The charts below show how popular and profitable podcasting has become for the top shows.
Podcasts are one of the most effective ways to keep up with financial markets and learn new ideas and strategies. Unlike reading, I can simultaneously jump on a stationary bike and listen to a podcast, making them a great way to multi-task when I’m short on time.
The challenge is it’s become so easy to produce episodes that almost anyone can do it. That’s left listeners with too many options, so here are my top investing and business podcasts that I follow religiously. I’ve selected each because they are:
- Engaging: Good storytellers that keep me hooked.
- Efficient: Less fluff and more content. Most are less than an hour, and when they’re not, there’s a good reason.
- Additive: Walk away a little smarter from each episode by offering 1-2 ideas that listeners can leverage.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it can serve as a starting point for anyone who wants to become a better investor.
Acquired
A single episode requires hundreds of hours of research, so they only release twelve a year. The hosts are known for deep dives into companies that rival institutional research. The Wall Street Journal published an article last month about the podcast and said it best:
“Gilbert and Rosenthal have become known for their comprehensive analysis, clear storytelling and overall craftsmanship. They focus on quality. They embrace scarcity. They want to do less, better.”
Episodes average an eye-popping four hours long, but five minutes into your first, you’ll be hooked. Acquired is the most addictive podcast I’ve encountered, so don’t make the same mistake I did early on. Never, under any circumstances, start an episode close to bedtime.
A great way to get started is to listen to their deep dive on my #1 favorite retailer of all time – Costco.
Odd Lots
https://www.bloomberg.com/oddlots
Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway address current issues in economics, markets, and finance. They are excellent journalists and understand investing better than most. They attract the biggest names as guests, and they know the right questions to ask. It’s a great podcast to keep up with current events. Episodes are released every Monday and Thursday, and they are 45 minutes or less.
Clark Howard Podcast
I lived in Atlanta in the late 1990s and became obsessed with Clark Howard’s radio show—so much that I may have been the only twenty-something who listened to AM radio more than FM.
That’s because I’m cheap and will do anything for a deal, and his radio show scratched my itch in a big way. His motto has always been to save more and spend less, and he’ll teach you ways to do just that.
Fast-forward to today, and his show drops daily on various subjects, from money hacks to how to avoid getting ripped off. Clark Howard makes me look like I spend like a drunken sailor, and that’s why I continue to follow him (for scale, he named his dog “Costco”).
Eye on The Market
https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/nam/en/insights/audio-and-webcasts/audio/eye-on-the-market-podcast
Michael Cembalest is the Chairman of Market and Investment Strategy for J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management. He releases episodes alongside his research, and it’s all free.
I never miss an episode because he’s about as witty and sarcastic as a large bank compliance department will allow. Episodes are usually around 20 minutes long, and every time I listen, I immediately download his research to learn more. Reading institutional research often feels like eating a bowl of sand, but not his. It’s digestible and often helps me think through ideas succinctly.
Invest Like The Best
Patrick O’Shaughnessy hosts one of the most closely followed podcasts in investing for a reason. He’s a master interviewer and attracts the biggest names in business and finance. Episodes are well-structured, never too long, and engaging.
Investing for Beginners
https://einvestingforbeginners.com/the-investing-for-beginners-podcast-episode-list/
This is a closely followed podcast for a reason. The hosts take complex financial subjects, make them approachable to beginners, and still keep them relevant to professionals all at the same time. Episodes are less than 45 minutes, and even when I already know the material being discussed, they are a great refresher.
We Study Billionaires
https://www.theinvestorspodcast.com/we-study-billionaires/
This podcast has more than 150 million downloads for a reason. It takes way more than a psychotic work ethic and a penchant for missing your kids’ birthday parties to become a billionaire. This podcast offers insight into how these outliers think and what made them successful.
Masters in Business
https://www.bloomberg.com/podcasts/series/master-in-business
Barry Ritholtz has been blogging since before blogging was a word, and he’s been podcasting for almost as long. He’s able to attract big names to his show, and the interviews are often as entertaining as they are informative. He’s opinionated and often at odds with my views, but that’s why I enjoy his podcast.