# Lonely Planet: Maureen & Tony Wheeler (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-07-09
- Length: 37m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-09-lonely-planet-maureen-tony-wheeler-2017

## Summary

Maureen and Tony Wheeler, founders of Lonely Planet, recount how a 1972 overland trip from London to Australia led to their first guidebook, printed in their Sydney kitchen and sold for $1.80. They describe scaling the company from a cottage industry to a global publisher, highlighting the breakthrough success of their 1980 India guide and the near-collapse of the business following the 9/11 attacks. The episode concludes with their decision to sell Lonely Planet to BBC Worldwide and a brief update on Melanie Colón, who created the Apt App to help renters communicate with noisy neighbors.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-09-lonely-planet-maureen-tony-wheeler-2017#t=0) Introduction: Maureen & Tony Wheeler and Lonely Planet
- [2:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-09-lonely-planet-maureen-tony-wheeler-2017#t=142) The Hippie Trail and the First Guidebook
- [11:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-09-lonely-planet-maureen-tony-wheeler-2017#t=676) Scaling from Sydney to Global Publisher
- [22:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-09-lonely-planet-maureen-tony-wheeler-2017#t=1342) The India Breakthrough and Family Dynamics
- [26:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-09-lonely-planet-maureen-tony-wheeler-2017#t=1560) Surviving 9/11 and Selling the Company
- [34:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-07-09-lonely-planet-maureen-tony-wheeler-2017#t=2089) Postscript: Melanie Colón and Apt App

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Lonely Planet (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- BBC Worldwide (company)
- Apt App (product)
- Mad Dogs and Englishmen (other)
- Joe Cocker (other)
- Leon Russell (other)

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- [087: Purpose is a Big Part of Consumer Product Success](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-08-04-087-purpose-is-a-big-part-of-consumer-product-success) (Product Startup)
- [Against All Odds: Overcoming Huge Setbacks to Sell 5 Million Worldwide](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-05-15-against-all-odds-overcoming-huge-setbacks-to-sell-5-million-worldwide) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [Founder Feature: Tabi and Meena Hoshmand of Tursh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-14-founder-feature-tabi-and-meena-hoshmand-of-tursh) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founders Feature: Lucy Dana of One Trick Pony](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-21-founders-feature-lucy-dana-of-one-trick-pony) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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