What if waste was a design flaw, not an inevitability? In this episode, Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle and Loop, explains how he is working to eliminate the idea of waste entirely. He is not just tinkering at the edges. He is rebuilding systems from the ground up while partnering with some of the biggest brands on the planet.

Tom takes us through his journey from a university dropout selling worm poop to a global leader in recycling and reuse. His company now operates in 20 countries and works with household names to solve the problems they have helped create.

Topics include:

• How to recycle products most of us assume can't be recycled, like cigarette butts and nappies
  

• The business model behind Loop and how it enables circular, reusable packaging at scale
  

• Why voluntary action from consumers and brands will never be enough without regulation
  

• How TerraCycle works with multinationals without compromising its mission
  

• Why entrepreneurship should be driven by real-world problems, not just investor trends
  

• Tom's radical mission: to eliminate the idea of waste

Stay Connected:

Follow Tom on ⁠Linkedin⁠. 

Follow Rob Fawkes on ⁠LinkedIn⁠

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How do you stay radical while leading 150 million followers and a multimillion-pound business? We speak to Melissa Chapman, CEO of social media powerhouse Jungle Creations, about rebellion, reinvention, and what real success looks like.

From being banned from school trips to becoming CEO before 30, Melissa shares how growing up in a loud, unconventional household shaped her bold and humorous leadership style. She gets candid about:

• Redefining success: Why inner peace trumps Forbes lists
  

• Empathy over ego: Building a high-growth business without the brags
  

• The rise of social creativity: From pet socks and Yorkshire pudding lasagna to 50+ Twisted London restaurants
  

• Staying scrappy at scale: Reinventing the business without losing its soul
  

• Using AI responsibly: The ethics of content creation, internal AI committees, and using ChatGPT as a "therapist"
  

• Driving to Bilbao in a motorhome for the Europa League final instead of taking a charter jet (yes, really)
  

• And… the radical dream of printers that actually work
  

Stay Connected:

Follow Mel on Linkedin. 

Follow Rob Fawkes on LinkedIn

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Sign up for the A Little Bit Radical newsletter.

In this conversation, film producer Peter Samuelson shares his journey from a young boy with limited expectations to a successful film producer and philanthropist. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the role of helping others in finding happiness, and the lessons learned from risk and failure. Peter emphasizes that true happiness often comes from contributing to the well-being of others and building meaningful connections. His personal anecdotes and insights provide a roadmap for young adults seeking purpose and fulfillment in their lives.

• A mentor can help you aim higher than you thought possible.
• Radical change often starts with a single opportunity.
• Helping others can lead to personal happiness.
• Failure is a stepping stone to success if learned from.
• Building connections can lead to unexpected opportunities.
• Happiness can be divided into short-term, medium-term, and long-term.
• Selflessness can be a form of selfishness that benefits you.
• Volunteering can lead to meaningful relationships.
• The importance of organizing your life for success.
• Taking risks is essential for personal growth. Acting requires a backup plan to mitigate risks.
• Comedy's success is often unpredictable and relies on audience reaction.
• Test screenings can yield surprising results, as seen with 'Revenge of the Nerds.'
• Risk-taking is essential for entrepreneurs and creatives alike.
• Philanthropy brings joy and fulfillment beyond financial success.
• Young men often take greater risks due to brain development.
• Building connections with diverse groups can reduce fear and promote understanding.
• Climate change poses a significant threat to humanity's future.
• Tribalism and othering are detrimental to societal progress.
• Mentorship plays a crucial role in guiding younger generations.

Order 'Finding Happy' here.

• Stay Connected:

• Follow Rob Fawkes on LinkedIn: ⁠Rob Fawkes⁠

• Sign up for the A Little Bit Radical newsletter: ⁠Subscribe here⁠

• Visit ⁠standingongiants.com⁠

What does it take to communicate climate action with honesty, without falling into the greenwash trap?

Helen Neal, Co-Founder of HN Communications, joins A Little Bit Radical to share her journey from corporate burnout to founding a values-driven sustainability communications agency.

In this candid conversation with Rob Fawkes, Helen reveals how becoming a parent pushed her out of a job she thought she wanted, how she built a remote, flexible team that works from all over the world, and why radical honesty is the key to meaningful sustainability storytelling.

They also explore the vital role of corporate and NGO partnerships, the quiet power of regional roots, and the transformative conversations that change everything.

In This Episode:

• Growing up as an only child and learning to define her own identity

• From shiny London offices to an accidental business owner

• Why she walked away from her career after becoming a mum

• The moment a client told her to "go all in" and why it changed everything

• What makes great sustainability communications and how to avoid accidental greenwashing

• The underestimated power of NGO and corporate partnerships

• Building a remote, flexible team with real work-life integration

• Why honest conversations and safe spaces are essential for progress

• Helen’s “Climate Leaders Community” and her mission to empower women in sustainability

What do running away to a Swedish circus at age 10 and tackling one of the food industry’s biggest hidden problems have in common?

Dini McGrath, Co-Founder of The Wonki Collective, joins A Little Bit Radical to tell her extraordinary story. From wild childhood adventures to founding a business determined to eradicate supply chain food waste, Dini’s journey is anything but ordinary.

Host Rob Fawkes and Dini dig into the shocking statistic that 40% of food never even reaches supermarket shelves. They explore the power dynamics between manufacturers and retailers, and how radical thinking, resilience, and persistence are needed to fix it.

Dini also shares her experiences as a female founder navigating the funding gap, her work with Innovate UK, and why risk-taking should be for everyone, not just the lucky few.

In This Episode:

• 
  
• Growing up wild: how moving into building sites and joining the Swedish circus shaped Dini’s fearless mindset
• 
  
• The shocking 40% food waste problem hidden deep in supply chains
• 
  
• How The Wonki Collective is using AI and technology to match surplus food with where it’s needed
• 
  
• Why selling surplus cocoa powder wasn’t enough, and how Dini and her team pivoted to something bigger
• 
  
• Securing a major Innovate UK grant and partnering with Nestlé and FareShare
• 
  
• The brutal realities of raising investment as a female founder

• • Why we need more women not just founding businesses, but funding them too

  
  

  Connect with Dini:

  • Dini McGrath on LinkedIn

  • The Wonki Collective on LinkedIn

    
    

    Stay Connected:

    • Follow Rob Fawkes on LinkedIn: Rob Fawkes
      

    Sign up for the A Little Bit Radical newsletter: Subscribe here

    Visit ⁠standingongiants.com⁠

What do Hulk Hogan, Swampy the eco-warrior, and crushing rocks in Canada have in common? They’re all part of the wonderfully radical story of Ben Wynn, founder of GLAD Climate Club, and our guest on this episode of A Little Bit Radical.

Ben tells host Rob Fawkes how he went from nearly impaling a famous protester on a sledgehammer stake (true story) to building a scalable climate movement that lets anyone contribute to greenhouse gas removal for the cost of a coffee. Along the way, we talk about why tree-planting isn’t enough, the real reason climate comms fail, and how enhanced rock weathering might just save us all.

It’s hopeful, clever, and a little bit radical—just the way we like it.

In this episode:

• How a near-death encounter with Swampy (yes, the Swampy) made Ben rethink his career

• Why construction was too slow for him—and climate change is way too urgent

• How GLAD Climate Club lets anyone remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere

• Enhanced rock weathering explained (yes, it’s a thing—and it’s amazing)

• Why tree-planting won’t save us (and what might)

• Why we need hope and inspiration, not fear and shame, to drive climate action

• How your £1 a week actually works—and where the money goes

• The cathedral mindset: building something that will outlive you

• Why imitation is innovation (and how to copy creatively)

• Further Reading

  GLAD Climate Club – Start your £1-a-week climate action

• Enhanced Rock Weathering – Go deep on Wikipedia

• John Harrison and the Longitude Prize – Inspiration from Yorkshire’s original radical

  Connect With Ben

• Ben Wynn on LinkedIn
  

• Follow Rob on LinkedIn: Rob Fawkes

What if every job was part-time and flexible by default? Sounds radical, right? Well, that’s exactly what Nyree Ambarchian, Co-Founder of Jack & Grace, is making a reality.

In this episode of A Little Bit Radical, host Rob Fawkes speaks with Nyree, who left a rigid, outdated workplace behind to build an agency that prioritises people, planet, and profit—in that order. From salary transparency to flipping the 9-5 norm on its head, Nyree shares how her team is rethinking work entirely.

They also discuss how unwritten workplace rules (aka "microplastics" in our daily lives) shape our careers without us even noticing—and how we can unpick them to build something better.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The ‘microplastics’ of work: How unspoken rules shape our behaviour—and why we don’t question them enough.
• How parenthood changed everything: Why becoming a mum made Nyree realise that the rules of work were the problem, not her.
• Why all jobs at Jack & Grace are part-time by default: And why employees have to actively request full-time hours instead.
• Salary transparency: Why Jack & Grace shares salary bands openly and how it challenges workplace inequalities.
• Saying NO to bad clients: Why they only work with organisations that align with their values—and how they assess potential clients.
• Convincing her husband, a police officer, to go part-time: Proof that flexible work can (and should) apply to all industries. Burying your pants in the ground?! The campaign that helped kids understand soil health in a hilarious way.

Follow Nyree and Jack & Grace:

• Nyree Ambarchian on LinkedIn: Nyree Ambarchian LinkedIn

• Jack & Grace on LinkedIn: Jack & Grace LinkedIn

Stay Connected with Rob and 'A Little Bit Radical':

A Little Bit Radical Newsletter:⁠ Sign Up Here⁠

Rob Fawkes on LinkedIn:⁠ Rob Fawkes LinkedIn⁠

Visit ⁠standingongiants.com⁠

How do we protect ourselves in a world where cyber threats are not just possible, but inevitable? In this episode of A Little Bit Radical, host Rob Fawkes speaks with Steve Durbin, CEO of the Information Security Forum (ISF), a global, not-for-profit organisation helping businesses manage cybersecurity risks.

Steve shares his unconventional leadership journey, from growing up in Kenya and developing an instinct for questioning the status quo to leading one of the most influential cybersecurity organisations in the world. He talks about risk management, human behaviour in cybersecurity, and why you should aim to be the least attractive target for cybercriminals.

🔍 Cybersecurity is risk management: Why it’s about managing risk, not eliminating threats altogether.🌍 Growing up in Kenya: How experiencing different cultures shaped Steve’s approach to leadership.🤔 Trusting your gut in cybersecurity: Why instincts and intuition matter—even in a data-driven industry.🚨 Cybercrime-as-a-Service?! How criminals can buy hacking tools online, complete with 24/7 customer support.🛑 Making yourself ‘unattractive’ to hackers: Why being a boring, low-value target is actually the best cyber defence strategy.👥 The people factor: Why cybersecurity isn’t just a tech issue—human behaviour plays a bigger role than we think.📱 Steve’s radical idea: Put down your phone and actually experience the world instead of just documenting it.

🗣️ "Every time you go online, you're stepping into the Wild West. Be prepared."🗣️ "People think cybersecurity is about technology—it’s actually about people and behaviour."🗣️ "The best cybersecurity strategy? Be so unappealing that hackers move on to someone else."

• Steve Durbin on LinkedIn:Steve Durbin LinkedIn

• Information Security Forum (ISF) Website:ISF Website

• Rob Fawkes on LinkedIn:Rob Fawkes LinkedIn

In this episode, we discuss:Memorable Quotes:Follow Steve and the ISF:Stay Connected with Rob and 'A Little Bit Radical':A Little Bit Radical Newsletter:Sign Up Here

Visit ⁠standingongiants.com⁠

In this episode of A Little Bit Radical, host Rob Fawkes speaks with Will Ascott, Co-Founder of Free Movement Skateboarding, a grassroots organisation using skateboarding as a tool to empower young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds in Athens.

Will shares his journey from a childhood love of skateboarding to founding Free Movement, which has since provided thousands of young people—including refugees, second-generation migrants, and Greek youth—with a space to build confidence, community, and resilience. This episode dives into the challenges of running a small charity, the impact of skateboarding as a social tool, and why building social cohesion is key to a more inclusive future.

🛹 From Skater Kid to Social Entrepreneur: How Will’s early love of skateboarding shaped his vision for using it as a tool for empowerment.

🌍 Free Movement Skateboarding: How the organisation brings together young people from refugee, migrant, and Greek communities.

🚐 A Mobile Skate Park: Running skate sessions in public squares, playgrounds, and schools—anywhere that provides a safe space for young people.

🏛 Challenges of Working in Athens: The barriers to supporting refugee youth, navigating government restrictions, and the urgent need for public skate parks.

💡 The Power of Social Cohesion: Why it’s not about forcing people to “integrate” but about creating shared experiences and mutual understanding.

📢 Running a Small Charity: The reality of funding cycles, bureaucracy, and keeping a mission-driven project alive.

🔮 The Future of Free Movement: Will’s vision for a permanent skate park and youth centre in Athens.

Memorable Quotes:

🗣️ "Skateboarding is more than a sport—it’s a way to bring people together across cultures, backgrounds, and experiences."

🗣️ "Social cohesion isn’t about making people assimilate—it’s about giving them a shared identity while letting them keep their own."

🗣️ "People need time for positive recreation in their lives. Work shouldn’t take over everything."

• Free Movement Skateboarding Website: Visit Here

• Short Film - A Mobile Community by CHPO Sunglasses

If you’d like to help Free Movement Skateboarding continue their incredible work, donate here:

👉 Donate to Free Movement Skateboarding

Follow Free Movement

• Instagram: @freemovement__sb

  Stay Connected

• Rob Fawkes on LinkedIn: Rob Fawkes LinkedIn

• A Little Bit Radical Newsletter: Sign Up Here

Visit ⁠standingongiants.com⁠

What does playing in a punk band and leading a digital agency have in common? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this episode of A Little Bit Radical, host Rob Fawkes sits down with Sepas Seraj, Founder of Pixeled Eggs, a purpose-driven digital agency working with organisations like the Earthshot Prize, World Cancer Research Fund, and the Royal Foundation for the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Sepas shares his journey from growing up in Iran and moving to the UK, to playing in punk bands, and eventually building a digital agency that helps mission-driven organisations thrive. This conversation covers creativity, collaboration, and the lessons he’s brought from the rehearsal room into the workplace.

🎸 From Punk to Pixels: How playing in bands shaped Sepas’ approach to leadership and creativity.🌍 A Purpose-Driven Business: The journey to founding Pixeled Eggs and why they focus on mission-driven clients.💡 Lessons from the Earthshot Prize: How working with Prince William’s environmental initiative embodies the agency’s values.💻 The Digital World’s Evolution: From pre-social media days to today’s digital chaos—what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same?🤝 Long-Term Client Partnerships: Why great digital work happens over time, not in quick wins.🎤 Radical Thinking: Why everyone should embrace collaboration, get off their backside, and just start something.

🗣️ "Work should feel like being in a band—you and a few people in a room, making something great together."🗣️ "We focus too much on what divides us and not enough on what brings us together."🗣️ "Great digital projects are like gigs—lots of practice, then a big moment where it all comes together."

• Sepas Seraj on LinkedIn: Sepas Seraj LinkedIn

• Pixeled Eggs Website: Pixeled Eggs

• Rob Fawkes on LinkedIn: Rob Fawkes LinkedIn

• A Little Bit Radical Newsletter: Sign Up Here

Visit ⁠standingongiants.com⁠