Coach, Within Range Life Coaching LLC

My favorite podcast for business owners is The Game by Alex Hormozi.

It’s no fluff, no hype–just honest, tactical insight from someone who’s been in the trenches. I like that he doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of building a business. It’s straightforward, it’s practical, and it challenges the excuses we tell ourselves.

Biggest business lesson?

“This is what hard feels like.”

That line hit me. It reframed everything. It’s not supposed to feel easy–it’s supposed to feel hard. That’s how you know you’re doing something meaningful. So now, when things get tough, I remind myself: this is the work. Lean in.

Zach Shepard, Principal, Braddock Investment Group Inc

One of my top recommendations for business owners is “The Tim Ferriss Show.” I’ve been a devoted listener since it launched in 2014, and I’m continually impressed by the diverse range of guests and the valuable insights they bring to each episode.

From successful entrepreneurs and CEOs to world-renowned athletes and performers, Tim Ferriss interviews individuals who have achieved extraordinary levels of success in their fields. What sets this podcast apart is not just the caliber of guests, but also the depth of conversation and practical takeaways for listeners.

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, there is always something to learn from this podcast. From productivity hacks and time management strategies to mindset shifts and personal growth techniques, “The Tim Ferriss Show” offers valuable insights that can be applied to any aspect of life.

Niclas Schlopsna, Managing Consultant and CEO, spectup

One of my go-to podcasts is The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett. It doesn’t always stick to traditional business topics, which is exactly why I like it. There’s a raw honesty in the conversations—real talk about leadership, burnout, imposter syndrome, and the stuff you won’t find in most startup blogs. I remember listening to an episode on emotional intelligence in business where Steven dissected how self-awareness plays a bigger role than strategy, especially when leading under pressure. That one stuck with me because, frankly, in my early days at spectup, I thought knowing the market and building investor decks was enough. Turns out, people follow people, not plans.

The biggest business lesson I took from the show is that your ability to sit with discomfort—uncertainty, tough conversations, rejection—is a stronger predictor of success than your ability to “optimize” everything. I once had a client at spectup who was panicking mid-fundraise because nothing was landing. Instead of overhauling the strategy, we just slowed down and addressed the uncomfortable truths in their positioning. That tweak made the round oversubscribed. Listening to others who’ve been through those fires helps keep things in perspective.

Valentin Radu, CEO & Founder, Blogger, Speaker, Podcaster, Omniconvert

The key takeaway for me was leveraging customer insights to foster meaningful relationships, a principle central to our work in CRO and CVO. As the CEO of Omniconvert, I’ve embraced these lessons to help eCommerce businesses use data to enhance customer experiences, drive conversions, and build lasting loyalty. It’s clear that true growth stems from vision, strategy, and understanding your customers.

Austin Benton, Marketing Consultant, Gotham Artists

Podcast: 20VC with Harry Stebbings

It’s not just for VCs—20VC is a masterclass in how high-level operators actually think. What I love most is how Harry drags out the unsexy mechanics behind big success: hiring misfires, pricing psychology, GTM pivots. He gets founders to admit things they wouldn’t put on LinkedIn.

Biggest Lesson: From a random episode with David Sacks—he said most founders die from “founder-induced complexity.” That hit hard. It made me audit every part of SpeakerDrive and ask: “Are we doing this because it works, or because we can?” We cut 3 features after that and conversions improved. Sometimes, growth is subtraction.

Ben Davis, CEO, The Gents Place

One podcast I return to is “The Tim Ferriss Show.” He interviews top performers from business, sports, and the military. What stands out is how he drills into habits, systems, and decision-making. It’s not theoretical. You get actual practices you can test in your daily life. I’ve applied some of these in my own leadership style at The Gents Place. For example, the way Tim blocks time on his calendar for deep work made me rethink how I protect time to focus on long-term strategy instead of being buried in operations.

The biggest lesson I’ve pulled from the show came from an episode with Jim Collins, author of *Good to Great*. Collins talks about the difference between being a time-teller and a clock-builder. A time-teller gives answers. A clock-builder creates systems that outlast them. That changed the way I lead my team. I now focus more on building repeatable processes instead of just solving problems. When we onboard new franchisees, we’re not just handing them tools. We’re giving them systems that teach them how to lead and build their own teams. That shift helped us grow without losing what makes The Gents Place special.

Joe Horan, Owner & CEO, Jumper Bee

One podcast I listen to often is How I Built This with Guy Raz. It’s simple. Business owners share real stories. Not only wins, but the hard parts too, slow growth, bad calls, and pressure. That kind of honesty helps. It shows what success looks like behind the scenes. No shortcuts. Just work and patience.

One episode made a strong point. Waiting too long often costs more than acting sooner. That pushed me to stop holding back on key changes. I made fast, clear decisions. Removed what didn’t work. Put more into what you did. Results followed. Not perfect, but better.

This podcast reminds me that struggle is normal. Growth takes time. Being clear and steady matters more than being fast. That’s what keeps me focused.

Brandon Thor, CEO, Thor Metals Group

One of my favorite podcasts for business owners is The Game by Alex Hormozi. I like that it’s direct, tactical, and brutally honest without being overly polished. A lot of business content can feel rehearsed or theoretical, but Hormozi cuts through that. He talks about growth from the trenches, all of it backed by experience, not fluff. For someone like me, who operates in a tangible space like precious metals, I appreciate how grounded his perspective is.

The biggest business lesson I’ve taken from the podcast is the idea that businesses don’t rise to the level of their ambition, they fall to the level of their infrastructure. That hit me. It’s easy to dream big, especially in an industry like gold where the stakes are high and the market moves fast. But without the right systems, people, and processes, even the best strategy falls apart. That mindset has shaped how we grow Thor Metals Group. We focus heavily on building a foundation that can support scale without sacrificing service or trust. The podcast reminded me that consistency and structure are what drive long-term success, not just ambition. And that’s a message more entrepreneurs need to hear.

Justin Lovely, Owner, Lovely Law Firm Injury Lawyers

His leadership advice also forced us to tighten operations. We built team scorecards with one key number per role. Intake focuses on conversions. Paralegals track deadlines. Attorneys log closed cases. Weekly check-ins are faster and more focused. Everyone knows what matters and what to fix. No more guessing, no more excuses.

Miller’s podcast helps eliminate noise. You don’t need more content. You need the right structure, repeated daily. That’s how you scale with less stress and more control.

Dhari Alabdulhadi, CTO and Founder, Ubuy Germany

Guy Raz’s podcast, “How I Built This,” is my favourite for entrepreneurs. It’s compelling because it presents the unvarnished, unfiltered tales of business people like Sara Blakely and Howard Schultz, emphasising both their setbacks and victories. The most important thing I’ve learnt is that flexibility and resilience are more important than “genius” ideas. Until their ideas find a market, the most successful entrepreneurs listen, iterate, and change. It serves as a daily reminder that obstacles are only a step toward a greater vision rather than the finish.

Josh Qian, COO and Co-Founder, Best Online Cabinets

I enjoy Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman. This podcast features interviews with successful entrepreneurs and explores how they scaled their businesses. What I love about it is the deep dive into the strategies and philosophies that led to their growth, often backed by real-world experiences and data. It’s fascinating to hear how different leaders approached similar challenges in unique ways.

From this podcast, one key takeaway for me has been the concept of leveraging network effects. Many guests highlight how building a strong community around their product or service was crucial for their growth. This has prompted me to think more about how we can engage our customers not just as buyers but as part of a community. Fostering relationships and encouraging feedback helps create a loyal customer base that supports us and drives our growth through word-of-mouth and referrals.

Darcy Cudmore, Founder, RepuLinks

Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan delivers what most business owners need. Clear talk from people who’ve built something real. The conversations are focused on process, growth, and decision-making. No long intros. No theory. You hear how businesses were built from nothing and scaled through consistent work, not luck.

One episode shifted how I operate. A guest shared how they test before they build. They don’t invest time or money without proof of demand. That mindset helped me move faster and waste less. I stopped chasing perfect plans. I focused on what works, not what looks good. It changed how I lead, how I spend, and how I measure results.

The value of this podcast is in the way the guests think. They talk about pressure, risk, hiring, and timing. They talk about what breaks, not just what works. The lessons are direct. The mindset is practical. No big claims. Just real steps and better ways to approach problems.

For anyone building or managing something, this kind of input helps. It keeps your focus sharp and your time on track.

Georgi Petrov, CMO, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator, AIG MARKETER

My favorite podcast for business owners is The Tim Ferriss Show, as it delves deeply into the routines and strategies of successful entrepreneurs across various industries, offering practical advice rather than just theory. What I appreciate most is how Tim breaks down complex ideas into actionable steps that listeners can apply immediately. The biggest business lesson I learned from the podcast is the power of deliberate experimentation—how trying small tests and embracing failure fast leads to better decisions and innovation. It taught me to approach growth with curiosity and resilience, rather than fear of making mistakes, which has been invaluable in scaling my ventures.

Aspen Noonan, CEO, Elevate Holistics

How I Built This with Guy Raz is a podcast that I frequently listen to.  The narratives are straightforward, truthful, and timely.  When discussing what worked and what didn’t, entrepreneurs are straightforward.  I can better understand how choices are made in the real world when I hear the people behind well-known brands discuss their successes and setbacks.  It isn’t a theory.  It doesn’t inspire.  It’s working.  When you’re starting from scratch with significant risks and little time, that’s what counts.

The episode with Sara Blakely taught me the most important lesson.  She created Spanx on her own dime.  She managed the process, remained near the client, and concentrated on resolving a single issue.  That stayed with me.  You don’t require authorization.  You may validate your idea without waiting for funds.  Start right away and remain near to the area of pain if it truly resolves something.  I’ve applied that way of thinking to help individuals get better access to plant-based care.  Make sure the procedure is quick, efficient, and based on the demands of the consumer.  When you adhere to that, every choice becomes more apparent.  It was more than just an entertaining podcast.  It altered my leadership style.

Amy Mayer, Product Engineer, Shawood

Alex Cornici, Marketing & PR Coordinator, Magic Hour AI

I’ve been tuning into “How I Built This” with Guy Raz for quite a while now. It’s this show where entrepreneurs and business leaders share their stories about creating some of the world’s best-known companies. Hearing directly from these pioneers is super inspiring and it offers both practical advice and a surge of motivation.

The biggest lesson I’ve gathered from listening to this podcast isn’t just about success but about resilience. Nearly every guest talks about overcoming some pretty tough failures before finding a path that led them to success. It’s a great reminder that setbacks aren’t just normal; they’re essential ingredients of success. So whenever you’re feeling bogged down by challenges, remember that even the top folks have been there. You’ve got to stumble a bit to find what works for you.

Joe Hawtin, Owner, Marin County Visitor

My desert island podcast? It’s gotta be “How I Built This with Guy Raz.” That show completely changed how I look at entrepreneurship, mostly because of its raw, unfiltered stories—sometimes about wild success, sometimes about total disaster.

Last year, I was driving through California’s Central Valley to meet a client. I binged three episodes back-to-back and, honestly, ended up overhauling our pricing strategy right there in my head.

Brian Chesky from Airbnb talked about premium tiers that actually make the core product better, not just more expensive. That stuck with me.

There’s something about the way Guy Raz gets founders to spill the truth. He pulls out the messy, behind-the-scenes stuff—the near-bankruptcies, the product flops, the moments when everything nearly fell apart.

During our agency’s rough second year, I listened to Stacy Madison from Stacy’s Pita Chips talk about refusing to lower her standards, even with the financial pressure piling up. That gave me the guts to turn down a major client whose demands would’ve wrecked our service quality.

Honestly, that decision saved our reputation. We ended up attracting better clients because of it.

The biggest thing I’ve picked up from this podcast? Success in business almost never comes from having some perfect idea or nailing every move. It’s really about sticking to your vision but staying flexible—adapting fast when the market throws you a curveball.

Now, whenever we hit a serious roadblock, I ask my team a question I snagged from Sara Blakely’s episode: “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” It’s weird how often that opens the door to creative, practical solutions—stuff we might not have tried otherwise.

Max Shak, Founder/CEO, Zapiy

As the Founder and CEO of Zapiy.com, I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts over the years—some tactical, some inspirational. But the one that consistently stands out to me is The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett. It’s not your typical business podcast packed with surface-level advice or rehearsed success stories. What makes it powerful is its raw honesty. Steven has a way of getting his guests—many of whom are world-class founders, operators, and thinkers—to open up about the uncomfortable truths behind their wins and failures.

What I appreciate most is that it’s less about “how to grow fast” and more about “how to grow well”—as a business, and as a human being building that business. The conversations explore things that every founder faces but rarely talks about openly: imposter syndrome, burnout, leadership mistakes, emotional resilience. It reminds you that building a company isn’t just strategy and execution—it’s identity, mindset, and self-awareness.

One episode that stuck with me featured Ben Francis, the founder of Gymshark. It wasn’t just a highlight reel of wins. He talked about the shift from being the “doer” to being the “leader”—and how uncomfortable that transition can be. I remember him saying something along the lines of: “At some point, your biggest strength becomes your bottleneck.” That hit hard. As founders, especially in the early days, we’re used to being in control, touching every part of the business. But scaling requires you to let go, trust others, and evolve into a very different kind of contributor.

The biggest business lesson I’ve taken from The Diary of a CEO is this: the internal growth of the founder sets the ceiling for the external growth of the company. You can have the best product, the best team, the best market fit—but if you’re not growing in how you lead, think, and adapt, you’ll eventually hit a wall. That realization has changed how I lead at Zapiy. I’m more intentional about delegation, culture, and self-reflection—because the company can only scale as fast as I do.

It’s a podcast that doesn’t just make you a better entrepreneur—it makes you a better version of yourself. And that, to me, is its greatest value.

Matt Bowman, Founder, Thrive Local

Entrepreneurs on Fire hosted by John Lee Dumas stands as my top choice.

The show stands out because it releases new episodes every day with different entrepreneurs who deliver useful practical advice.

The concept of “the zone of fire” from EOFire stands out to me because John describes it as a precise alignment between content and product and target audience that creates almost frictionless marketing and messaging. Many business owners face challenges because they attempt to push their offers onto markets that do not match their target audience. The show promotes deep engagement with specific niches instead of pursuing a broad audience.

Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen

Michael Moran, Owner and President, Green Lion Search

As the owner of Green Lion Search, a recruiting firm, one of my favorite podcasts is Entrepreneurs on Fire. I keep coming back to it because it’s a constant reminder that there’s no one path to success, and in recruiting, that perspective is invaluable.

Every episode introduces a different founder with a completely unique backstory: some bootstrapped their way up, others pivoted five times before landing on a winning idea, and many came from industries you’d never expect. What it taught me, loud and clear, is that success isn’t formulaic. Everyone gets there differently.

That insight directly shapes how I approach recruiting. I don’t look for one perfect resume or a textbook background. I look for grit, adaptability, and people who’ve carved their own path. Entrepreneurs on Fire reinforces that mindset and fuels how we think about talent and possibility at Green Lion Search.

Ivan Rodimushkin, Founder, CEO, XS Supply

I started listening to Brene Brown’s “Dare to Lead” podcast, and one simple line that stayed with me was “Clear is kind.” That became the new way of working. We made it a rule to be honest and transparent with clients, even when the news, like backorders or price changes, was not good. 

At first, it was tough, but it helped build trust. Clients appreciated knowing what was really going on, and it saved us from confusion later. That podcast did not teach business tricks; it reminded us that honest, clear talk is what really keeps strong relationships going.

Joel Miller, President, Miller Pest & Termite

My go-to podcast is Business Made Simple with Donald Miller. It’s practical, straightforward, and cuts through the fluff that often gets caught up in a lot of business content. What I like most is how it focuses on clarity. As a business owner, I don’t have time for abstract theory. I need takeaways I can apply this week. One episode in particular on creating a “communication playbook” helped me rethink how we train new hires and explain what our company does—internally and to customers.

The biggest lesson I took from the show was that confusion costs you money. It shows up in your marketing, in your team’s performance, and in your customer experience. After listening to that episode, we reviewed and updated all our internal SOPs and onboarding documents. We rewrote them in plain English, no jargon, no filler. Suddenly, new hires were getting up to speed faster and asking fewer “what does this mean?” questions. That small shift has saved us hours of ramp-up time and made everything run smoother.

Alec Loeb, VP of Growth Marketing, EcoATM

I keep “The Knowledge Project” by Shane Parrish in rotation. The podcast breaks down decision-making, leadership, and focus. What sets it apart is how it takes big ideas and shows how they work in real life. The guests come from different sectors, but the patterns are consistent. You learn how high-performers think, how they filter noise, and how they set priorities.

One conversation with Bethany McLean stood out. She talked about how good businesses go bad when leaders stop asking hard questions. In a fast-paced growth role, it’s easy to chase volume, but scale hides weak signals. If you don’t pause and assess the root of what’s working or not, you build noise into the system. I brought that into our roadmap planning. We now cut projects faster. We measure more often, not just bigger.

This podcast doesn’t hype tactics. It focuses on thinking. That’s what business owners need. You don’t need more tools. You need to think clearly about the cost of your attention, your team’s time, and your customers’ trust. “The Knowledge Project” helps you stay sharp where it counts.

Shantell Moya, Business Owner, Roof Republic

The most important lesson from this podcast is system-building. Hormozi repeated one point across multiple episodes: your business should run without you. That forced a shift in how I worked. I stepped back from task execution and focused on building clear, repeatable systems. I documented every step, assigned ownership, and tracked accountability. Efficiency increased. So did quality.

The Game delivers insight without noise. No scripts. No empty talk. It challenges business owners to stop reacting and start building with intent.

Mike Khorev, SEO Consultant, Mike Khorev

My go-to podcast for business owners is How I Built This by Guy Raz. It’s like eavesdropping on some of the smartest minds as they share raw stories behind famous brands. What I love is the mix of triumphs and failures, it’s never sugar-coated. You get the real deal.

The biggest lesson? Resilience is king. Many guests faced massive setbacks but kept pushing. It reminded me that success isn’t a straight line, it’s a bumpy road with plenty of detours. This mindset shifted how I handle challenges at Nine Peaks Media. Instead of fearing failure, I see it as part of the journey.

If you want inspiration with a side of real talk, this podcast delivers. It’s a reminder that every business owner has a story, and sticking with it makes all the difference.

Chris Brewer, Managing Director, Best Retreats

My favorite podcast for business owners is My First Million with Sam Parr and Shaan Puri. Why? It’s raw, no-BS brainstorming of real business ideas, like flipping niche apps or spotting market gaps, with zero fluff. Their episodes, like one on psy-ops as a service, spark actionable hustles you can start tomorrow. It’s like a bar chat with sharp entrepreneurs who’ve done it, not just preached it. Biggest lesson? Focus on small, weird markets, solving a specific pain point, like our retreat safety focus, can scale fast.

Ender Korkmaz, CEO, Heat&Cool

I have learned a lot from Pat Flynn’s “Smart Passive Income” podcast. Many think passive income does not work for an online HVAC store, but his ideas on building systems and trust really helped me. One thing that stood out was how he builds a community before trying to sell. 

So I used that idea in our email onboarding, focusing more on teaching and less on selling. When people understand the product first, they feel more confident about buying. That simple change helped us keep more customers and reduce returns. Trust, we learned, grows faster when you lead with value instead of a sales pitch.

Andrew Izrailo, Senior Corporate and Fiduciary Manager, Astra Trust

One podcast I frequently recommend to business owners is “The Smart Passive Income Podcast” by Pat Flynn. While it broadly covers entrepreneurship and business growth, it also dives into important financial topics like taxation, business structuring, and wealth management in practical, accessible ways.

What makes it stand out is how it balances actionable advice with real stories from entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of growing and protecting their businesses.

Biggest lesson: Building a business isn’t just about revenue growth—it’s about smart financial planning and structure from day one. The podcast reinforces that understanding tax implications and setting up your business correctly early on can save significant headaches later, something we emphasize strongly at Astra Trust.

Brandon George, Director of Demand Generation & Content, Thrive SEO Agency

Unique insight from this podcast: Reid calls “The Alliance”—his concept of treating employees–as partners on a ‘tour of duty.’ This approach flips the traditional employment model. In place of pretending a hire will stay forever, you define a clear mission they’ll own for a set period, invest in their growth, and plan for a healthy exit or evolution. It’s a tactical shift in managing talent, especially for startups juggling agility with retention.

Lord Robert Newborough, Owner, Rhug Organic Farm & Rhug Ltd

I like listening to The Bottom Line on BBC Radio 4. It is clear, honest, and genuine about business. The stories are not too perfect, they show how messy real decisions can be, which makes them helpful.

One thing that really stayed with me was this: when pressure builds, do not try to fix everything at once. Just find one thing that matters most and focus on that. I used this idea when I quickly changed part of our work. I stuck to our main products and came out stronger in the end.

Michael Yerardi, Founder & CEO, Turning Point Home Buyers

I have been in the real estate industry for over a decade now, and throughout my journey, I have come across numerous podcasts that have helped me grow as a business owner. However, there is one particular podcast that stands out for me – “The Tim Ferriss Show.” The reason why this podcast is my favorite for business owners is because of the diverse range of topics it covers. Tim Ferriss brings on guests from various industries and backgrounds, discussing their strategies, habits, and tactics for success. It’s essential to stay updated with not just the latest trends in the industry but also other industries that can offer valuable insights.

Kevin Heimlich, Digital Marketing Consultant & Chief Executive Officer, The Ad Firm

If I had to pick one podcast that truly stands out for business owners, it would have to be the HBR IdeaCast from Harvard Business Review.

What makes it my favorite is how it balances academic insight with practical application. The hosts discuss essential management issues, leadership strategies, and common pitfalls with leading thinkers, addressing challenges that every business owner, regardless of size, will encounter. It’s fantastic for taking a step back from the daily grind and looking at the bigger picture of organizational health and long-term strategy. The biggest lesson I’ve taken from it, something that really resonated with my own experiences growing The Ad Firm, is the profound importance of proactive change management. They often highlight how successful leaders don’t just react to challenges; they anticipate them and build frameworks to adapt. It reinforced my belief that anticipating shifts in the market, whether it’s new ad platforms or evolving customer behavior, and then strategically preparing your team and processes for those changes, is far more effective than simply reacting after the fact. It’s a constant reminder that staying agile and thinking ahead is key to sustainable growth.

Ahmed Yousuf, SEO Expert & Financial Author, Customers Chain

One of my go-to podcasts is “My First Million” by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri. It’s not your typical “interview-a-founder” format; they break down real business ideas, trends, and growth tactics with a mix of humor and brutal honesty. It feels like sitting in on a high-level brainstorm, not a lecture.

Biggest lesson? Speed matters more than perfection. They constantly highlight how scrappy execution beats overthinking. 

That pushed me to launch faster, test smaller, and stop waiting for the “perfect” version of a product or campaign. Action creates momentum; waiting kills it.

Richie Gibson, Owner/Dating Coach, DATING BY RICHIE

Out of all the podcasts I’ve listened to, The Game with Alex Hormozi has had the deepest impact on me as an entrepreneur. It’s more than just a collection of business strategies—it’s a masterclass in focus, discipline, and playing the long game.

The biggest takeaway for me? Stop chasing shiny objects. Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve felt the thrill of a new idea—the belief that this could be the next big thing. Hormozi’s content held a mirror up to that mindset. His honest, sometimes blunt insights forced me to reckon with a simple truth: spreading myself thin across multiple ventures wasn’t ambition—it was avoidance.

What hit hardest was his perspective on focusing on one business until it works, really works. That means resisting the urge to pivot the moment things get hard. It means staying in the trenches long enough to learn, build momentum, and create something with lasting value.

Since adopting that mindset, I’ve seen measurable growth—not just in revenue, but in clarity and confidence. I know where to invest my time. I’m no longer hopping from one idea to the next. And I have Hormozi’s unfiltered wisdom to thank for that. This podcast didn’t just change the way I work—it changed the way I think.

If you’re constantly pulled in a dozen directions, The Game might just be the focus reset you didn’t know you needed.

Kritika Kanodia, CEO, Estorytellers

Here’s what’s burned into my brain: Vulnerability is the secret sauce. No joke. One episode had me low-key emotional, just hearing how being open as a leader doesn’t make you weak—it makes everyone care more, work harder. I tried this at Estorytellers. Instead of playing the all-knowing boss, I started telling my team what was actually going on, the good and the ugly. 

Guess what? They leaned in. People actually want to be part of something real. Turns out, you don’t need to have it all figured out. Just show up, be messy, be human. That’s leadership, at least for me.

Tony Ragan, President, Absolute Pest Management

My favorite podcast is “The Home Service Expert” with Tommy Mello. It hits close to home because it’s designed for professionals in trades like pest control, HVAC, and plumbing. What I like is that it’s not fluff. The guests are business owners who’ve been through the fire, and they talk openly about what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently. I’ll usually listen while driving between job sites or during early mornings at the shop. It’s like sitting in on a mastermind session without having to leave your truck.

The biggest lesson that stuck with me came from an episode about building systems to scale. One guest said, “If you’re solving the same problem more than once, you need a system, not a superhero.” That hit me hard because for a long time I was trying to be the guy who fixed everything. It taught me to step back and create repeatable solutions—not just band-aids. Since then, we’ve systematized everything from onboarding to customer follow-ups, and it’s made the business run smoother without burning anyone out.

Jonathan Anderson, Co-Founder, Green Home Pest Control

I recommend “The Diary of a CEO” by Steven Bartlett. It’s less about hacks and more about mindset, what actually happens behind the scenes when you’re building something real. I first listened during a rough quarter, and the honesty in those conversations hit differently than most polished business content.

One episode with Ben Francis from Gymshark stuck with me. He discussed how staying close to the customer was their competitive edge. That reinforced something I’d drifted from: spending time in support channels, reading the raw feedback. The biggest lesson? Growth comes from staying close to the uncomfortable stuff.

Time to Tune Into a Business Podcast!

The diversity of podcast preferences among these 30+ business leaders reveals an important truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to business education. 

While some gravitate toward tactical advice from shows like “The Game” and “Business Made Simple,” others find inspiration in the storytelling of “How I Built This” or the mindset-focused conversations on “The Diary of a CEO.”

What’s striking isn’t just which podcasts made the list, but the consistent themes in the lessons learned: the importance of focus over perfection, building systems rather than being the hero, staying close to customers, and embracing discomfort as a sign of growth. 

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business, these podcast recommendations, backed by real-world results, offer a roadmap to the audio content that’s actually moving the needle for successful entrepreneurs.

The next time you’re commuting, exercising, or looking for inspiration during a challenging business moment, consider queuing up one of these tried-and-tested shows. As these leaders prove, the right podcast at the right time can deliver the insight that transforms your entire approach to business.