Starbucks might be number one in market share, but the competition over coffee is hot. In one corner, you’ve got the New England-based fan favorite Dunkin, with their no-frills vibe and celebrity boosters. In the other, you’ve got the up-and-comers: drive-through only chains like Dutch Bros and Seven Brew that have become popular among younger consumers and on-the-go customers. Comedian (and lifelong Dunkin fan) Josh Gondelman joins David to talk about the reign of Dunkin in Massachusetts and be...
May 15, 2025•44 min•Season 109Ep. 3
It’s 2023 and Howard Schultz’s hand-picked successor as CEO is facing trouble. While employees are voting to unionize, competitors are targeting Starbucks’ perceived weaknesses. Dunkin’ and others are beating Starbucks on price, while McDonald’s hopes to beat Starbucks on speed of service. Starbucks’ bottom-line breaks under that pressure. When it does, Schultz turns against his successor, leading Starbucks’ board to search for yet another leader. The new boss has a new plan, but it sounds old: ...
May 14, 2025•44 min•Season 109Ep. 2
It’s time to embark on a journey through history with "Oh What A Time…" a comedy history podcast hosted by renowned comedians Elis James and Tom Craine along with award winning podcaster Chris Scull. Tackling a brand new subject each week, (from ‘childhood’ to ‘a life at sea’, ‘marriage’ to ‘holidays’) your hosts will dive into the very weirdest and worst that history has to offer, in an effort to answer the question… "Was the past as awful as it sounds?" Listen to Oh What A Time... on the ...
May 11, 2025•10 min
It's 2021 and Starbucks workers are experiencing post-pandemic exhaustion. For the first time, baristas and others seem poised to vote to form a union. To head that off, Starbucks legendary CEO, Howard Schultz, comes out of retirement. He promises to lead Starbucks back to its employee-friendly, community coffeehouse roots. But workers aren’t buying it. Soon, Schultz will be called to the carpet in Congress. The nation’s top coffee chain is in an existential crisis. Be the first to know ab...
May 07, 2025•39 min•Season 109Ep. 1
After a stock market shakeout stunts Whole Foods’ growth, co-founder John Mackey finds himself struggling to protect the grocery store chain from circling predators. And he knows if he loses this battle, everything he worked to build could be cast aside. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad...
Apr 30, 2025•40 min•Season 108Ep. 3
CEO John Mackey is on a mission to take Whole Foods national. But he is about to run into major opposition. And to succeed in his quest, he must face down rebellious employees, ambitious rivals, animal rights activists and his own father. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the...
Apr 23, 2025•45 min•Season 108Ep. 2
When Texas hippie John Mackey opens an organic supermarket, he gets high on running a business. But when his ambitions sink its profits, sparks fly between him and his co-founders. They clash over the question of whether to chase a bigger dream or enjoy the money they’re already making. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your pod...
Apr 16, 2025•37 min•Season 108Ep. 1
Not everything you buy from the dollar store is going to be a winner, and Wirecutter editor Annemarie Conte knows this firsthand. Today, Annemarie joins David to share tips for shopping smarter at these discounters, and which items you should probably leave on the shelf. Later, David investigates dupes — cheaper, nearly identical versions of popular products — with Chantal Fernandez of The Cut. Dupes are generating a lot of hype online, and as Chantal recently reported, no retailer has gotten mo...
Apr 10, 2025•42 min•Season 107Ep. 3
After 10 years of rapid growth, the dollar stores hit big trouble. Rats, burglars, unhappy workers, online agitators and inflation erode their profits. And a new online dollar store makes inroads. Can they survive these existential threats? Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be t...
Apr 09, 2025•40 min•Season 107Ep. 2
We’re exploring how dollar stores went from Wall Street darlings to the problem children of the stock market. But first, we track how a re-energized Dollar General figures out how to make billions from small change, and its nearest-rival Family Dollar becomes a takeover target. But can Dollar General’s CEO steer the family business into the right hands? Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewslette...
Apr 02, 2025•40 min•Season 107Ep. 1
For over a decade, reality star Kim Kardashian was one of Spanx’s biggest boosters. She frequently spoke of wearing the product on the red carpet and on her social media pages, even if she was cutting it, dying it, and sewing multiple pieces together to make it work for her. And in 2017, she decides that’s time to take her deep knowledge of shapewear and start her own company to rival Spanx. Going after the industry leader is no sure bet, but Kardashian has fame and fortune on her...
Mar 26, 2025•40 min•Season 106Ep. 2
In 1998, a young office equipment sales rep named Sara Blakely can’t find anything to wear under a pair of tight fitting white pants. Everything she tries on makes her feel unattractive. In a moment of inspiration, she cuts off the feet of a pair of pantyhose, saving the outfit and the day. She realizes she’s not the only woman who might like a product like this, so she takes her modest life savings and invents a product that changes an entire industry. Be the first to know about...
Mar 19, 2025•42 min•Season 106Ep. 1
Chain restaurants are making a comeback — from Chili’s to Red Lobster, the spots we once passed over are cool once more. But why? Is it due to TikTok? Inflation? Millennial nostalgia? Eater reporter Amy McCarthy joins David to explore the recent ‘chain-aissance’ and whether it can help revive Red Lobster. Later, Jordan Myrick, host of the grocery review site Sporked, tastes some storied Red Lobster offerings to find out if its foray into freezer aisles has paid off. Biscuits, anyone? Be th...
Mar 13, 2025•39 min•Season 105Ep. 3
Red Lobster’s new owners dream up a bold plan to revitalize the chain. And they’ve got a Hail Mary — the lure of endless shrimp. But they’ve failed to recognize just how much shrimp Americans can down in one sitting. Celebrities and TikTokers send up a rallying cry to save the chain — but is it enough? Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever ...
Mar 12, 2025•32 min•Season 105Ep. 2
Red Lobster redefined American dining habits by making seafood accessible to people living outside the coasts. But its heyday didn’t last. Casual observers believe Red Lobster’s demise was an open-and-shut case of an all-you-can-eat deal backfiring. But there are plenty of other suspects. And as America’s #1 seafood restaurant chain fights to keep its head above water, it must reckon with whether it can trust Wall Street’s offer of a lifeline. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts...
Mar 05, 2025•41 min•Season 105Ep. 1
President Biden signs a law giving ByteDance until January 2025 to divest from TikTok or the app will be banned in the United States. TikTok decides to fight the law in court. Then the case goes all the way to the Supreme Court. But the company’s best hope to overturn the law lies in the outcome of the 2024 election — or so it thinks. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Bu...
Feb 26, 2025•32 min•Season 104Ep. 4
TikTok realizes its attempts to prove to American lawmakers that the Chinese government doesn’t have access to American user data aren’t working, and they need to change tactics. Becoming more aggressive in their lobbying, TikTok taps into the millions of Americans who use the app to urge lawmakers not to ban TikTok. But their efforts come up short. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/won...
Feb 19, 2025•32 min•Season 104Ep. 3
TikTok scrambles to respond to President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring ByteDance sell the app to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. But the election of Joe Biden in November 2020 offers the company a brief reprieve. TikTok works to make a deal with the new administration, but reports come out that TikTok may not have been completely honest about the privacy of American user data, jeopardizing their status in the country yet again. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcas...
Feb 12, 2025•34 min•Season 104Ep. 2
In 2018, Chinese tech company ByteDance launched TikTok in the United States, determined to make the app one of the top entertainment platforms in the country. And by spring 2020, ByteDance achieved its goal, thanks, in part, to a global pandemic that sees people spending more time on their phones. But while TikTok faces competition from other social media sites, its greatest threat is the U.S. government. Lawmakers worry the e Chinese-owned app is a serious national security risk and ...
Feb 05, 2025•32 min•Season 104Ep. 1
Would you fly on a Boeing 737-Max plane? Ed Pierson won’t. He’s a former Boeing senior manager who blew the whistle on safety concerns with the 737-Max project. Today, Ed is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety , and he joins David to discuss Boeing then and now, and where it all went wrong. Later, Sharon Terlep , aerospace reporter for the Wall Street Journal, dives into the company’s future, discussing the billion dollar question: can Boeing bounce back? War...
Jan 30, 2025•38 min•Season 103Ep. 5
With losses from the 737 Max scandal spiraling into the billions, Boeing’s new CEO Dave Calhoun is looking to bring the crisis to a swift end. But he’s about to face major headwinds. Headwinds that threaten to destroy the entire company. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the ...
Jan 29, 2025•35 min•Season 103Ep. 4
Boeing scrambles to improve its bestseller, the 737, as its competitor Airbus brings an upgraded rival plane to market. To create the 737 MAX, Boeing has to figure out a way to fit modern jet engines onto the 737’s aging airframe. When the MAX encounters problems, Boeing then creates a computer system to fix them. But their lack of transparency with both regulators and pilots will backfire badly. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign ...
Jan 22, 2025•35 min•Season 103Ep. 3
It’s the late 1990s and the seeds of Boeing’s business disaster are being sown. An aerospace mega-merger and fierce competition from its chief rival Airbus are about to transform Boeing in ways that will lead to tragedy. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge th...
Jan 15, 2025•38 min•Season 103Ep. 2
It’s 2019 and after another deadly plane crash, Boeing finds its reputation and business in free fall. Its best-selling passenger jet, the 737 Max, is forced out of the skies and the company is forced to reckon with its mistakes. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be ...
Jan 08, 2025•34 min•Season 103Ep. 1
In this special episode, we're taking you behind the scenes of the show. We'll delve into how we chose our host and how the first season got off the ground. Then we'll explore how we bring the story to life with sound. And comedian Josh Gondelman will give David Brown a bit of a grilling. Plus, David reflects on a listener's message. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Busines...
Jan 08, 2025•47 min•Season 102Ep. 5
TikTok gift guides and social media shopping platforms changed the game this holiday season. So how much did shoppers spend — and where did they make those purchases? Hint: it definitely wasn't Target. David is joined by Jordyn Holman, retail reporter for The New York Times, and Kitty Guo, a writer for The Strategist covering gifting, to find out how shopping habits shifted in 2024. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wo...
Dec 26, 2024•32 min•Season 102Ep. 4
Bob Iger has held the keys to the Disney castle since 2005. The last time this larger-than-life CEO tried to leave, an entire proxy battle broke out under the nose of his successor. Now, with Iger’s contract up in 2026, the entertainment industry (and Wall Street) are wondering who — and what — will come next. Sean McNulty, co-host of The Ankler Podcast, joins David to break down Disney’s next steps, and whether Iger can finally land the plane on his successor. Be the first to know about W...
Dec 25, 2024•37 min•Season 102Ep. 3
When CEO Bob Iger fails to reassure Wall Street about his plans for Disney’s traditional TV operations, Nelson Peltz seizes the chance to launch a fresh attack on the Magic Kingdom. And this time, he won’t back down. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the ne...
Dec 18, 2024•34 min•Season 102Ep. 2
It’s 2022 and Disney is in trouble. The combined forces of pandemic shutdowns, box-office bombs and political missteps have hammered Disney’s stock price. Marvel’s jilted former boss sees an opportunity. He allies with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz to plot a boardroom coup. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Ex...
Dec 11, 2024•33 min•Season 102Ep. 1
Is nostalgia alone enough to keep Chuck E. Cheese afloat in 2025? As the chain continues to crawl its way out of bankruptcy, they’ll need to win over the next generation of kids — or perhaps, their parents — to keep the arcade lights on. Ben Coley of the trade publication QSR Magazine joins David to discuss how Chuck E. Cheese is making money these days, and whether they’ll be able to stick it out for another 50 years. Later, Ross Brakman of the American Treasure Tour Museum shares the orig...
Dec 04, 2024•36 min•Season 101Ep. 3
