Business Without Bullsh-t

EP 388 - May's quiz round up sees Daniel Priestley and Fernando Sordo Madaleno play the game to see if they think Brexit, Crowdfunding, Lobbying, Client Lunches, Paying for Top Talent and Diversity Quotas and are business or just complete tosh!*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Business or Bullsh*t00:53 Meet the Guests: Daniel Priestley and Fernando Sordo Madaleno01:18 Brexit: A Mexican Perspective03:05 Architectural Challenges and Talent05:08 Lobbying and Government Collaboration08:13 Angel Investing08:50 Flexible Working in Architecture09:41 Crowdfunding and Diversity Quotas11:35 The Importance of Client Lunchesbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 387 - We’re going back to the future this week with the excellent Akshat Rathi and his optimistic take on climate change.Akshat is a Bloomberg Senior Climate journalist, and the author of Climate Capitalism: Winning The Global Race To Zero Emissions.We spoke to him about his book, and:Why climate solutions investment needs to be made in the developing world and emerging markets to help them move away from coalWhy he felt it was so important to tell positive stories to help accelerate the fight against climate changeAndWhy he abandoned the idea of being a scientist (after getting a PhD) to become a storyteller in order to make a bigger positive impact on the worldAs you’d expect from someone who writes for Bloomberg, he’s very balanced and very astute.He’s happy to concede that climate change isn’t the only crisis facing humanity, but if we don’t fix it, it’ll make the others a whole lot worse. You can’t help feeling more positive after spending time in his company, so give it a go. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Akshat Rathi00:49 Andy's Intro to Akshat01:53 The Importance of Climate Solutions02:23 Challenges in Climate Journalism07:23 Success Stories in Climate Action11:16 The Role of Governments and Big Businesses12:43 Akshat's Journey and Passion for Climate Journalism18:36 Global Investment in Climate Solutions28:19 Practical Steps for SMEs29:43 Economic Realities in India30:01 Air Conditioning Around the World30:41 Career Reflections and Journalism34:06 Work Culture and Balance38:40 Social Media and Its Impact42:32 Greenwashing and Corporate Responsibility45:10 Quickfire - Get To Know Akshatbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 386 - This week we revisit our chat with Thomas Robson Kanu, who pivoted from a top level premier league and international football career into entrepreneurship, setting up family business the Turmeric Co.Based on a formula that he and his father developed to aid his recovery and pain relief (he was pain free in six weeks of consistent consumption) Thomas is now taking the same drive that fuelled his paying career into business.We talk about:Why so many superficially healthy drinks on our shop shelves contain so little nutrition and so much sugar that you might as well have a coke and enjoy itWhy it is so difficult to get natural remedies into the mainstream (hint, it’s to do with moneyAndWhy f**king up every day is the route to successIt’s a fascinating chat especially when you hear the drive and ambition for the Turmeric Co to emulate the global success of health drinks from a previous century (yes, we are talking about Coca Cola).*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Thomas Robson-Kanu00:32 The Birth of The Turmeric Company01:52 Andy's Intro 02:10 Thomas's Journey from Football to Entrepreneurship04:20 Challenges and Rewards of Professional Sports07:53 The Power of Natural Remedies16:01 Launching a Health Brand25:27 Clinical Studies and Health Benefits34:11 The Importance of Health and Nutrition35:41 Challenges in the Juice Industry37:12 Manufacturing and Shelf Life39:42 Business Growth and Strategy43:39 Consumer Trends and Functional Beverages52:32 The Reality of Juice Products58:18 Quickfire - Get To Know Thomas01:03:07 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 385 - Our guest this week is Fernando Sordo Madaleno, a third generation architect working in the family firm Sordo Madaleno.  Originally from Mexico City, Fernando is now based in London, spearheading the firm’s expansion as an international architecture studio.As well as discussing life in the family business we had a fascinating chat around architecture, the built environment.Fernando has a beautiful philosophy of architecture, that is should try and combine three things. A deep, well researched, understanding of the context and culture that the building is going to be in especially if you are coming as an outsider. Why great buildings should always be designed to the human scale (yes he does explain what that means), and how great architects should always try and think of ways to push the brief so that projects can have a positive impact on the communities that they exist in.He also mentions that the client is sometimes right. Which is nice.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Fernando Sordo Madaleno01:18 Meet Fernando03:09 Quickfire - Get To Know Fernando05:51 Fernando's Current Projects and Vision07:12 The Essence of Sordo Madaleno08:11 Human-Centric Urban Planning12:12 Challenges and Inspirations in Architecture18:06 The Unique Character of Mexico City21:59 The Legacy of Sordo Madaleno24:57 The Value of Good Architecture28:31 Local Efficiency and Quality28:49 Innovative School Design29:40 Community-Centric Architecture32:10 Global Influence of Mexican Architecture37:22 Challenges of International Expansion42:15 The Role of AI in Architecture46:11 Balancing Client Needs and Architectural Vision57:08 Advice for Aspiring Architects and Entrepreneurs59:29 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 384 - This week Daniel Priestley discusses how we build a new role for Britain post Brexit (yes, we dropped the B-Word in 2025). Basically Britain faces a choice between being that, a lapdog for the US or the sixth best Scandinavian country.The way he says it, it makes sense. Particularly when he is talking about how hard it is now to grow a business with “escape velocity” in the UK these days.Serial entrepreneur Daniel also talks us through:The importance of personal brand and why it is replacing geography in business decision makingHis 7-11-4 model for growing your personal brandHow AI is here to supercharge small businesses (and rightsize large ones)He also said that long-form podcasts are AI resistant. Which is lucky.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Daniel Priestley01:17 Meet Daniel 02:16 Daniel's Entrepreneurial Journey03:40 The Rise of Personal Brands in Business06:46 AI's Role in Business and Employment12:35 Daniel's Current Ventures and Business Insights19:22 The UK's Business Environment and Future Prospects41:37 Entrepreneurial Spirit in the UK42:52 UK vs. US Business Landscape45:48 The Role of AI and Technology in Business48:34 Future of Education and High-Velocity Careers59:38 Strategies for Attracting High-Value Clients01:03:31 Failures and Lessons in Entrepreneurship01:05:14 The 7-11-4 Rule for Building Relationships01:13:26 Quickfire - Get To Know Danielbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 383 - Jonathan MacDonald is back on the show and keener than ever to get you interested in Ethical Tech.We discuss why now, more than ever, people need to be given the tools, and moral frameworks to inform their interactions with increasingly opaque technology. How things like social media are seemingly set up to keep us amused, distracted and rob us of our critical thinking faculties and what that means for humanity in the long term.Jonathan isn’t an anarchist in a tin foil hat (or a cryptoevangelist in a blonde wig come to that) but he is very compelling on why we need to question whether Big Tech algorithms and the people who control them actually have our best interests at heart.He’s pretty convinced that they don’t, or at least don’t care about us beyond what we can do for them. Which is why he has set up SELF - a personal privacy filter - and also ETHICS TV to help people discuss, understand and control their own moral choices around tech.We also chat about the Roman Empire and its attitude to analogous situations. We know plenty of you like to think about that kind of thing quite a lot.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Jonathan MacDonald02:23 Meet Jonathan03:18 The Mission: Alternative Future for Technology04:44 Humans Are Batteries05:05 The Reality of Free Services05:58 The Normalisation of Surveillance06:29 The Impact of Social Media on Society07:33 The Coercion of Media and Politics08:37 The Evolution of SELF: Personal Privacy Filter09:50 The Demand for Privacy in AI Tools10:50 The Future of Privacy: Self-Sovereign Mechanisms11:47 The Physicality of Data Privacy12:37 The Ineffectiveness of GDPR13:09 The Dark Side of Data Exploitation14:53 The Post-COVID Awareness Shift34:02 Ethics in Technology37:28 The Problem with Modern Democracy39:18 The Importance of Critical Thinking39:58 The Role of Media in Critical Thinking42:30 Education and Critical Thinking46:15 Ethical Issues in AI and Media46:41 The Dystopian Future of AI53:37 Building Ethical Technology01:04:36 Personal Reflections and Advice01:11:08 Quickfire - Get To Know Jonathanbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 382 - April's quiz round up sees Alex Edmans, Anand Menon and Psyfer play the game to see if they think Brexit, Labour Government, GDPR, Crowdfunding, Lobbying Client Lunches and are business or just complete tosh!*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 Is it Business or Bullsh*t?00:45 Brexit01:37 Labour Government03:18 GDPR04:16 Crowdfunding05:25 Lobbying07:48 Client Lunchesbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 381 - This week we talk to Alex Edmans about how you make decisions in a world full of misinformation. Alex is a Professor of Finance who has written and spoken extensively about subjects such as ESG (why those three letters don’t belong together) and why cognitive, rather than demographic diversity is a better indicator of business success.He’s managed to do all that without getting cancelled, because his findings and talking points are guided by objective data rather than opinion. Though we do discuss how data itself can be misleading.So if you want to know why too much diversity can be a bad thing, then dive in.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Alex Edmans01:15 Synopsis02:07 Meet Alex - Professor of Finance03:54 Challenges in Assessing Cognitive Diversity08:08 The Role of Academics in Real-World Impact18:00 Confirmation Bias and Its Impact on Decision Making30:36 The Nuances of Diversity and Inclusion35:22 The Evolution and Challenges of ESG Reporting39:20 The Burden of Reporting40:31 The Problem with Standardised Metrics42:16 Regulation vs. Market Demand43:21 SMEs and Purpose-Driven Business44:52 The Complexity of ESG48:29 Governance: A Historical Accident01:11:40 The Importance of Financial Literacy01:13:22 Quickfire - Get to Know Alex01:17:50 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 380 - This week we're trying a cultural experiment - to start an occasional series called Business Without Baggage that helps people understand the nuances of doing business across different cultures. To kick us off, we invited accomplished French corporate Lawyer and expert on cultural intelligence Olivier Lopez onto the show.  We asked him to explain the nuances of doing business with the French and also got some expert hints about how different cultures operate around the world.We chatted about how you can trace many of France’s cultural instincts and attitudes back to  a revolutionary spirit, the application of logic and an abiding need to feel Liberté, Egalité et Fraternité in all of their dealings as well as finding a balance in life.We also put these attitudes in a wider cultural context - amazingly a lot of it is to do with food, but not in the way you think. But we do have some fine wine and lovely cheese along the way.We’d love to do more in this occasional series, so if you want to talk about what it’s like to do business with your fellow country folk (even if you’re only from Yorkshire) get in touch. You’ve got a lot to live up to on the food front mind.*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Olivier Lopez01:00 Special Episode: Business Without Baggage01:29 Meet Olivier - Legal Expert and Negotiation Teacher02:16 The Path to Becoming a Lawyer04:58 Cultural Identities in French Business08:42 Regional Differences Within France14:34 Negotiation Tactics Across Cultures42:52 The Role of Lawyers in Business46:45 Invoice Payment Practices in France47:51 Hierarchy and Flat Structures in French Business49:13 French Cultural Values: Equality and Rebellion51:17 Engaging a French Audience: Expectations and Preferences56:04 Collaborative vs. Individualistic Work Styles59:30 Financial Support and Equality in France01:03:57 Setting Up a Business in France01:09:51 French Cultural Nuances and Business Practices01:26:02 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark

EP 379 - Our guest this week is artist and bitcoin evangelist Psyfer. He wants to get you all high on the Hope-ium that Bitcoin (not any other crypto-currencies, they are all Sh*tcoin apparently) are the way to end inequality and injustice. We weigh up the pros - it’s decentralised and accessible to everyone.The cons - it’s a scary mystery to most people that feels like a scam.And the revolutionary - how bitcoin challenges the existing power and wealth structures of governments, corporations and the obscenely wealthy (although they could all just buy bitcoin)So, are Bitcoiners just getting high on their own supply or will it change the world? Get Psyfer-delic with this week’s episode. Turn on, tune in and find out!*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*Spotify Video Chapters:00:00 BWB with Psyfer02:05 Meet Psyfer - Art and Financial Rebellion02:35 The Mystery and Security of Bitcoin05:50 Bitcoin vs. Other Cryptocurrencies08:26 The Future of Money: Bitcoin's Potential13:28 Economic Implications of Bitcoin Adoption27:57 Public Services and Private Markets33:45 Responding to Technological Change34:17 The Flexibility of Remote Work34:44 Using Bitcoin in Everyday Transactions35:27 The Inclusive Bitcoin Community36:22 Finding and Joining Local Bitcoin Meetups37:31 Tax Implications of Bitcoin Transactions38:42 Bitcoin's Role in Global Economics39:40 The Future of Money and Bitcoin46:45 The Problem with Fiat Money56:49 Quickfire - Get to Know Psyfer58:44 Wrap Upbusinesswithoutbullshit.meWatch and subscribe to us on YouTubeFollow us:InstagramTikTokLinkedinTwitterFacebookIf you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.meBWB is powered by Oury Clark