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Podcasts are all the rage, but did you know there's a whole niche of free advice and stories for aspiring entrepreneurs? With the success of StartUp podcast (a chart-topping series chronicling the launch of podcast company Gimlet Media) it’s clear there’s an appetite for stories crafted for entrepreneurs. In fact, there is a world of business-related podcasts you can download for free, including the $100 MBA Show or The BeanCast.

But if you’re looking for something a little more tailored to your entrepreneurial needs, here are 13 entrepreneurial podcasts you should be downloading. 

1. Venturing Out

This weekly podcast series hosted by Arlene Dickinson delves into a behind-the-scenes look at the survival stories of Canadian business leaders as they took risks, experienced failure and continued to think big as they navigated their way through the Canadian business marketplace to success. New episodes will be available every Tuesday starting July 18 to August 29, 2017.

2. StartUp the Podcast
Dramatic tensions and solid storytelling are one of the reasons this podcast is a must-listen. More so, this entertaining podcast addresses some common entrepreneurial and/or general business issues you may run into — think when someone puts their arm around you and suggests “meeting for drinks” as a woman about a future investment in your business, or a date? Season 2 of this podcast follows as the founders of matchmaking site The Dating Ring, build their company.

3. The Tim Ferriss Show
How do smart people do what they do so well? On his Four-Hour Workweek podcast, Tim Ferriss deconstructs the tactics that successful people use to be good in their field. Lots of life hacks, his interviews are occasionally long-winded, but often really fun, especially when it features A-Listers such as Jamie Foxx and Maria Popova.

4. Entrepreneur on Fire
Founder John Lee Dumas hosts this daily podcast which has a looser, younger vibe to it. Following more of that question and answer format, this podcast — depending on the guest — addresses a variety of entrepreneurial issues in its interviews in which guests share their best moments as a small business owner, their worst and examine every day work-life issues such as: how does routine fit into your entrepreneurial life?

5. Home Work
While this podcast isn’t strictly for entrepreneurs since it targets people who work from home, if you are a home-based small business, there’s a lot to get out of this podcast. While it’s a bit rambly at times, the podcast covers evergreen topics such as dealing with your first client, or even how to get a response to a quote from a client who is not getting back to you. A good one to listen to while firing up your morning java.

6. The School of Greatness
After an injury made his competitive athlete dreams a no-go, Lewis Holmes focused his ambitions on learning about business, marketing, and “adding value to influential people.” His podcasts give advice on ideas including building personal brand and dreaming big

7. Work in Progress 
Slack’s branded progress doesn’t actually feel branded. Billed as podcast about the meaning and identity we find in work, it is heavy on storytelling. From historical profiles of (including the founder of Toronto’s first taxi company who escaped slavery with his wife) to a human rights lawyer in the hague who decided to pivot to become a stand-up comedian.

8. BusinessCast
This monthly Canadian podcast, run by PROFIT magazine (a publication for Canadian entrepreneurs) has an almost sports radio/call in radio feel to it. Hosted by Robert Gold, managing partner of Bennett Gold LLP, Chartered Accountants, this interview-style format podcast packages its interesting topics in shorter audio segments — such as easy ways to reduce your rent or how to disrupt a crowded market.

9. NPR’s Planet Money
So this podcast, which has an accompanying blog, isn’t exclusively for entrepreneurs. But it does cover more macro-type business issues that small-business owners can relate to. And given the fact that it’s produced by National Public Radio (NPR), it’s a highly entertaining listen to stories about relatable issues (what to do if the market you want to enter is waning) via the specific stories of entrepreneurs.

10. The Sound of Small Business
Admittedly, there’s a hook to this Canadian podcast in that it’s conducted by banking firm RBC. But it’s worth a listen for the inspiration alone. It fulfills on the promise of “inspiring stories and hard-earned lessons from entrepreneurial Canadians” with its profiles of small businesses and telling the stories of how they got their businesses going. Rather than being a straightforward question and answer with the entrepreneur, this well-executed podcast follows a more storytelling format which may include input from colleagues or even family members.

11. Boiling Point Podcast 
Hosted by filmmaker Greg Hemmings and executive coach Dave Veale, this podcast coming from Atlantic Canada is billed as one for the “ever-evolving entrepreneur and forward-thinking movement pioneer.” Well executed, this weekly show includes a variety of guests from authors who’ve written books on the topic of small business to individual entrepreneurs largely based on Canada’s East coast.

12. The Art of Charm
A trio of self-described life and business hackers, the podcasts incorporate personal development with business tips for self-starters.

13. Young Entrepreneur Lifestyle
Lessons for the young entrepreneur by author and millennial expert Peter Voogd. With from increasing mental clarity and how to build your network, Voogd started his first business at 15 and became a millionaire before 30.

14. How I Built This
Hosted by Guy Raz, How I Built This is an NPR podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built, featuring some of the world's best-known brands, including Warby Parker and Spanx. 

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