As one of the most successful creators on YouTube, Mark Rober doesn?t see what he does as a business. Instead, it?s a way to celebrate science in the most joyful way possible. While working as an engineer at NASA, he made his YouTube debut with a tutorial on how to make a gory Halloween costume with two iPads and a lot of duct tape. Over time, his videos became more elaborate, including a belly flop into a pool full of Jello, and a demo of a glitter-fart bomb to get revenge on porch pirates. Within a few years, Mark was teaching online science classes and selling subscription boxes for kids. Today, his YouTube channel has 5.5 billion views, 48 million subscribers?and?astonishingly, given that audience?less than 150 videos.

This episode was produced by J.C. Howard, with music by Ramtin Arablouei

Edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Sam Paulson.

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For decades, Shane Legg has anticipated the arrival of ?artificial general intelligence? or AGI. 

In other words: an artificial agent that can do all the kinds of cognitive tasks that people can typically do, and possibly more...

Now as the Chief AGI Scientist and a co-founder of Google DeepMind, he stands by that prediction and is calling on the world to prepare. 

This week on How I Built This Lab, Shane?s path to becoming an early AI expert and the work he and his team are doing to prepare for the technological revolution ahead. 

This episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Carla Esteves. Our audio engineer was Cena Loffredo.

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Best friends Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal started out as ?comedians for Christ,? and grew their partnership into one of the most successful YouTube platforms in existence. During college they created silly videos and songs for Christian events, and later built a following on YouTube before most people knew what it was. After struggling to find stardom in Hollywood, they continued to build a presence on YouTube: sampling punishingly hot peppers, writing ear-wormy songs about random things, showing off glasses that turned the world upside down. Nowadays, their entertainment company, Mythical, reports over 75 million subscribers and 25 billion lifetime views.

This episode was produced and researched by Katherine Sypher with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Neva Grant.

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From Wondery, Business Wars is a podcast about the biggest corporate rivalries. In the newest season, host David Brown tracks the power struggles and philosophical differences within OpenAI that culminated in Sam Altman?s shocking firing, the chaos that followed, and what it means not just for OpenAI, but for the future of artificial intelligence safety overall.

Follow Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Business Wars early and ad-free right now on Wondery plus. Wondery.fm/IFD_BW

For more deep dive and daily business content listen on Wondery? the destination for business podcasts. With shows like How I Built This, Business Wars, The Best One Yet, Business Movers and many more, Wondery means business.

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Best-selling author and economics professor Renée Mauborgne thinks that too many entrepreneurs focus on the wrong things?consumed with making their companies outperform one another as they fight for a greater share of a crowded market space. But what if entrepreneurs focused on creating new markets instead of fighting over old ones?

This week on How I Built This Lab, Renée shares insights from her Blue Ocean Strategy series to help founders crack open new opportunities. Plus, what is non-disruptive innovation and can it offset job displacement in the age of AI?

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Sam Paulson. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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Whole30 began as a dietary experiment: For 30 days, Melissa Urban went without grains, dairy, legumes, alcohol and added sugar. She was trying to address several health problems, and the results were so extraordinary that she decided to share the diet with others. 

What followed was a blog, a series of seminars, a best-selling book and eventually a wide-ranging wellness brand that?s helped millions of people identify the best diet for their own body. But in 2015, Melissa had to rethink everything?even her own name?when she split up with her husband and business partner, Dallas Hartwig. She retained ownership of the business, and today, the ?Whole30 Approved? logo appears on a range of brands, from La Croix water to Chipotle salad bowls. 

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Katherine Sypher. Our audio engineers were Patrick Murray, Gilly Moon, and Robert Rodriguez.

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The popular science fiction idea of beaming someone instantly to another location was part of David Nussbaum?s inspiration to design a ?holoportation box.? His company, Proto, invented a device the size of a telephone booth that projects a hologram-type image so realistic it appears someone is standing inside...

This week on How I Built This Lab, how Proto?s technology is used today to virtually transport professors, doctors, speakers, and celebrities to classrooms, hospitals, and events around the world. But in the future, David believes Proto?s technology will end up in everyone?s living room?and will transform the way we communicate with each other.

This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Sam Paulson. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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Isaac Larian moved from Iran to Los Angeles at age 17 with just a few hundred dollars, and went on to build one of the biggest toy companies in the world. Along the way, he took on Barbie with a wildly successful line of punky dolls called Bratz ? a success that touched off an epic legal battle with Mattel. Today, at age 70, Isaac is still the CEO of MGA Entertainment, and says he still has the fighter?s instinct that he learned in the slums of Tehran.

This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Neva Grant with research assistance and fact-checking from Carla Esteves and Zazil Davis-Vazquez.

Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Robert Rodriguez.

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?Growth is not about the genius you possess?it?s about the character you develop.? 

That?s what organizational psychologist and podcast host Adam Grant believes, and he offers a new framework on how we can elevate ourselves and others in his latest book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.

This week on How I Built This Lab, insights on what great entrepreneurs have in common and the steps anyone can take to develop these skills. Plus, redesigning workplace systems to foster greater collaboration, and cultivating untapped potential in the generations to come. 

This episode was researched and produced by Carla Esteves, with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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If you told 19-year-old Larry Liu that his hobby re-selling used electronics ?for fun? would someday help him build a multi-billion-dollar company, he probably would have laughed. He was an electrical engineering student in Shanghai at the time. His goals were to land a corporate job and go to grad school in the U.S. He did both, starting with a job at Intel. But his passion for e-commerce stayed with him through his MBA and other corporate jobs. And when he moved to Northern California, Larry noticed other Chinese immigrants using WeChat to source what they needed locally - even organizing in groups to buy familiar foods and products. Larry immediately saw this as a business opportunity. And in under ten years, after facing down bankruptcy and re-orienting his business, Larry grew his e-commerce platform Weee! into a company now valued at over $4 billion.

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Andrea Bruce with research help from Katherine Sypher.

Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Josh Newell.

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Imran Chaudhri and his wife Bethany Bongiorno are responsible for bringing some of the most widely-used screened products to market?like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. 

And while these devices have connected humans like never before, Imran and Bethany couldn?t help but wonder about the downsides of spending so much time tethered to screens. After leaving Apple, they eventually brought a new tool to life; something screenless...

This week on How I Built This Lab, Imran and Bethany?s wearable pin capable of being your personal assistant. Plus, how they believe that AI can be regulated without stifling innovation.

This episode was produced by J.C. Howard with music by Ramtin Arablouei. 

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Kerry Thompson. 

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Mark Sisson made a big bet on mayonnaise, and won: four years after launching his Paleo-friendly condiment company Primal Kitchen, he sold it for $200 million. He succeeded partly because he drew lessons from his previous failures and accomplishments - as a marathon runner, Ironman triathlete and coach, frozen yogurt proprietor, sports supplement founder, TV show host, and Paleo book author. But Mark?s biggest business came at an age when most people contemplate retirement. He developed a recipe for avocado-oil based mayonnaise, then added ketchups and other condiments. After Primal Kitchen was sold to Kraft Heinz Corporation in 2019, Mark launched a totally new business: minimalist shoes.

This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Neva Grant with research help from Melia Agudelo.

Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Maggie Luthar.

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Gene Berdichevsky and his team have been working for over a decade to solve a major problem: Lithium-ion batteries are not getting any better. They power our cell phones and laptops and nearly every other modern, rechargeable device?and at this point have reached their energy-storing limit.

This week on How I Built This Lab, Gene discusses a new approach that could eventually make lithium-ion batteries 40% more efficient, unlocking a future where electric vehicles and other battery-powered products are cheaper, recharge faster and last longer on a single charge.

This episode was researched and produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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In 2016, Fawn Weaver became fixated on a New York Times article telling the little-known story of Nearest Green, a formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel?yes, that Jack Daniel?how to make Tennessee whiskey.

 After diving deeper into the story, Fawn ended up purchasing the farm in Lynchburg, Tennessee where Nearest had taught Jack how to distill; and she began meeting the descendants of both men. She eventually decided the best way to preserve Nearest?s legacy was with a bottle of the best Tennessee whiskey she could make.

 With no background in distilling, she threw herself into the insular world of spirit-making, an industry mostly dominated by white men. In the eight years since Fawn first discovered his story, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has become one of the fastest-growing whiskey brands in the world, and one of the most awarded American whiskeys.

This episode of How I Built This was produced by Liz Metzger and edited by Neva Grant. Research help from Claire Murashima, with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

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What if you could no longer trust the things you see and hear?

Because the signature on a check, the documents or videos presented in court, the footage you see on the news, the calls you receive from your family ? They could all be perfectly forged by artificial intelligence.

That?s just one of the risks posed by the rapid development of AI. And that?s why Tristan Harris of the Center for Humane Technology is sounding the alarm.

This week on How I Built This Lab: the second of a two-episode series in which Tristan and Guy discuss how we can upgrade the fundamental legal, technical, and philosophical frameworks of our society to meet the challenge of AI.

To learn more about the Center for Humane Technology, text ?AI? to 55444.

This episode was researched and produced by Alex Cheng with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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When the iPhone 4 was released in 2010, Manish Chandra was dazzled by its picture quality, and saw an opportunity for a new type of mobile marketplace. A year later, he and three co-founders launched Poshmark, a shopping app for second-hand clothes and accessories, meant to capture the feel of going thrifting with your friends. The online community grew quickly and vocally?when Poshmark raised shipping fees, users lobbied furiously to lower them, and won. The company faced many more growing pains before being acquired by the Naver Corporation for $1.2 billion in 2023. It now has over 100 million registered users around the world.

This episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Neva Grant with research help from Katherine Sypher.

Our engineers were Robert Rodriguez and Josh Newell.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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When Tristan Harris co-founded the Center for Humane Technology in 2018, he was trying to educate tech leaders and policymakers about the harms of social media.

But today, he?s sounding the alarm about a different technology ? one that he says could pose an existential threat to the entire world ?

Artificial intelligence.

This week on How I Built This Lab: the first of a two-episode series in which Tristan and Guy examine the serious risks posed by the rapid development and deployment of AI ? and what we can do to make sure this powerful technology is used for good.

You can learn more about ?The Social Dilemma,? the 2020 Emmy-winning docudrama featuring Tristan, here: https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/.

This episode was researched and produced by Alex Cheng with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2002, John MacFarlane and his co-founders began tinkering on what was then an ambitious idea: create a new way to enjoy music throughout the home, without wires. At the time, streaming and the iPod were brand new, and smart speakers were over a decade away. But the team at Sonos engineered a top-quality wireless sound system, and?with many fits and starts?integrated it with mobile technology and, eventually, Siri and Alexa. Along the way, John and his team contended with the early unreliability of WiFi, and faced stiff competition from much bigger companies. But today, Sonos is an established player in music, with projected sales of over $1.5 billion this year. 

This episode was produced by Katherine Sypher with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Neva Grant with research help from Sam Paulson.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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There?s a new car coming to market that will probably make its owners search out the sunniest spots in the parking lot? Aptera Motors is designing and manufacturing this car: a plug-in electric hybrid that can run up to 40 miles on a single, solar-powered charge. This week on How I Built This Lab, Steve Fambro shares how he and his co-CEO revived their once-defunct auto company thanks to the promise of solar energy. Plus, Steve?s take on why today?s vehicles require so much energy, and how Aptera?s novel design could change the way we think about cars forever?

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson and edited by John Isabella, with music by Ramtin Arablouei. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch. 

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Gabi Lewis and Greg Sewitz founded Magic Spoon to create a sugary breakfast cereal without the sugar. If that sounds daunting, consider their first business: protein bars made with cricket flour. Riffing on an idea that began as a college assignment, the founders ordered live crickets to roast at home, and worked with a top-rated chef to perfect their recipes. The only problem: getting people to eat a snack made of ground-up bugs. When Exo protein bars eventually stalled, the pair pivoted to another ambitious idea: breakfast cereal that tasted like the Fruit Loops and Cocoa Puffs of childhood?but minus the sugar and grains. Drawing on their roller-coaster experience with Exo, Gabi and Greg revisited winning strategies, and scrapped the plays that didn?t work, eventually building Magic Spoon into a nationwide brand.

This episode was produced by J.C. Howard, with music by Ramtin Arablouei

Edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Sam Paulson.

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Cutting emissions alone will not be enough. To avoid the worst effects of global climate change, Heirloom CEO and co-founder Shashank Samala believes we?ll also need to pull a lot of carbon out of the atmosphere...

This week on How I Built This Lab, Shashank?s leap into climate entrepreneurship, launching the company that, in just four years, built North America?s first operational carbon capture facility. Plus, Heirloom?s novel approach to carbon removal?one tray of limestone at a time.

This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Carla Esteves. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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In 2012, Ariel Kaye saw a tantalizing opportunity, but wasn?t sure she was the one to seize it. She?d never started a brand and didn?t think of herself as an entrepreneur, until she noticed how frustrating it was to buy bed linens in a big box store. Taking inspiration from Warby Parker and Everlane, Ariel quit her day job to launch a brand of DTC luxury sheets, made in Europe but exuding a California vibe, with photos of models lounging in semi-rumpled beds. As a solo founder, Ariel had to figure out everything herself, from manufacturing to supply chains to how to get through to investors. Today, Parachute Home offers a wide range of home goods and has expanded beyond its website to 26 physical stores across the U.S. 

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Katherine Sypher.

Our engineer was Josephine Nyounai.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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?If we keep doing what we?ve been doing, then we?re going to get what we?ve got?and what we got ain?t working.?

ICON Co-founder/CEO and proud Texan Jason Ballard believes that a radically different approach to construction holds the key to creating affordable housing and solving homelessness for the entire globe. 

This week on How I Built This Lab, Jason?s venturesome path to inventing advanced technology that prints disaster-resilient homes from concrete?at a fraction of the traditional time and cost. Plus, a look at the Moon for more of Earth?s building solutions... 

This episode was researched and produced by Carla Esteves, with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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Tiffany Masterson was a stay-at-home mom in her 40s when she launched her skin care brand, Drunk Elephant, in 2013. Six years later, she sold it for $845 million to the Japanese beauty giant Shiseido. Just six years! And she did it all with little to no experience in skin care, retail, or business. The professional branding and skin care world thought she was making huge mistakes: They panned her brand's name, product design, and strategy of focusing on only one high-end retailer. But Tiffany proved them wrong with great strategic instincts, incredible determination, and an unwavering belief in her products - and herself.

This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Andrea Bruce, with research from Katherine Sypher.

Our audio engineer was Josephine Nyounai.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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When Jim Koch created Samuel Adams Boston Lager in 1984, American craft beer was still in its infancy. But forty years and thousands of new craft breweries later, both the competition and Jim?s drive to innovate are fiercer than ever...

This week on How I Built This Lab, Jim reveals how thinking beyond paradigms and exploring aberrations has kept Boston Beer Company a leader in the alcoholic beverage industry. From hard teas to nitrogenated ales to non-alcoholic IPAs, Jim also shares the stories behind his company?s biggest hits ? and biggest flops.

Also, check out Boston Beer Company?s founding story told by Jim in October 2016.

This episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Chris Maccini. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Mike Cessario came up with the idea for a viral water brand by asking himself ?What is the dumbest possible idea we could have?? His answer was Liquid Death: an aluminum can of water that looks like a cross between beer and poison. While it seemed self-destructive, the idea turned out to be brilliant: Liquid Death connected with customers who don?t typically buy bottled water, and built a moat around itself by being entertaining and edgy?something most brands struggle with. As a former ad-man with one failed business behind him, Mike initially sidelined his idea when he couldn't find a co-packer to put spring water in aluminum cans. But seven years after launch, Liquid Death is both a water and an entertainment company, with annual revenue well above $100M.

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Casey Herman.

Our engineers were Robert Rodriguez and Josh Newell.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Thai Sade is the co-founder and CEO of BloomX, a company that has developed crop-pollinating technology to replicate natural pollinators like bees and other insects. 

So much of what we eat depends on bees, which have been used for centuries to pollinate crops. But today, the world?s growing appetite and other environmental stressors are pushing bee populations to the brink and threatening our food supply.

This week on How I Built This Lab, how Thai?s company is helping farmers ease the burden on bees. Plus, how Thai?s upbringing on a kibbutz inspired him to tackle global challenges in agriculture, and how BloomX is contributing to rainforest conservation in Latin America.

This episode was produced by J.C. Howard with music by Ramtin Arablouei. 

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Carla Esteves. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch. 

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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The apparel industry - be it high fashion or everyday wear - is a crowded and noisy market to crack. Just think about the sheer number of athletic shoes or jeans available at both ends of the price spectrum! So conventional wisdom is: to stand out, branding is really important. But for Christina Carbonell and Galyn Bernard, the co-founders of the children's clothing line Primary, branding was the last thing they wanted on their designs. The two women bucked other industry conventions, too: they only sell basic building-block pieces, using bright colors, in styles that hardly change year after year. No glitter. No cartoons. No pithy sayings. And no gender differentiation: the clothes are categorized as either babies or kids. Despite early struggles, eight years after launching in 2015, Primary is now a profitable company with annual sales over $50 million.

This episode was produced by Casey Herman, with music by Ramtin Arablouei

Edited by Andrea Bruce, with research help from Chris Maccini.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Allyson Felix is the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time. She?s also a mother. Those two identities came into conflict in 2018 when negotiating a contract renewal with her shoe sponsor, Nike. 

Ultimately, Allyson broke ties with Nike because the new contract presented a significant pay cut and lacked adequate maternal protections. After struggling to find a new shoe sponsor, Allyson and her brother/agent, Wes, decided to take matters into their own hands and start their own shoe company, Saysh. 

This week on How I Built This Lab, Allyson and Wes talk with Guy about their journey to the top of the track and field world, the decision to leave Nike, and how they built the iconic shoe that Allyson wore during her gold medal performance at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Plus, why most name brand shoes aren?t designed for women?s feet, and how Saysh is working to change that. 

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini, with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by John Isabella, with research help from Lauren Landau Einhorn.

Our audio engineer was Alex Drewenskus.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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After emigrating from Nigeria to the US to attend college, Tope Awotona worked as a door-to-door salesman and eventually set out to become a tech entrepreneur. He launched a series of e-commerce businesses that quickly fizzled when he realized he had no passion for them. But then he landed on an idea he was truly excited about: designing software that would minimize the hassle and headache of scheduling meetings. In 2013, he cashed in his 401k and went into debt to build Calendly, a scheduling service reportedly doing over $100 million in revenue.

This episode was produced by Rachel Faulkner-White, with music by Ramtin Arablouei

Edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Daryth Gayles.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A special look back at some of our favorite How I Built This Lab episodes of 2023. Hear how Pinky Cole built the vegan fast food chain Slutty Vegan after a devastating fire destroyed her first restaurant. Then, Nuseir Yassin turns a 1000-day social media travelog into a multi-dimensional business called The Nas Company. And finally, Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble, returns to the show to talk with Guy about the future of dating.

Stay tuned for fresh episodes in 2024. Happy New Year! 

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella.

You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2006, Paige Mycoskie walked into one of the most exclusive boutiques in LA, wearing her handmade clothes and hoping to get a meeting with the buyer. And why not? On the street, people seemed to love her boldly striped shirts and sweats, always asking ?Where can I get that?? whenever she wore them. Three years later, Paige opened her first store in Venice Beach, and then she relied on word of mouth ? and shrewd negotiating tactics with landlords ? to launch more new locations. Despite early struggles with managing her team and a costly scam, Paige grew Aviator Nation into a multi-million dollar brand - that still makes all its clothes in California.

This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Rommel Wood.

Our engineer was Josephine Nyounai.

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Rivian?s all-electric vehicles have been in high demand thanks to their unique look and handy features. But soon after hitting the market, a series of supply chain snarls led to a backlog of orders and a retreat by key investors. Undeterred, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has focused on ramping up production and has big plans for the company?s future ? including the release of a new mid-size SUV in 2026.

This week on How I Built This Lab, how Rivian continues to shape the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market. Plus, Rivian?s plans to expand charging infrastructure across the U.S. and RJ?s strategies for leading through challenging times. 

And don?t forget to check out Rivian?s origin story from September 2022.

This episode was produced by Katherine Sypher with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research by Katherine Sypher. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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KiwiCo founder Sandra Oh Lin took an after-school pastime and turned it into a multi-million-dollar business. After quitting a high-powered job in tech, she dived into doing after-school projects with her kids, like making puppets out of Styrofoam or combining baking soda and vinegar to see what happens. When she discovered that other parents liked these projects too, she decided to create a subscription box company that sent out science and crafts kits every month. She gathered kids in her garage to test-market her ideas, and pitched her plan over and over to investors in Silicon Valley, where her car was ?the only minivan in the parking lot.?  Today KiwiCo is the leading subscription box for kids, and has shipped over 50 million crates worldwide.

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei. 

It was edited by Neva Grant with research help from Carla Esteves. Our audio engineer was Josephine Nyounai. 

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Our modern way of life requires more resources than ever before ? resources that are becoming increasingly scarce and environmentally taxing to extract. 

Intuitive Machines co-founder and CEO Steve Altemus believes a solution to this problem could be waiting in the cosmos.

This week on How I Built This Lab, Steve breaks down the logistics and economics of sending the first-ever commercial spacecraft to the moon. Plus, an overview of today?s newfound global space race, and how Steve embraces failure as part of working on hard technological problems.

This episode was produced by Carla Esteves with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research by Carla Esteves. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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In 2000, Luis von Ahn was starting his PhD in computer science when he attended a talk and happened to learn about one of Yahoo's biggest problems: automated bots were signing up for millions of free Yahoo email accounts, and generating tons of spam. Luis' idea to solve this problem became CAPTCHA, the squiggly letters we type into a website to prove we're human. He gave away that idea for free, but years later, that same idea had evolved into a new way to monetize language learning on the web, and became Duolingo. Today, Duolingo is a publicly-traded company with a market cap of $9 billion.

This episode was produced by Casey Herman, with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by Neva Grant.

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Warby Parker co-CEOs Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa broke their scrappy startup into the eyewear industry in 2010?putting legacy manufacturers on notice by offering stylish glasses at much lower prices. But having since gone public and facing pressure from digital landlords and changing technology, Warby Parker now faces a new set of challenges and unknowns...

This week on How I Built This Lab, Neil and Dave share insights on leading a public for-profit company with a social mission. Plus, why brick and mortar is essential to the business, despite starting as a direct-to-consumer brand, and how artificial intelligence will change eyecare as we know it.

Also, check out Warby Parker?s founding story told by Neil and Dave in December 2016.

This episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Kerry Thompson. Our audio engineer was Patrick Murray.

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When Hernan Lopez founded Wondery in 2016, podcasts were just starting to go mainstream. Five years later, his team had scored a number of hit shows and sold to Amazon for a reported $300 million. Not bad for an immigrant from Argentina who moved to the U.S. in his late 20s with ?terrible? English skills.  

Before launching Wondery, Hernan worked his way up in television, eventually becoming CEO of Fox International Channels. But despite his experience and connections, he struggled to attract investors and break through in an emerging industry. After the success of shows like Dirty John, Wondery began to take off, and today it?s one of the largest podcast networks in the world, with hundreds of shows in comedy, crime, sports, history and business?including this one! 

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Alex Cheng.

Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Maggie Luthar.

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Andrew Lacy is the co-founder and CEO of Prenuvo, a company offering full body scans that have the potential to detect disease early and before symptoms. 

When Andrew was introduced to radiologist Rajpaul Attariwala, he had already built and sold two tech companies. So after stepping out of Attariwala?s MRI machine, Andrew saw the same opportunity he?d seen years earlier in the iPhone? 

This week on How I Built This Lab, how Prenuvo is working to change the health care industry one scan at a time. Plus, Andrew responds to medical establishment criticism and outlines the problems in health care that Prenuvo helps solve.  

This episode was produced by J.C. Howard with music by Ramtin Arablouei. 

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Alex Cheng. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch. 

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In 2010, a tragic personal event changed the trajectory of Nancy Twine's life. Suddenly, her promising job at Goldman Sachs no longer seemed fulfilling; she wanted something more.

Drawing inspiration from the homemade hair treatments she once made with her mom, Nancy created a line of shampoos and conditioners that catered to all textures of hair without using harmful additives. But as a Black entrepreneur pitching beauty products to white, male investors, she had a tough time raising money.

Finally, in 2013, with an investment of $100K, Nancy launched Briogeo and eventually landed it in Sephora. Today the company?s sales revenue is $100M a year.

This episode was produced by Casey Herman, with music composed by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Daryth Gales. Our audio engineer was Josh Newell.

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Collaboration is the new competition: that was French entrepreneur Lucie Basch?s philosophy when she approached a group of Danish founders who happened to be working on a similar food waste reduction app. 

Before long, Lucie and her new co-founders joined forces to create Too Good To Go, an app that enables restaurants and grocery stores to sell leftover items in ?surprise bags? at a significantly reduced price. Since launching in 2016, Too Good To Go has raised over $30 million dollars and has expanded to 17 countries, including the U.S.

This week on How I Built This Lab, Lucie talks with Guy about her company?s work to leverage the ?horizontal power? of consumers to collectively chip away at global food waste. She also discusses the emergence of social enterprises like hers, that fill the gap between charitable and purely profit-driven organizations.

This episode was produced by Sam Paulson, with music by Sam Paulson and Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by John Isabella, with research help from Lauren Landau Einhorn.

Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

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When Ted Xenohristos and two childhood friends opened their first sit-down Greek restaurant in 2006, they had no idea it would eventually grow into CAVA, a sprawling national chain that serves stuffed pita sandwiches and salads. Raised by Greek immigrants, the three founders understood how to make great food, but were rookies at running a restaurant?maxing out their credit cards, and learning the hard way that you should never write dinner orders on sticky-notes. As the restaurant tried to raise its profile by selling its hummus and tzatziki to grocery stores, it continued to lose money. But eventually the founders decided to hire Brett Schulman as their boss. Brett had invaluable experience in the snack food industry, and predicted that CAVA?s Mediterranean cooking would take off among health-conscious diners. He was right. Today, CAVA is a publicly-traded company with over 280 restaurants across the country.

This episode was produced by Sam Paulson with music by Ramtin Arablouei and Sam Paulson.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Rommel Wood.

Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Patrick Murray.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Waymo Co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov is convinced that his company?s vehicles are better at driving than any human. Dmitri has spent thousands of hours riding in them, and recently Guy had the chance to try one out as well...

This week on How I Built This Lab, Dmitri recounts the decade-plus journey of building Waymo into the world?s first company to operate a fully-autonomous ride hailing service. Plus, how Waymo?s approach differs from Tesla?s, and Dmitri?s take on when we?ll see more AV?s on the roads than human-driven cars (spoiler: sooner than you may think!)

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from Chris Maccini. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch. 

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When Michael Preysman founded Everlane, he knew nothing about fashion?he just wanted to see if he could build an online platform that would generate buzz around anything. He started with a cotton T-shirt, and taught himself every stage of production, from sourcing the fabric, to cutting, dyeing, and finishing. When Michael realized that some luxury brands charged as much as seven times the actual cost of a T-shirt, he decided to sell his for $15, and soon caused a stir by telling the world exactly what it cost to make. Eventually the brand shifted its focus to sustainability and social responsibility, a strategy that invited harsh criticism, especially during the Covid era. Today, Everlane is a multi-million dollar business that has expanded to sweaters, denim, outerwear, and accessories.

This episode was produced by J.C. Howard, with music by Ramtin Arablouei

Edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Sam Paulson.

Our audio engineer was Gilly Moon.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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When it comes to carbon emissions, there?s a major culprit you might not have heard about: cement. The production of cement emits almost as much carbon dioxide as cars do - but Brimstone CEO and co-founder Cody Finke says they?ve found a way to change that.

This week on How I Built This Lab, Cody explains where all that carbon dioxide is coming from, and how swapping out a key ingredient in the production of cement could take it from carbon-intensive ? to carbon-negative.

This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music by Ramtin Arablouei. 

It was edited by John Isabella with research help from J.C. Howard. Our audio engineer was Patrick Murray. 

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Priority Bicycles founder Dave Weiner quit his job as a software CEO to pursue a risky idea: building a new kind of bike. In 2014, he started sourcing parts to make his first low-maintenance model, with a rust-proof aluminum frame and a carbon fiber belt drive instead of a chain. Dave was able to keep costs down by selling DTC, but had to scramble to meet demand when his first Kickstarter campaign yielded 1500 orders. From there, Priority pedaled forward steadily, adding new models, and partnering with hotels to provide low-maintenance bikes for guests. Today, after weathering the extreme whiplash of Covid and a debilitating bike accident, Dave is optimistic that Priority will keep growing, with 25 current models and sales of roughly 25,000 bikes a year.

This episode was produced by Josh Lash with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Carla Esteves .

Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Robert Rodriguez.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Steve Ells changed the restaurant industry once when he founded Chipotle in 1993. His idea for fast, freshly prepared food became the model for today?s ?fast casual? format. It?s a story he told when he was first on the show back in 2017. Now, he hopes to revolutionize the industry again with a new chain of small, highly automated, vegan restaurants called Kernel. 

This week on How I Built This Lab, Steve Ells returns to reflect on stepping away from the company he spent decades building and how his concern for climate change inspired his new restaurant concept. Plus, how he thinks that robotic restaurants could be good for workers, customers, owners and the environment. 

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research by Casey Herman. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Kona Ice founder Tony Lamb had a knack for sales since he was a teenager - a skill that served him well when he decided to sell Hawaiian-style shaved ice in Kentucky, where people had barely heard of it. After thirteen successful years as a vacuum cleaner salesman, Tony launched his first shaved ice truck in 2007. Fueled by a bad experience buying freezer-burned popsicles off a battered ice cream truck, he built a custom-made vehicle with a tropical vibe and a built-in ?Flavorwave? that let customers dispense their own syrups. Two decades after surrendering his salesman?s suit for a Hawaiian shirt, Tony has grown Kona Ice into a sprawling franchise with 1500 trucks across North America.

This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Katherine Sypher.

Our engineers were Ko Takasugi-Czernowin and Robert Rodriguez.

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How does a brand live on after its founders leave the company ? especially one that was inspired by their family and their culture? That?s the question Vincent and Andrew Kitirattragarn have had to answer since their original appearance on How I Built This in January 2022. 

This week on How I Built This Lab, Vincent and Andrew share their aspirations for Dang Foods after a difficult and heartfelt departure. Plus, how they navigated changes in consumer demand post-pandemic and the resources that helped buoy their mental health in the face of consequential entrepreneurial decisions.

This episode was produced by Carla Esteves with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

It was edited by John Isabella with research by Carla Esteves. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.

This episode is brought to you in part by Canva, the easy-to-use online design platform for presentations, social posts, videos, websites, and more. Start designing today at Canva ? the home for every brand.

You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

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Rob Kalin founded Etsy for people like him: makers and hobbyists. In 2005, he was kicking around New York trying to find buyers for his hand-made furniture, when he noticed that other craftspeople had the same need. So he and a few friends built a website where makers could sell a wide range of goods. Rob named it after an Italian phrase he heard in a Fellini film, and within three years, Etsy passed $10 million in sales. But as a young founder, Rob struggled to manage the rapidly-growing company; and in 2011, after being fired without warning, he returned to a quieter life as a maker and small-businessman. Meanwhile, Etsy has become one of the most popular online marketplaces in the world, with $2.5 billion in revenue.

This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei.

Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Sam Paulson.

Our engineers were Gilly Moon and Maggie Luther.

You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at [email protected].

This episode is brought to you in part by Canva, the easy-to-use online design platform for presentations, social posts, videos, websites, and more. Start designing today at Canva ? the home for every brand.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.