Chatzzz

In this episode of Chatzzz, Adam catches up with Joe Kirkup for his second appearance on the podcast and this time, he’s taking on something huge.

Joe is gearing up for an incredible endurance challenge to raise money and bring joy to local children this Christmas. His mission? To help provide gifts for kids who might otherwise go without this festive season.

Across one epic weekend, Joe will be:
 – Running 5km every 5 hours for 50 hours
 – Cycling 132km through Cumbria and the Borders

The challenge takes place from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd November, starting in Longtown, heading through Silloth, returning to Longtown, and finishing up in Langholm.

This episode is more than just a conversation it’s about resilience, community spirit, and using your body to make a difference.

Adam sits down in Dubai with long-time friend Steven Green for an open and honest conversation about transformation, resilience, and growth. 

From growing up in Scotland to living a completely new life in the UAE, Steve shares his personal journey of change including 20 months of sobriety, overcoming toxic environments and rediscovering purpose.

He reflects on his time as a DJ across Scotland, Ibiza, and Dubai, and why he eventually stepped back from that lifestyle. 

Steven also talks through his varied career path, from working in offshore oil rigs and joinery to launching his own e-commerce brand, OTG Golf Gloves. Now training to become a Shred Fast fitness coach, Steve is focused on inspiring others through health, discipline and mindset.

In this episode of Chatzzz, Adam is joined by Hayley Gibson, a financial adviser from Truly Independent one of the UK’s leading firms for pensions, investments, protection, and mortgage advice.

Hayley shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Cumbria, working in car sales and making the bold career switch into financial services proving it’s never too late to back yourself and start again.

We chat about:
 💼 How Hayley transitioned from sales to finance
 🏆 Her recent award nominations and recognition in the industry
 🏃‍♀️ Her passion for running and staying balanced outside of work
 💬 Real talk on confidence, resilience, and building a career that actually fits
 📈 Why independent advice matters more than ever in today’s financial world

It’s a motivating episode full of honesty, humour, and helpful takeaways whether you're changing careers, chasing goals, or just figuring things out.

In this episode of Chatzzz, Adam sits down with Michael McCaul and Sophie Thompson, the Carlisle-based couple behind Santo Mil Properties a business on a mission to raise the standard of rental accommodation and change the conversation around landlords.

Michael and Sophie share how they started out in property during Covid, why they decided to go all-in after travelling, and what it really takes to launch a property business with purpose.

They also talk about:

- Building Santo Mil and why transparency, sustainability, and tenant care come first
- Using social media to show the real side of property investing — mistakes and all
- Launching The Property Investment Academy – North West in Carlisle
- How the right education and network helped them quit their jobs and go full time
- Their mission to help young people and everyday investors build a better financial future

From behind-the-scenes insights to real-life struggles, this episode is packed with value for anyone interested in property, entrepreneurship, or building something that actually makes a difference.

In this episode of Chatzzz, Adam sits down with Todd Lindsay, founder of the British sportswear brand TWENTYFOURSEVEN® proudly based in Carlisle and now shipping worldwide.

They dive into:

- The early businesses Todd tried before launching his clothing brand
- What it really takes to start, run, and grow a fashion label from the ground up
- Behind the scenes of campaign shoots abroad and building brand identity
- Staying rooted in Cumbria while scaling globally
- The creative process, challenges and lessons that don’t get shared on Instagram

This one’s packed with real stories, straight-talking insights and a look behind the curtain of what it’s really like building a UK sportswear brand in 2025.

In this episode of Chatzzz, Adam sits down with Cesar Murphy Teixeira, joining us all the way from Australia while filming in Bali.

Cesar shares his story of growing up in Brazil, moving to Australia, and the journey from university life to becoming a software engineer. From there, he co-founded Canwi a startup on a mission to make financial planning more accessible for everyone.

We dive into:

- What it was like growing up in Brazil and adapting to life in Australia
- His path into software engineering and the lessons along the way
- The story behind Canwi and why they’re shaking up financial planning
- How they’re levelling the playing field to give Aussies access to smarter financial planning without the huge price tag

Cesar is a versatile engineer and operator, working across product strategy, marketing, support and code to help make the whole Canwi experience possible.

This one is packed with insights on tech, startups, and the future of financial planning straight from Bali!

In this episode of Chatzzz, Adam Roberts and Claudia Hill share their honest review of Bali after spending time in Uluwatu, Canggu, and Ubud — the good, the bad, and the Bali Belly.

They break down:
- Living the villa life in Uluwatu and training at the incredible Bambu Gym
- What really happened in Canggu (including Bali Belly and meeting Claudia’s Aussie friend)
- Exploring Ubud — from peaceful spots to tourist madness
- The highs, the surprises, and what they’d do differently next time

Whether you're thinking of visiting Bali or just curious what it’s actually like to live and travel there, this episode keeps it real... No filters, just the truth.

In this episode of Chatzzz Adam sits down with Ben Smithson to talk about designing a life on your own terms. From Cumbria to Bali, and everything in between.

Ben opens up about:

- Moving to Bali and what it’s really like living and working remotely
- How online work gave him the freedom to build a different kind of life
- The mindset shifts that helped him get unstuck
- The pressure to “have it all figured out” in your 20s
- Why structure, fitness, and daily routines still matter, even abroad

This is a proper chat about chasing clarity, not just success and learning to live with intention, whether you’re in Carlisle or on the other side of the world.

In this episode, we're joined by Alexander Leighton, the man behind ALR Watches and a rising name in the UK luxury watch-dealing scene. From flipping Pokémon cards in the playground to turning MoonSwatches into serious profit, Alex shares how he carved out a niche in the high-stakes world of watches after years of bouncing between jobs, startups, and even personal training.

We dive into his first ever podcast, growing up non-academic but always entrepreneurial, why he’s never touched alcohol and how a genuine love for timepieces. Alex breaks down the grey market vs AD pricing, flipping Daytonas for double, and why building strong client relationships is key especially when you're handling £20k+ watches on a daily basis.

If you're into business, luxury watches, self-discipline, or the art of starting from scratch, this one's for you.

Are Stealth Adjustable Dumbbells really worth approximately £600?

Michael Walters, founder of Assassin Goods, returns to Chatzzz to explain how he helped bring Stealth Adjustable Dumbbells to the UK and why the company decided to invest heavily in premium home gym equipment.

Mike reveals how Assassin Goods tested numerous adjustable dumbbells before finding Stealth, why cheaper alternatives frequently caused problems and how demand grew so quickly that entire container shipments began selling through pre-orders.

We discuss whether spending £550 to £600 on adjustable dumbbells makes financial sense, how one pair can replace up to 26 individual weights and why buying a cheaper product can sometimes cost more in the long run.

Mike also explains the differences between the Stealth Black and Chrome Editions, the improvements made through customer feedback and how Assassin Goods handles replacement parts, warranties and delivery problems.

This is an honest conversation about building Assassin Goods, growing Stealth Equipment in the UK and creating gym equipment designed to last.

In this episode:

• How Assassin Goods was started from a phone in India
• Why Michael Walters invested in Stealth Equipment
• The problem with cheap adjustable dumbbells
• Why demand exceeded the available stock
• Whether £600 adjustable dumbbells are worth the money
• Replacing an entire dumbbell rack with one compact pair
• Stealth Black Edition vs Chrome Edition
• Adjustable kettlebells, stands and upcoming products
• Customer service, warranties and replacement parts
• The growth of home gyms and HYROX
• Mike’s biggest lesson from eight years in business

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Travelling abroad to compete in HYROX
00:39 Introducing Michael Walters
01:15 The rapid growth of Stealth Equipment
02:03 How Assassin Goods began
02:22 Starting the business from a phone in India
03:05 The risks of launching a new business
03:44 What has changed over the past two years?
04:09 The incredible growth of HYROX
05:22 Investing heavily in Stealth Equipment
05:59 Struggling to keep the dumbbells in stock
07:00 Why HYROX has become so popular
12:38 Travelling abroad for fitness competitions
15:07 How the Stealth partnership began
15:24 The problem with cheap adjustable dumbbells
16:02 Finding the right adjustable dumbbell
16:36 Container loads selling through pre-orders
17:06 Replacement parts and long-term durability
17:55 Who are Stealth Adjustable Dumbbells for?
18:12 Are £600 adjustable dumbbells too expensive?
18:57 Comparing the cost with other lifestyle spending
19:42 Why cheaper dumbbells can cost more long term
20:20 Replacing an entire rack of dumbbells
21:22 Building a home gym in limited space
22:24 Multiple weights in one compact system
22:37 Can you train your entire body with dumbbells?
23:10 How home workouts can save hours every week
24:20 Repairing equipment instead of replacing it
25:08 Assassin Goods’ approach to customer service
26:48 How often do customers experience problems?
28:10 The problems with cheaper adjustable dumbbells
30:00 How durable are adjustable dumbbells?
32:19 When you should use traditional hex dumbbells
34:05 Are dumbbells safer than barbells at home?
35:37 Why the Black Edition looks different
36:18 Stealth Black Edition vs Chrome Edition
36:44 The main differences between both models
39:37 Improvements made through customer feedback
40:32 Changes to the handle design
41:24 Expanding the Stealth Equipment range
43:46 Why adjustable kettlebells make sense
45:22 Reliability of the Stealth kettlebells
45:29 How customer feedback improves the products
47:06 Stealth Equipment for personal trainers
47:22 Building a complete gym in a small space
47:54 Upcoming Stealth products
48:28 Why Assassin Goods focuses on proven equipment
49:47 Product packaging and delivery challenges
51:02 When a forklift went through a customer’s order
52:16 Advice for anyone considering adjustable dumbbells
52:33 Comparing different adjustable dumbbell brands
54:21 When Stealth is not the right choice
56:01 Mike’s advice to his younger self
56:16 Why he wishes he had taken more risks
58:12 The risks involved in running a business
58:52 Where to find Assassin Goods

Explore the Stealth Equipment range at Assassin Goods:

https://assassingoods.com/

Subscribe to Chatzzz for honest conversations about business, fitness, entrepreneurship and the stories behind growing UK brands.

#AssassinGoods #StealthEquipment #AdjustableDumbbells