The Rise of Acquired

This week, I had the pleasure of attending Acquired Live, the live edition of the popular podcast that dives deep into the history of great companies and their playbooks.

Hosted by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, it was a fascinating session, made even more exciting by the fact that Mark Zuckerberg (Zuck) and Daniel Ek of Spotify were in the house.

If you know me, you know that one of my favorite pastimes is learning about different companies, reading biographies of business leaders, and picking up clues from how they overcome both personal and professional challenges. Acquired, which started in 2016, has quickly become a go-to resource for exactly this kind of content.

One thing that stood out to me about Acquired’s journey is their growth trajectory. While they’ve been around for nearly eight years, the majority of their followers have come in the last couple of years—a perfect example of a classic hockey stick growth chart. They grew steadily at first, and then boom, a sharp uptick in listeners.

How One Article Changed Everything

Here’s the kicker: a single article by the Wall Street Journal in May of this year was responsible for a huge increase in their follower count. One well-placed piece of content amplified their reach and sent them viral.

Distribution Leverage in the Modern Age

But it wasn’t just the article that did it—it was Spotify’s global reach that really gave Acquired the leverage they needed to scale beyond the U.S. market.

According to the hosts, their listener growth outside the U.S. is now outpacing their U.S. audience. This is a great example of the distribution power available to content creators today. If you create valuable content, the platforms are there to help you scale like never before.

This story highlights something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: the distribution leverage that content creators have in this age is higher than ever before. Whether it’s through social media platforms, streaming services, or podcasts, the tools to reach a global audience are at your fingertips. What Acquired experienced—explosive growth from one pivotal moment—is a testament to how important it is to create quality content and position yourself on the right platforms.

Insider Scoop: Zuck’s Hidden Message

Here’s a fun insider scoop: during the event, Mark Zuckerberg was spotted wearing a t-shirt with the phrase pathei mathos (πάθει μάθος) — which translates from Greek as “learning through suffering.”

This struck me as particularly fitting for someone like Zuck, who has undoubtedly navigated his share of both successes and setbacks. It’s a reminder that learning often comes through the challenges we face, and it’s a mindset worth embracing whether you’re building a business, leading a team, or simply navigating life.

Takeaways

For me, Acquired Live was a masterclass in both content creation and distribution. The growth of the Acquired podcast shows that if you create compelling content and leverage the right platforms, the sky’s the limit. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a content creator, or just a curious learner like me, there’s so much to be learned from the stories of great companies—and the strategies they use to reach new heights.

If you haven’t checked out Acquired yet, I highly recommend giving it a listen. You never know where the next game-changing insight might come from!