A small Danish toy company survives World War Two thanks to its quality craftsmanship, but behind the scenes all is not well. Despite its good reputation, Lego teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, and a choice to change production methods threatens to tear the family-owned company apart. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Building Lego? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-fr...
Aug 10, 2023•36 min•Season 28Ep. 1
Almost two decades before the launch of the iPhone, Apple Executive Marc Porat launches a project to develop the world’s first smartphone. But to fulfill his ambitions, he will have to launch his own company: General Magic. There, he will assemble a team of brilliant engineers, including a determined young man fresh out of college called Tony Fadell, who shares Marc’s vision of changing the world. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Disappearance of General Magic? Episodes 2-5 are av...
Jul 06, 2023•35 min•Season 27Ep. 1
In the face of a financial crisis, the famous banker JP Morgan puts his reputation and his wealth on the line when he intervenes to save Wall Street, and the country, from a financial meltdown. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of JP Morgan Saves Wall Street? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/in...
Jun 01, 2023•36 min•Season 26Ep. 1
26-year-old college graduate Phil Knight founds Blue Ribbon Sports and makes a success of his plan to import Japanese running shoes to America. But as the relationship with his only supplier begins to unravel, Phil decides to gamble his company’s future on a fundamental shift in direction: creating his own in-house brand. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Becoming Nike? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access ...
Apr 27, 2023•38 min•Season 25Ep. 1
In the 1970’s, Sam Walton steps away from his retail empire, Walmart. But with Sam gone, the company nearly buckles under the weight of a power struggle at the executive level. Distressed with how his company is being run in his absence, Sam comes out of semi-retirement with a vengeance determined to take back control and take his company to the next level. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Sam Walton: Building A Walmart World? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wond...
Mar 23, 2023•39 min•Season 24Ep. 1
After a thirteen year rise through the ranks at Apple, Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook faces the daunting task of replacing the company’s iconic co-founder Steve Jobs after the billionaire’s death from cancer. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Apple Genius: Tim Cook? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit won...
Feb 16, 2023•39 min•Season 23Ep. 1
George Cohon gives up his career as a Chicago attorney to open the first McDonald’s fast food restaurant in Canada. As George moves up the McDonald’s corporate ladder, a chance meeting with members of the Russian Olympic Committee sets him on a path to attempt to open the first McDonald’s in the Soviet Union. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The McDonald's Invasion? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to ...
Jan 12, 2023•38 min•Season 22Ep. 1
In 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground off the coast of Alaska. More than ten million gallons of crude oil gushed out of its shattered holds into the pristine waters of Prince William Sound. It was an environmental disaster which caused the death of thousands of wild animals and scarred the beautiful landscape for years. The damage was equally deep to the reputation of the tanker’s owner and operator, the oil giant Exxon. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Exxon in Crisis? Epi...
Dec 08, 2022•38 min•Season 21Ep. 1
Ed Catmull’s dream is to make the first ever computer-animated movie. But in 1986, Ed’s world is turned upside down when tech icon Steve Jobs purchases the animation studio he helped create. As co-founder of Pixar, Ed must fight to protect the integrity of his work, and keep his dream alive. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Animating Pixar? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re alwa...
Nov 03, 2022•36 min•Season 20Ep. 1
Lee Iacocca takes charge at Chrysler and finds a company on the brink of collapse. But his attempts to turn the automaker around are undermined by a new and unforeseen global economic crisis. To listen to Business Movers ad-free, join Wondery+ in the Wondery App. Click here to download the app: https://wondery.app.link/businessmovers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Oct 06, 2022•38 min•Season 19Ep. 2
During a time of rising inflation, Lee Iacocca rises through the ranks of the Ford Motor Company, eventually becoming its President. But reaching the top brings him into conflict with the erratic and jealous Chairman of the company, Henry Ford Junior. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Driving Chrysler Through Inflation? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your...
Sep 29, 2022•40 min•Season 19Ep. 1
In the 19th Century, J.D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil vanquishes the competition on its way to the top of the oil industry. Rockefeller is truly untouchable, until two rival competitors from overseas join forces and merge their companies to take him down. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Beating Rockefeller? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial ...
Aug 25, 2022•36 min•Season 18Ep. 1
A young engineer carves his path to becoming Microsoft’s third CEO, determined to launch a technological and cultural revolution that will change the company and the world. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Taking Microsoft Into the Cloud? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/inIc9lKeyLb &...
Jul 21, 2022•36 min•Season 17Ep. 1
Grounded by lawsuits waged by its competitors, the newly-conceived Southwest Airlines struggles to stay in business in the 1960s. But the company’s co-founder, Herb Kelleher, refuses to give up on his mission to democratize air travel, vowing to fight for the airline’s right to fly and for freedom in the sky. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Southwest? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones...
Jun 16, 2022•37 min•Season 16Ep. 1
In the early-20th Century, George Remus works his way from successful pharmacist to one of the most famous lawyers in Chicago. But greed, love, and Prohibition soon turn George’s sights to bootlegging, leading him into a world of opulence and violence. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The King of Booze? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in t...
May 12, 2022•37 min•Season 15Ep. 1
When Hewlett-Packard chair Patricia Dunn begins a spy campaign to discover the source of an internal leak, she sets off a chain of events that will lead to a national scandal and criminal prosecution. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The HP Spying Scandal? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/i...
Apr 07, 2022•37 min•Season 14Ep. 1
In 1963, a New Jersey conman named Anthony “Tino” De Angelis pulls off “The Great Salad Oil Swindle”, one of the largest financial frauds in Wall Street’s history. De Angelis’ actions cause American Express stock to plummet and puts a young midwest investor named Warren Buffett in a position to make one of the most important deals of his career. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Warren Buffett's Biggest Bet? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+,...
Mar 03, 2022•35 min•Season 13Ep. 1
Boston-born media executive Sumner Redstone turns a small family business into a media juggernaut, acquiring companies like Viacom, Paramount and CBS along the way, sometimes by force. But Sumner’s rise to mogul status leaves important relationships, business and familial, in shambles. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Hostile Takeover: The Sumner Redstone Story? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive seasons, early access to new ...
Jan 27, 2022•39 min•Season 12Ep. 1
Filmmaker George Lucas created the most successful movie franchise of all time. Star Wars revolutionized cinema, taught Hollywood the true value of merchandise and turned a niche film genre into a billion dollar industry. To build his own empire, George will defy the odds, risk it all and walk away one of the richest men on the planet. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of George Lucas: Creating a Hollywood Empire? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wonder...
Dec 23, 2021•39 min•Season 11Ep. 1
Chris DeWolfe and Tom Anderson had no intention of starting a tech revolution. But when their website, MySpace, took off in 2003, it changed social media and the internet forever. As MySpace grows into one of the biggest sites in the world and attracts media giants like Rupert Murdoch, Chris and Tom will have to fight to keep control of their own creation. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Fighting for MySpace? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wonder...
Nov 18, 2021•38 min•Season 10Ep. 1
Howard Schultz bought a small Seattle coffee company called Starbucks in 1987. By the time he stepped down as Starbucks’ CEO in 2000, Howard had transformed the six-store operation into the largest coffee brand in the world. But in the late 2000s, Starbucks descended into a financial spiral, and Howard came back to save the company he’d built from the brink of disaster. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Howard Schultz: Saving Starbucks? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-fre...
Oct 14, 2021•40 min•Season 9Ep. 1
Lehman Brothers, the world’s 4th largest investment bank, recorded billions in profits year after year, until September of 2008 when the Wall Street giant was forced to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy, triggering a global financial meltdown. The collapse of Lehman Brothers is a cautionary tale of too much risk, not enough regulation and plenty of greed. The story starts with two traders who tried to save the company they loved. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Collapse of Lehman Bro...
Sep 09, 2021•37 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Comic book legend Stan Lee co-created some of the world’s most iconic superheroes including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers. His creations helped give birth to the legendary Marvel Comics. But in the early 2000’s, Stan went to war with the company he helped create. His lawsuit was the beginning of a revenge story right out of a comic book. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Stan Lee: The Mind Behind Marvel? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free o...
Aug 05, 2021•42 min•Season 7Ep. 1
General Motors is America’s carmaker, an empire that helped build Detroit Motor City. Since 1908, General Motors has been a key driver of the workforce, the economy and American culture. But in 2008, the once-thriving car business came to a screeching halt. In the wake of the Great Recession, an engineer turned human resources executive named Mary Barra [BAR-uh] rises to power at General Motors and helps bring America’s automaker back from the dead. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Ge...
Jul 01, 2021•37 min•Season 6Ep. 1
After Steve Jobs is fired by Apple in 1985, he sets out to build the computer of the future and prove himself a worthy leader. So he founds a new computer company called NeXT and purchases a little known animation studio called Pixar. In order to succeed, Steve is forced to confront the mistakes of his past and chart a new course for the future. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Enlightenment of Steve Jobs? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wonder...
May 27, 2021•40 min•Season 5Ep. 1
The name “DeLorean” isn’t just synonymous with the 1985 blockbuster film Back to the Future , it’s also infamous for its connection to two uniquely American innovations: the sportscar and the drug trade. John DeLorean was a legend of the automobile industry who rose to the highest levels within General Motors. But his ambition for more than what Detroit could offer brought him to Hollywood, where he became entangled in a web of drugs, betrayal—and the FBI. Want to listen to the remai...
Apr 22, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Uber's spectacular rise wasn’t the smoothest ride. The world-changing ride sharing app broke more than a few rules--and laws--on it’s way to the top, and its controversial co-founder Travis Kalanick fostered a toxic corporate culture that eventually caught up to him. This is the first in our four-episode series on the rise and fall of Uber. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of The Rise and Fall of Uber? Episodes 2-5 are available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. With Wondery+, enjoy e...
Mar 18, 2021•39 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In 1985, when Coca-Cola eliminated its signature soft drink, “Coke”, and replaced it with a new and improved version called “New Coke”, the American people revolted. In this series premiere, we go back to the beginning of the story and meet the man responsible for Coca-Cola’s biggest blunder: Roberto Goizueta, a brilliant Cuban immigrant who started from the bottom and rose to the highest rung of Coca-Cola’s corporate ladder. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Coca-Cola's Greatest...
Feb 11, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 1
As Walt Disney sets out to build a second theme park in Florida, he quietly works to keep the top secret project out of the public eye. To make his dream a reality, and to keep Project Future under wraps, Walt will rely on a close-knit team of lawyers, executives, and former World War Two spies. This is the first in our four-episode series on Walt’s efforts to create a second theme park that would correct the errors of his first. Want to listen to the remaining episodes of Walt Disney: Bui...
Jan 14, 2021•32 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Behind every successful business is a story. It starts with a vision and a leap of faith. Along the way, leaders make bold decisions, ride booms and busts, and sometimes, they reach new heights. From Wondery, the makers of the hit series Business Wars , and Lindsay Graham, the host of American History Tellers and American Scandal , comes a weekly podcast that brings you the true stories of the brilliant but all-too-human businesspeople who risked it all. From Walt Disney’...
Dec 18, 2020•2 min
