10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)
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Episode Description
Why has Acquired — seemingly against all odds — “worked”? It's a puzzling question: episodes are four hours long, they come out infrequently, and they usually don’t have guests or video. Hardly the standard-issue playbook for podcasting success! And yet well over a million smart, curious and exceedingly busy humans share their (your!) valuable time with us every month. Why? This is the exact paradox that has been rolling around in the head of Michael Lewis (yes, that Michael Lewis) since he found the show earlier this year.
So we asked Michael to be our guest "interlocutor" and share what he thinks is going on here, while we share ten lessons we've stolen (graciously) from companies we've studied and brought into Acquired itself. He takes us through the entire Acquired journey: how we started, why we've never hired anyone or raised money, how we pick episodes, what our business model actually is, why we focus on quality and enjoyment over maximizing enterprise value, and ultimately why we’re all — you, him, us — kindred spirits together. Oh, and just for fun, we recorded this episode where another special journey began — the garage where Google was founded.
Thank you for an incredible decade together… here's to the next one!
Sponsors:
Many thanks to our fantastic Fall ‘25 Season partners:
- J.P. Morgan Payments (you can watch our full show with them at AWS re:Invent here!)
- WorkOS
- Sentry
- Shopify
Thank-yous:
- First, to Google for loaning us the garage. The sawhorse table desk, PC and CRT monitor on display in the background were all Google originals courtesy of the Google Founders Collection at the Computer History Museum. So cool!
- Second, to our friends at Shep Films for helping us seriously up our game on production quality this episode!
Our Favorite Michael Lewis Books:
- Home Game
- Moneyball
- Liar’s Poker
- The Blind Side
- The Undoing Project (as referenced by Michael in the beginning, about Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky)
Carve Outs:
- Books:
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
- Science, the Endless Frontier by Vannevar Bush
- Last Man Standing: The Ascent of Jamie Dimon and JPMorgan Chase by Duff McDonald
- The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel
- Emperors of Chocolate by Joel Glenn Brenner
- Morris Chang's Autobiography
- Podcasts:
- Video:
- Video Games:
- Products:
- Parenting:
More Acquired:
- Get email updates and vote on future episodes!
- Join the Slack
- Subscribe to ACQ2
- Check out the latest swag in the ACQ Merch Store!
Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.
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AI-Generated Summary
Celebrating 10 Years of Acquired
In this special episode, hosts Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal celebrate their podcast's 10-year anniversary. They reflect on the journey of Acquired, a podcast that delves into great companies and the stories behind them. Michael Lewis, a long-time fan and author, joins as a special guest to discuss the success of Acquired against conventional podcasting standards, including infrequent episodes and lengthy runtimes.
The Essence of Acquired’s Success
The conversation pivots to explore what has made Acquired successful. Lewis and the hosts discuss the unusual aspects of the podcast, such as its structure, the lack of frequency, and its focus on depth and storytelling over typical podcasting formulas. The key takeaway is that the unique blend of storytelling and detailed analysis creates a compelling experience for listeners.
Lessons Learned from the Business World
Throughout the episode, Ben and David share ten lessons they’ve learned from the businesses they’ve covered, such as the importance of founder control, the benefits of scarcity in products and episodes, and the need to create high-quality content without compromising quality for quantity. They discuss how these lessons have shaped Acquired's approach to podcasting.
Collaborative Partnership
Ben and David underscore the strength of their partnership, noting how it has been crucial to Acquired's longevity. They emphasize the synergy that exists between them, rooted in mutual respect and complementary skills, which drives the creative and business success of the podcast.
The Future of Acquired
As the episode wraps up, the hosts speculate on the future direction of Acquired. They discuss potential new formats, content styles, and the importance of maintaining their vision and integrity as they evolve. They also hint at plans for live events and special episodes that could further engage their audience.
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