How I Built This with Guy Raz Titelbild

How I Built This with Guy Raz

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Von: Guy Raz | Wondery
Jetzt kostenlos hören, ohne Abo

Nur 0,99 € pro Monat für die ersten 3 Monate

Danach 9.95 € pro Monat. Bedingungen gelten.

Über diesen Titel

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.

Ökonomie
  • Advice Line with Monica Nassif of Mrs. Meyers
    Jan 22 2026

    Plus, how candor has been a more effective press strategy than talking points for (the literal) Mrs. Meyers.

    First we meet Allison in California, seeking marketing ideas for her novel wig designs which aren’t done justice by photos alone. Next, Nick in Idaho wonders whether retail expansion or content development is best to grow his children’s toy and book franchise. And finally, Ben in Virginia considers options like acquiring a nearby company to grow his chandelier cleaning business.

    Thank you to the founders of Encelia Hair, Randimals and Chandelier Cleaning VA, for being a part of our show.

    If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode — where Guy and former show guests take questions from early-stage founders — 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 the founding story of Mrs. Meyers Clean Day as told by Monica on the show in 2025.

    This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Andrea Bruce and 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 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.

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    41 Min.
  • Gymboree: Joan Barnes. How Building a Beloved Brand Nearly Destroyed Its Founder
    Jan 19 2026

    Before Gymboree became a cultural icon in the 80s and 90s, it was just one lonely new mom trying to find connection. Joan Barnes started hosting weekly playgroups for parents… and demand exploded. What began as a diversion became a business. Then a franchise. Then a brand everyone seemed to know, with its padded playrooms and parachute games.


    From the outside, it looked like a runaway success: hundreds of locations, glowing press coverage, celebrity buzz. But inside, the franchise model was failing. A potential Hasbro rescue vanished overnight. And Joan—while smiling for the world—was breaking under the pressure.


    Then came a major pivot that helped turn Gymboree around. The company was going to survive, but Joan realized she might not. She stepped away for good, to fight for her health.


    In this episode, Joan talks frankly about building Gymboree, losing control of it, and learning some vital lessons about ambition, balance, and humility.


    What You’ll Learn

    • The hidden math of franchising: when scale makes you weaker, not stronger
    • How—years before social media—Joan used the media as her marketing engine
    • The moment Gymboree nearly died—and the brilliant pivot that saved it
    • What it feels like to be celebrated publicly while privately falling apart
    • Why “more hustle” can be a trap


    Timestamps:

    (Timecodes are approximate and may shift depending on platform.)

    • [08:20] “Lonely and isolated”—The new-mom need that sparked Joan’s first playgroup
    • [13:43] The early days: parachute games, circle songs, and connecting with other parents
    • [16:59] The first, $3,000 investment, and expanding to new venues.
    • [23:08] Learning the hard way: “I didn’t even know what franchise meant.”
    • [38:40] Joan discovers her business model has a terrifying Catch-22
    • [45:05] A humiliating gut punch: Hasbro calls off a life-saving deal
    • [50:15] The pivot to profitability: play centers + clothing stores
    • [1:03:00] Success on the outside, collapse on the inside: panic, addiction, treatment
    • [1:14:17] After Gymboree: yoga studios, recovery, and redefining success


    Hey—want to be a guest on HIBT?

    If you’re building a business, why not get advice from some of the greatest entrepreneurs on Earth?

    Every Thursday on the HIBT Advice Line, a previous HIBT guest helps new entrepreneurs work through the challenges they’re facing right now. Advice that’s smart, actionable, and absolutely free.

    Just call 1-800-433-1298, leave a message, and you may soon get guidance from someone who started where you did, and went on to build something massive.

    So—give us a call. We can’t wait to hear what you’re working on.


    This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

    It was edited by Neva Grant with research by Rommel Wood.

    Our engineers were Jimmy Keeley and Patrick Murray.



    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    1 Std. und 20 Min.
  • Advice Line with Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker
    Jan 15 2026

    Warby Parker co-founder Neil Blumenthal joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, how AI integrations with glasses are helping us see the world in a whole new way.

    First we meet Kimber in Utah, who wants to take her chewable toothpaste gummies mainstream. Then Brian in California, who’s wondering how to vet franchisees for his light therapy studios. And Tanner in Tennessee, who needs help building a team he can trust to scale his country club-inspired lifestyle brand.

    Thank you to the founders of Pearl Pop, Salt and Light Wellness, and Cowboy Country Club 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 Warby Parker’s founding story as told by Neil and his co-founder Dave on the show in 2016.


    This episode was produced by Sam Paulson 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 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.

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    46 Min.
Noch keine Rezensionen vorhanden