The Best Podcasts for MBA Students

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Updated October 13, 2022 · 4 Min Read

Listening to an MBA podcast is a good way to get information about the business field. Follow this guide of featured podcasts for MBA students.

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There are many resources available for business students to prepare for their careers, including MBA podcasts. Podcasts for MBA learners discuss industry news, tips for applying to MBA programs, and skill-building practices.

Podcasts have grown in popularity over the past few years. Insider Intelligence data for 2022 notes that 39% of adults in the United States aged 18-34 listen to podcasts each month. Spotify has more than four million podcasts on its platform alone, with more shows available on other streaming platforms, like Apple Podcasts and Audible.

Business students might find MBA-focused podcasts helpful to listen to as they study, commute to work or school, or take a lunch break. Some offer quick and actionable tips, while others provide more in-depth information, allowing students to choose a pace that suits their schedules.

This guide gathers some of the best podcasts MBA students can enjoy.

What Is in an MBA Podcast?

MBA podcasts discuss various topics important to business students. Some seek advice and opinions from thought leaders or provide general industry news. However, others explore specific business topics, like entrepreneurship, MBA admissions, or international business.

Popular podcasts MBA students enjoy include a mix of topics that assist learners in their studies and future career planning. For example, some MBA podcast hosts are MBA graduates who share personal tips for growing networks, gaining experience, and strengthening a professional future.

To find reputable shows, research the podcast's history. For instance, how old is it, who hosts it, and how often does it publish new episodes?

Podcasts with recent episodes may offer more current information than those without newly released content within the past year or more. Learners can also read listener reviews to understand whether the show is a good fit for them.

Below, we list some podcasts MBA students can listen to as they prepare to enter business school or develop their professional careers.

Featured MBA Podcasts

The following list includes 10 MBA podcasts (listed alphabetically) that could benefit current enrollees and students preparing for MBA programs. We analyzed features like content, number of episodes, and the length of episodes.

B-Schooled

B-Schooled is a product of Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC), a consulting firm specializing in MBA admissions. Host Erika Olson is a Harvard MBA alum who uses the weekly podcast to share advice and motivating stories about applying to MBA programs. Occasionally, other SBC consultants join Olson to discuss important topics affecting MBA applicants, like inclusion, quantitative profiles, and application authenticity.

HBR IdeaCast

The Harvard Business Review team created HBR IdeaCast in 2006 to spotlight some of the business industry's top leaders and their advice.

Although not specifically designed for business students, the weekly podcast tackles diverse topics that future leaders should consider. For example, episodes explore modern workplace culture and the intersection between politics and business.

Journey to Launch

Created by personal finance guru Jamila Souffrant, Journey to Launch focuses on becoming a successful entrepreneur through financial independence. The weekly episodes incorporate financial literacy into business-focused topics, like creating professional boundaries and scaling a business.

This podcast frequently highlights women entrepreneurs and their successes, including bloggers, therapists, and lawyers.

  • Content: Expert tips on financial freedom and entrepreneurship
  • Average Episode Length: 50 minutes
  • Number of Episodes: 280+
  • Where to Listen: Apple Podcasts | Audible | Spotify | TuneIn

Knowledge at Wharton

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is one of the country's most prestigious and highly ranked business schools. The Knowledge at Wharton podcast offers industry insights and discussions from the school's instructors and experts. Busy students will appreciate its short episodes packed with information about today's economy and business health.

  • Content: Wharton expert interviews, business insights, and news
  • Average Episode Length: 12 minutes
  • Number of Episodes: 2,000+
  • Where to Listen: Apple Podcasts

MBA Insider

Al Dea, speaker, author, and founder of MBASchooled, hosts MBA Insider: a podcast that helps MBA students reach their career goals. Each week, Dea interviews speakers, admissions consultants, and other business professionals to discuss job searches, professional development, and leadership.

The show currently has a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts, with listeners praising its diverse mix of experts and helpful, actionable tips for navigating business school and beyond.

The $100 MBA Show

Hosted by entrepreneur, speaker, and business owner Omar Zenhom, The $100 MBA Show teaches aspiring entrepreneurs what they need to know to be successful. Since its start in 2014, the podcast has reached Apple's top charts multiple times in several business categories.

Zenhom's well-rounded content includes interviews with other business owners and answers to listener questions. Daily episodes are usually no longer than 15 minutes, with the occasional one-hour in-depth episode sprinkled in.

The EntreLeadership Podcast

Hosted by The Ramsey Show co-host George Kamel, The EntreLeadership Podcast covers some of the hottest topics in today's business landscape, like team trust-building and avoiding the daily grind. Kamel sits down with well-known names, like Jenna Kutcher, Mark Cuban, and Tim Tebow, to bring new insights to current and future leaders each week.

Students can also watch episodes of the podcast on YouTube.

The Tim Ferriss Show

Consistently awarded a spot in Apple Podcasts' top charts, The Tim Ferriss Show has become a go-to spot for celebrities and thought leaders to appear as guests.

In past episodes, host Tim Ferriss — an author, investor, and entrepreneur — has spoken with Mark Zuckerberg, Jamie Foxx, and Sarah Silverman to explore success tips, work-life balance, and long-term business strategies. Extended discussions allow guests to dig deep into topics for excellent insight into the driving forces behind public figures.

The Tropical MBA Podcast

MBA students interested in becoming location-independent entrepreneurs can listen to The Tropical MBA Podcast.

This weekly podcast features spirited discussions led by hosts and entrepreneurs Dan Andrews and Ian Schoen. Along with topics like travel, team building, and bootstrapping, Andrews and Schoen also explore their real-life entrepreneurial experiences.

  • Content: Actionable tips, responses to listener questions and comments, and guest conversations and interviews
  • Average Episode Length: 40 minutes
  • Number of Episodes: 660+
  • Where to Listen: Apple Podcasts | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher

Tiny Leaps, Big Changes

Tiny Leaps, Big Changes is not solely focused on business and graduate studies. However, host Gregg Clunis is an entrepreneur with an affinity for personal development and goal-setting.

In this podcast, listeners uncover small changes they can make in their daily lives to create big outcomes. Clunis also discusses topics relevant to college students, including student loan forgiveness, productivity, and taking strategic risks. Most episodes are also available on YouTube.

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