There’s nothing we love more than a good Cinderella rags-to-riches story. Perhaps that’s why we have a special affinity for the modern day equivalent: tales of successful entrepreneurs. StartUp is a podcast hosted by Alex Bloomberg - former producer on This American Life and co-host of Planet Money - that follows aspiring entrepreneurs as they attempt to establish their own companies. The show follows a range of companies, as they deal with everything from division of equity, to pitching in front of sceptical investors, but, unlike the more popular versions of these, this is “the business story you never actually get to hear, set down before the facts can fade into sunny start up mythology”.

Even though it is a show about business, StartUp eschews commercial jargon, preferring instead to focus on human moments that feel universally relatable. Why is this show on our list of featured podcasts? Because of the ultimate question, that binds together not just the fledgling entrepreneurs on the show, but anyone who has ever been faced with a crisis of faith: in pursuing your dreams, how do you know when to trust mythical accounts of perseverance and success, and how do you know when it is time to throw in the towel and walk away?

StartUp is currently in its third season, with each episode lasting approximately 30 minutes. Download these onto iPhones and iPads using the Podcasts app, and onto Android Phones and Tablets using the Stitcher app. These are also available online at Soundcloud.