How I Built This with Guy Raz

By: Guy Raz | Wondery
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  • Summary

  • Guy Raz interviews the world’s best-known entrepreneurs to learn how they built their iconic brands. In each episode, founders reveal deep, intimate moments of doubt and failure, and share insights on their eventual success. How I Built This is a master-class on innovation, creativity, leadership and how to navigate challenges of all kinds.

    New episodes release on Mondays and Thursdays. Listen to How I Built This on the Wondery App or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/how-i-built-this now.

    Get your How I Built This merch at WonderyShop.com/HowIBuiltThis.
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Economics
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Episodes
  • Whisker/Litter-Robot: Brad Baxter

    Whisker/Litter-Robot: Brad Baxter
    May 5 2025

    Brad Baxter sidelined a promising career in the car industry to build a better cat litter box – an undertaking that embarrassed his kids and eventually prompted his wife to ask "what’s the endgame here?” That endgame turned out to be Litter-Robot, an automated self-cleaning litter-remover that helped propel Brad’s company, Whisker, to roughly $300 million in sales this year.

    This episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant with research by Carla Esteves. Our engineers were Patrick Murray and Kwesi Lee.

    You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com or on Substack.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Advice Line with Luis von Ahn of Duolingo

    Advice Line with Luis von Ahn of Duolingo
    May 1 2025

    Duolingo co-founder Luis von Ahn joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Luis shares insights on how data can help entrepreneurs understand what their customers really want.

    First, Steph in Chicago wonders how to manage expansion opportunities for her art-filled vending machines. Then Blair from Atlanta discusses his challenge of selecting which products to focus on with his tech accessories brand. And finally, Stephanie in Indiana considers the best way to fund more employees for her growing business designing living plant walls.

    Thank you to the founders Good Things Vending, Bair, and Naturspire for being a part of our show.

    If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.

    And be sure to listen to Duolingo’s founding story as told by Luis on the show in 2020.

    This episode was produced by Katherine Sypher with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Casey Herman. Our audio engineer was Cena Loffredo.

    You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com and on Substack.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    47 mins
  • Hexclad: Danny Winer

    Hexclad: Danny Winer
    Apr 28 2025

    Cookware is a $73 billion global industry - awash in all kinds of pots and pans. Like, if you’ve ever cooked scrambled eggs, you've probably used a non-stick frying pan. They’re inexpensive and everywhere. But they’ve been dogged by complaints: many can’t handle high heat, like broiling or searing, and they scratch easily. So, when Danny Winer came across a new non-stick technology at a trade show overseas, he jumped on it, co-founding Hexclad with a buddy. Danny was convinced it could be adapted to the U.S. market - and be a hit. He was right! In just under ten years, Hexclad grew into a $500 million company.

    This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson, with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Andrea Bruce, with research help from Katherine Sypher. Our engineers were Jimmy Keeley and Gilly Moon.

    You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com. Sign up for Guy’s free newsletter at guyraz.com or on Substack.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
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What listeners say about How I Built This with Guy Raz

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Profile Image for Shooshoo

Ingenious

The perfect podcast for every inventor, self-starter, and visionary. It’s isolating when you see things others don’t, that are practical and useful. But it’s a whole hecka of a lot more difficult getting it done than people think. Doubly so for the “easy” gadgets. Thank you Guy!

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Profile Image for Shiloh

THE TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT...

I loved this as it educated me on what the media chose not to inform me of! Also for me put to rest the American government did it conspiracy theory crap"
Impressed when I can be taught things I felt I knew a great deal about from all the coverage I trusted (no longer have ANY TRUST IN ANY NEWS ).
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK !!!!

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I absolutely loved this Story

I absolutely loved every second of this story. The passion and amazing work ethic that she has is the reason why she has all these amazing breakthroughs in her life? I cannot recommend you listen to this story enough. I downloaded it to my phone because I'm going to listen to it again right now. Thank you for taking the time to interview this great woman, and thank you so much Christina for sharing your story. It's beyond inspiring!

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awesome

an episode much awaited. the man behind machine revealing the creation and sustenance of audible, a product we love ♥

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I can't get enough!

Love listening to these stories of entrepreneurs. The struggles before the success that we don't see!

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most sad when I'm done with the newest episodes

I've been listening to Guy for the past couple of years, now. Although I fall off at times. I'm ahead happy to come back and find the new interviews that he and the NPR team has put together. The podcast enlightens my inner entrepreneur and fills me with inspiration.

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GREAT ... inspirational

really unique ... his tear memory moments were powerful and translated directly to the listener. yes, I was one, but I am sure only one. this guy is real and smart

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Fascinating !

Inspiring and really interesting! I enjoyed hearing this interview about the funding and founding of Beta.

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great: inspiring and insightful

having shared a similar journey it was great to hear validation from a team who followed their bliss and exited well

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Entrepreneur success story ... great execution

loved imagining his story unfolding and becoming reality with steps that can be emulated.... obviously he created and saw and utilized some great serendipity happenings

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