Acquired

Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal turned what started as a niche show about tech acquisitions into one of the biggest business podcasts in the world. Acquired tells the complete stories behind major companies and the deals that shaped them, drawing from months of original research per episode. The ambition here is hard to overstate. Episodes routinely run three to five hours, and recent subjects have included Formula 1, the NFL, Rolex, and Costco. Each installment traces a company from founding through every major acquisition, merger, IPO, and strategic pivot that defined its trajectory. The research quality rivals long-form business journalism -- the hosts cite primary sources, financial filings, and historical documents rather than just recycling Wikipedia summaries. With over 4,500 ratings and a 4.7 average on Apple Podcasts, Acquired has built a massive following since launching in 2015. The show publishes roughly every two weeks, and each episode becomes an event in business media circles. Gilbert brings a venture capital perspective (he's a managing director at Pioneer Square Labs) while Rosenthal adds public market and growth equity experience. The M&A angle is central to the show's DNA even as it's expanded. Understanding how Disney acquired Pixar, how Berkshire Hathaway assembled its portfolio, or how LVMH rolled up luxury brands gives you a masterclass in deal strategy that no textbook can replicate. The hosts have genuine chemistry and aren't afraid to express strong views about which acquisitions were brilliant and which were disasters. Fair warning: once you start one of these marathon episodes, clearing your afternoon might become necessary.