Business Wars
Wondery
New episodes come out Wednesdays for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.
Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live.
Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, inventors, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Dirty John and American History Tellers.
New episodes come out Wednesdays for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.
Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live.
Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, inventors, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Dirty John and American History Tellers.
Location:
United States
Networks:
Wondery
Description:
New episodes come out Wednesdays for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live. Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, inventors, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Dirty John and American History Tellers.
Language:
English
Episodes
The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Hidden Agendas | 2
8/10/2022
It’s summer 1993 and QVC boss Barry Diller is ready to pull the trigger on his hostile takeover to buy Paramount.
But he’s about to find he's got an enemy in his ranks who’s playing both sides.
And while Diller tries to get his bid back on track, Paramount chairman Martin Davis is getting cosy with another suitor – Diller’s pal and Viacom owner, Sumner Redstone.
Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening....
Duration:00:41:32
Best of Business Wars Daily | That's Showbiz | 6
8/4/2022
Streaming services are having to get creative to keep our attention amid a sea of competition — from big-screen movies to video games to each other. On this episode, we're joined by Matt Patches, Deputy editor at Vox Media’s Polygon and Clay Keller, host and producer of the ScreenDrafts podcast to look at stories about the TV and movie business from our sister show, Business Wars Daily.
Binge all episodes early and ad-free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access,...
The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Killer on the Loose | 1
8/3/2022
It’s early 1993 and television’s about to make a quantum leap into a multi-channel world where viewers can access movies from the comfort of their own sofa.
But with Hollywood’s movie studios set to clean up in this new world, every media player wants a film factory to call their own.
Including Hollywood hot-shot Barry Diller. And he wants to get on the ground floor of the revolution by buying Paramount – the studio he used to run.
But to succeed he’ll need to first defeat his old boss –...
Duration:00:41:09
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | Fashion Forward | 5
7/27/2022
Gucci and Louis Vuitton are still the crème de la crème in high fashion. But between shifting consumer values, TikTok and Gen Z, these brands have a lot of work to do to keep up — if they don’t want to end up sooo last season.
It’s a glamorous world in the middle of a transformation. That’s why we invited Rachel Tashjian, Fashion News Director at Harper’s Bazaar, back to Business Wars to walk us down the runway. She joined us for our season on Fast Fashion, and now she’s introducing us to...
Duration:00:42:12
Wondery Presents American Scandal: The DuPont Chemical Coverup
7/21/2022
By the mid-20th century, industrial chemicals were being used to produce a dizzying array of goods. Products made with wood or steel were replaced with plastic. And Americans gained access to a bounty of inexpensive products made with synthetic materials—from the polyester used in sweaters, to the artificial fragrances used in shampoos. And although they may have a low price tag, products made with synthetic materials often come with another cost—a hidden expense denominated in ruined lives,...
Duration:00:06:07
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | The Dom-Tom Bomb | 4
7/20/2022
Bernard Arnault makes his move to buy Gucci, but Domenico De Sole fights back with everything he’s got, making a surprisingly worthy adversary for the so-called Wolf in Cashmere. But in an effort to stave off Arnault’s advances, De Sole makes a deal with a devil. And both Louis Vuitton and Gucci have to deal with the aftershocks of designers who defined their brands for years departing the companies. How each brand responds to the shake-up determines the future of their success.
Binge all...
Duration:00:45:40
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | Ready-to-Wear | 3
7/13/2022
Maurizio Gucci is out, and now for the first time since its founding, Gucci isn’t being run by a Gucc.i. At the top is CEO Domenico De Sole and his right hand man is exciting young fashion designer Tom Ford. Together the two of them make Gucci the hottest fashion and accessory company in the world.
Over at Louis Vuitton, Bernard Arnault wants in on the action. He hires his own young, hip designer, Marc Jacobs to oversee Louis Vuitton’s expansion into ready-to-wear clothing. But when Jacobs...
Duration:00:45:04
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | The Wolf in Cashmere | 2
7/6/2022
Now merged with luxury drinks company Moët Hennessy, Louis Vuitton finds itself being squeezed out, overpowered in the merger. In an attempt to regain control, Louis Vuitton’s CEO forms an alliance with Bernard Arnault, one of France’s most ambitious businessmen. Louis Vuitton hopes that Arnault will serve as an ally, but Arnault didn’t get the nickname the “Wolf in Cashmere” for nothing.
Meanwhile, Maurizio Gucci finally has full control of Gucci and is desperate to rebrand the company and...
Duration:00:44:27
Best of Business Wars Daily | Wardrobe Changes | 8
6/30/2022
Big fashion brands are trying to diversify their customer base, and also lure consumers to tailored in-person shopping experiences — but it doesn't always go as planned. On this episode, we're joined by Alana Hope Levinson, a freelance culture writer and editor and host of the west coast style podcast “Free Validation” — and comedian Megan Gailey, who’s performed on Conan and The Tonight Show and who hosts the podcast “I Love A Lifetime Movie.” We're looking at stories about the evolving...
Duration:00:45:26
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | All in the Family | 1
6/29/2022
For decades Gucci and Louis Vuitton dominated the luxury accessory markets. Their bags and shoes were status symbols, sported by celebrities and royalty around the globe. But by the 1970s both companies were struggling. Louis Vuitton was being run by the great-grandsons of the company’s founder. They were risk-averse, unwilling to make any changes. And the heirs of the founder of Gucci were fighting over the direction of the business. Maurizio Gucci, the founder’s grandson,can’t get his...
Duration:00:46:07
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | The New Tastemakers | 7
6/22/2022
Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s revolutionized the ice cream industry by raising the standard for the frozen treat and pioneering new styles and flavors. Now, new ice cream mavericks are on the scene, raising both the caliber and cost of pints.
Be prepared to get hungry as food journalist Charlotte Druckman walks us through the artisanal, ultra-premium ice cream scene, which she documented in an article for Eater. Later, Pooja Bavishi, founder of the Brooklyn-based ice cream shop Malai,...
Duration:00:43:05
Wondery Presents: The Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley
6/20/2022
On May 4, 2001, Bonny Lee Bakley was found fatally shot in a car on a dark North Hollywood street. The prime suspect was her husband, famed actor Robert Blake. But Bonny, a longtime con artist, had plenty of enemies. She left behind a trail of men she’d scammed, and she had a volatile relationship with Christian Brando, the troubled son of movie star Marlon Brando.
Not since the O.J. Simpson case had the eyes of the nation been so fixated on a homicide. The search for Bonny’s killer took...
Duration:00:06:05
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Breaking the Ice | 6
6/15/2022
It's the year 2000 and Ben & Jerry's is under new ownership. But as promises that were made before the sale get broken, employees wonder if the brand's values can survive the new regime. Meanwhile, Häagen-Dazs finds itself wrestling with how to move with the times while staying true to the brand's values. But while the super-premium brands are soul searching, a plucky Los Angeles start-up is about to churn up the ice cream market.
This series was originally released as a Wondery+ Exclusive...
Duration:00:32:24
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Hunger Games | 5
6/8/2022
It's 1998 and Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's are now tasty targets in the global ice cream war between Unilever and Nestlé. As these multi-billion-dollar consumer goods giants move in, the U.S. ice cream market enters a state of churn. Enemies turn to allies, friends become foes, alliances shatter, and dreams get crushed.
This series was originally released as a Wondery+ Exclusive in 2021.
Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for...
Duration:00:32:49
Wondery Presents Persona: The French Deception
6/6/2022
Introducing the true crime podcast Persona: The French Deception— the story of Gilbert Chikli, one of the greatest con artists of all time.
What does it feel like to pick up the phone and scam someone out of $50 million? Host and award-winning journalist, Evan Ratliff, investigates how Chikli successfully duped some of the world’s most powerful people into handing over their fortunes. He explores how Chikli evaded the law for years and became a Robin Hood-like hero. More than just a tale of...
Duration:00:04:40
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Trading Licks | 4
6/1/2022
It's the dawn of the 1990s and with America under its spell, Häagen-Dazs is eyeing the millions to be made in Europe and Asia. But back in the USA, Ben & Jerry's is about to undergo a major growth spurt thanks to its latest flavor sensation. And with Ben & Jerry's scooping up customers fast, a war for supremacy in the supermarket freezer aisles is about to erupt.
This series was originally released as a Wondery+ Exclusive in 2021.
Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad...
Duration:00:31:42
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Doughboys and Dead Heads | 3
5/25/2022
It's 1984 and Ben & Jerry's is fighting for its life. Häagen-Dazs is pressuring distributors to stop carrying the Vermont ice cream brand and the deadline for distributors to comply is closing in fast. But with help from a lawyer with a hole in his shoe and a spate of publicity stunts, Ben & Jerry's hopes to pull off an unlikely victory.
This series was originally released as a Wondery+ Exclusive in 2021.
Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join...
Duration:00:32:23
Sponsored: Welcome to the Future of Work (Dell Podference) | 2
5/20/2022
Since the pandemic began, many of us have traded our blazers for t-shirts and loafers for slippers as remote work has become the new normal. There’s been a fundamental shift in what employees expect from their workplace — and spoiler alert, going in five days a week isn’t it. So how can business owners adapt to this changing landscape without losing employees in this hot labor market?
Stanford Economics Professor Nick Bloom has studied productivity and remote work for two decades. On this...
Duration:00:33:09
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Ice Cream Castle | 2
5/18/2022
It's 1958 and in New York City, Reuben Mattus is under fire. The big dairies are crushing his family's ice cream business and shutting him out of supermarkets. Desperate, he imagines a new, luxury ice cream with an eye-popping price tag. He calls it Häagen-Dazs and it's going to give his foes the chills.
This series was originally released as a Wondery+ Exclusive in 2021.
Listen to new episodes 1 week early and to all episodes ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges,...
Duration:00:28:43
Sponsored: The Art of Disruption (Dell Podference) | 1
5/13/2022
Startups search for pain points in the customer experience and design their product to solve these problems. There’s an art to knowing how to find that one thing the market needs and running with it. On the flip side, established businesses need to constantly reassess their products to avoid being disrupted and left behind.
On this episode, Wharton School marketing professor Jonah Berger joins Business Wars host David Brown for a conversation about the art of disruption – how small...
Duration:00:32:47