The 16 Best Finance Podcasts, Recommended by CFOs

One of the few things Covid did not change is the popularity of podcasts. While fewer people are commuting to work these days, podcast consumption is still high, with new shows popping up almost daily.

If you’re in need of a guide through this audio jungle, look no further! We asked the CFO Connect community for their favorite finance podcasts and curated this list of the best podcasts for modern finance leaders.

And because we know that even the most passionate finance folks need a break from finance sometimes, this list is a mixed bag, including deep technical expertise, general business and startup themes, and a few fun, off-topic titles. Enjoy – and let us know if we’re missing one of your favorites by emailing podcast@cfoconnect.eu

For starters: our community’s favorites

1.

American National Public Radio (NPR) produces several very successful, high-quality podcasts, and Planet Money is one of our community’s favorites. The pitch: “imagine you could call up a friend and say, ‘Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy.’ Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.” Nothing more to add.

2.

For everyone who enjoyed the same-titled books, this one is a no-brainer. And for those who haven’t: listening to co-author Stephen J. Dubner might just be what you need to spark your interest in the more curious aspects of the economy.

3.

Who would be better to discuss business and management with some of the most inspiring leaders in the world than two Senior Editors from the Harvard Business Review? Fun exercise: in the archive, you can go back as far as 2006 to hear how the show and the world has changed.

4.

“Together we make sense of today,” that’s the promise of Kai and Molly. The two award-winning American journalists break down the most complex news of the week (mostly related to the economy) for their listeners in 30 minutes or less, in an approachable and surprisingly entertaining way.

For your inner entrepreneur

5.

It’s not exactly recorded how many successful entrepreneurs Reid Hoffmann has inspired, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a founder that hasn’t at least quoted him once when telling their own story. In this podcast, Hoffmann captures the best of these startup success stories, featuring the Who’s Who of the global tech elite.

6.

We already mentioned NPR as a reliable source of best-in-class audio content, and this podcast is no exception. If you want to hear the inspiring stories behind some of the world’s most popular technologies and companies – Guy Raz has you covered. Best of all, he makes sure to uncover the failures and follies of the entrepreneur’s journey.

7.

Even though Jenna Kutcher was initially digging for goals, she also found gold eventually. Her podcast, recorded in her own closet, has gained a massive audience, highlighting some of the most exciting female entrepreneurs (and discussing all things marketing).

8.

a16z famously stands for Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz which is, unsurprisingly, behind this podcast. Several episodes per week cover trends and hot-off-the-press news from the tech world, featuring leaders and experts from around the world.

9.

Another big name from the US: twice a week, Kara Swisher from Vox and NYU professor Scott Galloway talk about the biggest stories in tech, business and politics focused on the theme of adaptation (or, the infamous business “pivot”). And they don’t have many filters when doing this.

For all things finance

10.

Shameless plug! CFO Yeah! brings you up close with finance leaders in the most exciting, fast-growing companies in the world, like Zapier, Strivr, Checker, Fiit and many more. This show is produced by yours truly, CFO Connect, and features candid conversations with our community members. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify or RSS, or send us a note to recommend a guest: podcast@cfoconnect.eu

11.

From CFOs, for CFOs: each week Mark Gandy and Bruce Reed talk about the best business books for finance leaders. They also produce a popular weekly newsletter with the same name.

PS: looking for more worthwhile reads? Check out our reading list for CFOs.

12.

The title is pretty straight-forward and so is Steve Bragg’s podcast, covering said best practices, but also accounting technology, controls, investor relations and many more relevant topics for finance leaders.

13.

At the intersection of accounting and technology, this podcast brings a weekly news roundup from the accounting and bookkeeping world to you, as well as interviews with leaders from the industry.

For some off-topic inspiration

14.

Whereas most guides promise you ultimate happiness, Dan Harris starts with ten percent. After his successful book publication, the ABC news anchor (who famously had a panic attack live on TV) now also features meditation teachers, scientists and celebrities on his podcast to help you train your mind.

15.

Part of the ethos in the tech world is usually to be the first one to try something. You can do that, but you can also just listen to Shane Parrish talking to very smart people who are happy to share their knowledge. And it’s actually not at all about tech.

16.

In this podcast, famous journalist, author and speaker Malcolm Gladwell takes you on a journey to analyze people, events and ideas from the past, that you will often see very differently afterwards. Not only is the idea great, but also the execution.

Hungry for more finance knowledge? Join CFO Connect, the global community for modern finance leaders. We host events & workshops, have a private Slack group for CFOs, and produce helpful content on our blog & fintech podcast. Membership is free, but reserved for experienced finance leaders.