Behind the Bottom Line

Find out the origin story of 'Seven Continents': Who were the real life characters the fictional ones are based on? Where is Kazbakistan and the other locations? How much of the background detail about the diamond industry is accurate? Learn something about the creation of this podcast, the creative process and what happens when characters start to develop their own ideas of what they want to do, whether the writer wants it or not.

Kirill and Irina have told Sergei Vasilyev what they found at the diamond mine at the Tuv oasis. His story of what happened to him and his family is going to shock the two of them - and provide an explanation for the sinister events that have been troubling Gilbert Villiers. In London, Roy Marsden is not pleased to find out that Macey has been visiting Piet Hoodjink, London director of Durban Diamonds, or that she has been lying to him about Kirill being ill. In return, he has a little surprise for her ...

Kirill and Irina head back to Dhosk and civilization after their adventures underground. Their next visit is to Sergei Vasilyev, a colleague of Irina's at the University of Dhosk who used to work at the mine. What has he got to tell them? Macey has decided to drop in and see Piet Hoodjink, the director of Durban Diamonds in London and a fierce business rival of Sir Gilbert Villiers. Could he be at the root of the problem?

Kirill and Irina have to go down the stairs into the bowels of the deserted diamond mine to see if they can find anything there that could explain who is behind the campaign to smear Gilbert Villiers. But are they going to get out of there alive? Macey is also dealing with a tricky situation. How much can she rely on what Eamonn Fitzroy, the CFO for Seven Continents says?

Macey Church and Kirill Solokov continue to try to unravel what is happening at Seven Continents, the diamond mining giant. Macey has interviews with some of the directors at the London headquarters while Kirill and Irina, are following up clues given to them by the Kerkomen nomads in the other side of the world in Kazbakistan.

Macey Church reports what she has learnt from interviewing Nancy Inovix to Dr Roy Marsden, director of ECO Warriors, and receives an unexpected invitation. Meanwhile in Kazbakistan, Kirill Solokov sets off across the desert with the anthropologist Dr Irina Kerkomenova to visit the Kerkomen nomads. Do they have some answers as to why Sir Gilbert Villiers is being smeared?

Macey Church and Kirill Sokolov set to work to uncover who is sending sinister messages to Sir Gilbert Villiers and the Seven Continents diamond mining company. While Macey begins interviewing Villiers' colleagues in London, Kirill is headed for Kazbakistan where he gets quite a surprise when he lands at the airport …

Roy Marsden has gone back to London and Macey and Kirill will start carrying out interviews in Seven Continents on Monday, to try to discover who is behind the anonymous messages threatening Sir Gilbert. So, maybe they can have a relaxing weekend first and renew old friendships? Think again - things are about to turn nasty.

Sir Gilbert has introduced Macey and Kirill to his close associate Dr Roy Marsden, director of the environmental protection group ECO Warriors. But what is his connection to the diamond mining industry and what is it that Seven Continents is so worried about?

Kirill Solokov and Macey Church, investigators for Capstan Consultants are on their way to meet Sir Gilbert Villiers, the chairman of Seven Continents, a diamond mining company, and his wife the former ballerina Tatyana Kerkomenova. On their way to the Villiers' country estate Ashdown Hall, Kirill shares a surprising piece of information with Macey. Will the fact that he was once engaged to Tatyana help or hinder their investigation? And who else are they going to meet this weekend?

Seven Continents is a diamond mining company with a reputation for ethical and sustainable exploitation of natural resources. So why is the charismatic chairman, Sir Gilbert Villiers, receiving threatening messages? And what is the connection to Kazbakistan, homeland of his ballerina wife Tatyana Kerkomenova? Macey Church and Kirill Solokov, investigators from Capstan Consultants, are given the job of finding out what is going on, a job where personal and professional interests might be about to collide.

Clear your schedules now! September 13, season 9 of BBL is out. 'Seven Continents' is a 14-part thriller set in the diamond mining industry. Recordings are in progress now. Book will be available on my website: Behind the Bottom Line

This is the final episode of season 8's story ‘The Impressions'. I talk about the City of London where the story takes place, the sources for the different characters and an interesting theory about what some people believe could explain ghosts. And finally I'm going to introduce you to my next project.

Felicity Appleby's plan to have the building belonging to the London investment bank Ruff, Tumble and Bounderby declared a building worth preserving by the Historical Building Association means the re-entry into her life of Aiden Duchenny, an ex-boyfriend. Will he help her, or will that entail a price that nobody should expect her to pay?

Felicity Appleby has promised to help the Impressions, the peculiar inhabitants of the investment bank she works at near St Paul's Cathedral, find a way to stop the building they inhabit being torn down. But how will that be possible when other people hardly ever notice them? Could Felicity's old boyfriend Aidan Duchenny - also known as Aidan the Douchebag - help her find a way?

Felicity Appleby has a job she hates in the London investment bank Ruff, Tumble and Bounderby. The only plus side is the bank's beautiful 19th century building and its location in the City of London, near St Paul's Cathedral. However, after bumping her head on a cupboard door, Felicity finds that the building is home to a whole other group of people, the Impressions, who badly need her help. Can she help them survive the 21st century?

Welcome to the 'Behind the Bottom Line' Summer Special 2022. Two great episodes to listen to on holiday. Today's stories are: ⚽ ‘The Debt' – Jimmy King was once a prince on the football pitch, worshipped by thousands. Now, he's just a bitter, old man in a care home, waiting to die. But not everybody has forgotten his glory days. Can someone bring them back for a moment?

Welcome to the 'Behind the Bottom Line' Summer Special 2022. Two great episodes to listen to on holiday. Today's stories are:

Thanks to his magnificent moustache, Wilhelm Adler has always managed to get his way in both the boardroom and the bedroom. But Candy Harding is disgusted by it and remains completely immune to his charms, which of course makes her doubly attractive. How can he persuade her to think again? Music by JuliusH Pixabay Image by rawpixel.com

Sally King is shopping in Hal Mart Superstore in Portland. As always, her experience is made much easier if she follows the advice given to her by her shopping cart. Only this time, the shopping cart has one or two strange suggestions for her. What on earth was her husband doing the previous weekend while she was in Florida? Music by JuliusH Pixabay. Image by rawpixel.com This story first appeared in Speak Up!

Jack is a highly paid motivational speaker with a secret. Bibi is his coach and she has a secret too. What could be the key for both of them to tell each other their secrets? Could it be the catchphrase that Jack's old sheepdog Billy always said to Jack? 'Who dares, wins?' A transcript of this story is available on my website: www.behindthebottomline.com Music by JuliusH Pixabay. Image by Pixabay This story first appeared in Business Spotlight.

Richard Olsen is a financial journalist, investigating Hawksmoor Trading Ltd, an investment company with a lot of dirty fingers in a lot of dirty pies. His story is going nowhere until he meets Annie Hart, a junior secretary with a conscience about what Hawksmoor is doing. She provides him with the evidence he needs and even goes to bed with him. Everything seems peachy, until a lawyer comes to his office with a warning ... Music by Music by JuliusH Pixabay. Image by rawpixel.com This story first appeared in Business Spotlight.

Superlearning - now that sounds like a nice way to polish your skills. Lie back, get a massage, relax and allow the soft whispering in your ear to improve your performance, without any effort at all. Only over time, too much superlearning might have unforeseen consequences, and turn you from a pleasant coworker into a raging sociopath. And then who knows what might happen? Music and sound effects: JuliusH and Pixabay Picture: Rawpixel

Hello loyal listeners! Apologies, but because of a huge conference which I'm currently organising, I won't be able to post any more sessions until March 29. While I'm away, why not catch up on some of the episodes you may have missed? There's lots of great material which I'm sure you'll enjoy. So, until next time, look after yourself and happy listening!

The teams from sales on the third floor, and accountancy on the seventh floor like to prank each other. But this time, they may have gone a little too far … Music by JuliusH, Pixabay. Image by rawpixel.com This story first appeared in Business Spotlight.

Mr Hickson is making a pot of money from his new property development at Brancaster Towers and it's a nice place for him to hide his mistress, Roxanna. But who is behind the mysterious door in the West Tower? And what are they looking for from Hickson? This story was first published in Business Spotlight in 2010 Music by Pixabay and JuliusH, Pixabay. Photo by Antonio Dillard from Pexels

Ed and Jane are scriptwriters for a big Hollywood studio, who've been told they've got to work together. She likes to write dramas and he likes to write thrillers. What neither of them can write are romantic comedies. Or can they? Music by JuliusH, Pixabay. Photo by Monstera from Pexels This story first appeared in Business Spotlight in 2020.

Imagine you have only six months to live. What would you do with the time? A) Travel B) Eat in the best restaurants C) Poison the managing director of the company you worked at for thirty years? The choice is yours… The text for the story can be found in the transcript section on my website: https://www.podpage.com/behind-the-bottom-line/ Music by JuliusH, Pixabay. Photo by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash

An old man in a hospital ward is convinced his grandchildren are trying to steal his company from under his nose. Can he persuade his lawyers that they have to do something to stop this, or will he just be ignored? This story is based on a thousand real events. Music by JuliusH, Pixabay.

In the final episode for season 6 find out about: - Pacelli and the real-life Advanced Centre for Wellness and Meditation - the importance of pugs and Tarot cards in life - shopping in Venice I'll also share some interesting facts and figures about my podcast in 2021 and carry out a live Tarot reading concerning its future in 2022. Join me if you dare… And, if you still need a Christmas present for someone, why not buy my books, “Peril in Venice” and “Double Trouble”? Check out ‘Book Shop' on my website: www.behindthebottomline.com ‘Behind the Bottom Line' is available on all podcast players and will return at the end of January 2022. Subscribe now (it's free!), so you never miss an episode. Music JuliusH Pixabay

Caliban and his henchman Milos have been arrested, but the real head of their drug dealing gang – the New York socialite Dotty van Meese – has just met the unsuspecting Emily for dinner. Is Emily going to get out of this alive? Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

On Pacelli, Filippo has set up a meeting with Caliban Leone to see if they can agree on a drug deal. Meanwhile, Emily decides to follow the mysterious man she saw talking to Leone's henchman, Milos, on the Lido. But is this really a good idea? Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

Emily Lee's holiday in Venice has not been peaceful. Some headache tablets packed in Emily's suitcase by the masseuse Maria Torres from her yoga retreat, turn out to contain ecstasy, causing Emily's friend Filippo to behave very strangely when he took one by mistake. The two of them have now gone to the police where they find out something even more shocking: Maria's boyfriend has been found drowned in the lagoon and Maria has disappeared. Filippo has a plan to find out what Caliban Leone is up to, but is it going to work? Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

Emily has left the Advanced Centre for Wellness and Meditation and is now supposed to be spending a week in Venice with her friend Filippo Cimino. Filippo takes her to have lunch with some good friends of his who run a restaurant, but on their way back to their hotel, Emily has a shock. In the newspaper she reads that a guest she met on the island, Jason Tucker, has died of a drug overdose in Berlin. Could this have anything to do with the founder of the centre, Caliban Leone? Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

Emily is enjoying her stay at the Advanced Centre for Wellness and Meditation on the island of Pacelli in the Venetian lagoon, but there are some disturbing things about the place. Why has Caliban Leone, the founder of the centre, got a full-scale chemical laboratory in his cellar? What caused the argument between the centre's cook, Paolo, and Caliban's sinister henchman Milos? And what is Maria, Emily's fitness coach, hiding? Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

Emily wants answers to the questions that have been bothering her since she arrived at the Advanced Centre for Wellness and Meditation on the island of Pacelli. Why are boats arriving on the island in the early hours of the morning? And what is in the herbal tea that the guests drink before their early-morning yoga class that made her behave so strangely? Emily needs answers from Caliban Leone, the mysterious founder of the Centre. But will he give them to her?

Emily has met some of the bizarre other guests on the island of Pacelli at the Advanced Centre for Wellness and Meditation, including Sergei – the video installation artist from Moscow, Jason Tucker an obnoxious DJ from England, and the extravagant Dotty van Meese with whom Emily shares an interest in Tarot card reading and pug dogs. Today, Emily gets into her health regime properly, and things are about to get a little weird. Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

Emily has arrived in Venice and travelled across the lagoon to the island of Pacelli and the Advanced centre for Wellness and Meditation, run by the charismatic Dr Caliban Leone. Now is the time for her to meet the rather peculiar other guests, staying on Pacelli, and have a Tarot reading done for her by the exotic Dotty van Meese. Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

It's the year a shark is spotted swimming down the Grand Canal in Venice, and young executive Emily Lee badly needs a holiday. She decides to travel to the Advanced Centre for Wellness and Relaxation on the small island of Pacelli in the Venetian lagoon for some yoga, warm weather and excellent food. But is the Centre and its charismatic founder, Dr Caliban Leone, everything it should be? Music by JuliusH from Pixabay

Behind the Bottom Line is back on the audio waves for season 6 on October 6 with a detective story, 'Peril in Venice'. Join Emily Lee as she travels from Munich to the island of Pacelli in the Venetian lagoon for a well-deserved holiday at the Advanced Centre for Wellness and Meditation. The question is, will she manage to return?

What was the real-life background to 'Double Trouble'? In this last episode of season 5 of Behind the Bottom Line find out about: the original model for 'Double Trouble' the influence of a disaster back in 1968 how advertisements torture me how I choose the names for my characters You will also get a sneak preview of season 6 which will be coming to a podcast player near you at the beginning of October 2021. Image by Kurt Bouda from Pixabay

Tim, Nick and Wanda are now in London filming the Xaewoo Motors commercial with Lady Lois. So far, things have been going well, but Jemima Madison, the boss's daughter, isn't stupid and she's starting to ask a lot of questions. What will happen if she finds out what's been going on? Image by zl2ifb from Pixabay

Tim has found a way to bring his brother, Nick, Wanda and Lady Lois up to London to film a commercial for Xaewoo Motors. But can a goat act? And will the twins really get away with fooling everybody for very much longer? Image by Marcel Langthim from Pixabay

Tim Aldridge needs to come up with a new advertising campaign for the Madison & Oggers client, Xaewoo Motors in less than a week. Will his longing to escape London and get back to his farm help the creative juices flow? And what about his brother Nick trapped by floods on the farm? Is he simply flirting with Wanda, the Polish agricultural student, or is this something more serious? Image by butterflystroke from Pixabay

After his unfortunate encounter with Tanya Mischkovich in a restaurant, Tim Aldridge is desperate to leave London and get back to his farm. But a visit to a cheese shop which sells his very own 'Aldridge Blue' cheese makes him realise that he has been guilty of avoiding his business responsibilities, and when he does get home, he's going to have to make some changes. Meanwhile, Nick is finding out that being trapped in a dark cellar isn't always such a bad thing. Especially if you're in that dark cellar with Wanda … Image by Pavel Bokr from Pixabay

Tim is still in London pretending to be his twin brother Nick, an advertising executive for the company Madison and Oggers. But things are about to get tricky for Tim: Jemima Madison, Nick's ex-girlfriend, has invited him out on a date. Can he keep her fooled, especially as she starts getting more than a little bit friendly? As for Nick, back on the farm he's advising Tim's wife Gwyneth on how to write a seduction scene for her latest romantic novel. But is the technique he describes starting to work a little too well on Wanda, the attractive agricultural student? Image by GLady from Pixabay

Tim is finding out that his brother's life in London is more complicated than he realized. His colleagues are competitive, he has to create a new advertising campaign for a car in only a week, Nick's ex-girlfriend wants to get back together with him and that's before he's even met the boss, Louis Madison... Image by Ulrike Leone from Pixabay.

Timothy Aldridge has to leave his beloved farm and the quiet countryside to go up to London to take the place of his twin brother Nicholas – an advertising executive – at an important meeting, after Tim, his wife Gwyneth and a goat called Lady Lois accidentally knock Nick out. It's only supposed to be for one meeting, but then Nick finds flooding has left him trapped on the farm and his brother Tim trapped in London pretending to be a top businessperson. What could possibly go wrong? Image by bstad from Pixabay