Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Signature Sneakers | 3

Under Armour's Attack on Nike | Signature Sneakers | 3

Author: Audible March 26, 2026 Duration: 41:52
When Michael Jordan signed with an upstart running shoe company called Nike in the 1980s, it revolutionized the signature sneaker landscape and made Nike the brand to beat. Under Armour made a similar play signing Steph Curry in 2013. But it didn’t pan out quite the way they hoped. Still, nowadays it seems like every star athlete needs a signature line. Tim Newcomb is a sneaker and sports tech reporter whose work has appeared in Forbes, Sports Illustrated, Esquire and more. He's breaking down the rise of the signature shoe from Chuck Taylors in the 1920s to Kobe Bryant’s and Roger Federer’s signature kicks. We’ll also look at some of the new players in the sneaker game, and where Under Armour goes from here.  Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Business Wars ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Behind every product you use and every brand you recognize, there's a hidden history of rivalry and strategic gambles. Business Wars, from Audible, pulls back the curtain on these epic corporate clashes that quietly define our daily lives. It’s not just about quarterly earnings; it’s a deep narrative exploration where ambition, innovation, and sometimes sheer ego collide. Hosted by David Brown, whose experience as a former Marketplace anchor brings a seasoned clarity to complex stories, each series within this podcast dissects a famous business feud. You’ll hear the tense boardroom decisions, the disruptive marketing campaigns, and the personal rivalries that pushed companies like Nike and Adidas or Netflix and HBO to the brink. The storytelling goes beyond the official press releases to uncover the unauthorized maneuvers and human dramas that led to monumental triumphs or stunning downfalls. By weaving together elements of history, management theory, and pure suspense, this series reveals how these battles for your wallet and attention ultimately shape the cultural and commercial landscape we all navigate. Tune in for a compelling chronicle of what it really takes to win, or lose, in the high-stakes arena of modern business.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Business Wars
Podcast Episodes
23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Guess Who’s Back | 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:55
Just when it looked like 23andMe was selling to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, founder Anne Wojcicki placed a bid through her new nonprofit in an attempt to win it back at the eleventh hour. Lila MacLellan, Senior Writer at…
23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Defying Gravity? | 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:17
Plagued by low sales of its genetic tests, 23andMe adopts a bold new plan: slash prices and enter the pharmaceutical industry. But with investors nervous, can CEO Anne Wojcicki keep the show going long enough to make her…
23andMe's Fatal Flaw | Great Expectorations | 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:42
When Silicon Valley power-player Anne Wojcicki sees gold in genetics, she forms 23andMe. She wants to bring genetic testing to the masses. But behind the hype and celebrity endorsements, can she build a company that’s se…
Netflix and the Fall of Television | To the Max | 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:31
After AT&T takes over Time Warner in 2018, the media company decides it's time to enter the streaming wars. They don’t have the brand recognition that Disney has, but they do have HBO, considered the most prestigious cab…
Netflix and the Fall of Television | The Mouse Strikes Back | 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:53
After Netflix poaches Shonda Rimes, one of the most successful television producers on ABC, a Disney-owned network, Disney decides it can’t just sit back and let Netflix keep eating into their market share. Disney CEO Bo…
Netflix and the Fall of Television | The Game Changer | 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:00
In 2017, Netflix stuns Hollywood by paying television producer Shonda Rhimes an unprecedented amount of money to develop shows exclusively for the streamer. The move announces Netflix as a true rival to the legacy studio…
Starbucks' Bitter Brew | A Cup of Competition  | 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:28
Starbucks might be number one in market share, but the competition over coffee is hot. In one corner, you’ve got the New England-based fan favorite Dunkin, with their no-frills vibe and celebrity boosters. In the other,…
Starbucks' Bitter Brew | Back in Black | 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
It’s 2023 and Howard Schultz’s hand-picked successor as CEO is facing trouble. While employees are voting to unionize, competitors are targeting Starbucks’ perceived weaknesses. Dunkin’ and others are beating Starbucks o…
Starbucks' Bitter Brew | The Founder's Curse | 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:21
It's 2021 and Starbucks workers are experiencing post-pandemic exhaustion. For the first time, baristas and others seem poised to vote to form a union. To head that off, Starbucks legendary CEO, Howard Schultz, comes out…
The Whole Foods Rebellion | Harsh Realities | 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:35
After a stock market shakeout stunts Whole Foods’ growth, co-founder John Mackey finds himself struggling to protect the grocery store chain from circling predators. And he knows if he loses this battle, everything he wo…