Behind the Business with Michelle Toh - Details, episodes & analysis

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Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

Michelle Toh

Business

Frequency: 1 episode/17d. Total Eps: 24

Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning video podcast hosted by CNN and FORTUNE alum Michelle Toh that explores the decisions and philosophies behind some of today's most influential leaders. Its new season features the leaders of Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Samsung, Canva, Revolve, Peloton, Poppi and Away. The show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — avoiding fluff and performative praise, while also keeping it fun! The show aims to be journalistically rigorous and visually compelling, with each episode ending with a rapid-fire round and connecting guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, our guests get into it all. New episodes Thursdays.

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🇺🇸 USA - business
04/11/2026
#31
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#21
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#21
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#18
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31/10/2026
#19
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30/10/2026
#22
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#22
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28/10/2026
#37
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🇺🇸 USA - business
02/10/2026
#48
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🇺🇸 USA - business
01/10/2026
#28
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https://www.instagram.com/bymichelletoh
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https://www.instagram.com/bymichelletohTikTok:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebusinessshow
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Score global : 58%

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Poached by Wall Street’s ‘most powerful woman’ | Ellevest CEO on investing smarter

Friday, October 23, 2026 • Duration 55:59

Women tend to live longer than men, their salaries often peak earlier, and career breaks can interrupt their earnings. Yet in a previous Ellevest survey, just 36% of women said they invest, compared with 63% of men. Why? And what does it take to change the way women build wealth? For Sylvia Kwan, the answer starts with rethinking an industry she’d never planned to join. With a background in computer science and applied math, Kwan originally intended to become a software engineer. Today, she’s CEO of Ellevest, a financial firm focused on getting more money into the hands of women. She jumped on board after a cold LinkedIn message from Ellevest founder and Wall Street veteran Sallie Krawcheck — and is now helping reshape traditional approaches to investing. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00 - Introduction 01:33 - Jumping from computer science to finance 04:24 - Coming up as a woman in a male-dominated industry 07:39 - The LinkedIn message from Sallie Krawcheck that changed her career 11:02 - Family lessons on women and money 12:54 - The industry's first 'gender-aware' investing algorithm: Designing financial products around the realities of women’s lives 16:26 - What holds women back from investing? 18:09 - Ad 20:48 - How investing habits are changing 23:13 - The "Great Wealth Transfer" 25:32 - How different generations approach investing 26:14 - Inside Ellevest’s all-women financial advisory team 27:48 - Sylvia’s core investing principle amid uncertainty 30:08 - Diversifying your portfolio 34:34 - Balancing cash with long-term investment goals 35:31 - Investing during volatility and building a regular habit 37:26 - Ad 39:36 - Money and wellbeing: Pursuing "wealthcare" and financial success beyond just maximizing returns 42:22 - Carrying on Sallie Krawcheck’s vision 44:05 - How Sylvia never set out to become CEO 47:11 - Unwinding and managing stress 49:33 - The private market opportunity beyond venture capital 51:56 - Sylvia’s market outlook 52:52 - Rapid-fire round Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment or other professional advice. This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: Perplexity Computer — try it for free for a limited time at: http://pplx.ai/BTB Chime — sign up for 5% cash back at: https://www.chime.com/BTB Policygenius — see how much you could save on life insurance at: http://policygenius.com/BTB Vinted — give your clothes a second life and download the app at: https://www.vinted.com/app 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all — and also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property crunch. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #WealthManagement #Investing #PersonalFinance #Leadership #WomenAndMoney #WomenInFinance #FinancialLiteracy #GenderWealthGap #FinancialIndependence #InvestmentStrategy #Markets #FinancialWellness #BuildingWealth #WomenInBusiness #CareerGrowth #BusinessPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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How to stand out in the attention economy: Samsung US CMO takes 3 Pressing Questions

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 40:44

What do you do when 97% of consumers already know your brand? Our latest guest is Samsung Electronics America CMO Allison Stransky, who takes 3 pressing questions about winning attention in an increasingly fragmented online world, the future of marketing and where AI fits in. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:18: How Allison found her path in marketing 02:45: Lessons from L’Oréal, Google and YouTube 04:50: How Allison landed her role 06:37: The career lesson that changed how Allison reaches audiences 07:54: Competing for attention in an algorithmic market 10:20: Which brands are winning 11:27: Building an influencer and creator strategy 14:54: How Samsung allocates its marketing budget 15:43: Why Samsung skipped the Super Bowl this year 17:13: Ad 18:14: Common generative AI marketing mistakes 19:55: AI skepticism, product bugs and getting it right 21:35: Are we in an AI bubble? 23:03: Inside Samsung’s “Solve for Tomorrow” program — AI fluency for the next generation 26:12: Ad 27:37: How Samsung markets its AI ecosystem 30:03: Daily routine, priorities, and work-life balance 32:16: Building a global marketing strategy37:18: Lessons about data and decision-making 39:02: Rapid-fire round 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB FAIRE: Get 50% off your first wholesale order at https://www.faire.com/BTB (Terms may apply) 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all — and also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property crunch. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Proud of where I'm at': Jeremy Lin on life after the NBA, reinvention and redefining success

Thursday, September 24, 2026 • Duration 01:06:33

This week, NBA champion, entrepreneur and investor Jeremy Lin takes us on his journey from underdog to global sports phenomenon. From going undrafted out of Harvard to finding himself at the center of "Linsanity," Jeremy has had a career unlike almost any other. Now, a year after retiring, he's building the next chapter of his career and seeking to redefine success beyond basketball. We get a special peek into Jeremy’s world on and off the court, hear about his ambitions in media, startups and VC, and meet "the one person" whom Jeremy says has helped him and his brand the most: JLIN LLC CEO (and Jeremy's sister-in-law!) Patricia Sun. In this episode, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:28: Walk & talk at Jeremy's basketball training camp for young AAPI athletes 04:56: How would the students describe Coach Jeremy? 05:54: Developing a winning mindset 07:00: Transitioning to life after retirement 09:24: Find joy in the journey: What he's hoping to pass down to the next generation 11:22: Sitting down with Jeremy in-studio 11:56: Playing at the YMCA: The beginning of Jeremy’s basketball journey 13:10: Why basketball felt like an escape 14:05: The moment the NBA dream actually felt real 14:57: Going undrafted and overcoming self-doubt 17:36: What it felt like to live through Linsanity 19:30: Handling pressure and overthinking 19:54: Highlight moments: Scoring 38 points against the LA Lakers, Kobe Bryant 21:13: Winning the NBA championship — and not feeling enough 23:05: Managing self-talk and criticism 24:33: Learning to be proud of where you’re at 28:01: Chopping a long-term goal into "10,000 small goals" 29:30: Ad 32:10: Rebuilding his career after injury 33:50: Going overseas 34:23: Competing with yourself 36:35: Playing basketball in Asia 37:23: Representation in sports: How perceptions of Asian athletes have changed 35:20: Couch-surfing: Crashing with Landry Fields, his brother and sister-in-law 38:49: Introduction to Patricia Sun, the CEO behind Jeremy Lin's brand 40:50: How Patricia became Jeremy’s business partner 42:10: How Jeremy’s family managed the rise of Linsanity 43:11: Building a global brand strategy 43:54: What being "mission-driven" really means 45:08: Ad 47:32: How to evaluate deals and decipher which ones to turn down 48:11: What it's like to work with family 49:52: Entering the VC world: What the team looks for when investing in startups 51:39: Opportunities in Southeast Asia 52:20: Investment strategy and business vision 54:48: Jeremy’s next big career goal 56:26: The long-term vision for JLIN LLC 58:16: Starting a hydration drinks brand in Taiwan and staying true to their values 01:00:00: Audience question 01:02:20: Cultural differences: Jeremy’s funniest story from playing in both the NBA and CBA 01:03:05: Rapid-fire round This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: Perplexity Computer — try it for free for a limited time at: http://pplx.ai/BTB Chime — sign up for 5% cash back at: https://www.chime.com/BTB Policygenius — see how much you could save on life insurance at: http://policygenius.com/BTB OneSkin — get 15% off with code "BTB" at: http://oneskin.co/BTB 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property crunch. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymichelletoh TikTok: behindthebusinessshow #jeremylin #linsanity #nba #basketball #athlete #leadership #leadershipmindset #brandbuilding #entrepreneurship #investing #business #leadership #career #careergrowth #careerjourney #startups #sportsbusiness #philanthropy #AsianAmerican #AAPI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Everyone had a black luggage': How Away shook up the travel industry

Thursday, September 10, 2026 • Duration 57:46

This week, Away CEO Jessica Schinazi takes us behind one of the most recognizable names in travel — and what it takes to keep building when the market moves faster than ever. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 02:04: From Brazil and France to building a life in New York 02:41: How family dynamics shaped Jessica’s leadership style 03:16: Leadership lessons from Dyson, Amazon and LVMH 06:09: Away’s brand strategy and competitive advantage 08:48: Joining Away at a pivotal moment 11:11: How Away navigated previous leadership challenges and COVID 14:18: Jessica’s approach to fostering a positive company culture 16:17: First priorities as CEO: Why Jessica spent her first year visiting every Away store and factory before putting her strategy in place 19:07 Ad 20:06: Where Away sees opportunity in the market 21:05: Away’s social media and lifestyle marketing strategy 23:32: How brands can navigate copycats and dupes 26:09 Ad 27:31: How Away navigates challenges in a volatile business landscape 29:08: How Away, a poster child of the DTC boom, is expanding into retail and wholesale 32:22: Finding the balance between DTC and wholesale 33:58: Away’s brand partnership strategy 36:48: How Away is rethinking its products around different travelers' pain points — including with a new so-called “closet on wheels” 38:13: Away’s expansion into softside luggage and new categories 41:33: Away’s international growth and localization strategy 45:05: How Away is approaching AI for business and travel 47:28: How Jessica balances daily priorities for sustainable growth 49:30: Jessica's response to potential IPO plans 50:08: Jessica’s 10-year vision for Away 52:17: Audience question 53:46: Rapid-fire round This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: • QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB • MasterClass: Get at least 15% off any annual membership at https://www.masterclass.com/BTB 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 *SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:* YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️ About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #ceo #leadership #management #consumerbrands #brandstory #strategy #corporatestrategy #commercialstrategy #travelindustry #lugggage #vc #scaling #womeninbusiness #femaleleadership #business #businesspodcast #away Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peloton’s push into gyms: CEO Peter Stern’s big bet

Thursday, September 3, 2026 • Duration 49:50

This week’s guest is Peloton CEO & President Peter Stern. He takes us inside the company’s push to reinvent itself after its post-pandemic struggles — including its latest move into gyms. Peloton became one of the biggest winners in business during the pandemic, but as consumers returned to gyms and life moved on, the company faced a very different reality. Stern, a former Apple executive who helped create Apple Fitness+, calls the Peloton job a “dream” opportunity. In his first year as CEO, Stern has set out to “refound” Peloton around a broader connected wellness ecosystem spanning fitness, mental wellbeing, sleep and recovery. Plus, Stern shares how he manages Wall Street pressure, the “25” system he uses to help his team sift through priorities, the “one-touch” rule that keeps his inbox from piling up, and where he ultimately wants to take Peloton. In this conversation, we discuss: 00:00: Introduction 01:24: Peter's career journey and early ambitions 02:45: Lessons from McKinsey and Time Warner Cable 03:55: What Apple taught Peter about subscription businesses 05:58: Lessons from leaving Apple for Ford 09:00: Why Peter chose to take on this challenge — and reaction from friends and family 11:06: Why Peter personally called Peloton’s recruiter to pitch himself 13:44: The "biggest misunderstanding" about Peloton 15:18: Ad 16:34: Strength classes, Pilates and breathwork: Building an overall wellness ecosystem 18:06: “Refounding” the company 20:21: Peloton IQ: What Peloton is really trying to solve with AI 23:06: Balancing Peloton’s hardware and subscription businesses 25:43: Why Peloton is expanding from homes into commercial gyms 29:11: Partnering with hotels32:03: The rise of GLP-1 and why Peter thinks it could actually be good news for the fitness industry 33:53: Peloton’s international expansion strategy 36:06: Balancing Wall Street expectations with long-term growth 38:21: Peter’s long-term vision 40:01: The “25” system that forces the company to prioritize 42:29: Overhauling its entire product lineup and launching four new products in 10 months 42:59: Audience question 45:03: The “one-touch” rule Peter uses to manage his inbox 44:12: Rapid-fire round This episode is brought to you by Long Angle: https://www.longangle.com/business 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the BusinessBehind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays.About Michelle TohMichelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #ceo #leadership #management #consumerbrands #brandstory #strategy #corporatestrategy #commercialstrategy #fitnessindustry #wellnessindustry #software #hardware #exercise #siliconvalley #vc #scaling #turnaround #business #businesspodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Canva's 'biggest shift': AI, design and the future of work

Thursday, August 27, 2026 • Duration 48:40

Joining us this week is Cameron Adams, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva — the company that has simplified online design and become one of the world’s fastest-growing tech platforms. What began in 2013 has grown into Australia’s most valuable private tech company, valued at as much as $40 billion and backed by investors including former Disney CEO Bob Iger. Canva has transformed how people create everything from presentations and social posts to party invitations — taking a once-gatekept industry and making design accessible to more than 265 million people each month. The company has crossed billions of dollars in annual revenue and is now doubling down on AI as it enters its next phase of growth. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:30: From law school to design and entrepreneurship 07:28: Cameron’s early entrepreneurial instincts 03:10: Choosing passion over a traditional career path 04:17: What Google Wave taught Cameron about product development 07:00: Story of building Fluent and its failure 08:52: The connections that brought Canva’s co-founders together 09:46: Why Cameron initially turned down the opportunity to join Canva 12:17: Cameron’s accident hours before Canva’s launch 14:51: How Canva scaled to more than 265 million monthly users 16:52: How Canva built a truly localized global product 18:12: Ad 20:11: When should founders trust their intuition over user and investor feedback? 22:34: Why Canva scrapped its social networking features 23:04: How luck and timing shaped Canva’s success 24:18: Fundraising lessons for startup founders 26:37: How Cameron went from a shy kid to a confident public speaker 27:51: Canva’s strategy for competing with Adobe and Microsoft 29:14: How Canva built and maintains its global user community 31:27: The company’s biggest product shift with Canva AI 2.0 34:50: The challenges of building Canva AI 2.0 36:22: Has AI-powered design overcome its early limitations? 37:36: AI Boom vs. early innings 39:26: Will AI replace entry-level creative roles? 41:17: Cameron Adams on Canva’s IPO plans 42:03: Cameron’s approach to philanthropy and the Giving Pledge 45:08: Cameron’s long-term vision for Canva 46:11: Audience question 47:33: Rapid-fire round Note: This episode was recorded in April 2026. Check out Cameron's own new podcast, Prompted: https://promptedpodcast.com/ This episode is brought to you by our show sponsors: Quince: Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns at https://www.quince.com/BTB | QUO: Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BTB 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How did you get started when you practically had no money? Or how do you mentally prep for a big event? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #Leadership #Entrepreneur #Founder #Design #Unicorn #Scaling #Growth #Startup #Technology #Tech #Australia #EntrepreneurialJourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to travel for less: The Points Guy takes 3 Pressing Questions

Thursday, August 6, 2026 • Duration 53:15

Joining us this week is The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly. He turned what started as a personal blog while working at Morgan Stanley into one of the world’s leading travel media platforms — shaping how millions of consumers spend, earn and think about travel. In our special new segment, “3 Pressing Questions,” Brian weighs in on hot topics shaping travel today, and explains how he built a top creator business that sold for tens of millions of dollars. From why flights feel so expensive right now, to how industry shifts could affect your wallet, to common mistakes to avoid when booking a trip, Brian breaks down what’s worth paying for today. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:28: Starting The Points Guy as a side hustle 05:57: Why the points game isn't dead 06:38: How points really drive US airlines 11:28: How to get started in the points game 16:38: Selling The Points Guy 18:22: Advice to other entrepreneurs on building a brand 23:24: Stepping down as CEO and being honest about your own strengths 24:27: When should we expect airfares to come down, if at all? 25:22: Industry consolidation — outlook for United, American, Delta, Spirit and JetBlue 26:36: 'Debundling' of airline prices and how carriers are working to 'maximize every single square centimeter on the plane' 29:16: With current volatility, should we be booking all our flights ahead now? 30:30: Creating a 'couch' in economy: Brian's take on airlines' new cabin concepts 33:12: 5-star hotels, cruises and yachts: Where Brian sees the best value in luxury travel right now 35:10: Tips and tricks to make the most of your trip 38:31: Brian's biggest travel recommendation this summer 39:53: How US airlines compare to those abroad 42:04: How Brian's son Cooper became the youngest person to ever visit all 7 continents 45:07: Long-term view: Brian's end game 47:01: Rapid-fire round 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with audience members who send in a question. New episodes every Thursday. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #Travel #Blogger #Entrepreneur #Startup #Founder #CEO #Leadership #CareerStory #CreatorEconomy #BusinessPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Poppi to PepsiCo: Building a $2B soda brand the industry couldn't ignore

Thursday, July 23, 2026 • Duration 56:04

Joining us this week is Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth, who takes us behind the rise of one of America's fastest-growing beverage brands — from a kitchen counter experiment to a nearly $2 billion acquisition by PepsiCo. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00 Introduction 01:15: Growing up in a household of entrepreneurs, gaining confidence as a dancer and working cleaning bathrooms 03:28: Starting Poppi inside Allison's kitchen 05:11: The trial-and-error process 06:26: Allison's previous life working in oil and gas 07:31: Starting to sell at farmer's markets and being discovered by Whole Foods 08:49: Going all in— the truth behind the "overnight success,” including at one point almost losing their home and selling both cars 12:44: Product breakthrough after Allison's co-founder husband snuck sugar in 15:04: Pitching on "Shark Tank" while nine months pregnant 23:16: The rebranding and relaunch as Poppi 29:39: "Embarrassment is the most under-explored emotion when it comes to success" 30:45: The "black ops" budget/ playbook that helped Poppi stand out in one of the world's most competitive industries 33:05: Why Poppi gave equity to employees, advisors and ambassadors like Alix Earle — and how it actually fueled the company's growth 36:59: The rise of prebiotic sodas and competition like Olipop 40:55: Landing the PepsiCo deal — a landmark sale that underscored the rise of challenger brands in consumer goods 43:43: The emotional reality of handing over the company she and her husband built 44:15: What's next for Allison 47:36: Audience question 48:57: Rapid-fire round 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. New episodes every Thursday. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #Poppi #PepsiCo #Acquisition #Entrepreneur #Startup #Founder #CEO #Leadership #CareerStory #WomeninBusiness #FemaleFounder #BusinessPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beyond EVs: Rivian founder & CEO RJ Scaringe on AI, robotics and the next big bet

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 • Duration 01:02:30

Joining me this week is RJ Scaringe, founder & CEO of Rivian, the electric automaker backed by Amazon and Volkswagen. RJ has wanted to build cars for as long as he can remember — telling his father at age 10 that he hoped to one day start an automotive company. Years later, in 2009, he took the leap. There was "no money, no team, no technology, no suppliers, no brand and no production infrastructure," as he puts it. Now, as the company launches a new vehicle, doubles down on AI and autonomous driving, and charts a path to steady profitability, RJ takes us through the lessons from building an automaker from the ground up — and one of the world's most closely watched EV companies. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00 Introduction 01:26: Early beginnings 07:06: Starting Rivian from a clean sheet in 2009, post-recession 12:31: Navigating skepticism and 'comically bad' investor meetings in the early days 16:04: Meeting Jeff Bezos and securing Amazon's investment 17:24: Entering the market with its first two vehicles, the R1T and R1S 21:57: Launch of the R2 this year 25:22: Near-term challenges: supply chain risks 31:19: Challenges in EV sector and RJ's outlook 33:35: Balancing Wall Street's short-term expectations with long-term vision 37:00: Rivian's intended path to steady profitability 38:42: Why Rivian developed its own AI chip 40:42: Self-driving vehicles 47:43: Teaming up with Volkswagen 48:20: RJ's new venture, Mind Robotics 52:27: Factory automation 53:47: RJ's end game 56:29: Rapid-fire round 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. New episodes every Thursday. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Find her on Instagram: / bymichelletoh TikTok: / behindthebusinessshow #Autos #EVs #Entrepreneur #Startup #Founder #CEO #Leadership #AutonomousVehicles #SelfDrivingCars #Robotics #Mobility #Manufacturing #SupplyChain #WallStreet #AI #Technology #CareerStory #BusinessPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside global black markets: Emmy-winning investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller

Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Duration 54:42

“An estimated 30-35% of the global economy are black and gray markets.” That’s the world our next guest, Mariana van Zeller, has spent years investigating. From online scam centers to black-market oil, the Peabody Award-winning journalist has built a career going where few reporters can. "Trafficked" — her hit Nat Geo series — regularly breaks records at the Emmys. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 01:18: The "hidden third" of the global economy 02:15: Growing up in Portugal and the path to journalism 03:50: Fighting her way into Columbia University 05:56: Covering 9/11 and finding her calling 09:20: Reporting from Syria and entering the world of black markets 14:34: How "Trafficked" is made 17:09: Navigating danger and censorship 22:23: Dream story 23:17: Her toughest story and most dangerous assignment 34:08: Why her sources agree to be interviewed, even if it could implicate them 36:47: What actually reduces crime 40:17: Why "Trafficked" ended despite its huge popularity — and what's next, including "The Hidden Third" podcast 44:55: Audience question: How to distinguish a good story from a great one 46:01: Rapid-fire round 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. New episodes Thursdays. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: - YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB - Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA - Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB - Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. New episodes every Thursday. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymichelletohTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behindthebusinessshow #investigativejournalism #blackmarket #shadoweconomy #womeninmedia #journalism #documentary #career #careergrowth #careerstory #independentjournalism #independentmedia #founder #founderstory #founderjourney #founders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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