The Way We Heard It: A Collection of the Best Podcasts Every MBA Student Should Listen to in 2025
In our mega-information age, many MBA students and future leaders wonder what their edge will be. Previously, true insider tips for success were only available to a few. Now, information is everywhere – in MBA books and from podcasts. In a world where information flows, how can Baylor MBA students get ahead? It isn’t just about finding the golden nuggets; it’s about learning to process them in ways that transform perspective, increase learnings and give MBA students the tools they need to truly change the way business is done.
Q&A With Baylor Faculty: Industry Experts in the Classroom
Baylor University MBA professors know and prioritize secondary sources for industry knowledge in their classrooms every day. Here, we gather a collection of podcasts these professors listen to in their own regular routine of staying up with the latest trends.
To give us a larger landscape of how podcasts can be a rich space to gain big-picture understanding and remain on the cutting edge of developing trends in business, we also went in-depth with Kaylee Hackney, associate professor at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business.
Hackney’s research focuses on helping women flourish at work and has been published in top academic publications such as the Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior and Harvard Business Review. She also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, Elegant Balance, where she shares her knowledge of the work-life interface to help professional women thrive.
Can you tell us a little about your work with the Baylor MBA program?
I teach Management of Organizational Behavior in the MBA program, lead the Women in Leadership Initiative at Baylor, and am faculty advisor of the Women in Business (WIB) student organization. This semester, we created a WIB graduate student membership, a dynamic space where women enrolled in the Baylor MBA program challenge and inspire each other!
You have a very full life with two young children, a full teaching plate, and an intense research schedule. How do you keep from suffering information overload and decide which podcasts are going to be in your routine?
To me, podcasts aren’t just about pushing ahead with work. It’s important that we all have spaces where we unplug from work, and I like to use podcasts as entertainment. What I listen to often has to do with what I’m interested in learning about – that might be online entrepreneurship in one season, but in the next, I might want to do a literature deep dive or learn something inspiring about French culture and fashion. I love pairing podcasts with the mundane tasks of the day, like washing dishes or commuting to and from work. It makes me feel like I’m really getting something valuable from that time.
Do podcasts replace books, or do they work with them as students are educating themselves and staying up with business trends as they develop?
I don’t believe that podcasts replace books, but I think they’re a great learning tool that can help you prioritize what you read, expand your knowledge and go deeper into a specific subject. I also think they help MBA students – or any students – become better listeners. Being a good listener is a skill that must be developed.
Often, when I find a non-fiction book that sparks my interest, I’ll look to see if the author does a podcast on the topic. Many times, those are spaces where experts will go even deeper on the topic, and it’s a way to really immerse yourself in the learnings.
I started my own podcast, Elegant Balance, to bridge the gap between my academic research and the women it could actually help. Busy working moms are much more likely to listen to a 20-minute podcast episode than they are to search out my journal articles and read them! It’s been a fun, creative outlet to share things I’ve been studying/researching for the past decade and put my own creative twist on them!
Do you find conversations like this – what podcasts are happening, where to uncover new angles on work – are frequent within the Baylor University MBA program?
Yes! My course is very much a discussion-based course where students listen to recorded lecture videos, read Harvard Business Review articles, and then come to class prepared to discuss what they’re learning. It’s not uncommon for students to share during a class-wide discussion about a podcast they listened to that was relevant, come up to me after class to share a podcast or to ask about my recommendations to go deeper. The amount of information and learning that technology (e.g., podcasts, YouTube, etc.) has made available to us is truly amazing!
Now for the most important question: What are the three podcasts you recommend for MBA students?
Work-Life with Adam Grant – this is my favorite organizational behavior podcast and taps into topics that I teach in my course and that every future business leader will need to know.
Elegant Balance – my podcast focused on helping women create work-life balance by pursuing simplicity, beauty and joy. A fun way for my students to get to know me better. Probably most relevant for the female MBA students as they wrestle with competing demands from work and home.
The Simple Sophisticate Podcast – as a francophone and lover of the finer things in life, this podcast is simply just a pleasurable indulgence. As I mentioned above, I prefer to use podcasts as a fun, restful activity. It’s not that I’d recommend this specific podcast for MBAs – I simply share it as an example of encouraging students to find one that helps them relax and unplug on a topic that they truly enjoy learning about!
Can’t Get Enough? Here are Additional Faculty Podcast Recommendations
As promised, here is a roundup from other Baylor MBA program faculty with links to learn more about their specialties, revolutionary research and perspectives within their fields.
Erik H. Davidson, Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance
Bloomberg Masters in Business: In-depth conversations with the world’s top investors, economists and financial thinkers, hosted by Barry Ritholtz.
Bloomberg Odd Lots: A smart, often quirky dive into the complexities of markets and the global economy, hosted by Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway.
Choiceology: An exploration of the hidden forces behind our decisions, blending behavioral economics with storytelling.
The Morgan Housel Podcast: Thoughtful reflections on money, behavior and long-term thinking from the bestselling author of The Psychology of Money.
Patricia Norman, Associate Dean for Graduate Business Programs; Associate Professor
Planet Money: Economics explained through engaging, accessible stories that make sense of the forces shaping our lives.
Freakonomics Radio: A provocative look at how the world really works, using economics to explore the hidden side of everything.
Justin Pond, Lecturer
The Gist: A daily blend of news analysis, wit and cultural commentary, hosted by journalist Mike Pesca.
Beckers Healthcare: Timely insights from healthcare leaders and innovators on the shifting landscape of medicine, policy and business.
Andy Stanley Leadership: Practical leadership lessons rooted in clarity, vision and influence, aimed at both faith-based and secular audiences.
Gari Carini, Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Professional Education and Professor of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation
HBR IdeaCast: Weekly conversations with business thinkers and management experts from the pages of Harvard Business Review.
Wharton Business Daily: Insights from Wharton faculty and business leaders on the latest trends in finance, tech and the global economy.
Knowledge at Wharton: Research-backed perspectives on business strategy, innovation and leadership from Wharton’s faculty.
Jeff Lupinacci, Lecturer
The Leadership Puzzle Podcast: A reflective and often personal look at the many dimensions of leadership in business, ministry and life.
Nick Simmons, Lecturer
Risky Business: A no-nonsense podcast covering the latest in cybersecurity, hacking and digital risk, trusted by security professionals worldwide.
What’s Next?
Are you looking for more ways to expand your knowledge? Click here to learn more about MBA programs at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business or fill out the form to speak directly with an Enrollment Coordinator.Ready to apply for an MBA, but wondering if it’s worth the investment? Let us debunk common MBA myths.
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