10 Top Podcasts Every CEO Should Listen To

We see a lot of articles on what CEOs are reading, but sitting down and reading a whole book can take up a lot of time. Podcasts are a productive way to fill some of the little bubbles of idle time that unexpectedly pop up into our days — with news, business inspiration from other CEOs, or insights into unexpected subjects like the intersection of sports and technology.

Here are 10 of the top podcasts every CEO should check out.

1. The CEO Show with Robert Reiss

If you can only add one of the podcasts on this list to your listening repertoire, The CEO Show should be the one. Since 2007, Reiss has interviewed over 500 CEOs in a variety of industries, including James H. Quigley of Deloitte, Anne Mulcahy of Xerox, and even David Stern, former commissioner of the NBA. A veritable wealth of knowledge and experience, The CEO Show is enormous in scope and definitely worth a listen.

2. From Scratch (NPR)

In this series, host Jessica Harris interviews pioneering entrepreneurs about their business journeys, providing listeners with insight on what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Featuring business owners and professionals from various backgrounds and at all different stages of the business process, From Scratch is a nice counterpoint to The CEO Show. It’s marketed as a show about “those who make new ideas happen.” Guests include Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice of Soul Cycle, photorealist Chuck Close, and yogi and founder of Bikram Yoga, Bikram Choudhury.

3. Business Story of the Day (NPR)

The title says it all for this one. This daily podcast covers the top headline of the day, as chosen by the the show’s producers. With stories on business, money, and the economy around the world, Business Story of the Day is a great choice to stay on top of current events.

4. Stanford Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Series

Students at Stanford are lucky enough to see these lectures in person, but thanks to the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, we all have access to the thought leaders delivering these talks via podcast. Speakers come from the fields of technology, finance, and philanthropy among others, and topics are equally varied. Great episodes to start with are Nailing the Hard Things, a conversation between Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz and Stanford Engineering professor Tom Byers, Education Reimagined, by Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, and The Path to More Inclusive Innovation by Sharon Vosmek of Astia.

5. HBR IdeaCast

The weekly podcast from the Harvard Business Review, the HBR IdeaCast shares research published in the journal alongside insight from business professionals and leaders in other industries. Guests include astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson, the late Maya Angelou speaking on courage and creativity, and PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi.

6. We Study Billionaires

A fun pick, We Study Billionaires studies — yep, you guessed it — billionaires and the books they read. Operating on the assumption that “success leaves clues,” hosts Preston Pysh and Stig Brodersen aim to “define the critical habits and elements that successful people share and bring them to our audience.” This goal has provided them with some pretty valuable content, like information on the top three habits of billionaires, and tons of valuable advice to apply to your own life.

7. Built to Sell

Built to Sell is a one-stop shop for the CEO that’s looking to sell. In each episode, host John Warrillow sits down with an entrepreneur who has recently sold a business and covers all the basics — why they chose to sell and how they went about it — along with some insights that only come with hindsight, like what they did right the first time and what they’d change in an another transaction. Built to Sell is a must-listen for business owners who are currently looking to sell or will be in the near future.

8. a16z

The podcast of VC fund Andreessen Horowitz, a16z covers a broad range of topics (mostly venture- and technology-focused) and boasts an impressive list of interesting speakers. Past guests include NBA player Andre Iguodala on Silicon Valley and the future of wearables; Oprah Winfrey, interviewed by Ben Horowitz about faith and religion; and Nkiru Balonwu, CEO of Spinlet, on technology in Africa.

9. EntreLeadership

On the EntreLeadership Podcast, host Ken Coleman talks leadership and business with forces of industry like Draymond John of Shark Tank and FUBU; Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last; and Mark Cuban, serial entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

10.  Office Hours

Daniel Pink, author of the best-sellers Drive and A Whole New Mind, hosts Office Hours, interviewing key figures in a variety of fields, including Malcolm Gladwell, co-founder of Twitter Biz Stone, and Diane Ravitch, education historian and former US Assistant Secretary of Education. A special feature that sets Office Hours apart is “Car Talk,” a monthly call-in period where Pink and guests take questions from listeners.