Chatzzz

In this episode, we sit down with Andy Mallows — a former police officer who’s now running a drinks brand with his son — to talk about life, learning, and what it really takes to rebuild from the ground up.

Andy opens up about growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, the pressure and purpose of life in the police force, and how hitting rock bottom led him to start again with nothing but an idea and a lot of determination.

We talk about everything from what it’s like to feel overlooked in school, to finding confidence later in life, to launching a business that means something. It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about backing yourself, learning as you go, and turning setbacks into fresh starts.

If you’re someone who’s ever felt like the odds were stacked against you — this one’s for you.

Ricardo Taborda returns to Chatzzz to reveal what has really happened inside his property business over the past 15 months.

After building BDR Properties, launching new businesses and generating more than £500,000 in Airbnb bookings, Ricardo appeared to be flying. Behind the scenes, however, a series of difficult decisions, team problems and struggling properties caused the business to lose roughly £250,000 over nine months.

Ricardo opens up about what went wrong, how he protected his investors and the changes he made to turn the business around.

He also breaks down the reality of Airbnb, rent-to-rent, HMOs and property deal sourcing. From transforming a troubled development into a £650,000 property to helping bring more than £15 million of investment into Carlisle, this is an honest conversation about the risks and rewards of building a property business.

In this episode:

• Losing approximately £250,000 in nine months
• Generating over £500,000 in Airbnb bookings
• Why property is not a get-rich-quick business
• Making £5,000 a month from a lettings company
• Rescuing a property development that went badly wrong
• Bringing more than £15 million of investment into Carlisle
• The truth about expensive property courses
• Working with investors and difficult builders
• Using AI inside a property company
• Ricardo’s plans for the Lake District and beyond

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Property is not a get-rich-quick scheme
00:23 Introducing Ricardo Taborda
02:18 What has changed since his first appearance?
04:45 Burning money and launching two new businesses
05:08 The surprising reality of Lake District Airbnbs
06:26 Building a team capable of running the business
12:49 How Ricardo identifies undervalued property areas
14:23 Investing around major developments
20:26 Launching a lettings company
21:48 Making £5,000 a month from renting individual rooms
24:08 How Ricardo makes money from property deals
25:17 Building a track record for investors
25:41 Why property is not a shortcut to becoming rich
26:20 The problem with inexperienced deal sourcers
27:35 The development that went badly wrong
29:02 Taking another risk to rescue the investment
29:09 Turning a £500,000 valuation into £650,000
30:29 Bringing £15 million of investment into Carlisle
31:47 Why everyone suddenly wants to enter property
32:25 Are expensive property courses a scam?
34:44 Why taking action is harder than buying a course
38:40 Social media makes property look easy
40:26 Becoming financially free at 22
43:19 Working with high-value investors
44:00 How Ricardo finds property clients
44:35 The problems caused by unreliable builders
54:57 Developing the space above Aura
58:08 Transforming one of Carlisle’s landmark buildings
58:31 Creating a property worth an estimated £2.2 million
59:14 Revisiting Ricardo’s first Airbnb property
01:01:25 Generating over £500,000 in Airbnb bookings
01:01:42 How AI could transform the business
01:05:16 Automating repetitive business tasks
01:10:24 What Ricardo would tell his younger self
01:15:19 Why you have to take calculated risks
01:17:06 How the Airbnb business began collapsing
01:17:31 Losing approximately £250,000 in nine months
01:18:09 The decisions that caused the problems
01:20:06 Rebuilding trust with investors
01:21:14 Ricardo’s future property plans
01:21:47 Where to follow Ricardo and BDR Properties

Follow BDR Properties on Instagram and TikTok for property developments, investment opportunities and behind-the-scenes updates.

Subscribe to Chatzzz for honest conversations about business, ambition, personal growth and what success really looks like behind the scenes.

#PropertyInvesting #RicardoTaborda #Chatzzz

What happens when you lose £100,000 on a single property deal?
For Kieran and Will, it became the biggest lesson of their journey.

In this raw and relatable episode of Chatzzz, host Adam Roberts sits down with two brothers behind WBK Ritchies to talk all things property investment, business failures, family dynamics, and how they’ve built a growing portfolio in Cumbria without pretending it was easy.

🎙️ They share:
 – The crazy deal that cost them six figures
– Why they think family makes the best business partners
– The realities of managing 3+ businesses while raising a family
– How they now raise hundreds of thousands from investors
– Their long-term goal to hit 50 properties by 2026

💬 Plus:
 – Thoughts on school, growing up in a big Irish family, and why you should just start
– Their top advice for anyone afraid to take the leap into entrepreneurship

If you're interested in property investing in the UK, building a business with purpose, or just enjoy real, unfiltered conversations this one’s for you.

Claudia Hill is back for another Chatzzz appearance from sunny Marbella for a powerful conversation on healing, mindset, and what it really takes to move forward when life throws you something heavy.

In one of her most honest chats yet, Claudia opens up about the trauma she’s experienced and how she’s choosing to use it as a stepping stone rather than a limitation.

They explore:
 ➤ Why trauma doesn’t have to define you
 ➤ How your mindset shapes your future more than your past
 ➤ Claudia’s favourite mindset tools and the steps that helped her
 ➤ Why waiting is the enemy of change — and why she says, “Just do it!”

If you’re going through something tough, this episode is a reminder that life really can get better and every small step counts.

In this episode of Chatzzz, Adam Roberts is joined by international adventurer and all-round storyteller Gary Calder — and what a journey he’s been on.

From travelling the world working on cruise ships to becoming a fully qualified pilot, Gary’s life has been anything but ordinary. This episode dives into the highs, lows, and lessons learned from a career spent chasing freedom, connection, and meaning.

They talk about:
 ➤ Life at sea and the crazy reality of cruise ship culture
 ➤ Navigating long-distance relationships and personal growth
 ➤ How Gary became a pilot — and what it’s really like in the skies
 ➤ Why Mexico feels like home
 ➤ His deeply personal ayahuasca experience and what it taught him

This episode is full of stories, insight, and the kind of life wisdom you only get from someone who’s actually lived. A must-listen for anyone feeling stuck or searching for something more.

In this episode of Chatzzz, host Adam Roberts is joined by a very special guest — his partner, Claudia Hill — for a personal and inspiring conversation about choosing a life that feels good, not just one that looks good on paper.

Claudia opens up about her journey back to Carlisle after living abroad, and how she went from feeling stuck in a job she hated to now training as a Pilates instructor and pursuing her passion in the health and fitness space.

They dive into:
 ➤ The moment Claudia realised she needed to change direction
 ➤ Why food, fitness, and daily habits shape so much more than just our bodies
 ➤ How the couple navigate their differences in fitness (spoiler: Adam loves running, Claudia does not!)

Whether you're stuck in a career rut or just curious about living a healthier lifestyle in Carlisle or beyond, this honest episode will leave you feeling inspired to take a step toward something more aligned.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube – and don’t forget to subscribe to stay in the loop with Chatzzz.

In this episode of Chatzzz, I’m joined by Henry Berry, founder of Big Marbella, the company dedicated to making your real estate dreams come true in the stunning city of Marbella. 

Henry shares his journey of building Big Marbella from the ground up and what sets the company apart in the competitive real estate market. 

We dive into the ins and outs of doing business in Marbella, the unique opportunities it offers, and what the future holds for both the company and the property market in this iconic location. 

Whether you're a prospective homebuyer, investor, or simply interested in the Marbella real estate scene, this episode is packed with valuable insights and exciting plans for the future.

In this episode of Chatzzz, I’m joined by Kevin Byrne, founder of MacLir, an innovative brand revolutionising the world of fitness with their Creatine Gummies. 

Kevin shares how MacLir is changing the game by offering a simple, effective alternative to traditional creatine powders. No more scooping – just pure, convenient power for real gains.

MacLir, named after the mythical Irish god "Son of the Sea," embodies transformation, vitality, and boundless energy, much like the legendary figure associated with the Irish Sea. Kevin explains how the brand aims to help individuals unlock their full potential and become figures of strength and vitality.

If you’re looking to optimise your fitness routine and awaken your inner power, this episode is for you.

What happens to a relationship when you live, work, travel and spend almost every hour together?

Recorded from Marbella, Adam Roberts is joined by his girlfriend, Claudia Hill, for an open and honest conversation about their relationship, recent travels and the lifestyle they are building together.

Claudia reflects on how dramatically her life has changed since leaving a job that made her deeply unhappy. A year later, she is travelling between Australia, Marbella and Bali while training to become a Pilates instructor and creating more freedom in her life.

Adam and Claudia also talk honestly about what spending 24/7 together has done to their relationship. They discuss losing the romantic spark, having different ideas of quality time, learning how the other person needs to be loved and why difficult conversations can actually make a relationship stronger.

They also reveal the disastrous start to their Marbella trip, including a flat tyre, being unable to start their Tesla and discovering that the person meant to let them into the Airbnb had fallen asleep.

This is a relaxed but revealing conversation about relationships, travel, work, friendship and creating a life that feels right for you.

In this episode:

• The disastrous beginning to their Marbella trip
• Claudia leaving a job that made her miserable
• How unhappiness affected her physically
• Australia’s approach to work-life balance
• Advice Claudia received from terminally ill patients
• Choosing freedom over a traditional career
• How friendships change as you get older
• The reality of spending 24/7 with your partner
• Losing and rebuilding the romantic spark
• Adam’s worst relationship habits
• Communicating when something is wrong
• Learning how your partner wants to receive love

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Airbnb host fell asleep
00:33 Introducing Claudia Hill
01:14 Finally recording the podcast in Marbella
02:07 The story behind their Marbella trip
02:24 Why Adam should not organise holidays
02:42 Getting a flat tyre at Manchester Airport
03:16 Adam could not start the Tesla
04:10 Maps took them to the wrong location
04:45 Did their Airbnb even exist?
05:01 Discovering the host had fallen asleep
06:25 Claudia’s previous Marbella experiences
07:20 Appreciating the lifestyle they have created
07:59 Becoming accustomed to constant travel
08:32 Always thinking about what comes next
08:55 Escaping the job Claudia hated
09:13 Why having nothing to do made her miserable
10:21 How unhappiness affected Claudia physically
10:33 Your body tells you when something is wrong
11:11 Work-life balance in Spain and Australia
12:00 Struggling after returning from Australia
12:19 The 5am lifestyle on Bondi Beach
13:14 Why walking is underrated
13:23 Adam’s honest opinion of Australia
14:24 Why you have to experience Bondi yourself
15:28 What they would change about the Australia trip
17:06 Advice from terminally ill patients
17:20 Why you should travel while you are young
17:59 Building a business around freedom
18:24 How Adam changed his working schedule
19:41 A secure job versus a life with more freedom
20:07 How different their lives looked one year ago
22:22 Why childhood friendships sometimes change
22:46 Memory friends versus future friends
23:20 Making new memories with old friends
24:00 How relationships change your friendships
24:32 Spending 24/7 together as a couple
25:22 How to maintain the relationship spark
26:04 Claudia’s idea of a romantic date
26:19 Adam’s very different idea of enjoyment
27:33 What is missing from their relationship?
27:49 Making an effort for your partner
28:44 Why Adam still cannot cook for Claudia
29:23 Claudia judges Adam’s clothing choices
30:10 Adam only ironed the front of his shirt
32:04 Claudia wants Adam to be more romantic
32:09 Their most annoying habits
34:07 Why small complaints become bigger problems
34:40 Claudia reveals Adam’s best qualities
35:50 How Adam supported Claudia through her job
36:46 Big gestures versus everyday affection
37:22 Getting to know each other during the relationship
38:06 Why difficult conversations are healthy
38:20 The danger of keeping problems to yourself
39:59 Talking about building a future together
40:23 Everyone needs to be loved differently
41:55 Claudia’s verdict on her first podcast
42:20 Final thoughts

Subscribe to Chatzzz for honest conversations about relationships, lifestyle, business, travel and figuring life out along the way.

#Relationships #ClaudiaHill #Chatzzz

In this episode of Chatzzz, we’re joined by Julie Blundell, Head of Income Generation and Marketing at Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust. Sunbeams is a charity dedicated to providing Community Music Therapy for disabled children and adults across Cumbria, aiming to improve quality of life and self-esteem through the creative power of music.

Julie discusses the charity’s transformative Music For Life® and Music For Dignity® projects, which deliver music sessions at various venues, including care homes, special schools, and hospices. The team of specialist musicians uses live music, singing, movement, and sign language to support individuals with a wide range of disabilities and mental health needs.

Sunbeams believes in long-term impact, offering continuous, free services supported by grants and donations. Tune in to hear how Sunbeams is making a real difference to the health and wellbeing of its community, and enhancing the arts in rural Cumbria.