Startups are hard.  As a first-time founder myself, I feel like I can tell you that. ( In fact, it’s my rule to tell you…) For me, I love the process and the grind.  It’s the learning and growing that motivates me.  So, I’m always looking to learn from cool, smart leaders — and podcasts make that infinitely easier.  I get all their worldly wisdom, and I don’t even need to buy them a beer!  🍻

With that, here are nine awesome podcasts I wish had been around when I was founding SoapBox. 

This podcast has gone through a number of evolutions.  It started as a documentary-style look at the challenges of starting a business, with the entire first season dedicated to the founding of the podcast’s parent company, Gimlet Media (episode one includes the founder’s extremely awkward pitch to Chris Sacca).  Now, seven years later, the topics range more — for example, season seven is following venture capitalist Arlan Hamilton. 

Episode to try:

“Diversification of Worry” (Season 4, Episode 1) — a surprisingly candid look at the growing pains at Gimlet Media as it continues to expand rapidly.