Pushkin Industries · History

Business History

It’s the history of business. How did Hitler’s favorite car become synonymous with hippies? What got Thomas Edison tangled up with the electric chair? Did someone murder the guy who invented the movies? Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small and find out what you can learn from those who founded them.

Episodes

The podcast explores the history of Southwest Airlines, arguing it's the most successful airline in American history due to its consistent profitability in a notoriously challenging industry. It traces the company's origins from a cocktail napkin idea to its initial struggles against established airlines and regulatory...

Coming Soon: Business History with Robert Smith and Jacob Goldstein

29 Oct 2025

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Business History

Episodes

Hitler's Gift to the Hippies: The VW Beetle Story Part I

How Jim Simons Built a Machine That Beat the Market

From Part-Time Genius: 9 Wonderful Wintertime Inventions

Old Warren Buffett: "Never Invest in a Business You Cannot Understand"

Young Warren Buffett: How to Find Value No One Else Can See

How to Make Billions When the Bubble Bursts: Lessons from 1929

The Man who Sued Major League Baseball (Rather than go to Philly)

Edison and the Movie Murder Mystery (The Edison Story Part 3)

Edison, Tesla and the Electric Chair (The Edison Story Part 2)

The Edison Invention People Don't Talk About (The Edison Story Part 1)

The Secret of Southwest's Success: Free Whisky, Hot Pants and Low, Low Fares

Coming Soon: Business History with Robert Smith and Jacob Goldstein