# Gimlet Media: Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2019-10-21
- Length: 1h 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber

## Summary

Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber, co-founders of Gimlet Media, recount their journey from public radio producers to building a podcast network that sold to Spotify for roughly $200 million. Blumberg details his transition from NPR, where he co-created Planet Money, to launching Gimlet after struggling to find investors as a solo founder. Lieber explains how he joined Blumberg, bringing business strategy to complement Blumberg's editorial vision, and how they navigated early funding, naming, and scaling challenges to become a profitable media company.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=0) Introduction: Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber
- [4:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=284) Alex Blumberg's Background and Departure from NPR
- [15:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=932) Matt Lieber's Path to Business and Audio
- [33:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=2019) The Genesis of Gimlet and the 'Startup' Podcast
- [42:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=2551) Finding a Co-Founder: Blumberg and Lieber Partner Up
- [53:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=3183) Naming the Company and Early Negotiations
- [55:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=3302) Scaling Production, Hiring, and Management Challenges
- [1:07:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=4021) The Spotify Acquisition and Reflections on Success
- [1:16:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-10-21-gimlet-media-alex-blumberg-and-matt-lieber#t=4590) Postscript: Casey Kerrigan and Oesh Shoes

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Gimlet Media (company)
- Spotify (company)
- Planet Money (product)
- This American Life (product)
- Startup (product)
- Reply All (product)
- Homecoming (product)
- Oesh Shoes (product)
- NPR (company)
- 99% Invisible (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Pilot: Unveiling the Blueprint of "The Builder Circle"](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-05-13-the-pilot-unveiling-the-blueprint-of-the-builder-circle) (The Builder Circle)
- [Founder + Funder: Fundraising, Founder-Investor Fit, and Building the Next Big Breakfast Brand with Emily Groden of Evergreen and Brian Bernstein of Rich Products Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-20-founder-funder-fundraising-founder-investor-fit-and-building-the-next-big-breakf) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Shark Tank, Sea Moss, and an Ocean of Potential with Alexiou Gibson (2022)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-01-03-shark-tank-sea-moss-and-an-ocean-of-potential-with-alexiou-gibson-2022) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Jeri Ellsworth and the demise of CastAR](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-05-29-jeri-ellsworth-and-the-demise-of-castar) (The Amp Hour)
- [#100 Toasting to 100 Episodes of The Startup CPG Podcast with Our Favorite Moments](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-07-25-100-toasting-to-100-episodes-of-the-startup-cpg-podcast-with-our-favorite-moment) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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