

How Success Happens
Entrepreneur Media
How Success Happens tells the inspiring, entertaining, and unexpected journeys that influential leaders in business, the arts and sports traveled on their way to becoming household names. Hosted by Entrepreneur Media’s VP of Special Projects Dan Bova, these conversations are a must-listen for anyone looking to pave their own path to success.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 23, 2025 • 12min
Snack Break: Complex NTWRK
Aaron Levant, the CEO of Complex NTWRK media, drops in to talk about why “ignorance is rich,” how taking wild swings has shaped his entire career, and why real-life experiences beat a thousand Instagram likes any day. This quick burst of inspiration will get you hyped to go out there and try anything. Even if everyone’s telling you not to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 19, 2025 • 34min
DuckDuckGo Founder Explains Privacy
Gabriel Weinberg knows a thing or two about taking big risks on big ideas. He’s the founder and CEO of DuckDuckGo, the privacy-first search engine taking on the giants. In this episode, he breaks down the frameworks that help him lead, how he makes tough calls, and where he finds the time to actually do all of it. Plus, he gives us his take on the real risks around AI and privacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 2025 • 15min
Snack Break: Loog Guitars
Rafael Atijas, founder and CEO of Loog Guitars, joins to share how a grad school project turned into a global brand. He talks about learning manufacturing from scratch, mastering Kickstarter, and building a community of first-time rockstars. Plus, what he’s learned as a veteran of five successful Kickstarter campaigns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 12, 2025 • 38min
ElectroBOOM on Finding Explosive Success on YouTube
ElectroBOOM, the YouTuber who makes learning about electricity shockingly fun, joins us to break down how he built an enduring YouTube career. He gets real about the mistakes he's made, the comments that still sting, and what’s next on his entrepreneurial journey. Plus, he answers the question “Does it still hurt when you get shocked?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 9, 2025 • 11min
Snack Break: Sports Agency Founder Donnie McGrath
Former pro baller turned sports management founder Donnie McGrath joins the show to talk about his jump from ball handling to closing $650 million in contracts. He shares the moment that made him hang up his sneakers, what it’s really like to go from player to agent, and how his definition of success has evolved along the way. Plus, a sneak peek at his company LIFT Sports Management’s next big play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 6, 2025 • 26min
How a Long-Term Partnership with Amazon Helped This Small Game Business Win
In this special episode of How Success Happens, the small business team behind Wood Expressions Games shares how a nearly 20-year partnership with Amazon transformed their tiny company into a booming board game business. Learn about their inspiring journey of growth, perseverance, and the fulfillment that comes with bringing joy to customers and creating jobs in their community. This episode marks the 25th anniversary of Amazon welcoming independent sellers to its store, a period during which these sellers have generated over $2.5 trillion in sales.
Tune in for real-world strategies, actionable advice, and proven tactics that any entrepreneur can use to scale and build lasting success in Amazon’s store. To learn more about how Amazon supports independent sellers, visit sellingpartners.aboutamazon.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 5, 2025 • 41min
'All the Cool Girls Get Fired' Authors Take Back the F-Word
What if getting fired isn’t the end? What if it’s the beginning? Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill join Dan to talk about their mission to take the shame out of the F word. In their new book All the Cool Girls Get Fired, they share stories from powerhouses like Oprah Winfrey and Carol Burnett about the times they got fired, what they learned, and how those pink slips turned into rocket fuel for their next big moves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 2, 2025 • 18min
Snack Break with Food, Media and Sports Investor Jack Davis
Jack Davis, serial entrepreneur and investor in Jomboy Media and Dave’s Hot Chicken, joins the show. On this episode, he breaks down how he finds products people actually want, why organic demand beats throwing money at marketing, and how to know when it’s time to cut your losses. He says having success is like a chance to eat more pie. Speaking of which, send Dan your favorite pie pick at howsuccesshappens@entrepreneur.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 2025 • 39min
Andrew Zimmern Fishes for Success
Chef Andrew Zimmern swings by to talk about his new book The Blue Food Cookbook, and to make a very hungry Dan seriously regret skipping breakfast. Beyond drooling over recipes, they dive into sustainable seafood, Zimmern’s favorite cookbooks, and why social media is doing more harm than good to the food industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 2025 • 19min
Snack Break: Comedian Kevin Bridges
Scottish comedian Kevin Bridges adds one more stop to his first-ever U.S. tour and makes a pit stop with Dan (us?) on the How Success Happens podcast. He opens up about recovering from those nights when a joke dies a slow, painful death, shares how he tames pre-show nerves, and reveals why he keeps a tiny recording device tucked in his running shorts. (Yes, really.) Want to see Kevin live? Check out https://www.kevinbridges.co.uk/ for his latest tour dates before he sprints off to the next city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


