From a council estate to a $100 million exit, Andrew Hulbert’s story is the kind entrepreneurs dream about. But what happens when you actually make it?

In this powerful episode of Extraordinary Life Stories with John Reynolds, Andrew shares the journey from working-class roots and a dream at 15, to building a £50 million turnover facilities management business from his bedroom and retiring at 37.

He opens up about the sacrifices, the grind, the culture he built, and the eight-figure equity pot he gifted to his senior team.

Andrew reflects on preparing psychologically for life after the exit, working with a business psychologist before selling, and why so many high achievers struggle once they reach their “island.”

He talks candidly about missed moments with family, the pressure of leadership, and how annual challenges, from skydives to half marathons, kept him mentally sharp (and yes, how £25,000 worth of donuts helped him win £250 million in sales).

Now 39, financially free and no longer driven by the chip on his shoulder, Andrew is redefining success. Planting forests. Becoming one of the world’s most prolific blood donors. Reconnecting with his wife. Doing the school run. Finding joy in the ordinary.

This episode is about ambition, identity, sacrifice — and the unexpected truth that success isn’t the exit… it’s the cuddle before school.

If you’re chasing the big win, this conversation might just change how you see it.

At 17, James Roffey's dream of becoming a professional footballer was shattered overnight. What followed was a devastating loss of identity, anorexia, bulimia, and a near-death hospitalisation where his parents were asked to sign a do-not-resuscitate order.

But this is not a story about defeat.

It’s a story about rebuilding, from rock bottom to becoming a high-performance and mindset coach helping other men master resilience, discipline and purpose.

In this raw and powerful conversation, James opens up about:

• Losing everything he thought defined him

• The eating disorder that nearly cost him his life

• Masculinity, failure and the pressure on young men today

• Infertility, heartbreak and starting again

• Why resilience isn’t about “manning up” — it’s about doing the work

This episode is about identity, adversity, and the truth that sometimes your greatest setbacks become the foundation of your greatest strength.

If you’ve ever faced rejection, loss, or felt like you’ve lost your way this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Extraordinary Life Stories with John Reynolds, John sits down with Nicola Rabson, partner at global law firm Linklaters, to explore what it really means to lead in high-pressure, high-stakes environments, without losing your humanity.

Nicola describes her work not simply as employment law, but as advising people through their most significant “people crises”: moments that keep leaders awake at night and test organisations at their core. From handling some of the UK’s most high-profile and sensitive cases, including major discrimination, cultural investigations, and reputational crises, to navigating personal illness, parenthood, and the relentless demands of senior leadership, Nicola reflects with striking honesty and humility.

She speaks openly about empathy as a professional strength, questioning rigid rules, embracing change (even when it’s uncomfortable), and the responsibility senior leaders have to support the next generation, particularly women, in the workplace. Nicola also shares her concerns about AI and the future of the legal profession, the mental and emotional toll of complex cases, and the importance of carving out thinking time in a world competing for our attention.

This is a candid, thoughtful conversation about resilience, perspective, leadership, and defining success not by titles or outcomes, but by staying true to who you are along the journey.