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Business Wars

Audible

300 episodes · in order

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.

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Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Sponsored: Welcome to the Future of Work (Dell Podference) | 2

    · 32 min · S70 E2

    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 been a fundamental shift in what employees expect from their…

  2. Encore: Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Doughboys and Dead Heads | 3

    · 28 min · S69 E3

    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 deadline for distributors to comply is closing in fast. But with help…

  3. Encore: Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Trading Licks | 4

    · 27 min · S69 E4

    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, Ben & Jerry's is about to undergo a major growth spurt thanks to its…

  4. Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Hunger Games | 5

    · 28 min · S69 E5

    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-billion-dollar consumer goods giants move in, the U.S. ice cream market enters a…

  5. Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | Breaking the Ice | 6

    · 28 min · S69 E6

    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 brand's values can survive the new regime. Meanwhile, Häagen-Dazs finds…

  6. Häagen-Dazs vs Ben & Jerry's | The New Tastemakers | 7

    · 37 min · S69 E7

    Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s revolutionized the ice cream industry by raising the standard for the frozen treat and pioneering new styles and flavors. Now, new ice cream mavericks are on the scene, raising both the…

  7. Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | All in the Family | 1

    · 41 min · S71 E1

    For decades Gucci and Louis Vuitton dominated the luxury accessory markets. Their bags and shoes were status symbols, sported by celebrities and royalty around the globe. But by the 1970s both companies were…

  8. Best of Business Wars Daily | Wardrobe Changes | 8

    · 40 min · S69 E8

    Big fashion brands are trying to diversify their customer base, and also lure consumers to tailored in-person shopping experiences — but it doesn't always go as planned. On this episode, we're joined by Alana Hope…

  9. Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | The Wolf in Cashmere | 2

    · 40 min · S71 E2

    Now merged with luxury drinks company Moët Hennessy, Louis Vuitton finds itself being squeezed out, overpowered in the merger. In an attempt to regain control, Louis Vuitton’s CEO forms an alliance with Bernard…

  10. Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | Ready-to-Wear | 3

    · 40 min · S71 E3

    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 right hand man is exciting young fashion designer Tom Ford. Together…

  11. Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | The Dom-Tom Bomb | 4

    · 41 min · S71 E4

    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 the so-called Wolf in Cashmere. But in an effort to stave off Arnault’s…

  12. Gucci vs Louis Vuitton | Fashion Forward | 5

    · 37 min · S71 E5

    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 lot of work to do to keep up — if they don’t want to end up sooo last…

  13. Best of Business Wars Daily | That's Showbiz | 6

    · 40 min · S71 E6

    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. On this episode, we're joined by Matt Patches, Deputy editor at Vox…

  14. The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Killer on the Loose | 1

    · 36 min · S73 E1

    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 own sofa. But with Hollywood’s movie studios set to clean up in this…

  15. The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Hidden Agendas | 2

    · 36 min · S73 E2

    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 an enemy in his ranks who’s playing both sides. And while Diller tries…

  16. The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Under Siege | 3

    · 38 min · S73 E3

    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 counter-strike and ignite an all-out war for control of the movie and…

  17. The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Down to the Wire | 4

    · 37 min · S73 E4

    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’s trying to engineer a merger with Blockbuster that will arm him with…

  18. The Battle for Paramount Pictures | Reinventing an Empire | 5

    · 39 min · S73 E5

    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 past. So today, we’re throwing it back with Doug Herzog, a former…

  19. Best of Business Wars Daily | An Unfinished Song | 6

    · 39 min · S73 E6

    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 industry, exploring the relationship between artists, labels, fans and…

  20. Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | On the Outside | 1

    · 36 min · S74 E1

    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 would spend decades getting back -- her masters. Swift’s fight for her…

  21. Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | Bad Blood | 2

    · 32 min · S74 E2

    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. Meanwhile, mega-manager Scooter Braun sees a business opportunity…

  22. Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | Revenge of the Swifties | 3

    · 33 min · S74 E3

    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 weapon -- the Swifties. And Braun pulls out all the stops to protect…

  23. Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun | Breaking Down the Big Machine | 4

    · 36 min · S74 E4

    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, senior music writer at Variety, who’s covered Taylor since her early days as…

  24. Best of Business Wars Daily | The Power of Nuggets | 5

    · 37 min · S74 E5

    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 our ever-scattered attention, before we drive on past them. On this…

  25. Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Demolition Man | 1

    · 36 min · S75 E1

    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-food, but growth is tepid. So Martin's on a mission to convince a…

  26. Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Bellwether | 2

    · 35 min · S75 E2

    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-food fortune. But with the burger wars heating up, Bell embarks on a…

  27. Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Where's the Beef? | 3

    · 37 min · S75 E3

    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 finds himself looking for a way to escape the fast-food machine he's…

  28. Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Going Loco | 4

    · 37 min · S75 E4

    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 nation's fast food. But with the new wave of fast-food chains led by…

  29. Taco Bell vs Chipotle | Taco Talk | 5

    · 38 min · S75 E5

    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 coveted Gen Z market. On today’s show, Mary Meisenzahl, a fast food…

  30. Best of Business Wars Daily | Sticker Shock | 6

    · 43 min · S75 E6

    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 Journal reporter Sean McLain and comedian Kurt Braunohler, who's just…

  31. Toyota vs Honda | Out of the Wreckage | 1

    · 38 min · S76 E1

    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 defeated. But from the war-torn wreckage, two motor giants are about to…

  32. Toyota vs Honda | Motor City Massacre | 2

    · 37 min · S76 E2

    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’s already zooming ahead. Its latest models are about to take Japan by…

  33. Toyota vs Honda | Breaking Ground | 3

    · 36 min · S76 E3

    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 need workarounds fast. But Honda’s no longer content just selling small…

  34. Toyota vs Honda | A Fight for the Future | 4

    · 39 min · S76 E4

    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 take the fight to the world’s motor king, General Motors. And to…

  35. Toyota vs Honda | New Cars on the Block | 5

    · 37 min · S76 E5

    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 production — but so are South Korean car brands like Hyundai and…

  36. Best of Business Wars Daily | Notes on a Tech Scandal | 6

    · 43 min · S76 E6

    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, Victoria Song from the Verge and comedian Matt Braunger, who's just released…

  37. Sotheby's vs Christie's | Going Once | 1

    · 36 min · S77 E1

    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 increase competition with the company’s longtime rival, Christie’s.…

  38. Sotheby's vs Christie's | The Point of No Return | 2

    · 32 min · S77 E2

    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, begin meeting secretly to discuss fixing prices in a way that will benefit…

  39. Sotheby's vs Christie's | The Unraveling | 3

    · 38 min · S77 E3

    It’s 1996 and Christie’s Christopher Davidge is disgruntled he hasn’t personally benefited more from his role in the price-fixing scheme, especially as DeDe Brooks, his Sotheby’s counterpart, thrives. But when…

  40. Sotheby's vs Christie's | The Art of the Auction | 4

    · 41 min · S77 E4

    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 inside New York high society with a look at auction culture today —…

  41. Best of Business Wars Daily | Apple Bites Back | 5

    · 44 min · S77 E5

    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 Gallagher and comedian Gianmarco Soresi. Binge all episodes early…

  42. Apple vs Microsoft | Rotten to the Core | 1

    · 36 min · S78 E1

    Apple launches the groundbreaking Macintosh after a long delay. And Bill Gates' Microsoft team has made the software for the Mac. But pretty soon, Jobs grows worried about their partnership. He fears that Gates and…

  43. Apple vs Microsoft | Hackers and Capitalists | 2

    · 37 min · S78 E2

    This episode, we dive into the backstories of the inventors behind the home computer revolution. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs begin with mutual respect and see themselves reflected in each other. But soon their ambition…

  44. Apple vs Microsoft | Seeds of Discontent | 3

    · 35 min · S78 E3

    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’s relationship reaches a breaking point when Microsoft allegedly…

  45. Apple vs Microsoft | The Gamble | 4

    · 35 min · S78 E4

    The government sues Microsoft for allegedly violating antitrust laws, providing just the distraction Apple needs to launch a comeback. But Jobs is already planning another war – on a battlefield that doesn’t even exist…

  46. Apple vs Microsoft | Life After Laptops | 5

    · 39 min · S78 E5

    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 slice of the technology pie. But where does that leave Apple and…

  47. Best of Business Wars Daily | The Disney Dilemma | 6

    · 42 min · S78 E6

    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 Analytics strategist Julia Alexander and comedian Chase O'Donnell. Binge…

  48. Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | The Outcasts | 1

    · 36 min · S79 E1

    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 computer division. But when Jobs buys it and founds Pixar, it soon becomes…

  49. Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | Battle of the Bugs | 2

    · 37 min · S79 E2

    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 breaks out between Disney and DreamWorks. Jeffrey Katzenberg raids…

  50. Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | Regime Change | 3

    · 40 min · S79 E3

    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 snarled up. The dream team that introduced the world to computer animated…

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