Business Wars
Episodes
Best of Business Wars Daily | Chat Chat Revolution | 6
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The AI revolution is here and the tech behemoths are building and releasing their own chatbots. To talk about their victories and blunders, we'r...
Encore: Diet Wars | Dieting 3.0 | 5
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
First there was Weight Watchers, then there was Noom, and now there’s…Wegovy? Bloomberg health reporter Emma Court helps us understand the evoluti...
Encore: Diet Wars | Losing Streak | 4
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's the 2010s and the weight-loss industry's battling intensifying headwinds. Calorie-counting smartphone apps are attracting millions of users and t...
Encore: Diet Wars | Reaching for the Stars | 3
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's the early 1990s and the diet boom is over. Weight Watchers is now a millstone around Heinz's neck, Jenny Craig's advance has stalled, and Nutri/S...
Encore: Diet Wars | Up From Down Under | 2
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1983 and civil war's broken out within Nutri/System. But while CEO Harold Katz fights his franchisees, his former colleague Jenny Craig has grand...
Encore: Diet Wars | Scaling Up | 1
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1961 and in a supermarket, housewife Jean Nidetch is about to get a shock that will send her on desperate quest to get thin.But when her new diet...
Business Wars | 5th Anniversary Special | 1
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're celebrating the five-year anniversary of Business Wars with a special episode that takes you behind the scenes. We'll delve into how we chose ou...
Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | 'To Infinity and Beyond' | 5
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re going behind the scenes of your favorite Disney animated movies with Andrew Millstein, former president of Disney Animation. He helped lead th...
Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | Onward and Upward | 4
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 2006 and with Pixar part of Disney, Ed Catmull and John Lasseter now face the task of fixing Disney Animation Studios. And they need to fix it ...
Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | Regime Change | 3
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the 2000s and Disney and Pixar are locked in a high-stakes game of chicken. Disney’s deal with Pixar is about to end and renewal talks are sn...
Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | Battle of the Bugs | 2
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1995 and Pixar’s Toy Story is just months away from release. But as the premiere of the first computer-animated feature nears, all-out war br...
Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | The Outcasts | 1
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1985 and Steve Jobs is fuming after being fired from Apple. He wants a second act, and he thinks he’s found one in Lucasfilm’s unwanted com...
Best of Business Wars Daily | The Disney Dilemma | 6
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're talking about Disney's pivot to streaming and the hurdles ahead for the legacy media company as new rivals emerge. We're joined by Parrot Analyt...
Apple vs Microsoft | Life After Laptops | 5
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The personal computer is no longer the talk of the town. Between new AI tools, sleek smartphones and web-based apps, your laptop is just one small sli...
Apple vs Microsoft | The Gamble | 4
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The government sues Microsoft for allegedly violating antitrust laws, providing just the distraction Apple needs to launch a comeback. But Jobs is alr...
Apple vs Microsoft | Seeds of Discontent | 3
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Turmoil at Apple rots the company from the inside out, just as Microsoft’s Windows operating system starts ruling the computer world. Microsoft and ...
Apple vs Microsoft | Hackers and Capitalists | 2
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, we dive into the backstories of the inventors behind the home computer revolution. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs begin with mutual respect a...
Apple vs Microsoft | Rotten to the Core | 1
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Apple launches the groundbreaking Macintosh after a long delay. And Bill Gates' Microsoft team has made the software for the Mac. But pretty soon, Job...
Best of Business Wars Daily | Apple Bites Back | 5
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're talking about the challenges and chess moves of the biggest tech company in the world: Apple. We're joined by Wall Street Journal columnist Dan ...
Sotheby's vs Christie's | The Art of the Auction | 4
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Get your paddles ready, because we’re diving into the art of the auction. First up is Vanity Fair art columnist Nate Freeman, who’s taking us insi...
Sotheby's vs Christie's | The Unraveling | 3
28 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1996 and Christie’s Christopher Davidge is disgruntled he hasn’t personally benefited more from his role in the price-fixing scheme, especi...
Sotheby's vs Christie's | The Point of No Return | 2
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1993 and Sotheby’s DeDe Brooks and Christie’s Christopher Davidge, at the behest of their bosses Alfred Taubman and Sir Anthony Tennant, be...
Sotheby's vs Christie's | Going Once | 1
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1983 and shopping mall tycoon Alfred Taubman buys a struggling Sotheby’s, excited by the opportunity to revitalize the art auction market and...
Best of Business Wars Daily | Notes on a Tech Scandal | 6
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're talking about corporate blunders at unicorn tech companies and how they recover — or don't. We're joined by Vanity Fair's Caleb Ecarma, Victor...
Toyota vs Honda | New Cars on the Block | 5
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The car market is changing rapidly. The race for the next big all-electric vehicle is on! American automakers like Ford and GM are ramping up their EV...
Toyota vs Honda | A Fight for the Future | 4
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Year 2000 is approaching and Toyota’s new boss Hiroshi Okuda’s looking to the future. After years of cautious success, he wants to be bold and...
Toyota vs Honda | Breaking Ground | 3
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the 1980s and the American backlash against the Japanese automobile invasion is growing. With a US-Japan trade war looming, Honda and Toyota ne...
Toyota vs Honda | Motor City Massacre | 2
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the 1960s and Honda’s about to speed into the car market before Japan’s government can put up legal roadblocks to stop it.Meanwhile,Toyota’...
Toyota vs Honda | Out of the Wreckage | 1
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1945. Japan lies in ruins in the aftermath of World War II. The population’s starving, the cities are reduced to rubble, and the nation’s d...
Best of Business Wars Daily | Sticker Shock | 6
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're tracking the seismic shifts in the car industry from scarce car chips to the impact of inflation. On this episode, we're joined by Wall Street J...
Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Taco Talk | 5
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you Team Taco Bell or Team Chipotle? The two fast food giants are competing for the hearts (and stomachs) of their consumers, as well as the covet...
Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Going Loco | 4
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's 2009 and with its 50th anniversary closing in fast, Taco Bell is hunting for ways to reconnect with the young people who gobble up most of the na...
Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Where's the Beef? | 3
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's the late '90s and Chipotle founder Steve Ells is using McDonald's millions to make his burrito chain a national giant. But as he scales up, he fi...
Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Bellwether | 2
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's the 1950s and just down the road from the original McDonald's in San Bernardino, a Californian entrepreneur named Glen Bell is chasing a fast-foo...
Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Demolition Man | 1
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1984 and Taco Bell CEO John Martin's looking for a fight. The PepsiCo-owned chain might be America's número uno when it comes to Mexican fast-fo...
Best of Business Wars Daily | The Power of Nuggets | 5
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The fast food industry is raking it in, but they still have to feed the beast. We bite into how they create hype in order to boost sales and capture o...
Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | Breaking Down the Big Machine | 4
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s safe to say that Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun are…never, ever, getting back together. Taking us inside their battle is Chris Willman, senio...
Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | Revenge of the Swifties | 3
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
By 2019, Taylor Swift's battle to get her masters back from Scooter Braun has gone public. She decides to fight by deploying her own, very dangerous w...
Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | Bad Blood | 2
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
By 2014, Taylor Swift has spread her wings into pop. But as her self-confidence grows, so does her discontent with her label. So she makes a bold move...
Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | On the Outside | 1
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Taylor Swift signed to an upstart country label as a teen, she probably didn't realize that she was signing away the rights to something she woul...
Best of Business Wars Daily | An Unfinished Song | 6
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While music streaming platforms have exploded, many critics argue the status quo isn't working for artists. We're taking a deep dive into the music in...
The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Reinventing an Empire | 5
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can the former crown jewel of Hollywood keep up in the age of the streaming giants? To understand Paramount’s future, you’ve got to understand its...
The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Down to the Wire | 4
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Christmas 1993. The bidding war for Paramount is underway and QVC is far out in front.But Viacom owner Sumner Redstone’s not giving in. He’...
The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Under Siege | 3
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the fall of 1993 and Viacom owner Sumner Redstone thinks he’s got Paramount all sown up.But QVC chief Barry Diller is about to launch a count...
The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Hidden Agendas | 2
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s summer 1993 and QVC boss Barry Diller is ready to pull the trigger on his hostile takeover to buy Paramount.But he’s about to find he's got a...
The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Killer on the Loose | 1
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s early 1993 and television’s about to make a quantum leap into a multi-channel world where viewers can access movies from the comfort of their...
Best of Business Wars Daily | That's Showbiz | 6
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Streaming services are having to get creative to keep our attention amid a sea of competition — from big-screen movies to video games to each other....
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | Fashion Forward | 5
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gucci and Louis Vuitton are still the crème de la crème in high fashion. But between shifting consumer values, TikTok and Gen Z, these brands have a...
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | The Dom-Tom Bomb | 4
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bernard Arnault makes his move to buy Gucci, but Domenico De Sole fights back with everything he’s got, making a surprisingly worthy adversary for t...
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | Ready-to-Wear | 3
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Maurizio Gucci is out, and now for the first time since its founding, Gucci isn’t being run by a Gucc.i. At the top is CEO Domenico De Sole and his ...
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | The Wolf in Cashmere | 2
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Now merged with luxury drinks company Moët Hennessy, Louis Vuitton finds itself being squeezed out, overpowered in the merger. In an attempt to regai...
Best of Business Wars Daily | Wardrobe Changes | 8
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Big fashion brands are trying to diversify their customer base, and also lure consumers to tailored in-person shopping experiences — but it doe...
Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | All in the Family | 1
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For decades Gucci and Louis Vuitton dominated the luxury accessory markets. Their bags and shoes were status symbols, sported by celebrities and royal...
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | The New Tastemakers | 7
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s revolutionized the ice cream industry by raising the standard for the frozen treat and pioneering new styles and f...
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Breaking the Ice | 6
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's the year 2000 and Ben & Jerry's is under new ownership. But as promises that were made before the sale get broken, employees wonder if the br...
Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Hunger Games | 5
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1998 and Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's are now tasty targets in the global ice cream war between Unilever and Nestlé. As these multi-billio...
Encore: Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Trading Licks | 4
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's the dawn of the 1990s and with America under its spell, Häagen-Dazs is eyeing the millions to be made in Europe and Asia. But back in the USA, B...
Encore: Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Doughboys and Dead Heads | 3
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1984 and Ben & Jerry's is fighting for its life. Häagen-Dazs is pressuring distributors to stop carrying the Vermont ice cream brand and the...
Sponsored: Welcome to the Future of Work (Dell Podference) | 2
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since the pandemic began, many of us have traded our blazers for t-shirts and loafers for slippers as remote work has become the new normal. There’s...
Encore: Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Ice Cream Castle | 2
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1958 and in New York City, Reuben Mattus is under fire. The big dairies are crushing his family's ice cream business and shutting him out of supe...
Sponsored: The Art of Disruption (Dell Podference) | 1
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Startups search for pain points in the customer experience and design their product to solve these problems. There’s an art to knowing how to find t...
Encore: Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Big Chunks O'Love | 1
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's the '70s and best buddies Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield are about to open an ice cream parlor. These hungry hippies only want to have fun making...
Best of Business Wars Daily | Plant-Based Food on A Roll | 6
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Plant-based foods are no longer a tiny niche market. Consumers are hungry for more and even fast-food giants are eating up the trend. On this episode,...
Tesla vs Detroit | Tales From the Tipping Point | 5
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Electric vehicles have come a long way over the past century, and now, with gas prices at record highs, more and more drivers are thinking about takin...
Tesla vs Detroit | Appetite for Destruction | 4
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After weathering an investigation by the government for their EVs catching on fire, Tesla is hit by another probe after things get deadly. But the com...
Tesla vs Detroit | Motor City Fights Back | 3
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The battle to dominate the EV market is on. Tesla’s market value is now around $20 billion. At this rate, Tesla could wipe the floor with GM in a de...
Tesla vs Detroit | Survival Mode | 2
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2010, Tesla Motors has already experienced tremendous highs and devastating lows. Elon Musk is a polarizing figure whose goal is to change the way ...
Tesla vs Detroit | Accelerate Faster | 1
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While the U.S. government pushed automakers to make low-emission vehicles in the 1990s, consumers loved their gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. But in 200...
Best of Business Wars Daily | Electric Vehicles Shock the System | 5
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The electric vehicle market is experiencing massive growth, but more players means more competition for the vanguard. On this episode, we're joined by...
Airbnb vs NYC | Pulling Back the Curtain | 4
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2022, you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who hasn’t spent at least a couple of days in an Airbnb. It’s cheap, convenient and easy to use....
Airbnb vs NYC | The Gathering Storm | 3
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
By 2017, Airbnb's legal troubles are snowballing so fast, it’s not clear whether it will survive. But there’s another gathering storm that nobody ...
Airbnb vs NYC | Operation Firestarter | 2
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
By 2013, New York’s Attorney General is coming for Airbnb. And hoteliers, hotel worker unions, affordable housing activists and politicians come tog...
Airbnb vs NYC | No Reservations | 1
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Airbnb has changed the way we travel and upended the hotel industry, but it has also sparked one of the messiest fights ever between a startup and cit...
Best of Business Wars Daily | Big Tech's Next Frontier Is Home Buying | 7
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While the housing market continues its hot streak, technology is disrupting the industry on every level. On this episode, we're joined by Business War...
ESPN vs Fox Sports | The Wide World of Sports Broadcasting | 6
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Heavyweight champions ESPN and FS1 are competing for cable, as legacy networks hop off the bench and onto the field. On-air talent remain caught in th...
ESPN vs Fox Sports | Undisputed | 5
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 2015 and Fox Sports 1 is in a rut. Its attempt to topple ESPN has barely dented the defences of the Disney-controlled sports media giant.Not th...
ESPN vs Fox Sports | Fox Strikes Back | 4
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 2005 and new ESPN programming chief John Skipper’s out to cement the brand’s market dominance by buying up more sports rights.With ESPN spe...
ESPN vs Fox Sports | Best in Show | 3
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 1990s are about to end and ESPN is on a quest to strike down the competition before they can muster the strength to challenge it.But when ESPN sta...
ESPN vs Fox Sports | Aussie Rules Football | 2
02 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the early 1990s and media mogul Rupert Murdoch is out to shatter ABC, CBS and NBC’s stranglehold on American TV and take his Fox network into...
ESPN vs Fox Sports | First Down | 1
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the late 1970s and TV sports is equivalent to a few hours of programming on ABC, NBC and CBS each week.But in Connecticut, Bill Rasmussen is on...
Encore: Hershey's vs Mars | Global Chocolate Domination | 6
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a new century and Hershey’s facing unexpected trouble at home — a showdown between the company and its biggest shareholder that threatens i...
Encore: Hershey's vs Mars | A Chocolate Rolls Royce | 5
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the late 1970s and Mars is America’s top confectioner. But Hershey is hungry for a comeback. It’s plotting a return to the top powered by a...
Encore: Hershey's vs Mars | Mars Attacks! | 4
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1965 and Forrest Mars has just become the manufacturer of Snickers and M&M’s. He is now – at last – ready to duke it out with Hershey...
Encore: Hershey's vs Mars | A Candy-Coated Prayer | 3
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the 1940s and Forrest Mars’ plan to create a candy empire is stepping up a gear. He’s plotting to seize control of his dad’s company Mars...
Encore: Hershey's vs Mars | Blast Off | 2
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1923 and the Hershey Chocolate Company dominates the candy bar business. With its milk chocolate Hershey bar and bite-sized Kisses, Hershey see...
Encore: Hershey's vs Mars | Chocolate Town | 1
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1886 and in New York City, a young confectioner called Milton Hershey is desperately trying to save his business.He’s been struggling for yea...
Christmas Movie Wars | An Iconic Holiday Tradition | 6
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past decade, made-for-TV holiday romance movies have gone from a seasonal guilty pleasure to a mainstream phenomenon, drawing in millions of ...
Christmas Movie Wars | A Season Like No Other | 5
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a global pandemic hits, both Hallmark and Lifetime are in danger of not being able to complete their movies for their upcoming Christmas programmin...
Christmas Movie Wars | The Scandal Express | 4
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hallmark faces a year of scandals. First, one of their marquee stars gets charged with committing fraud to get her daughters admitted to an elite...
Christmas Movie Wars | It's a Wonderful Strife | 3
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After years of being content to play second fiddle to Hallmark, Lifetime decides to make a big move in 2018. They produce more Christmas movies than e...
Christmas Movie Wars | Once Upon A Christmas Ratings Hit | 2
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1951, the founder of Hallmark Cards, the successful greeting card company, decides to get into television by sponsoring a live opera airing on Chri...
Christmas Movie Wars | A Very Merry Rivalry | 1
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2009 the Hallmark Channel launched "Countdown to Christmas," which included four original movies made on a modest budget that follow a predictable ...
Blackberry vs iPhone | The Smartphone Generation | 5
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a GPS! It’s a camera! It’s a computer! It’s...your smartphone. And in 2021, it feels like you can’t live without it. But when Blackberr...
Blackberry vs iPhone | A Requiem in Slow Motion | 4
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s January 2011 and Research in Motion’s Jim Balsillie is in Davos, Switzerland when he discovers that his company is being threatened by the Eg...
Blackberry vs iPhone | App Attack | 3
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s summer 2008, and Research In Motion’s Mike Lazaridis is at the product testing site for BlackBerry’s new device: a touchscreen designed to ...
Blackberry vs iPhone | The Jesus Phone | 2
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s late 2005, and Steve Jobs is deciding between two prototypes for an Apple phone. His choice will go on to become perhaps the best-selling produ...
Blackberry vs iPhone | CrackBerry | 1
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s September 11, 2001, and the only network running in downtown NYC is the one owned and operated by BlackBerry’s manufacturer, Reserach in Moti...
Crypto Wars | We're in the (Virtual) Money | 7
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cryptocurrency has transformed dramatically since Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin to the world more than a decade ago. Today, crypto has become a ...
Crypto Wars | Zuckerpunch | 6
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 2017, and after months of sky-high price rises, the crypto bubble is about to burst. But as scammers and investor panic crash the market, the W...
Crypto Wars | New Kids on the Blockchain | 5
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the mid-2010s and a new blockchain called Ethereum is shaking up crypto. It’s the creation of nineteen-year-old Vitalik Buterin, and it’s i...