Is a MBA PROGRAM worth it?
It is one of the most desired accreditations in the business world, it takes immense effort over a 2-3 year period and can cost on average anywhere from $60 000-$120 000 plus, depending on where you go!
It’s a prestigious achievement to brag with an Harvard or Stanford MBA BUT not everyone can come up with that kind of money and time to tackle such an undertaking.
So what would you say if I told you I came up with a solution, a way to an unofficial MBA for FREE, completing it while you commute everyday, meaning no time wasted?
Crazy! To good to be true! Yes I know, I would be sceptic too, but hear me out!
What does a MBA Program teach you?
A MBA program teaches you a Masters Degree in Business Administration from a highly schooled lecturer in segments like Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Human Resources, Operations management etc.
I found a way that you can learn the same stuff from people who have already done it and are successful in business! You also get it for free, consuming it everyday while going to work and back thus not costing you any time or money?
In this post I will show you how you can learn from the best in the business. Everything from marketing to project management – FOR FREE and how you can get started today!
Discover the MPA program curriculum, it’s a self paced, unconventional MBA program filled with the same subjects you will find in a normal MBA.
Switch your MBA program aspirations for a MPA Program!
[MBA ALTERNATIVE]
But what’s a MPA?
A MPA is the vehicle I used to gain immense amount of knowledge from some of the greatest minds of our time. It changed my life and pumped me full of ideas and inspiration!
I call it the Masters in Podcasts and All-in-one knowledge, aka MPA!
I discovered podcasting a while back and was hooked from the start. The idea that you can listen to the best in whatever field while they discuss their success, failures, how to’s etc was mind blowing. I mean you receive a whole lifetime of advice and wisdom in a consolidated hour or so.
The best part is that it’s completely free and you can listen to it while you travel to work so you don’t lose any time while consuming the valuable information.
Isn’t that much better than listening to a local radio station that plays the same music over and over again, followed by the same repeating advertisements? It definitely was for me.
Also if you don’t like reading this is a great option as it only involves listening.
So why would you not want to try it out if is FREE, takes no extra TIME, you only have to listen to it AND you gain some of the best advice and wisdom on the planet?
Unfortunately, there is no fancy award ceremony at the end with certificates and abbreviations you can put at the back of your name, but what you earn in knowledge and wisdom to implement and take action on, is something no one can ever take away from you!
Welcome to the Masters in Podcasts and All-in-one knowledge!
The MPA curriculum is a selection of the best rated podcasts sorted by category.
See what you like, pick your favourites, subscribe and setup your very own MPA Course, enjoy.
Click on any of the Masters in Podcast Curriculum Modules below and it will take you to that specific section.
Best Finance & Accounting podcasts
Finance & Accounting helps MPA students to learn to make financial decisions for their company and to communicate the economics of a business.
It includes the development of analytical skills, understanding capital markets, understanding financial and banking institutions, and budgeting, cash flow and risk analysis.
This NPR podcast is guaranteed to keep you engaged and keep you informed. The program features everyday people, educators and successful business leaders.
This is an ideal podcast for the MPA learner who wants to know more, and be entertained at the same time! The economy, explained, with stories and surprises.
Imagine you could call up a friend and say, “Meet me at the bar and tell me what’s going on with the economy.” Now imagine that’s actually a fun evening. That’s what we’re going for at Planet Money.
There are a lot of scams out there. This podcast aims to help you understand legitimate funding and business finance.
The host provides a variety of topics and educational resources on small business lending.
A personal finance podcast that features some of the smartest minds in personal finance!
They try and create an ultimate personal finance resource so that you don’t need to work hard to keep your cash under control.
Steve Bragg hosts this podcast to offer you a full gamut of accounting resources and tools.
After listening to this podcast, you will better understanding accounting standards, technology, controls, finance, investor relations, payroll, metrics, acquisitions and much more!
While this podcast is focused on helping accountants, it is a great resource for individuals pursuing an MBA education.
The podcast offers insight on accounting, getting hired or promoted, and salary negotiations.
The THRIVEcast is the monthly podcast from the THRIVEal Network.
Listen to Jason Blumer and Greg Kyte’s dysfunctional journey through the changes taking place in the public accounting space.
Journey with them and their warped humour to a place of greater business enlightenment in your business and your freaking life!
McKinsey on Finance
This financial podcast, produced by the renowned McKinsey Quarterly editorial team, features experts and practitioners in the field.
The programs are designed to offer listeners insights into value-creating strategies and implementing those strategies into enhanced company performance.
Topics include board governance, investments, leadership, allocating resources, the Asia-Pacific region and much more.
Best Leadership Podcasts
Leadership education helps MBA students to become better leaders to develop a strong organisation.
Through this module, you learn how to build a company culture and how to motivate employees toward a goal.
This podcast was created by Dave Ramsey and is a Ramsey production.
With some of the top business minds as guests, Ken Coleman provides entertaining and educational discussions on business leadership.
If you are seeking inspiring and educational interviews to expand your MPA education, this podcast is a quality leadership resource.
Richard Rierson interviews influence and leadership experts on a plethora of topics.
Hosted at Dartmouth University, Radio Tuck is a compilation of podcasts and tech tips.
Interviews include leaders in business discussing best technology practices in their field, digital strategy and emerging trends.
This Is Your Life is my weekly podcast dedicated to intentional leadership.
Micheal Hyatt is the founder and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Company, an online leadership development company.
His goal with the podcast is to help you live with more passion, work with greater focus, and lead with extraordinary influence.
The LEADx Show
Accelerate your career and reach your full potential in just minutes a day!
Join Kevin Kruse, LEADx founder and CEO as he interviews the world’s top leadership experts and business executives for their best career advice and management tips.
A magazine type podcast hosted by Daniel Pink which showcases some of the best business and leadership thinkers and writers in the world.
Women In Leadership
Want to learn how to be a leader from the world’s most inspirational women? This podcast is for you!
Host Angie Mezzetti has a background in journalism and broadcasting, which gives her a great perspective from which to explore the challenges her female guests have faced as they’ve climbed their way to the top.
Best Marketing Podcasts
Every business person needs to know marketing. Effective marketing builds business through analysis of customer behaviours and engagement with customers.
This module allows business leaders to learn marketing strategy, brand management and business strategy.
Hosted in a coffee shop, this conversational podcast shares tips and information on social media marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing, copywriting and affiliate marketing.
Seth Godin, a best-selling author and marketing thought leader, shares tips and resources on marketing a startup.
Entrepreneurs frequently pursue an MBA education – this podcast is right up their alley to help them to market their dream business.
Copyblogger FM is a weekly, short-form broadcast hosted by Sonia Simone.
Each week, she talks about what’s going on in the copywriting (and marketing) world. Expect to have your burning marketing questions answered!
She and other experts analyse the week in content marketing, copywriting, email marketing, conversion optimisation, mindset, and much more.
#AskGaryVee
Gary Vaynerchuk, author, speaker, and owner of multi-million dollar marketing company VaynerMedia, uses his podcast to answer questions about marketing, social media, and general entrepreneurial topics that he receives through social media.
If you’re looking for a high-intensity host whose responses are no-fluff, honest, and a tad explicit from time to time, Gary might be just the straight-talking expert you need.
Duct Tape Marketing
Since 2009, John Jantsch, a small business marketing expert and author, has been hosting this marketing podcast which brings on many different guests to chat about new trends, tips, and tactics in the digital marketing space.
Neil Patel, Guy Kawasaki, and Ann Handley have joined the ranks of past guests who’ve shared their unique insights on the show.
Marketing Smarts
With insights from the Kerry O’Shea Gorgone, enterprise trainer at MarketingProfs.
Each week, leading marketers come on the show to share real-world insights and stories about what’s worked (and what hasn’t) when it comes to creative marketing tactics.
Get the marketing shortcuts you need to jump-start your online business.
Brian Moran, a marketing expert and the co-founder at SamCart, shares his daily insights from growing and running a multi-million dollar software startup, so that you can apply them in your own business.
Brian’s Marketing tips are edited down into 5 minute bite-sized chunks so you can spend your time implementing them instead of listening to podcasts all day long.
The Marketing Companion
Marketers Mark Schaefer and Tom Webster co-host this podcast that comes out twice per month.
During the podcast, they talk answer common marketing questions and cover hot-button topics that many people in leadership roles have to wrestle with every day (all without being overly stuffy.)
Best Operations Podcasts
Every business learner should understand operations – it is the bottom line to knowing how a business works.
From product development to staffing to technology, operations knowledge is a must-have for any MBA student.
Based on Sam Altman’s Stanford class, “How to Start a Business,” this podcast archives the lectures of that course and provides interested learners with a step-by-step of building a business.
That’s why it makes an excellent podcast to understanding operations.
Want to know the strategies of other successful businesses?
This podcast can help you follow along as new and existing tech startups build and run their businesses.
Whether you are pursuing an MBA right now or in the future, or you want to get an MBA education for free, these podcasts can give you insight, information, tools and resources into the business world.
The Project Management Podcast
This is a free and premium podcast hosted by Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, who has led projects for a management consulting company, a national retailer, a financial service provider and an internet startup among others.
The weekly program focuses on best practices and new developments in the industry.
He has frequent guests and has spoken to PMP certification, leadership, work-life balance and many other topics. Check out the previous podcasts with our own Jason Westland.
The People and Projects Podcast
Andy Kaufman, executive project coach, has been broadcasting since January 2009, providing interviews and insight on project management topics from leadership to productivity.
There are free and premium podcasts and, like others can qualify certified project management professionals with up to 30 Professional Development Units (PDUs). Episodes focus on project managers, project sponsors and leadership at all levels.
The Lazy Project Manager
Peter Taylor Podcast Host Peter Taylor, who we interviewed last year is the author of two best-selling books on project management.
He is a frequent lecturer whose mission is to teach as many people as possible how to “work smarter and not harder.”
On his podcast, he addresses issues such as work-life balance and productivity, with interviews and even some music that makes his podcast a must-listen.
PM for the Masses
PM for the Masses Podcast Cesar Abeid is an electrical engineer and project management professional, who focuses on project managers.
He uses the podcast as a platform to explore successful concepts and interviews those who are making a mark in the industry.
Their personal stories are broken down into practical and manageable pieces that can be applied universally.
Best Entrepreneur Podcasts
A core module in the MPA Curriculum, entrepreneurship is the ability to turn ideas into action.
It covers creativity, innovation and risk-taking, as well as the ability to plan and manage projects to achieve results.
This entrepreneurial podcast includes the elements of a master of business administration focusing on discovering successes out of failures, becoming an inspired entrepreneur and finding the epiphanies that push you forward.
This MBA podcast supports and educates entrepreneurs no matter where they live.
Disconnect from your day job and learn to build a business wherever you land.
The Entrepreneurs
Monocle 24’s weekly tour of the most inspiring people, companies and ideas in global business, whether they are starting from scratch, reinvigorating the family firm or developing new technology.
Monocle’s weekly podcast is featuring global business leaders, often on location, discussing their entrepreneurial spirits and products.
Co-sponsored by BASES (a student entrepreneurship group), the Stanford Technology Ventures Program and the Department of Management Science and Engineering, these weekly Stanford seminars feature entrepreneurs and innovators who share their stories.
Past guests have included Land’s End CEO Federica Marchionni, Blue Bottle Coffee founder James Freeman, and Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO at the marketing and sales software firm HubSpot.
Best Economics Podcasts
Economics in business provides knowledge of how a firm uses traditional economic theories into practice.
In another word, Business Economics is taken as a science, which reduces the gap between abstract economic theory and business practice vital for any MPA learner.
The Financial Time’s Alphachat is a short weekly podcast about business and economics. FT hosts guests that dive deeply into a new theme each week. The topics are fresh and interesting.
Freakonomics Radio is an incredibly popular weekly economics podcast. It is hosted by Stephen Dubner, who is the author of Freakonomics.
Created for a general audience, this podcast takes a cue from best-selling Freakonomics book by exploring and analysing economics and social behaviour in everyday life.
Exchanges at Goldman Sachs is an educational economics podcast in which people from across the company share their deep insights on developments in various industries, different types of markets and the global economy.
A must listen that will help readers uncover hidden opportunities.
Bloomberg Benchmark is another great podcast for the economics enthusiast.
This weekly podcast gives a detailed look into the economic systems and policies that govern them
Best Management Podcasts
Business management skills are an important contribution to any company.
Because of this, it should be developed to it’s full potential for a manager in his or her organisation to be successful and the reason it is part of an MPA.
Manager Tools is a podcast produced by a management consulting firm of the same name.
It’s owned by Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman, both West Point graduates, former army officers and corporate executives.
They use their experience in the military, business life, and decades of management consulting to offer listeners actionable recommendations to become more effective and productive managers.
MIT Sloan School of Management
An interview-based podcast which talks about broad management type issues in a semi-academic format.
It’s a diverse and vibrant community where every person is valued and supported. It’s a place of action and pragmatism, where faculty strive to solve the world’s problems.
It’s a place where industry leaders come to connect with the brightest minds of the next generation.
A podcast that interviews managers and business leaders on practical skills they learned to become great bosses.
In these short and practical podcasts, Poynter’s leadership and management expert Jill Geisler explains the things great bosses know. Her valuable tips help anyone who hopes to be a great boss or to work for one.
Best Overall Podcasts
There are many podcasts that can help you with an MPA education that has a broad focus covering the modules of the master of business administration program.
These podcasts introduce you to the full-spectrum of MBA education and connect you with successful business leaders around the world.
Each 10-minute episode is packed with MBA training to help you to attain the skills you need for your business and entrepreneurial education.
TED talks are a great resource for all kinds of business topics.
If you want to learn from successful leaders with strong messages, listen to this podcast.
The Darden Speaker Series interviews industry, government and corporate leaders who speak about trends, challenges, leadership and business philosophy.
Leaders featured have experience in healthcare, media, finance, sports, government and technology.
Host, Joey Price, discusses all kinds of MBA-related topics like marketing, finance, leadership, operations and more.
A business leader is invited to each podcast to discuss the chosen topic.
Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders
Delivered by Stanford University, this podcast is a great resource individual in pursuit of an MBA.
The program interviews business representatives of startups, investors and founders from major companies like Amazon and Facebook.
The goal of the podcast is to inspire entrepreneurs.
The Harvard Business Review releases this weekly podcasts of business expert interviews. Past guests include executives, researchers, authors, and journalists.
IMD conducts research on leadership, change, innovation and governance, and shares it through its podcast.
Similar to other business school podcasts, Knowledge@Wharton interviews subject-matter experts in business fields or academia.
London Business School Podcast
The London Business School shares podcasts and vodcasts of lectures and conferences.
Also, the school share interviews of their academic faculty and famous business leaders.
Best Favourite Best of the Best Podcasts
I am hooked on this guy’s writing and now his interviews! At the end most of his articles I always say I wish I have written this!
Clever, insightful and new perspective on life! James Altucher is a successful entrepreneur, investor and the writer of 11 books including the recent WSJ Bestseller, “Choose Yourself!”
He has also lost all his money, made it back, lost it, made it back several times and openly discusses how he did it in his columns and books.
Tell me something I don’t know
From the same DNA as Freakonomics comes this new kind of game show, hosted by Stephen J. Dubner of Freakonomics Radio. Learn a tonne. Laugh a lot.
This is fun to listen to, and you learn a lot in the process. It’s live journalism wrapped in a game-show package. Learn interesting facts that you probably never knew as contestants try to wow Stephen and his co-host(s).
No introductions needed here, Tim Ferris the bestselling author of “The 4-Hour Workweek” hosts this podcast that features performers from all kinds of fields and shares business leadership messages based on their tactics and tricks.
Another favourite and I absolutely like this guy work, Noah Kagan hosts Noah Kagan Presents sharing actionable business advice for entrepreneurs and other successful people. Noah was employee #30 at Facebook and now runs his own companies with Sumo.com and Appsumo.com
The way I heard it with Mike Rowe
Entertaining with great sounding voice. The way I heard it is hosted by Mike Rowe from the Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs. Mike shares short mysteries for the curious mind with a short attentions span.
Join him for a different take on the people and events that you thought you knew, from pop culture to politics, Hollywood to history.
Hosted by Kevin Rose who I first came to hear from a drunk random podcast episode with Tim Ferriss.
He interviews fellow geeks from all walks of life. Interviewing technologists, scientists, and artisans to discover insights that can benefit us all.
Kevin Rose is a serial entrepreneur and technology investor. Time Magazine calls him one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People on the Web”, and Bloomberg lists him as a “Top 25 Angel Investor”.
Hosted by the “Impossible to pronounce” Chris Guillebeau from The Art of Non-conformity.
This show is about hustling in your spare time “playing entrepreneurially” without making a huge commitment, starting a small business on the side while you still work!
There are some great tips and new business ideas!
The Smart Passive Income Podcast
Almost everything you need to know about online business, Patt Flynn will have some resources on it.
He sounds like a great guy loves his family and is enthusiastic about online business and entrepreneurship.
The Smart Passive Income podcast is consistently ranked in the top 10 podcasts in iTunes’s Business category.
The Side Hustle Nation Podcast
I have listened to every episode hosted by Nick Loper. From entrepreneurial ideas to sound business advice, this is a great resource for anyone.
Nick is a great guy and tends to ask the right questions so anyone can understand the subject!
Mr Creative, this guy has done a few crazy original things in his life from selling his last name to selling his future.
Off the hook show hosted by Jason Zook about nuggets of knowledge on topics like getting out of debt, living intentionally, minimalism, 30-day challenges, getting out of consumption mode, perfectionism, addiction, etc.
My weekly dose of marketing know how.
A show with go-to information featuring Digital Marketing, SEO, content marketing and social media hosted by Dan Shure.
Detailed brings the best content marketing success stories the web has to offer, that you can actually use for marketing your own projects.
It’s hosted by Glen Allsopp from Viperchill, a great guy and inspiring mentor. He is an online marketer who runs successful online marketing agencies as well as teaches his craft at Marketing Inc.
Podcast Players
I bought an Ipod that I only use for podcasts and some music. It’s so easy you subscribe, and it automatically downloads new episodes every week.
Its connected via Bluetooth to the car radio, speaker in my office and while travelling I plug in headphones!
Here is a list of popular players. Setup your system and start to listen to your favourite shows.
Podcast Summary
Although it cannot replace a MBA program Podcast are a wonderful resource of knowledge that you can take advantage of, its free and you can listen to it at any time!
You have the world of knowledge right at the tips of your earlobes, make use of every second and learn anything under the sun!
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What are some of your favourite podcasts?
