You can choose a podcast covering private equity and venture capitalism by looking at credibility, practicality, usability, and community.
So, how do you determine the best from the best? We recommend following a six-step process:
To help you get started (or continue) along your venture capitalism journey, we’ve collected some of the best venture capitalist and private equity podcasts available. We’re detailing the best shows covering essential learning, founder interviews, and due diligence. Plus, we explore several podcasts covering market changes and trends.
The best private equity podcasts are grouped into five categories: LPs and allocators, private equity, venture capital, tech and market analysis, and podcasters, covering deal-making, fundraising, trend-spotting, and operational strategy.
We’ve broken down this list of podcasts into four different sections:
LPs and allocators
Private equity
Venture capital
Tech and market analysis
And added one BONUS section:
Each one covers a minimum of five podcasts each, plus what makes them different, so you can explore options on your own terms.
Let’s start with the most popular category on this list:
Podcasts for LPs and Allocators
If you’re a private equity investor looking for strategies, tips, or industry trends, the following podcast selections can help you make more informed decisions. Those in wealth management will also find several of these shows directly relevant to how institutional capital is managed and allocated.
Many of them cover PE deal-making and sourcing, as well as tips and tricks for institutional and non-institutional investors.
1. Best But Never Final Podcast: Best for Investors of All Skills and Experiences
Best But Never Final is perhaps best described as a “podcast in pursuit of excellence.” Hosts Doug McCormick , Lloyd Metz , and Sean Mooney distill decades of combined experience into dense (but well-presented) 45-minute episodes.
You should listen to Best But Never Final if you’re an investor wanting to stay on the bleeding edge , with topics ranging from tariffs and board meetings to mergers and buy-and-build models. It works well for beginners just dipping their toe into the industry (i.e., episodes like Diagnosing and Fixing Portfolio Problems ). But even advanced PE pros can find value in the monthly releases, like their exclusive interview with Paul Ryan , for example.
Listen to Value Investing with Legends on Apple Podcasts .
2. Invest Like the Best: Best for Newer PE Investors
You can think of Invest Like the Best as a catch-all investment show covering investing strategies, capital allocators, and PE/VC insights. There are once-weekly episodes covering local and global trends in the industry, as well as 1:1 interviews, within a 45 to 90-minute episode.
Since Invest Like the Best isn’t strictly about private equity, it’s a great podcast for listeners wanting to break into PE for the first time. You can listen to expert interviews and advice, plus hear success stories from those who branched into private equity and succeeded. It’s an excellent show to help you sift through ideas (before getting into an investment strategy you may not enjoy).
Patrick doesn’t rush guests through their individual evaluation frameworks, which gives space to explain exactly how they think, what they’ve learned, and why certain strategies work. The result is a collection of timeless insights. You can see this for yourself in Patrick’s interview with Shopify’s Tobi Lütke .
⭐ Staff Pick! “Patrick O’Shaughnessy has an uncanny ability to get the world’s greatest investors and founders to think out loud on Invest Like the Best, and I’ve never once finished an episode without a new idea or framework rattling around in my head. It’s the rare podcast that makes you better at both investing and business thinking at the same time. ” Robert Van Vranken, Launch Specialist, The Podcast Consultant.
Listen to Invest Like the Best on The Podcast Consultant
3. Private Equity Funcast: Best for Casual Listening
As the name implies, the Private Equity Funcast covers trending topics in PE without the traditional rigidity you might expect from business shows. Hosts Devin Mathews and Jim Milbery explore the nuance of the middle market (i.e., how to invest in companies making $100 million or less per year). Episodes are published biweekly, often at or below the 60-minute mark.
The Private Equity Funcast describes itself as “lively,” which is probably the best description of the tone. It’s somewhat more accessible and easier to listen to compared to other shows. Plus, it’s designed around individual buy-and-build investors. So if you want non-institutional PE concepts explained in a simple, conversational format, this could be the perfect show for you.
Listen to the Private Equity Funcast on Apple Podcasts .
4. How I Invest with David Weisburd: Best for Advanced Non-Institutional Investors
For all the institutional investors in the room, David Weisburd has some advice for you. This fast-growing podcast publishes 45-minute episodes every two days, featuring exclusive interviews with leading institutional investors, their private equity philosophies, and venture capitalism approaches.
How I Invest isn’t necessarily for complete beginners, but it does offer many takeaways to the advanced or growing non-institutional investor. It’s the best PE podcast for solo investors looking for new opportunities (or ready to take things up a notch). You can rest easy knowing you’re in good company: the podcast receives roughly 300,000 downloads per month.
Listen to How I Invest with David Weisburd on Spotify
⭐Staff Pick! “If you are a complete beginner to private equity, you might be interested in this recent episode exploring how one global platform has democratized access to private markets so millions of ordinary people can invest like a VC.” — Robin Fussell @ The Podcast Consultant
Hosted by (you guessed it) PE pro Scott Becker , the Private Equity & Business Podcast covers the big and small trends affecting the PE market. Scott uploads once, often twice per day, with short-form content lasting three minutes or less.
The Private Equity & Business Podcast is best for PE pros who want to stay abreast of industry changes without dedicating more than a few minutes per day. It’s not a bad option for your RSS feed if you’re looking for near-real-time updates on the state of the PE industry.
Listen to the Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast on Spotify .
6. The Full Ratchet: Best for Angel Investors
The Full Ratchet, hosted by Nick Moran , is one of the most respected podcasts in the angel investing world. It’s specifically designed to help investors understand how to evaluate seed-stage opportunities, filter deal flow, and build repeatable frameworks for investment decisions.
Nick interviews emerging managers, seasoned VCs, and industry operators about their philosophies, processes, and red-flag detection skills. Unlike founder-focused shows, The Full Ratchet stays laser-focused on the angel investor’s POV. For example, makes a startup fundable? Which metrics matter at seed? And how do you due diligence hypergrowth without getting burned ?
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Podcasts for Private Equity
Whether you own, run, or work in the PE space, you can use the following podcasts to stay abreast of upcoming trends and industry news.
These shows cover middle-market trends, portfolio management, and best practices for running a modern firm. Plus, a few unique angles on regulation and fundraising, which may be useful depending on your role and responsibilities.
7. Karma School of Business Podcast: Best for Career Trajectory and “Breaking In”
If you’re looking for a mix of career strategy and operational wisdom, the Karma School of Business Podcast will be a strong contender. This BluWave show is hosted by Sean Mooney (of Best But Never Final Fame), who brings on founders, operators, investors, and industry leaders for practical discussions about scaling, hiring, and building a long-term career in private equity.
The Karma School of Business is especially valuable for PE managers wanting to sharpen their talent-development skills (i.e., improve team performance, create talent density, and otherwise climb the ladder in their own firms). You’ll find plenty of episodes spotlighting career pathways, operator frameworks, and leadership lessons that can be applied almost immediately.
Listen to the Karma School of Business Podcast on Apple Podcasts .
8. The Private Equity Podcast: Best for Interviews with Leading Experts
Alex Rawlings , founder and managing partner at Raw Selections, uses The Private Equity Podcast as a way to tap expert talent in the PE world. Each 60-minute episode features deep-dive interviews with fund managers, operating partners, and C-suite leaders from around the world, covering everything from culture-building and hiring to their personal career growth, biggest mistakes, and greatest wins.
If you’re looking for a pick-me-up as a PE professional, this is one of the best shows on the market. You’ll hear firsthand insights into how elite firms run their internal processes, develop talent, structure compensation, and deal with the obstacles presented by today’s competitive fundraising environment.
Listen to the Private Equity Podcast on Raw Selection .
9. Spotlight: A PEI Podcast: Best for Journalistic Reporting
Spotlight is produced by Private Equity International, which, by its admission, is “the only global publication with a primary focus on the relationships between investors and fund managers in private equity.” Or, as they like to call it, the LP-GP nexus. Its monthly print publication takes a more scholarly approach to news dissemination, so it’s no surprise it also takes a more traditional, journalistic style to PE podcast coverage.
Rather than conversational interviews, Spotlight offers structured reporting on global regulation, fundraising trends, secondaries, geopolitical pressures, and industry-defining shifts across institutional markets. This makes it a great option for private equity managers wanting a clean, fact-driven, “newsroom view” on all the macro forces shaping the industry.
Listen to Spotlight: A PEI Podcast on Apple Podcasts .
10. Middle Market Musings: Best for Middle Market PE Professionals
The Middle Market Musings podcast is all in the name: a show for sponsors, operators, and lenders working with companies valued between $10 million and $1 billion. Your hosts, Andy Greenberg and Charlie Gifford , explore valuations, deal cycles, debt markets, and the day-to-day realities of working in the PE industry.
The meat-and-potatoes of Middle Market Musings is that it speaks directly to practitioners. Ergo, it’s incredibly practical. You get candid conversations about lender relationships, deal execution, portfolio oversight, and how to manage firm dynamics during volatile market cycles. So if your role involves running a middle-market operation, or you simply want a ground-level view of the space, this is most certainly a podcast to add to your rotation.
Listen to Middle Market Musings on Apple Podcasts .
11. Masters in Business Podcast: Best for Finding PE Investment Opportunities
Masters in Business isn’t a PE podcast per se , but it’s still an exceptional resource for managers looking for new investment ideas. This show lives under the Bloomberg umbrella and is hosted by Barry Ritholtz , who’s the longtime co-founder, chairman, and chief investment officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management. Episodes change in length considerably, with anything from 15-minute trendspotting shows to 90-minute long-form interviews with investors, economists, strategists, and market thinkers.
Private equity managers will particularly appreciate Barry’s At The Money segments, which sum up trends in PE investing within 20 minutes or less. That’s one of the reasons why this show is best for finding new investment opportunities: it offers up ideas (like Monetizing Dirt ) you honestly can’t get anywhere else.
Listen to Masters in Business on Apple Podcasts .
Podcast for Venture Capitalists
Looking to co-invest in a startup or scale-up? Or are you an angel investor dipping your toe in for the first time? These podcasts can help you identify opportunities, avoid potential red flags, and protect your bottom line from unexpected expenses.
We cover more of the best venture capital podcasts in our dedicated guide.
12. a16z Podcast: Best for Web 3.0 Trends in Private Equity Investing
Hosted by the team (and man!) behind Andreessen Horowitz , a16z examines the bleeding edge between tech, markets, AI, Web3, and business model evolution. Episodes range anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and cover some of the PE/VC industry’s biggest questions around the world of innovation.
While it doesn’t necessarily discuss the mechanics of private equity, it’s still particularly helpful for understanding frontier technologies, which could become particularly important to diversifying portfolios. Plus, there are multiple episodes published every week, so you’re never without a little content to digest.
Listen to the a16z Podcast on YouTube .
💡 Sidenote: the podcast is called a16z because of Andreessen’s name. Think about it: there are 16 letters between the A and Z in his first and last name.
13. The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Best for Interviews with Venture Capitalists
Harry Stebbings ’ rapid-fire interviewing style makes 20VC one of the most engaging podcasts in the venture capitalism/private equity ecosystem. His goal is simple: to interview “the world’s greatest venture capitalists.” So it’s no surprise that each 60 to 80-minute episode takes a deep dive into investment frameworks, negotiation insights, and portfolio management philosophies.
If you’re a private equity manager looking to build a stronger venture lens or an existing VC wanting to hear some hot takes, this show is a great place to start. Keep in mind that each episode is much longer than 20 minutes. But as its hundreds of thousands of listeners suggest, it’s more than worth the time investment.
Listen to the Twenty Minute VC Podcast on Apple Podcasts .
14. Capital Allocators: Best for VCs in Institutional Investing
Capital Allocators is, in our humble opinion, the best podcast covering institutional investing. Its host, Ted Seides , covers VC, PE, and all their many subsets. For example, the intersection of private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, and institutional asset management. You’ll also find mini shows covering experts in hyperspecific fields who collectively steward trillions of dollars around the world.
As a VC, Capital Allocators can help you learn how major allocators think, what they look for in managers, and how long-term capital responds to shifting market conditions. All of this can help you refine your own fundraising strategy or even drill down a co-investing approach.
Listen to Capital Allocators on The Podcast Consultant .
15. Dry Powder Podcast: Best for Tracking Global Trends
Produced by the brains behind Bain & Company , Dry Powder looks at global VC trends alongside all the big and little things that could “redefine” private equity. Hugh MacArthur, the chairman of Bain’s global private equity practice, produces 15-minute episodes with experts once every two weeks.
You can use this show to do three things as a VC:
Track undervalued categories
Assess risk
Take bets on where capital is flowing next
If you tend to appreciate a more analytical approach to market commentary, Dry Powder is a great show on which to hang your hat.
Listen to Dry Powder on Apple Podcasts .
16. FYI (For Your Innovation) Podcast: Best for Spotting Disruptive Innovation
ARK Invest’s FYI podcast is all about exploring disruptive technologies and breaking down how they could reshape global markets. And by “disruptive,” we mean AI, biotech, robotics, fintech, next-gen manufacturing, and more. Unlike a16z, which niches in Web 3.0, Bitcoin, and CryptoTech, ARK explores anything from curing hair loss to robotaxis .
What makes FYI such a great resource for VCs and PE investors is the ability to identify promising early-stage markets (or get ahead of category-defining shifts). If you’re building a thesis around innovation or exploring new verticals, FYI offers the kind of deep, analytical insight you’d usually only find inside expensive research reports.
Listen to FYI on The Podcast Consultant .
17. This Week in Startups: Best for Founder Tips and Insights
Hosted by angel investor Jason Calacanis , This Week in Startups is your go-to source of info for founders in tech, media, business, and international markets. Its biggest claim to fame is expert interviews. Each week, you’ll hear from world-class operators, founders, investors, and innovators looking to share their findings with the world.
Beyond the tips, suggestions, and insights, This Week in Startups also covers trends and market predictions. That way, listeners have the opportunity to adjust their approaches and think more critically about their market approaches. If you’re looking for cutting-edge suggestions in 45 to 50-minute bundles, this is the show to start with. You can see it in action for yourself by listening to a time when Jason predicts a “major M&A moment” in the next six months .
18. Equity (TechCrunch): Best for Discussing Business Models
Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast covering all things startups, technology, and venture capitalism. There’s a good reason why it’s included on this list; the podcast was rated the #2 show for venture capitalism on Goodpods , and #17 for the best finance shows of all time.
We’ve specifically picked this bite-sized show for Equity’s breakdowns on business models, funding rounds, and venture activity. You’ll get 20 to 30-minute episodes every single week covering unique angles for positioning or growing your business. Case in point: this episode covering what startups are building discusses the advantages of switching from one-day development cycles to two-week sprints, and why that matters for startup development teams. So while it’s not necessarily all that applicable to fund managers, it could certainly help spot startups with promise (and point budding founders in the right direction).
19. The Pitch: Best for Preparing for Funding
Many listeners of The Pitch describe it as Shark Tank, but in audio form. The format is much the same as well. Host Josh Muccio lets founders pitch to real investors on-air, letting you become a fly on the wall as they make their case, answer tough questions, negotiate terms, and adapt under pressure.
For early-stage founders, The Pitch provides firsthand exposure to how investors evaluate risk, identify red flags, and stress-test a startup’s viability. For aspiring VCs, it’s one of the only shows that reveals the follow-up discussion once founders leave the room. A great episode to start with is Above Health: The Allergy Clinic of the Future , which shows an exemplary pitch alongside expert VC commentary.
Podcasts for Tech and Market Analysis
So maybe you’re looking for your first-ever investment. Or maybe you’re trying to build connections that will help you find your big idea. Either way, the following podcasts can help you take a step in the right direction with networking, pitching, LP relations, and fundraising.
20. Venture Unlocked: Best for Getting Into the Minds of PE Investors
Ever wondered how investors evaluate founders, structure funds, or pull off their own career transitions? Venture Unlocked is one of the best podcast resources available. Run by 500 Global , the show demystifies the inner workings of fundraising and capital formation and how operators break into investing.
Venture Unlocked offers a very rare glimpse into the internal conversations investors have long before you ever walk into the room. In it, you’ll hear how GPs think about fund mechanics, how they assess founder stories, and what signals they look for when meeting emerging companies. This makes it easy to reverse-engineer your own pitch using firsthand investor commentary.
Listen to Venture Unlocked on Apple Podcasts .
21. Acquired: Best for Case Studies on Startups Supported by Private Equity
You can’t say Acquired is a pure VC or PE podcast, but it is required listening for any founder wanting to follow the footsteps of giants. Its longform case studies rank among the best story-driven episodes in the finance podcast world. Your hosts, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, can help you break down the strategic moves, capital structures, and inflection points behind industry-defining businesses. Many of which had significant private equity backing, by the way.
What founders can really learn from Acquired is pattern recognition. Each episode shows how hyperspecific factors (i.e., strategic capital, leadership decisions, and/or market timing) can intersect to create category winners. If you’re planning on having investor conversations in the future, this is an excellent show to help sharpen your mental models.
Listen to Acquired on Apple Podcasts .
22. The Limited Partner Podcast: Best for Limited Partners
Founders don’t always think (or know) about PE pathways like Limited Partners; which is why this show makes #19 on our list. The Limited Partner Podcast covers all things LPs, like how to evaluate funds, manage risk, and decide which managers deserve their capital.
Understanding how an LP works (plus what their priorities are) can help you decide if it’s a fit for your model. Your host, Jake Wiley , works hard to provide realistic impressions of the pressures and expectations of modern LPs. This makes it easier to customize your future pitch to anticipate investor objections and set yourself up to stand out from the crowd.
Listen to The Limited Partner Podcast on Apple Podcasts .
23. Institutional Real Estate, Inc. Podcast (IREI Podcast): Best for Maximizing Your Institutional Capital Flows
Institutional Real Estate Inc., or IREI, is all about how large allocators think about capital deployment. It’s not what you would call ‘startup-centric’ on the surface, but it’s still immensely beneficial for founders who want to understand the full capital stack.
Each 45 to 60-minute episode dives deep into the stories of CIOs, LPs, and allocation strategists talking about the nuts and bolts of private equity. For listeners whose focus is specifically on the real estate investing side of institutional capital, our dedicated guide covers shows designed for that niche. As in, liquidity needs, emerging manager programs, and more. This is especially relevant for startups exploring growth-stage capital or building relationships with funds that rely heavily on institutional LPs.
Listen to the IREI Podcast on Spotify .
24. Alt Goes Mainstream: Best for Exploring Alternative Fundraising Options
Alt Goes Mainstream is an interview-based podcast that dissects how new fundraising models (think access funds, secondary platforms, and alternative allocation structures) reshape how startups get funded. It covers a few interesting topics that are particularly noteworthy to investors, like private credit, secondaries, and GP stakes, among others.
For founders, Alt Goes Mainstream can help open the door to creative fundraising paths you may not have considered yet. It’s also heavily focused on PE marketplace transparency and democratization. So if you want to boost your chances of fundraising via alternatives, this is the show for you.
Listen to Alt Goes Mainstream on Spotify .
25. Private Equity Value Creation Podcast: Best for Increasing Your Company’s Value
So you’ve already got an initial investment. Great! So what happens after the raise? The Private Equity Value Creation Podcast can help you answer this question by interviewing operators, advisors, and investors on how to boost your enterprise value.
If you’re thinking about aiming for a future acquisition or bidding for another growth-stage round, this is an inside track on how PE firms think about operational excellence. Think of this podcast as a blueprint for building the next unicorn, starting with leadership evaluations, risk management tools, and some honest strategies for marketplace differentiation.
Listen to the Private Equity Value Creation Podcast on Apple Podcasts .
26. Odd Lots: Best for International Markets
If you’re craving a once-daily pulse check on the global economy, Bloomberg’s Odd Lots is the perfect place to start. Hosts Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway unpack everything from bond markets to supply chains to emerging-market currencies, then weave in expert commentary from economists, policymakers, and international analysts.
What makes Odd Lots so valuable for VCs is its international appeal. Your hosts (and its guests) explain how global events can ripple into valuations, deal flow, fundraising, and sector performance. This can be incredibly helpful if your investing worldview needs to extend beyond Silicon Valley. For example: check out the episode on How Chinese Real Estate Became the Biggest Bubble in History .
27. All-In Podcast: Best for Politics and Economics
There’s no question that All-In is a very opinionated weekly conversation, although it covers just about everything you’d need to know about how politics impact VC investments. It’s hosted by four veteran investors/operators/best friends who play a casual game of poker while debating how world events, regulatory changes, and cultural shifts might influence the tech ecosystem. It’s true the debates aren’t always delicate, but they do take a 360-degree look at the politics and economics driving major market psychology.
All-In is especially useful for mid-market investors wanting an expert’s opinions on how the changing political climate could impact their bottom line. The hosts regularly break down how elections, legislation, and macro narratives impact capital deployment, founder sentiment, and sector outlooks. Whether you agree with their takes or not, the perspective helps you anticipate how political winds shape investment environments. You can get a taste of this firsthand from their commentary on the reveal of the Epstein files .
BONUS: For Podcasters
The private equity podcasting space is incredibly niche, so as you might imagine, it’s a fairly competitive space. Breaking into the field requires two things: a highly engaged audience and an angle most podcasters have (so far) overlooked.
So: how do you build a great PE podcast listening strategy?
The best way to answer this is by examining podcasts that are succeeding.
Learn more about producing a private equity podcast with The Podcast Consultant .
The first show to study is Alternative Allocations, which is an award-winning podcast covering alt investment advice for wealth advisors. It’s not necessarily focused on private equity only , but it does serve as a masterclass of how to create a rinse-and-repeat, yet always fresh, financial podcast structure.
Notice how Tony Davidow sticks almost magically to his 25 to 28-minute episodes. That’s because he follows a proven template for every show (subtle though it may be). Plus, he relies on experts like The Podcast Consultant to help streamline his show with audio and video production .
Listen to Alternative Allocations on Alternatives by Franklin Templeton .
29. The Meb Faber Show: Helps Podcasters Build a Voice
Meb Faber needs no introduction: he’s one of the best-known investors and podcast hosts in the financial space. The show itself covers broad investing strategies, with frequent episodes on alternative assets and private markets (just check his private equity archives ). But the real gem to be found here is in how Meb markets his voice, tone, and credibility. No matter where you go online, you can tell that Meb is an expert.
Meb’s marketing collateral and LinkedIn posts point explicitly to his knowledge and experience. Plus, some of his assets come from The Podcast Consultant. Notice how he uses clips of his show (i.e., video and audiograms) to consistently build his brand for new, potential listeners.
Learn more about building your podcast brand . Then, listen to The Meb Faber Show on Apple Podcasts .
30. We Study Billionaires: Helps Podcasters Brainstorm PE Content Ideas
It can feel difficult to constantly brainstorm new angles and ideas for financial podcasts, especially in a niche (that at least seems ) as cut-and-dry as private equity. And yet, the folks behind the hit show We Study Billionaires is the incredible power of seemingly never running out of angles.
How, you ask? Look closely at how they interview each new person, break down major investors, and provide PE/VC frameworks for their audience. In other words, let your guests bring the fresh air to you. That way, you never need to worry about running out of ideas or feeling burned out with production.
Learn more about hosting podcast interviews and asking great questions . Then, listen to We Study Billionaires on Apple Podcasts .
31. My First Million: Helps Podcasters Study Production Value
My First Million is one of the best examples of how high-quality production can elevate a financial podcast . For PE professionals, the show offers plenty of tidbits on entrepreneurship and business growth. But for podcasters, the takeaway should be in how every element (pacing, editing, sound design, etc.) keeps listeners hooked.
Notice how My First Million uses high-quality audio and video editing to create extremely well-designed episodes and flows. The show hosts also do an excellent job facilitating remote recording . This is of critical importance to any new podcast: Kevin Goldberg found that one in three podcast listeners will give up on your show if they don’t have a ‘high-quality’ experience.
Learn more about producing a private equity podcast with The Podcast Consultant . Then, listen to My First Million on Apple Podcasts .
32. How I Built This: Best for Startup Creation Breakdowns
How I Built This covers exactly what you might expect: the origin stories behind some of the world’s most iconic brands. Each episode is hosted by the legendary Guy Raz and explores the pivots, failures, and breakthroughs that shaped the companies we all know today.
It’s also, as you can see, one of the most heavily listened-to podcasts in the VC field; there are more than 30,000 reviews across its many hundreds of episodes.
What makes How I Built This so compelling is its ability to zoom in on the human side of startup creation. Founders talk honestly about early hires and market missteps, plus the lessons that transformed small ideas into multi-billion-dollar enterprises. So if you want a boots-on-the-ground breakdown of how to build a groundbreaking business, start with Raz’s interview with Airbnb’s founder Joe Gebbia .
33. The Founders Podcast: Best for Reverse-Engineering Success
The Founders Podcast manifests David Senra’s obsession with collecting the biographies of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs. Rather than simply interviewing founders, David studies their lives, pursues their books, and breaks down his findings into audio format. And yes, he still performs interviews from time to time, although he still takes his classic ‘deep dive’ approach before the big day.
You can think of Founders as the perfect destination for identifying patterns in the world’s most successful business owners. Each episode highlights specific mindsets and behaviors that consistently lead to long-term success. It’s an excellent shortcut in studying the brain of a successful startup founder. Take, for example, Senra’s breakdown of Steve Jobs’ early years .
34. Startup Therapy: Best for Breaking Out of Ruts
Startup Therapy’s Ryan Rutan and Wil Schroter have lived through the highs, lows, and emotional chaos of building companies from scratch. So instead of glamorizing the grind, they created a podcast that lets founders open up about tough topics. For example, burnout, decision fatigue, cofounder conflict, and, of course, the terrifying uncertainty that comes with being a creator.
You could say Startup Therapy is less about the ‘hype’ of building a business, and more about the uncomfortable conversation struggling founders may need to hear. Its episode on prioritizing productivity over popularity , for example, can help validate exhausted founders who may feel they’re dedicating too much time toward ‘unleveragable’ activities. For anyone craving real-talk wisdom instead of Silicon Valley bravado, start here to help reset your expectations without walking away from your VC funding dreams.
The Bottom Line on the Best Private Equity Podcasts
As comprehensive as this list of private equity podcasts is, we can’t claim it’s exhaustive by any means. We’ve barely scratched the surface of the private equity ‘iceberg.’ After all, there are quite literally hundreds of other podcasts covering the PE, VC, and financial investment space.
You should also know that the most successful VC shows are the ones that invest in professional support for their audio editing , video production , and marketing collateral .
At The Podcast Consultant , quality remains our speciality for hundreds of shows in the finance space. We’ve supported some of the best-known shows with recording , editing, and podcast marketing services .
Still want more podcast suggestions? We’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Newer to the finance podcast world altogether? Our guide to finance podcasts for beginners offers a solid starting point.
Explore our other ‘best of’ podcast lists below:
Frequently Asked Questions about Private Equity Podcasts
What podcasts do private equity professionals actually listen to?
Private equity professionals typically listen to podcasts such as:
Capital Allocators
Dry Powder Podcast
The Private Equity Podcast
Alternative Allocations
Are there podcasts specifically about LP-GP relationships?
Yes, podcasts like Invest Like the Best, the IREI Podcast, and Capital Allocators all cover LP-GP relationships. But some podcasts, like VC Unlocked, still cover LP-GP relationships in the occasional episode.
Which podcasts cover middle-market private equity?
Middle Market Musings is one of the most popular podcasts covering middle-market private equity. Other options include the Private Equity Funcast and Capital Allocators with Ted Seides.
How often should PE professionals listen to industry podcasts?
The short answer is: as often as possible. A study by Edison Research found that those who listen to podcasts every month are more likely to be affluent (making more than $75K per year) compared to the average US adult.
What makes a great private equity podcast?
A great private equity podcast does one thing well: it doesn’t waste your time. That means it presents valuable information quickly, provides information you can’t find anywhere else, and most importantly, follows best practices for both audio and video.
What podcasts do top venture capitalists listen to?
Some of the world’s top venture capitalists listen to podcasts such as Capital Allocators, Equity, Startup Therapy, Invest Like the Best, and Pitch. But venture capitalists often listen to other podcasts within their realm of expertise, including private equity podcasts, banking podcasts, and wealth management shows.
Which podcasts are best for learning about seed-stage investing?
A great place to start is with podcasts covering startup evaluation and due diligence, including The Full Rachet, Invest Like the Best, and The Pitch. Other options include The Twenty Minute VC (20VC) and Equity by TechCrunch.
Are there podcasts that cover both VC and startup operations?
Yes, there are several podcasts covering both VC and startup operations, including Startup Therapy, The Founders Podcast, How I Built This, and 20VC.
How do VC podcasts differ from private equity podcasts?
Venture capitalist (VC) podcasts focus heavily on emerging technologies and how early-stage founder build their businesses. It’s specifically focused on very small seed-stage startups.
Private equity podcasts, on the other hand, focus on operational excellence and value creation. They’re more interested in larger companies with mature, steady income that could potentially provide more with invested income.
