Why does one person's content stop you mid-scroll while someone else posts the exact same thing and nobody blinks?

Welcome back to Wit and Grit with hosts PJ and Andy!

Each month on Wit+Grit, we explore a different theme as part of our growing curriculum of human skills. Skills that help us communicate, connect, build confidence and navigate whatever life throws at us.

And this month's theme is STORYTELLING.

Because the thing that makes a piece of content land is almost never the subject. It is the person behind it.

So joining PJ and Andy today is Laura, the creator behind Bite Your Brum, who has spent nearly ten years telling Birmingham's food stories to her ever growing audience.

Laura started Bite Your Brum after a night at a food festival, slightly tipsy and wondering why nobody was talking about the places she loved. Ten years on she has gone from agency copywriter to full-time freelance, backing herself with a year of savings and no safety net.

Together, Andy, PJ and Laura explore why most content gets ignored, what actually makes people care, how hospitality and pub work teach you more about communication than any course, and the unglamorous side of going freelance: saying no, picking your clients and learning to talk about money.

Tune in for honest advice on building an audience, a crash course in food storytelling, and the five crisps that are apparently the key to Laura's heart.

🎧 Listen to the FULL EPISODE & follow us on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66UlqMvfgoP5rrcOVlHZvy

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wit-grit/id1823013285

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@witandgritpodcast

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/witandgritpodcast

Connect with Laura Below:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/biteyourbrum

Why does speaking in front of a crowd sometimes feel like a life-or-death situation?

Welcome to the debut episode of the new and improved Wit and Grit podcast with hosts PJ and Andy!

We're kicking off our new-look podcast with a brilliant guest, plenty of laughs and one of the most important human skills of all: STORYTELLING.

Each month on Wit+Grit, we explore a different theme as part of our growing curriculum of human skills.

Skills that help us communicate, connect, build confidence and navigate whatever life throws at us. And this month's theme is STORYTELLING.

Because whether you're presenting to hundreds of people, speaking up in a meeting or simply trying to get your point across, how you tell your story matters.

Joining PJ Ellis and Andy Dawson is Dave James, speaker coach, stand-up comedian and founder of Speaking Without Freaking.

Together, we explore why public speaking can feel so terrifying, how to manage those nerves and what it really takes to connect with an audience.

Tune in for laugh-out-loud improv, practical stage hacks, and raw advice on owning your voice!

🎧 Listen to the FULL EPISODE & follow us on:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/66UlqMvfgoP5rrcOVlHZvy?si=1f1ac64638d64364

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wit-grit/id1823013285

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@dan_the_pik

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/witandgritpodcast/

Connect with Dave James Below:

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamdavejames/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iamdavejames/

What does it really mean to be a rebel in a suit?

In this episode of Wit + Grit, PJ and Andy sit down with Birmingham entrepreneur and business leader Joel Blake OBE for a powerful conversation about resilience, courage, authenticity and challenging the status quo.

Joel shares the extraordinary story of the moment, aged 15, that changed the direction of his life, and how the lessons from those early years have shaped the entrepreneur, father and leader he is today.

From being unexpectedly pushed out of a business he helped build, to creating a category-defining fintech platform from Birmingham, Joel talks candidly about what resilience actually looks like when you're deep in the trenches - not the polished version we often hear about.

The conversation explores why the people who speak least can sometimes have the most to offer, why inclusion is a genuine competitive advantage, the danger of thinking you're in control when everything is going well, and why entrepreneurs need the courage to find their micro-niche.

Joel also opens up about fatherhood, vulnerability, masculinity and the difficult art of allowing your children to face challenges without immediately stepping in to rescue them.

And, of course, we discover the guilty pleasure behind one of Birmingham's sharpest business minds: Skittles.

An honest conversation about success, setbacks, identity, family and having the courage to be the rebel in the suit.

Key takeaways

* Be the rebel in the suit.

* Look beyond the loudest voice.

* Know your core values - and stick to them.

* Resilience isn’t a slogan.

* Success doesn’t necessarily mean control.

* Find your micro-niche.

* Inclusion is a competitive advantage.

* Authenticity matters more than titles.

* Embrace vulnerability.

* Sometimes parenting means stepping back.

Keywords / tags

Joel Blake OBE, Rebel in a Suit, Wit and Grit, Wit & Grit Podcast, PJ Ellis, Andy Dawson, entrepreneurship, entrepreneur podcast, business leadership, leadership, resilience, grit, courage, authenticity, vulnerability, emotional intelligence, soft skills, human skills, inclusion, diversity and inclusion, belonging, business growth, fintech, GFA Exchange, private credit, Birmingham business, Birmingham entrepreneur, West Midlands, business failure, overcoming adversity, challenging the status quo, disruptive thinking, micro niche, entrepreneurship UK, startup founder, fatherhood, masculinity, male role models, personal development, core values, business mindset, purpose, inclusive leadership

Chapters List

00:01 Introduction to Resilience and Rebellion

00:24 Identifying Potential in Entrepreneurs

02:36 The Journey of Joel Blake, OBE

07:13 Turning Adversity into Fuel

12:17 Family Legacy and Personal Struggles

14:11 The Importance of Authenticity

21:24 Thinking Like a Rebel in a Suit

26:03 The Importance of Belonging vs Inclusion

28:43 Courage in Uncertain Times

30:17 Opportunities and Challenges in Business

34:22 The Weight of Recognition and Legacy

37:55 Navigating Parenthood and Vulnerability

46:09 Quickfire Insights and Reflections