Listen to these 10 Podcasts for Innovation Managers

One innovation paves the path for another. Getting to know the intriguing stories behind the most successful and impactful innovations will inspire you to bring yourself and your team closer to game-changing innovation. Plus, listening in to discussions on emerging technology and the latest industry trends allows you to stay on top of the market — which is essential for innovating and creating new products and services.

There are currently over 2 million podcasts available globally, making it time-consuming to find the right podcasts for innovation managers specifically. That is why we asked our team of Industry Experts and Innovation Researches to share the podcasts they love & listen to on a regular basis.

Explore Our Favorite 10 Podcasts for Innovation Managers

Our team hand-picked 10 podcasts for innovation managers, covering everything from the latest innovation to emerging technologies that will impact our future as well as game-changing startups and top technological industry trends.

1. How I Built This

Original release: 2016 – present

Number of episodes: 370+

Average length per episode: 60 minutes

About the host: Guy Raz is a journalist, correspondent, and radio host. He currently works at the National Public Radio (NPR). The New York Times describes him as “one of the most popular podcasters in history”.

In How I Built This, provided by NPR, Guy Raz dives into the stories behind the foundation of some of the best-known companies worldwide. It brings various innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists under one roof to discuss their array of experiences. Inspired by the most interesting moments and stories from the podcast, Guy Raz released his book How I Built This: The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs, in 2020.

2. For Your Innovation

Original release: 2018 – present

Number of episodes: 100+

Average length per episode: 50 minutes

About the host: ARK Invest is an American investment management firm based in New York City that invests in disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, robotics, electric vehicles, energy storage, fintech, 3D printing, and blockchain.

The For Your Innovation podcast offers an analytical discussion on the latest developments in disruptive innovation across industries — from human gene editing to hassle-free cross-border payments. All the information is backed by research, news, controversies, companies, and technological breakthroughs. ARK hosts and the guests, who are industry leaders, provide a unique perspective on how to best understand disruptive innovation and implement the same in your favor.​​

3. Killer Innovations

Original release: 2005 – present

Number of episodes: 200+

Average length per episode: 30 minutes

About the host: Besides being an author and the host for this podcast, Phil McKinney is the CEO of CableLabs. He had also been the CTO of Hewlett-Packard’s Personal Systems Group.

In the award-winning show, Phil McKinney and his guests share practical advice based on real-world experiences on how to harness the power of creativity and design to generate ideas that become successful innovations. For example, one of the recent episodes discusses what should be the optimal size for innovation teams. Do more people in the team mean increased creativity? Listen to the episode to find out or learn about misused innovation buzzwords below:

4. American Innovations

Year released: 2018 – present

Number of episodes: 165+

Average length per episode: 45 minutes

About the host: Steven Johnson is a media theorist who has written twelve books on science and technology including the best-seller “How We Got To Now”. Besides being a contributing editor to Wired, he regularly writes for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times, among other periodicals.

Each episode of American Innovations narrates the stories of the scientists, engineers, and even ordinary people behind the greatest discoveries of the past century. It explores how science and technology have dramatically transformed the world and continue to do so. Intelligence and hard work are of course imperative for innovation but you will be surprised to know that some of the inventions were the result of accidents! Dig into the podcast to get your mind blown by more interesting facts!

5. The Future of Everything

Original release: 2017 – present

Number of episodes: 50+

Average length per episode: 25 minutes

About the host: Janet Babin is the host and senior producer of The Wall Street Journal podcasts. She has also worked as a reporter at WNYC and Marketplace, and her work has appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

While it is important to learn where we came from — how far we have progressed and in what ways, we also need to think about what the future holds for us. The Future of Everything explores just that. Sitting with Wall Street Journal’s award-winning team, the show offers a kaleidoscope view of the nascent trends of today that have the potential of shaping our future world. Digging deep beyond what is already known to all, the discussions will expand your horizon like never before!

6. Inside Outside Innovation

Original release: 2016 – present

Number of episodes: 398+

Average length per episode: 20 minutes

About the host: Besides being the founder, producer, and host of the podcast show, Brian Ardinger is the Director of Innovation at Nelnet, a payment technology company. He has also founded NXXT, a firm that helps innovators launch new ideas and build better products.

Inside Outside Innovation analyzes the nitty-gritty of innovation with original stories, valuable insights based on practical experiences, and tactical advice from the brightest players in the field of startups and corporate innovation. In one of the recent episodes, April Rinne, author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Change on Skills and Tactics to Better Prepare Yourself, explains how to thrive in a world of change and uncertainty and suggests some of the tactics you can use to better prepare yourself as well as your organization.

7. The Innovation Show

Original release: 2016 – present

Number of episodes: 380+

Average length per episode: 45 minutes

About the host: Aidan McCullen is the author of “Undisruptable” and a change consultant who helps organizations create the appropriate environment and culture for change. He has also developed a module on Emerging Technology Trends for Trinity College Business School.

The Innovation Show is a global weekly podcast in which Aidan McCullen interviews various authors who write on corporate innovation and industry trends. If you are a business person, the interviews will educate you on the lesser-known facts and inspire you to optimize your own business processes. By embracing the spirit of change, it emphasizes the need to never stop learning. To thrive and gain a competitive advantage in this dynamic world, you must learn how to adapt – and this is what you’ll get:

8. Innovation+ Talks

Original release: 2021 – present

Number of episodes: 35+

Average length per episode: 20 minutes

About the host: Besides being the host of this show, Paul Heller is the Chief Technology Officer at Sopheon, a software company offering innovation management solutions.

In Innovation+ Talks, Paul Heller explains why strategic innovation and new product development are essential for surviving in the modern marketplace. Top executives and cross-industry thought leaders regularly join him to share their unique insights and key learnings gathered from years of experience. In one of the episodes, HC Eppich, the Business Development Director of Sopheon joins him to discuss the circular economy in the chemical industry and how adopting a waste elimination mindset can be beneficial for companies.

9. The Product Startup

Original release: 2016 – present

Number of episodes: 96+

Average length per episode: 30 minutes

About the host: Kevin Mako is the founder and president of MAKO Design + Invent, a firm that provides end-to-end physical product development for small businesses. industrial, mechanical, and electronic design and engineering.

New product development is the soul of innovation. But the process is full of challenges. In The Product Startup podcast, hear how inventors, startups, and manufacturers ideate, bring their prototypes to life, and successfully launch their businesses. With the wide range of guests, you will be able to get tips and tricks from the top industrial designers, mechanical engineers, and consumer product managers, among many others. Stay tuned to the episodes to never miss out on developments in industrial design, product design, prototyping, 3D printing, product manufacturing, logistics, marketing, and much more!

10. The Stack Overflow Podcast

Original release: 2008 – present

Number of episodes: 551+

Average length per episode: 40 minutes

About the host: Besides being a co-host at this show, Paul Ford is the co-founder of Postlight, which builds software platforms for digital transformation. Benjamin Popper is the Director of Content at Stack Overflow. He had previously worked as an editor and features writer covering startups at Vox Media and also a tech writer with Observer.

The Stack Overflow Podcast is a weekly conversation provided by Stack Overflow, an online community for developers and technologists. The hosts talk about working in software development, learning to code, and the art and culture of computer programming. The series features questions from the online platform, interviews with industry leaders, and hot takes on what is happening in technology. The tone of this podcast is very casual and sometimes even funny. So, if you are looking for something informative but also want to break the monotony of seriousness, this is just the show for you!

What are your favorite Podcasts for Innovation Managers?

Did we miss any podcasts for innovation managers that you think should be on this list? Get in touch & let us know!