Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith talk with Adrian Wooldridge, co-author of The Company: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea. 

Companies are some of the most powerful institutions in the modern world – right up there with the nation-state. Where did the modern corporation come from? And what do AI and Chinese state-owned firms mean for the future of the company?

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Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith talk with Adrian Wooldridge, co-author of The Company: A Short History of a Revolutionary Idea.&nbsp;
Companies are some of the most powerful institutions in the modern world &ndash; right up there with the nation-state. Where did the modern corporation come from? And what do AI and Chinese state-owned firms mean for the future of the company?
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It’s the history of business. How did Hitler’s favorite car become synonymous with hippies? What got Thomas Edison tangled up with the electric chair? Did someone murder the guy who invented the movies? Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small and find out what you can learn from those who founded them.

It&rsquo;s the history of business. How did Hitler&rsquo;s favorite car become synonymous with hippies? What got Thomas Edison tangled up with the electric chair? Did someone murder the guy who invented the movies? Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith examine the surprising stories of businesses big and small and find out what you can learn from those who founded them.

Business History

How the Company Conquered the World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ee2f53bf-d5a8-4fe4-a964-b4e9014da79e/transcript

Before Reuters was a global news giant, it was a man and 45 homing pigeons. Julius Reuter saw that the telegraph would change how information moved, and he used that to his advantage. He didn’t have to get news out immediately — he just had to be first. Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith follow Reuter from Germany to England, where he scoops The Times of London with news that Europe was headed to war. 

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Follow Business History on Instagram and TikTok
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Before Reuters was a global news giant, it was a man and 45 homing pigeons. Julius Reuter saw that the telegraph would change how information moved, and he used that to his advantage. He didn&rsquo;t have to get news out immediately &mdash; he just had to be first. Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith follow Reuter from Germany to England, where he scoops The Times of London with news that Europe was headed to war.&nbsp;
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<li>Follow Jacob Goldstein on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-goldstein-888a2441/" data-airgap-id="26">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://x.com/jacobgoldstein?lang=en" data-airgap-id="27">X</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jacobjgoldstein/" data-airgap-id="28">Instagram&nbsp;</a></li>
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The Pigeons That Built a Global News Empire

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/74c59667-71fd-43ff-8217-b4f0015877d7/transcript

In the late 1800s, a Russian immigrant named Samuel Zemurray spent nearly everything he had on a load of bananas, and turned it into a fortune. But Sam the Banana Man wasn’t just a business titan. He was a puppeteer on the geopolitical stage, bankrolling a revolution in Honduras and pushing the CIA to overthrow Guatemala’s democratically elected leader. 

For decades, Zemurray battled the United Fruit Company, an institution with its tentacles in governments across the Americas — including the United States. In the end, he wound up running the company.

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In the late 1800s, a Russian immigrant named Samuel Zemurray spent nearly everything he had on a load of bananas, and turned it into a fortune. But Sam the Banana Man wasn&rsquo;t just a business titan. He was a puppeteer on the geopolitical stage, bankrolling a revolution in Honduras and pushing the CIA to overthrow Guatemala&rsquo;s democratically elected leader.&nbsp;
For decades, Zemurray battled the United Fruit Company, an institution with its tentacles in governments across the Americas &mdash; including the United States. In the end, he wound up running the company.
Connect with us:
<ul>
<li>Follow Business History on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/businesshistorypod/" data-airgap-id="217">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@businesshistorypod" data-airgap-id="218">TikTok</a></li>
<li>Follow Jacob Goldstein on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-goldstein-888a2441/" data-airgap-id="219">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://x.com/jacobgoldstein?lang=en" data-airgap-id="220">X</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jacobjgoldstein/" data-airgap-id="221">Instagram&nbsp;</a></li>
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Sam the Banana Man: Gunboats, Coups, and United Fruit 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/41675275-ace2-4efe-8897-b4e2015a502a/transcript

We're here with a preview of Blockers, a new audiobook from Michael Lewis, the author of Liars Poker, Moneyball, The Big Short and more. In Blockers, Lewis tells the story of a handful of people who dedicated their careers to public service—until the Department of Government Efficiency decided they were a problem. These were people who believed they had a calling—people who kept American's sensitive tax data out of the wrong hands, made sure that politicians and civil servants played by the rules, and figured out how to stop wildfires from destroying suburban neighborhoods—and then discovered they were no longer wanted.

Here's an excerpt from the audiobook. You can buy the audiobook exclusively at blockers.fm. 

We're here with a preview of Blockers, a new audiobook from Michael Lewis, the author of Liars Poker, Moneyball, The Big Short and more. In Blockers, Lewis tells the story of a handful of people who dedicated their careers to public service&mdash;until the Department of Government Efficiency decided they were a problem. These were people who believed they had a calling&mdash;people who kept American's sensitive tax data out of the wrong hands, made sure that politicians and civil servants played by the rules, and&nbsp;figured out how to stop wildfires from destroying suburban neighborhoods&mdash;and then discovered they were no longer wanted.
Here's an excerpt from the audiobook. You can buy the audiobook exclusively at <a href="http://blockers.fm/" data-airgap-id="19">blockers.fm</a>.&nbsp;

Blockers | A Preview of Michael Lewis's New Audiobook

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/97519d76-bb9c-4a95-bb68-b4da00f919cb/transcript

How the Company Conquered the World

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