Business Wars

Wondery

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, inventors, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Dirty John and American History Tellers.Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

  • 32 minutes 13 seconds
    TikTok vs the U.S.A. | A Ticking Clock | 4

    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 to fight the law in court. Then the case goes all the way to the Supreme Court. But the company’s best hope to overturn the law lies in the outcome of the 2024 election — or so it thinks.

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    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    26 February 2025, 8:01 am
  • 6 minutes 14 seconds
    Listen Now: Scam Factory

    You know those messages that you get all the time, the ones that pop up out of nowhere? They could be real, but something about them seems fishy. You likely dismiss these texts and emails as mere annoyances, thinking you’ve stopped some random stranger from ripping you off. But the shocking truth is, the person behind that message might be trapped inside a “scam factory” on the other side of the world and forced to scam others against their will. From Wondery, comes a new series about the brutal reality behind these operations, where one family discovers a horrifying truth: the only way out is to scam their way out.


    Listen Now: Wondery.fm/Scam_Factory 

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    24 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 32 minutes 18 seconds
    TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Too Big to Fail | 3

    TikTok realizes its attempts to prove to American lawmakers that the Chinese government doesn’t have access to American user data aren’t working, and they need to change tactics. Becoming more aggressive in their lobbying, TikTok taps into the millions of Americans who use the app to urge lawmakers not to ban TikTok. But their efforts come up short.  

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    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    19 February 2025, 8:01 am
  • 33 minutes 55 seconds
    TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Reeling | 2

    TikTok scrambles to respond to President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring ByteDance sell the app to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. But the election of Joe Biden in November 2020 offers the company a brief reprieve. TikTok works to make a deal with the new administration, but reports come out that TikTok may not have been completely honest about the privacy of American user data, jeopardizing their status in the country yet again.

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    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    12 February 2025, 8:01 am
  • 32 minutes 1 second
    TikTok vs the U.S.A. | Trending Upwards | 1

    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 country. And by spring 2020, ByteDance achieved its goal, thanks, in part, to a global pandemic that sees people spending more time on their phones. But while TikTok faces competition from other social media sites, its greatest threat is the U.S. government. Lawmakers worry the e Chinese-owned app is a serious national security risk and a growing faction is determined to take it down. 

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    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    5 February 2025, 8:01 am
  • 38 minutes 29 seconds
    The Unraveling of Boeing | Landing the Plane | 5

    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 737-Max project. Today, Ed is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety, and he joins David to discuss Boeing then and now, and where it all went wrong. 

    Later, Sharon Terlep, aerospace reporter for the Wall Street Journal, dives into the company’s future, discussing the billion dollar question: can Boeing bounce back? 

    Warning Bells podcast with Ed Pierson: https://www.edpierson.com/podcast

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    30 January 2025, 8:01 am
  • 35 minutes 3 seconds
    The Unraveling of Boeing | Blow Out | 4

    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 he’s about to face major headwinds. Headwinds that threaten to destroy the entire company.

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    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    29 January 2025, 8:01 am
  • 35 minutes 15 seconds
    The Unraveling of Boeing | Jedi Mind Tricks | 3

    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 has to figure out a way to fit modern jet engines onto the 737’s aging airframe. When the MAX encounters problems, Boeing then creates a computer system to fix them. But their lack of transparency with both regulators and pilots will backfire badly. 

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    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    22 January 2025, 8:01 am
  • 38 minutes 16 seconds
    The Unraveling of Boeing | Change of Destination | 2

    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 rival Airbus are about to transform Boeing in ways that will lead to tragedy.

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    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    15 January 2025, 8:01 am
  • 46 minutes 51 seconds
    Behind the Scenes | 5

    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 ground. Then we'll explore how we bring the story to life with sound. And comedian Josh Gondelman will give David Brown a bit of a grilling. Plus, David reflects on a listener's message. 

    Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    8 January 2025, 8:01 am
  • 34 minutes 9 seconds
    The Unraveling of Boeing | The Crash | 1

    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, is forced out of the skies and the company is forced to reckon with its mistakes.  

    Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

    Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    8 January 2025, 8:01 am
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