People Doing Things
'People Doing Things' is a podcast series that explores the challenges and complexities of young people, who decide to take a risk, follow their dreams and ultimately do something different and transformational with their working lives. Hosted by brand strategist, Ed Little of Koto, the series aims to be a platform to celebrate and inspire the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
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Fearne & Rosie - Rachel Kettlewell
03/28/2025
Fearne & Rosie - Rachel Kettlewell
Introducing Rachel Kettlewell. She’s the founder of Fearne & Rosie, the jam challenger on a mission to spread goodness up and down the country, packing as much fruit into as many mouths, hearts and minds as possible. Having launched a little over 5 years ago she’s now stocked in over 5000 stocking points including the likes of Asda, Co-op and Tesco. Hailing from Withington, Manchester, the brand itself is named after her two first-borns, Fearne & Rosie. Before she became a real fruit queen, she worked as a teacher and in the charity sector. Two areas that are still massively important to her today working with both FareShare and schools to provide kids with better for you options. But it hasn’t been all bread, butter and jam for Rachel. The food industry can at times feel fairly gate-kept, requiring a lot of start-up capital just to get off the ground. And when it comes to distribution there are a number of unwritten retail rules that you are expected to follow. Lucky for her, a combination of straight talk and common sense has seen her though. In this episode we talk about the hidden power of naivety, why more competition in jam is a good thing, and what the future has in-store for Fearne & Rosie (the jam not the kids).
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Fatso - Ella Mckay
02/26/2025
Fatso - Ella Mckay
Say hi to Ella. She’s the founder of Fatso, the chocolate challenger, on a mission to prove that dark chocolate can be just as fun, delicious and chunky as milk. Founded in 2022, Fatso is stocked in over 350 stores with taste-makers and independents like Liberty, Harvey Nichols as well as hotels and offices, counted amongst its many stockists. Driven by an all female team, they’re proof that you can have your chocolate and eat it. That dark chocolate can be bold, premium and playful, and that life’s more fun when it isn’t full of modesty. Her guiding philosophy: ‘more matters’, is not only threaded into the fibres of her maximalist brand but it’s an idea that reflects what modern consumers expect from brands of today. More. And with flavour names like Morning Glory, Sweet Tart and Home Run she’s definitely providing the whole package. In this episode we’ll unwrap the secrets behind Fatso’s success diving into the tired stereotypes of dark chocolate she’s fighting against and what her mantra of ‘more matters’ means in the context of both work and play. Tuck in, guilt free.
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Yep Kitchen - Tom Palmer
01/25/2025
Yep Kitchen - Tom Palmer
Tom Palmer is the founder of Yep Kitchen, the Sichuan chilli oil taking the deli scene by storm now in over 180 stores across the UK from Cornwall to Scotland with more on the horizon. Founded in 2022, after a decade of living in China, Tom decided to swap textbooks for taste buds, leaving his career in education to turn his passion into a business. On a mission to bring the bold, rich flavours of China's Southwest to the UK through a range of easy-to-use and crave worthy condiments from their signature Sichuan Chilli Crisp and Garlic Chilli Oil to Hunan Salted Chillies. However, while foodies like Tom now love authentic Chinese flavours, there’s a big gap between what most of the UK thinks about Chinese food (chicken balls, prawn toast, crispy chilli beef, chow mein) - sorry big John. And that’s exactly the misperceptions of China, it’s people and their food that Tom’s trying to address with his sauces and brand. Bosh! In this episode we check-in on how Yep Kitchen is doing, hear more about his adventures in China and how the business plans to scale in 2025 and beyond.
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Yonder - Tim Chong
01/16/2025
Yonder - Tim Chong
Say hello to Tim Chong. He’s the founder of Yonder, the next generation credit card company on a mission to make credit more inclusive, accessible, and rewarding. Instead of just offering you air miles, they invite modern explorers into a world of trending restaurants, breakthrough brands, and uplifting experiences with points that are not only easier to use but more enjoyable to spend. Inspired by Neo banks like Monzo and Revolut, Yonder makes Amex look its age with tired UX, a slow app and lack of choice when it comes to cashing in your points - the value of which seems to continuously change. And while Amex might have once been a pioneer, enabling their audience to travel with their points, the idea of travel today goes far beyond just the once or twice a year holiday. It’s a lifestyle and a mindset - restless, always exploring, never settling for less; a bit like their founder Tim. Hailing from Australia, Tim is somewhat of an immersionist, yo-yoing between paths that were chosen for him and owning his own path, between established businesses like IBM in his early career, to scaleups like Clearscore further down the line, working in both tech and management consultancy. He even wanted to be a missionary at one point spending time working in development in places like Kenya. And while the core mission of the brand was about inclusion, giving more people access to credit, its core expression today is about experiences — reflecting the changing cultural attitudes of their audience. If Amex is the boomer of credit cards, Yonder is the millennial counterpoint. In this episode we talk about Tim’s journey around the world to London, his transition from 0-1 founder to modern day manager with 50+ employees and why today’s millennials need a new credit card in their back-pocket. Tap in and enjoy.
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Hilltop Honey - Scott Davies
12/29/2024
Hilltop Honey - Scott Davies
Introducing Scott Davies. He’s the founder of Hilltop Honey, the 2nd largest honey brand in the UK with a turnover of £44mn selling over 13,000 tonnes of honey a year, the equivalent of 1000 double-decker buses. And while honey sales have been relatively stagnant for the last few years, Hilltop Honey has bucked the trend growing at an outstanding 22% a year. It’s impressive. Scott grew up in a pretty low income family in the middle of Wales, got pretty average GCSEs, didn’t go to university and only started the businesses because he slipped a disk down the coal yard. Aged 23 with a 5k overdraft, Scott was faced with a choice: start a dog walking business, sell sports equipment on Amazon or start his own honey brand. Lucky for us he did the latter, starting Hilltop Honey back in 2011 living with mum and dad, who now lend a hand in the factory. Look up ‘grit’ means in the dictionary you’ll find a picture of Scott there. He didn’t pay himself for the first 3 years. They were on their last £400 when Holland & Barrett took a chance on the brand. And they’ve never taken on any investment. Now 13 years on, he has a market share of 12%, is expanding to the states and pays 130 people’s mortgages every month. In this episode we talk about what resilience means, the power of being no.2 and the highs and lows along the road. Enjoy
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Cotswolds Distillery - Dan Szor
12/10/2024
Cotswolds Distillery - Dan Szor
Say hello to Dan Szor. He’s the founder of the Cotswolds Distillery, a pioneering whisky distillery that has learned the rules like a pro, only to break them like an artist. Working with master distillers Jim McEwan from Bruichladdich and whisky veteran Harry Cockburn from Bowmore, the Cotswolds Distillery was one of only 4 English whisky distilleries when it was founded in 2014. Now there are 55. Working with the next generation of distilling talent, Dan was eager to hire talent but rent experience, supplemented by locals who helped with operations like bottling and peeling fruit for the gin, their first market-ready product. A cloudy gin that shrugged off negative aspersions from the gin world, turning it into a distinguishable brand asset for what has now become a go-to for Cotswold folk and visitors, alike. For the distillery, the gin was only a stop-gap before the real work on the whisky could begin. His ‘barley epiphany’ in the early 2010’s saw him imagine a new way of making whisky. One that didn’t have to be a heavy hitting whisky from the peaty terroir and harsh water of Scotland but could instead be a softer, younger, fruit-forward liquid made from locally sourced Cotswolds barley, enhanced by a range of carefully sourced barrels that give it the ‘real’ flavour. They now have a wonderful range of whiskies on offer from their legendary ‘Founders Choice’, my personal favourites of the ‘Sherry Casks’ and ‘Bourbon Casks’ as well as more experimental, limited editions and liqueurs. In this episode we talk about whether a healthy dose of naivety or his American chutzpah inspired him to re-write the rules of whisky making, whether it’s best to learn an industry from the top or the bottom, and where following a passion can take you. So pour yourself a ‘contemplative dram’, take a sip and tune in.
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Kold Sauce - Drew Wolf
12/01/2024
Kold Sauce - Drew Wolf
Drew Wolf is the creative director turned condiment radical who got tired of traditional advertising and decided to make his own fermented hot sauce brand, named Kold Sauce instead. The cold pressed red, green and yellow stuff was part social experiment, part creative outlet, part really good f*cking hot sauce - following his creative curiosity and pepper addiction wherever it takes him, 5am markets and all. The Cleveland native, started the brand during lockdown, riding the hot sauce wave that has been growing at 55% year on year. They’re now stocked in independents and delis up and down the country as well as being one of the poster boys for Delli Ap, the food and drink marketplace taking London by storm where he’s become one of the top sellers, selling 20,000 jars to date. Impressive. He’s now embracing the ‘collaborative chameleon’ EOD persona, hosting an array of events with brands like Salt, East London Liquor Company, Hoxton Hotels, Footpatrol, Coqfighter, Patty & Bun so and co-creating products with restaurants like Bangers. Beyond tasty, Kold Sauce is entertaining - playing a role in culture that sees all ships rise. In this episode we talk about food as the new fashion, falling in love with the journey (not the destination) and where his imaginations will take Kold Sauce next. Dip in.
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All Dressed Up - Tess Reed
11/19/2024
All Dressed Up - Tess Reed
Introducing Tess. She’s the founder of All Dressed Up, the flavour-first salad dressings company on a mission to elevate everyday meals (not just salad leaves) using trending ingredients people know and love without any of the artificial ingredients that supermarket brands use. After cutting her teeth in the fast-paced FMCG world with names like Coconut Collaborative and Perkbox, Tess took a bold step into the kitchen to hone her culinary chops, training as a professional chef at the renowned Leiths School of Food & Wine. Following stints perfecting her craft, she received some unexpected feedback: her boyfriend said her dressings were so good she should sell them…which is exactly what she did. Since then, Tess’s delicious dressings have made their way onto the shelves of places like Whole Foods, Eat17, and Delli App, as well as independent delis and farm shops across the country—and with a major Ocado deal on the horizon, things are only looking up! In this episode, we’ll dive into her flavorful journey, from juggling two jobs to her top tips for making it all work. Enjoy.
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Living Things - Ben Vear
11/19/2024
Living Things - Ben Vear
Say hello to Ben Vear. He’s the co-founder of Living Things, the low sugar, all natural, prebiotic soda taking London by storm, exporting to five countries and selling a can every minute with more bubbles on the horizon. Backed by Brewdog co-founder James Watt, the gut loving brand raised a large family and friends pre-seed round, and is now looking to raise further funds to grow the team and expand the business internationally. Stocked in over 700 tastemakers stockists from Delli Ap to Amazon, Wholefoods and Ocado, they are arguably the UK’s answer to Poppi and Olipop, who are now valued over $1bn selling more cans than coca-cola in the US. And while Ben has food and drink in his blood, coming from a lineage of ice cream makers, he cut his teeth Mars, Bear, Wildfarmed and Minor Figures. With his co-founder Jon, he’s now scripting his own playbook, riding the wave of gut health while Gen-Z cut down their ABV in favour of next generation sodas. In this episode we talk about his learnings from Minor Figures, the highs and lows so far, and his plans for the future of Living Things. Grab a can, take a sip, tune in and enjoy.
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Unknown - Ollie Scott
09/27/2024
Unknown - Ollie Scott
Say hello to Ollie Scott. Chief ‘Unknownian’ behind the UK’s most unexpected creative recruitment company. A wild bunch of multi-talented humans working across product, creative, client services, design, strategy and leadership; building A-class teams at some of the world’s most dynamic agencies. Having founded Unknown in 2019, Ollie set out to break the mould in recruitment. By remaining curious as to what makes each applicant individual, Unknown has morphed from a simple idea and a £13K credit card limit into a thriving business made up of high performing, high earning, happy, healthy individuals. And while they’ve had to adapt to both changes in the market and becoming a more established recruiter they’ve retained their deeply human, misfit spirit. In this episode we discuss Ollie's learnings from the school of life, how to get hired in the creative industry (and how to hire properly) and how Unknown are transitioning from recruitment underdog to real and human recruitment innovator working with some of the best agencies on the planet.
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Willy's Pies - Will Lewis
07/28/2024
Willy's Pies - Will Lewis
Say hi to Will of Willy's Pies - the lockdown-born culinary success story that has put pies firmly back on the map. The quintessentially British pies are handmade in Hackney (where else?), with a focus on elevated fillings using local ingredients, and lots of it. Drawing on a decade of experience as a top-line chef, Will’s furlough brain-child has since grown out of his home kitchen and into a commercial HQ in London Fields. With the help of his business-partner and best friend, Josh, Willy’s Pies has become a London food icon with the opening of their first retail location in Netil Market in 2023. Oh, and they’ve even caught the attention of Ian Wright, who is now on board as an investor to help push the business forward. For me, they’re a brand capturing the renewed spirit of local optimism. A business that embraces quality ingredients and quality time, products made and enjoyed by real people - who enjoy spending time together (watching the footy, cracking a few beers). What’s more, pies don’t have to be these shit, ultra-processed, factory-made monstrosities; they can be beautiful, delicious, well-designed, moments of indulgence, reminding people of what’s really important in life. In this episode, we talk about what makes the perfect pie, what they’re fighting against and their growth ambitions over the next decade. Tuck in.
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Delli / Depop - Simon Beckerman
06/28/2024
Delli / Depop - Simon Beckerman
Say hello to Simon Beckerman, the creative force turned entrepreneur behind Gen Z’s favourite fashion marketplace, Depop, which he sold to Etsy for a staggering £1.25 billion. Today, we’re discussing his more recent venture, Delli, the culinary marketplace that lets independent chefs and businesses sell food on their own terms Founded in 2020, a year before selling Depop, Delli reflects Simon’s belief in the power of unique, story-rich products. Much like Depop, which became a beloved platform for new fashion brands and celebrities alike, Delli aims to revolutionise the food scene by offering a digital playground where foodie innovation can thrive. The app has already seen great success with limited-edition drops and a raw, Fujifilm aesthetic that appeals to its users. But it hasn’t been all ‘swipe left and add to cart’ for this creative soul - in starting Depop he had to leave his family run magazine and sunglasses business he set up with his brother, emigrate to London, be away from his wife, and suffer long days and nights before burning out, appointing a CEO and taking a year off to recover. Then come back and do it all again. In this episode, we chat with Simon Beckerman about his transition from fashion to food, the inspiration behind Delli, and how he’s using lessons from Depop to create a new market for independent food makers. Plus, Simon shares some of his favourite products on Delli and what the future holds for his next exciting new venture, fatherhood.
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Qube - Amin Hamzianpour
06/10/2024
Qube - Amin Hamzianpour
Welcome Amin. He founded Qube, the world’s first members-only studio for music and content creators. With locations in Acton, Hackney, Canary Wharf and soon Elephant and Castle, their studios enable musicians, podcast hosts and content creators to rehearse, experiment, record, host, and capture a range of content whenever they like. Amongst their audience are musicians like Lewis Capaldi, Raye, J Hus, Flo as well as content creators like Chunkz and Logan Paul - who all benefit from the best in class equipment, high quality studios and 24/7 bookings, even if it’s at the last minute. However, it’s the culture as a community that interests me most. Despite us as a society being more technology connected than ever before, we feel more alone than ever before. Looking for new and meaningful ways to interact with people around shared interests, niches, passions or professions. In this episode, we talk about the original idea that sparked Qube, how you actually go about building a members club and why community us so in demand right now. Listen up.
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Fera - Sidney & Declan
06/01/2024
Fera - Sidney & Declan
Introducing Sidney & Declan. They founded outdoor clothing brand Fera - a love letter to the British outdoors. Founded in 2022, each capsule celebrates different outdoor culture, from fly fishing to country pubs and outdoor cooking. Their collections are made up of hard-wearing canvas gilets, sherpa fleeces, field shirts and double knee trousers - bringing a rugged, hardworking and boxy style back to the UK outdoor scene. And while outwear has become dominated by highly technical over-engineered gear, Fera, by contrast, position themselves as an outdoors lifestyle brand offering us a more down-to-earth approach to nature. In this episode, we talk about the origin story that led to the creation of Fera, the pair's thirst for adventure and raising money in a tough environment. Go wild.
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Pizza Pilgrims - Thom Elliot
04/15/2024
Pizza Pilgrims - Thom Elliot
Say hello to Thom Elliot. Back in 2012, he and his brother James founded Pizza Pilgrims - a remarkable journey that turned a simple tuk-tuk into a pizza empire spanning over 20 locations. Fueled by a passion for authentic Italian pizza and disillusioned with their previous careers in advertising and TV production, the brothers bought a Piaggio Ape and set off on a month-long pilgrimage across Italy. They immersed themselves in the art of pizza making, studying ingredients and flavours, and brought their newfound knowledge back to London. Starting with a single oven in their vehicle at Berwick Street Market in Soho, they captured the hearts of Londoners, epitomising the street food revolution. From a target of selling 350 pizzas a week in their early days to now selling 45,000+ week, Pizza Pilgrims has grown meteorically. With 20 pizzerias in London and additional outlets in Nottingham, Cambridge, Leeds, and Brighton, the brand has become synonymous with authentic Neapolitan pizza in the UK. Despite this rapid expansion, Thom and James have maintained a close-knit company culture, employing around 500 people who share their passion and vision. In this episode, we chat with Thom Elliot about turning a street food stall into a beloved chain, how the pizza landscape has changed over the last decade, the importance of staying true to your roots and what the future holds for Pizza Pilgrims.
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Chapel Down - Frazer Thompson
03/24/2024
Chapel Down - Frazer Thompson
Introducing Frazer Thompson, the visionary behind Chapel Down. Frazer's journey began in an unexpected way—he founded Chapel Down in 2002 after a playful wager with a friend led him down the path of winemaking. What started as a gamble transformed into a success story, with Chapel Down emerging as England’s leading winery and achieving a stock market valuation of £120 million. Frazer's early days were humble, starting as a paperboy in the outskirts of Newcastle before moving to London in the late seventies to study business at the University of Greenwich. His career in marketing quickly escalated, leading to a significant tenure at Whitbread starting in 1986, where he delved into marketing and strategy for their inns and ale sectors including Bodington’s The Cream of Manchester. In 1996, a new chapter began when he joined Heineken in Amsterdam, a move that reshaped his family's life and his career. He loved being in Holland and working for the Dutch brewer, but found himself becoming someone he didn't want to be - drowning in his own corporate speak. Despite the success, Frazer yearned for something more personal and authentic, eventually leading him to the world of English winemaking. In this episode, we delve into Frazer's remarkable journey from corporate executive to wine industry pioneer, how Chapel Down became a British icon, particularly thanks to the royal wedding, and his current ventures with Folc and Impossibrew. Cheers!
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AUFI - Nick & Toby
02/25/2024
AUFI - Nick & Toby
Say hello to Nick and Toby. They founded ‘Ask Us For Ideas’ (or AUFI for short) back in 2010 connecting ambitious businesses with the top 1% of creative agencies globally, from startups and scaleups to household names. Born out of the last recession, they’ve experienced the growth of a totally different brand building landscape firsthand. From the rise of social media and DTC brands to the boom of VC backed tech businesses out to change the world - often playing match-maker from both sides of the creative touchline. And while the landscape has undoubtedly shifted, what hasn’t changed is their belief in the power of creativity to drive businesses further. A belief shared by both agency partners and the brands they choose to work with. However, while they make great connectors working with businesses like WeTransfer, Brewdog and TaskRabbit, over the last few years they’ve also turned their hand to investing, getting involved with brands like Cabinet, Surreal, Days and Haus - taking the risks they actively encourage of their clients. In this episode we seek to harness their unique position between brand and agency to look into the future of the market, playing clairvoyant to the year ahead while also seeking to understand the changing priorities of the brands you represent and the agencies you connect. Enjoy.
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This!™ - Andy Shovel
02/12/2024
This!™ - Andy Shovel
Introducing Andy Shovel. He co-founded the plant-based meat alternative brand THIS!™ back in 2019 on a mission to force the world’s livestock into retirement. Only five years on, his vegan start-up is now valued at over £150mn and doing exactly what it set out to. Last year alone they saved 557k animals from the slaughterhouse targeting reforming meat lovers searching for familiar textures and flavours. From fry-up favourites like streaky bacon and sausages, bbq classics like burgers and mince through to Sunday specials like their THIS!™ isn’t roast chicken and stuffing. And that’s not all. In 2023 they were the fastest growing retail brand in the UK expanding into a wide range of on-the-go options including sandwiches, wraps and pasta salads stocked across majors like Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA through to restaurants like Neat Burger, Bills & Greggs. Their rise to fame has been anything but boring. Forget an earnest tone dressed in soft greens - they like to state things in black and white. Not just welcoming controversy but actively seeking it out. From pranking anti-veganist Piers Morgan with an ice sculpture to launch their frozen range through to a Veganuary helpline for reforming meat lovers and big OOH ads across London such as their recent ‘This! is kind of a pig deal’ to promote their pork sausages. And their newsjacker strategy seems to be working. Despite the meat free category losing some of its sheen and critics daming processed foods, This!™ has bucked the downward trend growing the category by 33% while market leaders such as Quorn and Richmond continue to decline. In this episode we talk about the boom, bust and realignment of the meat-free space, their strategy for success in a volatile market and their plans for the future. Dig in.
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Botivo - Sam & Imme
01/25/2024
Botivo - Sam & Imme
Welcome Sam and Imme. They’re the co-founders of Botivo, the small batch aperitif inspired drink on a mission to put the craft and depth of flavour from the alcohol world into the non-alcohol space. Based in Hertfordshire, they use a combination of natural ingredients starting with an apple cider vinegar and wildflower honey base with botanicals of wormwood, rosemary, gentian and thyme with an orange zest flourish. The result: a herbal flavour profile with bitter and citrus notes and a long finish. Like their drink, their origin story is one of natural encounters. Sam, the artisan, had been running his previous business The Rum Runner, creating drinks and cocktails for high-end weddings and events - even the highest wedding in the land. After receiving umpteen requests for a non-alcoholic cocktail and being dissatisfied with what was on offer he decided to make his own. Turns out it was pretty good with guests asking him to bottle it and buy it. Jump to a few years later, and Imme, self proclaimed hedonist had fallen in love with the drink - using it for both non-alc and alcoholic cocktails. At another wedding, the pair met, serendipitously, and as they say the rest was history. With their first raise behind them, they’ve been flooding the bars, restaurants and independents of London making their way into the likes of Wholefoods, St John, River Café and Hawksmoor - brandishing their signature yellow branding and stand out illustration style up on shelfs and bars. And for me it’s not just the branding that catches your eye but the taste and versatility of the drink that leaves a lasting memory. Having tried the majority of non-alcoholic options, it’s one of the few I’d actually keep in my cupboard all year round. In this episode we talk about the revival of craft, why every artisan needs a hedonist and why blurring the lines is tomorrow’s tipple of choice. Enjoy.
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Manílife - Stu Macdonald
11/23/2023
Manílife - Stu Macdonald
Say hi to Stu Macdonald - the founder of Manilife, the undisputed champion of peanut butter. It all started back in 2014 when Stu moved to Argentina seeking to escape a looming job in accountancy, swapping numbers and spreadsheets for peanuts and social enterprise. While working for a peanut butter estate in Buenos Aires, he fell in love with jars of the gold stuff and started selling them wherever he could. But what really makes his peanut butter, peanut butter like no other - especially when there are so many peanut butters on the market competing for our affection? Returning back from Argentina he sought to combine the fantastic relationships he had built with growers in Argentina & quality ingredients with companionship back home, calling on close friends to help him bring his vision to life. After several failed attempts forcing him to flirt with that job in accountancy, the thing he feared most, an accidental over roasting of their beloved Argentinian peanuts created something magical in the kitchen - their signature deep roast. A PB gamechanger - using a method more akin to deep roasted coffee than to the majority on the market which often used discarded peanuts from snacking and whose butters are made in bulk not in batches. It turned out to be perfect timing. Peanut Butter was about to experience a huge boom in the UK market loved by both foodies and gym bunnies alike who enjoyed the taste and the high protein. And with a little luck and encouragement from early customer turned investor Judith managed to raise their first crowdfund of £250k in record speeds. They have since raised a further £2m over three consecutive rounds of funding taking them to be one of the fastest growing spreads in the UK now stocked by the likes of Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado and many more. In this episode we talk about fighting expectations, blazing his own trail, the evolving role of a founder as well as learn a few tips and tricks of the trade. Enjoy.
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Otherway - Jono Holt
11/06/2023
Otherway - Jono Holt
Introducing Jono Holt. Ten years ago he founded Otherway, the strategically-led studio where design and advertising work together to connect brands with a new generation of consumers. Forged from a background in advertising but with a desire to create omni-channel brands in a fast-changing digital world; Jono spotted the DTC trend early, looking to brands like Warby Parker in the states, going on to launch brands like Butternut Box, Psycle, Hylo, Cabinet, Moju, Lucky Saint and many more, including their own watch brand Farer. And in many ways, ten years on, Otherway have come full circle. Not only launching a new studio in San Francisco but playing a hand in a surprising amount of ads that you'll see on the London Underground. With brands like Strongbow, Deliveroo, Inches, Graze, Moretti, and Hayman’s Gin all demanding a slice of Otherway’s creative aptitude for first-class communications. For me this episode is a special one. The 100th episode. I spent four years at Otherway working closely with Jono and learning as much as I possibly could from him. An approach to brand strategy that is provocative, commercial, to-the-point and delivered with conviction without the fluff, time-wasting or jargon that you can find lurking in other agencies. He hasn’t taught me everything but he’s taught me a hell of a lot - and I’m lucky to count him among my mentors today. In this retrospective episode we look back at the past ten years in business and to the future, garnering his point of view on the world of brands today while looking at the opportunities in the market tomorrow. If you’re interested in branding, advertising, agencies or the venture ecosystem then this one’s for you. Enjoy.
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Dream Green - Ellen Miles
10/23/2023
Dream Green - Ellen Miles
Say hey to Ellen Miles. She runs Dream Green, a social enterprise on a mission to make cities greener by giving people the information, inspiration, and tools to get guerrilla gardening. Based in East London, they’ve provided youth groups with nature-based skills, communities with grant funding and advice, and festival-goers with messy, radical fun. Through a range of online guides, real-life workshops, and tailored one-to-one support - her plan is to inspire us all to become green fingered activists. This summer she’s spent her time touring festivals like Latitude, Boomtown and Wilderness, promoting her debut book “Get Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Planting in Public Places”. It’s definitely struck a chord, gaining an avid following and making her way onto the BBC, The Guardian, Gardeners World and many more. She calls it ‘Botanarchy’ - beautiful anarchy challenging neo-liberal capitalist state using plants to brighten the concrete jungles we live in, preserving biodiversity while helping our cities become more resilient to global heating. In this episode we talk about encouraging thousands of people to take ownership of their neighbourhoods, social media as a tool of next generation activism and the practical ways you can start planting in public spaces. Enjoy.
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Peachies - Morgan Mixon & Rima Suppan
09/27/2023
Peachies - Morgan Mixon & Rima Suppan
Say hello to Morgan and Rima. They founded Peachies - a nappy brand supporting families through the first 1,000 days. Engineered to be a super soft upgrade with unrivalled performance and no nasty chemicals. Their mission is to change the world, one poop at a time. When we think of nappies, we think of brands like Huggies and Pampers, big brands that have dominated the market for years, followed by a range of cheaper supermarket own brands by the likes of Tesco and Asda. It’s big business too with the market expected to rise by 20% over the next five years to £1.1bn - primarily through inflation and premiumisation. That’s a lot of nappies with the UK disposing of around 3 billion disposable nappies each year, representing an estimated 2% to 3% of all household waste. By the time one baby is potty trained the baby could use 4,000 to 6,000 nappies. Enter Peachies, a female-led start-up pioneering a more environmentally friendly nappy brand that speaks directly to parents rather than their kids. Stylish, relatable, independent and more than the majority of what’s on the market today. In this episode we talk about their journey so far, the upgrades they are making to nappies and how we’re entering a new dawn of millennial driven parenthood. Enjoy.
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Mermaid Gin - Xavier Baker
09/10/2023
Mermaid Gin - Xavier Baker
Introducing Xavier Baker on the show. He runs the Isle of Wight Distillery, home to their signature Mermaid Gin in original, pink and zest formats - as well as newly launched Spiced Rum and Salted Vodka to keep your taste buds refreshed. If you thought their bottles were the only things filled with spirit you’d be wrong. Xavier is unstoppable. He’s not only a self-taught brewer and distiller but an avid environmentalist, adventurer and athlete. He’s rowing across the Atlantic to raise awareness for the preservation of ocean habits and raise funds for marine-focused charities. The SeaHorse Trust, Surfers Against Sewage and the Hampshire Wildlife trust. Taking on the challenge with two friends of his. It’s not only he himself bucking the booze founder stereotype but his brand is too. In the UK gin sales have been on the decline over the last few years while Mermaid Gin has been on the up. A staple of the South Coast of England, making its way into bars and bottle shops. As one of the first BCorp spirits brands they join the likes of Bruichladdich, SipSmith and Warner’s Distillery who care deeply about the environment, looking to create more sustainable ways for us to enjoy our favourite cocktails. In this episode we get to know the spirit fuelling Xavier, discuss the kinship between distillers and nature and explore why the US gin market is exploding. If you’re a gin lover, pour yourself a cocktail and take a sip. Enjoy.
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SIRPLUS - Henry Hales
08/14/2023
SIRPLUS - Henry Hales
Introducing Henry Hales. He founded SIRPLUS, the relaxed tailoring brand born from surplus fabrics with a vision to create clothes that are worn more, last longer and adapt to the seasons. What started off as turning excess shirt fabric into upmarket boxer shorts back in 2010, has transformed into a British menswear staple offering a whole host of product lines, from shirts and knitwear, to outerwear, loungewear, and smart suiting that’s ideal for weddings and parties. Now with over six stores in the likes of Notting Hill, Chelsea, Marylebone, Piccadilly, Islington and Bank - they’ve come a long way from selling colourful underwear in Spitalfields market. But with tailoring on the decline, and a plethora of menswear brands for dapper gents to choose from you’d be forgiven for thinking where the opportunity really lies. Is it in the price point? The location? The marketing? The mission or the brand? Maybe it comes down to knowing his audience really well. Building a brand for himself and others like him who like to dress well but don’t wear a suit to work everyday. Perhaps it comes from a generous dose of naivety. Not hailing from the fashion world but the property world having studied real estate at university. Being less influenced by what you read in the papers and instead focusing on trusting your gut instinct. This combination of trusting his nose, a strong eye for spotting an opportunity and working with the planet in mind has led him to launch Tu Pak. A fulfilment business that cares about the planet and your brand - using his learnings and connections from one world to influence another. In this episode we talk about dressing the dapper in deadstock, the power of naivety and how one business can inspire another. Enjoy.
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Newfoundland - Freddy Manduca
08/01/2023
Newfoundland - Freddy Manduca
Introducing Freddy Manduca. He founded Newfoundland, one of the UK’s leading providers of diagnostic tests and medical devices, on a mission to make self-testing accessible across a myriad of health concerns. What started as a desperate race to provide the UK with enough Covid tests has pivoted into a business predicated on the idea of convenient and affordable self diagnosis for the people. This enables people to skip lengthy wait times with overcrowded and under-resourced NHS but also not pay the often extortionate amounts with private doctors - filling a valuable middle ground. Through Newfoundland, people can now put their health in their own hands without having to pay the premium. It means you can test yourself for things like HIV, UTIs, menopause and prostate health through to things like thyroid, bowel health, kidney health as well as iron and vitamin deficiencies. Not only does this negate some potentially awkward conversations at the clinics but with rapid self-test technology you can find out in minutes not days - sparing you any angst. With telehealth brands like Thriva, Hertility, Hims, Supply Life all on the rise, we are entering a new era of healthcare, where we can keep track of our health without relying primarily on a doctor. However, while many of these brands charge you £100 for the privilege, Newfoundland are democratising tests for a tenth of the price. In this episode we talk about the crazy War Dogs adventure that led to them supplying 91 million Covid-19 lateral flow tests, the underworld behind covid events and where healthcare trends are taking us. Listen in.
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Concat - Laura Jardine Paterson
07/24/2023
Concat - Laura Jardine Paterson
Introducing Laura Jardine Paterson. Founder of Concat, the first digital-led company by all refugee and female developers based in Lebanon. It’s one of the most ethnographically rich businesses I’ve come across in a long time. A sign of the times in a way that is positive, progressive and profound. Take every single stereotype about web development; male-dominated, tech-focused, for profit, based in the West - then do the opposite. That’s what Concat is. Predominantly female, human-centric, working with refugees, based in the Middle East - on a mission to create top quality websites for international clients, whilst providing sustainable employment for talented, marginalised developers. And so far they’re doing a pretty good job. 15 empowered developers, 80% female team members & 70+ happy clients - with many more on the horizon. Zain. Now, what I love about Concat is that it’s a smart innovative solution to a real world problem. They’re not trying to sell us more things we don’t really need. They’re connecting hungry and ambitious people with opportunities that are beneficial for them and their partners. And what started out as a chance encounter in Lebanon, when Laura met two talented refugee developers - has morphed into an intrinsically good business with real purpose at its core. In this episode we talk about the tangible problems they are solving, what it’s actually like on the ground in Lebanon at the moment and how she is planning to exponentially scale up the business. Enjoy.
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Suri - Mark Rushmore and Gyve Safavi
07/13/2023
Suri - Mark Rushmore and Gyve Safavi
Say hello to Mark and Gyve. They founded Suri, the world’s sleekest electric toothbrush, equal parts stylish as it is sustainable. Founded in 2021, they decided to re-engineer the toothbrush from the head down, when they learned that over 4 billion toothbrushes are chucked away globally each year. That’s a lot of plastic, enough to stretch around the circumference of the globe, end to end, 17 times. Turns out it’s harder than they thought. So what’s their thesis on getting people to ditch other toothbrushes in favour of theirs. It’s a trifecta of design, performance and sustainability. Firstly, it must look the part - something you’d be proud to place in your bathroom. Secondly, it has to be as good as, if not better than your current electric toothbrush. Think speed, power and battery life. Thirdly, it must be as sustainable as possible. Both in terms of how it’s created, using plant based materials but also in how you repair it or dispose of the heads. Ultimately, every part of the experience must feel like an upgrade. And for me it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s turned brushing your teeth from a chore into a moment of luxury, becoming a point of envy for my girlfriend who’s still stuck with her Oral B. In this episode we talk about the journey so far, the vision for the future and the biggest surprises along the way.
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Grounded - Gabriel Bean
07/04/2023
Grounded - Gabriel Bean
Say hi to Gabriel Bean. Him and his business partner Bryn Ferris, launched Grounded in 2020 and are the most natural plant-based protein drink out there. Listed in the likes of Whole Foods, Selfridges and Planet Organic - they are on a mission to make the cleanest protein shakes on the planet, using only real ingredients straight from the ground. Turns out it’s harder than you think. Thing is, when you start a brand your ideals quickly have to face up to business realities. ‘I want my [insert underloved F&B brand] to be the most sustainable, delicious, ethical, affordable product in the world’. ‘Ah that’s going to cost WHAT!?! per unit. No one’s going to pay for that. I guess we’ll have to cut some corners or start again to get the price down’. But Gabriel ain’t cut from the same cloth as the rest of us. His guiding mantra - ‘don’t compromise on anything’. Half mad scientist, half charming-down-to-earth-founder - he wears his obsessive tendencies with style. And it seems to be working. They are now the best selling protein shake in Wholefoods and Planet Organic (outselling Huel and many others) and the No.1 Dairy-free protein shake on Amazon. Why is this? Well their m*lkshakes (with an asterisk instead of the i) hit all the right notes: high protein, vegan, no dairy - free from gluten, soya, nuts & GMOs. They also taste and look damn good with Chocolate and Mint Chocolate options online and on shelf. They join a playful army of function-first brands reinventing categories with higher protein and lower sugar alternatives with flair, authenticity and personality. In this episode we tuck in to the challenges and realities of starting a F&B brand, what ‘no compromise’ really looks like and why blurring the lines of m*lkshakes with protein is perfect for a new generation who like their lines blurred. Enjoy.
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Regular Practice - Tom Finn & Kristoffer Sølling
06/20/2023
Regular Practice - Tom Finn & Kristoffer Sølling
Introducing Tom Finn & Kristoffer Sølling. They’re the founders and directors of Regular Practice - one of my favourite up & coming branding agencies and one of It’s Nice That’s One’s To Watch. Based of Broadway Market in London’s Hackney. Despite working with big businesses like Fred Perry, Tom Dixon, Acne Studios and Tom’s - their specialism comes from variety - working across multiple categories and life stages. From fashion and art, to F&B, hospitality, tech and beauty - using the learnings from one category to push boundaries in the next. Rejecting convention in favour of innovation. They’ve also worked for and with a number of People Doing Things alumni including Mob Kitchen on Peckish, their app for real foodies and Juiced, their talent agency. As well as travel guide, Step and a soon to be released rebrand for social media agency Spin Brands with more in the pipeline. What I particularly value and respect is their ability to combine top-class design rigour with a youthful energy and expression. Hailing from the art world, not the agency world - Tom & Kristoffer have fought hard to earn a seat at the branding table; bringing a sense of hard work, humility and a generous dose of underdog spirit to all they do. Reflected in their eponymous namesake - Regular Practice. In this episode we reflect on how they’ve got to where they are today, the type of agency they are trying to build and how artificial intelligence and technology is changing how we create and interact with the brands of tomorrow. If you don’t know your dielines from your wireframes then this ones for you. Enjoy.
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