Top 5 Podcasts for SME Owners Who Want to Work Smarter (Not Just Harder)
Hot take: most business podcasts talk a lot, say very little, and solve nothing. đ
Every year, itâs the same 10 gurus yelling about hustle culture, morning routines, and how cold plunges changed their life.
Lots of energy. Very few takeaways.
But if youâre running a business (or wearing every hat in one), you donât have time for fluff.
You want real insights, time-saving hacks, and straight talk from people whoâve actually been in the trenches.
So we filtered through the noise and picked 5 podcasts that respect your time and your ambition.
Letâs hit play. đ
1. My First Million
đ Hosts: Sam Parr & Shaan Puri
Why itâs worth your time:
This isnât just theory. Itâs real business breakdowns, viral ideas, and actionable hacks youâll actually want to try. Perfect if you like fast-paced convos, no fluff, and smart takes on the future of business.
Best for: Idea junkies, side-hustle stackers, and operators who think big but move fast.
2. The Game w/ Alex Hormozi
đ Host: Alex Hormozi
Why itâs worth your time:
Alex skips the pep talks and dives into pricing, scaling, and offers that convert. Itâs like getting a mini MBA in monetizationâwithout the tuition or time suck.
Best for: Founders who want to sell better, scale smarter, and avoid rookie mistakes.
3. Startups For the Rest of Us
đ Hosts: Rob Walling & guests
Why itâs worth your time:
Built for bootstrappers, indie founders, and business owners who are actually doing the work. No venture capital dramaâjust real advice from people building real businesses.
Best for: Anyone running a lean, profitable business (or trying to get there).
4. The Diary of a CEO
đ Host: Steven Bartlett
Why itâs worth your time:
This oneâs deeper. Itâs not just about growing your businessâitâs about managing your mindset while you do it. Steven brings on big names but keeps the conversations refreshingly honest.
Best for: Business owners who are also doing the inner work.
5. The Lazy CEO Podcast
đ Host: Jim Schleckser
Why itâs worth your time:
Despite the name, this oneâs all about efficiency. Jim shares strategies to lead better, delegate smarter, and stop doing things that drain your time and profit.
Best for: Leaders who want to stop being the bottleneck in their own business.
Real Advice > Empty Hype
We all want advice that actually helpsânot another monologue about waking up at 5am or journaling your way to success.
These podcasts deliver real strategy, honest lessons, and insights from people whoâve actually done the workânot just talked about it.
So save this list.
Queue one up.
And get back to working smarterânot just harder.