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Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

Behind the Business with Michelle Toh

By: Michelle Toh
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Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning video podcast hosted by CNN and FORTUNE alum Michelle Toh that explores the decisions and philosophies behind some of today's most influential leaders. Its new season features the leaders of Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Samsung, Canva, Revolve, Peloton, Poppi and Away. The show is grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal, providing the backstories of founders, corporate leaders, investors and creators and how they push through to make the most of both work and life each day. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — avoiding fluff and performative praise, while also keeping it fun! The show aims to be journalistically rigorous and visually compelling, with each episode ending with a rapid-fire round and connecting guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. What's the worst day you've faced at your company? How do you cope with crisis or rejection? Or what's a pinch-me moment you'll never forget? In each episode, our guests get into it all. New episodes Thursdays.Michelle Toh Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • IPO parade? 3 pressing questions on global markets with the NYSE

    IPO parade? 3 pressing questions on global markets with the NYSE
    Jun 25 2026
    The US makes up almost 50% of global market cap. Yet over the past three decades, the number of American public companies has declined dramatically. So says this week’s guest, NYSE Chief Development Officer Chris Taylor, who joins us for our new “3 Pressing Questions” segment. After years of a quieter IPO market, there are signs momentum is returning — with a surge in new equity offerings and investors watching the debuts of big names like SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic. We headed to the New York Stock Exchange to unpack: 🌍 What’s really driving global stock markets right now? 🔔 What’s next for the US IPO market as attention turns to companies like SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic? 🤖 Are we in an AI bubble?Plus: Chris shares what founders should know if they dream of ringing the bell on Wall Street one day. We dive into: 00:00: Introduction 03:59: What's actually driving stock markets right now — and where consensus might be wrong 06:29: CEO outlook on global volatility, AI and challenges 08:01: Where some companies are spotting new market opportunities 08:57: Are we in an AI bubble? 10:31: IPO market outlook 12:14: Expected 'mega-IPOs' this year with SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic 14:22: NYSE roadmap 15:40: SEC proposal to give companies option to report earnings semi-annually vs. quarterly 17:26: The hardest part of running the exchange 19:46: Jump in overseas demand for US stocks 21:12: How NYSE competes against other exchanges - both in the US and overseas 26:33: Common mistakes companies make before going public 27:58: Future of going public: Will the traditional IPO model remain king? 28:48: Rapid-fire round NOTE: This interview was recorded ahead of SpaceX's IPO on June 12, 2026. Views and opinions expressed in this episode are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment or other professional advice. 🚀 Season 2 of Behind the Business is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. Catch new episodes every Thursday. 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: - YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB - Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA - Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB - Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. New episodes every Thursday. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. #markets #ipos #stocks #stockmarket #stockmarkets #nyse #wallstreet #finance #business #ipos #ipo #ipomarket #usmarket #usmarkets #businessnews #ai #investing #investment #spacexipo #equities #investment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • From near-failure to global giant: Airbnb's co-founder on how it all almost never happened

    From near-failure to global giant: Airbnb's co-founder on how it all almost never happened
    Jun 18 2026
    We are back! Our first guest of the new season is Airbnb co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer Nathan Blecharczyk. Airbnb now spans almost every country in the world. But there was a point early on where the team agreed: if things didn’t improve in 13 weeks, they’d quit. In our first episode of Season 2, co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk takes us inside the making of Airbnb — from “ramen profitability” and investor rejection to global expansion, crisis management and what comes next. In this conversation, we dive into: 00:00: Introduction 03:51: Teaching himself to code at age 12 and becoming an entrepreneur at age 14 05:52: First job and learning 'what not to do' at a startup 07:35: Meeting fellow Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia as his roommate through Craigslist 08:01: The birth of Airbnb 11:02: Handling skepticism, rejection from friends and investors 13:36: Pitch deck advice from OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman 16:01: PR stunt at the DNC — selling $30K of "Obama O's" and "Cap'n McCain's" cereal in one week 20:27: Teetering on the verge of quitting 20:53: Applying and getting into Y Combinator 24:10: "Ramen profitability" and the company's turnaround 25:35: Advice from YC founder Paul Graham on doing things that don't scale 30:33: 'War time mode': Fending off a European clone 35:07: The company's 'first real trust and safety incident' 37:56: Delayed IPO - eventually going public in one of the most successful debuts in tech history 38:39: 80% revenue drop during Covid 41:06: Fear of survival and navigating painful layoffs 46:41: Airbnb's reinvention and quest to become a 'super app' 50:15: Outlook on AI 52:38: What happened with Airbnb in China 55:42: Global outlook and key markets 1:00:08: Rapid-fire round Season 2 is here, featuring the leaders of brands including Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, The Points Guy and Away. Catch new episodes every Thursday. SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW:- YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB- Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA- Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB- Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp About Behind the BusinessBehind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders/ CEOs who send in a question. New episodes every Thursday. About Michelle TohMichelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. #businesspodcast #founders #leadership #entrepreneurship #journalism #businessinterview #interviews #startups #startup #startupjourney #businessnews #techfounders #podcast #youtubepodcast #travel #travelbusiness #siliconvalley #ycombinator #ai #superapp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Introducing Behind the Business Season 2

    Introducing Behind the Business Season 2
    Jun 17 2026
    💭 Loading: Behind the Business Season 2 We sat down with the people building Airbnb, Rivian, NYSE, Canva, Samsung, Poppi, Peloton, Revolve, Lucid Motors, PHLUR, Away — and more. Taking you inside the tradeoffs. The pressure. The parts you don’t hear about. Season 2 drops TOMORROW, June 18. New episodes Thursdays 🚀 👇🏼 SUBSCRIBE + FOLLOW: YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBTB Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/3IFGuIA Spotify: https://bit.ly/SpotiBTB Amazon Music: http://bit.ly/4pPZZPp 🎙️About Behind the Business Behind the Business is a Webby Award-winning, thoughtfully produced video podcast grounded in the belief that business is in fact personal. This is not a fawning interview show. We pair deep research with thorough interviews — asking the real questions and avoiding fluff, while keeping it fun! What’s the toughest day you’ve ever had at work? How do you mentally prep for a big event? Or what’s a pinch-me moment you’ll never forget? In each episode, guests get into it all. Each episode also connects guests with young founders who send in a question. New episodes Thursdays. About Michelle Toh Michelle is an award-winning international journalist, most recently a longtime reporter at CNN. She's covered top stories in global business, including the chip and trade wars, world-leading IPOs, the corporate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's energy crisis and China's property problems. Previously, she was with FORTUNE. She has reported for The New York Times, TIME and South China Morning Post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 min
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