Taking Care of Business

That's a wrap on Taking Care of Business Series 11! In this episode, host Paul Cheetham-Karcz looks back at the variety of guests we've had on this series, discusses what he's learnt and reflects on his own year in business.Featured in this series: Roger Martin-FaggBehavioural economist and author.MontirexLiverpool-based sportswear brand.Robbie HughesCosmetic dentist and owner of Dental Excellence.Kirk Miller High-performance coach.Claire SofieldManaging Director at Four Recruitment.Danny De BrabanderTerminal cancer, Sepsis survivor.Make sure to check out all the episodes from this series.  Taking Care of Business will return in 2023 with Series 12, so be sure to subscribe, share and tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

On this week's episode of Taking Care of Business, Paul Cheetham-Karcz sits down with a man who has been told on 3 separate occasions that he has terminal bowel cancer with potentially just months to live.  However, Danny De Brabander continues to defy statistics over 3 years later and is still fighting against his diagnosis.  Currently, Danny shows no visible signs of cancer.They discuss facing adversity at different stages of life, how it feels to be told you're going to die, and how adjusting your mindset can improve your outlook on life, whatever your circumstance.Danny goes on to mention the Wirral-based charity he has set up called TEAMDDB.  Inspired by Danny's journey, #TEAMDDB was set up to fundraise for other local charities, and to support the local community.  Please see their website linked below for more information:www.teamddb.co.uk

In this week's episode of Taking Care of Business, Claire Sofield joins Paul Cheetham-Karcz to discuss how she runs her business Four Recruitment, whilst also solo parenting her 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter.They discuss how Claire started her recruitment business, her determination to have a child of her own, fertility issues, IVF and the ups and downs of solo parenting.Whilst there is still some stigma in the workplace regarding fertility and pregnancy, Claire speaks openly about how women should be able to celebrate pregnancy and not dread telling their employer like so many do.

In this episode of Taking Care of Business, Paul Cheetham-Karzc discusses how to make meaningful and lasting changes in life with high-performance coach Kirk Miller.  They discuss how Kirk works with high-performance business leaders to increase their health and fitness while also improving their mindset when it comes to other aspects of life such as business and mental well-being.They mention how Kirk started off with a childhood passion for football, featuring on the front page of Men's Health magazine, to starting his online community Built To Last.In this episode:02:39 - Kirk's childhood dream of becoming a professional footballer11:50 - Finding your own identity17:00 - What makes you unique: Identifying your superpowers17:50 - The reality behind Kirk's feature on the front page of Men's Health24:00 - Recognising your flaws and taking the correct action28:50 - Kirk's first steps into business30:20 - The principles behind his Built To Last community36:30 - Managing unrealistic expectations43:35 - Don't be a hero, be consistent53:20 - What does the future hold for Kirk?

How a young dentist from Liverpool dared to be different in an otherwise very traditional and stagnant industry.  In this episode of Taking Care of Business, Paul Cheetham-Karcz catches up with Dr Robbie Hughes, owner of Dental Excellence.  They sit down to discuss what drove Robbie to change the way things are done in dentistry, from his use of social media to the physical location of his dental practice.Robbie also mentions how he's viewed by the rest of his industry and some of his most famous clients, such as Liverpool FC manager, Jurgen Klopp.In this episode:02:20 - Marketing on Instagram07:05 - How Robbie got into dentistry10:33 - Building a client base17:09 - Motivations to make change22:55 - How does the rest of the industry view Dental Excellence?32:15 - How did Robbie get involved with celebrities like Jurgen Klopp?38:20 - Goals and future plans for Dental Excellence43:30 - What does downtime look like for Robbie?

How two young lads from Liverpool started the multi-million-pound sportswear brand Montirex, in under three years.  In this episode of Taking Care of Business, Paul Cheetham-Karcz sits down with the founders of Montirex: Daniel Yuen and Kieran Riddell-Austin.  They discuss where the idea for Montirex came from, and how they've built the business from the ground up.They mention how the business began while they were both in full-time employment, why they both ultimately wanted to work for themselves and what challenges they had to overcome.In this episode:05:30 - How the idea of Montirex was born09:45 - When did they know they were on to something?12:50 - Increasing the product range14:10 - Getting into Footasylum16:32 - Asking for a loan19:03 - Leaving full-time employment to be self-employed19:53 - Bringing on their first employee23:16 - How did they accelerate going into their 2nd year?25:38 - Is influencer marketing still worth it?28:27 - Going into their 3rd year of business29:53 - Dealing with the challenges and stresses of running a business36:05 - How the business is structured today40:25 - Leading a team in business43:50 - Looking to the future and selling internationally46:50 - Breaking into America47:24 - Advice for starting a business: "Do it and don't look back."

On this episode of Taking Care of Business, Paul Cheetham-Karcz sits down with leading behavioural economist Roger Martin-Fagg to discuss the current economic climate in the UK.  They talk through the current political situation regarding the Tory government's leadership, and how this may affect the economy with regard to recessions, house prices and interest rates.They also go on further to consider the cost of living crisis we are currently facing, and what the short to medium-term economical future may look like for the UK.In this episode:00:02:25 - Who is Roger Martin-Fagg00:08:55 - The effects of Brexit 00:14:35 - Is a recession due?00:16:37 - The definition of a recession00:18:57 - Impacts of the pandemic00:31:41 - How Putin's war is affecting our energy supplies?00:35:25 - A lack of government leadership 00:37:03 - Liz Truss and the mini-budget00:46:10 - The current state of the economy and where it's heading00:50:30 - Tory or Labour?00:55:30 - What's happening to interest rates00:58:05 - Will house prices crash?01:00:48 - Exchange rates and the markets01:04:30 - Roger's take on the looming recessionDisclaimer-This episode was filmed on the 19th of October 2022

Series 11 of Taking Care of Business has arrived!In this preview episode, host Paul Cheetham-Karcz discusses his upcoming guests for this series:Daniel Yuen & Kieran Riddell-AustinCo-Founders of the sportswear brand Montirex.Roger Martin-FaggLeading behavioural economist and keynote speaker.Danny De BrabanderStage 4 (terminal) bowel cancer and sepsis survivor.Kirk MillerInternational life and body coach.Robbie HughesCosmetic dentist and owner of Dental Excellence UK.Further guests are to be announced in the coming weeks. A new episode will drop every Wednesday from 19th October onwards, so subscribe, share and tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and more.

That's a wrap on Taking Care of Business Series 10! In this episode, host Paul Cheetham-Karcz looks back at the variety of guests we've had on this series, discusses what he's learnt and his favourite moments. Featured on this series: Alastair CampbellBritish journalist, author, strategist, broadcaster and activist known for his roles during Tony Blair's leadership of the Labour Party. Tracey NevilleFormer England netball international and Commonwealth Games gold medalist as England head coach.Mike BatesThe Atlantic Grappler and former Royal Marines CommandoLily ShippenFounder of Lily Shippen RecruitmentAbbie Day Brand owner at GypsabellaChris Brindley MBE, Former MD of Metro Bank and elite sports business mentor to the likes of Heineken, Sport England, the PFA and Man Utd.Kevin StewartProfessional footballer for the likes of Blackpool and Liverpool, as well as host of the Money Game Podcast.  Make sure to check out all the episodes from this series.  Taking Care of Business will return in October with Series 11, so be sure to subscribe, share and tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more.

Why is it so crucial for highly paid athletes to understand their finances early in their careers?Kevin Stewart joins us on Taking Care of Business this week with Paul Cheetham-Karcz as they discuss how footballers often struggle to cope with their finances once their professional careers come to an end. Kevin speaks on why he decided early on in his career that he had to think about his future and how he didn't want to move on to coaching as many other athletes do.They go on to discuss what it was like for Kevin to play with some of his childhood heroes, such as Steven Gerrard, starting his own podcast, and what motivates him to make sure he will be financially secure for the future.In this episode:2:15 - Realising how unprepared athletes are for life post-career6:30 - Changing the culture within football7:47 - The start of Kevin's career - Importance of support from parents10:00 - Competitiveness at an early age13:38 - Playing at Tottenham14:03 - Release from Tottenham and move to Liverpool16:45 - Initiations into 1st teams17:43 - The mindset of playing with Steven Gerrard22:24 - Leaving Liverpool to join Hull City24:00 - The difference between being in academies to being a regular 1st team player25:40 - Dealing with abuse from football fans29:17 - The discipline of a businessman versus an athlete36:43 - The difference in finances of an athlete compared to the average person39:40 - Kevin's mindset behind understanding his finances and making good decisions early42:15 - Learning about tax led to a passion for property44:20 - Why Kevin started his own podcast 50:43 - Are there many similarities between the mindset of a business owner and athletes?53:00 - Are you best suited to a team sport or an individual sport?54:38 - A winning mindset - Having belief in your team58:42 - Seeing players around you excel1:00:52 - Does behaviour drive results, or do results drive behaviour?1:03:04 - What does the future look like for Kevin?

How do you build a team that is on board and striving to achieve the best possible results?This week Paul Cheetham-Karcz speaks to Britain's Best Boss, Chris Brindley. They discuss his leadership style and how he does things differently. He also looks back at some of his proudest achievements throughout his career, such as winning the "Britain's Best Boss" award and his time as MD at Metro Bank, the first new high street bank to launch in the United Kingdom in over 150 years.Chris goes on to talk about how he transitioned from working in finance for the likes of NatWest to working in the energy sector for British Gas to becoming chair of the Rugby League World Cup.In this episode:00:50 - Britain's Best Boss award05:15 - How do you deal with difficult team members?08:20 - Chris' desire to be the best and setting standards for others11:05 - Understanding what motivates your team members, and becoming a coach12:03 - John Whitmore's model of G-R-O-W14:07 - R-I-C-E-S  model18:10 - Importance of people skills23:40 - Preparing team members for higher positions25:00 - The influence you have on other people in your life28:35 - Chris' aspirations after school30:55 - Starting a leadership role at NatWest31:50 - Greatest achievement at NatWest33:20 - Transferring his leadership skills and reinventing himself at British Gas40:45 - Prevention not cure - Having conversations with team members quickly42:37 - Hiring for Metro Bank45:00 - How Chris was approached to work at Metro Bank48:45 - Keeping Metro Bank open on Sundays and bank holidays - putting customers first51:14 - Why leave Metro Bank?51:40 - Involvement with sport53:30 - Becoming chair of the Rugby League World Cup55:00 - What's next for Chris after the Rugby League World Cup in December?

What challenges are recruitment firms facing post-pandemic, and what is it like to start a business at a young age?In this week's episode, we are joined by Lily Shippen, the managing director and founder of Lily Shippen Recruitment. Speaking to Paul Cheetham-Karcz, she discusses how she got into the recruitment industry, deciding to start a business at just 22 years old, and how new challenges, such as working from home, are affecting recruiters today.Lily also goes on to discuss what the next 12 months may look like for her and how she wants to build a legacy.In this episode:06:50 - Starting in recruitment08:40 - Starting a business at 2210:43 - Building a client base12:23 - Looking back at the first 12 months of business14:10 - The pressures of being a business owner 15:15 - Challenges brought on by COVID17:49 - Effects of Work From Home on recruitment24:48 - Have government bail outs accelerated recruitment post-COVID?27:25 - Rise of employer review websites31:58 - Accelerated growth in the last 12 months34:30 - Moving to London36:45 - Importance of building a team and developing a culture41:03 - Taking inspiration from role models42:41 - The challenges Lily's faced in the last 12 months of growth44:28 - Visualising and setting goals for the future

What attributes do you need to create a life for yourself without any limits?This episode's guest has worked in covert operations for the counter-terrorism unit, is a human intelligence specialist and has worked for the Royal Marines and the Ministry of Defence. He's also a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has founded his own martial arts centre and in December 2022 is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean SOLO.The Atlantic Grappler, Mike Bates, knows a thing or two about challenging limits. In this Taking Care of Business episode, Mike and host, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, discuss the blueprint needed to push further than you thought was impossible, with motivation, inspiration, nerve and discipline at the heart of it.The guys also discuss Mike's time in the marines and with the MOD, as well as how he's preparing to take on his toughest challenge yet - rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean on his own for charity.

What does it really feel like to be a business owner in the thick of a growing brand?That's the question put to the next guest on the Taking Care of Business podcast. The founder of Gypsabella, Abbie Day, joins host Paul Cheetham-Karcz, to talk about everything from the early days of founding her fashion brand, through realising she might be on to something, and onto dealing with the challenges that come with growing a successful business.Abbie also talks about the future for Gypsabella and her plans to build a sustainable business which pushes boundaries, whilst also looking after herself.

How do you create a winning team that demonstrates persistent excellence?The answer to that question lies within building a culture and environment geared towards high performance; a topic which former England netball international and Commonwealth Games gold medalist as England head coach, Tracey Neville, knows all too well about.Tracey joins host, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, to discuss everything from how she created winning environments as England netball's Head Coach to preparing and winning gold medals. Tracey also discusses the impact of sport on her childhood, as well as the childhoods of brothers Gary and Phil, and transitioning her career post-playing days.

What are the common traits amongst the world's serial winners and leaders? That's the topic up for debate in this episode, as host Paul Cheetham-Karcz welcomes to Taking Care of Business a man who knows a thing or two about both winning and leading - Alastair Campbell.Alastair is a British journalist, author, strategist, broadcaster and activist known for his key roles during Tony Blair's leadership of the Labour Party. The pair discuss what Alastair learnt from the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Arsène Wenger whilst writing his book 'Winners', as well as the strategies and objectives (or lack of) in the current Conservative and Labour parties.Paul and Alastair also chat about social media's impact on politics, the trend of sportspeople infiltrating the political landscape, dealing with criticism and what the future holds for Alastair Campbell.Taking Care of Business is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. Can't find your platform? Head to www.sedulo.co.uk/tcob

Series 10 of Taking Care of Business is here! In this preview episode, host Paul Cheetham-Karcz discusses what he's learnt over the past 9 series' of Taking Care of Business, as well as looks ahead to a series featuring: Alastair CampbellBritish journalist, author, strategist, broadcaster and activist known for his roles during Tony Blair's leadership of the Labour Party. Tracey NevilleFormer England netball international and Commonwealth Games gold medalist as England head coach.Mike BatesThe Atlantic Grappler and former Royal Marines CommandoLily ShippenFounder of Lily Shippen RecruitmentAbbie DayBrand owner at GypsabellaChris Brindley MBEFormer MD of Metro Bank and elite sports business mentor to the likes of Heineken, Sport England, the PFA and Man Utd.Kevin StewartProfessional footballer for the likes of Blackpool and Liverpool, as well as host of the Money Game PodcastA new episode will be dropping every Wednesday from 8th June onwards, so subscribe, share and tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more.

How does behaviour affect those around you and ultimately shape an organisation?That's the theme of this episode of Taking Care of Business, as host and Sedulo Managing Partner, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, talks to Chief Executive of Downtown in Business, Frank McKenna, exploring events surrounding Boris Johnson, Keir Starmer and Everton FC, as well as drawing on personal experience

What does it take to build a brand and business that stands the test of time? That's the theme of this episode of Taking Care of Business, as host Paul Cheetham-Karcz talks to the founder of Barber Barber, Johnny Shanahan, on how he has managed to create a brand amongst a very trend-heavy industry that has grown across the UK and shows no sign of slowing down.Also up for discussion are how a business can be authentic on whatever their stage is, how the barbering industry has changed in the face of recent challenges and Johnny tells us how he has approached the task of transitioning Barber Barber from a purely service-driven business to one that also supplies products.

What are the personality traits required to not only reach an elite performance level, but to maintain that level across a career?That's the topic up for discussion as host and business leader, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, welcomes Olympic gold medal-winning British triathlete, Alistair Brownlee, to the Taking Care of Business podcast.Also covered in the conversation is the debate between competition vs participation, the difference between confidence and self-belief in all walks of life and the lessons sport can teach us on the necessity to be ruthless.Alistair also gives us his account of THAT moment where he carried his heat-exhausted brother, fellow triathlete Jonny Brownlee, across the finishing line at the 2016 World Triathlon Series in Mexico.

"What are you going to do about it?"This is the question Luke Ambler asked himself after losing his brother-in-law to suicide and this week he joins Paul Cheetham-Karcz to share the story of the answer - Andy's Man Club. This episode explores how the club aims to save lives through talking groups, how to balance your mindset and why asking yourself tough questions is important for development.The episode also delves into a discussion about finding purpose and measuring achievement based on personal growth rather than the set goal.

This is the theme of episode three of series nine of the Taking Care of Business podcast. Host and business leader, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, discusses with Christina Taylor - CEO and founder of the Aim Sky High Company - how her community-first approach has given her purpose and allowed her to make real positive change.They also delve into the importance of having a purpose, how education can be a tool for social mobility and what they perceive their responsibilities are as leaders and mentors.

What does it take to turn an idea and opportunity into a multi-million-pound business?That's the story of this episode of Taking Care of Business, as host and business advisor Paul Cheetham-Karcz welcomes Jimmy Hill - one of the founders of haircare brand, Hairburst - to Series 9 to talk about the journey of growing a consumer brand from nothing, as well as the pressures of closing the majority stake sale of Hairburst to global retailer, JD Sports.The guys also chat about what lies ahead for Hairburst on the back of JD Sports' first steps into the UK's beauty market, as well as Jimmy personally and professionally.Find Jimmy on Insta

Can you be a good person and still win in business?The art of being a better leader in business begins at home; that's the topic for episode one of the ninth series of the Taking Care of Business podcast as host and business advisor, Paul Cheetham-Karcz, discusses the concept of becoming an "everyday athlete" to become a better person, in turn creating a better organisation.Joining Paul for the discussion are rugby league legends - and perennial leaders in their respective sport - Kevin Sinfield MBE and Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Both men led Leeds Rhinos to their golden era of Super League triumphs, as they recount the behaviours and values that created their sporting success and how it can apply to everyday life.We want to hear from you! Once you have listened to the podcast please let us know what you think and leave a review. 

Following the opening of Sedulo's new Liverpool-based premises - dubbed by the press as "Liverpool's coolest office" - the company's Managing Partner (and Taking Care of Business host), Paul Cheetham-Karcz, sat down with one of Merseyside's favourite sons, Andy Grant, to talk about a city which is proud of doing things differently, as well as what the company's arrival means for the region.After appearing on Taking Care of Business back in Series 2 to tell his story of overcoming overwhelming odds after being injured by an IED and facing life as an amputee, only to become the world's fastest single-leg amputee over 10km, Andy's star has continued to rise. Already an established inspirational speaker and author, Andy has gone on to become the co-host of the Leg It Podcast which recently celebrated one million downloads and a status cemented as one of Liverpool's favoured shows.In this episode, Andy and Paul chat about coping with the challenges of the last 12 months, how the Leg It Podcast came about and what the future holds for Andy and for Sedulo.And there was even time to debate the differing fortunes of the North's football clubs, Liverpool, Everton and Man Utd...

What drives people to become successful and elite at what they do? Very often, it's a trauma.For Fes Batista, his trauma of experiencing racism and bullying whilst at university pushed him to nearly take his own life. But after regaining his focus and determination - largely thanks to Lady Gaga - Fes decided to board a flight to Vegas to pursue a dream of becoming a professional boxer on the world stage.Fes's unorthodox journey into boxing takes him from training in the Mayweather gym to impressing boxing legend, Roy Jones Jr, enough to join his team, as Fes chats to host Paul Cheetham-Karcz on how he uses visualisation, determination and more in the pursuit of his dreams and his 'why'.

Over the last decade, there has been a cultural shift in what it means to be a high performer. What used to be determined by a person's physical prowess is now judged by their ability to maintain performance both mentally and physically across a day that encapsulates work and family life, as well as physical exercise.This transition of humans to 'everyday performers' is the subject of this episode of Taking Care of Business, as Paul Cheetham-Karcz chats to the founders of human performance brand HMN24, Jason Rickaby and Phil Learney, about what it means to optimise your mindset 24 hours a day.As well as how to go about the task, the trio also discuss the discipline needed for healthy mindset, the changing approach to nutrition and more.

What does it take to cope with a meteoric rise from humble beginnings to achieving worldwide fame as a musical icon?That’s the question I put to singer and former lead vocalist of M People, Heather Small, as she charts her climb from aspiring singer in West London to selling tens of millions of records across the globe with hits such as Proud, Moving On Up and Search for the Hero, and how she managed everything along the journey.As well as Heather’s career, this episode of the Taking Care of Business podcast also covers topics including managing nerves when performing, being amongst the Hacienda scene, being a strong black woman in today’s society, Heather’s role as a mental health advocate and releasing new music in the future.There’s even time for a revelation around the truth behind the M People name…

Exactly 30 years since his father’s death, James Lindemann joins us to share his story in aid to raise awareness of mental health.After losing his father to suicide at the age of 16, James struggled with his mental health and has experienced two psychotic episodes during his lifetime. Although he feels the subject matter is much more talked about than it used to be, James thinks it is still taboo for many.In this episode, James talks about how his passion for football and how his love for Manchester United became his stress reliever. Over the course of the episode, he opens up about how he now has a positive mindset, and both he and Paul talk about the mechanisms they put in place to manage their mental wellbeing both individually and within business. Fast forward to now, James is a director of a recruitment firm in the renewable energy sector and is taking part in a charity walk on the 11th of May to raise awareness as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

With hospitality seemingly beginning to bounce back following a year marked by disruption, this episode of Taking Care of Business looks ahead at the opportunities out there for one of the sectors hit worst by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as recognising the response of the industry’s business leaders. Paul is joined by Karina Jadhav of Manchester hospitality hotspot, Menagerie, to talk about juggling the challenges she’s had as a business owner over the past 12mths alongside her responsibilities as a first-time mum, as well as their excitement for an optimistic future amongst UK’s restaurant and bar community.

Former British middleweight and super-middleweight boxing champion, Paul Smith, is no stranger to the nerves, tension and anxiety around a big fight that are needed to propel a professional athlete to the top. But how do athletes turn these emotions into a positive when they’re often feared in so many other situations? That’s the topic up for discussion in the first episode of Series 8 of the Taking Care of Business, as Paul delves into the mindset needed to manage stress and fear on the world’s biggest stages, as well as the lessons and coping mechanisms the ‘everyday workplace’ can learn from the experience of an elite athlete. Paul also covers Smith’s move into becoming a boxing manager following his retirement at 38 years old, as well as how he’s working to advise his boxing brothers to fulfil their career aspirations.

Recruitment is always an indication of whether the market is coming back.    In this episode, Neil Clough from Prime Recruitment and Claire Sofield from Four Recruitment share how they adapted their businesses amidst the pandemic, give us an overview of the job market and highlight what employers are looking for in a candidate

The travel Industry has been one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, with little to no support from the government after the restrictions imposed. Nicola and David Palmer, founders of Perfect Getaways, share their experience of running a travel agency in these tough times, including making the decision to trade throughout COVID, managing both customer service and staff morale despite frequent changes and what 2022 looks like for UK holiday-makers.

COVID-19 has presented business owners with challenges they've never faced before, and that's particularly true for the events industry. This is something the Founder & CEO of Make Events, Holly Moore, knows this all too well, and in the face of the COVID crisis has worked tirelessly to pivot her business model. But the effect of this work is a roller coaster of emotions and decision-making; something which Holly discusses with Paul in this latest episode of Taking Care of Business.

After being brought to a standstill in the wake of COVID-19, what state is the events and hospitality industry in and what's next for them? That's the question we put to Chief Executive at Manchester Central, Shaun Hinds, as he assesses how the events industry has fared and how that compares with our European counterparts. He also discusses the transformation of Manchester Central into a Nightingale Hospital - a process that took just 16 days with the help of the Army.

Has the Government's leadership since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the UK been sufficient, or has it been lacking?   That's the topic up for discussion in the first episode of this special COVID-19 series of the Taking Care of Business podcast - as we listen to real stories from some of the industries that have been hit hardest.   Our first guest is Chief Executive of Downtown in Business and former MP, Frank McKenna. Paul and Frank analyse the Government's response to crisis to assess where they have done well as leaders, and where they haven't.

Oliver Cookson is the founder of one of the world's leading sports nutrition brands, Myprotein®, and his story celebrates the old school traditions of business.   Nowadays the value of a business seems to based upon its value upon a ‘raise' - we have stopped celebrating success stories that are down to old school decision-making & building foundations. Small amounts of money, hard work, overcoming adversity and then dealing with success. Hear about Oliver's journey and why he has subsequently launched his own podcast and in the middle of writing his new book, 'Bootstrap Your Life'. 

Stuart Bennett, otherwise known by his ring names of "Wade Barrett" or "Bad News Barrett", is an actor and former WWE wrestler who was a key figure in the famous wrestling organisation for 10 years. Born in Lancashire and now living in LA, Stuart has lived nearly every young child's dream of performing in the WWE, and is on the cusp of releasing his new film, 'I Am Vengeance: Retaliation'.

Kevin Sinfield MBE is one of the most widely regarded players in Rugby League history. He captained England & Leeds Rhinos, leading the club to seven Super League championships and two Challenge Cup successes. Now Director of Rugby at Leeds, he holds multiple records for points-scored and is the only captain to have led a team to win three consecutive Super League titles. Paul and Kevin delve into what it is which sets leaders apart, from their personal qualities to maintaining the right mindset.

Built by brothers Matt and Ben Jones, hear the story behind pioneering bar group, Roxy Leisure and how they foresee the industry evolving in a post-Covid-19 world.

In the first episode of the new series and since the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul is joined by Will Stanton from Corporate Finance at Sedulo. Both discuss how the business has managed to ride through the ever-changing storm, ways they have supported communities and what the new future might look like.

Paul is joined by Dr Asad Raffi and Jonathan Edgeley of Sanctum Healthcare, a specialist provider of bespoke treatments for psychological and dependency disorders. In this episode, they discuss all things mental health, including its current place in society, the mental health impact of Coronavirus and share some useful self-help tools.

Business is full of highs and lows, from going through exciting periods of growth to then facing financial uncertainty and ultimately liquidation. It's how you bounce back from those lows that really matter, and is something that Carley Jones, founder of Kettlebell Kitchen knows all too well. Hear what really happened at the multi-million valued fast-food brand and how Carley has now moved on to her next exciting venture.

It takes a unique mindset to continually challenge yourself, set new goals and throw yourself into challenging environments. Former rugby league player, boxer and actor Adam Fogerty has embraced this way of thinking throughout his career, whether it was winning the Super League with St Helens, boxing Tyson Fury's father or appearing alongside Brad Pitt as 'Gorgeous George' in Guy Ritchie's Snatch.

In many of today's competitive industries, being different and standing out from the crowd could be the difference between winning new clients and keeping them. Hear how the founder of Liverpool-based disruptive law firm CEL Solicitors, Jessica Hampson, has successfully led year-on-year growth and established a culture unique to the legal industry.

It's no secret that launching your own business is challenging, full of ups, downs and certainly no guarantee of success. Chris Cope is the founder of P81, branding and product specialists with over 15 years' experience in the leisure industry, serving clients including Basic Fit and David Lloyd. Hear first-hand the difficulties Chris encountered on his journey, and how he was able to bounce back from periods of uncertainty to build a successful, growing business.

With the UK finally set to leave the European Union on 31st January after Boris Johnson's Brexit deal was backed by MPs, what can we expect to see short and long-term?   In his second appearance on the podcast, ex-politician and founder of Downtown in Business, Frank Mckenna, gives his take on the recent general election outcome and importantly, what it means for both businesses and society.

Whether it's joining a gym, cutting out the bad eating habits or setting a new health and wellbeing goal, the New Year is seen to be the perfect time to start fresh. But with a whopping 80% of New Year's resolutions failing by February, are we simply being too unrealistic with ourselves? In his second appearance on the podcast, personal trainer Paul Boys shares his best training types, nutrition tips and lifestyle advice to help you stay true to your resolution in 2020.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan knows a thing or two about performance, both physically and mentally. With a career spanning 20 years playing solely for Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain, JJB won 6 Super League Grand Finals, 3 World Club Challenges, 3 League Leaders' Shields and 1 Challenge Cup Final. Now retired, Jamie remains a huge part of his local community in Leeds and in addition to his TV show, Rugby AM, still remains heavily involved in all things Rugby League.

Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem (such as anxiety, stress and depression) each year.  Anxiety and depression have been estimated to cause one-fifth of days lost from work in Britain, with worries about things like money and jobs making it increasingly harder for people to cope.  Emma Rettig and Jess Walton join Paul in discussing all things mental health and what Sedulo is doing to help people combat mental health issues in the workplace.

It's well known that boxing is one of the most physically and mentally draining sports. From the gruelling training camps, shedding those final few pounds to stepping into the ring in front of 20,000 people. John Murray is a former English, British, European lightweight champion and WBA challenger. With a successful professional career spanning 11 years, John has fought under the bright lights in Vegas, the historic Madison Square Garden and his hometown arena. Now retired, Murray runs his own gym in Manchester, training both amateur and professional boxers.