EP 414 - Dodge Woodall reveals how he mortgaged his family home during the 2008 financial crisis to launch what became the 30,000-person Bournemouth 7s Festival.

From growing up above a pub to building and scaling multiple businesses, this is a raw masterclass in risk-taking, resilience, and real entrepreneurship.

We cover:

• Why entrepreneurship is an extreme sport

• Risk addiction and betting everything

• Scaling a festival brand without investment

• Why most people shouldn’t start a business

• The power of phone calls over emails

If you’re serious about business, leadership, or starting up - this episode is essential viewing.

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EP 413 - The UK’s new Employment Rights Act is being framed as a major step forward for workers.

But what happens when stronger protections collide with the realities of hiring, risk, and running a business?

In this episode, we sit down with leading employment lawyers to unpack the biggest changes: from the reduction in unfair dismissal thresholds to new restrictions on “fire and rehire,” and longer tribunal timelines.

For large corporations, these shifts may be manageable.

For SMEs - which create the majority of UK jobs - the implications could be far more significant.

We explore the unintended consequences of well-meaning policy:

Will businesses become more cautious about hiring?

Does reducing flexibility increase risk?

And could this ultimately impact job creation?

This is a grounded, practical conversation about how employment law works in the real world and what both employers and employees need to understand as the rules change.

Chapters:

00:00 New Rights - Big Risks

01:51 Meet Oury Clark's Employment Law Experts

02:07 Is It Good or Bad

03:15 Why This Act Exists

04:45 Top Changes Overview

05:03 Unfair Dismissal Cut

06:17 Tribunal Deadlines Extended

07:20 Sexual Harassment Duties

08:40 Fire and Rehire Ban

10:48 Redundancy Rules Tighten

12:21 Fair Work Agency Powers

13:23 April Changes Rundown

14:50 Unfair Dismissal Deep Dive

17:36 Hiring Gets Harder

19:44 Contracting and EOR Rise

28:34 Tribunals Backlog and ACAS

32:03 AI Fuels More Claims

36:59 Compensation Cap Removed

42:09 Any Upsides to Reform

44:25 Fire and Rehire Explained

45:12 Fire and Rehire Basics

46:04 Five Fair Dismissal Reasons

46:57 SOSR and Business Change

50:38 New Rules and Restricted Variations

53:23 Tribunals and Enforcement Delays

54:42 Performance Management Reality

56:47 Protected Conversations Explained

01:01:21 SSP Changes and Sickness Absence

01:05:20 Occupational Health and Return Plans

01:07:57 Sexual Harassment Duties Expand

01:14:51 Practical Steps Before April

01:19:14 Growth Concerns and Global Competition

01:24:29 Myths Rapid Fire

01:25:45 Final Thanks and Sign Off

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EP 412 - How far should UK employers go when it comes to looking after staff?

In this episode we break down the real cost of being a “nice” employer - from UK statutory sick pay (SSP) and full sick pay policies to employee benefits, pensions, flexible working, and permanent health insurance (PHI).

With major UK employment law changes coming, SMEs face difficult trade-offs:

Is full sick pay worth the payroll cost?

Does unlimited holiday actually work?

Can generous benefits create legal risk?

Are employers responsible for employees’ long-term wellbeing?

Featuring insights from Oury Clark's employment lawyer Jessica Bass and financial adviser Freddie Pattenden, this episode is a practical guide for SME founders, directors, and HR leaders navigating sick leave, compliance, retention, and post-COVID workplace expectations.

If you run a UK business and want to balance competitiveness, fairness, and sustainability - this one’s for you.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Caring Without Going Broke

00:57 Meet the Experts

01:27 What Staff Really Want

03:38 Compliance Value Competition

05:28 PHI Income Protection Debate

11:22 Post Covid Flex and Mental Health

15:36 Legal Minimums Sick Pay Changes

21:54 Morality Consistency and Flex

26:15 Being Nice Can Backfire

29:10 Structuring Benefits and Contracts

32:09 Unlimited Holiday Pitfalls

32:51 Unlimited holiday pitfalls

34:50 Perks arms race

37:07 SMEs vs big firms

38:35 Pension basics explained

39:43 Qualifying earnings trap

42:41 Pensions and retention

47:17 Salary sacrifice demystified

54:43 Self employed pension gap

55:06 Death in service cover

57:15 Private healthcare reality

59:19 Tailoring PMI benefits

01:03:00 Managing premium increases

01:04:43 Virtual GP and AI support

01:06:16 Avoiding Benefit Red Herrings

01:08:14 Flexible Benefits Allowance

01:11:20 Renewals and Underwriting Traps

01:13:47 Flexible Working Rights

01:15:33 Office Returns and Discrimination

01:19:49 Mental Health Boundaries

01:21:46 Best Benefits and Compliance

01:27:10 Business or BS Quiz

01:27:55 Maternity and Paternity Debate

01:34:28 Wellbeing Apps and Final Wrap

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EP 411 - Most families don’t just feel grief when someone dies - they feel anger.

Anger about the mess, the debt, the confusion, and the things nobody sorted out.

In this episode of Business Without BS, we have the conversation most people avoid - but absolutely shouldn’t.

We talk about what actually happens if you die without a plan, why love isn’t flowers and chocolates, and how a few uncomfortable decisions can completely change your family’s future.

This isn’t about being wealthy. It’s about being responsible.

We cover:

What happens if you die without a will (and why modern families are hit hardest)

Why unmarried partners are often left with nothing

Life insurance: what it really does, how cheap it can be, and when it matters most

Powers of attorney and the nightmare families face without them

Business owners, shares, and the chaos nobody plans for

Why “I didn’t get round to it” is one of the worst legacies you can leave

This conversation is uncomfortable, but it might be the most loving thing you ever do for the people you care about.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Wills and Life Insurance

01:14 The Consequences of Not Planning Ahead

02:05 Meet the Experts: Financial and Legal Advisors

02:37 Understanding Wills and Intestacy Rules

09:49 The Importance of Communication and Regular Updates

12:34 Life Insurance: Protecting Your Loved Ones

22:29 Power of Attorney: Ensuring Your Wishes Are Honored

37:47 Understanding Income Protection

39:16 The Importance of Life Insurance

39:53 Building Financial Security

41:17 Starting the Conversation on Wills

44:21 Choosing the Right Executor

47:01 Navigating Probate and Inheritance Tax

51:47 Managing Digital Assets

01:06:08 Final Thoughts on Financial Planning

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EP 410 - Tax Without BS returns with a fiery but surprisingly hopeful breakdown of the November 2025 UK Budget.

Andy, Jemma and Emma from Oury Clark sift the good, the bad, and the “are-you-kidding-me?” of Britain’s latest fiscal plan

From scale-up salvation and EIS boosts, to SME heartbreak, Mansion Tax grumbles, pension puzzles, and the four-year foreign-income free-for-all.

It’s the only budget reaction that’ll make you laugh and rethink your life insurance.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Andy's Episode Synposis

02:29 Business Tax Positives

05:37 Funding Gaps and EIS

14:18 Business Rates and SME Challenges

18:16 Inheritance Tax and Business Property Relief

23:58 Impact on SMEs and Entrepreneurs

33:12 Understanding Business Rates

34:04 Personal Taxes Overview

34:16 Employee Ownership Trusts Explained

37:54 Income Tax Threshold Freeze

38:55 Salary Sacrifice and ISA Changes

40:08 Financial Literacy and Investment Advice

43:44 Mansion Tax and Property Levies

48:42 Tax Avoidance vs. Tax Evasion

55:48 Foreign Income and Gains Regime

01:00:32 Final Thoughts and Budget Reflections

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EP 409 - What happens when you strip away phones, comfort and pretence?

Therapist Jerry Hyde - often called “the most dangerous therapist in the world” - and filmmaker Mai Hua explore the raw truths of mental health, vulnerability and masculinity.

Released for World Mental Health Day, the conversation dives into why modern life keeps us disconnected, how radical retreats (no phones, no showers, no distractions) transform people, and why real healing means breaking the rules.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why Jerry Hyde is called “the most dangerous therapist”

How radical retreats challenge comfort, technology and ego

The link between phones, distraction and mental health decline

Why vulnerability is strength in therapy and relationships

How group therapy transforms masculinity and human connection

If you’re interested in mental health awareness, therapy, and breaking free from modern distractions, this episode offers unfiltered insights and challenges conventional thinking.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 BWB with Jerry Hyde and Mai Hua

00:40 Introducing Jerry and Mai

01:52 Exploring Masculinity and Vulnerability

04:03 The Power of Retreats

05:44 The Impact of Technology on Mental Health

06:27 The Importance of Human Connection

08:50 Challenges of Modern Parenting

18:53 Understanding ADHD and Trauma

32:24 Gender Dynamics and Therapy

45:25 Therapy as a Lifestyle Choice

45:52 Challenges of Couples Therapy

47:02 The Art of Self-Inquiry

47:41 Collaborative Conflicts

48:09 Gender Differences in Therapy

57:44 Cultural Perspectives on Therapy

01:03:02 Making a Man: The Documentary

01:05:42 The Importance of Vulnerability

01:23:12 Therapy and Group Dynamics

01:25:17 Wrap Up

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If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

EP 408 - What happens when British charm collides with German order in the workplace?

In part 4 of our Business Without Baggage series, we speak to professor and senior partner at GTK Germany - Manfred Klein - who breaks down the surprising differences - and hidden similarities - between the UK and Germany’s business cultures.

From awkward handshakes and endless small talk to rigid agendas and direct feedback, discover why British and German colleagues often clash in meetings, negotiations and everyday work.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why German efficiency and precision frustrates British colleagues

How British politeness and vagueness confuses German teams

The truth about work - life boundaries in Germany vs the UK

Why Germans trust process while Brits trust personality

How cultural differences can make or break international business deals

If you’re doing business with Germany, managing international teams, or just curious about cross-cultural communication, this conversation is packed with real-world insights and a few laughs.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Business Without Baggage part 3 - Germany

00:43 Meet Manfred - A Legal Heavyweight

01:16 The Importance of Formality and Punctuality

02:20 Setting and Following an Agenda

04:53 Work-Life Boundaries in Germany

17:05 Direct Communication and Feedback

29:14 The Role of Hierarchy and Family Businesses

39:25 Social Security and Employee Expectations

40:54 Understanding German Employee Benefits

41:25 Work-Life Balance in Germany

42:05 Challenges in the German Health and Pension Systems

42:54 Maternity and Parental Leave Policies

44:01 Declining Birth Rates and Social Security

46:26 Immigration and Cultural Integration

48:05 German Cultural Traits and Business Etiquette

49:15 Economic Challenges and Quantitative Easing

50:25 Direct Communication and Efficiency in Germany

57:00 Business Collaboration Between Germany and UK

59:16 Ease of Doing Business in Germany

01:09:00 Common Mistakes When Doing Business in Germany

01:11:03 Visa and Property Ownership in Germany

01:13:50 Andy Wears German Carnival Outfit

01:15:19 Business or Bullshit quiz!

01:18:04 Wrap Up

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If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me

EP 407 - What does it really take to build a food empire from scratch?

We're giving our chat with John B Stapleton - serial entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of the New Covent Garden Soup Company and Little Dish a re-run to remind us about the hard-won lessons behind his multi-million-pound successes.

From inventing the UK’s fresh soup category to mentoring today’s challenger brands, John shares his insights on:

• Why resilience beats a “genius idea” every time
• How to raise investment when the market is stacked against you
• The truth about failure - and why it’s the best teacher for entrepreneurs
• Bootstrapping until you “know what you’re doing”
• The entrepreneurial ego: small “e” vs big “E”

Whether you’re launching your first startup or scaling towards exit, this episode is packed with real-world advice on how entrepreneurs really win - and why sometimes failure is the very thing that sets you up for millions.

Perfect for founders, investors, and anyone navigating today’s uncertain business landscape.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 BWB with John Stapleton

00:40 John's Background and Achievements

01:19 Current Business Climate and Challenges

04:22 Investment Strategies and Advice

12:45 Mentoring and Advising Startups

14:25 Mission Ventures and Investment Platforms

18:17 Entrepreneurial Traits and Success

24:43 The Birth of Lamborghini

25:22 The Cult of Entrepreneurial Personality

26:29 The Value of Failure

28:51 Consumer Insight and Resilience

30:05 The Fresh Soup Revolution

34:21 Quickfire - Get To Know John

41:26 Wrap Up

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If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - mail@businesswithoutbullshit.me