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Every episode
How I Built This with Guy Raz
30 episodes
Advice Line with Bobbi Brown of Jones Road Beauty (September 2025)
Ep 861 · Aug 13, 2026 · 48 min
Today's callers: Bob in Chicago looks to promote his cabbage-based muscle and joint rub beyond the walls of his orthopedic practice. Then Abby in Dallas wonders whether her popular social media livestreams are a sustainable way to market her trendy phone cases. And Henry in Charlotte wants to turn his mouth rinse for coffee drinkers into a mainstream oral care brand. Plus, Bobbi shares what drove her to found her new company—Jones Road—at the age of 62. Thank you to the founders of Cabbage Labs,…
MadeGood: Salma and Nima Fotovat Lost Their First Business. They Grew Their Next One Into a Snack Giant.
Ep 860 · Aug 10, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
What do you do when the family business you've spent decades building... gets bought out from under you? That’s what happened to Nima and Salma Fotovat. Devastated, the family rebuilt a new company from the ground up. This time they set out with a new idea: build an allergen-free, organic snack brand not just for kids, but their parents. Their new brand: MadeGood. Today, the Canadian brand’s parent company does hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. But getting there meant r…
Advice Line: "Strategy Sessions"
Ep 859 · Aug 6, 2026 · 46 min
Today’s callers: Tony in Michigan is considering bringing on partners to run different parts of his brew pub and theater business. Then Monica in London is exploring the best way to reach style-conscious parents with her line of children’s clothes. And Sandy in Colorado is seeking the ideal pricing strategy to bring his adaptive test prep platform to schools nationwide. Thank you to the founders of Hearsay Brewing and Theater, Tres London and Brain Buffs for being a part of our show. If you’d li…
Serena & Lily: Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter. They Built a $20M Brand—Then One Investor Almost Destroyed It
Ep 858 · Aug 3, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Many founders think the hardest thing about business is finding customers. It's not. It's surviving success. When Lily Kanter and Serena Dugan launched a luxury baby linen business, they had no manufacturing experience, no inventory, and barely any capital. But after their first catalog landed just as a major competitor left the market, orders flooded in almost overnight. The problem? They hadn’t made the products yet. Today, Serena and Lily has grown into one of the best known luxury home…
Advice Line with Chris Riccobono of UNTUCKit
Ep 857 · Jul 30, 2026 · 46 min
Today’s callers: Adrian from California wants to grow his apparel company to complete with big-name athletic brands. Then, Preet from the Rockies looks for strategies to reach seniors and their children with his daily check-in app. And Derek from Virginia considers social media and professional partnerships to advertise his hockey equipment brand. Plus, Chris talks about launching a new athletic apparel brand while continuing to grow UNTUCKit. Thank you to the founders of Eras Shorts, Snug…
Sweetwater: Chuck Surack. How a Customer Service Strategy Built a Billion Dollar Online Pro Audio and Music Company.
Ep 856 · Jul 27, 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Chuck Surack never planned to build one of America's largest online retailers. He just wanted to be a musician. So right after high school, he took his sax and drove off in his old VW van to play gigs around the country. It didn’t work out. But with the audio and mixing skills Chuck learned gigging, he decided to convert his van into a mobile recording studio - and started making money fast by making recordings of local bands, businesses, and schools. The game-changer came as a one-two-thr…
Advice Line with Curt Richardson of OtterBox
Ep 855 · Jul 23, 2026 · 42 min
Today’s callers: Andy from Sarasota weighs whether the path to scalability for his live game show business is through personality or product. Then, Marissa from Tampa wants to recapture sales for her fairy tale-inspired teas after taking a hiatus to focus on her family. And Vince from New Jersey wonders how to allocate marketing dollars for his sustainable baby gear company.. Plus, Curt reflects on the importance of focus in sustaining OtterBox as a leading tech accessories brand over 30 y…
Toast: Aman Narang. How a Long Wait for the Dinner Check Launched a $2 Billion Business.
Ep 854 · Jul 20, 2026 · 51 min
After waiting too long to pay his restaurant bill, Aman Narang thought there had to be a better way. His first idea—a mobile payment app—flopped. But that failure revealed a much bigger opportunity. Restaurants were struggling with outdated software that many owners hated. Payment systems were expensive, unreliable, and trapped on servers hidden in back offices. Replacing them cost time and money. But that’s exactly what Aman and his co-founders set out to do: create an entirely new POS sys…
Advice Line with Kenneth Cole
Ep 853 · Jul 16, 2026 · 46 min
Today’s callers: Matt from New York City unpacks the stigma working against his line of foot wellness products. Then Emefa in Toronto seeks a direct relationship with customers of her fashion brand in the wake of a key retailer going out of business. Finally, Levi in Rhode Island explores new audiences and product lines for his commemorative golf sculpture business. Plus, Kenneth and Guy discuss how to make social impact a real part of your business model. Thank you to the founders of Pedestrian…
Sun Bum: Tom Rinks. The Secrets of a Master Brand Builder (2023)
Ep 852 · Jul 13, 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Tom Rinks got his start in the commission-only "shark tank" of midwestern furniture sales. That’s where he learned what makes customers buy. Decades later, those instincts helped him grow a joke of a side hustle into a $400 million success. In 2009, he created the iconic branding for an obscure sun tan lotion, drawing on a mish-mash of surf culture, Scandinavian furniture, and Japanese streetwear. Sun Bum became a huge success, but even before that, Tom helped boost a wildly diverse range of bra…
Advice Line with Jeni Britton of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (2025)
Ep 851 · Jul 9, 2026 · 49 min
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams founder Jeni Britton joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, how Jeni’s newest venture Floura is tackling one of America’s largest dietary needs—fiber. First, we meet Jesse in Washington, D.C., who’s wondering how to best focus marketing efforts for his frozen french fry company. Then Casey from Boston, who's questioning the pressure she's feeling to pursue outside capital for her frozen pierogi brand. And fina…
Catalina Crunch: Krishna Kaliannan. From Homemade Keto Cocoa Puffs to Breakfast Aisle Breakthrough
Ep 850 · Jul 6, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Krishna Kaliannan wanted to start a tech company but failed at every attempt. On the side, he was teaching himself how to cook with high-protein, low-sugar ingredients. Not just out of interest, but out of necessity. As a teenager, Krishna had been diagnosed with diabetes and epilepsy, meaning he adopted a keto diet long before it was trendy. Krishna’s home experiments with pea powder and monk fruit eventually became Catalina Crunch, one of the country’s most popular high-protein, lo…
Advice Line with Ronnen Harary of Spin Master/PAW Patrol
Ep 849 · Jul 2, 2026 · 43 min
Today’s callers: Ann from Nashville asks how to adapt her jewelry business in the face of rising gold prices. Then Felix in Martha’s Vineyard considers strategies for growing his family’s legacy honey and skincare company. Finally, Matt in Massachusetts seeks strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance at his grief-inspired brewing project. Plus, Ronnen and Guy discuss why your 20s are the best time to start a business. Thank you to the founders of Yearly Company, Island B…
e.l.f. Cosmetics: Joey Shamah. The Dollar Store Formula That Built a Cosmetics Giant
Ep 848 · Jun 29, 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
In 2004, Joey Shamah and his partner launched a cosmetics company built on an idea that made almost no sense: Sell high-quality makeup for just $1. At the time, high quality beauty products were supposed to be expensive. The biggest brands spent fortunes on celebrity endorsements, glossy ads, and premium shelf space. And every major retailer told Joey the same thing: Your idea will never work. But Joey believed he'd found a wormhole in the beauty business: spend money on the product, not fancy p…
Advice Line with Susan Griffin-Black of EO Products
Ep 847 · Jun 25, 2026 · 44 min
Today’s callers: Ruchi from Chicago looks for advice on which channels to focus distribution for her probiotic skincare line. Then Peter in San Francisco considers strategies to champion his line of organic South African wines. And Dominic from Barbados asks about expanding his specialty coffee brand into international markets like the United States. Plus, Susan discusses how people and relationships can make or break your business. Thank you to the founders of Yobee, Culture Wine, and Wyndhams…
STARR Restaurants: Stephen Starr. How a Non-Foodie Built Thriving Restaurants on Gut Instinct
Ep 846 · Jun 22, 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Stephen Starr didn’t plan to get into the restaurant business. He set out to be a radio DJ. Then a nightclub owner. Then a music promoter. Along the way, he booked a young Jerry Seinfeld for $75, promoted shows for U2 and Madonna, and spent years pretending to be more successful than he really was. Then, in his late 30s, Stephen walked into a glitzy martini bar in New York. He was so taken with it, he decided to start his own version in Philadelphia. Today, Starr Restaurant Group generates nearl…
Advice Line with Shazi Visram of Happy Family Organics
Ep 845 · Jun 18, 2026 · 45 min
Today’s callers: Daisy in the United Kingdom looks to grow her barefoot shoe brand across the pond in the United States. Then Rachel in Pennsylvania considers private labeling for her protein-packed sprinkles. And Andrew in California wonders whether he should seek investment for his pleasantly-scented soil additive. Plus, Shazi discusses why entrepreneurship is one of the most creative outlets a person can have. Thank you to the founders of Freet Barefoot, SprinkleBites, and PlantAmika for bein…
Build-A-Bear: Maxine Clark. A Former Shoe Executive Launches a Stuffed Animal Empire
Ep 844 · Jun 15, 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
When Maxine Clark left a top job in retail to start a make-your-own stuffed animal store, people thought she’d lost her mind. Investors doubted it. Friends questioned it. Retail experts couldn't understand how it would scale. But drawing on more than 20 years as a retail executive, Maxine built a massively successful shopping “experience,” where kids could stuff, dress and personalize their own stuffed animals. Today, Build-A-Bear has generated billions in sales, survived…
Advice Line with Christina Tosi of Milk Bar
Ep 843 · Jun 11, 2026 · 45 min
Today’s callers: Whitney in Utah wonders how to bridge the gap between pre-seed and institutional investment for her fitness/retail combo space. Then Chloe in the U.K. considers which markets to target for her at-home crafting kits. And Christy in Washington wants to convert gifters into repeat customers for her coffee flavoring brand. Plus, Christina’s take on why Milk Bar is better served with her as Chief Experimenter rather than Chief Executive. Thank you to the founders of…
Shopify: Tobias Lütke. How a snowboarder built a $150 billion business (2019)
Ep 842 · Jun 8, 2026 · 59 min
In 2004, German programmer Tobias Lütke was living in Ottawa with his girlfriend. An avid snowboarder, he wanted to launch an online snowboard shop, but found the e-commerce software available at the time to be clunky and expensive. So he decided to write his own e-commerce software. After he launched his online snowboard business, called Snowdevil, other online merchants were so impressed with what he built that they started asking to license Tobi's software to run their own stores. Tobi and hi…
Advice Line with Tim Ferriss (August 2025)
Ep 841 · Jun 4, 2026 · 47 min
Entrepreneur, author, and podcaster Tim Ferriss joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Tim shares the inspiration behind his latest venture, Coyote—a 10-minute card game that encourages time spent with friends and family. First, Lauryn from San Francisco asks about the best way to scale her biodegradable ear plugs in two very different directions. Then Emily from Kansas City weighs whether DTC or wholesale is where to focus her accessory bran…
UGG: Brian Smith. How an epiphany, surfers, and $500 launched an iconic sheepskin footwear company.
Ep 840 · Jun 1, 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
In 1978, Brian Smith quit his accounting job in Australia and headed to California with a surfboard, some savings, and ambition. He figured California was where he’d find an idea or a product to bring back home to Australia to build a business. A year in, he was still looking. But then he saw an advertisement in a surfing magazine for Australian sheepskin boots. Uggs were so widespread in Australia at the time, the name was a generic term - like flip flops - not a brand. Brian was immediate…
Advice Line with Jeffrey Hollender of Seventh Generation
Ep 839 · May 28, 2026 · 46 min
Today’s callers: Kristina in Ohio looks for avenues beyond organic social media to market her furniture designed for toddlers and parents alike. Then Phil in Michigan considers the best messaging to brew interest in his farm-made cherry vinegar. And Caroline in California scouts new ways to cultivate curiosity around her plant-based dog food. Plus, Jeffrey discusses the quiet momentum of social businesses as they navigate ‘greenhushing’ and a polarized political climate. Thank you to the founder…
Justin’s Nut Butter: Justin Gold. He Was Waiting Tables, Then...He Reinvented Peanut Butter.
Ep 838 · May 25, 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
At 25, Justin Gold was making experimental peanut butter in his home kitchen with a food processor and a stack of recipe journals. His singular obsession: bring new life to a tired lunchtime staple. What started as late-night experiments with honey, cinnamon and banana eventually became Justin's — one of the most influential natural food brands of the last two decades. At first, Justin got rejected by most grocery stores he approached. He worked overnight in a shared industrial kitchen, hand-fil…
Advice Line with Sarah LaFleur of M.M. LaFleur
Ep 837 · May 21, 2026 · 48 min
Today’s callers: David from New Jersey struggles with self-doubt as he works to grow his muscle-scraping soap brand. Then, Marnie from Australia wants to convince customers that her colorful tick-repellent socks are worth the premium price. And David from New York wants his company to end the practice of throwing away burned out candles. Plus, Sarah recounts rebuilding her brand in the wake of the pandemic and the changing fashion preferences of professional women. Thank you to the f…
NVIDIA: Jensen Huang. From near collapse to becoming the world’s biggest company
Ep 836 · May 18, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
NVIDIA is one of the most valuable companies in human history. Its chips run the AI systems transforming everything from entertainment to warfare. But for years, almost nobody believed in co-founder Jensen Huang’s vision. Jensen spent nearly a decade pouring billions into a technology called CUDA, long before AI made it profitable. In this deeply personal conversation, Jensen tells Guy why NVIDIA’s very first chip was a catastrophic failure … and how at one point, the company was 30 days away fr…
Advice Line: New Offerings, Bigger Markets
Ep 835 · May 14, 2026 · 42 min
Today’s callers: Kristina in Florida wants to take her local pottery workshops nationwide. Then Jim from Colorado wonders if retail is right for his quick release camera straps. And Will in Ohio hopes his business will change what consumers expect from tool rental services. Thank you to the founders of Seagrass Pottery, Lemur Strap and Tool Club 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 fr…
Room & Board: John Gabbert. A Broken Deal, a Family Rift, and the Birth of a Furniture Giant
Ep 834 · May 11, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
John Gabbert built a massive furniture brand. But in order to do it, he had to defy his family. John grew up working at his dad’s furniture store in the suburbs of Minneapolis. It sold classic, American-made furniture, with flowery prints and curved legs. But in 1972, John took a life-changing trip to Sweden, where he discovered an obscure store called IKEA. It was selling an entirely different type of furniture: simple, modern, and inexpensive, with a manufacturing process they controlled…
Advice Line with Jonah Peretti of Buzzfeed
Ep 833 · May 7, 2026 · 43 min
Today’s callers: Anthony from Miami considers the best method to grow his pop-up outdoor movie theater business. Then Andrew in San Francisco asks how to set his cat wrestling toy apart from competitors. Finally, Melissa in Massachusetts seeks strategies for getting busy parents excited about her healthy frozen muffins. Plus, Jonah shares what’s next for Buzzfeed as the company marks 20 years of business. Thank you to the founders of Motion Flix, CATSUMO, and Unrefined Foods for joining us…
Beautycounter: Gregg Renfrew. She Built Beautycounter to $1B… Then Got Fired From Her Own Company
Ep 832 · May 4, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Gregg Renfrew started a movement by making better-for-you cosmetics, then enlisted an army of women to build the business through direct sales. But after selling Beautycounter, she was pushed out of the company she created. Then she got to do something almost no founder gets to do: She bought her company back. Then lost it again. Then took the risky step of rebuilding it into a new brand, now called Counter. This is a story about ambition, humility, and second chances. &nb…
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