Business Wars
by Audible Original
Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live. Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, innovators, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Against the Odds and American History Tellers. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Episodes
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Big Beef: The War on Your Wallet | Something Rotten | 2
A lot has changed in the eight years since the ranchers first sued Big Beef. IBP was acquired by Tyson Foods, a behemoth with even more ability to withstand a lawsuit. But no sooner does Tyson take the crown as world’s biggest meatpacker than a new heavyweight emerges: Brazil’s JBS. Founded as a...
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LISTEN NOW: The First Wife
Many listened to the Dirty John podcast, which introduced the world to John Meehan, a dangerous serial predator who infiltrates the life of Debra Newell and ultimately dies at the hand of her daughter, Terra. But there was an overlooked story that’s now being told, in full, for the first time. In...
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Big Beef: The War on Your Wallet | A Bloody Business | 1
In 1996, a handful of cattle ranchers make a bold decision: to sue IBP, the biggest beef processor in the world. They accuse IBP of price-fixing, putting cattle producers out of business while raising prices for consumers. But the ranchers will soon learn that their fight with Big Beef has…
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Indian Motorcycle vs Harley-Davidson | Indian Summer | 2
Harley-Davidson’s suffering. The credit boom has gone bust and that’s hammering its sales. The snowmobile company behind the latest attempt to revive Indian Motorcycle sees an opportunity. But can America’s riders really be persuaded to trade in their Harleys? Audible subscribers can listen to…
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Listen Now— Over My Dead Body: Operation Sideswipe
A Hollywood stuntwoman turned personal injury attorney. A handsome disbarred lawyer with a dark past. And an elaborate scheme that leads to murder. Vanessa Motta gives up a career of fake car crashes for real ones. But her law career in New Orleans gets off to a rocky start — until she meets Sean...
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Indian Motorcycle vs Harley-Davidson | Roadkill | 1
It’s been 45 years since Indian Motorcycle became corporate roadkill. But as the 2000s approach, entrepreneurs are jockeying for the opportunity to resurrect it as an alternative to market leader Harley-Davidson. But can this one-time American icon really make a comeback? Audible subscribers can...
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Buffalo Wild Wings vs Wingstop | Spice Off | 3
For years, Buffalo Wild Wings was the undisputed king of chicken wings. But for the past decade, Wingstop has owned that crown with its takeout friendly spin on everyone’s favorite tangy, spicy party food. Food industry reporter Sam Oches is editor-in-chief of Nation’s Restaurant News, and host…
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Buffalo Wild Wings vs Wingstop | Chicken Fight | 2
After years of turning profits, in 2015 Buffalo Wild Wings sees signs of trouble. Younger generations are take-out over dine-in, and for the first time since going public, Buffalo Wild Wings starts to miss Wall Street expectations. And Buffalo Wild Wings CEO Sally Smith finds herself in the cross...
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Listen Now: Audible True Crime – Ghost Story
Audible True Crime is a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week. Just in time for spooky season, we’re releasing a show called Ghost Story, a series about a hidden family secret, unexplainable events and jaw-dropping...
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Buffalo Wild Wings vs Wingstop | Winging It | 1
It’s the early 1980s, and a pair of brothers open a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio serving Buffalo wings. They see an opportunity to bring the spicy, tangy wings to diners around the country. The brothers are ambitious and Buffalo Wild Wings expands rapidly. A decade later, a couple in Texas gets a...
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FanDuel vs DraftKings | Open The Gates | 2
It’s May 2018, and the U.S. Supreme Court just struck down a law that banned most sports betting nationwide. The gold rush is on to capture a newly wide-open market of online gamblers. FanDuel and DraftKings shift seamlessly from daily fantasy companies to online sportsbooks, partnering with top...
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Listen Now: My Mom’s Murder
Lauren Malloy was a baby when her mother, Lori, was murdered in East Providence, Rhode Island. For thirty years, no one told her. Everyone said Lori died of natural causes. Then a stranger sent Lauren a message — and the lie collapsed. Now Lauren is investigating her own mother’s murder. She’s...
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FanDuel vs DraftKings | The Enemy of My Enemy | 1
It’s 2009, and most online betting is illegal in the U.S. Then tech founder Nigel Eccles finds a nifty loophole around fantasy sports, and FanDuel is born. The new ‘daily fantasy sports’ app allows users to play in short-term contests with quick payouts… almost like gambling by another name. But...
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Roomba: Hitting the Wall | The New Space Race | 3
Recent visitors to China’s tech zone in Shenzhen have come away in awe of the country’s manufacturing capabilities, including its increasingly advanced humanoid robots. And when iRobot’s Chinese supplier took over the company this year, it looked like another win for Chinese tech. Christopher…
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Roomba: Hitting the Wall | The Moat | 2
It’s 2017 and the Roomba rules the robotic vacuum market. But cheaper competitors from China, some of whom offer more features for less money, start eating away at its lead. iRobot’s CEO Colin Angle fights back with lawsuits and a bet on premium pricing. But the competition keeps finding ways...
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Roomba: Hitting the Wall | Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control | 1
It’s 1984 and MIT professor Rodney Brooks has a radical idea: robots don't need complicated brains to navigate the world — they just need simple rules. Brooks and two of his students, Colin Angle and Helen Greiner, turn that idea into a company called iRobot. The company chases government…
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The Sweetener Wars | Sweet Goes Sour | 2
After years on top, Sweet’N Low is sinking fast. Newer artificial sweeteners aspartame and sucralose are spawning fresh competition. But the problems go even deeper – because within its own ranks, fraudsters are draining Sweet’N Low's coffers. If you’d like to hear more about the artificial...
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The Sweetener Wars | Attack of the Cancer Rats | 1
The promise seemed miraculous. Sweetness minus the calories. But when studies begin to link artificial sweeteners with cancer, the entire industry faces oblivion. And it'll take some lightning-fast pivots and Donald Rumsfeld to pull it back from the brink. If you’d like to hear more about the...
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Listen Now: Audible True Crime
Introducing Audible True Crime, a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week. Find your next bingeable series about unsolved murders, cold cases, scams and mysteries. This is the cream of the crop of Audible podcasts,...
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Warby Parker vs Luxottica | A Modern Lens | 3
When Warby Parker debuted in 2010, the brand disrupted not just how much eyeglasses cost, but also how customers purchased them. Its direct-to-consumer e-commerce business model left many wondering whether Luxottica’s longstanding reign over the industry would soon be over. In the…
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Warby Parker vs Luxottica | Getting Vertical | 2
Warby Parker is three weeks old and its online glasses store is proving so popular the brand’s in danger of burning out. But if it’s going to pose a real challenge to Luxottica, it needs to learn how to sustain that momentum. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free...
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Warby Parker vs Luxottica | The Empire of Eyes | 1
After a childhood of hard knocks, Italian entrepreneur Leonardo Del Vecchio sets out to build an eyewear empire by swallowing brands like Ray-Ban, Sunglass Hut, Lenscrafters, and Oakley. But as his wealth and power grows, four MBA students in Philadelphia ask if there’s room for an alternative....
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GoPro: The Billion Dollar Wipeout | Crash Landing | 2
After a successful IPO in 2014, GoPro founder and CEO Nick Woodman hopes to lead the company into its next act. In his vision, GoPro won’t just be a camera maker anymore; they’ll be a full-scale media empire. Woodman hires a Hollywood executive to lead the charge and staffs the new division with...
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GoPro: The Billion Dollar Wipeout | Think it. See It. Do it. Boom. | 1
In 2002, while on a surf trip to Bali, 26-year-old Nick Woodman has an idea for a camera mount that would allow him and his friends to capture action shots of themselves in the water. At the time, only professional surfers who hired photographers had these types of images. Woodman spends years...
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Universal vs Disney: The Battle for Orlando | Epic Rivalry | 4
For decades, Disney was the undisputed champion of theme parks. But Universal Studios had its big breakthrough when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened in 2010. And it’s been gaining ground on Disney ever since. Today, journalist Drew Taylor takes David on a ride through this heated theme...
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Universal vs. Disney: The Battle for Orlando | An IP for an IP | 3
With Harry Potter on its team, Universal hopes to cast a spell on millions of vacationers. Meanwhile, Disney’s new boss Bob Iger is about to strike back with Star Wars. But who will win this clash between Jedi and wizard?
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Listen Now: AI A New Kind of Being
AI: A NEW KIND OF BEING is a six-part series from This Is Actually Happening, sharing the stories of people whose lives have been forever changed by artificial intelligence. You'll hear intimate, first-person accounts from every side of this new frontier. A man who fell in love with his AI and...
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Universal vs. Disney: The Battle for Orlando | The Park That Lived | 2
After a bumpy opening, Universal Studios Florida is looking for a way to get out of Disney World’s shadow. But if Jaws, King Kong and Back to the Future won’t do it, what will?
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Listen Now: Dan Taberski’s Manifesto
Just in time for America’s 250th birthday, follow Dan Taberski (Hysterical, 9/12, Missing Richard Simmons) as he sets off on his most complicated quest yet: to reclaim the manifesto and write his own. Dan attempts to rescue the manifesto as a form from the sweaty clutches of cynical politicians…
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Universal vs. Disney: The Battle for Orlando | A Kingdom Invaded | 1
Walt Disney World: it’s the Central Florida theme park destination that dreams are made of. And Universal’s dream is to build an even better theme park next door. But Disney boss Michael Eisner isn’t about to let it spoil the fun without a fight.
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ENCORE: Cruise Ship Wars | Mayday | 4
As the cruise industry enters the 21st century, Carnival and Royal Caribbean square off again as they battle to acquire British company Princess Cruises. Whoever wins Princess will be virtually uncatchable as the largest cruise company in the world. But when the Covid-19 pandemic breaks out, the...
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ENCORE: Cruise Ship Wars | A Shot Across the Bow | 3
As Carnival cements its success by going public, founder Ted Arison and his son and CEO Micky set their sights on growing the company through acquisition. They make long-time rival Royal Caribbean their target. But with a new ambitious executive at the helm, Royal Caribbean isn’t going down…
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ENCORE: Cruise Ship Wars | Making Waves | 2
After his bitter exit from Norwegian Cruise Line, Ted Arison has limited time to make his new company Carnival a success. With little funds and one run-down ship, the odds are stacked against him. Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean compete to be the most luxurious cruise ship...
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ENCORE: Cruise Ship Wars | Anchors Aweigh! | 1
In 1950, an enterprising Miami businessman has the idea to use a passenger liner to ferry retired Floridians to the Caribbean. He makes their time on board the ship as much a part of the appeal as the destination. Modern cruising is born, but it’s still just a small niche activity. But in the...
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Chobani: The Yogurt That Ate America | Fungi and Bankruptcy | 2
It’s 2013 and upstart yogurt brand Chobani is riding high. But in its huge new factory in Idaho, a microscopic threat is spreading: mold. And when it contaminates Chobani’s yogurt, founder Hamdi Ulukaya will face an agonizing choice.
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Chobani: The Yogurt That Ate America | Nothing But Good | 1
When a leaflet advertising a decrepit factory for sale lands in the office of struggling entrepreneur Hamdi Ulukaya, it sets him on a quest to make America fall in love with Greek yogurt. But to succeed, he must not just beat yogurt giants Yoplait and Dannon, but change the American diet.
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Listen Now: Foul Play
Ed is the grandson of footballing legend Gordon Banks. He was a national icon, the only goalkeeper ever to win the soccer World Cup for England. But Ed’s heard a rumour: that in 1970, while defending the title, his granddad, his hero, was poisoned… by the CIA. All part of a Cold War plot to…
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Meta and the Battle for Smart Glasses | Google's Return | 3
Back in 2014, Google Glass made the dream of smart glasses a reality for the tech-obsessed. But a hefty price tag and divisive design prevented Google from bringing its vision to the masses. A decade later, Meta seemingly cracked the code, offering affordable, fashion-forward smart specs in…
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Meta and the Battle for Smart Glasses | I'm a Creep | 2
It’s 2023, and Meta Ray-Bans have just helped Mark Zuckerberg turn a corner. After his disastrous investment in the Metaverse, Meta’s AI-enabled smart glasses are a welcome victory for the company. But the competition is coming. And so are uncomfortable questions about mandatory data-sharing,...
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New Season - Dr. Death: The Cowboy
Dr. John Schneider rode into town like a character out of a Western: an outsider on a Harley-Davidson, in trademark cowboy boots. He promised relief to patients suffering in Wyoming and Montana. He seemed like the hero they needed. But when surgeries go wrong and a strange letter exposes a bitter...
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Meta and the Battle for Smart Glasses | Prize on the Eyes | 1
It’s 2011, and two Stanford students have built eyeglasses with a tiny camera inside. Their a prototype paves the way for Meta Ray-Bans, the first tech-enabled eyewear to truly go mainstream after attempts like Google Glass fizzled. But in integrating their smart glasses into our daily lives…
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F1 vs NASCAR | F1 Roars Into the U.S. | 4
In 2019, the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive To Survive ushered in a major uptick in the sport’s popularity among Americans. Then, the 2021 F1 season saw an epic showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and interest exploded. The F1 fan-base is young, diverse and gaining on NASCAR....
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F1 vs NASCAR | Land of Liberty | 3
Formula One is under new management and pushing to finally break into America. But after decades of failure, it needs to remodel its approach while also facing off against NASCAR. They're racing to capture the next generation of motorsport fans. If you’d like to hear more about the high-stakes...
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Listen Now: OnlyFantasy
Is what’s happening on OnlyFans real? Or is it only a fantasy? In this provocative investigation into OnlyFans—the adult platform where subscribers around the world spent more than $7 billion in 2024—journalist Leon Neyfakh teams up with comedian and OnlyFans creator Gracie Canaan for a...
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F1 vs NASCAR | Pedal to the Metal | 2
When the European Union moves to ban tobacco sponsorship, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone finds himself racing to expand the sport’s global reach. But as F1 goes global, NASCAR finds its TV appeal is running out of gas. If you’d like to hear more about the high-stakes drama of F1, we recommend...
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F1 vs NASCAR | Start Your Engines | 1
When moonshine runners turn stock car racers, Bill France creates NASCAR and turns it into America’s top motorsport. Meanwhile, in Europe, another canny operator – Bernie Ecclestone – is fighting to bend Formula One to his will. If you’d like to hear more about the high-stakes drama of F1, we...
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Bumble's Stumble | The Sting | 2
It’s 2024 and Bumble’s users are increasingly frustrated by matches that go nowhere. Investors are equally uneasy as the stock price cascades from its post-IPO highs. In response, new CEO Lidiane Jones rolls out a rebrand with a major change. But the rollout faces a backlash and the company’s…
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Bumble's Stumble | The Queen Bee | 1
It’s 2014 and twenty-four-year-old Whitney Wolfe sues Tinder for harassment, sending shockwaves through Silicon Valley. She walks away with a settlement but pays a high personal price for taking on the “boy’s club” culture in tech. That leads Wolfe to launch Bumble, an app with a radical feature…
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Athletic Brewing and the NA Beer Revolution | Is NA Here to Stay? | 3
When Athletic hit the shelves in 2017, it proved to naysayers that you can have a non-alcoholic beer without sacrificing on taste. Dare we say, it even gave NA brews a certain cool-factor. Athletic helped kick off an NA craze that’s seen more and more alcohol-free beers, botanicals and mocktails...
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Athletic Brewing and the NA Beer Revolution | Bring Your Beer to Work | 2
With its brewery finally open, Athletic Brewing is on a mission to get its beer into stores. But Heineken, the European leader in this space, is also chasing this growing market and now has its sights set on the U.S. And Athletic wants to prove it can compete not just with the alcohol industry…
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About this show
Netflix vs. HBO. Nike vs. Adidas. Business is war. Sometimes the prize is your wallet or your attention. Sometimes, it’s just the fun of beating the other guy. The outcome of these battles shapes what we buy and how we live. Business Wars gives you the unauthorized, real story of what drives these companies and their leaders, innovators, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Against the Odds and American History Tellers.
Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
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Audible Original
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