From car rides and train commutes to pool-side lounging and outdoor exercising, listening to podcasts can be the ultimate time-filler for small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to stay ahead of their game.
As of March of this year, 42 million Americans listen to podcasts weekly (that's 15 percent of the total U.S. population), and for comparison, only three percent of Americans go to the movies weekly. In terms of overall listeners, 40 percent of Americans that are 12 years or older have downloaded and listened to a podcast at some point in their lives.
Whether you're entirely new to podcasts, or find yourself seeking recommendations from your friends and colleagues, it often proves difficult to find high-quality episodes that are relevant to you and your business.
With 2018 right around the corner, here are 12 podcasts that small business owners and solopreneurs should download and listen to before the year ends.
Whether you're entirely new to podcasts, or find yourself seeking recommendations from your friends and colleagues, it often proves difficult to find high-quality episodes that are relevant to you and your business.
With 2018 right around the corner, here are 12 podcasts that small business owners and solopreneurs should download and listen to before the year ends.
1. Something You Should Know (iTunes | Website)
Sometimes all it takes is one juicy fact or little nugget of wisdom to change your life or business. That's what Mike Carruthers believes is the purpose of his podcast and radio show, "Something You Should Know." In each episode, he interviews top experts in their field to shine a spotlight on key information and advice to help you save time, make more money, advance your career and improve your relationships to get more out of life.
Recommended Episode: #29 - "Great Advice on How to Succeed from a Self-Made Billionaire" (Released on November 28, 2016)
Recommended Episode: #29 - "Great Advice on How to Succeed from a Self-Made Billionaire" (Released on November 28, 2016)
2. Mixergy (iTunes | Website)
In over 1,000 interviews, Andrew Warner asks uncomfortable questions to dig deep into the successes and failures of the most renowned business founders and thought leaders. This podcast is especially useful if you are an entrepreneur crafting your next venture or thinking about embarking on the startup journey.
Recommended Episode: #1500 - "How Testlio brought the power of a marketplace to the product testing space" (Released on September 25, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #1500 - "How Testlio brought the power of a marketplace to the product testing space" (Released on September 25, 2017)
3. Business Insanity Talk Radio (iTunes | Website)
Barry Moltz gets small businesses unstuck. He has founded and run small businesses for more than 15 years and knows some of the formulas for taking companies to the next level. This radio-style show focuses on the craziness of small business, what makes it exciting, interesting and totally unpredictable.
Recommended Episode: #430 - "Tim Sanders Talks Dealstorming: How to Solve Your Toughest Sales Challenges" (Released on May 19, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #430 - "Tim Sanders Talks Dealstorming: How to Solve Your Toughest Sales Challenges" (Released on May 19, 2017)
4. One on One Interviews (iTunes)
Small Business Trends, an award-winning online publication for small business owners and the people who interact with them, produces this interview-style podcast to give listeners an inside look from leading voices at companies large and small, from corporate decision-makers to owners of small businesses.
Recommended Episode: #19 -"Ronan Galvin of Kickstagram: Marketing Automation Led to 282% Increase in Revenue in Eight Months" (Released on May 18, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #19 -"Ronan Galvin of Kickstagram: Marketing Automation Led to 282% Increase in Revenue in Eight Months" (Released on May 18, 2017)
5. HBR IdeaCast (iTunes)
This weekly podcast from Harvard Business Review features leading thinkers in business, management, marketing and finance. While many of the IdeaCast episodes have a marketing strategy focus, small business owners and solopreneurs can find immense value from listening.
Recommended Episode: #595 -"Transcending Either-Or Decision Making" (Released on September 21, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #595 -"Transcending Either-Or Decision Making" (Released on September 21, 2017)
6. From Scratch (iTunes | Website)
This weekly show from NPR explores the entrepreneurial life with leading pioneers from the business world, the social sector and the arts. From Scratch aims to personalize the lives of entrepreneurs through first-hand interviews of the launching process, as well as transparent dialogue on inspiration, setbacks, helpful allies and breakthrough moments.
Recommended Episode: #19 - "Tristan Walker, Founder Of Walker & Company" (Released on April 15, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #19 - "Tristan Walker, Founder Of Walker & Company" (Released on April 15, 2017)
7. The Reboot Podcast (iTunes | Website)
Small business owners experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and The Reboot Podcast understands this as well. This podcast showcases the heart and soul, the wins and losses, the ups and downs of startup leadership and small businesses from the perspective of entrepreneurs, CEOs and startup leaders.
Recommended Episode: #64 - "Whole Humans Make Better Leaders - with Nancy Lublin & Jerry Colonna" (Released on July 13, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #64 - "Whole Humans Make Better Leaders - with Nancy Lublin & Jerry Colonna" (Released on July 13, 2017)
8. Zen Founder: Startup. Family. Life (iTunes | Website)
This weekly show covers small businesses, entrepreneurship and how to stay sane while starting up. Rob is a serial entrepreneur with expertise in email marketing software, and Sherry is a psychologist with expertise in trauma work. In each episode, the dynamic couple shares various practices and tips for maintaining a clear and healthy entrepreneurial mind and body.
Recommended Episode: #133 - "Lessons of Growth and Change" (Released on September 01, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #133 - "Lessons of Growth and Change" (Released on September 01, 2017)
9. The Owner's Mind with Chris Brogan (iTunes)
Looking to grow your venture and develop as a true business owner? Learn from fellow business owners in this show hosted by Chris Brogan of Owner Magazine. Chris sits down with visionary leaders and small business owners to chat about a wide range of topics to help business owners excel, regardless of industry.
Recommended Episode: #113 - "PayPal and Small Business w/ Amit Mathradas" (Released on August 23, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #113 - "PayPal and Small Business w/ Amit Mathradas" (Released on August 23, 2017)
10. Unemployable (iTunes | Website)
This podcast gives you actionable strategies straight from the mouths and minds of elite freelancers, consultants, coaches and entrepreneurs. Brian Clark, an entrepreneur with eight successful businesses under his belt, hosts this podcast and draws upon his own evolution from flying solo to CEO to share his top lessons and core insights.
Recommended Episode: #13 - "3 Conversion Optimization Tactics that Work, with Talia Wolf" (Released on March 28, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #13 - "3 Conversion Optimization Tactics that Work, with Talia Wolf" (Released on March 28, 2017)
11. Growth Everywhere (iTunes | Website)
This weekly interview series with entrepreneurs and marketers dives into the latest trends and news in digital marketing and entrepreneurship. Listeners get actionable strategies and tactics on how to grow their business and avoid common mistakes along the startup journey.
Recommended Episode: #196 - "How Chris Coyier Grew CSS-Tricks to 7M Page Views/Month, 300K Followers and 24K Email Subscribers" (Released on September 26, 2017)
Recommended Episode: #196 - "How Chris Coyier Grew CSS-Tricks to 7M Page Views/Month, 300K Followers and 24K Email Subscribers" (Released on September 26, 2017)
12. Hack To Start (iTunes | Website)
If you crave business success and want to know the insider secrets to get there, this podcast is for you. Hack to Start focuses on innovative people and the creative ways they achieve success featuring weekly interviews with founders, creators and influencers on how they started, hacked and hustled their way to the top.
Recommended Episode: #162 - "John Doherty, Founder, Credo" (Released on August 22, 2017)
Every year, it feels like September through December is a chaotic time for business owners. Summer is over, the busy season is underway and everyone becomes hyper-focused on finishing the year strong. For the small business owners and solopreneurs that might need that extra boost of energy, inspiration or piece of advice, any of these podcasts is sure to help close out 2017 on a positive note.
Recommended Episode: #162 - "John Doherty, Founder, Credo" (Released on August 22, 2017)
Every year, it feels like September through December is a chaotic time for business owners. Summer is over, the busy season is underway and everyone becomes hyper-focused on finishing the year strong. For the small business owners and solopreneurs that might need that extra boost of energy, inspiration or piece of advice, any of these podcasts is sure to help close out 2017 on a positive note.
Tyler Becker Tyler is a NYC-based writer, content marketer, and digital strategist with expertise in social media, consumer products, mobile apps and technology.
