How I Built This
How I Built This is an American podcast hosted by Guy Raz that interviews the world's best-known entrepreneurs about how they built their iconic brands.
The Story
How I Built This launched on September 12, 2016, when NPR journalist Guy Raz sat down with Sara Blakely of Spanx for the very first episode. Raz had spent years covering global news, but he wanted to tell a different kind of story — the messy, improbable, human stories behind the world's most recognizable brands.
The show found its audience quickly. By 2018, Raz expanded the concept beyond audio, launching the How I Built This Summit in San Francisco. The annual event brought podcast guests face-to-face with listeners for keynotes and workshops. That same year, Wondery — the podcast network founded by Hernan Lopez — signed on as producer, giving the show new production resources and distribution reach. Raz also released a book that year, How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success, which pulled together the most memorable founder conversations from the first two seasons.
In 2022, How I Built This joined Wondery full-time under a new licensing deal, with Amazon Music handling podcast distribution. The show has earned 13 podcast industry award nominations, winning the 2023 Webby Award for Best Business Podcast. More than 500 episodes later, it remains one of the most downloaded business podcasts in the world.
Key Facts & Metrics
Games & Merch
How I Built This: The Book
Guy Raz's 2020 book distilling the most memorable lessons and founder stories from the podcast's first seasons into a guide for aspiring entrepreneurs.
How I Built This Podcast
Weekly podcast where Guy Raz interviews the world's best-known founders about the stories behind their movements. Available free on all major platforms, with ad-free episodes and bonus content on Wondery+.
Company Timeline
2016 — Launched at NPR
How I Built This debuted as an NPR podcast with Sara Blakely (Spanx) as the first guest.
2018 — Wondery Partnership
Wondery became the production and distribution partner, accelerating growth.
2020 — Book Published
Guy Raz published How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success, distilling lessons from the podcast into a print guide.
2022 — Wondery/Amazon Deal
Wondery acquired exclusive licensing rights from NPR, bringing the show to Amazon Music/Wondery+.
2023 — Webby Award Winner
Won a Webby Award for Best Business Podcast, cementing its position in the genre.
