10 Podcasts Every Entertainment Entrepreneur Should Listen To

I've discovered a lot about myself during the pandemic, as I am sure many of you have too. As a former actor and creative, I feed off the energy of others. I enjoy connecting, collaborating, and creating with people. It's in my nature. Without an office to go to, or a place to gather (other than my kitchen table), I found myself missing that connection element. 

Enter...Podcasts! I know I am late to the party, but listening to podcasts while working or relaxing with my son, quickly became a favorite hobby. I learned, and continue to learn, so much from other entrepreneurs and industry folks about the business and what kind of leader I want to be. 

I've compiled a quick list of some of my fave podcasts below. Please let me know if you have a favorite podcast OR have a podcast of your own! I'd love to listen and share. Feel free to DM me @bigleapbrands.

Happy listening! 

1. Why We Theater 

Social justice meets theatre in this podcast from Playbill’s former Executive Editor Ruthie Fierberg. Artists and experts unite for curated panels, using plays and musicals (Broadway, Off-Broadway, and works in development) as a jumping-off point to confront societal issues such as racism, colorism, voting rights, fake news, digital technology addiction, the school-to-prison pipeline, anti-Semitism, raising LGBTQIA+ kids, and more. We help listeners grapple with hard questions inside a play or musical in order to create change in our offstage lives.

2. Variety’s Stagecraft 

Behind the scenes with the biggest stars on Broadway, Off Broadway and beyond. Hosted by Gordon Cox.

3. The Producer's Perspective Podcast with Ken Davenport

Hosted by Tony Award-winning Producer & Writer, Ken Davenport is now sharing his perspective on all things Broadway TheaterMakers. Follow Ken's new journey as he gives his view on making new musicals and plays, marketing, writing, producing, the Broadway industry and more.

4. Beyond The Lights

Welcome to Beyond the Lights: A Conversation with Theater Professionals. Theater is a community event and it takes a village to operate. From actors to designers to company managers to teaching artists to data nerds and dramaturgs and everything in between. 

5. The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith  

Host Jeff Goldsmith interviews Will Berson, Ramin Bahrani, Peter Baynham, Jena Friedman, Christopher Hampton, Ant Hines, Kenneth Lucas, Keith Lucas, Darius Marder, Abraham Marder, Kemp Powers, Aaron Sorkin, Chloé Zhao and Florian Zeller about their Oscar nominated screenplays.

6. The Marie Forleo Podcast

Named by Oprah as a thought leader for the next generation and one of Inc.’s 500 fastest growing companies, Marie Forleo’s goal is to help you become the person you most want to be. In this show, Marie and her guests share actionable strategies for greater happiness, success, motivation, creativity, productivity, love, health, contribution and fulfillment — often with a lot of laughs. From business, marketing and career advice, to tackling failure, disappointment and fear, to philanthropy and doing our part to make the world a more loving, just and equitable place — we cover it all. Get inspired, grow stronger, more confident and create a business and life you genuinely love. 

7. Young, Scrappy & Hungry

“Young, Scrappy & Hungry” is a podcast for young, aspiring theatre professionals by young, aspiring theatre professionals. The Broadway Podcast Network interns, Charlotte Abate, Emily Ballou, and Samantha Omari-Cendejas endeavor on the journey to help their peers with the difficult task of starting a career in the arts. Each episode, a different theme will be covered to include all aspects of the beginning of a career, from resumes and auditions, to accepting a position and beyond! With the help of guests, both in the biz and on their way, they will provide listeners with helpful resources, advice, and discussions on the episode’s theme.

8. The Brendon Show

Go behind the scenes with Brendon Burchard, the world’s leading high performance coach and one of the Top 100 Most Followed Public Figures in the world, as he speaks to 20,000 people in arenas, coaches celebrities, helps his students, and reaches millions of people every week with his message for how we can all live, love and matter. Every week, Brendon shares what he’s struggling with, working on and marching towards – and how we can all live an extraordinary life. This is an intimate and inspiring look into the life and strategies of one of the most watched, followed and quoted personal development trainers in history.

9. With Love, Danielle Podcast

A one woman show about self-realization from Danielle LaPorte. “I'm here to help you turn your anxiety into power—to live more deeply, but lighten up. This is a conversation about self realization, self respect, and self agency… and then how we extend that dignity and that kindness to each other.”

10. Hack the Entrepreneur Podcast

An entrepreneur podcast (with a twist.) Jon Nastor interrogates solo entrepreneurs to multimillion-dollar startup founders, digital nomads to entrepreneurs working offline. “On the podcast we discuss, what it takes to be successful in building a side hustle, online business idea, passive income ideas, coaching and consulting, content marketing, and how to be an entrepreneur.”