The Best New Business Podcast Right Now – February 2025
Dive into the world of business with this insightful podcast series, exploring everything from the rise of AI to the intricacies of small business acquisition. Each episode features captivating stories, expert insights, and thought-provoking discussions on topics that shape the business landscape. From the impact of DeepSeek on the AI industry to the legal battle surrounding the San Jose shipwreck, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the forces driving innovation, disruption, and financial markets. Tune in to learn from entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders, and discover the strategies and insights you need to navigate the ever-evolving world of business.
The 10 Best Business episodes
How DeepSeek changed the market’s mind
The podcast explores the impact of DeepSeek, a new AI model, on the AI landscape, including its potential to disrupt the market and its implications for companies like Nvidia and Constellation Energy.
This podcast delves into the “Monday AI Apocalypse,” a significant market fluctuation triggered by the emergence of DeepSeek, a new AI model developed by a Chinese hedge fund subsidiary. DeepSeek’s alleged high performance and efficiency, achieved at a fraction of the cost of other AI models, has shaken the AI landscape. The podcast examines the impact of DeepSeek on various tech companies, including Nvidia, whose stock price declined as the market questioned its dominance in the AI chip market, and Constellation Energy, which experienced a drop in its stock price due to investor reevaluation of the energy demands of the AI industry. The podcast also explores the technical aspects of DeepSeek, comparing its capabilities and efficiency to other AI models, with insights from Leandro Fonvera, head of research at Hugging Face, an AI sharing platform. The podcast highlights the potential disruption DeepSeek poses to the AI industry, suggesting that powerful AI models may become more accessible and affordable, potentially democratizing the field.
How the scratch off lottery changed America
This podcast explores the invention and rise of the scratch ticket, highlighting its impact on the lottery industry and the shift from illegal gambling to a ubiquitous and aggressive industry.
This podcast delves into the fascinating story of the scratch ticket, tracing its origins from a board game to its widespread adoption as a major revenue source for state lotteries. The episode begins by exploring the allure of lottery gambling, exemplified by a mechanic who spends hundreds of dollars on scratch tickets daily. It then dives into the invention of the scratch ticket by John Koza, who faced skepticism and challenges from state lotteries and organized crime. The podcast highlights the role of organized crime in the early days of state lotteries and how the testimony of Mafia informant Vincent Teresa influenced the development of legal gambling. The episode then focuses on the development of Scientific Games, founded by John Koza and Dan Bauer, and their successful pitch of the scratch ticket design to the Massachusetts Lottery. The podcast details the crucial demonstration by John Koza, using a can of Fresca, that exposed the security flaws in their competitor’s design, ultimately leading to the adoption of the scratch ticket. The episode concludes by reflecting on the legacy of the scratch ticket, emphasizing its impact on the lottery industry and the rise of instant gambling.
The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze
This episode of Planet Money explores the “Secure Payment System” and how the Daily Treasury Statement provides transparency into federal spending, highlighting the importance of public access to government financial data.
This episode of Planet Money delves into the “Secure Payment System,” the primary channel through which the US federal government makes payments. The episode focuses on the recent confusion surrounding federal spending freezes and unfreezes, and how a seemingly obscure document, the Daily Treasury Statement (DTS), can provide clarity. The DTS, a publicly available document, details the daily flow of money through the federal government’s “money pipe,” offering insights into federal spending patterns. The episode explains the historical context of the DTS, highlighting the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, which mandated the public display of federal spending data online. The episode then describes how the Brookings Institution, led by Lauren Bauer, utilized the DTS to create a real-time tracker of federal spending. This tool, built using an API, allows users to visualize the flow of funds to various government agencies and programs. The episode explores three use cases of the money pipe tracker: monitoring SNAP payments, tracking grant funding for research, and assessing the reliability of interest payments on US Treasury securities. The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of public access to government financial data. Lauren Bauer argues that even if the DTS were to be removed from public view, the act of doing so would itself highlight the significance of this information.
The ‘Crypto Wizard’ vs. Nigeria
This podcast tells the story of Tigrin Gambarian, a former IRS investigator detained in Nigeria for eight months due to his work with Binance, highlighting the complexities of cryptocurrency, state power, and global finance.
This podcast delves into the story of Tigrin Gambarian, a former IRS investigator and global head of intelligence at Binance, who was detained in Nigeria for eight months. The episode explores the intersection of cryptocurrency, state power, and the complexities of global finance. Tigrin’s expertise in cryptocurrency investigations and his role at Binance made him a legend in the field, but his trip to Nigeria to meet with government officials turned into a detention when Nigerian authorities accused Binance of economic sabotage and demanded fines and user data. The US Justice Department’s case against Binance, involving charges of money laundering and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, may have influenced Nigerian officials’ actions. Tigrin and his colleague Nadim were detained in a safe house, but Nadim escaped, leaving Tigrin alone to face the Nigerian government. Tigrin was officially charged with tax evasion and money laundering and transferred to Kuzha prison, where he faced harsh conditions and limited access to medical care. The Nigerian government portrayed him as a billionaire crook responsible for the country’s economic woes. Tigrin’s health deteriorated, and his case gained international attention. The US government exerted diplomatic pressure on Nigeria, leading to Tigrin’s release on humanitarian grounds. He returned to the US and continues to work at Binance. The episode concludes with Tigrin’s reflections on his experience and the impact of his detention on his life and career. It discusses the future of Binance’s relationship with Nigeria and the broader implications of cryptocurrency in developing countries.
The fight for a legendary shipwreck’s treasure
The discovery of the San Jose shipwreck off the Colombian coast has sparked a complex legal battle over ownership, with claims from Colombia, Spain, indigenous groups, and American businessmen, raising ethical questions about historical artifacts, colonialism, and cultural heritage.
This episode of Planet Money delves into the intricate legal battle surrounding the San Jose shipwreck, a 300-year-old Spanish galleon discovered off the coast of Colombia. The ship, estimated to hold billions of dollars worth of treasure, has attracted claims from various parties, each with compelling arguments. Colombia, based on the “finders keepers” principle, asserts ownership due to the ship’s discovery within their territorial waters and its abandonment for centuries. They plan to salvage the ship and establish a museum to showcase its historical significance. Spain, however, claims ownership based on the ship’s historical significance as a Spanish warship. They argue that the San Jose was never abandoned and falls under their jurisdiction due to sovereign immunity, emphasizing the ship’s historical and archaeological value. The Kara-Kara Nation, an indigenous group from Bolivia, claims ownership of the silver and gold aboard the San Jose, arguing that it was mined from their land during Spanish colonialism. They seek recognition of their historical claim and potential financial compensation for the exploitation of their resources. Adding another layer of complexity, the Sea Search Armada, a group of American businessmen, claims a 50% share of the treasure based on their discovery of the ship in the 1980s. They argue that Colombia violated their agreement by changing the laws governing the shipwreck and are pursuing their claim through international arbitration. The legal battle over the San Jose highlights the complexities of navigating historical claims and the legacy of colonialism. The ship’s discovery has sparked a debate about ownership, cultural heritage, and the ethical implications of exploiting historical artifacts.
The rise and fall of Long Term Capital Management
The collapse of Long-Term Capital Management in 1998 highlights the dangers of excessive leverage, the limitations of mathematical models, and the unpredictable nature of human behavior in financial markets.
Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM) was a hedge fund that used sophisticated mathematical models to identify and exploit arbitrage opportunities in financial markets. They achieved remarkable success in their early years, generating substantial profits for their investors. However, their reliance on leverage and their failure to account for the “human factor” ultimately led to their downfall in 1998. LTCM’s investment strategy involved finding underpriced assets and betting on discrepancies between similar assets. They used leverage to amplify their returns, but this also amplified their risks. Their success attracted a large amount of capital, and they became increasingly reliant on leverage to maintain their high returns. The Asian financial crisis and Russia’s default on its debt in 1998 created a volatile market environment that LTCM’s models had not predicted. The panic over Russia’s default led to a market sell-off that was amplified by other investors taking advantage of LTCM’s vulnerability. Their bets went wrong, and they started losing money rapidly. The Federal Reserve intervened to prevent a systemic collapse of the financial system by orchestrating a rescue effort in which 14 banks bought LTCM’s assets at a discount. This prevented a chaotic failure of the fund, but it also set a precedent for future bailouts. The collapse of LTCM highlights the dangers of excessive leverage and the limitations of mathematical models in predicting human behavior. It also raises questions about the role of government intervention in financial markets and the potential consequences of bailouts.
Can the president override Congress on spending?
This podcast explores the history and legality of presidential impoundment, focusing on President Trump’s attempts to freeze federal funds and the legal challenges he faces.
This podcast delves into the controversial practice of presidential impoundment, where a president withholds funds appropriated by Congress. The episode begins with a discussion of President Trump’s attempts to freeze federal funds for various programs, including USAID, state grants, and medical research. The legality of these actions is being debated in court, with judges blocking some of Trump’s efforts. The podcast explores the concept of impoundment and the Impoundment Control Act, which governs the president’s ability to withhold funds. The episode then delves into the history of impoundment, examining examples from past presidents, including Thomas Jefferson and Richard Nixon. It highlights the differences in scale and scope of impoundment practices, with Nixon’s actions leading to the passage of the Impoundment Control Act in 1974. The podcast then focuses on Trump’s second term and his renewed attempts to impound funds. It discusses the legal challenges to his actions, including lawsuits from non-profits, states, and health organizations. The episode explores the constitutional arguments surrounding impoundment and the role of the courts in resolving the issue. The podcast concludes with a summary of the key points discussed and a sponsor message.
#794: Brandon Sanderson on Building a Fiction Empire, Creating $40M+ Kickstarter Campaigns, Unbreakable Habits, The Art of World-Building, and The Science of Magic Systems
This podcast episode features a conversation with Brandon Sanderson, a New York Times best-selling author, discussing his writing process, productivity hacks, world-building techniques, and the evolution of his publishing career.
This podcast episode features a conversation with Brandon Sanderson, a New York Times best-selling author, discussing his writing process, productivity hacks, world-building techniques, and the evolution of his publishing career. Sanderson shares his unique memory, which he attributes to his focus on storytelling, and discusses his productivity hacks, including outsourcing tasks like signing book plates and using a system for managing his time. He also discusses the influence of his two-year mission in South Korea on his writing, highlighting the Korean language’s unique writing system and its impact on his understanding of culture and world-building. Sanderson explains the concept of conlang (constructed language) and how he approaches it in his writing, emphasizing the importance of narrative over world-building and sharing his method for creating languages that are relevant to the story without being overly complex. He also discusses his experience taking a creative writing class with David Farland, who taught him practical tools and strategies for publishing. Sanderson describes his creative writing class at Brigham Young University, where he encourages students to focus on developing good writing habits. He discusses the contradictory advice given by different authors, such as Stephen King and Orson Scott Card, and emphasizes the importance of finding what works best for each individual writer. Sanderson emphasizes the importance of consistency in writing and shares his approach to teaching writing habits. He encourages students to set goals, track their progress, and create a routine that supports their writing practice. Sanderson shares his daily writing goal of 2,000-2,500 words and discusses his writing process, which includes a significant amount of revision. He explains how his writing habits have evolved over time and how he prioritizes consistency over long writing sessions. Sanderson shares his personal story of becoming a writer, which began with a reluctant reading experience in eighth grade. He describes how a book called “Dragon’s Spine” sparked his passion for storytelling and led him to pursue a writing career. Sanderson discusses his approach to teaching narrative in his creative writing class. He emphasizes the importance of promise, progress, and payoff in storytelling and shares his theory on how these elements create engaging and satisfying narratives. Sanderson explains his world-building and character development process, which involves brainstorming ideas and developing concepts for settings, characters, and plots. He emphasizes the importance of letting characters evolve organically and how he uses a hybrid approach to outlining and gardening. Sanderson discusses his experience with writer’s block and the challenges of scrapping projects that have been in progress for a long time. He shares his mindset for overcoming these challenges, which involves recognizing that the writing process is a form of self-improvement and that it’s okay to throw away work that isn’t serving the story. Sanderson shares his daily writing schedule, which includes two four-hour blocks of writing time. He emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries between writing time and family time and how this has helped him maintain a healthy balance. Sanderson discusses his decision to build a company around his writing, driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to control his career. He shares his journey from writing his first six books to selling his first book and the challenges he faced in navigating the traditional publishing industry. Sanderson discusses the shift in the publishing industry with the rise of Amazon and the need for authors to control their own distribution and sales. He shares his experience with Amazon’s power over book sales and his decision to create his own direct-to-consumer sales model. Sanderson describes the evolution of his company, Dragon Steel, from its early days with a small team to its current state with a larger team and a warehouse. He shares his experience with crowdfunding and how it has helped him grow his business and connect with his fans. Sanderson discusses the success of his Kickstarter campaign, which raised millions of dollars for his projects. He highlights the importance of connecting with fans and building a community around his work. Sanderson discusses the challenges faced with the initial release of “Mistborn,” including a lack of “new author glow” and a poorly received paperback cover. They describe how a relaunch with a new cover and lower price point revitalized the series. Sanderson explores the concept of “magic systems” in fantasy writing, drawing parallels to the scientific revolution and the application of logic to magical phenomena. They introduce their “three laws of magic” and explain their approach to creating hard magic systems. Sanderson provides a detailed explanation of his “three laws of magic,” emphasizing the importance of reader understanding, constraints, and consistency in building compelling magic systems. They illustrate these laws with examples from various fantasy works. Sanderson discusses the “Third Law of Worldbuilding,” which emphasizes the importance of depth over breadth in worldbuilding. They explain that adding too many complex elements can dilute the impact of the story, and it’s better to focus on developing a few key elements thoroughly. Sanderson discusses the “Zero Flaw Rule,” which encourages writers to embrace imperfections and flaws in their stories. They argue that flaws can make characters more relatable and interesting, and that limitations can create compelling conflict.
Codie Sanchez | The Secret to Making Millions Without Starting From Scratch
This podcast explores the world of small business acquisition, featuring insights from Gary Vaynerchuk and Cody Sanchez on micro-private equity, personal branding, and the future of entrepreneurship.
This podcast episode features a conversation between Gary Vaynerchuk and Cody Sanchez, exploring the world of small business acquisition and entrepreneurship. GaryVee shares his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing his passion for building businesses and his belief in the power of personal branding. Cody, a reformed finance professional, discusses his transition to entrepreneurship and his expertise in micro-private equity, a strategy for acquiring small businesses with limited capital. The conversation delves into the importance of brand in a tech-driven world, highlighting how it can differentiate small businesses in a competitive landscape. GaryVee and Cody discuss the power of personal branding as a tool for entrepreneurs, particularly in the face of technological advancements. They also explore the future of small business acquisition, predicting a more accessible and democratized market. The episode touches on the limitations of private equity firms in marketing and the importance of data-driven decision-making and serving a specific target audience. GaryVee and Cody emphasize the importance of staying grounded, providing value, and treating employees well, even as an entrepreneur gains recognition and success. They also discuss the impact of regulations on small businesses and the need for a more streamlined and less burdensome regulatory environment. The episode concludes with GaryVee promoting Cody’s book, “Main Street Millionaire,” a practical guide for entrepreneurs interested in acquiring small businesses. Cody describes his book as a tactical guide, providing step-by-step instructions and insights for entrepreneurs ready to take action.
Lessons from 40+ Years of Entrepreneurship | Ilana Golan
This episode of the GaryVee Audio Experience features Gary Vaynerchuk discussing his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of passion, resilience, and embracing change, while highlighting the challenges and realities of running a company.
This episode of the GaryVee Audio Experience features a conversation with Gary Vaynerchuk about his entrepreneurial journey, starting from his childhood and immigrant background. Gary shares his early experiences with entrepreneurship, starting with lemonade stands and snow shoveling as a child. He emphasizes his innate drive and willingness to face challenges, even with the consequences of being grounded by his mother. Gary discusses the concept of “hunger” in entrepreneurship, arguing that it’s difficult to maintain when you’re constantly surrounded by abundance. He emphasizes the importance of passion and finding joy in what you do, regardless of financial success. Gary recounts his experience joining his father’s wine business at age 14, initially working for a low wage. He describes the initial struggles and how a chance encounter with a wine collector sparked his passion for the industry. Gary details his experience building his father’s wine business from $4 million to $60 million, despite not owning it and being underpaid. He explains his decision to leave at age 34 to pursue his own ventures and the importance of personal branding. Gary highlights the importance of the word “maybe” in his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing its role in pushing him to embrace new opportunities and challenges. He recounts his early exposure to the internet and his immediate realization of its potential. Gary discusses the importance of personal branding, emphasizing its value in building a reputation and creating opportunities. He shares how his early advocacy for personal branding helped many people during the economic downturn. Gary addresses the fear of hate and negativity in the digital world, emphasizing the importance of building self-esteem and developing coping mechanisms. He encourages listeners to focus on their own journey and not be deterred by negativity. Gary stresses the importance of taking ownership of your decisions and avoiding regret. He warns against blaming others for failures and encourages listeners to embrace their own path, even if it’s unconventional. Gary shares the challenges and hard moments of running a company, emphasizing the constant pressure and responsibility. He describes the emotional toll of dealing with employee issues, layoffs, and personal tragedies. Gary acknowledges the demanding nature of entrepreneurship but emphasizes his love for the challenges and the unique flavors it brings to his life. He shares his perspective on the importance of being built for entrepreneurship and the potential for burnout. Gary highlights the importance of humility in entrepreneurship, emphasizing its role in creating opportunities and avoiding ego-driven mistakes. He encourages listeners to build their personal brand and create optionality for themselves. Gary concludes the episode by emphasizing the importance of choosing optimism and hope over cynicism and fear. He believes that life is what you make it and encourages listeners to embrace the opportunities available in the digital age.
The 9 Best Pokemon Podcasts To Help You Catch Em All
