Image credits: Daniel Friesenecker/Pixabay
Podcasts have recently seen a surge in popularity, and for good reasons! One of the main reasons is that they are relatively easy to produce, which makes them an accessible content format for businesses of all sizes.
Secondly, podcasts are a great way to connect with your audience and build a following. This audio medium tends to be more personal than other media such as radio or television.
What is a Podcast?
A podcast is essentially a digital audio file that can be created and distributed online. They’re usually episodic, meaning each podcast is released in episodes and often covers a particular topic or theme.
Why should you listen to podcasts?
Podcasts are a great way to stay up-to-date with current events, learn about new topics, or just be entertained. They offer many advantages over traditional radio or TV programmes, including:
- You can listen to podcasts anytime, anywhere – whether you’re commuting, working out, or just relaxing at home.
- They’re usually free to download and listen to.
- You can choose from various topics and genres, so there’s always something to suit your interests.
- Podcasts are generally shorter than traditional radio or TV programmes, making them more convenient to listen to.
With so many options out there, it can be tough to know where to start when it comes to podcasts for startup founders. To help, we at Silicon Canals reached out to various startup founders in Amsterdam to get their recommendations on what they’ve been listening to during the summer break.
Here are some of their top picks:
What does Dott do? Dott is a micro-mobility operator with a mission to free cities with clean rides for everyone. With speeds up to 25kph, Dott’s e-bikes provide an efficient way to move across a city, free from congestion and without causing pollution.
Podcast recommendations
Making Sense with Sam Harris – In this podcast, Sam Harris, a neuroscientist, philosopher, New York Times best-selling author, and creator of the Waking Up app, explores important and controversial questions about the human mind, society, and current events.
Hardcore History with Dan Carlin – In this podcast, journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his unorthodox thinking and applies it to the past. Of course, this isn’t academic history, but the podcast blends high drama, masterful narration, and Twilight Zone-style twists.
The Scale Lab – Hosted by Prince Constantijn van Oranje of the Netherlands, Envoy at Techleap.nl and co-founder of StartupFestEurope, and Joe Wilson, founder of Risenu, the podcast discusses the opportunities and hurdles of scaling a tech startup in the Netherlands. This podcast series gathers remarkable Dutch entrepreneurs who were able to create breakthrough companies to deconstruct their scaling journeys.
What does Lepaya do? Lepaya provides soft skill training that combines online and offline learning through its learning app and short, interactive classroom sessions with the best trainers.
Podcast recommendations
People mastermind: Hosted by Kristel Moedt and Eveliese Luiting, founders of People Masterminds, the podcast is centred around a specific disruptive topic with an expert guest.
What does Hadrian do? Hadrian is a hacker-led cybersecurity startup that offers automated security insights through its AI-driven testing SaaS platform.
Podcast recommendations
Darknet Diaries – It is an investigative podcast by Jack Rhysider, chronicling true stories about hackers, malware, botnets, cryptography, cryptocurrency, cybercrime, and Internet privacy. Jack Rhysider is a veteran of the security world and has gained professional knowledge by working in a security operations centre for a Fortune 500 company, a place where threats are detected and stopped.
What does Wundermart do? Wundermart is a retail-technology company that offers unmanned shop concepts for the hospitality industry. It allows customers to enter a store, grab their desired items, scan each item, and make their payment at the self-checkout kiosk, enhancing the shopping experience.
Podcast recommendations
BBC’s The Missing Crypto Queen – This podcast is about Dr. Ruja Ignatova and her elaborate pyramid scheme built on a fake crypto coin. Acclaimed tech journalist Jamie Bartlett presents a story of greed, deceit, and herd madness.
Pivot by New York Magazine/Vox – In this podcast, tech journalist Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics.
What does Tiqets do? Tiqets is an innovative ticketing platform that connects travellers looking for last-minute tickets to museums and attractions worldwide.
Podcast recommendations
All-In – In this podcast, four industry veterans -Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks and David Friedberg – cover all things economic, tech, political, social, and poker.
Pivot by New York Magazine/Vox – In this podcast, tech journalist Kara Swisher and NYU Professor Scott Galloway offer sharp, unfiltered insights into the biggest stories in tech, business, and politics.
The Prof G Show – In this podcast, best-selling author, professor, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway tears into the taxonomy of the tech business with unfiltered, data-driven insights, bold predictions, and thoughtful advice. Further, other professors, practitioners, and entrepreneurs join Scott to contribute ideas, alternate opinions, and insights to help you thrive at work.
Masters of Scale – In this podcast, LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock partner Reid Hoffman explore how great companies scale up from zero to a gazillion, testing his theories with leaders. It is a genre-defining series on how to think boldly and differently about the world.
What does Peekabond do? Peekabond, via its “ethical” social, mobile platform, helps children build deep bonds with family and loved ones who are at a distance through an asynchronous connection, such as interactive lessons, activities, games, stories, and songs.
Podcast recommendations
Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat – Slo Mo is a series of conversations hosted by bestselling author and former Chief Business Officer of Google [X], Mo Gawdat. It features a series of interviews that explores the profound questions and obstacles we all face in the pursuit of purpose and happiness in our lives.
The Tim Ferriss Show – Hosted by Tim Ferriss, a self-experimenter and bestselling author, this business podcast deconstructs world-class performers from diverse areas (investing, sports, business, art, etc.) to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use. It includes favourite books, morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and more.
At The Money – In this podcast, Thomas Mensink, Startup and Investment Analyst at Golden Egg Check, speaks to entrepreneurs and investors about growth and investment strategies. He talks to entrepreneurs who are about to raise growth capital or who have recently done so and with venture capital investors who invest in such startups and scale-ups.
Up!Rotterdam Podcast – Hosted by Lars Crama, Private Lead Up!Rotterdam, this podcast showcases the vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem of Rotterdam.
Not My First Guess – In this podcast, Hattie Willis, founder of GuessWorks, provides candid lessons from fellow founders, investors, and innovation experts to help test, launch, and scale ideas faster.
Soul Kitchen with Jasper Mutsaerts – Jasper Mutsaerts, a startup coach who trained and coached around 500 social entrepreneurs and worked on accelerator programmes, travels the world and interviews people about their inner journey and secret ingredients to a happy life.
Going Conscious with Nikki Trott – Hosted by the founder of Conscious Accelerator, Nikki Trott, this podcast talks about discovering new ways to live a more conscious life of fulfilment and freedom. Each week Trott speaks with entrepreneurs, academics, and change-makers who have found meaning in this new world where purpose drives success.
What does Rockstart do? Rockstart is a domain-focused accelerator venture capital firm that offers follow-on growth capital to help startups become successful across four domains: energy, health, agrifood, and emerging technologies.
Podcast recommendations
Huberman Lab – In this podcast, Dr. Andrew Huberman, Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine, discusses neuroscience — how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviours, and our health.
a16z – This podcast discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future. It features industry experts, business leaders, and other interesting thinkers and voices worldwide. This podcast is produced by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm.
The Joe Rogan Experience – In this podcast, Joe Rogan, a UFC colour commentator, podcaster, comedian, actor, and former television presenter, discusses current events, comedy, politics, philosophy, science, and hobbies with a variety of guests.
Catch our interview with Paul Down, Head of Sales at Intigriti.
