Business Advice Straight to Your Headphones: Ohio-Oriented Entrepreneurial Podcasts

Check out these Ohio-based shows that can help you build your business or make a new connection

Business knowledge might be universal, but no one knows the Ohio entrepreneurial scene better than those right here in the Buckeye State.

From marketing and relationships to finance and law, check out these shows that can help you plug into Ohio business culture, find a new connection or learn something new.

Conquering Columbus — The Conquering Columbus podcast is a diverse one, covering the stories of those in Columbus “doing extraordinary things in business, science, athletics, and more.” Hosted by three Ohio State graduates, the podcast features CEOs, advisors, venture capitalists and more. The show has recorded more than 300 episodes already, so there’s plenty of Columbus content to be found.

Biz Chat Ohio — With the tagline “Big ideas for small businesses,” everyone can get behind the Biz Chat Ohio podcast and their mission to “serve small businesses and start ups in the state of Ohio with resources and education that help companies evolve. The show prioritizes news and industry trends from the minds of Ohio thought leaders, and features growth coaches, entrepreneurs, marketing experts and more.

Columbus Business First Podcasts — The experts at Columbus Business First offer a variety of podcasts to tell “the top local business stories, plus lively interviews and discussions with local business folks.”

First, You Hustle — Based on a program from the Columbus College of Art & Design Career Services office, First, You Hustle aims to guide students on how to start their creative careers. The podcast features advice from alumni and guests, segments with students, faculty and staff, and how-to guides on special topics.

614 Fempreneur — Hosted by local radio station Sunny 95, the 614 Fempreneur podcast shares the success stories, mistakes and stories of women business owners. The podcast aims to “encourage risk, change and fear” by helping women build entrepreneurial relationships with community leaders and give those entrepreneurs a platform to share and tell their stories. Catch it online or Sundays at 7 a.m. on Sunny 95.

Small Business Lifeline — Launched with a post-pandemic world in mind, Crain’s Cleveland Business created the Small Business Lifeline podcast to “provide strategies and actionable insights for rebuilding your business and strengthening it for the future.” The show features a variety of tips to help keep your small business afloat even during challenging times.

CBuzz Podcast — A project by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, CBuzz is the region’s first business-themed podcast hosted at Capital University’s new state-of-the-art Convergent Media Center. Columbus brand journalist Mikaela Hunt hosts the show, interviewing a wide range of business-oriented guests.

Communication Junkie — Everyone can improve their communication skills, right? That’s the goal of University of Cincinnati communications professor Steve Fuller, who hosts the Communication Junkie podcast. The show helps communicators improve their interpersonal relationships, business skills and more.

614Startups Podcast — Dedicated to all things Columbus startup-related, 614Startups is a great resource for entrepreneurs in Ohio’s capital. The site aims to “reach the influential decision-makers that are driving the Columbus startup ecosystem forward.” Their weekly podcast introduces listeners to a variety of Columbus names from Columbus and beyond, including founders of companies you know, people influencing major financial decisions and those behind the scenes.

Rockstars Making Guest Appearances

Many of the Ohio entrepreneurs we know and love are far too busy with their own projects to produce a regular podcast. But when they get the chance, many are happy to impart their business savvy and entrepreneurial wisdom in guest appearances.

Here are just a few heavy hitting Ohio names spreading their influence:

Janine Sickmeyer — Sickmeyer is an entrepreneurial veteran who has launched (and exited) multiple companies. Now, she’s a founding partner of Overlooked Ventures, a VC firm focused on supporting early stage startups with founders from underserved backgrounds. She’s dedicated to investing and mentoring overlooked founders, making investments in companies with mostly Black, Latinx, and women founders.

She recently appeared on Inside.com’s Venturing in VC podcast to talk about the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, as well as the More Equity Podcast, where she talks about putting values and mission at the forefront of a venture and more.

Will Zell — Zell has been a part of the central Ohio entrepreneurial scene for the better part of a decade, founding multiple startups in diverse fields and racking up the stories along the way. The Nikola Labs founder and president has also added a new project to his plate, the formation of his new venture capital firm, Zell Capital.

He appeared on the Investable Universe Podcast to talk venture capital, investment and why Ohio is the place to watch for disruptive innovation.

Molly Bonakdarpour – Bonakdarpour has held more titles than you can count, from research analyst and director of corporate partnerships to partner and board member. Now, she’s a partner at Columbus’s Drive Capital, an organization that has helped boost some of the most exciting startups in Ohio and beyond.

She joined Kentucky Inno’s The Cornfield Capitalist podcast to talk about her experience, a love of startups and what she’s learned along the way.

Lindsay Karas Stencel — When she’s not working up a sweat at CrossFit or working at the gym she co-owns with her husband, Karas Stencel is an accomplished venture capitalist, attorney and startup expert. In addition to being a longtime partner and chief legal counsel at NCT Ventures in Columbus, she also teaches venture capital law at The Ohio State University, runs the venture development nonprofit Launch NY and now focuses on representing emerging and seasoned venture capital funds at Thompson Hine.

She sat down with Mike’D Up! with Mike DiCioccio to talk about entrepreneurship, being bold and overcoming challenges.

Do you have a favorite regular podcast or a guest appearance that we missed? Be sure to let us know at TechOhio’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn!