Five Essential Podcasts for Aspiring (and Succeeding) Social Entrepreneurs

VC Cheat Sheet – Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development & ABF Creative

Geared towards founders of color but beneficial for all, hear the basics of startup life explained and learn the jargon. What’s a VC? What’s the difference between an accelerator and an incubator? Listen now on iTunes, Stitcher

Mission & Values - Backstage Capital

Hear the “why” behind startup ventures and how leaders develop the culture and values of their organizations. If you want more on the topic, head over to the Bootstrapped VC podcast to hear about how Backstage Capital got started. Listen now on iTunes, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Stitcher

Behind the Brilliance - Lisa Nicole Bell

Hear lessons learned from entrepreneurs, artists, and other creatives. Episodes include guests’ picks for books that inspire. Listen now on iTunes, Stitcher

The Pitch - Gimlet Media

If you’ve only heard pitches at three-minute competitions, here’s your chance to hear aspiring and early entrepreneurs pitch to funders and answer their tough questions. Then hear the reasoning behind a funder’s decision to invest or not. Available on all podcast apps

Masters of Scale – WaitWhat

Hosted by Reid Hoffman, the program is committed to a 50-50 gender balance, with experienced founders providing motivation for entrepreneurs who may feel they’re getting nowhere. Favorite quote: “The most scalable ideas don’t have to tackle dramatic problems—they have to tackle neglected problems. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher

PRO TIP

Listen to at least two other kinds of podcasts.

One should have nothing to do with entrepreneurship or your field of work. You’ll think more creatively and make more connections to the broader world.

One should report directly on the communities or users you serve. You’ll keep informed on what’s most important and relevant in their lives and get a holistic perspective on your audience.

Carminia Muñoz leads alumni networks at Teach For America Phoenix. She was previously the managing director of social entrepreneurship and innovation at Teach For America.