How I Built This with Guy Raz

Advice Line: What’s Your Value?

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s special episode, Guy and four former show guests talk with callers about how they can prove the value of their products—and themselves....

Scrub Daddy: Aaron Krause. How a Failed Experiment Became a Billion-Dollar Sponge

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Krause did not set out to reinvent the kitchen sponge. He was a car detailer, building buffing pads and the machines that made them. To clean hi...

Advice Line with Hernan Lopez of Wondery

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s callers: Heather from Ontario talks through a DTC strategy for her retail pain relief tape and patches. Then Nawal in Michigan considers a r...

Bobo’s: Beryl Stafford. A Single Mom Turns a Baking Project into a $100M Business

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Bobo’s: Beryl Stafford.  A Single Mom Turns a Baking Project into a $100M BusinessAt 40, Beryl Stafford’s life cracked open. Her marriage end...

Advice Line with Miguel McKelvey of WeWork

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s callers: Jane in Minnesota wants to scale her artful pants brand while staying true to her locally-made mission. Then Melissa in New Mexico ...

Kettle Chips: Cameron Healy. The Wild Bet That Made a Brand

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kettle Chips: Cameron Healy. The Wild Bet That Made a BrandMost founders expand the “right” way: local → regional → national → international...

Advice Line with Alexa Hirschfeld of Paperless Post

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s callers: Jess from Washington seeks counsel on structuring a collaboration between her sympathy cards company and a pet products brand. Then...

Square: Jim McKelvey. He Lost a $2,000 Sale, Then Built a $10 Billion Company

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most entrepreneurs think the hardest part of building a company is the product.For Jim McKelvey — co-founder of Square — the hardest part was the ...

Advice Line with Pete Maldonado and Rashid Ali of Chomps

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s callers: Yadi from New York thinks through an expansion strategy for her college campus-based empanada business. Then, Zachary from New York...

Spinbrush: John Osher. The Electric Toothbrush That Sold for $475M

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Before Spinbrush became the top selling toothbrush in the U.S—and before Procter & Gamble paid $475M for it—John Osher was a teenager selling ...

Advice Line with Julia Hartz of Eventbrite

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s callers: Mia from Germany wants to know how to balance her pottery business between an online shop and a YouTube channel. Then, Jen from Con...

Netflix: Reed Hastings. “We’re Not a Family.” The Provocative Idea That Helped Build a Streaming Giant

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Netflix shouldn’t have survived.In 1997, Blockbuster owned home entertainment—9,000 stores, a business fueled by late fees, and a brand that felt ...

Advice Line with Jon Stein of Betterment

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Plus, Jon’s take on why now is a good time to start a business — in spite of market uncertainty.   Today’s callers: Dan from Wash...

HOKA: Jean-Luc Diard and Nicolas Mermoud. The “Clown Shoe” That Became a $2B Bonanza

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the late 2000s, two French mountain athletes set out to build a running shoe that captured the feeling of flying. Jean-Luc Diard and Nicolas “...

Advice Line with Serial Entrepreneur Mark Cuban

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Plus, Mark on his most challenging venture yet: revolutionizing the prescription drug market in America.First we meet Lucy from Washington DC, conside...

Taylor Guitars: Kurt Listug and Bob Taylor. From $3,700 Shop to Global Icon

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A bright blue guitar covered in orange koi fish vanished from a museum display … and Swifties immediately knew what it meant.That distinctive guitar...

Advice Line with Monica Nassif of Mrs. Meyers

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Plus, how candor has been a more effective press strategy than talking points for (the literal) Mrs. Meyers.First we meet Allison in California, seeki...

Gymboree: Joan Barnes. How Building a Beloved Brand Nearly Destroyed Its Founder

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Before Gymboree became a cultural icon in the 80s and 90s, it was just one lonely new mom trying to find connection. Joan Barnes started hosting weekl...

Advice Line with Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Warby Parker co-founder Neil Blumenthal joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, how AI i...

La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Todd Carmichael and J.P. Iberti. A Brotherhood Built on Coffee (2020)

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When Todd Carmichael and J.P. Iberti met at a grunge concert in Seattle in the 1980s, they were an unlikely pair. But they shared a love for great cof...

Advice Line with Jack Conte of Patreon (December 2024)

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Patreon co-founder and CEO Jack Conte joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders about marketing and bu...

Dollar Shave Club: Michael Dubin, From Zero to a Billion Dollar Exit in Five Years (December 2018)

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It started with a massive pile of razors sitting in a Rancho Cucomonga warehouse, and Michael Dubin’s chance meeting of the man who wanted to get ri...

Advice Line: Tapping AI as a Resource for Your Business

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Guy is joined by TRX exercise straps founder Randy Hetrick, chicken restaurant giant Raising Cane’s Todd Graves, and Chesapeake Bay Candl...

SkinnyDipped: Breezy and Val Griffith. The Flourishing Snack Company That Almost Failed

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, snack companies believed Americans wanted everything sweeter.More sugar. More chocolate. More indulgence.But what if that assumption was ...

Advice Line with Todd Graves of Raising Cane's

25 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Raising Cane’s founder Todd Graves joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders who are each considering a big, ...

Exploding Kittens: Elan Lee. How cat-themed Russian Roulette changed game night forever

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Exploding Kittens began as a jerry-rigged version of Russian Roulette — a deck of cards hastily modified with a Sharpie. But what happened next is o...

Advice Line with Bobby Trussell of Tempur-Pedic

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tempur-Pedic founder Bobby Trussell joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Bobby talks about his new ...

93 Rejections, One Revolution: How Indiegogo Changed Crowdfunding Forever

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when three outsiders try to reinvent access to money… during the worst financial crisis in decades?Before Kickstarter.Before GoFundMe.B...

Advice Line with Scott Tannen of Boll & Branch and Jamie Siminoff of Ring

11 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CEO and co-founder of Boll & Branch, Scott Tannen joins Ring founder Jamie Siminoff and Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three earl...

(September 2020) Khan Academy: Sal Khan. From Tutoring His Cousins to Teaching the World For Free

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Khan Academy offers hundreds of free tutorials in fifty languages, and has 170 million monthly global users. It all began in 2009 when Sal Khan w...

Advice Line with Jane Wurwand of Dermalogica (2024)

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Wurwand, co-founder of the global skincare brand Dermalogica, joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early stage fo...

Meridith Baer Home: Meridith Baer. She Started Over at 50 and Put Home Staging on the Map.

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Meridith Baer grew up on the grounds of San Quentin prison, acted in TV and movies, wrote scripts in Hollywood … and then, at 50, started over – a...

Advice Line with Bill Creelman of Spindrift

27 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bill Creelman, CEO and founder of Spindrift,  joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Bill a...

Hydro Flask: Travis Rosbach. How a thirsty surfer changed the water bottle industry

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the idea that changes your life… starts with something as ordinary as being thirsty?In 2007, Travis Rosbach walked into a sporting goods sto...

Advice Line with Anthony Casalena of Squarespace

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Squarespace founder Anthony Casalena joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Anthony sha...

Gymshark: Ben Francis. From pizza delivery to billion-dollar fitness brand.

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At 19, Ben Francis was lifting weights during the day and delivering pizza at night. He didn’t have money. He didn’t have fashion experience. He d...

Advice Line with Chet Pipkin of Belkin International

13 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chet Pipkin, former CEO and founder of the electronic goods company Belkin International, joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three ...

Backroads: Tom Hale. How a desk worker became a trailblazer in active travel

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In his 20’s, working an office job he hated, Tom woke up in the middle of the night with a wild idea: why not take people on bike trips? No playbook...

Advice Line with Tariq Farid of Edible Arrangements

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tariq Farid the founder of Edible Arrangements joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Tariq upda...

Babylist: Natalie Gordon. How a new mom used nap time to build a $500M business.

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2010, software engineer Natalie Gordon was pregnant– and fed up with the overwhelming baby aisles in big box stores.  So she quit her comput...

Advice Line with Niraj Shah of Wayfair

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Wayfair co-founder Niraj Shah joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs about how to bet on themselves –...

Nuts.com: Jeff Braverman. From Corner Store to Snacktime Powerhouse

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A century ago, Jeff Braverman’s grandfather opened a peanut shop in Newark, New Jersey. By the early 2000s, the family business was doing $1M in sal...

Advice Line with John Zimmer of Lyft

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lyft co-founder John Zimmer joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, John talks about his recent decisi...

Magnolia: Chip & Joanna Gaines. From House Flipping to Household Name

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a charismatic home renovator marries a budding design whiz? You get the billion-dollar powerhouse that is Chip and Joanna Gaines.The...

Advice Line with Stacy Madison of Stacy’s Pita Chips

16 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stacy’s Pita Chips co-founder Stacy Madison joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Stacy talks...

Faherty Brand: Alex and Mike Faherty. How Jersey Shore + Manhattan Chic grew to 80 stores.

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When identical twins Mike and Alex Faherty launched their clothing brand, they made a daring move– launching wholesale, retail, and online, pretty m...

Advice Line with Michael Dubin of Dollar Shave Club

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dollar Shave Club founder Michael Dubin joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Michael shares his lat...

Pressbox and Tide Cleaners: Vijen Patel. The $1.99 Gamble That Built a National Brand

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the best startup isn’t sexy at all? In 2013, Vijen Patel left private equity to pursue “the least-worst idea”: dry cleaning. No patents....

Advice Line with Tony Xu of Doordash

02 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tony Xu, founder of DoorDash, joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Tony updates Guy on his lat...

Craigslist: Craig Newmark — The Forrest Gump of the Internet

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What if the founder of one of the internet’s most enduring brands… never wanted to run a company?In 1995, Craig Newmark was a 42-year-old computer...

Advice Line with Randy Hetrick of TRX

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Randy Hetrick, former Navy SEAL and founder of the suspension training company TRX, joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-...

Poppi: Allison and Stephen Ellsworth. From Farmers Market Vinegar Drink to $2B Soda Sensation

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A decade ago, Allison Ellsworth was drinking apple cider vinegar for health reasons and doctoring it with fruit so she could stand the taste. Her husb...

Advice Line with Bobbi Brown of Jones Road Beauty

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Jones Road Beauty, joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage ...

Nirav Tolia: Nextdoor. How neighborhood chatter went global

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us don’t know our neighbors anymore — and Nirav Tolia wanted to change that. He walked away from millions in stock options at Yahoo and ev...

Advice Line with Dave Weiner of Priority Bicycles

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Priority Bicycles founder and CEO Dave Weiner joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Dave shares his ...

Carlton Calvin: Razor. The wild rise, collapse, and reinvention of a mobile toy empire.

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the summer of 2000, Razor scooters were everywhere—on sidewalks, in schools, even in Silicon Valley offices. At the center of it all was Carlton ...

Advice Line: Playing to Your Strengths

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Guy is joined by Lady Gaga’s former manager Troy Carter, Joe Gebbia of Airbnb, and Sadie Lincoln of barre3 in a special mashup episode of...

Don Vultaggio: AriZona Beverage Company - The Snap Decision That Outsmarted Snapple

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it take to turn a Brooklyn beer salesman into the king of iced tea?In the early 1990s, the iced tea market was dominated by Lipton, Nestea, ...

Advice Line with Tim Ferriss

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Entrepreneur, author, and podcaster Tim Ferriss joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Tim shares the...

(July 2021) Ben Chestnut: From Side Business to $12 Billion – The Accidental Triumph of Mailchimp

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2001, three web designers built a quirky email tool called Mailchimp.It wasn’t their main business.It wasn’t even meant to make real money.For ...

Advice Line with Jamie Siminoff of Ring (August 2024)

21 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ring founder Jamie Siminoff joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three founders about balancing short- and long-term goals.&...

Madison Reed: Amy Errett

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Amy Errett had a successful career in finance and venture capital before taking a leap into an entirely new business: hair color. When her wife compla...

Exclusive Update: The Chef Who Shocked the Culinary World and Why He’s Changing Course Again—Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2021, Daniel Humm shook up the dining world by making his 3-Michelin-star restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, 100% plant-based.No meat. No butter...

Crumbl: Jason McGowan

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Crumbl may be a cookie business – but Jason McGowan turned it into a fast-growing restaurant chain by building it like a tech startup. He and co-fou...

Advice Line with Mei Xu of Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blueme

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Chesapeake Bay Candle and Blueme founder Mei Xu joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Mei shares the...

Simon Cowell: Music Mogul

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Long before he became famous as the sharp-tongued TV personality who launched the careers of pop stars, Simon Cowell was a rebellious teenager who dro...

Advice Line with Isaac Larian of MGA Entertainment

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Isaac Larian is the founder of MGA Entertainment, the company behind Bratz and LOL Surprise dolls. This week, he joins Guy on Advice Line to answer qu...

Torchy's Tacos: Mike Rypka

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Long before founding Torchy’s Tacos, Mike Rypka was a troubled teenager trying to outrun his own self-destruction. Growing up around addiction and f...

Advice Line with Troy Carter of Atom Factory

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Former manager of Lady Gaga and Atom Factory founder Troy Carter joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage entr...

WHOOP: Will Ahmed

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a Harvard squash player, Will Ahmed discovered his game improved when he focused on things like sleep, diet, and time spent recovering from tr...

Advice Line with Justin McLeod of Hinge

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hinge founder and CEO Justin McLeod joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Justin describes Hinge’s...

Chobani: Hamdi Ulukaya (2022)

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a newly arrived immigrant from Turkey, Hamdi Ulukaya learned to be resourceful, determined, and even stubborn when he needed to be. All those trait...

Advice Line with Norma Kamali of Norma Kamali (2024)

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iconic fashion designer Norma Kamali joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early stage founders. Plus, Norma shares her...

Rick Steves' Europe: Rick Steves (2021)

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rick Steves spent the summer after high school backpacking through Europe on two dollars a day—sleeping on the floor, sneaking into museums, and sub...

Advice Line with Jim Koch of Boston Beer Company (August 2024)

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boston Beer Company founder Jim Koch joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three founders about finding product-market fit.To...

Talenti: Josh Hochschuler

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After falling in love with the gelato shops of Buenos Aires, Josh Hochschuler came home to Dallas with a bold idea: bring authentic Argentine gelato t...

Advice Line with Eric Ryan of Method

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Method co-founder and serial entrepreneur Eric Ryan joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Eric share...

UNTUCKit: Chris Riccobono

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On a trip to Las Vegas, Chris Riccobono found himself wearing the same J.Crew shirt over and over; it was the only dress shirt he had that looked good...

Advice Line with Marcia Kilgore of Beauty Pie

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Serial entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore — founder of brands like Beauty Pie and Soap & Glory — joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer ques...

Figma: Dylan Field

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The dashboard in your car – the interface on your Zoom screen … many of the products we interact with every day were created with the collaborativ...

Advice Line with Perry Chen of Kickstarter

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kickstarter co-founder Perry Chen joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders about what they really wan...

Perfect Snacks: Bill and Leigh Keith

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bill and Leigh Keith had an extraordinary childhood, travelling the country in a school bus with their parents and ten siblings. Along the way, their ...

Advice Line with Mark Ramadan of Sir Kensington's (June 2024)

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Kensington’s co-founder and former CEO Mark Ramadan joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they work through business challenges with three early-s...

Tatcha: Vicky Tsai (July 2020)

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2008, Vicky Tsai walked away from a startup job and set out to rediscover herself on a trip to Japan. In Kyoto, she had an unforgettable meeting wi...

Advice Line with Steve Holmes of goba Sports Group

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Springfree Trampoline founder Steve Holmes joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Steve...

Calm: Alex Tew and Michael Acton Smith

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a young entrepreneur in the Wild West days of the internet, Alex Tew was drawn to meditation for its simple calming power. Together with fellow tec...

Advice Line: Scaling Strategies

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Guy is joined by Travis Boersma of Dutch Bros. Coffee, Michael Preysman of Everlane and Chris Ruder of Spikeball in a special “mashup” ...

Tecovas: Paul Hedrick

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Western wear is having a moment – and so is the upstart Western brand Tecovas. Founder Paul Hedrick is a Texan who realized that cowboy boots were e...

Advice Line with RJ Scaringe with Rivian

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. He also gets into how trade polic...

Substack: Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Substack was founded to create an escape vehicle for writers: Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie imagined a world where writers didn’t have to rely on l...

Advice Line with Richard Branson of Virgin

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Richard’s rece...

Whisker/Litter-Robot: Brad Baxter

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Brad Baxter sidelined a promising career in the car industry to build a better cat litter box – an undertaking that embarrassed his kids and eventua...

Advice Line with Luis von Ahn of Duolingo

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Duolingo co-founder Luis von Ahn joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Luis shares insights on how d...

Hexclad: Danny Winer

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Cookware is a $73 billion global industry - awash in all kinds of pots and pans. Like, if you’ve ever cooked scrambled eggs, you've probably used a ...

Advice Line with Jonathan Neman of Sweetgreen

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sweetgreen’s co-founder Jonathan Neman joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Sweetgreen’s plans ...

Snap: Evan Spiegel

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What started as a design project for Stanford student Evan Spiegel quickly flourished into one of the most-used social media platforms in the world: S...

Advice Line with Andy Dunn of Bonobos

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bonobos co-founder Andy Dunn joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Andy shares the motivation for hi...

Vizio: William Wang

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Wiliam Wang started selling flat-screen TV’s, he used a winning playbook: partner with an efficient manufacturer, cut out the middlemen, and pr...

Advice Line with Peter Rahal of RXBAR

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

RXBAR co-founder Peter Rahal joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders about positioning new products ...

Title Nine: Missy Park (October 2021)

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a college basketball player, Missy Park was lucky to grow up during the early era of Title IX, the 1972 law that created new opportunities for youn...