Personal Growth for Business Owners: Podcasts

There is often a lot of “dead time” that is wasted throughout your day, through commuting to and from work, cleaning the house or working out. Podcasts are a great way to fill in this time with interesting stories or tips related to your interests, hobbies, or career. There are podcasts on every topic ranging from news and politics, arts, comedy, business and more. There are hundreds of podcasts to subscribe and listen to regarding being a small business owner, working in the restaurant and bar industry, and marketing. Here are four podcasts to inspire you and present the opportunity for personal and professional growth throughout your day.

Duct Tape Marketing

Duct Tape Marketing publishes a podcast each week with a well-known industry expert to discuss a topic related to small businesses. Topics include marketing, financing tips and more! Host John Jantsch has been a small business marketing expert for many years. He often shares trends and advice for small business audiences. All his shows are less than 45 minutes and are very pragmatic. You will finish the episode learning something new in a short amount of time. 

How I Built This 

Hosted by longtime NPR correspondent Guy Raz, “How I Built This” tells the story of the creation of innovative businesses, told directly from the founders. Big names in business share their beliefs, core business strategies, and the nitty-gritty of how they built their companies. These inspiring episodes are usually about an hour long, and every story displays the “hustle, perseverance, and the sheer joy of creating something ... from nothing.”

The Small Business Radio Show

Host Barry Moltz has been in the industry for 15 years and said on his show they talk about “the craziness of small business.” He says, “it’s that craziness that actually makes it exciting, interesting and totally unpredictable.” Topics covered on “The Small Business Radio Show” include the relationship between sales and marketing, resolving issues and building a strong company culture, and the intersection between small businesses and government/politics.

Restaurant Unstoppable

After realizing there was a lack of restaurant focused podcasts, host Eric Cacciatore created “Restaurant Unstoppable,” a podcast aimed to “empower independent restaurant owners/operators with the tools, knowledge, and attitude to happily and successfully live out their purpose and passion.” If you’re looking for a mix of information about restaurant marketing, branding, or leadership mixed with chef interviews and tips, this is the show for you!

This is just a short list of the resources available to you! What’s great about podcasts is that you don’t have to listen to every show every week. Some weeks they may cover topics or interview guests you’re not interested in. You can go back and listen to old episodes, or you can choose to skip listening that week.

As a business owner, it is critical to keep researching and learning about your industry to grow, get new ideas, and better manage your current business. It may seem like there are never enough hours in the day, but podcasts are a great way to get the information you need without wasting time.