January feels heavy. Motivation dips, routines wobble, and everything somehow costs more than it should.

In this episode of Mic Drop, Ben and Ed talk candidly about the January blues, mental health, and how planning, movement, and community can make the toughest month more manageable.

From honest weight-loss struggles to the unseen stress of event planning, this is a real conversation about keeping momentum when energy is low.

They then turn their attention to franchise exhibitions. With footfall falling and trust harder to earn, they question whether expos are still serving the people they’re meant to.

Are they too transactional? Too expensive? Too focused on leads over relationships?

The conversation explores trust-building, interactive experiences, franchising as supported self-employment, and why the industry needs to feel more human if it’s going to grow.

Along the way, there are detours into ghost cities, music culture, collaboration over competition… and an unexpected morning train party.

Honest, reflective, and unapologetically real.

TRACK OF THE WEEK

Ed - Bad Habits by Chainska Brassika:

https://open.spotify.com/track/3r9Ic9eomv28KYCZihiijZ?si=00b0f21b7d1d46b5

Ben - Mmm Bop by StyleShift AI:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0gvxGhLvaW1m7stt9fQ0Vg?si=d691cbbb95fe4158