What if the future of food isn’t bigger, faster, and more centralised, but smaller, local, and radically decentralised?

In this episode of All About Business, James talks with Pete Russell, Founder of Ooooby, and Co-Founder of DECENT, to explore how technology, purpose-led business, and optimism can reshape the global food system.

Pete shares his journey from running a highly profitable, industrial food business to building one of the UK’s leading platforms connecting local farmers directly with their communities. Together James and Pete dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, and Pete also unpacks steward ownership, explaining how separating profit from control protects purpose and prevents mission drift.

Pete Russell offers a bold perspective on the future of commerce, arguing that AI will move us from an attention economy to an intention economy, where traditional marketing and advertising may become obsolete.

This episode is a powerful exploration of how values, technology, and long-term thinking can drive meaningful change.

Timestamps

02:03 Meet Pete Russell: The Visionary Behind Oooby’s Food Revolution

03:06 What Is Oooby? Decentralizing the Global Food Supply Chain

06:25 Farm-to-Table Logistics: How Oooby Empowers Local Farmers

10:12 The 1.9% Disruptor: Why Low-Margin Tech is Saving Small Farms

14:45 Debunking the Myth: Why Local Food Costs Less Than Supermarkets

19:30 The Awareness Gap: Why Traditional Food Systems Still Dominate

27:05 17 Years of Resilience: Pivoting Through Near-Death Business Challenges

33:40 The Software Pivot: Solving the Logistics Nightmare of Local Food

40:00 Future of Food: AI, Agentic Commerce, and Decentralized Platforms

56:15 What wakes you up on a Monday?

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This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Building a billion-pound business is one thing, but what does it take to scale globally, exit successfully, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs?

In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe, the home emergency repairs and improvements launched in 1993. Richard talks about his journey from early failures to growing a FTSE 100 multinational across the UK, France, Spain, the US, Canada, and Japan that sold for £4.1 billion in 2022.

Richard shares how a plumbing insurance model sparked the subscription-based affinity partnerships, the challenges of international expansion, and why copying successful ideas while focusing on execution was key to cracking markets and achieving organic growth.

Together they discuss Richard’s post-exit ventures including Growth Partner, Business Leader magazine, and his bestselling book "How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps". The conversation also explores Richard's passion for inspiring breakthroughs, the role of optimism in navigating setbacks, and why doubling the UK's large companies through community-driven support, matters more than ever in a challenging economic landscape.

Timestamps

01:00 The early struggles and pivots

06:42 The breakthrough: Plumbing insurance model

17:40 The power of copying and mentorship

28:53 Challenges and opportunities for mid-size businesses

37:55 Introducing growth partner: investment in retail

48:10 The not-to-do list for entrepreneurs

01:02:29 Recruitment: Hiring your replacement

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All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Winning Olympic gold is one of the highest achievements in sport, but what are the skills that you can apply to build an elite team in your business?

In this episode of All About Business, James meets Adrian Moorhouse MBE, three-time Olympian and gold medalist. Adrian talks about his journey from the pool to the boardroom, exploring big hairy audacious goals (BHAGs), the power of curiosity, and heart-driven leadership in challenging times, and why mindset, meaning, and community matter more than ever for sustained success in sport and business.

Adrian discusses his entrepreneurial transition, launching Lane Four in 1995, growing it through high-performance culture and client impact, and navigating its sale to EY in 2021, while confronting common entrepreneur pitfalls. He also shares how escaping school bullying through swimming ignited his drive and why choices over sacrifices defined his path.

Timestamps

01:20 Transition to business

04:44 Challenges and learnings

07:58 Creating a winning team

12:41 Resilience and focus techniques

17:16 From athlete to entrepreneur

32:30 Navigating the 2008 financial crisis

36:46 Mentoring and leadership insights

48:53 The intersection of sports and business

57:09 The importance of curiosity in leadership

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This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Building a career in television is one thing, but what does it really take to produce global hits like The Crown and Outlander while building and scaling a production empire?

In this episode of 'All About Business,' James speaks with Andy Harries, co-founder and CEO of Left Bank Pictures. Together they discuss Andy's 50-year journey from a promotion scriptwriter at Granada Television, to launching his own company, selling it to Sony, and navigating the streaming revolution.

Andy explains how being rejected at 26 became the fuel for his ambition, how his early documentary work took him around the world, and what he learned directing cultural icons including the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren, and Truman Capote. The conversation dives into the business of creativity, including the high stakes Netflix pitch that led to a 100 million pound deal for The Crown, what global streamers look for when backing premium drama, and how British television has scaled to a global audience.

Andy also reflects on his transition into an executive chairman role, mentoring the next generation of talent, and why protecting British creativity and a strong BBC matters more than ever.

Timestamps

02:26 Journey through Granada

06:02 Transition to comedy and drama

09:34 The Queen and Prime Suspect

12:47 Founding Left Bank Pictures

39:35 Reaching out to Ken Braner

50:17 The Crown and Netflix partnership

01:04:35 Transitioning roles and future projects

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All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, is one of the most famous houses in the world. But what does it really take to run it as a modern business?

In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Fiona, Lady Carnarvon, custodian of Highclere Castle, about managing a 1,300-year-old heritage estate with roots dating back to 749 AD. She shares how Downton Abbey transformed Highclere’s global profile, what it is like to live and work alongside a major film production, and how the castle evolved into a year-round destination.

Lady Carnarvon discusses her entrepreneurial approach, from Christmas events and behind-the-scenes tours to virtual experiences, bestselling books, and Highclere Castle Gin, while confronting the hard economic realities of British farming and long-term stewardship.

The conversation also explores Highclere’s ghost stories, its sense of community, and why heritage, kindness, and authenticity matter more than ever in a changing world.

Timecodes

04:29 Christmas at Highclere

09:56 Tutankhamun and Downton Abbey

18:41 Challenges of modern farming

27:11 Ghost stories and blessings

36:45 The mysterious death of Lord Carnarvon

43:38 The success of Highclere Castle Gin

48:03 Building a brand and community

56:43 Final thoughts and future plans

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This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Some of the biggest global businesses started the same way: someone spotted an opportunity early- and then chose the right partner.

In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with serial venture builder James McHugh, founder and chairman of Tquila. James reveals the “build-operate-transfer” playbook behind multiple eight-figure exits and how he’s now riding the AI wave with agentic systems and post-keyboard CRMs.

He also shares how he spotted the Salesforce gap in Europe in 2010, repeatedly building (and exiting) high-growth tech-services including joint ventures with Salesforce, ServiceNow and now AI leaders like Anthropic and you.com.

A candid conversation on scaling fast, choosing truth-seeking AI, why governments are dangerously unprepared for mass unemployment, and what abundance on the other side might actually look like.

Timecodes

02:31 The Salesforce Opportunity: Building a Business in Europe

05:21 The tquila Story: Naming and Early Success

08:29 The Role of Partnerships in Business Success

11:13 AI and the Future: Opportunities and Challenges

23:22 The Impact of AI on Employment and Society

33:55 The Future of AI and Human Values

38:45 Driverless Cars and the Future of Transportation

47:04 The Impact of AI on Jobs and Society

49:15 The Future of Human Longevity with AI

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This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

How do you build a culture where risk-taking is celebrated, bureaucracy is banished and everyone thinks like an entrepreneur?

In this episode, James is joined by Chris Hulatt, Co-founder of Octopus Group, a multi-billion-pound investment and energy business that started in a living room and grew into a global force spanning fund management, renewable energy and technology.

Chris shares how Octopus went from backing UK startups to creating Octopus Energy, now valued at $9 billion, and why initiatives like Springboard are helping employees become founders themselves. We talk about how to make fast decisions without perfect data, why bureaucracy kills creativity and what it really takes to scale up without losing your entrepreneurial spark.

Timecodes:

02:43 - Octopus Energy: The Startup Story

09:16 - The Importance of Financial Literacy

12:21 - Octopus Group Funds & Investment Approach

17:21 - Culture of Entrepreneurship at Octopus

21:40 - The Springboard Scheme for New Ventures

25:08 - Success Stories & Learning from Failure

28:44 - Barriers to Entrepreneurship in the UK

31:13 - Octopus Group’s Shared Purpose

34:05 - Decision Making & Avoiding Bureaucracy

41:05 - Customer-First Philosophy

44:05 - The Future of Octopus Group

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All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more here

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Building a career in food is one thing - but what does it really take to become one of the UKs most famous chefs?

In this episode of 'All About Business,' James Reed speaks with renowned British chef Tom Carriage, exploring Tom’s journey from washing dishes in small kitchens to becoming a Michelin-starred chef and a successful business owner with a portfolio of restaurants.

Tom discusses his approach to leadership, the ethos behind mentoring young professionals, and his thoughts on balancing passion with business acumen. They also delve into Tom’s personal transformation, including his significant weight loss and sobriety, and discuss the broader challenges facing the hospitality industry, including taxation and workforce management.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction

02:40- Early career and challenges

08:52 Building a culinary empire

13:10 Philosophy and success

17:11 Mentorship and team building

27:18 Journey to sobriety

31:29 Embracing neurodiversity in the kitchen

40:52 Challenges in the hospitality industry

47:16 Future plans and reflections

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Visit Tom Kerridge's website to learn more about his food, venues, books and other ventures

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more here

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk