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Business Wars

The Whole Foods Rebellion | Vision Quest | 1

Business Wars

Wondery

History, Business, David Brown, Management

4.613.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2025

⏱️ 44 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When Texas hippie John Mackey opens an organic supermarket, he gets high on running a business. But when his ambitions sink its profits, sparks fly between him and his co-founders. They clash over the question of whether to chase a bigger dream or enjoy the money they’re already making.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Wonderly Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of Business Wars the Whole Foods Rebellion early and ad-free right now.

0:07.6

Join Wonderly Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

0:12.8

Wonderly.

0:17.6

Austin, Texas, May 1981.

0:24.5

Hey, Mackey, it's for you.

0:27.3

John Mackey puts down the playing cards in his hand and stands up.

0:31.0

He's 27 years old with shaggy hair and a beard, and on this rainy evening he's relaxing

0:36.0

at a friend's house.

0:39.0

He strolls over to the phone in the hallway. Outside, the storm's getting worse. Rain pounds the windows. Mackie reaches the phone.

0:46.8

It's John. He hears his girlfriend, Renee, Lawson, on the line. John, I'm at the store. The creek's rising

0:53.8

fast. Should we be worried?

0:56.4

The store is Whole Foods Market. Mackie, Lawson, and two friends opened it last year.

1:02.5

It's a supermarket, but it's unique, because unlike every other supermarket in Austin,

1:08.3

it mainly stocks organic food. It's also located in a flood zone.

1:14.1

Mackie tries to reassure Lawson. It'll be okay. We built that flood wall, remember? We're good.

1:20.0

Unless it's a once-in-a-hundred-year flood. And if it is? It won't be. What are the chances?

1:26.5

Our first year in business and a once-in-every-hundred-year's flood happens? No won't be. What are the chances? Our first year in business and a once and every

1:28.6

hundred years flood happens? No, no way. If it gets worse, call me.

1:36.7

30 minutes later, downtown Austin. Mackie drives slowly through the waterlogged streets. Outside,

1:45.0

it's dark. Across the city, the powers out, and the downpours getting worse.

1:49.0

He stops near Whole Foods at Lamar Intent and steps out into the storm.

1:55.0

He raises an arm to shield his face from the rain and pushes through the water towards the store,

...

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