These guys are great businessman and born storytellers. There’s fascinating history behind every company and lessons to be learned regardless of what business you’re in. Everybody I’ve recommended this podcast winds up loving it.

This podcast leverages very strong business insights with top tier storytelling.

It’s a really good podcast I love to learn about companies that you wouldn’t really know the history of . But in the Hermes episode you mispronounced the Chinese

Hearing the story of other companies was way more interesting than the company I work for. On a feedback topic, which I hesitate to give but will in the hope that it can be helpful. Love David, his research, stories, excitement - perfect. Unfortunately less so for Ben, he does have a few great insights, but then tends to be long winded about it, and many times I feel he is just stating the obvious - sorry to be negative but it is to the point sometimes that I want to stop listening. Great premise, keep at it.

Acquired is the case study learning method I always wanted. Told with enthusiasm and relatability. Like the hosts, I put myself in the company’s shoes and ask what I would have done in their circumstance. Then marvel at their choices and subsequent successes. I also appreciate the technical additions to learn and stay sharp. I’m hooked!

The Acquired podcast is truly exceptional! Each episode dives deep into the stories of some of the most iconic companies, offering a masterclass in business strategy, innovation, and leadership. The hosts bring an incredible level of research, insight, and passion, making complex topics both engaging and easy to understand. It’s not just educational but also deeply inspirational, as it uncovers the challenges and triumphs behind major successes. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business enthusiast, or simply curious about how the world’s greatest companies are built, Acquired is a must-listen. Highly recommended!

When I started listening I couldn’t get enough of it, any time I had I would listen. Best Podcast Ever!

I only started watching this show earlier this year. I think I discovered it because it was mentioned in a WSJ article. Anyway, I did and still have tons of episodes to discover. I decided to look through the episodes and listen to those in the same industry in a row and it is working well for me. My first listen was Hermes, then I listened to LVMH, etc. I especially enjoy the history of the company and the elements that make the company successful. Brad and David are engaging and I like that they do not always present a united front on all issues discussed. I used to live in SF and have visited Seattle so I can relate to where they live and work. This aspect may not be the same for someone from another part of the country. I always learn new things and have a better appreciation for company values and leadership.

Clearly this is a show in a class of its own. I’m obsessed. BUT…I can’t help but wonder about survivor bias. Sure the companies you highlight and are around today did everything right (mostly: I’m looking at you Nintendo) and full of genuises blah blah blah. But what about visionaries that did everything right but were at the wrong place, wrong time, or just got the short end of the stick completely outside their control. I want to hear their stories too.

I absolutely love listening to this podcast while working on projects, very good history, in depth information and they always discuss very interesting topics!

While their history of the subject is thorough, they only look at these tech companies/founders as gods and not mortal men with all their fallibilities. Sycophants was an apt description of these 2, they only see through rose colored glasses at their subjects. The speak in such opaque business jargon that it is almost unintelligible. To say that they have "drank the kool-aid" of the tech world is a understatement! Step back boys, you are in too deep.

New listener, loved it! Had to start with Taylor Swift! Incredible, but you should update post Eras Tour!!!! The data and the $ has increased!$

Show would vastly improve if the hosts could tone down their hyperbolic and sycophantic rhetoric.

Decent show but Ben is annoying and thinks he’s a titan in the tech world. Bro - you went to Ohio state and host a pod. Get over yourself.

Shows could be 50-75% shorter without missing any substance. Hosts adulation of the guests is off putting and makes it impossible for them to ask the hard questions.

Great deep dives into interesting technology companies as well as other companies. Along with mergers and acquisitions Ben and David do it all with so much care and research. This podcast introduced me to Venture Capital and the world of business and I am hooked. Only 30 some more episode and I will have binged them all.

David, at some point did someone tell you you spoke to quickly and you started adding pauses to slow down your speech? I find the pauses ruin the cadence of your normal speech. Maybe throw in pauses every 6 words instead?

Just 2 dudes adulating billionaires. Sad and underwhelming.

Ben and David, I wonder how you are able to churn so much information and create such impactful stories in each episode. Would love to hear your own journey about creating an episode from idea to delivery. And it makes me smile, when you say that your podcast is not an investment advice. Each episode of yours has so much information about the DNA of a company, their leaders and how they run their business that aren’t in the fancy reports and assessments of the best investment advisors. Thank you for coming up with such interesting narratives about great business leaders and their creativity.

Truly an enjoyable podcast. A lot of time and effort goes into each episode and I learn something new every single time. Your commute will never be the same if you add acquired to your travels.

June 12, 2023 interview with the CEO of Uber Dara Khosrowshahi marks the 3rd inter new I have listen too, each one fictitious then the last. As a driver on the Uber platform I can assure you that my”take” is nearly 40% less than it was 5 years ago and seems to continue that steady decline. My hourly “take” has been reduced from a high of $42.00 per hour to its current state of $25.00. These hourly rates include tips and incentives and do not include the cost and operation of the car (the rewards offered by Uber can be arranged by anyone and offer no relief). Each year my cost of operating my vehicle increase while this platform “takes” more to fill their pockets. Dara, the executive team, Uber corporate associates and venture capitalist wages increase hardily while the drive struggle.Uber pays their court ordered judgements, insurance cost and advertising and driver incentives out of the pockets of the drivers., Uber claims to listen to the :”earners” however this is simply untrue in every way, worse when you speak to someone they are rude, consenting, belittling and down right nasty. While Uber expects professionalism and respect they offer none in return. Safety is top priority according too Uber however this is simply not true. Taking “earners” through alleys for pickups drops offs, expressway entrances that take you across 5 lanes of high speed traffic to exit, taking you through pedestrian walkways and directions that are entirely wrong. My point in this review is to say while Acquired is a exceptional podcast to listen to your guest only show one side of the story and in the corporate world a CEO is going to showcase his company is not just a “Best Light” but lie to make him and his company look amazing. It would be great to see your medium showcase a different perspective. S m showcase reality at least in this respect. Thank you for listening Dennis Chaffee Chicago

Extensive research, little known business historical facts! A must listen!

Thanks. Really enjoy the content and conversations.

A Very Smart™️ friend of mine in private equity asked if I listened to this (I didn’t) and it’s quickly become an obsession. Amazing podcast, great vibe, incredible storytelling. Can I suggest Merck as a future episode?

Way to gloss over the story of the Starbucks unionization efforts. Instead of pressing Howard Schultz, you roll over for a multibillionaire who talks about how much the company loves its employees and then fights them all the way to the Supreme Court, which of course, given the corruption of the current justices, sides with him. If anyone has been “acquired,” it’s you.

I have no words. Great job ! This affected me. I am still processing how life and choices along with opportunity create outcomes that we now look at with reverence I had passed on a private round in Starbucks while in YPO. That was one of my biggest misses.

Need to do Oakley and/or Luxottica

Lockheed episode is probably the best episode of any podcast series

I find the episodes interesting, but David’s over enthusiasm becomes a bit grating over the course of a 2-3 hour pod.

These guys have such great insights to business until it comes to Crypto. Lost a TON of respect after listening to Ethereum, Bitcoin, and especially the FTX episode. These guys clearly bought into the laser-eye hype and nerded out on Web3 and all that nonsense. All of that stuff is/was a scam and has since fallen apart to be replaced by AI. Would love to see them do a broad Crypto update and compare their enthusiasm the to how things turned out and where they currently stand.

Acquired is my new podcast discovery and I am totally hooked. Good thing too because there are so many back episodes to listen to. My wife has become used to me driving up and sitting in the car while I try to get our, but can't, because I am engrossed in an episode. Favorite episode so far is the Costco episode, simply because I and a steady customer and learned so much about how my local warehouse works. Keep em coming guys.

I really enjoy this show and have been entertained and have learned a lot about businesses and how they work. If the hosts could take the time to come up with some alternatives to saying “TOTALLY” every time they agree with each other it would make the show even better. I hate nit picking, but if you read this review and then listen to the show you’ll notice it too. Great job guys please don’t be upset with me for pointing out something that drives me crazy!

Just a fantastic podcast. Tons of interesting information and valuable insights.

Storytelling and facts makes the hosts and the topic entertaining and educational

This podcast is the best. I am recommending it to everyone that has an interest in running, starting, building or investing in a business .

The interview with Howard Schultz was fabulous. Schultz is a good storyteller who is interesting and came across as sincere & quite gifted. I *thought* I was familiar w Starbuck’s history, but clearly my knowledge was lacking. Listening to Schultz was entertaining & enlightening. Not one boring second in a long interview that seemed much shorter than it was; in fact, I was sorry when the interview ended. Listening to this podcast is consistently worth my time &Schultz’s interview was especially great.

Loved the Starbucks interview with Howard Schultz. All of your podcasts has gems of knowledge. Awesome !

Great show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The amount of research went into producing these podcasts is incredible. Entertaining and I’m learning a lot. Thanks!

The best episode: Charlie Munger shuts down all their ultra self-serving bro questions about advice for privileged young guys like them. Every. Single. One. Later, they censor Charlie Munger explaining why the venture biz model makes no sense… Great stuff.

This podcast provides plenty of interesting information about companies. Most of it comes from reading books written by others, so in some ways it’s kind of a digest or summary. The biggest drawback is the hosts. They both have severe West coast MBA-speak. They will *never* settle for a $1 word when a $10 word is available. Tons of jargon (often misapplied bc they don’t really understand what the signifier in their metaphor is actually signifying). Lot’s of upspeak and irritating West Coast tech speech tics (for example, saying “right?” at the end of a sentence when it makes no grammatical or syntactical sense). Ben Gilbert is definitely the worst offender of the two hosts. I think my biggest annoyance comes from the fact that they make the classic MBA error: assigning patterns and classifications (i.e. their “playbook” section at the end of episodes) that are only obvious in hindsight. The quantitative metaphor might be an explanatory regression without any predictive power. Entrepreneurs rarely talk about “scale economies” or “Hamilton’s 7 Powers” as they’re building. But then, MBAs and VC-types rarely make good entrepreneurs. 🤷‍♂️

They have political biases that influence how they tell the story. Facts start to get a bit skewed at times because of the narrative they want to push. I love the story telling. The length is perfect as it allows you to get in the full history and a lot of the details/decisions that are pertinent to story. I think it is great when you take small tangents to really drive home what is happening in the time period you are discussing. It really sets the context and deepens the magnitude of the events that are happening.

Great content, superb presentation. The way David and Ben craft the stories behind these huge businesses and how they came about is phenomenal, combining published historical data, behind the scene interviews of individuals who were directly involved in the founding and development of the business and their unique perspectives. Definitely my go to for longer commutes and runs 🙏❤️

Ben is so good! His delivery is next to none!

Acquired is absolutely amazing. Ben and David are brilliant, entertaining and engaging storytellers. I learn a great deal from your podcast. But I have a grammatical quibble. You both use the word “architect” as a verb. For example, Costco would architect the use of its membership fees to drive revenue. That rankles. Architect is not a verb. It is a noun. The proper verb is “design.” Architects are design professionals. They design buildings and other structures. I sometimes represent architects in my law practice. They always use the verb “design” to describe what they do. Language changes and history may adopt your usage. But I find it awkward Your fan, Barry Temkin

The histories are typically interesting and well produced but are far too laudatory of individual “brilliant men” while glazing over the human cost. Big, increasing numbers are often rattled off as if they are unequivocally good and the morally just results of good decisions.

Guys, 2 hour to 3hour episodes now published are the intense time eaters not for the average listener who has a job responsibility.

This episode was fantastic! It was great to hear directly from the “founder” Howard Schultz. Ben was extra talkative in this one and David did an awesome job too. I’m a Starbucks fan before but love it more now for its Costco-like treatment of its baristas!

I am a huge acquired fan and I’ve listened to nearly every episode in existence. I’m listening to the latest Starbucks episode right now and I’m struck by how much worse the main episodes are when it isn’t just Ben and David. There’s only so much grand standing about humanity from the former Starbucks CEO that I can take. It actively degrades the history / story of what is otherwise a very interesting company. The parts where it’s just Ben and David are great as usual but I really wish they’d reserve these interviews for a follow up episode or something on ACQ2. This is the maybe the first episode where I won’t finish in it’s entirety.

Stop talking to these titans like you are on their level. Ben is the worst. Shut up!