Stats show that 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years of business. Reasons for failure include having problems with their business plan from the get-go, not having enough financing, not having a good marketing plan, and more.
Not to mention competition is fierce. It’s difficult for any business owner to find all the keys to make a business work and edge out the competition.
But, it’s not impossible. With the right resources, tools, and mentors, chances of succeeding in business improve.
The best part? Some of these resources and mentorships are free and at your fingertips in the form of a podcast.
If you are looking to improve your business skills, the time is now to turn your attention to your Apple Podcast app, or your Android Stitcher app, and listen to the following best business podcasts on your commute to work.
1. HBR IdeaCast
It goes without saying that every business owner should be reading articles by HBR. HBR conducts solid research studies that provide invaluable insight into the business community. But, what about their podcast?
IdeaCast, hosted by Alison Beard and Curt Nickisch, both senior editors at Harvard Business Review, offers incredible insight from the greatest minds in the business community.
Sample podcast topics from HBR IdeaCast include:
- How Having a Rival Improves Performance
- Global Workers Are Ready for Retraining
- How China Is Upending Western Marketing Practices
- What Managers Get Wrong About Feedback
- Why People — and Companies — Need Purpose
With nearly 700 episodes to choose from, you’ll certainly brush up on your business skills if you adopt this podcast into your daily listening routine.
2. Rise
If you’re a fan of Rachel Hollis and her best selling novels “Girl, Wash Your Face,” and “Girl, Stop Apologizing,” then this may be the perfect way to motivate you in the morning.
Rachel Hollis has a particularly positive and motivating voice that extends into her podcast series. She also takes time to interview industry experts that give you insight into their own success and what you can take from their success.
Sample podcast topics from Rise include:
- How to Rebuild Your Life with Trent Shelton
- How I Got My Apparel Line with QVC
- How to Overcome the Fear of Failure
- How to Be Successful in Business Without Compromising your Health
Rise is a more recent podcast, but you can stay busy with almost 100 episodes to listen to.
3. Art of the Hustle
Are you a fan of HeartRadio and WeWork? If so, you’ll be pleased to know they are back with a new season of Art of the Hustle. This podcast is an inspiration to entrepreneurs and offers tips and tricks to help fuel their work.
The podcast’s host is Jeff Rosenthal, co-founder of Summit. He invites guests onto his show to explore success stories, stories of failures, milestone events, and, key advice to help any entrepreneur.
Sample podcast topics from Art of the Hustle include:
- Dave Free — the Man Behind Some of the Biggest Names in Hip Hop
- Arlan Hamilton — Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital
- Tim Ferriss — The Must-Hear Interview
- Grissini Restaurant & Westmount Country Club Owner, Tony Del Gatto
The tone is more casual and the rating is explicit, so make sure you’re not listening with anyone who has sensitive ears.
4. Inside LaunchStreet
Are you focused on innovating, but feel stuck? Then, Inside LaunchStreet may be the perfect fit for you. This podcast focuses on helping business people innovate more successfully.
With this podcast, you’ll get weekly bouts of inspiration, motivation and innovation strategies.
Podcast host, Tamara Ghandour, founder of LaunchStreet, interviews top innovators about how they incorporate innovation into their business practices.
You don’t just get advice with this podcast, you get actionable takeaways to help you improve your business.
Sample podcast topics from Inside LaunchStreet include:
- Pivot, Disrupt, Transform with Marcia Daszko
- Lifting Others with Paresh Shah
- Data Driven Innovation with Doug Hall
- Changing Leadership Dynamics with Kevin Kruse
With over 1800 episodes, you’ll keep yourself busy with this podcast.
5. Unshakeable by Tony Robbins
Life as a business leader can leave you feeling volatile. Being a business owner involves moments of uncertainty and change, and it can be difficult to stand your ground. This podcast, hosted by Tony Robbins and Peter Mallouk, reveal the secrets of those who have had hard times and still come out on top.
In this podcast, you’ll learn how to thrive, achieve financial freedom, and become unshakeable.
Sample podcast topics of Unshakeable by Tony Robbins include:
- The Science of Achievement & The Art of Fulfillment
- What your 401(K) Provider Doesn’t Want You To Know
- Brokers In Disguise…
- 7 Freedom Facts, Part 1 and Part 2
If you’re looking to increase your wealth, and your confidence, this is a great podcast for advice on how to do just that.
6. Outside In with Charles Trevail
Outside has over 70 episodes, and they are jam-packed with useful business insights. This podcast talks about how consumers are changing and how companies are changing with them.
Charles Trevail is the host, and he interviews executives, journalists, authors, and thinkers. When you listen to this podcast, you’ll hear all about customer-centric strategies, consumer trends, industry disruptions, and cultural forces that are influencing business.
Sample podcast topics from Outside In with Charles Trevail include:
- Jonah Berger: Social Influence and Word of Mouth
- Gary Pisano: Can Big Companies Really Be Innovative?
- Jeff Blau, CEO, Related: Building a City of the Future
- Kate O’Neill: Rise of the Tech Humanist
Don’t waste another second of your podcast listening time. Check this podcast out for excellent insights.
7. Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield
Amy Porterfield is one of the finest market minds of our time. The best part? She hosts a podcast called Marketing Made Easy to do just that — help make marketing easier and more accessible for business owners.
If you are wondering how to start an online business, how to grow your email list, how to sell more and grow faster, this podcast is a great place to start. Porterfield answers some of the big business questions and offers action steps to help you scale and automate your business.
Sample Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield podcast topics include:
- Is This One Excuse Sneaking Into Your Business and Slowing You Down? (It Might Even Be Hiding!)
- How to Tease Your Digital Course Before You’re Ready To Launch
- Feeling Frazzled and Overworked? How to Prioritize What Matters Most with Kate Northrup
- Membership Site Inspiration: How Did They Do It?
If you want in on excellent business insight, the time is now to check out this podcast.
8. The Tim Ferriss Show
It’s difficult to talk about successful business podcasts without talking about The Tim Ferriss Show. Tim Ferriss approaches business with creativity unlike no other, and it pays off.
You may already be familiar with him as the bestselling author, best known for The 4-Hour Workweek. His podcast offers insight that is just as important.
Some top podcasts topics from The Tim Ferriss Show include:
- #371: Ramit Sethi — Automating Finances, Negotiating Prenups, Disagreeing with Tim, and More
- #125: Derek Sivers on Developing Confidence, Finding Happiness, and Saying “No” to Millions (Repost)
- #370: Adam Savage on Great Tools, Great Projects, and Great Lessons
- #369: Kevin Systrom — Tactics, Books, and the Path to a Billion Users
If you’re looking for an interesting and refreshing take on business, take the time to listen to what Tim Ferriss and his guests have to say.
9. Business Wars
If you have a top competitor (think Netflix vs. HBO or Nike vs. Adidas), you know that business can be war.
Business Wars explores the real stories behind what drives these companies and their leaders. This podcast is from Wondery, the same network behind Dirty John and American History Tellers, so you know it will be captivating.
Sample podcast topics from Business Wars include:
- Netflix vs Blockbuster Revisited – Streamers Everywhere
- Justin Long Gets Personal on “Life is Short”
- Ferrari vs. Lamborghini – The Future of Cars
- Hasbro vs Mattel – Today’s Toys
With each topic divided over several episodes, you get more than a surface overview. This podcast delves deep and you’ll be glad you listened.
10. Entrepreneur On Fire
Looking to hear from over 2,000 successful entrepreneurs including Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, and Tony Robbins? If you want a snippet of what the world’s best entrepreneurs have to say, it’s time to check out Entrepreneur On Fire.
This podcast helps small businesses by giving them actionable advice from the pros.
The host is John Lee Dumas, goes above and beyond as he poses thought-provoking questions.
Sample episodes from Entrepreneur On Fire include:
- Neil Gaiman’s Commencement Keynote: Make Good Art
- How to get a leg up in the ongoing war for talent with Jessica Moser
- The Power of Voice to Grow your Business with Paul Faust
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Second Edition: No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S. with Ramit Sethi
It’s worth it to note that the podcast won the “Best of iTunes” award for its excellent content.
11. Perpetual Traffic
Digital Marketer brings the world insightful trainings, but that’s not all. They also created Perpetual Traffic, which is a superb podcast for business owners.
Ralph Burns and Molly Pittman host this podcast and bring episodes to the audience weekly. They share killer stories about how to acquire leads and make sales with paid traffic strategies.
What does paid traffic mean? In short, it means putting your product, service, or content in front of your target audience with actionable strategies. Want a deeper look into what that means? Perpetual Traffic is here to provide it.
Sample topics from Perpetual Traffic include:
- Episode 202: Merging the Worlds of Facebook, Google, and Amazon Advertising
- Episode 201: The Secret To Going Viral with Jay Shetty
- Episode 200: Are You Still Running Your Facebook Ads Like it’s 2015? 4 Essential Tips to Get You on Track
- Episode 199: The School of Bots w/ Natasha Takahashi
Take the time to listen to real stories of business owners and how they overcame struggles with digital marketing. If you’re a fan of Digital Marketer, or if want additional insight into how to improve your marketing strategies, then give this podcast your attention.
12. The Action Catalyst
Who better to host a weekly podcast about how to make better use of time to ace sales, life, or other business goals than Dan Moore?
Dan Moore, President of The Southwestern Advantage has more than 45 years in sales leadership and marketing management.
His wealth of knowledge is a blessing to business owners as well as the insight from people he interviews.
Sample topics from The Action Catalyst include:
- An Endeavor of Faith: Episode 284 of The Action Catalyst Podcast
- What Customers Want: Episode 283 of the Action Catalyst Podcast
- Identity Leadership: Episode 282 of the Action Catalyst Podcast
- Be Your Own Can, Not Can’t: Episode 281 of the Action Catalyst Podcast
If you’re looking for advice from someone who knows what he is talking about, this is the podcast for you.
13. Running Remote
Having a remote team brings on its own set of challenges apart from the everyday normal challenges a business owner faces. Find out how to run fully remote teams in the interviews of established entrepreneurs and CEOs.
Sample topics from Running Remote:
- Episode 10: CEO of Flexjobs, Sarah Sutton, on how she’s supporting the remote work lifestyle.
- Episode 4: Co-Founder of Zapier, Wade Foster, on creating company culture
- Episode 22: CEO of Eventual Millionaire, Jaime Masters, on personal responsibility for growth
- Episode 23: Co-Founder of Hope*Writers, Brian Dixon, on why he knows all of his employees love language.
These founders have come up with really creative ways to foster culture, perfect communication and enhance productivity within their remote teams.
Wrap up
While there are several other great business podcasts the team here at Time Doctor can recommend, these are some of the best.
It’s difficult to find time to listen to all podcasts, but if you write down your most pressing business questions, read through the podcast topic descriptions, and listen to some sample episodes, you’ll be able to find the podcast that’s the perfect fit for you and your team.
Leading a remote business can be difficult, but if you use the tools and mentorship that you have at your hand, you’ll gather the knowledge you need to succeed.
At Time Doctor, we also aim to provide business leaders with tools to increase productivity. Check out our time tracking software today.
Andy is a technology & marketing leader who has delivered award-winning and world-first experiences.