The Unemeployables Podcast

Katie Arnold is the founder of Club Peppermint, an 80s-inspired fashion brand built around quality, individuality and a deeply personal family story.When Katie was 15, her dad died suddenly in a motorcycle accident.Her parents had previously built an interior design business together called Peppermint, which her dad had hoped would one day be passed down to Katie and her sisters. After his death, the business closed, the family sold their home and Katie watched her mum support three daughters on a minimum-wage job.Years later, when Katie decided to build a brand of her own, she already knew what it would be called: Peppermint. But her entrepreneurial journey actually began much earlier.At 18, while working as a Domino’s delivery driver during Covid, Katie saved her tips and made herself a reusable iced coffee cup. After her mum posted it on Facebook and people started asking where they could buy one, Katie listed it on Etsy. In its first year, the business made 60,000 sales.By 20, Katie had saved enough to buy a small flat outright, giving herself and her family the financial security they had lost years earlier. Eventually, she realised she didn't want to spend her life selling coffee cups.She took everything she'd learned and began building Club Peppermint, teaching herself design, travelling to Portugal to work directly with manufacturers and documenting the entire journey online.That decision also led to an extraordinary personal following. Katie grew to around 135,000 followers on LinkedIn, and Club Peppermint's first Instagram campaign reached around 600,000 views organically from a brand-new account. In this episode:◼️ Losing her dad at 15 and the story behind the Peppermint name◼️ How financial insecurity pushed Katie towards entrepreneurship◼️ Starting her first businesses as a teenager◼️ Turning Domino's tips into a product that made 60,000 sales◼️ Buying a property outright at 20◼️ Why she walked away from her first successful business◼️ Teaching herself how to design and manufacture clothing◼️ Building Club Peppermint around 80s culture and craftsmanship◼️ Growing an audience of 135,000 on LinkedIn◼️ Why Club Peppermint's first Instagram video reached 600,000 views organically◼️ Raising investment through her personal brand◼️ The reality of founder loneliness, stress and self-doubt◼️ Why Katie believes founders need to enjoy the journey rather than sacrifice everything for itIt’s a conversation about resilience, family, financial security and building something that means far more than simply starting another clothing brand.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite & Lovey!

Jon Robson, founder of Mamedica, joins us to share how an 18-year career in the City and two failed CBD businesses eventually led him to build one of Britain’s fastest-growing companies.Medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018.Yet Jon estimates that 80 to 90% of the country still doesn’t know that services like Mamedica exist.Jon wasn’t always convinced by its medical potential either.It was during a visit to a dispensary in California that his perception completely changed. Instead of recreational users, he saw patients using cannabis to manage genuine medical conditions and reduce their reliance on other medication. Before that experience, John says that if you’d told him cannabis could be used medically, “I would have laughed at you.”That eventually led him away from an 18-year career in finance and towards Mamedica.The journey wasn’t immediate. Jon first tried and failed with two CBD businesses, and even after Mamedica launched in June 2022, its first six months were far harder than expected.Then things began to change.Mamedica found ways to educate people through digital advertising and content in a heavily restricted industry, built its own technology and focused obsessively on improving the patient experience.Today, Mamedica employs around 90 full-time staff alongside 22 specialist doctors, generated more than £25m in revenue according to the figures discussed in the episode, is exploring expansion into Europe and has reached #2 in the FEBE Growth 100.In this episode:◼️ Why most people still don’t realise medical cannabis is legal in Britain◼️ The California dispensary visit that completely changed Jon’s perspective◼️ Spending 18 years working in finance before becoming a founder◼️ Why two failed CBD businesses ultimately helped him build Mamedica◼️ The difficult first six months after launching◼️ How digital advertising transformed the company’s growth◼️ Building in one of Britain’s most heavily restricted industries◼️ Why Mamedica built its own technology and connected directly with NHS systems◼️ The challenge of removing the stigma surrounding medical cannabis◼️ What Jon learned about relationships, hard work and customer service during his career in the City◼️ Building a business backed by Snoop Dogg◼️ Growing to around 90 full-time employees and 22 specialist doctors◼️ Why Mamedica wants to take medical cannabis mainstream◼️ European expansion and what comes nextFrom believing cannabis was purely recreational to building a company trying to change how patients access it, Jon’s story is as much about changing his own mind as it is about changing an industry.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite & Lovey!00:00 - Meet Jon Robson & Mamedica02:25 - Why Most People Don't Know Medical Cannabis Is Legal04:45 - Where Jon's Fascination With Cannabis Started06:25 - The California Trip That Changed His Mind08:45 - “I Would Have Laughed at You”09:20 - Two Failed CBD Businesses & Finding His Way Into the Industry11:00 - 18 Years Working in the City16:10 - Starting Mamedica & the Story Behind the Name17:50 - The Difficult First Six Months19:20 - The Moment Jon Knew This Was His Calling23:40 - How Digital Advertising Changed the Business26:00 - £25M+ Revenue, 90 Employees & European Expansion27:40 - How Medical Cannabis Access Actually Works30:25 - Patients, the NHS & Removing the Stigma33:00 - Taking Medical Cannabis Mainstream34:45 - Snoop Dogg, Growth 100 & Reflecting on Success37:20 - Jon's Biggest Lesson From 18 Years in Finance41:15 - Marketing a Business You're Not Allowed to Advertise Normally43:45 - Trigger Happy TV, Lock Stock & Building Unusual Campaigns45:50 - Europe, America & the Future of Mamedica

Sunna Van Kampen, founder of Tonic Health, joins us to explain why dissatisfaction with the vitamin industry led him to build one of the UK's fastest-growing health brands. It started with Sunna's own health.After repeatedly feeling run down and discovering nutrient deficiencies, he began researching the science behind vitamins and became frustrated with how many products were formulated. In particular, Sunna argues that the industry's reliance on NRV figures means many products are built around preventing deficiency rather than achieving what he considers optimal nutrition. Then he became a dad.Walking into a shop to buy vitamins for his son, Sunna found products containing sugar, preservatives and gums. That frustration eventually led to Tonic's children's range and a viral piece of content questioning why sugar was appearing in products parents were buying specifically for their children's health. But building Tonic was anything but straightforward.The company launched into retail just as Covid hit, forcing Sunna to learn DTC and content almost from scratch. Within his first handful of TikToks, one video reached around 250,000 views. Months later, that audience began translating into demand so quickly that Tonic spent roughly a year struggling to keep products in stock. At another point, a £500,000 investment was pulled at final sign-off because investors were worried about the potential future of TikTok, leaving Sunna facing the possibility of the business running out of money. Today, Tonic is number 12 in the Growth 100, has built a team of 21 and recently raised £2.5 million.In this episode:◼️ Why Sunna believes the traditional vitamin industry is fundamentally flawed◼️ What 100% NRV actually means◼️ Why finding sugar in children's vitamins pushed him to build something different◼️ Using social media to educate rather than simply sell◼️ How one of his first TikToks reached 250,000 views◼️ Why views didn't initially translate into sales◼️ Losing a £500k investment at the final hurdle◼️ The founder moment where Tonic was weeks away from running out of money◼️ Ultra-processed food and why Sunna believes nutrition matters more than diet culture◼️ Building a business while raising two children◼️ What Sunna has learned about getting products into major retailers◼️ Advice from investors behind businesses including New Look◼️ Raising £2.5m and discovering that more money simply creates bigger problems◼️ Why the journey matters more than an eventual exitIt’s a conversation about health, entrepreneurship, challenging established industries and what happens when a founder becomes completely obsessed with fixing a problem they believe shouldn't exist.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite & Lovey!

Megan Jones, co-founder of ByBabes, joins us to share how years of failed business ideas eventually led to one viral TikTok product that completely changed her life.Megan had wanted to build a business since she was a child. She dropped out of university, built a lash business, experimented with products, opened an aesthetics clinic and spent years putting money into ideas that never quite worked. Then she met Heather.What started with Megan paying Heather £10 per TikTok eventually led to the idea for a lash growth serum. They created the brand almost immediately, sold out within 10 days of launching, sold out seven times during their first year and reached moments where the business generated £100,000 in a single day. But hypergrowth brought a completely different challenge.Megan expanded from one SKU to 35 in a matter of months, rapidly grew the team and watched revenue soar without fully understanding what was happening underneath the headline numbers. Eventually, she realised the business was losing serious money. In this episode:◼️ Starting her first businesses as a teenager◼️ Dropping out of university to pursue entrepreneurship◼️ Spending five years launching ideas that didn't work◼️ Meeting Heather and discovering the power of TikTok◼️ Creating ByBabes in a single night◼️ Selling out within 10 days and seven times in the first year◼️ What it feels like to make £100,000 in one day◼️ Growing from £1.3m to around £3.8m revenue◼️ The mistake of going from one product to 35◼️ Discovering that huge revenue doesn't necessarily mean you're making money◼️ Cutting the team and rebuilding the company leaner◼️ Why Megan now believes knowing your numbers is essential◼️ Rebranding ByBabes and the ambition to launch into Sephora◼️ Why failure has given her more confidence than success ever couldToday Megan is rebuilding ByBabes with a completely different understanding of business, finance and growth, while still holding onto the ambition that got her started in the first place.Her long-term goal?To build a business doing £1 billion in revenue in a single year.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!

Nick Hird, co-founder of Vidrate, joins us to share how an idea that 30 manufacturers said was impossible became one of the UK's fastest-growing hydration brands.Vidrate started with a simple problem. Nick wanted to drink more water, but everything designed to make water more appealing was either packed with sugar, artificial ingredients or offered little functional benefit.So he set out to create something different: a low-calorie, zero-sugar hydration product made with natural ingredients, electrolytes and vitamins. Around 30 factories told him it couldn't be done. So Nick started experimenting with ingredients himself in his kitchen. And that was only the beginning.In the early years, Nick worked up to six jobs, built Vidrate for an hour each night and slept in his van before meetings because he couldn't afford hotels. When he first won Holland & Barrett, he paid £3 for a gym pass just so he could shower before the meeting.Today, Vidrate has grown from £1.8m to £5.7m revenue in a year, with Nick expecting the business to more than double again. The company has built its own fulfilment operation, remained heavily DTC-focused and expanded from its Yorkshire base into international markets.In this episode:◼️ Why 30 factories told Nick his product couldn't be made◼️ Creating the original Vidrate formula in his kitchen◼️ Working six jobs while building the business at night◼️ Sleeping in a van before winning major retail listings◼️ The personal tragedy that gave Nick the push to finally go all in◼️ Bootstrapping from Yorkshire and turning down VC investment◼️ Growing revenue from £1.8m to £5.7m in just one year◼️ Why every DTC order still receives a handwritten note◼️ Funding retail growth with £1.3m owed to the business at one point◼️ Building a team that treats the company's money like their own◼️ The guilt of building a fast-growth business whilst raising a family◼️ International expansion and where ViDrate goes next◼️ Why hiring great people and getting out of their way has changed the businessBehind all the growth is a founder still driving the same old van, obsessing over spreadsheets and struggling to celebrate the wins before chasing the next target.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite & Lovey!00:00 - Meet Vidrate & Britain's Most Unemployable Founder04:50 - Why Nick Created Vidrate10:15 - 30 Factories Said It Was Impossible

Riya Patel, co-founder of All The Aunties, joins us to share how an overlooked ingredient became one of the UK's fastest-growing challenger food brands.After growing up eating homemade paneer, Riya couldn't understand why such a versatile, high-protein ingredient was hidden away on supermarket shelves. Instead of accepting it... She decided to build the brand she wished already existed.In just a year, All The Aunties has gone from an idea to securing listings in some big places, while helping bring paneer into the mainstream.In this episode:◼️ Why paneer deserved a better brand◼️ Growing up in a British Indian family and finding inspiration close to home◼️ How LinkedIn helped secure supermarket listings before launch◼️ The story behind the name "All The Aunties"◼️ Building a founder-led brand around family and authenticity◼️ Scaling from hundreds to tens of thousands of units in just one year◼️ Why running a lean team has been a competitive advantage◼️ Working alongside her brother-in-law as co-founder◼️ What's next for All The Aunties as they expand into new categoriesToday, All The Aunties is doing far more than selling paneer.It's changing the way people think about Indian ingredients, celebrating family recipes, and proving that some of the biggest business opportunities come from products hiding in plain sight.If you're building a challenger brand, launching into retail, or trying to create a category of your own, this episode is packed with practical lessons and honest founder advice.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 - Building Britain's Fastest Growing Paneer Brand03:40 - The Lightbulb Moment Behind All The Aunties08:30 - Cambridge, Family & Becoming an Entrepreneur14:30 - The Story Behind the Name17:20 - How LinkedIn Landed Tesco Before Launch24:30 - Scaling From Hundreds to 40,000 Units29:30 - Working With Family as Co-Founders32:00 - Leaving the Civil Service Behind34:00 - What's Next for All The Aunties41:30 - Founder Lessons & Building a Category

Frankie Thorogood, founder of Pott'd, joins us to share how a simple pottery kit created during lockdown became one of the UK's fastest-growing founder-led businesses. But this isn't really a conversation about pottery it's about building products people genuinely love.After successfully exiting his first business, Frankie started Pott'd. What began as a creative way to spend less time on screens quickly became a brand helping thousands of people reconnect through creativity.Along the way, he developed a refreshingly honest philosophy on entrepreneurship, one that challenges much of the advice you'll find online.In this episode:◼️ Why Pott'd was designed for adults, not children◼️ Building a fast-growth business after a successful exit◼️ The surprising reason second businesses are often easier than the first◼️ Why most founders focus on marketing before fixing their product◼️ The one simple secret to building a successful DTC brand◼️ Why Frankie believes LinkedIn is full of "wafflepreneurs"◼️ Learning to delegate after years of burnout◼️ Growing a business without raising investment◼️ Why creativity is becoming more valuable in a digital world◼️ What success really looks like after you've already made moneyFrom selling football snoods with just £100 to building multiple successful businesses, Frankie shares the lessons he's learned over more than a decade of entrepreneurship.If you're building a consumer brand, thinking about starting a business, or simply want a refreshing take on entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with practical advice, honest opinions and plenty of laughs.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!00:00 - Why Pott'd Was Built for Adults07:40 - Wanting to Be Rich Since Childhood13:00 - Why Frankie Never Wanted a Corporate Job18:00 - Wafflepreneurs, LinkedIn & Finding an Enemy22:00 - Selling His First Business & Starting Again31:00 - The One Secret to Building a Great DTC Brand34:30 - Delegating, Scaling & Growing Faster the Second Time39:00 - Why Frankie Never Raised Investment45:00 - Hiring Great People & Building the Right Team53:00 - Product, Branding & What Actually Matters56:00 - Coaster Questions01:00:00 - The Future of Pott'd

Stephanie Olubajo, founder of Meji Foods, joins us to share how a side hustle built alongside a corporate career became one of the UK's most exciting challenger food brands. Growing up, Stephanie loved West African food but struggled to find convenient, authentic options on supermarket shelves.Instead of accepting it... She decided to create one herself.What followed was years of late-night research, product development, and countless setbacks, all while working full-time in management consulting.In this episode:◼️ Why the lack of West African food in supermarkets inspired Meji Foods◼️ Building a food business while working in management consulting◼️ Creating Britain's first instant Jollof Rice brand◼️ The relentless research that led to finding the right manufacturing partner◼️ How one LinkedIn message secured a meeting with Sainsbury's◼️ Getting made redundant just as the business started to take off◼️ Why going viral helped Meji Foods scale nationwide◼️ Building resilience through stock shortages, legal challenges and rapid growth◼️ The realities of launching a completely new food category◼️ Why representation matters in the UK's food industryToday, Meji Foods is stocked in Sainsbury's stores across the UK and is introducing thousands of people to authentic West African flavours in just 90 seconds.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 - Bringing West African Food to Supermarket Shelves04:30 - Growing Up Between Two Cultures10:30 - Climbing the Corporate Ladder18:30 - Realising She Was Unemployable20:00 - Creating Britain's First Instant Jollof Rice27:00 - Getting Made Redundant at the Perfect Time33:00 - The LinkedIn Message That Landed Sainsbury's39:00 - Scaling a Brand Through Retail46:00 - The Highs and Lows of Entrepreneurship52:15 - Coaster Questions

Luke and Marcus, the founders of Lucky Egg, join us after being named the UK's fastest growing founder-led company to share how they built one of Britain's biggest consumer product success stories.From greeting cards to party games, their journey spans 17 years of entrepreneurship, countless failures and an obsession with creating products people genuinely want to share. Their first ten games flopped.Today, Lucky Egg products are sold around the world, translated into more than 30 languages and viewed billions of times across social media.In this episode we cover:◼️ Becoming the UK's fastest growing founder-led company with over 500% CAGR◼️ Why their first 10 games completely failed before finding a winner◼️ Building three businesses over a 17-year entrepreneurial journey◼️ Growing without venture capital by backing themselves every step of the way◼️ Designing products specifically to go viral on social media◼️ The thinking behind generating over a billion social media views ◼️ How they build a team of entrepreneurial people who take ownership◼️ Why persistence beats chasing the perfect idea◼️ The mistakes that nearly ended their previous business◼️ Why creating happiness is the common thread behind every business they've builtLucky Egg isn't just selling board games.They're creating products that bring families and friends back together, while building a business designed for the modern social media era.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 - Becoming the UK's Fastest Growing Founder-Led Company05:30 - Three Businesses, One Entrepreneurial Journey08:00 - 10 Failed Games Before One Success13:30 - Designing Products to Go Viral20:00 - Building Without Investors25:00 - Scaling a High-Performance Team29:00 - The Mistakes That Nearly Ended Everything35:00 - Why Their Journey Was Never Conventional43:30 - Creating Products That Bring People Together55:30 - Last Orders

Rohini and Arjun, the mother-and-son founders of Free Soul, join us to share how a simple kitchen table conversation became one of the UK's fastest-growing wellness brands.Free Soul didn't start with a business plan. It started with a problem.After struggling to find nutrition products that genuinely supported women's health through every stage of life, Rohini realised the market was built around what women should look like, rather than how they should feel. Together with her son Arjun, they set out to change that.In this episode we cover:◼️ Why Free Soul was built to solve a genuine gap in women's wellness◼️ Building a business as a mother and son◼️ Growing to a £50M+ run-rate with a team of over 50 people◼️ Funding the early days through a decorating business while building Free Soul at the same time◼️ Why they've chosen to stay independent instead of chasing venture capital◼️ Building one of the UK's biggest direct-to-consumer wellness brands◼️ Creating a community before creating products◼️ The importance of listening to customers every single day◼️ Growing through purpose rather than profit alone◼️ How they built a company culture centred around kindness, trust and shared valuesToday, Free Soul is stocked by retailers including Boots, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Holland & Barrett, while serving a huge online community of women across the UK. But despite the growth, the mission hasn't changed. To build the one-stop shop for women's wellness.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!

Alison and Mike Battle, founders of Lapland, join us to share the extraordinary story behind Britain’s most magical Christmas experience, and why they risked everything to reinvent Father Christmas for a new generation.It didn’t start as a business idea. It started as frustration.After years of taking their four sons to disappointing Christmas grottos and Father Christmas experiences, Alison, a primary school teacher, became convinced children deserve something better.Together with Mike, who left a successful career in the City, they set out to create an immersive world where every detail, every story and every interaction helped children truly believe.Twenty years later, Lapland welcomes hundreds of thousands of families, employs more than 4,000 people during the Christmas season, and has become one of the UK’s most celebrated live experiences.In this episode:◼️ Why a disappointing Father Christmas experience inspired an entirely new business◼️ Leaving careers in teaching and finance to build Lapland from scratch◼️ Creating a world where every detail exists to protect childhood belief◼️ Surviving administration, copycats and the 2008 financial crisis◼️ Why taking responsibility changed the future of the business◼️ Building one of the world’s largest immersive live experiences◼️ Creating books, podcasts and original characters beyond the live event◼️ Why they’ve never taken outside investment◼️ The importance of purpose over profit◼️ How Lapland is giving thousands of children another year of Christmas magic through the Lapland FoundationLapland isn’t simply about Christmas. It’s about protecting childhood. Creating lifelong family memories, and proving that when purpose comes first, extraordinary businesses can follow.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!00:00 – The Moment That Changed EverythingHow one disappointing Father Christmas experience sparked the idea for Lapland and why Alison asked, “Why doesn’t somebody do something about it?”06:30 – Leaving Everything BehindWalking away from teaching and finance to build a completely different kind of Christmas experience, despite everyone thinking they’d lost the plot.15:00 – Building a World Around BeliefWhy every detail matters, creating unforgettable childhood memories, and the philosophy behind the Lapland experience.24:30 – When It All Nearly Fell ApartThe early failures, administration, taking responsibility, and rebuilding the business stronger than ever.35:30 – Why They’ve Never Taken InvestmentStaying independent, protecting the vision, reinvesting everything, and why purpose always comes before profit.45:00 – More Than Just a BusinessThe Lapland Foundation, Superstar Days, supporting children with additional needs, and why childhood is at the heart of every decision.54:00 – Building Lapland as Husband & WifeHow Alison and Mike balance creativity and commercial decisions, and why their partnership has become the business’s greatest strength.01:01:00 – Creating the Lapland CultureHiring thousands of seasonal staff, maintaining the magic, and getting everyone to believe in the mission.01:07:00 – Making Memories That Last a LifetimeMike’s unforgettable induction speech, honouring childhood, and why every Christmas creates memories that last forever.01:10:00 – Final ReflectionsThe biggest lessons from two founders who built one of Britain’s most magical businesses.

Pip Murray, founder of Pip & Nut, joins us to share how a simple idea inspired by marathon training became Britain’s number one nut butter brand. What began with a £5,000 loan from her parents and a blender in a North London kitchen has grown into a business generating more than £40 million in annual revenue, stocked by every major UK retailer. It’s a masterclass in building a brand, staying patient, making better products, and proving that execution will always beat ideas.In this episode:◼️ Starting Pip & Nut with a £5,000 family loan◼️ Building Britain’s number one nut butter brand◼️ Why execution matters more than having a great idea◼️ Growing to £40M+ revenue after raising only £4M◼️ Why founders shouldn’t obsess over investment headlines◼️ The biggest product mistake that nearly derailed the business◼️ How to protect your brand as your team grows◼️ Remaining CEO while scaling beyond £40 million◼️ Choosing investors who back your long-term vision◼️ Why purpose, culture and creativity drive sustainable growthFrom early failures and difficult fundraising rounds to becoming the market leader, Pip shares the lessons she’s learned over more than a decade of building one of Britain’s best-loved food brands.If you’re building a consumer brand, raising investment, or simply trying to create something people genuinely love, this episode is packed with practical advice and honest founder stories.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 – From Marathon Runner to Pip & NutHow a love of running and food sparked the idea for Britain’s number one nut butter brand05:30 – Building a Brand From ScratchLaunching with a £5,000 family loan, creating the first recipes and why execution beats ideas 10:30 – Putting Your Name on the ProductThe story behind Pip & Nut, building trust with consumers and the power of founder-led brands14:20 – Becoming Britain’s Number One Nut Butter BrandCreating healthier products, challenging the category and staying hungry after reaching the top19:30 – Scaling Without Losing Your IdentityGrowing the team, protecting the brand, building culture and avoiding creative drift23:00 – Raising Just £4M to Build a £40M+ BusinessChoosing the right investors, staying in control and why growth matters more than fundraising headlines 27:45 – The Biggest Business MistakeThe failed product launch that cost hundreds of thousands and the importance of focusing on your core business32:20 – Learning to Lead as CEOOvercoming self-doubt, growing with the business and why Pip nearly hired someone to replace herself35:30 – Building a Brand People LoveCreating distinctive brands, obsessing over quality and why purpose drives long-term success40:50 – Last OrdersFundraising failures, biggest lessons, founder advice and the realities of entrepreneurship

Lucy MacLeod, founder of Hair Syrup, joins us to share the remarkable story of how a homemade hair oil mixed in her parents’ conservatory became one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brands. What started as a personal mission to repair years of damaged hair quickly became something much bigger.Lucy never planned to start a business. She simply created a product that worked, shared her own hair transformation on TikTok, and woke up to hundreds of thousands of people asking if they could buy it. The rest is history.In this episode:◼️ Repairing years of damaged hair with homemade natural oils◼️ Going viral on TikTok before founder-led brands became the norm◼️ Building Hair Syrup from a single table in her parents’ conservatory◼️ Growing a multi-million-pound business while studying at the University of Warwick◼️ Why being rejected on Dragon’s Den became the best thing that ever happened to the brand◼️ Building one of the UK’s biggest beauty communities through social media◼️ Turning criticism into one of the most successful marketing campaigns in the company’s history◼️ Bootstrapping a business without investors or a blueprint◼️ Why authenticity beats strategy on social media◼️ Learning to embrace criticism and lead with confidenceToday, Hair Syrup sells a bottle every few seconds, is stocked by major retailers across the UK, and has become one of the country’s most recognisable beauty brands.But behind the awards, viral videos and rapid growth is a founder who simply wanted to solve her own problem first.And in doing so… Ended up solving it for millions of other people.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!

Stu McDonald, founder of ManiLife, joins us to share how a chance trip to Argentina led to one of the UK’s most loved food brands. What started with a bedroom full of peanuts and a delayed accounting job offer quickly became a mission to reinvent peanut butter.After discovering a family-run peanut farm in Argentina, Stu returned to the UK convinced there was a better way to make peanut butter. One problem... His production partner pulled out the day the first shipment of peanuts arrived. So he rented a rugby club kitchen, recruited friends, and started making jars by hand.In this episode we cover:◼️ Turning down a career in accounting to start a peanut butter company◼️ Finding the Argentine family that still supplies ManiLife’s peanuts today◼️ Building a brand from a bedroom full of peanuts◼️ Landing Waitrose and scaling into the UK’s biggest retailers◼️ Growing from £1M to £4M during lockdown◼️ The burnout that nearly broke him◼️ Why founders should operate from love, not obligation◼️ Building a manufacturing business from the ground up◼️ Raising money without traditional institutional investors◼️ The biggest mistakes, failures and lessons along the way◼️ Why great products create communities, not just customersToday, ManiLife is stocked in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and thousands of independent stores across the UK.But for Stu, the mission has always been bigger than peanut butter. It’s about bringing people together, building something meaningful, and creating products that people genuinely love.As he puts it: “If it wasn’t for peanut butter, I would be single, childless, and probably still an accountant.”Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 – Why Peanut Butter Changed My LifeFrom accountant to entrepreneur, and how a trip to Argentina changed everything03:00 – The Bedroom Full of PeanutsMeeting the peanut farmers, bringing peanuts back to the UK, and making ManiLife by hand in a rugby club kitchen 07:45 – Landing Waitrose & Scaling the BrandThe Gusto breakthrough, meeting his future wife through ManiLife, and growing from a startup into a national brand 11:00 – Growing Too Fast & Founder BurnoutCOVID growth, scaling from £1M to £4M, panic attacks, and the dangers of operating through obligation instead of love 16:30 – The Mindset Shift That Changed EverythingHow Stu rebuilt his role, found his energy again, and learned to focus on what only a founder can do18:30 – Building Their Own FactoryWhy ManiLife took manufacturing in-house and the advantages of controlling the entire process 22:00 – Getting Into Retail & Building a CategoryWinning supermarket listings, category storytelling, and how to make products fly off the shelves25:00 – Becoming the UK’s Number One Peanut Butter BrandThe long-term vision, international expansion, and why ManiLife believes it has the best product in the market28:00 – Raising Investment Without Losing ControlCrowdfunding, angel investors, and avoiding the pitfalls of traditional institutional funding31:30 – The White Peanut Butter DisasterThe biggest mistake in ManiLife history and what happened when unroasted peanut butter hit the shelves 35:00 – Building Demand, Community & Brand LoveCreating loyal customers, working with chefs, and turning consumers into advocates40:00 – Why Independent Retailers MatterThe importance of local shops, community, and building emotional connections with customers42:00 – Final Reflections & Founder LessonsThe highs, the lows, and why entrepreneurship is both the best and worst thing you’ll ever do

Varun, co-founder of Magic AI, joins The Unemployables to share the story behind building the world’s first AI personal trainer and why nearly 150 investors rejected the idea before it became a multi-million-pound business. After transforming his own health, Varun realised personal training hadn’t evolved in decades. That insight led him to build Magic AI, an intelligent fitness mirror that analyses your form, tracks your progress and uses AI to deliver personalised coaching from home. But the journey was anything but straightforward.From running out of cash and pitching investor after investor, to scaling into the US and navigating one of the toughest funding markets in recent history, Varun shares the reality of building a disruptive technology company from scratch. In this episode:◼️ The idea behind the world’s first AI personal trainer◼️ Losing 30% body fat and discovering an outdated industry◼️ Why 150 investors rejected Magic AI◼️ The importance of grit over talent◼️ Raising millions in one of the toughest funding climates◼️ Scaling a hardware business with AI at its core◼️ Why founder intuition matters more than expert advice◼️ Expanding into the US and doubling revenue◼️ Building a lean team in the age of AI◼️ The future of fitness, health monitoring and artificial intelligenceThis conversation is about resilience, innovation and trusting your instincts when nobody else believes in your vision.Thanks to our epic partners ITV Ignite and Lovey!Chapters00:00 – From Overweight to EntrepreneurHow Varun’s own fitness transformation inspired the idea for Magic AI05:20 – Building the World’s First AI Personal TrainerLeaving corporate life, spotting a gap in the market and creating a completely new category08:30 – Raising £5M After 150 RejectionsWhy grit matters more than talent and the lessons learned from constant rejection13:00 – Trusting Your Instinct as a FounderInvestors, intuition and why expert advice isn’t always right17:30 – The Reality of Building a Tech StartupScaling a lean team, hiring experienced people and dealing with daily chaos20:00 – The Future of AI & Personal HealthHow Magic AI uses computer vision and where the technology is heading next24:00 – Expanding Into the USDoubling revenue, launching overseas and building a global business27:30 – Founder Mindset & LeadershipDelegation, trusting your team and growing into the CEO role29:30 – The Biggest Mistakes Along the WayBroken products, supply chain disasters and learning the hard way32:15 – Last OrdersWork-life balance, sacrifices, advice for founders and why intuition beats everything

James Noble, founder of MyFirst, joins us to share the incredible story of building one of the UK’s fastest-growing insurance businesses from absolutely nothing. Starting with just £10,000 from investors he met while caddying at Wentworth Golf Club, James left behind a career in professional golf to tackle one of the biggest frustrations facing young drivers: understanding insurance.What followed was a decade of relentless growth, setbacks, reinvestment and an obsession with building something truly category-defining.Today, MyFirst is on track to write tens of millions in insurance premiums each year, employs almost 90 people and has become one of the fastest-growing businesses in the country. In this episode:◼️ Going from golf caddy to founder◼️ Raising the first £10,000 from Wentworth members◼️ Why focusing on one niche changed everything◼️ Building a culture where work feels like spending time with friends◼️ How COVID almost destroyed the business overnight◼️ Turning a £10,000 investment into an £800,000 exit for early backers◼️ Learning from Gymshark co-founder Lewis Morgan◼️ Why James turned down investment and acquisition offers◼️ The danger of chasing money instead of mission◼️ What it really takes to build a business that dominates its marketIf you’re building a business, hiring a team or trying to create something that lasts, there’s a huge amount to take from James’ journey.

Frankie Bridge and Leah Meredith, founders of Faves, join us to share how they turned an engaged audience into one of the UK’s fastest-growing fashion, beauty and lifestyle communities.This isn’t just a social media success story.It’s a story about belonging.After years of working in industries where people often felt judged, excluded, or not “cool enough” to be part of the conversation, Frankie and Leah wanted to build something different. Something more welcoming. Something more inclusive. Something that made people feel like they belonged.In this episode we cover:◼️ The origins of Faves and how the idea first came about◼️ Turning an engaged audience into a thriving community◼️ Building a business alongside one of the UK’s most recognisable public figures◼️ The reality of dealing with criticism online◼️ Why social media can impact confidence, no matter who you are◼️ Creating spaces where people feel welcomed and included◼️ Building a business with your best friend◼️ Managing disagreements while protecting the friendship◼️ Why authenticity matters more than perfection◼️ The importance of putting yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable◼️ Building genuine community in a world obsessed with vanity metrics⸻Faves was built on a simple belief:You don’t need millions of followers to create something meaningful.

George Taylor, founder of FRIVE, joins us to share how he went from addiction and chaos in East London… to building one of the UK’s fastest-growing healthy food brands.This isn’t just a meal prep business. It’s a company built around a much bigger mission: Fixing Britain’s relationship with food.At 23, George was at rock bottom.Struggling with addiction, lacking direction, and spiralling without purpose, he found himself searching for something bigger. A boxing bootcamp in Ibiza changed everything. That experience introduced him to nutrition, mindfulness and discipline… and ultimately led to the idea that became FRIVE.In this episode we cover:◼️ Growing up in East London and wanting more from life◼️ Addiction, ADHD and destructive behaviour without purpose◼️ Discovering the power of food and nutrition◼️ Building Lions Prep before rebranding into FRIVE◼️ Why George believes “food should be medicine”◼️ The truth about ultra-processed food in the UK◼️ Scaling to £75M revenue with 500 employees ◼️ Why the rebrand nearly broke the business◼️ Bootstrapping growth without major outside capital◼️ Hiring leaders for high-performance cultures◼️ The pressure and sacrifice behind fast growth◼️ Why content is now the centre of modern business growthToday, FRIVE delivers millions of healthy meals across the UK, with a mission far bigger than meal prep.George wants to build a bridge between British agriculture and British people through healthier eating.

Eoin Keenan, founder of Goodrays, joins us to share how a personal struggle with anxiety led to the creation of one of the UK’s fastest-growing functional drinks brands.After discovering CBD during his time studying, Eoin became obsessed with understanding the science, policy, and potential behind it.That journey took him across the US and Canada, living out of the back of a Jeep, learning directly from hemp farmers and helping shape the early CBD industry in the UK. In this episode we cover:◼️ Using CBD to help manage anxiety and sleep issues◼️ Travelling across America learning the hemp industry from the ground up◼️ Why Goodrays was built to challenge the stigma around wellbeing◼️ Launching a completely new drinks category in the UK◼️ Getting listed in Tesco and Waitrose early on◼️ Growing into every major supermarket in the UK◼️ Raising £5M and scaling towards £20M+ sales◼️ The changing relationship people have with alcohol and health◼️ Why consumers are becoming obsessed with ingredients and wellbeing◼️ Massive founder mistakes, including printing 100,000 unusable cans◼️ The relentless reality of building a consumer brandToday, Goodrays is stocked nationwide and sits at the centre of one of the fastest-growing categories in food and drink.Chapters00:00 – Intro & Meet Goodrays01:35 – Anxiety, Sleep & Discovering CBD03:00 – Studying Drug Policy at University04:00 – Moving to the US & Living Out of a Jeep05:50 – Learning Hemp Cultivation & Supply Chains07:00 – Finding Purpose at 2408:30 – Legalising CBD in the UK09:40 – Why Goodrays Was Created11:40 – Creating the First Goodrays Drinks13:20 – Getting Into Retail Stores15:00 – Launching in Tesco & Waitrose16:40 – Scaling Across the UK & Europe18:40 – Growing Towards £20M Sales20:00 – Winning Retail Buyers Over21:00 – The Fear of Failure as a Founder22:50 – What Retailers Actually Care About23:30 – Why Alcohol Consumption Is Changing26:00 – The Rise of Wellness Culture28:20 – Wellness Burnout & Social Pressure29:50 – Taste vs Functionality31:00 – Raising £5M for Goodrays33:20 – Advice on Raising Investment34:30 – The Future of Goodrays35:30 – Mental Health & Purpose36:30 – Biggest Founder Mistakes38:20 – What Excites Owen Most Now40:20 – Quickfire Questions43:10 – Thoughts on Quitting & Final Reflections

Charlie and Dan, co-founders of EXALT, join us to break down how they built one of the UK’s most exciting fresh nutrition brands… from a scrappy shed setup to supplying Premier League teams.This is not your typical “clean eating” brand.It’s a business built on:real ingredientshands-on productionand refusing to cut cornersEXALT started with a simple frustration… No genuinely fresh, healthy options on the go.Everything was either ultra-processed… or inconvenient.So they built their own.In this episode we cover:◼️ Building a food brand from scratch (literally in a shed) ◼️ Why most “healthy” products aren’t actually fresh◼️ The truth about ultra-processed foods and preservatives◼️ Scaling from chaos to supplying Premier League teams◼️ Creating bespoke nutrition for elite athletes◼️ Why doing everything in-house changed the game◼️ The power of customer service (and turning mistakes into opportunities)◼️ Building a high-performance team and culture◼️ Why being founders AND partners is actually a superpower◼️ The reality of entrepreneurship… and why it’s not for everyoneChapters00:00 – Intro & Meet EXALTCharlie & Dan introduce the brand and how it all started01:00 – Why EXALT ExistsThe problem with “healthy” food on the go03:15 – The Origin StoryFrom personal experience to business idea06:45 – Taking the Leap (2019)Quitting jobs and going all in08:30 – Fresh vs Ultra-Processed FoodWhy most “healthy” drinks aren’t actually fresh10:00 – What’s Actually Inside the ProductReal ingredients and whole food philosophy12:00 – Early Days in the ShedManual graft, chaos, and figuring it out15:00 – Innovating Food Science (HPP)How they preserve freshness without preservatives18:30 – Working With Cambridge UniversityPotential breakthrough in food preservation20:23 – The 80/20 Lifestyle PhilosophyBalance, nutrition, and real life22:00 – Getting Into the Premier LeagueHow Spurs became their first big breakthrough24:30 – Scaling Into Pro SportCustom drinks for elite athletes27:00 – Building a DTC BusinessGrowth strategy and channels29:00 – Customer Service That WinsTurning mistakes into major opportunities31:00 – Growth & Retail StrategyDTC vs wholesale vs physical stores34:30 – Early Mistakes & LessonsPackaging fails, overcomplicating, learning fast37:00 – Building as a CoupleWhy founders in a relationship can be an advantage40:00 – Culture & Team PhilosophyHiring, pay rises, and looking after people46:30 – The Future of EXALTUS expansion, sport growth, and scaling50:00 – Reality of EntrepreneurshipHow hard it really is52:00 – Quickfire QuestionsFinal thoughts and lessons