Best A friend of Workweek Podcasts (2025)

1
How To Win Friends And Influence People 1:10:00

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6d ago1:10:00

1:10:00

Live like Dale Carnegie, neg like Calvin Coolidge. Where to find us: Our Patreon Our merch! Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Self-help Messiah: Dale Carnegie and Success in Modern America The Positive Thinkers Age of industrial violence 1910-1915 : the activities and findings of the Unit…

1
Connecting the Dots: Building Businesses That Last 51:34

24d ago51:34

51:34

Live from a buzzing room in NYC, this special Humans of Fintech episode brings two dynamic leaders to the stage: Nicole Mitchell, Partner at Aprio, and Tiffany Haynes, investor, advisor, and former COO of Fingercheck. Nicole shares how she’s spent nearly 30 years as a connector, guiding founders to see the bigger picture and helping businesses grow…

1
Thomas Chatterton Williams' "Summer of Our Discontent" 1:31:42

28d ago1:31:42

1:31:42

Peter and Michael discuss a book that's light on facts and long on sentences. Where to find us: Our Patreon Our merch! Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Book Review: ‘Summer of Our Discontent,’ by Thomas Chatterton Williams Police shootings database 2015-2024 From the archive, 22 March 19…

1
Leadership, Ambition & Humanity in Finance: A Live Conversation 44:22

2M ago44:22

44:22

Live from a packed room in NYC, this special Humans of Fintech episode brings two powerhouse voices to the stage: Nina Chmura, Partner at Withum and creator of its Outsourced Accounting Systems & Solutions practice (OASyS), and Amanda Estiverne-Colas, Board Member at the National Alliance for Financial Literacy and Inclusion and long-time champion …

1
He's Just Not That Into You 1:00:09

2M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

How one comedian's offhand advice launched a decent TV episode, a mediocre book and a terrible movie. Where to find us: Our Patreon Our merch! Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Susan Faludi's "Backlash" For Women Who Count on Men to Be Jerks Bridget Jones’s Legacy Single Women in Popular …

1
Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" 57:44

3M ago57:44

57:44

Did you know that in the split-second it took you to read the title of this episode, your subconscious already figured out that it was going to be extremely good? Peter and Michael talk about Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink," a book that is mostly cute scientific anecdotes but also indirectly resulted in millions of taxpayer dollars being wasted on fraud…

1
Fighting FinCrime Smarter: Trisha Kothari on Building Unit21 and Outpacing Fraudsters 34:55

3M ago34:55

34:55

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Trisha Kothari, Co-Founder and CEO of Unit21, for a deep dive into one of fintech’s most urgent (and misunderstood) frontiers: fraud and compliance. From uncovering flaws in legacy systems to building a platform trusted by top fintechs, Trisha has made it her mission to stop…

1
Leading the Climate Fintech Movement with Bhuva Shakti 47:01

3M ago47:01

47:01

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Bhuva Shakti, founder of Bhuva’s Impact Global and Chief Sustainable Innovation Officer at Wallet Max™, for a conversation about the intersection of fintech, climate, and innovation. With more than 30 years of experience in digital finance, Bhuva has helped companies navigat…

1
The Supreme Court Goes Full TERF [TEASER] 1:01:53

3M ago1:01:53

1:01:53

This is most of the episode but if you want to hear the last 20 minutes, support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

51
"In Covid's Wake" Part 2: Wrong About The Right 1:10:19

4M ago1:10:19

1:10:19

Last episode we met two Princeton political scientists who are bad at virology. Today we learn that they are also bad at political science. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Lawrence Wright’s “The Plague Year” Jonathan Howard’s “We Want Them Infected” How the Pandemic De…

1
"In Covid's Wake" Part 1: Lying About Lockdowns 57:47

4M ago57:47

57:47

Two political scientists look back at a deadly pandemic and ask, "could we have done even less?" Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Lawrence Wright’s “The Plague Year” The 2019 WHO report 30‐day mortality following COVID‐19 COVID-19: examining the effectiveness of non-pha…

51
Bonus: The Lab Leak Goes Mainstream 1:21:09

4M ago1:21:09

1:21:09

By popular demand we are releasing last month's Patreon bonus episode on the main feed! We chart the transformation of the lab leak from an unfounded theory promoted by right-wing cranks to an unfounded theory promoted by liberal journalists. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Tha…

1
Breaking Barriers in Credit with Angel Rich, CEO of CreditRich 29:39

5M ago29:39

29:39

In this special episode of Humans of Fintech, recorded live at the Fintech Is Femme Leadership Summit 2025, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Angel Rich, Founder and CEO of CreditRich, for a powerful conversation on purpose-driven leadership, strategic disruption, and building a billion-dollar impact in fintech. Dubbed “the next Steve Jobs” by F…

1
Redefining Wealth-Building in Latin America with Carlos Díaz of RUUT 25:32

6M ago25:32

25:32

In this in-person episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Carlos Díaz, Co-Founder of RUUT, Mexico’s largest Registered Investment Advisor, for a candid conversation about access, inclusion, and reimagining investing for a new generation. RUUT serves many first-time investors, with an average user age of just 24. The platf…

51
The Let Them Theory 53:44

6M ago53:44

53:44

Peter and Michael discuss The Let Them Theory, a self-help guide to seeking bliss through unmitigated complacency. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: How to stop screwing yourself over Mel Robbins and Plagiarism Let her? Army wife claims Mel Robbins stole her idea for blo…

1
Closing the Financial Gender Gap with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen of Female Invest 32:45

6M ago32:45

32:45

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, Co-Founder of Female Invest, for an inspiring conversation about financial empowerment, global community-building, and what it takes to challenge a male-dominated industry from the ground up. What began as a frustration with the lack of women in finan…

1
Financial Literacy for the 99%: Empowering Communities with Ashley Fox 31:45

6M ago31:45

31:45

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Ashley Fox, Founder and CEO of Empify, for a powerful conversation on financial literacy, community empowerment, and what it means to challenge Wall Street’s status quo. Ashley shares how her experiences as a former Wall Street analyst led her to launch Empify—a platform com…

1
Building Fintech Together: Storytelling, Partnerships & Innovation 25:44

7M ago25:44

25:44

Live from Fintech Meetup, this episode of Humans of Fintech explores the power of storytelling, community-building, and the dynamics of working alongside a partner in the fintech space. Host Nicole Casper is joined by her life and business partner, Anton Briones (Co-Founder and CEO & Creative Director), along with Dan and Sarah Roselli from Rev Tec…

101
Josh Hawley's "Manhood" [TEASER] 53:11

6M ago53:11

53:11

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPod

101
Steve Harvey's "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man" 58:53

6M ago58:53

58:53

Are you a single lady struggling to find love with a man? Don't fret! A twice-divorced game show host who thinks conversation is for women is here to help. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

1
NY Fintech Week & The Future of Fintech with Jon Zanoff 42:36

7M ago42:36

42:36

In this episode of Humans of Fintech, host Nicole Casperson sits down with Jon Zanoff, the Founder of Empire Startups—better known as the "Mayor of Fintech" in NYC. For over 15 years, Jon has been at the forefront of the fintech community, bringing together founders, investors, and banking leaders through the country’s largest fintech meetup and th…

101
Of Boys And Men 1:22:42

7M ago1:22:42

1:22:42

Who's to blame for the crisis of American masculinity? On the right, politicians tell men that they being oppressed by feminists and must reassert their manhood by supporting an authoritarian regime. And on the left, users of social media are often very irritating to people who write airport books. Where to find us: Peter's newsletter Peter's other…

1
You Are A Badass 58:58

9M ago58:58

58:58

Peter and Michael dissect Jen Sincero's "You are a Badass," a book that answers the question: What if "The Secret" was written in the painful, try-hard style of "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck"? Featuring a surprise digression about Sincero's other, even worse books. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenanc…

1
The Crossroads of Identity and Innovation: Solving Fraud in the Digital Age with Frances Zelazny 39:00

10M ago39:00

39:00

In this episode, we sit down with Frances Zelazny, a trailblazer in the biometrics and fraud prevention space. Frances shares insights into her unique journey, shaped by her mixed cultural background, and how it led her to create innovative solutions for one of the world’s biggest challenges: fraud. From her early career in foreign policy to discov…

101
What's The Matter With Kansas? 1:05:33

10M ago1:05:33

1:05:33

In 2004, historian Thomas Frank proposed a theory about the rightward drift of the white working class. Was he a prescient king whose work presaged the rise of Trump — or a bumbling fool with a broken thesis? Unfortunately it turns out he is a secret third thing that takes one hour and six minutes to explain. Special thanks to Julia Valdés for her …

1
Flipping the Script: A Live Celebration of Fintech Feminists with Amy Nauiokas. 39:36

11M ago39:36

39:36

In this very special episode of Humans of Fintech, we’re taking you live to an unforgettable evening: the book launch party for FinTech Feminist in New York City. With 100 of the most dynamic leaders in fintech gathered to celebrate, the energy was electric. But here’s the twist—this time, the mic wasn’t in my hands. Our guest interviewer? The one …

1
Tori Dunlap: Financial Literacy, Female Leadership, and the Fight for Financial Equity. 41:53

11M ago41:53

41:53

In this episode, we're bringing the heat with Tori Dunlap, powerhouse founder of Her First $100K and advocate for women's financial independence. Tori’s on a mission to smash the glass ceiling of money myths and help women claim their financial power. She gets real about her journey, her upbringing, and her path from breaking into the financial wor…

151
Sam Harris's "The End of Faith" 1:09:58

11M ago1:09:58

1:09:58

Peter and Michael discuss the book that launched the phenomenon of New Atheism and asked the question: What if we hated Muslims, but in a secular way? Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Views of Violence Carnival Booth: An Algorithm for Defeating the Computer-Assisted Passenger Screening Sy…

1
Sallie Krawcheck: Money Moves, Power Plays, & Redefining Entrepreneurship 55:12

12M ago55:12

55:12

In this episode, we’re bringing some serious fire with none other than Sallie Krawcheck—the OG queen of fintech and Founder & CEO of Ellevest. She’s out here breaking down barriers, building empires, and proving that women can—and will—run the financial world. We get real about money, leadership, and what it really takes to flip the script in an in…

151
Who Moved My Cheese? 1:09:12

12M ago1:09:12

1:09:12

What should workers do when they get laid off? In 1998 a bleak, asinine bestseller told them to find another whey. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking Is Undermining America Downsizing in America Temp: How American Work, American Business, and the American…

151
UNLOCKED: Eric Adams 59:28

1y ago59:28

59:28

New York’s favorite criminal is in the news, so here is our episode about his ridiculous life. To hear all of our bonus episodes, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPodBy Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri

151
Glenn Kessler Retire B*tch [TEASER] 36:08

1y ago36:08

36:08

Is fact-checking a legitimate enterprise? Is America's most famous fact-checker nothing more than a dweeb? Michael and Peter discuss. To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IfBooksPodBy Michael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri

151
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother 55:37

1y ago55:37

55:37

A memoir about parenting very badly and then getting weirdly defensive when anyone asks you about it. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Effects of Authoritative Parental Control on Child Behavior, Child Development Types of Parenting Styles and Effects On Children Does “Tiger Parenting” Ex…

1
S10 E6: From 0 to 350: The Rapid, Explosive Growth of Koala Insulation 31:12

1y ago31:12

31:12

Ever wonder how a franchise can keep growing without a ceiling in sight? Cory Lyons, the CEO of Koala Insulation and a 20-year veteran in the franchise world, will give us his insights. In this episode, Cory reveals what drew him to Koala Insulation, how they’ve managed explosive growth since franchising in 2020, and why they’re only scratching the…

1
S10 E5: How F45 Training's Unique Fitness Concept Became a Global Phenomenon 28:29

1y ago28:29

28:29

Ever wondered what it takes to stand out in a saturated niche like health and fitness? Tune in as The Wolf chats with Tom Dowd and Janina Czado, the dynamic duo behind F45 Training's exciting transformation and the birth of their new brands, FS8 and VAURA. They're shaking up the fitness world with a clever hub and spoke model but not without the hi…

1
S10 E4: Watch Out Crumbl— Because THIS is Dessert’s Next Big Franchise 17:16

1y ago17:16

17:16

The Wolf’s bringing it back to another solo episode, and this time he’s got all of Twitter wondering why he’s been MIA for so long. He explains where he’s been all this time, and how his game-changing franchising platform, Krokit has been keeping him busy these past few months. Plus, remember how the Wolf called out Nothing Bundt Cakes as an import…

201
The Anxious Generation 2:00:18

1y ago2:00:18

2:00:18

Is social media to blame for the teen mental health crisis? It's complicated! Thanks to Emily Weinstein, Amy Orben, Andrew Przybylski, Dean Burnett, Michael Mullarkey and Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz for help researching and fact-checking this episode! Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: Emily Wei…

1
How DoStuff Media Solved the "What to Do" Dilemma 25:38

1y ago25:38

25:38

What are you doing tonight? Say hello to the company that made the line, “I don’t know, what do you want to do?” fall out of fashion. Adam talks to Scott Owens, Founder and CEO of DoStuff Media, about the art of creating an event media empire. Scott explains how DoStuff Media started in Austin and expanded to over 22 cities, tackling local events a…

1
S10 E3: Beyond the Headset: The Sandbox VR Journey 27:03

1y ago27:03

27:03

Who’s the brains behind one of the world’s most cutting-edge VR franchises? Step into the immersive world of Sandbox VR with The Wolf and its Founder/CEO, Steve Zhao. Steve explains how Sandbox VR revolutionized the entertainment industry by combining technology, community, and an incredible VR experience. From their state-of-the-art AI and compute…

1
S10 E2: The 3 Most Interesting Franchises of 2024 20:32

1y ago20:32

20:32

The Wolf’s reaching into the listener mailbag and answering some of your most pressing franchise questions for this special edition episode. What are the top three franchises he’s keeping his eye on this year? NGL but… the answers might shock you (no hype cycle or fad brands in this list)! And speaking of hype cycles, what are some major red flags …

1
S10 E1: Navigating Motherhood: How New Mom School Prepares Moms for Postpartum Life, with Alexandra Spitz 39:36

1y ago39:36

39:36

Nothing will change after the baby comes… right? Err— not exactly, folks. But what if there was a class out there that could explain everything new moms should expect after the expecting period ends? From teething to nursing to working remotely and everything in between (why do baby heads always smell so good anyway?), discover how New Mom School h…

201
Breaking News Re-Release: "Hillbilly Elegy" 51:12

1y ago51:12

51:12

To celebrate ("celebrate") Donald Trump choosing JD Vance as his running mate we are re-releasing our "Hillbilly Elegy" episode. Enjoy!

1
Tips from the Top: Expert Franchise Insights 10:42

1y ago10:42

10:42

Why take advice from just anyone when you can hear it from the best in the biz? From the master of locations, Dinesh Goswami, to the mad genius behind the cult sensation, Dave’s Hot Chicken, we’ve had so many master-level franchisors on the podcast this year, that I just had to share some of their hottest insights. So, I compiled the best advice an…

201
Richard Hanania's "The Origins of Woke" 1:01:54

1y ago1:01:54

1:01:54

Peter and Michael discuss "The Origins of Woke," a glimpse into the dark aspirations of the Republican Party and the mind of a very unusual man. Where to find us: Peter's other podcast, 5-4 Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase Sources: What Speech Does "Hostile Work Environment" Harassment Law Restrict? Tunis v. Corning Glass Works, 698 F. Supp.…

1
Tips from the Top: Franchising’s Best Advice 10:39

1+ y ago10:39

10:39

It seems like anyone and their mom is ready to give you advice about franchising. But why not take advice from franchising’s greatest who successfully scaled from the bottom to the top of the industry? This week, we’re mixing it up and compiling some of the best bits of advice and wisdom from franchising’s finest minds. I’ve hand-picked some of my …

1
S9 E10: How Slick City Became an Adventure Park on Steroids 35:05

1+ y ago35:05

35:05

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Bron Launsby, the mastermind behind Slick City, a thriving franchise in the recreation center space. Learn the secrets behind their success, from innovative performance slides to exceptional customer experiences. Bron shares ambitious expansion plans, aiming to open up to 40 new locations by 2025, with a vision of…

1
S9 E9: 130 Units in 60 Months: Inside Soccer Stars’ Booming Franchise Model 43:02

1+ y ago43:02

43:02

Who can forget being shuffled around to soccer games in the back seat of mom’s minivan, eagerly waiting to find out what post-game snacks awaited you at the end of your little league matchup? What if there was a franchise that could capture that same magic? The Wolf talks to Adam Geisler and John Erlandson, the co-founders of Youth Athletes United,…

1
S9 E8: Unpacking beem Light Sauna’s Formula to Success 42:19

1+ y ago42:19

42:19

How does the co-founder of beem Light Sauna think about scaling a thriving health and wellness franchise? The Wolf talks with Cynthia May, CEO and Co-Founder of beem Light Sauna, to discover her secret to scaling from 0 to 65 locations in a little over four years. Cynthia reveals her biggest challenges and successes in scaling a franchise brand, un…

1
S9 E7: How Checkers & Dave’s Hot Chicken Became a National Cult Obsession 32:21

1+ y ago32:21

32:21

Before it became a media franchise sensation, Dave’s Hot Chicken was a pop-up shop in East Los Angeles creating a line as long as the eye could see. Now it has a national cult following with investors like Drake and Usher invested in the Nashville-style chicken chain. The Wolf sits down to chat with founding franchisees, Andrew Feghali and Lawrence…

1
S9 E6: How Dinesh Goswami Acquired 125+ Pizza Huts, Popeye’s, and Taco Bells 42:39

1+ y ago42:39

42:39

Did you know when it comes to where your franchise is situated, there’s a breakfast side and a dinner side of the street? Dinesh Goswami certainly does, and with 125+ franchise locations open, including Pizza Hut, Popeye’s, , Taco Bell, and Checker’s, he knows why understanding your location is the #1 thing you can do to ensure the longevity of you…

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