I have a science background and am applying for consulting positions this upcoming year. What are the best podcasts to learn more about business? Not necessarily teaching terms, but case studies about companies? Or similar
Best podcasts to increase business knowledge/sense


Hi there,
Since you’re coming from a science background, podcasts that mix real-world company stories with broader business themes will help you quickly build commercial awareness and business intuition:
- HBR IdeaCast (Harvard Business Review) – Short episodes covering leadership, strategy, and management, often with senior executives
- The McKinsey Podcast – Deep dives into industries, company challenges, and business trends, great for consulting applicants
- Acquired – Long-form episodes dissecting the rise (and sometimes fall) of major companies like Amazon, Costco, or Airbnb. Excellent for case-like learning
- The Economist: Money Talks – Keeps you sharp on global business, finance, and market trends
- Masters of Scale (Reid Hoffman) – Growth stories from startup to scale-up, with practical strategy lessons
Instead of just listening passively, pause and think, What was the company’s core problem? What options did they have? Why did they succeed/fail? That way, you’re practicing consulting-style structured thinking.
Happy to help you prep – feel free to reach out.
Best
Vasilis

Hi there,
I have quite enjoyed these three:
Founder’s Field Guide (Patrick O’Shaughnessy – Colossus)
Interviews with founders about company building and decision-making.
Business Breakdowns (Colossus)
Deep dives into how specific businesses work (e.g., Ferrari, Amazon Web Services, Costco).
Masters of Scale (Reid Hoffman)
Explores how companies grow from zero to a billion.
Blends storytelling with sharp business insights.
Let me know if you’d want to connect about more specific points.

Hi there!
Beyond the above, Crafting Cases has a podcast related to case interview, that may be useful if you’re at the prep stage.
Best,
Mari

Hi Anna,
Podcasts aside, I'd recommend The Economist. They also have an app and you can listen to the coverage.
If you're starting soon in consulting, you might also find this valuable:
Best,
Cristian

Hi Anna,
I would like to add the podcast of Victor Cheng covering the topic of gaining case interview skills focusing on the hypothesis driven approach.
Good luck with the prep!
Mattijs

Hi Anna,
There are couple of good podcasts that you can consider.
1. General Business and Consulting Insights
- The McKinsey Podcast
- The So What from BCG
2. Industry and Economics
- The Economist Podcasts (e.g., The Intelligence)
- Cold Call (HBR)
Hope these are helpful.
Best,
Emily
