What's Your Problem?

102

Every week on What’s Your Problem, entrepreneurs and engineers talk about the future they’re trying to build – and the problems they have to solve to get there.How do you take a drone delivery service you’ve built in Rwanda and make it work in North Carolina? How do you convince people to buy a house on the Internet? How do you sell thousands of dog ramps to weiner dogs all across America when a pandemic breaks the global supply chain? Hosted by former Planet Money host Jacob Goldstein, What’s Your Problem helps listeners understand the problems really smart people are trying to solve right now.iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

Pollart

Interesting content

I agree with some of the previous reviewers that in the first year or so Jacob’s interview style left much to be desired. It seemed like he had too much coffee before the interview started and interrupted his guests for too often. But in the last 6 to 12 months, he has dramatically improved his interview style. Some other recent episodes have been really terrific. This is now on my shortlist of favorite podcasts. Keep up the good work and keep finding interesting and articulate guests that are working on important technological challenges!
kaerf81

Love it!

One of my favorite podcasts!
etherdog

Spurious associations don’t make a logical chain

Get a lot of data, like Skynet . That worked out well, didn’t it? Jacob gets so many things wrong (SBF, for instance, but to his credit he admitted it and did a good self-analysis). Unhedged is just awful, and anyone promoting it probably doesn’t have a good grasp on reality. Unfortunately, the whole Pushkin brand is dissonant and tarnishes the reputation of Alexander Pushkin. The question is whether Pushkin should survive or die. It should and must die. I cannot believe how simplistic Jacob’s questions are and how racist his characterization of the employment rate is.
Bruce JM

Very fun podcast

this podcast started slowly, but it has turned into one of my faves!
MaoMaoXxX

Audio is a mess

Latest episode is completely not fit for listening. Narration is barely audible. Music is super loud at times. Interview is two different volumes for the two sides. Get a decent sound editor and QA your episodes before publishing.
J messi 87345

poor interviewer

Dear Jacob please shut up and let your guests speak. You are interrupting them every 5 seconds and it ruins the show.
ashra043

Stop interrupting guests so often

It’s one thing to pause the guest and re-explain a concept to the audience… but Jacob overdoes it and it comes of as rude. This is one of my favorite shows, but the last episodes nearly turned me off because he does it so often.
Ampers&&nd

Love the show, hate the ads!

The ads are back?!? For the last several episodes, my subscriber edition episodes are no longer commercial free. Please sort this out! ————————————- Been listening since the beginning, loving the content but bristling at the ads as a Pushkin+ subscriber. Tuned in today, and guess what - no more ads! Woohoo!!!
BribBrib

Great Podcast!

Recently discovered and I’m hooked. Love hearing about the tough issues and the brilliant folks trying to solve them. Gives me hope for the future. Thank you!
randyw57

One of my favorites!

Excellent show. Very interesting topics. Great host. Just listened to the episode where they brought previous guest back for a check-in. Very interesting. Highly recommend!
parkscdp

So good I look forward to every episode

This podcast has been so inspiring, I love hearing about how people are tackling some amazing challenges. 😃
mvelasco07

Love this show!

What’s Your Problem has quickly become a favorite in my feed! I’m consistently impressed by the engaging conversations, insightful content, and actionable ideas. Thank you Jacob for putting out such a superb show - keep up the great work!
Nickname1792804

Come for the host, stay for the content

I probably wouldn’t have picked up this podcast if it wasn’t for the host, Jacob Goldstein. I’ve enjoyed his work before and this is a solid continuation. The entire team has done a bang up job on making interesting content. My only critique is that I greatly dislike ads that are geolocated. Update: still love the podcast many months later, however the ads are still garbage. I keep the 5 star review because because the pod team is still doing great. However, I feel like Pushkin has an algorithm for creating the most unbearable ads (a little embellishment).
Dr. Pigler

Love this show!

The combination of cutting edge tech and entrepreneurship is fascinating! Favorite podcast of the week!
a98726262

The Quilting episode!!!

Long time listener…and I almost skipped this one because, well, quilts sound boring. But - wow - what an amazing story, and an episode that feels like it could be an entire MBA course. Love hearing about innovation that doesn’t involve a “platform”. A must listen - along with the rest of episodes - such a good take on meeting challenges.
Mary Nagelvoort

Great topics

Thanks for your wonderful show. I can always count on an interesting time.
schweppes92

Insightful & intelligent topics

Jacob dives into timely and interesting “problems” to highlight challenges faced by some incredible entrepreneurs and puts them into simple language for us non-engineers. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about self-driving cars and drones delivering medicine in Africa. In just enough time to walk the dogs and complete an episode. Never dull! Always makes me feel a little smarter and more worldly after listening!
zenongirlofthe31stcentury

Ads are aggressively bad for sensory sensitivity

First, I actually really enjoy the host and the content, but the ads are so bad that I’m giving it only 2 stars. Content-wise, it’s easily 5 stars. But the ads are as bad as old school TV ads, where abruptly the volume increases 10x and it’s aggressively in your face. And the ads have gotten worse every episode. If you have even 1% sensory issues, just skip this show.
dldnh

Excellent

An excellent podcast, always very interesting.
vuvuzelaa

Average show with extraordinary amount of ads

I agree with Creator economy needing money to thrive but the amount of ads in this pod are preposterous. 20 minute pod filled with at least 11 minutes of ad. That's my problem. I hope you read and rectify this. Listeners will love you if you give love first to us.
StaceyVS

Goes by so fast!

I love these conversations and they go by so fast. I feel smarter at the end and like I’ve taken a deep dive into a new world. Also, Jacob is the best!!
LppCo

Great Podcast

Always interesting, easy to relate to and understand, often amusing.
disappointed 206

Like excellent content but like really like fix your vocabulary

If you edited out the superfluous "likes" in your vocabulary you would sound more knowledgeable and less like bubble headed teens. I suggest playing some episodes back and count how many times you use that verbal tick. Like really.
austinhm94

Smart and engaging

I love Jacob Goldstein, from all of his work at NPR as well as his book! No big surprise that I would end up being a huge fan of this show. Perfect length of 30 mins gives him time to interview his guests about the big problem they’re trying to fix. Similar to How I Built This but about things that people are working on *right now*
Moltak

Well done

I love this show so much! I enjoy the broad range of topics and interviewees but I also really appreciate the pacing of the show. Very well done show with some thought-provoking content.
ryplane

I love the inherent curiosity and pragmatism of these interviews.

The format, style, and subject of these interviews are all in my wheelhouse. I appreciate the founders’ candor that Jacob seems to earn with his conversational style.
nicknelson15

Lovely

I just wanted to say that I love the show! I find it inspirational and motivating. Keep up the good work!
Old IM'er

Too many ads!

The content is okay, but you have to dig through the insane amount of ads to get to the meat. For that reason, this podcast typically falls to the bottom of my list when I order my shows manually. I don’t think I’ll be a listener for much longer since I’m forever flailing for my phone to fast forward.
Old Man Barrett

Great Show, WAY too many commercials

Show content is fantastic, very refreshing to have a true lighting round of questions. Has very quickly become a vessel for as many commercials as could possibly fit into a succinct podcast. A bummer!
Curious2022

Interesting!!!

I’m interested in information and education so I listen to grammar girl! I found David Pogues Unsung Science: mind blowing folks designing mind blowing stuff—and explaining it all!!! Then I heard about What’s Your Problem! OMG! So interesting and inspiring! The reality of business, how commerce works today, and hurdles the everyday joe or hill has endured to succeed! Thank you!!!
1st Down & Punting

Great podcast for the curious mind.

Jacob Goldstein just has a knack for getting to the universally appealing part of any issue. Some of the products or services aren’t particularly of interest to me, but in discussing them I learn so much about process and how others work through issues that I am constantly trying to figure out how to put that to use in my setting.
Mentally-gone

Phenomenal Show

Jacob was always the best part of Planet Money so happy to have a daily dose of his wit.
Marlboroman9882

Good show/too many ads

I really enjoy this show but it has so so so many ads! I would not expect this many ads on a podcast 2 hours long let alone one that’s 30 minutes.
Notdrwatson88

Good show, great host, too many commercials

I realize you have to pay for this, and I don’t mind commercials. I buy often from vendors advertising on podcasts. I fast forward through your commercials because of the volume of them. Jacob Goldstein I enjoyed on NPR and love his interview style. But a 24 min podcast shouldn’t have 4 breaks for multiple commercials in it. May have to lose this from my list.
lrhhrl

Very good.

Way too many commercials for a short show. Super annoying. I skip them all and often miss a few seconds of the show but can’t stand multiple ad breaks.
Wu-Banga #1 J.J.

Love the concept!

It’s getting hard to find original podcasts lately, and the idea behind this one is great. It makes you believe that “hey, other people have solved bigger problems, so I can definitely solve this one!” Inspirational while interesting
YGlen

Very enjoyable topics

Just like hanging out with some good friends for some enjoyable conversation on a wide variety of topics - and often learning something along the way. This podcast was another great recommendation from David McRaney’s ‘You Are Not So Smart podcast’.
RBMCommenter

Great conversations

I enjoy Goldstein’s thoughtful conversations and look forward to hearing more!
LoRiider

Another reasonably ok business show.

Con: Interviewer cuts off speaker. Could have helped guest reveal more about technique and challenges of relocating manufacturing from Asia to Mexico. Pro: topic and scale of business was appropriate for proprietor or lifestyle business, or small business. Good insight I to current on line marketing and sales.
Frogs Feet

Great!

It’s a fun and informative listen, great for the ride home and or commute! Thanks!
CharlieCurve

Essential listening for entrepreneurs

Always loved Jacob on Planet Money. I think this podcast is even better so far. Going beyond the standard profile of a growing business, what’s your problem tackles specific issues real life entrepreneurs are facing every day. Give it a download and next time you’re stuck, step away from your computer, get some fresh air, and listen to Jacob’s guest share ideas for solving your startup challenges.
langabean

How to make business fun!

I love this show. Just what I have always wanted in a business show. Fun, insightful and interesting. Am so done with boring business!

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