Business Wars

Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Signature Sneakers | 3

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When Michael Jordan signed with an upstart running shoe company called Nike in the 1980s, it revolutionized the signature sneaker landscape and made N...

Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Dropping the Ball | 2

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2014 and Under Armour is getting increasingly aggressive as it takes on Nike, buying fitness apps and signing record-breaking endorsement deals...

Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Sweat Equity | 1

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 1995 and college football player Kevin Plank is frustrated with the way the cotton t-shirt he wears under his pads gets drenched with sweat.&nb...

Gatorade Sweats the Competition | Defending the Title | 3

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As the 1990s come to a close, Gatorade has become an established powerhouse brand, thanks to a 25-year head start and the star power of their spokespe...

Gatorade Sweats the Competition | Be Like Mike | 2

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the early 1970s, and Gatorade isn’t just the leader in sports hydration — it is sports hydration. No other competing brand comes close. But...

Gatorade Sweats the Competition | Searching for a Solution | 1

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 1965 and at the University of Florida, a team of kidney scientists is working hard on an electrolyte beverage solution to prevent dehydration. ...

The Buy Now Pay Later Takeover | Fake Money | 3

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the 2010s, FinTech companies emerged offering a Buy Now, Pay Later service that made financing available, at a time when trust in big banks was low...

The Buy Now Pay Later Takeover | Maxing Out | 2

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Klarna’s popularity in the United States soars as the Covid-19 pandemic closes brick-and-mortar stores and online shopping surges. But Klarna also h...

The Buy Now Pay Later Takeover | No Interest | 1

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the early 2000s, Sebastian Siemiatkowski identified a gap in Europe’s burgeoning ecommerce market — consumers were hesitant to buy products sig...

CrowdStrike: All Systems Down | Digital Dominos | 2

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When CrowdStrike's faulty software update shuts down airports, hospitals and TV networks around the globe, they face intense backlash from the public....

CrowdStrike: All Systems Down | Guarding the Cloud | 1

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In 2011, CrowdStrike launched with an innovative vision: using cloud-based software to provide cybersecurity. They attracted big clients, including Fo...

Waymo and the Rise of the Robotaxis | Driving Too Fast | 2

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When the demands of war ignite a race to build autonomous cars, Google invests billions in the hope of owning the driverless future of transportation....

Waymo and the Rise of the Robotaxis | Test Drive | 3

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered what it’s like to ride in a Waymo? David and his daughter headed to downtown Austin to take their first trip in a driverless taxi. Tog...

Waymo and the Rise of the Robotaxis | To Build a Driver | 1

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When the demands of war ignite a race to build autonomous cars, Google invests billions in the hope of owning the driverless future of transportation....

Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | We've Got Beef | 5

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This fall, Beyond Meat became a meme stock, surging …and then falling right back down. For years, alternative meat companies Beyond Meat and Impossi...

ENCORE: Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Break from the Herd | 4

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger boomed in the 2010s, but changing tastes have turned their sizzle into a fizzle. And as they continue to slide deepe...

ENCORE: Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Beefing Up, Chowing Down | 3

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2019 and plant-based meats are on fire. But they’re also under fire. Supporters of the beef industry start a food fight with the plant-based ...

ENCORE: Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Flame Broiled | 2

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2016 and both Pat Brown’s Impossible Foods and Ethan Brown’s Beyond Meat are cooking up plant-based burgers for mass consumption. Ethan tri...

ENCORE: Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Pressure Cooker | 1

31 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's 2008 and two men, both vegans, ponder what they can do to improve the climate. Though they’re on separate sides of the country and in different...

How Nvidia Owned A.I. | Once in a Lifetime | 2

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Flush from its success in video game graphics, Nvidia sets its sights on turning its gaming chips into the tools that will power the next wave of comp...

How Nvidia Owned A.I. | Light Speed or Bust | 1

17 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the early 1990s and video games are about to go 3D. And in a Denny’s in Silicon Valley, three engineers are plotting to cash in on the transi...

The Many Deaths of Dungeons & Dragons | Game On | 3

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fifty years after its inception, Dungeons & Dragons has become more than just a fantasy game for nerds. It’s a cultural phenomenon, thanks in pa...

The Many Deaths of Dungeons & Dragons | A Kingdom Reborn | 2

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After years of falling sales, Dungeons & Dragons’ publisher TSR is being dragged under by massive debts and in need of rescue. But as hopelessne...

The Many Deaths of Dungeons & Dragons | Wizards and Witch Hunts | 1

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Gary Gygax and his gaming pal Dave Arneson create Dungeons & Dragons, he believes he’s onto something special and starts a business called ...

Listen Now: American Scandal | The West Memphis Three

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys were brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. The tiny local police department launches an investigation but...

Ozempic Wars | The Next Injection | 2

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Novo Nordisk can't keep up with demand for Ozempic and Wegovy, giving competitor Eli Lilly the edge in the GLP-1 market. And off-brand competitors con...

Ozempic Wars | The Hundred-Year Duel | 1

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk developed a new medication for type 2 diabetes, they noticed that a welcome side effect was a small amount...

Gap's Revival | Better in Navy? | 3

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The “Better in Denim” ad campaign put Gap back on the map for Gen Z — but are viral ads enough to fuel a comeback? Jordyn Holman of the New York...

Gap's Revival | Back in Blue | 2

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s late 2023, and Gap’s new CEO Richard Dickson is trying to revive the brand’s fading fortunes. Dickson is the man who rescued Barbie from cu...

Listen Now: American History Tellers | The Mayflower

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race. Every part of your life - the words you speak, the ideas you share - can be traced to our hi...

Gap's Revival | Faded Khakis | 1

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2016, and a fire is ripping through a Gap distribution center in Fishkill, New York. When the smoke clears, thousands of Gap T-shirts, khakis, ...

How Lululemon Won Athleisure | Mirror, Mirror | 2

29 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the 2010s, and the athleisure market has exploded. As Lululemon has grown into one of the world's biggest athletic wear companies, brands like Ni...

How Lululemon Won Athleisure | Child's Pose | 1

22 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 90s, Canadian entrepreneur Chip Wilson identified a new market emerging in North America: young women taking on yoga as a hobby. Wilson re...

The Rise and Fall of Peloton | Pedal On | 3

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Peloton’s pandemic hype and sales have died down and now, the company must determine what’s next. Lauren Thomas of the Wall Street Journal talks t...

The Rise and Fall of Peloton | Maximum Effort | 2

15 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the Covid-19 pandemic rages, Peloton’s stock surges and the company scrambles to keep up with the new demand for its products. They pour mil...

The Rise and Fall of Peloton | Welcome to the Ride | 1

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2011, avid fitness fan John Foley comes up with an idea for an internet-connected exercise bike that allows users to experience the communal nature...

Dieselgate | Running on Fumes | 2

01 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

By 2014, Volkswagen has taken the U.S. auto market by storm with its fleet of affordable, fuel-efficient diesel cars. But a new study threatens to rev...

Dieselgate | Truth or Dare | 1

24 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2007, Volkswagen's new CEO Martin Winterkorn sets his sights on besting GM and Toyota to become the top automaker in the world. But the company can...

The Great Sriracha Feud | If You Can't Stand the Heat | 3

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why has hot sauce gotten so - well, hot? Bon Appétit’s Joseph Hernandez sheds some light on the rise of condiment culture, and why the spicy stuff ...

The Great Sriracha Feud | Showdown | 2

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The rift between David Tran’s Huy Fong Foods and Underwood Ranches becomes insurmountable. The two companies sue each other and wait for the co...

The Great Sriracha Feud | The Only Hot Sauce Billionaire | 1

10 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the early 80s, David Tran developed a sauce he called Sriracha; its popularity quickly spread among chefs and customers throughout Southern Califor...

McDonald's vs The Burger Revolution | The Price is Right | 2

03 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The “better burger” business has been rapidly expanding across the United States and internationally, with chains like Five Guys and Shake Shack g...

McDonald's vs The Burger Revolution | Better Burgers | 1

27 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the mid-2000s, and new burger chains are popping up across the United States. Places like Five Guys and Shake Shack are touting their higher-qual...

Can Southwest Airlines Survive? | Bumpy Skies Ahead | 3

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Southwest Airlines announced some big changes recently, and customers of the “Love Airline” are not feeling it. Joe Guinto, a business reporter wh...

Can Southwest Airlines Survive? | Excess Baggage | 2

20 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2023 and Southwest Airlines’ stock is in a nosedive. With costs ascending, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan freezes hiring and slashes spending. Amid...

Can Southwest Airlines Survive? | Hard Landing | 1

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's 2021 and for the first time in nearly 50 years, Southwest Airlines posts an annual net loss. Amid the crisis, thousands of Southwest workers head...

The AOL Time Warner Disaster | TTYL, AOL | 4

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Can you remember the last time you got mail from an AOL email address? Or fired off an IM? In the 1990s, AOL was the hottest name in cyberspace, but n...

The AOL Time Warner Disaster | Cold Case | 3

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The AOL Time Warner merger is done. Now Jerry Levin and Steve Case must deliver on the bold promises. But will disharmony in the ranks and slumping ad...

The AOL Time Warner Disaster | The Deal of the Century | 2

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When AOL and Time Warner find a way around their differences, the biggest merger in history is on. But when rivals attack and tech stocks meltdown, AO...

The AOL Time Warner Disaster | You've Got Mail | 1

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 1999 and America Online’s the hot stock of the dot.com boom. But when AOL’s CEO Steve Case gets nervous about the future, he settles on a b...

Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | Tweets Aren't Loading Right Now | 6

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon changes Twitter's algorithm to make himself king of the hill, but can he protect himself from public opinion?Be the first to know about Wondery’...

Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | Assassination Coordinates | 5

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon goes on a banning spree. And even his most ardent supporters find themselves asking, is the battle over Twitter worth it?Be the first to know abo...

Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | Extremely Hardcore | 4

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After Elon decimates the workforce in one fell swoop, chaos reigns supreme. Will Elon's dreams for a free and open Twitter turn into everyone's worst ...

Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | Chief Twit | 3

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk seals his purchase of Twitter with a tweet: ""The bird is freed."" But everyone inside of Twitter soon starts to worry, will the bird soon b...

Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | I Am Supposed to Believe This Man is a Genius? | 2

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Elon Musk makes the Twitter board an offer they can’t refuse — a $44 billion offer, to be exact. But this won’t be an easy marriage. No sooner d...

Flipping the Bird: Elon vs Twitter | Maximum Amazing | 1

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Twitter is at a crossroads. Its founder, Jack Dorsey, has stepped down from his role as CEO. The social media heavyweight is also under fire for alleg...

Rebuilding LEGO | Brick to the Future | 2

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s late 2003 and LEGO’s turnaround strategy has failed. It’s hurtling towards bankruptcy. Its only hope now is a three-man shadow leadership t...

Rebuilding LEGO | A Burning Platform | 1

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s early 1997, and after decades of success, LEGO is rocked by a sudden collapse in its profit. To recover, the Danish toy manufacturer jacks up i...

23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Guess Who’s Back | 3

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Just when it looked like 23andMe was selling to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, founder Anne Wojcicki placed a bid through her new nonprofit in an attempt ...

23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Defying Gravity? | 2

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Plagued by low sales of its genetic tests, 23andMe adopts a bold new plan: slash prices and enter the pharmaceutical industry. But with investors nerv...

23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Great Expectorations | 1

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Silicon Valley power-player Anne Wojcicki sees gold in genetics, she forms 23andMe. She wants to bring genetic testing to the masses. But behind ...

Netflix and the Fall of Television | To the Max | 3

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After AT&T takes over Time Warner in 2018, the media company decides it's time to enter the streaming wars. They don’t have the brand recognitio...

Netflix and the Fall of Television | The Mouse Strikes Back | 2

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After Netflix poaches Shonda Rimes, one of the most successful television producers on ABC, a Disney-owned network, Disney decides it can’t just sit...

Netflix and the Fall of Television | The Game Changer | 1

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2017, Netflix stuns Hollywood by paying television producer Shonda Rhimes an unprecedented amount of money to develop shows exclusively for the str...

Starbucks' Bitter Brew | A Cup of Competition | 3

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Starbucks might be number one in market share, but the competition over coffee is hot. In one corner, you’ve got the New England-based fan favorite ...

Starbucks' Bitter Brew | Back in Black | 2

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2023 and Howard Schultz’s hand-picked successor as CEO is facing trouble. While employees are voting to unionize, competitors are targeting S...

Starbucks' Bitter Brew | The Founder's Curse | 1

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's 2021 and Starbucks workers are experiencing post-pandemic exhaustion. For the first time, baristas and others seem poised to vote to form a union...

The Whole Foods Rebellion | Harsh Realities | 3

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After a stock market shakeout stunts Whole Foods’ growth, co-founder John Mackey finds himself struggling to protect the grocery store chain from ci...

The Whole Foods Rebellion | Tiny Acorns, Mighty Oaks | 2

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CEO John Mackey is on a mission to take Whole Foods national. But he is about to run into major opposition. And to succeed in his quest, he must face ...

The Whole Foods Rebellion | Vision Quest | 1

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Texas hippie John Mackey opens an organic supermarket, he gets high on running a business. But when his ambitions sink its profits, sparks fly be...

Price Wars: The Fall of Dollar Stores | Duped | 3

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Not everything you buy from the dollar store is going to be a winner, and Wirecutter editor Annemarie Conte knows this firsthand. Today, Annemarie joi...

Price Wars: The Fall of Dollar Stores | Shrinkage | 2

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After 10 years of rapid growth, the dollar stores hit big trouble. Rats, burglars, unhappy workers, online agitators and inflation erode their profits...

Price Wars: The Fall of Dollar Stores | Billionaire Tug of War | 1

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re exploring how dollar stores went from Wall Street darlings to the problem children of the stock market. But first, we track how a re-ener...

Spanx vs Skims | Kim-Oh-No | 2

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For over a decade, reality star Kim Kardashian was one of Spanx’s biggest boosters. She frequently spoke of wearing the product on the red carp...

Spanx vs Skims | Not Your Grandmother’s Girdle | 1

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1998, a young office equipment sales rep named Sara Blakely can’t find anything to wear under a pair of tight fitting white pants. Everythin...

What Killed Red Lobster? | Chain Reaction | 3

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chain restaurants are making a comeback — from Chili’s to Red Lobster, the spots we once passed over are cool once more. But why? Is it due to Tik...

What Killed Red Lobster? | Swimming with Sharks | 2

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Red Lobster’s new owners dream up a bold plan to revitalize the chain. And they’ve got a Hail Mary — the lure of endless shrimp. But they’ve f...

What Killed Red Lobster? | Caught in the Net | 1

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Red Lobster redefined American dining habits by making seafood accessible to people living outside the coasts. But its heyday didn’t last. Casual ob...

TikTok vs the U.S.A. | A Ticking Clock | 4

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

President Biden signs a law giving ByteDance until January 2025 to divest from TikTok or the app will be banned in the United States. TikTok decides t...

TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Too Big to Fail | 3

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok realizes its attempts to prove to American lawmakers that the Chinese government doesn’t have access to American user data aren’t working, ...

TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Reeling | 2

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok scrambles to respond to President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring ByteDance sell the app to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. B...

TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Trending Upwards | 1

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2018, Chinese tech company ByteDance launched TikTok in the United States, determined to make the app one of the top entertainment platforms in the...

The Unraveling of Boeing | Landing the Plane | 5

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Would you fly on a Boeing 737-Max plane? Ed Pierson won’t. He’s a former Boeing senior manager who blew the whistle on safety concerns with the 73...

The Unraveling of Boeing | Blow Out | 4

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With losses from the 737 Max scandal spiraling into the billions, Boeing’s new CEO Dave Calhoun is looking to bring the crisis to a swift end. But h...

The Unraveling of Boeing | Jedi Mind Tricks | 3

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boeing scrambles to improve its bestseller, the 737, as its competitor Airbus brings an upgraded rival plane to market. To create the 737 MAX, Boeing ...

The Unraveling of Boeing | Change of Destination | 2

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the late 1990s and the seeds of Boeing’s business disaster are being sown. An aerospace mega-merger and fierce competition from its chief riv...

The Unraveling of Boeing | The Crash | 1

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2019 and after another deadly plane crash, Boeing finds its reputation and business in free fall. Its best-selling passenger jet, the 737 Max, ...

Behind the Scenes | 5

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, we're taking you behind the scenes of the show. We'll delve into how we chose our host and how the first season got off the g...

Shopping in the Social Media Age | 4

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

TikTok gift guides and social media shopping platforms changed the game this holiday season. So how much did shoppers spend — and where did they mak...

Disney Under Siege | The ‘Bob’ of It All | 3

25 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bob Iger has held the keys to the Disney castle since 2005. The last time this larger-than-life CEO tried to leave, an entire proxy battle broke out u...

Disney Under Seige | Peltz Strikes Back | 2

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When CEO Bob Iger fails to reassure Wall Street about his plans for Disney’s traditional TV operations, Nelson Peltz seizes the chance to launch a f...

Disney Under Siege | Restore the Magic | 1

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2022 and Disney is in trouble. The combined forces of pandemic shutdowns, box-office bombs and political missteps have hammered Disney’s stoc...

Chuck E Cheese vs ShowBiz Pizza | Where a Kid Can be a Kid | 3

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is nostalgia alone enough to keep Chuck E. Cheese afloat in 2025? As the chain continues to crawl its way out of bankruptcy, they’ll need to win ove...

Chuck E Cheese vs ShowBiz Pizza | Broken Robots | 2

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 1982, and after months of bitter fighting, Nolan Bushnell of Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater and Robert Brock of ShowBiz Pizza Place fin...

Chuck E Cheese vs ShowBiz Pizza | Rat Pizza | 1

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 1976, and Atari founder Nolan Bushnell is on a mission to launch a family arcade disguised as a pizza parlor. He comes up with a name that’s ...

Slicing Into New York's Pizza | 6

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for a Business Wars pizza party! Sporkful podcast host Dan Pashman and Eater NYC reporter Melissa McCart join David to s...

Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Interview | 5

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger boomed in the 2010s, but changing tastes have turned their sizzle into a fizzle. And as they continue to slide deepe...

Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Break from the Herd | 4

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2022 and Kim Kardashian is chowing down on a Beyond Burger. But the Internet buzzes over whether she actually ate it. Meanwhile, after a boom i...

Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Beefing Up, Chowing Down | 3

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2019 and plant-based meats are on fire. But they’re also under fire. Supporters of the beef industry start a food fight with the plant-based ...

Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger | Flame Broiled | 2

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2016 and both Pat Brown’s Impossible Foods and Ethan Brown’s Beyond Meat are cooking up plant-based burgers for mass consumption. Ethan tri...