Business Basics

Up your game with these 6 NZ business podcasts

Packed with anecdotes and insights, these 6 NZ business podcasts will share tips from our brightest leaders.

The Team

Published

May 11, 2022

Updated

May 11, 2022

6 mins read

Contents

Whether you’re on the morning commute or needing a slice of inspiration with your coffee, business podcasts are a great way to learn and keep up to date. Packed with anecdotes and insights, there’s many opportunities for you to put your headphones in and listen to what’s going on in the business world. Not to mention all the local information you can take into your workday – and the odd dinner conversation.

The best part? There’s a great selection hosted right here in Aotearoa, featuring the best and brightest of our business leaders. Here’s our favourites…

Get started on these six business podcasts:

1) The Spinoff’s ‘Business is boring’

Challenging the common assertion that makes up the podcast title, The Spinoff’s series is anything but dull. In their series, journalist Simon Pound sits down with some of New Zealand’s best entrepreneurs as they share their stories. They’re a fascinating listen – after all, the journey of creating a business from the ground up is rarely uneventful.

You’ll hear all about the unique challenges, the secrets of their brand and the Kiwi ingenuity that has made them into a success story. It spans all industries, from nonprofits and social enterprises to brands that have made a splash overseas. Guests include Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck, Fix & Fogg’s Roman Jewell and AWWA’s Michele Wilson.

2) RNZ’s ‘Business News’

As much as we love the big immersive podcasts, sometimes it’s difficult to find the time to listen with our undivided attention. That’s where RNZ’s Business News comes in handy. With daily episodes clocking in around 7 minutes long, it covers the top news of the day. Listen to it on your mid-afternoon break for a snappy update.

For those of you who keep track of the stock market, there’s also daily 2 minute episodes covering the latest movements in the financial sector. Hopefully it’s all positive in your portfolio today!

Man staring into space while complex calculations swirl around his head, with the caption 'me looking at the stock market like I know what I'm doing'

3) Newstalk ZB’s ‘HP Business Class’

This podcast isn’t currently releasing new episodes but published 23 in its lifetime, with each one featuring an engaging interview with a leading New Zealand entrepreneur. Veteran journalist, Heather du Plessis-Allan, dives into the unique stories that make up their business success.

Many of the brands featured are known international hits, from RocketLab to Les Mills and Allbirds. It’s a great source of Kiwi pride to hear how these entrepreneurs kept faith in their product and captured the global market.

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4) ‘NZ Tech Podcast’ with Paul Spain

No matter what industry we work in now, tech has permeated our daily operations – from online marketing right through to digital HR and payroll. Gorilla Technology founder Paul Spain takes the mic in these weekly episodes, as he invites different guests to discuss the latest tech developments in New Zealand and beyond.

The topics range from Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition to Netflix’s domination and the growing world of Twitch streamers. The discussions are accessible and informative, even if you’re not a big tech nerd. Spain is also really good at grounding the news in a local Kiwi context, offering plenty of food for thought on our future – something that every business leader is continually looking towards.

Cartoon characters in a classroom all typing on their phones

5) ‘Seeds’ with Steven Moe

Here in New Zealand, we’re really lucky to have a strong network of social enterprises across the country who work hard to make a difference for everyday Kiwis. They form the main focus of Seeds, a podcast hosted by lawyer and social enterprise expert Steven Moe.

This podcast has just reached its 300th episode, so you’ve got no shortage of listening to catch up on. With each episode, he talks to the leader of a social enterprise to find out more about their personal life story, their key purpose and the impact they’ve made through their organisation. It’s still a business podcast, but a different one – one that studies the positive change that can be made through enterprise.

6) ‘Unfiltered’

Some of us are visual thinkers first and while podcasts are great, sometimes we want to put a face to a name. New Zealand-based organisation, Crimson Education, have created a complete series with over 300 video interviews with entrepreneurs, founders and thought leaders.

There’s some household brand names in this one – Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson appears in an episode, while the leaders of Lime, SAP and Soul Cycle also feature.

Cartoon character Spongebob eating popcorn in a dark room in front of a television

Ready, click, play

There you have it – six podcasts that bring the best of New Zealand business together and share the unique stories that make up their success. Pop on those headphones and get listening!

When we’re not sharing our favourite podcast recommendations, our team at Employment Hero love sharing the latest insights on New Zealand’s future of work. Catch up on the biggest upcoming trends in people and culture here.