Business Wars
Audible
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, innovators, investors and executives to new heights -- or to ruin. Hosted by David Brown, former anchor of Marketplace. From Wondery, the network behind Against the Odds and American History Tellers.Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.
Episodes
Mentioned books
26 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 42min
Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Signature Sneakers | 3
Tim Newcomb, sneaker and sports tech reporter for outlets like Forbes and Sports Illustrated, traces the history of signature sneakers from Chuck Taylors to modern stars. He compares Michael Jordan’s and Steph Curry’s deals, analyzes why Under Armour’s Curry play struggled, explores rising global brands, and lays out how signature partnerships shape athlete and brand strategy.
50 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 45min
Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Dropping the Ball | 2
A rise-and-fall business tale about a challenger taking on an industry giant. Aggressive tech buys to capture user data and a risky footwear rollout that led to oversupply. A sudden retail bankruptcy forces a controversial mass-market partnership. Leadership shakeups, culture scandals, and repeated strategic pivots reshape the brand's future.
57 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 44min
Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Sweat Equity | 1
A college player's sweat problem sparks a DIY sportswear revolution. Early hustles, sly sales tactics, and a big movie placement accelerate rapid retail growth. A risky ad gamble and IPO fuel ambitions to take on the industry leader. Strategic pivots into sneakers, star deals, and worries about losing the brand's original focus round out the climb.
55 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 38min
Gatorade Sweats the Competition | Defending the Title | 3
A look at Gatorade’s fight to hold market dominance as Coca‑Cola’s Powerade and new rivals surge. Corporate deals and superstar endorsements reshape the sports drink wars. Science, product pivots, and tech-enabled hydration all play into a shifting competitive landscape.
42 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 35min
Gatorade Sweats the Competition | Be Like Mike | 2
The story follows Gatorade's rise from sideline fuel to mainstream powerhouse. It traces boardroom battles, takeover bids, and a bidding war to sign Michael Jordan. Marketing shifts broaden the brand beyond athletes. The origin of the Gatorade bath and the creation of the 'Be Like Mike' campaign get spotlighted.
57 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 44min
Gatorade Sweats the Competition | Searching for a Solution | 1
A 1960s lab race to solve dangerous player dehydration leads to a new electrolyte drink. Sideline tests, quirky production fixes, and hard-nosed pitching bring the beverage from bench to retail. Packaging challenges, clever branding, and early copycats shape a fierce commercial scramble.
46 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 41min
The Buy Now Pay Later Takeover | Fake Money | 3
Annie Joy Williams, Atlantic editor who exposed the marketing of “cute debt.” Adam Clark Estes, Vox tech correspondent who covers fintech and BNPL risks. They unpack why BNPL exploded, how apps target young women with pink branding and influencer culture, the mechanics behind stacking loans and securitization, and growing worries about consumer harm and regulation.
190 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 41min
The Buy Now Pay Later Takeover | Maxing Out | 2
A fast-paced look at how buy-now-pay-later services exploded during the pandemic and then faced fierce competition. The story tracks soaring valuations, painful layoffs, and risky partnerships with big retailers and delivery apps. It also highlights rising consumer debt, regulatory crackdowns, and a company pivoting to AI, banking, and an eventual IPO.
211 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 42min
The Buy Now Pay Later Takeover | No Interest | 1
A deep dive into how a Scandinavian idea turned mail-order ‘bill me’ into modern buy now, pay later. The story traces cold calls, early skepticism, and a pivot from factoring to fintech. It follows a bold U.S. push, viral growth tactics with influencers, and the regulatory cracks that helped the model explode.
67 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 35min
CrowdStrike: All Systems Down | Digital Dominos | 2
A global software update crash that knocked out airports, hospitals and TV networks. How a cloud-native security product’s architecture amplified a single-point failure. The rapid fallout: public outrage, market chaos and opportunistic scams. Congressional scrutiny, legal costs and changes to how updates are rolled out. A broader look at concentration risk as critical systems centralize in the cloud.
