The Entrepreneur Experiment

In this Mentor Moment, economist Stephen Kinsella joins Gary Fox to break down the patterns behind economic booms and busts - and why the seeds of the next crisis are often sown during the good times. Stephen explains the theory of financial instability, the role of credit, and how euphoria can quickly turn to fear. He also explores what could trigger Ireland’s next major economic shock and how global forces shape our future. If you’re a founder, investor, or simply curious about what’s coming next, this is essential listening. To listen to the full episode with Stephen, look for episode 363.  ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1    --- Visit my partners: Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with Dean Klatt, the Australian founder of Seed Golf, who built a global direct-to-consumer golf brand… from Carlow. Dean shares the story of how he reverse-engineered premium golf balls, bootstrapped his way to international markets, and took on billion-dollar brands without a cent spent on advertising in the early days. From wind tunnels in rural Ireland to handwritten letters to YouTubers, this episode is a masterclass in strategic thinking, resourcefulness, and challenger brand building. If you’re a founder aiming to disrupt a traditional industry or simply love a good “from zero to one” story, this is a must-listen. Show Notes In this episode, we cover: ⛳ The unconventional path from golf distributor in Australia to founder of Seed Golf in Ireland 🚀 How Dean designed a high-performance golf ball using university labs, 3D printing, and wind tunnels 🧠 The strategy behind creating a digital-native, direct-to-consumer brand 🌍 Going global from day one: leveraging Irish brand identity and organic word-of-mouth 🎥 Why early influencer marketing worked without a budget — and how they seeded (literally) the market 🏗️ The two-year product development phase and how Dean overcame self-doubt 🎯 "If the big brands zig, we zag" — building a challenger brand with authenticity 🏆 Winning Golf Digest awards 3 years in a row and what that means for future growth 🛍️ What makes golf balls the perfect D2C product: consumable, shippable, repeatable 💬 "Our customers were giving away the golf balls they bought just to tell others about us — that’s when I knew we were onto something." – Dean Klatt 🔗 Resources & Links Seed Golf Website: https://seedgolf.com/ Follow Seed Golf on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedgolfco Peter Finch Golf YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/peterfinchgolf ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

DC Cahalane reveals how a late ADHD diagnosis reshaped his perspective on work and self-worth. He discusses the struggle with procrastination and how traditional productivity tips didn’t work for him. Rather than seeing ADHD as a limitation, he frames it as a unique lens that offers insights to entrepreneurs. His journey emphasizes the importance of mental health support and the idea that understanding your brain can be a superpower, encouraging listeners who grapple with self-doubt and burnout.

Anthony Gallagher, founder of Petstop, shares his remarkable journey from sweeping floors to creating Ireland's leading pet retailer. He talks about how he scaled the business to €40 million, even delivering pet food during lockdowns. Gallagher reflects on his near $42 million dot-com deal that flopped, using personal resources for his team, and competing with multinational giants. He emphasizes the power of location, maintaining a loyal workforce, and the critical role of timing in business success, all while highlighting the bond people share with their pets.

What do you do when your business is on the brink of collapse? For Gary Lavin, it meant getting in his car and personally selling into 3,500 stores in 18 months. In this raw and honest moment, Gary shares how fear became his biggest motivator, why most people skip the hard (but essential) work of selling, and how doubling your store count can double your business — if you're willing to do the legwork. This is a must-listen for any founder struggling to grow or hesitant to sell. ----- Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/3HHwSMo

Lorraine Heskin, founder of Gourmet Food Parlour, reflects on her entrepreneurial journey from a humble 25-seater café to a thriving national brand. She candidly shares the challenges of starting without investors and emphasizes the power of community support and strong team dynamics. Lorraine discusses the importance of strategic branding, customer relationships, and the vital role of personal values in business. Her insights into balancing personal well-being with growth highlight the human side of entrepreneurship, inspiring aspiring business owners to trust their instincts.

Laura Bonner discusses the vital importance of mental fitness, likening therapy to essential workouts for the mind. She highlights the rejuvenating power of retreats that combine therapy, yoga, and meditation. The conversation shifts to redefining value, urging a focus on quality over quantity in life and legacy. Bonner emphasizes that true success is rooted in being a great person rather than just a great business professional. It's a candid exploration of perspective, healing, and the importance of authentic connections.

In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary sits down with Rory King, the founder of Rory’s Travel Club- a radically simple subscription business that’s quietly revolutionising travel in Ireland and beyond. With no investors, no fancy app, and no startup playbook, Rory turned a €10 Facebook idea into a thriving travel club with over 200,000 members, a 10-person team, and a blueprint to reach one million users. From sleeping in his car outside Applegreen Petrol Station to traveling to Sri Lanka with his customers, Rory shares his unfiltered journey of hustle, honesty, and high-impact email marketing. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a profitable business without venture capital - or how to make email sexy again - this episode is your masterclass. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 💡 How Rory validated his idea with a €10 PayPal experiment on Facebook 📬 Why email marketing (done right) is still king—with 70% open rates 🚀 The low-cost, high-impact subscription model fueling explosive growth 🤝 How Rory builds loyalty through real-life connection and 1:1 interaction 🌍 The plan to scale from Ireland to Scotland, the UK, and beyond 🎯 Why keeping the annual fee at €12 is part of the growth strategy 🧠 Repurposing old content + smart social media strategies 🔄 Retention, recurring revenue, and the beauty of a no-commission model 🛏️ How 5-star hotels and top travel brands now come to him with deals ☕ From sports science grad to group trip leader: Rory’s real entrepreneurial journey   Links & Resources: Rory’s Travel Club Follow Rory on Instagram: @rorystravelclub Email Marketing Tool Rory Recommends: ActiveCampaign ___ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly inspiration on Business, Brain and Body, as well as exclusive events, courses and more, straight to your inbox. It's free! https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1  ___ Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland  Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee 

In this Mentor Moment from episode 370, Nadia Adan shares how she left a high-paying corporate job in finance to launch her own car dealership, Ashford Motors, just before the pandemic. With grit, intuition, and a flair for social media, Nadia built a thriving business from scratch—even as others called her a "backstreet garage." This short episode is packed with powerful insights on betting on yourself, overcoming cultural expectations, and building a brand with both heart and hustle. ___________________ Visit my partners: Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee

In this powerful episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox meets Sean Brett – the unstoppable founder behind Steeltech Sheds. From painting houses with no experience to dominating Galway’s coal market and eventually building Ireland’s leading steel shed business, Sean shares a rollercoaster entrepreneurial journey packed with grit, hustle, and heart. With no formal education beyond the age of 14 and a background shaped by dyslexia and adversity, Sean embodies the very essence of resilience. He opens up about cold calling his way to success, reinventing himself through personal development, and why not caring what others think is the greatest entrepreneurial mindset of all. This is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever doubted themselves, questioned their path, or needed a reminder that the best businesses often start with zero resources and pure belief. 🎧 Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 🔥 Sean’s first “Eureka” ad that kickstarted his painting business 🚛 How he went from one bag of coal to Galway’s biggest coal distributor 🏗 The origin story of Steeltech Sheds – and the pints-fuelled brainstorming that led to the name 🧠 Why overcoming dyslexia became one of his greatest strengths 🧰 The surprising power of rejection and how it built his sales resilience 📉 What he did when orders dried up overnight during the crash—and how expansion saved him 🎯 The marketing lessons he learned that still hold true today 🧍 Why being the face of your brand matters more than ever in the age of AI 💬 “If you could not care what other people think about you, your life would be so much happier, better, successful.” 🔗 Links & Resources: Steeltech Sheds — Learn more about Sean’s business: https://www.steeltechsheds.ie/  The Entrepreneur Experiment Newsletter — Stay updated with new episodes and insights: https://www.mrgaryfox.com/subscribe-1   --- Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE  Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee