When the European Union moves to ban tobacco sponsorship, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone finds himself racing to expand the sport’s global reach. But as F1 goes global, NASCAR finds its TV appeal is running out of gas. If you’d like to hear more about the high-stakes drama of F1, we recommend the audiobook version of The Formula. You can listen right now on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Formula-Audiobook/B0C834FDPB?srsltid=AfmBOopWNQLsloHzpZvxk0E1_mHodmgMgrcJUH-ue6AHQHwnX86ov_TZ Se...
May 20, 2026•45 min•Season 134Ep. 2
When moonshine runners turn stock car racers, Bill France creates NASCAR and turns it into America’s top motorsport. Meanwhile, in Europe, another canny operator – Bernie Ecclestone – is fighting to bend Formula One to his will. If you’d like to hear more about the high-stakes drama of F1, we recommend the audiobook version of The Formula. You can listen right now on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Formula-Audiobook/B0C834FDPB?srsltid=AfmBOopWNQLsloHzpZvxk0E1_mHodmgMgrcJUH-ue6AHQHwnX86ov...
May 13, 2026•48 min•Season 134Ep. 1
It’s 2024 and Bumble’s users are increasingly frustrated by matches that go nowhere. Investors are equally uneasy as the stock price cascades from its post-IPO highs. In response, new CEO Lidiane Jones rolls out a rebrand with a major change. But the rollout faces a backlash and the company’s slide continues. Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd returns to save her company and to find out whether an app built on human connection can be rescued by AI. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...
May 06, 2026•42 min•Season 133Ep. 2
It’s 2014 and twenty-four-year-old Whitney Wolfe sues Tinder for harassment, sending shockwaves through Silicon Valley. She walks away with a settlement but pays a high personal price for taking on the “boy’s club” culture in tech. That leads Wolfe to launch Bumble, an app with a radical feature — women make the first move. Bumble attracts millions of users and has a blockbuster IPO. But as the Bumble “Hive” grows, the pressure to scale takes its toll, and onlookers wonder: Can Bumble survive wi...
Apr 29, 2026•44 min•Season 133Ep. 1
When Athletic hit the shelves in 2017, it proved to naysayers that you can have a non-alcoholic beer without sacrificing on taste. Dare we say, it even gave NA brews a certain cool-factor. Athletic helped kick off an NA craze that’s seen more and more alcohol-free beers, botanicals and mocktails infusing beverage menus. But does the trend have staying power? Kate Bernot is a food and beverage reporter and analyst with Feel Goods Insights. Kate’s covered the beer industry for Bon Appetit, The Was...
Apr 23, 2026•43 min•Season 132Ep. 3
With its brewery finally open, Athletic Brewing is on a mission to get its beer into stores. But Heineken, the European leader in this space, is also chasing this growing market and now has its sights set on the U.S. And Athletic wants to prove it can compete not just with the alcohol industry, but against all beverages. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Apr 22, 2026•38 min•Season 132Ep. 2
It’s 2017 and Bill Shufelt is about to quit stock trading to start a company with a product it seems like nobody wants: non-alcoholic beer. And that’s not even his biggest hurdle. Because his plan depends on making alcohol-free beer taste great – a feat he’s not sure is even possible. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Apr 15, 2026•37 min•Season 132Ep. 1
It’s 2015 and Taylor Swift’s just thrown Apple Music into crisis. But as the Silicon Valley giant tries to get its music-streaming service back on track, its Swedish rival Spotify is about to launch a legal attack that will strike at the very heart of Apple’s business model. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Apr 08, 2026•43 min•Season 131Ep. 2
It’s the late 2000s and the music industry dances to the beat of Apple iTunes. But two Swedish tech entrepreneurs are out to challenge Apple's dominance with their music-streaming startup Spotify. But to do that, they must facedown Internet pirates, record labels and Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privac...
Apr 01, 2026•44 min•Season 131Ep. 1
When Michael Jordan signed with an upstart running shoe company called Nike in the 1980s, it revolutionized the signature sneaker landscape and made Nike the brand to beat. Under Armour made a similar play signing Steph Curry in 2013. But it didn’t pan out quite the way they hoped. Still, nowadays it seems like every star athlete needs a signature line. Tim Newcomb is a sneaker and sports tech reporter whose work has appeared in Forbes, Sports Illustrated, Esquire and more. He's breaking down th...
Mar 26, 2026•42 min•Season 130Ep. 3
It’s 2014 and Under Armour is getting increasingly aggressive as it takes on Nike, buying fitness apps and signing record-breaking endorsement deals. But they face a major setback when one of their biggest retail partners goes bankrupt. To recoup the lost revenue, Under Armour makes a risky deal. And as the company scrambles to keep up with the rise of ecommerce and athleisure, they face a daunting question: are they losing sight of what made them great? Audible subscribers can listen to all epi...
Mar 25, 2026•45 min•Season 130Ep. 2
It’s 1995 and college football player Kevin Plank is frustrated with the way the cotton t-shirt he wears under his pads gets drenched with sweat. He begins designing a t-shirt made from a different kind of material - one that will wick away sweat and keep him cool and dry on the field. Upon graduating, Plank uses his life savings and maxes out his credit cards to launch Under Armour. And within ten years of its founding, Plank sets his sights on the biggest prize of all: taking on Nike. Audible ...
Mar 18, 2026•44 min•Season 130Ep. 1
As the 1990s come to a close, Gatorade has become an established powerhouse brand, thanks to a 25-year head start and the star power of their spokesperson Michael Jordan. But the millennium brings fresh challenges to Gatorade’s dominance. Coca-Cola goes on the offensive, investing millions in their competing product, Powerade. And Powerade’s rise is only the beginning of Gatorade’s woes. As the science of sports drinks evolves, can Gatorade still keep up with its younger rivals? Audible subscrib...
Mar 11, 2026•38 min•Season 129Ep. 3
It’s the early 1970s, and Gatorade isn’t just the leader in sports hydration — it is sports hydration. No other competing brand comes close. But that dominance won’t last forever. Soon, Gatorade must fend off challenges from soft-drink giants Coke and Pepsi. Will enlisting the world’s greatest athlete and spokesperson keep them ahead of the game? Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. See Privacy Polic...
Mar 04, 2026•35 min•Season 129Ep. 2
It’s 1965 and at the University of Florida, a team of kidney scientists is working hard on an electrolyte beverage solution to prevent dehydration. It’s a hit with the school’s football team, the Florida Gators, and so they name it Gatorade. But creating an innovative product only gets you so far. The team has to figure out how they’ll get their new beverage off the sidelines and into grocery stores and the hands of millions of everyday consumers. And now that they’ve created the sports-drink se...
Feb 25, 2026•44 min•Season 129Ep. 1
In the 2010s, FinTech companies emerged offering a Buy Now, Pay Later service that made financing available, at a time when trust in big banks was low. But as dependence on these apps grows, consumers are starting to reassess the cost. Adam Clark Estes is a Senior Technology Correspondent for Vox — he’s sharing what can happen when customers over-rely these services. Later, Annie Joy Williams , an assistant editor at The Atlantic, explains why women are becoming the biggest target demographic fo...
Feb 19, 2026•41 min•Season 128Ep. 3
Klarna’s popularity in the United States soars as the Covid-19 pandemic closes brick-and-mortar stores and online shopping surges. But Klarna also has a fresh wave of competitors. And as consumers find themselves sucked into vicious debt cycles, Klarna and other Buy Now, Pay Later services are forced to navigate a backlash and new government regulation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Feb 18, 2026•41 min•Season 128Ep. 2
In the early 2000s, Sebastian Siemiatkowski identified a gap in Europe’s burgeoning ecommerce market — consumers were hesitant to buy products sight unseen. Siemiatkowski’s new company would front the bill and give consumers 30 days to pay. The concept caught on and helped kick off the modern Buy Now, Pay Later industry. And after conquering Europe, Siemiatkowski’s Klarna set its sights on the U.S., determined to disrupt the credit card industry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy a...
Feb 11, 2026•42 min•Season 128Ep. 1
When CrowdStrike's faulty software update shuts down airports, hospitals and TV networks around the globe, they face intense backlash from the public. The world is forced to reckon with a terrifying new reality. As our systems become more interconnected, and reliant on just a handful of big tech companies, they also become more vulnerable to a single point of failure. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonder...
Feb 04, 2026•35 min•Season 127Ep. 2
In 2011, CrowdStrike launched with an innovative vision: using cloud-based software to provide cybersecurity. They attracted big clients, including Fortune 500 companies and critical government agencies. And along the way, they investigated notorious hacks, like the North Korean breach of Sony Pictures, and the 2016 hack of the Democratic National Committee. But in 2024, they faced their biggest test of all, when a bug in their own software created the largest I.T outage in world history. Be the...
Jan 28, 2026•37 min•Season 127Ep. 1
Ever wondered what it’s like to ride in a Waymo? David and his daughter headed to downtown Austin to take their first trip in a driverless taxi. Together, they documented all the ups, downs, twists and turns. Later, author and former Waymo consultant Larry Burns rides shotgun to talk about how these autonomous vehicles will massively disrupt the auto industry — and why Larry believes the tipping point for making these cars mainstream falls within this decade. Be the first to know about Wondery’s...
Jan 21, 2026•39 min•Season 126Ep. 3
When the demands of war ignite a race to build autonomous cars, Google invests billions in the hope of owning the driverless future of transportation. But can it really turn this technological challenge into a viable business? 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 bi...
Jan 21, 2026•43 min•Season 126Ep. 2
When the demands of war ignite a race to build autonomous cars, Google invests billions in the hope of owning the driverless future of transportation. But can it really turn this technological challenge into a viable business? 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 bi...
Jan 14, 2026•51 min•Season 126Ep. 1
This fall, Beyond Meat became a meme stock, surging …and then falling right back down. For years, alternative meat companies Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have struggled to win over customers en masse. Deena Shanker of Bloomberg Businessweek explains where the companies lost their way, and whether they can survive another year. Later, journalist Clint Rainey walks us through his investigation for Fast Company where Beyond and Impossible claimed they were victims of a social media disinformati...
Jan 08, 2026•44 min•Season 125Ep. 5
Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger boomed in the 2010s, but changing tastes have turned their sizzle into a fizzle. And as they continue to slide deeper into debt, these companies have struggled to get back on top of the plant-based food chain. . What’s next for these meatless giants? Jason Kartalian and Mike Keller, co-hosts of the podcast Vegan Hacks, join David to discuss the future of Beyond Meat, Impossible Burger, and the meatless meat market as a whole. Be the first to know about Wondery’s...
Jan 07, 2026•35 min•Season 125Ep. 4
It’s 2019 and plant-based meats are on fire. But they’re also under fire. Supporters of the beef industry start a food fight with the plant-based meat industry. It kicks off on Super Bowl Sunday, with an aggressive TV ad. But Pat Brown’s Impossible Foods fights back with an ad of its own. Meanwhile, Ethan Brown pushes Beyond Meat to grow at all costs. As debts mount, Ethan tries to get the king of burgers, McDonald’s, to bite on a new plant-based patty. And, as the heat turns up at both companie...
Jan 07, 2026•32 min•Season 125Ep. 3
It’s 2016 and both Pat Brown’s Impossible Foods and Ethan Brown’s Beyond Meat are cooking up plant-based burgers for mass consumption. Ethan tries to woo Whole Foods executives to carry his Beyond Burger in their stores from coast-to-coast. Pat’s taking a different route. He’s asking celebrity chefs to put his Impossible Burger — a plant-based meat that bleeds — on their menus. Soon enough, fake meat gets truly famous. But as Beyond Meat tries to cash in on Wall Street and as Impossible Foods ge...
Dec 31, 2025•31 min•Season 125Ep. 2
It's 2008 and two men, both vegans, ponder what they can do to improve the climate. Though they’re on separate sides of the country and in different professions (but they coincidentally share a last name)— Ethan Brown is in the fuel cell business and Pat Brown is a lauded Stanford biochemist — they land on the same solution. They’re going to try and lessen the climate impact of animal agriculture by making meat from plants. Ethan calls his company Beyond Meat and notches the first commercial bre...
Dec 31, 2025•39 min•Season 125Ep. 1
Flush from its success in video game graphics, Nvidia sets its sights on turning its gaming chips into the tools that will power the next wave of computing advancement. With both investors and computer scientists skeptical, their plan looks like money down the drain. Right up until A.I. researchers discover the untapped power hidden inside Nvidia’s gaming chips. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsl...
Dec 24, 2025•43 min•Season 124Ep. 2
It’s the early 1990s and video games are about to go 3D. And in a Denny’s in Silicon Valley, three engineers are plotting to cash in on the transition with a startup called Nvidia. But when they misjudge the market, CEO Jensen Huang will have to pull off a multi-million dollar Hail Mary to save it from ruin. 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 whe...
Dec 17, 2025•44 min•Season 124Ep. 1
