logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
41m 34s

Spanx vs Skims | Not Your Grandmother’s ...

Wondery
About this episode

In 1998, a young office equipment sales rep named Sara Blakely can’t find anything to wear under a pair of tight fitting white pants. Everything she tries on makes her feel unattractive. In a moment of inspiration, she cuts off the feet of a pair of pantyhose, saving the outfit and the day. She realizes she’s not the only woman who might like a product like this, so she takes her modest life savings and invents a product that changes an entire industry. 

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
The Rise and Fall of Peloton | Welcome to the Ride | 1
In 2011, avid fitness fan John Foley comes up with an idea for an internet-connected exercise bike that allows users to experience the communal nature of a cycling class from the comfort of home. He thinks the idea will make gyms a relic of the past. The next year, he and four ot ... Show More
39m 31s
Oct 1
Dieselgate | Running on Fumes | 2
By 2014, Volkswagen has taken the U.S. auto market by storm with its fleet of affordable, fuel-efficient diesel cars. But a new study threatens to reveal the dirty truth behind so-called ""clean"" diesel. When the EPA comes knocking with questions, the company's very survival is ... Show More
38m 38s
Sep 24
Dieselgate | Truth or Dare | 1
In 2007, Volkswagen's new CEO Martin Winterkorn sets his sights on besting GM and Toyota to become the top automaker in the world. But the company can't get there without cutting a few regulatory corners.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendation ... Show More
30m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Oprah's Empire | The Oprah Effect | 3
Oprah launches her book club, fights off an entire industry of cattlemen - and becomes a billionaire in the process.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Business Mover ... Show More
32m 26s
Feb 2025
Pioneers and Rivals - Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C.J. Walker | Tangled | 2
Sarah Walker sparks a business rivalry with her former boss, Annie Pope, when she sets up her own hair care company.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Business Mover ... Show More
33m 16s
Jun 2025
The Woman Who Sold Babies | The Cold Hard Hand | 4
As the 1940s draws to a close, Georgia Tann is still making thousands from her black-market baby ring. But although she’s been untouchable for the last two decades, a shift in Memphis’s political climate signals trouble.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curate ... Show More
37m 13s
Feb 2025
Pioneers and Rivals - Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C.J. Walker | Rinse, Lather, Repeat | 3
Sarah Walker faces business and personal challenges as she grows her hair care business.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Business Movers on the Wondery App or wher ... Show More
33m 34s
Feb 2025
Pioneers and Rivals - Annie Turnbo Malone and Madam C.J. Walker | Crowning Achievements | 4
With successful businesses and vast fortunes at their disposal, Black entrepreneurs Annie Malone and Sarah Walker turn their attention to their legacies.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wond ... Show More
33m 16s
Jan 2025
Saving Barnes and Noble | Industry Expert Jane Friedman Discusses The Resurgence Of Barnes & Noble And The Future Of Bookselling | 4
Publishing industry expert Jane Friedman discusses James Daunt’s transformation of Barnes & Noble, and the threats and opportunities the future holds for traditional booksellers.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now a ... Show More
43m 49s
Apr 2025
Virgin Territory: Richard Branson’s Business Beginnings | E for Export | 2
Virgin gets into the music business, but 20-year-old founder Richard Branson is caught in an illegal scheme that threatens the future of his fledgling business empire.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://w ... Show More
32m 11s
Dec 2024
Oprah's Empire | Former OWN Executive Scott Garner on Oprah Winfrey And The Evolution of Television | 5
Former Oprah Winfrey Network executive Scott Garner discusses the media landscape of the 1980s and how Oprah Winfrey redefined daytime television.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynews ... Show More
35m 43s
Sep 30
Here For It All: Motherhood, Love & Legacy with Mariah Carey
Today I’m sitting down with a Living Legend: Mariah Carey. The best-selling female artist of all time, the Elusive Chanteuse, and the Queen of Christmas, is back with her first studio album in seven years, Here For It All. We talk about how motherhood has transformed her, whether ... Show More
59m 33s
Apr 2025
Virgin Territory: Richard Branson’s Business Beginnings | Sowing the Seeds | 1
British teenager Richard Branson finds his true calling as an entrepreneur, but it doesn’t take him long to ruffle a few feathers.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to ... Show More
33m 12s