Top 5 business podcasts you should be listening to
From actionable business guidance to inspirational success stories, there’s a lot to be gained from plugging into one of our podcast recommendations
In April, a report from Fast Company found more than 515,000 active shows and 18.5 million episodes available on iTunes, and that number has been steadily climbing since
Podcasts have been causing a lot of noise lately – excuse the pun. According to Nielsen’s podcast insights for Q1 2018, more than 23 million adults in the US have listened to a podcast in the past month, an increase of 157 percent since 2014.
Back in April, an article by Fast Company found more than 525,000 active shows and 18.5 million episodes available on iTunes, and that number has been steadily climbing since.
The increased volume of shows brings greater variety, too. From film reviews to parenting advice, fictional stories to up-to-the-minute daily news, there’s a podcast to suit everyone, with new episodes released on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Business-savvy listeners certainly have the pick of the bunch, though. The New Economy rounds up the top podcasts for businesspeople, covering leadership, strategy and success. Whether you’re a FTSE 100 CEO or a budding entrepreneur, there’s something to inspire any listener.
HBR IdeaCast
The grandfather of business podcasts, Harvard Business Review’s IdeaCast has more than 600 accessible episodes, each featuring an interview with a leading thinker in business or management. Expect big names such as Bill Clinton and Apple’s Eric Schmidt, alongside academics, CEOs and consultants from myriad industries.
Host Sarah Green Carmichael, Executive Editor at Harvard Business Review, leads the discussion of topics such as the role of ego in leadership and workplace respect, as well as contemporary issues such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Duration: around 25 minutes.
Business Daily is essential daily listening for those seeking balanced and insightful commentary on global business issues
Ctrl Alt Delete
Launched in 2016 by media mogul Emma Gannon, Ctrl Alt Delete has amassed a host of accolades that include a Webby nomination and inclusion in the Times’ list of the 50 best podcasts. The podcast began with Gannon interviewing guests about their relationship with the internet, but quickly spilled into discussions of the media industry, mental health in the workplace, creativity, identity and more.
The series offers insight into the minds of some of the most important players in media, as well as the daily challenges faced by those working within the industry, from the underrepresentation of women of colour to the difficulty of maintaining originality.
Duration: around 30 minutes.
Business Daily
The BBC is renowned for covering domestic and global stories in an informative yet accessible manner, and this podcast, which is part of BBC World Service’s offering, is no exception. New episodes are released daily and cover a wide range of news stories and debates, from land rights in Africa to India’s tea crisis.
It’s essential daily listening for those seeking balanced and insightful commentary on global business issues.
Duration: 17 minutes.
The Extraordinary Business Book Club
Hosted by publisher Alison Jones, this podcast provides a bite-sized approach to business literature. It’s designed to appeal to readers and writers, so expect plenty of insight from authors on the writing and research process – useful if you’re considering penning your own business bible.
Jones draws on the works of her guests to deliver pragmatic advice that listeners can take into their own workplace, including guidance on establishing professional connections, collaborating effectively and transforming business culture.
Duration: around 30 minutes.
Generation XX
Until now, major news channels such as France Inter and France Culture have dominated France’s podcast offering, but change is afoot, and independent podcast creators are starting to gain traction. Siham Jibril is one such creator; she started Generation XX to tell the stories of enterprising, entrepreneurial women embarking upon their own business journeys.
Since launching in 2017, Jibril has welcomed internationally renowned businesswomen including Birchbox founder Mathilde Lacombe and start-up entrepreneur Emmanuelle Brizay onto the show. Each episode showcases the businesses these women have built.
Duration: around 45 minutes.
