Best Podcasts for Founders Navigating Startup Life in 2025

As the startup landscape continues to evolve in 2025, founders are constantly seeking insights and inspiration to navigate the complexities of building and scaling their businesses. Podcasts have become an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs, providing real-world advice and success stories from those who have been in the trenches. Here’s a curated list of the best podcasts for founders looking to thrive in startup life this year.

Updated January 2026

1. Built This Week

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Weekly episodes, real product launches, exploration of AI tools.
• Best Use Cases: Ideal for founders looking for actionable insights and real-time updates on what successful builders are creating.

2. How I Built This

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Interviews with successful entrepreneurs, behind-the-scenes stories.
• Best Use Cases: Great for inspiration and learning from the journeys of well-known founders.

3. Masters of Scale

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Hosted by Reid Hoffman, features stories of how companies grow from zero to a gazillion.
• Best Use Cases: Best for understanding scaling strategies and growth challenges.

4. The Tim Ferriss Show

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Tim Ferriss interviews high achievers across various disciplines.
• Best Use Cases: Useful for personal development and productivity tips alongside business insights.

5. The Startup Podcast

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Chronicles the ups and downs of starting a business.
• Best Use Cases: Perfect for those who want a realistic view of the startup journey.

6. Foundr Podcast

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Interviews with entrepreneurs and experts, actionable advice.
• Best Use Cases: Ideal for indie hackers looking for specific strategies and actionable tips.

7. The Pitch

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Entrepreneurs pitch their startups to real investors.
• Best Use Cases: Great for learning about the fundraising process and what investors look for.

8. The Indicator from Planet Money

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Short episodes that explain business and economic trends.
• Best Use Cases: Useful for understanding market dynamics that affect startups.

9. Smart Passive Income

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Focuses on building online businesses and passive income streams.
• Best Use Cases: Excellent for solo founders interested in online business models.

10. The SaaS Revolution Show

• Pricing: Free
• Key Features: Focuses on software as a service (SaaS) startups and their founders.
• Best Use Cases: Best for founders in the SaaS space looking for industry-specific insights.

Comparison Table of Top Podcasts for Founders

| Podcast | Pricing | Key Features | Best Use Cases | |-----------------------------|---------|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Built This Week | Free | Weekly real product launches, actionable insights | Real-time updates for busy founders | | How I Built This | Free | Interviews with successful entrepreneurs | Inspiration from established founders | | Masters of Scale | Free | Growth stories from successful companies | Scaling strategies and challenges | | The Tim Ferriss Show | Free | Interviews across disciplines | Personal development and productivity tips | | The Startup Podcast | Free | Realistic startup journey chronicles | Real-world startup experiences | | Foundr Podcast | Free | Actionable advice from entrepreneurs | Specific strategies for indie hackers | | The Pitch | Free | Entrepreneurs pitch to investors | Fundraising insights | | The Indicator from Planet Money | Free | Short episodes on business trends | Market dynamics understanding | | Smart Passive Income | Free | Online business and passive income | Online business models | | The SaaS Revolution Show | Free | SaaS-focused insights | SaaS industry-specific knowledge |

Conclusion

In the fast-paced world of startups, having the right resources can make all the difference. These podcasts not only provide valuable insights but also inspire and empower founders to take actionable steps toward their goals.