What It Takes®
What It Takes, from the Academy of Achievement, features intimate interviews with leaders in arts, science, technology, public service, sports and business. The show has 229 episodes, released roughly every 36 days, with median length near 50 minutes. Estimated downloads are 2,000 to 8,000 per episode, with a host-read rate of about $40 to $200 per episode.
Long-form achiever interviews with a loyal, high-rated audience and no ad load yet
- 937 Apple ratings with a 4.7 average signal an engaged, committed listenership.
- Interviews with figures such as Katie Ledecky, Billie Jean King and Gustavo Dudamel suit premium brands.
- Clean, family-friendly content with a 50-minute median length gives sponsors room for a host-read.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- interview, archival best-of rebroadcast, memorial tribute
- Tone
- reflective, inspirational
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 35 to 55 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed; the website lists Academy of Achievement e-Textbooks on Apple Books as its own products.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Episode titles cover athletes, artists and scientists with no explicit flags; the feed explicit field is 0.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | www.achievement.org |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1025864075 |
| RSS feed | feeds.simplecast.com/f2A9Wes_ |
Benchmark score: 19 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Katie Ledecky: The Call Of The Water | 2026-07-20 | 53 min |
| Cindy Sherman: Illusions of Identity | 2026-04-13 | 42 min |
| Tara VanDerveer: A Vision for Victory | 2025-11-27 | 50 min |
| Billie Jean King: Racquet Revolutionary | 2025-10-27 | 51 min |
| Jane Goodall In Memoriam: A Dedicated Pursuit | 2025-10-02 | 35 min |
| Lotte Bjerre Knudsen: Shivering with Curiosity | 2025-06-29 | 59 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 91 days ago, a new one about every 36 days.
Revealing, intimate conversations with visionaries and leaders in the arts, science, technology, public service, sports and business. These engaging personal stories are drawn from interviews with the American Academy of Achievement, and offer insights you’ll want to apply to your own life.
About What It Takes®
What It Takes is a podcast from the Academy of Achievement, a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. that has run for six decades. The show presents intimate interviews with leaders in the arts, science, technology, public service, sports and business, many drawn from the Academy's own archive. Episodes are roughly 35 to 55 minutes long and released about every 36 days across 229 episodes, according to the feed.
The Academy's website names Wayne R. Reynolds as Chairman and CEO and lists a production team including Ethel Terrado Lowe and Marni Kravitz. Apple Podcasts shows 937 ratings with a 4.7 average. Listener figures here are estimates: the audience is likely older, US-based and interested in career and personal achievement.
No sponsors appear in the feed or the website. Based on an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll would be priced at about $40 to $200 per episode. The show suits education, books and premium consumer brands that want a reflective, family-friendly setting.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. What It Takes® can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about What It Takes®
How much does What It Takes charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Estimated host-read rates are about $40 to $200 per episode, based on an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 downloads per episode. Final pricing depends on the sponsor's terms and the episode format.
What is What It Takes about?
What It Takes is an interview podcast from the Academy of Achievement featuring leaders in arts, science, sports and business. Episodes usually run 35 to 55 minutes and draw on the Academy's interview archive.
How do I contact What It Takes about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked directly.
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