Best Michael Branson Smith Podcasts (2025)

1
The Games Adults Play – Pauline at the Beach 1:08:37

1d ago1:08:37

1:08:37

Jim Groom and Michael Branson Smith unpack Eric Rohmer’s sly and sun-drenched Pauline at the Beach, a film where love is a game, truth is optional, and every adult is chasing the freedom they only claim to understand.By Jim Groom, Michael Branson Smith

1
Tatcha: Vicky Tsai (July 2020) 1:17:11

2d ago1:17:11

1:17:11

In 2008, Vicky Tsai walked away from a startup job and set out to rediscover herself on a trip to Japan. In Kyoto, she had an unforgettable meeting with a geisha, and learned about the face creams and blotting papers that the traditional Japanese hostesses had used for centuries. But as she contemplated selling those products in the U.S., experts o…

1
Advice Line with Steve Holmes of goba Sports Group 47:19

6d ago47:19

47:19

Springfree Trampoline founder Steve Holmes joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Steve’s tariff navigation guidance for businesses manufacturing products outside of the U.S. First we meet Ikechukwu in Maryland, who’s trying to lean into a core demographic without alienating customers f…

1
Financial Remedy: to reform, or not to reform? 1:07:35

7d ago1:07:35

1:07:35

This month we are joined by the Law Commissioner, Professor Nicholas Hopkins (who led the scoping report), Emma Hitchings, Professor of Family Law at the University of Bristol (who led the Fair Shares reports), and Resolution’s Family Law Reform Group chair, Jo Edwards of Forsters LLP. The Law Commission has found (in its scoping report published i…

1
Superaging with Eric Topol 42:42

7d ago42:42

42:42

What if we stopped trying to cure disease and started preventing it instead? In this episode, Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute and a cardiologist, scientist, and author, joins a16z general partner Vijay Pande to unpack the future of aging, prevention, and precision health—as explored in Eric's new boo…

1
Calm: Alex Tew and Michael Acton Smith 1:17:43

9d ago1:17:43

1:17:43

As a young entrepreneur in the Wild West days of the internet, Alex Tew was drawn to meditation for its simple calming power. Together with fellow tech founder Michael Acton Smith–known for hits like Moshi Monsters–the two brainstormed ways to bring the ancient practice of meditation into the 21st century. In 2011, they bought the domain calm.com, …

1
Advice Line: Scaling Strategies 44:19

13d ago44:19

44:19

This week, Guy is joined by Travis Boersma of Dutch Bros. Coffee, Michael Preysman of Everlane and Chris Ruder of Spikeball in a special “mashup” episode of Advice Line. First, Andy from Nashville is wondering if a brick and mortar burger joint will supercharge growth for his food truck business. Then, Tiffany from Cape Cod is looking to break into…

1
Dads are for Fixing Things – Taken 1:15:06

15d ago1:15:06

1:15:06

Jim Groom and Michael Branson Smith dive into Taken (2008), the ultimate dad fantasy: what if you had a very particular set of skills and would burn a country down to save your daughter.By Jim Groom, Michael Branson Smith

1
Tecovas: Paul Hedrick 1:12:13

16d ago1:12:13

1:12:13

Western wear is having a moment – and so is the upstart Western brand Tecovas. Founder Paul Hedrick is a Texan who realized that cowboy boots were either too expensive or too cheap, so he decided to create a premium brand with an attainable price. He traveled repeatedly to the cowboy boot capital of the world – León, Mexico – to obsess over every d…

1
Advice Line with RJ Scaringe with Rivian 52:03

20d ago52:03

52:03

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. He also gets into how trade policies and shifting tariffs are impacting the automotive supply chain. First, we meet Ashley from Southern California, who’s deciding whether to take outside capital to take her altruistic ice cream bran…

1
Fueling Innovation with Data with Arif Nathoo 24:46

21d ago24:46

24:46

Arif Nathoo, cofounder and CEO of Komodo Health, joins Jorge Conde and Jay Rughani to explore the transformative potential of healthcare data in reshaping biotech and healthcare innovation. Arif reflects on a decade-long journey of unlocking the power of fragmented healthcare data, delving into Komodo Health’s “full-stack thesis” — a strategy that …

1
Hostage Family, Savage OTHER – Not Without My Daughter 1:06:51

23d ago1:06:51

1:06:51

Jim Groom and Michael Branson Smith dig into the 1991 Sally Field vehicle Not Without My Daughter — a film that’s half thriller, half imperialist fever dream, and 100% propaganda.By Jim Groom, Michael Branson Smith

1
Substack: Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie 1:18:19

23d ago1:18:19

1:18:19

Substack was founded to create an escape vehicle for writers: Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie imagined a world where writers didn’t have to rely on legacy publications or corporate advertisers, but could instead create a more direct and meaningful relationship with their audience. Despite early skepticism, Chris and Hamish were confident that many p…

1
Advice Line with Richard Branson of Virgin 42:35

27d ago42:35

42:35

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Richard’s recent adventures in bungee jumping, ziplining, space exploration and more—all in the name of promoting some of his brand’s latest offerings. First we meet Lola from New York City, who’s looking to maintain…

1
Half a Century in Family Law 38:52

28d ago38:52

38:52

This month we are joined by Sir Jonathan Cohen (now an arbitrator and private FDR Judge at 4PB) to discuss the last half century in family law. Sir Jonathan tells us about how family law has changed over that time. He recalls the humiliation caused by all divorces being heard in public, and the seminal changes following the Children Act 1989 and Wh…

1
Whisker/Litter-Robot: Brad Baxter 1:04:13

1M ago1:04:13

1:04:13

Brad Baxter sidelined a promising career in the car industry to build a better cat litter box – an undertaking that embarrassed his kids and eventually prompted his wife to ask "what’s the endgame here?” That endgame turned out to be Litter-Robot, an automated self-cleaning litter-remover that helped propel Brad’s company, Whisker, to roughly $300 …

1
The Things You Do For Your Kids – The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom 1:08:20

29d ago1:08:20

1:08:20

Jim Groom and Michael Branson Smith untangle the world of Texas cheerleading ambition, suburban pecking orders, and one mom’s deadly plan to climb the social ladder.By Jim Groom, Michael Branson Smith

1
Advice Line with Luis von Ahn of Duolingo 47:26

1M ago47:26

47:26

Duolingo co-founder Luis von Ahn joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Luis shares insights on how data can help entrepreneurs understand what their customers really want. First, Steph in Chicago wonders how to manage expansion opportunities for her art-filled vending machines. Then Blair from Atlan…

1
The Paradox of U.S. Healthcare with Marc Andreessen 33:32

1M ago33:32

33:32

Join a16z general partners Marc Andreessen, Julie Yoo, and Vijay Pande for an incisive exploration of what's driving—and stalling—transformation in healthcare. With the industry now consuming nearly 20% of U.S. GDP yet delivering poor outcomes relative to other developed countries, is technology the remedy or a red herring? This episode, cross-post…

1
Cha Cha Heels and Broken Homes – Female Trouble 1:04:20

1M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

Jim Groom and Michael Branson Smith unspool John Waters’ trash masterpiece, where delinquent desires, crumbling families, and gaudy kitsch rule.By Jim Groom, Michael Branson Smith

1
Hexclad: Danny Winer 1:15:44

1M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

Cookware is a $73 billion global industry - awash in all kinds of pots and pans. Like, if you’ve ever cooked scrambled eggs, you've probably used a non-stick frying pan. They’re inexpensive and everywhere. But they’ve been dogged by complaints: many can’t handle high heat, like broiling or searing, and they scratch easily. So, when Danny Winer came…

1
Kinfolk and Cons – Paper Moon 1:12:56

1M ago1:12:56

1:12:56

Jim Groom and Michael Branson Smith ride shotgun with Addie and Moze, tracing how necessity forges family in Paper Moon.By Jim Groom, Michael Branson Smith

1
Advice Line with Jonathan Neman of Sweetgreen 48:11

1M ago48:11

48:11

Sweetgreen’s co-founder Jonathan Neman joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Sweetgreen’s plans to automate salad assembly in the coming years. First, we meet Dini from Maryland, who's learning how to maintain her brand’s character and product quality as her pie company scales. Next we hear from Mat…

1
Snap: Evan Spiegel 1:06:48

1M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

What started as a design project for Stanford student Evan Spiegel quickly flourished into one of the most-used social media platforms in the world: Snapchat. It only took two years for Mark Zuckerberg to make a multi-billion offer for the company. But Evan turned it down — convinced of Snap’s potential to disrupt human communication in an even big…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Michael Branson Smith Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Family Pictures Podcast

Jim Groom, Michael Branson Smith

1
How I Built This with Guy Raz

Guy Raz | Wondery

1
Raising Health

Andreessen Horowitz, a16z Bio + Health

1
Talking Family Law - The Resolution Podcast

Resolution

1
The Games Adults Play – Pauline at the Beach 1:08:37

1
Tatcha: Vicky Tsai (July 2020) 1:17:11

1
Advice Line with Steve Holmes of goba Sports Group 47:19

1
Financial Remedy: to reform, or not to reform? 1:07:35

1
Superaging with Eric Topol 42:42

1
Calm: Alex Tew and Michael Acton Smith 1:17:43

1
Advice Line: Scaling Strategies 44:19

1
Dads are for Fixing Things – Taken 1:15:06

1
Tecovas: Paul Hedrick 1:12:13

1
Advice Line with RJ Scaringe with Rivian 52:03

1
Fueling Innovation with Data with Arif Nathoo 24:46

1
Hostage Family, Savage OTHER – Not Without My Daughter 1:06:51

1
Substack: Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie 1:18:19

1
Advice Line with Richard Branson of Virgin 42:35

1
Half a Century in Family Law 38:52

1
Whisker/Litter-Robot: Brad Baxter 1:04:13

1
The Things You Do For Your Kids – The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom 1:08:20

1
Advice Line with Luis von Ahn of Duolingo 47:26

1
The Paradox of U.S. Healthcare with Marc Andreessen 33:32

1
Cha Cha Heels and Broken Homes – Female Trouble 1:04:20

1
Hexclad: Danny Winer 1:15:44

1
Kinfolk and Cons – Paper Moon 1:12:56

1
Advice Line with Jonathan Neman of Sweetgreen 48:11

1
Snap: Evan Spiegel 1:06:48