Best Business Podcasts (Inspiration With How To Tips)

The world of business is constantly evolving.

In order to stay on top, you must be up-to-date with the latest trends and developments. One way to do this is by listening to podcasts from successful entrepreneurs who have been in your shoes before.

Here are some of the best business podcasts that will inspire you today.

Benefits of Creating a Podcast for Business Growth

Increased Brand Visibility

Podcasting allows businesses to reach a wider audience and increase brand visibility, as podcasts can be easily accessed and shared across various platforms.^1,2

Audience Engagement and Loyalty

Podcasts allow businesses to connect with their target audience on a personal level, fostering engagement and building a loyal community of listeners.³

Content Repurposing

Podcast episodes can be repurposed into other forms of content, such as blog posts, social media snippets, or video content, extending the reach and impact of the original podcast.⁴

Networking and Partnerships

Hosting guests or collaborating with industry experts on podcast episodes can help businesses expand their network, forge partnerships, and tap into new audiences.⁵

Thought Leadership and Authority

Hosting a podcast provides an opportunity to showcase industry knowledge and establish the business as a thought leader, enhancing credibility and attracting potential customers.^6,7

Targeted Marketing and Niche Audience Reach

Podcasts allow businesses to target specific niche audiences, reaching individuals who are interested in their industry or topic, leading to more qualified leads and potential customers.⁸

Convenience and Accessibility

Podcasts offer convenience and accessibility to listeners, as they can be consumed on-the-go, during commutes, or while performing other tasks, increasing the likelihood of engagement.⁹

Long-Form Content and In-Depth Discussions

Podcasts provide an opportunity for businesses to delve into complex topics, have in-depth discussions, and provide comprehensive information to their audience, establishing their expertise.¹⁰

Analytics and Insights

Podcast hosting platforms provide analytics and insights on listener demographics, engagement metrics, and episode performance, allowing businesses to refine their content strategy and make data-driven decisions.¹¹

Monetization Opportunities

Successful podcasts can generate revenue through sponsorships, advertising, merchandise sales, or premium content offerings, creating additional income streams for the business.¹²

It is important for businesses to invest in quality production, engaging content, and effective promotion to maximize the benefits of creating a podcast for business growth.

Who Do CEOs and Business Leaders Listen To?

Here is a list of some of the very popular and most recommended by CEOs and business leaders. These include: Entrepreneur on Fire, The Tim Ferriss Show, Marketing School by Neil Patel & Eric Siu and more listed below!

Check them out to learn from people who have been there and succeeded.

Entrepreneur on Fire

This motivational podcasts features interviews with successful entrepreneurs (with over 1000 episodes). They discuss the highs and lows in their life which are both helpful to learn from.

Marketing School by Neil Patel & Eric Siu

These two marketers hold a weekly conversation on the latest in marketing. They are both successful entrepreneurs with a lot of knowledge to share – which is great for anyone looking for inspiration!

Dell Technologies Podcasts

Best known for being the founder and CEO of Dell Computers. He started this podcast to help entrepreneurs learn from the mistakes he made when starting his own business at a young age.

HBR IdeaCast 

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) IdeaCast is a podcast that features one of the best business and leadership experts sharing their latest thoughts on management, work, and life. It features episodes from HBR’s editor at large – Adam Grant – as well as other leading voices like Sheryl Sandberg or Steven Levitt .

Entrepreneurship Stories – The Secret Sauce 

This is a podcast that features inspiring stories from entrepreneurs who have made it big. It’s created by HubSpot, a company that helps you acquire customers through content marketing.

Startup School Radio 

Best for those of you who are interested in launching your own business venture. It features interviews with some of the most successful entrepreneurs on how they got started and made it big – including people like Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs. 

The Tim Ferriss Show 

Best for those of you who want to learn about the latest and greatest in health, sports, business, science, relationships and more. It’s created by bestselling author Tim Ferriss – a voracious reader that reads one book per day. He features guests like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Maria Popova. 

How I Built This 

Best for those of you who want to learn how some of the most successful companies in history were built. It features interviews with founders from Instagram, Airbnb and more that share their stories on taking an idea from nothing to something huge. 

The Smart Passive Income Blog Podcast 

Best for anyone interested in  learning how to make money online. It features interviews with entrepreneurs, authors and marketing experts who share their stories on passive income creation – including Pat Flynn or Michael Hyatt.

The James Altucher Show 

Best for anyone interested in learning more about finance and investing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on how they’ve built their business – including people like Bill Gates or Tony Robbins .

The Chris Brogan Show 

Best for anyone interested in learning more about digital marketing, personal branding and social  media. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on how they’ve built their brand – including people like Guy Kawasaki or Gary Vaynerchuk .

Best for anyone interested in learning more about productivity, time management and personal organization. It features interviews with thought leaders who share actionable tips to help you get your life  in order – including people like Chris Guillebeau or Steve Scott .

The Best of EntreLeadership 

Best for anyone interested in learning more about leadership, sales and managing employees. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on what it takes to run a successful business venture – including people like Marcus Lemonis or Seth Godin .

Found r Magazine 

Best for anyone interested in learning about entrepreneurship, business and marketing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on what it takes to build a successful brand – including people like Gary Vaynerchuk or Frank Kern . (line break)

The Bill Simmons Podcast Network 

Best for those of you who want to learn how the latest  technologies are changing our lives. It features interviews with industry experts, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists on what’s going to have a big impact in the years ahead – including people like Tim O’Reilly or Mark Cuban.

The Best of Bonanza 

Best for anyone interested in learning about entrepreneurship, sales and marketing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on  what it takes to build a successful brand – including people like Gary Vaynerchuk or Frank Kern.

This Week In Startups  

Best for anyone interested in learning how to make money online. It features interviews with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists on what it takes to build a successful company – including people like Tony Robbins or Eric Ries.

The Best of The Unmistakable Creative 

Best for those of you who want to learn more about  entrepreneurship, business and marketing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on what it takes to build a successful brand – including people like Gary Vaynerchuk or Frank Kern.

Masters of Scale 

Best for those of you who want to learn how the latest technologies are changing our lives. It features interviews with industry experts, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists on what’s going to have a big impact in the years ahead – including people like Tim O’Reilly or Mark Cuban.

The Best of The James Altucher Show 

Best for those of you who want to learn about finance and investing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on how they’ve built their business – including people like Bill Gates or Tony Robbins .

How I Built This with Guy Raz  

Best for anyone interested in learning about entrepreneurship, business and marketing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on what it takes to build a successful brand – including people like Gary Vaynerchuk or Frank Kern . (paragraph break)

The Best of The Knowledge Project 

Best for anyone interested in learning how the latest technologies are changing  our lives. It features interviews with industry experts, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists on what’s going to have a big impact in the years ahead – including people like Tim O’Reilly or Mark Cuban.

The Best of Back To Work 

Best for those of you who want to learn more about entrepreneurship, business and marketing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on what it takes to build a successful brand – including people like Gary Vaynerchuk or Frank Kern. 

The Best of The James Altucher Show 

Best for those of you who want to learn about finance and investing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on how they’ve built their business – including people like Bill Gates or Tony Robbins. 

The Best of The Knowledge Project 

Best for anyone interested in learning how the latest technologies are changing our lives. It features interviews with industry experts, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists on what’s going to have a big impact in the years ahead – including people like Tim O’Reilly or Mark Cuban. 

The $100 MBA Show 

Best for those of you who want to learn more about entrepreneurship, business and marketing. It features interviews with entrepreneurs on what it takes to build a successful brand – including people like Gary Vaynerchuk or Frank Kern. 

Are podcasts good for business?

Yes, podcasts are good for business because they provide additional information that you may not find in your usual news or social media channels. There is an abundance of quality podcast content available today and it’s easy to consume too!

How to set up a business podcast

Setting up a business podcast can be a lot of fun and provide your business with a beneficial platform. You can teach others about your experience in the industry or just have some casual conversation with guests that you think would make great content for your audience. 

If this is something you are thinking about, here is how to get started:

Buy professional equipment 

Make sure that if speaking in person (face to  face), you have a pop filter or windscreen to reduce the popping sounds when saying words with “p” s

A studio version of Adobe Audition is highly recommended for editing audio files before publishing to podcast platforms. This software allows you to remove any unwanted sound effects or noise from your audio files.

Invest in a dynamic microphone so that your voice doesn’t lose any of its quality or strength when recording with it. This will help avoid having to record multiple times and try to mix the different audio tracks together during editing process. 

Find out what equipment you already have before purchasing new items for your podcasting studio setup, this will help you save some costs.

Soundproofing your location

A quiet recording environment with no background sounds or music is a must for any business podcast.

Soundproofing your recording room or office can be done in a number of ways including: 

Using sheets to cover the windows and doors, carpets on the floor, anything you can do to absorb sound will help create an optimal environment for professional recordings.

Get organized with planning tools 

Podcasts can be long form conversations or brief interviews. Either way, it is important to have an idea of what you want to talk about before recording anything.

Software tools like Asana can help organize your thoughts into different cards that represent the episode’s main topics and relevant information on each guest. This makes it easier for you when editing later as well.

Other podcast software such as Anchor can help you record and edit your podcast from the same location. This saves a lot of time as well!

Get a professional microphone

A noise cancelling microphone is also recommended for an improved sound quality. 

When shopping for a microphone, look for one that has:

• A USB connection (for easy recording and importing)
• High quality sound output with little to no static or background noise.

Choose Your Podcast Topic

When choosing a podcast topic, it is important to know that you can create one about anything. 

Topics for business podcasts include: 

• Best practices in your industry
• Interviews with experts and professionals on top of their fields
• How to start up a new business or side hustle from scratch
• What not to do when starting out  in your industry
• Best practices for growing an existing business
• Best tools for business owners to use in their everyday routines. 

These are just some topics that you can consider when choosing the right topic, of course it is all up to what has interested you and what will be beneficial for others listening! It’s also nice if there is a small niche in your industry that would make it easier to target a specific audience.

Create an outline for each podcast episode 

After determining the topic and having all equipment in order, its time to create an outline of what you will talk about during the recording session(s). This is important so that when you sit down with guests or on your  own to record, you have a clear goal in mind and know what information needs to be discussed.

The podcast outline should include: 

• The episode’s introduction (background on the topic) – Main topics covered throughout the episode – Relevant links mentioned during the recording session(s). It is also beneficial if these are added into your planning  tool so you don’t forget to include any links during the recording session.
• Closing remarks and episode’s conclusion (call to action) 
• Organize your podcast recordings into separate files for each section of the outline that was created. This makes it easier when editing as well since you can just focus on one topic at a time, rather than  the entire episode.

After collecting all of your recording files, send them to a professional audio editor for post-production.

Once this is done, you can upload your podcast onto iTunes and other media sharing sites. It is important to remember that not all listeners will be using the same audio quality so it is best practice to create different files for each section of the episode outline in order to accommodate lower sound levels .

When people download a podcast, they are listening with no background noise or  distractions so you want to make sure they hear the best quality possible. 

Interviewee Insights

When coming up with an episode outline, it is also important to consider what your interviewee’s insights will be into the topic. 

For example: if you are creating a podcast on how people can start their own business, list out topics that they may bring up during the recording session (and already have planned answers for). This allows them  to feel more comfortable and engaged in the discussion as if they are an expert on the topic.

When it comes to interviewing people, there is a specific way you can approach each one so that both parties come out feeling good about the experience. 

• Make sure your questions are open ended rather than closed
• Have a list of questions prepared but  don’t stick to the list
• Ask follow up questions when you are interested in more information on a specific topic 
• Interact with your interviewee, don’t be afraid of silence. Silence is not awkward if it’s brief and intentional rather than forced or uncomfortable. 
• It is important that after an episode recording session, both parties feel  comfortable with one another. We all know that a podcast is not only about the content but also the personality and rapport between both parties involved in its creation .
• This means it’s best to meet your interviewee(s) before recording so they can get to know you, especially if this will be their first time on a podcast or being interviewed for  a podcast. This builds trust and familiarity which is important when creating a successful interview or discussion that people will enjoy listening to.

When it comes to recording, you want the experience to be as natural as possible so try not to have any pre-conceived notions of how things should go during your preparation process because being in “the moment” allows  for more organic discussion.

If speaking by phone, make sure your recording device is positioned away from any appliances that may cause white noise such as an AC unit (and also position yourself on one end of the room).

Record your first episode 

The best business podcasts are always the ones that have great content and are delivered in a clear, concise way. When starting out it can be difficult to find this balance between being too casual or formal with your recording style, but here is how I would recommend approaching it:  

• Try to be natural but still professional, you are not on a chat show so don’t try too hard – Have your questions ready ahead of time 
• Make sure the topic is something that truly interests you or else it will come across through in your delivery and people won’t tune into future episodes because they aren’t interested in hearing  it 
• It is important to find your own style, don’t try too hard to be like other podcasters, just have fun with it and the listeners will enjoy it more. The best business podcasts are always the ones that have great content and are delivered in a clear, concise way. When starting out it can be difficult to  find this balance between being too casual or formal with your recording style, but here is how I would recommend approaching it: 
• Try to be natural but still professional, you are not on a chat show so don’t try too hard – Have your questions ready ahead of time 
• Make sure the topic is something that truly interests you or  else it will come across through in your delivery and people won’t tune into future episodes because they aren’t interested 
• It is important to find your own style, don’t try too hard to be like other podcasters, just have fun with it and the listeners will enjoy it more. Best business podcasts are always the ones that have great content

Monetize your podcast 

The best way to monetize your podcast is with affiliate  marketing.

Best business podcasts marketing 

There are a number of ways to monetize your podcast, but by far the most effective way is with affiliate marketing. Affiliate links allow you to give credit where it’s due while also providing an opportunity for listeners to support their favorite podcasters via commissions earned on sales generated from referrals through your unique  affiliate link. 

Software such as PodBean and BuzzBundle allow you to easily create and manage your affiliate links, which makes it a seamless process for listeners as the only thing they have to do is click on a link. 

They are easy to use, cost effective and best of all, do not require any hosting (unlike banner ads).

Types of Podcasts

Podcasts can be created in different ways. Some podcasts are free, while others require payment for every episode listened to. There are several factors you need to consider when deciding whether or not to create a free podcast or one that requires listeners to pay an affordable fee per month.

Free Podcast

Pros: Easier access and availability – Cons: May not be able to generate as much income without the support of sponsors and ads 

Paying Podcast

Pros: More opportunities for monetization (ads, donations, etc.) – Cons: Requires a larger audience in order to ensure continued growth. Best suited for those that already have or are expecting an increase in listenership .

Freemium Podcast

Pros: Combines the best of both worlds. There are still free episodes that can be downloaded while paying for an ad-free premium version is also available. Best suited for those that expect to have a large audience in order to generate enough income from ads and sponsorships.

Recommendation: Don’t forget about creating a blog post for your podcast. The majority of people will be searching for blogs related to the topics that you discuss in your episodes, so make sure to provide them with as much information as possible!

Promote your podcast

The best way to promote your podcast is through your networking channels. Get out there and talk about it. Your friends, family members and colleagues are likely already listening so share your episodes with them as often as possible! Social media channels such as Facebook , Instagram, Twitter and Reddit.

Another tip is to improve your SEO. There are many ways to optimize your podcast for search engines. Every episode should have a description that is at least 300 words long and contain relevant keywords, which will improve their ranking on Google . You can also add in an image with each post/episode to further boost your results on the  search engine. Best business podcasts are always the ones that have great content!

SEO is also important when it comes to finding new listeners for your podcast through other channels, such as iTunes and Google Play . You should aim to include keywords in tags relevant to what you are discussing within each episode so that they appear  more prominently within search results.

Podcast Best Practices 

• Get to know your audience before getting started 
• Make sure that what you are recording is valuable or entertaining for others 
• Create an intro song with music, sound effects, and  a voice recording 
• Be consistent with your style and format of the podcast 
• Make sure that you have a host or speakers to go on for long periods of time 
• Have someone edit the audio so it is crisp, audible, and free from any background noise. 

Podcasting Do’s And Don’ts

• Avoid putting each episode on a separate page. 
• The ideal length for podcasts is 20 to 45 minutes, since most people don’t have the time or patience to listen to long episodes.
• Make sure your audio levels are not too low or high with proper noise reduction filters that allow listeners with different devices and speeds  to listen to your podcast.
• Keep it interesting and don’t be boring! 
• Make sure that you are aware of copyright laws for music or other audio material used in your show, but also pay attention not to use copyrighted content without the owner’s permission.

In Conclusion

So there you have it, some more excellent business podcasts you can learn from.

There’s something here for everyone, no matter what your niche or interests may be. We all know that listening to others is an effective way to spend your time. Podcasts allow you to easily learn from others through their audio content (and sometimes video).

Good luck being inspired by the best business podcasts and becoming a business podcasting expert.

References

1. Shim, J. P., Shropshire, J., Park, S., Harris, H., Campbell, N. (2007). Podcasting For E‐learning, Communication, and Delivery. Industrial Management &Amp; Data Systems, 4(107), 587-600. https://doi.org/10.1108/02635570710740715
2. Sellas, T. (2012). A Two-dimensional Approach To the Study Of Podcasting In Spanish Talk Radio Stations. Radio Journal:International Studies in Broadcast &Amp; Audio Media, 1(10), 7-22. https://doi.org/10.1386/rjao.10.1.7_1
3. Malecki, S. L., Quinn, K. L., Zilbert, N. R., Razak, F., Ginsburg, S., Verma, A. A., … & Melvin, L. (2019). Understanding the Use And Perceived Impact Of A Medical Podcast: Qualitative Study. JMIR Medical Education, 2(5), e12901. https://doi.org/10.2196/12901
4. Sutton-Brady, C., Scott, K. M., Taylor, L. A., Carabetta, G., Clark, S. (2009). The Value Of Using Short-format Podcasts To Enhance Learning and Teaching. Research in Learning Technology, 3(17). https://doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v17i3.10878
5. Malecki, S. L., Quinn, K. L., Zilbert, N. R., Razak, F., Ginsburg, S., Verma, A. A., … & Melvin, L. (2019). Understanding the Use And Perceived Impact Of A Medical Podcast: Qualitative Study. JMIR Medical Education, 2(5), e12901. https://doi.org/10.2196/12901
6. Shim, J. P., Shropshire, J., Park, S., Harris, H., Campbell, N. (2007). Podcasting For E‐learning, Communication, and Delivery. Industrial Management &Amp; Data Systems, 4(107), 587-600. https://doi.org/10.1108/02635570710740715
7. Armstrong, G. R., Tucker, J. M., Massad, V. J. (2009). Interviewing the Experts: Student Produced Podcast. Journal of Information Technology Education: Innovations in Practice, (8), 079-090. https://doi.org/10.28945/174
8. Malecki, S. L., Quinn, K. L., Zilbert, N. R., Razak, F., Ginsburg, S., Verma, A. A., … & Melvin, L. (2019). Understanding the Use And Perceived Impact Of A Medical Podcast: Qualitative Study. JMIR Medical Education, 2(5), e12901. https://doi.org/10.2196/12901
9. Malecki, S. L., Quinn, K. L., Zilbert, N. R., Razak, F., Ginsburg, S., Verma, A. A., … & Melvin, L. (2019). Understanding the Use And Perceived Impact Of A Medical Podcast: Qualitative Study. JMIR Medical Education, 2(5), e12901. https://doi.org/10.2196/12901
10. Malecki, S. L., Quinn, K. L., Zilbert, N. R., Razak, F., Ginsburg, S., Verma, A. A., … & Melvin, L. (2019). Understanding the Use And Perceived Impact Of A Medical Podcast: Qualitative Study. JMIR Medical Education, 2(5), e12901. https://doi.org/10.2196/12901
11. Malecki, S. L., Quinn, K. L., Zilbert, N. R., Razak, F., Ginsburg, S., Verma, A. A., … & Melvin, L. (2019). Understanding the Use And Perceived Impact Of A Medical Podcast: Qualitative Study. JMIR Medical Education, 2(5), e12901. https://doi.org/10.2196/12901
12. Sellas, T. (2012). A Two-dimensional Approach To the Study Of Podcasting In Spanish Talk Radio Stations. Radio Journal:International Studies in Broadcast &Amp; Audio Media, 1(10), 7-22. https://doi.org/10.1386/rjao.10.1.7_1
13. Cheng, T., Li, Y., Lin, Y., CHIH, H. (2020). Does the Fit Of Managerial Ability With Firm Strategy Matters On Firm Performance. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 4(7), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no4.9.