Business Wars

Episodes page 2 of 6

1. Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | Onward and Upward | 4

   8 Mar 2023 · 42 min · S79 E4

   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 fast, because DreamWorks is winning at the box office. But while they…

2. Disney-Pixar vs Dreamworks | 'To Infinity and Beyond' | 5

   15 Mar 2023 · 39 min · S79 E5

   We’re going behind the scenes of your favorite Disney animated movies with Andrew Millstein, former president of Disney Animation. He helped lead the company’s transition to 3D computer animation, working on some of…

3. Business Wars | 5th Anniversary Special | 1

   16 Mar 2023 · 48 min · S80 E1

   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 our host and how the first season got off the ground (time code:…

4. Encore: Diet Wars | Scaling Up | 1

   22 Mar 2023 · 38 min · S81 E1

   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 gets tough, she turns to friends for help and inadvertently…

5. Encore: Diet Wars | Up From Down Under | 2

   29 Mar 2023 · 39 min · S81 E2

   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 designs on Australia. Craig wants to use Australia as a staging…

6. Encore: Diet Wars | Reaching for the Stars | 3

   5 Apr 2023 · 37 min · S81 E3

   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/System's bankrupt and broken. Faced with tanking sales, the diet…

7. Encore: Diet Wars | Losing Streak | 4

   12 Apr 2023 · 35 min · S81 E4

   It's the 2010s and the weight-loss industry's battling intensifying headwinds. Calorie-counting smartphone apps are attracting millions of users and the diet backlash is getting louder by the day. As the pressure…

8. Encore: Diet Wars | Dieting 3.0 | 5

   19 Apr 2023 · 39 min · S81 E5

   First there was Weight Watchers, then there was Noom, and now there’s…Wegovy? Bloomberg health reporter Emma Court helps us understand the evolution of dieting programs and where they’re going next. Later, Matthew…

9. Best of Business Wars Daily | Chat Chat Revolution | 6

   20 Apr 2023 · 33 min · S81 E6

   The AI revolution is here and the tech behemoths are building and releasing their own chatbots. To talk about their victories and blunders, we're joined by Vox journalist Shirin Ghaffary and comedian and podcast host…

10. Encore: Tesla vs Detroit | Accelerate Faster | 1

    26 Apr 2023 · 39 min · S82 E1

    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 2003, Elon Musk's Tesla Motors arrives with environmentally friendly,…

11. Encore: Tesla vs Detroit | Survival Mode | 2

    26 Apr 2023 · 36 min · S82 E2

    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 the traditional auto industry works. It’s been a struggle, but…

12. Encore: Tesla vs Detroit | Motor City Fights Back | 3

    3 May 2023 · 36 min · S82 E3

    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 decade. Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Chevrolet are taking notes. No…

13. Encore: Tesla vs Detroit | Appetite for Destruction | 4

    3 May 2023 · 35 min · S82 E4

    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 company is dedicated to Autopilot, its self-driving system. And once…

14. Encore: Tesla vs Detroit | Elon Musk...It's Complicated | 5

    10 May 2023 · 44 min · S82 E5

    Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter was… messy, to say the least, and now the multi-billionaire is the CEO of three different companies. That’s got investors wondering: can he handle it? And what’s the plan if he can’t?…

15. Encore: Crypto Wars | Generate Coins | 1

    17 May 2023 · 27 min · S83 E1

    It’s 2009 and in a modest suburban home, a monetary revolution is beginning. It’s called bitcoin and it arrives with a whimper. There’s just no compelling reason to swap dollars for this worthless digital token. But…

16. Encore: Crypto Wars | The Untouchables | 2

    17 May 2023 · 25 min · S83 E2

    It’s 2011, and Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss are trying to move on from their legal battle with Mark Zuckerberg over who created Facebook. And their nemesis is about to derail the twins’ dreams again. But then a chance…

17. Encore: Crypto Wars | The Great Slow Motion Swindle | 3

    17 May 2023 · 27 min · S83 E3

    It’s 2013 and bitcoin’s gaining traction at last. But just as crypto reaches for credibility, bitcoin is blindsided by high-profile arrests, corporate collapses and multi-million-dollar hacks. But as the leading lights…

18. Encore: Crypto Wars | Block Busting | 4

    24 May 2023 · 24 min · S83 E4

    It’s 2015 and Coinbase is out to carve up the crypto scene with its new exchange. But it’s about to face strong headwinds in the form of state regulators, banks, and the Winklevoss twins’ new startup Gemini. And as…

19. Encore: Crypto Wars | New Kids on the Blockchain | 5

    24 May 2023 · 27 min · S83 E5

    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 inspiring a flood of new digital coins and a gold rush for crypto. But as…

20. Encore: Crypto Wars | Zuckerpunch | 6

    24 May 2023 · 28 min · S83 E6

    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 Winklevoss twins’ nemesis Mark Zuckerberg is making moves. He’s…

21. Best of Business Wars Daily | Add to Cart | 7

    25 May 2023 · 29 min · S83 E7

    What's old is new again. Second-hand shopping is taking off online and the big brands want a piece of the action. Meanwhile, fast-fashion companies are working to reinvent themselves in the eyes of Gen Z. To unzip…

22. Target vs Walmart | Retail Rumble | 1

    31 May 2023 · 37 min · S84 E1

    It’s 1962 and a new retail trend’s catching fire – big-box discount stores that reinvent shopping with out-of-town locations, huge product ranges, and low, low prices. And at opposite ends of the country, two hopefuls…

23. Target vs Walmart | The Beast from Bentonville | 2

    7 Jun 2023 · 38 min · S84 E2

    It’s the 1990s and Walmart’s replaced Kmart as America’s biggest retailer. But now that it’s on top, its business practices are under fire. And for Target, that’s an opportunity to paint itself as the friendly…

24. Target vs Walmart | Wardrobe Malfunction | 3

    14 Jun 2023 · 40 min · S84 E3

    It’s early 2005 and Walmart’s reeling from a dismal holiday season. It hoped to improve its image by playing nice with rivals only to watch Target snatch away its shoppers. So now it’s looking to hit back by muscling…

25. Target vs Walmart | Bricks and Bytes | 4

    21 Jun 2023 · 37 min · S84 E4

    It’s 2013 and Target’s troubles are multiplying. The Minneapolis retailer’s big push into Canada is getting the cold shoulder and a gang of cybercriminals are about to bust open its network and stage a billion-dollar…

26. Target vs Walmart | 'Target' Demographics | 5

    28 Jun 2023 · 38 min · S84 E5

    Is your house team Target or team Walmart? Depending on where you live, or what you’re trying to buy, the answer might be one, or both. Even though these stores sell a lot of the same merchandise, shoppers have very…

27. Best of Business Wars Daily | Slicing Up the Sandwich King | 6

    29 Jun 2023 · 37 min · S84 E6

    Can old school fast food chains lure in hipper, younger diners with AI-powered features, EV charging stations and playgrounds? We'll consider what brands like Subway are doing to draw new customers and also whether the…

28. Subway vs Quiznos | Subs Rising | 1

    5 Jul 2023 · 35 min · S85 E1

    It’s 1965 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and 17-year-old Fred DeLuca needs money to pay for college. A family friend makes him a surprising offer and they become unlikely partners, opening a string of barely profitable…

29. Subway vs Quiznos | Anywhere and Everywhere | 2

    12 Jul 2023 · 34 min · S85 E2

    It’s 1987 in Denver, Colorado, and a 22-year-old stockbroker named Rick Schaden invests a market windfall into a Quiznos franchise. Four years later, he and his wealthy father buy all 18 stores. Their outlandish dream:…

30. Subway vs Quiznos | One Ounce and You’re Out | 3

    19 Jul 2023 · 35 min · S85 E3

    It’s 2003 in Miami, Florida and a Subway franchisee comes up with a catchy promotion: the 5 Dollar Footlong. But Subway Corporate is preoccupied with a costly new innovation: special ovens to toast their subs. Robbed…

31. Subway vs Quiznos | Footlong Fiascos | 4

    26 Jul 2023 · 34 min · S85 E4

    It’s 2008 and as the Great Recession sinks in, Panera, Jersey Mike’s and Firehouse Subs amp up the competition. Quiznos tries to win back dwindling market share with an avalanche of coupons. But store managers refuse…

32. Subway vs Quiznos | Putting Subs to the Test | 5

    2 Aug 2023 · 36 min · S85 E5

    We’ve spent this season telling the story of how Quiznos and Subway battled to create a sub sandwich that would lure the most customers. Now, we’re putting them to the test – a taste test, that is. Josh Scherer and…

33. Best of Business Wars Daily | Room Service | 6

    3 Aug 2023 · 37 min · S85 E6

    We'll take a look at the hotel industry landscape this summer, including the "Taylor Swift effect," and the amped up fight against rental companies like AirBnB. Travel industry journalist Sean O'Neill and comedian Liz…

34. Hilton vs Marriott | Check-In | 1

    9 Aug 2023 · 38 min · S86 E1

    It’s 1919 and Conrad Hilton is among the fortune seekers in the oil-boom town of Cisco, Texas. But when his plan to buy a bank unravels, he turns to hotels and finds himself heading down the rocky road to business…

35. Hilton vs Marriott | Bad Heir Day | 2

    16 Aug 2023 · 40 min · S86 E2

    It’s the late 1960s and succession is top of mind at both Hilton and Marriott. Conrad Hilton’s almost 80 and about to hand his business over to his sons, Nicky and Barron. But their rivalry will push Hilton into…

36. Hilton vs Marriott | Wake-Up Call | 3

    23 Aug 2023 · 38 min · S86 E3

    It’s the early 1990s and Marriott’s a financial wreck heading for the rocks, and running out of time to find a way to remedy its debts. But as Marriott crumbles, the sleeping giant that is Hilton is waking up. And it…

37. Hilton vs Marriott | The Inn Crowd | 4

    30 Aug 2023 · 39 min · S86 E4

    It’s 2001 and the hotel industry is reeling from 9/11. But terror attacks are only the one of the new challenges closing in on Marriott and Hilton. The uniform hotels of the 20th century no longer cut it with young…

38. Hilton vs Marriott | Pretty Cool Hotels | 5

    6 Sep 2023 · 40 min · S86 E5

    Grab your suitcase, because we’re taking a vacation! Today, we’re joined by Allison Pohle, travel reporter for the Wall Street Journal. She’s zooming in on the hotel industry — the post-pandemic bounceback, labor…

39. The Rise of AI | The Next Big Thing | 1

    6 Sep 2023 · 42 min · S87 E1

    For decades, AI stagnated with only a few dedicated scientists working on it. But in 2012, a researcher at the University of Toronto made a breakthrough — and every major tech company wanted in on it. They were…

40. Best of Business Wars Daily | AI Disruptors | 6

    6 Sep 2023 · 44 min · S86 E6

    You've heard about how AI is poised (and already) revolutionizing just about everything. We're digging deeper into that and taking a look at the way AI has altered three industries — climate change management, fast…

41. The Rise of AI | No Reservations | 2

    20 Sep 2023 · 37 min · S87 E2

    Google is the undisputed leader in the race to dominate AI, in part because of its reputation as a company with strong corporate ethics. But as questions about the morality and efficacy of AI become more pronounced,…

42. The Rise of AI | Battle Bots | 3

    27 Sep 2023 · 42 min · S87 E3

    With the popularity of ChatBots exploding, Microsoft invests billions of dollars into AI-assisted internet search,trying to strike at Google’s core business. Google answers back with its own ChatBot “Bard”. And…

43. The Rise of AI | Living in an Artificial World | 4

    4 Oct 2023 · 39 min · S87 E4

    Mike Calore and Lauren Goode from Wired are back! The pair co-host Wired’s Gadget Lab podcast, where they’ve been diving deep into what the future of AI looks like. Mike and Lauren join host David Brown to share their…

44. Best of Business Wars Daily | Salty or Sweet? | 5

    5 Oct 2023 · 38 min · S87 E5

    No tricks, just treats in this chat with New York Times retail reporter Jordyn Holman and comedian Max Fine. We're talking about candy, and just in time for spooky season! Then, we dig into America's obsession with…

45. CVS vs. Walgreens | Powerful Medicine | 1

    11 Oct 2023 · 37 min · S88 E1

    It’s 1895 and Chicago’s a boom town that’s overflowing with pharmacies. But one drugstore is about to emerge from the city’s mass of small-time drugstores and become a national force. It’s name is Walgreens and by the…

46. CVS vs. Walgreens | Clinic Bait | 2

    18 Oct 2023 · 36 min · S88 E2

    It’s the late 1990s and CVS and Walgreens are battling for control of the nation’s best street corners and there’s a huge prize at stake. Tens of millions of boomers are about to turn grey and thanks to new drugs and…

47. CVS vs. Walgreens | A New Prescription | 3

    25 Oct 2023 · 33 min · S88 E3

    It’s 2009 and Walgreens is in crisis. It’s just lost its CEO and surrendered its top-dog status to CVS. But it’s about to fightback. It’s got a plan to launch itself onto the world stage and sock it to the pharmacy…

48. CVS vs. Walgreens | The Doctor is In | 4

    1 Nov 2023 · 36 min · S88 E4

    It’s 2013 and CVS boss Larry Merlo is formulating a plan to wipe two-billion dollars off of the company’s sales by stripping cigarettes from the chain’s shelves. But while Merlo seeks to forge a tobacco-free future…

49. CVS vs. Walgreens | Trouble Behind the Counter | 5

    8 Nov 2023 · 42 min · S88 E5

    Between overworked pharmacists, healthcare consolidation, and rising drug costs, pharmacies are constantly having to adapt. Dan Weissmann, host of the An Arm and a Leg podcast, joins David to talk about how these…

50. Best of Business Wars Daily | Toying Around | 6

    9 Nov 2023 · 36 min · S88 E6

    We're talking about legendary toy stores and how they can compete today with comedian Gianmarco Soresi, who's in the new Netflix series "Verified Stand-Up" and editor-in-chief of The Toy Book, James Zahn. Plus which…