Episodios

  • “I Regret the Decisions I Didn’t Make” – Jon O'Donnell on Building a Podcast Empire
    Jul 22 2025
    This week on Mentor, Rachel and Marco sit down with Jon O’Donnell, former MD of ESI Media, and founder of Viral Tribe Entertainment. From rave MC to running major newspapers to building a creative powerhouse in podcasting, Jon shares what he's learned about reinvention, decision-making, and rediscovering creative purpose later in life. Follow us: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezoo.london https://www.instagram.com/thezoo.london/ https://thezoo.london Chapters: 02:00 – Jon’s 60-second life story 04:30 – Why starting Viral Tribe wasn’t the brave move 08:00 – Coming full circle back to creativity 13:30 – Big decisions at the Evening Standard & The Independent 17:45 – The biggest career mistake he ever made 22:00 – The importance of mentors (and surprising sources of inspiration) 38:00 – Athletic mindset meets business: hacks, habits & high performance Produced by Viral Tribe Entertainment: https://viraltribe.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    46 m
  • Why Belonging Matters More Than Fitting In with Kathryn Jacob OBE
    Jul 15 2025
    Rachel and Marco sit down with Kathryn Jacob OBE – CEO of Pearl & Dean, co-author of three best-selling books, and one of the most thoughtful voices in British media. From her early career chaos with Chris Evans to her OBE-worthy work on inclusion, Kathryn shares honest, funny and insightful lessons on leadership, resilience, and knowing when to change your shoes (yes, literally and metaphorically). Follow us: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezoo.london https://www.instagram.com/thezoo.london/ https://thezoo.london Chapters:05:30 – Kathryn'ss Career in 60 seconds: Virgin Media, cinema, and more08:00 – Getting an OBE (and nearly mistaking it for a tax demand)10:00 – Creating cultures of inclusion and true belonging12:00 – The power of mentorship and finding your “hand at your back”18:00 – Biggest career fuck-up: wearing the wrong ‘shoes’22:30 – Why “fitting in” isn’t the same as “belonging”24:00 – Behind the books: The Glass Wall, Belonging, and Creativity28:00 – Creativity, elitism, and letting go of the gatekeepers31:00 – What real leadership looks like (hint: it’s not ego)34:30 – Magpie moments: learning from others36:50 – Final advice: if it doesn’t feel right, it might not be you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 m
  • How to Take the Leap – And Land It: Lessons from Colin Gottlieb
    Jul 8 2025
    Colin Gottlieb has shaped the media world for decades – but he’s not done yet. From building agencies to transforming LADbible, to collaborating with the Muhammad Ali Center and exploring AI’s future, Colin shares stories and career-defining advice with Marco and Rachel. Follow us: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezoo.london https://www.instagram.com/thezoo.london/ https://thezoo.london Chapters: 02:20 – Meet Colin Gottlieb: Media icon and restless innovator 03:30 – Career in 60 Seconds (ish): From TBS to the top 09:00 – The origin story of Manning Gottlieb Media 13:00 – Taking the leap: Conviction, courage, and starting an agency 17:00 – The Omnicom acquisition & the power of staying focused 21:00 – Why change is opportunity (and how to spot it) 23:30 – The Muhammad Ali Center & Colin’s spiritual side 25:30 – Transforming LADbible & embracing the future 30:00 – Collaboration, creativity, and client-first thinking 33:20 – AI agents, future tools, and creating efficiency 36:30 – What to do when you get ghosted (and how to stay relevant) 39:30 – Colin’s advice to those considering the leap 42:30 – Colin’s biggest f***-up (and what he learned) Produced by Viral Tribe Entertainment: https://viraltribe.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    49 m
  • “Always Ask If the Contract’s Signed” – Karen Stacey on Tough Lessons in Leadership
    Jul 1 2025
    What makes a great leader, and how do you recover from a truly career-defining mistake? In this episode, Marco and Rachel sit down with Karen Stacey, CEO of Digital Cinema Media and President of WACL, for a conversation on leadership, learning the hard way, and the surprising power of optimism. Karen shares her journey from skipping university to landing one of the most coveted roles in media, what she learned when a crucial contract went unsigned, and why leaders should be “the sunshine” in the room. Follow us: https://www.tiktok.com/@thezoo.london https://www.instagram.com/thezoo.london/ https://thezoo.london Chapters 0:00 – Intro: Meet Karen Stacey 1:30 – How Do You Fit It All In? 4:00 – Leadership as the Weather 5:25 – What Makes a Great Leader? 10:00 – No Degree? No Problem 17:00 – The Channel 4 Breakthrough 20:00 – Holding Your Nerve 25:15 – The Power of Positivity in Teams 27:00 – CEO 101: Leading Without Burning Out 30:00 – Get to Know Your P&L - Why financial fluency is essential 32:00 – Karen’s Biggest F*Up - The unsigned contract that taught her a lifelong lesson about detail and delegation. 36:00 – Magpie Moments: Karen’s philosophy of listening more than speaking 38:00 – Imposter Syndrome Produced by Viral Tribe Entertainment: https://viraltribe.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 m
  • Why You MUST Run Towards Adversity with Simon Daglish
    Jun 24 2025
    In this episode of Mentor, Rachel and Marco sit down with media legend and ITV exec Simon Daglish – or Dags, as he’s known across the industry. From raising £1 million for charity, to going bankrupt, Dags shares the raw truth about resilience, leadership, failure, and finding purpose in adversity. Chapters 00:00 – Meet Dags: Media Legend, Charity Founder, Polar Explorer 05:36 – From Millionaire to Bankrupt: The Hardest Lesson 12:00 – Leading with Trust: Why You Shouldn't Do It All 17:30 – Run Towards Adversity: The Story Behind Walking With the Wounded 20:40 – Yes, That’s Prince Harry… and a Muff 23:15 – Degrees Don’t Matter: What Really Makes You Employable 30:00 – Project 84: Turning a Statistic Into a Movement 33:55 – The Power of Real Conversations and TV Storytelling 38:30 – Listen to the Little Guy: Staying Connected as a Leader 42:15 – Feed Them, Entertain Them: The Morrisons Moment 48:00 – Regrets, Resilience, and Radiators vs. Drains 50:00 – Final Advice from Richard Curtis (and Dags) Follow The Zoo on TikTok and Instagram Produced by Viral Tribe Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 m
  • Why You’re Probably Undervaluing Yourself – Lessons from Top CEO Lindsay Pattison
    Jun 17 2025
    Lindsay Pattison, former Chief People Officer at WPP and past President of WACL, joins Rachel and Marco to reflect on a career defined by bold leadership, relentless energy, and championing inclusion. From pitches gone wrong to the power of sponsorship, Lindsay shares unfiltered wisdom on mentorship, confidence, taking leaps—and why she’s choosing to pause now. Plus, we go behind the scenes of her work with the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Chapters: 02:33 – Lindsay’s Career in 60 Seconds (Sort of!) 06:45 – From CEO to Chief People Officer: Career Milestones 08:36 – The Power of the Pause: Why Lindsay Stepped Down 11:08 – Behind the Scenes of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 13:36 – Mentorship vs Sponsorship: What's the Difference? 21:02 – Biggest Career Mistakes and What They Taught Her 29:11 – Return to Office & Bridging the Generational Gap 33:00 – Advice for Team Leaders: Building Culture & Connection 40:14 – Women, Confidence & Championing DEI 44:55 – Public Speaking Tips & Pitching Advice 46:15 – The Best Life Advice Lindsay Ever Received 47:47 – Building Your Ally Network & Taking the Leap Follow The Zoo on TikTok and Instagram Produced by Viral Tribe Entertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 m
  • Delegate, Hydrate, Pause: Life Lessons from Microsoft VP Andy Hart
    Jun 10 2025
    What happens when a top media executive walks away from it all at 50 and heads for the jungle? In this episode of Mentor, Marco Bertozzi and Rachel Ford sit down with the one and only Andy Hart, former Global CRO at Hearst, Microsoft VP, and now... Shamanic. Andy takes us on a journey from running national newspapers to exploring shamanic rituals, Burning Man revelations, and redefining leadership. He shares raw reflections on burnout, ego, learning to let go, and the power of living with intention. https://www.tiktok.com/@thezoo.london https://www.instagram.com/thezoo.london/ https://thezoo.london Produced by Viral Tribe Entertainment: https://viraltribe.co.uk/ Chapters 02:14 Career in 60 Seconds – From VNU to Microsoft 04:46 Digital Transformation & Burnout at the Mail 06:22 Climbing at Microsoft and the Power of Leadership Training 07:35 Quitting at 50 – The Groucho Club Revelation 08:56 Is He Brilliant or Bonkers? Breaking Free from the Corporate Matrix 10:21 Spiritual Awakening, Burning Man & Saying Yes 12:47 Shamandi Is Born – Tribes, Ayahuasca & the Matrix Unplugged 14:11 Helping vs. Fixing – A New Definition of Leadership 15:00 Parenting, Mentorship & Giving Space 17:30 Get Out of Your Own Way – Lessons from INSEAD & Coaching 18:57 Drive-by Shootings & Leadership Blind Spots 21:17 The What, How, When & Where of Maturing as a Leader 22:39 What Would You Tell a 25-Year-Old Today? 27:44 Biggest F*-Up: The Simply Switch Acquisition 31:03 Mentors Who Shaped Andy’s Life – From Shamans to Steve Myron 33:23 Finding Mentors Today – Just Ask 34:17 Spiritual Timing & Clearing Space 35:35 Are You a Whippy? (Well-Off Hippy) 36:14 Marco’s Story – When Shamandi’s Advice Sparked a Business 37:48 Words Are Spells: Mitzvahs, Karma & Bitcoin 39:23 Andy’s Final Advice: The Four Agreements + Trust the Process 43:34 Hydration, Delegation & the Power of a Pause Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 m
  • From Spotify to Channel 4: How Rak Patel Redefined Leadership
    Jun 3 2025
    Mentor is the podcast where industry heavyweights share the lessons they’ve learned on the road to leadership. Hosted by Marco Buzzozi and Rachel Forde, this week’s episode features Rak Patel — Chief Commercial Officer at Channel 4. From his early days cold-calling at Drapers to leading sales teams at Spotify, Rak opens up about authenticity, diversity, and the power of just doing the thing in front of you. https://www.tiktok.com/@thezoo.london https://www.instagram.com/thezoo.london/ https://thezoo.london Produced by Viral Tribe Entertainment: https://viraltribe.co.uk/ Chapters: 00:00 – Channel 4, Gen Z & The Lost Boys Report 04:18 – Rak Patel’s Career in 60 Seconds 11:41 – Diversity, Representation & Why It Can’t Be a Tick Box 18:24 – Leading Through Uncertainty 22:04 – Biggest Career Mess-Up (And What It Taught Him) 26:53 – Role Models & Masculinity 31:06 – What Real Sales Leadership Looks Like 37:30 – Best Advice He Ever Got (From His Wife) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 m