Chances are, you spend a fair amount of time every day doing things like commuting, driving, washing dishes, folding laundry—tasks that are necessary, but that also make it difficult to read up on ways to better your business. However, this also means you have anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours that could be spent learning from business professionals without even having to stop what you’re doing. How is this possible? Because of podcasts.
Podcasts give you the opportunity to become an expert on everything from finance to pop culture all without pausing your everyday life. And fortunately for you, there are tons of great podcasts all about how to build a successful business. Here are our top five can’t-miss podcasts for small business owners:
What it is: Currently #1 on iTunes Business, How I Built This is produced by NPR and features interviews with entrepreneurs and innovators about the companies, movements, and products they built, as well as their successes and failures along the way.
Why you’ll love it: It’s fascinating to hear the stories behind some of your favorite companies and inspiring to learn about the struggles it took to get them off the ground. Whether you’re already building your business or still in the dreaming stage, this podcast is a refreshing take on what it’s really like to be an entrepreneur.
Start with: “Airbnb—Joe Gebbia”
What it is: If you’re still working your less-than-idyllic 9 to 5 while building your business on the side, this podcast is for you. Cathy Heller interviews all types of creatives, from fashion designers to comedians and chefs, who built a business doing what they love.
Why you’ll love it: This podcast will inspire you to take the next step to quit your day job and start doing what you love full time. In each of her weekly shows, Cathy pinpoints the strategies each creative used to turn their passion into profit and how you can do the same.
Start with: “Turning Your Dream Job into a Reality”
What it is: Ever wanted to be a better networker without having to, you know, go to awkward networking events? This podcast is your opportunity to learn how to create better connections and become a better entrepreneur with a little help from social science and cognitive psychology.
Why you’ll love it: Hosts AJ and Jonny (previously Jordan) interview top scientists, best-selling authors, and successful entrepreneurs to learn the secrets of what makes them so good with people. The best part? The secrets you learn can be applied to any type of relationship in your life, whether it’s with your customers and investors, or your significant other.
Start with: “Daniel Pink | To Sell is Human”
What it is: The StartUp Podcast is an interview-based show about what it’s really like to build a business from the ground up. The podcast features founders of successful tech companies who discuss what it really takes to found the next darling of Silicon Valley.
Start with: “Workers”
What it is: You can have the best idea in the world, but if you don’t know how to market your idea, you’ll never get it off the ground. In this podcast, Russel Brunson shares how he built his multimillion-dollar-a-month startup, SaaS, and how to apply the lessons he’s learned to marketing your own business.
Why you’ll love it: Each episode is only about 15 minutes, meaning you can get great new ideas for how to market your idea on your way to work. Marketing in Your Car covers all aspects of getting your name out there, from marketing funnels to website traffic.
Start with: “My 5 “Hail Mary’ Passes to 3x Revenue”
Tim is Founder and CEO of ZipBooks. He keeps his desk really nice and neat.