The Ringer: Bill Simmons

How I Built This · 13 Feb 2023 · 1h 21m

What this episode covers

Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer, recounts his journey from a Boston sports writer to launching a $250 million media company after a bitter exit from ESPN. He details the creation of Grantland, the pivot to podcasting with The B.S. Report, and the operational challenges of building The Ringer from scratch with a small team. Simmons discusses the strategic decision to sell to Spotify, the difficulties of transitioning from creative to CEO, and his philosophy on hard work versus luck.

Mentioned

Companies
ESPN, Spotify, HBO, Midroll, Vox, Benchmark
Products
The Ringer, Grantland, The B.S. Report, 30 for 30

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