I really like this podcast because there are many aspects that few people realize about starting a company ranging from the emotional toll to the structural reality of a business. This podcast is a real opportunity to hearthe thoughts of Alex Blumberg as he began his journey starting a business in August of 2014. I really enjoyed hearing the details of entrepreneurial life that no one in Hollywood has successfully been able to convey.
Last year, Alex Blumberg was working at Chicago Public Media producing the podcast show This American Life with his colleagues getting a reliable salary. There are many podcast shows out there ranging from gossip talk shows to music streams, but journalistic storytelling is Alex’s life passion. A good example of the storytelling podcast genre is Serial which is hosted by his colleague Sarah Koenig. Unfortunately, weekly podcast shows with consistently good storytelling require more money to produce and there are not many companies out there that are willing to invest the time and money required for this kind of broadcasting. Alex’s knew there was a major consumer demand for this kind of content, so he decided to start a company of his own that provides exactly that. Even as the idea was in its infancy of simple contemplating conversations with his wife, he recorded every step of his journey from pitch to product – Gimlet Media.
I also like that he has continued to podcast the inner workings of his company after a wildly successful launch. As one of Gimlet’s biggest investors said, their “unfair advantage” is that the world already knew Alex from This American Life and his fan base was fiercely loyal. He could have just stopped the podcast as a single season series, but instead he is getting ready to start a second season showcasing how his company started new shows like Reply All. His transparent chronicle as an artist turned new business man will teach business students of all experience levels valuable lessons of humility and practical insight.