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
  • Vizio: William Wang

    Vizio: William Wang
    Apr 14 2025

    When Wiliam Wang started selling flat-screen TV’s, he used a winning playbook: partner with an efficient manufacturer, cut out the middlemen, and price your product as low as you can. William used a similar strategy at his first company–making computer monitors–and he built it into a multimillion dollar business. But he wound up mismanaging it into the ground, and spent years working to pay off millions of dollars in debt. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash, William embarked on a new venture, Vizio, and returned to his “cut-out-the-middlemen” playbook to sell one of the world’s first internet-connected televisions. Today, Vizio is one of the top-selling TV’s in the US, and in 2024, sold to Walmart for $2.3 billion.


    This episode was produced by J.C. Howard, with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

    Edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Alex Cheng.


    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

    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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    58 mins
  • Advice Line with Peter Rahal of RXBAR

    Advice Line with Peter Rahal of RXBAR
    Apr 10 2025

    RXBAR co-founder Peter Rahal joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders about positioning new products in competitive markets. Plus, Peter’s take on getting back in the game with his newest venture, David Protein.


    First we meet Kristi from Calgary, who’s considering digital ads as her women’s supplements brand maxes out on organic growth. Then Erik from Los Angeles, who’s wondering if Amazon is a necessary channel for his exercise accessories. And April from New York, who’s hoping to find the right messaging for her line of cocktail mixers.


    Thank you to the founders of Inner Wellth, SquatWedgiez, and Cheeky Cocktails 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 RXBAR's founding story as told by Peter in a special live episode of How I Built This from 2018.


    This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Cena Loffredo.


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

    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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    43 mins
  • Title Nine: Missy Park (October 2021)

    Title Nine: Missy Park (October 2021)
    Apr 7 2025

    As a college basketball player, Missy Park was lucky to grow up during the early era of Title IX, the 1972 law that created new opportunities for young women in sports. But in the years before Lululemon and Athleta, activewear for women was either ill-fitting or non-existent. So in 1989—with little experience in apparel or retail—Missy launched a female version of Nike. She sent out a mail-order catalog of running shorts, tights, and (at the last minute) sports bras, naming her company for the law that had opened doors for her to compete. Over the years, Title Nine kept "hitting singles," eventually growing into a $100 million business without ever taking outside investment. Today, Missy remains the sole owner.

    This episode was produced by J.C. Howard with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant with research by Claire Murashima.

    You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com. 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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    1 hr and 20 mins
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What listeners say about How I Built This with Guy Raz

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Profile Image for Kartik

awesome

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

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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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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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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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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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Profile Image for Pedro Garcia

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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