In this episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, Carl sits down with serial entrepreneur, business coach and mentor Mike Ames, a founder who has built, scaled and exited multiple businesses worth tens of millions of pounds, and now dedicates his time to helping other entrepreneurs achieve their own value events.

Mike shares his journey from launching and growing his first business through to its eventual sale, including the profound personal and professional challenge of losing his business partner and unexpectedly stepping into the CEO role. Forced to learn fast and lead through adversity, the experience shaped his leadership philosophy and approach to decision-making.

Applying those lessons to his second venture, Crimson, Mike explains how relentless clarity and “focus, focus, focus” became the defining strategy behind scaling successfully. He reflects on the power of marginal gains, consistency and compounding improvement, doing the same things slightly better over time to produce dramatically different outcomes.

The conversation also explores a side of entrepreneurship rarely spoken about openly: the emotional aftermath of a successful exit. Mike discusses the anticlimax of selling a business, the reality that financial success alone does not create fulfilment, and the importance of purpose beyond the balance sheet.

In a candid discussion, Mike speaks honestly about work-life balance, and the sacrifices entrepreneurs sometimes only recognise in hindsight, particularly the time missed with family while building a business.

Now working as a coach and advisor to founders scaling their companies, Mike emphasises the importance of having support around you - mentors, coaches, partners and peers - people who can challenge, guide and listen through both setbacks and wins.

This thoughtful and honest episode offers practical and personal lessons for founders at every stage of their journey, from start-up to scale-up and beyond exit.

Connect with Mike

LinkedIn: (2) Mike Ames | LinkedIn

Website: https://www.flair.co.uk/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this short end-of-season episode of Confessions of a…, Carl Swansbury takes a moment to say thank you to everyone who has tuned in, listened, shared and supported the podcast over the past year.

Across the 2025 season, Confessions of a… has welcomed an inspiring mix of founders, leaders and entrepreneurs, each sharing their stories with honesty, humility and insight. This wrap-up episode brings together some of the standout moments and key lessons from the year, offering a snapshot of the ideas that have resonated most with listeners.

We hear from Sara Davies on the reality of work–life balance and the importance of letting go of perfection, reminding us that life and business are a constant compromise, and that’s okay. Bill Scott reflects on why culture is the thing he is most proud of, reinforcing the idea that successful businesses are ultimately built around people.

Kevin Fasting shares a powerful perspective on forgiveness and empathy in leadership, speaking candidly about maturity, compassion and the belief that people can change. Nigel Mills then brings the focus back to strategy, longevity and adaptability, highlighting the need to stay one step ahead in an ever-changing business landscape.

The episode also revisits Helen Trueman-Howe’s honest reflection on redundancy as a catalyst for change, showing how adversity can often be the push that leads to growth, reinvention and new opportunity.

The montage closes with Gary Goldsmith’s bold reminder that not fitting in can be a superpower, leaving listeners with a strong message about authenticity, individuality and embracing what makes you different.

Together, these moments capture the heart of Confessions of a… – real conversations, real experiences and practical lessons from people who have built, led and learned along the way.

As the podcast looks ahead to the 2026 season, Confessions of a… will continue to explore the realities of leadership, entrepreneurship and growth, with more honest conversations, fresh perspectives and new voices from across the business community. Carl and his team are already lining up a strong slate of guests, and the aim remains the same, to create space for thoughtful reflection, practical insight and stories that resonate long after the microphones are switched off.

Whether you’ve followed every episode or dipped in along the way, thank you for being part of the Confessions of a… journey. Carl looks forward to welcoming you back for the next chapter in 2026.

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’, Carl meets with businessman, politician, media commentator and charity campaigner, Andy Preston, an entrepreneur who places philanthropy and community at the heart of his personal ethos.

Born in Middlesbrough, Andy has become one of the North East’s entrepreneurs who’s drive and enthusiasm for life and business, has not only made him successful, but helped him be in position to make important contributions to society.

An investor in a number of start-up businesses and commercial property schemes, Andy has also had a career in politics, holding the position of Deputy Mayor of Tees Valley for Business Growth and the directly elected Mayor of Middlesbrough.

After a career in the RAF, Andy studied at Edinburgh University before working as an international fund manager becoming involved in several charities before founding the Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation in 2011.

He launched his second charity, CEO Sleepout, in 2013 to alleviate homelessness and poverty, which continues to hold successful events across the country.

Andy went on to launch a charity restaurant in Middlesbrough, The Fork in the Road, providing employment opportunities for ex-offenders, recovering addicts and long-term unemployed.

As someone who hates to conform, likes to rebel or being told what to do, Andy has run his life to the beat of his own drum, which has been a fundamental part of his business and life success.

Andy and Carl talk frankly about the decisions Andy has made in his life and the passion for helping people and his community that has driven him to never be satisfied with his achievements and strive for greater success that helps others, and all the activities that give him happiness.

This is a very fascinating and revealing episode of Confessions of an Entrepreneur, which offers some interesting life and business lessons from an entrepreneur who’s wanted to achieve as much as possible, in as little time as possible, while taking nothing for granted.

Connect with Andy

LinkedIn: Andy Preston | LinkedIn

Website: www.ceosleepout.co.uk

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’, Carl discovers a unique, moving and inspiring story from entrepreneur and North East personality Anthony Hutton.

Best known as the winner of TV’s Big Brother, Anthony has also had a successful career in business.

From his humble beginnings in the North East, and despite not succeeding at school, he was always ambitious. With his heart set on a career as a professional footballer, which didn’t materialize he was looking for a break to set his life on a better path.

That path led him to not only appearing on Channel 4’s Big Brother, but actually winning the programme, which was his clear objective from the moment he was accepted on the reality show.

It gave him the platform he wanted for success. Although not knowing what success would look like, it did make him a celebrity. However, fame doesn’t always last, and in Anthony’s case it didn’t and caused him to lose pretty much everything.

This was another opportunity in his life where Anthony learned from adversity while battling depression and personal trauma when cancer affected his family.

He found a purpose by training to become a barber, building a business and a new support network, while also helping others who had experienced mental health issues as he had.

This led to a new business, Never Throw In the Towel, to provide support and coaching for people with mental health challenges.

Anthony’s open and honest conversation with Carl offers real insight into his personal and professional challenges, which makes for a fascinating listening experience, offering both inspiration and plenty of food for thought.

Connect with Anthony

LinkedIn: Anthony Hutton | LinkedIn

Website: Never Throw In The Towel Project | Darlington | Facebook

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: Carl Swansbury FCA | LinkedIn

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of ‘Confessions of a…’ Carl sits down with Kevin Fasting to discover an entrepreneurial story that is weighted heavily by selflessness and influenced by a tragic family experience.

Born and raised in Liverpool, serial entrepreneur Kevin has founded and invested in a large portfolio of businesses, also supporting a number of first-time founders in building their enterprises. His businesses include recruitment, technology and legal firms under the banner of the Kevin Edward Group.

Kevin’s story is one of optimism and hard work, which has been motivated by his ‘why’ - to support and provide for the people around him.

With a working-class upbringing in 1980s Liverpool, Kevin’s background has shaped his outlook, working hard to be able to give his family a better life.

Thinking it might be football that would give him the route to success, Kevin found, when that didn’t materialise, a new way to achieve his ‘why’ to progress beyond his surroundings, leaving for university to gain new skills and experiences.

However, during his first year at Leeds Beckett University, Kevin’s dad, who he held up as his hero, and had always suffered with his mental health, went missing. More than 20 years later he still hasn’t been found.

A job in recruitment, which led to him becoming managing director of a 40-strong division within a year, was followed by setting up his own recruitment business.

The original motivation was to generates funds from this business to advertise on bus stops to bring his dad home, and subsequently to help his mum and other family members retire.

Kevin takes Carl on an intimate and fascinating journey through his life and career, revealing important lessons that he’s applied to his entrepreneurial journey and helped him through his personal challenges.

This moving and highly insightful episode offers inspiration and insight for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs who can benefit from hearing Kevin’s experiences and motivations.

Connect with Kevin

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfasting/

Website: https://kevinedwardgroup.com/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with global recruitment specialist Steve Rawlingson.

Founder of Samuel Knight, Steve overcame a challenging childhood to become a trailblazer in the recruitment industry, carving a significant niche in the international renewable energy sector.

He has embraced ADHD as a ‘superpower’ to drive him to the success he is achieving and talks frankly about how the condition impacts and influences his life, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Having left school with no qualifications and little idea of the direction he wanted to take, Steve opens up about the decisions he made and the opportunities that enabled him to set up, scale and grow his international business, including securing significant investment from private equity firm, Gresham House Ventures.

In this fascinating episode Steve reveals his ‘why’ and what drives him, balancing business with being a dad, and, and how despite having not gained a single GCSE, his latest achievement, which is an academic one, is one of his proudest.

Carl and Steve also delve into what makes an entrepreneur and how to overcome challenges to build businesses and achieve personal and professional success.

This insightful and engaging episode is a must listen for anyone that is scaling up their own business and shows how self-belief, resilience and challenging yourself can drive entrepreneurs to success.

Connect with Steve

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrawlingson/

Website: https://www.samuel-knight.com/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with the North East ‘super connector’ Paul Lancaster.

The man behind the hugely successful UK Start Up and Scale Up Week, held earlier this year, Paul is a highly charged entrepreneur, driven to help others succeed in business.

Focussed, creative, tenacious and brave, all of Paul’s career has been focussed on starting up, scaling and developing different businesses, across a range of sectors, whilst helping other entrepreneurs do the same.

Having led a top-level early career working for corporate organisations such as Sage and British Airways, alongside privately owned firms including Nigel Wright Recruitment, Paul has also been involved in a number of start-up enterprises, including his current business, Stellar Business Events.

Established in 2024, alongside North East-based investor and former ‘Confessions’ guest, Neil Stephenson, the business, organises a wide range of networking and knowledge-filled events, across the North and Scotland, all designed to support and inspire entrepreneurs.

During their chat, Carl delves into what inspires Paul to inspire others and what he believes successful entrepreneurs have in common. This is a truly fascinating, thought provoking and engaging podcast, highlighting the lessons Paul’s learnt when scaling many businesses, which he now shares with other likeminded entrepreneurs, along with the importance of network and strategic business development.

This is a must-listen episode for any aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs, as well as those scaling their enterprise.

Connect with Paul

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lordlancaster/

Website: https://ukstartupweek.com/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this latest episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl chats with one of North East England’s best-known businesspeople, Bill Scott OBE DL.

Often the ‘voice for business’ in the region, Bill has become a highly recognised ambassador in the North East and is a champion of entrepreneurialism and philanthropy.

As the CEO of Wilton Engineering, which builds large, complicated structures for the offshore and defence industries, Bill talks about how he set out to be the pulse of the business, empowering others to help deliver success, emphasising the importance of establishing the right workplace culture, which can be the difference between a good business and a great business.

Bill talks with Carl about his journey which started out with ambitions to be a chef, but was switched to engineering after a sliding doors moment on a basketball court.

This took Bill down the apprenticeship route, which has had a resounding impact on his life and career, placing apprentice training at the very heart of his business, including the opening of an academy on his extensive 113-acre site on the banks of the River Tees in Middlesbrough.

Bill and Carl also delve into the value of mentorship and why he commits lots of his time to mentoring companies, as well as his extensive charity roles.

This is a fascinating and engaging episode, highlighting Bill’s inspiring story and his refreshing approach to business, which is a must listen for both aspiring and established entrepreneurs.

Connect with Bill

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-scott-obe-dl-34106922/

Website: https://www.wiltonengineering.co.uk/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl sits down with enigmatic entrepreneurial charity fundraiser Sergio Petrucci MBE.

Founder and CEO of North East England-based Red Sky Foundation, which each year raises millions of pounds to help people with heart defects and life threatening illnesses, Sergio also has a number of other business interests.

A true life saver, who was awarded the MBE by King Charles for his significant contribution to charity, Sergio opens up about growing up in an entrepreneurial family and how that has imprinted on his life and career.

Sergio gives a no-hold-barred and no-nonsense perspective on his business and life story, highlighting some of the challenges he faced, early on, when pursuing his career, how he deals with setbacks on the shadow of imposter syndrome.

He talks with Carl about the importance of following your dreams rather than chasing wealth, along with his ‘why’ and his selfless drive to do great things for great people, and North East region.

This thoroughly entertaining, thought provoking and sometimes emotional episode is a must listen as Carl helps listeners find out more about this inspiring, charismatic and conversational character.

Connect with Sergio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-petrucci-mbe-%E2%9D%A4%EF%B8%8F-347b034a/

Website: https://redskyfoundation.com/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.

In this episode of ‘Confessions of an Entrepreneur’, Carl chats with Nigel Mills CBE, a champion for business and entrepreneurialism in the North of England.

Like Carl, Nigel began his career as a Chartered Accountant. He qualified at PriceWaterhouseCoopers before leaving to buy an independent convenience store business, which he scaled to a portfolio of 77 stores, before selling it to Tesco PLC.

After selling, Nigel set up, developed and subsequently sold highly regarded The Lakes Distillery, which was acquired by English sparkling wine producer, Nytimber in a deal, which valued The Lakes Distillery at £71 million.

Nigel was one of the founders of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and is a trusted advisor, Non-Executive Director, mentor and investor.

Nigel talks to Carl about how he switched from a plan to be a professional golfer to become an accountant after his grandfather passed away, before landing a place at PwC. He covers the highs and lows of his business career, the importance of sport in his life, the range of investment and mentoring opportunities he is regularly offered and how he decides which ones to pursue, and invest in.

This educational and thought-provoking episode highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with the experience and expertise of others, coupled with persistency when pursuing ambitious entrepreneurial endeavours.

Connect with Nigel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-john-mills-cbe-6a555042/

Connect with Carl

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-swansbury-fca-33b21923/?originalSubdomain=uk

Website: https://ryecroftglenton.com/team/carl-swansbury/

This podcast is brought to you by Recognition PR.