In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Kane and Ashley from Progressive Media, the UK's largest podcast agency and hosts of the Podcaster's Podcast.

We dive into their personal journeys - from building a successful podcast agency in their 20s to the unexpected way Kane met one of the UK’s top entrepreneurs, who later became his boss. Plus, hear how Ashley skipped university to start a dropshipping business.

Kane and Ashley share practical advice on making yourself invaluable to your boss, why Gen Z may be both the smartest and laziest generation, and why owning a business is essential for building wealth.

This episode sheds light on the power of alternative career paths and how leveraging social media and podcasting can fast-track your career and drive business growth, providing tips and advice for podcasters starting out and looking to monetise their shows today.

Expect to learn:

07:15 Personal Backgrounds: Kane and Ash’s Journeys

18:25 The Value of Networking

20:10 Is Traditional Education Broken?

25:26 The Power of Saying Yes

34:23 Choosing a Career Path: The Butterfly Effect

36:15 Unexpected Opportunities and Networking

39:28 Podcasting: Opportunities

44:00 Monetising Podcasts

59:00 Why I Started a Podcast

01:10:52 The Influence of Content and Branding

01:12:10 Generational Differences

01:19:24 The Value of Taking Action

01:20:46 Surrounding Yourself with Successful People

01:36:23 The Benefits of Working for Startups

Discover The Podcasters Podcast:

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-podcasters-podcast/id1592722911

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1J0o08QsXXgWIN9mzZblvS

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfBOaemNBEnfFQa9LSEMBg/videos

Get In Touch:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357/

Website - ambitiousmindspodcast.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that ceremonial-grade cacao, the purest form of chocolate, has a range of health benefits? From improved sleep and heart health to lower stress, better skin, and a natural mood boost.

This product has been used for centuries, but what you find on the shelves today is far from its natural form.

In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by Adam and Ash, the founders of Nature’s Joint.

As well as exploring the benefits of Cacao, we get into a deeper conversation about the importance of ethical business practices that empower local communities and resist exploitation by large corporations, and why buying from small businesses is beneficial for your health and the environment.

02:35 Health Benefits of Cacao

05:20 Historical Context of Chocolate

08:05 Starting the Business

16:55 Challenges in Importing

29:40 Marketing and Growth Strategies

34:32 Ethical Sourcing

35:00 Benefits of Buying from Small Businesses

39:02 Marketing and Authenticity

45:28 Investment and Maintaining Values

54:42 Purpose and Passion in Business

Discover Nature's Joint

Website - www.naturesjointcacao.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/naturesjointcacao/?hl=en

Get In Touch:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357/

Website - ambitiousmindspodcast.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s must-listen episode, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Harry Kimberley-Bowen, co-founder of Spacebands and the 2022 Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

From selling sweets in school to funding his final year at university with a sustainable fruit juice business, Harry is a natural entrepreneurial.

When the pandemic hit, Harry and his best friend Ronan acted fast; instead of sitting enjoying the sunshine like everybody else, they launched a social distancing wearable device that quickly became a success, earning ten times his annual salary in just the first year.

Listen as Harry recounts the challenges and successes of starting a business from their spare bedroom, including a hilarious story from their early shipping days. We also explore how Spacebands pivoted from a social-distancing product to a workplace safety device.

Harry shares actionable insights on leveraging LinkedIn Sales Navigator to pitch to Angel investors and negotiating with venture capitalists, even with no prior experience.

This episode is packed with inspiration, practical advice, and stories that every aspiring entrepreneur needs to hear.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please hit the follow button and leave a review — it really helps the show grow and reach more listeners!

Expect to hear:

03:00 First Entrepreneurial Venture: Frugly

04:45 The Birth of Space Bands

08:30 Rapid Growth and Challenges

13:00 Navigating the Pandemic and Scaling Up

16:20 Expanding Product Features and Market

31:20 Strategies for Attracting Angel Investors

35:40 Transitioning to VC Investment

38:25 Negotiating with VCs

41:20 The Importance of Resilience and Passion

51:00 Balancing Work and Life as a Founder

56:55 Advice for Entrepreneurs

Discover Spacebands

Website - www.spacebands.com

Follow Harry

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/harrykimberley-bowen

Get In Touch:

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357/

Website - ambitiousmindspodcast.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.